The Mystery of Anastasia

For close to 100 years the fate of Czar Nicholas II and his family have fascinated the world. Their deaths at the hands of Bolshevik soldiers, is the stuff of legend. For decades no one knew exactly what had happened to them. It was assumed that they had all been murdered but since no one could find their bodies, speculation grew about had happened to them.

For almost 25 years Nicholas II was the Emperor of all Russia, but it was not a role he was prepared for or suited for. His father, Alexander III, died suddenly in 1894 having never exposed Nicholas to affairs of state. While, very educated, the subtleties of politics escaped him.

But where he failed as a leader, he made up for as a family man. He was very happily married to Alexandra and they had five children -- Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia and Alexei, heir to the throne. The only dark spot on the family was Alexei's hemophilia.

During Nicholas' reign, a general unrest was beginning among his subjects. This, along with Russia's involvement in World War I would lead to his downfall. In 1905 Nicholas was forced to allow a parliament and a constitution to be created, which he did not want. This settled things for awhile, but it was not to last. By 1917 Nicholas abdicated his throne. A civil war ensued.

The family hoped to make their way to England, but this did not happen. Even though both Nicholas and his wife were related to the House of Windsor, England was reluctant to take sides and lose the alliance they had developed with post-war Russia. They became prisoners of the Bolshevik army.

For seventy eight days Nicholas and his family were held in the Ipatiev House in Ekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains. They seemed to have settled into a rather ordinary life while there. Whether they truly believed that they would eventually make there way to some kind of freedom is hard to say.

But with a civil war raging within Russia their chances of survival were not good. The White Army, who opposed the Bolsheviks, were on their way to Ekaterinburg. The Bolsheviks knew this and once word came from Vladimir Lenin, the plan to execute the family was put into place. In the early hours of July 17, 1918 the entire family was gunned downed and buried in a coal mine. The remains of all seven family members would not be found for many years to come.

Grand Duchess Anastasia

With no definitive proof that the family had been murdered, even though it's what everyone suspected, rumors began of possible escape. That is when the stories began and when the impostors started presenting themselves. The most famous of these was Anna Anderson.

Anderson showed up in a Berlin hospital in 1920. While initially she would not speak to anyone, she eventually started talking. She was transferred to a mental asylum where she asked a nurse if she noticed a resemblance between her, Anderson, and the youngest daughter of Czar Nicholas. The nurse agreed and then the word began to spread of this young woman who might be Anastasia.

A steady stream of Russian emigres began to question her. Some strongly believed she was Anastasia and some were just as strongly opposed to the idea. For the next sixty years, until her death in 1984, Anderson claimed to be the youngest daughter of Czar Nicholas.

Ten years after Anderson's death, DNA tests proved that she was not related to the Romanov family. In fact, it proved she was related to a missing Polish factory worker.

The story of Anna Anderson, along with the many other impostors has been a source of interest to writers and film makers throughout the years. Check out a few of the films that have been made below:

-- Anastasia (1997)

From the director of An American Tail, this animated feature tells a story of Anya desperately trying to reunite with her grandmother. Two Russian henchman and the not dead Rasputin, however, have other plans for her. This film starred Meg Ryan and John Cusack.

-- Northern Exposure (1994)

In a season six episode of this popular show, "Zarya", we learn of the negotiations that went on between Grand Duchess Anastasia and Vladmir Lenin in the town of Cicely, Alaska that would return Anastasia's family to power.

-- Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna (1986)

This made for TV mini-series starred Amy Irving as Anna Anderson. Based on a book by Peter Kurth, it follows the live of Anna Anderson who fights to be recognized as the Grand Duchess.

-- Anastasia (1956)

This is probably the most famous of all the films made about the subject. Ingrid Bergman stars as Anna Koreff, who may or may not be, Anastasia. Yul Brynner is her handler who works very hard to convince the Russian emigres and the Dowager Empress, Anastasia's grandmother.


-- Clothes Make the Woman (1928)

The first known film to take on the story was a silent film starring Eve Southern and Walter Pidgeon. After being saved by a Russian soldier, Anastasia finds her way to Hollywood where she is cast as the Grand Duchess in a film. And who plays her savior - the very same Russian soldier who saved her life!


-- Post by Tracy