Royal dynasties were once common phenomena in Europe. Every country had its emperor, king, prince, or grand duke to lead their countries in both war and peace. Absolute power was the rule rather than the exception. With the passage of time and a changing political sphere, the powers of royalties diminished, giving the real power back to the people. Russia has always been slow. Slow to reform, adjust, and modernize, Russia was far behind the rest of Europe in the second half of the nineteenth century.
When Tsar Alexander II was eviscerated by an assassin’s bomb in 1881, twelve-year Nicholas was confronted with a horror that would forever mark his life. Whereas Alexander II was a great reformer, his untimely demise caused his son, Alexander III, stopped the reforms and employed draconian policies to assure civil obedience. Nicholas was caught in a quandary when the reins of power were thrust upon his young, inexperienced, and reluctant shoulders.
Nicholas neither wanted nor was equipped to rule. Through much of his reign, he depended on others to form and implement policy. He loved his wife and family and preferred their company to the rigors of ruling the largest country in the world. The life of Nicholas II, his family, and the ultimate demise of the Romanov dynasty is a sad one that can invoke many emotions.
I have always been fascinated with Russia’s last tsar and the demise of a three-hundred-year-old dynasty. This book exposes the top of a very interesting and emotional iceberg. For people looking for an introduction to Nicholas and his ill-fated family, this book is a good place to start.