Tsarevich Aleksey Nikolaevich Romanov: biography, shooting

Alexei Tsarevich was born on August 12, 1904 in Peterhof and was shot on July 17, 1918 in Yekaterinburg. He was the fifth oldest child, the only heir to the male Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra Feodorovna.

About the character

Tsarevich Alexey Nikolaevich became a real gift for parents, as they waited for him for a really long time. Before that, four daughters were born, and the king needed a male heir.

The couple called out to the Lord. With their prayers, Aleksey Nikolaevich Romanov appeared. He was baptized in the Great Palace of Peterhof in 1904. Outwardly the young man was very handsome and handsome, even handsome. Despite all the hardships, he had a clean and open face. However, due to illness, excessive leanness was manifested.

By nature, the boy was easy-going, loved his family. They always found common ground, especially with Princess Maria. In his studies he achieved success, the languages were well given. The young man showed a lively mind and observation, he was able to be affectionate and enjoy life no matter what. His mother loved and surrounded him with care.

The heir more inclined to strict military behavior than the etiquette of the courtiers, assimilated the folk dialect. Was not a spender and even saved up things that seemed unnecessary at first glance, such as nails or ropes, with the aim of later adapting them for something.

The army attracted him. He did not go through food, he could eat ordinary soup, porridge and black bread - soldier's food. He even became a taster of soldier's cuisine. So you can say that ordinary soldiers in the Russian Empire ate the same way as the prince, whom all this was quite to his taste.

Impressions from Moscow

For eight years, Alexey Romanov did not leave the boundaries of St. Petersburg. He first visited Moscow in 1912, when he went there with his parents to open a monument to Alexander III, his grandfather.

Tsarevich was met in the Kremlin with the icon of the Mother of God, written especially for the visit. All the Moscow nobility rejoiced at this meeting, because they saw their future king, as was then believed. The boy also was pleased with the trip, as it was his first official exit in the rank of heir to the throne.

Military service

When the First World War was at its height, the tsarevich held the post of chief of some regiments and ataman of the troops of all Cossacks. Together with his father, they went to the army, where awards were given to fighters who distinguished themselves on the battlefield.

For his achievements in the service he was awarded the St. George medal of the 4th degree. However, the further development of the career had to be forgotten. On March 2, 1917, his father renounced the rights to the throne for himself and for his son. The throne was occupied by Mikhail Alexandrovich, Nikolay's younger brother.

This decision was made by the emperor, having consulted with the surgeon, who said that with the disease that pestered Alexei, one could live. However, in order to avoid any threat to health, it is better to refuse royal affairs.

Disease

All the children of Nicholas II, except Aleksei Nikolaevich, were absolutely healthy. However, the boy inherited hemophilia from his mother. This disease was found in many European rulers.

Doctors noticed a negative trend already in the autumn of 1904. Then the baby suffered from bleeding, which started from the navel. Any bruise or injury proved to be a real punishment for the Lord, since the gaps were not healed, the damaged tissues did not coalesce. At times even hematomas with an apple of a size were formed.

Alexei Tsarevich suffered from the fact that his skin did not stretch properly, because of pressure, blood circulation was disturbed. The problem was constantly formed clots. Nanny Tsarevich Alexei was forced to follow the boy and treat him very carefully. Minor scratches were covered with tight bandages that pulled blood vessels. However, there were cases when this was not enough. Once nasal bleeding almost ended for the prince death. He did not feel the pain.

Physical suffering

Alexey Romanov was exposed not only to external, but also internal bleeding. Basically they hit the joints. Thus, a very young boy turned into an invalid, as the blood was accumulating and could not get out by squeezing a nerve. Tissues, bones and tendons were destroyed. He could not move his limbs freely.

Biography of Tsarevich Alexei is really full of sorrows and trials from the very young age. He performed exercises, he was given a massage, but he could never be insured against a new trouble.

It would seem that the only salvation remained a destructive morphine, but the parents decided not to corrupt their son. So he could avoid pain only by losing consciousness. Tsarevich Alexei Nikolayevich lay in bed for weeks, clad in orthopedic appliances, straightening limbs, and also constantly taking baths from medicinal mud.

New trauma

The usual trip to the hunting grounds ended badly in 1912. When the boy sat in the boat, he injured his leg, there was a hematoma that did not go away for a long time. The doctors feared the worst.

A formal announcement was issued about this, in which, however, they did not mention which illness the young man suffers from. The fate of Tsarevich Alexei is full of gloom and suffering, and not simple childish joys. He could not even walk alone at any time. It was worn on the hands of a specially appointed person for this post.

The disease became particularly acute when the royal family was exiled to Tobolsk in 1918. Nikolay's children of the 2nd moved well. However, the prince again received internal trauma. Suffering from hemorrhage in the joints began. But the boy just wanted to play. Once he jumped and ran, as a result of which he hurt himself. More such a fun game he could not repeat, since he was a disabled person until his death.

Investigation

The life of the prince was cut short when he and the whole family were shot in Yekaterinburg. This happened in the Ipatiev House on the night of July 17 in 1918. One of the participants in this operation confirmed that the young man did not die at once, it took a second shot to kill him.

The canonization was carried out in 1981, but it was done by a foreign Orthodox community. The Moscow Patriarchate joined it only in 2000.

Also worth telling and about another interesting fact.

In 1991, the remains of the royal family were investigated. They did not identify the flesh and bones of the young man. This state of affairs is explained by the fact that he and the body of one of the sisters were burned.

In the summer of 2007, on the outskirts of the Pigletskovo log, near the main grave, found charred remains, which, according to investigators, belong to the children of the king. In 2008, an expert examination was conducted, on which E. Rogayev worked together with specialists from the United States. It was received confirmation of the belonging of these relics to the bodies of the heirs of the king. Until now, they are not loyal to the earth, because the ROC did not recognize them. Since 2011, burnt bodies were stored in the main archive of the state, and in 2015 they were transported to the men's Novospassky monastery in Moscow.

Unwritten history

Tsarevich Alexey Romanov canonized quite deservedly. He is revered as a martyr. Memorial Day - July 4, in accordance with the Julian calendar. In the summer of 2015, President Dmitry Medvedev issued a decree to carry out the reburial of Alexei and his sister Mary.

The church has many more questions about these remains. The story of Tsarevich Alexei can hardly be called joyful. A short life, but how much pain there is! While reading about the character of the young man, we can conclude that he evoked the sympathy not only of courtiers, but also of ordinary people. Perhaps, a wonderful king would have come from him, had it not been for the illness and the shooting.