1895-1918
Olga was born on the 3rd November 1895, the firstborn of the new Tsar and Tsarita. She was plain as a child but blossomed age fifteen, and many remarked on how grown-up and beautiful she appeared in the famous 1914 photoshoot. Olga had no patience towards her mother, and the two often had little disagreements. She was one half of the 'Big Pair' with Tatiana, her closest friend. Olga loved learning much more than her siblings and read vigoriously. During the war years of 1914-16, she was a nurse in a Red Cross hospital, but suffered a nervous breakdown in 1916 and stopped. During the family's imprisonment of 1917-18, Olga ate little, became thin and it is said she began to undergo depression. Some even say she knew what was to happen to her family.
Olga Nikolaevna breathed her last in the early hours of 17th July 1918, in the celler of their prison, Ipatiev House, age 22.
1897-1918
Tatiana was the second child born to Emperor Nicholas and his wife Alexandra, on the 29th May 1897. She is said to have been the 'stunning' one of the GDs, with exotic beauty. Tatiana is said to have been her mother's favourite, pushing her about in her wheelchair during their final months at Tobolsk and Ekaterinburg. She was the second half of the 'Big Pair' with elder sister Olga, and trained to be a Red Cross nurse with her and their Mama. Tatiana's talents lay in hairdressing - she often was asked to style her mother's and the GD's hair for balls - and fashion; in Alexandra's letters she describes Tatiana has having a 'knack' for choosing gowns and jewels. In captivity, her younger brother Alexei fell ill and Tatiana was trusted with nursing him well. She and him became close and in those final months she became his closest sister.
Tatiana Nikolaevna, age only 21, would not live long enough to see the sunrise of 17th July 1918.
1899-1918
It was June 14th 1899 when Maria Nikolaevna was brought into the world, a third baby girl for the Tsar of Russia. Mashka, as she was nicknamed, was a chubby babe, but with a very pretty face. Maria was dominated throughout her life by her younger sister, Anastasia, even though she was the elder of the 'Little Pair'. Maria had no distinctive talents - she was capeable in all she did, but often was found clinging onto her adventorous younger sibling's arm, the tailend of the neverending pranks. Maria was named the 'angel', as she hardly ever did wrong and apologised when her sisters and brother misbehaved. In captivity, Mashka became close to the soldiers. All she ever wanted to do was be a mother and a loving wife.
But on the 17th July 1918, that dream was stolen from her as her soul departed from the world on her tragic death.
1901-1918
The last Grand Duchess was born on 5th June 1901, and named Anastasia. Nastya, her nickname, was mischievous and adventurous, and adored climbing trees. She was the childhood pal of her younger brother, Alexei. The second half of the 'Little Pair', she dragged the apologetic and angelic Maria behind her as she pranked anyone who crossed her path. It is said Nastya wanted to become an actress, as she was often immitating people and playacting. She was also said, in her tutor's memoirs, that she was a joker and longed to make people giggle. As she matured, the playfullness of her personality did not cease and it lessened the pain of her brother and family during captivity. But Anastasia is famously remembered as 'The One who Survived' - but this has been proved incorrect. Even so, this mystery sparked two brilliant films and dozens of imposters, including Anna Anderson.
In truth, Anastasia Nikolaevna did not see life past the early hours of 17th July 1918 on Earth, but in heaven as her soul ascended from the bloodshed below.
Let us not forget the youngest Romanov...
