Romanovals

Members of the Romanov family (7)

Nicholas, Alexandra, Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia, and Alexei.

How long did the Romanov dynasty rule?

about 300 years, 1600s to 1900s

what was Nicholas II like?

- family man but seen as a pushover
- not progressive
- autocratic
- not fit to be a ruler

Political overthrow

1. Romanovs rule - Nicholas is bad
2. 1905 - Nick agreed to creating a national representative assembly but he kept breaking rules
3. riots in 1907 led to Nicholas abdicating
4. replacement parliament last 7 months
5. civil war - Bolsheviks (communists) against parliament - Bolsheviks won

What happened to the Romanov family?

After Nicholas abdicated they were sentenced to house arrest. However following the civil war the Bolsheviks assassinated the family along with the doctor and 3 servants they had with them.

When were the graves found?

main grave found in 1979, however Anastasia and Alexei's graves weren't found until 2007

How was the family identified?

The bodies were found during the cold war so they weren't tested until 1991 when forensic DNA confirmed the discovery. Some were still skeptic but the second grave found in 2007 had the case re-examined and the theory confirmed.

Why was Tsar Nicholas II considered a bad ruler?

- bloody Sunday - women and children killed when begging for food
- unlimited power
- a strong secret police terrorized the people
- lost a war against Japan in 1904-5 (bankrupt and embarrassing)
- WWI was a disaster

How did the Romanovs die?

Told to gather belongings for a nocturnal departure and then were sent to the cellar where they stood together. Suddenly 11 or 12 heavily armed men entered and fired at the family. Originally buried together but the information was leaked so they started getting burned however time ran out so they were buried.

Where were they in houses arrest?

A house in the Ekaterinburg mountains.

Who is Ana Anderson?

A polish peasant who claimed to be Anastasia before her body was found. Proved false by DNA test.