Considered to be a despot by his enemies, the rumor of a cowardly death would be hold more appeal than the real truth of his painful death.
I don't know, I think Russian historians like Eidelman viewed Nicholas's possible suicide more in the Roman tradition than in the Christian one - i.e., Nicholas I was if nothing else a Stoic, whose life was given over to duty to his motherland; therefore, if he died a suicide, it was the death of an honorable man (in the Roman sense: because he admitted responsibility for the dishonor of Russia's defeat in the Crimean War, he killed himself). Warrior cultures understand this notion of dishonor and salvaging honor through suicide (not just the Romans, but the Japanese). In other words, not all so-called "Soviet" historians took a "Soviet" view of Nicholas' possible suicide. (Many of them like Eidelman were in fact dissidents...)
What kind of ruler was he? Who did he marry and who were his kids? How many? ???
I don't know a lot about this particular Romanov, but I just read on of the Romanov websites that some historians believe that Nicholas I poisoned himself after receiving news of the defeat of Russian forces at Evpatoria. It sounds a little strange and I was wondering if anyone knows anything about this. Thanks!
what's with the title Her/His Imperial & Royal Highness? Wasn't that what Grand Duchess Elena's title was after she married Greek Nicholas? How does that title work?
He didn't poison himself, nor would he have. I think he was stressed, strained, and life weary after the Crimean War, as well as getting older, so it's natural he came down with an illness that led to death. I think his attitude may have been rather life weary, but I think that's the extent of it. His death was natural, whatever he was feeling, poisoning himself woudn't have occured to him.
Also only third picture of Alexandra Alexandrovna I have seen (the other two being her well known portrait and the illustration showing her and her baby brother Niks)
how tall was he
How is Tsar Nicholas I Related to the Prince of Wales
Msge 49
Not sure what impression the artist was intending to convey, but it does rather look as though Nicholas is giving Nikolai and Mikhail a telling-off.
Ann
Anyone read the Book by W Bruce Lincoln
Anyone read the Book by W Bruce Lincoln