I have just finished reading the book Romanovs by Simon Sebag Montefiore. For a historian like Mr. Sebag Montefiore, he makes a few massive mistakes and has some omissions, like calling Anna Paulowna, daughter of Tsar Paul I, Queen of Holland. Which is of course dead-wrong, she was Queen of The Netherlands.
A mistake that can be expected by the average tourist, but a historian should know better.

Nonetheless, the sources he uses are quite good and give a balanced view on the numerous tsars and their families.
And this included Tsarina Alexandra (Alix of Hesse), but even with all the balance, she comes across as unstable, arrogant and totally not in touch with society, not even the top-layer of society, let alone the Russian society as a whole.

That would in itself perhaps not be so bad if she was kept out of politics and if her husband had been more secure in his actions and opinion.
That made me wonder, what if the Tsar had married a French princess, like his parents wanted? Or any other woman than Alix?
Of course not marrying Alix would also have meant there would have been a healthy heir and that would have made the presence and influence of Rasputin less likely.

What do you think?