Aleksey Nikolaeyvitch Romanov

His Imperial Highness Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich Romanov was born on August 12, 1904, in the Peterhof Palace, St. Petersburg, Russia. He was the youngest child and only son of Their Imperial Majesties Tsar Nicholas II and Tsaritsa Alexandra Fyodorovna. His birth was a cause for much celebration throughout the Russian Empire, for he was the long-awaited heir to the throne. However, he was only a few days old when he began to bleed uncontrollably from the navel. He was diagnosed with hemophilia B, a condition that could be traced back to his maternal great-grandmother Queen Victoria. There was no treatment for this deadly blood disease in the early twentieth century, and the life expectancy was just thirteen years. This diagnosis devastated his parents, and they devoted themselves to keeping him alive and well. Two sailors were assigned to keep a close eye on Alexei, as the most minor cut or bruise could potentially be fatal. Despite his disease, Alexei was a bright, active child. He w