The upbringing he received under the guidance of his father was strict, almost harsh. “I need normal, healthy Russian children” - this was the demand the emperor put forward to the educators of his children. Such an upbringing could only be Orthodox in spirit. Even as a small child, the Tsarevich showed special love for God and His Church. The heir received a very good education at home - he knew several languages, studied Russian and world history, had a deep understanding of military affairs, and was a widely erudite person. But the father’s plans to prepare his son to bear his royal duty were not destined to be fully realized.

The first meeting of the sixteen-year-old heir Nicholas Alexandrovich and the young princess Alice of Hesse-Darmstadt took place in the year when her elder sister, the future Martyr Elizabeth, married Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, the Tsarevich's uncle. A strong friendship began between them, which then turned into deep and ever-increasing love. When, having reached adulthood, the heir turned to his parents with a request to bless him for marriage with Princess Alice, his father refused, citing his youth as the reason for the refusal. Then he resigned himself to his father’s will, but in the year, seeing the unshakable determination of his son, usually soft and even timid in communicating with his father, Emperor Alexander III gave his blessing for the marriage.

The joy of mutual love was overshadowed by a sharp deterioration in the health of Emperor Alexander III, who died on October 20 of the year. Despite the mourning, it was decided not to postpone the wedding, but it took place in the most modest atmosphere on November 14 of the year. The days of family happiness that followed soon gave way for the new emperor to the need to assume the entire burden of governing the Russian Empire, despite the fact that he was not yet fully introduced to the highest state affairs.

Reign

The character of Nikolai Alexandrovich, who was twenty-six years old at the time of his accession, and his worldview by this time were completely determined. Persons standing close to the court noted his lively mind - he always quickly grasped the essence of the questions presented to him, his excellent memory, especially for faces, and the nobility of his way of thinking. At the same time, Nikolai Alexandrovich, with his gentleness, tact in his address, and modest manners, gave many the impression of a man who did not inherit the strong will of his father.

The guidance for Emperor Nicholas II was his father’s political testament:

“I bequeath to you to love everything that serves the good, honor and dignity of Russia. Protect autocracy, bearing in mind that you are responsible for the fate of your subjects before the Throne of the Most High. Let faith in God and the holiness of your royal duty be the basis of your life. Be strong and courageous, never show weakness. Listen to everyone, there is nothing shameful in this, but listen to yourself and your conscience".

From the very beginning of his reign as a Russian power, Emperor Nicholas II treated the duties of a monarch as a sacred duty. The Emperor deeply believed that for the Russian people, royal power was and remains sacred. He always had the idea that the king and queen should be closer to the people, see them more often and trust them more. Having become the supreme ruler of a huge empire, Nikolai Alexandrovich took upon himself enormous historical and moral responsibility for everything that happened in the state entrusted to him. He considered one of his most important duties to be the preservation of the Orthodox faith.

Emperor Nicholas II paid great attention to the needs Orthodox Church throughout his reign. Like all Russian emperors, he donated generously for the construction of new churches, including outside Russia. During the years of his reign, the number of parish churches in the empire increased by more than 10 thousand, and more than 250 new monasteries were opened. He himself participated in the laying of new churches and other church celebrations. The personal piety of the Sovereign was also manifested in the fact that during the years of his reign more saints were canonized than in the two previous centuries, when only 5 saints were glorified - during his reign, St. Theodosius of Chernigov (), Rev. Seraphim of Sarov (city), Holy Princess Anna Kashinskaya (restoration of veneration in the city), Saint Joasaph of Belgorod (city), Saint Hermogen of Moscow (city), Saint Pitirim of Tambov (city), Saint John of Tobolsk (city) . At the same time, the emperor was forced to show special persistence, seeking the canonization of St. Seraphim of Sarov, Saints Joasaph of Belgorod and John of Tobolsk. Emperor Nicholas II highly revered the holy righteous father John of Kronstadt and after his blessed death he ordered a nationwide prayerful commemoration of him on the day of his repose.

During the reign of Emperor Nicholas II, the synodal system of governing the Church was preserved, but it was under him that the church hierarchy had the opportunity not only to widely discuss, but also to practically prepare for the convening of a Local Council.

The desire to introduce Christian religious and moral principles of one’s worldview into public life has always distinguished foreign policy Emperor Nicholas II. Back in the year, he approached the governments of Europe with a proposal to convene a conference to discuss issues of maintaining peace and reducing arms. The consequence of this was the peace conferences in The Hague throughout the years, whose decisions have not lost their significance to this day.

But, despite the sovereign’s sincere desire for peace, during his reign Russia had to participate in two bloody wars, which led to internal unrest. In the year without a declaration of war, Japan began military operations against Russia, and the result of this difficult war for Russia was the revolutionary turmoil of the year. The sovereign perceived the unrest taking place in the country as a great personal sorrow.

Few people communicated with the Emperor informally. And everyone who knew his family life firsthand noted amazing simplicity, mutual love and the consent of all members of this closely knit family. The children's relationship with the sovereign was touching - he was for them at the same time a king, a father and a comrade; their feelings changed depending on the circumstances, moving from almost religious worship to complete trust and the most cordial friendship.

But the center of the family was Alexey Nikolaevich, on whom all affections and hopes were concentrated. His incurable illness cast a shadow over the family's life, but the nature of the illness remained a state secret, and his parents often had to hide their feelings. At the same time, the illness of the Tsarevich opened the doors to the palace to those people who were recommended to the royal family as healers and prayer books. Among them, the peasant Grigory Rasputin appears in the palace, whose healing abilities gave him great influence at court, which, together with the notoriety that spread about him, undermined the faith and loyalty of many to the imperial house.

At the beginning of the war, on a wave of patriotism in Russia, internal disagreements largely subsided, and even the most difficult issues became solvable. It was possible to implement the sovereign's long-planned ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages for the entire duration of the war - his conviction in the usefulness of this measure was stronger than all economic considerations.

The Emperor regularly traveled to Headquarters, visiting various sectors of his huge army, dressing stations, military hospitals, rear factories - everything that played a role in waging a grandiose war.

From the beginning of the war, the Emperor considered his tenure as Supreme Commander-in-Chief as the fulfillment of a moral and national duty to God and the people. However, the Emperor always provided leading military specialists with broad initiative in resolving all military-strategic and operational-tactical issues. On August 22 of the year, the sovereign left for Mogilev to take command of all the armed forces of Russia and from that day on he was constantly at Headquarters. Only about once a month did the Emperor come to Tsarskoe Selo for a few days. All important decisions were made by him, but at the same time he instructed the empress to maintain relations with the ministers and keep him informed of what was happening in the capital.

Imprisonment and execution

Already on March 8, the commissioners of the Provisional Government, having arrived in Mogilev, announced through General Alekseev about the arrest of the sovereign and the need to proceed to Tsarskoye Selo. The arrest of the royal family did not have the slightest legal basis or reason, but born on the day of memory of the righteous Job the Long-Suffering, in which he always saw a deep meaning, the sovereign accepted his cross just like the biblical righteous man. According to the sovereign:

“If I am an obstacle to the happiness of Russia and all the social forces now at the head of it ask me to leave the throne and hand it over to my son and brother, then I am ready to do this, I am even ready to give not only my kingdom, but also my life for the Motherland. I think no one who knows me doubts this.".

“My renunciation is needed. The point is that in the name of saving Russia and keeping the army at the front calm, you need to decide to take this step. I agreed... At one o'clock in the morning I left Pskov with a heavy feeling of what I had experienced. There is treason and cowardice and deceit all around!”

For the last time, he addressed his troops, calling on them to be loyal to the Provisional Government, the very one that arrested him, to fulfill their duty to the Motherland until complete victory. The farewell order to the troops, which expressed the nobility of the Tsar’s soul, his love for the army, and faith in it, was hidden from the people by the Provisional Government, which banned its publication.

The Emperor accepted and endured all the trials sent down to him firmly, meekly and without a shadow of a murmur. On March 9, the emperor, who had been arrested the day before, was transported to Tsarskoe Selo, where the whole family was eagerly awaiting him. An almost five-month period of indefinite stay in Tsarskoe Selo began. The days passed in a measured manner - with regular services, shared meals, walks, reading and communication with family. However, at the same time, the life of the prisoners was subjected to petty restrictions - the sovereign was told by A.F. Kerensky that he should live separately and see the empress only at the table, and speak only in Russian, the guard soldiers made rude remarks to him, access to the palace Persons close to the royal family were prohibited. One day, soldiers even took away a toy gun from the heir under the pretext of a ban on carrying weapons. Father Afanasy Belyaev, who regularly performed divine services in the Alexander Palace during this period, left his testimonies about the spiritual life of Tsarskoye Selo prisoners. This is how the Good Friday Matins service took place in the palace on March 30 of the year:

“The service was reverent and touching... Their Majesties listened to the entire service while standing. Folding lecterns were placed in front of them, on which the Gospels lay, so that they could follow the reading. Everyone stood until the end of the service and left through the common hall to their rooms. You have to see for yourself and be so close to understand and see how the former royal family fervently, in the Orthodox manner, often on their knees, prays to God. With what humility, meekness, and humility, having completely surrendered themselves to the will of God, they stand behind the divine service.”.

In the palace Church or in the former royal chambers, Father Athanasius regularly celebrated the all-night vigil and Divine Liturgy, which were always attended by all members of the imperial family. After the Day of the Holy Trinity, alarming messages appeared more and more often in the diary of Father Afanasy - he noted the growing irritation of the guards, sometimes reaching the point of rudeness towards the royal family. The spiritual state of the members of the royal family does not go unnoticed by him - yes, they all suffered, he notes, but along with the suffering their patience and prayer increased.

Meanwhile, the Provisional Government appointed a commission to investigate the activities of the emperor, but, despite all efforts, they could not find anything discrediting the king. However, instead of releasing the royal family, a decision was made to remove them from Tsarskoe Selo - on the night of August 1, they were sent to Tobolsk, allegedly due to possible unrest, and arrived there on August 6. The first weeks of my stay in Tobolsk were perhaps the calmest during the entire period of imprisonment. On September 8, the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the prisoners were allowed to go to church for the first time. Subsequently, this consolation extremely rarely fell to their lot.

One of the greatest hardships during my life in Tobolsk was the almost complete absence of any news. The Emperor watched with alarm the events unfolding in Russia, realizing that the country was rapidly heading towards destruction. The tsar's sadness was immeasurable when the Provisional Government rejected Kornilov's proposal to send troops to Petrograd to stop Bolshevik agitation. The Emperor understood perfectly well that this was the only way to avoid an imminent disaster. During these days, the sovereign repented of his abdication. As P. Gilliard, the tutor of Tsarevich Alexei, recalled:

“He made this decision [to renounce] only in the hope that those who wanted to remove him would still be able to continue the war with honor and would not ruin the cause of saving Russia. He was afraid then that his refusal to sign the renunciation would lead to civil war in the sight of the enemy. The Tsar did not want even a drop of Russian blood to be shed because of him... It was painful for the Emperor to now see the futility of his sacrifice and realize that, having in mind then only the good of his homeland, he had harmed it with his renunciation.”.

Meanwhile, the Bolsheviks had already come to power in Petrograd - a period had begun about which the Emperor wrote in his diary: “much worse and more shameful than the events of the Time of Troubles.” The soldiers guarding the governor's house warmed up to the royal family, and several months passed after the Bolshevik coup before the change in power began to affect the situation of the prisoners. In Tobolsk, a “soldiers’ committee” was formed, which, in every possible way striving for self-affirmation, demonstrated its power over the Sovereign - they either forced him to take off his shoulder straps, or destroyed the ice slide built for the royal children, and from March 1 of the year “Nikolai Romanov and his family were transferred to soldier's ration." The letters and diaries of members of the imperial family testify to the deep experience of the tragedy that unfolded before their eyes. But this tragedy did not deprive the royal prisoners of fortitude, firm faith and hope for God’s help. Consolation and meekness in enduring sorrows were provided by prayer, reading spiritual books, worship and Communion. In suffering and trials, spiritual knowledge, knowledge of oneself, one’s soul increased. Aspiration towards eternal life helped to endure suffering and gave great consolation:

“...Everything that I love suffers, there is no end to all the dirt and suffering, but the Lord does not allow despondency: He protects from despair, gives strength, confidence in a bright future even in this world.”.

In March it became known that a separate peace with Germany had been concluded in Brest, about which the sovereign wrote that it was “tantamount to suicide.” The first Bolshevik detachment arrived in Tobolsk on Tuesday, April 22. Commissioner Yakovlev inspected the house, met the prisoners, and a few days later announced that he had to take the Emperor away, assuring that nothing bad would happen to him. Assuming that they wanted to send him to Moscow to sign a separate peace with Germany, the sovereign said firmly: “I’d rather let my hand be cut off than sign this shameful treaty.” The heir was ill at that time, and it was impossible to transport him, but the Empress and Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna followed the emperor and were transported to Yekaterinburg, for imprisonment in the Ipatiev house. When the Heir's health improved, the rest of the family from Tobolsk were imprisoned in the same house, but most of those close to them were not allowed.

There is much less evidence left about the Yekaterinburg period of imprisonment of the Royal Family - there are almost no letters; basically this period is known only from brief entries in the emperor’s diary and the testimony of witnesses. Particularly valuable is the testimony of Archpriest John Storozhev, who performed the last services in the Ipatiev House. Father John served mass there twice on Sundays; the first time it was on May 20 (June 2), when, according to his testimony, members of the royal family “Prayed very earnestly...”. Living conditions in the “special purpose house” were much more difficult than in Tobolsk. The guard consisted of 12 soldiers who lived in close proximity to the prisoners and ate with them at the same table. Commissar Avdeev, an inveterate drunkard, worked every day together with his subordinates to invent new humiliations for the prisoners. I had to put up with hardships, endure bullying and submit to the demands of rude people, including former criminals. The royal couple and princesses had to sleep on the floor, without beds. During lunch, a family of seven was given only five spoons; The guards sitting at the same table smoked, brazenly blew smoke into the faces of the prisoners, and rudely took food from them. A walk in the garden was allowed once a day, at first for 15-20 minutes, and then no more than five. The behavior of the guards was completely indecent.

Only Doctor Evgeny Botkin remained near the royal family, who surrounded the prisoners with care and acted as a mediator between them and the commissars, trying to protect them from the rudeness of the guards, and several tried and true servants.

The faith of the prisoners supported their courage and gave them strength and patience in suffering. They all understood the possibility of a quick end and expected it with nobility and clarity of spirit. One of Olga Nikolaevna’s letters contains the following lines:

“The father asks to tell all those who remained devoted to him, and those on whom they may have influence, that they do not avenge him, since he has forgiven everyone and prays for everyone, and that they do not avenge themselves, and that they remember, that the evil that is now in the world will be even stronger, but that it is not evil that will defeat evil, but only love.”.

Most of the evidence speaks of the prisoners of the Ipatiev House as suffering people, but deeply religious, undoubtedly submissive to the will of God. Despite the bullying and insults, they led a decent family life in Ipatiev’s house, trying to brighten up the depressing situation with mutual communication, prayer, reading and feasible activities. One of the witnesses to their life in captivity, the heir’s teacher Pierre Gilliard, wrote:

“The Tsar and Empress believed that they were dying as martyrs for their homeland... Their true greatness stemmed not from their royal dignity, but from that amazing moral height to which they gradually rose... And in their very humiliation they were an amazing manifestation of that amazing clarity of the soul, against which all violence and all rage are powerless and which triumphs in death itself.”.

Even the rude guards gradually softened in their interactions with the prisoners. They were surprised by their simplicity, they were captivated by their dignified spiritual clarity, and they soon felt the superiority of those whom they thought to keep in their power. Even Commissar Avdeev himself relented. This change did not escape the eyes of the Bolshevik authorities. Avdeev was replaced by Yurovsky, the guards were replaced by Austro-German prisoners and people chosen from among the executioners of the “Chreka.” The life of its inhabitants turned into continuous martyrdom. On July 1 (14), Father John Storozhev performed the last divine service in the Ipatiev House. Meanwhile, in the strictest secrecy from the prisoners, preparations were made for their execution.

On the night of July 16-17, around the beginning of three, Yurovsky woke up the royal family. They were told that there was unrest in the city and therefore it was necessary to move to a safe place. About forty minutes later, when everyone had dressed and gathered, Yurovsky and the prisoners went down to the first floor and led them into a semi-basement room with one barred window. Everyone was outwardly calm. The sovereign carried Alexei Nikolaevich in his arms, the others had pillows and other small things in their hands. At the empress's request, two chairs were brought into the room, and pillows brought by the Grand Duchesses and Anna Demidova were placed on them. The empress and Alexei Nikolaevich sat on the chairs. The Emperor stood in the center next to the heir. The remaining family members and servants settled in different parts of the room and prepared to wait for a long time, already accustomed to nighttime alarms and various types of movements. Meanwhile, armed men were already crowded in the next room, waiting for a signal. At that moment, Yurovsky came very close to the sovereign and said: “Nikolai Alexandrovich, according to the resolution of the Ural Regional Council, you and your family will be shot.” This phrase was so unexpected for the king that he turned towards the family, stretching out his hands to them, then, as if wanting to ask again, he turned to the commandant, saying: “What? What?" Empress Alexandra and Olga Nikolaevna wanted to cross themselves. But at that moment Yurovsky shot at the Sovereign with a revolver almost point-blank several times, and he immediately fell. Almost simultaneously, everyone else started shooting - everyone knew their victim in advance. Those already lying on the floor were finished off with shots and bayonet blows. When it seemed that everything was over, Alexei Nikolaevich suddenly groaned weakly - he was shot several more times. After making sure that their victims were dead, the killers began to remove their jewelry. Then the dead were taken out into the yard, where a truck was already standing ready - the noise of its engine should have drowned out the shots in the basement. Even before sunrise, the bodies were taken to the forest in the vicinity of the village of Koptyaki.

Along with the imperial family, their servants who followed their masters into exile were also shot: Dr.

It’s no longer a secret that the history of Russia is distorted. This especially applies to the great people of our country. Which are presented to us in the image of tyrants, crazy or weak-willed people. One of the most slandered rulers is Nicholas II.

However, if we look at the numbers, we will be convinced that much of what we know about the last king is a lie.

In 1894, at the beginning of the reign of Emperor Nicholas II, Russia had 122 million inhabitants. 20 years later, on the eve of the 1st World War, its population increased by more than 50 million; Thus, in Tsarist Russia the population increased by 2,400,000 per year. If the revolution had not happened in 1917, by 1959 its population would have reached 275,000,000.

Unlike modern democracies, Imperial Russia based its policy not only on deficit-free budgets, but also on the principle of significant accumulation of gold reserves. Despite this, state revenues grew steadily from 1,410,000,000 rubles in 1897, without the slightest increase in the tax burden, while state expenditures remained more or less at the same level.

In the last 10 years before the First World War, the excess government revenues over expenses amounted to 2,400,000,000 rubles. This figure seems all the more impressive since during the reign of Emperor Nicholas II, railway tariffs were lowered and redemption payments for lands transferred to the peasants from their former landowners in 1861 were abolished, and in 1914, with the outbreak of the war, all types of drinking taxes were abolished.

During the reign of Emperor Nicholas II, by law of 1896, a gold currency was introduced in Russia, and the State Bank was authorized to issue 300,000,000 rubles in credit notes not backed by gold reserves. But the government not only never took advantage of this right, but, on the contrary, ensured paper circulation of gold cash by more than 100%, namely: by the end of July 1914, bank notes were in circulation in the amount of 1,633,000,000 rubles, while the gold reserve in Russia it was equal to 1,604,000,000 rubles, and in foreign banks 141,000,000 rubles.

The stability of monetary circulation was such that even during the Russo-Japanese War, which was accompanied by widespread revolutionary unrest within the country, the exchange of banknotes for gold was not suspended.

In Russia, taxes, before the First World War, were the lowest in the whole world.

The burden of direct taxes in Russia was almost four times less than in France, more than 4 times less than in Germany and 8.5 times less than in England. The burden of indirect taxes in Russia was on average half as much as in Austria, France, Germany and England.

The total amount of taxes per capita in Russia was more than half as much as in Austria, France and Germany and more than four times less than in England.

Between 1890 and 1913 Russian industry quadrupled its productivity. Its income not only almost equaled the income received from agriculture, but goods covered almost 4/5 of the domestic demand for manufactured goods.

Over the last four years before the First World War, the number of newly founded joint-stock companies increased by 132%, and the capital invested in them almost quadrupled.

In 1914, the State Savings Bank had deposits worth 2,236,000,000 rubles.

The amount of deposits and equity capital in small credit institutions (on a cooperative basis) was about 70,000,000 rubles in 1894; in 1913 - about 620,000,000 rubles (an increase of 800%), and by January 1, 1917 - 1,200,000,000 rubles.

On the eve of the revolution, Russian agriculture was in in full bloom. During the two decades preceding the 1914-18 war, the grain harvest doubled. In 1913, the harvest of major cereals in Russia was 1/3 higher than that of Argentina, Canada and the United States. States combined.

During the reign of Emperor Nicholas II, Russia was the main breadwinner of Western Europe.

Russia supplied 50% of the world's egg imports.

During the same period of time, sugar consumption per inhabitant increased from 4 to 9 kg. in year.

On the eve of World War I, Russia produced 80% of the world's flax production.

Thanks to extensive irrigation work in Turkestan, undertaken during the reign of Emperor Alexander III, the cotton harvest in 1913 covered all the annual needs of the Russian textile industry. The latter doubled its production between 1894 and 1911.

The railway network in Russia covered 74,000 versts (one verst equals 1,067 km), of which the Great Siberian Road (8,000 versts) was the longest in the world.

In 1916, i.e. at the height of the war, more than 2,000 miles of railways were built that connected the Northern Arctic Ocean(port of Romanovsk) with the center of Russia.

In Tsarist Russia in the period from 1880 to 1917, i.e. in 37 years, 58,251 km were built. For 38 years of Soviet power, i.e. by the end of 1956, only 36,250 km had been built. expensive

On the eve of the war of 1914-18. the net income of the state railways covered 83% of the annual interest and amortization of the public debt. In other words, the payment of debts, both internal and external, was ensured in a proportion of more than 4/5 by the income alone that the Russian state received from the operation of its railways.

It should be added that Russian railways, compared to others, were the cheapest and most comfortable in the world for passengers.

Industrial development in the Russian Empire was naturally accompanied by a significant increase in the number of factory workers, whose economic well-being, as well as the protection of their lives and health, were the subject of special concerns of the Imperial Government.

It should be noted that it was in Imperial Russia, and moreover in the 18th century, during the reign of Empress Catherine II (1762-1796), for the first time in the whole world, laws were issued regarding working conditions: the work of women and children in factories was prohibited a 10-hour working day was established, etc. It is characteristic that the code of Empress Catherine, which regulated child and female labor, printed in French and Latin, was prohibited from publication in France and England as “seditious.”

During the reign of Emperor Nicholas II, before the convening of the 1st State Duma, special laws were issued to ensure the safety of workers in the mining industry, on railways and in enterprises that were especially dangerous to the life and health of workers.

Child labor under 12 years of age was prohibited, and minors and females could not be hired for factory work between 9 pm and 5 am.

The amount of penalty deductions could not exceed one third of wages, and each fine had to be approved by a factory inspector. The fine money went into a special fund intended to meet the needs of the workers themselves.

In 1882, a special law regulated the work of children from 12 to 15 years old. In 1903, worker elders were introduced, elected by factory workers of the relevant workshops. The existence of workers' unions was recognized by law in 1906.

At that time, Imperial social legislation was undoubtedly the most progressive in the world. This forced Taft, then President of the Union. States, two years before the 1st World War, publicly declare, in the presence of several Russian dignitaries: “Your Emperor created such perfect labor legislation that no democratic state can boast of.”

During the reign of Emperor Nicholas II, public education achieved extraordinary development. In less than 20 years, loans allocated to the Ministry of Public Education, from 25.2 mil. rubles increased to 161.2 mil. This did not include the budgets of schools that received their loans from other sources (military, technical schools), or those maintained by local self-government bodies (zemstvos, cities), whose loans for public education increased from 70,000,000 rubles. in 1894 up to 300,000,000 rubles. in 1913

At the beginning of 1913, the total budget for public education in Russia reached a colossal figure at that time, namely 1/2 billion rubles in gold.

Initial training was free by law, and from 1908 it became compulsory. Since this year, about 10,000 schools have been opened annually. In 1913 their number exceeded 130,000.

In terms of the number of women studying in higher educational institutions, Russia ranked first in Europe, if not in the whole world, in the 20th century.

The reign of Nicholas II was a period of the highest growth rates in Russian history. economic growth. For 1880-1910 The growth rate of Russian industrial output exceeded 9% per year. According to this indicator, Russia has taken first place in the world, ahead of even the rapidly developing United States of America (although it should be noted that on this issue different economists give different estimates, some put the Russian Empire in first place, others - the United States, but the fact that the pace growth were comparable - an indisputable fact). Russia has taken first place in the world in the production of the main agricultural crops, growing more than half of the world's rye, more than a quarter of wheat, oats and barley, and more than a third of potatoes. Russia has become the main exporter of agricultural products, the first “granary of Europe”. Its share accounted for 2/5 of all world exports of peasant products.

Successes in agricultural production were the result of historical events: the abolition of serfdom in 1861 by Alexander II and the Stolypin land reform during the reign of Nicholas II, as a result of which more than 80% of arable land ended up in the hands of peasants, and almost all of it in the Asian part. The area of landowners' lands was steadily declining. Granting peasants the right to freely dispose of their land and the abolition of communities had enormous national significance, the benefits of which, first of all, the peasants themselves were aware of.

The autocratic form of government did not impede Russia's economic progress. According to the manifesto of October 17, 1905, the population of Russia received the right to personal integrity, freedom of speech, press, assembly, and unions. Political parties grew in the country, and thousands of periodicals were published. The Parliament - the State Duma - was elected by free will. Russia was becoming a rule of law state - the judiciary was practically separated from the executive.

The rapid development of the level of industrial and agricultural production and a positive trade balance allowed Russia to have a stable gold convertible currency. The Emperor gave great importance development of railways. Even in his youth, he participated in the laying of the famous Siberian road.

During the reign of Nicholas II, the best labor legislation for those times was created in Russia, ensuring the regulation of working hours, the selection of worker elders, remuneration in case of accidents at work, compulsory insurance workers from illness, disability and old age. The Emperor actively promoted the development of Russian culture, art, science, and reforms of the army and navy.

All these achievements of the economic and social development of Russia are the result of the natural historical process of development of Russia and are objectively related to the 300th anniversary of the reign of the House of Romanov.

The French economist Théry wrote: “Not a single European nation has achieved such results.”

The myth is that workers lived very poorly.
1. Workers. The average salary of a worker in Russia was 37.5 rubles. Let us multiply this amount by 1282.29 (the ratio of the Tsarist ruble exchange rate to the modern one) and get an amount of 48,085 thousand rubles in modern terms.

2. Janitor 18 rubles or 23081 rubles. with modern money

3. Second lieutenant (modern equivalent - lieutenant) 70 rub. or 89,760 rub. with modern money

4. Policeman (ordinary police officer) 20.5 rubles. or 26,287 rub. with modern money

5. Workers (St. Petersburg). It is interesting that the average salary in St. Petersburg was lower and by 1914 amounted to 22 rubles 53 kopecks. Let's multiply this amount by 1282.29 and get 28890 Russian rubles.

6. Cook 5 - 8 r. or 6.5.-10 thousand in modern money

7. Primary school teacher 25 rub. or 32050 rub. with modern money

8. Gymnasium teacher 85 rub. or 108970 rub. with modern money

9.. Senior janitor 40 rub. or 51,297 rub. with modern money

10..District warden (modern analogue - local police officer) 50 rub. or 64,115 in modern money

11. Paramedic 40 rub. or 51280 rub.

12. Colonel 325 rub. or 416,744 rub. with modern money

13. Collegiate assessor (middle class official) 62 rubles. or 79,502 rub. with modern money

14. Privy Councilor (high-class official) 500 or 641,145 in modern money. An army general received the same amount

How much, you ask, did the products cost back then? A pound of meat in 1914 cost 19 kopecks. The Russian pound weighed 0.40951241 grams. This means that a kilogram, if it were then a measure of weight, would cost 46.39 kopecks - 0.359 grams of gold, that is, in today's money, 551 rubles 14 kopecks. Thus, a worker could buy 48.6 kilograms of meat with his salary, if, of course, he wanted.

Wheat flour 0.08 rub. (8 kopecks) = 1 pound (0.4 kg)
Rice pound 0.12 rubles = 1 pound (0.4 kg)
Biscuit RUR 0.60 = 1 lb (0.4 kg)
Milk 0.08 rubles = 1 bottle
Tomatoes 0.22 rub. = 1 pound
Fish (pike perch) 0.25 rub. = 1 pound
Grapes (raisins) 0.16 rubles = 1 pound
Apples 0.03 rub. = 1 pound

A very worthy life!!!

Hence the opportunity to support a large family.

Now let's see how much it cost to rent a house. Renting housing cost 25 in St. Petersburg, and 20 kopecks per square arshin per month in Moscow and Kyiv. These 20 kopecks today amount to 256 rubles, and a square arshin is 0.5058 m². That is, a month's rent for one square meter cost in 1914 506 today's rubles. Our clerk would rent an apartment of one hundred square arshins in St. Petersburg for 25 rubles a month. But he did not rent such an apartment, but was content with a basement and attic closet, where the area was smaller and the rental rate was lower. Such an apartment was rented, as a rule, by titular advisers who received a salary at the level of an army captain. The bare salary of a titular adviser was 105 rubles per month (134 thousand 640 rubles) per month. Thus, a 50-meter apartment cost him less than a quarter of his salary.

The myth about the weakness of the king's character.

French President Loubet said: “People usually see Emperor Nicholas II as a kind, generous, but weak man. This is a deep mistake. He always has long-thought-out plans, the implementation of which he slowly achieves. Beneath his apparent timidity, the king has a strong soul and a courageous heart, unshakably loyal. He knows where he's going and what he wants."

Tsar's service required strength of character, which Nicholas II possessed. During the Holy Coronation to the Russian Throne on May 27, 1895, Metropolitan Sergius of Moscow in his address to the Sovereign said: “Just as there is no higher, so there is no more difficult on earth royal power, there is no burden heavier than royal service. Through visible anointing may invisible power from above be given to you, acting to exalt your royal virtues..."

A number of arguments refuting this myth are presented in the above-mentioned work by A. Eliseev.

So, in particular, S. Oldenburg wrote that the Sovereign had iron hand, many are only deceived by the velvet glove she wears.

The presence of a strong will in Nicholas II is brilliantly confirmed by the events of August 1915, when he assumed the responsibilities of Supreme Commander-in-Chief - against the wishes of the military elite, the Council of Ministers and all “public opinion”. And, I must say, he coped with these responsibilities brilliantly.

The Emperor did a lot to improve the country's defense capability, having learned the hard lessons of the Russo-Japanese War. Perhaps his most significant act was the revival of the Russian fleet, which saved the country at the beginning of the First World War. It happened against the will of military officials. The Emperor was even forced to dismiss Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich. Military historian G. Nekrasov writes: “It must be noted that, despite its overwhelming superiority in forces in the Baltic Sea, the German fleet made no attempts to break into the Gulf of Finland in order to bring Russia to its knees with one blow. Theoretically, this was possible, since most of Russia's military industry was concentrated in St. Petersburg. But in the way of the German fleet stood the Baltic Fleet, ready to fight, with ready-made mine positions. The cost of a breakthrough for the German fleet was becoming unacceptably expensive. Thus, only by the fact that he achieved the reconstruction of the fleet, Emperor Nicholas II saved Russia from imminent defeat. This should not be forgotten!”

We especially note that the Emperor accepted absolutely everything important decisions, promoting victorious actions, precisely himself - without the influence of any “good geniuses”. The opinion that the Russian army was led by Alekseev, and the Tsar was in the post of Commander-in-Chief for the sake of formality, is completely unfounded. This false opinion is refuted by Alekseev’s own telegrams. For example, in one of them, in response to a request to send ammunition and weapons, Alekseev replies: “I cannot resolve this issue without the Highest permission.”

The myth that Russia was a prison of nations.

Russia was a family of peoples thanks to the balanced and thoughtful policies of the Sovereign. The Russian Tsar-Father was considered the monarch of all peoples and tribes living on the territory of the Russian Empire.

He pursued a national policy based on respect for traditional religions - the historical subjects of state building in Russia. And this is not only Orthodoxy, but also Islam. So, in particular, the mullahs were supported by the Russian Empire and received a salary. Many Muslims fought for Russia.

The Russian Tsar honored the feat of all peoples who served the Fatherland. Here is the text of the telegram, which serves as clear confirmation of this:

The Ingush regiment fell on the German iron division like a mountain avalanche. He was immediately supported by the Chechen regiment.

In the history of the Russian Fatherland, including our Preobrazhensky Regiment, there was no case of a cavalry attack on an enemy heavy artillery unit.

4.5 thousand killed, 3.5 thousand captured, 2.5 thousand wounded. In less than 1.5 hours, the iron division, which the best military units of our allies, including those in the Russian army, were afraid to come into contact with, ceased to exist.

Convey on my behalf, on behalf of the royal court and on behalf of the Russian army fraternal heartfelt greetings to the fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and brides of these brave eagles of the Caucasus, who with their immortal feat marked the beginning of the end of the German hordes.

Russia will never forget this feat. Honor and praise to them!

With fraternal greetings, Nicholas II.

The myth that Russia under the Tsar was defeated in the First World War.

S.S. Oldenburg, in his book “The Reign of Emperor Nicholas II,” wrote: “The most difficult and most forgotten feat of Emperor Nicholas II was that, under incredibly difficult conditions, he brought Russia to the threshold of victory: his opponents did not allow her to cross this threshold.”

General N.A. Lokhvitsky wrote: “...It took Peter the Great nine years to turn the Narva vanquished into the Poltava victors.

The last Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Army, Emperor Nicholas II, did the same great work in a year and a half. But his work was appreciated by his enemies, and between the Sovereign and his Army and victory “there was a revolution.”

A. Eliseev cites the following facts. The Sovereign's military talents were fully revealed at the post of Supreme Commander-in-Chief. Already the very first decisions of the new commander-in-chief led to a significant improvement in the situation at the front. Thus, he organized the Vilna-Molodechno operation (September 3 - October 2, 1915). The Emperor managed to stop a major German offensive, as a result of which the city of Borisov was captured. He issued a timely directive ordering an end to panic and retreat. As a result, the onslaught of the 10th German Army was stopped, which was forced to retreat - in some places completely disorderly. The 26th Mogilev Infantry Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Petrov (a total of 8 officers and 359 bayonets) made its way to the German rear and during a surprise attack captured 16 guns. In total, the Russians managed to capture 2,000 prisoners, 39 guns and 45 machine guns. “But most importantly,” notes historian P.V. Multatuli, “the troops regained confidence in their ability to beat the Germans.”

Russia definitely began to win the war. After the failures of 1915, the triumphant 1916 came - the year of the Brusilov breakthrough. During the fighting on the Southwestern Front, the enemy lost one and a half million people killed, wounded and captured. Austria-Hungary was on the verge of defeat.

It was the Emperor who supported Brusilov’s offensive plan, with which many military leaders did not agree. Thus, the plan of the Chief of Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief M.V. Alekseev provided for a powerful strike on the enemy by forces of all fronts, with the exception of the Brusilov Front.

The latter believed that his front was also quite capable of an offensive, with which other front commanders disagreed. However, Nicholas II decisively supported Brusilov, and without this support the famous breakthrough would simply have been impossible.

Historian A. Zayonchkovsky wrote that the Russian army achieved “in terms of its numbers and technical supply with everything necessary, the greatest development in the entire war.” More than two hundred combat-ready divisions confronted the enemy. Russia was preparing to crush the enemy. In January 1917, the Russian 12th Army launched an offensive from the Riga bridgehead and took the German 10th Army by surprise, which found itself in a catastrophic situation.

The chief of staff of the German army, General Ludendorff, who cannot be suspected of sympathizing with Nicholas II, wrote about the situation in Germany in 1916 and about the increase in the military power of Russia:

“Russia is expanding its military formations. The reorganization she has undertaken gives a great increase in strength. In its divisions it left only 12 battalions, and in its batteries only 6 guns, and from the battalions and guns liberated in this way it formed new combat units.

The battles of 1916 on the Eastern Front showed an increase in Russian military equipment and an increase in the number of firearms supplies. Russia has moved some of its factories to the Donetsk basin, greatly increasing their productivity.

We understood that the numerical and technical superiority of the Russians in 1917 would be felt even more acutely than in 1916.

Our situation was extremely difficult and there was almost no way out of it. There was no point in thinking about our own offensive - all reserves were needed for defense. Our defeat seemed inevitable... food supply was difficult. The rear was also seriously damaged.

The prospects for the future were extremely bleak."

Moreover, as Oldenburg writes, on the initiative of Grand Duke Nikolai Mikhailovich, in the summer of 1916, a commission was established to prepare a future peace conference in order to determine in advance what Russia’s wishes would be. Russia was to receive Constantinople and the straits, as well as Turkish Armenia.

Poland was to be reunited in a personal union with Russia. The Emperor declared (at the end of December) gr. Wielepolsky that he thinks of a free Poland as a state with a separate constitution, separate chambers and its own army (apparently, he meant something like the situation of the Kingdom of Poland under Alexander I).

Eastern Galicia, Northern Bukovina and Carpathian Rus' were to be included in Russia. The creation of a Czechoslovak kingdom was planned; regiments of captured Czechs and Slovaks were already being formed on Russian territory.

B. Brasol “The reign of Emperor Nicholas II in figures and facts”

A biography of Emperor Nicholas II from birth and adolescence to the heir to the throne until the last days of his life.

Nicholas II (May 6 (19), 1868, Tsarskoe Selo - July 17, 1918, Yekaterinburg), Russian Emperor (1894-1917), eldest son of Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna, honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1876).

His reign coincided with the rapid industrial and economic development of the country. Under Nicholas II, Russia was defeated in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, which was one of the reasons for the Revolution of 1905-1907, during which the Manifesto of October 17, 1905 was adopted, which allowed the creation of political parties and established the State Duma; The Stolypin agrarian reform began to be implemented. In 1907, Russia became a member of the Entente, as part of which it entered the First World War. Since August (September 5), 1915, Supreme Commander-in-Chief. During the February Revolution of 1917, on March 2 (15), he abdicated the throne. Shot along with his family. In 2000 he was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church.

Nikolai's regular homework began when he was 8 years old. The curriculum included an eight-year general education course and a five-year course in higher sciences. It was based on a modified classical gymnasium program; Instead of Latin and Greek, mineralogy, botany, zoology, anatomy and physiology were studied. Courses in history, Russian literature and foreign languages were expanded. Cycle higher education included political economy, law and military affairs (military jurisprudence, strategy, military geography, service of the General Staff). Classes in vaulting, fencing, drawing, and music were also conducted. Alexander III and Maria Feodorovna themselves selected teachers and mentors. Among them were scientists, statesmen and military figures: K. P. Pobedonostsev, N. Kh. Bunge, M. I. Dragomirov, N. N. Obruchev, A. R. Drenteln, N. K. Girs.

From an early age, Nicholas 2 had a passion for military affairs: he knew the traditions of the officer environment and military regulations perfectly, in relation to the soldiers he felt like a patron-mentor and did not shy away from communicating with them, resignedly endured the inconveniences of army everyday life at camp gatherings or maneuvers.

Immediately after his birth, he was enrolled in the lists of several guards regiments and appointed chief of the 65th Moscow Infantry Regiment. At the age of five he was appointed chief of the Life Guards of the Reserve Infantry Regiment, and in 1875 he was enlisted in the Erivan Life Guards Regiment. In December 1875 he received his first military rank - ensign, and in 1880 he was promoted to second lieutenant, and 4 years later he became a lieutenant.

In 1884, Nikolai entered active military service, in July 1887 he began regular military service in the Preobrazhensky Regiment and was promoted to staff captain; in 1891, Nicholas 2 received the rank of captain, and a year later - colonel.

On October 20, 1894, Nicholas, at the age of 26, accepted the crown in Moscow under the name of Nicholas II. On May 18, 1896, during the coronation celebrations, tragic events occurred on the Khodynskoye field. His reign occurred during a period of sharp aggravation of the political struggle in the country, as well as the foreign policy situation (Russian-Japanese War of 1904-1905; Bloody Sunday; Revolution of 1905-1907 in Russia; World War I; February Revolution of 1917).

During the reign of Nicholas 2, Russia turned into an agrarian-industrial country, cities grew, railways and industrial enterprises were built. Nicholas supported decisions aimed at the economic and social modernization of the country: the introduction of gold circulation of the ruble, Stolypin's agrarian reform, laws on workers' insurance, universal primary education, and religious tolerance.

Not being a reformer by nature, Nicholas II was forced to make important decisions that did not correspond to his inner convictions. He believed that in Russia the time had not yet come for a constitution, freedom of speech, and universal suffrage. However, when a strong social movement in favor of political change arose, he signed the Manifesto on October 17, 1905, proclaiming democratic freedoms.
In 1906, established by the Tsar's manifesto, the The State Duma. For the first time in Russian history, the emperor began to rule with a representative body elected by the population. Russia gradually began to transform into a constitutional monarchy. But despite this, the emperor still had enormous power functions: he had the right to issue laws (in the form of decrees); appoint a prime minister and ministers accountable only to him; determine the course of foreign policy; was the head of the army, court and earthly patron of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The personality of Nicholas II, the main traits of his character, advantages and disadvantages caused conflicting assessments of his contemporaries. Many noted “weak will” as the dominant feature of his personality, although there is a lot of evidence that the tsar was distinguished by a persistent desire to implement his intentions, often reaching the point of stubbornness (only once was someone else’s will imposed on him - the Manifesto of October 17). Unlike his father Alexander III, Nicholas 2 did not make an impression strong personality. At the same time, according to the reviews of people who knew him closely, he had exceptional self-control, which was sometimes perceived as indifference to the fate of the country and people (for example, he met the news of the fall of Port Arthur or the defeats of the Russian army during the First World War with composure, striking the royal entourage). In dealing with state affairs, the tsar showed “extraordinary perseverance” and accuracy (he, for example, never had a personal secretary and himself stamped letters), although in general the rule of a huge empire was a “heavy burden” for him. Contemporaries noted that Nicholas II had a tenacious memory, keen powers of observation, and was a modest, friendly and sensitive person. At the same time, most of all he valued his peace, habits, health and especially the well-being of his family.

Nicholas's support was his family. Empress Alexandra Feodorovna (nee Princess Alice of Hesse-Darmstadt) was not only a wife for the Tsar, but also a friend and adviser. The habits, ideas and cultural interests of the spouses largely coincided. They got married on November 14, 1894. They had five children: Olga (1895-1918), Tatiana (1897-1918), Maria (1899-1918), Anastasia (1901-1918) and Alexey (1904-1918).
The fatal drama of the royal family was associated with the incurable illness of their son, Tsarevich Alexei - hemophilia (incoagulability of blood). The illness of the heir to the throne led to the appearance in the royal house of Grigory Rasputin, who, even before meeting the crowned crown bearers, became famous for his gift of foresight and healing; He repeatedly helped Tsarevich Alexei overcome attacks of illness.
The turning point in the fate of Nicholas 2 was 1914 - the beginning of the First World War. The tsar did not want war and until the very last moment tried to avoid a bloody conflict. However, on July 19 (August 1), 1914, Germany declared war on Russia.

In August (September 5), 1915, during a period of military failures, Nicholas 2 assumed military command (previously, this position was held by Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich). Now the tsar visited the capital only occasionally, and spent most of his time at the headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief in Mogilev.

The war exacerbated the country's internal problems. The tsar and his entourage began to be held primarily responsible for military failures and the protracted military campaign. Allegations spread that there was “treason in the government.” At the beginning of 1917, the high military command led by the Tsar (together with allies - England and France) prepared a plan for a general offensive, according to which it was planned to end the war by the summer of 1917.

At the end of February 1917, unrest began in Petrograd, which, without encountering serious opposition from the authorities, a few days later grew into mass protests against the government and the dynasty. Initially, the tsar intended to restore order in Petrograd by force, but when the scale of the unrest became clear, he abandoned this idea, fearing much bloodshed. Some high-ranking military officials, members of the imperial retinue and political figures convinced the king that in order to pacify the country, a change in government was required, his abdication of the throne was necessary. On March 2, 1917, in Pskov, in the lounge carriage of the imperial train, after painful thoughts, Nicholas signed an act of abdication, transferring power to his brother Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich.

On March 9, Nicholas 2 and the royal family were arrested. For the first five months they were under guard in Tsarskoye Selo, in August 1917 they were transported to Tobolsk. In April 1918, the Bolsheviks transferred the Romanovs to Yekaterinburg. On the night of July 17, 1918, in the center of Yekaterinburg, in the basement of the Ipatiev house, where the prisoners were imprisoned, Nicholas, the queen, five of their children and several close associates (11 people in total) were summarily shot.

Birth and youth of Nicholas II. Nikolai Alexandrovich - Grand Duke

Tsar Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov was born on May 6/19, 1868, into the family of Tsarevich Alexander Alexandrovich and His wife Maria Fedorovna, the first-born was born, for whom no one predicted an early reign. For the boy's grandfather - the fifty-year-old Russian Emperor Alexander II - was strong, healthy man, whose reign could last decades, and whose father - the future Emperor of Russia Alexander III - was a young man, twenty-three years old. The following entry was preserved in the diary of Alexander the Third: “God sent us a son, whom We named Nicholas. What kind of joy there was, it’s impossible to imagine. I rushed to hug my darling wife, who at once cheered up and was terribly happy. I cried like a child, and my soul was so light and pleasant... and then Ya. G. Bazhanov came to read prayers, and I held My little Nikolai in my arms.” (Oleg Platonov. Conspiracy of the Regicides. P. 85-86.)
Let us note that Tsarevich Alexander Alexandrovich does not know the prophecies of the Monk Abel, neither about His fate, nor about the fate of His son, for they are sealed and are in the Gatchina Palace. But He names His firstborn son Nicholas. For this obedience to His heart, the Lord endows the Tsarevich with joy that “cannot be imagined,” gives tears of joy, and His soul “felt light and pleasant”!

Birth on the day of Job the Long-Suffering

The birth of the future Tsar Nicholas II took place at 14.30 in the Alexander Palace of Tsarskoe Selo on the day when the Orthodox Church celebrates the memory of Saint Job the Long-Suffering. Both Nikolai Alexandrovich Himself and many of those around Him attached great importance to this coincidence as a harbinger of terrible trials.
“Truly,” St. John Chrysostom wrote about the righteous Job, “there is no human misfortune that this man, harder than any adamant, would not endure, who suddenly experienced hunger, and poverty, and illness, and the loss of children, and the deprivation of such wealth; and then, having experienced treachery from his wife [from his neighbors], insults from friends, attacks from slaves. In everything he turned out to be harder than any stone, and, moreover, to law and grace." According to the teachings of the Church, Saint Job is a prototype of the suffering Redeemer of the world.” For all his sufferings were not because of his sins; the words have nothing to do with him: those who shouted wickedness and sowed evil reaped it; they perish by the breath of God and disappear by the spirit of His wrath (Job 4:8-9).
To his friends who told him: how can a person be right before God, and how can he be pure? born of a woman? (Job 25:4) - and many other similar things, Saint Job answered: what do your accusations prove? Are you making up diatribes? You are throwing your words into the wind (Job 6:25-26). As God lives, who has deprived me of judgment, and the Almighty, who has grieved my soul, so that while my breath is still in me and the spirit of God is in my nostrils, my mouth will not speak unrighteousness, and my tongue will not utter a lie! I am far from recognizing you as fair; Until I die, I will not yield to my integrity (Job 27:2-5).
And the Lord, summing up the denunciations of the “pious” friends, said to one of those who accused the righteous Job: My anger burns against you and against your two friends because you did not speak about Me as truly as My servant Job (Job 42:7 ). If it were not for his sake, I would have destroyed you (Iov. 42:8). That is, you were pardoned for the sake of his prayers, for you his prayers are saving. And the accusers of their wrong faith went and did as the Lord commanded them, and the Lord (Job 42:9) forgave their sins for Job’s sake (Job 42:9). And the Lord restored Job’s loss when he prayed for his friends; and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before (Job 42:10). Here we see that God’s plan included the most difficult temptations of the righteous Job and the holy Tsar Nicholas II, including from relatives and friends, and the prayer of the tempted for those who tempted them. And in the case of Saint Nicholas II, the Lord God intended prayer for the entire Russian people, who, having broken the vow given to God in 1613 to faithfully serve the legitimate Tsars from the Reigning House of Romanov, committed the sin of perjury. Abel the Seer directly predicted this: “The people are between fire and flame... But they will not be destroyed from the face of the earth, as the prayer of the martyred King is sufficient for them!”

The character of Emperor Alexander Alexandrovich the Third is based on truth, honesty and directness.

“Nicholas’ father, Tsarevich Alexander, was a truly Russian man in both soul and appearance, a deeply religious, caring husband and father. With His life, He set an example for those around Him: He was unpretentious in everyday life, wore clothes almost full of holes, and did not like luxury. Alexander was distinguished by physical strength and strength of character, most of all he loved the truth, calmly thought through every matter, was remarkably easy to use, and generally preferred everything Russian.” (Oleg Platonov. Conspiracy of the Regicides. P. 86).
“In addition to general and special military education, Tsarevich Alexander was taught political and legal sciences by invited professors from St. Petersburg and Moscow universities. After the premature death of His dearly beloved elder brother, the Sovereign Heir Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich (April 12, 1865), hotly mourned by the August family and the entire Russian people, His Imperial Highness Alexander Alexandrovich, having become the Heir Tsarevich, began to continue both theoretical studies and implementation many responsibilities for state affairs entrusted to Him. As ataman of the Cossack troops, chancellor of the University of Helsingfors, head of successively various military units(including up to the command of the district troops), a member of the State Council, His Imperial Highness was involved in all areas of government. The travels undertaken throughout Russia strengthened the seeds of deep love for everything truly Russian and historical that had been buried since childhood.
During the last Eastern War with Turkey (1877-1878), His Highness was appointed commander of the Rushunsky detachment, which played, tactically, both an important and difficult role in this campaign, glorious for the Russian name.” (Encyclopedia of the Russian Monarchy, edited by V. Butromeev. U-Factoria. Yekaterinburg, 2002).
“Alexander the Third became Emperor at thirty-six years old. For 16 of these years He was Tsarevich, preparing, in the words of his father, “to intercede for me every minute.” By this age, even an ordinary, average person enters a period of maturity. The Emperor differed from any of His subjects in that on His shoulders lay a huge responsibility before the country and people, for which He was answerable only to God and Himself. Such a heavy burden could not but affect the formation of the Heir’s worldview, His actions, and attitude towards others.

A capacious psychological portrait of Alexander III of that period was recreated many years later by Prince V.P. Meshchersky: “The Emperor was then 36 years old. But He was undoubtedly older in spiritual age in the sense of life experience. This temper was greatly facilitated by His life as the leader of the Rushchuk detachment during the war, where, separated from his family in constant concentration, He experienced all impressions alone in front of Himself, and then His also lonely political life after the war in those difficult years 79, 80 and 81st, when, again, in Himself He had to conceal so many difficult impressions from the heard role of spectator and participant in the course of internal politics, where His voice of straightforwardness and common sense did not always have the power to carry out what He considered necessary, and interfere with what He recognized as harmful...
Three main characteristics were firmly at the core of His character: truth, honesty and integrity. I will not be mistaken if I say that it was precisely thanks to these three main features of His spiritual personality, which made it truly beautiful, that disappointment began to penetrate His soul even when it was very young...
But this disappointment... did not influence His spiritual personality enough to arm Him against people with the armor of fundamental distrust or implant the beginnings of apathy in His soul...” “.
“A kind and caring, but at the same time domineering and intolerant of any contradiction father in the family, the Emperor transferred this patriarchal-fatherly attitude to His huge country. [Which many of His entourage, damaged by Western freethinking, did not like.] None of the Romanovs, according to contemporaries, corresponded to such an extent with the traditional popular idea of the real Russian Tsar as Alexander the Third. A mighty brown-bearded giant, towering above any crowd, He seemed to be the embodiment of the strength and dignity of Russia. Alexander III’s commitment to domestic traditions and interests greatly contributed to His popularity [among the Russian people and the fierce hatred of the enemies of God, the enemies of His Anointed One and the enemies of the Russian people].” “As a politician and statesman, the father of Nicholas II showed a strong will in implementing the decisions made (a trait that, as we will see later, His son inherited).
The essence of the policy of Alexander the Third (the continuation of which was the policy of Nicholas the Second) can be characterized as the preservation and development of Russian foundations, traditions and ideals. Assessing the reign of Emperor Alexander III, the Russian historian V. O. Klyuchevsky wrote: " Science will give Emperor Alexander III his rightful place not only in the history of Russia and the entire country, but also in Russian historiography, will say that He won a victory in the area where victories are most difficult to achieve, defeated the prejudice of peoples and thereby contributed to their rapprochement, conquered the public conscience in the name of peace and truth, increased the amount of good in the moral circulation of humanity, encouraged and raised Russian historical thought, Russian national self-awareness." ...
Alexander the Third had great physical strength. Once, during a train crash, He managed to hold on to the falling roof of the carriage for some time until His wife and children were safe.».
You and I will remember the prophecy of the Monk Abel about Emperor Alexander the Third, told to Emperor Paul the First, which the Emperor Himself did not know: “Your great-grandson, Alexander the Third, is the true Peacemaker. Glorious will be His reign. He will besiege the accursed sedition, He will bring peace and order. But he will only reign for a short time.” “There is an opinion that the king is played by his retinue. The personality of Alexander the Third completely contradicts this established measure of the merits of statesmen. [And it’s clear why: the king may be played by his retinue, but the Anointed One is “played” by the Lord God Himself!]
There were no favorites in the Emperor's entourage. He was the sole master and director, determining...[the rules for preparing His subjects for life in the Kingdom of Heaven] on one sixth of the world's landmass, in His, Alexander the Third, Russian Empire. Even such outstanding statesmen as S. Yu. Witte, K. P. Pobedonostsev, D. A. Tolstoy could not claim exclusivity, a special place at the Court or the government - here everything was decided by one person - Autocrat of All-Russia Alexander III Alexandrovich Romanov . Emperor Alexander the Third sought to set by personal example a model of behavior that he considered true and correct for each of His subjects. The basis of His ethical standards of behavior, His entire worldview came from deep religiosity. It is unlikely that any of the twelve predecessors of Alexander III on the Russian Imperial throne was more devout and sincerely religious. [At the same time, one should still remember that all legitimate Kings - the Anointed of God, being the Incarnate Name of God - are always sincere believers and the most devout Christians, for the Lord God Himself chose Them to shepherd His people, Jacob, and the earthly Church - His inheritance, Israel, and the Lord Himself helps Them to do this in the purity of His heart and to lead them with wise hands (Ps. 77:71-72).]
The faith of Emperor Alexander III - pure and free from dogmatism [more precisely: from inertia and fanaticism] - explained both the divine choice of the Russian Autocracy and the special Russian path that His power should follow. For Alexander III, believing was as natural as breathing. He scrupulously observed Orthodox rituals, whether fasting or divine services, and regularly visited St. Isaac's and Peter and Paul Cathedrals, the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, and palace churches.
Not all clergy could boast of such knowledge of the intricacies of the complex church Orthodox rite as the Russian Emperor sometimes showed. ...The faith of Alexander the Third was combined with a sober, rational mind that did not tolerate sectarianism or obscurantism. The emperor watched with undisguised skepticism the attempts of some hierarchs to strengthen their political influence.
[Any Orthodox hierarch (from bishop to metropolitan and patriarch) is a monk who has renounced this world; being a clergyman, any bishop has the power from God only to shepherd spiritually, without dominating the inheritance of God (1 Peter 5:3). And therefore, even the patriarch (as we remember, the ruling bishop of the city of Moscow) does not have any lordly power and cannot interfere in the decisions of worldly affairs, and, therefore, no bishop can have any political influence on life in the Orthodox Kingdom.]
When the Kiev Metropolitan Philotheus, deciding to be like John Chrysostom, gave the Emperor a note in which he reproached Him [the Anointed One!] for distancing himself from the people, Alexander the Third only shrugged his shoulders and offered to examine the Bishop’s mental abilities. [Or maybe it is necessary to check the mental abilities of those who came up with the idea of calling the Orthodox ruling bishop of the city of Moscow “Great Lord and Our Father of all Russia” instead of the canonical “Holy Patriarch”, and those who, instead of praying for the coming victorious Tsar, at every service he repeatedly offers “prayers” (in reproach of himself!) for the “Great Master...”. After all, a sick person, deprived of intelligence by God, will not be judged at the Last Judgment as a papist heretic!] A deeply religious Orthodox man, Emperor Alexander the Third professed Christian norms not only when solving state problems, but also in private life.” (Unknown Alexander the Third. pp. 197-198).

“I need normal, healthy Russian children”

There were five children in the family - Nikolai (the eldest), Georgy, Ksenia, Mikhail and Olga. The father taught his children to sleep on simple soldier's beds with hard pillows, to douse themselves with cold water in the morning, and to eat simple porridge for breakfast. Nikolai's first, of course unconscious, acquaintance with ordinary Russian people took place through his wet nurse. Mothers were chosen from Russian peasant families and, at the end of their mission, went back to their native villages, but had the right to come to the palace, firstly, on the day of the Angel of their pet, and secondly, on Easter and for the Christmas tree, on Christmas day.
During these meetings, teenagers talked with their mothers, absorbing into their consciousness the popular expressions of Russian speech. As rightly noted, “with the incredible mixture of blood in the Royal Family, these mothers were, so to speak, a precious reservoir of Russian blood, which poured into the veins of the Romanov House in the form of milk and without which it would have been very difficult to sit on the Russian Throne. All the Romanovs who had Russian mothers spoke Russian with a touch of common folk. That’s what (Nicholas’ father) Alexander the Third said. If He didn’t take care of himself, then in His intonations... there was something of Varlamov’s boomingness.”
From 1876 until the age of ten, Nikolai’s teacher was Alexandra Petrovna Ollengren (nee Okoshnikova), the daughter of an admiral, Knight of St. George, and the widow of a Russian officer of Swedish origin. Nicholas’s first teacher was tasked with teaching Him basic Russian literacy, basic prayers, and arithmetic.
The dialogue that took place between Nikolai’s father and his first teacher is very characteristic (I quote it in summary):
“They give you two boys, who are too early to think about the Throne, who you need not to let go of and not give in to. Keep in mind that neither I nor the Grand Duchess want to turn Them into greenhouse flowers. They should be naughty in moderation, play, study, pray well to God and not think about any thrones,” said Tsarevich Alexander.
- Your Highness! - Ollengren exclaimed. - But I still have little Vladimir.
- How old is he? - asked the Heir.
- Eighth year.
- Just the same age as Nika. “Let him be brought up together with My children,” said the Heir, “and you will not be separated, and Mine will have more fun.” Everyone is an extra boy.
- But he has character, Your Highness.
- What character?
- Pugnacious, Your Highness... [In the words of this Vladimir: “By the age of seven, I had developed into that type of street boy who in Paris is called “gaman.” ...My main concern was to achieve the title of “first strongman” on Pskovskaya Street [outskirts of St. Petersburg]. This title, as is known in boyish circles, is globe, is developed in tireless battles and feats close to military ones. And so bruises and lanterns were, to my mother’s horror, permanent marks of my differences.” As we can see, behind the word “pugnacious” is really the character of the street “Daredevil” of the St. Petersburg outskirts.]
- It's nothing, honey. This is before the first deal. Mine are not heavenly angels either. There are two of them. With their united forces, They will quickly bring your hero to the Christian faith. Not made from sugar. Teach the boys well, don’t give them any concessions, enforce them to the fullest extent of the law, don’t encourage laziness in particular. If anything, address yourself directly to Me, and I know what to do. I repeat that I don’t need porcelain. I need normal, healthy Russian children. They'll fight, please. But the informer gets the first whip. This is My very first requirement. Do you understand me?
- Got it, Your Imperial Highness. From early childhood future Tsar Nicholas II cultivated a deep religious feeling and genuine piety. The boy was not burdened by long church services, which were held strictly and solemnly in the palace. The child empathized with the torments of the Savior with all his soul and, with childish spontaneity, thought about how to help Him. The son A.P. Ollengren, who grew up with Nicholas, recalled, for example, how the ceremony of taking out the Shroud on Good Friday, solemn and mournful, struck Nicholas’s imagination. He became mournful and depressed all day and asked to tell how the evil high priests tortured the good Savior. [In March 1917, the high priests of the Russian Orthodox Church were in the forefront of those who betrayed the Anointed Tsar Nicholas II.] “His little eyes filled with tears, and He often said, clenching his fists: “Oh, I wasn’t there then, I would have shown them!” And at night, left alone in the bedchamber, the three of us (Nikolai, His brother George and Ollengren’s son Volodya. - O.P.) developed plans for the salvation of Christ. Nicholas II especially hated Pilate, who could have saved Him and did not. I remember that I was already dozing off when Nikolai came up to my bed and, crying, said mournfully: I feel sorry for God. Why did they hurt Him so much? And I still can’t forget His big excited eyes.”
In his childhood and youth, Nicholas 2 slept on a narrow iron bed with a simple mattress. He spent a significant part of his time outdoors, playing sports. Even in the cold season, in order to harden his son, the Father insisted on walks. Active children's games and physical work in the garden were encouraged. Nikolai and the other children of Tsarevich Alexander often visited the poultry yard, greenhouse, farm, and worked in the menagerie. They were given birds, geese, rabbits, bear cubs, which They themselves looked after: they fed them, cleaned them. Birds constantly lived in the children's rooms - bullfinches, parrots, canaries, which the children took with them when they went to Gatchina in the summer.
During the years 1876-1879, Nikolai passed all the subjects in the program for admission to a secondary educational institution. To test Nikolai's knowledge, a special commission was assembled, which gave him an exam. The commission was very pleased with the success of the ten-year-old boy. To further continue the teaching of his son, Tsarevich Alexander invited Adjutant General G. G. Danilovich, who at his discretion chose teachers of the Law of God, the Russian language, mathematics, geography, history, French and German for Nicholas.

To be able to restrain yourself... to fulfill your duty... to love ordinary people... - the main traits of Tsarevich Nicholas

The child grew up quiet and thoughtful. From an early age, the main features of His character are already reflected in him, and - above all - self-control. “It happened, during a major quarrel with brothers or playmates,” says His teacher K.I. Heath, “Nikolai Alexandrovich, in order to refrain from a harsh word or movement, silently went into another room, took up a book and, only having calmed down, he returned to the offenders and took up the game again, as if nothing had happened.”
And another trait: a sense of duty. The boy studies his lessons diligently; He reads a lot, especially what concerns the life of the people. The love of His people... This is what He always dreams of. One day He reads with His teacher Heath one of the episodes from the history of England, which describes the entry of King John, who loved the common people, and whom the crowd greeted with enthusiastic cries: “Long live the king of the people!” The boy’s eyes sparkled, he blushed all over with excitement and exclaimed: “Oh, I would like to be like that!”
To be able to restrain yourself... to step away silently... to fulfill your duty... to love ordinary people... These traits of the boy reflect the whole of Emperor Nicholas II.
But by His character, a boy, and then a youth and a young man, is far from gloomy sadness; Even the flame of naive and carefree fun burns in Him, which, later, under the pressure of the heavy burden of power, worries and grief, will fade and occasionally only manifest itself in quiet humor, in a smile, in a good-natured joke.

Used Books:

See the prophecy of St. Abel the Seer of Mysteries, section 2.1.
Tsar's collection. Compiled by S. and T. Fomin. Services. Akathists. Monthsword. Memorial. Prayers for the King. Coronation. From-Pilgrim. 2000. [below is the Tsar's collection.] P. 414.
Let us pay attention to the fact that on the icon of the holy Tsar-Redeemer Nicholas II, on the scroll that the Tsar holds in His hands, these are precisely these words.
The prophecy of St. Abel the Seer of Mysteries is given in section 2.1.
O. Barkovets, A. Krylov-Tolstikovich. Unknown Alexander the Third. RIPOL CLASSIC. M. 2002. [below - Unknown Alexander the Third.] P. 106-107.
Nikolai Romanov. Pages of life. Compiled by N. Yu. Shelaev and others. "Faces of Russia". SPb.2001. [below - Pages of life.] P. 8.
Oleg Platonov. Russia's crown of thorns. Nicholas II in secret correspondence. Spring. M. 1996. [below - O. Platonov. Nicholas II in secret correspondence.] pp. 10-11.
For this reason, not a single Orthodox clergyman (from a simple priest to the most holy patriarch) can bear the title of our Great Master and Father. If someone calls a clergyman the Great Master, then this someone loudly declares to the Lord and the coming victorious King that he is in the heresy of papism, just like the Catholics, who honor the Pope as the Great Master.
Compiled by R.S., a fragment of chapter 14 from Oleg Platonov’s book “Conspiracy of the Regicides” is given.
Surguchev I. Childhood of Emperor Nicholas II. Paris, b/g. pp. 138-139.
His brother Georgiy also studied with Nikolai.
Ilya Surguchev. The childhood of Emperor Nicholas II. A royal matter. St. Petersburg 1999. pp. 11-13.
Babkin Mikhail Anatolyevich - Candidate of Historical Sciences, senior lecturer at South Ural State University. In the journals of the Russian Academy of Sciences “Questions of History” (No. 6 2003, No. 2-5 2004, No. 2 2005) and “Domestic History” (No. 3 2005). And also in the book “The Russian Clergy and the Overthrow of the Monarchy in 1917” (Materials and archival documents on the history of the Russian Orthodox Church. Indrik Publishing House. 2006) he published interesting documents “dedicated to the history of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) for the period from early March to mid-July 1917. From them one can get an idea of the attitude of the clergy to the overthrow of the Monarchy in Russia, the establishment of the power of the Provisional Government and its activities.” But most importantly, these documents very effectively cure mild and moderate degrees of spiritual damage to Orthodox Christians by the heresy of papism!
Surguchev I. Childhood of Emperor Nicholas II. Paris, b/g. P. 108.
Compiled by R.S., a fragment of the 1st chapter from the book by I.P. Yakobiy “Emperor Nicholas II and the Revolution” is given.

After the murder of his grandfather, Nikolai Alexandrovich became the Heir to the Throne of the Russian Empire.

After several unsuccessful assassination attempts, Emperor (God's Anointed!!!) Alexander II, the dear and beloved grandfather of Nicholas II, was villainously killed. Alexander II (1818-1881), who went down in Russian history under the name of the Tsar-Liberator, was one of the most outstanding statesmen Russia XIX centuries.
The greatest act of His reign was the signing of the Manifesto on February 19, 1861 on the abolition of serfdom of some Orthodox Christians over others.

The question that arose during the reign of Boris Godunov, which weighed heavily on all the Tsars and Emperors from the Royal House of Romanov and before which all His predecessors hesitated, was resolved by Him.

The world's evil, through the hands of spiritually corrupt half-educated Russian intellectuals, responded to the liberation of God's chosen Russian people from serfdom with such a terrible crime - the murder of the Father of the great Russian people.

“The mysterious prediction of a fortune teller has come true, who once prophesied to Alexander the Second that He would survive seven attempts on His life. This tragedy became an important milestone in the development of Nikolai’s personality and character.”

The end of the serene childhood of Tsarevich Nicholas

But this was an important milestone for all humanity. And before, tsars and kings were publicly killed, but the Lord God allowed His Anointed Ones, due to the sins of His chosen Russian people, to be killed only secretly.
And although Emperor Paul the First was brutally killed (on the night of March 11 - on Sophronius of Jerusalem in 1801) by drunken “guards” officers, he was also drunk at night!

And then the artists spent the whole night making up what the world evil of English origin had created at the hands of drunken Russian traitors to God, the Tsar, and the Fatherland. The murder was declared a death from apoplexy, that is, from a rapidly developing hemorrhage in the brain, supposedly a natural death. So, “Nicholas’s serene childhood ended on March 1, 1881.

On this day, a thirteen-year-old boy was faced with a terrible crime that amazed Him with its monstrous cruelty - the murder of his grandfather, Emperor Alexander II, by political bandits. The criminals pelted the Emperor [the Anointed One!!!] with bombs, seriously wounding Him. Alexander II was brought to the Winter Palace bleeding, with his legs broken.” (Oleg Platonov. Conspiracy of the Regicides. P. 89).

You and I will remember the prophecy spoken to Emperor Paul the First by the Venerable Abel about Emperor Alexander the Second, which Alexander the Second Himself did not know: “Your grandson, Alexander the Second, was ordained to be the Tsar-Liberator. Your plan will be fulfilled: He will give freedom to the serfs, and after that He will beat the Turks and free the Slavs from the yoke of the infidel. The Jews will not forgive Him for his great deeds, they will begin to hunt for Him, they will kill Him in the middle of a clear day in the loyal capital with the hands of renegades. Like You, He will seal the feat of His service with Royal blood, and on the blood the Temple will be erected.”

It was Emperor Alexander II who turned the bedroom into the home’s “Temple on the Blood” where Emperor Paul the First was killed as a result of a conspiracy planned in the English embassy, but at the hands of Russian officers who forgot their oaths to faithfully serve their Emperor. From the windows of this “Church on Blood”, behind the trees of the park of the Russian Museum, another “Temple on Blood” is clearly visible - the Church of the Resurrection of Christ - “Savior on Blood”, built on the site where Emperor Alexander II was mortally wounded in 1881.
As Abel the Seer predicted, “the Jews did not forgive Him for His great deeds, they organized a hunt for Him and on the eighth attempt they killed Him “in the middle of a clear day in the capital of a loyal subject with renegade hands.”

Already on March 2, 1881, at an emergency meeting, the city duma asked Emperor Alexander III “to allow the city public administration to erect... at the expense of the city a chapel or monument.” The emperor replied: “It would be desirable to have a church... and not a chapel.” However, they temporarily decided to build a chapel. Already in April the chapel was erected. Every day, memorial services were served in the chapel in memory of the murdered Emperor Alexander II. This chapel stood on the embankment until the spring of 1883, then, in connection with the start of construction of the cathedral, it was moved to Konyushennaya Square. Emperor Alexander the Third expressed his wish that the temple be in the style of Russian churches of the 16th-17th centuries. Naturally, the Emperor's wish became a prerequisite. In October 1883, the ceremonial laying of the temple took place. Its construction took 24 years. For the construction of the temple-monument, the state allocated an estimated 3 million 600 thousand rubles in silver. This was huge money at that time. However, the actual cost of construction exceeded the estimate by 1 million rubles. The Royal Family contributed this million rubles to the construction of the memorial temple. On August 19/September 1, 1907, the Cathedral of the Resurrection was consecrated.

“Together with his younger brother George, Nikolai was present at the death of His Grandfather.” “My Father led Me to the bed,” the last [currently] Autocrat later recalled. - “Dad,” He said, raising his voice, “Your ray of sunshine” is here.” I saw my eyelashes tremble, My Grandfather’s blue eyes opened, He tried to smile. He moved his finger, He could not raise his hands or say what he wanted, but He undoubtedly recognized Me...” [“On the night of the assassination of Alexander II, a solid crowd of people loyal to the Sovereigns did not disperse through the streets of the capitals. Sovereign Nicholas II remembered that day and night...” (Pavlov. His Majesty Sovereign Nicholas II. P. 47).]

The shock he experienced remained in Nikolai’s memory until the last days of His life; He remembered it even in distant Tobolsk. “...Anniversary of the death of Apap (Alexander II. - Author),” noted in the diary on March 1, 1918. - At 2 o’clock we had a memorial service. The weather was the same as then - frosty and sunny...”

In 1881, “for a week, twice a day, Nikolai, along with the entire Family, came to solemn funeral services in the Winter Palace. On the morning of the eighth day, the body [of the deceased Anointed of God] was solemnly transferred to the Peter and Paul Cathedral. So that the Russian people could say goodbye to the Tsar-Liberator, the Tsar-Great Martyr, the longest path was chosen along all the main streets of the capital, which Nicholas took along with everyone else.

The murder of Grandfather changed the political situation and [status] of Nicholas. From a simple Grand Duke He became Heir to the Throne of the Russian Empire, clothed with enormous responsibility before the country [and before the earthly Church of Christ, as the Heir to the Throne of David].

A few hours after the death of Alexander II, the Highest Manifesto was issued, which said: “We announce to all Our faithful subjects: the Lord God was pleased in His inscrutable ways to strike Russia with a fatal blow and suddenly recall to Himself its benefactor, the State. Imp. Alexandra II. He fell from the sacrilegious hand of murderers who made repeated attempts on His precious life. They encroached on this so precious life because they saw in it the stronghold and guarantee of the greatness of Russia and the prosperity of the Russian people. Humbling ourselves before the mysterious dictates of Divine Providence and raising prayers to the Almighty for the repose of the pure soul of Our deceased Parent, We ascend to Our Ancestor Throne of the Russian Empire...

Let us lift the heavy burden that God places on Us, with firm hope in His Almighty help. May He bless Our labors for the good of Our beloved Fatherland and may He direct Our strength to create the happiness of all Our loyal subjects.

Repeating the vow given to Us by Our Parent, sacred before the Lord Almighty, to devote, according to the behest of Our ancestors, Our entire life to the care of the prosperity, power and glory of Russia, We call upon Our loyal subjects to unite their prayers with Our prayers before the Altar of the Most High and command them to take an oath of allegiance to Us and the Heir Ours, His Imp. High Tsarevich Grand Duke Nikolai Alexandrovich."

[The above text from the Manifesto makes it possible for Orthodox Christians, and all believers in God, to see how the Anointed Tsar, chosen by God Himself for the Royal Service, differs from the President elected by people. In addition, the Russian Tsar strives to direct all His forces to “arranging the happiness of all His loyal subjects,” and not just the Russian people. The atheist in the above text will see some meaningless, from his point of view, spells and appeals to “some” God, he will see an attempt by Alexander the Third to shift all responsibility for governing the country to the incomprehensible entity “God” for the atheist. This is for such atheists, offended by God or punished by Him, “the institution of the monarchy has in modern world only historical and sentimental significance.” The only thing that can be done for those enlightened by the world’s evil is to pray to God for them, so that He would grant them “if death, then instantaneous,” but it would be better, if still possible, then He would grant them at least a handful of the mind of Christ!]

For the teenager Nikolai, such a terrible death of Grandfather became an unhealing mental wound. He could not understand why the murderers raised their hands against the Tsar, who was famous among the Russian people for his justice, kindness and meekness, who freed the serfs, who established a public court and self-government of local authorities. Even then, Nikolai begins to realize that not all subjects of Russia want the good of their Motherland [that is, not all subjects are loyal subjects, but it turns out that in Russia the Anointed of God has subjects who want to serve not God, the Tsar and the Fatherland, but Satan , world evil and the underworld]. Against Holy Rus' and the Russian state and social order Dark, God-fighting forces rose up, the existence of which the boy was once told by His mentor according to the Law of God.

Nicholas’s consciousness also included the understanding that the most essential thing in the state life of Russia had been violated - the traditional spiritual, patriarchal connection between the Tsar and the Russian people.” It became clear after March 1, 1881 that the Russian Tsar would never again be able to treat His subjects with boundless trust. He will not be able to forget the regicide and devote himself entirely to state affairs.

Training course for gymnasium and university, from ensign to colonel

Tsarevich “Nicholas was slightly taller than average, physically well developed and resilient - this was the result of his father’s training and the habit of physical labor, which He did, at least little by little, all his life.
The king had an “open, pleasant, thoroughbred face.” All who knew the Tsar both in his youth and in mature years, noted His amazing eyes, so wonderfully conveyed in the famous portrait of V. Serov. They are expressive and radiant, although sadness and defenselessness lurk in their depths.

The upbringing and education of Nicholas II took place under the personal guidance of His Father, on a traditional religious basis in Spartan conditions. “Since Nicholas by His very birth was destined for the future supreme power, the closest attention was paid to His upbringing and education.
His systematic education began at the age of eight according to a special program developed by Adjutant General G. G. Danilovich, who was obliged to supervise Nikolai’s educational activities. The program was divided into two parts.

An eight-year general education course in general outline corresponded to the gymnasium, although with significant changes. The ancient [classical] languages - Greek and Latin - were excluded, and instead of them, the Tsarevich was taught political history, Russian literature, geography, and the elementary fundamentals of mineralogy and biology in an expanded volume. Special attention the first eight years of study were devoted to modern European languages.

Nikolai mastered English and French perfectly, but knew German and Danish less well.
Since childhood, he fell in love with historical and fiction literature, read it both in Russian and in foreign languages, and even once admitted that “if he were a private person, he would devote himself to historical works.” Over time, His literary preferences were also revealed: Tsarevich Nikolai turned with pleasure to Pushkin, Gogol, Lermontov, loved Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov...”

The higher course of education, “the next five years were devoted to the study of military affairs, legal and economic sciences necessary for a statesman. The teaching of these sciences was carried out by outstanding Russian scientists with a worldwide reputation: [presbyter] Yanyshev I.L. taught canon law in connection with the history of the church, the most important departments of theology and the history of religion”; "HER. Zamyslovsky conducted political history; professor-economist, minister of finance in 1881-1889 and chairman of the committee of ministers in 1887-1895 N. H. Bunge taught - statistics and political economy [financial law]; Russian Foreign Minister in 1882-1895 N.K. Girs introduced the Tsarevich into the complex world of European international relations; Academician N. N. Beketov taught the course general chemistry. Professor and corresponding member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences... Infantry General G. A. Leer was entrusted with courses in strategy and military history. Military engineer General Ts. A. Cui... conducted classes on fortification. The history of military art was read by A.K. Puzyrevsky. This series was supplemented by professors of the Academy of the General Staff, generals M.I. Dragomirov, N.N. Obruchev, P.K. Gudima-Levkovich, P.L. Lobko and others. The role of the Tsarevich's spiritual and ideological mentor undoubtedly belonged to K. P. Pobedonostsev, a prominent lawyer who taught Nicholas courses in jurisprudence, state, civil and criminal law.

Tsarevich Nikolai studied a lot. By the age of fifteen, He had more than 30 lessons a week, not counting the daily hours of self-study. During the training process, the mentors could not grade Him for his performance and did not ask questions to test his knowledge, but in general their impression was favorable. Nikolai was distinguished by perseverance, pedantry and innate accuracy. He always listened carefully and was very efficient. ...The heir, like all the children of Alexander III, had an excellent memory. He easily remembered what he heard or read. A fleeting meeting with a person (and there were thousands of such meetings in His life) was enough for him to remember not only the name and patronymic of the interlocutor, but also his age, origin and length of service. Nikolai’s natural tact and delicacy made communicating with him pleasant.” (Pages of life. 12-13).
“In order for the future Tsar to become practically acquainted with military life and the order of military service, the Father sends Him to military training. First, Nikolai served for two years in the ranks of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, performing the duties of a subaltern officer and then a company commander. For two summer seasons, Tsarevich Nicholas served in the ranks of the cavalry hussar regiment as a platoon officer and then as a squadron commander. And finally, the future Emperor holds one camp meeting in the ranks of the artillery.” He received successive officer ranks, starting with warrant officer, and successively held corresponding positions in the troops.

“According to the testimony of contemporaries, He was loved in the guards regiments, noting the amazing evenness and goodwill in relations with fellow officers, regardless of ranks and titles. The Tsarevich was not one of those who were frightened by the hardships of camp life. He was hardy, strong, unpretentious in everyday life and truly loved the army. ...

Nicholas's military career reached its peak on August 6, 1892, when He was promoted to colonel. Due to the premature death of Alexander the Third, His Son was not destined to become a general in the Russian army, which were all of His predecessors on the Throne and most of the Grand Dukes. The emperors did not assign military ranks to themselves... “But He was awarded general ranks in the armies of the allies.

The activities of the Tsarevich were not limited to military service. At the same time, the Father introduces Him to the affairs of governing the country, inviting Him to participate in the sessions of the State Council and the Committee of Ministers.

“By the age of 21, Nikolai had become a highly educated person with a broad outlook, an excellent knowledge of Russian history and literature, and a perfect command of the main European languages.... Nikolai’s brilliant education was combined with deep religiosity and knowledge of spiritual literature, which was not often found among young people from higher education. , the ruling class of the time. Alexander the Third managed to instill in His Son selfless love for Russia and a sense of responsibility for its fate. [All this gave Him the opportunity to bear the cross of the redemptive feat, to become like Jesus Christ!] From childhood, Nicholas became close to the idea that His main purpose was to follow the Russian Orthodox, spiritual foundations, traditions and ideals.” (Oleg Platonov. Conspiracy of the Regicides. P. 94.)

The miraculous rescue of the Royal Family in Borki

On October 17, 1888, Tsarevich Nikolai experienced a terrible shock. On this day, near the Borki station, the entire Royal Family could have died during a train accident. When the Tsar's train passed through a deep beam, subsidence occurred and several cars fell into a hole at full speed.
The Royal Family was in the dining car at the time of the crash. Breakfast was coming to an end when everyone felt a terrible shaking. The disaster had three moments. Two shocks, and then not even a second had passed before the wall of the carriage began to shatter into pieces.
This is what the newspaper “Citizen”, published at that time, wrote: “ After the first shock there was a stop.
The second push, the force of inertia, knocked out the bottom of the car. Everyone fell onto the embankment. Then came the third moment, the most terrible: the walls of the carriage separated from the roof and began to fall inward. By the will of the Lord, the falling walls met and formed a roof onto which the roof of the carriage fell: the dining car turned into a flattened mass.

The entire course of the wheels was thrown far to the side and broken into tiny pieces. The roof, then folded and thrown aside, revealed the pitiful remains of a carriage. It seemed that the Royal Family was buried under the rubble.
But the Lord showed a great miracle. The Tsar, Queen and Royal Children were preserved for the Fatherland by a miracle of the Almighty.

The roof fell on them askew, says eyewitness Zichy, who was in the carriage.
“There was a hole between the wall of the carriage and the roof through which I entered. Countess Kutuzova came in behind me. The Empress was taken out of the carriage window. The Sovereign Emperor had a flattened silver cigarette case in his pocket on the right side».

According to an eyewitness, the crash site presented a terrible picture. The kitchen car went downhill.
The roof of another, ministerial, carriage was blown towards the lake. The first four cars were a pile of wood chips, sand and iron. The locomotive, undamaged, stood on the track, but the rear wheels dug into the ground, derailing.
The second locomotive dug into the sand of the embankment. When Alexander III saw the picture of the crash, tears came to his eyes.
Little by little, the retinue and all the survivors began to group around the Sovereign. The only witnesses to the crash were the soldiers of the Penza Infantry Regiment, numb with horror, standing in a chain in this area. Seeing that there was no way to provide assistance to the victims using the forces and means of the broken train, the Emperor ordered the soldiers to shoot. The alarm began. Soldiers came running all along the line; a doctor from the Penza regiment was with them; dressings appeared, although in meager quantities.

There was slush, there was a fine, cold rain with frost. The Empress was wearing only a dress, which was badly damaged at the time of the disaster. There was nothing at hand to cover Her from the cold, and an officer's coat was thrown over Her shoulders. At the first moment, many of the generals who were on the spot, wanting to provide all possible assistance, each made their own orders, but this only slowed down the overall progress of the relief work. Seeing this, the Emperor took upon himself the order to provide assistance.”

Since 1889, the Sovereign began to involve Nicholas in work in the highest government bodies, inviting him to participate in the sessions of the State Council and the Committee of Ministers. Alexander III developed a practical educational program for his Son to familiarize himself with various regions of Russia.

For this purpose, the Heir accompanied His Father on numerous trips around the country. [“To complete His education, Nicholas II traveled around the world. In nine months He traveled through Austria, Trieste, Greece, Egypt, India, China, Japan, and then by land through all of Siberia.”]

In Vladivostok, He participated in the opening of the construction of the Siberian Railway, at the laying of a dock and a monument to Admiral Nevelsky.

In Khabarovsk, the Heir attended the consecration of the monument to Muravyov-Amursky. Through Irkutsk, Tobolsk, and Yekaterinburg, Nikolai returned to Tsarskoe Selo, matured and stronger. He spent 9 months away from his parents (from October 23, 1890 to August 4, 1891), traveling 35 thousand miles.

After such a school of life, which the Heir went through during his trip around the world, Alexander III began to entrust Him with more serious matters. Nikolai was appointed chairman of the Siberian Railway Committee. He attended all its meetings, treating this appointment with great responsibility. His father also instructed Nikolai to chair a special committee for the delivery of aid to the population of the provinces affected by crop failure (valid until March 5, 1893). The committee collected donations worth more than 13 million rubles and distributed them among the starving peasants.

In addition to working on these committees, Nikolai is constantly invited to meetings of higher government institutions, where he practically gets acquainted with the science of governing a great country.

“Oh, You, Heavenly Chosen One, Oh, great redeemer, You are above all!”

The sermon delivered after the war by Bishop (then Archpriest) Mitrofan (Znosko-Borovsky) on the name day of the Tsar-Redeemer is very interesting and explains a lot both in the actions of Tsar Nicholas II during His Reign and in Russian events after 1917.

[The sermon tells a prophecy about the stunningly grandiose role of the holy Tsar, then still Tsarevich, Nicholas in the destinies of the whole world, in the salvation of the Russian people, in the victory of good over evil.]

A). All Buddhism, represented by Buddhist clergy, bowed before the Tsarevich

“Our tortured and murdered Emperor Nikolai Alexandrovich, while still the Heir, [in April 1891] visited Japan. This interesting voyage is described by Prince Ukhtomsky in his 2-volume work. May the Lord bless me to tell you, my dears, about this interesting and extremely important, but little known, page from the life of the Redeemer King before we begin to pray for Him. [It would be more correct to turn to Him in prayer!] During this journey, the general attention, says the historian, a participant in the journey, was attracted by those special signs of veneration and honors that were shown to the Heir Tsarevich by Buddhist clergy when He visited Buddhist temples. These were not just honors given to the Heir to the Throne of the Great Power - in their person, it was as if all Buddhism bowed before the Tsarevich. [Isn’t this the preaching of Orthodoxy by Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich, and by Buddhism the recognition of the omnipotence of Jesus Christ!]

One day, one of the thoughtful companions of the Tsarevich rightly noted that each such meeting bore the character of some incomprehensible mysterious cult, performed before the highest incarnation, who, by the will of Heaven, came to earth with a special mission. When the Tsarevich entered the temple, the Buddhist clergy prostrated themselves before Him, and when He raised them, they looked at Him with reverence and awe, solemnly, barely touching Him, they introduced Him into the sanctuary of their temple.

If anyone from the retinue wanted to enter after the Tsarevich, he was not allowed in. Once Prince George of Greece made such an attempt, but the lamas blocked his path.

[Here let us remember the words of the Apostle Paul: the hearers of the law are not righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified, for when the pagans, who do not have the law, by nature do what is lawful, then, not having the law, they are a law unto themselves: they show that the work of the law they have it written in their hearts, as their conscience and their thoughts testify to (Rom. 2:13-15).

Buddhists are pagans who do not have the law of Christ, but by their nature, having cleansed their hearts from earthly passions by observing moral laws, they can find the Truth, which will be written in their hearts! This is what Jesus Christ Himself said about such pagans: Blessed are the pure heart, for they will see God (Matt. 5:8).

And the Buddhists saw the earthly God - the Redeemer King, who redeemed, for the likeness and glory of Christ, the collective sin of treason committed by His subjects; they saw an earthly man whose holy feat is in likening the Most Important Feat of Jesus Christ - in likening His Redemptive Feat.

To the possible question of why the Lord revealed to the Buddhists, but hid the “ascetics” from the “Orthodox”, we will answer together with the Apostle Paul: “The Lord gives Orthodox Christians a reason to boast of a pure heart, and even pagans, so that they may have something to say to those who boast in their appearance, and not with the heart” (2 Cor. 5:12).

And about the “Orthodox” Christians who blasphemed and blaspheme the holy Tsar Nicholas II, Jesus Christ says: these people draw near to Me with their lips, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me; but in vain they worship Me, teaching doctrines, commandments and wisdom of men (Matthew 15:8-9). Here is one of these human wisdom: “The Priesthood is higher than the Kingdom!” Why would this be like this???

And the Lord explains why they think so, He convicts them: your heart is hardened (Mark 8:17), and therefore the Holy Spirit does not penetrate such a heart and does not cleanse it of human wisdom. If anyone among you thinks that he is pious and does not bridle his tongue about the anointed of God, but deceives his heart with his arrogance, his piety is empty (James 1:26).

To those who reject the order of holiness, the “King Redeemer” said Jesus Christ: O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe everything that the prophets predicted! (Luke 24:25) For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears are hard to hear, and they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and lest they be converted, that I might heal them (Matt. 13) ,15; Acts 28:27) from the heresy of kingship, from the non-Orthodox understanding of the dogmas of Icon Veneration and Redemption. Fierce-necked! People with uncircumcised hearts and ears! you always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did, so do you (Acts 7:51).

To all priests and other thieves of the Royal power, the Lord's brother the Apostle James strongly advises: if in your heart you have bitter envy towards the owners of the power of the Anointed of God and are quarrelsome, because you do not understand Their actions, then do not boast about your piety and do not lie about the truth (Jas. 3.14).

This is said about them: a veil lies over their heart (2 Cor. 3:15), and their eyes are filled with lust and incessant sin; they seduce unsteady souls; their heart is accustomed to covetousness: these are the sons of the curse (2 Peter 2:14).

Therefore I was indignant at this generation and said: they continually err in heart, they have not known My ways; therefore I have sworn in My wrath that they will not enter My rest (Heb. 3:10-11).]

B). “There is no more blessed than Thy sacrifice for all Thy people!”

In Japan, the Heir Tsarevich was pleased to visit on one island the cemetery of our sailors from the frigate "Askold", which circumnavigated the world in the 1860s under the command of the outstanding Unkovsky and was under repair for a long time near this island.

In the Tsarevich's retinue were the sons of two officers from Askold - Ukhtomsky and Eristov. The heir charmed with His affection and attention the old Japanese, the keeper of the graves of our sailors. During a meal in a purely Japanese spirit and taste, he asked the Heir for the grace to give Him advice, for which he received the Highest permission. “The distinguished Guest is going to visit our sacred ancient capital of Kyoto,” began the Japanese, the keeper of the graves of Russian sailors, “not far from the latter our famous hermit monk Terakuto labors, to whose gaze the secrets of the world and the fate of people are revealed. There is no time for it and it gives only signs of deadlines. He does not like to interrupt his contemplative solitude and rarely goes out to see anyone. If the Royal traveler wishes to see him, he will come out to Him, if there is a blessing from Heaven.

In civilian dress, accompanied by Prince George of Greece and an interpreter - the Marquis of Ito, a prominent figure in Japan, the Heir Tsarevich walked on foot to Terakuto, who lived in one of the groves near Kyoto. Already from a distance, those approaching saw the prostrate figure of a reclusive Buddhist. The heir bent down and carefully picked it up from the ground. No one said a word, waiting for what the recluse would say. Looking with unseeing eyes, as if cut off from everything earthly, Terakuto spoke:

O You, Heavenly Chosen One, O great Redeemer, shall I prophesy the secret of Your earthly existence? You are above all. There is no guile or flattery in my mouth before the Almighty. And here is a sign for this: danger hovers over Your head, but death will recede and the reed will be stronger than the sword... and the reed will shine with brilliance. Two crowns are destined for You, Tsarevich: earthly and heavenly. Precious stones play on Your crown, Lord of the mighty Power, but the glory of the world passes away and the stones on the earthly crown will fade, but the radiance of the heavenly crown will remain forever. The heritage of Your ancestors calls You to sacred duty. Their voice is in Your blood. They are alive in You, many of them are great and beloved, but of all of them You will be the greatest and most beloved.

Great sorrows and upheavals await You and Your country. You will fight for EVERYONE, and EVERYONE will be against You. Beautiful flowers bloom on the edge of the abyss, but their poison is pernicious; children rush to flowers and fall into the abyss if they do not listen to the Father. Blessed is he who lays down his life for his friends. Thrice blessed is he who lays it down for his enemies. But there is nothing more blessed than Your sacrifice for all Your people. [That is, none of the earthly people has and will not have a feat higher than the holy Tsar Nicholas!] It will come that You are alive and the people are dead, but it will come true: the people are saved, and (You) are holy and immortal. Your weapon against anger is meekness, against resentment is forgiveness. Both friends and enemies will bow before You, and the enemies of Your people will be destroyed. [While there is still a little time, the enemies of the God-bearing Russian people may still try to become friends and allies of the Russians against the world behind the scenes to save their souls and bodies! The Russians accept everyone who comes in peace.

But whoever comes to Rus' with a sword will die by the sword! This happens for one single reason: God is with us, with the Russians, and therefore tremble, Gentiles, and submit! And remember what Abel the Seer of the Mystery said about the Jewish yoke to Emperor Paul the First: “do not be sad, Father the Tsar, the Christ-killers will bear their toll.” “Russia will then be great, having thrown off the Jewish yoke.

He will return to the origins of his ancient life, to the times of the Equal-to-the-Apostles, and will learn wisdom through bloody misfortune [the bloody scourge of the Jewish yoke!]. ... A great destiny is destined for Russia. [That is why the enemies of God hate everything Russian; everything connected with Russia; everything that reminds of its great past and future greatness! That is why Russians should not forget their destiny, their service to God!] That is why she will suffer in order to be cleansed and kindle the light in the revelation of tongues... “] I see tongues of fire above Your head and Your Family. This is dedication. I see countless sacred lights in the altars before you. This is execution. May a pure sacrifice be made and atonement be accomplished. You will become a shining barrier to evil in the world. Terakuto told You what was revealed to him from the Book of Fates. Here is wisdom and part of the mystery of the Creator. Beginning and the end. Death and immortality, moment and eternity. Blessed be the day and hour at which You came to old Terakuto.

IN). The cane turned out to be stronger than the sword and the cane began to shine

Having touched the ground, Terakuto, without turning around, began to move away until he disappeared into the thicket of trees. [What reverence this Buddhist monk has for the saint, whose feat of serving God in terms of height and likeness to Jesus Christ is the highest among those possible for humans. What a powerful reproof for their lack of the Spirit of Christ to all “Orthodox” Christians who lived at the same time as Saint Nicholas Alexandrovich and who still blaspheme and revile Him.

Holy Tsar Nicholas said that the Old Believers and Cossacks would not understand Him. And it’s clear why: these two communities of people, and now fighters against the Taxpayer Identification Number, with globalization, with new passports, etc., have a firmly established practice of zealously pleasing God to serve Satan!

These communities of Orthodox Christians, zealously engaged in the virtues of fallen nature, are zealous to serve God as and where they themselves decide, and not as and where the Lord will bless. And therefore they absolutely do not understand that the heart of the King is in the hand of God ( Proverbs 21:1), and not in their hands. They do not understand that the Lord God Himself guides His Anointed One, and not servile wisdom! But they wear a cross and go to church regularly, and now they also offer fervent prayers for the Great Lord and Father of all papist heretics!]

The Tsarevich stood with his head bowed. His companions too. The Tsarevich returned excitedly and asked not to talk about Terakuto’s prediction. A few days later, an attempt was made on the life of the Heir to the Tsarevich in Kyoto.

A Japanese fanatic [also zealous to serve God!] hit Him on the head with a saber, but the blow only slipped, causing a harmless wound. Prince George of Greece hit the criminal with all his might with a bamboo cane, which saved the life of the Tsarevich. Upon the return of the heir to the Tsarevich in St. Petersburg, talking with Prince George, Emperor Alexander III expressed a desire to receive a cane for a while. The Emperor returned it to Prince George already in a frame of the finest jewelry, all sprinkled with diamonds. The sign came true, the first prediction of old Terakuto: the cane turned out to be stronger than the sword and the cane began to shine.

On June 23, 1901, the Sovereign Emperor was pleased to receive in the great hall of the Peterhof Palace a special mission of the Dalai Lama, who arrived from Tibet. The embassy bowed low when His Majesty entered the hall, accompanied by his retinue. The Tibetan embassy carried with it a heavily shackled chest, which it never left for a moment.

Presenting His Majesty with the robes taken out of the chest, the head of the embassy, the old honored lama, said: “These are the original robes of the Buddha, which no one touched after him. They belong to you alone by right, and now accept them from all of Tibet.” The words of the embassy from Tibet, like those predicted by the recluse Terakuto, are the key to understanding the secret sealed from Above of our Sovereign and Russia.” (Bishop Mitrofan (Znosko). Chronicle of one life. To the sixtieth anniversary of pastoral ministry IX.1935-IX.1995. M. 1995. pp. 294-297).

The Tsarevich showed himself to be deeply religious, selflessly loving and possessing an exceptionally strong character

A). “Everything is in the will of God. Trusting in His mercy, I calmly and humbly look to the future."

The Heir Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich had to endure the first serious test of willpower in connection with His marriage, when, thanks to His stubborn persistence, endurance and patience, He successfully overcame three seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Back in 1884, when He was only sixteen years old, He first met the twelve-year-old strikingly beautiful Princess Alice of Hesse-Darmstadt, who came to the wedding of His elder sister Vel. Book Elizaveta Feodorovna and Vel. Book Sergei Alexandrovich - uncle of the Heir to the Tsarevich.

From that moment on, a close friendship arose between Them, and then a holy, selfless, selfless and ever-increasing love that united Their lives until their joint acceptance...[martyrdom].

Such marriages are a rare gift of God even among mere mortals, and among Crowned Persons, where marriages are performed mainly for political reasons and not for love, this is an exceptional phenomenon.

In 1889, when the Heir Tsarevich was twenty-one years old and had reached adulthood, according to Russian laws, He turned to His Parents with a request to bless Him for marriage with Princess Alice. Emperor Alexander III’s answer was brief: “You are very young to get married.” There is still time, and, in addition, remember the following: You are the Heir to the Russian Throne, You are betrothed to Russia, and we will still have time to find a wife.”

Before the will of the Father - heavy, unwavering - what is said, that is, the law, Grand Duke Nikolai Alexandrovich resignedly resigned himself for a while and began to wait.

A year and a half after this conversation, He wrote in His diary: “Everything is in the will of God. Trusting in His mercy, I look calmly and humbly to the future.”

From Princess Alice's family, their marriage plans also did not meet with sympathy. Since She lost Her mother when She was only 6 years old, and her father at eighteen, She was raised mainly by Her maternal grandmother, Queen Victoria of England.

This Queen, so celebrated in the Anglo-Saxon world, during many decades of her 64-year reign (1837-1901), pursued an extremely ignoble foreign policy, built on intricate insidious intrigues directed mainly against Russia.

Queen Victoria especially disliked the Russian Emperors Alexander II and Alexander III, who in turn responded to Her with contemptuous hostility. It is no wonder that with such unfriendly relations between the Russian and English Courts, the Heir Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich could not find support from the grandmother of Princess Alice. [“For Alexander III, his son’s love did not seem something serious. The marriage of the Heir to the Russian Throne was always too serious a political event for only tender feelings to be taken into account. Although Nikolai’s parents did not intend to forcefully marry him, at different times he was offered several options for a possible marriage.

One of the brides was the daughter of the Count of Paris, head of the Bourbon dynasty, possible president of France. This marriage could significantly strengthen the Russian-French alliance, the favorite foreign policy brainchild of Alexander III. Princess Margaret of Prussia was considered as another contender for the role of the future Empress.

Nikolai wrote at the end of 1891: “December 21. In the evening at Mom's...they talked about family life...; involuntarily this conversation touched the most living string of my soul, touched the dream and the hope with which I live every day. A year and a half has already passed since I talked about this with Papa in Peterhof... My dream is to someday marry Alix G. I have loved her for a long time, but even deeper and stronger since 1889, when she spent six weeks in St. Petersburg! I resisted my feeling for a long time, trying to deceive myself with the impossibility of realizing my cherished dream. ... The only obstacle or gap between her and me is the question of religion! Apart from this barrier, there is no other; I'm almost sure that our feelings are mutual! [Everything is in the will of God. Trusting in His mercy, I calmly and humbly look to the future]"...

Maria Feodorovna decided to distract Him a little from thoughts about Alex. At this time, she shone on the stage of the Imperial Mariinsky Theater new star- ballerina Matilda Kshesinskaya. [The parents of the Tsarevich contributed to the rapprochement of the young people... “There was gossip about this affair, but in Nicholas’s Family they did not attach serious importance to it - the Heir seemed too responsible and devoted to duty to connect His life with a dancer. Alexander the Third was condescending towards his son’s hobby and, perhaps, even hoped that Kshesinskaya would help him forget the German princess his parents didn’t like.”]

Of course, Kshesinskaya understood the hopelessness of their romance, and Nikolai’s love for the Darmstadt princess was not a secret to her: “We have more than once talked about the inevitability of His marriage and the inevitability of our separation. Of all those whom He was prophesied as a bride, He considered her the most suitable and that He was attracted to her more and more [for they were created for each other according to God’s plan!], that she would be His chosen one, if parental permission followed.”]

Five years have passed since the day when Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich turned to His August Father with a request to allow Him to marry Princess Alice.

[During these ten years, they saw each other only when Princess Alice came to Russia twice (in 1884 and 1889). They are united by the Lord God. And those around Them only see that “between Them there are only fantasies and memories, correspondence fueling passions through sister Ella” (through Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna).]

In the early spring of 1894, seeing the unshakable decision of His Son, His patience and meek submission to the Parental will, Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna finally gave Their blessing for the marriage.

At the same time, in England, Princess Alice, who by this time had lost Her father, who died in 1890, received a blessing from Queen Victoria. The last obstacle remained - a change of religion and the adoption by the August Bride of holy Orthodoxy.

B). Tsarevich Nicholas managed to reveal to Princess Alice the truth of His Orthodox faith

Princess Alice was extremely religious. She was raised Protestant and was sincerely and deeply convinced of the truth of Her religion. At the same time, She knew that She could not become the Russian Empress without accepting Holy Orthodoxy, but changing religion.

She considered it a betrayal of Her most sacred feelings and beliefs. Being extremely honest with herself, distinguished by her nobility and devotion to Her ideals and, moreover, being well educated - She received a PhD from Oxford University - She was not able to sacrifice Her entire inner world as a sacrifice of love for her loved one.

Thus, this question became a matter of conscience for Princess Alice, since the Russian Throne, although the most brilliant of that era, in itself, did not seduce Her, especially since, thanks to Her amazing beauty and inner attractiveness, She enjoyed enormous success among European Crowned Grooms and Heirs to Thrones.

So, the last obstacle to the marriage of the Heir to the Tsarevich and Princess Alice seemed insurmountable. There was only one possible way out - a complete reversal of Her religious views, i.e. sincere understanding of the falsity of the Protestant faith and sincere acceptance of holy Orthodoxy. This difficult and complex task fell to the lot of Grand Duke Nikolai Alexandrovich himself.

At the beginning of April, He visited Coburg and spent twelve days in the palace of Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, where Princess Alice was also staying. Here Their fate was to be decided, depending on the conviction of the Heir to the Tsarevich in the correctness of His arguments. On the third day, a decisive conversation took place between Them. There was no one in the living room. They were left alone to decide the question of their lives. The princess was lovely. There was no need to speak, it was clear without words. He now knew that Their love was mutual, that in this love was the happiness of the future life. One obstacle remained - a change of religion; He had foreseen this before, but did not imagine that this obstacle could turn out to be so decisive and difficult.

He saw the spiritual struggle of Princess Alice - the real real struggle of a Christian woman. He understood that it now depended on Him to convince Her that She was not committing apostasy, that by accepting Orthodoxy, She was approaching God in the brightest forms of communication with Him. And He found wonderful words in His heart. “Alix, I understand and respect your religious feelings. But we believe in Christ alone; there is no other Christ. God, who created the world, gave us a soul and a heart. He filled both my heart and yours with love, so that we could merge soul with soul, so that we would become united and walk the same path in life.

Without His will there is nothing. Let your conscience not disturb you that my faith will become your faith. When you learn later how beautiful, gracious and humble our Orthodox religion is, how majestic and magnificent our churches and monasteries are and how solemn and stately our divine services are, you will love them, Alix, and nothing will separate us “...

At that moment, a great, immensity appeared before Him - from the Solovetsky monasteries to the New Athos monasteries, from the northern grayish-blue waters of the Baltic Sea to the bright blue Pacific Ocean- His sovereign Mother Russia, Holy God-bearing Orthodox Rus'. Tears of tenderness and delight appeared in my eyes. The Princess listened attentively, looking into His blue eyes, at His excited face, and a transformation took place in Her soul. Seeing the tears, She could not help herself. Then she whispered only two words: “I agree.” Their tears mixed together.

He laid out the sequence of His conversations, told how He convinced Her to change religion and how She felt.

... “She cried all the time and only from time to time said in a whisper: “No, I can’t.” I, however, continued to insist and repeat my arguments, and although this conversation lasted two hours, it did not lead to anything , because neither she nor I gave in. I gave her your letter and after that she could no longer argue. She decided to talk with Aunt Michen (Grand Prince Maria Pavlovna (senior)). As for me, during these three days I was always in the most anxious state... This morning we were left alone, and then, from the very first words, she agreed. Only God knows what happened to me. I cried like a child and so did she. But her face expressed complete contentment.

No, dear Mom, I cannot express to you how happy I am, and at the same time, how sorry I am that I cannot hold you and my dear Dad to my heart. The whole world immediately changed for me: nature, people, everything; and everyone seems kind, sweet and happy to me. I couldn’t even write, my hands were shaking so much. She completely changed: she became cheerful, funny, talkative and tender... The Savior told us: “Everything that you ask of God, God will give you.” These words are endlessly dear to me, because for five years I prayed with them, repeating them every night, begging Him to ease Alix’s transition to the Orthodox faith and give me her as a wife...

It's time to finish the letter. Goodbye my dear Mom. I hug you tightly. Christ is with you. Niki, who loves you warmly and with all my heart.” He took an elegant dark crimson notebook of shagreen leather - his diary and made the following entry in it: “A wonderful, unforgettable day in my life - the day of my engagement to my dear, beloved Alix... God, what a weight has fallen from my shoulders; what joy we managed to please dear Dad and Mom. I walked around all day as if in a daze, not fully realizing what had actually happened to me.”... [After breakfast we went to Comrade Marie’s church and served a thanksgiving prayer service.]... (S. Pozdnyshev. Op. Cit., pp. 11-16).

On the same day, April 8/21, 1894, their engagement was officially announced. [Until her death, Alexandra Fedorovna wore Nicholas's groom's gift - a ring with a ruby - around her neck along with a cross. (Oleg Platonov. Conspiracy of the Regicides. P. 102.) “The news delivered to Russia on the same day prompted a response telegram from the parents, and a few days later... a personal message from Alexander the Third arrived. “Dear, dear Niki,” the father wrote, “you can imagine with what a feeling of joy and with what gratitude to the Lord we learned about your engagement! I confess that I did not believe the possibility of such an outcome and was sure of the complete failure of your attempt, but the Lord instructed you, strengthened you and blessed you, and great gratitude to Him for His mercies... Now I am sure that you are doubly enjoying and everything you have gone through, although forgotten, I am sure it has brought you benefit, proving that not everything comes so easily and for free, and especially such a great step that decides your entire future and your entire subsequent family life! ”(Pages of Life. P. 24.)]

Ten years have passed since the August Bride and Groom met for the first time, and five years have passed since the Parents refused to bless Their marriage. The heir Tsarevich meekly humbled himself, but waited patiently and steadily strived towards His goal. Over these years, He managed to gradually overpower His August Father - a mighty hero, distinguished by his unshakable willpower, and overcome the lack of sympathy for His plans on the part of Empress Maria Feodorovna and grandmother Princess Alice - English Queen Victoria, and, finally, not being a theologian, reveal to Princess Alice the truth of Her faith, change Her firm religious convictions and incline Her to a sincere, sincere acceptance of Holy Orthodoxy. Only a deeply religious and selflessly loving person with an exceptionally strong character could overcome all these obstacles.

[“After almost a quarter of a century, She [Alexandra Feodorovna] will remind Him [Nikolai Alexandrovich] of the events of that day with words in which sincere love is felt: “On this day, the day of our engagement, all my tender thoughts are with you, filling my heart with endless gratitude for the deep love and happiness that you have always given me, since that memorable day - 22 years ago. May God help me to repay you a hundredfold for all your affection!

Yes, I,” I say quite sincerely, “I doubt that there are many wives as happy as I am; you have shown me so much love, trust and devotion in these long years in happiness and sorrow. For all my torment, suffering and indecision, you gave me so much in return, my precious fiancé and husband... Thank you, my treasure, do you feel how I want to be in your strong arms and relive those wonderful days that brought Are we getting new evidence of love and tenderness? Today I will wear that expensive brooch. I can still feel your gray clothes and smell them - there by the window in Coburg Castle.

How vividly I remember all this! Those sweet kisses that I dreamed and yearned for for so many years and which I no longer hoped to receive. You see how, already at that time, faith and religion played a big role in my life. I cannot take this simply and if I decide on something, it is forever, the same is true in my love and affection.

The heart is too big - it devours me. Also love for Christ - it was always so closely connected with our lives during these 22 years! “(Correspondence of Nikolai and Alexandra Romanov. M.-L. 1926. T.4. P. 204).

Before leaving for Russia, Nikolai decided to tell his bride about his affair with Kshesinskaya. “What happened, happened,” Alice writes with tears in her eyes, “the past can never be returned. We are all subject to temptation in this world, and when we are young, it is especially difficult for us to resist and not give in to temptation. But if we can repent, God will forgive us. Sorry that I talk about this so much, but I want you to be sure of my love for you. I love you even more after you told me this story. Your trust touched me deeply. I will try to be worthy of him. God bless you, my beloved Nicky...”

The words that Alice writes in her fiancé’s diary are imbued with the most sublime feeling of love, the light of which they were able to carry throughout their lives.” Just before leaving England, She will write in His diary: “I am yours, and you are mine, rest assured. You are locked in my heart, the key is lost, and you will have to stay there forever."]

Used Books:
Pages of life. P. 7.
As Abel the Seer of the Seer predicted to the holy Emperor Paul the First.
G. P. Butnikov. Savior on Spilled Blood. St. Petersburg B/g.
This is how Emperor Alexander II called his beloved grandson Tsarevich Nicholas.
Pages of life. P. 7.
About the oath, see the explanation of St. Philaret (Drozdov), Metropolitan of Moscow, given in the notes “Christian Teaching on Royal Power and the Obligations of Loyal Subjects.”
A popular proverb teaches us: “Whoever God wants to punish, He takes away his reason.”
TVNZ. March 23, 2006.
Oleg Platonov. Plot of regicides. 89-91.
“The perfection with which the Heir spoke the English language was such that an Oxford professor mistook Him for an Englishman.” (Oleg Platonov. Conspiracy of the Regicides. P. 94.)
Pages of life. P. 12.
O. Platonov. Nicholas II in secret correspondence. P. 11.
Oleg Platonov. Plot of regicides. P. 94.
Pages of life. P. 14.
Compiled by R.S., a fragment of chapter 16 from Oleg Platonov’s book “Conspiracy of the Regicides” is given.
O. Platonov. Nicholas II in secret correspondence. pp. 11-12.
The compiler R.S. quotes the text from the book compiled by S. Fomin “Orthodox Tsar-Martyr”. (Hegumen Seraphim (Kuznetsov). Pilgrim. 1997. [below - Hegumen Seraphim. Orthodox Tsar.] P. 499-501.)
In Russia, the book of Bishop Mitrofan (Znosko-Borovsky) “Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism and Sectarianism” (Lectures on comparative theology, read at the Holy Trinity Theological Seminary) is known. (Publication of the Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius (reprint). 1991.) We draw attention to this fact in order to prevent in advance possible accusations by “zealots” not according to the mind of Christ of this bishop of ignorance of the teachings of the Orthodox Church and of being unorthodox, of having a biased attitude towards Buddhism and predictions of the Buddhist hermit monk Terakuto.
S. Fomin has it here and everywhere below: Tsar-Martyr.
Who boast of their theological or other education, their ordination to the priesthood, their “Orthodoxy,” their belonging to the Russian chosen people of God, their social status etc. It should be understood that all of these are talents given by God, which impose an obligation on their owners to use them in a godly manner and thereby acquire the grace of the Holy Spirit.
The double-headed eagle in the State Emblem of the Russian Empire clearly indicates that both the Priesthood and the Kingdom are in obedience to the Anointed Tsar!
The root of this word is “fornication,” and therefore being deceived in heart means spiritual fornication.
That is, chosen as the King of Heaven!
No one has greater love than this, but one who lays down his life for his friends (John 15:13) - Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).
The compiler cites the 2nd chapter from the book by E. E. Alferyev “Emperor Nicholas II as a man of strong will.” (Published by Holy Trinity Monastery. Jordanville, 1983. pp. 15-21.)
S. Pozdnyshev. Crucify Him. Paris. 1952. P. 9.
Ibidem, p. 10.
From Queen Victoria, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna inherited, as a transmitter, the fatal disease hemophilia. which She passed on to Her son, the Heir, Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich. See The Last Courts of Europe - A Royal Family Album 1860-1914. Introductory text by Robert K. Massie. J. M. Dent and Sons Ltd., London, 1981, p. 25.
Pages of life. P. 20.
Pages of life. P. 18.
Unknown Alexander the Third. pp. 215-216.
Pages of life. P. 18.
Wife of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, daughter of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna is the third lady in the Russian Empire after both Empresses. She was considered the head of the grand ducal opposition to Emperor Nicholas II. (Encyclopedia of the Russian Empire. Edited by V. Butromeev. U-Factoria. Yekaterinburg. 2002.) (Note from the compiler R.S.).
Pages of life. P. 22.
E. E. Alferev. Letters from the Royal Family from captivity. Publication of the Holy Trinity Monastery. Jordanville, 1974, pp. 340-341.
Unknown Alexander the Third. P. 218.
Oleg Platonov. Plot of regicides. pp. 101-102.

Nicholas II Alexandrovich, who ascended the throne on November 1, 1894, was immediately proclaimed Emperor of All Russia, Tsar of Poland and Grand Duke of Finland.

His reign came during an era of irreversible change - this is the last monarch on the throne.

Accession to the throne

Historical documents and diaries of those close to the royals indicate that Nicholas II was clearly struck by the death of his father. He believed that he was not yet ready to reign and said directly: “What will happen to Russia now? After all, I don’t even know how to talk to ministers. I can't run an empire."

But I had to reign.

The first event in his reign was pleasant and modest - his marriage to Princess Alice of Hesse, who in Orthodoxy received the name Alexandra Fedorovna.

First tragic event during the reign of the young autocrat, it happened on the Khodynka field.

On May 18, 1896, Nicholas organized a celebration in honor of his accession to the throne. Documents claim that half a million people had gathered on the field in the evening. In the morning, as a result of the free distribution of food and gifts, a terrible stampede occurred, which killed many people, about 1,300 people, and injured the same number.

Period of reign until the 1905 revolution

It was not easy to rule an agrarian-industrial power. The socio-economic leap made during the reign of Alexander III seemed to have stopped.

The most far-sighted politicians, such as Finance Minister Sergei Yulievich Witte, recognized the need for modernization in the political and economic spheres. It was he who introduced the monetary reform and made the depreciated ruble convertible on the world market. This reform promoted foreign investment and the economy went up.

This is the smartest statesman.

In 1897, construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway began. The reason was Japanese aggression in East Asia. To implement these plans, the Liaodong Peninsula was leased from China.

We cannot ignore the event of 1899 - the Hague Disarmament Conference. The main idea of the event was Russia. True, the arms race continued, which ultimately resulted in the First World War. But it cannot be said that Russia’s message was in vain. Some laws were passed regarding the rules of war.

It is impossible not to mention a rather tense event that lasted both in the 90s and into the 1900s - the strengthening of labor movements, constant clashes. The workers did not want to tolerate the arbitrariness that was happening in the factories, but they were able to achieve little. In 1897, they only achieved a reduction in the working day to 11.5 hours. True, in 1903 compensation for industrial injuries appeared, which should have forced enterprise owners to take care of labor safety in production.

There were attempts to reorganize the workers and direct their energy in a more useful direction. This phenomenon was called Zubatovshchina, after the name of the police department official, Sergei Vasilyevich Zubatov.

Factory owners did not like this movement. It seemed that the government had transferred its problems to business owners. Now the workers fought not with the government, but with the owners of the enterprises, which undoubtedly pushed for revolution. Revolutionary organizations grew throughout the country, and underground parties of Social Democrats and Socialist Revolutionaries arose.

Land ownership also suffered. In 1903, a manifesto on the inviolability of land ownership was signed. Everything that until this year formally belonged to the landowner was declared independent. And peasants could even buy land outside the communal lands. It seems that a good intention played a cruel joke on the peasantry and became the first step towards the destruction of communities.

At the end of January 1904, the Russo-Japanese War began, which lasted until the end of the summer of 1905. It began due to disagreements over Korea and Far East.

Military operations took place in Yellow and Japanese seas, in Manchuria, Sakhalin. The Russians were unlucky - we lost everything we could.

As a result, Russia admitted defeat. The Treaty of Portsmouth was signed. Korea and southern Sakhalin ceded to Japan.

The Russo-Japanese War became the basic aspect that led to the first revolution. The people grumbled: “The king is not as strong as he wants to seem.”

Revolution of 1905-1907

The year 1905 began with the shooting of a mass demonstration of St. Petersburg workers. The people went to their sovereign with cherubim, with portraits of the king and queen, singing psalms and “God save the king.” Most ordinary people sincerely believed that the emperor simply did not know about the hardships of his subjects' lives.

The blood of more than 500 people, 130 of whom died, forever severed the monarch's connection with his people.

Unrest and disturbances became widespread. Even banks and printing houses went on strike. Military mutinies, plant shutdowns - this was the internal political face of that time.

The bourgeoisie also joined the revolution. True, for the bourgeoisie the revolution ended quite quickly. On October 17, 1905, a special manifesto was signed, according to which the State Duma was established and political freedoms appeared. The bourgeoisie calmly moved away from the showdown and began to create the State Duma.

The rest of the population was in a state of war for two years. Every month the situation became calmer, but not easier.

In 1906, the first State Duma began its work. A law was passed that announced that the autocracy was preserved. With this law, hopes for a constitutional monarchy disappeared. And the Duma was soon dissolved.

In 1907, the second Duma met. But the authorities did not like this idea.

Of course, the autocrat did not like the fact that parliament was endowed with state power and had legislative rights. This has never happened before in Russian history.

Although the revolution was suppressed, it became clear that His Majesty's loyal subjects were slowly turning into citizens.

☛ Parliament appeared.

☛ About 50 legal parties.

☛ Hundreds of trade unions.

☛ Congresses and meetings were allowed under police control.

☛ Censorship has gained more rights.

☛ The autonomy of universities has been restored.

☛ Working hours and military service periods have been shortened.

☛ Finnish autonomy restored.

The decade between revolutions, 1907-1917

In 1907, the third State Duma met. A system of the so-called October pendulum was formed. The Octobrist party appeared, which voted either for the right-wing monarchist forces or for the radical left.

Stolypin reforms appeared. This is a wide range of events, named after the statesman Pyotr Arkadyevich Stolypin, who served as Chairman of the Council of Ministers.

Laws on the peasant question poured out as if from a cornucopia. According to Stolypin, all this was supposed to open the door for peasant owners to local power structures, and limit the total domination of the nobility. Stolypin wanted to implement his reforms in 20 years, but did not have time. In the Duma, after drinking it, both the left and the right spoke out.

From 1912 to 1917, the fourth State Duma worked, which was no different from the previous one.

In the period from 1907 to the revolution of 1917, it is difficult to note any special achievements, other than Stolypin’s reforms, in the reign of Alexander I.

But the problems of Stolypin’s reform activities were not in the reforms themselves, but in the political situation - the First World War began.

The First World War, which began on July 27, 1914, is a conflict of interests of governments, not peoples.

There was a patriotic upsurge in the country. Everyone expected victories. But the defeat of the Russian armies and widespread retreat by the summer of 1915 put the country on the brink of a military catastrophe.

The ruler decided to resolve the situation on his own and accepted the title of Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

The troops actually stopped the advance of the German troops and provided France and England with a respite. But the forces of the Russian state were exhausted.

Moreover, against the backdrop of the World War, strikes continued in the state of Nicholas II, and demands were constantly made on the emperor. Revolutionary ferment began.

Even the tsarist ministers considered it necessary to meet the opposition halfway. However, the sovereign took a different path. He dissolved the Duma and removed liberal-minded ministers from their posts.

He also did not support the plan to introduce a military dictatorship that would unite the leadership of the rear and the front. From that time on, the collapse of power began.

At the same time, the influence of Grigory Rasputin, Alexandra Feodorovna’s favorite, increased. A cunning and dexterous character, who never contradicted the royal family, reported his visions and God's will. The Tsarina listened to Rasputin, Nicholas listened to his wife, and the historical ladies' man even directed the course of military events.

The bravest people around the autocrat pointed out to him that Rasputin’s behavior was a disgrace to the royal family, that rumors were spreading in the country about the influence of a simple peasant on the monarchy. But the ruler did not want to hear such comments.

Fall of the Monarchy

The paralysis in society was felt every day. Even the murder of Rasputin in December 1916 could not change anything in political life countries.

To the regret of the sovereign, troops increasingly joined the riots.

The State Duma left the control of the emperor. She created a temporary committee. The leadership of the Duma no longer considered it possible to continue his reign.

On March 2, 1917, Nicholas II signed the abdication of the throne in favor of his son. But on the same day he changed his mind and drew up a new act in favor of brother Mikhail, although this was an illegal action.

March, 3rd Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich, seeing all the chaos that was happening, refused to accept the throne and called on all Russian citizens to submit to the provisional government.

The new government sent the entire imperial family to Tobolsk into exile.

In Tobolsk, the family had the opportunity to live, although limited, a completely normal life. The adults educated the younger ones, read a lot, and organized theatrical home evenings.

Nikolai was busy preparing firewood for the winter, monitoring the political situation and keeping a diary.

After the revolution in the country began Civil War. Until April, the family continued to be in Tobolsk, then they were transported to Yekaterinburg.

In July 1918, the Bolsheviks dealt with the imperial family. Everyone was shot, including the thirteen-year-old sick Tsarevich Alexei.

Reign of Nicholas II (briefly)

Nicholas II, the son of Alexander III, was the last emperor of the Russian Empire and ruled from May 18, 1868 to July 17, 1918. I was able to receive an excellent education and was fluent in several foreign languages, and was also able to rise to the rank of colonel in the Russian army, field marshal and admiral of the fleet of the British army. Nicholas had to ascend the throne after the sudden death of his father. At that time the young man was twenty-six years old.

From childhood, Nicholas was prepared for the role of the future ruler. In 1894, a month after the death of his father, he married the German princess Alice of Hesse, later known as Alexandra Feodorovna. Two years later, the official coronation took place, which took place in mourning, because due to the huge crush of people who wanted to see the new emperor with their own eyes, many people died.

The emperor had five children (four daughters and a son). Despite the fact that doctors discovered hemophilia in Alexei (son), he, like his father, was being prepared to rule the Russian Empire.

During the reign of Nicholas II, Russia was in the stage of economic ascension, but the political situation within the country worsened every day. It was the emperor's failure as a ruler that led to internal unrest. As a result, after the dispersal of the workers’ rally on January 9, 1905 (this event is also known as “Bloody Sunday”), the state was ablaze with revolutionary sentiments. The revolution of 1905-1907 took place. The result of these events is the nickname among the people of the king, whom people dubbed Nicholas “Bloody.”

The First World War begins in 1914 World War, which negatively affected the state of Russia and aggravated the already unstable political situation. The unsuccessful military operations of Nicholas II lead to the fact that in 1917 an uprising began in Petrograd, which resulted in the abdication of the Tsar from the throne.

In the early spring of 1917, the entire royal family was taken under arrest and later sent into exile. The execution of the entire family took place on the night of July sixteenth to seventeenth.

Here are the main reforms during the reign of Nicholas II:

· Managerial: the State Duma was formed, and the people received civil rights.

· Military reform carried out after the defeat in the war with Japan.

· Agrarian reform: land was assigned to private peasants rather than to communities.