Alexander III

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  • Alexander III
    • Introduction
      • Second Son
        • Brother Nicholas died in 1865
      • Pursued an Army career until he was 20
      • Supported the Nationalist oposition
      • His domestic policies were particularly harsh
      • His concern to preserve autocracy led him to encourage a state-led, forced industrialisation programme that strengthened capitalism.
      • Disapproved of his fathers policies
        • Motivated by differences on the issue of reform + his fathers marriage to Princess Catherine Dolgorouky
    • Personality
      • Valentina Grigorievna Chernukha:
        • "He was a limited, unfit ruler whose personality dominated the statesman in him..."
          • "...And whose policies were doomed from the start, and pushed Russia further along the path to revolution."
      • Family called him the "Little Bulldog"
      • His Aunt, Grand Duchess Helen - the crown should be passed to his younger brother Vladimir
      • Not very intelligent
      • Slow to learn
      • Inadequate knowledge of history, literature, economy or law.
      • Interested in all things military
        • Was a Colonel and "hetman" i.e. leader of all cossack troops
    • Training
      • At 20 his education was taken over by Konstantin Pobedonostsev
      • Disagreed with his fathers treatment of Russia's nationalities
        • Committed to a policy of Russification
      • Supported ministers in favour of a policy of harsh repressive measures
      • Supported nobles who opposed Milyutins plans to liberalise the army and his recruitment changes of 1874
      • Was in the "Party of Action" in the events leading to the Russo-Turkish War 1877-78
      • Stressed the positive features of Russias past which his father worked to end
        • Disagreed on his fathers judicial reforms
        • Made it clear he would reverse reforms once he became Tsar
      • He was a focal point for reactionaries
    • Attitude as Tsar
      • Fathers assassination confirmed his hostility to reform
      • Determined to re-enforce the authority of the Tsar
      • Rejected the idea of a Western style Parliament
        • Considered foreign to Russias tradition and history
          • Believed it was not wanted by the peasants
      • Believed he had a mystical bond with the Russian peasants
      • His reactionary views were supported by his chosen ministers
        • Konstantin Pobedonostsev
        • Count Dmitri Tolstoy
      • Strong supported of Russian nationalism and Pan-Slavism
      • Wanted to preserve autocracy and strengthen Russia as a great power

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