Alexander II of Russia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alexander II |
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Photograph, 1878–81
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| Emperor of Russia | |||||
| Reign | 2 March 1855 – 13 March 1881 | ||||
| Coronation | 7 September 1856 | ||||
| Predecessor | Nicholas I | ||||
| Successor | Alexander III | ||||
| Born | 29 April 1818 Moscow Kremlin, Moscow, Moscow Governorate, Russian Empire |
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| Died | 13 March 1881 (aged 62) Winter Palace, Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire |
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| Burial | Peter and Paul Cathedral, Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire | ||||
| Spouse |
Marie of Hesse and by Rhine
(m. 1841; died 1880) |
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| Issue among others... |
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| House | Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov | ||||
| Father | Nicholas I of Russia | ||||
| Mother | Charlotte of Prussia | ||||
| Religion | Russian Orthodox | ||||
| Signature | .PNG){kind=small} |
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Alexander II (Russian: Алекса́ндр II Никола́евич, tr. Aleksándr II Nikoláyevich; 29 April 1818 – 13 March 1881) was the Emperor of Russia, King of Poland, and Grand Duke of Finland. He ruled from March 2, 1855, until his death in 1881.
Alexander II is best known for his most important reform: freeing Russia's serfs in 1861. Serfs were like slaves, tied to the land and owned by nobles. Because of this, he is often called Alexander the Liberator. He also made many other big changes. These included updating the court system, allowing local self-government, and making military service fair for everyone.
In foreign policy, Alexander II worked for peace in Europe. He sold Alaska to the United States in 1867. He also fought a war against the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) from 1877 to 1878. This war helped several Balkan countries gain their independence. Alexander II faced many challenges at home, including an uprising in Poland. He was planning more reforms when he was assassinated in 1881.
Contents
Early Life and Education
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Alexander Nikolayevich was born in Moscow on April 29, 1818. He was the oldest son of Nicholas I of Russia, who was the Emperor, and Alexandra Fyodorovna (Charlotte of Prussia).
As a young prince, Alexander was taught by the famous poet Vasily Zhukovsky. He learned many subjects and became good at several European languages. When he was 19, he took a long trip across Russia in 1837. He visited 20 different areas of the country. He also traveled to many countries in Western Europe in 1838 and 1839. Alexander was the first Russian heir to visit Siberia. During his travels, he met and became friends with the exiled poet Aleksandr Ivanovich Herzen. Herzen's ideas later influenced Alexander to end serfdom.
Alexander's Reign as Emperor
Alexander II became emperor in 1855 after his father died. He inherited a country that was struggling after the Crimean War. Russia had been defeated and was facing many problems, including corruption. Alexander knew that big changes were needed.
He decided to make many important reforms. These changes aimed to modernize Russia and improve life for its people.
Freeing the Serfs
The most famous reform by Alexander II was the Emancipation Reform of 1861. This law ended serfdom across the Russian Empire. Serfs were people who were legally tied to the land they worked. They could not leave without permission and were bought and sold with the land.
With this reform, serfs gained full rights as free citizens. They could marry without permission, own property, and start businesses. This was a huge step for Russia. It changed the lives of millions of people. Alexander II supported the idea that serfs should become independent landowners. The law was signed and made public on March 3, 1861.
Other Important Reforms
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Alexander II introduced many other reforms to modernize Russia.
- Military Reforms: He changed the army by introducing conscription for all social classes in 1874. Before this, only peasants were forced to serve for 25 years, which was almost a life sentence. He also improved military education and banned harsh punishments like whipping soldiers.
- Judicial Reforms: In 1864, he created a new court system. Trials became open to the public, judges were appointed for life, and a jury system was introduced. This made the legal system fairer.
- Local Government: Alexander set up local self-government bodies called zemstvos in rural areas in 1864. These elected groups had some power to manage local issues and collect taxes.
- Education: He promoted university education, allowing more people to attend.
- Alaska Sale: In 1867, Russia sold Alaska to the United States for $7.2 million. Alaska was a distant colony that was hard to defend.
Foreign Policy and Peace Efforts
Alexander II generally aimed for peace with other European countries. He joined with Germany and Austria in the League of the Three Emperors in 1872. This helped keep Europe stable.
During the American Civil War (1861–1865), Russia supported the Union (the North). In 1863, Russian warships visited American ports to show support.
Alexander II fought a war against the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) from 1877 to 1878. This war was important for the people in the Balkans. It led to the independence of Romania, Serbia, and Montenegro. It also helped Bulgaria become an independent state.
Ending the Caucasian War
The Russo-Circassian War ended during Alexander II's rule. This war involved Russia taking control of the Caucasus region. Many Circassians were forced to leave their homes.
Liberation of Bulgaria
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In 1876, Bulgarians rebelled against Ottoman rule. The Ottomans responded harshly, causing outrage in Europe. Alexander II decided to intervene. In 1877, Russia declared war on the Ottoman Empire.
The Russian army, with help from Romania, defeated the Ottomans. This led to the Treaty of San Stefano in 1878, which created an independent Bulgarian state. For his role in freeing Bulgaria, Alexander II is known as the "Tsar-Liberator" there. A monument to him stands in Sofia, Bulgaria's capital.
Finnish Nationalism and Autonomy
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In 1863, Alexander II brought back the Diet of Finland (Finland's parliament). He introduced reforms that gave Finland more self-rule within the Russian Empire. This included creating its own currency, the Finnish markka. He also made Finnish an official language, equal to Swedish. These changes helped Finland develop and strengthened Finnish identity. Alexander II is still seen as "The Good Tsar" in Finland.
Assassination Attempts
Alexander II faced many attempts on his life by revolutionary groups. These groups wanted even bigger changes in Russia.
- 1866 Attempt: In April 1866, a man named Dmitry Karakozov tried to shoot the emperor in St. Petersburg. Alexander narrowly escaped.
- 1867 Attempt: During a World Fair in Paris in 1867, a Polish immigrant named Antoni Berezowski attacked Alexander's carriage. His pistol misfired.
- 1879 Attempt: On April 20, 1879, Alexander Soloviev fired five shots at the emperor but missed. Soloviev was later executed.
- 1879 Bombing: In December 1879, a group called Narodnaya Volya (People's Will) tried to bomb the emperor's train, but they missed it.
- 1880 Winter Palace Bombing: On February 5, 1880, Stephan Khalturin, also from Narodnaya Volya, set off a bomb under the dining room of the Winter Palace. Eleven people were killed and 30 wounded. Luckily, the emperor and his family were not in the dining room at the time.
Assassination
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On March 13, 1881, Alexander II was assassinated in Saint Petersburg.
He was returning from a military event in his carriage. A young revolutionary named Nikolai Rysakov threw a bomb at the carriage. The explosion damaged the bulletproof carriage and wounded several people, but the emperor was unharmed.
Alexander II got out of the damaged carriage to check on the injured. As he stood there, another revolutionary, Ignacy Hryniewiecki, threw a second bomb at his feet. This bomb exploded, severely wounding Alexander II. He was rushed to the Winter Palace, bleeding badly.
The emperor died at 3:30 PM that day. His death was a major shock to Russia and the world.
Aftermath of the Assassination
Alexander II's death had a big impact on Russia. He had just approved plans for more parliamentary reforms. However, his son, Alexander III, who became the new emperor, decided to cancel these reforms. Instead, Alexander III chose to rule with stronger, more absolute power.
The assassination led to a crackdown on civil liberties in Russia. Police power increased, and groups suspected of being rebels were suppressed. This also led to a series of attacks against Jewish communities, known as pogroms.
The Church of the Savior on Blood was later built on the exact spot where Alexander II was assassinated in St. Petersburg. It stands as a memorial to him.
Family Life
First Marriage and Children
In 1839, during a trip to Europe, Alexander met Princess Marie of Hesse. He was very taken with her, even though his parents had concerns about her family background. They were engaged in 1840, and Marie converted to the Orthodox Church.
Alexander married Marie in St. Petersburg on April 16, 1841. They had six sons and two daughters:
- Grand Duchess Alexandra Alexandrovna of Russia (1842–1849), died young.
- Nicholas Alexandrovich, Tsarevich of Russia (1843–1865), was engaged to Princess Dagmar of Denmark.
- Emperor Alexander III (1845–1894), married Princess Dagmar of Denmark (who became Maria Feodorovna).
- Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia (1847–1909).
- Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich (1850–1908).
- Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia (1853–1920), married Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
- Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of Russia (1857–1905).
- Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia (1860–1919).
Alexander was very fond of his eldest son, Nicholas. However, Nicholas died in 1865 from meningitis, which deeply saddened Alexander. His second son, Alexander, then became the heir and married Nicholas's fiancée, Dagmar.
Second Marriage
In 1866, Alexander II began a relationship with Catherine Dolgorukova. They had four children together before Empress Marie Alexandrovna died in 1880.
After his first wife passed away, Alexander II married Catherine Dolgorukova in a private ceremony on July 18, 1880. He gave her the title Princess Yurievskaya and recognized their children as legitimate.
Their children were:
- Prince George Alexandrovich Yuryevsky (1872–1913).
- Princess Olga Alexandrovna Yurievskaya (1873–1925).
- Prince Boris Alexandrovich Yurievsky (1876–1876).
- Princess Catherine Alexandrovna Yurievskaya (1878–1959).
Images for kids
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Portrait of Alexander II, 1856
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Portrait of Emperor Alexander II wearing the greatcoat and cap of the Imperial Horse-Guards Regiment. c. 1865
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Alexander II, by Sergei Lvovich Levitsky, 1860
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Alexander II, portrait by Konstantin Makovsky. 1881
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The Monument to the Tsar Liberator in Sofia commemorates Alexander II's decisive role in the Liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78.
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A monument to Alexander II in Częstochowa, removed after liberation of Poland.
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A monument to Alexander II in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
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See also
In Spanish: Alejandro II de Rusia para niños
