Vladimir II | |
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Photograph by Ivan Yeroniy, 1928 | |
Emperor of the Russians | |
Reign | 13 March 1920 - 27 February 1948 |
Coronation | 24 December 1921 |
Predecessor | Nicholas II |
Successor | Nicholas III |
Born | 12 October 1876 Tsarskoye Selo, Russia |
Died | 27 February 1948 (aged 71) Peterhof Palace, Saint Petersburg |
Burial | 11 August 1948 Peter and Paul Cathedral |
Spouse | Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (m. 1905–36; her death) |
Issue | Grand Duchess Maria Kirillovna Grand Duchess Kira Kirillovna Nicholas III |
Full name | |
Kirill Vladimirovich Romanov | |
House | House of Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov |
Father | Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia |
Mother | Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin |
Religion | Russian Orthodox |
Vladimir II (Russian: Владимир II; 12 October [ O.S. 30 September] 1876 - 27 February 1948) was Emperor of Russia from 1920 to his death in 1948. Previously known as Kirill Vladimirovich, Grand Duke of Russia, he was named Emperor after the White Movement successfully defeated the Russian SFSR in the Russian Civil War. In terms of politics, he was a devout liberal and significantly reformed Russia by implementing freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and establishing a secular government that stands to this day.
In terms of foreign policies, Vladimir secured an alliance with the Entente by allying with Italy in 1935 and due to this, Russia became of the main participators in World War II. After the war, Russia was a founding member of the World Defence Federation and had one of the highest post-war economies in the 20th century. At the time of his death in 1948, Russia had regained its status as one of the world's superpowers, had one of the highest-growing economies in the world, and was a heavily industrialised state. He was later canonised as a saint by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1957 for these achievements.