WI Nicholas II decided make big reforms in Russia earlier?

[abc123]

Alternate history can and does include "hindsightium". (Nifty phrase, by the way!)

Alternate history on this particular board does not include "hindsightium". In fact, alternate history on this particular board is specifically meant not to include "hindsightium".

There are other boards, boards just as good as this one, which are meant for "hindsightium" threads and you've recently had two such threads moved to those boards for just that reason.

There needs to be a reason for Nicholas II to act so out of character and that reasons needs to be more than "Because I say so..."

Sorry, but I don't see why general Bauer convincing Ludendorff in something is more plausable than Nicholas II repeating what his father has done ( not continuing his father's policies ).

And why did his father acted differently than his grandfather?
And find a role-model in Nicholas I?

 

[abc123]

Here's a map of Russian Empire in 1895. ( and internal division with guberniya borders ): ( Poland and Finland are painted in red )

 

[Koenig von Poposia]

I feel sympathetic toward Nicholas II even if he did make colossally bad decisions in OTL. He took a bullet in the head for 300 years of Romanov despotism. But as a person, I've thought that perhaps he deserved a better fate. I don't know whether that included being Tsar but the Bolshies at least could have let him live in exile in England or something. And shooting Alexandra, Alexei and the Grand Duchesses was simply a barbaric savage abomination. Apparently the Russian Orthodox Church agrees with me. I understand they've beatified them or something.

Don Lardo does make a point...perhaps there should be more of an explanation as to why THIS Nicholas is making such good decisions. Maybe this should be in the ASB section but having said that, I'm really enjoying seeing poor old Nicholas do the right thing finally so I hope you'll continue writing on this. What will he do in regards to foreign policy and his relations with Germany?

 

[abc123]

I feel sympathetic toward Nicholas II even he did make colossally bad decisions in OTL. He took a bullet in the head for 300 years of Romanov despotism but as a person, I've thought that perhaps he deserved a better fate. I don't know whether that included being Tsar but the Bolshies at least could have let him live in exile in England or something. And shooting Alexandra, Alexei and the Grand Duchesses was simply a barbaric savage abomination. Apparently the Russian Orthodox Church agrees with me. I understand they've beatified them or something.

Don Lardo does make a point...perhaps there should be more of an explanation as to why THIS Nicholas is making such good decisions. Maybe this should be in the ASB section but having said that, I'm really enjoying seeing poor old Nicholas do the right thing finally so I hope you'll continue writing on this. What will he do in regards to foreign policy and his relations with Germany?

I agree with above part about Nicholas, IMO he didn't deserve to end like that. His family even the less.

About ASB, well it isn't ABS that Nicholas II started reign normally.
Wierd- maybe, but many wierd things happen. Example- is it ASB that Boris Yeltsin named Vladimir Putin as a Prime-Minister ( and eventually his sucessor ), and Putin never was on any important duty- except head of FSB?
Well, it seems so, and IT DID HAPPEN OTL.

Is it wierd that certain corporal from Austria becomes German Chancellor and Fuehrer? Sure. But it happend OTL.

Is it wierd that Alexander II was a reforming Czar ( he had 34 assasination attempts ) and his son Alexander III was a ultra-conservative that undone much of his father's work?
Sure- yes. Very wierd.
But it DID happen.

And why it can't happen again?

 

[abc123]

About foreign policy, I still hadn't much time for that ( niether Nicky did , he was busy with domestic agenda ), but one of next updates will follow that.

 

[Voltaireness]

He did took the bullet for most conservative nobility/leadership Russia had in the 300...
But he took the bullet for putting Russia in a lost war from day 1.
Russia wasnt prepared but he sent milion of peasants to certain death for what exactly?
Pan slavism+Serbia ally(small and ustless)+defence of Russia status as world power.
I would have accepted this humiliating thing and continue to reform and improve Russia chances.
It was pretty clear after 1915 thats the cost will be bigger than the gains.
Still he made no atempts to negociate anything.

 

[abc123]

Russia wasnt prepared but he sent milion of peasants to certain death for what exactly?

hint: A GOOD question.

 

[Koenig von Poposia]

Have it your way, I ain't fussy...keep writin', Doc! I like it! I want to see the new and improved Nicholas deal with the challenges of the early 20th Century. I sure hope you'll let old Nicholas die in bed in this timeline.

 

[Voltaireness]

Off topic: im romanian and if wasnt Princip/the price to die and Russia to mobilise his troups Romania will be a bit smaller
So thanks to all mentioned.Tzar included...
I have no clue why he didnt gave up himself when was clear russian economy and social order is colapsing.

 

[mcdnab]

The biggest problem is that OTL Nicholas II had virtually no training in government at all - he didn't sit on the state council with his father's and uncles until very late. Alexander III wasn't expecting to die so young but it was a tremendous mistake.

Both Nicholas II an Alexander III had vivid memories of the assassination of Alexander II - to Alexander and to his son the murder proved that reform and greater liberalisation was a failure that the radicals would never be satisfied or grateful. Alexander III ruled from then on as an autocrat and his son tried to do the same.

One problem with trying to liberalise Russia is the way in which it was governed and how its society worked - the country lacked the relatively educated and wealthy middle class that the so-called democracies of France and Britain had that in many ways supported the social status-quo. Social mobility was much less fluid in Russia than in say Britain.

With regard to Finland which had its own constitution and relative independence - Nicholas proved committed to the Russification process that his father had used - the only break on his father had been the fondness of the Empress Marie Feodorovna for the Finns and she did on the whole intervene in favour of them during both her husband and son's reign to try and mitigate the policy where she felt it was wrong.

The problem with his marriage was that he absolutely fell for Alix of Hesse - he confided in his diary that if he couldn't marry her (she wasn't the choice of either of his parents, nor was Alix's family happy apart from her sister Elizabeth who was married to Nicholas' uncle Sergei) then he would marry no-one - Helene of Orleans was certainly intimated at - but Helene was problematic - Nicholas' cousin Eddy of Wales (eldest son of Edward VII) fell for her briefly and Queen Victoria (a romantic) was willing but it fell to bits as the Pope and her father forbade her to abandon her Catholic faith which she would have had to do for Edward to remain second in line to the British Throne - it would have been odd if they changed their mind to see her Empress of Russia.

To make the kind of changes that would have negated the Russian revolution or pushed Russia into some more peaceful political transition - you probably at least need to have Alexander II survive for longer (dying say in the late 1880's or early 90's) perhaps an alternate would be to have some departure point after the 1905 revolution and have Stolypin survive as PM (which i doubt) longer but whether it would have saved the monarchy is seriously debateable as his reforms were long term - although in fairness by 1914 Russia was far more stable than she had been a decade earlier - many exiles believed that they wouldn't live to see the Revolution.
The war exposed the real cracks in the whole edifice but largely exposed Nicholas' weaknesses (he wasn't a stupid man to be fair) his dependence on his wife, his idecision and dithering, his personal view of himself and his role as Emperor...

 

[abc123]

Have it your way, I ain't fussy...keep writin', Doc! I like it! I want to see the new and improved Nicholas deal with the challenges of the early 20th Century. I sure hope you'll let old Nicholas die in bed in this timeline.

Well, I will do my best...

 

[abc123]

Off topic: im romanian and if wasnt Princip/the price to die and Russia to mobilise his troups Romania will be a bit smaller
So thanks to all mentioned.Tzar included...
I have no clue why he didnt gave up himself when was clear russian economy and social order is colapsing.

Well, future is a wide open book. Future don't starts in 1914 nor ends in 1918.
IIRC Romania changed it's borders several times in 20 Century, so anything is possible...
Personally, I don't think that more-sucessful Nicholas II will affect romanian borders much...

Nationalism, on the other hand...

 

[abc123]

The biggest problem is that OTL Nicholas II had virtually no training in government at all - he didn't sit on the state council with his father's and uncles until very late. Alexander III wasn't expecting to die so young but it was a tremendous mistake.

Both Nicholas II an Alexander III had vivid memories of the assassination of Alexander II - to Alexander and to his son the murder proved that reform and greater liberalisation was a failure that the radicals would never be satisfied or grateful. Alexander III ruled from then on as an autocrat and his son tried to do the same.

One problem with trying to liberalise Russia is the way in which it was governed and how its society worked - the country lacked the relatively educated and wealthy middle class that the so-called democracies of France and Britain had that in many ways supported the social status-quo. Social mobility was much less fluid in Russia than in say Britain.

With regard to Finland which had its own constitution and relative independence - Nicholas proved committed to the Russification process that his father had used - the only break on his father had been the fondness of the Empress Marie Feodorovna for the Finns and she did on the whole intervene in favour of them during both her husband and son's reign to try and mitigate the policy where she felt it was wrong.

The problem with his marriage was that he absolutely fell for Alix of Hesse - he confided in his diary that if he couldn't marry her (she wasn't the choice of either of his parents, nor was Alix's family happy apart from her sister Elizabeth who was married to Nicholas' uncle Sergei) then he would marry no-one - Helene of Orleans was certainly intimated at - but Helene was problematic - Nicholas' cousin Eddy of Wales (eldest son of Edward VII) fell for her briefly and Queen Victoria (a romantic) was willing but it fell to bits as the Pope and her father forbade her to abandon her Catholic faith which she would have had to do for Edward to remain second in line to the British Throne - it would have been odd if they changed their mind to see her Empress of Russia.

To make the kind of changes that would have negated the Russian revolution or pushed Russia into some more peaceful political transition - you probably at least need to have Alexander II survive for longer (dying say in the late 1880's or early 90's) perhaps an alternate would be to have some departure point after the 1905 revolution and have Stolypin survive as PM (which i doubt) longer but whether it would have saved the monarchy is seriously debateable as his reforms were long term - although in fairness by 1914 Russia was far more stable than she had been a decade earlier - many exiles believed that they wouldn't live to see the Revolution.
The war exposed the real cracks in the whole edifice but largely exposed Nicholas' weaknesses (he wasn't a stupid man to be fair) his dependence on his wife, his idecision and dithering, his personal view of himself and his role as Emperor...

Well, he had some small experience in goverment buesniss, but I agree, he was a pretty new in goverment job. That's way he choose Witte ( a trustworthy man ) to be his PM and efecctivly run the country for him.

About Finns, well, HE did try russification of Finland, not his father.

And about marriage, I would be much happier if he married as OTL, because Alix was much nicer than Helene ( pretty ugly IMO ).
Only that unfortunate hemophilia...

 

[abc123]

Foreign Policy

Nicholas II was a pretty inexperienced in foreign policy, so his Prime Minister anf Minister of Foreign Affaires were his primary advisors about foreign policy.

Under reign of Alexander III Russia concluded a treaty with France about mutual military assistance in case that any of them is attacked by any 2 countries of Triple Alliance, the other will help her.
Text of Alliance: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/frrumil.asp

France was also very important as a source of technical and financial assistance for Russian economy and military.

So it wasn't a wonder that first state visit of Nicholas II was scheduled for spring of 1895. in France. The Emperor boarded Imperial Yacht Polyarnaya Zvezda ( Polar Star ) and arrived in Le Havre in may 1895.

Imperial Yacht "Polyarnaya Zvezda"

From there a Imperial Train transported him in Paris, where he was greeted by french President of Republic Felix Faure.

After a state diner, next day Emperor had a meeting with President of Council ( Prime Minister ) of France Alexandre ribot, one of main arhitects of Franco- Russian Alliance.

Nicholas II there tried to extract as much money from french banks, so wanted that French Goverment "suggest" them that they give a large loans to Russia for construction of Transsiberean Railway and equipping of Imperial Army/Navy.
Further talks about the loans will conduct Imperial Minister of Finances when he arrive in visit in France in June.

Emperor was very fascinated with sightseeing of the Paris in company of french Foreign Minister Gabriel Hanotaux.

Next day Emperor was present in french National Assembly where french Prime Minister was talking about relations with Russia.

After that, Emperor leaved Paris by Imperial Train heading for Le Havre where he will board Imperial Yacht again and head in state visit to Netherland ( visiting Hague and Amsterdam ), and from there back in St. Petersburg.

 

[abc123]

Russian Empire Census

Emperor also approved the idea of famous russian geographer Pyotr Semenov Tyan-Shansky that is nescessary to make census in Russian Empire.
Emperor decided that Census will take place in 1897. and that Kingdoms of Finland and Poland will also make a census for their area in 1897 too.
A Emperor also decided that censuses will be made evry 15 years, or next will be in 1912.

 

[abc123]

At the beginning of the June 1895 all was ready for coronation of Nicholas II for a King of Poland.

The whole event has issued a number of problems.

First, the Crown.
All original polish royal crowns were either missing or in Prussia, so only Crown available was "Muscovy Crown" made for polish-lithuanian King Wladislaw IV Vasa when he was coronated as a Tsar of Russia in 17 Century.

Muscovy Crown

Second, the ritual.

It was a long established custom that Czar of Russia places a crown on his head alone, but polish custom was that Archbischop places the Crown on head of the King.
Niscolas II there made a great concession allowing that Archbischop places the Crown on his head, but the ceremony wasn't held in St. John's Church in Warsaw then in Castle Square in front of Royal Castle in Warsaw and the catholic service wasn't held except archbishop's blessing of the new King.

Castle Square

Royal Castle in Warsaw

The new King promised to donate the money for rebuilding of Royal Castle that was not maintained for decades.

Then, there was security.
Some polish die-hard nationalists could possibly try assasination or something just as bad during King's stay in Warsaw. So security was very tight.


At the end, it all passed well, and new King of Poland after several days left Warsaw in hands of his Viceroy of Poland- his uncle Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich.

Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich

 

[abc123]

Annexion of Khiva and Bukhara

Soon after a coronation, Nicholas II decided that he will annex Khanate of Khiva and Emirate of Bukhara into Russian Empire.
So, Khanate of Kiva became Kiva Gubernyja and Emirate of Bukhara became Bukhara Gubernya.
Rulers of Bukhara and Khiva were expelled from Russia.
New governors of Khiva and Kokand were: general Aleksey Kuropatkin and general Oskar Grippenberg.

Khiva

 

[abc123]

Only Russians

While it can look as unimportant, Emperor brought descision that in all censuses and statistics in Russian Empire there will not be any more Little Russians and Belorussians.
There will be only Russians.
Until then it was recognised that Belorussians and little Russians ( Ukraines ) are a tribes of Russians, but from now on, there are just Russians.

Also, any attempt of creating divisions amongh Russian people will be punished with 5 years of hard labour in Siberea.

 

[abc123]

Preparing Constitution

A set of legal experts was in job of writing of draft of first Constitution of Russian Empire, something that Czar promised before more than year ago. Czar put a deadline for making a draft to him in end on 1895. His coronation was scheduled for spring of 1896. so he wanted to publish the Constitution after the coronation as a gift to the russian people.

Constitution was heavily based on conservative Constitution of Prussia, and constitutions of Poland and Finland too, because it was hard to expect that Czar will give more rights to the Finland and Poland than his own Russia.

 

[Arrix85]

The idea is interesting. Some blunder is coming? I like it so far, but He seems almost too perfect.

About the PoD it could be enough a (brief) encounter with anyone capable of moving him to try implement the things he saw in Britain.