Rule of Samarkand
Russian administration extends control over Samarkand after its capture during the Central Asian campaigns.
Role range: 1855-1881
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Alexander II Biography and Timeline — Page 3
Follow Alexander II through 126 dated historical records for Russia.
Alexander II, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
126Distinct records
3 of 4Page
1868–1880Years on this page
1868
1870
Gorchakov Circular
Backs the declaration that Russia will no longer observe the Black Sea restrictions imposed after the Crimean War.
Role range: 1855-1881
Municipal Reform
Introduces elected municipal institutions in towns and cities as part of the Great Reforms.
Role range: 1855-1881
1871
Treaty of Paris
The postwar settlement restricting Russian naval power in the Black Sea is overturned in 1871.
Role range: 1853-1856 – 1855-1881
Treaty of Paris
Russia regains the right to maintain naval forces and arsenals in the Black Sea.
Role range: 1853-1856 – 1855-1881
Treaty of Paris
Russia repudiates the Black Sea restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Paris, and the change is accepted internationally in 1871.
Role range: 1853-1856 – 1855-1881
1872
Meeting of Three Emperors
Meets the emperors of Germany and Austria, helping prepare the diplomatic cooperation later called the Three Emperors' League.
Role range: 1855-1881
1873
Rule of Khiva
Russia establishes a protectorate over the Khanate of Khiva after a military campaign.
Role range: 1855-1881
Alliance Russia, Germany and Austria
Joins the diplomatic understanding between the emperors of Russia, Germany, and Austria.
Role range: 1855-1881
Participates in the Three Emperors' diplomatic understanding with Germany and Austria
Participates in the Three Emperors' diplomatic understanding with Germany and Austria.
Role range: 1855-1881
Rule of Afghanistan
Russian diplomacy accepts Afghanistan as lying outside its direct sphere while consolidating influence over Bukhara and territories north of the Amu Darya.
Role range: 1855-1881
Russian and British diplomacy clarifies spheres of influence around Afghanistan and
Russian and British diplomacy clarifies spheres of influence around Afghanistan and Central Asia.
Role range: 1855-1881
1874
Military Service Reform
Reduces active military service and links shorter service terms to educational attainment.
Role range: 1855-1881
Universal Military Service
Approves universal military service, replacing the older class-based system of long-term recruitment.
Role range: 1855-1881
Marriage of Maria Alexandrovna
His daughter Maria Alexandrovna marries Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh.
Role range: 1855-1881
1875
Balkan Crisis Diplomacy
Supports diplomatic efforts to address unrest in the Ottoman Balkans while initially avoiding immediate war.
Role range: 1855-1881
Cession of Kurile Islands
Under the Treaty of Saint Petersburg, Russia cedes the Kurile Islands to Japan in exchange for undisputed possession of Sakhalin.
Role range: 1855-1881
Rule of Sakhalin
Under the Treaty of Saint Petersburg, Japan recognises undisputed Russian sovereignty over Sakhalin.
Role range: 1855-1881
Treaty of Saint Petersburg
The Treaty of Saint Petersburg gives Russia undisputed possession of Sakhalin while Japan receives the Kurile Islands.
Role range: 1855-1881
1876
Annexation of Kokand
Approves the annexation of the Khanate of Kokand into the Russian Empire.
Role range: 1855-1881
Constantinople Conference
Russia participates in international negotiations seeking reforms for Christian populations in the Ottoman Balkans.
Role range: 1855-1881
Ems Ukaz
Approves restrictions on publishing and public performance in the Ukrainian language.
Role range: 1855-1881
1877
Capture of Kars
Russian forces capture Kars during the Russo-Turkish War.
Role range: 1855-1881
Capture of Plevna
Russian forces capture Plevna after a prolonged siege during the Russo-Turkish War.
Role range: 1855-1881
Declaration of War
Russia declares war on the Ottoman Empire during the Balkan crisis.
Role range: 1855-1881
Siege of Constantinople
Britain warns Russia against occupying Constantinople as Russian armies advance toward the Ottoman capital.
Role range: 1855-1881
1878
Treaty of San Stefano
The Treaty of San Stefano ends the war and creates a large autonomous Bulgaria while recognising the independence of Serbia, Montenegro, and Romania.
Role range: 1855-1881
Batum Free Port Declaration
Accepts a treaty declaration that Batum is intended to become an essentially commercial free port.
Role range: 1877-1878 – 1855-1881
Bessarabia Settlement
Receives southern Bessarabia from Romania under the territorial provisions of the Treaty of Berlin.
Role range: 1877-1878 – 1855-1881
Bulgarian Revision
Accepts the reduction of the large Bulgaria established at San Stefano in return for international recognition of other Russian gains.
Role range: 1877-1878 – 1855-1881
Caucasus Gains
Retains Kars, Ardahan and Batum as major Russian gains from the war with the Ottoman Empire.
Role range: 1877-1878 – 1855-1881
Return of Bayazid
Accepts restoration of Bayazid and the Alashkerd valley to the Ottoman Empire.
Role range: 1877-1878 – 1855-1881
Acquisition of Batum and Ardahan
Russia retains Batum and Ardahan as territorial gains confirmed by the Congress of Berlin.
Role range: 1877-1878 – 1855-1881
Congress of Berlin
Accepts a revised Balkan settlement after the European powers reduce many Russian gains from San Stefano.
Role range: 1877-1878 – 1855-1881
Return of Southern Bessarabia
Russia recovers southern Bessarabia under the settlement reached at the Congress of Berlin.
Role range: 1877-1878 – 1855-1881
Capture of Adrianople
Russian forces occupy Adrianople as the Ottoman army retreats toward Constantinople.
Role range: 1855-1881
1879
Emergency Governors-General
Creates emergency governor-generalships with extensive powers to combat revolutionary violence.
Role range: 1855-1881
Imperial Train Bombing Attempt
People's Will attempts to destroy the imperial train with explosives, but the attack fails.
Role range: 1855-1881
Soloviev Assassination Attempt
Survives an assassination attempt when Alexander Soloviev fires repeatedly at him near the Winter Palace.
Role range: 1855-1881
1880
Abolition of Third Section
Abolishes the Third Section and transfers political policing functions to the Ministry of the Interior.
Role range: 1855-1881
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.