Furienna
Serene Highness
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- Mar 29, 2006
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Yeah, but one hundred years ago, women had little to no right to inherit the thrown in most monarchies. So I guess Russia wasn't extreme on that issue.
Even if Nicholas could have shifted the line of sucession from Alexei to Olga or someone else in the family, he probably would not have done it. He was far too conscious of his autocrat status and proud to do anything that constituted a constitutional shake up. He was very bitter about signing the Duma into effect in 1905 thus ending his absolute rule (officially whereas unofficially he still felt like an autocrat). He hated anything that messed with his absolute rule so he would have certainly hated shifting the line of sucession.
Vasillisos Markos said:But that is exactly my point -- Nicholas wielded absolute power and before the Duma came into effect, he was desperate to have a son. I know that his brother could take his place but why didn't Nicholas, wielding his absolute authority, change the law of succession? Do you think he did not to spare his daughters from sitting on such a dangerous throne?
It's hard to be sure. I have to say Nicholas and Alexandra seemed to have this blind faith in the survival of their throne and, if I am right, it was not until the last minute that they saw how much the country had turned against them. They probably knew how dangerous the autocracy could be and shielded their daughters from such a prospect, but they also might have thought it was safer than, say, the Greek throne or the Balkan thrones.
If the Tsar was the ultimate decision maker, why didn't Nicholas change the rule of succession to include his daughters? If it was Paul who changed the rule about women inheriting because he despised his mother, Catherine the Great, why couldn't Nicholas do the same? Was there any pressure to keep women from the throne?
No you are correct. Alix's health was not good and they stopped. I forget which book I read where they mention that. VM might know.I would guess Nikolai and Alexandra didn't try to have another son/child due to Alexandra's health and fear of having yet another child with the same condition as Aleksey. That's only my guess though. there may have been other reasons.
Ooo! It's Romanov week!
I asked the question of why they didn't have more children as well and somebody pointed out to me that it was highly likely that another son would have the same condition Alexei had. Also Alexandra became kind of obsessive about her sons health and it aged her considerably worrying about him and trying to keep him healthy. Plus I read that she suffered from guilt that Alexie had gotten the disease from her and I wouldn't want her to suffer that guilt with a second child.
Nicholas surely could have changed things and then it would have undone a huge amount of pressure on the Imperial Family. Why didn't he just do it?
IloveCP said:Does anyone know if Olga would be a pontential monarch before the birth of her brother?
Does anyone know if Olga would be a pontential monarch before the birth of her brother?
I knew women were banned but,it was possible that the Tzar would consider changing the law because it took a long time to have a male heir.Anything was possible.
Just a thought!
It kind of reminds ms of Henry VIII and his desire for a son;
I think (key word here--think!) the reason was that Peter the Great and Catherine had so many children die that anybody who was left alive was all right with them to rule. This is an excellent question as far as women ruling because Catherine II was certainly very intelligent, well read and prime for the job. It sort of seemed that after that pinnacle the general concensus was that women weren't up to the job. However, that is just an observation I have.I don't know a lot about successions and the baring of women; but if Paul could make the law, I see no reason why another Tsar couldn't have gotten rid of the law. I also don't know why there was such histeria to get a male heir and keep his illness a secret. Its not like there weren't others who couldn't have picked up the mantle if he couldn't have done the job.
It kind of reminds ms of Henry VIII and his desire for a son; he wanted a boy so bad he could hav married Mary off and hoped she had a son to succeed him.