"After a moment's hesitation I ran out of the crowd, I stumbled. I dropped the bomb on the ground in front of me. The Policemen saw the bomb and jumped on me."
As this is my first TL, and after mulling over several topics I finally sat down and began writing. Now the cries of ASB hopefully will not be coming for quite some time as I have done a decent amount of research on the Topic.
OTL: Four Assassins lined the military parade route. The First, Nikolai Rysakov, tossed the first bomb. Exploding under the Bulletproof carriage, it only damaged it. A second, Ignacy Hryniewiecki, threw a bomb after Alexander II left his carriage to see the sight of the explosion. This second bomb landed at his feet, and well eventually he bled to death.
POD: The First attacker falls while running out of the crowd, the police notice a package falling on the ground, the second bomb is then thrown soon after and explodes next to the carriage. The Czars men now realize what is going on and do not allow the Czar to leave his carriage and instead the leave the scene. The two remaining assassins miss there chance.
Chapter 1: A New Russia
Part 1: The First Constitution of Russia
And so it begins...
The Czar would return to the White Palace as determined as ever to fulfill his goals. While he now had faced, and survived, five assassination attempts. He now had to yet again put this event behind him and get back to the task at hand.
The Czars dream was to implement a series of reforms which could keep Russia from falling behind it's fellow European powers. Already he had emancipated the Serfs in the Nation, though the faults of that decision were beginning to shine through, he had reformed the military, created and effective judicial system and laid the ground work for a Constitutional monarchy. With this last assassination attempt Alexander realized he would have to move quickly, as his son was waiting in the wings with a much more conservative agenda.
The Czar had already implemented his democratic reforms in Finland. In an attempt to work out the kinks he created a focus group in Finland. With his test run a success He began the process of implementing it throughout Russia.
In 1883 Alexander II issued the First Constitution of Russia. In it established the Duma of Russia. This was most likely the most important of all of Alexanders reforms so far. While not perfect, it did create a government where the Czar was no longer Autocratic. The Constitution consisted of many key points and was modeled after the German Constitution. Chapter 1 defined the Roles of the Government. In it the emperor had the power to declare war (and peace), represent the Empire abroad, conclude treaties and alliances, and accredit and receive ambassadors. While the Duma had the ability to legislate on Business activity, Citizenship, Emigration, Administration of imperial revenue, Coinage and the issuing of paper money, Road/Rail/canal infrastructure, The Imperial Army and Navy,Post and telegraphic services, Consular representation abroad. And upon the declaration of War The Imperial Army and Navy are handed over the to Emperor. Voting rights were extended to all male property owners (including former serf who aquired land from private estates. Excluded Household Serfs.), 25 years of age. To appease the nobility the three layer voting system is enacted. The first tier (Nobility) would account for 50% of the overall seats, the Second Tier (propertied town-dwellers) would account for 35% of the overall seats, and the Third Tier (propertied rural peasants) would account for 15% of the overall seats. The chapter also establishes a Prime Minister position, appointed by the Emperor. The Prime Minister presides over the the Duma and the Cabinet, acts as a buffer between the Czar and the Duma.
The second chapter dealt with its external regions. The Grand Duchy of Finland would continue it's semi-indepentent status, with the Emperor as the Grand Duke. The Roles of government remain almost identical to the roles in Russia. Poland on the other hand did not experience these reforms. Poland would remain completely under the control of the Czar.
The Final chapter deals with the meeting of the Duma and the ability to disestablish it. The Duma must meet once a year. The most important of this chapter deals with the inability of the Czar to dissolve the Duma and only the Duma itself, with a 80% majority can disolve itself.
This, the most important reform of Alexander, would unfortunately not take effect until after his death. But Alexander had one last major change he would implement before his death.
Part 2 - An Unexpected Heir
May 1st, 1884 - Czar Alexander II dies, while his son Alexander is considered his Heir, the dying Czar named his third son Vladimir to be his Heir. The Czar, who had a strenuous relationship with Alexander at best, had been training Vladimir since the death of his first son. Alexander (the son) was deemed by the Czar as someone who would force Russia two steps back after taking one giant leap forward. Vladimir was less likely to shake the boat and well educated unlike his older brother.
This move did not go without its critics. Many of the Nobility who had lost power during the reign of Alexander did not wish to have these reforms continue. Reformers and Reactionaries were nearing civil war.
Alight so feedback, insight, thoughts, ASBish? Worth continuing.