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78-811: The Senate Square can refer to several squares depending on the city: Helsinki Senate Square , a square in Helsinki, Finland The Saint Petersburg Senate Square , a square in Saint Petersburg, Russia, formerly known as Decembrists' Square The Moscow Senate Square , a square in Moscow between Kremlin Arsenal and Kremlin Senate The Senado Square , in Macau, China Topics referred to by

156-669: A "gentlemen's agreement" to keep the status quo in the Balkans, and a somewhat similar commitment became applicable to Constantinople and the Straits. The result was years of peace that allowed for rapid economic growth. Nicholas followed the policies of his father, strengthening the Franco-Russian Alliance and pursuing a policy of general European pacification, which culminated in the famous Hague peace conference . This conference, suggested and promoted by Nicholas II,

234-734: A casus belli." War began in February 1904 with a preemptive Japanese attack on the Russian Pacific Fleet in Port Arthur , prior to a formal declaration of war. With the Russian Far East fleet trapped at Port Arthur, the only other Russian Fleet was the Baltic Fleet ; it was half a world away, but the decision was made to send the fleet on a nine-month voyage to the east. The United Kingdom would not allow

312-563: A final victory, maintaining an image of the racial inferiority and military weakness of the Japanese. Throughout the war, the tsar demonstrated total confidence in Russia's ultimate triumph. His advisors never gave him a clear picture of Russia's weaknesses. Despite the continuous military disasters Nicholas believed victory was near at hand. Losing his navy at Tsushima finally persuaded him to agree to peace negotiations. Even then he insisted on

390-650: A large dragon tattooed on his right forearm by Japanese tattoo artist Hori Chyo . His cousin George V of the United Kingdom had also received a dragon tattoo from Hori in Yokohama years before. It was during his visit to Otsu , that Tsuda Sanzō , one of his escorting policemen, swung at the Tsarevich's face with a sabre, an event known as the Ōtsu incident . Nicholas was left with a 9 centimeter long scar on

468-538: A letter to his mother about being forced to go shooting with his uncle, the Prince of Wales, in bad weather, and was suffering from a bad toothache. The first years of his reign saw little more than continuation and development of the policy pursued by Alexander III. Nicholas allotted money for the All-Russia exhibition of 1896 . In 1897 restoration of the gold standard by Sergei Witte, Minister of Finance, completed

546-539: A pedestal surrounded by figures representing law, culture, and peasants. The sculptor was Walter Runeberg . During the trials of Russification of Finland between 1899 and 1917, the statue became a symbol of quiet resistance, with people protesting against the decrees of Nicholas II by leaving flowers at the foot of the statue of his grandfather, then known in Finland as "the good tsar". After Finland's full independence declaration in 1917, demands were made to remove

624-572: A period of censorship and political repression. A petition of protest signed by more than 500,000 Finns was collected against the manifesto and delivered to St. Petersburg by a delegation of 500 people, but they were not received by Nicholas. Russification measures were reintroduced in 1908 after a temporary suspension in the aftermath of the 1905 Revolution, and Nicholas received an icy reception when he made his only visit to Helsinki on 10 March 1915. A few days prior to Bloody Sunday (9 (22) January 1905), priest and labor leader Georgy Gapon informed

702-412: A result, the crowd rushed to get their share and individuals were tripped and trampled upon, suffocating in the dirt of the field. Of the approximate 100,000 in attendance, it is estimated that 1,389 individuals died and roughly 1,300 were injured. The Khodynka Tragedy was seen as an ill omen and Nicholas found gaining popular trust difficult from the beginning of his reign. The French ambassador's gala

780-475: A senseless dream that the zemstvos be called upon to participate in the government of the country. I want everyone to know that I will devote all my strength to maintain, for the good of the whole nation, the principle of absolute autocracy , as firmly and as strongly as did my late lamented father. On 26 May 1896, Nicholas's formal coronation as Tsar was held in Uspensky Cathedral located within

858-618: A tour of Europe. After making visits to the emperor and empress of Austria-Hungary , the Kaiser of Germany, and Nicholas's Danish grandparents and relatives, Nicholas and Alexandra took possession of their new yacht, the Standart , which had been built in Denmark. From there, they made a journey to Scotland to spend some time with Queen Victoria at Balmoral Castle . While Alexandra enjoyed her reunion with her grandmother, Nicholas complained in

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936-567: A week, Nicholas demanded that he be canonised within a year. Despite a public outcry, the Church bowed to the intense imperial pressure, declaring Seraphim worthy of canonisation in January 1903. That summer, the imperial family travelled to Sarov for the canonisation. According to his biographer: Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria paid a state visit in April 1897 that was a success. It produced

1014-679: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Senate Square, Helsinki Senate Square and its surroundings make up the oldest part of central Helsinki. Landmarks and famous buildings surrounding the square are the Helsinki Cathedral , the Government Palace , the main building of the University of Helsinki and the Sederholm House  [ fi ] ,

1092-422: Is one of the main tourist attractions of Helsinki. Various art events, ranging from concerts, snow buildings to controversial snow boarding activities, have been set up on Senate Square. In Autumn 2010, a United Buddy Bears exhibition with 142 bears was displayed on the historic square. Digital carillon music ( Finnish : Senaatintorin ääni ) is played daily at 17:49 at Senate Square. The sound installation

1170-759: The 1905 Russian Revolution . His popularity was further damaged by the Russo-Japanese War, which saw the Russian Baltic Fleet annihilated at the Battle of Tsushima , together with the loss of Russian influence over Manchuria and Korea and the Japanese annexation of the south of Sakhalin Island . During the July Crisis of 1914, Nicholas supported Serbia and approved the mobilisation of

1248-627: The British Empire . He aimed to strengthen the Franco-Russian Alliance and proposed the unsuccessful Hague Convention of 1899 to promote disarmament and peacefully solve international disputes. Domestically, he was criticised for his government's repression of political opponents and his perceived fault or inaction during the Khodynka Tragedy , anti-Jewish pogroms , Bloody Sunday and the violent suppression of

1326-628: The Franco-Russian Alliance and proposed the unsuccessful Hague Convention of 1899 to promote disarmament and peacefully solve international disputes. A clash between Russia and the Empire of Japan was almost inevitable by the turn of the 20th century. Russia had expanded in the Far East, and the growth of its settlement and territorial ambitions, as its southward path to the Balkans was frustrated, conflicted with Japan's own territorial ambitions on

1404-567: The Imperial Russian Army experienced logistical problems. While commands and supplies came from St. Petersburg , combat took place in east Asian ports with only the Trans-Siberian Railway for transport of supplies as well as troops both ways. The 9,200-kilometre (5,700 mi) rail line between St. Petersburg and Port Arthur was single-track, with no track around Lake Baikal , allowing only gradual build-up of

1482-594: The Kremlin . In a celebration on 30 May 1896, a large festival with food, free beer and souvenir cups was held in Khodynka Field outside Moscow. Khodynka was chosen as the location as it was the only place near Moscow large enough to hold all of the Moscow citizens. Khodynka was primarily used as a military training ground and the field was uneven with trenches. Before the food and drink was handed out, rumours spread that there would not be enough for everyone. As

1560-635: The Prince and Princess of Wales —arrived in Moscow. After lying in state in the Kremlin , the body of the Tsar was taken to St. Petersburg, where the funeral was held on 19 November. Nicholas and Alix's wedding was originally scheduled for the spring of 1895, but it was moved forward at Nicholas's insistence. Staggering under the weight of his new office, he had no intention of allowing the one person who gave him confidence to leave his side. Instead, Nicholas's wedding to Alix took place on 26 November 1894, which

1638-679: The Russian Army on 30 July. In response, Germany declared war on Russia on 1 August and its ally France on 3 August, starting World War I . After several years of war, severe military losses led to a collapse of morale at the front and at home; a general strike and a mutiny of the garrison in Petrograd sparked the February Revolution and the disintegration of the monarchy's authority. After abdicating himself and on behalf of his son, Nicholas and his family were imprisoned by

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1716-845: The Russian Provisional Government and exiled to Siberia. After the Bolsheviks seized power in the October Revolution , the family was held in Yekaterinburg , where they were executed in a basement on 17 July 1918. In 1981, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia , based in New York City , recognised Nicholas, his wife, and their children as martyrs. Their gravesite was discovered in 1979, but this

1794-734: The Russo-Japanese War and World War I . By March 1917, public support for Nicholas had collapsed and he was forced to abdicate, thereby ending the Romanov dynasty 's 304-year rule of Russia (1613–1917). Nicholas signed the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907, which was designed to counter Germany 's attempts to gain influence in the Middle East; it ended the Great Game of confrontation between Russia and

1872-539: The Asian mainland. Nicholas pursued an aggressive foreign policy with regards to Manchuria and Korea , and strongly supported the scheme for timber concessions in these areas as developed by the Bezobrazov group . Before the war in 1901, Nicholas told his brother-in-law Prince Henry of Prussia "I do not want to seize Korea but under no circumstances can I allow Japan to become firmly established there. That will be

1950-559: The Church of St. Nicholas — dominates Senate Square, and was finalized in 1852, twelve years after Engel's death. A statue of Emperor Alexander II is located in the center of the square. The statue, erected in 1894, was built to commemorate his re-establishment of the Diet of Finland in 1863 as well as his initiation of several reforms that increased Finland's autonomy from the Russian Empire's rule. The statue comprises Alexander on

2028-769: The Empress Frederick (Kaiser Wilhelm's mother and Queen Victoria's eldest daughter), Nicholas's uncle, the Prince of Wales , and the bride's parents, the Duke and Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha . Once in Coburg Nicholas proposed to Alix, but she rejected his proposal, being reluctant to convert to Orthodoxy. But the Kaiser later informed her she had a duty to marry Nicholas and to convert, as her sister Elizabeth had done in 1892. Thus once she changed her mind, Nicholas and Alix became officially engaged on 20 April 1894. Nicholas's parents initially hesitated to give

2106-647: The Interior. These publications served to fuel the Kishinev pogrom (rioting). The government of Nicholas II formally condemned the rioting and dismissed the regional governor, with the perpetrators arrested and punished by the court. Leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church also condemned anti-Semitic pogroms. Appeals to the faithful condemning the pogroms were read publicly in all churches of Russia. In private Nicholas expressed his admiration for

2184-519: The Japanese were driven from Manchuria. It was not until 27–28 May 1905 and the annihilation of the Russian fleet by the Japanese, that Nicholas finally decided to sue for peace. Nicholas II accepted American mediation, appointing Sergei Witte chief plenipotentiary for the peace talks. The war was ended by the signing of the Treaty of Portsmouth . Nicholas's stance on the war was so at variance with

2262-583: The Russian diplomat Friedrich Martens were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for the initiative to convene the Hague Peace Conference and contributing to its implementation. However historian Dan L. Morrill states that "most scholars" agree that the invitation was "conceived in fear, brought forth in deceit, and swaddled in humanitarian ideals...Not from humanitarianism, not from love for mankind." Nicholas aimed to strengthen

2340-691: The Russian navy to use the Suez Canal , due to its alliance with the Empire of Japan, and due to the Dogger Bank incident where the Baltic Fleet mistakenly fired on British fishing boats in the North Sea . The Baltic Fleet traversed the world to lift the blockade on Port Arthur, but after many misadventures on the way, was nearly annihilated by the Japanese in the Battle of Tsushima . On land

2418-427: The Tsar insisted on receiving her in full uniform. From his deathbed, he told his son to heed the advice of Witte, his most capable minister. Ten days later, Alexander III died at the age of forty-nine, leaving twenty-six-year-old Nicholas as Emperor of Russia. That evening, Nicholas was consecrated by his father's priest as Tsar Nicholas II and, the following day, Alix was received into the Russian Orthodox Church, taking

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2496-464: The United Kingdom (who had died in 1878), and a granddaughter of Queen Victoria . At the wedding in St. Petersburg, the sixteen-year-old Tsarevich met with and admired the bride's youngest surviving sister, twelve-year-old Princess Alix . Those feelings of admiration blossomed into love following her visit to St. Petersburg five years later in 1889. Alix had feelings for him in turn. As a devout Lutheran, she

2574-874: The United Kingdom's Queen Alexandra (consort of King Edward VII ). Nicholas, his wife Alexandra, and Wilhelm II, German Emperor were all first cousins of King George V of the United Kingdom. Nicholas was also a first cousin of both King Haakon VII and Queen Maud of Norway , as well as King Christian X of Denmark and King Constantine I of Greece . Nicholas and Wilhelm II were in turn second cousins once-removed, as each descended from King Frederick William III of Prussia , as well as third cousins, as they were both great-great-grandsons of Tsar Paul I of Russia . In addition to being second cousins through descent from Louis II, Grand Duke of Hesse , and his wife Princess Wilhelmine of Baden , Nicholas and Alexandra were also third cousins once-removed, as they were both descendants of King Frederick William II of Prussia . Tsar Nicholas II

2652-532: The christening, Nicholas and Alix were listed among the child's godparents. After several weeks in England, Nicholas returned home for the wedding of his sister, Xenia, to a cousin, Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich ("Sandro"). By that autumn, Alexander III lay dying. Upon learning that he would live only a fortnight, the Tsar had Nicholas summon Alix to the Livadia Palace . Alix arrived on 22 October;

2730-488: The church hierarchy and between those hierarchs and the people. Thereby the tsar's base of support was conflicted. In 1903, Nicholas threw himself into an ecclesiastical crisis regarding the canonisation of Seraphim of Sarov . The previous year, it had been suggested that if he were canonised, the imperial couple would beget a son and heir to throne. While Alexandra demanded in July 1902 that Seraphim be canonised in less than

2808-410: The conservative policies favoured by his father throughout his reign. While Alexander III had concentrated on the formulation of general policy, Nicholas devoted much more attention to the details of administration. Leaving Livadia on 7 November, Tsar Alexander's funeral procession—which included Nicholas's maternal aunt through marriage and paternal first cousin once removed Queen Olga of Greece , and

2886-406: The display of affection he perceived when he made public appearances. His old-fashioned belief made for a very stubborn ruler who rejected constitutional limitations on his power. It put the tsar at variance with the emerging political consensus among the Russian elite. It was further belied by the subordinate position of the Church in the bureaucracy. The result was a new distrust between the tsar and

2964-462: The economic and political reforms promoted by his prime ministers, Sergei Witte and Pyotr Stolypin . He advocated modernisation based on foreign loans and close ties with France , but resisted giving the new parliament (the Duma ) major roles. Ultimately, progress was undermined by Nicholas's commitment to autocratic rule , strong aristocratic opposition and defeats sustained by the Russian military in

3042-502: The engagement their blessing, as Alix had made poor impressions during her visits to Russia. They gave their consent only when they saw Tsar Alexander's health deteriorating. That summer, Nicholas travelled to England to visit both Alix and the Queen. The visit coincided with the birth of the Duke and Duchess of York 's first child, the future King Edward VIII . Along with being present at

3120-492: The forces on the front. Besieged Port Arthur fell to the Japanese, after nine months of resistance. As Russia faced imminent defeat by the Japanese, the call for peace grew. Nicholas's mother, as well as his cousin Emperor Wilhelm II, urged Nicholas to negotiate for peace. Despite the efforts, Nicholas remained evasive, sending a telegram to the Kaiser on 10 October that it was his intent to keep on fighting until

3198-441: The garrison. Up to now the workers have been calm. Their number is estimated at 120,000. At the head of their union is a kind of socialist priest named Gapon. Mirsky came this evening to present his report on the measures taken." On Sunday, 9 (22) January 1905, Gapon began his march. Locking arms, the workers marched peacefully through the streets. Some carried religious icons and banners, as well as national flags and portraits of

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3276-466: The government of the forthcoming procession to the Winter Palace to hand a workers' petition to the tsar . On Saturday, 8 (21) January, the ministers convened to consider the situation. There was never any thought that the tsar, who had left the capital for Tsarskoye Selo on the advice of the ministers, would actually meet Gapon; the suggestion that some other member of the imperial family receive

3354-539: The memorial plate of the Ulrika Eleonora church from snow plows. The site aspires to be designated as a World Heritage Site , but a single building in its southwest corner prevents it. 60°10′10″N 024°57′09″E  /  60.16944°N 24.95250°E  / 60.16944; 24.95250 Nicholas II of Russia Nicholas II (Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov; 18 May [ O.S. 6 May] 1868 – 17 July 1918) or Nikolai II

3432-621: The mobs, viewing anti-Semitism as a useful tool for unifying the people behind the government; however in 1911, following the assassination of Pyotr Stolypin by the Jewish revolutionary Dmitry Bogrov , he approved of government efforts to prevent anti-Semitic pogroms. In Finland , Nicholas had become associated with deeply unpopular Russification measures . These began with the February Manifesto proclaimed by Nicholas II in 1899, which restricted Finland's autonomy and instigated

3510-434: The name Alexandra Feodorovna with the title of Grand Duchess and the style of Imperial Highness . Defunct Nicholas may have felt unprepared for the duties of the crown, for he asked his cousin and brother-in-law, Grand Duke Alexander, "What is going to happen to me and all of Russia?" Though perhaps under-prepared and unskilled, Nicholas was not altogether untrained for his duties as Tsar. Nicholas chose to maintain

3588-681: The new Tsar and his family relocated their primary residence to the Gatchina Palace outside the city, only entering the capital for various ceremonial functions. On such occasions, Alexander III and his family occupied the nearby Anichkov Palace . In 1884, Nicholas's coming-of-age ceremony was held at the Winter Palace, where he pledged his loyalty to his father. Later that year, Nicholas's uncle, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich , married Princess Elizabeth , daughter of Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse , and his late wife Princess Alice of

3666-420: The obvious facts that many observers were baffled. He saw the war as an easy God-given victory that would raise Russian morale and patriotism. He ignored the financial repercussions of a long-distance war. Rotem Kowner argues that during his visit to Japan in 1891, where Nicholas was attacked by a Japanese policeman, he regarded the Japanese as small of stature, feminine, weak, and inferior. He ignored reports of

3744-471: The oldest building of central Helsinki dating from 1757. In the 17th and 18th-centuries, the site was the location of a graveyard. In 1812, Senate Square was designated as the main square for the new capital of Helsinki in the city plan designed by Johan Albrecht Ehrenström . The Palace of the Council of State (or Government Palace) was completed on the eastern side of Senate Square in 1822. It served as

3822-468: The option of reopening hostilities if peace conditions were unfavorable. He forbade his chief negotiator Count Witte to agree to either indemnity payments or loss of territory. Nicholas remained adamantly opposed to any concessions. Peace was made, but Witte did so by disobeying the tsar and ceding southern Sakhalin to Japan. The Kishinev newspaper Bessarabets , which published anti-Semitic materials, received funds from Viacheslav Plehve , Minister of

3900-413: The petition was rejected. Finally informed by the Prefect of Police that he lacked the men to pluck Gapon from among his followers and place him under arrest, the newly appointed Minister of the Interior, Prince Sviatopolk-Mirsky , and his colleagues decided to bring additional troops to reinforce the city. That evening Nicholas wrote in his diary, "Troops have been brought from the outskirts to reinforce

3978-414: The political and economic life of the peasantry, in the Tver Address . Although the addresses they had sent in beforehand were couched in mild and loyal terms, Nicholas was angry and ignored advice from an Imperial Family Council by saying to them: ... it has come to my knowledge that during the last months there have been heard in some assemblies of the zemstvos the voices of those who have indulged in

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4056-428: The prowess of Japanese soldiers in the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–95) and reports on the capabilities of the Imperial Japanese Navy , as well as negative reports on the lack of readiness of Russian forces. Before the Japanese attack on Port Arthur, Nicholas held firm to the belief that there would be no war. Despite the onset of the war and the many defeats Russia suffered, Nicholas still believed in, and expected,

4134-429: The right side of his forehead, but his wound was not life-threatening. The incident cut his trip short. Returning overland to St. Petersburg, he was present at the ceremonies in Vladivostok commemorating the beginning of work on the Trans-Siberian Railway . In 1893, Nicholas traveled to London on behalf of his parents to be present at the wedding of his cousin the Duke of York to Princess Mary of Teck . Queen Victoria

4212-423: The same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Senate Square . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Senate_Square&oldid=1238438045 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description

4290-458: The seat of the Senate of Finland until it was replaced by the Council of State in 1918, and now houses the offices of the Prime Minister of Finland and the cabinet . The main University building, on the opposite side of Senate Square, was constructed in 1832. Helsinki Cathedral , on the northern edge of Senate Square, was Engel's lengthiest architectural project. He worked on it from 1818 until his death in 1840. The Cathedral — then called

4368-712: The second but eldest surviving son of Emperor Alexander II and Empress Maria Alexandrovna (née Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine). Maria Feodorovna was the daughter of King Christian IX and Queen Louise of Denmark . Nicholas was christened in the Chapel of the Resurrection of the Catherine Palace at Tsarskoye Selo on 1 June [ O.S. 20 May] 1868 by the confessor of the imperial family, protopresbyter Vasily Borisovich Bazhanov. His godparents were Emperor Alexander II (his paternal grandfather), Queen Louise of Denmark (his maternal grandmother), Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark (his maternal uncle), and Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna (his great-great-aunt). The boy received

4446-474: The series of financial reforms, initiated fifteen years earlier. By 1902 the Trans-Siberian Railway was nearing completion; this helped the Russians trade in the Far East but the railway still required huge amounts of work. Nicholas always believed God chose him to be the tsar and therefore the decisions of the tsar reflected the will of God and could not be disputed. He was convinced that the simple people of Russia understood this and loved him, as demonstrated by

4524-418: The statue. Later, it was suggested to replace it with the equestrian statue of Mannerheim currently located on Mannerheimintie in front of the Kiasma museum . Nothing came of either of these suggestions, and today the statue is one of the major tourist landmarks of the city and a reminder of the role of Alexander II in establishing Finnish statehood for the first time in history. Today, Senate Square

4602-463: The traditional Romanov name Nicholas and was named in memory of his father's older brother and mother's first fiancé , Tsesarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich of Russia , who had died young in 1865. Informally, he was known as "Nicky" throughout his life. Nicholas was of primarily German and Danish descent and was related to several monarchs in Europe. His mother's siblings included Kings Frederick VIII of Denmark and George I of Greece , as well as

4680-442: The tsar. As they walked, they sang hymns and God Save The Tsar . At 2   pm all of the converging processions were scheduled to arrive at the Winter Palace. There was no single confrontation with the troops. Throughout the city, at bridges on strategic boulevards, the marchers found their way blocked by lines of infantry, backed by Cossacks and Hussars; and the soldiers opened fire on the crowd. The official number of victims

4758-408: Was 92 dead and several hundred wounded. Gapon vanished and the other leaders of the march were seized. Expelled from the capital, they circulated through the empire, increasing the casualties. As bullets riddled their icons, their banners and their portraits of Nicholas, the people shrieked, "The Tsar will not help us!" Outside Russia, the future British Labour Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald attacked

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4836-440: Was also very close to his mother, as revealed in their published letters to each other. In his childhood, Nicholas, his parents and siblings made annual visits to the Danish royal palaces of Fredensborg and Bernstorff to visit his grandparents, the king and queen. The visits also served as family reunions, as his mother's siblings would also come from the United Kingdom , Germany and Greece with their respective families. It

4914-413: Was born on 18 May [ O.S. 6 May] 1868, in the Alexander Palace in Tsarskoye Selo south of Saint Petersburg , during the reign of his paternal grandfather, Emperor Alexander II . He was the eldest child of then- Tsesarevich Alexander Alexandrovich and his wife, Tsesarevna Maria Feodorovna (née Princess Dagmar of Denmark). Alexander Alexandrovich was heir apparent to the Russian throne as

4992-440: Was composed by Harri Viitanen, composer and organist of Helsinki Cathedral, and Jyrki Alakuijala , Doctor of Technology. The optimal listening position is at the proximity of the square's central monument, the bronze statue of Alexander II. Several buildings near Senate Square are managed by the government real estate provider, Senate Properties . At the northwest corner there are four short pillars erected each winter to protect

5070-427: Was convened with the view of terminating the arms race , and setting up machinery for the peaceful settlement of international disputes. The results of the conference were less than expected due to the mutual distrust existing between great powers. Nevertheless, the Hague conventions were among the first formal statements of the laws of war. Nicholas II became the hero of the dedicated disciples of peace. In 1901 he and

5148-440: Was expected that it would be many years before Nicholas succeeded to the throne. Sergei Witte , Russia's finance minister, saw things differently and suggested to the Tsar that Nicholas be appointed to the Siberian Railway Committee. Alexander argued that Nicholas was not mature enough to take on serious responsibilities, having once stated "Nikki is a good boy, but he has a poet's soul...God help him!" Witte stated that if Nicholas

5226-468: Was initially reluctant to convert to Russian Orthodoxy to marry Nicholas, but later relented. In 1890 Nicholas, his younger brother George, and their cousin Prince George of Greece , set out on a world tour , although Grand Duke George fell ill and was sent home partway through the trip. Nicholas visited Egypt , India , Singapore, and Siam (Thailand), receiving honors as a distinguished guest in each country. During his trip through Japan , Nicholas had

5304-405: Was not acknowledged until 1989. After the fall of the Soviet Union , the remains of the imperial family were exhumed, identified by DNA analysis, and re-interred with an elaborate state and church ceremony in St. Petersburg on 17 July 1998, exactly 80 years after their deaths. They were canonised in 2000 by the Russian Orthodox Church as passion bearers . In the years following his death, Nicholas

5382-578: Was not introduced to state affairs, he would never be ready to understand them. Alexander's assumptions that he would live a long life and had years to prepare Nicholas for becoming Tsar proved wrong, as by 1894, Alexander's health was failing. In April 1894, Nicholas joined his uncle Sergei and aunt Elizabeth on a journey to Coburg , Germany, for the wedding of Elizabeth's and Alix's brother, Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse , to their mutual first cousin Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha . Other guests included Queen Victoria, Kaiser Wilhelm II,

5460-413: Was planned for that night. The Tsar wanted to stay in his chambers and pray for the lives lost, but his uncles believed that his absence at the ball would strain relations with France, particularly the 1894 Franco-Russian Alliance . Thus Nicholas attended the party; as a result the mourning populace saw Nicholas as frivolous and uncaring. During the autumn after the coronation, Nicholas and Alexandra made

5538-421: Was reviled by Soviet historians and state propaganda as a "callous tyrant" who "persecuted his own people while sending countless soldiers to their deaths in pointless conflicts". Despite being viewed more positively in recent years, the majority view among historians is that Nicholas was a well-intentioned yet poor ruler who proved incapable of handling the challenges facing his nation. Grand Duke Nicholas

5616-433: Was seemingly impressed by the machinery of constitutional monarchy , Nicholas turned his back on any notion of giving away any power to elected representatives in Russia. Shortly after he came to the throne , a deputation of peasants and workers from various towns' local assemblies ( zemstvos ) came to the Winter Palace proposing court reforms, such as the adoption of a constitutional monarchy, and reform that would improve

5694-406: Was spoiled by his uncle. On 1 March 1881, following the assassination of his grandfather, Tsar Alexander II, Nicholas became heir apparent or tsarevich upon his father's accession as Alexander III. Nicholas and his other family members bore witness to Alexander II's death, having been present at the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg, where he was brought after the attack. For security reasons,

5772-483: Was struck by the physical resemblance between the two cousins, and their appearances confused some at the wedding. During this time, Nicholas had an affair with St. Petersburg ballerina Mathilde Kschessinska . Though Nicholas was heir-apparent to the throne, his father failed to prepare him for his future role as Tsar. He attended meetings of the State Council ; however, as his father was only in his forties, it

5850-573: Was the birthday of the Dowager Empress Marie Feodorovna, and court mourning could be slightly relaxed. Alexandra wore the traditional dress of Romanov brides, and Nicholas a hussar 's uniform. Nicholas and Alexandra, each holding a lit candle, faced the palace priest and were married a few minutes before one in the afternoon. Despite a visit to the United Kingdom in 1893, where he observed the House of Commons in debate and

5928-671: Was the first cousin once-removed of Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich . To distinguish between them, the Grand Duke was often known within the imperial family as "Nikolasha" and "Nicholas the Tall", while the Tsar was "Nicholas the Short". Grand Duke Nicholas was to have five younger siblings: Alexander (1869–1870), George (1871–1899), Xenia (1875–1960), Michael (1878–1918) and Olga (1882–1960). Nicholas often referred to his father nostalgically in letters after Alexander's death in 1894. He

6006-500: Was the last reigning Emperor of Russia , King of Congress Poland , and Grand Duke of Finland from 1 November 1894 until his abdication on 15 March 1917. He married Alix of Hesse (becoming known as Alexandra Feodorovna) in 1894 and had children Olga (1895), Tatiana (1897), Maria (1899), Anastasia (1901) - collectively known as the OTMA sisters - and the tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich . During his reign, Nicholas gave support to

6084-410: Was there in 1883, that he had a flirtation with one of his British first cousins, Princess Victoria . In 1873, Nicholas also accompanied his parents and younger brother, two-year-old George, on a two-month, semi-official visit to the United Kingdom. In London, Nicholas and his family stayed at Marlborough House , as guests of his "Uncle Bertie" and "Aunt Alix", the Prince and Princess of Wales, where he

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