Author Topic: Was the Tsar Nicholas II Right or left Handed  (Read 16397 times)

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Romanov_Fan19

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Was the Tsar Nicholas II Right or left Handed
« on: March 15, 2016, 06:11:14 PM »
just  curious>

Offline Kalafrana

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Re: Was the Tsar Nicholas II Right or left Handed
« Reply #1 on: March 16, 2016, 01:51:20 AM »
I've never seen any ention of it, so I imagine right-handed.

Plenty of pictures around of him playing tennis.

Ann

Offline Sanochka

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Re: Was the Tsar Nicholas II Right or left Handed
« Reply #2 on: March 16, 2016, 11:43:32 AM »
A picture says a thousand words.  Judging from this one of the Tsar dining, I'd say he was right-handed.

« Last Edit: March 16, 2016, 11:46:01 AM by Sanochka »

Offline thebelgianhare

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Re: Was the Tsar Nicholas II Right or left Handed
« Reply #3 on: March 16, 2016, 01:08:42 PM »
Well, (for what it's worth!), I'd say I agree. I'd hazard to say right-handed too as he seemed use his right hand for most things, nicely shown above. Except however, for his reins, for this he favoured the left. But this isn't unusual. Traditionally the the left hand would be reserved for the reins, (to halt and to steer etc), whilst the right hand could then be free to wield a sword, hold a weapon or flag/banner, or, to point to a direction etc.

   


I'm left-handed but I hardly use it at all! I only use my left hand to write. For everything else I use my right. So he could be tricking us after all, but I do doubt it. I think in this case it's safe to say that Nicholas was most probably right-handed. What does everyone else think?


For many years those who were naturally left-handed were encouraged to hide this fact and made to use their right hand instead. George VI was just one of many who had to do this rather uncomfortable and arguably quite damaging change

Offline Kalafrana

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Re: Was the Tsar Nicholas II Right or left Handed
« Reply #4 on: March 16, 2016, 01:51:55 PM »
I agree entirely.

If Nicholas had been left-handed, contemporaries would have mentioned it.

I too am left-handed, but do a lot of things right-handed.

Ann

Offline thebelgianhare

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Re: Was the Tsar Nicholas II Right or left Handed
« Reply #5 on: March 16, 2016, 02:01:58 PM »
That's interesting Ann! I wonder if any other Romanovs were naturally left-handed. Some must have been

Offline thebelgianhare

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Re: Was the Tsar Nicholas II Right or left Handed
« Reply #6 on: March 16, 2016, 03:51:27 PM »
It could just be sheer pure coincidence, but Grand Duke Mikhail used his left a lot, perhaps he was left-handed? What do we think?

« Last Edit: March 16, 2016, 03:54:52 PM by thebelgianhare »

Offline Kalafrana

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Re: Was the Tsar Nicholas II Right or left Handed
« Reply #7 on: March 17, 2016, 01:03:56 AM »
Interesting, but note that left hand on the sword when it is in the scabbard is normal.

Ann

Offline Kalafrana

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Re: Was the Tsar Nicholas II Right or left Handed
« Reply #8 on: March 17, 2016, 01:07:03 PM »
To elaborate a little on my last comment, many if not the majority of pictures of Kaiser Wilhelm II show him with his left hand (withered arm) on his sword.

With some uniforms - Royal Navy, for example - the scabbard is attached to the sword belt via long slings, and so has to be held with the left hand to stop it dragging on the ground. In photos taken standing still with the sword in the scabbard, the sword is usually in front with the chape resting on the ground and both hands on the pommel. when walking, the left hand will be holding the scabbard part-way down. If drawn, the sword will be in the right hand. Have a look at the Grenadier Guards Band and Coldstream Guards below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NodFWoSik5w

Watch the officers with their swords. The officer in blues inspecting the Band at the beginning has his left hand on the scabbard at all times, and does not draw his sword. The two marching officers both have drawn swords in their right hands, and the scabbards hang well clear of the ground.

Hope that helps

Ann

Offline thebelgianhare

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Re: Was the Tsar Nicholas II Right or left Handed
« Reply #9 on: March 17, 2016, 02:06:08 PM »
Thank you for your replies :-) I'm sorry I didn't get time to write back before now. It is an interesting one, and a good point you bring up too!  Perhaps it was to 'save face' because that picture is a formal one - and he knew it would be seen by all. Perhaps, in private, and behind closed doors he was left-handed naturally but to 'save face' on official photos he made sure he looked right-handed because of the social stigma still attached to left-handers at the time? Or, perhaps he was just right-handed after all!  I'm not sure we will ever know, but I'd sure like to find out :-) Well, it may not be one of history's biggest questions, but it is a nice little historical snippet to think about - one that adds a little personal touch

Offline Kalafrana

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Re: Was the Tsar Nicholas II Right or left Handed
« Reply #10 on: March 17, 2016, 03:15:16 PM »
Overall, and as a left-handler myself, I think Mikhail may well have been left-handed, but Nicholas right-handed.

Are there any pictures of Mikhail playing tennis? I think that would be the clincher as George VI was forced to write right-handed, but still played tennis left-handed.

Ann

Offline thebelgianhare

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Re: Was the Tsar Nicholas II Right or left Handed
« Reply #11 on: March 17, 2016, 04:19:12 PM »
there's a picture of him playing croquet (I don't know if that helps or not because I know nothing about croquet)...but i've not seen any of him playing tennis. Hmm, I'm getting obsessed with this now - it's our quest to find out haha. I'm hoping someone on the forum pips in and tells us the final answer once and for all. In the meantime I shall do some more sleuthing...

Offline thebelgianhare

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Re: Was the Tsar Nicholas II Right or left Handed
« Reply #12 on: March 17, 2016, 05:40:38 PM »
I put together some more instances of him using his left hand, if only to hold things

    


there is a painting and an accompanying photograph of him drawing inside whilst still a teenager but I can't remember which hand he was using. Though I'd presume the right hand if it was to be made into a painting afterwards


Unless he really was right-handed of course.

Offline thebelgianhare

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Re: Was the Tsar Nicholas II Right or left Handed
« Reply #13 on: March 17, 2016, 06:46:52 PM »
more


Offline DNAgenie

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Re: Was the Tsar Nicholas II Right or left Handed
« Reply #14 on: March 17, 2016, 10:22:29 PM »
You also need to beware of the situation (all too common) when pictures are printed in reverse orientation by mistake. this can mess things up considerably when considering which is right and which is left.