) - All-Russian emperor from the Romanov dynasty. The first son of Emperor Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra Feodorovna. He carried out a number of large-scale reforms, including university, judicial and military reforms. In 1861, on February 19, Alexander abolished the serfdom, thanks to which he remained in history under the nickname - the Liberator. During the reign of Alexander II the Liberator, the territory of Russia expanded, due to the annexation of the territories of the countries Central Asia, Caucasus and parts of Kazakhstan. He died as a result of a successful attempt on his life, organized by the People's Will.

Childhood and youth

Alexander's parents were the Emperor Nicholas I and the daughter of the Prussian king Alexandra Feodorovna. The boy was born at lunchtime in the Bishops' House of the Chudov Monastery in the Kremlin, where the princely couple celebrated Easter. This was the first child in the family of Nikolai and Alexandra and, therefore, from the very beginning of the boy's life, it was assumed that a potential heir to the throne was born.

Alexander received a versatile and high-quality education at home, being a pupil of such people as military officer Merder, Zhukovsky, Speransky, Arsenyev, Kankrin and others sings. As a result, the future emperor knew 5 languages, knew history, natural science, philosophy, as well as logic, mathematics and statistics. For educational purposes, Alexander made a trip to Russia at the age of 19, which lasted about three months, and later a trip to European countries, accompanied by the co-foster-children and adjutants of the Tsarevich A.V. Patkul and I.M. Vielgorsky.

Various testimonies of that time characterize the young Alexander II as a man endowed with a living and analytical mind, a good memory and a benevolent attitude towards others, however, he was a fickle socialite with no strong desires.

State activity before accession to the throne

Having reached the age of 18, Alexander II becomes a senator. The next year, the Tsarevich was introduced to the Holy Governing Synod, and in 1842 he became a member of the State Council and the Committee of Ministers. The military career of the heir to the throne is progressing no less rapidly. By 1853, Alexander led all the troops of St. Petersburg, had the rank of adjutant general and was the chieftain of the Cossack troops.

Alexander's reign

The death of Alexander's father in 1855 preceded his son's accession to the throne. The political, social and economic situation in the empire at that time was not developing in the most favorable way. The young emperor got the country defeated in the Crimean War, which has various problems in the field agriculture, national minorities, as well as the peasant issue, which was never resolved during the reign of Nicholas. The lost Crimean War led the country to international isolation, significantly spoiling Russia's image. Alexander made a successful attempt to carry out reforms that were required at all levels of the state.

The first step to correct the mistakes of the previous ruler was the Peace of Paris, concluded in March 1856. A little later, Alexander broke through the political blockade of the state.

There were also changes in domestic politics. The stage of thaw and publicity is coming. The Supreme Censorship Committee is closed, and amnesty is announced to the Decembrists, Petrashevists and Polish rebels.

Reforms of Alexander II

The importance of the Alexander reforms can hardly be overestimated. They dealt with various social and economic issues. One of the brightest decisions of Alexander was the abolition of serfdom. Due to the significant increase in the number of peasant uprisings and the declining prestige of the Russian Empire, Alexander attempted to resolve these issues by removing the peasant obligation. By giving the peasants personal freedom and the opportunity to freely dispose of their own property, the emperor demonstrated the foresight of his policy. According to Aleksandr himself, serfdom should have been destroyed from above before it began to be destroyed by itself from below. This decision caused a stormy resonance in society and was attacked by opponents of the reform.

The rest of the reforms did not cause such a strong rejection of certain strata of the population, but they were no less important stage in the development of Russia. A reform of self-government was carried out, which consisted of two provisions: zemstvo and city. Judicial reform has fundamentally changed the principles of legal proceedings. From now on, the parties received equal rights in the adversarial process, and a jury appeared. Military reform, provoked by the recent defeat of Russia in the war, now provided for military service for all classes. The educational reform was not so straightforward and was subject to various criticisms.

Alexander II pursued a special policy towards national minorities. In connection with the Polish national liberation uprising, attempts were made to reduce the influence catholic church and Russify the Polish population. Also, the Valuevsky circular and the Emsky decree were issued limiting the press in the Ukrainian language. But thanks to Alexander II, such a concept as the Jewish Pale of Settlement ceased to exist. They could settle anywhere.

Personal life of Alexander II

Alexander met his future wife when he traveled to Europe in 1837. Maximiliana Wilhelmina Augusta Sophia Maria was not a native, but an adopted daughter of the Duke of Hesse Louis II. The young Tsarevich passionately fell in love with a 15-year-old girl and soon wrote to his father and mother about his intention to marry. The parents' reaction was not the most encouraging, but over time Nikolai gave in.
Princess Mary arrived in St. Petersburg in 1840, where she was warmly received imperial family... On April 16, 1841, Maria and Alexander were married.

The princely couple had six children. Frequent pregnancies negatively affected the health of Alexander's wife and over time his feelings for Mary cooled.

Few monarchs in history have received the epithet “liberator”. Alexander Nikolaevich Romanov deserves such an honor. And Alexander II is also called the tsar-reformer, because he managed to get off dead center many of the old problems of the state, which threatened riots and uprisings.

Childhood and youth

The future emperor was born in April 1818 in Moscow. The boy was born on a holiday, on Bright Wednesday in the Kremlin, in the Bishop's House of the Chudov Monastery. Here on that festive morning the whole Imperial family gathered, who had arrived to celebrate Easter. In honor of the boy's birth, the Moscow silence was broken by a cannon salute in 201 volleys.

Archbishop Augustine of Moscow baptized infant Alexander Romanov on May 5 in the church of the Chudov Monastery. His parents at the time of the birth of their son were Grand Dukes. But when the grown-up heir was 7 years old, his mother Alexandra Feodorovna and his father became an imperial couple.

The future Emperor Alexander II received an excellent education at home. His main mentor, responsible not only for teaching, but also for education, was. Holy history and the Law of God were taught by Archpriest Gerasim Pavsky himself. Academician Collins taught the boy the intricacies of arithmetic, and Karl Merder gave the basics of military science.

Aleksandr Nikolaevich had no less famous teachers in legislation, statistics, finance and foreign policy. The boy grew up very smart and quickly mastered the taught sciences. But at the same time, at a young age, like many of his peers, he was amorous and romantic. For example, during a trip to London, he fell in love with a young British woman.

Interestingly, after a couple of decades, she turned for the Russian Emperor Alexander II into the most hated European ruler.

The reign and reforms of Alexander II

When Alexander Nikolaevich Romanov came of age, his father introduced him to the main state institutions... In 1834, the Tsarevich entered the Senate, the next year - a member of the Holy Synod, and in 1841 and 1842 Romanov became a member of the State Council and the Committee of Ministers.

In the mid-1830s, the heir made a long study tour of the country and visited 29 provinces. In the late 30s he visited Europe. He also passed very successfully military service and in 1844 he became a general. The guards infantry was entrusted to him.

The Tsarevich directs military educational institutions and presides over the Secret Committees for the Peasant Affairs of 1846 and 1848. He quite well delves into the problems of the peasants and understands that changes and reforms are long overdue.

The outbreak of the Crimean War of 1853-56 becomes a serious test for the future sovereign in his maturity and courage. After the declaration of martial law in the Petersburg province, Alexander Nikolaevich assumed command of all the troops of the capital.

Alexander II, having ascended the throne in 1855, received a difficult legacy. For 30 years of his reign, his father did not manage to solve any of the many acute and long-standing issues of the state. In addition, the country's plight was aggravated by the defeat in the Crimean War. The treasury was empty.

It was necessary to act decisively and quickly. Foreign policy Alexander II consisted in using diplomacy to break through the tight ring of the blockade that had closed around Russia. The first step was the conclusion of the Paris Peace in the spring of 1856. The conditions accepted by Russia cannot be called very favorable, but the weakened state could not dictate its will. Most importantly, it was possible to stop England, which wanted to continue the war until the complete defeat and dismemberment of Russia.

In the same spring, Alexander II visited Berlin and met with King Frederick William IV. Frederick was the emperor's maternal uncle. A secret "dual alliance" was concluded with him. The foreign policy blockade of Russia was over.

Domestic policy Alexander II was no less successful. The long-awaited "thaw" has come in the life of the country. At the end of the summer of 1856, on the occasion of the coronation, the tsar pardoned the Decembrists, Petrashevists, and participants in the Polish uprising. And for another 3 years, he suspended recruiting and liquidated military settlements.

The time is ripe for the solution of the peasant question. Emperor Alexander II decided to abolish serfdom, this ugly relic that stood in the way of progress. The sovereign chose the "Ostsee version" of landless liberation of the peasants. In 1858, the tsar agreed to a reform program developed by liberals and public figures. According to the reform, the peasants received the right to redeem the land allotted to them for ownership.

The great reforms of Alexander II turned out to be truly revolutionary at that time. He supported the Zemsky Regulations of 1864 and the City Regulations of 1870. The Judicial Charters of 1864 were put into effect and the military reforms of the 1860s and 70s were adopted. Reforms in public education took place. Finally, corporal punishment, shameful for a developing country, was abolished.

Alexander II confidently continued the traditional line of imperial policy. In the first years of his reign, he won victories in the Caucasian War. He successfully advanced in Central Asia, annexing most of Turkestan to the territory of the state. In 1877-78, the king decided to go to war with Turkey. He also managed to fill the treasury, increasing the total income of 1867 by 3%. This was done by selling Alaska to the United States.

But in last years the reign of Alexander II, the reforms "stalled". Their sequel has been sluggish and inconsistent. The emperor dismissed all the main reformers. At the end of the reign, the tsar introduced limited public representation in Russia at the State Council.

Some historians believe that the reign of Alexander II, with all its advantages, had a huge disadvantage: the tsar pursued a "Germanophile policy" that did not meet the interests of the state. The monarch was in awe of the Prussian king - his uncle, and in every possible way contributed to the creation of a unified militaristic Germany.

A contemporary of the tsar, chairman of the Committee of Ministers Pyotr Valuev, wrote in his diaries about the severe nervous breakdown of the sovereign in the last years of his life. Romanov was on the verge of a nervous breakdown, looked tired and irritated. "Crowned half-ruin" - such an unflattering epithet given by Valuev to the emperor, accurately explained his condition.

"In an era where strength is needed in him," the politician wrote, "obviously, one cannot count on it."

Nevertheless, in the first years of his reign, Alexander II managed to do a lot for the Russian state. And the epithets “Liberator” and “Reformer” he really deserved.

Personal life

The emperor was an addicted person. He has many novels on his account. In his youth, he had an affair with the maid of honor Borodzina, whom his parents urgently married. Then another romance, and again with the maid of honor Maria Trubetskoy. And with the maid of honor Olga Kalinovskaya, the connection turned out to be so strong that the Tsarevich even made the decision to abdicate the throne for the sake of marriage with her. But the parents insisted on breaking this relationship and marrying Maximilianne of Hesse.

Nevertheless, the marriage with, nee Princess Maximiliana-Wilhelmina-Augusta-Sophia-Maria of Hesse-Darmstadt, was a happy one. 8 children were born in it, 6 of whom are sons.

Emperor Alexander II for his wife, who was sick with tuberculosis, laid the foundation for the favorite summer residence of the last Russian tsars - Livadia, having bought the land, together with the estate and vineyards, from the daughters of Count Lev Potocki.

Maria Alexandrovna died in May 1880. She left a note in which there were words of gratitude to her husband for a happy life together.

But the monarch was not a faithful husband. The personal life of Alexander II was the reason for the gossip of the court constantly. Some of the favorites gave birth to illegitimate children from the sovereign.

An 18-year-old maid of honor managed to firmly seize the emperor's heart. The sovereign married an old lover in the same year when his wife died. It was a morganatic marriage, that is, concluded with a person of non-royal origin. Children from this union, and there were four of them, could not become heirs to the throne. It is noteworthy that all children were born at a time when Alexander II was still married to his first wife.

After the tsar married Dolgoruka, the children received legal status and a princely title.

Death

During his reign, Alexander II was assassinated several times. The first attempt took place after the suppression of the Polish uprising in 1866. It was performed in Russia by Dmitry Karakozov. The second is next year. This time in Paris. The Polish emigrant Anton Berezovsky tried to kill the tsar.

A new attempt was made in early April 1879 in St. Petersburg. In August of the same year, the executive committee of Narodnaya Volya sentenced Alexander II to death. After that, the Narodnaya Volya intended to blow up the emperor's train, but by mistake they blew up another train.

The new attempt turned out to be even more bloody: in the Winter Palace, several people died after the explosion. By a happy coincidence, the emperor entered the room later.

To protect the sovereign, a Supreme Administrative Commission was created. But she did not save Romanov's life. In March 1881, a bomb was thrown at the feet of Alexander II by the People's Will Ignatiy Grinevitsky. The king died of his wounds.

It is noteworthy that the assassination attempt took place on the day when the emperor decided to launch a truly revolutionary constitutional project by M. T. Loris-Melikov, after which Russia had to follow the path of the constitution.

Alexander 2 ( short biography): life, events and interesting Facts

In 1818, on April 17, a boy named Alexander was born in the Kremlin. This was a long-awaited event, because it was he who was to inherit the Russian throne in the future. He became the first son of his father Nikolai Pavlovich. In honor of his birth, a 201 cannon volley was fired.

Little Sasha got a good education, its teachers were the most prominent scientists and politicians of the time, who considered it an honor to teach the future monarch. The educator was the famous poet Zhukovsky, he studied law with the lawyer Speransky, economics with the financier Kankrin, and the art of war was taught by Merder. Alexander spoke 5 languages, studied history, philosophy, geography, logic, mathematics. From childhood he knew that he would become an emperor, but he had no particular inclination for power, although his father believed that this was his sacred duty.

State activities started in 1834. Consistently became a member of the Senate and Synod. He worked in the State Council and the Committee of Ministers. After 3 years, he began his acquaintance with the Russian provinces. He visited the European part of Russia, then Siberia and Transcaucasia. Later he visited Europe.

In 1836 he was promoted to major general, in 1844 he was declared a full general.

In 1841 he married a German princess, who was baptized as Maria Alexandrovna. They had 8 children, two of whom died during his lifetime. Alexander 2 was distinguished by a passion for the female sex, and in 1866 he had a permanent favorite, Princess Dolgorukova. He married her after the death of his legal wife in 1880, but the marriage was morganatic.

He ascended the throne after the death of his father in 1855. During this period, it was going, Alexander 2 was able to stop it with the minimum possible losses, concluding the Paris Peace. His reign can be considered paradoxical. He remained known under the nickname "The Liberator", but at the same time survived 6 assassination attempts and was killed by Narodnaya Volya during 7. Several important reforms were carried out, including judicial, military. New territories were annexed, but at the same time the Aleutian Islands and Alaska were transferred to the United States. On the occasion of his coronation, he was granted amnesty, under which the Decembrists, Petrashevists and participants in the Polish uprising fell. Insisted on. Has established diplomatic relations with many European countries.

He died in 1881 at the hands of the People's Will Grinevitsky. Alexander 2 was going to continue reforms and introduce a constitution, but this did not happen.

The first spring day in 1881 was stained with the blood of the emperor, who went down in the history of Russia as a great conductor of reforms, rightfully deserving the epithet of the liberator given to him by the people. On this day, Emperor Alexander 2 (reigned 1855-1881) was killed by a bomb thrown by the People's Will Ignatiy Grinevitsky.

The early years of the heir to the throne

On April 17, 1818, the thunder of fireworks rolled over Moscow - the heir to the throne was born to the imperial couple staying in the bishop's house, who received the name Alexander at holy baptism. An interesting fact: after the death of Peter I, the only ruler of Russia who was born in its ancient capital was he - the future emperor Alexander 2.

His biography testifies to the fact that the childhood of the heir to the throne passed under the vigilant gaze of his father. Tsar Nicholas I paid close attention to raising his son. The duties of Alexander's home teacher were assigned to the famous poet V.A.Zhukovsky, who not only taught him the grammar of the Russian language, but also instilled in the boy general foundations culture. Special disciplines such as foreign languages, military science, legislation and sacred history, he was taught by the best teachers of that time.

Innocent youthful love

Probably, the lyric poems of his home teacher and elder friend V.A.Zhukovsky left their mark on consciousness young Alexander... According to the recollections of contemporaries, a tendency towards romantic love began to appear in him early, which aroused the discontent of his father, a man, by the way, who was also far from sinless. It is known that during a trip to London, Sasha was fascinated by a young girl - future queen Victoria, but these feelings were destined to fade away.

The beginning of state activity

Tsar Nicholas I early began to introduce his son to state affairs... Barely reaching adulthood, he was inducted into the Senate and the Holy Synod. In order for the future monarch to visually represent the scale of the empire, which he was to rule, his father sent him on a journey across Russia in 1837, during which Alexander visited twenty-eight provinces. Following that, he left for Europe to replenish his knowledge and complete his education.

The reign of Alexander II began in 1855, immediately after death interrupted the thirty-year period of the reign of his father Nicholas I. He inherited the problems associated with the peasant issue, the financial crisis and the hopelessly lost Crimean War, which put Russia in a state of international isolation. All of them demanded an immediate solution.

The urgent need for reform

In order to bring the country out of the current crisis, reforms were required, the need for which was dictated by life itself. The first of these was the abolition of military settlements, introduced back in 1810. With one stroke of the pen, the sovereign sent into the past archaism, which did not bring benefit to the army and provoked a social explosion. From this very urgent matter, Alexander II began his great transformations.

Abolition of serfdom

A start was made. After that, Emperor Alexander II carried out the fulfillment of his main historical mission - the abolition It is known that Empress Catherine II wrote about the need for this act, but in those years the consciousness of society was not ready for such radical changes, and the ruler prudently refrained from them.

Now, in the middle of the 19th century, Alexander 2, whose personality was formed under the influence of completely different historical realities, realized that if slavery was not abolished by legislation, then it would serve as a detonator for the growing danger of a revolutionary explosion in the country.

This point of view was shared by the most progressive statesmen his entourage, but in court circles, a numerous and influential opposition was formed, consisting of dignitaries of the past reign, brought up in the barracks-bureaucratic spirit of Nicholas I.

Nevertheless, in 1861, the reform was carried out, and millions of serfs became equal citizens of Russia. However, this entailed a new problem, which Alexander 2 had to solve. In short, it boiled down to the fact that from now on it was necessary to provide free peasants with a means of subsistence, that is, land that belonged to the landowners. The solution to this problem took many years.

Finance and higher education reforms

The next important step that marked the reign of Alexander II was financial reform. As a result of the abolition of serfdom in Russia, a completely different type of economy took shape - the capitalist one. Financial system state based on did not meet the requirements of the time. For its modernization in 1860-1862. a new institution for the country was created - a state bank. In addition, from now on, the budget was approved by the State Council and personally by the emperor in accordance with the reform.

Two years after the abolition of serfdom, the time has come to make changes in the sphere higher education... Alexander 2 dedicated his next reform to this important undertaking in 1863. Briefly, it can be described as the establishment of a certain order of organization educational process at universities. It is fair to say that this reform was the most liberal of all, carried out in the years of subsequent reigns.

Establishment of zemstvos and renewed legal proceedings

Zemstvo and those implemented in 1864 became important legislative acts. At that time, all the leading public figures of the country wrote about the urgent need for them. These votes were opposed by the same opposition, to whose opinion Alexander 2 could not help but listen.

The personality of this monarch is largely characterized by his constant desire to balance between two different poles. public opinion - progressive intelligentsia and court conservatism. However, in this case, he showed firmness.

As a result, two important innovations for the state were implemented - a reform that made it possible to rebuild the entire obsolete judicial system in a European way, and the second, which changed the order of state administration.

Conversions in the army

Subsequently, self-government, secondary education and the military were added to them, as a result of which the transition from recruitment to general recruitment was made. conscription... Their main organizer and guide to life was, as before, Alexander 2.

His biography is an example of the activities of a progressive and energetic, but not always consistent state ruler. Trying to combine the interests of the opposing social strata in his actions, as a result he turned out to be alien to both the revolutionary-minded lower classes of society and the aristocratic elite.

Family life of the monarch

Alexander 2 is a multifaceted personality. Along with cold prudence, he coexisted with a tendency towards romantic hobbies, which had become apparent in his youth. A series of fleeting salon intrigues with the maids of honor of the court did not interrupt even after his marriage to Princess Maria Augusta of Hesse, who adopted the name of Maria Alexandrovna in Orthodoxy. She was a loving wife with the gift of sincere forgiveness. After her death caused by consumption, the sovereign married his longtime favorite Dolgorukova, for whom his tragic death was an irreparable blow.

The end of the life of the great reformer

Alexander 2 is a tragic person in his own way. He devoted all his strength and energy to the rise of Russia to the European level, but his actions in many ways gave impetus to the destructive forces that were emerging in the country in those years, which subsequently plunged the state into the abyss of a bloody revolution. The assassination of Alexander II was the final link in the chain of assassination attempts made on him. There are seven of them.

The last, which cost the life of the sovereign, was committed on March 1, 1881 on the embankment of the Catherine Canal in St. Petersburg. It was organized and carried out by a group of terrorists who called themselves "Narodnaya Volya". It consisted of people from various social strata of society. They had a poor idea of \u200b\u200bthe ways to build a new world, which they constantly talked about, nevertheless, they were united by the desire to destroy the foundations of the old.

To achieve this goal, the Narodnaya Volya members did not spare either their own, much less other people's lives. According to them, the assassination of Alexander II was supposed to be a signal for a general uprising, but in reality it only gave rise to fear and a sense of hopelessness in society, which always appear when the law is violated by brute force. Today, the Savior on Spilled Blood Church, erected on the site of his death, is a monument to the tsar-liberator.

The Russian Emperor Alexander II throughout his life systematically carried out important reforms, which more than once shook the foundations of the state. Perhaps the most important milestone during his reign can be called the abolition of serfdom. This decision forever inscribed him in history, but did not add to his popularity among those in power. However, all the reforms of Alexander II were not sufficient in the eyes of the People's Will, who, as a result, achieved the assassination of the emperor by means of a terrorist attack.

Facts from the biography of Alexander II

• Already at birth, he was promised the imperial throne, since his father's older brothers did not have children.
• Alexander II was born in the Moscow Kremlin.
• In honor of his birth, the Kremlin cannons fired 201 volleys.
• Alexander II became the first Russian ruler since 1725, who was born in Moscow.
• Emperor Nicholas I, his father, paid great attention to the upbringing and education of his son, and personally acted as his mentor ().
• Already in childhood, Alexander II mastered not only Russian, but also English, German and French.
• At a young age, he was already an excellent swordsman.
• While still a young man, Alexander II visited London, where he fell in love with the English Queen Victoria. Interestingly, later, already in adulthood, both he and Victoria constantly competed and even feuded.
• Even before taking the imperial throne, Alexander II traveled for many years, first across Russia, even reaching Siberia, and then across Europe ().
• One of the important reforms he carried out was the introduction of universal military service.
• It was only years later that it became known that the emperor suffered from asthma all his life.
• The ruler's personal capital was estimated at 12 million rubles. He donated one million to charity.
• Thanks to Alexander II, ice skating in winter began to gain popularity in Russia. The autocrat liked this occupation, and he ordered to fill the large skating rink near the Mariinsky Palace every winter.
• He has been married to his wife for almost 40 years. The biography of Alexander II notes that this marriage was happy, and the imperial couple had 8 children. In his second marriage, he had four more offspring.
• The coronation of Alexander II took place in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin ().
• Having become the ruler, he ordered to develop a draft constitution that would limit the power of the autocracy. However, during the life of Alexander II, this project was never considered.
• During his reign to Russian Empire were annexed vast lands in the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Far East.
• It was Alexander II who sold Alaska to the United States for $ 7.2 million. Then no one knew yet how these lands are rich in gold.
• He achieved the opening of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Japan, a country that was extremely conservative in that era.
• One of the mentors of the future emperor was the famous poet Vasily Zhukovsky, an ardent opponent of serfdom. It was his influence that ultimately led to the fact that Alexander II, becoming an autocrat, eventually abolished this very serfdom ().
• In Bulgaria, Alexander II is known as Alexander the Liberator, since it was thanks to him that the Bulgarian lands occupied by the Turks were liberated by the Russian troops, and eventually gained independence.
• The conspirators tried unsuccessfully to kill Alexander II as many as 7 times. For the eighth time, they succeeded.
• In memory of the abolition of serfdom, many monuments were erected to Alexander II, in Russia and in Bulgaria, but in the USSR after the 1917 revolution, most of them were demolished.
• The mineral alexandrite, discovered shortly before Alexander II reached the age of majority (16 years old according to the laws of those years), was named precisely in his honor (