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Grand Duchesses Olga and Tatiana of Russia in regimental uniform.
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“Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna of Russia was the second of the four daughters of Tsar Nicholas II and his wife, the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. Long recognized by historians as the undisputed “beauty” of the family, Tatiana was acknowledged for her poise, her elegance, and her innate dignity within her own family.”
-Tatiana Romanov: Daughter of the Last Tsar by Helen Azar & Nick Nicholson Dedicated to both of them & to @tiny-librarian
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The Water Gardens, Chateau de Villandry 
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~The aesthetic of the Romanov Family~
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“There will come a time when gifted poets will write verse in praise of the Grand Duchess, her noble soul, her radiant feats, feats of love and mercy. Her beautiful and noble deeds will never be erased from the memory of human nobility and mankind will bless her as great, for she was wedded to love.”
November 1, 1864 – Birth of Elisabeth of Hesse and by Rhine
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Irina Yusupova
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Happy birthday Dagmar of Denmark!
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“it breaks my heart everytime I see a photo of OTMA or the Romanovs, know their tragic deaths.” - Submitted by 2victorianroyals
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She was so intelligent and just a wonderful woman!
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“Queen Alexandra was an insecure and selfish loser. I’m glad people made fun of her back then and her “friends” were never fooled by her ridiculous use of early photoshop. She was a boring and mean women who never did anything anything that merits how much of a b she was to her associates and family.” - Submitted by Anonymous
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For me, Kate attracts my attention. She seems very nice, clever and sporty
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“I wish my generation had a Diana. Kate’s too bland and dull, has no personality and doesn’t really seem to have anything she feels strongly about and so she isn’t ever vocal whereas Meghan has too much personality, is too controversial and polarising as well as too politically involved and vocal.” - Submitted by Anonymous
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Olga Nikolaevna resemble her father, Nicholas II and her aunt, Olga Alexandrovna.
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Tatiana Nikolaevna resemble her mother, Alix of Hesse (Alexandra Feodorovna) and Maria Alexandrovna.
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Maria Nikolaevna resemble her grandparents, Dagmar of Denmark and Alexander III.
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Anastasia Nikolaevna resemble her mother, the German princess Alix of Hesse and her sister, Tatiana Romanova.
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The tsarevich, Aleksei Nikolaevich resemble Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna (his parents).
What relatives do OTMAA resemble?
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Happy birthday Olga Nikolaevna!
Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna Romanov was born at Tsarskoe Selo on November 3rd 1895. They named her “Olga” (which means ‘Holy”). After Nicholas’s youngest sister the Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna (1882-1960). The Tsar and his wife were not disappointed by the gender. They were happy and enchanted by their new baby girl. Though, Russia was not happy at all and neither was any of the Tsar’s family because they all wanted a son. Olga was a large baby weighing ten pounds and Queen Victoria (her great grand mother) had some comments on the new baby, little Olga had an “immense head” said the Queen. November 14th 1895, little Olga was taken to the Catherine Palace for her christening.  Olga’s god-mother’s were: the Dowager-Empress and Queen Olga of Greece. From her earliest years, she was known for her compassionate heart and desire to help others. A huge, fat, bonny baby, Olga turned into rather a plain, serious little girl. But then, at 15, she suddenly became pretty. She was not a beauty like her younger sisters Tatiana and Marie but was somehow very feminine and vulnerable. With her round face, turned-up nose (“my humble snub” as she called it), high cheekbones, light chestnut hair and blue eyes. Olga was the epitome of Slavic beauty. She was never conscious of her charming looks and did not pay much attention to her appearance. From the start she was someone for whom the inner life was paramount, and it showed in her face. True, on the outside she had a gentle, timid charm and softness all her own- like that of her father, whom she most resembled. But of all the sisters, she was the most serious and thoughtful– a melancholic dreamer who loved poetry and musc. Unlike her father, however, she never learned to control her outbursts of sometimes violent temper and could be impetuous and capricious. Her fierce intelligence meant that sometimes she would be too outspoken in what she said and her remarks could be wounding. Being the eldest, she was expected to set an example to the others, and as time went on she occasionally clashed with her mother and would go off into moody sulks when reprimanded. Alexandra had problems controlling her behavior, exhorting her to “try to be an example of what a good little obedient girlie ought to be” for her younger sisters. But Olga found it hard to toe the line and as she grew older sought to assert her independence, tending to separate off into her own inner world.There was always, from a young age, a deep, sometimes lost expression on her face and as the years went on, it became ever more marked in the photographs taken of her.
Of all the sisters, she was the most shrewd and intellectually mature. She was quick to learn– an accomplished pianist, good at languages, an avid reader. She was utterly devoted to her father. There was nothing Olga loved better than to go for long walks with him whenever the opportunity arose, often clutching him tightly by the arm; she also frequently accompanied him to church, sitting close to him. There is no doubt that she, of all the Romanov children, was the one most aware of the cruelty and injustice in the wold outside.
In 1915, with her mother and her sister Tatiana, she took up nursing training and worked with the wounded, but Olga could not handle the stress and anguish of it all, not the sight of her mother wearing herself to exhaustion and was forced to take lighter duties.  Her health decline during the war years; she came thin and pale, suffering from anemia and bouts of depression. She was clearly worried about the family's tenuous future after they were sent to TObolsk.
By any normal royal standards of the day, Olga should have been long since been married off. But in matters emotional and sexual, she was still an innocent at 22.
The Grand Duchess as she got older was kind, witty, religious, sensitive, blunt honesty, moody and very serious.  She also had a hot temper, unlike her brother and sisters, she yelled back at her mother whenever they get into arguments. She loved dancing, reading and writing poetry  From her earliest years, she was known for her compassionate heart and desire to help others.  As a small child, she once lost patience while posing for a portrait painter and told the man, “You are a very ugly man and I don’t like you one bit!”  Olga was a complex character, less amenable and tractable than at first appeared, more than capable of holding her own in conversation.  Peerre Gilliard considered her very gifted intellectually–far more so than her sisters– and was disappointed that she did not make the most of these gifts. She was also a very talented musician–a talent inherited from her mother and possessed the ability to play the piano by ear. She showed little inclination to move from girlhood into adulthood and took no particular trouble over her appearance.
She also loved dancing, in 1911 she went to a formal ball, to celebrate her sixteenth birthday. She aswell enjoyed reading and writing poetry. She would constantly be writing poems.
“Remember that the evil which is now in the world will become yet more powerful, and that it is not evil which conquers evil, but only love..” - Olga Romanov
“Send us, Lord, the patience, in this year of stormy, gloom-filled days, to suffer popular oppression, and the tortures of our hangmen. Give us strength, oh Lord of justice, Our neighbor’s evil to forgive, And the Cross so heavy and bloody, with Your humility to meet, In days when enemies rob us, To bear the shame and humiliation, Christ our Savior, help us. Ruler of the world, God of the universe, Bless us with prayer and give our humble soul rest in this unbearable, dreadful hour. At the threshold of the grave, breathe into the lips of Your salves inhuman strength - to pray meekly for our enemies” - prayer written by Olga in her diary.
Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna Romanov:
Born: November 15th 1895; Alexander Palace, Tsarskoe Selo (St. Petersburg) Russia
Died: July 17th 1918 at twenty-two years old; Impatiev House, Yekaterinburg, Russia
Buried: July 17th 1998; St Peter and Paul Cathedral, St Petersburg Russia.
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Tatiana Nikolaevna as a nurse.
Tatiana was a dedicated nurse, excelled in the art of helping the wounded. When World War I broke out, Tatiana became a Red Cross nurse with her mother and Olga. They cared for wounded soldiers in a private hospital on the grounds of Tsarskoye Selo. According to Vyrubova, "Tatiana was almost as skillful and devoted as her mother, and complained only that on account of her youth she was spared some of the more trying cases." Valentina Ivanovna Chebotareva, who worked with her at the hospital, described in her journal how she planned to boil silk while Tatiana was otherwise occupied, fearing that Tatiana would be too tired to help her. But Tatiana guessed what Chebotareva was doing. "Why can you breathe carbolic acid and I can't?" she asked Chebotareva and insisted on helping her with the work. In September 1914, she was named patron of a war aid committee called the Tatiana Committee. Tatiana was fiercely patriotic. On 29 October 1914, she apologized to her mother for disparaging the German in her presence; she explained that she thought of her mother as only Russian and that she had forgotten that the Tsarina was born in Germany. The Tsarina responded that she was offended by the Russian people's gossip about her German connections because she considered herself as completely Russian.
On 15 August 1915, Tatiana wrote to her mother that she wished she could do more to support Russia during the war: "I simply can't tell you how awfully sorry I am for you, my beloved ones. I am so sorry I can in no way help you or be useful. In such moments I am sorry I'm not a man." As Tatiana grew into adulthood, she undertook more public appearances than her sisters and headed committees.
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we were children
turned into princesses
forced to play soldiers
with no happy ending
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Tsarevich Aleksei Nikolaevich
Alexei was a handsome boy, and he bore a striking resemblance to his mother. His tutor Pierre Gilliard described the 18-month-old Alexei as "one of the handsomest babies one could imagine, with his lovely fair curls and his great blue-grey eyes under their fringe of long curling lashes". A few years later, Gilliard described Alexei as tall for his age, with "a long, finely chiseled face, delicate features, auburn hair with a coppery glint, and large grey-blue eyes like his mother". Baroness Sophie Buxhoeveden, his mother's lady-in-waiting, reflected that "he was a pretty child, tall for his age, with regular features, splendid dark blue eyes with a spark of mischief in them, brown hair, and an uptight figure".
Alexei was proud of and enjoyed his position as tsarevich. Buxhoeveden reflected that "he knew and felt that he was the Tsarevich, and from babyhood mechanically took his place in front of his elder sisters". He liked being kissed on the hand by the officers and "didn't miss his chance to boast about it and give himself airs in front of his sisters". He enjoyed jumping in front of the guards at the front of the Alexander Palace, who would immediately salute him as he walked past. Nicholas forbade the guards to salute Alexei unless another member of the family accompanied him. Alexei was embarrassed "when the salute failed him", which "marked his first taste of discipline". On one occasion, he ordered all of the Finnish officers on various ships to stand before him on the deck of the Standart. He began commanding them, but the Finnish officers did not understand Russian and stood in confusion until an aide informed them that Alexei wanted to hear them say, "We wish you health, your Imperial Highness." When he was told that a group of officers had arrived to call on him, the 6-year-old Alexei told his sisters, "Now girls, run away. I am busy. Someone has just called to see me on business."
Alexei's parents indulged his tantrums and mischievous behavior, and they rarely punished him. In 1906, Alexei and his family went on a cruise to Finland. In the middle of the night, the 2-year-old Alexei commanded the ship's band to wake up and play for him. Instead of punishing Alexei, Nicholas joked "that's the way to bring up an autocrat!" Nicholas called Alexei "Alexei the Terrible."
Alexei loved to attend army inspections with his father. When he was 3, he wore a miniature army uniform and played with a toy wooden rifle.From birth, he had the title of "Hetman of all the Cossacks." He wore a miniature uniform of a sailor of the Russian navy, and he had his own Cossack uniform with a fur cap, boots, and dagger. He ended his daily prayers with "Hurrah!" instead of "amen". When asked why, he replied that the soldiers on parade always said "Hurrah!" when his father finished speaking, so he should greet his Heavenly Father in the same way. Before he understood the nature of his disease, he said that he wanted to be a warrior-tsar and lead armies as his ancestors had.
Alexei resented that he was forbidden from doing what other boys could do because of his hemophilia. When his mother forbade him to ride a bike and play tennis, he asked angrily, "Why can other boys have everything and I nothing?" All four of his sisters were accomplished horsewomen, but he was forbidden from horseriding.
Alexei had few friends his age and was often lonely. Alexandra did not allow Alexei to play with his Romanov cousins because she was worried that they would knock him down when playing and he might bleed. Alexei's companions were his sailor-nanny Derevenko's two young sons. Derevenko watched them as they played, and he chastised his children if they played too roughly with Alexei.
Alexei was close with his sisters. Gilliard wrote that they "brought into his life an element of youthful merriment that otherwise would have been sorely missed".
Despite the hemophilia, Alexei was adventurous and restless. Doctor Eugene Botkin's children noticed Alexei's inability to "stay in any place or at any game for any length of time". When he was 7, he stole a bicycle and rode it around the palace. Shocked, Nicholas ordered every guard to pursue and capture Alexei. At a children's party, Alexei began jumping from table to table. When Derevenko tried to stop him, Alexei shouted, "All grown-ups have to go!" Recognizing Alexei's energetic nature, Nicholas ordered that Alexei be allowed "to do everything that other children of his age were wont to do, and not to restrain him unless it was absolutely necessary".
Alexei was disobedient and difficult to control. Olga could not manage Alexei's "peevish temper". The only person he obeyed was his father. Sydney Gibbes noted that "one word [from Nicholas] was always enough to exact implicit obedience from [Alexei]". Buxhoeveden remembered that Alexei had once thrown her parasol in the river, and Nicholas had chastised Alexei: "That is not the way for a gentleman to behave to a lady. I am ashamed of you, Alexei." After his father scolded him, Alexei was "scarlet in the face" and apologized to Sophie.
As a small child, Alexei occasionally played pranks on guests. At a formal dinner party, Alexei removed the shoe of a female guest from under the table, and showed it to his father. Nicholas sternly told the boy to return the "trophy", which Alexei did after placing a large ripe strawberry into the toe of the shoe.
As he grew up, Alexei became more thoughtful and considerate. When he was 9, he sent a collection of his favorite jingles to Gleb Botkin, Eugene Botkin's son. He asked Gleb, who was talented at drawing, to illustrate the jingles. He attached a note: "To illustrate and write the jingles under the drawings. Alexei." Before handing the note to Eugene Botkin, he crossed out his signature and explained, "If I send that paper to Gleb with my signature on it, then it would be an order which Gleb would have to obey. But I mean it only as a request and he doesn't have to do it if he doesn't want to."
Alexei enjoyed playing the balalaika.
Alexei's favorite pet was a spaniel named Joy. Nicholas gave Alexei an old performing donkey named Vanka. Alexei gave sugar cubes to Vanka, and Vanka pulled Alexei around the park in a sled during the winter.
According to Gilliard, Alexei was a simple, affectionate child, but the court spoiled him by the "servile flattery" of the servants and "silly adulations" of the people around him. Once, a deputation of peasants came to bring presents to Alexei. Derevenko required that they kneel before Alexei. Gilliard remarked that the Tsarevich was "embarrassed and blushed violently", and when asked if he liked seeing people on their knees before him, he said, "Oh no, but Derevenko says it must be so!" When Gilliard encouraged Alexei to "stop Derevenko insisting on it", he said that he "dare not". When Gilliard took the matter up with Derevenko, he said that Alexei was "delighted to be freed from this irksome formality".
"Alexei was the center of this united family, the focus of all its hopes and affections", wrote Gilliard. "His sisters worshipped him. He was his parents' pride and joy. When he was well, the palace was transformed. Everyone and everything in it seemed bathed in sunshine."
Gilliard eventually convinced Alexei's parents that granting the boy greater autonomy would help him develop better self-control. Alexei took advantage of his unaccustomed freedom, and began to outgrow some of his earlier foibles. Courtiers reported that his illness made him sensitive to the hurts of others.
Due to his disease, Alexei understood that he might not live to adulthood. When he was ten, his older sister Olga found him lying on his back looking at the clouds and asked him what he was doing. "I like to think and wonder", Alexei replied. Olga asked him what he liked to think about. "Oh, so many things", the boy responded. "I enjoy the sun and the beauty of summer as long as I can. Who knows whether one of these days I shall not be prevented from doing it?"
Nicholas' Colonel Mordinov remembered Alexei:
He had what we Russians usually call "a golden heart". He easily felt an attachment to people, he liked them and tried to do his best to help them, especially when it seemed to him that someone was unjustly hurt. His love, like that of his parents, was based mainly on pity. Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich was an awfully lazy, but very capable boy (I think, he was lazy precisely because he was capable), he easily grasped everything, he was thoughtful and keen beyond his years ... Despite his good nature and compassion, he undoubtedly promised to possess a firm and independent character in the future.
NOTE: Aleksei, a wonderful boy! So intelligent, bright and friendly! Rest in Peace Our Dear Tsarevich!
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Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova
Anastasia was short and inclined to be chubby, and she had blue eyes, and blonde hair. Baroness Sophie Buxhoeveden, her mother's lady-in-waiting, reflected that "her features were regular and finely cut. She had fair hair, fine eyes, with impish laughter in their depths, and dark eyebrows that nearly met." Buxhoeveden believed that Anastasia resembled her mother, saying that she "was more like her mother's than her father's family."
Anastasia was a vivacious and energetic child. Margaretta Eagar, a governess to the four grand duchesses, said one person commented that the toddler Anastasia had the greatest personal charm of any child she had ever seen.
While often described as gifted and bright, she was never interested in the restrictions of the school room, according to her tutors Pierre Gilliard and Sydney Gibbes. Gibbes, Gilliard, and ladies-in-waiting Lili Dehn and Anna Vyrubova described Anastasia as lively, mischievous, and a gifted actress. Her sharp, witty remarks sometimes hit sensitive spots.
Anastasia's daring occasionally exceeded the limits of acceptable behavior. "She undoubtedly held the record for punishable deeds in her family, for in naughtiness she was a true genius", said Gleb Botkin, son of the court physician Yevgeny Botkin, who later died with the family at Yekaterinburg. Anastasia sometimes tripped the servants and played pranks on her tutors. As a child, she would climb trees and refuse to come down. Once, during a snowball fight at the family's Polish estate, Anastasia rolled a rock into a snowball and threw it at her older sister Tatiana, knocking her to the ground. A distant cousin, Princess Nina Georgievna, recalled that "Anastasia was nasty to the point of being evil", and would cheat, kick and scratch her playmates during games; she was affronted because the younger Nina was taller than she was. She was less concerned about her appearance than her sisters. Hallie Erminie Rives, a best-selling American author and wife of an American diplomat, described how 10-year-old Anastasia ate chocolates without bothering to remove her long, white opera gloves at the St. Petersburg opera house.
Despite her energy, Anastasia's physical health was sometimes poor. The Grand Duchess suffered from painful bunions, which affected both of her big toes. Anastasia had a weak muscle in her back and was prescribed twice-weekly massage. She hid under the bed or in a cupboard to put off the massage. Anastasia's older sister, Maria, reportedly hemorrhaged in December 1914 during an operation to remove her tonsils, according to her paternal aunt Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna of Russia, who was interviewed later in her life. The doctor performing the operation was so unnerved that he had to be ordered to continue by Maria's mother. Olga Alexandrovna said she believed all four of her nieces bled more than was normal and believed they were carriers of the hemophilia gene, like their mother.
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“If you need an example of a beautiful, kind, brave and clever (just prefect, you know), look at a picture with Grand Duchess Tatiana (or read something about her). Se is like a sphinx in her eternal beauty and pure heart. She was just amazing!” - Submitted by foulpersonagalaxy
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