Skip to content
VitrineVitrine
Sign in

Alexander III of Russia

Anichkov Palace, 10 Mar 1845 – Livadia Palace, 1 Nov 1894

16 facts3 sources

Animated by AI

About Alexander III

Alexander III of Russia: Conservative Emperor and Head of the Romanov House

AI-assisted · edited

The collection records Alexander III’s probable birth in 1845 at Anichkov Palace and his probable death in 1894 at Livadia Palace. He was the son of Alexander II of Russia and Maria Alexandrovna, and his union was with Maria Feodorovna, also identified as Dagmar of Denmark. 12345

Alexander III held the title Emperor of all the Russias from 1881 to 1894. The collection also identifies him as King of Poland and Grand Duke of Finland, while his coronation took place in 1883. He was additionally recorded as head of the House of Romanov. 678910

The collection characterizes Alexander III’s domestic government as strongly reactionary. It reports that he reversed some of the liberal reforms introduced by his father, Alexander II, describing this policy as a program of “counter-reforms.” 11

Drafted with AI and edited against the collection. Open a citation to see the record, its sources and how certain it is.

Facts and their sources

  • Born10 Mar 1845, Anichkov Palacenot verified1 source
  • MarriedMaria Feodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark)not verified1 source
  • TitleGrand Duke of Finlandor Emperor of all the Russias, 1881–1894 · King of Poland · member of the State Council of the Russian Empire · Head of the House of Romanovnot verified1 source
  • TitleKing of Polandor Emperor of all the Russias, 1881–1894 · Grand Duke of Finland · member of the State Council of the Russian Empire · Head of the House of Romanovnot verified1 source
  • Titlemember of the State Council of the Russian Empireor Emperor of all the Russias, 1881–1894 · Grand Duke of Finland · King of Poland · Head of the House of Romanovnot verified1 source
  • TitleHead of the House of Romanovor Emperor of all the Russias, 1881–1894 · Grand Duke of Finland · King of Poland · member of the State Council of the Russian Empirenot verified1 source
  • TitleEmperor of all the Russias, 1881–1894or Grand Duke of Finland · King of Poland · member of the State Council of the Russian Empire · Head of the House of Romanovnot verified1 source
  • EventTenth Russo-Turkish Waror coronation, 1883not verified1 source
  • EventCoronation, 1883or Tenth Russo-Turkish Warnot verified1 source
  • Died1 Nov 1894, Livadia Palacenot verified1 source
  • MotherMaria Alexandrovna of Russia (Marie of Hesse)not verified1 source
  • FatherAlexander II of Russianot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 10 Mar 1845

    Born in Anichkov Palace

  2. 1868–1882

    6 children are born

  3. 1881–1894

    Emperor of all the Russias

  4. 1883

    Coronation

  5. 1 Nov 1894

    Dies in Livadia Palace, aged 49

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 6

During his lifetime

He lived through 6 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Anichkov Palace.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1840s · Alexander III is born in Anichkov Palace

In the news1848

Cholera and Crop Failures in 1848

In 1848, a major cholera epidemic, coupled with a bad harvest and dry weather that caused widespread town fires, severely disrupted the lives of the agrarian population.

Getting around

Travel times to Siberia varied wildly

In 1827, traveling by road from Moscow to Irkutsk took 23 days, which was considered extremely fast for that time. In mud-prone seasons, however, the same journey could take up to nine months.

In Europe1845–1852

The Great Famine in Ireland

Potato blight ruined harvests: a million Irish people died and a million more emigrated, many to America.

Daily life

Low rates of peasant literacy and education

Literacy among serfs was extremely low, with estimates not exceeding 1%. Education was largely confined to home training by local sextons or clerks, often limited to reading, writing, and basic arithmetic.

What people wore

Everyday men's clothing and footwear

Ordinary men typically wore a skewed-collar shirt (kosovorotka) belted over trousers, with bast shoes (lapti) being standard everyday footwear.

Music

Village musicians and popular instruments

During festival gatherings, village musicians played instruments including the balalaika, violin, horn, and the dudka, a flute-like pipe used primarily by men.

At the table

Staple Foods of Ordinary Russian Families

Ordinary families primarily ate rye bread and various porridges, with cabbage soup known as shchi being a staple dish served year-round. Meat was a rare luxury for the poor, typically reserved for major holidays like Christmas and Easter, while fish and vegetables were more accessible.