Alexander III (1845-1894)

Alexander III went down in history as the Tsar-Peacemaker - during the years of his reign, Russia did not participate in any serious military-political conflict of that time. Russian Emperor Alexander III was born on March 10 (February 26, old style), 1845 in St. Petersburg. He was the second son of Emperor Alexander II and Empress Maria Alexandrovna. He received the traditional military engineering education for the Grand Dukes. He ascended the throne on March 1, 1881 after the assassination of Alexander II by Narodnaya Volya terrorists. The first years of his reign he spent in Gatchina under the strong protection of troops and police. The emperor paid serious attention to enhancing the social role of the Orthodox Church: he increased the number of parish schools, toughened the repression against the Old Believers and sectarians.
During the reign of Alexander III, the construction of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow (1883) was completed, parishes closed in the previous reign were restored, many new monasteries and churches were built. Economic growth in Russia during the reign of Alexander III was characterized by economic growth, which was largely associated with politics increased patronage of the domestic industry. The country re-equipped its army and navy and became the world's largest exporter of agricultural products. The government of Alexander III encouraged the growth of large-scale capitalist industry, which achieved noticeable successes (metallurgy production doubled in 1886-1892, the railway network grew by 47%).
The foreign policy of Russia under Alexander III was distinguished by pragmatism. The main content was a turn from traditional cooperation with Germany to an alliance with France, which was concluded in 1891-1893. The aggravation of relations with Germany was smoothed out by the "Reinsurance Agreement" (1887).
Alexander III went down in history as the Tsar-Peacemaker - during the years of his reign, Russia did not participate in any serious military-political conflict of that time. The only significant battle - the capture of Kushka - took place in 1885, after which the annexation of Central Asia to Russia was completed.
The emperor was devout, distinguished by frugality, modesty, and spent his leisure time in a narrow family and friendly circle. He was interested in music, painting, history. He collected an extensive collection of paintings, decorative and applied art, sculptures, which after his death was transferred to the Russian Museum, founded by Emperor Nicholas II in memory of his father. Alexander III was one of the initiators of the creation of the Russian Historical Society and its first chairman. Founding the Historical Museum in Moscow.
The personality of Alexander III is associated with the idea of a real hero with iron health. On October 17, 1888, he was injured in a railway accident near the Borki station, 50 km from Kharkov. However, saving the lives of loved ones, the emperor held the collapsed roof of the car for about half an hour until help arrived. As a result of this excessive exertion, it is believed that his kidney disease began to progress.
On November 1 (October 20, old style), 1894, the emperor died in Livadia (Crimea) from the effects of jade. The body was taken to St. Petersburg and buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral.
The wife of Alexander III was the Danish princess Louise Sophia Frederica Dagmara (in Orthodoxy - Maria Fedorovna) (1847-1928), whom he married in 1866. The emperor and his wife had five children: Nicholas (later - Russian Emperor Nicholas II), George, Xenia, Mikhail and Olga.