Anna Demidova facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anna Demidova
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Anna Demidova
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| Born | 26 January 1878 Cherepovets, Russian Empire
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| Died | 17 July 1918 (aged 40) |
| Occupation | Lady-in-waiting |
| Parent(s) | Stepan Demidov (father) |
Anna Stepanovna Demidova (born January 26, 1878 – died July 17, 1918) was a special helper, called a lady-in-waiting, for Empress Alexandra of Russia. She was very loyal and stayed with the Romanov royal family even after they were arrested. Anna Demidova was killed along with Empress Alexandra and the Romanov family on July 17, 1918.
She went with the Romanov family when they were sent away to Tobolsk and Ekaterinburg after the Russian Revolution of 1917. People remember her for staying with the Romanovs until the very end. In 1981, a church group called the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia honored her as a saint, or "martyr," for her faith and loyalty.
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Anna Demidova's Early Life
Anna Demidova was often called "Nyuta" by her friends. She was described as a tall, blonde woman. Her father, Stepan Demidov, was a successful merchant in Cherepovets. He was also part of the city council and came from the Demidov family, which was a noble family in Russia. Anna studied at the Yaroslavl Institute for Maids and earned a teaching certificate.
She was good friends with Elizaveta Ersberg, who worked as a parlormaid at the royal court. Anna was even engaged to Elizaveta's brother, Nikolai, at one point. Around 1905, Elizaveta helped Anna get a job at the court as a governess, teaching the royal children. Charles Sydney Gibbes, the English tutor for the Romanov children, said Anna Demidova was a very shy and quiet person.
Life with the Royal Family
Anna Demidova later began working more closely for Empress Alexandra. She chose to stay with the Empress when the royal family was taken captive. In April 1918, after the Russian Revolution, Anna went with Empress Alexandra, Tsar Nicholas II, and Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna when they were moved by the Bolsheviks from Tobolsk to Ekaterinburg.
The other four Romanov children and some other helpers stayed behind in Tobolsk for a month. This was because Tsarevich Alexei, the Tsar's son, was sick with hemophilia. As Anna's group left Tobolsk, she told Mr. Gibbes, "I am so frightened of the Bolsheviks. I don't know what they will do to us."
The End of Their Captivity
On the night of July 17, 1918, the royal family and their loyal helpers were woken up and told to get dressed. Anna Demidova carried two pillows that had valuable gems sewn inside them. After the first shots were fired by the execution squad, Anna was wounded and fainted. When she woke up and realized she was still alive, she cried out, "Thank God! God has saved me!" Hearing her, the attackers then killed her.
Finding the Remains
The Bolsheviks and later the Soviet Union government tried to keep the executions of the Romanov family and their helpers a secret. In 1979, an amateur found the burial site with most of the bodies. However, the government did not admit this until 1989, during a time of more openness called glasnost. Scientists used DNA analysis and forensic methods to identify the Romanov family members.
The bodies of Tsarevich Alexei and one of his sisters were not found at this first site. But they were finally discovered in 2007 in another unmarked grave nearby. Their identities were also confirmed by DNA tests.
A Special Funeral
A state funeral was held on July 17, 1998, at the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg. This was for the Romanov family, Anna Demidova, and the other victims killed by the Bolsheviks 80 years earlier. Anna Demidova's grandniece, Natalie Demidova, was there. At that time, leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church did not attend because they were not sure if the bodies were correctly identified.
Becoming a Saint
In the year 2000, the Russian Orthodox Church officially recognized all seven members of the Russian royal family as saints. This included Nicholas and Alexandra, and their five children.
Anna in Stories
Anna Demidova is a character in a play called Ekaterinburg (2013) by D. Logan. The play tells the story of the time the Romanovs and their helpers were held captive in the Ipatiev House in Ekaterinburg.
See also
In Spanish: Anna Demidova para niños
- Romanov sainthood
