Nicholas II, Tsar of Russia - Nicholas II Alexandrovich Romanov

Here are some positives about the last Tsar:

The legacy that Alexander III, left his son Nicholas II (1894-1917) was a boiling cauldron with no pressure relief valves. Nicholas, who was probably more like his grandfather than father in character, tried to continue with his father’s policies but did not have the same will to enforce them. He was a softer man, more family-oriented and would have preferred implementing the social reforms of his grandfather and world peace to which he strongly subscribed, rather than engaging in the fast pace of industrial development and the developing foreign and domestic conflicts with a dubious successor to the throne – a haemophilic son.

Too often, the negatives of the last Tsar are highlighted and the positives are left out. Yet he was so strongly remembered and missed by much of the Russian Diaspora after the revolution. In 1988 in honour of the celebration of 1000 years of Christianity in Russia, Tsar Nicholas, together with his family and faithful servants (who were all brutally murdered by Lenin’s henchmen), were canonised for their martyrdom by the Russian Orthodox Church. In addition, President Yeltsin had the remains of the Romanov family exhumed, verified by DNA testing and brought to St. Petersburg for a requiem mass and Orthodox burial.

The last Tsar’s contributions to Russia and the world were impressive. To Russia he brought the intellect of P.I. Stolypin, the best Prime Minister (1906-11) it ever had (unfortunately assassinated) who recommended the re institution of the unfinished reforms of Alexander II and other initiatives. Nicholas further abolished all traces of Corporal punishment and continued with the mass development of national education at primary, secondary and tertiary levels evidenced by the blossoming of Russia’s art and sciences. At the same time, the country enjoyed a period of high economic growth that lasted up to 1914. Nevertheless Nicholas’s most lasting contribution to Russia (with the aid of another great minister – Witte) was and must be the linking of European and Asiatic Russia by means of the Trans Siberian Railroad – the largest in the world – which was constructed during his reign.

To the world Nicholas brought a number of world-first industrial reforms, such as shorter working hours and the banning of underage employment. At The Hague, he initiated two world Peace Conferences in 1899 and 1907 which were the precursers of the League of Nations/United Nations of today. Sadly for Russia and the world this gentle, humane and well-meaning man was overtaken by a series of events that culminated in the March Revolution of 1917 under the gigantic sham of World War I that was a disaster for Russia. Returning home as the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Forces, rather than going into exile he and his family were incarcerated and, despite not only his own abdication from the throne but also his son’s, the family were later put to death. (In abdicating the Tsar said: “There is nothing I would not do for Russia.”) Reproduced below is his last bequest/appeal to the Russian troops.

The Last Appeal To The Troops: This is my final appeal to you, my beloved Troops. As a consequence of my and my son’s abdication from the Russian Throne, authority is now transferred to the provisional government under the initiative of the Representative Assembly of the State Duma (Nicholas II abdicated the throne in favour of his brother Michael, who refused it the following day).

May the Lord God help you my valiant Army, to defend and save our homeland from the evil enemy. During the course of two and a half years, you have carried the heavy hourly burden of active battle service. Much blood has been spilt, much effort has been exerted and the hour draws near when Russia and its valiant allies will strive and achieve victory over our foe. This unprecedented war must be brought to a supreme victory.

Those who think of peace now, those who want it now – they will betray us and they are traitors to our homeland. (Tr. Note, peace comes at a price.) Every true warrior knows this. Perform your duty, defend our valiant homeland, and accept your new provisional government and obey your leaders.

Remember that any deviation from order is to the benefit of the enemy! My firm belief is that your infinite love for our great homeland still lives. May the Lord God bless you all and may the great martyr and patron, Saint George, lead us to Victory.

NIKOLAS
Stavka. 15 March 1917. (2 March 1917 Julian calendar)