Chronology - some key dates!
1855 - Alexander II becomes tsar
1861 - Alexander II passes Serf Emancipation Act
1868 - May 18 - Nicholas Romanov is born.
1881 - March 13 - Alexander II dies.
1894 - Nicholas II and Alexandra marry at the Winter Palace.
1895 - Birth of Olga Romanov.
1896 - Nicholas II becomes Tsar of Russia.
1897 - Birth of Tatiana Romanov.
1899 - Birth of Maria Romanov.
1901 - Birth of Anastasia Romanov.
1904 - Birth of Alexei Romanov.
1905 - January 22 - Bloody Sunday.
1905 - Year of riots and disturbances leading to the 'October Manifesto', which helps to stop unrest by promising a constitution.
1906 - The first Russian Duma meets, but is dissolved after ten weeks because it questions the Nicholas' powers.
1914 - August - World War 1 breaks out, temporarily uniting Russia behind Nicholas.
1914 - August 23rd - 30th - Battle of Tannenberg; an enormous loss for the Russian Army which signalled the beginning of an unrelenting Russian retreat.
1915 - Nicholas becomes Commander in Chief of the Russian Army.
1916 - Rasputin is murdered.
1917 - March 2nd - Nicholas abdicates in the face of revolution and Russia becomes a republic.
1917 - November - Bolsheviks take control.
1918 - March - Russia pulls out of WW1.
1918 - July 16 - Nicholas and his family are executed.
1861 - Alexander II passes Serf Emancipation Act
1868 - May 18 - Nicholas Romanov is born.
1881 - March 13 - Alexander II dies.
1894 - Nicholas II and Alexandra marry at the Winter Palace.
1895 - Birth of Olga Romanov.
1896 - Nicholas II becomes Tsar of Russia.
1897 - Birth of Tatiana Romanov.
1899 - Birth of Maria Romanov.
1901 - Birth of Anastasia Romanov.
1904 - Birth of Alexei Romanov.
1905 - January 22 - Bloody Sunday.
1905 - Year of riots and disturbances leading to the 'October Manifesto', which helps to stop unrest by promising a constitution.
1906 - The first Russian Duma meets, but is dissolved after ten weeks because it questions the Nicholas' powers.
1914 - August - World War 1 breaks out, temporarily uniting Russia behind Nicholas.
1914 - August 23rd - 30th - Battle of Tannenberg; an enormous loss for the Russian Army which signalled the beginning of an unrelenting Russian retreat.
1915 - Nicholas becomes Commander in Chief of the Russian Army.
1916 - Rasputin is murdered.
1917 - March 2nd - Nicholas abdicates in the face of revolution and Russia becomes a republic.
1917 - November - Bolsheviks take control.
1918 - March - Russia pulls out of WW1.
1918 - July 16 - Nicholas and his family are executed.