Alexander III Trivia Quiz

Answer: False

Alexander III was the second son of Alexander II. His elder brother Nicholas was considered to be hope of the Russian monarchy. Quick-witted, charming and handsome, he died after a fall from his horse in Nice.

Answer: Czarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich

Dagmar was originally engaged to the Czarevich Nicholas. Nicholas was very close to his younger brother Alexander and when he died, he passed on his fiancee as well as his title to his brother. Grand Duke Sergi Alexandrovich, brother of Alexander III, married Elizabeth of Hesse, the sister of Alexandra, wife of Nicholas II. Edward VII married Alexandra of Denmark, the sister of Dagmar, in 1863.

He became by marriage the brother-in-law of the czar. Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia married Victoria, the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

Answer: 6

When Dagmar became a member of the Russian Orthodox Church she was renamed Maria Fedorovna. She and Alexander had six children, four boys (Nicholas, Alexander, George and Michael) and two girls (Xenia and Olga).

Answer: double bass

In the "Tragic Dynasty", Bergamini mentions his performances on the double bsss in the palace group in which the drummer in the orchestra was General Genghis Khan, one of the descendents of the Mongol warrior. Virginia Cowles however in her book on the Romanovs indicates that he preferred the trombone as does Bruce Lincoln in his book the Romanovs.

Answer: The People's Will

Nine days after his ascession to the throne, Alexander received a document from the Central Executive Committee of the People's Will in which they offered the new czar the choice between reactionary violence or consitutional reform.

Answer: Gatchina

Gatchina was a palace favoured by Paul I. It was located some distance from the capital. It was isolated and in the middle of a large park which in turn was surrounded by high wall patrolled by the army. Alexander never moved into the Winter Palace.

When duty required him to be in St Petersburg, he lived in the home that he had lived in as Czarevich, the Anitchkov Palace. The Winter Palace was only used for formal receptions and balls. Orienbaum was a favoured country residence of Catherine II. Pavlovsk, close to the palace complex at Tsarkoe Selo, was built by Catherine II for her son Paul. Peterhof was built by Peter the Great in imitation of Versailles.

It is noted for its beautiful park and fountains.

Answer: 2

Alexander's two daughters and his wife survived the revolution. His wife, Maria Fedorovna returned to her homeland Denmark. His daughter Xenia went to England where she was given a grace and favour residence by King George V. Olga and her second husband lived with Maria Fedorovna until Maria's death after which she moved to Toronto Canada. Nicholas and his youngest brother Michael both were killed by the Bolsheviks. Alexander died in infancy and George died of tuberculosis in 1899.

His grave was opened to provide DNA samples to test the bodies found at Ekaterinburg.

Answer: False

Alexander had no real confidence in Nicholas's ability. When his minister Sergei Witte proposed that Nicholas should chair a committee to build the Trans-Siberian railway, Alexander is reported to have said to Witte, "But do you know the Grand Duke, my heir? Have you ever had a serious conversation with him? He is a child.

His reasoning is childish. How could he preside over this committee?"

Answer: No

Although the country became economically prosperous it suffered all of the ills of industrialization with movement of the population into the cities, many people chasing jobs resulting in low wages and a couple of years of poor crops. Under the surface, there was trouble brewing.

Answer: all of these

Alexander's goal was to keep Russia at peace and to do that he fostered a more friendly attitude toward France.

Answer: all of these

Under Alexander's reign, there were many pogroms against the Jews. Jews also suffered addtional restrictions on education and areas of settlement. There are many stories about the frugality of Alexander's court, his one extravagance seemingly was the indulgence of his wife, who was not frugal.

His one personal extravagance was the annual Fabergé eggs. The brutally frank nature of Alexander can be illustrated by one anecdote. Thanked by his dancing partner, he responded, "Why can't you be honest? It was just a duty neither of us could have relished. I have ruined your slippers and you have made me nearly sick with the scent you use."

Answer: Lenin

Alexander Ulyanov was Lenin's elder brother. Stalin succeeded Lenin as Communist leader. Beria headed the Soviet secret police from the end of the Great Purges (1939) till just after Stalin's death (1953).

Answer: The train was too heavy, travelling too fast over rails that were too light

Although the possibility of a terrorist attack was always present, an official enquiry placed the blame squarely on an engineering problem. Although elaborate, the cars were old and heavy. The train speed was excessive and the rails too light for the burden it was carrying. Russia was notoriously inefficient and badly organized, long before the Communists came to power.

Answer: nephritis

Nephritis, a kidney disease for which there was no cure at the time, rendered the bluff, hearty czar a walking shell. Although the doctors knew that there was no real hope, they recommended the softer climate of the Crimea. Surrounded by his family, he died there in October 1894.

Answer: Edward VII, then Prince of Wales

Kaiser Wilhelm was not at Livadia. Edward and his wife were there as the brother-in-law and sister of the Empress Maria Fedorovna. Nicholas II was overwhelmed by the situation and was being bullied by his uncles, the brothers of Alexander III. Alexandra of Hesse, Nicholas's future wife arrived shortly before Alexander's death and was in no position to affect anything at that time.