6 (18) May 1868 in Tsarskoe Selo, was born the eldest son of Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna, the last Emperor of Russia - Nicholas II (Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov).

Nicholas passed his childhood in the walls of the Gatchina Palace. The future emperor had been educated in compliance with accurately designed program for thirteen years. The first 8 years were devoted to subjects of gymnasium course. Particular attention was paid to the political history, Russian literature, French, German and English; the next five years were devoted to studying military affairs, legal and economic sciences, necessary for a statesman. Among his teachers were outstanding Russian scholars: N. N. Beketov, N. N. Obruchev, J. F. Cui, M. I. Dragomirov. 

7 (20) March 1917 Provisional Government ordered the arrest of Nicholas and his wife. In early August 1917 the former emperor and his entourage were exiled to Tobolsk. In May 1918, in Yekaterinburg, in the basement of Ipatief’s house, the night of 3 (16) to 4 (17) July 1918, Nicholas II, the empress, and five of their children and some close friends were shot without charge or trial.