Son of Nicholas 2 Alexey disease. Tsarevich Alexei Romanov: “If they kill, then so that they don’t torture for a long time ...

Tsesarevich ALEXEY (1904-?) and Philip SEMENOV (1904-1979)

Several times I published here materials about the younger children of Nikolai and Alexandra, Anastasia and Alexei, who were saved on the night of July 17, 1918.
As for Anastasia (1901-?), her very rare bilateral congenital deformity of the feet (congenital bilateral Hallux valgus), which Anna Anderson (1901-1984) also had, allows us to state with a high degree of probability (1:17 million) that Anastasia Romanova and Anna Anderson are one and the same person. None of the other (more than 30) well-known contenders for the "role" of Anastasia had this foot deformity.
We also note that the medical statistics in this case are more than a thousand times higher than the reliability of DNA tests, which in 1994-1997 allegedly showed that Anna Anderson was not related to the Royal Family and that the alleged remains of Anastasia were found near Yekaterinburg (in the Koptyakov forest ) and buried in St. Petersburg along with the remains of Nikolai, Alexandra, Olga and Tatiana in 1998.

HEMOPHILIA AND CRYPTORCHISM
As far as is known, there were a little more than ten contenders for the "role" of the rescued Alexei. One or two of them had the same blood disease - hemophilia, like Alexei, one or two - another rare disease, cryptorchidism (not omission of one testicle), which the Heir to the Throne also had.
However, only one of all applicants - Filipp Grigorievich Semenov - had both of these diseases, which is documented in his medical documents, in his medical history. By the way, the myths that none of the patients with hemophilia live long and that any severe wounds (external wounds) are fatal for them are false myths. There are cases of 50-year or more life expectancy of patients with hemophilia, and their survival after severe injuries:
http://tsarevich.spb.ru/hemo-about.php

As in the case of Anna-Anastasia, until recently it never occurred to any of the researchers to take an interest in the medical statistics of these diseases. Yes, everyone knew that both hemophilia and cryptorchidism are quite rare diseases, but none of the historians and researchers looked at the medical statistics.
Medical statistics of hemophilia, according to various sources, range from 1:8000 to 1:100,000; the medical statistic for cryptorchidism (for adults) is approximately 0.3%, or 1:333.
Therefore, at a minimum, only one person out of about 2,664,000 has both of these diseases (8000 x 333 = 2664000). Therefore, it is with this probability that we can assert that Filipp Semyonov was indeed, as he claimed, Alexei Romanov.

PHILIPP SEMENOV: 1949
It seems that Edward Radzinsky was the first to write about Philip Semenov in his book “Nicholas II. Life and death". On the Internet you can see articles about him:
http://www.trud.ru/trud.php?id=200205230862601

<<В январе 1949 года в республиканскую психиатрическую больницу Карелии с диагнозом «маниакальный депрессивный психоз» поступил Семёнов Филипп Григорьевич, заключённый одной из исправительных колоний, что вблизи города Медвежьегорска. В сопроводительных документах значилось, что он дважды перенёс инсульт с последующим параличом. Потом наступило улучшение в такой степени, что он мог даже ходить на работу. Однако 8 января заключённый внезапно почувствовал сильную головную боль, обратился в лагерный лазарет, где ему оказали помощь. А спустя некоторое время Семёнов засобирался куда-то ехать, ругал какого-то Белобородова, перестал узнавать окружающих, отказывался от пищи. Поэтому врач колонии и направил его в Петрозаводск, в психиатрическую клинику.
It is from this that the amazing story of this unusual patient, full of mysteries and mysticism, begins to be documented. His medical history has been preserved under number 64. The title page contains his last name, first name and patronymic, year of birth - 1904, nationality - Russian, profession - economist and financier. Further, the data of an objective examination are the same as in many patients of such clinics. If only this is somewhat distinctive - "consciousness is preserved, oriented in place and time."
After two or three days, the state of acute psychosis, with which Semyonov entered the clinic, completely disappeared. It was then that he told the doctors his "extraordinary" story, which they had heard a lot over the years of working with such a category of patients. In fact, he is Tsarevich Alexei Romanov, was rescued during the execution of the Royal Family, taken to Leningrad, lived there, then served in the Red Army as a cavalryman, studied at the institute after the war, worked as an economist in Central Asia. All his life he has been pursued by a certain Beloborodov, who knows his secret, it was he who forced Semyonov to commit theft, because of which he ended up in places of detention ...
Resident doctors Yulia Sologub and Dalila Kaufman talked to the “unusual” patient at the hospital for a long time. As Dalila Abramovna later said, he was a highly educated person who knew several foreign languages ​​and read a lot, especially the classics. During the entire period of his stay in a psychiatric hospital, Semyonov was calm, quite communicative, with a clear mind and correct behavior. Kaufman characterized the patient's revelations in this way - in quotation marks - he did not impose on anyone, this did not affect his behavior in any way, as is usually the case with such patients, which baffled the doctors.
And what was especially striking: Semyonov's medical history included a blood disease - a consequence of hemophilia, as well as the failure of one testicle. Like Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich Romanov! Two such coincidences were already enough to seriously draw attention to this mysterious patient of a psychiatric clinic. And if we add to this the fact that Semyonov was born in the same 1904 as the Tsarevich, and on his buttock he had a cruciform mark from a wound ... And he knew well all the palace ceremonies, knew the location of the Winter Palace rooms, the names and titles of all members royal family, much more from the palace life of the Romanovs and pre-revolutionary high society.
According to Philip Grigorievich, during the execution in Yekaterinburg, the “father” hugged him and pressed his face to him so that the boy would not see the trunks aimed at him. He was wounded in the buttock, lost consciousness and fell into a general pile of bodies...

PHILIPP SEMENOV: ROMANOV-IRIN-SEMENOV
But let us return to our Tsarevich from the hospice. He was saved and treated for a long time by some devoted person, possibly a monk. A few months later, strangers came and announced that from now on he would bear the surname Irin (an abbreviation of the words Name of the Romanovs - Name of the Nation).
Then the boy was brought to Petrograd, to some mansion supposedly on Millionnaya Street, where he accidentally heard that they were going to use him as a symbol of the unification of forces hostile to the new system. He did not want such a fate for himself and therefore fled from these people. On the Fontanka, they just signed up for the Red Army. Having added two years to himself, he joined the cavalry. Then he studied and worked as an economist. Married. I changed my last name to Semyonov, taking the documents of a relative of my wife ... Then there was a conclusion, a psychiatric hospital ...
Philip Semyonov was shown to one of the then best psychiatrists in the country, a professor from Leningrad, Samuil Gendelevich. The doctor, moreover, was also very competent in "royal" matters. He knew the location and purpose of the chambers of the Winter Palace and country residences of the beginning of the last century, the names and titles of all members of the royal family and its dynastic branches, all court positions, protocols of ceremonies adopted in the palace.
The trick questions that Gendelevich began to ask his patient did not lead to anything. Semyonov answered readily, without hesitation, giving more and more new details. Remain calm and dignified...
<…>
Here, however, the information about Semyonov, cited by Dalila Kaufman, somewhat diverges from the medical history of "Tsesarevich Alexei." From the entry made in it, it follows that F. G. Semyonov in April 1949, after a forensic medical examination, was sent to the psychiatric hospital of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. And this may mean that the study of his mysterious and delusional, as it was then believed, the legend was continued under even greater secrecy.
About all this, Dalila Kaufman wrote to the famous writer Edward Radzinsky, who was preparing a book about Nicholas II. And he dedicated Semyonov in his book “Lord ... save and pacify Russia. Nicholas II: life and death" a whole chapter, which he called "Guest", where he talks about this strange and mysterious man.
<…>
Filipp Grigorievich Semyonov was released from Penitentiary No. 1 in 1951. He died in 1979, just when the remains of the royal family were first discovered in the Urals. His widow Ekaterina Mikhailovna was convinced that her husband was the emperor's heir. And as Semyonov's adopted son recalled, his stepfather liked to wander around the city, he could stay in the Winter Palace for hours, he preferred antiques. He spoke reluctantly about his secret, only with the closest people. He did not have any deviations; he did not end up in a psychiatric hospital after the camp. He was fluent in German, French, English and Italian, wrote in ancient Greek.
Philip Grigorievich Semenov has long been gone, but his secret remains. There are many questions left in this story. In what schools could he have been taught so many languages? Why such amazing physiological and medical coincidences between him and Tsarevich Alexei, whose remains have not yet been found? For what kind of faults was Semyonov hidden in Stalin's camps for a long time? Who is Beloborodov, because of whom, allegedly, Semyonov gets into them?>>
These were excerpts from an article by Alexander Popov. As for Beloborodov, it is very likely that this is the same A.G. Beloborodov - the chairman of the Ural Council in 1918 ...
***
GENDELEVICH and FEDOROV
The question that arose in my mind after reading the chapter on Philip Semenov (from the book by E. Radzinsky) and the article by A. Popov was where the doctor Samuil Gendelevich came from (namely, he was the main actor identification of Semenov as Tsesarevich) - how could he know about hemophilia and cryptorchidism of the heir Alexei, and also had such extensive knowledge about the Royal Family? Maybe Gendelevich was familiar with one of the life doctors of the Imperial family who remained after 1917 in Russia?
Several well-known doctors of the Royal Family did not emigrate after 1917 and worked in the USSR. In particular, Sergei Petrovich Fedorov (1869-1936) immediately after the abdication of Nicholas changed his attitude towards him and then collaborated with the Bolsheviks. The same doctor Fedorov, who advised Nicholas II on the health of Alexei on March 2, 1917 in Pskov. He continued his career in the USSR, he was director of the Institute of Neurosurgery in Leningrad in 1929-1936. He was buried at the "Communist site" of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg.
There is no doubt that Professor S. Fedorov and Professor S. Gendelevich - two of the largest physicians in Leningrad of those years - knew each other and communicated on various issues. Fedorov also dealt with the problems of epilepsy and nervous diseases, where Gendelevich was the greatest specialist.
We can also confidently assume that Gendelevich had extensive knowledge about the life of the Tsar's court, about royal residences and palaces, about titles, etc. from Fedorov. Probably, they not only knew each other (as well-known doctors of Leningrad), but also were friends with each other.

CHILDREN OF F.SEMENOV
In addition to this article by A. Popov, I found my 1998 diary entries about documentary Impostors (directed by Alexander Gabnis):
Philip Semenov was married four times. The first time he married in 1930 (under the name Irin), his wife's name was Sophia. In this first marriage, three sons were born: Yuri, Vladimir and Konstantin. In Leningrad, he was found by A.G. Beloborodov - the same one who was the chairman of the presidium of the Ural Regional Council in 1918. He knew the secret and blackmailed Irina and demanded money. The family fled from his persecution to Samarkand, where Irin changed his surname to Semyonov. He worked as an accountant in Samarkand. However, Beloborodov found him in Samarkand as well and started extorting money again. Twice Semyonov informed Beloborodov of the location of the secret treasures of the Royal Family, but Beloborodov demanded money again and again. Semyonov began to steal government money and was sentenced to 3 years in prison. He escaped from prison. Then he was married a second time (to a certain Asya) and a third time (to a certain Anna Ivanovna). For some time he lived in Tbilisi, but Beloborodov found him there again. Traces of Beloborodov break off in 1938. In 1941 Semyonov was arrested again and this time he was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Further events are described in the article above.
Semyonov had no children after his first marriage. The fate of Vladimir and Konstantin is unknown. Perhaps they disappeared in the whirlwinds of the war of 1941-1945. His son Yuri was alive in 1998. Alexander Gabnis said that in 1994 the British allegedly performed a genetic examination on him with Prince Philip.
I found confirmation of this in the newspaper "Arguments and Facts" No. 36, September 5, 2007:
http://gazeta.aif.ru/online/aif/1401/45_01
“In the late 1990s, at the initiative of the English newspaper Daily Express, the eldest son, Yuri, donated blood for a genetic examination. Peter Gil took her to the Aldermasten Laboratory (England). DNA of the "grandson" of Nicholas II Yuri Filippovich Semyonov and English prince Philip was compared. Of the three tests, two matched, and the third was neutral.
As far as is known, Yuri Filippovich Semenov did not claim the Russian throne and a place in the House of Romanov. He only wanted to know the truth. It seems that in 1998 he was going to leave Russia forever (?).

FILATOV, KHAMMET, SEMENOV.
In total, since 1918, 11 “applicants-Alexeevs” were known. The most likely contenders are Philip Semyonov (died in 1979) and Vasily Filatov (died in 1988), as well as Heino Tammet (he had cryptorchidism, but did not suffer from hemophilia). The son of Vasily Filatov, Oleg lives in St. Petersburg to the present. Outwardly, he is very similar to Nicholas II. More details about the history of Vasily Filatov can be found in the book of O.V. Filatov himself “The History of the Soul, or a Portrait of an Epoch. The fate of Tsarevich Alexei, son of the Emperor of Russia Nicholas II ”(St. Petersburg, 2000). A genetic examination carried out in Germany seemed to confirm the relationship of the Filatovs with those victims whose remains were solemnly buried in St. Petersburg in 1998. However, the Russian Orthodox Church and several major domestic and foreign researchers still do not recognize these remains as the remains of members of the Royal Family. Some researchers (like V. Wiener from Yekaterinburg) have long argued that these are just the remains of members of the twin family of the Tsar's family - the Filatov family, which was also shot in Yekaterinburg in July 1918 ...
I do not know which of the three (F. Semenov or V. Filatov, or Heino Tammet) could be the surviving Tsarevich Alexei. However, medical statistics speak convincingly for Philip Semenov.

Boris Romanov

P.S. On October 20, 2015, I received a review of this article from journalist Vasily Veikka Ivanov. I reproduce it below in its entirety:
"In your publication, you refer to Alexander Popov. I only dare to assure you that his name is not Alexander, but Alexei. For me, he is no author<...>. The article, excerpts from which you are citing, was largely copied from my publications in 1997-98 and 99. Having visited the Karelian Republican Hospital, one might say, on my own initiative and on the instructions of the editors of the Sever magazine, I literally spent a whole month sitting in the medical archive of the hospital and manually copying many pages from the Case History (heir). My first publication was in August 1997 in the Gubernia weekly, and then in the May (1998) issue of the Sever magazine, and it was called Heir to the Throne or Impostor? Then I worked in the Archives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Popov would not be allowed there - he is not a journalist, but a fan of collecting all sorts of things about UFOs). On Proza Ru, but relatively recently, I published these materials. Moreover, I also had photographs of F. Semyonov himself printed in a magazine and newspapers. Now, unfortunately, I have not preserved them, but the events of recent times make me think that I will resume my search."

The full review of V. Veikka Ivanov can be read in the reviews section of this article, and the article by V. Veikka Ivanov himself "Heir to the Throne or an Impostor?" can be read at Proza.Ru.

July 17th, 2016 admin

Tsarevich Alexei was a long-awaited child in the family. After the birth of four daughters, Olga, Tatyana, Maria and Anastasia, the difference between them was two years, the emperor and the empress really wanted a son who would become the heir to the throne.

Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra were deeply religious people. They fervently prayed for the birth of an heir to the elder Seraphim of Sarov, who had long been revered in the royal family.

Count Witte wrote: They say that they were sure that the Sarov saint would give Russia an heir after the four Grand Duchesses. This came true and finally and unconditionally strengthened the faith of Their Majesties in the holiness of the truly pure Elder Seraphim. A large portrait appeared in His Majesty's study - the image of St. Seraphim.

Heir to the throne Tsarevich Alexei was born on July 30 (August 12), 1904, in Peterhof. According to one version, the crown prince was named after the Moscow Metropolitan Alexy, according to another - in honor of the second Russian tsar from the Romanov dynasty Alexei Mikhailovich (1629 - 1676). It is known that Nicholas II considered Alexei Mikhailovich one of the best Russian sovereigns. Although Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich was called "Quiet" he firmly and steadily pursued a tough policy, annexed the Left-Bank Ukraine and purposefully expanded the borders of Russia to the Pacific Ocean. At a costume ball in 1903, a year before the birth of his son, Nicholas II was dressed in royal clothes of the 17th century and represented the image of Alexei Mikhailovich.

Aleksey's hemophilia is inherited from great-grandmother Victoria.

However, the birth of his son Alexei did not bring peace to the imperial family. Two months after the birth of Tsarevich Alexei, heavy bleeding began, which could not be stopped for a long time. Doctors told the crowned parents a terrible diagnosis: hemophilia. Hemophilia is a hereditary disease in which the mechanism of blood clotting is impaired. The patient suffers from bleeding even with minor injuries and sudden hemorrhages in the internal organs and joints, which leads to their inflammation and destruction. Patients with hemophilia no longer suffer from external, but from internal bleeding. In this disease, the lining of the arteries is so thin that even a minor injury can cause rupture of the vessels and profuse bleeding. Earlier, Alexandra Feodorovna's three-year-old brother died of hemophilia, because hemophilia is inherited.

The first carrier of the disease hemophilia was the English Queen Victoria (1819 -1901) reigning for more than 63 years - the last representative of the unfortunate Hanoverian dynasty and the ancestor of the ruling House of Windsor in Britain to this day. Uncle Leopold married his nephew Albert and niece Victoria- this closely related relationship led to the appearance of a disease in the genus - hemophilia. Last years Victoria's life was overshadowed by the death of her son Alfred, the serious illness of her daughter Victoria and the death of two grandchildren.

Queen Victoria of England was a carrier of hemophilia. Victoria's son Leopold died of hemophilia at the age of 30, and two of her five daughters, Alice and Beatrice, were carriers of this ill-fated gene, passing it on to their children. And with each generation, the number of these victims of hemophilia has increased.

heir to the Russian throne and granddaughter of Queen Victoria - Princess Alice of Hesse-Darmstadt, carrier of hemophilia, entered into a dynastic marriage on January 17, 1895

Grigory Rasputin

The hemophilia of the heir to the throne was also associated with the proximity to the court of Grigory Rasputin, who managed to quickly stop the bleeding.

The maid of honor of the Empress, Anna Vyrubova, wrote about one of the most severe cases of bleeding of Tsarevich Alexei, who was bleeding from his nose: “Professor Fedorov and Dr. Derevenko fussed around him, but the blood did not subside. Fedorov told me that he wanted to try the last resort - to get some kind of iron from guinea pigs. The Empress knelt beside the bed, puzzling over what to do next. Returning home, I received a note from her with an order to call Grigory Efimovich. He arrived at the palace and went with his parents to Alexei Nikolaevich. According to their stories, he went up to the bed, crossed the Heir, telling his parents that there was nothing serious and they had nothing to worry about, turned and left. The bleeding has stopped."

Rasputin did not even touch the heir, but began to earnestly pray, after which the bleeding stopped. However, sometimes Rasputin also used natural remedies. Anna Vyrubova recalled that during one of the bleedings, the “old man” took out a lump of tree bark from his pocket, boiled it in boiling water and covered the entire face of the boy with this mass. The bleeding has stopped. In this case, obviously, Rasputin used the tannic properties of oak bark, which helps stop bleeding.

"The prince is alive while I am alive" - said Grigory Rasputin, and he was right. Tsarevich Alexei survived the elder by only a year and a half.

Seven nannies...

Due to the terrible illness of Alexei, to him with early years bodyguards were assigned: two sailors with imperial yacht, boatswain Derevenko and his assistant Klimenty Nagorny.

At the age of seven, Tsarevich Alexei began to study. The empress herself supervised his studies, she also chose teachers for her beloved son. The confessor of the imperial family, Archpriest Alexander Vasiliev, became the teacher of the law, Alexei, the Russian language was taught by Privy Councilor P.V. Petrov, arithmetic - State Councilor E.P. Tsytovich, tutor and teacher French was a French teacher and tutor - Pierre Gilliard, English language the heir to the throne was taught by Ch. Gibbs, as well as Alexandra Fedorovna herself.

In the classroom where the training took place, Tsarevich Alexei liked to take his pets - a dog named Joy and a cat Kotik.

The character of Tsarevich Alexei.

The playful and active Alexei, however, knew etiquette well and knew how to conduct a secular conversation with high-ranking people, but with no less tact he could communicate with peasants and city officials.

Tsarevich Alexei loved to play pranks. Georgy Shavelsky writes in his memoirs: Sitting at the table, the boy often threw clods of bread at the generals. Once, at breakfast, the Heir took butter from a saucer on his finger, smeared it on the neck of his neighbor, Grand Duke Georgy Mikhailovich.

In order for Alexei to have the opportunity to see life from different angles, his tutor Pierre Gilliard often arranged car trips around the neighborhood with his pupil.

The main passion of Tsarevich Alexei was everything related to military affairs, the army and navy.

He often acted out battles and maneuvers, and he did everything "according to science", explaining to others everything that was happening.

Alexei even had his own "company", made up of 25 local high school students of the age of the Tsarevich.

During the First World War, he went with his father to the headquarters of the army.

Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna with their children, Tsarevich Alexei and Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia, .

Tsesarevich Alexei visited the Evpatoria sandy beach near the summer residence of the Evpatoria mayor Semyon Ezrovich Duvan. Playing in the sand, Alexey built a sand castle, for a long time this place was guarded by Yevpatoriya gymnasiums.

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the visit to the city of Evpatoria by the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II and the royal family in 1916, on May 16, a monument to Emperor Nicholas II was unveiled on the embankment named after Valentina Tereshkova in Evpatoria.

The death of the royal family.

From March 8, 1917, the royal family was under arrest in Tsarskoye Selo. August 1 - exiled to Tobolsk, where she was under arrest in the governor's house.

In exile, in the Tobolsk house, an old dream of Nicholas II came true - he himself was engaged in raising his son, taught him history and other sciences. The lessons of his father continued for Alexei in the Yekaterinburg house, where the royal family was moved in the spring of 1918.

The disease of Tsarevich Alexei followed him and worsened. In Tobolsk, Alexei fell down the stairs and was badly hurt, after which he could not walk for a long time. In Yekaterinburg, his illness worsened even more.

Alexei, like his crowned parents, was a deeply religious person. Icons hung on a gold chain at the head of his bed, and he often prayed and attended worship services, sitting in an armchair, even when he could not walk.

Before his 14th birthday, Tsarevich Alexei did not live only a few weeks. On the night of July 17, 1918, the lad Alexei was killed along with his parents and sisters in the basement of the Ipatiev House in Yekaterinburg.

July 17, 1918 - Day of the ritual murder of the Royal Martyrs: Tsar Nicholas, Tsarina Alexandra, Tsarevich Alexy, Tsarevna Martyrs Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia, and their faithful servants: the life physician Evgeny Sergeyevich Botkin, the lackey Alexei Yegorovich Troupp, the court cook Ivan Mikhailovich Kharitonov and the room girl of the Empress Anna Stepanovna Demidova.

In 2000 Russian Orthodox Church canonized and canonized Nicholas II and members of his family as saints. In August 2000, the canonization of the holy martyr took place. Tsarevich Alexy.

Pay attention to the unusual coincidence: “Day of Sorrow” - July 17 - the day of the murder of the last Russian Tsar coincided with the Memorial Day of the Holy Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, who was the first Russian Tsar and perished martyred July 17, 1174. Andrei Bogolyubsky strengthened and united the Russian land, and spreading Christianity. St. Andrew Bogolyubsky founded a spiritual center Northeast Russia: « I built up White Russia with cities and villages and made it populous.

St. Tsarevich Alexei

The long-awaited heir to the Throne was born a year after visiting the Royal Family of Sarov on the days of the glorification of St. Seraphim of Sarov. At the same time, the blessed holy fool Pasha Sarovskaya, famous throughout Russia for the sake of Christ, in a personal conversation with the August Family, predicted her tragic death in the days of the anti-monarchist revolution. A small consolation was the promise of the birth of an heir, when Paraskeva Ivanovna took a piece of red cloth from the bed and said to the Tsaritsa: “This is for your little son in his pants, and when he is born, then you will believe what I told you about.”

The birth of Alexei took place at the very height of the Russo-Japanese War, and all the soldiers of the active army that day were declared to be godparents. Thus, the Sovereign Emperor Nicholas II initially instilled in his son an inextricable connection with the people. Another manifestation of it was that on the eve of Christmas Eve, December 23, 1905, the Sovereign and the Heir to the Throne, Tsarevich Alexei, became members of the Union of the Russian People.

This happened during the Imperial Reception by the Emperor of the delegation of the RNC, which was headed by the chairman of the Union, Alexander Ivanovich Dubrovin. The Sovereign and the Heir accepted from him the signs of the members of the Union presented to them. Although at that time the Heir Alexei was still a baby, there is evidence that later he often wore the badge of a member of the RNC.

According to a long tradition, the Russian Tsar first of all had to know military science and be a soldier. Therefore, Alexei was taught this from childhood. From the age of two and a half, he was listed as a cadet of the 1st Cadet Corps, and at first he learned military tricks from his “uncles” - boatswain Derevenko and sailors Ivan Sednev and Klimenty Nagorny. Alexei had a lot of soldiers and toy military equipment in the children's room, military maps hung. He had a reduced model of a real Russian rifle, which was made for him at one of the gun factories.

With this gun, he showed tricks like a skilled non-commissioned officer. The prince could play wars, parades and maneuvers for hours. When in the summer the Royal Family left for the Crimea, to the Livadia Palace, where the Emperor worked and everyone else rested, Tsarevich Alexei, together with the sons of the lower army ranks, did gymnastics several times a week, marched, studied military affairs, sang soldiers' songs. Together they cooked potato soup and buckwheat porridge on a fire in a soldier's cauldron.

To the first world war in August 1915, the Emperor personally took command of the troops and left for Headquarters in Mogilev. The prince came here in autumn. They lived in a small room in the governor's house, quite plain. It contained two hard camp beds and several chairs. When the Sovereign left for headquarters in the morning, Tsarevich Alexei was taught lessons by his teacher: in the Russian language and Russian literature, French and English, arithmetic, history, geography, natural history and the Law of God. Walking in the city garden, Alexey made friends with local high school students and cadets, his peers. He would come here after school and arrange war games with them.

The sovereign wanted to raise the spirit of the troops by the fact that the Tsarevich was next to him at Headquarters and went to combat positions. The boy communicated with the wounded and was able to feel the cruelty of the war. At one of the positions there was a review of units of the troops, and the Sovereign ordered those who had been in the ranks since the beginning of the campaign to raise their hands. Only a few hands rose above the thousand-strong crowd... The Tsarevich was deeply shocked by all this. He was in the line of fire and was awarded the St. George medal "For Courage" for this, and also received the rank of corporal.

Tsarevich Alexy, by tradition, was the ataman of all Cossack troops, chief of the Life Guards of the Ataman Regiment, the Life Guards of Finland, the 51st Lithuanian Infantry, the 12th East Siberian Rifle Regiments and other military units. To have the Tsarevich as a chief was a special distinction and was considered an honor.

The Tsarevich discovered a rare disease inherited from the maternal side: blood incoagulability. One could die from the slightest cut or bruise. This left an imprint on the life of the Royal family and especially on the behavior of the mother. For the sake of her son, Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna was ready to attract any healers, including the peasant Grigory Rasputin, who had healing abilities. The enemies of the monarchy have inflated this circumstance to the point of a slanderous campaign on an all-Russian scale...

With the forcible abdication of Sovereign Nicholas II from the throne, he intended to transfer the kingdom to his son, as prescribed by the law on succession to the throne. However, after consulting with a doctor, the Sovereign decided that with such a dangerous illness of Alexei, this would be impossible, and transferred power to his brother Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich. Of course, this was illegal from the point of view of the Basic Laws of the Empire, just like the renunciation itself. All the more blatantly illegal was the transfer by the brother of the Tsar of the decision of the fate of the monarchical statehood itself to the "will of the people" (the Constituent Assembly).

Grand Duke Mikhail was forced to do this by the Februaryist revolutionaries, who themselves recognized the illegitimacy of this act. So, V.D. Nabokov, one of the drafters of Mikhail's refusal, admitted that no one had the right to "deprive the throne of that person [Tsarevich Alexei] who, by law, has a right to it." Therefore, the conspirators "did not see the center of gravity in the legal force of the formula, but only in its moral and political significance" - this is an important recognition from the point of view of the illegitimacy of all subsequent Russian authorities.

On March 4, having learned about such an act of his brother, the Sovereign announced that he had changed his mind and agreed to the accession to the Throne of Tsarevich Alexei under the regency of his brother. But General Alekseev did not send this telegram to the Provisional Government, "so as not to confuse the minds," since the renunciations had already been published. (Colonels V.M. Pronin and D.N. Tikhobrazov, General A.I. Denikin, and historian G.M. Katkov wrote about this little-known but extremely important episode.)

After the overthrow of the monarchy, Tsarevich Alexei experienced all the humiliations that befell the Royal Family and accepted a martyr's death with her. He was not yet 14 years old at the time.

“There is not a single bad or vicious trait in the soul of this child; The Russian land will receive not only a wonderful and intelligent Sovereign, but also a wonderful person,” wrote Tsarevich Alexei’s educator Pierre Gilliard… Tsarevich Alexei was canonized together with the entire Royal Family and their sacrificial servants in 1981 by the Russian Church Abroad.

A gun salute rolled across Russia, from Kronstadt in the Baltic, from St. Petersburg and from Peterhof - a child was born in the royal residence. Four times in the last decade, shots of these guns were heard - at intervals of two years, four daughters were born to Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna. And finally, on August 12, 1904, 300 shots of a gun salute announced to Russia that the newborn was a boy.

In the summer of 1903, Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna were present at the Sarov celebrations, but they behaved like simple pilgrims, fervently praying to St. Seraphim about giving them a son. Their prayer merged with the fiery prayer of the people. Exactly one year later, on August 12, 1904, Tsarevich Alexei was born and became the favorite of the whole family. The child was born strong, healthy, "with thick golden hair and large blue eyes."

However, the joy was soon overshadowed by the news that the Tsarevich had incurable disease- hemophilia, which constantly threatened his life. Even when it was possible to control external bleeding and save the boy from the slightest scratches, which could be fatal, nothing could be done about internal hemorrhages - they caused excruciating pain in the bones and joints.

This required from the family a huge strain of mental and physical strength, boundless faith and humility. During an exacerbation of the disease in 1912, the doctors pronounced a hopeless sentence on the boy, but the Sovereign humbly answered questions about the health of the Tsarevich: “We hope in God.”

The heir was an unusually handsome and intelligent child with an open soul, traces of physical suffering were visible on his thin face. The empress taught her son to pray: at exactly 9 o'clock in the evening he went up to his room with his mother, read prayers aloud and went to bed, overshadowed by her banner of the cross.

who knew closely, Royal Family faces noted the nobility of the character of the Tsarevich, his kindness and responsiveness. “There is not a single vicious trait in the soul of this child,” said one of his teachers.

The only son of Emperor Nicholas II, given by God in response to a long, zealous parental prayer, probably, without exaggeration, can be called the most attractive and most unsolved child figure in Russian history. “During the baptism, a wonderful incident occurred with the baby, which attracted the attention of all those present,” wrote Abbot Seraphim (Kuznetsov). “When the newborn crown prince was anointed with holy myrrh, he raised his hand and extended his fingers, as if blessing those present.” What could this boy be if he lived to adulthood? One can only assume that Russia was implored great king. But history does not know the turn “if only”. And although we understand that the figure of the young Tsarevich Alexei is too bright and unusual, we nevertheless turn to his bright image, wanting to find an example for teaching and imitation in the relationship of this boy with the outside world.

Attitude towards women is the best way to test the nobility of a man. He must treat every woman with respect, regardless of whether she is rich or poor, high or low in social position, and show her all kinds of signs of respect,” Empress Alexandra Feodorovna wrote in her diary. She could write such words with confidence: an example of male nobility, a chivalrous attitude towards a woman was always before her eyes - her husband, Emperor Nicholas.

It is very important that the little Tsarevich Alexei from childhood could see a respectful attitude towards women on the part of a man whose authority was indisputable for him. The sovereign did not disregard even the smallest things, thanks to which it was possible to teach his son a lesson.

Klavdia Mikhailovna Bitner, who gave lessons to the heir in Tobolsk, recalled him: he combined the features of his father and mother. From his father he inherited his simplicity. There was no self-satisfaction, arrogance, arrogance in him at all. He was simple. But he had a great will and would never submit to outside influence. Here is the sovereign, if he again took power, I am sure he would forget and forgive the actions of those soldiers who were known in this regard. Alexei Nikolaevich, if he had received power, he would never have forgotten or forgiven them, and would have drawn the appropriate conclusions.

He understood a lot and understood people. But he was reserved and reserved. He was terribly patient, very careful, disciplined and demanding of himself and others. He was kind, like his father, in the sense that he did not have the ability in his heart to do evil in vain. At the same time, he was frugal. One day he was sick, he was served a dish that he shared with the whole family, which he did not eat because he did not like this dish. I was outraged. How can they not cook a separate meal for a child when he is sick. I said something. He answered me: "Well, here's another one. You don't have to spend money because of me alone."

Anna Taneeva: “The life of Alexei Nikolaevich was one of the most tragic in the history of the royal children. He was a charming, affectionate boy, the most beautiful of all children. Parents and his nanny Maria Vishnyakova spoiled him very much in early childhood. And this is understandable, since it was very difficult to see the constant suffering of the little one; whether he hit his head or hand on the furniture, a huge blue swelling immediately appeared, indicating an internal hemorrhage, which caused him severe suffering. When he began to grow up, his parents explained his illness to him, asking him to be careful. But the heir was very lively, loved the games and amusements of the boys, and it was often impossible to keep him. “Give me a bicycle,” he asked his mother. “Alexei, you know that you can’t!” - "I want to learn to play tennis like sisters!" "You know you don't dare to play." Sometimes Alexey Nikolaevich cried, repeating: “Why am I not like all the boys?”.

He needed to be surrounded by special care and concern. That is why, on the orders of doctors, two sailors from the imperial yacht were assigned to him as bodyguards: boatswain Derevenko and his assistant Nagorny. His teacher and mentor Pierre Gilliard recalls:

“Aleksei Nikolaevich had great vivacity of mind and judgment and a lot of thoughtfulness. He sometimes struck me with questions above his age, which testified to a delicate and sensitive soul. In the little capricious being, as he seemed at first, I discovered a child with a heart naturally loving and sensitive to suffering, because he himself had already suffered a lot.

The upbringing of any boy as the future head of the family should consist in the upbringing of responsibility, independence, the ability to make a decision in the right situation, without looking back at anyone. At the same time, it is necessary to cultivate compassion and sensitivity and important property- The ability to listen to other people's opinions. The boy needs to be prepared for the role of husband, father and master of the house. For Tsarevich Alexei, the whole of Russia was such a home.

“The queen inspired her son that everyone is equal before God and should not be proud of their position, but they must be able to behave nobly without humiliating their position” (Hegumen Seraphim (Kuznetsov). “Orthodox Martyr Tsar”). If the mother had not put any effort into this, then the position of the educator of the heir, which was already difficult, would become even more difficult.

“I understood more clearly than ever how much the conditions of the environment interfered with the success of my efforts. I had to contend with the subservience of the servants and the ridiculous admiration of some of those around me. And I was even very surprised, seeing how the natural simplicity of Alexei Nikolayevich withstood these immoderate praises.

I remember how a deputation of peasants from one of the central provinces of Russia once came to bring gifts to the heir to the Tsarevich. The three men of which she consisted, by order given in a whisper by the boatswain Derevenko, knelt down in front of Alexei Nikolaevich to hand him their offerings. I noticed the embarrassment of the child, who blushed crimson. As soon as we were alone, I asked him if he was pleased to see these people in front of him on their knees. "Ah, no! But Derevenko says that's how it's supposed to be!"

I then spoke with the boatswain, and the child was delighted that he was freed from what was a real nuisance for him.

I. Stepanov recalls: “In the last days of January 1917, I was in the Tsar's Alexander Palace with the tutor of the heir Gilliard, and together with him we went to the Tsarevich. Aleksey Nikolaevich and some cadet were playing a lively game near a large toy fortress. They deployed soldiers, fired cannons, and all their lively conversation was full of modern military terms: a machine gun, an airplane, heavy artillery, trenches, and so on. However, the game soon ended, and the heir and the cadet began to examine some books. Then the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna entered ... All this furnishings in the children's two rooms of the heir was simple and did not at all give an idea that the future Russian Tsar lives and receives his initial upbringing and education. Maps hung on the walls, there were bookcases, there were several tables and chairs, but all this was simple, modest to the extreme.

“Aleksey was a very affectionate boy. Nature endowed him with a penetrating mind. He was sensitive to the suffering of others because he himself suffered so much. But constant surveillance irritated and humiliated him. Fearing that the boy would begin to cheat and deceive in order to elude the constant supervision of the guardian, I asked for more freedom for Alexei to develop internal discipline and self-control in the boy.

The maid of honor of the Empress A. A. Vyrubova noted that “frequent suffering and involuntary self-sacrifice developed in the character of Alexei Nikolayevich pity for everyone who was sick, as well as amazing respect for the Mother and all elders.” The heir had a deep affection and reverence for his sovereign Father and considered the days spent under Nicholas II at headquarters in Mogilev the happiest time.

He was alien to arrogance and pride, he easily played with the children of his sailor uncle, while Alexei learned early that he was the future Tsar and, being in the company of noble and close to the Sovereign persons, he had a consciousness of his royalty.

Once, when he was playing with the Grand Duchesses, he was informed that the officers of his sponsored regiment had come to the palace and asked permission to see the Tsarevich. The six-year-old Heir, leaving the fuss with the sisters, said with a serious look: “Girls, go away, the Heir will have a reception.”

It happened that even in the days of illness, the Heir had to be present at official ceremonies, and then at a brilliant parade, among strong and healthy people, the Tsarevich was carried past the ranks of troops in his arms by the tallest and most powerful Cossack.

Teacher Pierre Gilliard described the behavior of the 13-year-old Heir at the news of the fall of the monarchy: “But who will be the Emperor? - "I don't know, now - no one"... Not a single word about myself, not a single hint of my rights as the Heir. He blushed deeply and was worried. After a few minutes of silence, he says: "If there is no more Emperor, who will govern Russia?" Once again I am amazed at the modesty and generosity of this child.

Alexey Nikolaevich, speaking to me, recalled our conversation with him when he was on a train with the sovereign in the fall of 1915 in southern Russia: “Remember, you told me that in Novorossia Catherine the Great, Potemkin and Suvorov tied Russian influence and Turkish the sultan lost his importance forever in the Crimea and the southern steppes. I liked this expression, and at the same time I told my dad about it. I always tell him what I like. "

In the summer of 1911, Pierre Gilliard became Alexei's French teacher and mentor. This is how Gilliard spoke about his pupil: “Aleksy Nikolayevich was then nine and a half years old, for his age he was quite tall. He had an oblong face with regular, soft features, brown hair with a reddish tinge, and large gray-blue eyes, like his mother. He sincerely enjoyed life - when she allowed it - and was cheerful and playful ... He was very resourceful, and he had a penetrating, sharp mind. Sometimes I was simply amazed at his age-old serious questions - they testified to subtle intuition. It was not difficult for me to understand that everyone around, those who did not need to force him to change habits and accustom him to discipline, constantly experienced his charm and were simply fascinated by him .... I found a child with a nature of good nature, sympathizing with the suffering of others precisely because he himself experienced terrible suffering ... "

We think that these sufferings of his were, in essence, suffering for Russia. The boy wanted to be strong and courageous in order to become a real king in his beloved country. According to the memoirs of S. Ofrosimova, “often an exclamation escaped from him: "When I am king, there will be no poor and unfortunate, I want everyone to be happy".

Ready to fool around and during the church service, he was very religious. In the spring of 1915, the empress wrote to Nicholas during Alexei's illness that he was most concerned about whether he could be in the service on Maundy Thursday. Everyone who witnessed the difficult minutes (and sometimes difficult hours) of the disease noted the great patience of the prince.

It was especially clearly manifested that the boy cared a lot about Russia, but little about himself, in the episode told by Gilliard. However, the modesty of the little prince did not at all interfere with his awareness of himself as the heir to the throne. The episode, about which S. Ya. Ofrosimova told, is quite well known: “The Tsarevich was not a proud child, although the thought that he was the future king filled his whole being with the consciousness of his highest destiny. When he was in the company of noble people and those close to the sovereign, he had a consciousness of his royalty.

Once the crown prince entered the office of the sovereign, who at that time was talking with the minister. At the entrance of the heir, the interlocutor of the sovereign did not find it necessary to get up, but only, rising from his chair, gave the prince a hand. The heir, offended, stopped in front of him and silently put his hands behind his back; this gesture did not give him an arrogant look, but only a regal, expectant pose. The Minister involuntarily stood up and drew himself up to his full height in front of the Tsarevich. To this the Tsarevich responded with a polite shake of the hand. Having told the emperor something about his walk, he slowly left the office, the emperor looked after him for a long time and finally said with sadness and pride: “Yes. It will not be so easy for you to deal with him as with me.”

According to the memoirs of Yulia Den, Alexei, while still a very young boy, was already aware that he was the heir:

“Her Majesty insisted that the Tsarevich, like his sisters, be brought up quite naturally. V Everyday life heir, everything happened casually, without any ceremony, he was the son of his parents and the brother of his sisters, although sometimes it was funny to watch him pretend to be an adult. Once, when he was playing with the Grand Duchesses, he was informed that the officers of his sponsored regiment had come to the palace and were asking for permission to see the Tsarevich. A six-year-old child, immediately leaving the fuss with the sisters, with an important look said: “Girls, go away, the heir will have a reception.”

Claudia Mikhailovna Bitner said: “I don’t know if he thought about power. I had a conversation with him about this. I said to him: "And if you reign?" He answered me: "No, it's over forever." I said to him: "Well, what if it happens again, if you reign?" He answered me: "Then it is necessary to arrange so that I know more about what is happening around." I once asked him what he would do with me then. He said that he would build a large hospital, appoint me to manage it, but he himself would come and "interrogate" about everything, whether everything is in order. I'm sure he'd be in order."

Yes, it can be assumed that under the sovereign Alexei Nikolaevich there would have been order. This tsar could be very popular among the people, since the will, discipline and awareness of his own high position were combined in the nature of the son of Nicholas II with kindness and love for people.

A. A. Taneeva: “The heir took an ardent part if some grief struck the servants. His Majesty was also compassionate, but he did not actively express it, while Alexei Nikolaevich did not calm down until he immediately helped. I remember a case with a cook who for some reason was denied a position. Aleksey Nikolaevich somehow found out about this and pestered his parents all day until they ordered the cook to be taken back. He defended and stood up like a mountain for all his people.

On July 28, 1914, Austria declared war on Serbia and, despite the fact that Kaiser Wilhelm and the Emperor of Russia exchanged telegrams, on the evening of August 1, Germany declared war on Russia. Aleksey was aware that war is a horror, but his own life became much more interesting: the sailors changed to a soldier's uniform, and he was presented with a model rifle.

At the end of October, the tsar, Alexei and his retinue departed for Headquarters in Mogilev. Alexandra Feodorovna, like Nicholas II, believed: if the soldiers could personally see the Heir, this would raise their morale. The sovereign hoped that such a trip would broaden the horizons of the Tsesarevich, and in the future he would understand what this war had cost Russia. At the review of the troops in Rezhitsa, Gilliard watched Alexei, who did not leave his father and listened attentively to the stories of the soldiers ... “The presence of the Heir next to the tsar greatly excited the soldiers ... equal to any young man who was in military service, ”Gilliard writes in his diary.

S. Ya. Ofrosimova: “The heir to the Tsarevich had a very soft and kind heart. He was passionately attached not only to those close to him, but also to the simple employees around him. None of them saw from him arrogance and harsh treatment. He especially quickly and ardently became attached to ordinary people. His love for Uncle Derevenko was tender, hot and touching. One of his greatest pleasures was to play with the uncle's children and be among ordinary soldiers. With interest and deep attention he peered into life ordinary people, and often he exclaimed: "When I am king, there will be no poor and unfortunate, I want everyone to be happy."

The Tsarevich's favorite food was "shchi and porridge and black bread, which all my soldiers eat," as he always said. Every day they brought him samples of cabbage soup and porridge from the soldiers' kitchen of the Consolidated Regiment; the crown prince ate everything and licked the spoon. Beaming with pleasure, he said: "This is delicious - not like our lunch." Sometimes, eating almost nothing at the royal table, he quietly made his way with his dog to the buildings of the royal kitchen and, knocking on the glass of the windows, asked the cooks for a slice of black bread and secretly shared it with his curly favorite.

P. Gilliard: “We left immediately after breakfast, often stopping at the exit of oncoming villages to watch how the peasants work. Alexei Nikolayevich liked to question them; they answered him with the good nature and simplicity characteristic of a Russian peasant, completely unaware of whom they were talking to.

Sovereign Emperor Nicholas himself did a lot to educate in his son attention and compassion for people. Gilliard recalled the time when the Tsarevich was with the sovereign at Headquarters: “On the way back, having learned from General Ivanov that there was an advanced dressing station nearby, the sovereign decided to go straight there.

We drove into a dense forest and soon noticed a small building, dimly lit by the red light of torches. The sovereign, accompanied by Alexei Nikolaevich, entered the house, approached all the wounded and talked with them with great kindness. His sudden visit at such a late hour and so close to the front line caused astonishment to be expressed on all faces. One of the soldiers, who had just been put back to bed after bandaging, looked intently at the sovereign, and when the latter bent over him, he raised his only healthy hand to touch his clothes and make sure that he really was the king, and not vision. Alexei Nikolayevich stood a little behind his father. He was deeply shocked by the groans that he heard and the suffering that he guessed around him.

The heir adored his father, and the sovereign in his “happy days” dreamed of raising his son himself. But for a number of reasons this was impossible, and Mr. Gibbs and Monsieur Gilliard became the first mentors of Alexei Nikolayevich. Subsequently, when circumstances changed, the sovereign managed to fulfill his desire.

He gave lessons to the Tsarevich in a gloomy house in Tobolsk. The lessons continued in the poverty and squalor of Yekaterinburg imprisonment. But perhaps the most important lesson that the heir and the rest of the family learned was the lesson of faith. It was faith in God that supported them and gave them strength at the time when they lost their treasures, when their friends left them, when they turned out to be betrayed by that very country, nothing more important to them in the world.

Tsarevich Alexei was not destined to become Tsar and glorify the greatness of the Russian State, which he loved so dearly. However, throughout his short and unusually bright and mournful life until his last breath, he was able to glorify the greatness and beauty of the Christian soul, from a young age ascending to God along the way of the cross, and, having accepted the crown of martyrdom, now prays for us at the Throne of God in the host of the Orthodox New Martyrs Churches.

Holy Martyr Tsarevich Alexei, pray to God for us! A short, piercing life ..... Tsesarevich Alexei did not live a few weeks before his 14th birthday

A short poignant life.....Tsesarevich Alexei

And mistakes are forgotten

And sorrow that torments us

At the sight of a royal smile

Your innocent, childlike eyes.

On July 30 (August 12, old style), 1904, the only son of the last Russian Sovereign Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, heir to the throne, was born in Peterhof Russian Empire Tsesarevich Alexei.

He was the fifth and very long-awaited child of the royal couple, for whom they prayed a lot and fervently, including during the celebrations dedicated to the glorification of St. Seraphim of Sarov July 17-19, 1903

The first acquisition of the relics of Seraphim of Sarov, with the participation of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, 1903

The royal family in front of Seraphim, a painting by priest Sergiy Simakov

On September 3, 1904, the Sacrament of the Baptism of the Tsesarevich was performed in the church of the Great Peterhof Palace with the name in honor of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow. According to a number of researchers, the heir received the name Alexei in memory of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich (1645-1676). The godparents of the porphyritic baby were the English and Danish kings, the German emperor, as well as the Russian Grand Dukes.

Baptism of Tsarevich Alexei, son of Nicholas II, Ilyas Faizullin

Since Russia was at war with Japan during this period, all officers and soldiers of the Russian army and navy were proclaimed honorary godparents of the heir. According to tradition, in connection with the birth of the heir, charitable organizations were established: the military hospital train named after the heir-tsesarevich, the Alekseevsky Committee for Assistance to Children Who Lost Their Fathers in the Russo-Japanese War.

The educator and teacher of the royal children, Pierre Gilliard, in his memoirs, recalls how he first saw the Tsarevich in February 1906, who was then one and a half years old: “... I was already preparing to finish my lesson with Olga Nikolaevna, when the Empress entered with the Grand Duke Heir in her arms . She walked towards us with the obvious intention of showing me the son I did not yet know. On her face shone the joy of her mother, who finally saw the realization of her most cherished dream. It was felt that she was proud and happy with the beauty of her child.

And in fact, the Tsarevich was at that time the most wonderful child one can dream of, with his wonderful blond curls and large gray-blue eyes, set off by long, curled eyelashes. He had the fresh and rosy complexion of a healthy child, and when he smiled his round cheeks showed two dimples. When I approached him, he looked at me seriously and shyly, and only with great difficulty did he dare to stretch out his little hand to me.

During this first meeting, I saw several times how the Empress pressed the Tsarevich to her with a tender gesture of a mother who always seems to tremble for the life of her child; but in her this caress and the glance that accompanied it showed so clearly and so strongly hidden anxiety that I was already struck by it. It wasn't until much later that I realized its meaning."

Terrible disease.

On the mother's side, Alexei inherited hemophilia, which was carried by some of his daughters and granddaughters. English queen Victoria (1837-1901). The disease became apparent already in the autumn of 1904, when a two-month-old baby began to bleed heavily. Any scratch could lead to the death of a child; the membranes of his arteries and veins were so weak that any bruise, increased movement or tension could cause a rupture of blood vessels and lead to a fatal end: a fall, a nosebleed, a simple cut - everything that would be a trifle for an ordinary child could be fatal for Alexey.

Grand Duchess Anastasia and Tsarevich Alexei

From the very first years of his life, the Tsarevich needed special care and constant vigilance, as a result of which, on the orders of doctors, two sailors from the imperial yacht were assigned to him as bodyguards: boatswain Derevenko and his assistant Nagorny

Tsesarevich Alexei and boatswain Derevenko

The maid of honor of the Empress Anna Taneeva wrote: “The life of Alexei Nikolayevich was one of the most tragic in the history of the Tsar's children. He was a charming, affectionate boy, the most beautiful of all children. Parents and nanny Maria Vishnyakova in early childhood spoiled him very much, fulfilling the slightest whims.

And this is understandable, since it was very difficult to see the constant suffering of the little one; whether he hit his head or hand on the furniture, a huge blue swelling immediately appeared, indicating an internal hemorrhage, which caused him severe suffering. At the age of five or six, he passed into the hands of men, to Uncle Derevenko. This one used to not be so spoiled, although he was very devoted and had great patience.

I hear the voice of Alexei Nikolaevich during his illness: “Raise my hand,” or: “Turn your leg,” or: “Warm my hands,” and often Derevenko reassured him. When he began to grow up, his parents explained to Alexei Nikolayevich his illness, asking him to be careful. But the heir was very lively, loved the games and amusements of the boys, and it was often impossible to keep him. “Give me a bicycle,” he asked his mother. “Alexei, you know that you can’t!” - "I want to learn to play tennis like sisters!" - “You know that you don’t dare to play.” Sometimes Alexei Nikolaevich cried, repeating: “Why am I not like all the boys?”.

Alexei was well aware that he might not live to adulthood. When he was ten years old, his elder sister Olga found him lying on his back and looking up at the clouds. She asked what he was doing. “I like to think, to reflect,” Alexei replied. Olga asked what he likes to think about. “Oh, a lot of things,” the boy replied, “I enjoy the sun and the beauty of summer while I can. Who knows, maybe one of these days I won't be able to do that anymore."

Life in Tsarskoye Selo

Outwardly, Alexei resembled the Empress and Grand Duchess Tatyana: he had the same delicate features and large blue eyes. P. Gilliard describes him as follows: “Aleksei Nikolaevich was then nine and a half years old. He was rather large for his age, had a thin, elongated oval face with delicate features, wonderful light brown hair with bronze tints, large blue-gray eyes, reminiscent of his mother's eyes.

He quite enjoyed life when he could, like a frisky and cheerful boy. His tastes were very modest. He did not boast at all that he was the heir to the throne, he least of all thought about this. His greatest happiness was to play with the two sons of the sailor Derevenko, who were both somewhat younger than him.

He had great quickness of mind and judgment and much thoughtfulness. He sometimes struck me with questions above his age, which testified to a delicate and sensitive soul. I easily understood that those who, like me, were not supposed to inspire discipline in him, could easily succumb to his charm without a second thought. In the little capricious being, as he seemed at first, I discovered a child with a heart naturally loving and sensitive to suffering, because he himself had already suffered a lot.

A resident of Tsarskoye Selo S.Ya. Ofrosimova shares the following impressions: “The heir to the Tsarevich had a very soft and kind heart. He was passionately attached not only to those close to him, but also to the simple employees around him. None of them saw from him arrogance and harsh treatment. He especially quickly and ardently became attached to ordinary people. His love for Uncle Derevenko was tender, hot and touching. One of his greatest pleasures was to play with the uncle's children and be among the common people.

With interest and deep attention, he peered into the lives of ordinary people, and often an exclamation escaped from him: “When I am king, there will be no poor and unfortunate! I want everyone to be happy."

A.A. Taneeva recalled: “The heir took an ardent part if some grief struck the servants. His Majesty was also compassionate, but did not actively express it, while Alexei Nikolaevich did not calm down until he immediately helped. I remember a case with a cook who for some reason was denied a position. Aleksey Nikolaevich somehow found out about this and pestered his parents all day until they ordered the cook to be taken back. He defended and stood up like a mountain for all his people.

At the age of seven, Alexei began to study. The classes were led by the Empress, who herself chose the teachers: the confessor of the imperial family, Archpriest Alexander Vasiliev, became the teacher of the law, and the teacher of the Russian language was Privy Councilor P.V. Petrov, teacher of arithmetic - State Councilor E.P. Tsytovich, French teacher and tutor - P. Gilliard, English was taught by C. Gibbs and Alexandra Fedorovna herself.

Archpriest Alexander Vasiliev, Confessor of the Royal Senya, 1912

Life in Tsarskoye Selo had a close family character: the retinue, with the exception of the ladies-in-waiting and the commander of the combined guards regiment, did not live in the palace, and the Tsar's family, except when visiting relatives, gathered at the table without strangers and quite easily. The lessons of the Tsesarevich began at nine o'clock with a break between eleven and noon, during which the heir and the teacher went for a walk in a carriage, sleigh or car. Then classes resumed until lunch, after which Alexei always spent two hours outdoors. The Grand Duchesses and the Sovereign, when he was free, joined him. In winter, Alexei had fun with his sisters, descending from an icy mountain built on the shore of a small artificial lake.

Just like his sisters, the Tsarevich adored animals. P. Gilliard recalls: “He loved to play with his donkey Vanka, who was harnessed to a small sled, or with his dog Joy, a dark brown lapdog on low paws, with long, silky ears falling almost to the floor. Vanka was an incomparable, intelligent and funny animal. When they wanted to give Aleksey Nikolayevich a donkey, they applied for a long time, but to no avail, to all the horse-dealers in St. Petersburg; then the Ciniselli circus agreed to give way to the old donkey, which, due to its decrepitude, was no longer fit for performances. And in this way Vanka appeared at the Court, fully appreciating, apparently, the palace stables. He amused us a lot, because he knew many of the most incredible tricks. He turned his pockets inside out with great dexterity, hoping to find sweets in them. He found a special charm in old rubber balls, which he casually chewed with one eye closed, like an old Yankee.

These two animals played a big role in the life of Alexei Nikolaevich, who had very little entertainment. He suffered mainly from the absence of comrades. Fortunately, his sisters, as I have said, liked to play with him; they brought joy and youth into his life, without which it would be very difficult for him. During daytime walks, the Emperor, who liked to walk a lot, usually went around the park with one of his daughters, but he also happened to join us, and with his help we once built a huge snow tower, which took the form of an impressive fortress and occupied us for several weeks. .

At four in the afternoon, lessons resumed until dinner, which was served at seven for Alexei and at eight for the rest of the family. The day ended with reading aloud some favorite book of the Tsarevich.

All relatives of Alexei noted his religiosity. The letters of the Tsarevich have been preserved, in which he congratulates his relatives on the holidays, his poem “Christ is Risen!”, sent by him to his grandmother, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna. From the memoirs of S.Ya. Ofrosimova: “There is a festive service ... The temple is flooded with the radiance of countless candles. The Tsarevich stands on the Royal Elevation. He has almost grown to the Sovereign standing next to him. The glow of quietly burning lamps pours onto his pale, beautiful face and gives him an unearthly, almost ghostly expression. His large, long eyes look not like a childishly serious, mournful look ... He is motionlessly turned to the altar, where a solemn service is being performed ... I look at him, and it seems to me that I have seen somewhere this pale face, these long, mournful eyes.

In 1910, the Jerusalem Patriarch Damian, knowing about the piety of the heir, gave him the icon of the Resurrection of Christ with particles of stones from the Holy Sepulcher and Golgotha ​​for Easter.

According to P. Gilliard, Alexei was the center of a closely knit Imperial family, all attachments and hopes were concentrated on him. “The sisters adored him, and he was the joy of his parents. When he was healthy, the whole palace seemed to be transformed; it was a ray of the sun, illuminating both things and those around. Happily gifted by nature, he would have developed quite regularly and evenly if his illness had not prevented this.

S.Ya. Ofrosimova recalls: “His vivacity could not be tempered by his illness, and as soon as he got better, as soon as his suffering subsided, he began to play naughty uncontrollably, he buried himself in pillows, crawled under the bed to scare the doctors with an imaginary disappearance ... When the Princesses came, especially the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna, terrible fuss and pranks began. Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna was a desperate minx and a faithful friend in all the Tsarevich’s pranks, but she was strong and healthy, and the Tsarevich was forbidden these hours of childish pranks, dangerous for Him.

Education of the heir to the throne

In 1912, while resting in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, the Tsarevich unsuccessfully jumped into a boat and severely injured his thigh: the hematoma that arose did not resolve for a long time, the child’s health was very difficult, and bulletins were officially published about him. There was a real threat of death. “The Empress sat at the head of her son from the beginning of the illness,” writes P. Gilliard, “bent down to him, caressed him, surrounded him with her love, trying with a thousand small worries to alleviate his suffering. The sovereign also came as soon as he had a free minute.

He tried to cheer up the child, to entertain him, but the pain was stronger than motherly caresses and fatherly stories, and interrupted moans resumed. Occasionally the door would open, and one of the Grand Duchesses would tiptoe into the room, kiss her little brother, and, as it were, bring with her a stream of freshness and health. The child opened for a minute his large eyes, already deeply outlined by illness, and immediately closed them again.

One morning I found the mother at the head of her son... The Tsarevich, lying in his bed, moaned plaintively, pressing his head against his mother's hand, and his thin, bloodless face was unrecognizable. From time to time he interrupted his groans to whisper only one word "mother", in which he expressed all his suffering, all his despair. And his mother kissed his hair, forehead, eyes, as if with this caress she could alleviate his suffering, breathe into him a little of the life that was leaving him. How to convey the torture of this mother, helplessly present at the torment of her child for long hours of mortal anxiety ... "

According to many people who surrounded Tsarevich Alexei, he had a strong will, which was not just a hereditary quality, but developed and strengthened due to the frequent physical suffering caused to the child by a terrible illness. The disease became a kind of educator of the little martyr. According to Anna Taneeva, "frequent suffering and involuntary self-sacrifice developed in the character of Alexei Nikolaevich pity and compassion for all who were sick, as well as amazing respect for his mother and all elders."

However, for all his kindness and compassion, the boy did not tolerate when he was treated with insufficient respect as the heir to the throne. S.Ya. Ofrosimova tells the following episode: “The Tsarevich was not a proud child, although the thought that he was the future king filled his whole being with the consciousness of his highest destiny. When he was in the company of noble and close to the Sovereign persons, he had a consciousness of his royalty.

Once the Tsarevich entered the office of the Sovereign, who at that time was talking with the minister. At the entrance of the heir, the interlocutor of the Sovereign did not find it necessary to get up, but only, rising from his chair, gave the Tsarevich his hand. The heir, offended, stopped in front of him and silently put his hands behind his back; this gesture did not give him an arrogant look, but only a regal, expectant pose. The minister involuntarily stood up and drew himself up to his full height in front of the Tsarevich. To this the Tsesarevich responded with a polite handshake. Having told the Sovereign something about his walk, he slowly left the office, the Sovereign looked after him for a long time and, finally, sadly and proudly said: “Yes, it will not be so easy for you to deal with him as with me.”

According to the memoirs of Yulia Den, the maid of honor and friend of the Empress, while still a very young boy, Alexei was already aware that he was the heir: “Once, when he was playing with the Grand Duchesses, he was informed that officers of his sponsored regiment had come to the palace and asked for permission to see Tsesarevich. The six-year-old child, immediately leaving the fuss with the sisters, announced with an important look: “Girls, go away, the heir will have a reception.”

Klavdia Mikhailovna Bitner, who gave lessons to the heir in Tobolsk, recalled the Tsarevich as follows: “I loved Alexei Nikolaevich more than anyone. It was a sweet, good boy. He was smart, observant, receptive, very affectionate, cheerful and cheerful, despite his often severe morbid condition ...

He was used to being disciplined, but disliked the former court etiquette. He did not tolerate lies and would not tolerate them around him if he ever took power. He combined the features of his father and mother. From his father he inherited his simplicity. There was no self-satisfaction, arrogance, arrogance in him at all. He was simple.

But he had a great will and would never submit to outside influence. Here is the Sovereign, if he again took power, I am sure he would forget and forgive the actions of those soldiers who were known in this regard. Alexei Nikolaevich, if he had received power, he would never have forgotten or forgiven them, and would have drawn the appropriate conclusions.

He understood a lot and understood people. But he was reserved and reserved. He was terribly patient, very careful, disciplined and demanding of himself and others. He was kind, like his father, in the sense that he did not have the ability in his heart to do evil in vain.

At the same time, he was frugal. One day he was sick, he was served a dish that he shared with the whole family, which he did not eat because he did not like this dish. I was outraged. How can they not cook a separate meal for a child when he is sick. I said something. He answered me: “Well, here it is! You don't have to spend money because of me."

Favorite Bet. Introduction to military life

By tradition, the Grand Dukes on the day of their birth became chiefs or officers of the Guards regiments. Alexey became the chief of the 12th East Siberian rifle regiment, and later other military units and chieftain of all Cossack troops. The sovereign introduced him to the Russian military history, the structure of the army and the peculiarities of its life, organized a detachment of the sons of the lower ranks under the leadership of the "uncle" Tsarevich Derevenko and managed to instill in the heir a love for military affairs.

Alexei was often present at the reception of deputations and at reviews of troops, and during the First World War, he visited with his father active army, awarded distinguished fighters, he himself was awarded the silver St. George medal of the 4th degree.

On July 20, 1914, President of the French Republic R. Poincaré presented the heir with the ribbon of the Order of the Legion of Honor. In Petrograd, in the Winter Palace, there were two institutions named after Alexei - a hospital and the Committee for Lump-sum Benefits for Sick and Wounded Soldiers, and many military hospitals also bore his name.

Almost all of 1916, the Tsarevich spent with his father at the headquarters of the supreme commander in Mogilev. According to A.A. Mordvinov, adjutant wing of Nicholas II, the heir "promised to be not only a good, but also an outstanding monarch." P. Gilliard recalls: “After the review, the Sovereign approached the soldiers and entered into a simple conversation with some of them, asking them about the fierce battles in which they participated.

Alexei Nikolaevich followed his father step by step, listening with passionate interest to the stories of these people, who had seen the approach of death so many times. His usually expressive and lively face was full of tension from the effort he was making not to miss a single word of what they were saying.

The presence of the heir next to the Sovereign aroused interest in the soldiers, and when he walked away, they could be heard whispering about his age, height, facial expression, etc. in a whisper. But most of all they were struck by the fact that the Tsarevich was in a simple soldier's uniform, no different from the one worn by a team of soldier's children.

The English General Henbury-Williams, with whom the Tsesarevich became friends at Headquarters, published his memoirs Emperor Nicholas II as I knew him after the revolution. About his acquaintance with Alexei, he writes: “When I first saw Alexei Nikolaevich in 1915, he was about eleven years old. Having heard stories about him, I expected to see a very weak and not too smart boy. He was indeed frail, for he was stricken with disease. However, in those periods when the heir was healthy, he was cheerful and mischievous, like any boy of his age ...

Tsarevich Alexei in Mogilev

The prince wore a protective uniform, high Russian boots, proud that he looked like a real soldier. He had excellent manners and was fluent in several languages. Over time, his timidity faded, and he began to treat us like old friends.

Each time, greeting, the Tsarevich came up with some kind of joke for each of us. Approaching me, he used to check whether all the buttons on my jacket were fastened. Naturally, I tried to leave one or two buttons open. In this case, the Tsarevich stopped and remarked to me that I was "again inaccurate." Sighing heavily at the sight of such slovenliness on my part, he fastened my buttons to clean up.

After visiting the Headquarters, the favorite food of the Tsesarevich became "soup and porridge and black bread, which all my soldiers eat," as he always said. Every day they brought him samples of cabbage soup and porridge from the soldiers' kitchen of the Consolidated Regiment. According to the recollections of those around him, the Tsarevich ate everything and licked the spoon, beaming with pleasure and saying: “This is delicious - not like our dinner.” Sometimes, without touching anything at the table, he quietly made his way to the buildings of the royal kitchen, asked the cooks for a slice of black bread and secretly shared it with his dog.

From Headquarters, the Tsarevich brought an ugly, sandy-colored kitten with white spots, which he named Zubrovka and, as a sign of special affection, put on him a collar with a bell. Julia Den writes about the Tsarevich's new favorite: “Zubrovka was not a particular admirer of palaces. He kept fighting with the bulldog of the Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna, whose name was Artipo, and knocked over all the family photos in Her Majesty's boudoir on the floor. But Zubrovka enjoyed the privileges of his position. What happened to him when the Imperial Family was sent to Tobolsk is unknown.”

In the newspaper "Kronstadt Herald" dated November 7, 1915, an article was placed under the heading "Our Hope", dedicated to the stay of the heir at Headquarters. It described the days of Alexei: “... After mass, the Sovereign, together with the heir and retinue, went home on foot. The smile, look, gait of the young heir, his habit of waving his left hand - all this resembled the manners of the Sovereign, from whom the child adopted them. In spite of war time and frequent trips with a sovereign parent along the fronts, the Tsesarevich continued to study ...

Tsarevich Alexei with his teachers on the train

In the classroom, where classes are held with mentors, the atmosphere of goodwill. Teachers forgive the child for his habit of leaving his dog named Joy and the cat for lessons. "Cat" - that's his name - is present at all the lessons of his master. After class, a game of burners with friends. He does not choose them by origin. As a rule, these are the children of commoners. Having learned that their parents need something, the heir often says to the tutor: "I will ask dad to help them." Both the father and the heir go to the temple and from the temple together. In religion, the child draws clarity of views, simplicity in relations with all people.

The Sovereign Emperor Nicholas II himself did a lot to educate in his son attention and compassion for people. P. Gilliard describes the following case: “On the way back, having learned from General Ivanov that there was an advanced dressing station nearby, the Sovereign decided to go straight there. We drove into a dense forest and soon noticed a small building, dimly lit by the red light of torches. The sovereign, accompanied by Alexei Nikolaevich, entered the house, approached all the wounded and talked with them with great kindness. His sudden visit at such a late hour and so close to the front line caused astonishment to be expressed on all faces.

With P. Gilliard at Headquarters. 1916

One of the soldiers, who had just been put back to bed after bandaging, looked intently at the Sovereign, and when the latter bent over him, he raised his only healthy hand to touch his clothes and make sure that he really was the Tsar, and not vision. Alexei Nikolayevich stood a little behind his father. He was deeply shocked by the groans that he heard and the suffering that he guessed around him.

On March 2 (N.S. 15), 1917, news was received of the abdication of Nicholas II from the throne for himself and for his son in favor of Mikhail Alexandrovich, the Tsar's younger brother. P. Gilliard recalls: “... It was noticeable how she [the Empress] suffered at the thought of how she would have to agitate the sick Grand Duchesses, announcing to them the abdication of their father, especially since this excitement could worsen their health.

The last lessons of the Sovereign Father

Since March 8, 1917, the Royal Family was under arrest in Tsarskoye Selo, and on August 1, they were sent into exile in Tobolsk, where they were imprisoned in the governor's house. Here the Sovereign managed to fulfill the dream of raising his son himself. He gave lessons to the Tsarevich in a gloomy house in Tobolsk. The lessons continued in the poverty and squalor of Yekaterinburg imprisonment, where the imperial family was transferred in the spring of 1918.

Life of the Royal Family in the house of engineer N.K. Ipatiev was subject to a strict prison regime: isolation from the outside world, meager food rations, an hour's walk, searches, the hostility of the guards. Back in Tobolsk, Alexei fell down the stairs and received severe bruises, after which he could not walk for a long time, and in Yekaterinburg his illness worsened greatly.