Empress Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia

## Anastasia Nikolaevna

**Her Imperial Highness, the High Empress Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia and Sous Novia** (15 November 1894) was the oldest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II, the last sovereign of Imperial Russia, and his wife, Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna. Though technically the oldest child of her family, she seems to be the youngest child of her parents due to her more petite stature; as her only brother (Alexei Nikolaevich) died with her mother during childbirth, she was crowned the heir apparent of the Russian Empire. The wife of her mother`s older sister, High Empress Morgiana of Sous Novia had declared Grand Duchess Anastasia, Tsesarevich of Russia as her new heir apparent due to having been declared sterile. The announcement of this news caused a huge uproar, with the Russian Empire briefly uniting themselves underneath the rule of their much-anticipated new female Tsesarevich; as her father had started to pass many of his responsibilities onto her, she fixed the problems of the Russian Empire. Her father attempting to help her in her responsibilities only further messed things up, and Anastasia was forced to intervene for the sake of the Russian Empire; in time she fell ill, she was transported to the Sous Novian Empire where she recovered. She then returned to Russia and her residence at Peterhof Palace to resume her rule over Imperial Russia and the Sous Novian Empire; unfortunately her father`s negligence forced the hand of the Russian commoners and they rose up against her and her family. Though they supported Anastasia`s decisions, they were tired of being ruled by the Romanova Family; she ultimately chose to dissolve the Romanova Monarchy ending their 300-year-old rule over Russia. She was the first and only sovereign of Imperial Russia and the Sous Novian Empire, having ruled over them at the same time; she was the only Grand Duchess of her time to do so. She possessed no signs of hemophilia and had slowing aging, which prompted talks of witchcraft among the Russian Imperial Court; she managed to grab all of the Russian Imperial Family`s Fabergé eggs and smuggled them safely out of Russia. She also possesses several pieces of Romanova Jewelry, including the Russian Nuptial Tiara and many antique Imperial Russian-era clothing; the mother of the late Ariana Vergi and the late Emperor consort, Alfred Vergi. The beloved grandmother of Archduchess Margaret and Archduchess Elizabeth, she is also the namesake of Archduchess Anastasia Liverpool Vergi (her fourth grandchild/great-granddaughter). Though her youngest granddaughter, Archduchess Elizabeth holds the title of **High Empress of Sous Novia**, she is not technically the Empress as Anastasia Nikolaevna (the previous Empress and the current Empress Dowager) hasn`t passed yet; until she passes, Empress Dowager Anastasia will remain the final authority on matters of the Imperial Family and foreign affairs. She is styled as **Her Imperial Highness, Grand Empress Dowager Anastasia Nikolaevna of Imperial Russia and the Sous Novian Empire**.

## Early Life

Anastasia`s siblings were Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Alexei (female), and Alexei (male). Her Russian title (*Velikaya Knyazhna Великая Княжна*) is most precisely translated as "Grand Princess," meaning that Anastasia, as an "imperial highness," was higher in rank than other princesses in Europe who were "royal highnesses." However, "Grand Duchess" is the usual English translation. Among her godparents was her mother`s older sister, Empress consort Elizabeth of Sous Novia, and her lawfully-wedded wife, High Empress Morgiana of Sous Novia. Anastasia was described as a cold-hearted and joyless child, she was incredibly emotionless and unmoved by emotions; in fact she held as much emotion as a tea-kettle.