How tall was Alexander 3. Alexander III - peacemaker

Alexander III (1845-1894), Russian Emperor (since 1881).

Born on March 10, 1845 in Tsarskoe Selo. Second son of Emperor Alexander II. After the death of his elder brother Nicholas (1865), he became the heir.

In 1866, Alexander married the fiancee of his deceased brother, the daughter of the Danish king Christian IX, Princess Sophia Frederica Dagmar (in Orthodoxy, Maria Feodorovna).

He ascended the throne on March 13, 1881 in a difficult political and economic situation: terrorist activity Narodnaya Volya reached its apogee, the war with Turkey completely upset the finances and monetary system of the Russian Empire. The murder of Alexander II set the new emperor against the liberals, whom he considered responsible for the death of his father.

Alexander III canceled the draft constitutional reform; his manifesto of May 11, 1881 expressed the program of internal and foreign policy: maintaining order and the spirit of church piety in the country, strengthening power, protecting national interests. Censorship was strengthened, university autonomy was eliminated, and the gymnasium was prohibited from admitting children of the lower class.

The result of the activities of Alexander III was the conservation of the existing system.

Government policies have contributed further development trade, industry, eliminating the budget deficit, which made it possible to switch to gold circulation and created the preconditions for a powerful economic recovery in the second half of the 90s. XIX century

In 1882, the government established the Peasant Land Bank, which provided loans to peasants to purchase land, which contributed to the creation of private land ownership among peasants.

On March 13, 1887, Narodnaya Volya members made an attempt on the life of the emperor. A week later, on March 20, participants failed attempt the murders were hanged.

The thirteen-year reign of Alexander III passed peacefully, without major military clashes, for which he was called the peacemaker king.

More specifically, his train crashed, and a month later, due to an injury during the crash, his kidneys began to fail, and he died.

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Many descriptions of the appearance of Alexander III have reached us. Estimates of his activities in history are very diverse. He was a good family man kind person, but the burden of power was not his own. He did not have the qualities that an emperor was supposed to have. Alexander felt this inside and was constantly very critical of himself and his actions. This was the tragedy of the emperor’s personality in the history of Russia.

He reigned for thirteen years. Many argue that if not for the death of the heir to the throne, Nikolai Alexandrovich, then everything could have happened differently. Nicholas was a humane and liberal person, he could have carried out liberal reforms and introduced a constitution, and perhaps Russia would have been able to avoid both revolution and further collapse of the empire.

The entire 19th century Russia was wasted, it was time for transformation, but not a single monarch dared to do anything grandiose. Alexander III was guided in his policy only by good intentions; he believed that by preserving everything liberal, he was preserving the future of the dynasty and the empire as a whole.

Personality of Alexander III

Alexander Alexandrovich grew up in large family. He was born in February 1845, the third child. The girl Alexandra was born first, then Nikolai, and then Alexander. They had six sons, so there were no problems with heirs. Naturally, all attention was focused on Nikolai Alexandrovich as the heir to the throne. Nikolai and Alexander studied literacy and military affairs together, and were enrolled in military training from birth. guards regiments. At the age of eighteen, Alexander already bore the title of colonel. Over time, the training of Nicholas and Alexander began to differ; naturally, the teaching of the heir was much broader.

At the age of sixteen, Nicholas reached his legal age and was moved to separate apartments in the Winter Palace. Then Nikolai visited Western Europe, there he underwent treatment because he was experiencing back pain. In Denmark, he proposed to Princess Dagmara.

When he ended up in Nice, his mother Maria Alexandrovna came to see him, since his health was not improving. In April 1865, the heir became very ill; all his relatives and the bride and mother came to Nice. They only managed to stay with Nikolai for a few days. Alexander, mother Maria Alexandrovna and Nikolai’s fiancée were always at the bedside. The Tsarevich died on April 12, 1865, and Alexander Alexandrovich was proclaimed heir to the throne.

It was clear to everyone in the family that Alexander III state the activity was not successful. Aunt Elena Pavlovna more than once spoke out that the third brother, Vladimir Alexandrovich, should have become the heir to the throne. Brother Konstantin Nikolaevich spoke about Alexander Alexandrovich’s complete unpreparedness to occupy the imperial throne. The new heir did not like to study, he liked military affairs, and he always preferred playing instead of studying.

Alexander III Alexandrovich

When Alexander was proclaimed heir to the throne, he received the rank of major general and was appointed ataman of the Cossack troops. He was already a fully formed person, so he was absolutely not ready for new destiny, which fell upon him unexpectedly. They began to intensively teach him law, history, and economics. Alexander himself was an honest, sincere, direct, clumsy and shy man. In October 1866, the wedding of Alexander and ex-fiancée his brother Nikolai, she received the name Maria Fedorovna. Despite the fact that Alexander had feelings for Princess Meshcherskaya, and Maria Feodorovna for the late Tsarevich, their marriage turned out to be happy.

Alexander was the heir to the throne at the age of 15. His views were right-wing and very nationalistic. and his son looked at him differently national policy and some other things. Due to the unpopularity of some of the emperor's decisions, like-minded people soon begin to group around the heir and those who are representatives of other directions begin to listen to Alexander Alexandrovich III, since the future belongs to him.

A real event for the heir was Russo-Turkish War, he was in the territory of military operations. The officers noted that Alexander was easy to communicate with, free time dedicated to archaeological excavations.

The heir participated in the creation of the Russian Historical Society. The society was supposed to attract people to study the history of the Fatherland, as well as promote science in Russia. It specialized in studying the history of Russia after the reign.

At the end of the 1870s. Alexander Alexandrovich's responsibilities are expanding. When he leaves St. Petersburg, the heir takes care of current state affairs. At this time, the state is in a period of crisis. There are more and more attempts by terrorists to change the situation through illegal means. The situation becomes more complicated within the emperor's family. He transports his mistress E. Dolgorukaya to Winter Palace. The Empress, who had long known about her husband's affair, was very offended. She was sick with consumption and in May 1880 she died in the palace all alone; she was in Tsarskoe Selo with Ekaterina Dolgoruky.

The heir loved his mother very much and adhered to the reading of family ties; he was furious; he did not like his father’s behavior. The hatred especially intensified when the father soon married his mistress. Soon she and their children were transported to Crimea. In order to improve relations with his stepmother, the father often invited his son there. On one visit, everything only got worse, because Alexander saw how his stepmother took over his mother’s rooms there.

Emperor Alexander III

On March 1, 1881, he approved Loris-Melikov’s draft constitution and scheduled a meeting for March 4. But on March 1, as a result of two explosions, he died. When Alexander III took power, he did not make any promises to continue his father’s policies. In the first months, the emperor had to deal with many things: the funeral of his father, accession to the throne, the search for revolutionaries and reprisals against them. It should be noted that the emperor was merciless towards his father’s murderers; they were hanged.

There was also a problem in my father’s second family. In his last letter, he instructed his son to take care of them. Alexander III wanted them to leave St. Petersburg, and conversations about this began with their stepmother. She and her children went to Nice, where she later lived.

Alexander III chose the path to politics autocratic power. A meeting on the Loris-Melikov project was held on March 8, and the project did not receive support. Alexander III spoke out that the project would usurp the rights of the monarch, so he recognized Loris-Melikov as a politically unreliable official, which could have had dire consequences for the latter.

Some, despite their fear, spoke out about the timeliness and need to introduce a constitution in Russia and change legislation. But the autocrat showed that he does not intend to breed in Russia rule of law. Soon the manifesto “On the Inviolability of Autocracy” was created. By 1882, all representatives of “lousy liberalism” were ousted from government ministries, and in their place, the closest associates of the current emperor sat in the offices. During his reign, the role of the State Council declined; it was reduced only to helping the emperor in implementing his intentions; he was always angry if any of his ideas met criticism in the State Council. In politics, Alexander III was similar to his grandfather. They both treated the state as an estate. He fought against bureaucracy, against the extravagance of the royal court, and tried to save money.

The imperial family grew, and the emperor began to reduce its representatives. Only the children and grandchildren of the emperor were grand dukes, and the rest became simply princes with imperial blood, thus their monetary support was reduced.

He also carried out a number of counter-reforms, all of his father’s previously liberal reforms came to naught. The emperor went down in history as the “peacemaker king.” During his reign, Russia did not wage wars. In foreign policy, Russia is moving away from cooperation with Germany and Austria. But he gets closer to France, then to England.

The Emperor admired S.Yu. Witte, future Minister of Finance. He considered him the person who would be able to use and realize the full economic potential of Russia. Witte also said that Alexander would sooner or later come to liberal reforms anyway. But, unfortunately, he did not have enough time for this. In 1894, his nephritis disease worsened, and his health became worse. He became weaker, lost weight, and his memory also began to suffer. He died at the end of 1894 in Crimea. The eldest son Nicholas II took over the country; his father considered him a man not ready for imperial power.

Alexander III video

In the meantime, the future emperor Alexander III contented himself with the affectionate pet nickname of bulldog.

He retained this angular grace in his mature years: “He was not handsome, in his manners he was rather shy and embarrassed, he gave the impression of some kind of bearishness.” For a crowned person, such behavior is generally indecent. So, after all, the imperial crown was not intended for him, but for his older brother Nicholas. Little Sasha was not singled out in any way in the royal family: “You could say that he was somewhat in the fold. Neither his education nor his upbringing special attention didn’t pay,” recalled the Minister of Finance Witte.

"I've always been lazy"

Portrait of Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich in a retinue frock coat (S. K. Zaryanko, 1867)

Fans of tsarism like to quote a witty saying: “The good thing about monarchy is that when inheriting the throne, a worthy person may accidentally end up in power.” At first glance, this does not apply to Alexander. His educators and teachers, having learned that their ward became the heir to the throne after the death of his brother, literally clutched their heads. “Despite his perseverance, he studied poorly and was always extremely lazy,” the words of the teacher Grigory Gogel.“I was distinguished by my zeal for combat training, but I discovered complete absence any military talents,” - strategy teacher general Mikhail Dragomirov. And finally, a resume from the manager general education Alexander Professor Chivilev: “I am horrified and cannot come to terms with the idea that he will rule Russia.”

And in fact, the heir, and then the emperor, did not give the impression of an intelligent, educated and well-mannered person. He wrote with monstrous errors: such pearls of his in official resolutions are known as “brochures with daring”, “a eight” and the beautiful - “ideot”. However, few were awarded this title. More often the emperor used other words. “A brute or a lunatic” - oh artist Vereshchagin. "Rabble of Bastards" is about the French government. Uncle William, Emperor of Germany, he was just a “brute”, but the Chancellor Otto von Bismarck- already “ober-cattle”.

The picture is bleak. Especially when you consider the circumstances under which Alexander came to power. His father, Alexander II the Liberator, had just been killed in a terrorist attack. There is panic in ruling circles. The new autocrat himself is almost in despair: “A strange feeling has taken possession of us. What should we do?

Alexander spent more than two years in such thoughts. In fact, he ruled the empire, but he was in no hurry to formalize this matter legally - the coronation was postponed. The mood among the people roughly corresponded to the Sagittarius’s remark from the film “Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession”: “They say the Tsar is not real!” Police agents quote speeches that circulated among the lower classes: “What kind of sovereign is he if he has not yet been crowned? If I were a real king, I would be crowned!”

Strength and power

The most interesting thing is that everything according to their word came true. From the moment Alexander was finally crowned, the cowardly, stupid heir disappeared somewhere. And the very king about whom domestic monarchists sigh appeared.

Alexander immediately showed what would happen to Russia in the near future. In the process of being anointed to the kingdom. It may seem funny now, but at the time knowledgeable people paid great attention to the coronation menu - the content of the “dining card” exactly corresponded to the political doctrine of the new monarch. Alexander’s choice was stunning: “Barley soup. Borschok. Soup. Jellied from ruffs. Pod peas."

All this is the Russian table. Moreover, common people, peasant, rude. At that time, the most notorious beggars feasted on peas in pods. To serve this at the coronation of the ruler of the largest empire in the world means to give a hefty slap to your aristocracy and mortally insult foreigners.

The new emperor really proclaimed the slogan “Russia for Russians”, made life much easier for the common people and began to pump up his muscles. He abolished the poll tax, introduced an inheritance tax, and the fleet, the most knowledge-intensive sector armed forces, became third in the world after English and French.

This is not forgiven. And, as soon as it became clear that the unimportant education and upbringing of the monarch had almost no effect on the growing power of Russia, it was decided to approach from the other side. Not yet being heir to the throne, he loved to drink from the bottle. Sometimes it was so bad that he fell into a real binge. Got him out of his drinking bouts Dr. Botkin. But the tendency remained. And although the emperor fought against her, not unsuccessfully, rumors and gossip about his alcoholism fell on prepared ground.

This was especially useful for the revolutionaries, who needed to create the image of a “stupid and drunkard” on the throne in order to show the depth of the fall of the monarchy and the need to overthrow, or even kill, the king. Hence the legends that the king allegedly secretly got drunk, and then lay on the floor, kicked his legs and tried to knock down everyone passing by. This is not true. Evidence of this is his memories personal doctor Nikolai Velyaminov: “Did he drink vodka with a snack? It seems not, and if he drank, it was no more than one small glass. If he drank at the table, it was his favorite drink - Russian kvass mixed with champagne, and then very moderately. From bad habits- rather smoking, strong Havana cigars and up to fifty cigarettes a day.”

The most best characteristic both to him personally and to the results of his reign - picture Vasnetsova"Bogatyrs". It is known that the artist painted Ilya Muromets, keeping in mind the appearance of Alexander III. Art critics describe the image of Ilya as follows: “Calm strength and power.”

© Commons.wikimedia.org / V. Vasnetsov “Vyatka River” (1878)
© Commons.wikimedia.org / V. Vasnetsov “The Joy of the Righteous in the Lord”
© Commons.wikimedia.org / V. Vasnetsov. Illustration for the proverb “It’s better not to get married at all than to quarrel with your wife forever”
© Commons.wikimedia.org / V. Vasnetsov “Flying Carpet” (1880)
© Commons.wikimedia.org / V. Vasnetsov “From apartment to apartment” (1876)
© Commons.wikimedia.org / V. Vasnetsov “Beggar Singers” (1873)
©

The tragedy of the Russian people is that at the beginning of the 20th century, with a colossal economic boom, foreign intelligence services managed to destroy the country in the blink of an eye - in just a week. It is worth recognizing that the processes of decay, pardon the expression, of the “popular mass” (both the elite and the common people) went on for quite a long time - about 20, or even more, years. The great autocrat Alexander III passed away, Father John of Kronstadt passed away (whose portrait hung in every house in Russia), Pyotr Arkadyevich Stolypin was killed on the 11th attempt, British agent Oswald Raynor fired the last bullet into the head of Grigory Rasputin - and the great a country whose name remains only in our souls, hearts and name.

Despite all the greatness and prosperity, our then elite played too much with its foreign friends, forgetting that each country should take into account only its personal, purely mercantile interests in international politics. So it turned out that after the defeat of Napoleon in Patriotic War 1812 to us under the guise secret societies Representatives of British (and, under its knowledge, French) intelligence poured in and began to “educate” fragile young minds, replacing in their minds the age-old Russian “For the Faith! For the Tsar! For the Fatherland! to “Freedom! Equality! Brotherhood!". But you and I already know today that neither one, nor the other, nor the third were the results of political insinuations. Following in the footsteps of the “great French”, the foreign rulers of thought at the hands of the Russian people shed so much blood that these memories are still not easy for us.

One of the books that came into my hands is precisely dedicated to the role of secret societies in revolutionary movements and coups in Russia - from Peter I to the death of the Russian Empire. It belongs to the pen of Vasily Fedorovich Ivanov and is called “Russian Intelligentsia and Freemasonry.” I bring to your attention a quote from this book, which clearly proves why the people loved Alexander III so much - not only for his will, but also for his phenomenal economic performance.

So, I quote the above book pp. 20-22:
“From 1881 to 1917, Russia victoriously moved forward in its economic and cultural development, as evidenced by well-known figures.

Shocked by the Crimean campaign of 1853-1856, Russian finances were in a very difficult situation. The Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878, which required enormous extraordinary expenses, upset our finances even more. Large budget deficits have therefore become a constant annual occurrence. Credit fell more and more. It got to the point that five percent funds in 1881 were valued at only 89 to 93 per 100 of their face value, and five percent bonds of city credit societies and mortgage notes of land banks were already quoted at only 80 to 85 per 100.

Through reasonable savings in expenditures, the government of Emperor Alexander III achieved the restoration of budgetary balance, and then annual large excesses of revenues over expenses followed. Direction of received savings to economic enterprises, contributed to the rise economic activity, the development of the railway network and the construction of ports led to the development of industry and streamlined both domestic and international exchange of goods, which opened up new sources of increasing government revenues.

As an example, let us compare at least the data for 1881 and 1894 on the capital of joint-stock commercial credit banks. Here are the data in thousands of rubles:

It turns out, therefore, that the capital belonging to the banks in just thirteen years increased by 59%, and the balance of their operations rose from 404,405,000 rubles by 1881 to 800,947,000 rubles by 1894, i.e., increased by 98%, or almost doubled.

There was no less success in institutions mortgage loan. By January 1, 1881, they issued mortgage notes worth 904,743,000 rubles, and by July 1, 1894 - already 1,708,805,975 rubles, and the rate of these interest-bearing securities increased by more than 10%.

Taken separately, the accounting and lending operation of the State Bank, which reached 211,500,000 rubles by March 1, 1887, increased by October 1 of this year to 292,300,000 rubles, an increase of 38%.

Construction stopped at the end of the seventies railways in Russia, with the accession of Alexander III, it resumed and moved quickly and successfully. But the most important thing in this regard was the establishment of government influence in the field of railway management, both by expanding the government operation of rail tracks and, in particular, by subordinating the activities of private companies to government supervision. The length of the railways open to traffic (in miles) was:

	By January 1, 1881	By 1 Sep. 1894
State-owned	164.6	18.776
Private	21.064,8	14.389
Total:	21.229,4	33.165

Customs taxation of foreign goods, which in 1880 amounted to 10.5 metal, kopecks. from one ruble value, increased in 1893 to 20.25 metal, kopecks, or almost doubled. Beneficial influence on the turnover of Russia's foreign trade immediately led to important results from a state perspective: our annual large surcharges to foreigners were replaced by even more significant receipts from them, as evidenced by the following data (in thousands of rubles):

The reduction in the import of foreign goods to Russia was naturally accompanied by the development of national production. The annual production of factories and factories under the authority of the Ministry of Finance was calculated in 1879 at 829,100,000 rubles with 627,000 workers. In 1890, the cost of production increased to 1,263,964,000 rubles with 852,726 workers. Thus, over the course of eleven years, the cost of factory output increased by 52.5%, or more than one and a half times.

Particularly brilliant, and in some sectors downright astounding, successes have been achieved by the mining industry, as can be seen from the following certificate of production of the main products (in thousands of poods):

Emperor Alexander III At the same time, he tirelessly cared about the welfare of the working people. The law of July 1, 1882 greatly facilitated the employment of minors in factory production: on June 3, 1885 it was prohibited night work women and teenagers in fiber factories. In 1886, regulations on hiring for rural work and a decree on the hiring of workers in factories and factories, then supplemented and expanded. In 1885, the regulation on the cash registers of mining partnerships, approved in 1881, was changed by establishing a shorter period of service for miners' pensions.

Despite the extremely difficult situation of public finances at that time, the law of December 28, 1881 significantly reduced redemption payments, and the law of May 28, 1885 stopped the collection of the poll tax.

All these concerns of the late autocrat were crowned with brilliant success. Not only were the difficulties inherited from previous times eliminated, but the state economy during the reign of Alexander III has achieved a high degree of success, as evidenced, among other things, by the following data on the execution of the state budget (in rubles):

	In 1880	In 1893
Income	651.016.683	1.045.685.472
Expenses	695.549.392	946.955.017
Total:	— 44.532.709	+98.730.455

Let government spending increase in 1893 compared to 1880 by 36.2%, but income at the same time increased by 60.6%, and as a result of the execution of the list, instead of the deficit of 44,532,709 rubles that was in 1880, there is now an excess of income over expenses at 98,730,455 rubles. The unusually rapid increase in government revenues did not reduce, but increased, the accumulation of savings by the people.

The amount of deposits in savings banks, determined in 1881 at 9,995,225 rubles, increases by August 1, 1894 to 329,064,748 rubles. In just thirteen and a half years, people's savings went from 10 million to 330, i.e. increased by 33 times.

IN reign of Emperor Nicholas II Russia in economic and culturally reached yet great success.

Alexander III Alexandrovich (February 26 (March 10), 1845, Anichkov Palace, St. Petersburg - October 20 (November 1), 1894, Livadia Palace, Crimea) - All-Russian Emperor, Tsar of Poland and Grand Duke Finnish since March 1 (13), 1881. Son of Emperor Alexander II and grandson of Nicholas I; father of the latter Russian monarch Nicholas II.

Alexander III is a significant figure in Russian history. During his reign, Russian blood was not shed in Europe. Alexander III provided for many years peace for Russia. For his peace-loving policy, he went down in Russian history as the “peacemaker tsar.”

He adhered to conservative-protective views and pursued a policy of counter-reforms, as well as the Russification of the national outskirts.

He was the second child in the family of Alexander II and Maria Alexandrovna Romanov. According to the rules of succession to the throne, Alexander was not prepared for the role of ruler of the Russian Empire. The throne was to be taken by the elder brother, Nicholas. Alexander did not envy his brother at all, did not experience the slightest jealousy, watching how Nicholas was being prepared for the throne. Nikolai was a diligent student, and Alexander was overcome by boredom in class.

The teachers of Alexander III were such distinguished people as the historians Soloviev, Grott, the remarkable military tactician Dragomirov, and Konstantin Pobedonostsev. It was the latter who had a great influence on Alexander III, largely determining the priorities of the domestic and foreign policies 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 to studies, but physical activity. Future Emperor loved horse 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 improving his horse riding skills and developing physical strength. The brothers joked, they say, “Sashka is the Hercules of our family.” Alexander loved the Gatchina Palace, and adored spending time there, whiling away his days with walks in the park, thinking about his day.

In 1855, Nicholas was proclaimed Tsarevich. Sasha was happy for his brother, and even more so that he himself would not have to be emperor. However, fate still prepared the Russian throne for Alexander Alexandrovich. Nikolai's health deteriorated. The Tsarevich suffered from rheumatism resulting from a spinal bruise, and later he also contracted tuberculosis. In 1865, Nicholas passed away. 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 Nicholas 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 went on a trip to Europe. His path lies in Copenhagen, where he woos his brother's fiancee. 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 began to be called Maria Fedorovna Romanova, and on this day the newlyweds became engaged.

Alexander III and Maria Fedorovna Romanov lived happily family life. Their family is a real 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 their son Nicholas. Alexander loved all his children very much, but his second son, Mishka, enjoyed special paternal love.

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

The Emperor loved paintings. 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 the work of Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky. Alexander Romanov also liked the artist Alexey Bogolyubov, with whom the emperor developed an good relationship. The Emperor provided all possible support to young and talented cultural figures; museums, theaters and universities were opened under his patronage. Alexander adhered to truly Christian tenets, and in every possible way protected Orthodox faith, tirelessly defending her interests.

Alexander III ascended the Russian throne after the assassination of Alexander II by terrorist revolutionaries. This 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 took the path of counter-reforms. The new Russian emperor was distinguished by conservative views.

During his reign Russian Empire achieved great success. Russia was a strong, developing country with which all European powers sought friendship. In Europe, there were constantly some kind of political movements. And then one day, a minister came to Alexander, who was fishing, talking about affairs in Europe. He asked the emperor to react somehow. To which Alexander replied: “Europe can wait while the Russian Tsar fishes.” Alexander Alexandrovich could really afford such statements, because Russia was on the rise, and its army was the most powerful in the world. However, 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.

According to historian P. A. Zayonchkovsky, “Alexander III was quite modest in his personal life. He did not like lies, was a good family man, and was hardworking.", working on government affairs often until 1-2 am. “Alexander III had a certain system of views... To preserve the purity of the “faith of the fathers”, the inviolability of the principle of autocracy and to develop the Russian people... - these were the main tasks that the new monarch set for himself... in some issues of foreign policy he probably discovered common sense ».

As S. Yu. Witte wrote, “Emperor Alexander III had absolutely outstanding nobility and purity of heart, purity of morals and thoughts. As a family man - it was exemplary family man; as a boss and owner - he was an exemplary boss and an exemplary owner... he was a good owner not because of a sense of self-interest, but because of a sense of duty. Not only in the Royal family, but also among dignitaries, I have never encountered that feeling of respect for the state ruble, for the state kopeck, that the Emperor possessed... He knew how to inspire confidence abroad, on the one hand, that He would not act unfair to anyone, will not wish for any seizures; everyone was calm that He would not start any adventure... For Emperor Alexander III, his word never diverged from his deed. What he said was felt by him, and he never deviated from what he said... Emperor Alexander III was an extremely courageous man.”.

The Emperor was a passionate collector, second only to Catherine II in this regard. Gatchina Castle literally turned into a warehouse of priceless treasures. Alexander's acquisitions - paintings, art objects, carpets and the like - no longer fit in the galleries of the Winter Palace, Anichkov Palace and other palaces. The extensive collection of paintings, graphics, objects of decorative and applied art, and sculptures collected by Alexander III after his death was transferred to the established Russian Emperor Nicholas II in memory of his parent, Russian Museum.

Alexander was fond of hunting and fishing. Often in the summer the royal family went to the Finnish skerries. The emperor's favorite hunting spot was Belovezhskaya Pushcha. Sometimes the imperial family, instead of relaxing in the skerries, went to Poland to the Principality of Lović, and there they enthusiastically indulged in hunting pleasures, especially deer hunting, and most often ended their vacation with a trip to Denmark, to Bernstorf Castle - the Dagmars’ ancestral castle, where they often gathered from all over Europe her crowned relatives.

For all his outward severity towards his loved ones, he invariably remained a devoted family man and loving father. Not only did he never lay a finger on any children in his life, but he also never offended them with a harsh word.

On October 17, 1888, an attempt was made on Alexander III and all royal family. Terrorists derailed the train carrying the emperor. Seven carriages were smashed, causing many casualties. The king and his family remained alive by the will of fate. At the time of the explosion they were in the restaurant carriage. During the explosion, near the carriage with royal family the roof collapsed, and Alexander literally held it on himself until help arrived. After some time, he began to complain of pain in his lower back. During the examination, it turned out that the king had kidney problems. In the winter of 1894, Alexander caught a bad cold; soon while hunting, the emperor became very ill and was diagnosed with acute nephritis. Doctors sent the emperor to Crimea, where Alexander III died on November 20, 1894.

Alexander III left a big mark on 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.”

Spouse: Dagmara of Denmark (Maria Feodorovna) (November 14, 1847 - October 13, 1928), daughter of the Danish king Christian IX.

Children:
1. Nikolai Alexandrovich (later Emperor Nicholas II) (May 6, 1868 - July 17, 1918, Yekaterinburg);
2. Alexander Alexandrovich (May 26, 1869 - April 20, 1870, St. Petersburg);
3. Georgy Alexandrovich (April 27, 1871 - June 28, 1899, Abastumani);
4. Ksenia Alexandrovna (March 25, 1875 - April 20, 1960, London);
5. Mikhail Alexandrovich (November 22, 1878 - June 13, 1918, Perm);
6. Olga Alexandrovna (June 1, 1882 - November 24, 1960, Toronto).