Nicholas II of Russia

Reign: 1894 – 1917
Life: 1868–1918

He was the last Russian monarch before the Russian Revolution and oversaw the Russian Empire's participation in World War I. In 1918, the Romanovs were murdered, putting an end to the Romanov dynasty. Nicholas faced mounting disapproval following Russia's defeat in the Russo-Japanese War as well as the turmoil of the 1905 Revolution. In March 1917, the February Revolution forced his abdication, ending the Romanov dynasty's 304-year rule.

During Nicholas II of Russia's reign, Wilhelmina of the Netherlands ruled Netherlands, Wilhelm II ruled Prussia, and Franz Joseph I of Austria ruled Austria.

Want to learn more? Further reading

The Romanovs: 1613–1918 by Simon Sebag Montefiore

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The World During Their Reign

The most notable rulers who held power elsewhere at the same time, from European courts to Ottoman, Mughal, and Chinese thrones.

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Go deeper on Nicholas II of Russia

Hand-picked histories and biographies for readers who want more than the timeline: the same era, told in full.

The Romanovs: 1613–1918

Simon Sebag Montefiore

The final chapters on Nicholas II, Alexandra, and the revolution that ended three centuries of rule.

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Nicholas II: Emperor of All the Russias
Dominic Lieven
Lieven's measured biography by a leading historian of imperial Russia.
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