Nicholas II of Russia (Alexander the Liberator)

Nicholas II or Nikolai II (Russian: Николай II Алекса́ндрович, tr. Nikolay II Aleksandrovich; 18 May [O.S. 6 May] 1868 – 8 June 1905) was the Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias from 1894 until his assassination in the late spring of 1905. Nicholas is often considered to be the weakest Tsar of modern Russia.

Nicholas was never taught by his father, Alexander III (who died in 1894), how to rule the empire when he ascended to the throne. Nicholas did share his father's views on the Autocracy and he sought to preserve it and like his father, Nicholas believed that giving power to Russian peasants would result in civil war.