Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

Chapter 909 Alexander III ascends the throne and succeeds to the throne

On May 13, 1881, Alexander II was assassinated and held a state funeral on April 30. Influential countries around the world sent their important figures to participate.

The royal family of the Kingdom of the Netherlands sent Queen Alexandra and Crown Prince Albert, and the government sent Foreign Minister Beit.

In the UK, it is Crown Prince Edward, and in the government, it is Foreign Secretary Beit.

The German Empire was also Crown Prince Friedrich, Prime Minister Bismarck, etc.

The scale and formation are unprecedented. This is the first time since Queen Anna of the Netherlands last time.

After his death, it was the largest royal funeral held in the world.

Subsequently, on May 13, Alexandrovich officially ascended the throne in St. Petersburg. All the foreign guests who were still staying in St. Petersburg witnessed this moment. The crown prince succeeded to the throne and was known as Alexander III in history, becoming the 13th emperor of the Russian Empire. emperor.

The reign of Emperor Alexander III of the Russian Empire began under the prosperity created by Alexander II. Alexander III established a new policy in business affairs, which undoubtedly interfered too much in actual government affairs. He adopted a chairman-like method of governing the country: organizing appointments A group of capable people were gathered to form a think tank circle, and these people were asked to study national government affairs first, come up with several solutions, and then submit them to the emperor himself before making the final decision.

On May 15, 1881, the tsar, who had just succeeded to the throne for only three days, issued an edict, stipulating a series of measures to strengthen social security and the monarchy, and clearly declared a national state of emergency. In several cases, Cihai has also increased penalties for strikes, demonstrations and other activities.

This aroused the anger of many working class people, but Alexander III ignored it. After all, his father Alexander II was assassinated. It was strange that he could relax his vigilance.

At the same time, in view of the fact that educational institutions, especially universities, are the source of liberal ideas, Alexander III announced on May 17, 1881, the fifth day after he ascended the throne, that he would cancel the autonomous status granted to universities by Alexander II.

All this makes all foreign guests and people who follow Tsarist Russia around the world know that all the policies issued by Alexander III in the past few days are actually just the will of the Tsarist Russian Empire to re-enter the bureaucracy. Obviously, Tsarist Russia The political transitional governance practices that began with Alexander II toward a liberal and open Western Europe were to be changed after his son succeeded to the throne.

However, fortunately, Alexander III continued to promote the industrialization process of the Tsarist Empire. During the reign of Alexander II, it was prosperous on the surface, but agricultural development was slow, farmers were poor, and the foundation for prosperity was weak.

May 19, 1881, Tsarist Empire, St. Petersburg, Summer Palace.

Queen Alexandra reluctantly prepared to meet with her biological sister, Princess Damage of Denmark and Empress of Tsarist Russia Maria Feodorovna before leaving.

The 16-year-old Crown Prince Albert also showed reluctance on the sidelines. Standing next to him is the new generation of crown prince who was just named by Alexander III - Crown Prince Alexandrovich. He was born on May 18, 1868. Yesterday happened to be his first birthday as the crown prince. , 13 years old.

Crown Prince Alexandrovich sighed to Albert next to him: "Look at your mother and my mother. They really have a deep love for each other."

Albert looked at him deeply, and then said with slight emotion: "Yes, both of them are from Denmark, and their grandfather Christian IX gave them a good education, so they have had deep feelings since they were young, which is not bad. "Sisterly Love"

Seeing this, Crown Prince Alexandrovich put away his emotions, and then said meaningfully: "It is said that in recent days, the British Crown Prince Edward is still pestering your mother, Queen Alexandra. You guys are so shameless. You are already a father, and you are sixteen years old, but you are still spreading what you think is a romantic atmosphere that is unacceptable. It is really incomprehensible."

Crown Prince Albert flashed a sharp light, but was caught in the eyes of Crown Prince Alexandrovich who was staring at him. His heart moved, but his face was extremely calm.

At this time, Albert said with some displeasure: "You are right. The whole world knew that Crown Prince Edward pursued his mother back then, but doing so now will damage the reputation of Britain. It can be seen that his aristocratic etiquette is not up to par." It’s in place and it damages the British national character.”

The conversation between the two cousins ​​was overheard by Queen Alexandra and Maria Feodorovna (localized after marrying into the Tsarist Russian royal family, her Danish name was Damage) who were not far away. middle.

Maria was dissatisfied and said teasingly: "The British Crown Prince is too ungrateful. Alexandra, I heard that he has been sending you a bouquet of flowers every day these days. This is disgusting brother-in-law. "

Looking at Alexandra, Maria had to admit that her sister was 36 years old, but she still looked like she was under 30. She was too young. On the contrary, she was one year older than her since she was born in 1847. But it's because of normal aging that he appears older than the other person.

I have to lament that the Tsarist Empire is still too cold. People in the cold age easily, but it is easier to take care of people in the south.

Queen Alexandra smiled slightly and said nonchalantly: "Your brother-in-law is not a stingy person. He has already sent a telegram and said that he has made a lot of money in his life. The charm of his wife can be seen from this incident. How charming and proud."

Queen Maria said with envy: "I really envy you and your wife, you are still so loving."

Queen Alexandra waved her hand, looked at the princes and princesses of Tsarist Russia not far away, touched her bulging belly and said with a smile: "Okay, you are a mother of five children now, and now there are still some things in your belly." It’s my sixth child alive, so don’t worry about me, it’s not good for the fetus.”

She secretly admired the other party for being able to give birth and leaving only four children for herself. She was thinking in her mind whether she should add one or two more royal members to the Netherlands. However, looking at Crown Prince Abit who looked like a little adult not far away, the thought that arose in her heart was a little embarrassing. After all, according to European conventions, adult royal members can arrange marriages and engagements with other European royal families.

It seems that 16-year-old Abby can get engaged in two years, or even get married in the second year after getting engaged.

Queen Maria joked: "It seems that someone is still envious of me. It seems that my brother-in-law still needs to work hard."

After saying that, he laughed to himself.

The two people laughed happily and had happy expressions on their faces.

This made Crown Prince Albert and Crown Prince Alexandrovich next to them deeply agree with the view of sisterly love just mentioned.

Crown Prince Alexandrovich suddenly said casually at this time: "Now the Netherlands and Britain are seriously at odds with each other. On the side of the Russian Empire, because my grandfather was assassinated with the support of the British, so the two of us The relationship between the country and the UK is on bad terms. Regarding the British issue, Albert, as the Crown Prince of the Netherlands, is destined to adapt to the mission of governing the country in advance like me. What do you think of this issue?"

Albert is a few years older. The Dutch's special body height and the lack of nutrition mean that although he is only 16 years old, his height has reached 178cm. On the contrary, Alexandrovich next to him is younger. , and the reason why the Tsarist Russians have always been shorter than the Dutch and Danish Swedes is that the height difference between the two is almost 20 centimeters, and the former is a head taller.

Albert said with some twist: "The pride of Britain has always been famous. The Netherlands and Britain are at odds with each other. That is the sphere of influence on the sea, which is different from yours. The Russian Empire. You and Britain are more related to the Balkan Peninsula. , especially the land struggle for land in Afghanistan and Afghanistan between the Indian Peninsula and Eastern Siberia.

So I said Alexander, the dispute between us and the UK is more about land and sea rights. It’s just two different countries with different demands from the UK.”

Albert's words made Alexanderlovic think deeply.

Both of them fell silent immediately.

At this moment, what Queen Maria next to him said to Queen Alexandra made Albert embarrassed. His aunt said: "Why don't you tell Albert to wait a few years before getting married? When Nia grows up, why not marry him?"

After saying that, he laughed.

Alexandra looked at her accusingly when she heard this, and her eldest son's face turned red and purple, and said: "Your Xenia is only 6 years old, 10 years younger than Albert. You want him to wait for ten years?" Year, even if your brother-in-law, His Majesty William IV, agrees, tens of millions of people in the Netherlands will oppose it. But if you are really serious, Jacques can consider it. He was born in 1870 and is now 11 years old."

Alexandra's words made Albert sigh in relief.

Seeing this, Alexanderlovic next to him had an idea in his mind.

On May 20, 1881, Queen Alexandra of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Prince Albert officially boarded a car leaving St. Petersburg. The next stop was Copenhagen, Denmark, her natal home.

At the same time, the practice of the 40-year-old (born in 1841) British romantic heir Crown Prince Edward sending a bouquet of flowers to the Queen of the Netherlands every day in the Russian Empire aroused huge public opinion.

First is the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands expressed serious dissatisfaction and protest over this, "We are shocked by the future heir to the British monarch. What made him do such an unreasonable thing, and even do such an unreasonable thing to someone else's wife?" Teasing, yes, in our opinion, it is a kind of teasing of good housewives that is impolite, contrary to the interests of the royal family, and not at all gentlemanly.

We are dissatisfied with this 40-year-old member of the British royal family and hope that the UK can give us the results we want, otherwise we will not give up easily."

At the same time, the Danish royal family also expressed dissatisfaction with this. Christian IX even criticized it directly at the Copenhagen Palace: "Where have the etiquette of European royal families gone? Do they still exist in the UK?"