Nicholas II Biography

Birth of Nicholas II

Marries Alexandria of Hesse, granddaughter of Queen Victoria

Succeeds as Tsar of Russia, Eldest son of Alexander III

The Russians capture Port Arthur from the Chinese

Russia takes a lease on Port Athur from China

The First Hague Peace Conference opened in The Netherlands as 26 nations meet on World Goodwill Day, the destruction or seizure of enemy property with no military value is banned at the convention

The First Hague Peace Conference opened in The Netherlands as 26 nations meet on World Goodwill Day, the destruction or seizure of enemy property with no military value is banned at the convention

Russia captures Manchuria during the Boxer Rebellion but returns it afterwards

An earthquake kills 2000

A student rebellion takes place at Moscow University

A student rebellion takes place at Moscow University

A Tsarist decree confiscates all the property of the Armenian Church in the Caucasus

Agrees to the Russian annexation of Manchuria

Russia & Austria jointly demand Turkey make reforms in the Balkans

Dismisses Witte as Minister of Finance

Japan decides to go to war with Russia

110,000 workers go on strike

Japan attacks Port Arthur beginning the Russoese War

The Russians are forced to rerteat to Mukden

The Russian Baltic Fleet leaves Libau to turn the war

Orders the Baltic Fleet of 45 ships 18,000 miles to fight Japan

The Japanese capture Port Arthur

The Japanese capture Port Arthur

The Zemstvo are given a broader national & local role. Changes agreed by the Tsar become law, still no representitive form of Government

Port Arthur surrenders to the Japanese

1st State Duma, elected by universal male suffrage, meets for 73 days

180 Deputies protest about the dissolution of the 1st Duma by Nicholas II

180 Deputies protest about the dissolution of the 1st Duma by Nicholas II

Nicholas II responds to pressure from conservatives & dismisses Witte

The first Russian constitution, known as the Fundamental Laws was enacted on the eve of the opening of the first State Duma

The Fundemental Laws declare the autocracy of the Russian Emperor, including Emperors supremacy over the Law, the Church, and Duma. The first Russian constitution, known as the Fundamental Laws was enacted on the eve of the opening of the first State Duma

The franchise is restricted & the 3rd Duma meets for its full 5 year term, 1907-12

The franchise is restricted & the 3rd Duma meets for its full 5 year term, 1907-12

The 2nd Duma meets in 1907 for 102 days

The 2nd Duma is closed by the Tsat & a new electoral law is passed

The 3rd Duma is opened by the Tsar & remains open until 1912

Shot at the opera in Kiev in front of Tsar Nicholas II

The Duma opposes the Tsars war policy & becomes critical of the Royal regime

After the fall of the Manchu dynasty, Mongol princes, supported by tsarist Russia, declare the independence of Mongolia from China

After the fall of the Manchu dynasty, Mongol princes, supported by tsarist Russia, declare the independence of Mongolia from China

Austria denounces Serbian gains in the Balkans; Russia and France backed Serbia while Italy and Germany back Austria

Austria denounces Serbian gains in the Balkans; Russia and France backed Serbia while Italy and Germany back Austria

The 4th & last Duma opens, 1912-1917

The The Faberge Imperial rock crystal egg with rose cut diamonds set in platinum is created for the Tsar, an American in 1994 pays $5.5 mil for the egg, only 56 eggs are commissioned by the Tsars and Tsarinas

Dismisses the Prime Minister for liberal tendencies & removes Duma immunities

Appoints Goremykin Prime Minister of the Duma to stamp out the revolutionary movement

Dismisses the Prime Minister for liberal tendencies & removes Duma immunities

Appoints Goremykin Prime Minister of the Duma to stamp out the revolutionary movement

15-28 July, orders partial Russian mobilization

17-30 July, orders full Russian mobilization

Russian loses are 92,000 captured & 30,000 killed. Russian defeat which precipitates the revolution. Pressurised by France to attack in the east to help the French & British in the west

Germany declares war on Russia

"long-proved fiendship must succeed with Gods help in avoiding bloodshed"

"long-proved fiendship must succeed with Gods help in avoiding bloodshed"

Russia & Austria are at War

Pressurised by France to attack in the east to help the French & British in the west

The Russians capture Lemberg, Lwow, capital of Austrian Galicia

The last Russian troops are forced out of East Prussia

The last Russian troops are forced out of East Prussia

Russia declares war on Turkey

Appointed Commander of the Eastern Front to hold the Caucasus against the Turks

Appointed Commander of the Eastern Front to hold the Caucasus against the Turks

Appointed Commander of the Eastern Front to hold the Caucasus against the Turks

Appointed Commander of the Eastern Front to hold the Caucasus against the Turks

Russia begins to withdraw from Poland

The Duma is reconvened for 6 weeks

Russian troops evacuate Warsaw

The Great Retreat is ordered - Russian forces pull back out of Poland (currently part of Russia), taking machinery and equipment with them

The Great Retreat is ordered - Russian forces pull back out of Poland (currently part of Russia), taking machinery and equipment with them

The Government authorizes the creation Municipal Council organisations. The Government authorizes the creation a national Zemstvo

The Government authorizes the creation Municipal Council organisations

The Government authorizes the creation a national Zemstva

The Government authorizes the creation on national Zemstvo. The Government authorizes the creation a national Zemstvo

Most Minister's request that the Duma be allowed to form a cabinet

Most Minister's request that the Duma be allowed to form a cabinet

Appointed Commander of the Russian armed forces

Dismissed & replaced by Nicholas II

The Duma is prorogued

Appointed Commander of the Russian armed forces

Russia and Italy declare war on Bulgaria

The Councillor of State Mikhail Rodzianko meets with Tsar Nicholas II in Tsarskoye Selo, and warns him of massive upheavel throughout the country, Rodzianko insists that tumultuous events can be avoided by stregthening the Duma

The Bolshevik Petrograd Committee calls on workers to overthrow the Tsar

The strike called by the Bolsheviks continues, while a Menshevik called strike begins to show support for the Duma at Taurida Palace (as opposed to the Tsar), which opens a new session

The Bolshevik Petrograd Committee calls on workers to overthrow the Tsar

The strike called by the Bolsheviks continues, while a Menshevik called strike begins to show support for the Duma at Taurida Palace (as opposed to the Tsar), which opens a new session

The strike called by the Bolsheviks continues, while a Menshevik called strike begins to show support for the Duma at Taurida Palace (as opposed to the Tsar), which opens a new session

The Bolshevik Petrograd Committee calls on workers to overthrow the Tsar

The strike called by the Bolsheviks continues, while a Menshevik called strike begins to show support for the Duma at Taurida Palace (as opposed to the Tsar), which opens a new session

Leaves Moscow for Mogliev, the security of Moscow is entrusted to Beliaev

Departs for Mogliev

The Tsar leaves for the General Headquarters in Mogilev

Duma & Soviet representitives reach agreement on the basis of an 8 point program

128,000 workers take to the streets demanding an end to the World War and an increase in food

International Womens Day demonstrations

The February Revolution is ignited by International Womens Day, women textile workers and soldier's wives

128,000 workers take to the streets demanding an end to the World War and an increase in food

The February Revolution is ignited by International Womens Day, women textile workers and soldier's wives

The strike doubles in size to around 200,000 workers, nearly half of all industrial workers in Petrograd are on strike, the new demands of the strike shift heavily towards overthrowing the autocracy and an end to the war

The strikers demand the overthrow of the autocracy and an end to the war

Between 200,000 & 300,000 workers fill the streets

The strike doubles in size to around 200,000 workers, nearly half of all industrial workers in Petrograd

The strike doubles in size to around 200,000 workers, nearly half of all industrial workers in Petrograd are on strike

The strikers demand the overthrow of the autocracy and an end to the war

Orders the suppression of demonstrations by the use of force. Nicholas orders that the demonstrations be suppressed by force

Armed clashes with the police occur, with many killed and wounded, Empress Alexandra writes to Nicholas II, "This is a hooligan campaign, with boys and girls running about shouting that they have no bread..all this will surely pass"

General Khabalov's soldiers, acting under the Tsar's orders, open fire on striking workers, 169 workers are killed & over 1,000 injured

The police launch wide scale arrests of over 100 leaders of revolutionary organisations, including the Bolsheviks

The Volynskii Regiment fires on the crowd killing 40. The Pavlovski Regiment mutinies in protest when the crowd in Petrograd is fired upon. The Pavlovski regiment disobeys orders to fire on civilians. Petrograd is occupied by military units in combat gear, a curfew is declared

The bridges of the River Neva are raised

The Volynskii Guard Regiment open fire & kill 40, order is restored

General Khabalov's soldiers, acting under the Tsar's orders, open fire on striking workers, 169 workers are killed & over 1,000 injured

The police launch wide scale arrests of over 100 leaders of revolutionary organisations, including the Bolsheviks

The Pavlovski Regiment mutinies in protest when the crowd in Petrograd is fired upon

General Khabalov's soldiers, acting under the Tsar's orders, open fire on striking workers, 169 workers are killed & over 1,000 injured

The police launch wide scale arrests of over 100 leaders of revolutionary organisations, including the Bolsheviks

The Pavlovski Regiment votes to disobey orders to fire on civilians. Nicholas II orders General Ivanov to suppress the disorder. Most of Petrograd is in the hands of a mutinous garrison. Most of Petrgrad is in the hands of mutinous regiments. Government buildings are burnt, General Ivanov is ordered to quell the disorders

Rodzianko asks the Duma to convene to resolve on a course of action, the group creates a Provisional Committee, which urgently asks the Tsar to save himself by sharing power with a Prime Minister, the Tsar refuses

Rodzianko asks the Duma to convene to resolve on a course of action, the group creates a Provisional Committee, which urgently asks the Tsar to save himself by sharing power with a Prime Minister, the Tsar refuses

The Pavlovski Regiment disobey orders to fire on civilians. Demonstrations turn into soldier mutiny. By night Petrograd is in the hands of peasant soldiers

Disturbances spread to Moscow

Departs for Tsarskoye Selo

The revolutionary masses seize the city of Moscow, the Tsars Minister's are arrested, the Provisional Committee assumes control of the Army, while the Kronstadt sailors mutiny against their officers

The revolutionary masses seize the city of Moscow, the Tsars Minister's are arrested, the Provisional Committee assumes control of the Army, while the Kronstadt sailors mutiny against their officers

March-August, under arrest at Tsarskoye Selo

Britain withdraws offer to provide asylum for the Imperial family

General Ivanov is ordered to abort his mission to suppress the rebellion in Petrograd

Nicholas II orders General Alekseev to form a Duma ministry

The Imperial train is diverted to Pskov

The first Joint Plenum of the Soviet of Workers and Soldiers Deputies issues Soviet Order No. 1: all soldiers units will elect Soldiers Committee's & the decree stipulates that soldiers will now accept orders from the Soldiers Soviet

Nicholas II orders General Alekseev to form a Duma ministry

General Ivanov is ordered to abort his mission to suppress the rebellion in Petrograd

Nicholas II signs his abdication, ending his reign as the monarchy collapses during the February Revolution.

Nicholas abdication manifesto is made public

Issues his abdication manifesto

Nicholas abdication manifesto is made public

Bids farewell to his army officers & departs for Tsarskoye Selo under arrest

Bids farewell to his Army Officers & heads for Tsarskoye Selo

Nicholas II and his family are placed under guard at the Alexander Palace after the abdication.

Forced to abdicate at his Russian front HQ at Pskov

Arrested at Tiflis on a plotting charge

Taken with his family to Tobolsk

Under arrest at Tobolsk in Siberia from August for 8 months

Nicholas II and his family are transferred from Tsarskoye Selo to Tobolsk for confinement away from Petrograd.

Under arrest at Ekaterinburg, now Sverdlosk, in the Urals

Nicholas II and Alexandra arrive in Ekaterinburg and are confined in the Ipatiev House under tighter Bolshevik control.

Shot after the possibility of rescue by white Counter-revolutionaries. It is reported that his wife, 3 daughters & son are also shot

Shot after the possibility of rescue by white Counter-revolutionaries. It is reported that his wife, 3 daughters & son are also shot

Nicholas, his family & servants are shot in Ekaterinburg

Nicholas, his family & servants are shot in Ekaterinburg

Nicholas II is executed with his family and attendants by Bolshevik guards in the Ipatiev House.

Russia buries Tsar Nicholas II and family, 80 years after they died