text: Plot Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna, wife of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, gives birth to their fifth child and first son, Alexei. Despite pleas from Grand Duke Nicholas and Count Sergei Witte, Nicholas refuses to end the Russo-Japanese War or accept demands for a constitutional monarchy, believing that doing either will make him look weak and put the Romanov dynasty at risk. As the war continues, growing public unrest sees a procession of workers march to the Winter Palace, hoping to present Nicholas with a petition calling for political representation. Soldiers open fire on the approaching crowd, killing hundreds. The resulting revolution forces Nicholas to create the Duma.
  At a gala, Alexandra meets Grigori Rasputin, a self-proclaimed holy man, who she later turns to for spiritual guidance after court physicians diagnose Alexei with haemophilia. As the years pass the close relationship between the royal family and Rasputin, combined with Rasputin's behaviour, leads to public mockery of the royal family. Nicholas eventually dismisses Rasputin from the court despite Alexandra's pleas otherwise.
  The Romanov Tercentenary celebrations occur and a lavish tour across Imperial Russia ensues, but resentment amongst the impoverished remains. Amongst the national festivities and celebrations Russian prime minister Stolypin is assassinated. Nicholas responds by executing the assassins, permitting the police to terrorize the peasants, and closes the Duma.
  Following a fall at the Spała Hunting Lodge, Alexei suffers a bleeding attack so severe that it is presumed he will die. Alexandra writes to Rasputin who responds with prayer and instruction for Alexei to be left alone by the doctors. His recover is chalked up to Rasputin's intervention and as a result is allowed to return to the imperial household.