Nicholas II. The Burden of the Autocrat. Documents, Letters, Diaries, Photographs from the State Archive of the Russian Federation

The burden of the autocrat is heavy and responsible, and sometimes tragic. On March 1, 1881, the new heir to the Russian throne, young Niki, standing by the bed of his bleeding grandfather, Emperor Alexander II, could not imagine that it would prove to be unbearable for him. Nicholas II would lose the empire, freedom, and life. And he would perish, like his grandfather, at the hands of his former subjects — "...Balthazar was killed by his servants". Personal letters and diaries of the Romanovs, correspondence with relatives allow us to understand what kind of person the last emperor of Russia was, what education and upbringing he received, what he experienced and what he rejoiced in life, how he felt about the burden of his power. Only documentary evidence provides an impartial picture from which everyone can form their own opinion and draw their own conclusions.