Alexander III of Russia was the Emperor of Russia, King of Poland, and Grand Duke of Finland from 1881 until his death in 1894. Born on March 10, 1845, in Saint Petersburg, he was the second son of Alexander II of Russia and Maria Alexandrovna (née Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine).
Alexander was not initially prepared for the throne, as his elder brother, Nicholas Alexandrovich, was the heir apparent. However, Nicholas's untimely death in 1865 from spinal meningitis shifted the succession to Alexander. He was educated at home, and his tutors included prominent figures like Konstantin Pobedonostsev, who profoundly influenced his conservative views.
Upon the assassination of his father Alexander II in 1881, Alexander III ascended to the throne. His reign was marked by:
Alexander III married Maria Fyodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark) in 1866. They had six children, including the future Nicholas II of Russia. Known for his immense physical strength, he was also a passionate supporter of Russian culture and Orthodox Christianity.
Alexander III died suddenly on October 20, 1894, at the Livadia Palace in Crimea, likely from complications related to nephritis (kidney disease). His son, Nicholas II, succeeded him.
Alexander III is remembered for his conservative policies and his role in stabilizing the Russian Empire after the assassination of his father. His rule set the stage for the autocratic governance that would lead to the Russian Revolution in 1917.