Alexander III was the second son of Alexander. Brought up as a Prince, not as a future Tsar, he was destined for a military career. However, in 1865 his elder brother Nicholas suddenly died and therefore Alexander was proclaimed the heir to the Russian throne.
With the death of his brother, Alexander inherited more than just the throne, but also, as insisted by his brother on his deathbed, Nicolas’ fiancé. In October 1866 Alexander married the daughter of the Danish King, Princess Dagmar.
Alexander became the Tsar of Russia after revolutionaries assassinated his father in March 1881 and was crowned in Moscow on 15 May 1883. Alexander was shaken by his fathers’ death and it caused a profound change in the political course of Russia. Alexander abandoned his father’s plans and declared that only “absolute autocracy” could fight the revolutionary movement.
Alexander III introduced some harsh security measures to fight the terror. He executed all those responsible for his father’s death as well as all direct leaders of terrorist revolutionary groups; he tightened police oppression and increased censorship of the press. Alexander set about restoring law and order in Russia. He quickly dismissed any liberal proposals in government. He sacredly believed in a special destiny for Russia, void of Western ideas.
Alexander encouraged the development of trade and industry and imposed customs duties on imported goods to recover Russia's economy. He also introduced a higher degree of accounting in state finances, liquidating the budget deficit. During his rule industrial development increased and the construction of the Trans Siberian Railway began.
Alexander III displayed extreme caution in foreign policy. However, despite his earnest desire for peace Alexander still worked on strengthening Russia’s military power. His country was always ready to fight any foreign aggression..
Although he was from a German family, Alexander III had a very Russian character. He was a deeply religious man and tried to do everything for the Orthodox Church. He was a deeply moral and honest and very kind, cheerful and witty.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Another thing that had changed in Alexander III’s reign to make Russia seem unrecognisable in 1894 compared with 1881 was that the idea of reform was strongly opposed by him so Russia appeared to moving backwards instead of forwards in all aspects. Alexander III introduced a Manifesto that stated that the Tsar would be in charge of all political power. It presented a very conservative Russia where political and social stability was to be controlled and supported by autocracy, Russian nationalism and the Russian Orthodox Church. This shows how Russia had changed to become recognisable in 1894 because any idea of a constitution was rejected by the Tsar and represented Conservative ideas in his decision making. Russia…
- 824 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
When Alexander III took power in 1881, he introduced is manifesto in the April of that year stating all of his intention being the Tsar. With the assassination of his father by democrats, he did all in his power to avenge him by introducing laws, which went against democratic views.…
- 803 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Nicholas II, the last tsar of Russia, had neither the qualities nor the desire to rule imperial Russia. Born in Tsarskoye Selo in 1868, Nicholas was the eldest son of Alexander III, the fearsome tsar who had reimposed autocracy and oppression on the Russian empire after the murder of Alexander II. Those who met the young tsarevich, described him as pleasant and likeable, but otherwise unremarkable – hardly the traits of a man ordained by God to rule Russia. Nicholas famously expressed reluctance about taking the throne, declaring that he “never wanted to rule”. But tradition…
- 4116 Words
- 17 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Progress in Russia was slow until the reign of Alexander ll. He was known as the Tsar liberator for his radical reform during his reign from 1855 to 1881. His most important reform was the emancipation of the serfs. When Alexander lll became Tsar it was the end of any political reform. His reign was known for being one of political repression.…
- 794 Words
- 4 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
* Introduced emancipation edict, gave the right to peasants to own land, marry their own choice, bring suits to court. * Peasants were given their own land. * Zemstvos (local assemblies) were put in place by Alexander, they could levy taxes and took charge over matters of education, famine, public projects * Local and provincial courts were made. * Introduced a judicial code that affirmed the principle of equality before the law.…
- 708 Words
- 3 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
The defeat in the Crimean war was arguably the main reason why Alexander II made a series of reforms when he came into power. The devastating loss of the war proved the backwardness of Russia in relation to other powers and even though peasant unrest and the criticisms of serfdom were partially responsible for influencing Alexander II, the decision to make changes primarily came from the loss of the Crimean war.…
- 811 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Alexander ll was seen to be liberal in the early years of his reign as seen in the emancipation of the Serfs in 1861. This gave the Serfs more freedom and basic rights which at this time was a major liberal reform compared to the majority of the previous Tsars, this was by in large Alexander’s greatest reform. The emancipation, he hoped, would lead to greater agricultural output in order to finance the railways, and the beginning of the…
- 3481 Words
- 14 Pages
Powerful Essays -
He introduced other new reforms in 1864 such as allowing to elect councils for each city to administer local affairs and the councils were able to take decisions such as building schools, roads, hospital and etc. There was an attempt of assassination on Alexander II but failed. In October, 1879 group of terrorist came to live and were called People's Will and wanted to assassinate Alexander II and they even tried to several times but failed. The People's WIll contacted the Russian governmHe ent and offered a deal which was stopping the terror campaign in return they demand a constitution that provided free elections and an end to censorship for the Russian people. And on 25th of February, 1880, Alexander accepted to consider the People's Will demand to grant a constitution for the Russian people. He tried to keep the reformers satisfied but at the same time…
- 571 Words
- 3 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
After the defeat in the Crimean war Alexander II knew that he had to make new choices if he wanted Russia to get its reputation back, since it had lost its great martial power, which the country took pride in. Alexander II learned that the system that the country had been following all this time was not good enough and needed to change.…
- 1083 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
Little was traded or exported; the emperors had little interest in European affairs. Different also in this aspect, Alexander II planned and built almost 14000 miles of railway by 1881, to not only increase military power, but also successfully export grain. Banks were established and settlement limitations on Jews were lifted.…
- 1320 Words
- 6 Pages
Better Essays -
Unlike his father, Alexander III did manage to survive his reign relatively unscathed, which indicates that he dealt with his problems well, at least in the short term. Alexander III inherited a country fraught with economic difficulties, violent extremists and social tensions. His priority was to maintain his autocratic power and restore the power and influence of the nobility – his most trusted support base. Although he achieved some success, especially with his economic reform, he failed to deal with the key issues facing the Russian people, causing long term tensions that would result in revolution.…
- 1197 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
Tsar Alexander II and his son Alexander III were two different minded leaders who both sought for the best of Russia by changing the ancient ways of Russian beliefs and modernising them to allow Russia to become a world power once again. The father and sons ways of thinking where completely different as the father went for a more liberal approach for Russia, while his son had a conservative view when changing Russia. But both the Tsars’ believed in Russification and the emancipation of the serf’s in-order to allow Russia’s economy to grow and match that of other European nations. Though both had their differences as Alexander II believed that the allowance of a freer populace would help solidify Autocratic control, which would in-turn allow Russia to grow. While his son Alexander III believed that the oppression of the populace would solidify the autocratic power. Both Tsars knew that in-order to continue the Russian empire that drastic domestic policies where in need to solidify power, and control.…
- 1208 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
Alexander was a very efficient leader able to win people over and not lose their attention and such. He made quotes that would stick with people throughout time. Such as “I am not afraid of an army of Lions led by sheep. I am afraid of an army of sheep led by…
- 367 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Revolts were frequent, 1467 of them since 1800. Nicholas I saw this and created nine secret committees to find a way to end serfdom. Alexander II was part of one of those committees. He was also there to be the acting Tsar when Nicholas I was away. Therefore Alexander II was the most prepared heir to the Tsar the empire has ever had. Alexander made a very good start in change when he became Tsar. He stopped all army recruitment, which meant it was no longer forced to enter the army, nor was it a punishment for crimes. Applying for military was completely voluntary. Alexander also released all of the Decembrists, who are people who tried to overthrow his father in 1825 and the Poles, who revolted in 1830. He also lifted restrictions for travelling, 26,000 passports were granted in 1859. Allowing people to travel to Western Europe and learning more about liberal culture and allowing Russia to catch up with the rest of…
- 1434 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays -
The effects of Alexander's conquests and politics on the West are well documented. His might secured Greece (and perhaps Europe) from a mounting Persian threat, setting the stage for the later Roman conquest and absorption of Hellenistic civilization. Had Alexander failed at Issus, Granicus, or any number of other critical battles, it is entirely possible that Persians rather than Athenians would have dictated Western thought. Moreover, until his premature death, Alexander held in his hands a power than no man, before or since, has known: the power to bring peace and stability to the known world, uniting it under one banner. This notion traveled forward through time, from Greeks to Romans, and from Romans to Europeans. His lessons of organization, acceptance, and political integration have informed the decisions of countless leaders since, and, most notably, his image has carried forward through time to become one of the most memorable figures in history: Alexander the Great, the man who sought to be a god.…
- 660 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays