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<\/a><\/p>\nPortrait of the Romanov family, 1913<\/p>\n
Introduction<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The Romanov Dynasty ruled over Russia imperially for over three hundred years. \u00a0\u00a0The family\u2019s legacy spans from Peter the Great and his efforts in bringing Russia out of the Middle Ages, all the way up to the last Tsar Nicholas II, his wife and children, and their twisted and unfortunate demise in 1918. \u00a0The death of the last imperial family changed the leadership system in Russia forever, and brought waves of different reactions from people around the world.<\/p>\n Undoubtedly due to the horrific and initially mysterious nature of the murders, the world\u2019s general fascination with the last of the Romanovs has yet to completely die down. \u00a0The Romanov family left an undeniable mark on Russia and the world, which is evident not only through the great following their story continues to have.<\/p>\n Writers and historians of all kinds have composed both reliable and unreliable literature on the matter, prompting the question of \u201cwhy?\u201d to be raised.<\/p>\n This research guide provides a historian with a comprehensive list of both print and online sources from which to draw information about the Romanov dynasty\u2019s memory and impact on the world, and to search for a conclusion as to why they have remained a cultural phenomenon almost one hundred years after their deaths. This guide addresses the Romanov\u2019s infamy from cultural, international, religious and scientific standpoints.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n General Russian Historical Context<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n RUSSIA AND THE USSR IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY<\/p>\n Though this text focuses primarily on the evolution of Russia throughout the 1900s as a whole, MacKenzie and Curran highlight important and relevant points that have to do with linking Tsarism and the Russian Orthodox Church.\u00a0 They go on to explain the separation of church and state, as well as where orthodoxy came into play during years of soviet rule, up until nearly present day.<\/p>\n David MacKenzie and Michael W. Curran,\u00a0Russia and the USSR In the Twentieth Century<\/i>. (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. 2002. Print)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n RUSSIA: A HISTORY<\/p>\n This source covers centuries of Russian history, but Freeze does make some insightful connections regarding the height of Tsarism and the end of imperial rule in Russia, as well as church and civil laws that came into play after the death of the monarchs.\u00a0 This overview of Russian history gives readers room to interpret events and their causes that proved to be socially revolutionary.<\/p>\n Gregory L. Freeze,\u00a0Russia: A History.<\/i>\u00a0(Oxford: Oxford University Press. 1997. Print)<\/p>\n Members of the Imperial family, 1916<\/p>\n MARGINALIA, LOS ANGELES REVIEW OF BOOKS<\/p>\n This article on the relationship between church and state throughout Russian history provides important historical context for a researcher interested in studying the Russian Orthodox Church and it\u2019s affects on the nation\u2019s identity. Simon Rabinovitch clarifies the differences between Russian identities in terms of nationality and in terms of religious affiliation. He acknowledges that leaders from the latter half of the Romanov Dynasty directly linked Russian nationality with belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church. Rabinovitch also comments on the challenges this created for the Bolsheviks in their attempts to disconnect Russian national identity from the Orthodox Church following the fall of the Romanov Dynasty.<\/p>\n \u201cSearching For The Meaning Of \u2018Russian\u2019\u201d, Simon Rabinovitch, The Marginalia Review Of Books, Accessed November 27, 2014, last modified July 2, 2013.<\/p>\n http:\/\/marginalia.lareviewofbooks.org\/searching-for-the-meaning-of-russian-by-simon-rabinovitch\/<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Romanov Rule<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n THE ROMANOVS: AUTOCRATS OF ALL THE RUSSIAS<\/p>\n Unlike the typical, praise-filled writings on the last imperial family, Bruce Lincoln\u2019s collection of historical events and facts give a reader a full understanding of the development, ruling and eventual end of the Romanov Dynasty, and the years that followed their deaths. \u00a0Lincoln outlines the way the last Tsar, Nicholas II, was raised and specifies his lack of preparedness for the task he was given. \u00a0As well as highlighting where the Romanovs fell short as leaders and as human beings, he begins to look into where Lenin, Stalin and Trotsky ran into problems with the new nation and how they in turn combated them.<\/p>\n Bruce W. Lincoln,\u00a0The Romanovs: Autocrats Of All Russia.<\/i><\/p>\n (New York: Dial, 1981. Print)<\/p>\n Tsar Nicholas II<\/p>\n ROMANOVS: FINAL CHAPTER<\/p>\n This text explains the manners in which the death of the family and later investigations of the murder were handled by the Russian people and the world. \u00a0Massie explores the ways in which the deaths were initially handled by the Russian government, acknowledging that information was released to the general public slowly, and not always truthfully. \u00a0Romanovs: Final Chapter<\/i>\u00a0also touches upon the international stage, with a focus on German interest in the matter the years directly after the murder, and the rest of the world for years to come.<\/p>\n Robert K. Massie,\u00a0Romanovs: Final Chapter.<\/i><\/p>\n (Random House Group, 2012. Print)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n THE LAST DAYS OF IMPERIAL RUSSIA<\/p>\n Miriam Kochan\u2019s\u00a0The Last Days Of Imperial Russia<\/i>\u00a0serves to educate a historian further on what the Romanov family did and did not do that caused the fall of their empire. \u00a0Imperial Russia\u2019s demise is placed on the shoulders Nicholas Romanov, his wife Alexandra, Rasputin, even Tsarnevich Alexis, the youngest Romanov son.<\/p>\n Miriam Kochan,\u00a0The Last Days Of Imperial Russia.<\/i>\u00a0(New York: Macmillan, 1976. Print)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA ONLINE<\/p>\n The Encyclopedia Britannica provides some very basic, but useful information on the Romanov Dynasty and their impact on Russia. Through Britannica Online, a researcher can easily access related articles and sources because they are made readily available based on the topics.<\/p>\n \u201cRomanov Dynasty\u201d, Encyclopedia Britannica Online, accessed November 29 2014, last modified August 4, 2014.\u00a0http:\/\/www.britannica.com\/EBchecked\/topic\/508643\/Romanov-Dynasty<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Public Fascination and Obsession<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n THE SOLOKOV INVESTIGATION OF THE ALLEGED MURDER OF THE RUSSIAN IMPERIAL FAMILY<\/p>\n Arguably the most in depth investigation of the Romanov murder, Solokov\u2019s research shows the high level of obsession behind the family and their deaths. \u00a0Solokov analyzed what appears to be every detail imaginable, focusing mainly on the Bolsheviks involved in the murder and their processes in doing so.\u00a0 The investigation was something that generated interest among the Russian people, as well as around the world, thereby continuing to generate interest in the Romanov family. The investigation went on for about fifty years following the death of the family.<\/p>\n Nicholas A. Solokov and John F. O\u2019Connor,\u00a0The Solokov Investigation Of The Alleged Murder Of The Russian Imperial Family<\/i>. (New York: Robert Speller and Sons, 1971. Print)<\/p>\n Basement room in Ipatiev house where the Romanovs were executed<\/p>\n The Solokov investigation searching for the family’s remains.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ANASTASIA: THE RIDDLE OF ANNA ANDERSON<\/p>\n A detailed account of the life of a woman claiming to be the long-lost Grand Duchess Anastasia,\u00a0The Riddle Of Anna Anderson<\/i>\u00a0should be used by researchers as more of a historical artifact of thought, rather than actual evidence by any stretch of the word. \u00a0It is a great tool in understanding the obsession behind the \u201cmyth and mystery\u201d of the Romanov \u201cdisappearance\u201d, but as far as historical accuracy goes, this text should be considered unreliable. \u00a0The existence of this book is frivolous for many reasons, but mainly because Anastasia\u2019s remains have been discovered, unsurprisingly, along with the rest of her deceased family.\u00a0 \u00a0However, this text serves as a prime example of the ways that the alluring memory of the Romanov story influences historians and writers to produce more and more literature on the subject, albeit not always completely accurate.<\/p>\n Peter Kruth,\u00a0Anastasia: The Riddle Of Anna Anderson.<\/i>\u00a0 (Toronto: Little, Brown and<\/p>\n Company. 1983, Print)<\/p>\n Anna Anderson (left), who claimed she was the long-lost Grand Duchess Anastasia (right).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n VIDEO: THE ROMANOV BURIAL,\u00a0https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8oYHKLHGwvA<\/a><\/p>\n This video is the live broadcast of the memorial service and burial of the Romanov family\u2019s remains, which took place in 1998. The same YouTube account, \u201cTsarevich Alexei\u201d, has three videos covering the majority of the broadcast. All three videos, (parts 1,2 and 3) are very helpful in understanding traditional Russian culture and the procedures for a royal burial. In the videos, the coffins are carried very traditionally and systematically, with music playing and soldiers present. Unfortunately the videos contain no subtitles, but President Yeltsin spoke at the service. The burial occurred at Saint Catherine\u2019s Chapel, which appears to be exceptionally beautiful and traditional in the videos. In the video labeled \u201cPart 3\u201d, the coffin of Tsar Nicholas II is laid to rest. It is apparent that the Tsar\u2019s coffin has a bit more decoration. The third segment also provides a visual on the cannons that were being fired, presumably a tradition of a royal burial, and shows clips of the Fortress.<\/p>\n Coffins containing the Romanov family remains, inside the Saint Catherine’s Chapel in St. Petersburg<\/p>\n <\/p>\n BBC NEWS: WORLD EDITION<\/p>\n This article from BBC online lays out the details of the burial of the Romanov family\u2019s remains in 1998. There is a small recap of the speech that President Boris Yeltisn gave on the live broadcast, as well as an excerpt of a quotation from Prince Nikolay Romanov, one the last living relatives of the imperial family. The article also touches upon the dispute over the legitimacy of the remains that were discovered, which resulted in several bishops being unable to participate in the burial ceremony.<\/p>\n \u201cRomanovs Laid To Rest\u201d, BBC News Online, accessed November 20 2014, last modified July 17, 1998.\u00a0http:\/\/news.bbc.co.uk\/2\/hi\/europe\/133725.stm<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE ONLINE<\/p>\n Joshua Hammer, in his article titled \u201cResurrecting the Czar\u201d, gives an in-depth explanation of what happened to the Romanov family in 1918, and does an even better job of chronicling the events that followed the murders for the next hundred years. He writes about the extensive research that was done in discovering the family\u2019s remains, and the DNA analysis that appeared controversial to many who closely followed the Romanov\u2019s saga. Due to the discovery of the remains, disparities between the Russian Orthodox Church and the investigators and scientists began appearing, and came to a head at the time of the burial ceremony of the imperial family\u2019s remains. Hammer provides details on the relationship between the Romanovs and the Orthodox Church, claiming the linkage is very apparent in the way the church\u2019s displays honoring the family, and in the family\u2019s canonization as \u201cmartyrs\u201d and \u201cpassion bearers\u201d. Something important that this article addresses is the ideology of a \u201cmonarchist\u201d, or someone who argues for the reinstatement of the monarchical system.<\/p>\n \u201cResurrecting The Czar\u201d Smithsonian Magazine Online, accessed November 25, 2014,\u00a0 last modified November 2010. http:\/\/www.smithsonianmag.com\/people-places\/resurrecting-the-czar-64545030\/?no-ist=&c=y&page=1<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n