I've been researching my Romanov Family and Russian History since we discovered we were Cousins to Tsar Nicholas II in 2015.

The Surfs had it bad and the Nobel's really took advantage of things before my Great Great Grandfather Alexander II started the reforms. Even today he is known as the Great Reformer.

Nicholas II is said to have renounced the FMs. If you wish to see something very interesting check out the Romanov's who survived 1918 and dig a bit and you will find that almost all were FM.

The only reason our family survived was because our Great Great Grandmother was exiled from Russia in 1832-3 Her only child (my Grandfather) came here to the USA.