Alternative History
House of Nikolayev
Николаев (Russian)
Никала-Xала (Manchu)
Ethnicity Manchu
Current region Flag of Russia Russian Empire (Manchuria)
Information
Founder Prince Nicholas I Tsaytsenovich
Parent House Aisin Gioro
Current Head Prince John I Nikolayevich
Estate Flag of Russia Mukden, Russian Empire
Flag of Russia Kharbin, Russian Empire
Flag of Russia Port Arthur, Russian Empire

The House of Nikolayev (Russian: Николаев) or the House of Nikala-Hala (Manchu: Аисин Гиоро Никала-Xала, Aisin Gioro Nikala-Hala), and in Chinese monarchial sources, the House of Yuzhao (Chinese: 禹州府) is a Manchu nobility in the Russian Empire, that is descended from the Aisin Gioro, the Manchu clan that also established the Qing Dynasty of China. They are currently the ruling Crowned Princes of Manchuria, and have been-so ever since the Cold War.

The first-such prince crowned as such in the Russian Empire was Nikolay I Tsaytsenovich, who is descended from Prince Zaizhen. The Russians originally wanted Prince Zaizhen to take princely rulership of of Manchuria on behalf of Tsar Vladimir the Tumultuous, however he was too old, and requested his eldest son, Puzhong to do it instead.

Prince Puzhong was educated in Moscow, trained in the Imperial Russian military, taught Russian, and given the name Nikolay. The Russians often used native nobilities to enforce their annexation of territories. However, the surname Nikolayev was not yet adopted until the latter reign of Prince Nicholas I's eldest son, Prince John I Nikolayevich. Initially a Buddhist dynasty (thank to centuries of Chinese influence), the Nikolayevs (as all of the Aisin Gioros today) are Russian Orthodox.

History[]

Puzhong, as Nicholas I Tsaytsenovich, Prince of Manchuria; who thus become the first post-Qing Aisin Gioro ruler of the Manchu people. He sent his eldest son, George I Nikolayevich to become trained in military and politics.

Under the leadership of Nicholas I Tsaytsenovich, Prince of Manchuria, the All-Manchu Council was established, for the sole intent and purpose of reviving the Manchu language, a move much-supported by the Tsar. By the time his eldest son, John I Nikolayevich, - who too, become a Prince of Manchuria of lesser role in the Manchu hierarchy (despite being only Russian-speaking), became Governor-General, Manchu revival had a 60% success rate, to which Manchuria experienced a Manchu Revival under Russian rule.

At this point, most Manchus began to seriously sour their views on China and Japan, for having extinguished the language, and practically cemented Manchu loyalty to the Russian state.

However, Manchu culture remained heavily Russified, as most Manchus, including the Nikolayevs, would adopt Russian lifestyles and become Russian Orthodox, and it isn't until Eduard I, one of Nicholas I's grandsons, revived much pre-Russian culture.

Prince Eduard I, the younger brother of George I, wanted to restore the pre-Russification culture of the Manchu people, and the Aisin Gioro. He began to refer to his older brother as Emperor George of Qing Dynasty, a move that alarmed Russian authorities.

It is Eduard I who brought up the Nurkhatsiev name, literally meaning "descendants of Nurhaci", Nurhaci being the ancient patriarch of the Aisin Gioro. A supporter of prime minister Franko Korkunov, Eduard I advocated for the future building of Orthodox cathedrals in Manchuria native Oriental-style, and even petitioned to have Manchuria renamed to the Governorate of the Northern Qing, akin to how the remnants of the Yuan Dynasty were renamed the Northern Yuan.

Tempted to wage an uprising, Eduard I held back, fearing fierce retaliatory repressions of Manchu culture.