The eldest son of Alexander III - Nicholas "Niki" - took from his father simplicity in communication and liveliness of character. He was charmingly playful, loved outdoor games and activities - and this desire to always be on the move, to keep himself in good physical shape, remained with Emperor Nicholas II throughout his life. Baroness Sophie Buchshoeveden recalled: “The Emperor was very hardy; only on the coldest days did he put on a coat; he usually went out in a military jacket, which he always wore; he did not like warm clothes and only wore a knitted jacket under his jacket.”
But at the same time, from an early age, Niki showed sophistication, poetry and inner grace, a desire for beauty and love for all living things. Already as a small boy, his dreamy, thoughtful gaze attracted attention. His very beautiful, as many emphasized, clear eyes seemed amazing when Nicky looked at the birds flying high in the sky...
He was concerned about the pain of every living creature - and he prayed for the sparrow that had fallen from the nest. He was fascinated by the sound of poetic lines - and Niki asked to have poetry read out loud to him when he himself could not yet read. From early childhood, a sincere, excited religiosity lived in the soul of this boy, manifesting itself even in small things. All these qualities of the future emperor developed beautifully in the natural family atmosphere supported by his father.
The children of Emperor Alexander III were raised in love, in joy, in the light of Christ's teaching, in simplicity and selflessness. Therefore, one can argue a lot about the qualities of Nicholas II as an emperor, but one thing remains undoubted - he was truly a holy man, in his life, as in death, who showed people his highest Christian qualities - care, mercy and love.
Nowadays one can often hear the question: why was he considered a saint? Only the Lord knows the exact answer to this question, having glorified his chosen one with miracles, phenomena of unexpected and quick help to people in difficult situations through prayers to the king. But we will also say that, considering the earthly life of Emperor Nikolai Alexandrovich, we see holiness in this life itself, and not only in the fact of a martyr’s death met with dignity.
Tsar Nicholas was a father not only to his five children, but also to millions of his subjects. “Not everyone can be satisfied with family happiness alone,” noted aide-de-camp A. Mordvinov. “Another extensive family is his Motherland, which the sovereign sought to serve not only because fate and birth put him at the head of the country, but also simply as a Russian, occupied his thoughts and evoked hidden, deeply painful experiences."
This love for his country was not passive - it manifested itself primarily in the emperor’s amazing performance. Nicholas II, without a secretary, did all the work himself, even putting state seals on envelopes before handing them over for sending. Not a single paper was left on his desk - he always read and returned everything without delay.
Another of the striking distinctive features of Nicholas II is mercy, the desire to do good, coming from the soul, alien to any pharisaism. “He was generous and helpful, donating for his pension from his personal income,” writes Baroness Sophie Buchshoeveden.
Contrary to popular legends, Nicholas II was characterized by extraordinary endurance and willpower - qualities that are described by everyone who knew the Emperor more or less closely. “Nicholas II was reproached for weakness of will, but people were far from the truth,” said his wife, Empress Alexandra. The historian Oldenburg noted: “The sovereign had a velvet glove over his iron hand. His will was not like a thunderclap. It did not manifest itself in explosions and violent clashes.” Baroness Buchshoeveden notes: “Restraint was second nature to him. Many asked: was he fully aware of the tragedy of some events? - his attitude was so calm, his expression was so secretive. In fact, it was a mask.” His wife understood this very well and shared her pain with her close friend Julia Den: “He is strong, not weak. I assure you, Lily, it takes a tremendous effort of will for him to suppress the outbursts of anger inherent in all Romanovs. He overcame the insurmountable: he learned to control himself - and for this they call him weak-willed. People forget that the greatest winner is the one who conquers himself."
“Once S. D. Sazonov (Minister of Foreign Affairs) expressed his surprise at the calm reaction of the emperor towards a morally unattractive person, the absence of any personal irritation towards him. And this is what the emperor told him: “I have already managed to achieve this string of personal irritation I have long since silenced myself completely. Irritability will not help anything, and besides, a harsh word from me would sound more offensive than from someone else" (Oleg Platonov. "Emperor Nicholas II in Secret Correspondence").
Nikolai Alexandrovich also showed restraint in his relations with his family. He did not allow himself a single irritable word, not a single gloomy or angry look. He applied severity to children as necessary, but one powerfully spoken word, and sometimes a stern fatherly look, was enough to calm the overly naughty children.
The inner strength inherent in the emperor, his awareness of his power, were combined in his nature with rare modesty, kindness and responsiveness. “He was extremely delicate, even to the point of sophistication” (A. Mordvinov). By his nature, he was completely incapable of causing harm to anyone personally. By this, Nikolai Alexandrovich made the same impression on almost all people - even on his personal enemies, such as Alexander Kerensky and Prince Georgy Lvov: they were fascinated by his personality.
And this kind charm of the saint has passed through history, it affects us even now, through the reviews of contemporaries, through photographic portraits. And if the holiness of the last Russian emperor still raises doubts in anyone, you should not look for the answer in the books of unscrupulous or erring authors - just pray to him.
Nicholas II (Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov), eldest son of Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna, was born May 18 (May 6, old style) 1868 in Tsarskoe Selo (now the city of Pushkin, Pushkin district of St. Petersburg).
Immediately after his birth, Nikolai was included in the lists of several guards regiments and appointed chief of the 65th Moscow Infantry Regiment. The future tsar spent his childhood within the walls of the Gatchina Palace. Nikolai began regular homework at the age of eight.
In December 1875 He received his first military rank - ensign, in 1880 he was promoted to second lieutenant, and four years later he became a lieutenant. In 1884 Nikolai entered active military service, in July 1887 year began regular military service in the Preobrazhensky Regiment and was promoted to staff captain; in 1891 Nikolai received the rank of captain, and a year later - colonel.
To get acquainted with government affairs since May 1889 he began to attend meetings of the State Council and the Committee of Ministers. IN October 1890 year went on a trip to the Far East. In nine months, Nikolai visited Greece, Egypt, India, China, and Japan.
IN April 1894 The engagement of the future emperor to Princess Alice of Darmstadt-Hesse, daughter of the Grand Duke of Hesse, granddaughter of Queen Victoria of England, took place. After converting to Orthodoxy, she took the name Alexandra Feodorovna.
November 2 (October 21, old style) 1894 Alexander III died. A few hours before his death, the dying emperor obliged his son to sign the Manifesto on his accession to the throne.
The coronation of Nicholas II took place May 26 (14 old style) 1896. On the thirtieth (18 old style) May 1896, during the celebration of the coronation of Nicholas II in Moscow, a stampede occurred on Khodynka Field in which more than a thousand people died.
The reign of Nicholas II took place in an atmosphere of growing revolutionary movement and complicating foreign policy situation (Russian-Japanese War of 1904-1905; Bloody Sunday; revolution of 1905-1907; World War I; February Revolution of 1917).
Influenced by a strong social movement in favor of political change, October 30 (17 old style) 1905 Nicholas II signed the famous manifesto “On the Improvement of State Order”: the people were granted freedom of speech, press, personality, conscience, meetings, and unions; The State Duma was created as a legislative body.
The turning point in the fate of Nicholas II was 1914- Beginning of the First World War. August 1 (July 19, old style) 1914 Germany declared war on Russia. IN August 1915 year, Nicholas II assumed military command (previously, this position was held by Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich). Afterwards, the tsar spent most of his time at the headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief in Mogilev.
At the end of February 1917 Unrest began in Petrograd, which grew into mass protests against the government and the dynasty. The February Revolution found Nicholas II at headquarters in Mogilev. Having received news of the uprising in Petrograd, he decided not to make concessions and to restore order in the city by force, but when the scale of the unrest became clear, he abandoned this idea, fearing much bloodshed.
At midnight March 15 (2 old style) 1917 In the salon carriage of the imperial train, which stood on the tracks at the Pskov railway station, Nicholas II signed an act of abdication, transferring power to his brother Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich, who did not accept the crown.
March 20 (7 old style) 1917 The Provisional Government issued an order for the arrest of the Tsar. On the twenty-second (9th old style) March 1917, Nicholas II and his family were arrested. For the first five months they were under guard in Tsarskoe Selo, in August 1917 they were transported to Tobolsk, where the Romanovs spent eight months.
At the beginning 1918 The Bolsheviks forced Nicholas to remove his colonel's shoulder straps (his last military rank), which he perceived as a grave insult. In May of this year, the royal family was transported to Yekaterinburg, where they were placed in the house of mining engineer Nikolai Ipatiev.
On the night of July 17 (4 old) 1918 and Nicholas II, Tsarina, their five children: daughters - Olga (1895), Tatiana (1897), Maria (1899) and Anastasia (1901), son - Tsarevich, heir to the throne Alexei (1904) and several close associates (11 people in total) , . The shooting took place in a small room on the ground floor of the house; the victims were taken there under the pretext of evacuation. The Tsar himself was shot at point-blank range by the commandant of the Ipatiev House, Yankel Yurovsky. The bodies of the dead were taken outside the city, doused with kerosene, they tried to burn them, and then buried them.
At the beginning of 1991 The first application was submitted to the city prosecutor's office about the discovery of bodies near Yekaterinburg that showed signs of violent death. After many years of research into the remains discovered near Yekaterinburg, a special commission came to the conclusion that they are indeed the remains of nine Nicholas II and his family. In 1997 They were solemnly buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg.
In 2000 Nicholas II and members of his family were canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church.
On October 1, 2008, the Presidium of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation recognized the last Russian Tsar Nicholas II and members of his family as victims of illegal political repression and rehabilitated them.
Nicholas 2nd (May 18, 1868 - July 17, 1918) - the last Russian emperor, son of Alexander 3rd. He received an excellent education (he studied history, literature, economics, law, military affairs, mastered three languages perfectly: French, German, English) and ascended to the throne early (at the age of 26) due to the death of his father.
Let's supplement the short biography of Nicholas II with the history of his family. On November 14, 1894, the German princess Alice of Hesse (Alexandra Fedorovna) became the wife of Nicholas 2nd. Soon their first daughter, Olga, was born (November 3, 1895). In total, there were five children in the royal family. One after another, daughters were born: Tatiana (May 29, 1897), Maria (June 14, 1899) and Anastasia (June 5, 1901). Everyone was expecting an heir who was supposed to take the throne after his father. On August 12, 1904, Nikolai’s long-awaited son was born, they named him Alexei. At the age of three, doctors discovered he had a severe hereditary disease - hemophilia (incoagulability of blood). Nevertheless, he was the only heir and was preparing to rule.
On May 26, 1896, the coronation of Nicholas II and his wife took place. During the holidays, a terrible event occurred, called Khodynka, as a result of which 1,282 people died in a stampede.
During the reign of Nicholas II, Russia experienced rapid economic growth. The agricultural sector strengthened - the country became Europe's main exporter of agricultural products, and a stable gold currency was introduced. Industry was actively developing: cities grew, enterprises and railways were built. Nicholas II was a reformer; he introduced a rationed day for workers, provided them with insurance, and carried out reforms in the army and navy. The Emperor supported the development of culture and science in Russia.
But, despite significant improvements, popular unrest occurred in the country. In January 1905, it happened, the stimulus for which was. As a result, it was adopted on October 17, 1905. It talked about civil liberties. A parliament was created, which included the State Duma and the State Council. On June 3 (16), 1907, the Third June Revolution took place, which changed the rules of elections to the Duma.
In 1914, it began, as a result of which the situation within the country worsened. Failures in battles undermined the authority of Tsar Nicholas II. In February 1917, an uprising broke out in Petrograd and reached enormous proportions. On March 2, 1917, fearing mass bloodshed, Nicholas II signed an act of abdication.
On March 9, 1917, the Provisional Government arrested everyone and sent them to Tsarskoye Selo. In August they were transported to Tobolsk, and in April 1918 - to their final destination - Yekaterinburg. On the night of July 16-17, the Romanovs were taken to the basement, the death sentence was read out and they were executed. After a thorough investigation, it was determined that no one from the royal family managed to escape.
They say that if a person does not know the history of his native state, then he does not know his roots. On the one hand, what do we, living today, care about the fate of the rulers who ruled several hundred years ago? But practice shows: historical experience does not lose relevance in any era. The reign of Nicholas 2 was the final chord in the reign of the Romanov dynasty, but it also turned out to be the most striking and turning point in the history of our country. In the article below you will get acquainted with the royal family, learn about what Nicholas 2 was like during his time, the reforms and features of his reign will be of interest to everyone.
The Last Emperor
Nicholas 2 had many titles and regalia: he was the Emperor of All Russia, the Grand Duke of Finland, and the Tsar of Poland. He was appointed colonel, and the British monarchs awarded him the rank of field marshal of the British army and admiral of the fleet. This suggests that he enjoyed respect and popularity among the heads of other states. He was an easy-going person, but at the same time he never lost his self-esteem. In any situation, the emperor never forgot that he was a person of royal blood. Even in exile, during house arrest and in the last days of his life, he remained a real person.
The reign of Nicholas 2 showed: on Russian soil there are no shortage of patriots with good thoughts and glorious deeds for the good of the Fatherland. Contemporaries said that Nicholas 2 was more like a nobleman: a simple-minded, conscientious man, he took a responsible approach to any task and was always sensitive to the pain of others. He treated all people condescendingly, even simple peasants, and could easily talk to any of them on an equal basis. But the sovereign never forgave those who got involved in money scams, cheated and deceived others.
Reforms of Nicholas 2
The Emperor ascended the throne in 1896. This is a difficult time for Russia, difficult for the common people and dangerous for the ruling class. The emperor himself firmly adhered to the principles of autocracy and always emphasized that he would strictly preserve its charter and did not intend to carry out any reforms. The reign of Nicholas 2 came at a difficult time for the state, so revolutionary unrest among the people and their dissatisfaction with the ruling class forced Nicholas 2 to carry out two major reforms. These were: political reform of 1905-1907. and the agrarian reform of 1907. The history of the reign of Nicholas 2 shows: almost every step of the sovereign was begged for and calculated.
Bulygin reform of 1905
The first reform began with a preparatory stage, which took place from February to August 1905. A Special Meeting was created, headed by the Minister of Internal Affairs A.G. Bulygin. During this time, a manifesto on the establishment of the State Duma and the Regulations on elections were prepared. They were published on August 6, 1905. But due to the uprising of the working class, the legislative council was not convened.
In addition, an All-Russian political strike took place, which forced Emperor Nicholas 2 to make serious political concessions and issue a manifesto on October 17, which endowed the legislative deliberative Duma with legislative rights, proclaim political freedom and significantly expand the circle of voters.
The entire work of the Duma and the principles of its formation were written down in the Regulations on Elections of December 11, 1905, in the Decree on the composition and structure of the State Duma of February 20, 1906, as well as in the Basic Laws of April 23, 1906. Changes to the state structure were formalized by legislative act. Legislative functions were given to the State Council and the Council of Ministers, which began its work on October 19, 1905, and Yu.V. was appointed its head. Witte. The reforms of Nicholas 2 indirectly pushed the state to change power and overthrow the autocracy.
Collapse of the Duma of 1906-1907
The first one in Russia was very democratic, but the demands put forward were radical. They believed that political reforms must continue, they demanded that landowners stop land ownership, they condemned the autocracy, which rests on total terror. In addition, they expressed no confidence in the ruling government. Of course, all these innovations were not acceptable to the ruling class. Therefore, the first and second Dumas of 1906-1907 were dissolved by Emperor Nicholas 2.
The political reform of Nicholas 2 ended with the creation of which the rights of the people were severely limited. The new political system could not work with unresolved socio-economic and political problems.
The reign of Nicholas 2 became a turning point for the political system of the state. The Duma turned into a platform for criticizing the authorities, revealing itself as an opposition body. This prompted a new revolutionary uprising and further intensified the crisis in society.
Agrarian “Stolypin” reform
The process of transformation began in 1907. And P.A. was involved in it. Stolypin. The main goal was to preserve landownership. To achieve this result, they decided that it was necessary to liquidate the communities and sell the land to peasants living in the villages through the Peasant Bank. In order to reduce the peasant land shortage, they began to resettle peasants beyond the Urals. In the hope that all these measures will stop social upheaval in society and it will be possible to modernize agriculture, they launched agrarian reform.
The rise of the Russian economy
The introduced innovations brought tangible results in the agricultural industry, and the economy of the Russian state experienced a noticeable rise. Grain harvests increased by 2 centners per hectare, the volume of harvested products increased by 20%, grain exported abroad increased in volume by 1.5 times. The incomes of peasants increased noticeably and their purchasing power increased. The reign of Nicholas 2 raised agriculture to a new level.
But, despite a noticeable economic recovery, the ruler was unable to resolve social issues. The form of government remained the same, and dissatisfaction with it among the people gradually increased. Thus, only 25% of farms left the community, 17% of those resettled beyond the Urals returned, and 20% of the peasants who took land through the Peasant Bank went bankrupt. As a result, the provision of peasants with plots of land decreased from 11 dessiatines to 8 dessiatines. It became clear that the second reform of Nicholas 2 ended unsatisfactorily and the agrarian problem was not solved.
Summing up the results of the reign of Nicholas 2, it can be argued that by 1913 the Russian Empire had become one of the richest in the world. This did not stop him from villainously murdering the great king, his entire family and his loyal associates 4 years later.
Features of raising the future emperor
Nicholas 2 himself was brought up in a strict and Spartan manner as a child. He devoted a lot of time to sports, his clothes were simple, and delicacies and sweets were only available on holidays. This attitude towards children showed that even if they were born into a rich and noble family, this was not their merit. It was believed that the main thing is what you know and can do and what kind of soul you have. The royal family of Nicholas 2 is an example of a friendly, fruitful union of husband, wife and their properly raised children.
The future emperor transferred this upbringing to his own family. From childhood, the king’s daughters knew what pain and suffering were and knew how to provide help to those who needed it. For example, the eldest daughters Olga and Maria, together with their mother, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, worked in military hospitals during the First World War. To do this, they completed special medical courses and stood on their feet at the operating table for several hours.
Currently, we know that the life of the king and his family is a constant fear for his life, for his family and for everything, and above all, great responsibility, care and concern for the entire people. And the tsar’s “profession” is thankless and dangerous, as confirmed by the history of the Russian state. The royal family of Nicholas 2 became the standard of marital fidelity for many years.
Head of the Imperial Family
Nicholas 2 himself became the last and the rule of Russia by the House of Romanov ended. He was the eldest son in the family, and his parents were Emperor Alexander 3 and Maria Fedorovna Romanov. After the tragic death of his grandfather, he became the heir to the Russian throne. Nicholas 2 had a calm character, was very religious, and grew up as a shy and thoughtful boy. However, at the right moment he was always firm and persistent in his intentions and actions.
Empress and mother of the family
The wife of the Russian Emperor Nicholas 2 was the daughter of the Grand Duke of Hesse-Drmstadt, Ludwig, and her mother was the Princess of England. The future Empress was born on June 7, 1872 in Darmstadt. Her parents named her Alix and gave her a real English upbringing. The girl was born sixth in a row, but this did not stop her from becoming a well-mannered and worthy successor of the English family, because her grandmother was Queen Victoria of England. The future empress had a balanced character and was very shy. Despite her noble origin, she led a Spartan lifestyle, taking a bath with cold water in the morning and spending the night on a hard bed.
Favorite children of the royal family
The first child in the family of Emperor Nicholas 2 and his wife Empress Alexandra Feodorovna was daughter Olga. She was born in 1895 in November and became her parents' favorite child. Grand Duchess Romanova was very smart, friendly and distinguished by great abilities in the study of all kinds of sciences. She was distinguished by her sincerity and generosity, and her Christian soul was pure and fair. The beginning of the reign of Nicholas 2 was marked by the birth of his first child.
The second child of Nicholas 2 was daughter Tatyana, who was born on June 11, 1897. Outwardly, she resembled her mother, but her character was that of her father. She had a strong sense of duty and loved order in everything. Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna Romanova was good at embroidery and sewing, had a sound mind and remained herself in all life situations.
The next and, accordingly, third child of the emperor and empress was another daughter, Maria. She was born on June 27, 1899. The Grand Duchess differed from her sisters in her good nature, friendliness and cheerfulness. She had a beautiful appearance and had great vitality. She was very attached to her parents and loved them madly.
The Emperor was looking forward to his son, but the fourth child in the royal family was again the girl Anastasia. The Emperor loved her like all his daughters. Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova was born on June 18, 1901 and was very similar in character to a boy. She turned out to be a nimble and playful child, loved to play pranks and had a cheerful disposition.
On August 12, 1904, the long-awaited heir was born into the imperial family. The boy was named Alexey, in honor of his great-great-grandfather Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov. The Tsarevich inherited all the best from his father and mother. He loved his parents dearly, and his father Nikolai 2 was a real idol for him, he always tried to imitate him.
Accession to the throne
May 1896 was marked by the most important event - the coronation of Nicholas 2 took place in Moscow. This was the last such event: the tsar became the last not only in the Romanov dynasty, but also in the history of the Russian Empire. Ironically, it was this coronation that became the most majestic and luxurious. Thus began the reign of Nicholas 2. For the most important occasion, the city was decorated with the colorful illumination that had just appeared at that time. According to eyewitnesses, there was literally a “sea of fire” at the event.
Representatives from all countries gathered in the capital of the Russian Empire. From heads of state to ordinary people, representatives of every class were present at the inauguration ceremony. To capture this significant day in color, venerable artists came to Moscow: Serov, Ryabushkin, Vasnetsov, Repin, Nesterov and others. The coronation of Nicholas 2 was a real holiday for the Russian people.
The last coin of the empire
Numismatics is a truly interesting science. She studies not just coins and banknotes of different states and eras. In the collections of the largest numismatists one can trace the history of the country, its economic, political and social changes. So the chervonets of Nicholas 2 became a legendary coin.
It was first issued in 1911, and subsequently the mint minted chervonets in huge quantities every year. The denomination of the coin was 10 rubles and was made of gold. It would seem, why does this money so attract the attention of numismatists and historians? The catch is that the number of coins produced and minted was limited. And that means it makes sense to compete for the treasured chervonets. There were many more of them than the mint claimed. But, unfortunately, among the large number of fakes and “impostors” it is difficult to find a genuine coin.
Why do the coins have so many “doubles”? It is believed that someone was able to take the obverse and reverse dies from the mint and put them in the hands of counterfeiters. Historians claim that it could have been either Kolchak, who “minted” many chervonets to undermine the country’s economy, or the Soviet government, which tried to pay off Western partners with this money. It is known that for a long time Western countries did not seriously recognize the new government and continued to pay Russian gold chervonets. Also, the mass production of counterfeit coins could have been carried out much later, and from low-quality gold.
Foreign policy of Nicholas II
During the reign of the emperor there were two large military companies. In the Far East, the Russian state faced an aggressive Japan. In 1904, the Russo-Japanese War began, which was supposed to distract the common people from the socio-economic problems of the state. The largest military operations took place at the Port Arthur fortress, which surrendered in December 1904. The Russian army lost the battle at Mukend in February 1905. And off the island of Tsushima in May 1905, the Russian fleet was defeated and completely sunk. The Russian-Japanese military campaign ended with the signing of peace agreements in Portsmouth in August 1905, according to which Korea and the southern part of Sakhalin Island were ceded to Japan.
First World War
In the city of Sarajevo in Bosnia, the heir to the Austrian throne, F. Ferdinand, was killed, which was the reason for the outbreak of the First World War of 1914 between the Triple Alliance and the Entente. It included states such as Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. And the Entente included Russia, England and France.
The main military actions took place on the Western Front in 1914. On the Eastern Front, Austria-Hungary was defeated by the Russian army and was close to capitulation. But Germany helped Austria-Hungary survive and continue its offensive against Russia.
Again Germany went against Russia in the spring and summer of 1915, capturing Poland, part of the Baltic states, part of Western Belarus and Ukraine during this offensive. And in 1916, German troops delivered the main blow on the Western Front. In turn, Russian troops broke through the front and defeated the Austrian army, General A.A. led the military operations. Brusilov.
The foreign policy of Nicholas 2 led to the fact that the Russian state was economically exhausted by a long war, and political problems also arose. The deputies did not hide the fact that they were not happy with the policies pursued by the ruling government. was never resolved, and the Patriotic War only aggravated it. By signing the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk on March 5, 1918, Russia ended the war.
Summing up
We can talk for a long time about the fate of rulers. The results of the reign of Nicholas 2 are as follows: Russia experienced a colossal leap in economic development, as well as increased political and social contradictions. During the reign of the emperor there were two revolutions at once, the last of which became decisive. Large-scale changes in relations with other countries led to the fact that the Russian Empire increased its influence in the east. The reign of Nicholas 2 was extremely controversial. Perhaps that is why it was in those years that events took place that led to a change in the political system.
We can discuss for a long time whether the emperor should have acted one way or another. Historians still have not agreed on who the last emperor of the Russian Empire was - a great autocrat or the death of statehood. The era of the reign of Nicholas 2 was a very difficult time for the Russian Empire, but at the same time remarkable and fateful.
And his worldview was determined even before ascending the throne; only almost no one knew them. Communication with the young king turned out to be an unexpected revelation for many.
Faith in God and in one's duty as royal servant was the basis of all the views and character of Emperor Nicholas II. He believed that responsibility for the fate of Russia lay with him, that he was responsible for them before the throne of the Almighty. Others may advise, others may interfere with Him, but the answer for Russia before God lies with Him. This also resulted in an attitude towards limiting power - which he considered a shift of responsibility to others who were not called up, and to individual ministers who, in his opinion, claimed too much influence in the state. “They will spoil it - and it’s up to me to answer,” this was, in a simplified form, the Sovereign’s reasoning.
Emperor Nicholas II had a lively mind, quickly grasping the essence of the issues presented to him - everyone who had business communication with him unanimously testifies to this. He had an exceptional memory, particularly for faces. The sovereign also had a persistent and tireless will in implementing his plans. He did not forget them, he constantly returned to them, and often in the end he achieved his goal.
A different opinion was widespread because Nicholas II had a velvet glove on top of his iron hand. His will was not like a thunderclap, it was not manifested in explosions or violent clashes; it rather resembled the steady flow of a stream from a mountain height to the plain of the ocean: it skirts obstacles, deviates to the side, but in the end, with constant constancy, approaches its goal.
The ministers with whom the Tsar had the opportunity to part ways often said that he “cannot be relied upon.” But what did this mean? In carrying out plans approved by him essentially, Sovereign, according to the testimony of the same ministers, for example, Witte, knew how to show calm persistence in the most unfavorable situations. Only in relation to their personal careers did the ministers really not be able to “rely” on the Sovereign: he always put business above individuals, and if he disagreed with the actions of his ministers, he removed them, regardless of their past merits. At the same time, he tried to “gild the pill”; resignation was usually accompanied by external signs of favor and the appointment of high pensions. By his nature, he also did not like - and this, perhaps, was some drawback - to say things to others that were unpleasant for them. right in the face, especially if we were talking about people with whom he had collaborated for a long time, to whom he was grateful for a lot in the past. But this was a question of form, not the essence of the matter; there was no “cunning” here, as his enemies claimed. Cunning presupposes intent, calculation; and what benefit could there be for the king in the fact that the minister, after a gracious reception, learns in the evening about his resignation from the Highest Rescript? The gracious welcome only emphasized the absence personal dislike, and the resignation indicated business discrepancy.
Before ascending the throne, Emperor Nicholas II had only one serious opportunity to show his will and character. The Russian political system did not allow the manifestation of political disagreements in the royal family; It could not have happened under Emperor Alexander III that the heir publicly applauded speeches directed against the government of his father (as the German crown prince did in the Reichstag in 1911). The heir to the crown prince showed his will only in matters that personally concerned him. In his early youth he fell in love with a little princess Alice of Hesse, the younger sister of Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, the wife of his uncle, and for ten years he invariably preserved the memory of her. Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna were against this marriage. They did not want to marry a German princess; There were speculations about the marriage of the Russian heir to Princess Helen of Orleans, from the family of a pretender to the French throne. But the heir with quiet persistence rejected these plans and kept the image of Princess Alice in his soul. In the end, the parents relented and in the spring of 1894 the engagement finally took place. In this struggle, which lasted several years, the heir turned out to be stronger in character.
Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna (Alice of Hesse), 1896
Emperor Nicholas II - even his enemies admit this - possessed absolutely exceptional personal charm. He did not like celebrations or loud speeches; etiquette was a burden to him. He did not like everything ostentatious, artificial, all broadcast advertising (this could also be considered by some to be a disadvantage in our age!). In a close circle, in a face-to-face conversation, he knew how to charm his interlocutors, be they high dignitaries or workers of the workshop he visited. His large gray radiant eyes complemented his speech, looking straight into the soul. These natural gifts were further emphasized by careful upbringing. “In my life I have never met a more educated person than the now reigning Emperor Nicholas II,” wrote Count Witte already at a time when he was essentially a personal enemy of the Sovereign.
Based on materials from the book by S. S. Oldenburg “The Reign of Emperor NicholasII"