13 March 1881 : Tsar Alexander II assassinated
On this day in 1881, Tsar Alexander II, the ruler of Russia since 1855, is killed in the streets of St. Petersburg by a bomb thrown by a member of the revolutionary People's Will group . . .
moreOn this day in 1881, Tsar Alexander II, the ruler of Russia since 1855, is killed in the streets of St. Petersburg by a bomb thrown by a member of the revolutionary People's Will group.
The People's Will, organised in 1879, employed terrorism and assassination in their attempt to overthrow Russia's Tsarist autocracy. They murdered officials and made several attempts on the Tsar's life before finally assassinating him on 13 March, 1881. As Tsar, Alexander did much to liberalize and modernize Russia, including the abolishment of serfdom in 1861.
However, when his authority was challenged he turned repressive, and he vehemently opposed movements for political reform. Ironically, on the very day he was killed, he signed a proclamation - the so-called Loris-Melikov constitution - that would have created two legislative commissions made up of indirectly elected representatives. He was succeeded by his 36 year old son, Alexander III, who rejected the Loris-Melikov constitution. Alexander II's assassins were arrested and hanged, and the People's Will was thoroughly suppressed.
On this day in 1881, Tsar Alexander II, the ruler of Russia since 1855, is killed in the streets of St. Petersburg by a bomb thrown by a member of the revolutionary People's Will group . . .
moreOn this day in 1881, Tsar Alexander II, the ruler of Russia since 1855, is killed in the streets of St. Petersburg by a bomb thrown by a member of the revolutionary People's Will group.
The People's Will, organised in 1879, employed terrorism and assassination in their attempt to overthrow Russia's Tsarist autocracy. They murdered officials and made several attempts on the Tsar's life before finally assassinating him on 13 March, 1881. As Tsar, Alexander did much to liberalize and modernize Russia, including the abolishment of serfdom in 1861.
However, when his authority was challenged he turned repressive, and he vehemently opposed movements for political reform. Ironically, on the very day he was killed, he signed a proclamation - the so-called Loris-Melikov constitution - that would have created two legislative commissions made up of indirectly elected representatives. He was succeeded by his 36 year old son, Alexander III, who rejected the Loris-Melikov constitution. Alexander II's assassins were arrested and hanged, and the People's Will was thoroughly suppressed.