RUSSIAN+RULERS

In the time period between 1800 and 1900 Russia was ruled by five leaders who each impacted Russia in different ways. This timeline shows the events caused by the five following rulers. [|Russian timeline (1800-1900)] <-THE MAIN LINK

Aleksandr Pavlovich Romanov or Czar Alexander I (1777- 1825) came to power in 1801 after the mysterious murder of his father, Czar Paul I. Alexander was taught by a liberal tutor from  Switzerland   named   Fre   deric Cesar de Laharpe, he instilled liberal free-thinking ideals into Alexander. After he came into power he quickly set up a secret committee of his friends named “Comite du salut public” ironically meaning the Committee of Public Safety which was influenced by the French Revolution. He had very radical ideas and wanted to westernize Russia. He even wanted to abolish serfdom in Russia; however, he realized he couldn’t because it would make Russia’s system (which was based off serfdom) collapse. Alexander I was the one to stop Napoleon from conquering the rest of Europe by luring him deep into Russian Territory and then driving him back out. This act enabled other European powers to capture the weakened Napoleon. (for more information refer to main link) Alexander was a very liberal czar for his time, who admired much of the French idealogy that spawned from the French Revolution. In December 1825 Alexander I mysteriously died in the faraway city of Taganrog leaving his younger brother Nicholas the position of power. [|ALEXANDER THE FIRST] http://www.biographybase.com/biography/Alexander_I_of_Russia.html http://www.answers.com/topic/the-brothers-karamazov-novel-5http://www.answers.com/topic/the-brothers-karamazov-novel-5 photo: http://www.ddg.com/LIS/InfoDesignF97/camilla/Portalex
 * ALEX NUMERO UNO**

Nikolai Pavlovich Romanov  or Czar Nicholas I (1796-1855) came into power when his brother Czar Alexander died in 1825. In childhood his parents were both busy and had little time for him or his siblings. His mother was very cold and distant however he remembered his father as loving and considerate. Alexander had decided upon Nicholas as his successor, which was revolted against by a group of aristocratic officers who became known as the Decembrists. (more information on the decembrist uprising on main link) Nicholas was hesitant to stop this revolt at first but when he finally did he firmly crushed securing his position as the Czar of Russia. During his reign he established the Nicholas System, based on the idea of "One Tsar, One Faith, One Nation". Nicholas was a forceful leader who wanted to condense all of Russia ’s people to conform to his system by taking away their different religions and their ethnic identities. The people refused to cooperate until he forcefully implemented his plan. Nicholas relied heavily on the bureaucracy that fed him false stories about the prosperity of the nation. This reliance put Russia in an overall bad position. Other countries started to form against Russia, and due to the faulty information Nicholas had been receiving the nation was unprepared. Nicholas therefore felt personally responsible for Russia ’s failure in the war. On February 18, 1855 Nicholas died from a bad cold. http://www.alexanderpalace.org/palace/NickolasPavlovich.html photo: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/Tsar_Nicholas_I.PNG
 * NICK NUMERO UNO**

** Aleksandr Nikolaevich Romanov or better known as Czar Alexander II (1818-1881) took over the empire when his father Nicholas I died in 1855. Through his fathers decree he had many tutors and undertook rigorous military training to give him personal strength and character. Alexander recognized the backwardness of  Russia   at the time with their continuing use of serfdom. He realized if  Russia   was going to catch up with the other world powers they would have to westernize immediately. Although it was against his council to do so, he abolished serfdom altogether by issuing the Emancipation Manifesto. Unfortunately the sudden loss of serfdom, which was the basis for the Russian society, created damaging results. (more information on abolishing serfdom refer to main link) Besides abolishing serfdom he gave certain districts the authority to build roads, schools and provide medical services. He also established other new systems including a universal military service and municipal and legal reorganization. Many people however were dissatisfied with the new reforms he had made and continued to threaten his life. They complained for more, which Alexander tried to appease with the idea of a constitution. Unfortunately Alexander was killed by a terrorist group on his way to the winter palace and a constitution was never made. (more information on Alexander's death refer to the main link)(more information on terrorist group a.k.a. the radical populists refer to the main link) http://www.alexanderpalace.org/palace/AlexIIbio.html photo: http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/46/13546-004-483DC552.jpg
 * ALEX NUMERO DOS

Aleksandr Alexandrovich Romanov or Czar Alexander III (1845-1894) was the second son of Alexander II. After seeing how his father died he was determined to rule differently. He didn’t want to subject himself to the same fate as his father by trying to increase the rights of the people. So instead of liberating the people he wanted to control them. He was what many people called the ideal czar with his 6’4’’ frame and forceful attitude. Growing up he was heavily influenced by his tutor, Constantine Petrovich Pobedonostsev, and taught that democratic ideas were a threat to the state and should be crushed. Along with democratic views being a threat he also felt a charged racism towards Jews who he called “Christ Killers.” He reversed the reforms his father had made and went back to an extreme autocracy. He strengthened Russia ’s standing as a World Power by improving the military. In 1894 Alexander died of Nephritis leaving his unprepared son Nicolas II to rule. By trying to avoid his father’s downfall he ruled in the opposite direction, against what the industrial revolution was trying to enforce. Little did he know that the country he was trying to protect was only weakened through his autocracy. http://alexanderpalace.org/palace/alexbio.html photo: http://www.antiquemapsandprints.com/scansj/j-20099.jpg
 * ALEX NUMERO TRES**

Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov or Nicholas II, son of Maria Fyodorovna Romanova and Alexander Alexandrovich Romanov, was the final Tsar of Russia. Born May 6, 1868, Nicholas was not like the rest. Most males in his family were very large and intimidating, he however was not, taking on a body type much like his mother. It was said that Nicholas was very well educated, however his family held him back socially. The way his family had isolated him to the “real world” was slowly deteriorating his abilities to rule over Russia properly. Although he had that against him, Nicholas was rather fond of the military, and even made the rank of Colonel in the Life Guards. Although he was fond of the military he often didn't know how to approach his men properly before going into battle. At this point in his life, Nicholas was making friendships with surrounding men and enjoying his life to the fullest extent. Nicholas ended up marrying a woman named Alix of Hesse, who was a German princess. Because of her German descent the people didn't trust her. Their engagement took place in 1893, and all seemed well until his father died the following year, due to a case of nephritis (inflammation of the kidney). Although they had several children it wasn't until their last one that they conceived the desired son. However the son born was born with hemophilia and therefore would most likey die at a young age.  Everything was suddenly happening too fast for Nicholas, but he felt ruling was something he was drawn to do. His then very upbeat personality came crashing down especially when his wife started to rely on a mysterious monk named Rasputin to help heal their son. Due to this, he had found that his passion was more for Russia, then his own family. His love of Russia became apparent when he decided he’d live more in the countryside area, rather than the palace. He worked alone, and worked very hard, making decisions based upon his gut-feelings. As time passed it seemed as though his family had proven him correct, he was not cut out for the demanding role of ruling Russia. Being that all his decisions were based upon personal feelings, rather than facts and figures, Nicholas was seen as a failure, and was falling apart, physically and mentally. http://alexanderpalace.org/palace/AlexPalaceNRbio.html photo: http://department.monm.edu/classics/images/NicholasII.jpg
 * NICK NUMERO DOS**

BY: LINDSEY HOLTY - MEAGHAN GOODLOE - KRISTEN GOEDDE