Alexander III.

Alexander III., son of Alexander II., was born 10th March 1845, and married the daughter of the king of Denmark in 1866. After his father's death, through fear of assassination he shut himself up in his palace at Gatschina. His coronation was postponed till 1883, and was celebrated with extraordinary magnificence, and with national festivities lasting several days. Through the fall of Merv, the subjugation of the Turkomans in Central Asia was completed. In 1885 hostilities with Britain, with regard to the defining of the frontier between the Russian territories and Afghanistan (q.v.), for a time seemed imminent. As regards European affairs, he broke away from the triple alliance between, Russia, Germany, and Austria, and looked rather to France. He was aggrieved by the new Bulgarian spirit. His home policy was reactionary, though strong efforts were made to prevent malversation by officials, and stern economies were practised. The liberties of the Baltic provinces and of Finland were curtailed, the Jews were oppressed, and old Russian orthodoxy was favoured. Several Nihilist attempts were made on his life, and he kept himself practically a prisoner in his palace. He died at Livadia, 1st November 1894. See RUSSIA, BULGARIA, and a Life by Lowe (1894).