The Lives and Deaths of the Princesses of Hesse

1. A Childhood of Privilege and Early Loss Shaped the Hesse Sisters

‘Did the Tsarina, surrounded by snow in her gloomy Romanov palaces, dream of Hesse? What terrible dooms and destinies the family have had!’

Darmstadt's informal charm. The four Hesse sisters—Victoria, Ella, Irène, and Alix—grew up in the relatively informal Hesse Court in Darmstadt, Germany, a stark contrast to the grander European courts. Their childhood was marked by idyllic rides in pine woods and cultural pursuits, though their mother, Princess Alice, found Darmstadt society "narrow and stifling." This early environment fostered strong bonds among the sisters, a connection they cherished throughout their turbulent adult lives.

Queen Victoria's maternal role. Following Princess Alice's early death from diphtheria in 1878, Queen Victoria eagerly adopted her Hesse granddaughters, becoming a "second mother" to them. They frequently visited Balmoral and Osborne House, solidifying their strong ties with Britain. This close relationship with their "Grandmama" would profoundly influence their lives, even as they navigated their own paths and faced her formidable matchmaking efforts.

Early tragedies and resilience. The sisters' childhood was not without sorrow, beginning with the death of their two-year-old brother, Frittie, from haemophilia. This was followed by the devastating diphtheria epidemic that claimed their youngest sister, May, and then their mother, Princess Alice. These early losses instilled a deep sense of melancholy in Alix, the youngest, and a strong sense of responsibility in Victoria, the eldest, who felt her "childhood ended" with her mother's death.

2. Queen Victoria's Matchmaking Efforts Met with Mixed Success

‘Anything is better than making an unhappy marriage.’

Grandmama's thwarted plans. Queen Victoria, a self-proclaimed expert matchmaker, meticulously compiled lists of suitable aristocrats for her granddaughters, only to find her plans repeatedly undermined. She was "put out" by Victoria's choice of Prince Louis Battenberg, who wasn't on her list, and "horrified" by Ella's attraction to the Russian Grand Duke Serge, whom she considered a "savage." Her strong anti-Russian sentiments, stemming from the Crimean War, fueled her opposition.

Ella's defiance and conversion. Despite Queen Victoria's strenuous efforts to dissuade her, including summoning Ella to England, Ella ultimately chose Grand Duke Serge. The Queen was "furious" at Ella's "changeable" nature but eventually gave her blessing, albeit with conditions that Ella largely ignored. Ella's subsequent conversion to Russian Orthodoxy, though initially met with dismay by some, was surprisingly supported by Queen Victoria, who recognized her granddaughter's sincere motives.

Alix's prolonged resistance. The Queen held the highest hopes for Alix, her "favourite little granddaughter," and was "thunderstruck" when Alix accepted Tsarevich Nicholas's proposal after years of resistance. Alix's refusal to convert to Russian Orthodoxy was a major sticking point, which the Queen actively encouraged to prevent the match. However, intense pressure from Ella, Grand Duke Serge, and even Kaiser Wilhelm II eventually led Alix to convert, sealing her fate in Russia.

3. Ella's Devotion to Russia Led to a Life of Service and Tragedy

‘I want to be worthy of a husband like Serge.’

A grand Russian life. Ella's marriage to Grand Duke Serge plunged her into the opulent, yet politically volatile, world of the Russian Imperial Court. Despite initial misgivings from Queen Victoria and rumors about Serge's character, Ella claimed intense happiness, embracing her new country and its religion. She became a renowned hostess, designing her own elaborate dresses and jewels, and establishing herself as a prominent figure in St Petersburg and later Moscow.

From Grand Duchess to Nun Martyr. Following Serge's assassination by a terrorist bomb in 1905, Ella underwent a profound transformation. She courageously gathered his scattered remains, visited his assassin in prison to offer forgiveness, and dedicated her life to spiritual service. Selling her valuables, she founded the Martha and Mary Convent, a nursing order devoted to helping the poor and afflicted. This act of selflessness earned her immense popularity among ordinary Russians, who revered her as a saint.

Unwavering faith amidst turmoil. Even as Russia descended into revolution, Ella remained steadfast in her convent, refusing to abandon her "big babies"—the sick and wounded she cared for. She accepted the Tsar's abdication as God's will and faced revolutionaries with calm defiance, even when accused of being German. Her stoicism and unwavering faith, though sometimes misunderstood by her sisters, became a beacon of hope and resilience in a country torn apart by violence.

4. Alix's Path to Tsarina Was Marked by Love, Illness, and Isolation

‘My dream is some day to marry Alix H’; ‘I have loved her a long while and still deeper and stronger since 1889 when she spent six weeks in St P.’

A love match with Nicky. Alix's relationship with Tsarevich Nicholas began as a teenage romance during Ella's wedding in 1884, blossoming into a deep and enduring love. Despite initial opposition from Queen Victoria and Tsar Alexander III, and Alix's own reluctance to convert to Russian Orthodoxy, their mutual affection ultimately prevailed. Their engagement, after years of persistence from Nicky and strategic "encouragement" from Ella, was a moment of intense joy for Alix, who had "longed for" it for five years.

The burden of the throne. Becoming Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna was a daunting transition for the shy, introspective Alix. Her social awkwardness and perceived haughtiness alienated many at court, earning her the label "the German witch." She struggled with the public role, preferring the quiet domesticity of her family life. Her recurring health issues, including sciatica and a "heart condition," further limited her public engagements and contributed to her increasing isolation.

A mother's fierce devotion. Alix's greatest joy and deepest sorrow came from her children. After giving birth to four daughters, the long-awaited Tsarevich Alexis arrived, but with him came the devastating secret of haemophilia. This secret, coupled with her fierce protectiveness, drove Alix further into isolation and mysticism. Her devotion to her "ideal" family life became a refuge, but also a barrier, preventing her from connecting with her subjects and understanding the growing unrest in Russia.

5. Haemophilia and Rasputin Cast a Long Shadow Over the Imperial Family

‘They each had a child for whose life they trembled.’

The family curse. Haemophilia, a disease that had claimed Alix's younger brother Frittie and Irène's son Heinrich, became the central tragedy of Alix's life with the birth of Tsarevich Alexis. The constant threat of internal bleeding and the need for absolute secrecy surrounding his condition consumed Alix, turning her into a "nervous wreck." This shared burden of a haemophiliac child created a unique, albeit painful, bond between Alix and Irène.

Rasputin's rise to power. Desperate to save her son, Alix turned to Grigori Rasputin, a Siberian "holy man," who seemed uniquely able to stem Alexis's bleeding crises. His influence at court grew exponentially, becoming a source of scandal and outrage among the Russian aristocracy and Alix's own sisters. While Alix saw him as her son's savior, Ella, Victoria, and Irène viewed him as a "fiend and an imposter," a "skulduggerous fraud," and "that horrid man," respectively.

Sisterly discord over the mystic. The sisters' differing views on Rasputin caused a deep and irreparable rift, particularly between Alix and Ella. Their arguments, often "hard words," highlighted Alix's increasing isolation and her unwavering belief in Rasputin's spiritual power, despite widespread accusations of his debauchery and political meddling. This conflict ultimately contributed to the breakdown of their once-close relationship, leaving them "irresolvably divided."

6. War and Revolution Severed Bonds and Sealed the Sisters' Fates

‘I little dreamt that it was the last time I should see my sisters again.’

World War I divides the family. The outbreak of World War I in 1914 shattered the close-knit world of the Hesse sisters. Germany's declaration of war on Russia and Britain placed Irène's country against those of her three sisters, making communication and travel almost impossible. This geopolitical divide mirrored the growing personal estrangement, particularly as anti-German sentiment in Russia intensified, targeting Alix and Ella as "German witches."

Alix's fatal political missteps. With the Tsar at the front, Alix effectively took charge of the government, a decision that proved calamitous. Her German origins, coupled with her reliance on Rasputin, fueled public hatred and accusations of pro-German sympathies. Her strident, often misguided, political advice to "Hubby" and her inability to connect with the Russian people accelerated the dynasty's downfall, leading to the Tsar's abdication in March 1917.

The tragic end in Siberia. The Russian Revolution led to the imprisonment and eventual murder of Alix and her entire family in Ekaterinburg in July 1918. Ella, too, was arrested and transported to Alapaevsk, where she was brutally murdered by being thrown down a mine shaft, along with other Romanov relatives. These horrific deaths, shrouded in secrecy and confusion, marked the devastating end of an era and the ultimate realization of Queen Victoria's dire fears for her granddaughters in Russia.

7. The Enduring Legacy of Grief, Faith, and the "Anastasia" Mystery

‘It is done . . . but the story will go on and on.’

Victoria and Irène's survival and grief. Victoria and Irène, the two surviving Hesse sisters, faced immense personal grief and the challenges of a post-war world. Victoria, who had considered herself Alix's special protector, was devastated by the loss of her sisters and nieces, channeling her sorrow into ensuring Ella's proper burial in Jerusalem. Irène, too, mourned deeply, but also faced the immediate threat of revolution in Germany, forcing her to flee her home and burn precious letters.

Ella's path to sainthood. Ella's body, miraculously preserved, was eventually transported from Siberia to Jerusalem, fulfilling her wish to be buried in the Holy Land. Her unwavering faith, selfless service, and ultimate martyrdom led to her canonization as a saint in the Russian Orthodox Church. Her convent, the Martha and Mary, continued her legacy of charity, a testament to her enduring spirit and the profound impact she had on the lives of ordinary Russians.

The "Anastasia" enigma. The mystery surrounding the fate of Alix's youngest daughter, Anastasia, became a decades-long saga that entangled the surviving Hesse family. A claimant, Anna Anderson, emerged, asserting she was the Grand Duchess, leading to protracted court battles and deep divisions among relatives. While Victoria and Irène initially dismissed her as a fraud, Irène's son, Sigismund, later became convinced of her identity, highlighting the enduring human need for hope and resolution in the face of unimaginable loss.