Part 3: Chapter 24 Summary and Analysis

Alexandra has been the Russian empress for twenty-one years in fall of 1915. She was rarely interested in politics or government affairs and rarely even mentioned them to the Tsar unless it involved Rasputin. When Nicholas left Tsarskoe Selo to head the army, Alexandra had to fill in for the administrative functions of government in Petrograd. She relied on Rasputin as an advisor when he came to the selection of ministers. Rasputin judged men by their view of him and his life style not by their ministerial capabilities. During this time Goremykin had wanted to resign but the Tsar would not allow it. When the Tsar took over the Army and the ministers opposed him and threatened to resign, he said he would not accept their resignations and replace them until he was ready to.

The sixteen months of Alexandra's...