Weak Tsar Nicholas Alexandrovich Romanov II assumed power upon the death of his father, a strong Tsar, Tsar Alexander III. Alexander was the latest in a line that had held reign over the Russian empire for nearly 300 years. A reign that began with a Tsar that leaves little to doubt in his methods with the name now associated with him, Tsar Ivan the Terrible. For however "Terrible" he was, he is at least partly forgiven for bringing order back to a trouble Russia, a "Time of Troubles." Nicholas held rule over another "Time of Troubles" in Russia, but instead of bringing Russia out of it, his rule is, in part, to blame for instigating it. .
The Russian Tsar was a "nationality in itself" (Radzinsky 13). The Romanov blood had been so mingled with the other blue bloods of Europe, that not much of it was truly Russian anymore. This lack of Russian blood is not to say that the Romanovs were not Russian. They were very Russian. They loved their Empire and even more so, their rule over it. They were generally tall and robust, adventurous and outdoorsy, and powerful men with great thirst for even more power. They were the double-headed eagle of Romanov crest.
Nicholas was raised under a very strong, determined man, not only in mentality, but also in physical stature. The Russian did not love Alexander III anymore than other Tsars, but he commanded their loyalty. Alexander III ruled by fear. He epitomized the Russian ideal of what a Tsar should be, "the sum of qualities that produces the impression of a powerful will." (Radzinsky, 55) . His son though, became the son of a feared dad. Nicholas, along with his two brothers, was raised to be gentle and timid. They were all weak.
Nicholas was not only not "tsar-like, but didn't even want to be "tsar-like." On Oct 20th 1894, Nicholas" happy childhood and budding love affair were brought to a halt with the death of his father. He would not again feel peace until he had at last been happily forced to abdicate on March 2nd 1917.