The reign of Alexander II was the culmination of fundamental reforms and changes in Russia. Many old and harmful laws for society changed during his reign. Although most of the Russian people, especially the poor, were largely satisfied with his monarchy, many did not accept his rule and the monarchy in general. That is why radical groups such as the "People's Will" repeatedly tried to assassinate Alexander II until March 13, 1881, when they successfully assassinated the emperor. Although the conservative views of Alexander II grew in the latter part of his life, these views were not comparable to the conservative views of his successor, his son Alexander III. Alexander III reigned during the dark days of his father's assassination. Although he initially stated that he intended to follow in his father's footsteps and undertake major reforms in Russia, he showed a conservative personality and, in line with his senior adviser's advice, escalated these conservative views. Initially, Alexander III's older brother, Nicholas, inherited the throne, and Alexander III was supposed to experience a military life according to family tradition. However, Nicholas fell ill and died on a trip to Europe. Alexander III, surprised by the new events, was summoned to the capital to take the necessary lessons to succeed the emperor. Alexander himself, an infantry general who had witnessed many wars, including the Russo-Turkish War of 1877, grew a loathing for war during his reign. That is why Russia did not engage in any major wars during his reign, and Alexander also received the title of peacekeeper. He was even invited to arbitrate disputes in Europe. From the very beginning of his reign, Alexander III demonstrated his conservative and authoritarian views. During his reign, censorship increased, education conditions for the lower classes became more difficult, and the power of local governments declined sharply. However, during the reign of Alexander III, economic prosperity found its way to Russia. Fundamental reforms took place in the country's monetary as well as the tax system. New customs laws were enacted, and the construction of the Siberian Railway began. Despite all this, in the early 1890s, most of Russia's agricultural areas suffered from famine, which seriously damaged the Russian agricultural body. In 1894, Alexander III unexpectedly contracted nephritis kidney disease. Hoping to improve his condition, he traveled to Livadia's resort town near the Black Sea, but sadly he died there in the arms of his wife.
One of the first structures built during Alexander III reign was the Church of our Savior on the Spilled Blood. This attraction of St. Petersburg, which most tourists visit during their tour to Russia, was constructed on the site of Alexander II's assassination. The church itself was a monument to Alexander II, which his son Alexander III commissioned. However, the building didn't complete during Alexander III's life. The design of this church was modeled after the St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. However, despite its name, the Church of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood didn't hold any baptisms, funeral services, weddings, or other traditional church services. Still, it did hold weekly requiems and sermon readings. You can visit this magnificent structure during your trip to St. Petersburg.
Another magnificent structure in St. Petersburg tour from that era is the Museum of Applied Art. However, the construction began in Alexander II's reign, but with the sudden death of the emperor, the construction completed during Alexander III's reign. This amazing museum is often hidden from tourists of the tour to Russia. Still, if you manage to visit it during your travel to St. Petersburg, you'll see that most tourists missed their chance to see one of the significant art galleries on the St. Petersburg tour. The museum is located inside the Baron Stieglitz School of Technical Drawing, so don't be surprised if you see lots of students sketching inside the galleries as you're visiting it.
The reign of Alexander III was also the period of the creation of Fabergé Easter eggs. Alexander III and his wife ordered the first Fabergé Easter eggs in history, the Jeweled Hen Egg, from Faberge, and they liked it so much that they ordered a new egg every year on Easter day. Among the famous eggs in this amazing collection, we can mention Imperial Coronation, Bouquet of Lilies Clock, and Order of St. George. You can see some of the Easter eggs in Faberge Museum during your tour to Russia or if you visit Moscow's Kremlin's Armory during your travel to Russia.
One of the most controversial monumental sculptures in St. Petersburg belongs to Alexander III. In the very first hours of its unveiling, the equestrian statue of Alexander III created divisions among the people of the city. The conservatives were outraged by Russia's conservative emperors' caricature and considered its existence unthinkable, while the Democrats welcomed it as a near-realistic example. Sculptor Paolo Trubetskoy, meanwhile, considered himself out of politics, saying that I had created an animal sculpture on top of another one, which further angered the conservatives. While members of the royal family were preparing to order the demolition of the statue, Alexander III's wife, Empress Maria Feodorovna, unexpectedly liked the design, which was the only reason for approving the statue. While Alexander III's monument has moved a lot during its existence, you can find it on the Marble Palace territory during your tour to Russia. If you have a question about any places mentioned here, you can check our weblog. We recommend you read about other St. Petersburg's history eras to experience a better trip to St. Petersburg. You can also learn a lot about our top choices for a visit during a trip to Russia as well as our tips and pieces of advice about how to travel to Russia and what are the best things to do in Russia.
