The End of the Romanovs
The Russian Royal Family Execution Finalized an Era in History
The murder of the Romanovs has sparked controversy, given rise to investigations, and inspired books and movies. Much has been made of their execution and burial.
The end of the Romanovs marked an end to an era in Russian history. Three-hundred years of Romanov rule came to an abrupt halt in 1917 at the time of the Russian royal family's execution; Bolsheviks assumed leadership positions and instituted a way of governing Russia, or the rest of the world, had never seen. Russian nobility fled or suffered as similar fate as the royal family. It was clear that life in Russian would never be the same.
The End of the Romanovs – Execution of the Romanovs
Much has been written about the execution of the Romanovs – where each family member stood, in what order the bullets were fired, who survived the initial killing spree, and who died instantly. The Ipatiev House, which is no longer standing, was the famous location for the royal murder, and black-and-white photographs of the crime scene are familiar to any Romanov scholar.
The End of the Romanovs – Victims of the Romanov Murder
The victims of the Romanov murder included immediate members of the Russian royal family, three servants and a doctor, and the family dog. Tsar Nicholas, the Empress Alexandra, and their five children were shot and killed after an official decision by authorities that was passed to the Bolsheviks in Ekaterinburg.
The End of the Romanovs – Burial of the Romanovs
The burial of the Romanovs was an undignified affair carried out by incompetent individuals. The bodies, after being stripped of hidden jewels, were buried, then buried again to ensure that they were not discovered by loyalists to the Romanov family. Two bodies – those of Maria and Alexei – were buried at another location to confuse anyone snooping around the burial site.
The End of the Romanovs – Anastasia/Anna Anderson
For years, the bodies missing from the main Romanov burial site inspired stories of survival for one or more of the Russian royal family members. The most famous was the story of Anna Anderson, a real woman who claimed to be Anastasia, the youngest of the four Romanov girls. While supporters and detractors of Anna Anderson wrote books, stated their cases, and conducted investigations – spawning controversy and romanticizations of the tale – information was released in 2007 to the effect that all bodies were able to be accounted for after the discovery of the burial site of Maria and Alexei.
There are Romanov relatives alive today – even those that would claim the throne - but there has been no serious movement to reinstate the monarchy.
