On November 1, 1894, a man named Alexander died in the Crimea. He was called the Third. But in his deeds he was worthy to be called the First. Or maybe even the only one.
It is about such kings that today's monarchists sigh. Perhaps they are right. Alexander III was truly great. Both human and emperor.
However, some dissidents of that time, including Vladimir Lenin, joked rather evilly at the emperor. In particular, they nicknamed him "Pineapple". True, Alexander himself gave a reason for this. In the manifesto "On Our Ascension to the Throne" dated April 29, 1881, it was clearly stated: "And on Us to impose a Sacred Duty." So when the document was read out, the king inevitably turned into an exotic fruit.
Reception of volost elders by Alexander III in the courtyard of the Petrovsky Palace in Moscow. Painting by I. Repin (1885-1886) In fact, this is unfair and dishonest. Alexander was remarkable for his amazing strength. He could easily break a horseshoe. He could easily bend silver coins in the palm of his hand. I could lift a horse on my shoulders. And even make him sit like a dog - this is recorded in the memoirs of his contemporaries.
At a dinner in the Winter Palace, when the Austrian ambassador started talking about the fact that his country was ready to form three corps of soldiers against Russia, he bent and tied a fork. Threw it towards the ambassador. And he said, "That's what I'll do with your hulls."
Height - 193 cm. Weight - more than 120 kg. It is not surprising that a peasant who accidentally saw the emperor at the railway station exclaimed: “This is the king, so the king, damn me!” The wicked peasant was immediately seized for "uttering indecent words in the presence of the sovereign." However, Alexander ordered the foul language to be released. Moreover, he rewarded him with a ruble with his own image: “Here is my portrait for you!”
What about his look? Beard? Crown? Remember the cartoon "Magic Ring"? “Ampirator drink tea. Motherly samovar! Each appliance of sieve bread has three pounds! It's all about him. He really could eat 3 pounds of sieve bread with tea, that is, about 1.5 kg.
At home, he liked to wear a simple Russian shirt. But always with sewing on the sleeves. He tucked his pants into boots, like a soldier. Even at official receptions, he allowed himself to go out in worn trousers, a jacket or a sheepskin coat.
Alexander III on the hunt. Slept (Kingdom of Poland). Late 1880s - early 1890s Photographer K. Beh. RGAKFD. Al. 958. Sn. 19. His phrase is often repeated: "While the Russian Tsar is fishing, Europe can wait." In reality, it was like that. Alexander was very correct. But he loved fishing and hunting. Therefore, when the German ambassador demanded an immediate meeting, Alexander said: “Pecking! It pecks at me! Germany can wait. I'll take it tomorrow at noon."
At an audience with the British ambassador, Alexander said:
“I will not allow encroachment on our people and our territory.
The ambassador replied:
“It could cause an armed clash with England!”
The king calmly remarked:
- Well, well ... Probably, we can do it.
And mobilized the Baltic Fleet. It was 5 times smaller than the forces that the British had at sea. And yet there was no war. The British calmed down and surrendered their positions in Central Asia.
After that, the British Minister of the Interior, Disraeli, called Russia “a huge, monstrous, terrible bear that hangs over Afghanistan, India. And our interests in the world."
In order to list the affairs of Alexander III, we need not a newspaper page, but a scroll 25 meters long. It gave a real exit to the Pacific Ocean - the Trans-Siberian Railway. He gave civil liberties to the Old Believers. He gave real freedom to the peasants - the former serfs under him got the opportunity to take solid loans, redeem their lands and farms. He made it clear that everyone is equal before the supreme power - he deprived some of the grand dukes of their privileges, reduced their payments from the treasury. By the way, each of them was entitled to a "allowance" in the amount of 250 thousand rubles. gold.
Indeed, one can yearn for such a sovereign. Alexander's older brother Nikolay(he died without ascending the throne) said about the future emperor like this:
“Pure, truthful, crystal soul. There's something wrong with the rest of us, fox. Alexander alone is truthful and correct in soul.
In Europe, they spoke about his death in much the same way: "We are losing an arbitrator who has always been guided by the idea of justice."
Emperor and Autocrat of All Russia Alexander III Alexandrovich Romanov The biggest deeds of Alexander III
The emperor is credited, and, apparently, not without reason, with the invention of a flat flask. And not just flat, but bent, the so-called "boot". Alexander liked to drink, but did not want others to know about his addictions. A flask of this shape is ideal for secret use.
It is he who owns the slogan, for which now you can seriously pay: "Russia is for the Russians." Nevertheless, his nationalism was not aimed at the treatment of national minorities. In any case, the Jewish deputation, headed by Baron Gunzburg expressed to the emperor "boundless gratitude for the measures taken to protect the Jewish population at this difficult time."
The construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway has begun - until now it is almost the only transport artery that somehow connects the whole of Russia. The Emperor also instituted the Railwayman's Day. Even the Soviet authorities did not cancel it, despite the fact that Alexander set the date of the holiday for the birthday of his grandfather Nicholas I, under which we began to build railways.
Actively fought against corruption. Not in words, but in deeds. The Minister of Railways Krivoshein and the Minister of Finance Abaza were sent to a shameful resignation for bribes. He did not bypass his relatives either - because of corruption, Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich and Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolayevich were deprived of their posts.
Emperor Alexander III with his family in the Private Garden of the Grand Gatchina Palace. History of the patch
Despite his more than noble position, conducive to luxury, extravagance and a cheerful lifestyle, which, for example, Catherine II managed to combine with reforms and decrees, Emperor Alexander III was so modest that this trait of his character became a favorite topic of conversation for his subjects. .
For example, there was an incident that one of the king's associates wrote down in his diary. He happened to be next to the emperor one of the days, and then some object suddenly fell from the table. Alexander III bent down to the floor to pick it up, and the courtier, with horror and shame, from which even the top of his head turns beet-colored, notices that in a place that is not commonly called in society, the king flaunts a rough patch!
It should be noted here that the tsar did not wear pants made of expensive materials, preferring coarse, military cut, not at all because he wanted to save money, as did the future wife of his son, Alexandra Fedorovna, who gave her daughters' dresses to junk dealers for sale, previously expensive disputes buttons. The emperor in everyday life was simple and undemanding, he wore his uniform, which it was high time to throw away, and gave the torn clothes to his batman to mend and mend where necessary.
Non-royal preferences
Alexander III was a man of a categorical warehouse and it was not for nothing that he was nicknamed a monarchist and an ardent defender of autocracy. He never allowed his subjects to contradict him. However, there were plenty of reasons for this: the emperor significantly reduced the staff of the Ministry of the Court, and reduced the balls that were given regularly in St. Petersburg to four a year.
Emperor Alexander III with his wife Maria Feodorovna 1892 The emperor not only showed indifference to secular fun, but also showed a rare neglect of what many enjoyed and served as an object of worship. For example, food. According to the memoirs of contemporaries, he preferred simple Russian food: cabbage soup, fish soup and fried fish, which he caught himself, leaving with his family to rest in Finnish skerries.
One of Alexander's favorite delicacies was "Guryev's" porridge, invented by Zakhar Kuzmin, the serf cook of the retired major Yurisovsky. Porridge was prepared simply: semolina was boiled in milk and nuts were added - walnuts, almonds, hazel, then creamy foam was poured in and dried fruits were poured with a generous hand.
The tsar always preferred this simple dish to gourmet French desserts and Italian delicacies, which he ate at tea in his Annichkov Palace. The Tsar did not like the Winter Palace with its pompous luxury. However, against the backdrop of mended pants and porridge, this is not surprising.
The force that saved the family
The emperor had one fatal passion, which, although he fought with it, sometimes prevailed. Alexander III liked to drink vodka or strong Georgian or Crimean wine - it was with them that he replaced expensive foreign varieties. In order not to injure the tender feelings of his beloved wife Maria Feodorovna, he secretly put a flask with a strong drink in the top of his wide tarpaulin boots and applied to it when the empress could not see it.
Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna. Petersburg. 1886 Speaking about the relationship of spouses, it should be noted that they can serve as an example of reverent treatment and mutual understanding. For thirty years they lived in perfect harmony - the timid emperor, who did not like crowded gatherings, and the cheerful, cheerful Danish princess Maria Sophia Friederika Dagmar.
It was rumored that in her youth she loved to do gymnastics and performed virtuoso somersaults in front of the future emperor. However, the king also loved physical activity and was famous throughout the state as a heroic man. 193 centimeters tall, with a large figure and broad shoulders, he bent coins with his fingers and bent horseshoes. His amazing strength even once saved the life of him and his family.
In the autumn of 1888, the tsar's train crashed near the Borki station, 50 kilometers from Kharkov. Seven wagons were broken, there were seriously wounded and dead among the servants, but the members of the royal family remained unharmed: at that time they were in the dining car. However, the roof of the car nevertheless collapsed, and, according to eyewitnesses, Alexander held it on his shoulders until help arrived in time. Investigators, who were investigating the causes of the crash, concluded that the family had miraculously escaped, and if the royal train continues to travel at such a speed, then a miracle may not happen a second time.
In the autumn of 1888, the tsar's train crashed near the Borki station. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org Tsar-artist and admirer of the arts
Despite the fact that in everyday life he was simple and unpretentious, thrifty and even economical, huge amounts of money were spent on the acquisition of art objects. Even in his youth, the future emperor was fond of painting and even studied drawing with the famous professor Tikhobrazov. However, the royal chores took a lot of time and effort, and the emperor was forced to leave classes. But he retained his love for the elegant until the last days and transferred it to collecting. Not without reason, his son Nicholas II, after the death of his parent, founded the Russian Museum in his honor.
The emperor provided patronage to artists, and even such a seditious canvas as “Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan on November 16, 1581” by Repin, although it caused discontent, did not cause persecution of the Wanderers. Also, the tsar, who was devoid of external gloss and aristocracy, was unexpectedly well versed in music, loved the works of Tchaikovsky and contributed to the fact that not Italian opera and ballets sounded on the theater stage, but the works of domestic composers. Until his death, he supported Russian opera and Russian ballet, which received worldwide recognition and reverence.
After the death of his parent, his son Nicholas II founded the Russian Museum in his honor. Emperor's Legacy
During the reign of Alexander III, Russia was not drawn into any serious political conflict, and the revolutionary movement became at a standstill, which was nonsense, since the murder of the previous tsar was seen as a sure pretext for starting a new round of terrorist acts and changing the state order.
The emperor introduced a number of measures that made life easier for the common people. He gradually abolished the poll tax, paid special attention to the Orthodox Church and influenced the completion of the construction of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. Alexander III loved Russia and, wanting to fence it off from an unexpected invasion, strengthened the army.
His expression: "Russia has only two allies: the army and the navy" became winged.
The emperor also owns another phrase "Russia for the Russians." However, there is no reason to blame the tsar for nationalism: Minister Witte, whose wife was of Jewish origin, recalled that Alexander's activities were never aimed at treating national minorities, which, by the way, changed during the reign of Nicholas II, when the Black Hundred movement found support in the state level.
About forty monuments were erected in honor of Emperor Alexander III in the Russian Empire Only 49 years fate measured this autocrat. The memory of him is alive in the name of the bridge in Paris, in the Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow, in the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, in the village of Aleksandrovsky, which laid the foundation for the city of Novosibirsk. And in these troubled days, Russia remembers the catchphrase of Alexander III: “In the whole world we have only two faithful allies - the army and the navy. All the rest, at the first opportunity, will take up arms against us.”
Grand Dukes Vladimir Alexandrovich (standing), Alexander Alexandrovich (second from right) and others. Koenigsberg (Germany). 1862 Photographer G. Hessau.
Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich. Petersburg. Mid 1860s Photographer S. Levitsky. 
Alexander III on the deck of the yacht. Finnish skerries. Late 1880s 
Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna with their children George, Xenia and Mikhail and others on the deck of the yacht. Finnish skerries. Late 1880s. 
Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna with their children Xenia and Mikhail on the porch of the house. Livadia. Late 1880s 
Alexander III, Empress Maria Feodorovna, their children George, Mikhail, Alexander and Xenia, Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich and others at a tea table in the forest. Khalila. Early 1890s 
Alexander III with children watering the trees in the garden. Late 1880s 
Tsarevich Alexander Alexandrovich and Tsesarevna Maria Feodorovna with their eldest son Nikolai. Petersburg. 1870 Photographer S. Levitsky.
Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna with their son Mikhail (on horseback) and Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich for a walk in the forest. Mid 1880s 
Tsarevich Alexander Alexandrovich in the uniform of the Life Guards Rifle Battalion of the Imperial Family. 1865 Photographer I. Nostits.
Alexander III with Empress Maria Feodorovna and her sister, Princess Alexandra of Wales. London. 1880s Photo studio Maul & Co.
On the veranda - Alexander III with Empress Maria Feodorovna and children George, Xenia and Mikhail, Count I. I. Vorontsov-Dashkov, Countess E. A. Vorontsova-Dashkova and others. Red Village. Late 1880s 
Tsarevich Alexander Alexandrovich with Tsarevich Maria Feodorovna, her sister, Princess Alexandra of Wales (second from right), their brother, Danish Crown Prince Frederick (far right), and others. Denmark. Mid 1870s Russell & Sons Photo Studio. The first thing Nikolai really wanted to know about when he returned from England was his father's health. At first, he was frightened when he did not see him among those who met him, and thought that his father was in bed, but it turned out that everything was not so scary - the emperor went on a duck hunt and managed to return to dinner. However, soon the condition of Alexander III deteriorated so much that Professor G. A. Zakharyin, one of the best diagnostic therapists in Russia, who headed the clinic of the medical faculty of Moscow University, was called from Moscow for a consultation. This time, old Zakharyin was not up to par - he said that there was nothing serious and the dry climate of the Crimea would help improve his condition.
The calmed emperor, who, moreover, never attached importance to the advice of doctors, decided instead of the Crimea to go to his favorite hunting places - Belovezhye and Spada. It is not difficult to guess that the royal hunts differed from the sanatorium regime of Livadia - and the beaters, and the huntsmen, and the retinue, and the most august hunters got up at dawn and in any weather went out into the forest or into the field. Hunting for hares was replaced by hunting for deer, and the rut for wild boars and roe deer alternated with ambushes for partridges, ducks, pheasants and geese. Dinner by the fire, bathing the horses, many hours of hiking in the sun and rain required excellent health.
On September 15, at the insistence of his relatives, the famous Berlin professor Leiden arrived in the hunting area and immediately stated that the emperor had acute inflammation of the kidneys - nephritis. Leiden categorically insisted on climate change, and the whole family - and all the women were hunting - went to the Crimea.
On September 21, we arrived in Sevastopol and, switching to the Eagle yacht, landed in Yalta on the same day. In Livadia, Alexander immediately began intensive treatment. However, a week later the patient developed severe swelling on his legs, he slept for a long time during the day, often took salt baths, and when the procedures were interrupted, more and more doctors appeared at his bedside.
Soon there were half a dozen of them.
At the beginning of October, the tsar no longer always went out to breakfast, he was increasingly overcome by drowsiness, and he entrusted the reading of the papers to the tsarevich.
And the Tsarevich, immersed in state affairs, thought more about his Alix than about this, which suddenly fell on him, thought about his Alix, looked forward to letters from her and, although he received them almost every day, or even two or three a day, was torn between pity for the sick father and irresistible passionate desire to see his bride.
On October 8, Father John of Kronstadt arrived in Livadia, the most famous “prayer for the sick” in Russia, who was known as a miracle worker and healer. His arrival made it clear that Alexander's affairs were bad and it was no longer possible to rely on medicine - the intervention of not earthly forces, but heavenly ones, was required. Together with Father John, the tsar's brothers Sergei and Pavel, Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna and Maria Georgievna, the son of Olga Konstantinovna, the Greek Prince Christopher, arrived.
The next day, Archpriest Yanyshev communed the patient, and at the same time, the tsar's brother Vladimir and Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna the Younger, the wife of the Swedish Prince Wilhelm, came to Livadia.
All these guests did not cause any joy in any of the inhabitants of Livadia. They did not go to a holiday - to a wake. And although Alexander was still alive, the shadow of death was already hovering over Livadia.
On the morning of October 10, Nikolai went to Alushta, where his beloved aunt Ella and Alix with her soon arrived from Simferopol. Her arrival brought revival and joy to the sad atmosphere of Livadia, and Nikolai felt that a person had appeared nearby who was ready to share the terrible grief that was approaching him.
On October 15, Alix wrote to him in her diary: “Dear child! Pray to God, He will help you not to lose heart, He will comfort you in your grief. Your Sun is praying for you and for your beloved patient. And a little lower, on the same day, another entry followed: “Dear boy! I love you, oh so tender and deep. Be steadfast and order Dr. Leiden and another - G. (Meaning another doctor - Grube. - V. B.) to come to you daily and report in what condition they find him, as well as all the details as to what they find it necessary to do for him. Thus, you will always be the first to know about everything. You can then help convince him to do what needs to be done. And if the doctor needs anything, let him come straight to you. Don't let others come first and overtake you. You are the beloved son of the Father, and you should be asked and told about everything. Reveal your personal will and don't let others forget who you are. Forgive me, dear!"
This entry in Nikolai's diary is not just significant. She is symbolic. It contains that direction, that tonality and that position that for many years to come will be characteristic of their relationship: caring for him and his affairs and anxiety for him will be Alix's constant companions in life, the main meaning and dominant of her existence. She never wanted power for herself, although she had a fairly strong character. But not only the strength of character was inherent in Alix. Born in the backwaters of Darmstadt and raised in the brilliant imperial Windsor, Alix retained the duality of her life for the rest of her life: she was painfully shy, but the status of the empress in a number of cases did not allow her to reveal this quality, taken for timidity and indecision, or even cowardice; it was very difficult for her to get along with strangers, and court ceremonies almost every time obliged her to introduce herself to numerous visitors - foreign ministers, diplomats, distant and not very distant, but for some reason still unknown to her relatives, celebrities of various kinds - from outstanding scientists to famous guest performers - and each of them could regard this as stiffness, coldness, or even insulting inattention. She was a homebody and a true recluse, and therefore her circle of friends was very narrow, and at court they perceived this as exorbitant pride, almost a delusion of narcissism. These same qualities turned - especially at first - her future husband not just into the person closest to her, but almost into her only one, truly dear, although next to her was her beloved sister Ella, reaching out to her younger sister still and because she had no children, and her relationship with her husband was also more than peculiar, because her husband was a homosexual.
Getting into the public, Alix, due to shyness, internally picked herself up, grew cold in her temper, which is why both her face and her eyes became cold and aloof, which, of course, did not dispose people in her favor.
Meanwhile, the emperor was getting worse and worse. On October 17, he took communion again, this time with Father John of Kronstadt, and received absolution of sins. On this sad day, Alix wrote in Nikolai's diary: “Tell me about everything, darling. You can fully trust me, look at me as a part of yourself. Let your joys and sorrows be mine, and this will bring us even closer. My only beloved, how I love you, dear treasure, my only one! Darling, when you feel downhearted and sad, come to the Sun, she will try to comfort and warm you with her rays. God help!"
They still hoped, although Alexander was already quite ill.
John of Kronstadt later told how he met Alexander III in his last days of life. The king met him, standing in a greatcoat thrown over his shoulders, and heartily thanked him for the fact that Father John had come to him. Then they entered the next room together and stood up to pray. The king prayed with an unusually deep feeling. He was just as sincere during communion and in the last hours of his life. When on October 20, John came to the dying man, who was sitting in a deep armchair, a storm arose, the sea groaned from the waves, and Alexander was very bad from all this. He asked Father John to put his hands on his head, and when the priest did this, the sick man seemed to feel better, and he said:
“It’s very easy for me when you hold them. - And then he said: - The Russian people love you, they love you, because they know who you are and what you are.
And soon after these words, he threw back his head on the back of his chair and quietly, without agony, died. Death came at a quarter to three on October 20, 1894.
The Empress, the heir with his bride and all his children knelt beside him and quietly wept. That same evening, Nikolai wrote: “My God, my God, what a day. The Lord called back our adored, dear, dearly beloved Pope. My head is spinning, I don’t want to believe - the terrible reality seems so implausible. We spent the whole morning around him. His breathing was difficult, it was necessary to give him oxygen to inhale all the time. About half past three he took communion of the Holy Mysteries; soon light convulsions began ... and the end quickly came. Father John stood at his head for more than an hour and held his head. It was the death of a saint! Lord, help us in these difficult days! Poor dear Mother! In the evening at 9 1 / 2 there was a memorial service - in the same bedroom! I felt like I was killed. Dear Alix's legs hurt again.
And yet, even on the day of his father’s death, the last phrase is about “dear Alix”, who suddenly had “feet aching” ...
However, another much more significant fact was not recorded by the heir to the throne in his diary. When Alexander III died, Nicholas, sobbing, turned to his childhood and youth friend, Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich: “Sandro, what am I going to do? What will happen to Russia now? I'm not ready to be king yet! I can't run an empire. I don't even know how to talk to ministers. Help me, Sandro!
Alexander III died on October 20 and lay in the Livadia Palace for five days. On October 25, his body was transferred to the Great Livadia Church, and from there, two days later, the emperor's coffin was transferred aboard the cruiser "Memory of Mercury", which in the afternoon delivered him to Sevastopol, where the funeral train was already standing. On October 30, the train approached Moscow, and to the sound of bells, the coffin with the body of Alexander III, past tens of thousands of kneeling Muscovites, was brought to the Kremlin’s Archangel Cathedral, and the next day, after continuous services, they were again taken to the station and from there to St. Petersburg.
Here, on November 1, 1894, at 10 o'clock in the morning, an unusually magnificent funeral procession moved from the Nikolaevsky railway station to the Peter and Paul Fortress. The official report indicated that this procession was divided into 12 sections, each of which had 13 ranks. In total, therefore, these categories were 156. Ahead of the procession were 52 banners and 12 coats of arms. And between the banners and coats of arms moved two armored men. One of them - light, in golden armor, rode a horse, lowering his naked sword, the other - in black armor, in a black cloak, with a black tulip, walked, symbolizing endless sorrow. Then came the deputies of the lands and cities, dignitaries and ministers, followed by state swords, 57 foreign, 13 Russian orders and 12 imperial regalia. And then there was a spiritual procession - in bright vestments, with banners, crosses and icons.
And only then did the funeral chariot ride, followed by the immensely saddened wife, son and daughter-in-law of the deceased. They were followed, strictly by subordination, by other members of the imperial family. And, of course, the eyes of all those gathered were directed primarily to the new emperor and his bride. Alice walked pale, with lowered eyes, and her black mourning dress and black kerchief emphasized her pallor even more.
And the people, looking at their new sovereign, the empress, who for the first time walked through the streets of St. Petersburg, being immediately at the coffin, whispered to each other that this was not good and the bride in black would bring them all misfortune.
The procession stopped for short services at the Church of the Sign, at the Anichkov Palace, at the Kazan Cathedral, at the German and Dutch churches and at St. Isaac's Cathedral. Finally, at 2 pm, the coffin was brought into the Peter and Paul Cathedral.
The funeral of Alexander III, at the same time, was distinguished by great confusion and confusion, when the deputations mixed up their places in the funeral procession, and its participants did not resemble loyal subjects grieved by the loss of the sovereign, but a kind of masquerade procession in which idly loafers walk, dressed in priestly cassocks, in military uniforms and other various clothes.
Leaving the coffin in the Peter and Paul Cathedral, the royal family went to the Anichkov Palace, where they spent another six days in memorial services for the deceased and preparing the burial. The delay was explained by the fact that not all of the foreign relatives had yet arrived in St. Petersburg, and when they eventually gathered, on November 7, a bishop's service took place, culminating in a funeral service and burial.
Thus ended the last royal funeral in the history of Russia, and the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, Nikolai and Alexandra Feodorovna, leaving the cathedral, could not imagine that on this day the emperor was buried here for the last time, and their own graves would not be next to him, but in thousands of miles from him and from each other ...
Alexander III Alexandrovich (February 26 (March 10), 1845, Anichkov Palace, St. Petersburg - October 20 (November 1), 1894, Livadia Palace, Crimea) - Emperor of All Russia, Tsar of Poland and Grand Duke of Finland from March 1 (13), 1881 . Son of Emperor Alexander II and grandson of Nicholas I; father of the last Russian monarch Nicholas II.
Alexander III is a significant figure in the history of Russia. During his reign, no Russian blood was shed in Europe. Alexander III ensured long years of calm for Russia. For his peace-loving policy, he entered Russian history as a "tsar-peacemaker."
He adhered to conservative-protective views and pursued a policy of counter-reforms, as well as Russification of the national outskirts.
He was the second child in the family of Alexander II and Maria Alexandrovna Romanov. According to the rules of succession to the throne, Alexander was not prepared for the role of the ruler of the Russian Empire. The throne was to take the elder brother - Nicholas. Alexander, not at all envious of his brother, did not feel the slightest jealousy, watching how Nicholas was being prepared for the throne. Nikolai was a diligent student, and Alexander was overcome by boredom in the classroom.
The teachers of Alexander III were such distinguished people as the historians Solovyov, Grott, the remarkable military tactician Dragomirov, and Konstantin Pobedonostsev. It was the latter who had a great influence on Alexander III, largely determining the priorities of the domestic and foreign policy of the Russian emperor. It was Pobedonostsev who brought up in Alexander III a true Russian patriot and Slavophile. Little Sasha was more attracted not by studies, but by physical activity. The future emperor loved horseback riding and gymnastics. Even before he came of age, Alexander Alexandrovich showed remarkable strength, easily lifted weights and easily bent horseshoes. He did not like secular entertainment, he preferred to spend his free time on improving riding skills and developing physical strength. The brothers joked, they say, - "Sasha is the Hercules of our family." Alexander loved the Gatchina Palace, and loved to spend time there, spending his days walking in the park, thinking about the day ahead.
In 1855 Nicholas was proclaimed Tsarevich. Sasha was glad for his brother, and even more so that he himself would not have to be emperor. However, fate nevertheless prepared the Russian throne for Alexander Alexandrovich. Nicholas's health deteriorated. The Tsarevich suffered from rheumatism from a bruised spine, and later he also contracted tuberculosis. In 1865 Nikolai died. Alexander Alexandrovich Romanov was proclaimed the new heir to the throne. It is worth noting that Nicholas had a bride - the Danish princess Dagmar. They say that the dying Nikolai took the hands of Dagmar and Alexander with one hand, as if urging two close people not to be separated after his death.
In 1866, Alexander III set off on a trip to Europe. His path lies in Copenhagen, where he wooed his brother's bride. Dagmar and Alexander became close when they cared for the sick Nikolai together. Their engagement took place on June 17 in Copenhagen. On October 13, Dagmar converted to Orthodoxy and became known as Maria Fedorovna Romanova, and on that day the young people got engaged.
Alexander III and Maria Fedorovna Romanov lived a happy family life. Their family is a true role model. Alexander Alexandrovich was a real, exemplary family man. The Russian Emperor loved his wife very much. After the wedding, they settled in the Anichkov Palace. The couple was happy and raised three sons and two daughters. The first-born of the imperial couple was the son Nikolai. Alexander loved all his children very much, but the second son, Mishka, enjoyed special paternal love.
The high morality of the emperor gave him the right to ask her from the courtiers. Under Alexander III, the Russian autocrat fell into disgrace for adultery. Alexander Alexandrovich was modest in everyday life, did not like idleness. Witte, the Minister of Finance of the Russian Empire, witnessed how the emperor's valet darned worn things for him.
The emperor loved pictures. The Emperor even had his own collection, which by 1894 consisted of 130 works by various artists. On his initiative, a Russian museum was opened in St. Petersburg. He had great respect for the work of Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky. Alexander Romanov also liked the artist Alexei Bogolyubov, with whom the emperor had a good relationship. The emperor provided all kinds of support to young and talented cultural figures, museums, theaters and universities were opened under his patronage. Alexander adhered to truly Christian postulates, and in every possible way protected the Orthodox faith, tirelessly defending its interests.
Alexander III ascended the Russian throne after the assassination of Alexander II by revolutionaries - terrorists. It happened on March 2, 1881. For the first time, peasants were sworn in to the emperor, along with the rest of the population. In domestic policy, Alexander III embarked on the path of counter-reforms. The new Russian emperor was distinguished by conservative views.
During his reign, the Russian Empire achieved great success. Russia was a strong, developing country with which all European powers sought friendship. In Europe, there were always some political movements. And then one day, a minister came to Alexander, who was fishing, talking about affairs in Europe. He asked the emperor to somehow react. To which Alexander replied - "Europe can wait until the Russian Tsar catches fish." Alexander Alexandrovich really could afford such statements, because Russia was on the rise, and its army was the most powerful in the world. Nevertheless, the international situation obliged Russia to find a reliable ally. In 1891, friendly relations between Russia and France began to take shape, which ended with the signing of an alliance agreement.
According to the historian P. A. Zaionchkovsky, “Alexander III was quite modest in his personal life. He did not like lies, he was a good family man, he was hardworking ", working on state affairs often until 1-2 o'clock in the morning. “Alexander III had a certain system of views... To protect the purity of the ‘faith of the fathers’, the inviolability of the principle of autocracy and to develop the Russian people... - these are the main tasks that the new monarch set himself... in some foreign policy issues, he discovered and probably common sense ».
As S. Yu. Witte wrote, “Emperor Alexander III had an absolutely outstanding nobility and purity of heart, purity of morals and thoughts. As a family man, he was an exemplary family man; as a boss and owner - he was an exemplary boss and an exemplary owner ... he was a good owner not because of a sense of self-interest, but because of a sense of duty. Not only in the royal family, but also among dignitaries, I never met that feeling of respect for the state ruble, for the state penny, which the Emperor possessed ... He knew how to inspire confidence abroad, on the one hand, that He would not act unfair to anyone, does not want any captures; everyone was calm that He would not start any adventure ... The Emperor Alexander III never disagreed with the word. What he said was felt by him, and he never deviated from what he said ... Emperor Alexander III was an extremely courageous man ”.
The emperor was a passionate collector, second only to Catherine II in this respect. Gatchina Castle literally turned into a storehouse of priceless treasures. Acquisitions of Alexander - paintings, art objects, carpets and the like - no longer fit in the galleries of the Winter Palace, Anichkov and other palaces. The extensive collection of paintings, graphics, decorative and applied arts, sculptures collected by Alexander III was transferred after his death to the Russian Museum established by the Russian Emperor Nicholas II in memory of his parent.
Alexander was fond of hunting and fishing. Often in the summer the royal family went to the Finnish skerries. Belovezhskaya Pushcha was the Emperor's favorite hunting ground. Sometimes the imperial family, instead of relaxing in the skerries, went to Poland to the Principality of Loviche, and there they enthusiastically indulged in hunting amusements, especially deer hunting, and most often ended their vacation with a trip to Denmark, to Bernstorf Castle - Dagmara's ancestral castle, where they often gathered from all over Europe her crowned relatives.
For all his outward strictness in relation to his loved ones, he invariably remained a devoted family man and a loving father. Not only never in his life did he touch children with a finger, but he did not offend them with a harsh word.
On October 17, 1888, an attempt was made on Alexander III and the entire royal family. The terrorists derailed the train in which the emperor was. Seven wagons were broken, many victims. The king and his family remained alive by the will of fate. At the time of the explosion, they were in the restaurant car. During the explosion, the roof of the car with the royal family collapsed, and Alexander literally held it on himself until help arrived. After some time, he began to complain of back pain. During the examination, it turned out that the king had kidney problems. In the winter of 1894, Alexander caught a bad cold, and soon the emperor became very ill while hunting, and was diagnosed with acute nephritis. Doctors sent the emperor to the Crimea, where on November 20, 1894, Alexander III died.
Alexander III left a big mark in the history of Russia. After his death, the following lines were written in one of the French newspapers: - "He leaves Russia, greater than he received it."
Wife: Dagmar of Denmark (Maria Feodorovna) (November 14, 1847 - October 13, 1928), daughter of the Danish King Christian IX.
Children:
1. Nikolai Alexandrovich (later Emperor Nicholas II) (May 6, 1868 - July 17, 1918, Yekaterinburg);
2. Alexander Alexandrovich (May 26, 1869 - April 20, 1870, St. Petersburg);
3. Georgy Alexandrovich (April 27, 1871 - June 28, 1899, Abastumani);
4. Ksenia Alexandrovna (March 25, 1875 - April 20, 1960, London);
5. Mikhail Alexandrovich (November 22, 1878 - June 13, 1918, Perm);
6. Olga Alexandrovna (June 1, 1882 - November 24, 1960, Toronto).
It is about such kings that today's monarchists sigh. Perhaps they are right. Alexander III was truly great. Both human and emperor.
"Pecking at me!"
However, some dissidents of that time, including Vladimir Lenin, quite evil joked on the emperor. In particular, they nicknamed him "Pineapple". True, Alexander himself gave a reason for this. In the manifesto "On Our Ascension to the Throne" dated April 29, 1881, it was clearly stated: "And on Us to impose a Sacred Duty." So when the document was read out, the king inevitably turned into an exotic fruit.
In fact, this is unfair and dishonest. Alexander was remarkable for his amazing strength. He could easily break a horseshoe. He could easily bend silver coins in the palm of his hand. I could lift a horse on my shoulders. And even make him sit like a dog - this is recorded in the memoirs of his contemporaries. At a dinner in the Winter Palace, when the Austrian ambassador started talking about the fact that his country was ready to form three corps of soldiers against Russia, he bent and tied a fork. Threw it towards the ambassador. And he said, "That's what I'll do with your hulls."
Heir Tsarevich Alexander Alexandrovich with his wife Tsarevich and Grand Duchess Maria Feodorovna, St. Petersburg, late 1860s. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
Height - 193 cm. Weight - more than 120 kg. It is not surprising that a peasant who accidentally saw the emperor at the railway station exclaimed: “This is the king, so the king, damn me!” The wicked peasant was immediately seized for "uttering indecent words in the presence of the sovereign." However, Alexander ordered the foul language to be released. Moreover, he rewarded him with a ruble with his own image: “Here is my portrait for you!”
What about his look? Beard? Crown? Remember the cartoon "Magic Ring"? “Ampirator drink tea. Motherly samovar! Each appliance of sieve bread has three pounds! It's all about him. He really could eat 3 pounds of sieve bread with tea, that is, about 1.5 kg.
At home, he liked to wear a simple Russian shirt. But always with sewing on the sleeves. He tucked his pants into boots, like a soldier. Even at official receptions, he allowed himself to go out in worn trousers, a jacket or a sheepskin coat.
His phrase is often repeated: "While the Russian Tsar is fishing, Europe can wait." In reality, it was like that. Alexander was very correct. But he loved fishing and hunting. Therefore, when the German ambassador demanded an immediate meeting, Alexander said: “Pecking! It pecks at me! Germany can wait. I'll take it tomorrow at noon."
Right in soul
During his reign, conflicts with Great Britain began. Doctor Watson, the hero of the famous Sherlock Holmes novel, was wounded in Afghanistan. And, apparently, in battle with the Russians. There is a documented episode. The Cossack patrol detained a group of Afghan smugglers. With them were two Englishmen - instructors. The commander of the patrol, Yesaul Pankratov, shot the Afghans. And he ordered the British to be sent outside the Russian Empire. True, he had previously flogged them with whips.
At an audience with the British ambassador, Alexander said:
I will not allow encroachment on our people and our territory.
The ambassador replied:
This can cause an armed clash with England!
The king calmly remarked:
Well, well ... Probably, we can do it.
And mobilized the Baltic Fleet. It was 5 times smaller than the forces that the British had at sea. And yet there was no war. The British calmed down and surrendered their positions in Central Asia.
After that, English Interior Minister Disraeli called Russia "a huge, monstrous, scary bear that hangs over Afghanistan, India. And our interests in the world."
Death of Alexander III in Livadia. Hood. M. Zichy, 1895 Photo: commons.wikimedia.org In order to list the affairs of Alexander III, we need not a newspaper page, but a scroll 25 meters long. It gave a real exit to the Pacific Ocean - the Trans-Siberian Railway. He gave civil liberties to the Old Believers. He gave real freedom to the peasants - the former serfs under him got the opportunity to take solid loans, redeem their lands and farms. He made it clear that everyone is equal before the supreme power - he deprived some of the grand dukes of their privileges, reduced their payments from the treasury. By the way, each of them was entitled to a "allowance" in the amount of 250 thousand rubles. gold.
Indeed, one can yearn for such a sovereign. Alexander's older brother Nikolay(he died without ascending the throne) said about the future emperor: “Pure, truthful, crystal soul. There's something wrong with the rest of us, fox. Alexander alone is truthful and correct in soul.
In Europe, they spoke about his death in much the same way: "We are losing an arbitrator who has always been guided by the idea of justice."
The biggest deeds of Alexander III
The emperor is credited, and, apparently, not without reason, with the invention of a flat flask. And not just flat, but bent, the so-called "boot". Alexander liked to drink, but did not want others to know about his addictions. A flask of this shape is ideal for secret use.
It is he who owns the slogan, for which now you can seriously pay: "Russia is for the Russians." Nevertheless, his nationalism was not aimed at the treatment of national minorities. In any case, the Jew-s-kai deputation, headed by Baron Gunzburg expressed to the emperor "boundless gratitude for the measures taken to protect the Jewish population at this difficult time."
The construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway has begun - until now it is almost the only transport artery that somehow connects the whole of Russia. The Emperor also instituted the Railwayman's Day. Even the Soviet authorities did not cancel it, despite the fact that Alexander set the date of the holiday for the birthday of his grandfather Nicholas I, under which we began to build railways.
Actively fought against corruption. Not in words, but in deeds. The Minister of Railways Krivoshein and the Minister of Finance Abaza were sent to a shameful resignation for bribes. He did not bypass his relatives either - because of corruption, Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich and Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolayevich were deprived of their posts.
Alexander 3 is the Russian emperor who ascended the throne after the assassination of his father by terrorists in 1881 and reigned until his death in 1894. Unlike his predecessor, the tsar adhered to conservative and nationalist views in politics. After the beginning of the reign, he almost immediately began to carry out counter-reforms. He paid a lot of attention to the development and modernization of the Russian army, but during the years of his reign the country did not take part in wars. For this, the emperor was called the peacemaker after his death. He was a decent family man, an extremely religious and hardworking person.
We will tell in this article in more detail about the biography, politics and personal life of the penultimate Russian tsar.
Birth and early years
It is noteworthy that initially the future Emperor Alexander 3 was not supposed to inherit the throne. His fate was not to govern the state, and therefore they prepared him for another matter. His father Alexander II already had an eldest son, Tsarevich Nikolai, who grew up as a healthy and intelligent child. He was supposed to be the king. Alexander himself was only the second son in the family, he was born 2 years later than Nikolai - on February 26, 1845. Therefore, according to tradition, he was prepared for military service from early childhood. Already at the age of seven, he received his first officer rank. At the age of 17, he was rightfully enlisted in the Emperor's Retinue.
Like other great princes from the Romanov dynasty, Alexander 3 received a traditional military engineering education. He was trained by Professor Chivilev, who worked at Moscow University and was, according to his education, a historian and economist. At the same time, contemporaries recalled that the little Grand Duke was not distinguished by a craving for knowledge, he could be lazy. His parents did not force him too much, thinking that his older brother would take the throne.
Outstanding for members of the imperial family was the appearance of Alexander. From an early age, he was distinguished by good health, a dense physique and high growth - 193 cm. The young prince loved art, was fond of painting, took lessons in playing wind instruments.
Alexander - heir to the throne
Unexpectedly for everyone, Tsarevich Nikolai felt unwell during a trip to Europe. For several months he was treated in Italy, but his health only worsened. In April 1865, Nikolai died of tuberculous meningitis, he was 21 years old. Alexander, who had always been on excellent terms with his older brother, was shocked and depressed by the event. He not only lost a close friend, but now had to inherit the throne after his father. He came to Italy with Nicholas' fiancee, Princess Dagmar from Denmark. They found the Tsarevich already at death.
The future Tsar Alexander 3 was not trained in government. Therefore, he had to urgently master several disciplines at once. In a short time he took a course in history as well as law. It was taught to him by the jurist K. Pobedonostsev, who was a supporter of conservatism. He was also appointed mentor of the newly-made Tsarevich.
According to tradition, the future Alexander 3, as heir, traveled around Russia. Subsequently, his father began to attach him to public administration. The Tsarevich was also promoted to major general, and in 1877-78 he commanded his detachment during the Russian-Turkish war.
Marriage to a Danish princess
Initially, Alexander II planned to marry his eldest son and heir Nicholas to the Danish princess Dagmar. During his trip to Europe, he made a special trip to Denmark, where he asked for her hand. There they were engaged, but did not have time to get married, because a few months later the Tsarevich died. The death of his elder brother brought the future Emperor Alexander III closer to the princess. For several days they looked after the dying Nikolai and became friends.
However, at that time, Alexander was deeply in love with Princess Maria Meshcherskaya, who was a maid of honor at the imperial court. They secretly met for several years, and the Tsarevich even wanted to renounce the throne in order to marry her. Because of this, a major quarrel broke out with his father Alexander II, who insisted that he go to Denmark.
In Copenhagen, he proposed to the princess, and she agreed. Their engagement took place in June and their wedding in October 1866. The newly-made wife of Alexander 3 converted to Orthodoxy before the wedding and received a new name - Maria Feodorovna. After the wedding, which took place in the Great Church, located on the territory of the emperor's residence, the couple spent some time in the Anichkov Palace.
Father's assassination and accession to the throne
Tsar Alexander 3 ascended the throne on March 2, 1881 after the sudden death of his father, who was killed by terrorists. Before that, they had made attempts on the emperor, but they were unsuccessful. This time the explosion turned out to be fatal, and the sovereign died on the same day, a few hours later. The event greatly shocked the public and the heir himself, who seriously feared for his family and his own life. And not in vain, because during the first years of his reign, the revolutionaries continued to assassinate the king and his entourage.
The deceased Emperor Alexander II was distinguished by liberal views. It is known that on the day of his assassination, he planned to approve the first constitution in Russia, developed by Count Loris-Melikov, but his heir did not support this idea. In the early days of his reign, he abandoned liberal reforms. The terrorists involved in organizing the assassination of his father were arrested and executed on the orders of the new king.
The coronation of Alexander 3 took place 2 years after his accession to the throne - in 1883. By tradition, it was held in Moscow in the Assumption Cathedral.
Domestic policy of the new king
The newly minted tsar immediately abandoned the liberal reforms of his father, choosing the path of counter-reforms. Their ideologist was the former mentor of the tsar, Konstantin Pobedonostsev, who now held the position of chief prosecutor of the Holy Synod.
He was distinguished by extremely radical conservative views, which were supported by the emperor himself. In April 1881, Alexander signed a manifesto drawn up by his former mentor, which indicated that the tsar was moving away from the liberal course. After its release, most of the freely minded ministers were forced to resign.
The new government considered the reforms of Alexander II ineffective and even criminal. They believed that counter-reforms were needed to eliminate the problems caused by liberal changes.
The domestic policy of Alexander 3 included a revision of many of his father's transformations. The changes affected the following reforms:
- peasant;
- judicial;
- educational;
- zemstvo.
In the 1880s, the tsar began to support the landlords, who began to become poorer after the abolition of serfdom. In 1885, the Noble Bank was created, which subsidizes them. By decree of the tsar, restrictions are introduced on the land redistribution of peasant plots, it becomes more and more difficult for them to leave the community on their own. In 1895, the position of zemstvo chief was introduced for increased supervision of the common people.
In August 1881, a decree was issued allowing the authorities of the regions and provinces, at their own discretion, to introduce a state of emergency in the region. At this time, the police could expel suspicious persons without trial or investigation. They also had the right to close educational institutions, newspapers and magazines, as well as industrial enterprises.
During the counter-reforms, control over secondary schools was strengthened. The children of lackeys, petty shopkeepers and laundresses could no longer study in gymnasiums. In 1884, university autonomy was abolished. Tuition fees rose significantly, so few could now afford higher education. Primary schools were placed in the hands of the clergy. In 1882, the rules of censorship increased. Now the authorities were allowed to close any printed publication at their own discretion.
National politics
Emperor Alexander 3 (Romanov) was famous for his radical nationalist views. During his reign, the persecution of the Jews intensified. Immediately after the assassination of Alexander II, unrest began throughout the country among the people of this nation who lived beyond the Pale of Settlement. The newly-made emperor issued a decree on their eviction. The number of places for Jewish students at universities and gymnasiums was also reduced.
At the same time, an active policy of Russification of the population was pursued. By decree of the tsar, instruction in Russian was introduced in Polish universities and schools. Russified inscriptions began to appear on the streets of Finnish and Baltic cities. The influence of the Orthodox Church also increased in the country. The number of periodicals was increased, which produced huge circulations of religious literature. The reign of Alexander 3 was marked by the construction of new Orthodox churches and monasteries. Restrictions were imposed on the rights of people with a different religion and foreigners by the emperor.
Economic development of the country during the reign of Alexander
The emperor's policy is characterized not only by a large number of counter-reforms, but also by the rapid development of industry during the years of his reign. Successes were especially outstanding in metallurgy. Russia was engaged in the production of iron and steel, oil and coal were actively extracted in the Urals. The pace of development was truly record-breaking. The government was engaged in supporting domestic industrialists. It introduced new customs tariffs and duties on imported goods.
At the beginning of Alexander's reign, Bunge, the finance minister, also carried out a tax reform that abolished the poll tax. Instead, an apartment payment was introduced, depending on the size of the dwelling. Indirect taxation began to develop. Also, by decree of Bunge, excise taxes were introduced on certain goods: tobacco and vodka, sugar and oil.
At the initiative of the king, redemption payments for the peasants were significantly reduced. According to tradition, during the years of his reign, commemorative coins of Alexander 3 were issued, dedicated to the coronation of the newly-made sovereign. His portrait was printed only on silver ruble and gold five-ruble copies. Now they are considered quite rare and valuable for numismatists.
Foreign policy
After his death, Emperor Alexander 3 was called a peacemaker, since during his reign Russia did not enter any war. However, foreign policy in these years was quite dynamic. The growth of industry was largely supported by the active modernization of the army. By improving it, the emperor managed to reduce the number of soldiers and reduce the cost of their maintenance. As a rule, historians believe that the policy of the tsar during his reign contributed to the strengthening of Russia in the international arena and significantly increased its prestige.
In 1881, the emperor was able to negotiate neutrality with Germany and Austria-Hungary, with whom they also concluded an agreement on the division of spheres of influence in the Balkans. He pointed out that Russia had the right to control their eastern part: Bulgaria, which gained independence after the war of 1879. However, by 1886 it had lost its influence on this country.
In 1887, Alexander personally approached the German Kaiser and was able to convince him not to declare war on France. In Central Asia, the policy of annexing border lands continued. During the years of the tsar's reign, the total area of Russia increased by 430 thousand km². In 1891, the construction of a railway was begun, which was supposed to connect the European part of the country with the Far East.
Making an alliance with France
The conclusion of a friendly alliance with France is considered an important merit of Alexander 3. Russia at that time needed reliable support. France, on the other hand, needed an alliance with another influential state in order to avoid a war with Germany, which constantly claimed part of its territories.
For a long time, relations between the two countries were cold. Republican France supported the revolutionaries in Russia and contributed to their struggle against the autocracy. However, Emperor Alexander managed to overcome such ideological differences. In 1887, France provided Russia with large cash loans. In 1891, their squadron of ships arrived in Kronstadt, where the emperor solemnly received the allied troops. In August of the same year, an official friendship treaty between the two countries came into force. Already in 1892, France and Russia agreed on the signing of a military convention. Countries pledged to help each other if they were attacked by Germany, Italy or Austria-Hungary.
Family and Children
Although the marriage between the spouses was concluded according to political agreements, according to the will of Romanov's father, Alexander 3 was a decent family man. Even before the engagement, he completely stopped relations with Princess Meshcherskaya. Throughout his marriage to Maria Feodorovna, he had no favorites or mistresses, which was rare among Russian emperors. He was a loving father, although he was distinguished by strictness and exactingness. Maria Fedorovna bore him six children:
- Nicholas is the future last emperor of Russia.
- Alexander - the boy died of meningitis a year after birth.
- George - died in 1899 from tuberculosis.
- Xenia - married the Grand Duke, later, after the revolution, she was able to leave Russia with her mother.
- Mikhail - was shot by the Bolsheviks in Perm in 1918.
- Olga - left Russia after the revolution, married a military officer. Like her father, she was fond of painting and earned her a living.
The emperor was very unpretentious in everyday life, distinguished by modesty and thrift. Contemporaries believed that aristocracy was alien to him. Often the king dressed in simple and even worn clothes. After ascending the throne, he and his family settled in Gatchina. In St. Petersburg, they lived in the Anichkov Palace, since the Winter Emperor did not like. The emperor was engaged in collecting, was fond of painting. During his life, he collected so many works of art that they did not fit in the galleries of his palaces. After his death, Nicholas II transferred most of his father's collection to the Russian Museum.
The emperor had a remarkable appearance. He was distinguished by his great stature and impressive physical strength. In his youth, he could easily bend coins with his hands or even break a horseshoe. However, the king's children did not inherit his height or strength. It is noteworthy that the daughter of Nicholas II, Grand Duchess Maria, who was large and strong from birth, looked like her grandfather.
In the photo, Alexander 3 is resting with his family in Livadia in Crimea. The image was taken in May 1893.
Train wreck in 1888
In October 1888, the emperor, along with his family, was returning by train after a vacation to St. Petersburg. Suddenly, near Kharkov, the train suddenly crashed and derailed. More than 20 passengers were killed, more than 60 people were seriously injured. Together with his wife and children, Alexander 3 was at the time of the disaster in a restaurant. None of them were hurt, although the roof of the wagon could have collapsed on them. The emperor held her on his shoulders until his family and other victims got out from under the rubble. Officially, it was stated that the disaster occurred due to technical problems and malfunction of the tracks, but some believed that it was a planned assassination attempt on members of the royal family.
Illness and death of the Emperor
And although Emperor Alexander 3 was not injured directly during the disaster, very soon he began to complain about the deterioration of his health. He began to suffer from frequent back pain. Qualified doctors conducted a thorough examination and came to the conclusion that the king began to develop a severe kidney disease, which arose due to excessive stress on the back. The emperor's illness progressed rapidly, he increasingly felt unwell. In the winter of 1894, Alexander caught a bad cold and never recovered from his illness. In the fall, doctors diagnosed him with acute nephritis. The tsar, who was not even 50 years old, died in November 1894 in the Livadia Palace in the Crimea.
The years of the reign of Alexander 3 were controversially assessed by both contemporaries and historians. His counter-reforms were able to temporarily stop the revolutionary movement in Russia. In 1887, the last unsuccessful attempt on the tsar took place. After that, until the beginning of the 20th century, there were no terrorist acts in the country at all. However, the problems that caused concern among the masses were never resolved. Some scholars believe that it was partly the conservative policy of the penultimate Russian tsar that subsequently led to numerous power crises that Emperor Nicholas II faced.
