Author Topic: Did Nicholas beg to abdicate?  (Read 10804 times)

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JediDeshka

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Did Nicholas beg to abdicate?
« on: May 28, 2004, 09:37:55 PM »
I've read that Nicholas begged his father to be allowed to abdicate. Has anyone else read any more information that supports this rumor? I also read that the dowager empress tried to force Nicholas to abdicate in favor of his brother, Mikhail.  

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Re: Did Nicholas beg to abdicate?
« Reply #1 on: May 28, 2004, 09:52:17 PM »
Ummm, not very possible, since Nicholas's father died in 1894....

Louise

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Re: Did Nicholas beg to abdicate?
« Reply #2 on: May 28, 2004, 10:17:56 PM »
This is the first time I have heard that rumour. While Nicholas may have though himself unready to assume the Russian throne, he was very firm in his beleif that he was chosen by God to rule Russian.

I have never heard that the Dowager Empress wanted Nicholas to abdicate for Michael.

Louise

JediDeshka

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Re: Did Nicholas beg to abdicate?
« Reply #3 on: May 29, 2004, 02:19:43 PM »
Admin,

I meant that he begged his father to be allowed to abdicate when the time came for him to assume the throne. . .  :P
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 PM by JediDeshka »

Offline David_Newell

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Re: Did Nicholas beg to abdicate?
« Reply #4 on: May 29, 2004, 05:49:54 PM »
MF certainly wanted Michael to be Tsar, I don't know wether she tought this would ever happen or it was just a wish of hers, she certainly prefered Michael. She spoilt him dreadfully but she did this with all her children, except maybe the girls.

Louise

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Re: Did Nicholas beg to abdicate?
« Reply #5 on: May 29, 2004, 06:02:17 PM »
I guess I need to go back into the library and check out my books and see which one states that MF wanted Michael to be Tsar...

Louise

Offline David_Newell

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Re: Did Nicholas beg to abdicate?
« Reply #6 on: May 29, 2004, 06:06:34 PM »
I actually don't like MF very much, I have to say from what I have read. I think she was supremly selfish, but the new theory about Alexander III's drinking did put her in a new light for me. But MF and her sister were smothering mothers that held their children back. Just my view. But she most certainly could have been kinder to AF when she needed experience nad help in the earlt years of her marriage.

Offline AGRBear

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Re: Did Nicholas beg to abdicate?
« Reply #7 on: July 12, 2004, 11:28:49 PM »
Actually, Nicholas II had an older brother, Alexander, who was Tsarevich and groomed to be the successor of Alexander III.  Nicholas was second in line, rather bookish, and felt, I suspect, like a plain book between the bookends of the popular Alexander and his very intelligent brother George.  After Alexander died,  Nicholas became Tsarvich but felt the crown should go to George and probably thought about  giving it to George but   George had developed tb and George was not fit to rule.  He probably thought about giving it to Michael.... The sudden death of Alexander III was premature...  Nicholas knew Michael  was too young.  So, Nicholas II hesitately took the throne....   And, because he hadn't been groomed,  he little understood the world of politics the day he was crowned....

AGRBear

Note of correction.  Nicholas II did have a brother who died in infancy as Olga, who follows this note, quite rightly set me and the record straight.  I don't know what I was thinking.  It was his father Alexander III who had the older brother.  So this should read:

Nicholas was  rather bookish, and felt, I suspect, like a plain book next to  his very intelligent brother George...

Gosh,  second mistake I made yesterday.  Must have been tired... Sorry folks.  And, thanks Olga  :)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 PM by AGRBear »
"What is true by lamplight is not always true by sunlight."

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olga

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Re: Did Nicholas beg to abdicate?
« Reply #8 on: July 12, 2004, 11:46:07 PM »
Nikolai Alexandrovich did have a brother, Alexander Alexandrovich, but he was younger and died before his first birthday so it's hard to see how he could have been 'groomed to be the successor of Alexander III.'

Offline Angie_H

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Re: Did Nicholas beg to abdicate?
« Reply #9 on: July 13, 2004, 02:31:44 PM »
There were many pictures taken of Nicholas when he was a baby, but I have never seen one of Alexander Alexandrovich?
Angie

olga

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Re: Did Nicholas beg to abdicate?
« Reply #10 on: July 14, 2004, 03:58:21 AM »
Alexander Alexandrovich
7 Jun 1869  Sankt-Peterburg
2 May 1870 Sankt-Peterburg

I suppose he did not live long enough.

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Re: Did Nicholas beg to abdicate?
« Reply #11 on: July 14, 2004, 06:31:03 PM »
Back to the abdication.

Is there a book that discusses the details of his abdication and who said what to whom?   Also, why did Nicholas II do so at that time?  Who was present?

AGRBear
"What is true by lamplight is not always true by sunlight."

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Offline Angie_H

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Re: Did Nicholas beg to abdicate?
« Reply #12 on: July 14, 2004, 07:14:59 PM »
I think if Nicholas didn't act like it was the 17th century his reign would have gone much better. He thought he was Tsar because God made him so, it was his divine right.  That just made him sound like Louis XIV (& Alix didn't help because she just reinforced the idea). If he just realized that people should have been able to have some say in their government he would have survived. He would have had an easier reign. Or perhaps if he had taken a more serious attitude. Alexander III said Nicholas was no good when it came to participating in Government affairs., that he had no interest.
Angie

olga

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Re: Did Nicholas beg to abdicate?
« Reply #13 on: July 14, 2004, 09:25:22 PM »
Quote
Back to the abdication.

Is there a book that discusses the details of his abdication and who said what to whom?   Also, why did Nicholas II do so at that time?  Who was present?

AGRBear



Massie's Nicholas and Alexandra has quite a few details on the abdication.

Alexa

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Re: Did Nicholas beg to abdicate?
« Reply #14 on: July 15, 2004, 09:22:54 AM »
Quote
I think if Nicholas didn't act like it was the 17th century his reign would have gone much better. He thought he was Tsar because God made him so, it was his divine right.  That just made him sound like Louis XIV (& Alix didn't help because she just reinforced the idea). If he just realized that people should have been able to have some say in their government he would have survived. He would have had an easier reign. Or perhaps if he had taken a more serious attitude. Alexander III said Nicholas was no good when it came to participating in Government affairs., that he had no interest.
Angie



Granted it's been a few years since I read Letters of Passion, but the impression it left with me is that every time Nicky began to waiver in thoughts of autocratic rule and start listening to his extended family, Alix would pipe in about how it was their responsibility to keep the Empire whole and the rule autocratic for Alexis.

Alix also wrote something along the lines that the people would never revolt against the Tsar.  As I was reading it, all I kept thinking of was Marie Antoinette and Louis XVIth.  Then again, whenever I think about Nicky's rulw, I always think what a giant mess it all was.

Alexa