This book by the outstanding Russian historian A. N. Bokhanov is dedicated to an extraordinary woman who lived a long life resembling both a fairy tale and an adventure novel. The daughter-in-law of Emperor Alexander II, the wife of Emperor Alexander III, and the mother of Emperor Nicholas II. For most of her earthly existence, Empress Maria lived at the social height where the fates of states, empires, and nations were decided. And she fully felt the inexorability of the passage of time, becoming one of the first victims of the merciless "wheel of history" in the 20th century. But this small woman was able to overcome what seemed insurmountable, learning to find a ray of hope even in the impenetrable darkness of the surrounding reality. She endured. She stood firm. Until the last hour of her earthly life, she remained a Russian queen, holding in her heart compassion for human suffering, love for Russia, faith in God, and hope for His mercy. This book by the outstanding Russian historian A. N. Bokhanov is dedicated to an extraordinary woman who lived a long life resembling both a fairy tale and an adventure novel. The daughter-in-law of Emperor Alexander II, the wife of Emperor Alexander III, and the mother of Emperor Nicholas II. For most of her earthly existence, Empress Maria lived at the social height where the fates of states, empires, and nations were decided. And she fully felt the inexorability of the passage of time, becoming one of the first victims of the merciless "wheel of history" in the 20th century. But this small woman was able to overcome what seemed insurmountable, learning to find a ray of hope even in the impenetrable darkness of the surrounding reality. She endured. She stood firm. Until the last hour of her earthly life, she remained a Russian queen, holding in her heart compassion for human suffering, love for Russia, faith in God, and hope for His mercy.
