Alexandra's influence on Russia after her death

Hey,
I'm beginning a piece of research and i thought i'd ask for help on this section, my thought here is that Alexandra's infuence over Nicholas in her life, and the way that (imo) she directly and sometimes indirectly was a major cause of the revolution meant that therefore the communist changes that took place in Russia were linked to her own infuence, therefore i'd like to know your thoughts on Alexandra's influence on Russian politics perhaps after her death and into the years of the soviet union and the way that her legacy prevailed.

thanks!

Considering that even talking about Nicholas and Alexandra during much of the Soviet era could get you shot or a long term in prison, I don't think she had much influence over events.

In my opinion, it's only been in the last 20 years, since the Soviet Union ended, that NAOTMAA, in a way, regained their voices in Russia and have, in a small way, had some influence.

Well that she was unmentionable as you say Tim in itself makes her somewhat influential...

Yeah, I guess you could say that.  All mention of her (and the family) would have to have been done in secret for a long time.

All mention of her (and the family) would have to have been done in secret for a long time.

And I think that's why they have had a resurgence since the fall of the Soviet Union. People want to know aabout them and talk about them because they can. And it was something that wasn't allowed under the old regime, so of course people are going to love to do it - they still feel like they are doing something "subversive." 

On another note, all this gives me even more respect for Robert K. Massie. Nicholas and Alexandra is still considered essential Romanov reading 44 years after it was published, and it's a miracle he was able to get the information he did at that time.

Absolutely agree with all,

It's hard to find out any Romanov's/Empress Alexandra influence in USSR. Only after 1986 (Gorbachev with it's "liberal" Politburo) slightly relaxed the communist's regime. As a result from 1986 till 1991 there was a huge growing interest to IF. Then it's become rather indifferent...There are some far right-wing Orthodox organisations (like different Cossack's societies) but in general Russians have a quite calm attitude to this subject.

Btw, my Russian friend once told me that he had a friend in USSR with the surname Romanov (just simple and widespread surname, doesn't connected to royalty). Even man with the simple surname Romanov could have a serious problems, including dismissal. That's why he changed his name (as a plenty of others simple "Romanovs") in order not to have a serious complications in the future.

Interesting Nicola but hardly surprising. I rejoice at hearing stories such as this...that Soviet paranoia just goes to show how powerful a legacy the Romanov's left behind and how miserably their successors failed in trying to erase their memory!

As the Evil Empire came a crumblin' down I envision the IF standing tall and looking firm...all except for the Imp of course who wears a smirk and gives their communist legacy the middle finger! ;-)

On another note, all this gives me even more respect for Robert K. Massie. Nicholas and Alexandra is still considered essential Romanov reading 44 years after it was published, and it's a miracle he was able to get the information he did at that time.

Yeah, for a long time that was THE source of information for NAOTMAA.

Btw, my Russian friend once told me that he had a friend in USSR with the surname Romanov (just simple and widespread surname, doesn't connected to royalty). Even man with the simple surname Romanov could have a serious problems, including dismissal. That's why he changed his name (as a plenty of others simple "Romanovs") in order not to have a serious complications in the future.

That was the whole problem, the Soviets wanted to totally wipe the Romanov Dynasty from history.  Even though your friend of a friend had no connection to them, that fact that his name caused problems showed how paranoid the Soviets were about the whole thing.

I rejoice at hearing stories such as this...that Soviet paranoia just goes to show how powerful a legacy the Romanov's left behind and how miserably their successors failed in trying to erase their memory!

As the Evil Empire came a crumblin' down I envision the IF standing tall and looking firm...all except for the Imp of course who wears a smirk and gives their communist legacy the middle finger! ;-)

Me too, it shows how badly the Soviets failed in their Evil Empire.  And I can see the Imp doing just that, it sounds like her.

In the judgement of history, it's safe to say that NAOTMAA, in the end, won, since they are still remembered after nearly a century of the Soviets trying to wipe them from history.

I agree utterly about the word "romanov" becoming far more than a taboo subject in russia during soviet rule, something that prompted me to wonder was i found this old text book in a charity shop and there was a thing about khrushchev and it was talking about how during his time in power there was tightening of anti outside influence , due to a deliberate attempt to avoid another rasputin type situation? i found that slightly odd, i think it was khrushchev but i found it strange either way!

Yeah, it does seem strange.

I recently asked my Russian relatives (who still live in Russia) how the IF (Alexandra) are viewed.  They said that the Tsar especially is enjoying something of a resurgence at the moment, people are very interested in them and how they lived (which must in part be due to the things like the restoration of the Alexander Palace).  My cousin did qualify it by saying that was mainly her generation only though and that amongst the younger people there wasn't that much interest/influence.

They said that the Tsar especially is enjoying something of a resurgence at the moment, people are very interested in them and how they lived (which must in part be due to the things like the restoration of the Alexander Palace

Well, since the subject of the IF was taboo for so long, I'm not surprise that, since the USSR was swept into the gutter of history where it rightfully belongs, people are curious.

I think to say the USSR has been 'swept away' is premature. You only have look at the murder of the Journalist Anna Politskovskaya and other opponents and read her book to understand that the 'Soviet' way of ruling Russia is alive and well unfortunately. Its about as democratic as Syria or Iran.

I think to say the USSR has been 'swept away' is premature. You only have look at the murder of the Journalist Anna Politskovskaya and other opponents and read her book to understand that the 'Soviet' way of ruling Russia is alive and well unfortunately. Its about as democratic as Syria or Iran.

Well, Thea (it is Thea, right), I agree that Russia has corruption problems, but it's nowhere near as bad as Iran.  As I said, people there can talk about the IF,  make blogs and websites about them, visit the site of their murder, and such.  That would have been unthinkable in the bad old Soviet days.

I think Russia will end up a functioning democracy.  They have made some progress in that direction in the last 20 years, but they still have a ways to go.

I think the important thing is that there are clear indications that that progress in being made, as you say, there are vital things to recognize in the shift since the days of soviet power!