Cossacks during the reign of Alexander III. Tsar's children in Gatchina. Children of Alexander III
The name of Emperor Alexander III, one of the greatest statesmen Russia, for many years it was consigned to desecration and oblivion. And only in recent decades, when the opportunity arose to speak unbiasedly and freely about the past, evaluate the present and think about the future, the public service of Emperor Alexander III arouses great interest of all who are interested in the history of their country.
Emperor Alexander III was not destined to reign by birth. Being the second son of Alexander II, he became the heir to the Russian throne only after premature death his elder brother Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich in 1865. At the same time, on April 12, 1865, the Highest Manifesto announced to Russia the proclamation of Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich as the heir-Tsarevich, and a year later the Tsarevich married the Danish princess Dagmara, who was named Maria Fedorovna in marriage.
On the anniversary of his brother’s death on April 12, 1866, he wrote in his diary: “I will never forget this day... the first funeral service over the body of a dear friend... I thought in those minutes that I would not survive my brother, that I would constantly cry at just one thought that I no longer have a brother and friend. But God strengthened me and gave me strength to take on my new assignment. Perhaps I often forgot my purpose in the eyes of others, but in my soul there was always this feeling that I should not live for myself, but for others; heavy and difficult duty. But: “Thy will be done, O God”. I repeat these words constantly, and they always console and support me, because everything that happens to us is all the will of God, and therefore I am calm and trust in the Lord!” The awareness of the gravity of obligations and responsibility for the future of the state, entrusted to him from above, did not leave the new emperor throughout his short life.
The educators of Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich were Adjutant General, Count V.A. Perovsky, a man of strict moral rules, appointed by his grandfather Emperor Nicholas I. The education of the future emperor was supervised by the famous economist, professor at Moscow University A.I. Chivilev. Academician Y.K. Grot taught Alexander history, geography, Russian and German languages; prominent military theorist M.I. Dragomirov - tactics and military history, CM. Soloviev - Russian history. The future emperor studied political and legal sciences, as well as Russian legislation, from K.P. Pobedonostsev, who had a special influence on Alexander great influence. After graduation, Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich traveled throughout Russia several times. It was these trips that laid in him not only a love and the foundations of a deep interest in the fate of the Motherland, but also formed an understanding of the problems facing Russia.
As heir to the throne, the Tsarevich participated in meetings of the State Council and the Committee of Ministers, was the chancellor of the University of Helsingfors, ataman of the Cossack troops, and commander of the guards units in St. Petersburg. In 1868, when Russia suffered a severe famine, he became the head of a commission formed to provide assistance to the victims. During the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878. he commanded the Rushchuk detachment, which played an important and difficult role tactically: it held back the Turks from the east, facilitating the actions of the Russian army, which was besieging Plevna. Understanding the need to strengthen Russian fleet, The Tsarevich made an ardent appeal to the people for donations to the Russian fleet. In a short time the money was collected. The Volunteer Fleet ships were built on them. It was then that the heir to the throne became convinced that Russia had only two friends: its army and navy.
He was interested in music fine arts and history, was one of the initiators of the creation of the Russian historical society and its chairman, was engaged in collecting collections of antiquities and restoring historical monuments.
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The government, formed with the participation of the Chief Prosecutor of the Holy Synod K.P. Pobedonostsev, concentrated his attention on strengthening the “traditionalist” principles in politics, economics and culture Russian Empire. In the 80s - mid 90s. a series of legislative acts appeared that limited the nature and actions of those reforms of the 60-70s, which, according to the emperor, did not correspond to the historical purpose of Russia. Trying to prevent the destructive force of the opposition movement, the emperor introduced restrictions on zemstvo and city self-government. The elective principle in the magistrate court was reduced, and in the counties the execution of judicial duties was transferred to the newly established zemstvo chiefs.
At the same time, steps were taken aimed at developing the state's economy, strengthening finances and carrying out military reforms, and resolving agrarian-peasant and national-religious issues. The young emperor also paid attention to the development material well-being his subjects: he founded the Ministry of Agriculture to improve agriculture, established noble and peasant land banks, with the assistance of which nobles and peasants could acquire land property, patronized domestic industry (by increasing customs duties on foreign goods), and by building new canals and railways, including through Belarus, contributed to the revival of the economy and trade.
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State policy in Belarus was dictated, first of all, by the reluctance to “forcibly break the historically established system of life” of the local population, the “forceful eradication of languages” and the desire to ensure that “foreigners become modern sons, and not remain eternal adopted children of the country.” It was at this time that general imperial legislation, administrative and political management and the education system were finally established on the Belarusian lands. At the same time, the authority of the Orthodox Church rose.
In foreign policy affairs, Alexander III tried to avoid military conflicts, which is why he went down in history as the “Tsar-Peacemaker.” The main direction of the new political course was to ensure Russian interests by seeking support for “ourselves.” Having become closer to France, with which Russia had no controversial interests, he concluded a peace treaty with her, thereby establishing an important balance between European states. Another extremely important policy direction for Russia was maintaining stability in Central Asia, which shortly before the reign of Alexander III became part of the Russian Empire. The borders of the Russian Empire then advanced to Afghanistan. In this vast space, a railway was laid connecting the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea with the center of Russian Central Asian possessions - Samarkand and the river. Amu Darya. In general, Alexander III persistently strove for complete unification of all border regions with indigenous Russia. To this end, he abolished the Caucasian governorship, destroyed the privileges of the Baltic Germans and prohibited foreigners, including Poles, from acquiring land in Western Russia, including Belarus.
The emperor also worked hard to improve military affairs: the Russian army was significantly enlarged and armed with new weapons; Several fortresses were built on the western border. The navy under him became one of the strongest in Europe.
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An extremely important matter of the era of Alexander III were parochial schools. The Emperor saw the parish school as one of the forms of cooperation between the State and the Church. The Orthodox Church, in his opinion, has been the educator and teacher of the people from time immemorial. For centuries, schools at churches were the first and only schools in Rus', including Belaya. Until the mid-60s. In the 19th century, almost exclusively priests and other members of the clergy were tutors in rural schools. On June 13, 1884, the Emperor approved the “Rules on Parish Schools.” Approving them, the emperor wrote in a report about them: “I hope that the parish clergy will be worthy of their high calling in this important matter.” Church and parochial schools began to open in many places in Russia, often in the most remote and remote villages. Often they were the only source of education for the people. At the accession of Emperor Alexander III to the throne, there were only about 4,000 parochial schools in the Russian Empire. In the year of his death there were 31,000 of them and they educated more than a million boys and girls.
Along with the number of schools, their position also strengthened. Initially, these schools were based on church funds, on funds from church fraternities and trustees and individual benefactors. Later, the state treasury came to their aid. To manage all parochial schools, a special school council was formed under the Holy Synod, publishing textbooks and literature necessary for education. While taking care of the parochial school, the emperor realized the importance of combining the fundamentals of education and upbringing in a public school. The emperor saw this education, which protects the people from the harmful influences of the West, in Orthodoxy. Therefore, Alexander III was especially attentive to the parish clergy. Before him, the parish clergy of only a few dioceses received support from the treasury. Under Alexander III, the release of funds from the treasury to provide for the clergy began. This order marked the beginning of improving the life of the Russian parish priest. When the clergy expressed gratitude for this undertaking, he said: “I will be quite happy when I manage to provide for all the rural clergy.”
Emperor Alexander III treated the development of higher and secondary education in Russia with the same care. During his short reign, Tomsk University and a number of industrial schools were opened.
The tsar's family life was impeccable. From his diary, which he kept daily when he was his heir, one can study the daily life of an Orthodox person no worse than from the famous book by Ivan Shmelev “The Summer of the Lord.” Alexander III received true pleasure from church hymns and sacred music, which he valued much higher than secular music.
Emperor Alexander reigned for thirteen years and seven months. Constant worries and intensive studies early on broke his strong nature: he began to feel increasingly unwell. Before the death of Alexander III, St. confessed and received communion. John of Kronstadt. Not for a minute did the king’s consciousness leave him; Having said goodbye to his family, he said to his wife: “I feel the end. Be calm. “I am completely calm”... “About half past 3 he took communion,” the new Emperor Nicholas II wrote in his diary on the evening of October 20, 1894, “slight convulsions soon began, ... and the end quickly came!” O. John more than an hour stood at the head of the head and held his head. It was the death of a saint!” Alexander III died in his Livadia Palace (in Crimea) before reaching his fiftieth birthday.
The personality of the emperor and his significance for the history of Russia are rightly expressed in the following verses:
In the hour of turmoil and struggle, having ascended under the shadow of the throne,
He extended his powerful hand.
And the noisy sedition around them froze.
Like a dying fire.
He understood the spirit of Rus' and believed in its strength,
Loved its space and breadth,
He lived like a Russian Tsar, and he went to his grave,
Like a true Russian hero.
Biography of Emperor Alexander III Alexandrovich
Emperor of All Russia, second son of Emperor Alexander II and Empress Maria Alexandrovna, Alexander III was born on February 26, 1845, ascended the royal throne on March 2, 1881, died November 1, 1894)
He received his education from his tutor, Adjutant General Perovsky, and his immediate supervisor, the famous professor at Moscow University, economist Chivilev. In addition to general and special military education, Alexander was taught political and legal sciences by invited professors from St. Petersburg and Moscow universities.
After the premature death of his elder brother, heir-Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich on April 12, 1865, hotly mourned by the royal family and the entire Russian people, Alexander Alexandrovich, having become heir-Tsarevich, began to continue both theoretical studies and perform many duties in state affairs .
Marriage
1866, October 28 - Alexander married the daughter of the Danish King Christian IX and Queen Louise Sophia Frederica Dagmara, who was named Maria Feodorovna upon marriage. The happy family life of the sovereign heir bound the Russian people with the royal family with bonds of good hopes. God blessed the marriage: on May 6, 1868, Grand Duke Nikolai Alexandrovich was born. In addition to the heir, the Tsarevich, their august children: Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich, born April 27, 1871; Grand Duchess Ksenia Alexandrovna, born March 25, 1875, Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich, born November 22, 1878, Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, born June 1, 1882.
Ascension to the throne
The accession of Alexander III to the royal throne followed on March 2, 1881, after the martyrdom of his father, the Tsar-Liberator, on March 1.
Seventeenth Romanov was a man of strong will and exceptionally purposeful. He was distinguished by his amazing capacity for work, could calmly think through every issue, was straightforward and sincere in his resolutions, and did not tolerate deception. Being an extremely truthful person himself, he hated liars. “His words never differed from his deeds, and he was an outstanding person by nobility and purity of heart,” this is how Alexander III was characterized by the people who were in his service. Over the years, the philosophy of his life was formed: to be an example of moral purity, honesty, justice and diligence for his subjects.
Reign of Alexander III
Under Alexander III, military service was reduced to 5 years of active service, and the life of soldiers improved significantly. He himself could not stand the military spirit, did not tolerate parades, and was even a bad horseman.
Solving economic and social issues was what Alexander III saw as his main task. And he devoted himself, first of all, to the cause of state development.
To get acquainted with different regions of Russia, the tsar often made trips to cities and villages and could see firsthand the difficult life of the Russian people. In general, the emperor was distinguished by his commitment to everything Russian - in this he was not like the previous Romanovs. He was called the truly Russian Tsar not only because appearance, but also in spirit, forgetting that by blood he was most likely a German.
During the reign of this tsar, the words were first heard: “Russia for the Russians.” A decree was issued prohibiting foreigners from buying real estate in the western regions of Russia, a newspaper fuss arose against the dependence of Russian industry on the Germans, the first pogroms against Jews began, and “temporary” rules for Jews were issued that severely infringed on their rights. Jews were not admitted to gymnasiums, universities and other educational institutions. And in some provinces they were simply forbidden to reside or enter public service.
Alexander III in his youth
This king, incapable of cunning or ingratiating himself, had his own specific attitude towards foreigners. First of all, he disliked the Germans and did not have any kindred feelings towards the German House. After all, his wife was not a German princess, but belonged to the royal house of Denmark, which was not on friendly terms with Germany. The mother of this first Danish woman on the Russian throne, the smart and intelligent wife of King Christian IX of Denmark, was nicknamed “the mother of all Europe,” as she was able to wonderfully accommodate her 4 children: Dagmara became the Russian queen; Alexandra, the eldest daughter, married the Prince of Wales, who, even during the life of Queen Victoria, played an active role in the state, and then became the king of Great Britain; son Frederick, after the death of his father, ascended the Danish throne, the youngest, George, became the Greek king; the grandchildren intermarried almost all of them royal houses Europe.
Alexander III was also distinguished by the fact that he did not like excessive luxury and was absolutely indifferent to etiquette. He lived almost all the years of his reign in Gatchina, 49 kilometers from St. Petersburg, in the beloved palace of his great-grandfather, whose personality he was especially drawn to, keeping his office intact. And the main halls of the palace were empty. And although there were 900 rooms in the Gatchina Palace, the emperor’s family did not live in luxurious apartments, but in the former premises for guests and servants.
The king and his wife, sons and two daughters lived in narrow small rooms with low ceilings, the windows of which looked out onto a wonderful park. Big beautiful park- what could be better for children! Games on fresh air, visits from numerous peers - relatives of the large Romanov family. Empress Maria, however, still preferred the city and every winter she begged the emperor to move to the capital. While sometimes agreeing to his wife’s requests, the Tsar nevertheless refused to live in the Winter Palace, finding it unfriendly and too luxurious. The imperial couple made the Anichkov Palace on Nevsky Prospect their residence.
The noisy court life and social bustle quickly bored the tsar, and the family moved to Gatchina again with the first days of spring. The emperor's enemies tried to claim that the king, frightened by the reprisal against his father, locked himself in Gatchina as if in a fortress, becoming, in fact, its prisoner.
The emperor actually did not like and was afraid of St. Petersburg. The shadow of his murdered father haunted him all his life, and he led a reclusive life, visiting the capital rarely and only on especially important occasions, preferring a lifestyle with his family, away from the “light.” And social life at court really somehow died out. Only the wife of Grand Duke Vladimir, the Tsar’s brother, the Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, gave receptions and held balls in her luxurious St. Petersburg palace. They were eagerly visited by members of the government, high dignitaries of the court and the diplomatic corps. It was thanks to this that Grand Duke Vladimir and his wife were considered as representatives of the Tsar in St. Petersburg, and the life of the court was actually centered around them.
And the emperor himself with his wife and children remained at a distance, fearing assassination attempts. Ministers had to come to Gatchina to report, and foreign ambassadors sometimes could not see the emperor for months. And the visits of guests - crowned heads during the reign of Alexander III were extremely rare.
Gatchina, in fact, was reliable: soldiers were on duty for several miles around day and night, and they stood at all the entrances and exits of the palace and park. There were even sentries at the door of the emperor's bedroom.
Personal life
Alexander III was happy in his marriage to the daughter of the Danish king. He not only “relaxed” with his family, but, in his words, “enjoyed family life.” The Emperor was good family man, and his main motto was consistency. Unlike his father, he adhered to strict morality and was not tempted by the pretty faces of the court ladies. He was inseparable from his Minnie, as he affectionately called his wife. The Empress accompanied him at balls and trips to the theater or concerts, on trips to holy places, at military parades, and while visiting various institutions.
Over the years, he increasingly took into account her opinion, but Maria Feodorovna did not take advantage of this, did not interfere in state affairs and did not make any attempts to influence her husband in any way or contradict him in anything. She was an obedient wife and treated her husband with great respect. And I couldn’t do it any other way.
The emperor kept his family in unconditional obedience. Alexander, while still a crown prince, gave the following instruction to the teacher of his eldest sons, Madame Ollengren: “Neither I nor the Grand Duchess want to turn them into greenhouse flowers. “They should pray well to God, study science, play ordinary children’s games, and be naughty in moderation. Teach well, do not give any concessions, ask as strictly as possible, and most importantly, do not encourage laziness. If there is anything, then contact me directly, and I know what to do. I repeat that I don’t need porcelain. I need normal Russian children. They'll fight, please. But the prover gets the first whip. This is my very first requirement."
Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna
Having become king, Alexander demanded obedience from all the great princes and princesses, although among them there were persons much older than him. In this respect he was in effect the head of all the Romanovs. He was not only revered, but also feared. The seventeenth Romanov on the Russian throne developed a special “family status” for the Russian reigning House. According to this status, from now on only the direct descendants of the Russian tsars in the male line, as well as the tsar’s brothers and sisters, were entitled to the title of Grand Duke with the addition of Imperial Highness. The great-grandchildren of the reigning emperor and their eldest sons had the right only to the title of prince with the addition of highness.
Every morning the emperor got up at 7 a.m. and washed his face. cold water, dressed in simple, comfortable clothes, made himself a cup of coffee, ate a few pieces of black bread and a couple of hard-boiled eggs. Having had a modest breakfast, he sat down at his desk. The whole family was already gathering for second breakfast.
One of the king's favorite recreational activities was hunting and fishing. Rising before dawn and taking a gun, he went to the swamps or forest for the whole day. He could stand in knee-deep water in high boots for hours and catch fish with a fishing rod in the Gatchina pond. Sometimes this activity pushed even state affairs into the background. Famous aphorism Alexandra: “Europe can wait while the Russian Tsar fishes” made the rounds in the newspapers of many countries. Sometimes the emperor gathered a small society in his Gatchina house to perform chamber music. He himself played the bassoon, and played with feeling and quite well. From time to time, amateur performances were staged and artists were invited.
Assassination attempts on the emperor
During his not so frequent trips, the emperor forbade escorting his crew, considering this a completely unnecessary measure. But along the entire road the soldiers stood in an unbroken chain - to the surprise of foreigners. Travel by rail - to St. Petersburg or Crimea - was also accompanied by all sorts of precautions. Long before the passage of Alexander III, soldiers with guns loaded with live ammunition were stationed along the entire route. The railway switches were tightly clogged. Passenger trains were diverted to sidings in advance.
Nobody knew which train the sovereign would be traveling on. There was no single “royal” train at all, but several trains of “extreme importance.” They were all disguised as royal ones, and no one could know which train the emperor and his family were on. It was a secret. The soldiers standing in line saluted each such train.
But all this could not prevent the train from crashing from Yalta to St. Petersburg. It was carried out by terrorists at the Borki station, near Kharkov, in 1888: the train derailed and almost all the cars crashed. The emperor and his family were having lunch at this time in the dining car. The roof collapsed, but the king, thanks to his gigantic strength, was able to hold it on his shoulders with incredible effort and held it until his wife and children got out of the train. The emperor himself received several injuries, which, apparently, resulted in his fatal kidney disease. But, having got out from under the rubble, he, without losing his cool, ordered immediate assistance to the wounded and those who were still under the rubble.
So what? royal family?
The Empress received only bruises and contusions, but the eldest daughter, Ksenia, injured her spine and remained hunchbacked - perhaps that’s why she was married off to a relative. Other family members suffered only minor injuries.
Official reports described the event as a train crash of unknown cause. Despite all efforts, the police and gendarmes were unable to solve this crime. As for the salvation of the emperor and his family, this was talked about as a miracle.
A year before the train crash, an assassination attempt on Alexander III was already being prepared, which fortunately did not take place. On Nevsky Prospect, the street along which the Tsar had to travel to attend a memorial service in the Peter and Paul Cathedral on the occasion of the sixth anniversary of his father's death, young people were arrested holding bombs made in the shape of ordinary books. They reported to the emperor. He ordered that the participants in the assassination be dealt with without unnecessary publicity. Among those arrested and then executed was Alexander Ulyanov, the elder brother of the future leader of the October Bolshevik Revolution, Vladimir Ulyanov-Lenin, who even then set himself the goal of fighting against the autocracy, but not through terror, like his older brother.
Alexander III himself, the father of the last Russian emperor, mercilessly crushed opponents of the autocracy throughout the 13 years of his reign. Hundreds of his political enemies were sent into exile. Ruthless censorship controlled the press. Powerful police reduced the zeal of the terrorists and kept the revolutionaries under surveillance.
Domestic and foreign policy
The situation in the state was sad and difficult. Already the first manifesto on accession to the throne, and especially the manifesto of April 29, 1881, expressed the exact program of both foreign and domestic policy: maintaining order and power, observing the strictest justice and economy, returning to the original Russian principles and ensuring Russian interests everywhere .
In external affairs, this calm firmness of the emperor immediately gave rise to a convincing confidence in Europe that, with complete reluctance to any conquests, Russian interests would be inexorably protected. This largely ensured European world. The firmness expressed by the government regarding Central Asia and Bulgaria, as well as the meetings of the sovereign with the German and Austrian emperors, only served to strengthen the conviction that had arisen in Europe that the direction of Russian policy was completely determined.
He entered into an alliance with France in order to obtain loans that were necessary for the construction of railways in Russia, begun by his grandfather, Nicholas I. Not liking the Germans, the emperor began to support German industrialists in order to attract their capital for the development of the economy of the state, in every possible way promote the expansion of trade relations. And during his reign, much changed in Russia for the better.
Not wanting war or any acquisitions, Emperor Alexander III had to increase the possessions of the Russian Empire during the clashes in the east, and, moreover, without military action, since the victory of General A.V. Komarov over the Afghans at the Kushka River was an accidental, completely unforeseen clash.
But this brilliant victory had a huge impact on the peaceful annexation of the Turkmens, and then on the expansion of Russia’s possessions in the south to the borders of Afghanistan when the border line was established in 1887 between the Murghab River and the Amu Darya River on the side of Afghanistan, which has since become an Asian territory adjacent to Russia by the state.
On this vast expanse that had recently entered Russia, a railway was laid that connected the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea with the center of Russian Central Asian possessions - Samarkand and the Amu Darya River.
In internal affairs, many new regulations were issued.
Alexander III with children and wife
The development of the great cause of the economic structure of the multimillion-dollar peasantry in Russia, as well as the increase in the number of peasants suffering from a lack of land allotment as a result of the increasing population, caused the establishment of the government Peasant Land Bank with its branches. The bank was entrusted with an important mission - to assist in issuing loans for the purchase of land both to entire peasant societies and to peasant partnerships and individual peasants. For the same purpose, to provide assistance to noble landowners who were in difficult economic conditions, the government Noble Bank was opened in 1885.
Significant reforms appeared in the matter of public education.
In the military department, military gymnasiums were transformed into cadet corps.
Another great desire overwhelmed Alexander: to strengthen the religious education of the people. After all, what were the masses of Orthodox Christians in their majority like? In their souls, many still remained pagans, and if they worshiped Christ, they did it, rather, out of habit, and, as a rule, because this was the custom in Rus' from time immemorial. And what a disappointment it was for the believing commoner to learn that Jesus was, it turns out, a Jew... By order of the tsar, who himself was distinguished by deep religiosity, three-year parochial schools began to open at churches, where parishioners studied not only the Law of God, but also studied literacy And this was extremely important for Russia, where only 2.5% of the population was literate.
The Holy Governing Synod is instructed to assist the ministry public education in the field of public schools by opening parish schools at churches.
The general university charter of 1863 was replaced by a new charter on August 1, 1884, which completely changed the position of universities: direct management of universities and direct command of a broadly assigned inspection was entrusted to the trustee of the educational district, rectors were elected by the minister and approved by the highest authority, the appointment of professors was given to the minister, the degree of candidate and the title of full student are destroyed, which is why final examinations in universities are destroyed and replaced by examinations in government commissions.
At the same time, they began to revise the regulations on gymnasiums and the highest order was taken to expand vocational education.
The court area was also not ignored. The procedure for administering a jury trial was supplemented with new rules in 1889, and in the same year judicial reform spread to the Baltic provinces, in relation to which a firm decision was made to implement local government general principles of management available throughout Russia, with the introduction of the Russian language in office work.
Death of the Emperor
It seemed that the peacemaker king, this hero, would reign for a long time. A month before the king’s death, no one imagined that his body was already “wear and tear.” Alexander III died unexpectedly for everyone, one year short of his 50th birthday. The cause of his premature death was kidney disease, which was aggravated by the dampness of the premises in Gatchina. The sovereign did not like to undergo treatment and almost never spoke about his illness.
1894, summer - hunting in the swamps weakened his health even more: headaches, insomnia and weakness in the legs appeared. He was forced to turn to doctors. He was recommended to rest, preferably in the warm climate of Crimea. But the emperor was not the kind of person who was capable of disrupting his plans just because he was not feeling well. After all, at the beginning of the year, a trip to Poland with my family was planned in September to spend a couple of weeks at a hunting lodge in Spala.
The sovereign's condition remained unimportant. A major specialist in kidney diseases, Professor Leiden, was urgently summoned from Vienna. After carefully examining the patient, he diagnosed nephritis. At his insistence, the family immediately left for Crimea, to the summer Livadia Palace. The dry, warm Crimean air had a beneficial effect on the king. His appetite improved, his legs became so strong that he could go ashore, enjoy the surf, take sunbathing. Surrounded by the care of the best Russian and foreign doctors, as well as his loved ones, the tsar began to feel much better. However, the improvement turned out to be temporary. The change for the worse came abruptly, the strength began to fade quickly...
On the morning of the first day of November, the emperor insisted that he be allowed to get out of bed and sit in the chair that stood by the window. He told his wife: “I think my time has come. Don't be sad about me. I am completely calm." A little later, the children and the bride of the eldest son were called. The king did not want to be put to bed. With a smile, he looked at his wife, kneeling in front of his chair, her lips whispering: “I have not died yet, but I have already seen an angel...” Immediately after noon, the king-hero died, bowing his head on the shoulder of his beloved wife.
It was the most peaceful death in the last century of Romanov rule. Pavel was brutally killed, his son Alexander passed away, leaving behind a unsolved mystery, another son, Nicholas, despairing and disappointed, most likely, of his own free will, ceased to exist on earth, while Alexander II - the father of the peacefully deceased giant - became a victim of terrorists who called themselves opponents of autocracy and executors of the people's will.
Alexander III died after reigning for only 13 years. He fell into an eternal sleep on a wonderful autumn day, sitting in a huge “Voltaire” chair.
Two days before his death, Alexander III told his eldest son, the future heir to the throne: “You have to take the heavy burden of state power from my shoulders and carry it to the grave just as I carried it and as our ancestors carried it... Autocracy created historical individuality Russia. If the autocracy collapses, God forbid, then Russia will collapse with it. The fall of the primordial Russian power will open an endless era of unrest and bloody civil strife... Be strong and courageous, never show weakness.”
Yes! The seventeenth Romanov turned out to be a great seer. His prophecy came true in a little less than a quarter of a century...
Alexander III (1845-1894), Russian Emperor(since 1881).
Born on March 10, 1845 in Tsarskoe Selo. Second son of Emperor Alexander II. After the death of his elder brother Nicholas (1865), he became the heir.
In 1866, Alexander married the fiancee of his deceased brother, the daughter of the Danish king Christian IX, Princess Sophia Frederica Dagmar (in Orthodoxy, Maria Fedorovna).
He ascended the throne on March 13, 1881 in a difficult political and economic situation: the terrorist activities of the Narodnaya Volya reached their climax, the war with Turkey completely upset the finances and monetary system Russian Empire. The murder of Alexander II set the new emperor against the liberals, whom he considered responsible for the death of his father.
Alexander III canceled the draft constitutional reform; his manifesto of May 11, 1881 expressed the program of domestic and foreign policy: maintaining order and the spirit of church piety in the country, strengthening power, protecting national interests. Censorship was strengthened, university autonomy was eliminated, and the gymnasium was prohibited from admitting children of the lower class.
The result of the activities of Alexander III was the conservation of the existing system.
Government policy contributed to the further development of trade and industry, and the elimination of the budget deficit, which made it possible to switch to gold circulation and created the preconditions for a powerful economic recovery in the second half of the 90s. XIX century
In 1882, the government established the Peasant Land Bank, which issued loans to peasants to purchase land, which contributed to the creation of private land ownership among the peasants.
On March 13, 1887, Narodnaya Volya members made an attempt on the life of the emperor. A week later, on March 20, the participants in the failed murder attempt were hanged.
The thirteen-year reign of Alexander III passed peacefully, without major military clashes, for which he was called the peacemaker king.
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Alexander III Alexandrovich Romanov
Years of life: February 26, 1845, Anichkov Palace, St. Petersburg - October 20, 1894, Livadia Palace, Crimea.
Son of Maria Alexandrovna, recognized daughter of Grand Duke Ludwig II of Hesse and Emperor.
Emperor of All Russia (March 1 (13), 1881 - October 20 (November 1), 1894), Tsar of Poland and Grand Duke of Finland from March 1, 1881.
From the Romanov dynasty.
He was awarded a special epithet in pre-revolutionary historiography - Peacemaker.
Biography of Alexander III
He was the 2nd son in the imperial family. Born on February 26 (March 10), 1845 in Tsarskoye Selo, his elder brother was preparing to inherit the throne.
The mentor who had a strong influence on his worldview was K.P. Pobedonostsev.
As crown prince, he became a member of the State Council, commander of guards units and ataman of all Cossack troops.
During Russian-Turkish war 1877–1878 he was the commander of the Separate Rushchuk detachment in Bulgaria. Created the Voluntary Fleet of Russia (since 1878), which became the core of the country's merchant fleet and the reserve of the Russian navy.
After the death of his elder brother Nicholas in 1865, he became heir to the throne.
In 1866, he married the fiancee of his deceased brother, the daughter of the Danish king Christian IX, Princess Sophia Frederica Dagmar, who took the name Maria Feodorovna in Orthodoxy.
Emperor Alexander 3
Having ascended the throne after the assassination of Alexander II on March 1 (13), 1881. 
(his father’s legs were blown off by a terrorist bomb, and his son spent the last hours of his life next to him), canceled the draft constitutional reform signed by his father immediately before his death. He stated that Russia would pursue a peaceful policy and deal with internal problems - strengthening the autocracy.
His manifesto on April 29 (May 11), 1881 reflected the program of domestic and foreign policy. The main priorities were: maintaining order and power, strengthening church piety and ensuring the national interests of Russia.
Reforms of Alexander 3
The Tsar created the state Peasant Land Bank to issue loans to peasants to purchase land, and also issued a number of laws that eased the situation of workers.
Alexander 3 pursued a tough policy of Russification, which encountered opposition from some Finns and Poles.
After Bismarck's resignation from the post of Chancellor of Germany in 1893, Alexander III Alexandrovich entered into an alliance with France (French-Russian alliance).
In foreign policy, for years of reign of Alexander 3 Russia has firmly taken a leading position in Europe. Possessing enormous physical strength, the tsar symbolized the power and invincibility of Russia for other states. One day, the Austrian ambassador began to threaten him during lunch, promising to move a couple of army corps to the borders. The king listened silently, then took a fork from the table, tied it in a knot and threw it on the ambassador's plate. “This is what we will do with your couple of buildings,” answered the king.
Domestic policy of Alexander 3
Court etiquette and ceremony became much simpler. He significantly reduced the staff of the Ministry of the Court, the number of servants was reduced and strict control over the expenditure of money was introduced. At the same time, huge amounts of money were spent on purchasing art objects, since the emperor was a passionate collector. Under him, Gatchina Castle turned into a warehouse of priceless treasures, which later became a true national treasure of Russia.
Unlike all his predecessor rulers on the Russian throne, he adhered to strict family morals and was an exemplary family man - a loving husband and a good father. He was one of the most devout Russian sovereigns, firmly adhered to the Orthodox canons, willingly donated to monasteries, to the construction of new churches and the restoration of ancient ones.
He was passionate about hunting and fishing, and boating. The emperor's favorite hunting spot was Belovezhskaya Pushcha. He participated in archaeological excavations and loved to play the trumpet in a brass band.
The family had very warm relations. Every year the wedding date was celebrated. Evenings for children were often organized: circus and puppet shows. Everyone was attentive to each other and gave gifts.
The emperor was very hardworking. And yet, despite healthy image life, died young, before reaching the age of 50, completely unexpectedly. In October 1888, the royal train crashed near Kharkov. There were many casualties, but the royal family remained intact. With incredible efforts, Alexander held the collapsed roof of the carriage on his shoulders until help arrived.
But soon after this incident, the emperor began to complain of lower back pain. Doctors came to the conclusion that the terrible concussion from the fall was the onset of kidney disease. At the insistence of Berlin doctors, he was sent to Crimea, to Livadia, but the disease progressed.
On October 20, 1894, the emperor died. He was buried in St. Petersburg, in the Peter and Paul Cathedral.
The death of Emperor Alexander III caused an echo throughout the world, flags were lowered in France, and memorial services were held in all churches in England. Many foreign figures called him a peacemaker.
The Marquis of Salisbury said: “Alexander III saved Europe many times from the horrors of war. From his deeds the rulers of Europe should learn how to govern their people.”
He was married to the daughter of the Danish king Christian IX, Dagmara of Denmark (Maria Feodorovna). They had children:
- Nicholas II (May 18, 1868 - July 17, 1918),
- Alexander (May 20, 1869 - April 21, 1870),
- Georgy Alexandrovich (April 27, 1871 - June 28, 1899),
- Ksenia Alexandrovna (April 6, 1875 - April 20, 1960, London), also Romanova by marriage,
- Mikhail Alexandrovich (December 5, 1878 - June 13, 1918),
- Olga Alexandrovna (June 13, 1882 - November 24, 1960).
He had a military rank - general-from-infantry, general-from-cavalry (Russian imperial army). The emperor was distinguished by his enormous height.
In 1883, the so-called “coronation ruble” was issued in honor of the coronation of Alexander III.
©Fotodom.ru/REX
“Science will give the Sovereign Emperor his rightful place not only in the history of Russia and all of Europe, but also in Russian historiography, it will say that he won a victory in the area where it was most difficult to achieve victory, 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, sharpened and raised Russian historical thought, Russian national consciousness, and did all this so quietly and silently that only now, when he was no longer there, Europe understood what he was for her.” .
Vasily Osipovich Klyuchevsky
During the sacrament of confirmation, held on October 12, 1866 in the Great Cathedral of the Savior Not Made by Hands (Great Church) of the Winter Palace, the Danish princess Marie Sophie Frederikke Dagmar received a new name - Maria Feodorovna and a new title - Grand Duchess. “There is intelligence and character in facial expression,” wrote a contemporary of the future Russian empress. - Wonderful poems from the book. Vyazemsky is a match for that dear Dagmar, whose name he rightly calls a sweet word.” He is echoed by Ivan Sergeevich Aksakov: “The image of Dagmara, a 16-year-old girl combining tenderness and energy, appeared especially graceful and attractive. She absolutely captivated everyone with her childlike simplicity of heart and the naturalness of all her emotional movements.” Alas, the clever and beautiful woman outlived all four of her sons.
The thirteen and a half years of the reign of Alexander III were unusually calm. Russia has not waged wars. For this, the sovereign received the official nickname Tsar-Peacemaker. Although under his leadership, 114 new military vessels were launched, including 17 battleships and 10 armored cruisers. After the terrorist rampage under his father Alexander II and before the revolutionary turmoil that swept away his son Nicholas II, the reign of Alexander Alexandrovich seemed to be lost in the annals of history. Although it was he who became one of the initiators of the creation of the Imperial Russian Historical Society in May 1866 and its honorary chairman. The last public execution of the “People's Will” and terrorists who carried out the assassination attempt on Alexander II took place under Alexander III. His family consisted of 4 sons and 2 daughters.
Alexander Alexandrovich - Russian Grand Duke, second child and son, did not live even a year. He died in April 1870, 10 days after the birth of Volodya Ulyanov in Simbirsk. It is unlikely that the fate of “angel Alexander” would have turned out happier than that of his elder brother Nikolai Alexandrovich. Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich, the third child and son, died of tuberculosis at the age of 28 in the summer of 1899. In the Memoirs of Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich Romanov, when it comes to the three sons (Nicholas, George and Mikhail) of Alexander III, it is written: “George was the most gifted of all three, but died too young to have time to develop his brilliant abilities.”
The most tragic is the fate of the eldest Emperor Alexander in the family, the last Russian Tsar Nikolai Alexandrovich. The fate of his entire family is tragic and the fate of all of Russia is tragic.
Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich Romanov recalled that the youngest son of Alexander III, Mikhail Alexandrovich, “charmed everyone with the captivating simplicity of his manners. A favorite of his relatives, fellow officers and countless friends, he had a methodical mind and would have advanced to any position if he had not entered into his morganatic marriage. This happened when Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich had already reached maturity, and this put the Emperor in a very difficult position. The Emperor wished his brother complete happiness, but, as the Head of the Imperial Family, he had to follow the dictates of the Basic Laws. Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich married Mrs. Wulfert (the divorced wife of Captain Wulfert) in Vienna and settled in London. Thus, for many years preceding the war, Mikhail Alexandrovich was separated from his brother and, because of this, had nothing to do with government affairs.” Shot in 1918
Protopresbyter Georgy Shavelsky left the following note about the last Grand Duchess and the youngest in the Tsar’s family: “ Grand Duchess Among all the members of the imperial family, Olga Alexandrovna was distinguished by her extraordinary simplicity, accessibility, and democracy. On his estate in Voronezh province. she completely grew up: she walked around the village huts, nursed peasant children, etc. In St. Petersburg, she often walked on foot, rode in simple cabs, and really loved to talk with the latter.” She died the same year as her older sister Ksenia.
Ksenia Alexandrovna was her mother’s favorite, and in appearance she resembled her “dear Mom.” Prince Felix Feliksovich Yusupov later wrote about Grand Duchess Ksenia Alexandrovna: “She inherited her greatest advantage - personal charm - from her mother, Empress Maria Feodorovna. The look of her wondrous eyes penetrated the soul, her grace, kindness and modesty conquered everyone.”
