His reign was marked by numerous decrees that were resented by the populace, as well as quickly shifting alliances in foreign affairs. Alexander II, like his uncle Alexander I before him (who was educated by a Swiss republican tutor, a follower of Rousseau), was to turn into a "liberalizing," or at any rate humanitarian, autocrat. Navigate St. Petersburg’s dining scene and find restaurants to remember. Over the course of a number of diplomatic congresses, victorious Russia played an impressive role in determining the political restructuring of post-Napoleonic Europe. The Alexander Palace was loaned to Nicholas by his older brother and they made it into their principal residence outside St ... his death he was an exhausted, broken man. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexander-I-emperor-of-Russia, RT Russiapedia - Biography of Alexander I, JewishEncyclopedia.com - Biography of Alexander I, Alexander I - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Alexander I - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Tsar Alexander I became increasingly suspicious of those around him, especially after an attempt was made to kidnap him when he was on his way to the conference in Aachen, Germany. When he declined, she chose Frédéric-César La Harpe, a Swiss citizen, a republican by conviction, and an excellent educator. Synonyms: Aleksandr Pavlovich; Alexander I; Czar Alexander I. Logo of the Russian Academy of Sciences #4 He introduced the system of Table of Ranks to do away with hereditary nobility. He wanted his reign to be a happy one and dreamed of great and necessary reforms. His grandmother, the reigning Empress Catherine II (the Great), took him from his parents and raised him herself to prepare him to succeed her. Their principal achievement was the initiation of a vast plan for public education, which involved the formation of many schools of different types, institutions for training teachers, and the founding of three new universities. Alexander the Great served as king of Macedonia from 336 to 323 B.C. As was the case with his father Paul, Alexander was taken from his parents immediately after birth by his grandmother, Catherine the Great, who had him brought up among her Court, away from his mother and father. Russian officers returning from their European campaigns brought with them ideas of freedom and wanted modernisation. Nicknamed the Russian Sphinx because of his restrained nature and outward aloofness, Alexander suffered under the weight of the crime of patricide, in which he was tangentially involved, for virtually his entire adult life. Soon after his birth on December 23, 1777, Alexander was taken from his father, Paul I of Russia, by his grandmother, Catherine the Great, who utterly disliked Paul and did not want him to have any influence on the future emperor. Corrections? Catherine had already written the manifesto that deprived her son of his rights and designated her grandson as the heir to the throne, when she died suddenly on November 17 (November 6, Old Style), 1796. Died: March 13, 1881 in Saint Petersburg, Russia; Key Accomplishments: Alexander II earned a reputation for reform and a willingness to bring Russia into the modern world. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Copyright © 2001-2021 ZAO "SAINT-PETERSBURG.COM". He was mostly known as "Sandro". Catherine II (born Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst; 2 May 1729 in Szczecin – 17 November 1796), most commonly known as Catherine the Great, was Empress of All Russia from 1762 until 1796—the country's longest-ruling female leader. To some extent, he was, of course, the representative of forces — intellectual, economic, and political — that were stronger than himself or, indeed, any single individual. In 1825, Alexander died unexpectedly, far from home during a voyage through south Russia in the city of Taganrog. As a person born on this date, Alexander I of Russia is listed in our database as the 16th most popular celebrity for the day (December 23). Back to school tips for parents supporting home learners Get our help and advice choosing services and options to plan a prefect train journey. His full given name was Nikolai Aleksandrovich Romanov. A friend and disciple of the philosophers of the French Enlightenment, Catherine invited Denis Diderot, the encyclopaedist, to become Alexander’s private tutor. All rights reserved. The Russian honorific "czar"—sometimes spelled "tsar"—derives from none other than Julius Caesar, who predated the Russian Empire by 1,500 years.Equivalent to a king or an emperor, the czar was the autocratic, all-powerful ruler of Russia, an institution that … We can help. A plan to abolish serfdom was prepared and a constitution drafted. Alexander reformed the state administration, creating in 1801 a system of ministries under the direction of a Cabinet of Ministers, and established a legislative advisory body, the State Council, in 1810. Alexander received his military training there under the direction of a tough and rigid officer, Aleksey Arakcheyev, who was faithfully attached to him and whom Alexander loved throughout his life. As an adolescent, Alexander was allowed to visit his father at Gatchina, on the outskirts of St. Petersburg, away from the court. Paul was 46 years old when he was assassinated in St. Petersburg on March 23, 1801. He also took part in the Congress of Vienna (1814–15) and drove for the establishment of the Holy Alliance (1815). She was determined to disinherit her own son, Pavel, who repelled her by his instability. Under the leadership of Mikhail Speransky, Russian legislation was systemized and the Complete Collection of Laws of the Russian Empire compiled. Alexander ascended to the throne as a result of a brutal palace coup, in which his supporters murdered his father, Paul I. Alexander was aware of the coup, but was convinced that Paul would simply be ousted from the throne, and that his life would be spared. People born on December 23 fall under the Zodiac sign of … Alexander issued a ukase (1818) directing the election of three deputies from among the Jews, who should reside in St. Petersburg, and be empowered to bring all Jewish affairs before the government. Catherine prepared her grandson to become heir to the throne, and planned to transfer power directly to him, bypassing his father, her estranged son, Paul. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Alexander as a young man Alexander II, the oldest son of Emperor Nicholas I (1796–1855), was born in Moscow, Russia, on April 17, 1818. Alexander I, Russian in full Aleksandr Pavlovich, (born December 23 [December 12, Old Style], 1777, St. Petersburg, Russia—died December 1 [November 19], 1825, Taganrog), emperor of Russia (1801–25), who alternately fought and befriended Napoleon I during the Napoleonic Wars but who ultimately (1813–15) helped form the coalition that defeated the emperor of the French. He was sidelined for years by his mother, Catherine II, before finally becoming emperor in 1796, after her death. Out of a sincere desire to innovate, Alexander considered a constitution and “the limitation of the autocracy,” but he recoiled before the danger of imposing sudden change on a nobility that rejected it. (1777-1825), Russian Tsar 1801-1825 Alexander I was born in St. Petersburg on 23 December, 1777 and died at Taganrog on 1 December, 1825. The plotters had let him in on the secret, assuring him they would not kill his father but would only demand his abdication. Alexander I, emperor of Russia (1801–25), who alternately fought and befriended Napoleon I during the Napoleonic Wars but who ultimately helped form the coalition that defeated the emperor of the French. There, Pavel had created a ridiculous little kingdom where he devoted himself to military exercises and parades. Aug 23, 2019 - Explore fanny jones's board "Czar Alexander 1", followed by 184 people on Pinterest. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Alexander I of Russia was a famous Emperor of Russia, who was born on December 23, 1777. Nicholas I was the emperor of Russia from 1825 to 1855 and was known for his autocratic and orthodox policies. Because of his unstable personality, he would become intoxicated by the notion of grand projects, while balking at carrying them out. He was the son of Paul I and Sophie of Württemberg (Maria Feodorovna), and the grandson of Catherine II. Some sources allege that she created the plan to remove Paul from succession altogether. At home, Alexander started another wave of reforms. As a result, he ascended to the Russian imperial throne in Nennal. Having no support, Nicholas was prepared to give up power but Constantine didn’t want to rule either. The precocious marriage had been arranged to guarantee descendants to the Romanov dynasty, and it was unhappy from the beginning. Writer, translator, book reviewer, and historian. Biography: Where did Nicholas II grow up? 1 Biography; Study Pack. The Alexander I of Russia Study Pack contains: Biographies (1) Alexander, I 912 words, approx. The culmination of the reign of Alexander I: Marshal Marmont hands over the keys of Paris to the Russian Emperor. Maximize your time in St. Petersburg with tours expertly tailored to your interests. Alexander's importance lies chiefly in his efforts to assist Russia's emergence from the past. He was a reformer but also a defender of the traditional laws and customs of Russia. Very nice biography of a Tsar who started wishing to drastically cut expenses for the army and invest the money in reforming the state and ended up defeating Napoleon. Alexander greatest achievement was his victory over Napoleon, who had attacked Russia in 1812, and marched with his Grande Armée from France to Moscow, but was then expelled from Russia and later defeated by a coalition of allies, Russia among them. )/ 1 December 1825. The Empress saw in her grandson the future ideal monarch and an heir to continue her many programs and plans. Alexander’s political ideal was a nation containing only one nationality, one language, one religion, and one form of administration; and he did his utmost to prepare for the realization of this ideal by imposing the Russian language and Russian schools on his German, Polish, and Finnish subjects, by fostering Orthodoxy at the expense of other confessions, by persecuting the Jews, and by destroying the … The monarch’s tyrannical and bizarre behaviour led to a plot against him by certain nobles and military men, and he was assassinated during the night of March 23 (March 11, Old Style), 1801. Paul I’s reign was a dark period for Russia. Plans were drafted for the phased abolition of serfdom, but were not actually implemented, and only the Law on Free Cultivators was published, which allowed the nobles to voluntarily liberate their serfs and grant them land. He and Maria Feodorovna were officially crowned and anointed at the Assumption Cathedral in Moscow on 27 May 1883. Sept. 17, 2020. Alexander issued an imperial manifesto on April 29, 1881, which ended the constitutional reforms of his father and proclaimed the absolute power of the emperor. The army swore allegiance to Constantine. After the darkness into which Paul had plunged Russia, Alexander appeared to his subjects as a radiant dawn. Let our meeting and events experts help you organize a superb event in St. Petersburg. Alexander II, Emperor of Russia. Paul I of Russia was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, on October 1, 1754. Author of. Serfdom was a continuing burden on the Russians. Born: St. Petersburg, 12 (23) December 1777Died: Taganrog, 19 November (1 December) 1825Reigned: 1801-1825. The Emancipation Edict freed 23 million serfs and improved the state of life for an additional 30 million peasants, and has been described as "the greatest social movement since the French Revolution". Sales trends: 10 ways to prepare for the future of sales; Sept. 16, 2020. Get around in comfort with a chauffeured car or van to suit your budget and requirements. We can find you a suitable interpreter for your negotiations, research or other needs. In the autumn of 1825 the Emperor sailed to the south of Russia due to the increasing illness of his wife. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Alexander greatest achievement was his victory over Napoleon, who had attacked Russia in 1812, and marched with his Grande Armée from France to Moscow, but was then expelled from Russia and later defeated by a coalition of allies, Russia among them. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. During his trip he caught a cold which developed into typhus from which he died in the southern city of Taganrog on 19 November (O.S. Please select which sections you would like to print: While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Alexander, who knew of it, did not dare to disclose the manifesto, and Pavel became emperor. But to liberate the serfs, who composed three-quarters of the population, would arouse the hostility of their noble masters, who did not want to lose the slaves on whom their wealth and comfort depended. The sudden death of Alexander I, in November 1825 on a trip away from Moscow, plunged Russia’s monarchy into turmoil. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Both sides tried to use Alexander for their own purposes and he was torn emotionally between his grandmothe… Grand Duke Alexander, the oldest son of Pavel I and his wife Maria Fyodorovna, and heir to the throne, remains one of the most enigmatic figures in the Romanov Dynasty. Ascending the throne, Alexander's first manifesto promised that he would govern the country according to the principles of his grandmother, Catherine the Great. He took part in the Congress of Vienna (1814–15), drove for the establishment of the Holy Alliance (1815), and took part in the conferences that followed. He was handsome – he had the classic profile of his grandmother – […] Omissions? But much of the nobility opposed Alexander’s plans – the Czar backed down. Aleksandr Pavlovich was the first child of Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich (later Paul I) and Grand Duchess Maria Fyodorovna, a princess of Württemberg-Montbéliard. Alexander succeeded to the throne at the age of 36, following the death of his father in February 1855, at the height of the Crimean War. He was handsome, strong, pleasant, humane, and full of enthusiasm. His greatest legacy was the freeing of Russian serfs in 1861. We can help you make the right choice from hundreds of St. Petersburg hotels and hostels. Since he was a political conservative, his reign was known for geographical expansion, suppression of disagreement, economic stagnation, poor administrative policies, a corrupt bureaucracy, and frequent wars. Because he would become emperor one day, Alexander was taught many different subjects. Nicholas II was born the son of the Russian Tsar Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna. He inspired deep affection in his pupil and permanently shaped his flexible and open mind. Nevertheless, despite the humanitarian ideas inculcated in him by La Harpe and despite his own wish to make his people happy, Alexander lacked the energy necessary to carry out the most urgent reform, the abolition of serfdom. The sweet and charming girl who became Yelisaveta Alekseyevna was loved by everyone except her husband. Alexander I (1777-1825) was emperor of Russia from 1801 to 1825. During his time of leadership, he united Greece, reestablished the Corinthian League and conquered the Persian Empire. 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