Nicholas II of Russia

Date of Birth: May 18, 1868

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Date of Death: July 17, 1918

Biography

Nicholas II of Russia, born Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov, was the last Emperor of Russia, ruling from November 1, 1894, until his forced abdication on March 15, 1917. His reign saw the fall of the Russian Empire from one of the foremost great powers of the world to economic and military collapse. Born into the Romanov dynasty, Nicholas was the eldest son of Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna. His relatively conservative and autocratic rule made him a controversial figure, especially as Russia faced significant social and political upheaval during his reign. Nicholas’s reign was marked by disastrous events like the Russo-Japanese War, Bloody Sunday in 1905, and Russia’s involvement in World War I, which exacerbated the country’s internal strife. Ultimately, the February Revolution of 1917 forced him to abdicate, leading to the establishment of a provisional government and eventually the rise of the Soviet Union. Nicholas, his wife Alexandra, and their five children were executed by Bolsheviks on the night of July 16-17, 1918, in Yekaterinburg.

5 Interesting Facts about Nicholas II of Russia

1. Nicholas II was the first cousin of King George V of the United Kingdom and Wilhelm II of Germany.

2. He was nicknamed “Nicholas the Bloody” due to the violent suppression of political unrest and the anti-Semitic pogroms that occurred during his reign.

3. Nicholas II was canonized as a passion bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia in 1981 and by the Russian Orthodox Church inside Russia in 2000.

4. During his reign, Nicholas II had a profound interest in the Russian Navy and was instrumental in its expansion.

5. His family was placed under house arrest after his abdication and moved to several locations before their execution by the Bolsheviks.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Nicholas II of Russia

1. “I am not prepared to be a tsar. I never wanted to become one. I know nothing of the business of ruling.”

2. “I shall never agree to a representative form of government because I consider it harmful to the people whom God has entrusted to my care.”

3. “We are not ready for a constitutional monarchy and never will be.”

4. “I am ready to give up the throne, but I cannot leave Russia.”

5. “I have a deep love for my country and our people. Everything I do is for the benefit of Russia.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth achieved by Nicholas II was estimated to be around $300 billion in today’s terms, making him one of the wealthiest monarchs in history.

Children

Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra had five children: 1. Olga Nikolaevna (born November 15, 1895) 2. Tatiana Nikolaevna (born June 10, 1897) 3. Maria Nikolaevna (born June 26, 1899) 4. Anastasia Nikolaevna (born June 18, 1901) 5. Alexei Nikolaevich (born August 12, 1904)