The Grand Duke, the Heir Tzarevich Aleksey Nicholaievich Romanov was born on August 12, 1904. He was a compassionate child, yet from a quote I read recently about him, he was a little selfish, and of course spoiled. He said to Alix "Why do other boys have everything and I nothing?" I laugh when I think of this quote, imagining what might have happened that day to make him say that. This shows in my mind that he was a child, a simple child, who had flaws like anyone else.

Meanwhile, there are several things he said and things that were said about him that make him look extraordinary. I especially like the quotes that reveal his desires. "Why can't I be like everyone else?" is a favorite quote of mine. Such a contradiction to the previous quote. It shows to me at least that he really was human, not just a face in a photograph. From what I gather of him, he was an innocent, fun-loving, prank-pulling, and sometimes scared and sad little boy who I feel longed to be a man.

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Because of his disease, whatever it was, Aleksey had two "Sailor Nannies" watching over him. They would help him reach things that he couldn't, and do anything he asked. After the spring revolution in 1917, Derevenko, one of the nannies, ordered Aleksey around, doing things Aleksey had once asked Derevenko to do for him. He treated the young man terribly.

The other sailor nanny, Nagorny, was loyal to his charge up until his execution in Ekaternburg (by that, I mean Nagorny's execution. Nagorny was shot shortly after their arrival in Ekaternburg).

Also because of his disease, the Tzaritza depended on a monk who was believed to be holy. Ominously called Rasputin, the "Mad Monk" is a lasting symbol of evil, corruption and wrath in the Royal Family. But there is one thing that is for certain: However it was done, he saved the Tzarevich's life more than once. Rasputin was brutally murdered in 1916, by Prince Felix Yussupov and Grand Duke Dimitri Pavlovich, relatives of the Tzar.

It is rumored that before his death Rasputin wrote some kind of "prophecy" or "curse" to the Romanovs. He supposedly stated that he felt he was going to die soon, and if he was killed by peasants then the Romanovs had nothing to fear. But, he said, if he was killed by nobles, by relatives of the Tzar then no one, not the Tzar or his family would remain alive for more than two years.

Whether it was a prophecy, a curse, or a silly rumor, it is true, the Romanovs died about a year and a half after Rasputin.