1845-1861 (0 to 16)

May 10, 1845, in the Winter Palace of Saint Petersburg, Tsesarevich Alexander Nikolaevich and his wife Maria Alexandrovna (Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine) as well as the rest of the royal family, rejoice at the birth of the second child of the couple. Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich.

Alexander Alexandrovich was fourth in line from his birth, after his older brother Nicholas Alexandrovich and his father (the Tsesarevich). He being the grandson of the current Tsar Nicholas I of Russia.

In the beginning, no one would expect it to be Alexander Alexandrovich who would become Tsar of Russia, even when Nicholas Alexandrovich showed some delicate health, it was not considered that his life was in danger or was in serious danger, that gave Alexander Alexandrovich some free space to move a little in the first four years of life.

Nicholas or "Nixa" was the favorite of Maria Alexandrovna and Emperor Nicholas I, it was quite noticeable. Nicholas and Alexander himself were also quite close but find where Nicholas was loving and light-hearted (much like his parents), Alexander was always somewhat more detached and tough.

Still Alexander Alexandovich proved to be quite curious, constantly asking about the time and news.

When Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich was four years old, the Austrian Empire was experiencing the most recent Hungarian Revolution, in which Tzar Nicholas I had intervened on behalf of the Austrians.

One day after his fourth birthday, the Russians and Austrians were defeated at the Battle of Nagyszeben in Transylvania. As a grand duke, Alexander Alexandrovich was likely sent to join the army or navy at some point.

He soon became interested in the navy when his uncle, Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich, returned from the Hungarian campaign (an Austro-Russian victory) now also as a designated member of the Council of State and the Admiralty, Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich began to spend a little more time with your uncle.

Asking about the Hungarian campaign and the Russian navy of course.

At the age of five he began the formal education of Grand Duke Alexander, the main educator was Boris Alekseevich Perovsky but the education itself was directed by Alexander Ivanovich Chivilev.

During this time he also learned French, English and German, as well as military exercises.

Meanwhile, Grand Duke Alexander himself became interested in the studies of his brother, with tutors such as Sergei Grigorievich Stroganov and Boris Nikolaevich Chicherin (Konstantin Petrovich Pobedonostsev in 1861 and Ivan Efimovich Andreyevsky after 1863).

Nicholas Alexandrovich's studies focused on law and administration, in addition to some courses in science, history, and religious studies, something that Alexander also began to pay attention to but did not seem the only thing necessary.

At the age of seven, Grand Duke Alexander received the rank of First Officer, the "beginning" of a life of service, though it was obviously a more symbolic than practical position.

In 1855 days before his birthday, Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich had to mourn the death of his grandfather, Tsar Nicholas I.

At that time Russia was in the middle (or rather at the end) of the disastrous Crimean War, between Russia and the Greeks against the Ottoman Empire, France, Sardinia and the United Kingdom (also supported by the Austrians and some Russian enemies of the Caucasus ).

Tsesarevich Alexander rose as Alexander II of Russia, making Nicholas Alexandrovich Tsesarevich, while on the other hand Grand Duke Alexander was now third in line to the throne.

The war lasted shortly after the rise of Alexander II, but it was a stain on Russian national pride, the influence in the Black Sea weakened with the demilitarization of the latter, the Ottomans maintained titular sovereignty over Transylvania and Wallachia, fortunately Russia did not lose too much territory (except for territories south of Bessarabia).

Alexander II was going to attempt reforms in the future for the recovery of Russia after the disastrous war, for the part of him Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich was still too young.

But with youth there is a certain vigor, entering his adolescence the young Grand Duke was already dressing in some military uniforms and doing exercises, as he grew up Alexander Alexandrovich showed a quite imposing physique.

In 1861 at the beginning of the year Konstantin Petrovich Pobedonostsev was brought by Alexander II to give tutelage to Tsesarevich Nicholas.

Konstantin Pobedonostsev, a former civil servant and professor of law, and the Grand Duke met, speaking Konstantin found himself surprised by the curiosity of Grand Duke Alexander.

Pobedonostsev would soon express the views of him, a fairly staunch conservative. Alexander for his part was silent and also asked for some lessons in law (occasionally).

It was not a friendship but there was a certain familiarity between the two men for the moment.

The first meetings between Alexander and Pobedonostsev did not last long, because in 1861 a year earlier than normal, Grand Duke Alexander asked to join the Russian navy.

More specifically to a certain project of the Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich, who was an admiral and presided over the Admiralty since 1860.

*******

Tsushima, Japan, Edo Period.

On March 1, 1861, the Posadnik corvette led by Nikolai Alekseevich Birilev had reached the island of Tsushima, anchored in Tatamura Bay (Asō Bay).

In 1850 Russia had established a post on the Amur Estuary, in 1858 the Treaty of Aigun, in 1860 the Beijing Convention was held, and in 1860 Vladivostok was established ("Lord / Ruler of the East" ... quite clear intentions) .

Birilyov had his orders, under Foreign Minister Alexander Mikhailovich Gorchakov and Admiral Konstantin Nikolaevich Romanov, but now he had received some new ones.

Receiving Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich, Birilev was honestly surprised when the Grand Duke appeared, dressed in a simple naval uniform and accompanied by a relatively small entourage.

Also in the meeting was Sō Yoshiyori, head of the Sō clan, who promptly exchanged courtesies with the Russian Grand Duke. Sō Yoshiyori and Birilev had already been in contact before, but there was still no news from Andō Nobumasa's cabinet, even with the appearance of Alexander Alexandrovich.

Rather than being an obstacle the Grand Duke soon began to work, between March 27 and April 2, the Russians accompanied by 15 Japanese carpenters were beginning to build temporary housing, a port, a station for the stationmaster, a infirmary, a bathhouse, a coal warehouse, and a boathouse.

Alexander, although not exactly the most outgoing person, seemed someone simple and straightforward, he seemed more like a Russian peasant than someone of high birth (not counting formal education). The Grand Duke Alexander wasted no time in abandoning formalities with the rest of the expedition's naval participants, the only drawback for Birilev was that the Grand Duke interested in speaking with him and learning Japanese through the expedition's translator, even talking with some of the local carpenters.

"The British are not going to like this. We have been increasing our presence in East Asia since 1850" The Grand Duke told Captain Birilev, in one of his meetings, discussing the early April 16 inspection by 1st Captain Ivan Fedorovich Likhachev.

Birilev calmly addressed the Grand Duke "If there are diplomatic problems, the government will deny any knowledge of the expedition. You are safe"

"That is not what I meant" Grand Duke Alexander mentioned.

Birilev looked at Alexander curiously "I have an idea" The 16 year old Grand Duke mentioned.

Birilev, now 31 years old, sighed, thinking that the Grand Duke is more impetuous and naive than "I hear you."

"We need the Japanese government to accept us here, but they won't if the British say so, so we need a way that the British can't refuse. There are some farmers who know a troublesome samurai on the island, Matsumura Yasugorō, I think he could be of use to us" The Grand Duke explained at first.

Well, here we are. An Alexander III and Nicholas II SI / ISOT.