Alexander II

views updated

Alexander II (1818–81) Russian tsar (1855–81), known as the ‘Tsar Liberator’ for his emancipation of the serfs in 1861. He warred with Turkey (1877–78) and gained much influence in the Balkans. He sold Alaska (1867), but expanded the eastern part of the empire. Alexander brutally suppressed a revolt in Poland (1863). He was assassinated by revolutionaries.

More From encyclopedia.com