When the Communists took power of Russia, the mighty Romanov dynasty fell. Officially known as the House of Romanov, the dynasty spanned just over 300 years. As the communist revolution gripped the country, the Romanovs attempted to flea. They were soon captured, and on July 17, 1918 the entire family were assasinated at the Ipatiev House in Yekaterinburg.

Here are a series of photos of Tsar Nicholas II, the last of the Romanov dynasty. Many claim he was a fool, and in the eyes of history he will likely always be viewed as such, none the less the man was a giant of his time and deserves some respect.

Here you can see the softer side of Nicholas II, alongside his family and friends.