Nicholas II of Russia

Nicholas II of Russia ( 18 May 1868 – 17 July 1918){{fn|1}} was the last crowned Emperor of Russia. He ruled from 1894 until his forced abdication in 1917. It is said that Nicholas proved unequal to the combined tasks of managing a country in political turmoil and commanding its army in the largest international war to date. His rule ended with the Russian Revolution, during which he and his family were murdered by Bolsheviks, in 1918.

Family background and early life

Nicholas was the eldest son of Emperor Alexander III and his Empress Maria Fyodorovna (born Princess Dagmar of Denmark). His paternal grandparents were Alexander II of Russia and his first consort Maximilienne Wilhelmine Marie of Hesse and the Rhine. His maternal grandparents were Christian IX of Denmark and Louise of Hesse.

Related Topics:
Alexander III - Maria Fyodorovna - Alexander II of Russia - Maximilienne Wilhelmine Marie of Hesse and the Rhine - Christian IX of Denmark - Louise of Hesse

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Nicholas was seen as too soft by his hard, demanding father who, not anticipating his own premature death, did nothing to prepare his son for the crown. Nicholas fell in love with Princess Alix of Hesse and by Rhine, a daughter of Ludwig IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine and Princess Alice of the United Kingdom. Alice was herself a daughter of Queen regnant Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Alexander III did not approve the match, hoping instead for a marriage with a princess of the House of Orleans, to consummate Russia's newfound alliance with the French Third Republic. Only when Alexander was on his death bed, fearing for the succession of the Romanov dynasty, did he consent to the marriage of Nicholas to the German princess.

Related Topics:
Princess Alix of Hesse and by Rhine - Ludwig IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine - Princess Alice of the United Kingdom - Queen regnant - Victoria of the United Kingdom - Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha - House of Orleans - French Third Republic

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As Tsarevich, Nicholas did a fair amount of travelling, including a notable trip to the Empire of Japan which left him with a scar in his forehead. A crazed Japanese anarchist had nearly killed him, but Nicholas was saved by the quick action of his cousin, Prince George of Greece. Nicholas returned to Saint Petersburg with a bitter hatred of the Empire of Japan.

Related Topics:
Empire of Japan - Prince George of Greece - Saint Petersburg

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