Romanov's family assassination in Ekaterinburg

Ekaterinburg is known as the city where the last Russian tsar Nicolai II and his family were killed by bolsheviks in 1918.

Some facts

Nikolai II came to the throne in 1894, and ruled the country in the most difficult time for Russia. Weak government, growing working power and World War I made monarchy sick and lead Russian empire to Revolution.

After February Russian revolution in 1917 Nikolas II was arrested and later sent to the city Tobolsk in Siberia, and later to Ekaterinburg. By August, 1918, Russia was in a flame of Civil War, Red and White Armies fought with alternating success. White Army enraptured Ekaterinburg and there was direct threat of czar\'s release so bolsheviks decided to kill the czar and his family and hide their remains.

Romanov's family

Alexandra Feodorovna

From left to right: Tatiana, Anastasia, Alexei, Maria and Olga

On July 16, 1918, former czar Nikolas II, his wife Aleksandra, their four daughters, Tsarevich Alexis, and their faithful servants: Doctor Botkine, lady-in-waiting Anna Demidova, cook Kharitonof and footman Troup were assassinated in Ipatiev house basement in Ekaterinburg.

Ipatiev House

Their remains were taken away to the forest outside the town. Trying to hide remains, they burned the bodies, tried to dissolve them in acid and finally threw them in a flooded collapsed mine.

Later they decided to move remains and hide it in deeper mine but by the pressure of attacking White Army they had to throw the bodies right under the road.

$Alexandra, tsar\'s wife$

This place was hidden and no investigations were successful until 1979 when czar remains were discovered but for political reasons they could not be exhumed. Exactly one day after taking power in 1991, Boris Yeltsin, first Russian president retrieved the remains, and the identification process began. Many teams of experts, Russian, British and American investigated these remains with DNA expertise for 10 years and came to conclusion that the bones were those of Nikolai, Alexandra, Olga, Tatiana, Anastasia and the four servants.

Ipatiev house was destroyed to avoid it becoming a place of pilgrimmage by the special order of communist party in 1977.

On the place of former Ipatiev house Cathedral-on-the-Blood has been built. It is the biggest Cathedral in Ekaterinburg now. Its grand opening on July, 16, 2003, on 85th anniversary of the tragedy, has become greatest city event this year. You are welcome to join a special guided tour organized by Ekaterinburg Travel agency. You will visit all Romanovs places here in Ekaterinburg and suburbs, also visit churches and Cathedrals.

If you are interested in the history of last days of last Russian czar visit an excellent Ipatiev House - Romanov Memorial site.