The Identity of the Last Tsar of Russia
Tsar Nicholas II, Tsarevich Alexei, or Grand Duke Michael Romanov
Jul 22, 2009
“Everyone knows” that Nicholas II was the last Tsar of Russia. But Nicholas II abdicated rather than being overthrown or assassinated while in office, so the throne went to his heir. So who was his heir?
Legally and in the normal course of inheritance the throne should have gone to his son Alexei. But due to the Tsar’s abdicating for himself as well as for his son, it is possible that Nicholas’s younger brother, Michael, was actually the last Russian Tsar. But was this double abdication legal?
Nicholas II the Tsar Who Abdicated
In March of 1917, Russia was experiencing massive political problems due to civil unrest and World War I. The Duma and the Soviets demanded that the unpopular and ineffectual Tsar Nicholas II abdicate. Nicholas thought that if he abdicated rather than being overthrown that it would spare the country more political unrest and possibly save the Romanov dynasty from being completely abolished. The government wanted him to abdicate in favor of his son Alexei with his brother Michael as regent.
Alexei II the Hemophiliac Tsarevich
When Nicholas II abdicated, his twelve-year-old son Alexei became Tsar Alexei II.
Alexei was not only young and inexperienced but also ill with hemophilia. Since Nicholas might be exiled from Russia after his abdication and he did not wish to leave his young son, he eventually decided to abdicate not only for himself but also for Alexei.
Nicholas’s abdication was criticized by his relatives and monarchists for two reasons. For one, many thought that he didn’t have good reason to abdicate and that he should instead have fought for his power as Tsar. Secondly, there were legal problems with him abdicating for his son. Many questioned whether Nicholas had the legal right to take the throne away from his heir. If he didn’t, then when he legally abdicated for himself, his son automatically became the next Tsar and there would be nothing Nicholas could do about it.
Michael II the Reluctant Grand Duke
Grand Duke Michael Romanov was not a perfect choice to succeed his brother. He had effectively lost his right to inherit the throne because he had married without the Tsar’s consent when he eloped with the twice-divorced commoner Natalia Wulffert.
So it must have been a surprise to Michael to learn that his brother had abdicated in his favor. Michael was an astute politician and knew that the throne would never be secure unless the people supported the monarchy.
Within a few hours of learning about the abdication, he signed a manifesto saying that he would only accept the throne if the Russian people, through an election in the Constituent Assembly, decided that they wanted the monarchy. They never did have this election, so Michael effectively refused to become Tsar.
The Last Tsar of Russia
Since Nicholas II did legally abdicate, he cannot really be considered the last Russian Tsar. The throne should have then gone to his son Alexei. But Nicholas abdicated for his son as well, although there is a question about whether he had the legal right to do this. Alexei, however, never fought this abdication; his consent may be interpreted as his own abdication. So maybe Michael was the last Russian Tsar, even if it was only for a few hours.
Sources:
Krasnow, George. “Who Was the Last Russian Tsar?” The European Royal History Journal 65 (2007): 30-33.
Massie, Robert K. Nicholas and Alexandra. New York: Dell Publishing, 1967.
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