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Faberge Eggs Treasures of the World
© Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
◦ Mementos of a Doomed Dynasty
◦ Nicholas and Romanov Russia
◦ Nicholas and Alexandra
◦ The tragic events that followed the coronation of Nicholas II
◦ Bloody Sunday
◦ Signs of revolution
◦ The inventive young Faberge
◦ Faberge's growing fame
◦ The Faberge Imperial Easter eggs featured in the Series
◦ The House of Faberge
◦ The workshops and workmasters
◦ Faberge the man
◦ Outrageous opulence
◦ Fragile remembrances
◦ The fate of the eggs ◦
Nicholas and Alexandra
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He was the storybook lovesick prince, pining
for a princess he could not marry. She was the favorite granddaughter
of Queen Victoria of England. But she was German, and she was Protestant.
"You would do well to forget the girl," his mother warned
him. Politically, she was poison, and she refused to convert to the
Russian Orthodox faith. Yet Nicholas continued to nurse his secret love,
the only guiding principle in his life on which he would never waver.
21 December 1890. "This evening Mama and I discussed the family
life of today's young society people. Unintentionally, this conversation
brushed a vital chord in my soul, the dream and hope that carries me
from one day to the next, that I may one day marry Alex H. I have loved
her for a long time, but even more deeply since the winter she spent
in Petersburg. I have fought my feelings for her, trying to deceive
myself with the impossibility of my cherished dream coming true."
(from the diary of young Nicholas)
Politically, she was poison, and she refused to convert to the Russian
Orthodox faith. "You would do well to forget the girl," his
mother warned him. Yet Nicholas continued to nurse his secret love,
the only guiding principle in his life on which he would never waver.
In 1894, when it became clear that Nicholas' father, Alexander III,
was dying, concessions were made to his ardor for the sake of a stable
succession. The young prince was granted permission to seek the hand
of Alexandra of Hesse in marriage. Though she was also quite smitten
with her suitor, the princess stood firm in her refusal to convert to
Russian Orthodoxy.
5 April 1894. "She has grown remarkably more beautiful, but she
looked extremely sad. We talked until twelve, but with no result; she
still objects to conversion. Poor thing, she cried a lot, and we parted
for the evening." (Nicholas)
8 April 1894. "A marvelous, unforgettable day in my life! The
day of my engagement to my precious, beloved Alex. She cried when we
spoke, and whispered again and again "No, I cannot." Still
I continued to insist and repeat my arguments. Finally she could no
longer argue. She consented. The whole world changed for me in an instant:
nature, mankind – they all seem so good and dear, and happy."
Nicholas and Alexandra became best friends, as well as husband and
wife, sharing a closeness that was unusual among royal couples. The
daily letters between them whenever they were apart were filled with
sweetheart language. From Nicholas: "Sweet wifekins, I love you
passionately. God bless you and our babies..." From Alexandra:
"My own sweet one, how I miss you. Those orbs, those lashes, where
are they to gaze into...?"
Nicholas was gentle, fun loving, deeply committed to his family and
well loved by those who knew him personally. But Alexandra would never
be accepted by the Russian people. She was solemn and withdrawn, personality
traits little admired in royalty and much-misunderstood in Alexandra,
who was seen instead as haughty and arrogant. She viewed her royal duties
as an unpleasant requirement of her position, preferring the company
of family and distancing herself from society.
Ten days after their wedding, they traveled to the Alexander Palace
at Tsarskoye Selo, where they had danced together during Alexandra's
winter visit in 1889. She decided on the spot to make it their home.
Alexandra's choice of that modest palace in the country – which had
only one hundred rooms, when she might have had the Gatchina or the
Peterhof or the Anichkov or the Winter Palace – only served to bolster
society's low opinion of her.
As a German, Alexandra was never trusted by the Russian people, especially
during the war. Even as she ministered to them in the provisional hospitals
she had established, they distrusted her. She wanted to be seen as a
Sister of Mercy; the nun-like dress and cross she wore made her look
like a martyr, and she liked the image, thinking it would endear her
to the Russian people. But mostly they were shocked, and thought she
looked ridiculous. They resented her presence there and were embarrassed
by her ministrations. They could not have loved her less.
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