Alternative History
Vladimir II
Vladimir II
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.