Nicholas II Marries Alix of Hesse

Tsar Alexander III died in early November 1894, and Nicholas (a grandson of King Christian IX of Denmark) became Tsar as Nicholas II, although the coronation ceremony did not take place until May, 1896.

Later that month, Nicholas married Alix of Hesse (a granddaughter of Queen Victoria) who had taken the name Alexandra Feodorovna on her conversion to the Russian Orthodox Church.

Nicholas and Alexandra had four daughters -- Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia; and a son, Tsarevich Alexei (who suffered from hemophilia).