Chapter 63 Restoration
It should be quite grand to escort the coffins of Tsar Nicholas II, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, Crown Prince Alexei, and three Grand Duchesses Tatyana, Maria, and Anastasia to Tallinn. However, Berlin was too chaotic after the November Revolution, and there were no conditions for a grand ceremony. Fortunately, Riga was quite stable, so Hersman asked the Courland Autonomous State and the Defense Forces for assistance. A fairly large funeral procession was sent, led by Baron Pierburg, Prime Minister of the Courland Autonomous State, and Lieutenant Colonel Fletcher, Chief of Staff of the Defense Forces. Thousands of elite officers and soldiers of the "Iron Division" were also dispatched to escort the train, and on the morning of November 30, 1919, they arrived in Tallinn, the new capital of the United Baltic Principality.
The train dragged white smoke, made a panting roar, slowly drove into the platform, and suddenly stood still in the smoke. The tune of the Russian Empire's national anthem "God Bless the Tsar" suddenly sounded. Amid the melodious national anthem, soldiers in yellow-green Courland Defense Army uniforms walked down the train in groups of four, carrying a coffin covered with the flag of the Russian Empire.
Hersman looked out a window at the platform. He saw many people standing there in military uniforms and black mourning clothes, and farther away were fully armed Russian soldiers - Hersman already knew that these people were selected from the White Russian youths who came from all over the country, known as the "Tombea Guards". Commanded by Grand Duchess Olga's relative, Duke Yusupov, the number of people exceeded 5,000.
The Grand Duchess herself was now wearing military uniforms, which were exclusively for European noble women. The upper body was a blue military uniform with ribbons and medals, a feathered leather hat on her head, and a long skirt on her lower body. Next to her stood an elderly woman, holding a handkerchief in her hand, wiping her eyes from time to time.
"The Grand Duchess's affairs are with the Queen Mother Maria Feodorovna." Chloe leaned close to Hessman's ear and whispered. "She came from Copenhagen accompanied by Prince Frederick of Denmark."
The Russian Queen Mother was the mother of Nicholas II. She was a princess of Denmark and was originally planned to marry Grand Duke Nicholas (Crown Prince), the eldest son of Alexander II. As a result, Grand Duke Nicholas fell off his horse and was seriously injured, and then contracted tuberculosis and died (if he hadn't died, he would have been called Nicholas II). Before his death, Grand Duke Nicholas entrusted his fiancée to his younger brother, Alexander III. He let his younger brother marry the Danish princess, and then created the unfortunate Nicholas II...
This poor woman lost two sons, a grandson and three granddaughters in the storm of the Russian Revolution. But her luck was better than in history, at least she still had Olga, a granddaughter who was likely to become the empress.
Tsar Nicholas II's two sisters, Grand Duchess Xenia and Grand Duchess Olga, also brought their husbands. One of them was a member of the Romanov family of the same generation as Alexander III, Grand Duchess Alexander Mikhailovich, who looked very similar to Tsar Nicholas II.
In addition, several grand dukes and grand duchesses of the Romanov dynasty who had escaped by chance had all arrived in Tallinn, and now gathered around Olga, who was dressed in military uniforms - it was obvious that this woman was now the co-leader of the Romanov family.
"Is Olga qualified to become the empress?" Hessman asked in a low voice.
"According to the "Succession Law to the Throne" promulgated by Paul I in 1797, it is a bit difficult." Chloe said. She was a countess of noble birth and had some understanding of the inheritance laws of various European countries.
"This "Succession Law" is semi-Saxon law." Chloe explained. "Strictly speaking, the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Nicholas I and Alexander II should be more qualified than Olga."
Saxon law means that women have no right of inheritance, and semi-Saxon law means that daughters can inherit when the paternal line is cut off. Now the descendants of Alexander III and Nicholas II are all cut off - Nicholas II actually has a nephew, the son of Grand Duke Mikhail. But he was born from a "marriage between nobles and commoners" and has no right of inheritance.
Chloe added: "But Olga now owns a principality, while other Romanov grand dukes have nothing."
A bunch of royal descendants in exile are all people who live off their land. How can they compete with Olga, who has soldiers and territory, for the right to inherit the throne? Moreover, several White Russian generals expressed their support for Olga at the first time - they are probably afraid of any more wars of succession to the throne.
"The Romanov family has recognized it, and Britain and France should have nothing to say!" Hersman stood up, straightened his yellow-green colonel uniform, and his expression became extremely solemn. After a pause, he continued, "It's time for us to get off the train. I really don't know how to comfort her..."
...
"My Majesty, I didn't expect it to be like this. It's so regrettable..."
On the platform, Hersman kissed Olga's fingertips again. He was the only one who kissed the Grand Duchess's hand.
"I still want to thank you, Ludwig. If I hadn't left Russia, I would have been shot." Olga's face was very pale, and her lips trembled slightly when she spoke. "Now I'm still alive. I escaped two murders! This must be God's will... God doesn't want the Russian Empire to perish. He wants me to bear this responsibility!"
It seems to be the case! Hersman thought about it. The first time Olga was rescued was entirely because Chloe was too talkative and mentioned the miserable situation of the Tsar's family to the German Queen and Princess. Then the German Emperor suddenly had an idea and asked him to go to Lenin to ask for her. And this time, the reason why Olga didn't die was because there was a contingency plan in the "Courland Plan" that he formulated to make her the monarch of the Baltics.
And now, Olga is not only the monarch of the Baltics, but also the Empress of Russia!
The Grand Duchess has turned around and started walking out of the Tallinn Railway Station. Hersman hurriedly followed, whispering as he walked: "Your Majesty, are you going to inherit the throne?"
"Yes," the Grand Duchess replied. "This is the unanimous opinion of the family members... and the common opinion of the generals."
Hersman nodded. The current Tsar is not an easy job. It is impossible to do it without territory and army. Olga is really the only suitable candidate!
"What about Britain, the United States and France?" Hessman asked again, "Do they support you?"
"They?" Olga shook her head, "They haven't expressed their views, but what reasons do they have to oppose?"
Would there be any reasons to oppose? Hessman couldn't think of it. Now that the empress has not yet ascended the throne, several White Russian generals who don't buy into each other have been eager to express their loyalty. This shows that the Romanov dynasty has a strong appeal to the White Guard generals, just like the German emperor's appeal to the Junkers.
"Admiral Yudenich told me that there are 100,000 elite soldiers in Courland, and one can at least fight three Red Army soldiers." The Grand Duchess suddenly stopped and looked at Hessman seriously. "The general is confident that he can gather 100,000 White Guard soldiers before the coming of next spring... The Northern Russian government in Murmansk also has at least 100,000 people, and there are also the British, American and French coalition forces stationed there. It is still very certain that the three parties will attack Petrograd together. If we succeed next spring, I will be crowned in Petrograd. By then, you will be a general and prince of Russia. In addition, I will speak for Germany at the peace conference with Germany and support the restoration of William II!"
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