Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II (Russian: Александр II Николаевич, Aleksandr II Nikolaevich) (29 April 1818, Moscow – 13 March 1881,
Saint Petersburg), also known as Alexander the Liberator (Russian: Александр Освободитель, Aleksandr Osvoboditel') was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881.
Historically, Alexander II is famous in Russia for liberating the serfs, slaves bound to the land, from bondage in 1861. As a part of his policy of industrialization, Alexander abolished serfdom to bring Russia into the Industrial Age, thus earning himself the title of "The Tsar Liberator". Unfortunately, liberation came with a price; aristocratic landlords made it difficult for the serfs to buy their own land. As a Templar, Alexander himself probably ensured this through use of the Staff of Eden. Alexander had also, earlier in his reign, ended the Crimean War, which had been started by his father, Nicholas I.
Eventually, the Tsar's promises began to fall flat, and so a group of revolutionaries in Russia, who called themselves, the People's Will, began plotting Alexander's murder, possibly with the aid of Assassins. After numerous failed attempts, the Assassins, led by Sofia Perovskya, killed Alexander in St. Petersburg in 1881.
Alexander II was a member of the Templar Order and was assassinated by Assassins to lower the Templars' control over the Russian Empire. He was succeeded by his son Alexander III, also a Templar.