Alexander III of Russia
Alexander III Alexandrovich (10 March 1845 – 1 November 1894) (Russian: Александр Третий Александрович (Aleksandr III Aleksandrovich)), also known as Alexander the Peacemaker (Russian: Александр Миротворец, Aleksandr Mirotvorets), reigned as Emperor of Russia from 13 March 1881 until his death in 1894.
Biography
Early life
Alexander III Alexandrovich was born on 10 March 1845 in Saint Petersburg, the second son of Tsar Alexander II by his wife Princess Marie of Hesse. Personality-wise, he was different very different to his soft-hearted, liberal father, being more straightforward and direct in his expressions and having more rough, sluggish movements, which fit well with his immense physical strength.[1]
As Alexander had an elder brother, Nicholas, Alexander was trained and educated to become an ordinary Grand Duke. As a result, he learned French, English, German and gained an amount of military insight.[1]
Rise to power
In 1865, Nicholas suddenly died, and Alexander was made heir. Before dying, Nicholas wanted Alexander to marry his bride, Princess Dagmar of Denmark, as he would be his successor. On 9 November 1866, Alexander wed Dagmar, forming a happy marriage.[1]
Alexander was then forced to study the principles of law and administration under Konstantin Pobedonostsev. He came to realize that Alexander had little interest in abstract or intellectual studies, but did manage to make Alexander belief that Russian Orthodox thought was essential for Russian patriotism and every Tsar.[1]
Alexander became, likely around this time, a ally of the Templar Order, just like his father.[2]
On 13 March 1881, his father fell victim to an assassination plot by members of the Assassin Order, who strove to free Russia from Templar control.[2] Alexander and his family rushed to the Tsar, who was bleeding to death with his stomach ripped open and face mutilated as the result of a bombardment. Alexander III succeeded his father as Tsar. He vowed not to have the same fate befall him[1] and arrested Assassins throughout Russia.[2]
On 1 March 1887, a group of other Assassins, among which were Aleksandr Ulyanov, Pakhomiy Andreyushkin, Vasili Generalov, Vasili Osipanov, Petr Shevyrev and Bronisław Piłsudski, plotted the assassination of Alexander III.[2] Alexander's secret police found out about the plot, and arrested the Assassins. Some of them were pardoned by Alexander, like Piłsudski, but the others were hanged at 20 May.[1]
Borki train disaster
In 1888, Alexander III and his family traveled from Crimea to Saint Petersburg at high speed. Meanwhile, the Assassin Nikolai Orelov was sent to assassinate Alexander aboard the train. The Assassin jumped to the top of the train from horseback and quietly infiltrated a cabin. Killing his way silently through the guards, Orelov drew his rifle and entered the dinner car, where Alexander supposedly was, but found only the Tsar's family. Alexander sneaked up from behind the Assassin and attacked him. A fight between the two started, with Orelov only managing to stab Alexander in the abdomen while the Tsar held the upper hand.[2] This would later result in kidney failure.[1]
As a result from the struggle, the train derailed from the tracks. Alexander held the remains from the roof on his shoulders, allowing his children to escape. While doing so, he noticed Orelov lying a few yards away from him and attacked the Assassin. While Orelov was recovering from the attacks, Alexander carried a box out of the rubble and opened it, revealing the Staff of Eden. He asked the Assassin whether the artifact was what he was looking for and threw into Orelov's hands, daring the Assassin to attack him with it.[2]
Alexander was faster with his attack, though, but suffered a blow to the head with the Staff nonetheless. He managed to disarm the Assassin and punched him to the ground, who in turn showed his hidden blade, ready to attack. Alexander put his foot on his arm and was about to kill the Assassin with the Staff, when the Imperial guard called out for him, saying that his family waited for him. Alexander spared Orelov's life, only because his children would witness his death.[2] Alexander and his family returned to Saint Petersburg by carriage, continuing on to Kazan Cathedral, where their survival was celebrated and university students wanted to unharness the carriage and pull it by hand.[1]
Later life
Following his altercation with Nikolai Orelov, Alexander developed nephritis, which ultimately lead to his death on 1 November 1894, in Livadia Palace. His remains were interred at the Peter and Paul Fortress in Saint Petersburg. His eldest son Nicholas II succeeded him.[1]