Alexander II of Russia

Lore & Background

Alexander Nikolayevich, the eldest son of Nicholas I and Charlotte of Prussia, was educated under the supervision of the liberal poet Vasily Zhukovsky, which gave him a broad familiarity with many subjects and fluency in the chief modern European languages. As heir apparent, he undertook an unusual six-month tour of Russia, visiting twenty provinces, and became the first Romanov heir to travel to Siberia. During this journey, he met the exiled poet Alexander Herzen and pardoned him; Herzen’s writings later influenced his decision to abolish serfdom. He also toured Western Europe in 1838–1839, where he met the young Queen Victoria. Physically, he was described as looking like a German, and he was known as a heavy smoker and card player. He spoke both Russian and German. His early life gave little hint of his later reformist nature, as the intellectual climate under his father suppressed free thought and private initiative, with strict censorship and severe penalties for criticizing authorities. Despite this, Alexander’s reign became defined by the historic Edict of Emancipation in 1861, which abolished serfdom, earning him the title “Alexander the Liberator.” He also implemented liberal reforms including improvements to the judicial system, relaxed media censorship, removal of some legal restrictions on Jews, abolition of corporal punishment, promotion of local self-government, and modernization of the military, schools, and economy. However, after an assassination attempt in 1866, he shifted toward a more conservative stance, and many reforms were later reversed. His foreign policy was relatively pacifist compared to his father’s, though he continued expansion into the Far East, Caucasus, and Central Asia, and was wary of the United Kingdom. He supported the Union during the American Civil War, sending warships to New York and San Francisco, and sold Alaska to the United States in 1867 partly to prevent British seizure. He joined the League of the Three Emperors with Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1873, and led Russia in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, resulting in the independence of several Balkan states. He suppressed the Polish uprising of 1863 by stripping Poland’s constitution and incorporating it directly into the empire. In his final years, he proposed additional parliamentary reforms to counter revolutionary movements, but was assassinated in 18

Reader's Guide

Under Alexander II, the Russian Empire underwent a period of significant liberal reform, most famously the 1861 Edict of Emancipation that abolished serfdom. His administration also overhauled the judicial system, reduced media censorship, lifted some legal restrictions on Jews, ended corporal punishment, and fostered local self-government. Military and naval forces were strengthened, while schools and universities were expanded and modernized, alongside efforts to diversify the economy. However, these changes provoked strong opposition, and after an assassination attempt in 1866, Alexander adopted a far more conservative stance, reversing or curtailing many reforms. In foreign affairs, he pursued a relatively pacifist policy compared to his predecessor, though he continued imperial expansion into the Far East, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. Wary of Britain due to the Crimean War and the Great Game, he supported the Union during the American Civil War and sold Alaska to the United States in 1867, partly to prevent its capture by Britain. He sought European stability by joining Germany and Austria-Hungary in the League of the Three Emperors in 1873. The Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 secured independence for Bulgaria, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia, while his Far Eastern campaigns led to the Amur Annexation. He also approved military actions resulting in the Circassian genocide. Domestically, he suppressed a Polish uprising in 1863 by abolishing Poland’s separate constitution and incorporating it directly into the empire. Shortly before his assassination in 1881, he was proposing additional parliamentary reforms to counter revolutionary movements.

Did You Know?

• He sent Russian warships to New York Harbor and San Francisco Bay during the American Civil War to deter Confederate attacks.