The Reign, Reforms and Many Attempts on The Life of Alexander II of Russia (Part One)

During his reign he survived a number of attempted assassinations, he had undoubtedly a number of enemies or people upset by his rule. He implemented many reforms in Russia, in the years before he became emperor freedom of thought, or any forms of initiative were suppressed. Censorship on a personal and official level was rife and anyone found to criticize the authority of the regime would be committing a serious offence against the state.

Upon the death of his father in 1855 he became emperor. He conducted negotiations for peace to end the war in the Crimea. Ended years of bribes, theft and corruption which led to radical reforms including changes to the administration. He instigated changes to commerce and industry, limited companies were introduced and a national network for the railways was built. The country’s natural resources were developed as well as improvements to its military for both attack and defense.

The issue of serfdom or slavery was tackled, first in Lithuania and then other states were invited to follow that lead. The issue of serfdom had effects economically, socially and politically. Landlords had to choose between their serfs becoming agricultural labourers and dependant on their landlords for economic and administrative assistance or allowing them to become independent proprietors. Alexander was in favour of the independence option, however the system of peasantry within Russia was one of the last to abolish serfdom in Europe such was the opposition from the landowners. It took six years for the law to be signed and ratified.

After the defeat for Russia in the Crimean War increases to its military were made, the army and navy were reorganized and rearmed. One change was the introduction of conscription into the military which began in 1874. From that moment all of Russia’s sons had to serve their country whether they were rich or poor, also corporal punishment in the military was banned.

The judicial system was introduced based on that used at the time in France. A new code of penal law with a simplified system of civil and criminal procedure was adopted. Trials to be conducted in court with a judge and jury, and for lesser offences justices of the peace were to be introduced.

Before he eventually married he made a state visit to Great Britain in 1838, Alexander was just one year older than Queen Victoria and his interest towards the young queen was not returned. Victoria married her German cousin, Prince Albert. Alexander married another German Princess Marie of Hesse, she became known as Maria Alexandrovna. She was the daughter of Ludwig II, the Grand Duke of Hesse and Rhine, her mother being Princess Wilhelmina of Baden. Gossip around the circles of the day suggested Wilhelmina’s lover Baron August von Senarclens de Grancy was Marie’s biological father and not Ludwig.

Alexander and Maria had eight children, six of them sons, one of their two daughters died at the age of just six of meningitis. His wife died in 1880 and less than a month later his mistress and mother of four of his illegitimate children moved in. During his marriage he had a number of mistresses and fathered at least another seven children.

Throughout his reign, Alexander II faced many groups calling for the separation of some states. Problems in Poland, Lithuania, the Western Ukraine, Belarus and Livonia resulted in the January Uprising of 1863-4, it was suppressed after fighting had continued for 18 months. Hundreds were executed and many thousands were sent to Siberia. Martial law was introduced in Lithuania in 1863 and continued for 40 years. Many native languages were banned, Polish was only permitted in Congress Poland and only permitted in private conversations, in its written form it was banned.

I will continue this article in part two, the attempts on his life and the aftermath  his assassination had on Russia and its reforms.