Aleksei II of the Slavic Union
| Aleksei II | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||
| Imperator of the Slavic Union | |||||
| Reign | August 21 1888 – April 28 1912 | ||||
| Coronation | January 17, 1890 | ||||
| Predecessor | Vladimir III | ||||
| Successor | Peter II | ||||
| Born | October 12, 1863 Adrikagorod, Slavic Union | ||||
| Died | April 28, 1912 Adrikagorod, Slavic Union | ||||
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| House | Lvov | ||||
| Father | Vladimir III of the Slavic Union | ||||
| Mother | Imperatritsa Maria Lvov | ||||
| Religion | Slavic Orthodox | ||||
Aleksei II (Slavic: Алексей II Владимирович, Aleksey II Vladimirovich; October 12 1863 – April 28 1912) was the Imperator of the Slavic Union from August 21, 1888 until his death on April 28, 1912. The first half of his reign saw economic growth after decades of stagnation, but the second was marred by the brutal Ledyanaya War and massive instability.
He was highly reactionary and resisted calls to liberalize the country. His economic policies benefited a circle of allies and foreign investors, helping wealthy landowners consolidate large estates, often through violent means and legal abuse. These policies grew increasingly unpopular, resulting in civil repression and regional conflicts, as well as strikes and uprisings from labor and the peasants, which ultimately lead to his assassination in 1912, and a revolution against the monarchy a few years later.
Early Life
Grand Duke Aleksei Vladimirovich of the Slavic Union was born on August 21, 1863 in Adrika Palace in Adrikagorod. He was the second child of Imperator Vladimir III and his wife Imperatritsa Maria Lvov. Aleksei had three other siblings: Andrei (1859-1885), Elena (1867-1935), and Boris (1878-1940). Aleksei had little prospect of succeeding to the throne during the first two decades of his life, as his older brother Andrei was the heir apparent.
As Prince of Zlarovsk
Aleksei became the Prince of Zlarovsk on March 8, 1885 after the sudden death of his brother. He had been very close to his older brother, and he was devastated by Andrei's death. As Prince of Adrika, Aleksei began to study the principles of law and administration under Konstantin Pobedonostsev, then a professor of civil law at Adrikagorod State University and later (from 1900) chief procurator of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in the Slavic Union.