The Home of the Last Tsar - Romanov and Russian History

Died Perm, September 1918

Anastasia Vasiliyevna Hendrikova was born probably born around 1887 to Count Vassili Aleksandrovich Hendrikov, Grand Master Of Ceremonies of the Imperial Court. She was a devoted former Maid of Honor to Aleksandra, appointed to that position in 1910. She was a descendant of the sister of Catherine I, wife of Peter the Great.

Hendrikova didn't believe in Rasputin's saintliness, but this was no impediment to her service at court. Aleksandra gently tried to persuade her of Rasputin's merits, but dropped the topic permanently when it became obvious that Hendrikova disagreed. Catherine Schneider (Trina) was a Baltic German of Lutheran background, who later became Orthodox. She had been attached to Aleksandra since she was engaged to Nickolas, and had taught her Russian in Darmstadt. Catherine was a fixture at court, hovering in the background. She was sincerely devoted to the family and her life was centered on theirs. She came to see herself as a substitute mother of sorts to Aleksandra and watched over her without giving unwanted advice or meddling too much in the Empress' private affairs. The fact she was quiet and kept to herself meant she stayed out of limelight and was hardly noticed by anyone outside the innermost circle. She lived in apartments assigned to her in the Alexander Palace, which she considered her home. When the family travelled she went with them, performing odd tasks for them as directed by the Empress.

Both women stayed with the Imperial Family throughout their imprisonment. After the Romanovs were sent from Tobolsk to Yekaterinburg they were forcibly separated from the family and were brutally murdered by the Bolsheviks in a forest near Perm.

Many thanks to Timothy Boettger of Seattle who provided more details on these two women.

Please send your comments on this page and the Time Machine to boba@pallasweb.com