On March 10, 1845, a boy was born into a Russian-German family. He was to become an artist's model Vasnetsova, the author of the extremist saying “Russia for the Russians,” and also earned the nickname Peacemaker.
In the meantime, the future emperor Alexander III contented himself with the affectionate pet nickname of bulldog.
He retained this angular grace in his mature years: “He was not handsome, in his manners he was rather shy and embarrassed, he gave the impression of some kind of bearishness.” For a crowned person, such behavior is generally indecent. So, after all, the imperial crown was not intended for him, but for his older brother Nicholas. Little Sasha was not singled out in any way in the royal family: “You could say that he was somewhat in the fold. No special attention was paid to his education or his upbringing,” recalled the Minister of Finance Witte.
Portrait of Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich in a retinue frock coat (S. K. Zaryanko, 1867)
"I've always been lazy"
Fans of tsarism like to quote a witty saying: “The good thing about monarchy is that when inheriting the throne, a worthy person may accidentally end up in power.” At first glance, this does not apply to Alexander. His educators and teachers, having learned that their ward became the heir to the throne after the death of his brother, literally clutched their heads. “Despite his perseverance, he studied poorly and was always extremely lazy,” the words of the teacher Grigory Gogel.“He was distinguished by his zeal for combat training, but discovered a complete lack of any military talent,” - strategy teacher General Mikhail Dragomirov. And finally, a resume from the head of general education, Alexander Professor Chivilev: “I am horrified and cannot come to terms with the idea that he will rule Russia.”
And in fact, the heir, and then the emperor, did not give the impression of an intelligent, educated and well-mannered person. He wrote with monstrous errors: such pearls of his in official resolutions are known as “brochures with daring”, “a eight” and the beautiful - “ideot”. However, few were awarded this title. More often the emperor used other words. “A brute or a lunatic” - oh artist Vereshchagin. "Rabble of Bastards" is about the French government. Uncle William, Emperor of Germany, he was just a “brute”, but the Chancellor Otto von Bismarck- already “ober-cattle”.
The picture is bleak. Especially when you consider the circumstances under which Alexander came to power. His father, Alexander II the Liberator, had just been killed in a terrorist attack. There is panic in ruling circles. The new autocrat himself is almost in despair: “A strange feeling has taken possession of us. What do we do?"
Alexander spent more than two years in such thoughts. In fact, he ruled the empire, but he was in no hurry to formalize this matter legally - the coronation was postponed. The mood among the people roughly corresponded to the Sagittarius’s remark from the film “Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession”: “They say the Tsar is not real!” Police agents quote speeches that circulated among the lower classes: “What kind of sovereign is he if he has not yet been crowned? If I were a real king, I would be crowned!”
Strength and power
The most interesting thing is that everything according to their word came true. From the moment Alexander was finally crowned, the cowardly, stupid heir disappeared somewhere. And the very king about whom domestic monarchists sigh appeared.
Alexander immediately showed what would happen to Russia in the near future. In the process of being anointed to the kingdom. Now this may seem funny, but at that time, knowledgeable people paid great attention to the coronation menu - the content of the “dining card” exactly corresponded to the political doctrine of the new monarch. Alexander’s choice was stunning: “Barley soup. Borschok. Soup. Jellied from ruffs. Pod peas."
All this is the Russian table. Moreover, common people, peasant, rude. The most notorious beggars then feasted on peas in pods. To serve this at the coronation of the ruler of the largest empire in the world means to give a hefty slap to your aristocracy and mortally insult foreigners.
The new emperor really proclaimed the slogan “Russia for Russians”, made life much easier for the common people and began to pump up his muscles. He abolished the poll tax, introduced an inheritance tax, and the navy, the most knowledge-intensive sector of the armed forces, became third in the world after English and French.
This is not forgiven. And, as soon as it became clear that the unimportant education and upbringing of the monarch had almost no effect on the growing power of Russia, it was decided to approach from the other side. Not yet being heir to the throne, he loved to drink from the bottle. Sometimes it was so bad that he fell into a real binge. Got him out of his drinking bouts Dr. Botkin. But the tendency remained. And although the emperor fought against her, not unsuccessfully, rumors and gossip about his alcoholism fell on prepared ground.
This was especially useful for the revolutionaries, who needed to create the image of a “stupid and drunkard” on the throne in order to show the depth of the fall of the monarchy and the need to overthrow, or even kill, the king. Hence the legends that the king allegedly secretly got drunk, and then lay on the floor, kicked his legs and tried to knock down everyone passing by. It is not true. Evidence of this is the memoirs of his personal doctor Nikolai Velyaminov: “Did he drink vodka with a snack? It seems not, and if he drank, it was no more than one small glass. If he drank at the table, it was his favorite drink - Russian kvass mixed with champagne, and then very moderately. Bad habits include smoking, strong Havana cigars and up to fifty cigarettes a day.”The best characteristic of both him personally and the results of his reign is the picture Vasnetsova"Bogatyrs". It is known that the artist painted Ilya Muromets, keeping in mind the appearance of Alexander III. Art critics describe the image of Ilya as follows: “Calm strength and power.”
© Commons.wikimedia.org / V. Vasnetsov “Vyatka River” (1878)
© Commons.wikimedia.org / V. Vasnetsov. Illustration for the proverb “It’s better not to get married at all than to quarrel with your wife forever”
© Commons.wikimedia.org / V. Vasnetsov “Flying Carpet” (1880)
© Commons.wikimedia.org / V. Vasnetsov “From apartment to apartment” (1876)
© Commons.wikimedia.org / V. Vasnetsov “Beggar Singers” (1873)
© Commons.wikimedia.org / V. Vasnetsov “After the massacre of Igor Svyatoslavovich with the Polovtsians” (1880)
120 years ago, on November 1, 1894 in Crimea, in Livadia, Russian Emperor Alexander III, the 13th Tsar of the Romanov family, father, died at the age of 49.
During the 13 years of the reign of Alexander III the Peacemaker, Russia did not participate in a single war; thanks to skillful public policy and diplomacy, the Russian Empire became a stronger and greater power than it was before his reign.
On the day of the death of Alexander III, Europe felt that it had lost an international arbiter who had always been guided by the idea of justice.
The cause of death of Alexander III was chronic nephritis, which led to damage to the heart and blood vessels. According to experts, kidney disease arose after a railway accident in which the royal train was involved at the Borki station, 50 kilometers from Kharkov in the fall of 1888. During a train crash, the roof of the royal carriage collapsed, and Tsar Alexander III, saving his family, held the roof on his shoulders until help arrived.
Emperor Alexander III ascended the throne on March 14, 1881, after the assassination of his father Alexander II.
On April 29, 1881, the emperor signed "Manifesto on the Inviolability of Autocracy", which called on “all faithful subjects to serve faithfully to the eradication of vile sedition that disgraces the Russian land, - to the establishment of faith and morality, - to the good upbringing of children, - to the extermination of untruth and theft, - to the establishment of order and truth in the operation of all institutions "
In 1881, a peasant bank was established for issuing loans to peasants for the purchase of land, purchasing peasant plots.
1882 – 1884 - the tax system was changed: the poll tax for the poorest classes was abolished, the inheritance and interest taxes were abolished, and the taxation of trades was increased. Protection of workers: admission of minors to factory work and night work of adolescents and women is prohibited.
1881 - 82 - a commission was established to draft criminal and civil laws.
Measures have been taken to expand the benefits of the local nobility, in 1885 a noble land bank was established, providing long-term loans for noble landowners, the Ministry of Finance was entrusted with the creation land bank for all classes.
Public education. In 1884, the charter of a new university reform was adopted, which destroyed university self-government, students were not exempted from military service, and military gymnasiums were transformed into cadet corps.
The elementary school was transferred to the hands of the clergy and established. A circular was issued about “cook’s children”, limiting higher education for children from the lower strata of society.
The Emperor was a passionate collector and founded the Russian Museum. A rich collection of paintings, graphics, objects of decorative and applied art, sculptures collected by Alexander III was transferred to the Russian Museum.
From 1881 – 1895 the share of customs duties on imported goods increased from 19% to 31%, Thus, Russian commodity producers were protected from imported goods. A course has been set for the industrialization of Russia, for the creation of its own industry - this is not only an economic, but also a fundamental political task, constituting the main direction in the system of internal patronage.
The deficits of the Russian state budget gave way in 1881-87 to a tremendous excess of state revenues over expenses. The ruble has become gold! The main source of government revenue was indirect taxes, and taxation items were increased (new taxes on gasoline, kerosene, matches). In 1881, a housing tax was introduced in Russia and Taxation rates have been increased - excise taxes on alcohol, tobacco and sugar have been raised.
Emperor Alexander III loved Georgian, and, and knew a lot about them. During the reign of Alexander III, expensive foreign wine varieties were forced out of the domestic market of the Russian Empire by domestic wines. Crimean winemaking received good markets, high-quality wines were presented at world wine exhibitions.
During the reign of Alexander III, the Russian Empire became a strong naval power. The Russian fleet took 3rd place in the world after England and France. 114 new military vessels were launched, including 17 battleships and 10 armored cruisers, the total displacement of the Russian fleet reached 300 thousand tons.
Emperor Alexander III uttered his famous phrase “Russia has only two true allies - the army and the navy.” Over the past 100 years, the situation with Russia's loyal allies has not changed at all.
The main directions of Alexander III's foreign policy were:
1. Strengthening influence in the Balkans. As a result Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878 Bulgaria was liberated in 1879 from 500 years of Turkish rule.
2. Search for reliable allies. In 1881, German Chancellor Bismarck signed the secret Austro-Russian-German treaty “The Alliance of the Three Emperors,” which provided for the neutrality of each side in the event that one of the countries found itself in a war with the 4th side. In 1882, secretly from Russia, Bismarck concluded a “triple alliance” - Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy against Russia and France, which provided for the provision of military assistance to each other in the event of hostilities with Russia or France. In 1887, the Russian-German “customs war”: Germany did not provide a loan to Russia and increased duties on Russian grain and created advantages for the import of American grain into Germany. Russia responded by increasing duties on imported German goods: iron, coal, ammonia, steel.
3. Support peaceful relations with all countries. Secret alliance of France and Russia. France in the 1980s saw Russia as its protector from Germany and its savior. A grand parade in honor of the first visit of Alexander III to France, a ceremonial reception of the Russian squadron in Toulon, and a return visit of the French squadron to Kronstadt in the summer of 1891.
4. Establishment of borders in the south of Central Asia, after the annexation of Kazakhstan, the Kokand Khanate, the Bukhara Emirate, and the Khiva Khanate. During the reign of Alexander III, the territory of the Russian Empire increased by 430,000 square meters. km.
5. Consolidation of Russia in new territories of the Far East. In 1891, Russia began construction of the “Great Siberian Railway” - 7 thousand km. railway line Chelyabinsk - Omsk - Irkutsk - Khabarovsk - Vladivostok.
For maintaining European peace, Alexander III was called the Peacemaker. During the reign of Alexander III, Russia did not wage a single war, and “the Russian nation, under the just and peaceful authority of its emperor, enjoyed security, this highest good of society and an instrument of true greatness.”
Alexander 3 is a Russian emperor who ascended the throne after the assassination of his father by terrorists in 1881, and ruled until his death in 1894. Unlike his predecessor, the tsar adhered to conservative and nationalist views in politics. After the start of his 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 his reign the country did not take part in wars. For this, the emperor was nicknamed the peacemaker after his death. He was a decent family man, an extremely religious and hardworking person.
In this article we will tell you more 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 destiny was not to govern the state, so they prepared him for another task. His father Alexander II already had an eldest son, Tsarevich Nicholas, who grew up as a healthy and intelligent child. It was assumed that he would become king. Alexander himself was only the second son in the family; he was born 2 years later than Nicholas - 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 included in the Emperor's Retinue.
Like other great princes from the House of Romanov, Alexander 3 received a traditional military engineering education. His training was carried out 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 his thirst for knowledge and could be lazy. His parents did not force him too much, thinking that his older brother would take the throne.
Alexander's appearance was outstanding for members of the imperial family. From an early age, he was distinguished by good health, a dense physique and tall height - 193 cm. The young prince loved art, was fond of painting, and took lessons in playing wind instruments.
Alexander - heir to the throne
Unexpectedly for everyone, Tsarevich Nicholas felt unwell during a trip to Europe. He was treated in Italy for several months, but his health only worsened. In April 1865, Nikolai died of tuberculous meningitis, he was 21 years old. Alexander, who had always had an excellent relationship 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's fiancée, Princess Dagmara from Denmark. They found the crown prince already dying.
The future Tsar Alexander 3 was not trained in government. Therefore, he urgently needed to master several disciplines at once. In a short time he completed a course in history, as well as law. It was taught to him by the lawyer K. Pobedonostsev, who was a supporter of conservatism. He was also appointed mentor to the newly-minted crown prince.
According to tradition, the future Alexander 3, as heir, traveled around Russia. Subsequently, his father began to involve him in 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 in marriage. They were engaged there, but did not have time to get married, since the Tsarevich died a few months later. The death of his elder brother brought the future Emperor Alexander 3 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 met secretly for several years, and the Tsarevich even wanted to give up the throne in order to marry her. This sparked a major quarrel with his father Alexander II, who insisted that he go to Denmark.
In Copenhagen, he proposed to the princess, and she accepted. 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 Fedorovna. 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.
Assassination of father 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. They had made attempts on the emperor’s life before, 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 for good reason, because during the first years of his reign, revolutionaries continued to carry out assassination attempts on the tsar and his associates.
The deceased Emperor Alexander II was distinguished by his liberal views. It is known that on the day of his murder he planned to approve the first constitution in Russia, developed by Count Loris-Melikov, but his heir did not support this idea. In the first days of his reign, he abandoned liberal reforms. The terrorists who participated in organizing the murder of his father were arrested and executed by order of the new king.
The coronation of Alexander 3 took place 2 years after his accession to the throne - in 1883. According to tradition, it was held in Moscow in the Assumption Cathedral.
Domestic policy of the new king
The newly-crowned tsar immediately abandoned the liberal reforms of his father, choosing the path of counter-reforms. Their ideologist was the tsar’s former mentor, 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 free-minded ministers were forced to resign.
The new government considered the reforms of Alexander II ineffective and even criminal. They believed that it was necessary to carry out counter-reforms that could eliminate the problems caused by liberal changes.
The domestic policy of Alexander 3 included a revision of many of his father's reforms. The changes affected the following reforms:
- peasant;
- judicial;
- educational;
- zemstvo
In the 1880s, the tsar began to provide support to landowners who began to become poor 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 increasingly difficult for them to independently leave the community. In 1895, the post of zemstvo chief was introduced for increased supervision over the common people.
In August 1881, a decree was issued allowing regional and provincial authorities to impose a state of emergency in the region at their own discretion. 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 footmen, small shopkeepers and laundresses could no longer study in gymnasiums. In 1884, university autonomy was abolished. Tuition fees increased significantly, so few could now afford to obtain a higher education. Primary schools were placed in the hands of the clergy. In 1882, censorship regulations were strengthened. 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, persecution of 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-crowned 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, producing huge circulations of religious literature. The years of the reign of Alexander 3 were marked by the construction of new Orthodox churches and monasteries. The emperor imposed restrictions on the rights of people of different religions and foreigners.
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. The successes were especially outstanding in metallurgy. Russia was engaged in the production of iron and steel, and oil and coal were actively mined 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, Finance Minister Bunge also carried out a tax reform that abolished the poll tax. Instead, a rent payment was introduced, depending on the size of the home. 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 tsar, redemption payments for peasants were significantly reduced. According to tradition, during his reign, commemorative coins of Alexander 3 were issued, dedicated to the coronation of the newly-crowned 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
Emperor Alexander 3 after his death was called a peacemaker, since during his reign Russia did not enter into a single 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 was able to reduce the number of soldiers and reduce the cost of their maintenance. As a rule, historians believe that the tsar’s policies 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 agree on neutrality with Germany and Austria-Hungary, with whom they also entered into 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 1879 war. However, by 1886 it had lost its influence on this country.
In 1887, Alexander personally turned to 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 reign of the Tsar, the total area of Russia increased by 430 thousand km². In 1891, construction began on a railway that was supposed to connect the European part of the country with the Far East.
Conclusion of 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. For France, an alliance with another influential state was necessary in order to avoid war with Germany, which constantly laid claim to its part of the territories.
For a long time, relations between the two countries were cold. Republican France supported revolutionaries in Russia and contributed to their fight 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, the official treaty of friendship between the two countries came into force. Already in 1892, France and Russia agreed to sign a military convention. The 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 ended his relationship with Princess Meshcherskaya. Throughout his marriage to Maria Feodorovna, he had no favorites or mistresses, which was a rarity among Russian emperors. He was a loving father, although he was strict and demanding. Maria Feodorovna 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.
- Ksenia - married the Grand Duke, and subsequently, 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 and married a military officer. Like her father, she was fond of painting and earned her living from it.
The emperor was very unpretentious in everyday life, distinguished by modesty and frugality. Contemporaries believed that aristocracy was alien to him. Often the king dressed in simple and even shabby 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 them. The emperor was engaged in collecting and 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 height 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 either 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 vacationing with his family in Livadia in Crimea. The image was taken in May 1893.
1888 train crash
In October 1888, the emperor and his family were returning by train after a vacation to St. Petersburg. Suddenly, near Kharkov, the train suddenly crashed and went off the rails. More than 20 passengers were killed and more than 60 people were seriously injured. Together with his wife and children, Alexander 3 was in the restaurant at the time of the disaster. None of them were injured, although the roof of the carriage could have collapsed on them. The Emperor held her on his shoulders until his family and other victims emerged from the rubble. It was officially stated that the disaster occurred due to technical problems and faulty 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 directly injured during the disaster, very soon he began to complain about the deterioration of his health. He began to be bothered by frequent lower back pain. Qualified doctors conducted a thorough examination and came to the conclusion that the king began to develop severe kidney disease, which arose due to excessive stress on his back. The emperor's illness progressed quickly, and he felt increasingly unwell. In the winter of 1894, Alexander caught a bad cold and was never able to recover from the 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 Crimea.
The years of the reign of Alexander 3 were assessed controversially 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's life took place. After this, until the beginning of the 20th century, there were no terrorist attacks in the country at all. However, the problems that worried the masses were never resolved. Some scientists believe that it was partly the conservative policy of the penultimate Russian tsar that subsequently led to the numerous crises of power that Emperor Nicholas II faced.
The name of Emperor Alexander III, one of the greatest statesmen of Russia, was consigned to desecration and oblivion for many years. 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 the premature death of his older 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; prominent military theorist M.I. Dragomirov - tactics and military history, S.M. Soloviev - Russian history. The future emperor studied political and legal sciences, as well as Russian legislation, from K.P. Pobedonostsev, who had a particularly great influence on Alexander. After graduation, Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich traveled throughout Russia several times. It was these trips that laid in him not only love and the foundations of 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. Realizing the need to strengthen the 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, and was involved 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 of the 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 of the material well-being of 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 constructing 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 “forcible 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 finding 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 everyday 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 at peace”... “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!” Father John stood at the head of the bed for more than an hour 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.
V. Klyuchevsky: “Alexander III raised Russian historical thought, Russian national consciousness.”
Education and start of activity
Alexander III (Alexander Alexandrovich Romanov) was born in February 1845. He was the second son of Emperor Alexander II and Empress Maria Alexandrovna.
His older brother Nikolai Alexandrovich was considered the heir to the throne, so the younger Alexander was preparing for a military career. But the premature death of his older brother in 1865 unexpectedly changed the fate of the 20-year-old young man, who faced the need to succeed to the throne. He had to change his intentions and start getting a more fundamental education. Among Alexander Alexandrovich’s teachers were the most famous people of that time: the historian S. M. Solovyov, Y. K. Grot, who taught him the history of literature, M. I. Dragomirov taught the art of war. But the greatest influence on the future emperor was exerted by the teacher of law K. P. Pobedonostsev, who during the reign of Alexander served as chief prosecutor of the Holy Synod and had great influence on state affairs.
In 1866, Alexander married the Danish princess Dagmara (in Orthodoxy - Maria Fedorovna). Their children: Nicholas (later Russian Emperor Nicholas II), George, Ksenia, Mikhail, Olga. The last family photograph taken in Livadia shows, from left to right: Tsarevich Nicholas, Grand Duke George, Empress Maria Feodorovna, Grand Duchess Olga, Grand Duke Michael, Grand Duchess Xenia and Emperor Alexander III.
The last family photo of Alexander III
Before ascending the throne, Alexander Alexandrovich was the appointed ataman of all Cossack troops, and was the commander of the troops of the St. Petersburg Military District and the Guards Corps. Since 1868 he was a member of the State Council and the Committee of Ministers. Participated in the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, commanded the Rushchuk detachment in Bulgaria. After the war, he participated in the creation of the Voluntary Fleet, a joint-stock shipping company (together with Pobedonostsev), which was supposed to promote the government’s foreign economic policy.
Personality of the Emperor
S.K. Zaryanko "Portrait of Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich in a retinue frock coat"
Alexander III was not like his father, neither in appearance, nor in character, nor in habits, nor in his mentality. He was distinguished by his very large height (193 cm) and strength. In his youth, he could bend a coin with his fingers and break a horseshoe. Contemporaries note that he was devoid of external aristocracy: he preferred unpretentiousness in clothing, modesty, was not inclined to comfort, liked to spend his leisure time in a narrow family or friendly circle, was thrifty, and adhered to strict moral rules. S.Yu. Witte described the emperor this way: “He made an impression with his impressiveness, the calmness of his manners and, on the one hand, extreme firmness, and on the other hand, the complacency in his face... in appearance, he looked like a big Russian peasant from the central provinces, he was most approached a suit: short fur coat, jacket and bast shoes; and yet, with his appearance, which reflected his enormous character, beautiful heart, complacency, justice and at the same time firmness, he undoubtedly impressed, and, as I said above, if they had not known that he was an emperor, he would entered the room in any suit - undoubtedly, everyone would pay attention to him.”
He had a negative attitude towards the reforms of his father, Emperor Alexander II, as he saw their unfavorable consequences: the growth of bureaucracy, the plight of the people, imitation of the West, corruption in the government. He had a dislike for liberalism and the intelligentsia. His political ideal: patriarchal-paternal autocratic rule, religious values, strengthening of the class structure, nationally distinctive social development.
The emperor and his family lived mainly in Gatchina due to the threat of terrorism. But he lived for a long time in both Peterhof and Tsarskoe Selo. He didn't really like the Winter Palace.
Alexander III simplified court etiquette and ceremony, reduced the staff of the Ministry of the Court, significantly reduced the number of servants, and introduced strict control over the spending of money. He replaced expensive foreign wines at court with Crimean and Caucasian wines, and limited the number of balls per year to four.
At the same time, the emperor did not spare money to purchase objects of art, which he knew how to appreciate, since in his youth he studied drawing with professor of painting N. I. Tikhobrazov. Later, Alexander Alexandrovich resumed his studies together with his wife Maria Fedorovna under the guidance of academician A.P. Bogolyubov. During his reign, Alexander III, due to his workload, left this occupation, but retained his love for art throughout his life: the emperor collected an extensive collection of paintings, graphics, objects of decorative and applied art, and sculptures, which after his death was transferred to the foundation founded by the Russian Emperor Nicholas II in memory of his father, Russian Museum.
The emperor was fond of hunting and fishing. Belovezhskaya Pushcha became his favorite hunting spot.
On October 17, 1888, the royal train in which the emperor was traveling crashed near Kharkov. There were casualties among the servants in the seven wrecked carriages, but the royal family remained intact. During the crash, the roof of the dining car collapsed; as is known from eyewitness accounts, Alexander held the roof on his shoulders until his children and wife got out of the carriage and help arrived.
But soon after this, the emperor began to feel pain in his lower back - the concussion from the fall damaged his kidneys. The disease gradually developed. The Emperor began to feel unwell more and more often: his appetite disappeared and heart problems began. Doctors diagnosed him with nephritis. In the winter of 1894, he caught a cold, and the disease quickly began to progress. Alexander III was sent for treatment to Crimea (Livadia), where he died on October 20, 1894.
On the day of the emperor’s death and in the previous last days of his life, Archpriest John of Kronstadt was next to him, who laid his hands on the head of the dying man at his request.
The emperor's body was taken to St. Petersburg and buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral.
Domestic policy
Alexander II intended to continue his reforms. The Loris-Melikov project (called the “constitution”) received the highest approval, but on March 1, 1881, the emperor was killed by terrorists, and his successor curtailed the reforms. Alexander III, as mentioned above, did not support the policies of his father; moreover, K. P. Pobedonostsev, who was the leader of the conservative party in the government of the new tsar, had a strong influence on the new emperor.
This is what he wrote to the emperor in the first days after his accession to the throne: “... it’s a terrible hour and time is running out. Either save Russia and yourself now, or never. If they sing the old siren songs to you about how you need to calm down, you need to continue in the liberal direction, you need to give in to so-called public opinion - oh, for God’s sake, don’t believe it, Your Majesty, don’t listen. This will be death, the death of Russia and yours: this is clear to me as day.<…>The mad villains who destroyed your Parent will not be satisfied with any concession and will only become furious. They can be appeased, the evil seed can be torn out only by fighting them to the death and to the stomach, with iron and blood. It is not difficult to win: until now everyone wanted to avoid the fight and deceived the late Emperor, you, themselves, everyone and everything in the world, because they were not people of reason, strength and heart, but flabby eunuchs and magicians.<…>do not leave Count Loris-Melikov. I don't believe him. He is a magician and can also play doubles.<…>The new policy must be announced immediately and decisively. It is necessary to end at once, right now, all talk about freedom of the press, about the willfulness of meetings, about a representative assembly<…>».
After the death of Alexander II, a struggle developed between liberals and conservatives in the government; at a meeting of the Committee of Ministers, the new emperor, after some hesitation, nevertheless accepted the project drawn up by Pobedonostsev, which is known as the Manifesto on the Inviolability of Autocracy. This was a departure from the previous liberal course: liberal-minded ministers and dignitaries (Loris-Melikov, Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich, Dmitry Milyutin) resigned; Ignatiev (Slavophile) became the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs; he issued a circular that read: “... the great and broadly conceived transformations of the past Reign did not bring all the benefits that the Tsar-Liberator had the right to expect from them. The Manifesto of April 29 indicates to us that the Supreme Power has measured the enormity of the evil from which our Fatherland is suffering and has decided to begin to eradicate it...”
The government of Alexander III pursued a policy of counter-reforms that limited the liberal reforms of the 1860s and 70s. A new University Charter was issued in 1884, which abolished the autonomy of higher education. The entry into gymnasiums of children of the lower classes was limited (“circular about cooks’ children,” 1887). Since 1889, peasant self-government began to be subordinate to zemstvo chiefs from local landowners, who combined administrative and judicial power in their hands. Zemstvo (1890) and city (1892) regulations tightened the administration's control over local self-government and limited the rights of voters from the lower strata of the population.
During his coronation in 1883, Alexander III announced to the volost elders: “Follow the advice and guidance of your leaders of the nobility.” This meant the protection of the class rights of the noble landowners (the establishment of the Noble Land Bank, the adoption of the Regulations on Hiring for Agricultural Work, which was beneficial for the landowners), strengthening of administrative guardianship over the peasantry, conservation of the community and the large patriarchal family. Attempts were made to increase the social role of the Orthodox Church (the spread of parochial schools), and repressions against Old Believers and sectarians were intensified. On the outskirts, a policy of Russification was carried out, the rights of foreigners (especially Jews) were limited. A percentage norm was established for Jews in secondary and then higher educational institutions (within the Pale of Settlement - 10%, outside the Pale - 5, in the capitals - 3%). A policy of Russification was pursued. In the 1880s. Instruction in Russian was introduced in Polish universities (previously, after the uprising of 1862-1863, it was introduced there in schools). In Poland, Finland, the Baltic states, and Ukraine, the Russian language was introduced in institutions, on railways, on posters, etc.
But the reign of Alexander III was not characterized only by counter-reforms. Redemption payments were lowered, the mandatory redemption of peasant plots was legalized, and a peasant land bank was established to enable peasants to obtain loans to purchase land. In 1886, the poll tax was abolished, and an inheritance and interest tax were introduced. In 1882, restrictions were introduced on factory work by minors, as well as on night work by women and children. At the same time, the police regime and class privileges of the nobility were strengthened. Already in 1882-1884, new rules were issued on the press, libraries and reading rooms, called temporary, but in force until 1905. This was followed by a number of measures expanding the benefits of the landed nobility - the law on escheat of noble property (1883), the organization long-term loan for noble landowners, in the form of establishing a noble land bank (1885), instead of the all-class land bank projected by the Minister of Finance.
I. Repin "Reception of volost elders by Alexander III in the courtyard of the Petrovsky Palace in Moscow"
During the reign of Alexander III, 114 new military vessels were built, including 17 battleships and 10 armored cruisers; The Russian fleet ranked third in the world after England and France. The army and the military department were put in order after their disorganization during the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, which was facilitated by the complete trust shown to Minister Vannovsky and the chief of the main staff Obruchev by the emperor, who did not allow outside interference in their activities.
The influence of Orthodoxy in the country increased: the number of church periodicals increased, the circulation of spiritual literature increased; parishes closed during the previous reign were restored, intensive construction of new churches was underway, the number of dioceses within Russia increased from 59 to 64.
During the reign of Alexander III, there was a sharp decrease in protests, in comparison with the second half of the reign of Alexander II, and a decline in the revolutionary movement in the mid-80s. Terrorist activity has also decreased. After the assassination of Alexander II, there was only one successful attempt by Narodnaya Volya (1882) on the Odessa prosecutor Strelnikov and a failed attempt (1887) on Alexander III. After this, there were no more terrorist attacks in the country until the beginning of the 20th century.
Foreign policy
During the reign of Alexander III, Russia did not wage a single war. For this Alexander III received the name Peacemaker.
The main directions of the foreign policy of Alexander III:
Balkan policy: strengthening Russia's position.
Peaceful relations with all countries.
Search for loyal and reliable allies.
Determination of the southern borders of Central Asia.
Politics in the new territories of the Far East.
After the 5-century Turkish yoke as a result of the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. Bulgaria gained its statehood in 1879 and became a constitutional monarchy. Russia expected to find an ally in Bulgaria. At first it was like this: the Bulgarian Prince A. Battenberg pursued a friendly policy towards Russia, but then Austrian influence began to prevail, and in May 18881 a coup d’etat took place in Bulgaria, led by Battenberg himself - he abolished the constitution and became an unlimited ruler, pursuing a pro-Austrian policy. The Bulgarian people did not approve of this and did not support Battenberg; Alexander III demanded the restoration of the constitution. In 1886 A. Battenberg abdicated the throne. In order to prevent Turkish influence on Bulgaria again, Alexander III advocated strict compliance with the Berlin Treaty; invited Bulgaria to solve its own problems in foreign policy, recalled the Russian military without interfering in Bulgarian-Turkish affairs. Although the Russian ambassador in Constantinople announced to the Sultan that Russia would not allow a Turkish invasion. In 1886, diplomatic relations were severed between Russia and Bulgaria.
N. Sverchkov "Portrait of Emperor Alexander III in the uniform of the Life Guards Hussar Regiment"
At the same time, Russia's relations with England are becoming more complicated as a result of clashes of interests in Central Asia, the Balkans and Turkey. At the same time, relations between Germany and France were also becoming complicated, so France and Germany began to look for opportunities for rapprochement with Russia in case of war between themselves - it was provided for in the plans of Chancellor Bismarck. But Emperor Alexander III kept William I from attacking France using family ties, and in 1891 a Russian-French alliance was concluded for as long as the Triple Alliance existed. The agreement had a high degree of secrecy: Alexander III warned the French government that if the secret was disclosed, the alliance would be dissolved.
In Central Asia, Kazakhstan, the Kokand Khanate, the Bukhara Emirate, the Khiva Khanate were annexed, and the annexation of the Turkmen tribes continued. During the reign of Alexander III, the territory of the Russian Empire increased by 430 thousand square meters. km. This was the end of the expansion of the borders of the Russian Empire. Russia avoided war with England. In 1885, an agreement was signed on the creation of Russian-British military commissions to determine the final borders of Russia and Afghanistan.
At the same time, Japan's expansion was intensifying, but it was difficult for Russia to conduct military operations in that area due to the lack of roads and Russia's weak military potential. In 1891, construction of the Great Siberian Railway began in Russia - the Chelyabinsk-Omsk-Irkutsk-Khabarovsk-Vladivostok railway line (approx. 7 thousand km). This could dramatically increase Russia's forces in the Far East.
Results of the board
During the 13 years of the reign of Emperor Alexander III (1881–1894), Russia made a strong economic breakthrough, created industry, rearmed the Russian army and navy, and became the world's largest exporter of agricultural products. It is very important that Russia lived in peace throughout the years of Alexander III’s reign.
The years of the reign of Emperor Alexander III are associated with the flourishing of Russian national culture, art, music, literature and theater. He was a wise philanthropist and collector.
During difficult times for him, P.I. Tchaikovsky repeatedly received financial support from the emperor, which is noted in the composer’s letters.
S. Diaghilev believed that for Russian culture Alexander III was the best of the Russian monarchs. It was under him that Russian literature, painting, music and ballet began to flourish. Great art, which later glorified Russia, began under Emperor Alexander III.
He played an outstanding role in the development of historical knowledge in Russia: under him, the Russian Imperial Historical Society, of which he was chairman, began to actively work. The Emperor was the creator and founder of the Historical Museum in Moscow.
On the initiative of Alexander, a patriotic museum was created in Sevastopol, the main exhibition of which was the Panorama of the Sevastopol Defense.
Under Alexander III, the first university was opened in Siberia (Tomsk), a project was prepared for the creation of the Russian Archaeological Institute in Constantinople, the Russian Imperial Palestine Society began to operate, and Orthodox churches were built in many European cities and in the East.
The greatest works of science, culture, art, literature, from the reign of Alexander III are the great achievements of Russia, of which we are still proud.
“If Emperor Alexander III had been destined to continue reigning for as many years as he reigned, then his reign would have been one of the greatest reigns of the Russian Empire” (S.Yu. Witte).
