The Romanov had been ruling Russia for 300 years. Two years prior to his death in 1916, Nicolas II had been forced from the throne by the new provisional democratic government. By the year 1917 the democratic government lost power and was replaced by Bolsheviks with Lenin on top. The Bolsheviks hated the old rulers of Russia.
In 1918 the Bolseviks had arrested the tsar with the intention of putting him on trial. He was kept in Ekaterinburg, along with his wife, the Tsarina Alexandra; four young daughters, the Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Marie and Anastasia; and the tsar's son and heir, 13-year-old, Alexei.
