Alexander II ascends the Russian throne on the death of Nicholas I (1855)

Nicholas I died on 2 March 1855 during the Crimean War, leading to the accession of his son Alexander II. The transition occurred at the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg, marking the end of Nicholas's autocratic rule and the beginning of Alexander's reign, which would later be defined by significant reforms.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Nicholas I ruled as Emperor from 1825 until his death in 1855. His reign was marked by the suppression of private initiative and intellectual freedom in Saint Petersburg. The Crimean War, which began in 1853, exposed Russia's military and administrative weaknesses, setting the stage for the succession of Alexander II.

Succession. Alexander II, aged 37 at the time of his accession, succeeded his father Nicholas I upon the latter's death in 1855. He had served as heir apparent from 1825 to 1855. On succeeding, Alexander became Emperor of Russia, King of Poland, and Grand Duke of Finland, titles he would hold until his assassination in 1881.

Political Context. The death of Nicholas I occurred during the ongoing Crimean War, which had demonstrated Russia's technological and military backwardness. The new emperor inherited a situation where the base at Sevastopol had fallen, exposing the inability to defend major fortifications. This context influenced the early years of Alexander's reign.

People involved

Sources

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