AHC: Olga Nikolajevna of Finland

Technically this is both AHC and a plausibility check, but anyway.

The basis of this TL is that in the end Olga Nikolajevna becomes the Grand Duchess/Queen/Empress/Whatever of Finland, but not of Russia. I was thinking that Karl Gustav Emil Mannerheim smuggles her and her siblings away from the Russian revolutionaries. Alexei is meant to become the ruler, but his hemophilia proves fatal.

Now, I'm aware that such a thing happening in post-russification Finland is impossible (due to the sheer hatred towards Romanovs back then), so the PoD (if it exists), is somewhere in the 19th century (or earlier)

So far I am considering two possible PoDs
Either Three Emperors' League/Alliance survives longer, thus maybe preventing Russia from getting paranoid about the loyalty of the Finns
or
WW1 starts even earlier, preventing russification from happening in the first Place

Are there any other PoDs that might work? And what would happen once Olga takes the throne?
 
I guess one could try to change the Russian rule in Finland in a way that the office of Grand Duke was detached from Tsardom early on. In that case Finland could have a true, resident Grand Duke (maybe a younger Romanov) in Helsinki.

As a resident royal would be something the Finns are accustomed to, in the case of a revolution a refugee Romanov who is clearly the heir to the throne could be considered the legal ruler of Finland. With the revolution and all it would cause a constitutional crisis in Finland, though, and in the extreme case it could be the reason for the beginning of TTL's equivalent of the Finnish Civil War...
 
While I would love to see the Romanov children survive I can't see anyone other than Alexei becoming King/Emperor/whatever. Neither Olga or her sisters could inherit but I think you've tackled that with the idea of an un-russified Finland. Since otherwise Russia would have imposed the Pauline laws on the country. Maybe use the title Grand Duke/Duchess of Finland for the heir to the throne or for the eldest child?

Unfortunately I'm not quite familiar with Finland in this time period but it appears as though they resisted russification heavily during their time under Tsarist Russia.

The Finns might demand that should any of the children be named Grand Duke/Duchess of Finland that they be raised in or live a certain amount of their lives in Finland in order to hold said title and be accepted by the people/government. If it were Olga it might have a chance in being accepted since she wouldn't inherit Russia anyway, especially after Alexei is born. This might negate the hatred of the Romanovs, at least towards Olga thus allowing her to rule.

Your PoD could be after the Russo-Japanese war where russification was in some places being reversed and generally being halted due to the defeats and civil unrest Russia was undergoing.

Though Olga would be 10 at this point. Alexei was born in 1904 so she could conceivably be made to live in Finland in an attempt to pacify the Finns after creating in them a separate Grand Duchy of Finland within the Russian Empire. Though I would imagine that Nicholas would have to pull a lot of strings and put some weight on the Russian Generals and Nobles to allow Olga as Grand Duchess of Finland. Other nations might have to positively acknowledge this in order to help it go through.

Her mother might be another problem as well given how protective Alix was of her children. Nicholas himself won't be happy letting one of his children go either.

Another problem with this PoD would be the fact that Olga would be 10. She would need a regent as well as a slew of teachers to ready her for her new role depending on her becoming an autocrat or constitutional ruler. Maybe have Leo Mechelin as her Regent? He was a professor, statesman, senator and a liberal reformer. As well as being a defender of Finland's autonomy, women's rights, and the rights of minorities which would fit right in with a female ruler.

This is my third post here on AH.com and my first on a thread so I hope it's able to help you out with your TL.
 
Were Grand Duchys able to wield a bit of self autonomy back in those days?
Would it be a problem if Olga attracts the usual collection of White Russians, deposed monarchists, et al around her post WW1, wouldn't that likely attract the attention of the growing Communists especially if the Whites used Finland as a base of operations?
 

yourworstnightmare

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Were Grand Duchys able to wield a bit of self autonomy back in those days?
Would it be a problem if Olga attracts the usual collection of White Russians, deposed monarchists, et al around her post WW1, wouldn't that likely attract the attention of the growing Communists especially if the Whites used Finland as a base of operations?

For Finland to be comfortable with her she'd need to distance herself from what's happening in Russia. Sure, Mannerheim had plans to aid the Whites, but they fell through when the White leadership refused to aknowledge the independence of the seceding countries. Why would Finland assist a government that isn't even recognizing their independence?

So yes it would be a problem. Especially since Finland is trying to build a Nordic democracy.
 
No chance that a young Finnish nation would adopt her as a Constitutional Monarch? I sort of thought that the Russian Monarchy by this time didn't really have that a high a reputation.

What if she married some local Finnish noble or other Western orientated Prince from Somewhere. Is the dominant religion in Finland even Orthodox or whatever different from Russia itself. Would conversion to the local brand of god bothering help instil a bit of love for her?

I'm sorry just throwing some ideas around. I don't know squat on Finland and its late here.
 

yourworstnightmare

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Donor
No chance that a young Finnish nation would adopt her as a Constitutional Monarch? I sort of thought that the Russian Monarchy by this time didn't really have that a high a reputation.

What if she married some local Finnish noble or other Western orientated Prince from Somewhere. Is the dominant religion in Finland even Orthodox or whatever different from Russia itself. Would conversion to the local brand of god bothering help instil a bit of love for her?

I'm sorry just throwing some ideas around. I don't know squat on Finland and its late here.
It didn't you'd need a PoD before russification to change it, and you'd need a Romanov who has lived in Finland a long time, thus gained the respect and love of the Finns for it to even be remotely possible, as Finland was indeed looking west. And of course said person must be ready tpo convert to the Lutheran church, since no way would Finland choose an Orthodox monarch.
 
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