Aleksandr III of Russia
His Imperial Majesty Aleksander III Aleksandrovich (Александр III
Александрович), known in the west as Alexander III, Emperor (Tsar) of
Russia from 1881 to 1894, was born on 26 February/10 March 1845 in Saint Petersburg,
the second son of Tsar Aleksandr II by his wife Mariia Aleksandrovna (Marie
of Hese).
On the death of his elder brother Nikolai in 1865, Grand Duke Aleksandr Aleksandrovich
unexpectedly became heir to the Russian throne, and carried out his brother's
wish that he should marry his fiancée, the Danish Princess
Maria Dagmar, who subsequently became the
Grand Duchess Mariia Fedorovna). Tchaikovsky
was commissioned to write a Festival
Overture on the Danish National Anthem, Op. 15, as part of the wedding festivities,
and he was rewarded for his efforts with a set of jewelled cuff-links, which
he promptly sold on to Aleksandr Diubiuk.
In March 1881 Aleksandr succeeded to Russian the throne following the assassination
of his father. For the coronation celebrations in May 1883, Tchaikovsky was
commissioned to write a festival cantata - entitled
Moscow - and a
Coronation March for orchestra.
Aleksandr III greatly admired Tchaikovsky's music, and members of the Imperial
family frequently attended Tchaikovsky’s operas and ballets, buying up new editions
of Tchaikovsky’s music to play at home. Tchaikovsky’s outstanding merits as
a citizen were also appreciated: he was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir in
the fourth degree and a lifetime pension, and was presented with a valuable
ring as a personal gift from the Tsar. His death was reported to have "grieved
the Tsar and Tsarina greatly", and the Aleksandr III personally decreed that
Tchaikovsky should be given a state funeral.
Tsar Aleksandr III died at Livadiia, Crimea, on 20 October/1 November 1894,
aged 49.
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