1899-1918
Childhood
1899-1909
On June 14, 1899, a third daughter was born to Tsar Nicholas and Tsarina Alexandra. That daughter was Maria. Already, the Imperial family was starting to worry about the lack of a son and heir in the family, but that did little to dampen their joy. The proud father Nicholas wrote in his journal that night. "A happy day: the Lord sent us a third daughter - Maria, who was safely born at 12.10! Alix hardly slept all night, and towards morning the pains got stronger. Thank God it was all over quite quickly! My darling felt well all day and fed the baby herself...the evening was marvellous."
Soon after Maria's birth, another daughter joined the family in 1901. This time they named the girl Anastasia. The two became very close, and were often referred to as the Little Pair. Two years later, an heir finally arrived. He was called Aleksey. However, when he was just a six weeks old, they noticed bleeding from his navel, and then large bruises. He was diagnosed with hemophilia, a rare genetic disorder passed down from Queen Victoria of England. Hemophiliacs blood can not clot properly, which can lead to large, painful internal hemorrhages. Even a slight scrape could cause an attack. This would change the family forever. Always they worried about their precious Aleksey and became more protective of their little heir, scared of the possibility of him having a deadly attack.
Pre-War
Years 1909-1914
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War Years 1914-1918
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The Final Days 1918
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On June 14, 1899, a third daughter was born to Tsar Nicholas and Tsarina Alexandra. That daughter was Maria. Already, the Imperial family was starting to worry about the lack of a son and heir in the family, but that did little to dampen their joy. The proud father Nicholas wrote in his journal that night. "A happy day: the Lord sent us a third daughter - Maria, who was safely born at 12.10! Alix hardly slept all night, and towards morning the pains got stronger. Thank God it was all over quite quickly! My darling felt well all day and fed the baby herself...the evening was marvellous."
 Maria with her loving older
sisters Tatiana (left) and Olga (right).
|
Soon after Maria's birth, another daughter joined the family in 1901. This time they named the girl Anastasia. The two became very close, and were often referred to as the Little Pair. Two years later, an heir finally arrived. He was called Aleksey. However, when he was just a six weeks old, they noticed bleeding from his navel, and then large bruises. He was diagnosed with hemophilia, a rare genetic disorder passed down from Queen Victoria of England. Hemophiliacs blood can not clot properly, which can lead to large, painful internal hemorrhages. Even a slight scrape could cause an attack. This would change the family forever. Always they worried about their precious Aleksey and became more protective of their little heir, scared of the possibility of him having a deadly attack.
 Maria stands between her parents in a group shot to celebrate Anastasia's birth. |
 Maria sits on the left in a photograph to commemorate Aleksey's Christening. |
| Maria was always considered to
be the most angelic of the children.
Once Nicholas said jokingly that he was "afraid of the wings growing"
on Maria. She was often used as an example of good behavior for
her
other siblings. Maria started lessons with her sisters in 1907. They found that she was quite artistic, and enjoyed lessons in the fine arts. However, she lacked the diligent study habits that would truly have showcased her intelligence. |
 Maria poses for a formal shot in 1906. |
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War Years 1914-1918
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The Final Days 1918
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