It has been almost a century since the brutal execution of the Romanov family, and yet their deaths and last days at the Ipatiev House still remain a mystery.
History has recorded violent deaths, and even dumbfounding conspiracies. But it was the murder of Russia's last imperial family which went down in history as a major puzzle, even to their own countrymen. Maybe it was because during that fateful day in July of 1918, only Lieutenant Yurovsky and his men were present to carry out the family's death. On Lenin's orders, chief executioner Yurovsky and his men ordered Tsar Nicholas II and his family, along with their four remaining loyal servants, to go down the basement of the Ipatiev House.
Tsar Nicholas II carried his hemophiliac son Alexei in his arm, and the family followed. Tsaritsa Alexandra demanded for chairs, and three were given - one for her, her son, and her husband. Lieutenant Yurovsky then entered with his men, and informed the Tsar that they were ordered to execute him and his family.
The poor Tsar only had moments to utter, ''What? What?'' when he was gunned down in front of his family. The Tsaritsa followed, then the rest of the family. It was hard to believe such a vivid picture has been recaptured by historians. But then again, their story has been romanticized a hundred times over. The girls managed to survive the shooting, as they were wearing corsets made of diamonds and precious gems. But because of this, they were spared from quick deaths, as they were later stabbed by the executioners using bayonets.
A Fate No Man Deserves
Yes, the Tsar abhorred violence, though it was because of him Bloody Sunday came about. But he did not deserve his death nor his family and servants.
But as long as the Tsar or any of the family was still alive, the Bolsheviks have a lot to fear. More particularly, Lenin's stature was at stake. The thing with power and royalty is that many people vied for it. Has it ever been a question why the Romanovs were executed? Why Marie Antoinette had to suffer the guillotine, and why Julius Caesar was stabbed?
These people were mere victims of birthright. Had Tsar Nicholas II known what was to become of his family, he probably would have given his life to save them. But he did not know, and the family remained forever hopeful that one day, their supporters would come and free them.
During their 78 days at the Ipatiev House, the family had to suffer from the brutish Bolsheviks. They were granted limited luxuries, and were often abused by the guards. Tsaritsa Alexandra, because of her steadfast reliance on Rasputin, was even openly called ''the German bitch'', for she was rumored to have had an illicit relationship with the mad monk.
It is heartbreaking to think that the Romanov family has totally vanquished, and that they suffered during their last days. Many people liked to believe that somehow, one of the Romanovs survived, and it is on this foolish hope that several counterfeiters played their cards on. Most famous of these counterfeiters is Anna Anderson, who claimed to be the mischievous Anastasia. But in 1991, her claim was disproven for the real Anastasia's bones were discovered.
The loose ends regarding the family's deaths continue to confound even the most die-hard historians, and even if medical technology claims to have solved the mystery, there are still several unanswered questions for many still cannot accept their execution, completely devoid of sense and compassion. One can only hope that in the case of the Romanovs, history will not repeat itself.
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