Editing Alexander III of Russia (section)

==As Tsesarevich==
[[File:Alexander III and Maria Fedorovna's coronation by G.Becker (1888, Hermitage).jpg|thumb|right|300px|Grand painting by artist Georges Becker of the coronation of Emperor Alexander III and [[Maria Feodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark)|Empress Maria Fyodorovna]], which took place on {{OldStyleDate|27 May|1883|15 May}} at the [[Cathedral of the Dormition|Uspensky Sobor]] of the [[Moscow Kremlin]]. On the left of the [[dais]] can be seen his young son and heir, [[Nicholas II of Russia|the Tsarevich Nicholas]], and behind Nicholas can be seen a young [[Grand Duke George Alexandrovich of Russia|Grand Duke George]].]]
Alexander became [[tsesarevich]] upon Nicholas's sudden death in 1855. He had been very close to his older brother, and he was devastated. When he became [[tsar]], he reflected that "no one had such an impact on my life as my dear brother and friend Nixa [Nicholas]"<ref>Simon Sebag Montefiore, ''The Romanovs,'' p. 407</ref> and lamented that "a terrible responsibility fell on my shoulders" when Nicholas died.

As [[tsesarevich]], Alexander began to study the principles of law and administration under [[Konstantin Pobedonostsev]], then a professor of [[Private law|civil law]] at [[Moscow State University]] and later (from 1880) [[chief procurator]] of the [[Holy Synod]] of the Orthodox Church in Russia. Pobedonostsev instilled into the young man's mind the belief that zeal for [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian Orthodox]] thought was an essential factor of Russian [[patriotism]] to be cultivated by every right-minded emperor. While he was [[heir apparent]] from 1865 to 1881 Alexander did not play a prominent part in public affairs, but allowed it to become known that he had ideas which did not coincide with the principles of the existing government.{{sfn|Wallace|1911|p=562}}

On his deathbed, Nicholas allegedly expressed the wish that his fiancée, Princess Dagmar of Denmark, should marry Alexander.{{sfn|Wallace|1911|p=562}} Alexander's parents encouraged the match. On 2 June 1866, Alexander went to Copenhagen to visit Dagmar. When they were looking at photographs of the deceased Nicholas, Alexander proposed to Dagmar.<ref>Simon Sebag Montefiore, ''The Romanovs'', p. 409</ref> On {{OldStyleDate|9 November|1866|28 October}} in the [[Grand Church of the Winter Palace]] in [[St. Petersburg]], Alexander wed Dagmar, who converted to Orthodox Christianity and took the name [[Maria Feodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark)|Maria Feodorovna]]. The union proved a happy one to the end; unlike many of his predecessors since Peter I, there was no adultery in his marriage.

Alexander and his father became estranged due to their different political views. In 1870, Alexander II supported Prussia in the [[Franco-Prussian War]], which angered the younger Alexander. Influenced by his Danish wife Dagmar, Alexander criticized the "shortsighted government" for helping the "Prussian pigs".<ref>Simon Sebag Montefiore, ''The Romanovs,'' p. 415</ref>

Alexander resented his father for having a long-standing relationship with Princess [[Catherine Dolgorukov]]a (with whom he had several illegitimate children) while his mother, the [[Marie Alexandrovna, Tsarina of Russia|Empress]], was suffering from chronic ill-health.<ref>Van Der Kiste, John ''The Romanovs: 1818–1959 ''(Sutton Publishing, 2003) p. 94</ref> Two days after Empress Marie died, his father told him, "I shall live as I wish, and my union with Princess Dolgorukova is definite" but assured him that "your rights will be safeguarded."<ref>Simon Sebag Montefiore, ''The Romanovs,'' p. 441</ref> Alexander was furious over his father's decision to marry Catherine a month after his mother's death, which he believed "forever ruined all the dear good memories of family life."<ref>Simon Sebag Montefiore, ''The Romanovs,'' p. 442</ref> His father threatened to disinherit him if he left court out of protest against the marriage.<ref>Simon Sebag Montefiore, ''The Romanovs,'' p. 445</ref> He privately denounced Catherine as "the outsider" and complained that she was "designing and immature".<ref>John Van der Kiste, ''The Romanovs 1818–1959'', p. 86</ref> After his father's assassination, he reflected that his father's marriage to Catherine had caused the tragedy: "All the scum burst out and swallowed all that was holy. The guardian angel flew away and everything turned to ashes, finally culminating in the dreadful incomprehensible 1 March."<ref>Simon Sebag Montefiore, ''The Romanovs,'' p. 451</ref>