Nicholas II

Nicholas II got engaged to Princess Alix of Hesse-Darmstadt of Germany on 8 April 1894. They were formally married on 26 November 1894, following Alix’s conversion from Lutheranism to Russian Orthodoxy, a few months earlier.

Their first child, Princess Olga, was born in 1895, followed by Tatiana, their second daughter in 1897 and Maria, their third daughter, who was born in 1899. In 1901, Anastasia, their fourth daughter, was born.

In 1904, the Empress gave birth to their only son Alexei. To their misfortune the boy was diagnosed with hemophilia and, finding no treatment, the Tsar sought the help of Rasputin, a monk who finally healed him.

Nicholas was born on 18 May 1868, to the Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna of Russia. He was of Russian, Danish, French, and German descent.

He had five siblings, three brothers and two sisters. He completed his education mostly under private tutors and as he grew up, he became proficient in history and foreign languages.

His grandfather Alexander II was assassinated in 1881, when Nicholas was 13 years old and his father ascended the throne as Alexander III.

At the age of 19, Nicholas joined the army and served for three years in which time he reached the rank of colonel.

On October 20, 1894, upon the death of his father, Alexander III, he was crowned king of Russia and in 1896 he was officially crowned the Tsar (Emperor) of Russia.

Nicholas II had very little knowledge of the state-of-affairs and was unable to manage his kingdom well. In 1904, when Russia was attacked at Port Arthur by Japan owing to a long-running dispute, the king's army had to surrender. Shortly, after, he parleyed with the Japanese, even though his army had suffered a huge loss.

On January 5, 1905, a peaceful protest by workers was organized by a priest called George Gapon, in St. Petersburg, who was demanding the improvement of the working conditions for the workers. However, it turned bloody when soldiers began firing at the protesters. Ninety-two people died and hundreds were injured. This day has since been referred to as ‘Blood Sunday’ in the history of Russia.

Following this incident, workers all over Russia went on a strike and in order to suppress them Nicholas II sent his troops. Forced to concede, he created an elected legislature called ‘Duma’.

At the outbreak of World War I, Russia, which was not prepared for the war, suffered huge casualties. The Tsar appointed himself the commander-in-chief of the military and was away from his residence from 1915 till August 1917.

Nicholas II was the commander-in-chief of the Russian Army during World War I, under whom, the military failed to perform and the nation suffered a crushing defeat. His incapacity to understand the military stance of Russia and perceive the effects of the war paved the way for his downfall.