The Tsar, The Mistress, and The Bomb Why Russia’s Great Reformer Had to Die

We explore the massive contradictions in the life of Tsar Alexander II (1818 – 1881), the Emperor who freed millions of serfs but whose private choices ignited a firestorm. The scandal was the secret, long-term affair and morganatic marriage to Princess Ekaterina Dolgorukova, which happened just weeks after his Empress's death. The St. Petersburg court was furious, accusing him of ruining the dignity of the Romanovs. We explore the ultimate price he paid: the bomb attack by the People's Will that brutally ended his life and arguably halted Russia's move toward reform. This video breaks down the political genius, the personal recklessness, and the shocking assassination that defined his legacy.
#AlexanderII #TsarLiberator #Romanovs #EkaterinaDolgorukova #RussianHistory #ImperialRussia