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Nicholas II 1868-1918
Emperor of Russia

The eldest son of Alexander III, he succeeded his father in 1894. He married a princess of Hesse (Alexandra Fyodorovna), who dominated him. Diffident and easily swayed by irresponsible favourites, he distrusted his ministers and lacked the strength of will to fulfil his self-appointed autocratic role. His reign was marked by alliance with France, entente with Great Britain, a disastrous war with Japan (1904-05), and the establishment (1906) of the Duma (parliament). He took command of the Russian armies against the Central Powers (1915). Forced to abdicate (1917) at the revolution, he was shot with his entire family at Yekaterinburg by the Red Guards in 1918.

Bibliography: Robert K Massie, Nicholas and Alexandra (1967)