#8: Tsar Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna
Nicholas II met Alexandra, born Princess Alix of Hesse, in the 1880s, and they married in 1894 shortly after he became tsar of Russia. Their correspondence reveals a strong emotional connection, with daily letters when apart. They had five children, including Alexei, who suffered from hemophilia. Alexandra relied heavily on the mystic Rasputin, which damaged public trust. During World War I and rising unrest, Nicholas abdicated in 1917. The family was held in captivity and executed in 1918. Many accounts describe their closeness, though critics argue their isolation contributed to political missteps.
