Profile of the Day: Nicholas II of Russia

Nicholas II of Russia

On this day in 1868, Nicholas II of Russia was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. The last Emperor of Russia, Nicholas II’s reign saw the Russian Empire fall from one of the greatest powers in Europe and into economic and military ruin.

Nicholas II was the eldest son of Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna. He was closely related to several monarchs in Europe, including King George V of England, who was his first cousin. In 1894, he inherited the Russian throne after the death of his father. Shortly after, he married Alexandra Feodorovna, who was the granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Together they had four daughters and a son, Alexei, who suffered from hemophilia. The mystic Rasputin was brought in to treat the young heir.

During World War I, Nicholas took command of the Russian army and joined his troops at the front. As a result, the heavy losses and failed military campaigns were directly associated with him. In his absence from St. Petersburg, Rasputin’s influence over the Empress significantly increased, which contributed to the growing distrust of the couple. The heavy price of the war and the growing poverty in Russia further fueled public unrest in the Empire. In 1917, Nicholas was forced to abdicate the throne. He and his family were imprisoned and eventually executed by the Bolshevik secret police in 1918.

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Image: Library of Congress