Nicholas II Alexandrovich (6 [18] May 1868, Tsarskoye Selo — 17 July 1918, Yekaterinburg) was the last Emperor of All Russia, King of Poland, and Grand Duke of Finland, who reigned from 20 October [1 November] 1894 to 2 [15] March 1917. He belonged to the Romanov dynasty and was the eldest son of Alexander III. In the Nizhny Novgorod context, his reign encompasses the period of the Nizhny Novgorod Yarmarka's golden age and the holding of the All-Russian Industrial and Art Exhibition of 1896 in Nizhny Novgorod. Nizhny Novgorod became the first provincial capital that Nicholas II visited after his coronation: in the summer of 1896 he arrived for the XVI All-Russian Trade, Industrial, and Art Exhibition, and in anticipation of his visit a "Tsar's Pavilion" — the "Tsar's Pavilion" — was built at Railway Station (Vokzal), and it has survived to this day. At that same 1896 exhibition, the first Russian automobile with an internal combustion engine was presented — Yakovlev and Freze automobile, a two-seat vehicle with two brakes, weighing around 300 kg and capable of a top speed of up to 20 km/h. Nicholas II did not deign to take notice of the novelty; Russian industrialists followed his lead and showed no interest either, and the sole prototype was never sold. Nicholas II's second visit to Nizhny Novgorod Province took place in 1903: together with his family he arrived for the celebrations marking the Seraphim of Sarov, held on 17–19 July, and after the saint's relics were placed in the shrine of the Assumption Cathedral, he bathed in the holy spring like an ordinary pilgrim. The following day the imperial family visited Diveyevo Monastery, where Nicholas II was handed a letter written by Seraphim of Sarov shortly before the elder's death and discovered some 70 years later; according to eyewitnesses, upon reading the message the emperor wept bitterly. During the same visit the imperial couple met the local holy fool Paraskeva Ivanovna, who foretold the destruction of the empire and the ruin of the Church. In total, Nicholas II visited Nizhny Novgorod Governorate three times during his reign; the third visit was timed to coincide with the celebrations of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty.[1][1][1][1][1] and the subsequent revolutionary upheavals that directly affected the governorate.[1]

Reign and Domestic Policy

The reign of Nicholas II was accompanied by the country's economic growth alongside a mounting accumulation of socio-political tensions. During this period, the Revolution of 1905–1907, the February Revolution of 1917, and the October Revolution all took place. In foreign policy, Russia pursued expansion in the Far East, went to war with Japan, and subsequently participated in the First World War as part of the European powers' military alliances. Nicholas II held the military rank of Guards Colonel (from 1892) and received from the British monarchs the ranks of Admiral of the Fleet of the Royal Navy (1908) and Field Marshal of the British Army (1915).[1]

Abdication and Death

During the The February Revolution, Nicholas II abdicated in March 1917. Following his abdication, he and his family were held under house arrest at the Alexander Palace in Tsarskoye Selo. In the summer of 1917 the Provisional Government sent him, his family, and his close attendants into exile in Tobolsk. In the spring of 1918 the Bolsheviks transferred them to Yekaterinburg, where on 17 July 1918 Nicholas II was shot in the basement of the Ipatiev House together with his wife, children, and four close attendants.[1]

Canonization

In 1981 the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad glorified Nicholas II as a martyr. Russian Orthodox Church him together with his wife and children as passion-bearers on 20 August 2000.[1]

Sources

  1. KP — Nizhny Novgorod — Nicholas II's fate was foretold at Diveevo Monastery
  2. Wikipedia (ru) — Nicholas II