Alexei anecdotes

[Vive_HIH_Aleksey]

Ah yes well I was looking for anecdotes in general, but that is very interesting. Poor kid. Interesting point about the archery, I remember that photo!

Thanks guys!

[Robert_Hall]

Draughts is just a European version of what is called  checkers in the US.

[Vive_HIH_Aleksey]

Ahh, okay, thanks! Yeah I was wondering about that!

[Olga Maria]

From Maj. Gen. Sir John Hanbury-William's memoirs in main APTM site:

"At meals he sat next the Emperor, opposite me, as I sat next to Count Fredericks as a rule, and opposite the Emperor. He wore khaki uniform and long Russian boots, and was very proud of himself as a soldier, had excellent manners, and spoke various languages well and clearly.

As time went on and his first shyness wore off, he treated us as old friends, and as he passed each of us to bid us good-day had always some little bit of fun with us. With me it was to make sure that each button on my coat was properly fastened, a habit which naturally made me take great care to have one or two unbuttoned, in which case he used at once to stop and tell me I was 'untidy again,' give a sigh at my lack of attention to these details, and stop and carefully button me all up again.
We then used to be invited by him to go into a small alcove room out of the dining-room while the rest of the party were eating the hors d'oeuvres which always begin a Russian meal at a side table. In that little room every conceivable game went on, a 'rag,' in fact, ending most likely with a game of football with anything that came handy, the Belgian general, of whom he was very fond, and used always to call 'Papa de Ricquel,' being a man of no mean girth, giving great opportunities for attack. The devoted tutor was almost in despair, and it generally ended by the intervention of the Emperor, by which time the small boy was carefully hidden behind the curtain.

He then used to reappear with a twinkle in his eye and solemnly march in to take his place at table.
There he would begin again by a breadpellet attack across the table and a game of what he called polo at me, with more bread pellets, which risked all the Imperial china and glasses pretty considerably.

If, however, he had a stranger sitting next to him he had all the courtesy and charm of his father, talking freely and asking sensible questions. The moment, however, that we adjourned to the anteroom the games used to begin again, and went on fast and furious till either the Emperor or his tutor carried him off."


It's really true that despite warnings to him, his mischievousness is incurable!

[Olga Maria]

From The Real Tsaritsa by Lili Dehn (Chapter 4)

My husband and I had been dining with the Imperial Family, and after dinner the Emperor suggested that we should accompany them to the Tsarevitch's bedroom, as the Empress  always went thither to bid him good night and hear him say his prayers.

It was a pretty sight to watch the child and his mother, and listen to his simple prayers, but, when the Empress rose to go, we suddenly found ourselves in complete  darkness — the Tsarevitch had switched off the electric light over his bed!
"Why have you done this. Baby ? " asked the Empress.
"Oh," answered the child, "it's only light for me, Mama, when you are here. It's always quite dark when you have gone."

[nena]

Thank you, Grand Princess Shandroise, for sharing the anecdotes about OTMAA. Is it just my personal opinion, but when reading Aleksei's quotes and sayings, I always get an impression of how deep, poetical, profound and meaningful his sentences were (one word -- how feelingly 'Russian sentences' he used), it had been noticed that the last Russian Heir became clever and wise man in spirit at very, very young age (Count V.N.Voeikov, not a verbatim). 

Comparing the lines he said (that are quoted in memories of his tutors, generals, Counts, or that we can read in IF's diary entries...) to his diary entries, he is not so outspoken, his diary entries are short and not so poetic in a typical Russian way, let it say so. Regardless the fact that he wasn't good student (mostly due to his mischievous character and illness), on the other side, Aleksei Nikolaevich had it all Russian characteristics and woiuld have been a great Emperor.  :-)

[Olga Maria]

You are very welcome, Nena!
This might interest you also: http://saltkrakan.livejournal.com/3753.html
It's Ivan Beliaev's memoirs, from Antonina's blog and the link provided by Matushka : )

I agree with you there. Very well said!
I'd like to add that although his illness made him a not so brilliant student, it also made him into a deeply sympathetic person. He might not have been much focused with studies in his 13 3/4 years of life but who knows what he could have become when given the chance. I believe he would outgrow his playfulness, and would have shifted his mind to serious learning, especially that of a tsar's job, and I think he could have studied well as he got older.

I can't help thinking about that as I recall what had been said of him by those people you mentioned who knew him.
It's sad he had so much potential which he unfortunately wasn't able to discover and develop because of his fate.
 

[Olga Maria]

Found something which I knew just today!
http://25.media.tumblr.com/d1e21b5cc9c519f344729271c4828a45/tumblr_mumn06DprE1s27ygbo1_1280.png

Very cute!!

[Olga Maria]

from Sophie Buxhoeveden's memoirs;

When the Emperor left for GHQ in 1915, Alexei Nikolaevich felt he was as he once said to me "the man in the house", and it was delightful to see the grown-up way in which he would look after the Empress when they went to church or to some function together. He would help her to rise or would unobtrusively push a chair towards her, as the Emperor might have done.

[KarinK]

Romanov Russia Today:

Claudia Bitner on Alexei. This translation was extremely rushed so forgive me if something doesn't sound perfect lol

"I loved Alexei Nikolaevich most of all. This was a sweet, good boy. He was clever, observant, perceptive, very affectionate, cheerful, and lively. He was naturally capable, but slightly lazy. If he wanted to learn something, he’s day, “Wait, I’ll learn.” And if allowed to remain he would indeed sit firmly at it and study.
He was accustomed to being disciplined, but he didn’t like court etiquette. He couldn’t tolerate the lies and would not stand it for himself if he had ever taken power. He had the combined features of his father and mother. From his father he inherited his simplicity. He did not have any smugness, pride, or arrogance at all. He was simple. But he had a great will and never would he obey any of the women.
The Tsar, when he had taken power, I’m sure, forgot and forgave the deeds of his soldiers, who were known to him in this regard. Alexei Nikolaevich, if he’d had the chance at power, would never have forgotten or forgiven and would have made the appropriate conclusions.
He didn’t like court etiquette and of Tobolsk, he said, “Here is better. (In the palace at Tsarskoe) I was lied to there. They lied terribly to me there.” He already really understood and knew people. But he was seasoned and closed off.
He was terribly patient. He used to sit and begin dismissing his leg. You’d see this, and say, “Alexei Nikolaevich, your leg hurts.” [And he’d say] “No, it doesn’t hurt.” “But I can see that it does.” “You always see pain but there isn’t any.” And so he wouldn’t say that the leg actually hurt him. He wanted to be healthy, and he hoped for this. Sometimes he said, “But how do you think I bear this?”
He was very neat, disciplined and demanding. If he had gotten power, he would have been demanding. I don’t know if he thougt about power. I had a conversation with him about it. I said to him, “And what if you reign..?” And he replied, “No, this is over for good.” I said to him, “Well, if again there would be, if you could reign?” He told me, “Then it would need to be arranged so that I knew more about what is happening around all around.” I once asked him what he’d do with me then. He told me that he would build a large hospital, appoint me to manage it, but he himself would come and “interrogate” [me] about everything (if everything was in order, etc.). I am sure, that with him, [it] would have been in order.
One day when he was sick a dish was delivered to him, as with all the family, which he did not eat, because he didn’t like this dish. I was indignant, as a separate specialty could not be prepared for the child when he was ill. I told [him] just as much. He answered, “Well, here still; one doesn’t have to spend money on me.”
In studies, he was terribly advanced."

[wakas]

"The Tsar was reviewing a Boy Scout Parade while Olga and six year old Alexei sat in the carriage…Suddenly Alexei expressed a desire to get out of the carriage and join the parading boys. His sister kept him from doing so, and then the little lad , seeing she wouldn’t let him go, slapped her face as hard as he could. She never winced, but took his hand and stroked it quietly. Not until they returned home did Olga cry. She went to her room, and Alexei was shut up in a dark closet for two hours, his father threatening that he would be whipped if anything like that happened again. For two days he was repentance itself and made Olga accept his portion of desert at table". ( Home Life of the Romanoffs by Minstlov)

Is that anecdote true? I wonder about that. I find it quite dubious that Nicholas II could have threatened to whip Alexei while his son was an hemophiliac.
Thoughts, anyone?

[Belochka]

"The Tsar was reviewing a Boy Scout Parade while Olga and six year old Alexei sat in the carriage…Suddenly Alexei expressed a desire to get out of the carriage and join the parading boys. His sister kept him from doing so, and then the little lad , seeing she wouldn’t let him go, slapped her face as hard as he could. She never winced, but took his hand and stroked it quietly. Not until they returned home did Olga cry. She went to her room, and Alexei was shut up in a dark closet for two hours, his father threatening that he would be whipped if anything like that happened again. For two days he was repentance itself and made Olga accept his portion of desert at table". ( Home Life of the Romanoffs by Minstlov)

Is that anecdote true? I wonder about that. I find it quite dubious that Nicholas II could have threatened to whip Alexei while his son was an hemophiliac.
Thoughts, anyone?

What utter nonsense!

Nikolai II - NEVER threatened his son.

It really makes me angry that so much rubbish has appeared in print that deliberately taints Nikolai II's character.

Margarita Nelipa

[edubs31]

"The Tsar was reviewing a Boy Scout Parade while Olga and six year old Alexei sat in the carriage…Suddenly Alexei expressed a desire to get out of the carriage and join the parading boys. His sister kept him from doing so, and then the little lad , seeing she wouldn’t let him go, slapped her face as hard as he could. She never winced, but took his hand and stroked it quietly. Not until they returned home did Olga cry. She went to her room, and Alexei was shut up in a dark closet for two hours, his father threatening that he would be whipped if anything like that happened again. For two days he was repentance itself and made Olga accept his portion of desert at table". ( Home Life of the Romanoffs by Minstlov)

Is that anecdote true? I wonder about that. I find it quite dubious that Nicholas II could have threatened to whip Alexei while his son was an hemophiliac.
Thoughts, anyone?

What utter nonsense!

Nikolai II - NEVER threatened his son.

It really makes me angry that so much rubbish has appeared in print that deliberately taints Nikolai II's character.

Margarita Nelipa

I agree. It doesn't sound like something Nicholas would say. However I also think it would have been nice, under such circumstances, if Nicholas & Alexandra did threaten Alexei with some type of punishment (albeit nothing physical). They seemed to allow him to get away with pretty much everything. Admittedly there were times where the Tsarevich could have probably used the sort of corporal punishment (or similar treatment) other children were disciplined with in those days. Of course his illness was physical and mental punishment enough, and his family members were plenty aware of this. But under normal circumstances who could fault an angry parent for verbally threatening their child in such a way (keep in mind the time period) for doing something as outrageous and rude as slapping his big sister?

[Belochka]

( Home Life of the Romanoffs by Minstlov)

Is that anecdote true? I wonder about that. I find it quite dubious that Nicholas II could have threatened to whip Alexei while his son was an hemophiliac.
Thoughts, anyone?

What utter nonsense!

Nikolai II - NEVER threatened his son.

It really makes me angry that so much rubbish has appeared in print that deliberately taints Nikolai II's character.

Margarita Nelipa

I agree. It doesn't sound like something Nicholas would say. However I also think it would have been nice, under such circumstances, if Nicholas & Alexandra did threaten Alexei with some type of punishment (albeit nothing physical). They seemed to allow him to get away with pretty much everything. Admittedly there were times where the Tsarevich could have probably used the sort of corporal punishment (or similar treatment) other children were disciplined with in those days. Of course his illness was physical and mental punishment enough, and his family members were plenty aware of this. But under normal circumstances who could fault an angry parent for verbally threatening their child in such a way (keep in mind the time period) for doing something as outrageous and rude as slapping his big sister?

IMO you seem to accept that the story posted here, is true.

Yes, the Tsesarevich did misbehave during his formative years and yes he was reprimanded by his father for acting up, but Nikolai II never "verbally threatened" his son in the manner you suggest.

Perhaps you should recall the incident that occurred with Buxhoeveden's umbrella in Mogilev and more importantly, how Nikolai II dealt with the Alexei's conduct?

Margarita

[edubs31]

IMO you seem to accept that the story posted here, is true.

Well maybe not this story but surely similar stories of misbehavior are true. We have video evidence of him aggressively pushing one of his nanny's/ladies-in-waiting, yes?

Yes, the Tsesarevich did misbehave during his formative years and yes he was reprimanded by his father for acting up, but Nikolai II never "verbally threatened" his son in the manner you suggest.

Right. I'm saying it might have been wise to threaten punishment more than N&A likely did. Would have been better for his character development.

Perhaps you should recall the incident that occurred with Buxhoeveden's umbrella in Mogilev and more importantly, how Nikolai II dealt with the Alexei's conduct?

Vaguely. The snowball throwing incident (?) certainly comes to mind. Nicholas pulling Alexei aside after he hits his sister (Anastasia?) from behind and lectures him about "acting like a German". I feel like this was more the exception than the rule however. For the most part I feel like the young Tsarevich, owning equally to his illness and standing, got away with much more than a typical boy of his age could ever hope to.