Another look at Nicholas II

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

60 facts about the Russian Emperor Nicholas II that change the generally accepted idea of the pre-revolutionary Russian Empire.

1. Knew five foreign languages. Brilliant education (higher military and higher legal) was combined with a deep religiosity and knowledge of spiritual literature. He served in the army. He had the military rank of colonel. When generals and field marshals persuaded him to give himself at least a general's rank, he replied: "You, gentlemen, do not worry about my rank, you think about your career."

2. Was the most athletic Russian tsar. Since childhood, he regularly did gymnastics, loved to swim in a kayak, made transitions of several tens of kilometers, adored horse races and participated in such competitions himself. In winter, he played Russian hockey and skated with passion. He was an excellent swimmer and an avid billiard player. He was fond of tennis.

3. Things and shoes in the royal family passed from older children to younger ones. The Tsar himself was so modest in his personal life that he wore his "groom" suits until the last days.

4. Funds from the London Bank, about 4 million rubles (imagine the current equivalent!), Left there from his father, without a remainder was spent on charity.

5. None of the requests for clemency that reached the King were rejected. During the entire period of his reign, fewer death sentences were passed and executed than in the USSR they were executed a day, to the flesh until Stalin's death.

6. The number of prisoners is much less than in the USSR or the Russian Federation. In 1908, for 100,000 people. prisoners - 56 people, in 1940 - 1214 people, in 1949 - 1537 people, in 2011 - 555 people.

7. The number of officials per 100,000 people in 1913 was 163 people. And already after a hundred years of life without a Tsar, in 2010, 1153 people.

8. In Tobolsk, in prison, the Family did not remain idle for a day. The Tsar chopped wood, cleaned the snow, looked after the garden. A soldier, one of the peasants, seeing all this, said: "Yes, if you could give him a piece of land, he would have earned Russia back with his own hands!"

9. When the temporary workers were preparing an accusation of treason to the Tsar, someone suggested publishing the personal correspondence of Nicholas Alexandrovich and the Empress. To which he received the answer: "It is impossible, then the people will recognize them as saints!"

10. The Tsar is not to blame for the tragedy on Khodynka. When he found out about this, then he immediately provided the victims and victims with great material and moral assistance.

11. In 1905, the revolutionaries themselves began to shoot at the troops. And there were 130 people killed, not 5,000, as the Russophobe and the God-fighter Lenin said. Even those who were injured in the response fire received immediate medical attention, all the victims were taken to the hospital. And the Tsar was not even in the city that day. When he found out about this, he rendered great material and moral assistance to the victims and victims. From his personal funds he paid compensation of 50,000 rubles to each victim. (a lot of money at the time). In 1905-1907, the revolution was averted thanks to the strong will of the Sovereign.

12. Created the greatest empire in strength, power and prosperity, which had no equal either before or after him.

13. The Russian Orthodox Church was the most powerful church in the world. By 1913 alone, there were 67 thousand churches and 1 thousand monasteries in Ingushetia, spread over absolutely the entire territory of Ingushetia. The Russian Church had tremendous influence in the Holy Land, patronized Orthodox Christians not only in Europe, but also in Asia, and even in Africa.

14. During 20 years of his reign, the population of Russia has increased by 62 million people.

15. I checked the new infantry equipment system personally, while marching 40 miles away. He did not tell anyone except the minister of the court and the palace commandant.

16. Reduced service in the army - to 2 years, in the navy - to 5 years.

17. During the first World War II (World War I), he constantly went to the front, and even often with his son. Thus, he showed how much he loves his people, that he is not afraid to die for him and the Russian land. He showed that he was not a bit afraid of death, or anything else. And then, even in the most difficult time for the Russian army, the Tsar took over the supreme command of the troops. While the Tsar was leading the troops, not an inch of land was given to the enemy. Nicholas's troops did not let Wilhelm's troops go beyond Galicia - Western Little Russia (Ukraine) and Western Belarus, and military historians believe that if there were no internal turmoil (revolution), there was only one step left until Russia's victory. The prisoners were treated like sufferers. They retained ranks, awards, monetary allowances. The period of stay in captivity was counted in the length of service. From 2ml. 417 thousand prisoners during the entire war, no more than 5% died.

18. The share of those mobilized in Russia was the smallest - only 39% of all men aged 15-49, while in Germany - 81%, in Austria-Hungary - 74%, in France - 79%, England - 50%. Italy - 72%. At the same time, for every thousand of all inhabitants, Russia lost 11 people, Germany - 31, Austria - 18, France - 34, England - 16. Also, Russia was almost the only one not experiencing problems with food. German "military bread" of the 1917 model of an unthinkable composition in Russia would never have been dreamed of in Russia.

19. GKZ Bank issued large loans to peasants; by 1914, peasants owned and leased 100% of arable land in Asian Russia, Siberia and 90% in the European part of the country. State-owned warehouses of agricultural equipment were set up in Siberia, supplying the population with agricultural machines.

20. The amount of taxes per person in 1913 in Russia was 2 times less than in France and Germany and more than 4 times lower than in England. The population was stable and rich quickly. The wages of the Russian workers are higher than the wages of the European ones, second only (in the world) only to the American wages.

21. From June 1903, entrepreneurs were obliged to pay an allowance and pension to an injured worker or his family in the amount of 50-66 percent of the victim's maintenance. In 1906, workers' trade unions were created in the country. The law of June 23, 1912 introduced compulsory health and accident insurance for workers in Russia.

22. The law on social insurance was adopted first by all European states and the United States.

23. The world's most perfect labor legislation. "Your Emperor has created such perfect labor legislation that no democratic state can boast of." US President William Taft.

24. Prices for everything, one of the lowest in the world, along with taxes.

25. Increase in the volume of the budget by more than 3 times.

26. The ruble, thanks to the monetary reform of 1897, began to be backed by gold. "Russia owes its metallic gold circulation exclusively to Emperor Nicholas II." S. Yu. Witte. Researchers disagree about the effectiveness of this step:

As Jewish bankers and S. Yu. Witte ruined the Russian Empire

Witte is a demonic figure for Russia

27. In 1908, compulsory primary education was introduced. By 1916, at least 85% of the Empire were literate. On the eve of the war, there are already more than a hundred universities with 150,000 students. In terms of their total number, RI ranked third in the world, sharing it with Great Britain. Funding for education has grown over 20 years from 25 million rubles to 161 million rubles. And this is without taking into account the zemstvo schools, the costs of which increased from 70 million in 1894 to 300 million in 1913. The total budget for public education has grown by 628%. The number of students in secondary educational institutions has grown from 224 thousand to 700 thousand people. The number of students has doubled in 20 years, the number of schoolchildren has grown from 3 million to 6 million. By 1913, there were 130,000 schools in the country. Before the revolution, a law was passed on the complete free education, and not only learning, but also life while learning. They graduated from the seminary at government expense - this government expense included all the maintenance and meals of students.

28. In 1898, free medical care was introduced. In order to get it, it was enough to be just a citizen of the Empire. No one would have kicked this man out into the street as now, and after a thorough examination, he would have been told in detail what and how to do for treatment. "The medical organization, created by the Russian zemstvo, was the greatest achievement of our era in the field of social medicine, as it provided free medical care, open to everyone, and also had a deep educational value" Swiss F. Erisman. In terms of the number of doctors, Russia ranks second in Europe and third in the world.

29. At an unprecedented pace throughout the Empire are being built: kindergartens, shelters, maternity hospitals, shelters for the homeless.

30. Under Nicholas II, Russian nationalism was the most powerful force in legal politics, toughly defending Russian interests wherever we came into contact with enemies. There were many organizations, some parties and all kinds of patriotic movements, from the Union of the Russian People and the All-Russian National Union to local organizations that covered the entire country with a wide network. Where a Russian person could come and tell about his misfortune, ask for help if someone offends.

31. Industry grew rapidly. From 1890 to 1913, GDP quadrupled. The extraction of coal has grown 5 times in 20 years, the production of pig iron during the same time has increased 4 times. Extraction of copper and manganese 5 times. Investment in fixed assets of machine-building plants from 1911 to 1914 increased by 80%. The length of railways and telegraph networks has doubled in 20 years. During the same time, it doubled its tonnage of the world's largest river merchant fleet. The mechanization of industry grew rapidly. In 1901, the USA produced 9 million 920 thousand tons, and in Russia 12 million 120 thousand tons of oil. In the period from 1908 to 1913, the growth of labor productivity in industry outstripped the United States, England and Germany, which were considered industrial giants for a long time. The result of the Tsar's activities was an amazing economic stability. During the world economic crisis of 1911-1912, Russia, on the contrary, was on the rise.

32. Under the Tsar, it was impossible to export crude oil abroad, and the proceeds went to the development of domestic industry.

33. In 1914, at the request of the United States, Tsarist Russia sent about 2,000 Russian engineers to the Americans to create a heavy military industry.

34. Growth rates of national income - 1st place in the world. Labor productivity growth rates - 1st place in the world. The level of concentration of production - 1st place in the world. The world's largest exporter of textile products. One of the world's largest manufacturers of non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy products. One of the world's largest manufacturers of mechanical engineering products. One of the largest countries in the world in terms of coal production.

35. The world's largest exporter of cereals, flax, eggs, milk, butter, meat, sugar, etc. Grain yields are 1/3 more than that of Argentina, the USA and Canada combined.

36. Growth of grain production by 2 times. The yield increased by more than 1.5 times.

37. The number of cattle increased by 60%. 1st place in the world in the number of horses, cattle, sheep, and one of the first in the number of goats and pigs.

38. Often the following territories joined or became protectorates without firing a shot: Northern Manchuria, Tianjin, Northern Iran, Uryankhai Territory, Galicia, Lvov, Przemysl, Ternopil and Chernivtsi provinces, Western Armenia. There is a large-scale and rapid development of Siberia, Kazakhstan and the Far East.

39. The sovereign stood outside and above the interests of individual groups and strata of the population. Economic reforms, like alcoholic reforms, were carried out personally by the Tsar. Sometimes in spite of the thought. The author of all the transformations was Nikolai Alexandrovich, contrary to all the prevailing myths to the contrary.

40. Freedom of the press, freedom of speech; freedom as much as there was neither before nor after his reign.

41. The volume of gold reserves is the largest in the world; The Russian gold ruble is the hardest currency in the world.

42. One of the highest rates of railway construction in the world (the USSR never came close to them).

43. One of the strongest armies in the world, which, moreover, is developing rapidly. The world's best Mosin rifles, some of the world's best Maxim machine guns of 1910, modified by the Russian Empire; and some of the best 76 mm field guns in the world.

44. The Russian air force, which was born only in 1910, already had 263 aircraft and was the largest air fleet in the world. By the fall of 1917, the number of aircraft had increased to 700.

45. By 1917, the Navy was one of the strongest in the world. The world's best destroyers and some of the world's best battleships, the world's best mines and mine-laying tactics.

46. The Great Siberian Railway was built.

47. The Hague International Court of Justice is the brainchild of Nicholas II.

48. Per capita alcohol consumption, one of the lowest in the world, drank less in Europe only in Norway.

49. The number of mentally ill people per 100,000 people in 1913 was 187 people. And already after a hundred years of life without the Tsar, in 2010 - 5598 people.

50. The number of suicides per 100,000 people in 1912 is 4, 4. And after a hundred years of life without a Tsar, in 2009, 29.

51. There are no problems with inflation and unemployment, since both are almost completely absent.

52. The crime rate is lower than in the United States and Western Europe. At the international congress of criminologists held in Switzerland in 1913, the Russian detective police were recognized as the best in the world in terms of crime detection.

53. An unprecedented flowering of Russian culture. No other country has known such a powerful, dizzying takeoff of Russian painting, Russian architectural architecture, Russian literature and Russian music. The famous French writer and literary critic Paul Valéry called Russian culture of the early 20th century “one of the wonders of the world”.

54. The flourishing of Russian philosophy and science.

55. Invented for the first time in the world: wireless telegraph, helicopter and bomber, television and television broadcasting, airplane and attack aircraft, the first newsreel, tram, hydroelectric power station, electric plow, submarine, knapsack parachute, radio, electron beam tube, electron microscope, automatic machine, powder fire extinguisher, an astronomical clock, an electromagnetic seismograph and the science of seismology was founded, an electric car, an electric omnibus, an electric suspension road, an underwater mine layer, a seaplane, a ship capable of crossing the Arctic ice, were among the first to find a way to take color photographs and the first in the world to learn how to make them of high quality.

see the color of the nation. Prokudin-Gorsky

56. For the first time in Russia invented: a car, a motorcycle, a double-deck car, an airship.

57. The automobile industry was at the level of the German, the aviation industry was at the level of the American, one of the best steam locomotives in the world. The Russo-Balt series of cars, produced since 1909, was at the world level, both in design and in performance. They were distinguished by their strength and reliability, as evidenced by their success in rallies and long-distance runs, in particular, at the international rallies Monte Carlo and San Sebastian.

58. Two of the five founders of Hollywood come from Russia. The famous fragrance "Chanel No. 5" was invented not by Coco Chanel, but by the Russian émigré perfumer Verigin. Engines for Daimler were developed by Russian engineer Boris Lutskoy. The racing Mercedes 120PS (1906) was equipped with an in-line six-cylinder engine, also invented by Lutsk.

59. All this was done and achieved without: terror, dispossession of the peasants, slave camps, tens of millions of exterminated Russian people.

60. He never abdicated the throne, even in spite of the colossal betrayal of everyone and everything. As he himself wrote: "Around betrayal and cowardice, and deceit!" The conspirators have drawn up a forged manifesto, allegedly of his abdication, which is a complete fake. In the archives of the Russian Federation there is not a single document confirming the correctness of the myth of renunciation. There is a printed piece of paper, signed in pencil, drawn up in an incomprehensible way. There is not a single other document that Nikolai would sign in pencil. The handwriting was also examined, which absolutely does not correspond to the sovereign's handwriting. There are still too many other troubles. According to the official version, he was ritually killed along with his family, there is a version that there was no execution: (There was no execution of the Tsar's family! New data)