AnastasiaAnastasia, Grand Duchess of Russia, was a very mischievous little girl with a keen sense of humor (McGuire 18). She was always described as having long, thin fingers and blue eyes. As he grew up, his personality changed drastically due to his dramatic childhood. His eyes and fingers remained the same but his wonderful personality was gone (Klier and Mingay 193). Tsar Nicholas II's daughter Anastasia may have survived the Russian Revolution, but what became of her has baffled historians. Tsar Nicholas was the last emperor of Russia and ruled from 1894 to 1917. All his life Nicholas lived in the shadow of his father (Lieven 1). Nicholas took the throne in 1894, was easily influenced by others, and quickly became a poor leader (Pipes 12). Soon after ascending the throne, Nicholas married Princess Alice of Hesse-Darmstadt. Alix became the Grand Duchess of Russia. Her name was changed to Alexandra. His religion was also changed to Russian Orthodox (Kings 77). The Tsar and Tsarina had 5 children. The youngest, Alexis, suffered from hemophilia. He was supposed to be the next ruler of Russia, but unfortunately that day never came (McGuire 31). During the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Russian government began to decline. Tsar Nicholas went against his advisor's advice and led the Russians through the battle (Lieven 3). Nicholas was at war and had no idea what was happening in Russia. People were not getting enough food and as a result they became very violent; Worst of all, Russia was losing the war (Pipes 65). Alexandra said: “This is the first time in my life that I have no idea how to behave. So far God has shown me the way. At this moment, however, I cannot hear his instructions. (Klier and Mingay 5). Alexis's poor health increased dramatically. As a result, her mother had horrible mood swings and became very depressed (McGuire 31). Rasputin, a peasant healer from Siberia, freely gave his advice to the imperial family. “He came dressed in his rough country boots and caftan, from the start he was strangely at ease with the royal couple. He greeted them like old country cousins. (Halliday 69). While Nicholas was away, Alexandra became very fond of Rasputin because he had cured Alexis of hemophilia and healed her broken heart. The Tsar believed that Rasputin was an authentic voice of... middle of paper... no romantic legend. The two Anastasias represent the two faces of the 20th century. One is a century that really existed, full of wars and massacres of innocents. The second is the century we longed to have, the peace and family pleasures, and the dreams of every little girl who would close her eyes and become a princess. "People have been trying to find out what really happened to the Imperial Family for 75 years. The family's secrets are no longer hidden in the dark trees of the Koptiaki forest outside Yekaterinburg (King 379). Many researchers say the real truth is dead with Anna Manahan. Historians are still baffled today because the bodies of Anastasia and Alexis were never found (McGuire 90).The real truth died with Anna Manahan.BibliographyMcGuire, Anastasia; Tsarina or False?. Minneapolis: Greenhaven Press, Richard. A Concise History of the Russian Revolution II”. Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia. CD ROM. Washington: Bloomsbury Publishing Place, 1999.