Hemophilia

The disease of hemophilia and its effects is the underlying theme of the book. The Heir Apparent, Alexis, had the disease and this affected the actions of his parents, the Tsar Nicholas and the Empress Alexander. The disease, which appeared in the family of Queen Victoria, affected a large part of European royalty. The disease caused Alexandra and Nicholas to come into contact with the starets Gregory Rasputin, the faith healer. Rasputin believed that the way to salvation was through sin; you couldn't be absolved if you didn't sin. He was an uncouth womanizer but Alexandra believed that he was a miracle worker and saved Alexis's life many times when he was hemorrhaging. If Alexis hadn't had hemophilia, Alexandra wouldn't have clung to Rasputin so much. When Nicholas went to live at the Stavka to lead his troops during World War I, leaving Alexandra to run the administrative...