To clarify: NICHOLAS (1868-1918) was the first born, though, as Coryne Hall suggests in "Little Mother of Russia", there is some evidence that the future Empress Marie F. may have had a miscarriage before her successful pregnancy with him. Alexander lived 1869-70, and the idea that he was the first son is nothing more than one of those "lost heir" fantasies which arise when a monarch screws up as Nicholas did: the fond idea that if his brother had succeeded, things might have gone differently. It used to be written that Alexander was the eldest in the sort of books which summarised royal lives, not in-depth biographies - in fact, Alexander Mikhailovich may be responsible, ultimately, because he did say this in one of his many tomes. Coryne does not describe him as first son in her in-depth book, because he wasn't.
