Since the end of their reign in 1917, the Romanov family’s tragic ending has clouded history. Great speculation and mystery surrounded the family and their fate until 2008. The Romanovs have been a fascinating part of history from their lengthy autocracy during a messy time in Russia, to the story of their deaths, and why they are still important. During one of the most critical times in history, the Curse of the Romanovs held the world's attention for almost one hundred years. 

The Romanovs were a crucial part of Russia’s history. When the youngest daughter of the Czar, Anastasia, was born, Russia was one of the most powerful countries in the world. The Romanovs had been the autocratic rulers of Russia for almost three centuries and were idolized by their citizens (“Anastasia”). The family, however, was not without conflict. Their son, Alexei, had hemophilia, and the healer the Romanovs needed was Rasputin (“Nicholas II”). This would be a huge source of distaste with the royal family. Unfortunately, when Russia entered into conflict, the Czar was easily swayed by Rasputin. He is featured in the Disney movie, “Anastasia,” as the mystical villain that wants to harm the family. In the end, it was the citizens and Ural Soviets who were unhappy with the Romanovs and Rasputin’s relationship and told the Czar to abdicate to the city of Yekaterinburg (Pogorelov). They soon after made the decision to flee the throne and believed they could prosper without royalty but were soon proven wrong.

After three hundred years, the autocracy of the Romanovs had ended with their abdication. In Yekaterinburg, the Ural Soviets held the Romanovs and four of their servants hostage (Pogorelov). Early on July 17, 1918, the family and employees were executed by firing squad. Their burial site was a mass grave in an open field. The problem was that for some unknown reason, two children were put into a separate grave. When the mass grave was found in the 1970s, DNA testing was performed on the individuals within to prove they were of Romanov descent (Coble). When the world realized two of the children were not in the mass grave, there was an uproar. Rumors flew as individuals decided a princess had escaped. Russian and US forensic anthropologists debated if the missing princess was Maria (Russia) or Anastasia (US) leading to a high-profile disagreement between the two powerhouse countries (Pogorelov). Anastasia was the sweetheart of the Romanov family stealing the hearts of the Russian citizens and world. When the family was executed and two bodies were missing, everyone jumped at the idea that the darling of the family was alive and had escaped the execution. Imposters intensified the drama like Anna Anderson who kept the mystery of Anastasia alive until it was falsified in 1994 (“Anastasia”). In the end, the bodies were identified to be one son and one daughter of the Tsar. With a DNA sample from one of the sons already, Alexei was able to be identified. The debate over which daughter was in the separate grave cannot be settled because they had no previous DNA sample (Pogorelov). The legend of the missing princess may not exist anymore, but there is still wonder as to who the daughter in the second grave is. 

The Romanov’s impact may still be questioned today, but their role cannot be downplayed. Forensic anthropologists and geologists alike have utilized DNA testing to identify the bodies in the mass and separate graves. This has modernized studies with DNA samples and analysis. The mystery of the missing children had run rampant since the mass grave was found in the 1970s. “With the discovery of the two missing Romanov children in 2007, there was an opportunity to re-analyze all of the evidence associated with the case which confirmed the initial DNA testing and brought finality to the mystery” (Coble). DNA analysis played a significant role in bringing an end to the curse and allowing the family to finally rest. This also shined a light on DNA testing’s importance. There was a Disney movie made about Anastasia, and other movies about the whole family, and individuals impersonating this family. Information is still spread on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram as their mystery has continuously fascinated historians all over the world. 

The Mystery of the Romanovs is now laid to rest.  The family can rest in peace as their legend lives on. Their memory will never be forgotten, and neither will their three hundred years of leadership that fill textbooks. Though their lives ended tragically, the Romanovs were powerful rulers in a difficult time. There was disease, corruption, and overruling through the peaks and valleys of their autocracy. However, they were still one of the most infamous royal families ever.

Works Cited

"Anastasia Nicholaievna Romanov." Encyclopedia of World Biography Online, vol. 18, Gale, 1998. Gale In Context: High School, link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1631005653/SUIC?u=elkhornnhs&sid=bookmark-SUIC&xid=5ea0ba44. Accessed 13 Feb. 2024.

Coble: The identification of the Romanovs: Can we (finally) put the controversies to rest? Investigative Genetics 2011 2:20 link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/2041-2223-2-20.pdf.

"Nicholas II." Encyclopedia of World Biography Online, Gale, 1998. Gale In Context: High School, link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1631004842/SUIC?u=elkhornnhs&sid=bookmark-SUIC&xid=cd01425c. Accessed 18 Feb. 2024.

Pogorelov, Sergei. “Mystery Solved: The Identification of the Two Missing Romanov Children Using DNA Analysis.” PLOS, 11 March 2009, journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0004838&type=printable. Accessed 13 February 2024.