Grand Duke Nicholas Alexandrovich of Russia
Encyclopedia
For the son of Alexander III
, who succeeded his father on the throne in 1894, see Nicholas II of Russia
.
Nicholas Alexandrovich Romanov
, full title: Heir, Tsesarevich
and Grand Duke of Russia ( – ) was Tsesarevich
(more commonly but inaccurately confused with Tsarevich, a title that was abolished in 1721)—the heir apparent
—of Imperial Russia from 2 March 1855 until his death in 1865. He was nicknamed Nixa.
He was born at Tsarskoe Selo, the eldest son of Tsarevich Alexander Nikolaievich
, eldest son of Emperor Nicholas I of Russia
, and Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine. In 1855, his paternal grandfather died and his father succeeded as Emperor Alexander II. His early death at the age of twenty-one was a devastating blow to his mother.
In the summer of 1864 Nicholas became engaged to Princess Dagmar of Denmark. She was the second daughter of King Christian IX of Denmark
and Princess Louise of Hesse-Kassel
(or Hesse-Cassel) and a sister-in-law of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales
, the heir to the British throne. It is believed that on his deathbed Nicholas expressed the wish that his fiancée should become the bride of his younger brother and successor as Tsarevich, Alexander
.
. It later turned out to be cerebro-spinal meningitis
. Nicholas's initial symptoms included back pain and a stiff neck as well as sensitivity to noise and light. However the Tsarevich thought little of it and continued his tour in Italy. His health rapidly grew worse and he was sent to Southern France
but this brought no improvement. In the spring of 1865 Nicholas continued to decline and he died on 24 April 1865 in Nice
, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
.
His death at the early age of 21 thoroughly devastated his mother, who was said to have pored obsessively over all aspects of Nicholas's life. Empress Marie never recovered from his death.
Alexander III of Russia
Alexander Alexandrovich Romanov , historically remembered as Alexander III or Alexander the Peacemaker reigned as Emperor of Russia from until his death on .-Disposition:...
, who succeeded his father on the throne in 1894, see Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until...
.
Nicholas Alexandrovich Romanov
Romanov
The House of Romanov was the second and last imperial dynasty to rule over Russia, reigning from 1613 until the February Revolution abolished the crown in 1917...
, full title: Heir, Tsesarevich
Tsesarevich
Tsesarevich was the title of the heir apparent or presumptive in the Russian Empire. It either preceded or replaced the given name and patronymic.-Usage:...
and Grand Duke of Russia ( – ) was Tsesarevich
Tsesarevich
Tsesarevich was the title of the heir apparent or presumptive in the Russian Empire. It either preceded or replaced the given name and patronymic.-Usage:...
(more commonly but inaccurately confused with Tsarevich, a title that was abolished in 1721)—the heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
—of Imperial Russia from 2 March 1855 until his death in 1865. He was nicknamed Nixa.
He was born at Tsarskoe Selo, the eldest son of Tsarevich Alexander Nikolaievich
Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881...
, eldest son of Emperor Nicholas I of Russia
Nicholas I of Russia
Nicholas I , was the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855, known as one of the most reactionary of the Russian monarchs. On the eve of his death, the Russian Empire reached its historical zenith spanning over 20 million square kilometers...
, and Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine. In 1855, his paternal grandfather died and his father succeeded as Emperor Alexander II. His early death at the age of twenty-one was a devastating blow to his mother.
Engagement
Christian IX of Denmark
Christian IX was King of Denmark from 16 November 1863 to 29 January 1906.Growing up as a prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, a junior branch of the House of Oldenburg which had ruled Denmark since 1448, Christian was originally not in the immediate line of succession to the Danish...
and Princess Louise of Hesse-Kassel
Louise of Hesse-Kassel
Louise of Hesse was a German Princess and the queen consort to King Christian IX of Denmark.-Early Life and Ancestry:...
(or Hesse-Cassel) and a sister-in-law of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
, the heir to the British throne. It is believed that on his deathbed Nicholas expressed the wish that his fiancée should become the bride of his younger brother and successor as Tsarevich, Alexander
Alexander III of Russia
Alexander Alexandrovich Romanov , historically remembered as Alexander III or Alexander the Peacemaker reigned as Emperor of Russia from until his death on .-Disposition:...
.
Death
Nicholas was thought to have a strong constitution until early 1865, when during a tour in southern Europe he contracted an ailment that was initially incorrectly diagnosed as rheumatismRheumatism
Rheumatism or rheumatic disorder is a non-specific term for medical problems affecting the joints and connective tissue. The study of, and therapeutic interventions in, such disorders is called rheumatology.-Terminology:...
. It later turned out to be cerebro-spinal meningitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
. Nicholas's initial symptoms included back pain and a stiff neck as well as sensitivity to noise and light. However the Tsarevich thought little of it and continued his tour in Italy. His health rapidly grew worse and he was sent to Southern France
Southern France
Southern France , colloquially known as le Midi is defined geographical area consisting of the regions of France that border the Atlantic Ocean south of the Gironde, Spain, the Mediterranean, and Italy...
but this brought no improvement. In the spring of 1865 Nicholas continued to decline and he died on 24 April 1865 in Nice
Nice
Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur or PACA is one of the 27 regions of France.It is made up of:* the former French province of Provence* the former papal territory of Avignon, known as Comtat Venaissin...
.
His death at the early age of 21 thoroughly devastated his mother, who was said to have pored obsessively over all aspects of Nicholas's life. Empress Marie never recovered from his death.