Best quote from The Tsar’s Son and the Birth of Rex: Grand Duke Alexis in New Orleans
The very birth of the Rex parade, the King of Carnival, is linked directly to the need to impress Grand Duke Alexis Romanov. It’s fascinating how a Russian prince’s broken heart ended up giving New Orleans its most famous party.
This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member
The Russian connection to new orleans
Frequently Asked Questions
Grand Duke Alexis Romanov was the twenty-one-year-old son of the Russian Tsar Alexander II. In February 1872, he arrived in New Orleans as part of a massive world tour. While he was treated like a global celebrity by the thousands of people lining the Mississippi River levees, his father actually sent him on this journey as a high-stakes parental intervention to end a controversial romance with a woman named Alexandra Zhukovskaya.
The James Howard was a massive luxury vessel and the largest inland steamboat ever built, measuring 318 feet long. In 1872, it carried Grand Duke Alexis Romanov down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. The sight of this enormous ship rounding the bend with a Russian royal on board drew a crowd of 15,000 spectators, marking a cinematic and pivotal moment in the city's post-Civil War history.
The arrival of Grand Duke Alexis Romanov in 1872 is credited with changing the DNA of New Orleans forever. His visit coincided with the birth of the Rex Organization, a cornerstone of modern Mardi Gras history. Although he was sent to America by Tsar Alexander II to forget Alexandra Zhukovskaya, his presence in the city became the ultimate distraction and a catalyst for the evolution of the city's most famous carnival traditions.
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
