Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna was the second daughter of Tsar Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra. Born on June 26, 1899, in Peterhof, Russia, she was part of the last imperial family of Russia before the revolution. Maria was known for her beauty and gentle nature, often engaging in charitable work and spending time with her family. During the Russian Revolution in 1917, the royal family was placed under house arrest. In 1918, Maria and her family were executed by Bolsheviks in Yekaterinburg. Her life and tragic fate have since become emblematic of the fall of the Russian monarchy.