Alexei Nikolaevich, Tsarevich of Russia

Member of the House of Romanov (1904–1918)

Alexei Nikolaevich (Russian: Алексе́й Никола́евич; 12 August [O.S. 30 July] 1904 – 17 July 1918) was the last Russian tsesarevich (heir apparent).[note 1] He was the youngest child and only son of Tsar Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.

Alexei Nikolaevich
Tsesarevich of Russia
Alexei in 1916
Born12 August 1904 [O.S 30 July]
Peterhof Palace, St. Petersburg Governorate, Russian Empire
Died17 July 1918(1918-07-17) (aged 13)
Ipatiev House, Yekaterinburg, Russian Soviet Republic
Cause of deathGunshot wound
Full name
Alexei Nikolaevich Romanov
HouseHolstein-Gottorp-Romanov
FatherNicholas II
MotherAlexandra Feodorovna
ReligionRussian Orthodox
SignatureAlexei Nikolaevich's signature

After the February Revolution of 1917, the Romanovs were placed on house arrest by Bolsheviks in Tobolsk, Siberia. The Ural Regional Soviet ordered the murder of the Romanov family on July 17, 1918. Rumors persisted for decades that Alexei had escaped his execution, with many impostors claiming his identity.

Alexei's remains, along with those of his sister Maria and Anastasia were discovered in a second grave near the rest of the Romanov family in 2007. On July 17. 1998, the Romanovs were formally buried in the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul, exactly 80 years after their death. The Romanov family was canonized as passion bearers by the Russian Orthodox Church in 2000.

  1. The title tsesarevich was introduced in the 1797 Pauline Laws as the title of the heir apparent of the Emperor of Russia. The older tsarevich was a title given to any son of a tsar, and historically also to sons of non-Russian rulers, e.g. of Crimea, Siberia or Georgia. The 1797 law abolished tsarevich as an official title, even though sons of tsars continued to be referred to as tsarevich in informal use.[1][2]

References

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  1. Macedonsky, Dimitry (2005–2006). "Hail, Son of Caesar! A Titular History of Romanov Scions". European Royal History Journal. 8.3 (XLV): 19–27.
  2. Burke's Royal Families of the World II. Burke's Peerage Ltd. 1980. p. 65. ISBN 978-0-85011-029-6.

Other websites

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