Emperor-Peacemaker Alexander III: The Most Russian Tsar or an Ascetic Soldier? Sovereign Emperor Alexander III

Russia for Russians, and in Russian (Emperor Alexander III)

Alexander III - a significant figure in. During his reign, no Russian blood was shed in Europe. Alexander III ensured long years of calm for Russia. For his peace-loving policy, he entered Russian history as a "tsar-peacemaker."

He was the second child in the family of Alexander II and Maria Alexandrovna Romanov. According to the rules of succession, Alexander was not prepared for the role of ruler. The throne was to take the elder brother - Nicholas.

Alexander, not at all envious of his brother, did not feel the slightest jealousy, watching how Nicholas was being prepared for the throne. Nikolai was a diligent student, and Alexander was overcome by boredom in the classroom.

The teachers of Alexander III were such distinguished people as the historians Solovyov, Grott, the remarkable military tactician Dragomirov, and Konstantin Pobedonostsev. It was the latter who had big influence on Alexander III, largely determining the priorities of the domestic and foreign policy of the Russian emperor. It was Pobedonostsev who brought up in Alexander III a true Russian patriot and Slavophile.

Little Sasha was more attracted not by studies, but by physical exercise. The future emperor loved horseback riding and gymnastics. Even before he came of age, Alexander Alexandrovich showed remarkable strength, easily lifted weights and easily bent horseshoes.

He did not like secular entertainment, he preferred to spend his free time on improving riding skills and developing physical strength. The brothers joked, they say, - "Sasha is the Hercules of our family." Alexander loved the Gatchina Palace, and loved to spend time there, spending his days walking in the park, thinking about the day ahead.

In 1855 Nicholas was proclaimed Tsarevich. Sasha was glad for his brother, and even more so that he himself would not have to be emperor. However, fate nevertheless prepared the Russian throne for Alexander Alexandrovich.

Nicholas's health deteriorated. The Tsarevich suffered from rheumatism from a bruised spine, and later he also contracted tuberculosis. In 1865 Nikolai died. Alexander Alexandrovich Romanov was proclaimed the new heir to the throne. It is worth noting that Nicholas had a bride - the Danish princess Dagmar. They say that the dying Nikolai took the hands of Dagmar and Alexander with one hand, as if urging two close people not to be separated after his death.

In 1866, Alexander III set off on a trip to Europe. His path lies in Copenhagen, where he wooed his brother's bride. Dagmar and Alexander became close when they cared for the sick Nikolai together. Their engagement took place on June 17 in Copenhagen. On October 13, Dagmar converted to Orthodoxy and became known as Maria Fedorovna Romanova, and on that day the young people got engaged.

Alexander III and Maria Fedorovna Romanov lived a happy family life. Their family is a true role model. Alexander Alexandrovich was a real, exemplary family man. The Russian Emperor loved his wife very much. After the wedding, they settled in the Anichkov Palace. The couple was happy and raised three sons and two daughters. The first-born of the imperial couple was the son Nikolai. Alexander loved all his children very much, but the second son, Misha, enjoyed special paternal love.

The high morality of the emperor gave him the right to ask her from the courtiers. Under Alexander III, they fell into disgrace for adultery. Alexander Alexandrovich was modest in everyday life, did not like idleness. Witte, the Minister of Finance of the Russian Empire, witnessed how the emperor's valet darned worn things for him.

The emperor loved pictures. The Emperor even had his own collection, which by 1894 consisted of 130 works by various artists. On his initiative, a Russian museum was opened in St. Petersburg. He had great respect for creativity. Alexander Romanov also liked the artist Alexei Bogolyubov, with whom the emperor had a good relationship.

The emperor provided all kinds of support to young and talented cultural figures, museums, theaters and universities were opened under his patronage. Alexander adhered to truly Christian postulates, and in every possible way protected Orthodox faith tirelessly defending her interests.

Alexander III ascended the Russian throne after being assassinated by revolutionary terrorists. It happened on March 2, 1881. For the first time, peasants were sworn in to the emperor, along with the rest of the population. In domestic policy, Alexander III embarked on the path of counter-reforms.

The new Russian emperor was distinguished by conservative views. During his reign, the Russian Empire achieved great success. Russia was a strong, developing country with which all European powers sought friendship. In Europe, there were always some political movements.

And then one day, a minister came to Alexander, who was fishing, talking about affairs in Europe. He asked the emperor to somehow react. To which Alexander replied - "Europe can wait until the Russian Tsar is fishing." Alexander Alexandrovich really could afford such statements, because Russia was on the rise, and its army was the most powerful in the world.

Nevertheless, the international situation obliged Russia to find a reliable ally. In 1891, they began to take shape friendly relations between Russia and France, which ended with the signing of an alliance agreement.

On October 17, 1888, an attempt was made on Alexander III and the entire royal family. The terrorists derailed the train in which the emperor was. Seven wagons were broken, many victims. The king and his family remained alive by the will of fate. At the time of the explosion, they were in the restaurant car. During the explosion, at the wagon with royal family the roof collapsed, and Alexander literally held it on himself until help arrived in time.

After some time, he began to complain of back pain. During the examination, it turned out that the king had kidney problems. In the winter of 1894, Alexander caught a bad cold, and soon the emperor became very ill while hunting, and was diagnosed with acute nephritis. Doctors sent the emperor to the Crimea, where on November 20, 1894, Alexander III died.

Alexander III left a big mark in the history of Russia. After his death, the following lines were written in one of the French newspapers: - "He leaves Russia, greater than he received it."

Russia has two allies - it's the Army and the Navy (Alexander III)

During the reign of the Russian Emperor Alexander III, the Russian Empire did not wage a single war. For maintaining the peace, the sovereign began to be called a PEACEKEEPER. He was a truly Russian, simple, honest and witty man, who captured a lot of popular expressions in history.

Tsesarevich Alexander Alexandrovich in the uniform of the Ataman Life Guards Regiment.1867, Painter S. Zaryanko.

The sovereign had amazing strength, he was 193 cm tall and weighed almost 120 kg. He easily bent horseshoes and silver coins, lifted a large horse on his shoulders. At one of the gala dinners, which took place in northern capital, the Austrian ambassador began to talk about the fact that the Austrian state is ready against Russian Empire form 3 corps of your soldiers. The emperor took a fork from the table and, tying it in a knot, threw it in his direction, with the words: “This is how I will do with your cases.” The story with the hulls ended there.

To prevent a new Balkan war from breaking out due to the ill-conceived policy of Bulgaria, which had just been liberated by Russia, Alexander III went to rapprochement with Turkey and calmed the situation in the Balkans. And the conclusion of an alliance between Russia and France prevented a new German-French military clash. First World War, in fact, was pushed back by more than twenty years. The grateful French built the Alexander III bridge in Paris, which is still a landmark of the French capital.

When the Russian Tsar fishes Europe is waiting. Artist P.V. Ryzhenko.

Alexander III had a strong dislike for liberalism. His words are known: "Our ministers ... would not have wondered about unrealizable fantasies and lousy liberalism." Many more episodes are known when Alexander gave birth idioms. For example, when the minister who headed the foreign policy department of the state came running to the king during his fishing trip. He asked the king to receive the ambassador of one of the Western states on a serious political issue. In response to a request, the emperor blurted out: "When the Russian Tsar is fishing, Europe can wait."

Alexander tried not to get involved in the affairs of foreign powers, but he didn’t allow to climb into his own lands either. A year after he began to rule, the Afghans succumbed to the false words of the British and decided to take away part of the lands that belonged to the empire. The sovereign immediately ordered: “Drive out and teach a lesson properly!”, This was done immediately. There was another historical moment when the British tried to harm Russia's interests in Afghanistan. Having learned about these intentions, Alexander went up to the table, which was made of solid stone, and hit it with such force that it scattered around. Then he said: “The whole treasury for the war!”.

Alexander III had no reverence for Europe. Firm and resolute, he was always ready to take on a challenge, and on every occasion made it clear that he was only interested in the well-being of Russia's 150 million people. European politicians have always given in to the firmness of the Emperor of Russia.

Reception of volost foremen by Alexander III in the courtyard of the Petrovsky Palace, I. Repin

During his reign, decisive steps were taken to develop the state's economy, strengthen finances and resolve agrarian-peasant and national-religious issues. The process of unstoppable development of Russia began, which caused horror and wild hysteria of the enemies of our country, who directed all possible efforts to stop it and destroy Russia (the fifth column of liberal and socialist agents became their tool).

The emperor directed his efforts to ensure the material well-being of the people. The Ministry of Agriculture was founded to improve Agriculture, established noble and peasant land banks, with the assistance of which it was possible to acquire landed property. Domestic industry received support, the domestic market was protected by a well-thought-out system of customs duties on foreign goods, and the construction of new water channels and railways ensured the most active development of the economy and trade.

Alexander III was deeply religious an orthodox person and for the Orthodox Church he tried to do everything that he considered necessary and useful. Under him, church life noticeably revived: church brotherhoods began to operate more actively, societies for spiritual and moral readings and discussions arose, as well as for the fight against drunkenness. To strengthen Orthodoxy in the reign of Emperor Alexander III, monasteries were founded again or restored, temples were built, including on numerous and generous imperial donations.

Church in the name of the Resurrection of Christ in St. Petersburg, popularly called "The Savior on Spilled Blood" - the cathedral stands over the site of the mortal wound of the SovereignAlexander II.

During the 13-year reign, 5,000 churches were built with state funds and donated money. Of the churches erected at that time, they are remarkable for their beauty and inner splendor: the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in St. Petersburg on the site of the mortal wound of Emperor Alexander II - the Tsar Martyr, the majestic church in the name of St. Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles in Kyiv, the cathedral in Riga. On the day of the coronation of the emperor, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, who guarded Holy Russia from the impudent conqueror, was solemnly consecrated in Moscow.

Iconostasis of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in St. Petersburg.

Alexander III did not allow any modernization in Orthodox architecture and personally approved the projects of churches under construction. He zealously made sure that the Orthodox churches in Russia looked Russian, so the architecture of his time has pronounced features of a peculiar Russian style. He left this Russian style in churches and buildings as a legacy to the entire Orthodox world.

As S. Yu. Witte wrote,"Emperor Alexander III, having received Russia, at the confluence of the most unfavorable political conditions, deeply raised the international prestige of Russia without shedding a drop of Russian blood."

Even the Marquis of Salisbury, hostile to Russia, admitted:“Alexander III saved Europe many times from the horrors of war. According to his deeds, the sovereigns of Europe should learn how to manage their peoples.

French Foreign Minister Flourens said:“Alexander III was a true Russian Tsar, which Russia had not seen for a long time before him ... Emperor Alexander III wished that Russia was Russia, that it, first of all, be Russian, and he himself set the best examples of this. He showed himself the ideal type of a truly Russian person.

The personality of the emperor and his significance for the history of Russia are rightly expressed in the following verses:

In the hour of turmoil and struggle, having ascended under the shadow of the throne,
He extended a mighty hand.
And the noisy sedition froze around.
Like a dying fire.

He understood the spiritRussiaand believed in her strength,
Loved her space and expanse,
He lived like a Russian Tsar and he went down to the grave
Like a true Russian hero.

Information Service of the Ministry of Natural Resources

Based on the materials of the Internet channel
History of the Russian Empire.

Russian emperor (1881-1894), son of Alexander II, father of Nicholas II.

Young years, family

Alexander Alexandrovich was the second son in the family, so his elder brother Nikolai was to inherit the throne, but he died in 1865 and Alexander became the new heir. Among his teachers was S.M. Solovyov, who taught Russian history, as well as K.P. Pobedonostsev, who taught law and became a mentor and adviser for the future tsar.

On October 28 (November 9), 1866, the marriage of Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich and the Danish princess Dagmara (in Orthodoxy, Maria Feodorovna) took place. They had six children: Nicholas (1868-1918), the future emperor, Alexander (1869-1870), George (1871-1899), Xenia (1875-1960), Mikhail (1878-1918), Olga (1882-1960) . Soon after the wedding, the heir to the throne began to join the affairs of state.

After the tragic death of Alexander II on March 1, 1881, Alexander III ascended the throne - a laconic, decisive, very self-confident man of the most conservative convictions. The beginning of his reign was marked by the struggle against the revolutionary movement. Suffice it to say that the coronation of the new sovereign took place only in May 1883, when it became clear that the defeated Narodnaya Volya was no longer capable of serious action. The desire to strengthen the autocratic system as much as possible in general determined in many respects internal politics this reign. At the same time, the government of Alexander III, taking into account the objective needs of the time, took serious measures to develop the Russian economy. The foreign policy of Alexander III, referred to in the official literature as the "Peacemaker", was distinguished by restraint, caution, and the desire to avoid wars.

Domestic politics

Immediately after his accession to the throne, Alexander III expressed his convictions about what the state he ruled should be like very clearly in the manifesto “On the Inviolability of Autocracy”, published in April 1881: it was stated that the tsar would resolutely protect his power "From all encroachments on her." In developing a specific policy in this protective direction, the Chief Procurator of the Holy Synod, K.P., who was close to the tsar, played an important role. Pobedonostsev and conservative-minded journalist, publisher of Russkiy Vestnik M.N. Katkov. D.A. became the direct conductor of this policy. Tolstoy, who in 1882 became Minister of the Interior. Narrowness and at the same time steadfastness of their views, perseverance and strong will he looked like the king himself.

The protective direction of the tsarist government was expressed in two ways. On the one hand, the authorities sought to strengthen their positions, to expand their already seemingly immense powers. On the other hand, to support as much as possible their main, if not the only, reliable social support - the local nobility, which experienced hard times after the reforms. In both cases, the government sought to "correct", and in fact, neutralize the consequences of the reforms of the previous reign. The definition of this course as a "policy of counter-reforms" seems to be quite accurate.

One of the first measures in the spirit of this policy was the "Regulations on Measures to Protect State Security and Public Peace", approved by Alexander III in August 1881. In accordance with it, the government in any province, on the proposal of local authorities, could introduce state of emergency. As a result, the powers of these authorities increased significantly; in the province, ordinary laws practically ceased to operate, at least partially restraining administrative arbitrariness. So, the governor got the opportunity to arrest everyone he considered necessary, exile without trial for up to 5 years to any part of the empire, and bring him to a military court. He was given the right to close any educational institutions and press organs, to dissolve public organizations and suspend the activities of zemstvos - and all this "at one's own discretion." Initially, the state of emergency was introduced for 1.5 years, but it was not difficult to renew it. Naturally, the provincial authorities seized this gift with both hands: many areas of the Russian Empire had been in this “state of emergency” for decades.

As for the local nobility, the government tried to strengthen its power in the field. The most significant of the measures taken in this direction was the creation of the structure of zemstvo chiefs (1889) and the zemstvo counter-reform (1890).

The zemstvo chiefs were at the head of the zemstvo section (there were 4-5 such sections in each county). They were appointed by the Minister of the Interior from the local hereditary nobility - and they were supposed to deal with purely peasant affairs. All representatives of the elected peasant administration - tenth, sotsky, volost foremen - unconditionally obeyed them. Following the observance of order, the collection of taxes, the provision of military service, the zemstvo chiefs received the right to fine the peasants, subject them to corporal punishment, and put them under arrest. Thus, the government sought to at least partially restore the patrimonial power of the landowner over the peasants, lost as a result of the abolition of serfdom.

Similar goals were pursued by the Zemstvo counter-reform: it was, in fact, about complete subordination to the noble landlords of Zemstvo self-government. For the landowning curia, the property qualification was reduced by half, while for the urban curia it was significantly increased. The peasant curia generally lost the right of independent choice: the final decision on the proposed candidates for vowels was made by the governor; this made it possible to cut off "screamers and troublemakers" from zemstvo activities. In its final result, the counter-reform ensured the complete and unconditional predominance of vowels from the noble landlords in the zemstvos.

In pursuing such a policy, the government of Alexander III had to take into account the fact that the local nobility in the conditions of post-reform Russia for the most part was impoverished and ruined. Therefore, the authorities also provided him with financial support: in 1885, the Noble Bank was established, which gave the landlords significant sums of money on favorable terms.

The government acted very consistently in its own way in the field of education. First of all, it sought to establish the strictest administrative control here. So, in 1884, a new university charter was introduced, with all its spirit opposed to the previous charter of 1863. The autonomy of these higher educational institutions almost completely liquidated: the rector, deans, professors, previously elected, were now appointed. All attempts by students to declare themselves as a certain community were considered illegal: the university authorities were obliged to fight student communities, mutual aid funds, canteens on an artel basis. The student uniform, abolished in 1863, was reintroduced, which made it easier to supervise student youth.

The most strict discipline, the violation of which threatened with exclusion, the authorities sought to introduce in the gymnasiums. In addition, there was an increasingly noticeable tendency to hinder access to secondary education for the “common people”. This was most clearly manifested in the circular of the Minister of Education D.A. Tolstoy of 1887, which received notoriety as a circular "about the cook's children." In accordance with it, it was forbidden to accept in the gymnasium "the children of coachmen, lackeys, laundresses, small shopkeepers and the like."

With regard to primary education, here the government tried to create a counterbalance to the zemstvo schools, whose teaching staff it did not trust; All-round support is provided at this time to parochial schools, the network of which is expanding significantly.

Finally, Special attention was turned to censorship: already in 1882, the “Provisional Rules” were adopted, according to which editors of newspapers and magazines, at the first request of the authorities, had to report the names of the authors of articles published under pseudonyms. Much more often than before, the government begins to exercise its right to close down a periodical after three warnings. Only in 1883-1884 were the journals Otechestvennye Zapiski and Delo, the newspapers Golos, Zemstvo, and Strana closed in this way.

A noticeable phenomenon in the activities of the government of Alexander III was the policy of Russification of the national outskirts. Since 1883, all state institutions and officials were required to conduct office work only in Russian. Since 1885, teaching in secondary schools throughout the empire was translated into Russian. Since 1889, legal proceedings have also switched to Russian - although petitions to the courts were still accepted in all local languages.

Consistently pursuing a policy of a protective nature, the government of Alexander III is also taking a number of measures to alleviate the situation of the lower strata - the working population, which can be described as a policy of guardianship. Such activity of the authorities is connected, first of all, with the name of the Minister of Finance N.H. Bunge, who tried to raise the standard of living, catastrophically low for a significant part of the peasants and workers. On his initiative, the poll tax was gradually abolished, offset by indirect taxes and income taxes. In 1882, the Peasants' Bank was established, which provided loans to peasants for the purchase of land. True, because of the rather high interest rate, few could take advantage of these loans. The authorities more actively than before began to pursue a resettlement policy, providing immigrants with certain benefits. At the same time, she continued to strongly support the community, which made it difficult for the peasants to dispose of the land.

The policy of trusteeship manifested itself especially brightly in the labor issue. It was during the reign of Alexander III that labor legislation was introduced, which significantly limited the previously unrestrained exploitation of this segment of the population by entrepreneurs. In 1882, the use of children under 12 years of age in the workplace was prohibited, and the work of children from 12 to 15 years of age was limited to 8 hours. In 1885, night labor for children and women was banned. In 1886, a labor law was introduced, sharply limiting the fines on workers that employers used to charge exorbitantly; besides, they no longer went into the owner's pocket, but into a special fund, from which workers received benefits in case of illness or injury at work. Paybooks were introduced for workers, where the conditions of their employment were recorded. Compliance with all these laws was supposed to be monitored by the factory inspectorate, created specifically for this purpose.

It should be noted that, while patronizing the workers, the government of Alexander III pursued at the same time a policy that promoted the development of industrial production in Russia. Covering the domestic manufacturer from foreign competition with the help of high customs duties, on the other hand, it contributed in every possible way to the influx of foreign capital into Russian industry. Yes and public funds the government did not spare, willingly providing subsidies and tax breaks to large entrepreneurs. As a result, industrial production in the 1880s begins to develop at a faster pace than before, and in the 1890s, already under the successor of Alexander III, Nicholas II, this development takes on the character of a real industrial boom.

Foreign policy

During the reign of Alexander III, there are fundamental changes in the foreign policy of Russia. At this time, it becomes more and more obvious that Germany, which in Russia is accustomed to consider a reliable ally, is turning into a dangerous enemy before our eyes. This young state, which arose as a result of the unification of scattered German lands by Prussia, quickly grew stronger, intensively developing industrial production. Feeling the strength, Germany began the struggle to expand its influence in the world. At the same time, the interests of Germany collided with the interests of Russia. In 1882, a secret treaty was concluded between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy, called the Triple Alliance. True, at first this alliance had not so much an anti-Russian as an anti-French orientation. However, it soon became clear that the two main defendants - Germany and Austria-Hungary - were united in their desire to oust Russia from the region that it traditionally considered its sphere of influence - from the Balkans. In 1886, in particular, a coup took place in Bulgaria, as a result of which Tsar Alexander Battenberg, who sympathized with Russia, was overthrown, and an Austrian officer Ferdinand Coburg took his place, unconditionally subordinating the foreign and domestic policy of Bulgaria to German and Austro-Hungarian interests.

In addition to the Balkan affairs, economic contradictions flared up more and more between Russia and Germany. The protectionist policy consistently pursued by Russia hit hard at that time precisely on German entrepreneurs, primarily in the field of mechanical engineering, who literally rushed to the Russian market. In turn, Germany over and over again raised duties on agricultural products, thereby infringing on the interests of Russian landowners. In the early 1890s, this confrontation escalated to such an extent that it even received the name "customs war".

Under these conditions, the government of Alexander III was intensively looking for a new ally. As a result, there has been a rapprochement with the traditional enemy of Germany - France. It was facilitated by the fact that, unlike Germany, which tried to import into Russia, first of all, industrial products, France imported capital here, investing it in the development of industry. In addition, from the end of the 1880s, the Russian government began to take large cash loans from France, which were also invested, mainly in the development of production.

Preparations for the conclusion of a Russian-French union treaty began in 1891; it was concluded in 1893. Under the treaty, which was of a military nature, both parties assumed specific obligations in the event of an attack on one of them by the powers of the Triple Alliance. France pledged to field 1,300 thousand soldiers, Russia - 800 thousand.

Thus, by the end of the 19th century, all the great powers, except for England, which took a wait-and-see position, "dispersed" into two hostile camps. For some time, this stabilized the foreign policy situation and strengthened the position of Russia, but in the future it turned out to be fraught with serious conflicts, which, in the end, led to the First World War.

On February 26, 1845, the third child and second son were born to the future Emperor Tsarevich Alexander Nikolayevich. The boy was named Alexander.

Alexander 3. Biography

During the first 26 years, he was brought up, like other grand dukes, for military career, since his elder brother Nikolai was to become the heir to the throne. By the age of 18, Alexander the Third was already in the rank of colonel. Future Russian emperor, according to the reviews of his educators, did not differ much in the breadth of his interests. According to the recollections of the teacher, Alexander the Third "was always lazy" and began to catch up only when he became the heir. An attempt to fill the gaps in education was carried out under the close supervision of Pobedonostsev. At the same time, from the sources left by the educators, we learn that the boy was distinguished by perseverance and diligence in calligraphy. Naturally, excellent military specialists, professors of Moscow University, were engaged in his education. The boy was especially fond of Russian history and culture, which eventually grew into real Russophilism.

Alexander was sometimes called slow-witted by members of his family, sometimes for excessive shyness and clumsiness - "pug", "bulldog". According to the memoirs of his contemporaries, outwardly he did not look like a heavyweight: he was well-built, with a small mustache, and a bald patch that appeared early. People were attracted by such traits of his character as sincerity, honesty, benevolence, lack of excessive ambition and a great sense of responsibility.

The beginning of a political career

His serene life ended when, in 1865, his elder brother Nikolai died suddenly. Alexander III was declared heir to the throne. These events stunned him. He immediately had to take up the duties of the Tsarevich. His father began to introduce him to state affairs. He listened to the reports of ministers, got acquainted with official papers, received membership in the State Council and the Council of Ministers. He becomes a major general and ataman of all the Cossack troops of Russia. That's when I had to make up for the gaps in youth education. His love for Russia and Russian history was formed by the course of Professor S.M. Solovyov. accompanied him throughout his life.

Tsarevich Alexander III stayed for quite a long time - 16 years. During this time he received

Combat experience. Participated in the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, received the Order of St. Vladimir with swords" and "St. George 2nd class. It was during the war that he met people who later became his comrades-in-arms. Later, he created the Volunteer Fleet, which was transport in peacetime and combat in wartime.

In domestic political life, the Tsarevich did not adhere to the views of his father, Emperor Alexander II, but did not oppose the course of the Great Reforms either. His relationship with his parent was complicated and he could not come to terms with the fact that his father settled his favorite E.M. in the Winter Palace with his living wife. Dolgoruky and their three children.

The Tsarevich himself was an exemplary family man. He married the bride of his deceased brother, Princess Louise Sophia Frederica Dagmar, who after the wedding adopted Orthodoxy and a new name - Maria Feodorovna. They had six children.

Happy family life ended on March 1, 1881, when a terrorist act was committed, as a result of which the father of the Tsarevich died.

Reforms of Alexander 3 or transformations necessary for Russia

On the morning of March 2, members of the State Council and the highest officials of the court took the oath to the new Emperor Alexander III. He said that he would try to continue the work begun by his father. But the firmest idea of ​​further actions did not appear for a long time. Pobedonostsev, an ardent opponent of liberal reforms, wrote to the monarch: “Either save yourself and Russia now, or never!”

most accurate political course The emperor was set out in a manifesto of April 29, 1881. Historians called him the "Manifesto on the inviolability of autocracy." It meant major adjustments to the Great Reforms of the 1860s and 1870s. The primary task of the government was to fight the revolution.

The repressive apparatus, political investigation, secret-investigative services, etc. were strengthened. To contemporaries, government policy seemed cruel and punitive. But to those who live at the present time, it may seem very modest. But now we will not dwell on this in detail.

The government tightened its policy in the field of education: universities were deprived of autonomy, a circular “On Cook's Children” was issued, a special censorship regime was introduced regarding the activities of newspapers and magazines, and zemstvo self-government was curtailed. All these transformations were carried out to exclude that spirit of freedom,

Which soared in post-reform Russia.

The economic policy of Alexander III was more successful. The industrial and financial sphere was aimed at the introduction of a gold backing for the ruble, the establishment of a protective customs tariff, the construction of railways, which created not only the means of communication necessary for the domestic market, but also accelerated the development of local industries.

The second successful area was foreign policy. Alexander the Third received the nickname "emperor-peacemaker". Immediately after accession to the throne, he sent out a dispatch declaring: the emperor wants to maintain peace with all powers and focus his special attention on internal affairs. He professed the principles of strong and national (Russian) autocratic power.

But fate gave him a short life. In 1888, the train in which the emperor's family was traveling suffered a terrible wreck. Alexander Alexandrovich found himself crushed by the collapsed ceiling. Having a huge physical strength, he helped his wife, children and got out himself. But the injury made itself felt - he developed a kidney disease, complicated after the "influenza" - the flu. On October 29, 1894, he died before reaching the age of 50. He said to his wife: "I feel the end, be calm, I am completely calm."

He did not know what trials his dearly beloved Motherland, his widow, his son and the entire Romanov family would have to endure.

Born March 10 (February 26 old style) 1845 in St. Petersburg. He was the second son of Emperor Alexander II and Empress Maria Alexandrovna.

He received a military engineering education traditional for the Grand Dukes.

In 1865, after the death of his elder brother, Grand Duke Nicholas, he became Tsarevich, after which he received more fundamental knowledge. Among Alexander's mentors were Sergei Solovyov (history), Yakov Grot (history of literature), Mikhail Dragomirov (martial arts). The teacher of jurisprudence Konstantin Pobedonostsev had the greatest influence on the crown prince.

In his father's reforms, he saw, first of all, negative aspects - the growth of government bureaucracy, the difficult financial situation of the people, imitation of Western models. The political ideal of Alexander III was based on ideas about patriarchal autocratic rule, the planting of religious values ​​in society, the strengthening of the estate structure, and national and distinctive social development.

On April 29, 1881, Alexander III issued a manifesto "On the inviolability of autocracy" and launched a series of reforms that were aimed at partially curtailing the liberal undertakings of his father-reformer.

The domestic policy of the king was characterized by increased control of the central government over all spheres of state life.

To strengthen the role of the police, local and central administration, the "Regulations on Measures to Protect State Security and Public Peace" (1881) were adopted. Adopted in 1882, the "Provisional Rules on the Press" clearly outlined the range of topics that could be written about, and introduced strict censorship. In addition, a number of "counter-reforms" were carried out, thanks to which it was possible to suppress the revolutionary movement, primarily the activities of the "Narodnaya Volya" party.

Alexander III took measures to protect the estate rights of the noble landowners: he established the Noble Land Bank, adopted the Provision on hiring for agricultural work, which was beneficial for the landowners, strengthened administrative guardianship over the peasantry, helped to strengthen the community of the peasants, the formation of the ideal of a large patriarchal family.

At the same time, in the first half of the 1880s, he took a number of measures to alleviate the financial situation of the people and alleviate social tension in society: the introduction of compulsory redemption and the reduction of redemption payments, the establishment of the Peasant Land Bank, the introduction of factory inspection, the gradual abolition of the poll tax.

The emperor paid serious attention to raising the public role Orthodox Church: he increased the number of parochial schools, toughened repressions against the Old Believers and sectarians.

During the reign of Alexander III, the construction of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow was completed (1883), parishes closed in the previous reign were restored, and many new monasteries and churches were built.

Alexander III made a significant contribution to the reorganization of the system of state and social relations. In 1884, he issued the University Charter, which curtailed the autonomy of the universities. In 1887, he issued a "circular about the cook's children," which limited the admission of children from the lower classes to the gymnasium.

He strengthened the social role of the local nobility: since 1889, peasant self-government was subordinate to the zemstvo chiefs - who combined judicial and administrative power in their hands to officials from local landowners.

He carried out reforms in the sphere of city government: zemstvo and city regulations (1890, 1892) tightened the control of the administration over local government, limited the rights of voters from the lower strata of society.

He limited the scope of the jury, restored closed court proceedings for political trials.

The economic life of Russia during the reign of Alexander III was characterized by economic growth, which was largely due to the policy of increased patronage of domestic industry. The country rearmed the army and navy and became the world's largest exporter of agricultural products. The government of Alexander III encouraged the growth of large-scale capitalist industry, which achieved notable successes (metallurgy products doubled in 1886-1892, the railway network grew by 47%).

The foreign policy of Russia under Alexander III was distinguished by pragmatism. The main content was the turn from traditional cooperation with Germany to an alliance with France, which was concluded in 1891-1893. The aggravation of relations with Germany was smoothed out by the "Reinsurance Treaty" (1887).

Alexander III went down in history as the Tsar-Peacemaker - during the years of his reign, Russia did not participate in any serious military-political conflict of that time. The only significant battle - the capture of Kushka - took place in 1885, after which the annexation of Central Asia to Russia was completed.

Alexander III was one of the initiators of the creation of the Russian Historical Society and its first chairman. Established the Historical Museum in Moscow.

He simplified court etiquette and ceremonial, in particular, abolished kneeling before the king, reduced the staff of the court ministry and introduced strict control over the spending of money.

The emperor was pious, distinguished by frugality, modesty, he spent his leisure time in a narrow family and friendly circle. Interested in music, painting, history. He collected an extensive collection of paintings, decorative and applied arts, sculptures, which, after his death, was transferred to the Russian Museum founded by Emperor Nicholas II in memory of his father.

The idea of ​​a real hero with iron health is associated with the personality of Alexander III. On October 17, 1888, he suffered in a railway accident near the Borki station, 50 km from Kharkov. However, saving the lives of loved ones, the emperor held the collapsed roof of the car for about half an hour until help arrived. It is believed that as a result of this excessive exertion, he began to progress kidney disease.

On November 1 (October 20, old style), 1894, the emperor died in Livadia (Crimea) from the effects of jade. The body was taken to St. Petersburg and buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral.

The wife of Alexander III was the Danish princess Louise Sophia Frederica Dagmar (in Orthodoxy - Maria Feodorovna) (1847-1928), whom he married in 1866. The emperor and his wife had five children: Nicholas (later the Russian Emperor Nicholas II), George, Xenia, Mikhail and Olga.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from open sources