User:Meste/Nicholas ІІ

Nicolas II of Russia (18 May 1868- 17 July 1918) was the last monarch of Russia, Grand Duke of Finland and honorary King of Poland. He is known to be the monarch who was swept under by the Russian revolution of 1917.

He was the head of state and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church from 1984 until 1917 when he abdicated his position. He is known for his inability to rule a fatal factor for the downfall of the Russian Autocratic system after which Russian revolutionaries came to power and a system of communism was used until 1991.

Early Life
His early life was relatively carefree as his father ruled Russia with an iron fist and also reaped the rewards thereof. Due to this Nicholas had a great number of money and courtiers at his disposal. He had no inhibitions in his life and was also used to being lax at the dinner table. Indeed the position of Emperor of Russia had not even been a serious thought for him. Therefore it is not surprising that he grew to be an uneducated ruler who made many common mistakes regarding the people of his country.

Coronation
Nicholas was crowned Emperor a year after the demise of his father although he started his royal duties immediately after the funeral. It is reported that due to a shortage of food or drink riots occurred during the coronation feast and many people died. Nicholas continued with the celebrations and also went to a reception soon after. Many people became incensed at this and Nicholas' reign was foretold to be dark and cursed.

Revolutionaries
Censorship and repression were Nicholas' greatest ideals and this was one of the reasons which led up to the revolution. His laws prevented many of his citizens to display their thoughts and beliefs. The experiences of western democratic governments also made Russia seem archaic, causing revolutionaries to spring up across the country.

Revolution and Death
In February 1917 revolutionaries seized the capital and the Emperor after receiving reports of declining loyalty, abdicated first in favour of is son then in favour of his brother Grand Duke Mikhail due to his sons predicament. His brother declined saying that he wanted the people to accept him and not be forced upon them. Eventually the Emperor and his family were imprisoned in the province of Tobolsk. They were then taken to various other homes by the Bolshevik government and stripped of their few remaining luxuries. Eventually they were killed by firing squad in the cellar of their last residence on 17 March 1918.