Anastasia - a mystery uncovered

Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia was the fourth daughter of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, the last Tsar of Imperial Russia, and his wife Alexandra. At her birth her parents were disappointed, as they had wanted a son to be heir to their throne. Anastasia received her names, meaning "the breaker of chains", and in honour of her birth students who had participated in riots in Moscow and St Petersburg during the last winter were pardoned.

The Tsar's children were raised simply. They slept on camp cots without pillows, took cold baths every morning, and were expected to tidy their rooms and stitch needlework for charity events in their free time. Most of the household, including the servants, did not call Anastasia by her full title. Anastasia was described as short and chubby in her early childhood, with blue eyes and strawberry blond hair. She was described as gifted, although uninterested in schoolwork, and was the child most likely to break the rules of the household. She shared a room with her older sister Maria and the two were sometimes known as "the little pair".

Anastasia's health was sometimes poor. She had a weak muscle in her back, which she received a massage for twice a week, although she hated and hid from the event. Reportedly, she haemorrhaged in December 1914 in an operation to remove her tonsils. She was believed to be a possible carrier of the haemophilia gene, like her mother. ALong with the rest of the family, she doted on her younger brother, who suffered from haemophilia.

During WWI Anastasia often went with her sisters to visit wounded soldiers. In February 1917, Nicholas II abdicated the throne and Anastasia, along with the rest of her family, was placed under house arrest. She was eventually removed to the Ipatiev house as the Bolsheviks took control of most of Russia. During this time, Anastasia wrote to a friend saying "Goodbye, don't forget us". She and her sisters sewed jewels into their clothing in the hopes of hiding them from their captors. Anastasia reportedly remained as cheerful as possible under house arrest. Once she tried to open one of the painted windows, to take a look outside, and was fired at a guard who narrowly missed. She did not try again. The guards had mixed opinions on Anastasia, one saying that she was "very friendly and full of fun", and another calling her "offensive and a terrorist".

The family were killed in 1918 after about a year under house arrest. However, Anastasia was not found in the mass grave where her family were buried. Her body was found in August 2007, after several rumours based on her survival. Several women had claimed to be Anastasia, the most famous of whom is Anna Anderson.

Jessie Jeffrey