WI: Nicholas II does not abdicate in Alexis's name

When Tsar Nicholas II abdicated the Russian throne following the February Revolution, most people were expecting him to abdicate in favor of his son, Alexis, being named tsar, with his brother Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich as Regent. Instead, Nicholas not only abdicated for himself, but for Alexis as well, and the throne, for a very brief time, went entirely to Grand Duke Michael.

Nicholas's personal motives of fatherly affection may be understandable, but it also had political consequences. It's been said that it actually might've been better (depending on who you ask), if Alexis had been named the successor as planned. When the actual succession plans were announced, it weakened the hand of monarchists in the Duma, who were advocating Russia's evolution into a constitutional monarchy, whereas at the time, the Petrograd Soviet was calling for a democracy without a monarchy.

Alexis succeeding, it was said, would've presented a greater image of imperial stability, given that he was legitimately next in line to succeed. To say nothing of the fact that an innocent young boy is a lot more sympathetic of a figure to rally around, and a lot harder to decry as a representative of Romanov tyranny. Instead, the throne passed to Michael, who, while a decent human being individually, was a political non-entity, was already a controversial figure given the scandal of his runaway marriage, and didn't have as many sympathetic advantages. The rest is history.

So if Nicholas does not abdicate in Alexis's name, how much does it change? Is the Duma's hand strengthened enough politically to steer the Russian Revolution towards a more moderate/conservative direction to a constitutional monarchy?
 
Nothing really changes. Nobody wanted the monarchy back, and unless this leads to a sudden wave of Common Sense on the part of the Provisional Government Russia falls apart under a hydra-government busy gnawing at itself in the middle of a war the same as OTL, the Bolsheviks exploit this better than anyone else, same as OTL, and Nicky and his family all die a brutal and unceremonious death in Yekaterinburg same as OTL.
 
How about if Nicholas was killed in 1915 while he was pretending to be a General. I know he was never actually in the front lines but he could have been caught in an air raid. The opponants of the monarchy would have to counter the propaganda resulting from the death.

The Tsar died bravely defending the Motherland. His son is now Tsar, guided by the regent, while his mother retires to a country estate to grieve after the loss of her husband.
 
How about if Nicholas was killed in 1915 while he was pretending to be a General. I know he was never actually in the front lines but he could have been caught in an air raid. The opponants of the monarchy would have to counter the propaganda resulting from the death.

The Tsar died bravely defending the Motherland. His son is now Tsar, guided by the regent, while his mother retires to a country estate to grieve after the loss of her husband.

Alexandra won't do that.
 
Who says she'll have a choice, she wasn't exactly popular at court. I don't think there's much chance of some one the leaders of Russia called "The German Bitch" winning any power struggle.
 
There's not going to a huge groundswell of support for the new Tsar. By 1915 the monarchy was in a death spiral and the army was too poorly led and trained for things to turn out differently then they did in OTL. Even w/Tsar Alexis II on the throne the monarchy will collapse.
 
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There's a big difference between being the Tsar's wife and the Tsar's mother. While Nicholas is alive she can act in his name with the full power of the state behind her. With him dead and Alexi underage that authority now rests with the Regent. Rasputin would have been more of a liability than an asset in any power struggle, and would probably be the first one to be got rid of by the Regent. The crisis for the monarchy if they manage to last through the war will come when Alexi's heamophillia kills him.
 
Just have Alexei do as many chicks as possible before he dies. At least one will make a son.
 
There's a big difference between being the Tsar's wife and the Tsar's mother. While Nicholas is alive she can act in his name with the full power of the state behind her. With him dead and Alexi underage that authority now rests with the Regent. Rasputin would have been more of a liability than an asset in any power struggle, and would probably be the first one to be got rid of by the Regent. The crisis for the monarchy if they manage to last through the war will come when Alexi's heamophillia kills him.

This is Russia, a society where Tsarist autocracy could have some surprising limits. Also, don't underestimate the sheer power-grabbing nature of the Mad Monk.
 
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