The Personal life of Nicholas II
1868-1918
By: Pasha-Jade Tong
How did Russia grow to become a world
superpower in the years 1855-1956?
life
• He was christened His Imperial Highness
Nikolai Aleksandrovitch Romanov, Grand Duke
of Russia.
• He was the last Emperor of Russia and
succeeded his father Alexander III and was
Grandson to the wonderful Alexander II ‘Tsar
Liberator’
As Tsar
• Nicholas II was a highly sensitive man who preferred to be with his
family than involve himself in the day-today running of his nation. A
weak man, he was frequently bullied into doing things by his
overbearing wife, Alexandra.
• people in Russia hoped for a new start under Nicholas. However,
the reign got off to a bad start from the first day. At the coronation
ceremony in 1894, the crowd gathered for the traditional
distribution of gifts. The crowd was understandably large and the
police had to force a way through for Nicholas. This caused a
stampede and 1,300 people were crushed to death and many more
were injured. Despite this tragedy, Nicholas and Alexandra acted as
if nothing had happened and attended the coronation ball that
evening just hours after the deaths. This event showed that
Nicholas, the sensitive family man, had less sensitivity for those
not in his gilded circle.
Family life
• He married Alexandra (nicknamed Alexi) of
Hesse, and had having had an affair with the
ballerina Mathilde Kschessinka in his Tsaravich
days. Alexandra was never popular in Russia.
Her personality upset and angered very many
of the people she met. However, despite her
attempts to get her husband to be more
resolute, she was a devoted wife to Nicholas
The RussoJapanese war
• Nicholas attempted to expand his territories into Manchuria and
provoked war with Japan in 1904, it was a catastrophe and Russia
lost Million of people. In fact 2/3rds of the fairly recently built up
fleet. Defeat in the war with Japan of 1904-5 seriously damaged
Russian prestige - and with it the esteem of the monarchy.
• At the same time as Russia faced war with Japan, there was
increasing industrial unrest at home. Workers who faced long
hours and poor conditions increasingly formed protests.
• Consequently and understandably there was unrest in Russia. There
were riots and strikes, and in January 1905 ‘Bloody Sunday’ had
the army open fire on men women and children as the peacefully
marched to present a petition against the war and requesting
certain liberties to Nicholas. Approximately 90 died and there was
much anti tsar feelings in Russia.
The Trans-Siberian railroad
• He directed the trans-siberian railroad and
made peace with France
Alexandra of Hesse
•
•
Alexandra was instrumental in
convincing Nicholas to resist evergrowing calls for increased
democracy within
Russia. Alexandra was a firm
believer in the autocratic
principle. Nicholas required little
persuasion: as a nationalist he
decried those who favoured
western style democracy.
Alexandra was unpopular with the
Russian elite, more so as evidence
emerged of her increasing
influence over her husband. Her
reliance upon Grigory Rasputin in
determining Russian policy
angered many, ultimately leading
to Rasputin's assassination.
Grigori Rasputin
• When doctors could not help
Alexei, the Tsarina looked
everywhere for help, and asked
for the help of the charismatic
peasant healer Rasputin
• He was said to possess the
ability to heal through prayer
and in spite of the doctors'
prediction that he would die.
Every time the boy had an
injury which caused him
internal or external bleeding,
the Tsarina called on Rasputin,
and the Tsarevich subsequently
got better. This made it appear
that Rasputin was effectively
healing him.
Rasputin and Alexandra
•
•
•
While Tsar Nicholas II was away at the front, Rasputin's influence over Tsarina
Alexandra increased. Nicholas II had a romantic vision of him leading his army.
Therefore, he spent much time at the Eastern Front. This was a disastrous move
as it left Alexandra in control back in the cities. Rasputin soon became her
confidant and personal adviser, and some say also convinced her to fill some
governmental offices with his own handpicked candidates.
To further the advance of his power, Rasputin cohabited with upper-class women
in exchange for granting political favours. Because of World War I and the ossifying
effects of feudalism and a meddling government bureaucracy, Russia's economy
was declining at a very rapid rate. Many at the time laid the blame with Alexandra
and with Rasputin, because of his influence over her.
She had become increasingly under the influence of the one man who seemingly
had the power to help her son, Alexis, afflicted by haemophilia. Alexandra believed
that Rasputin was a man of God and referred to him as “Our Friend”. Others,
appalled at his influence over the tsarina, called him the “Mad Monk” – though
not in public unless they wanted to incur the wrath of Alexandra.
The End
Anastasia