attacks attempts assassinations

[frimousse]

  
The tzars and their families were constantly under the threat of attacks from revolutionaries or nihilists.
Compared to our modern standards, they were very exposed to contacts with the people.
What do you think? Did they prefer not to be so much protected, or did they obey the rules of the Police? Were these rules efficient or not ?

[frimousse]

Bomb attack Winter Palace 1880




Photo Roger-Viollet

[frimousse]

Alexandre II assassination
 March 1
 1881
(Archives Roger-Viollet)

[AGRBear]

Anyone know how many assassination attempts just involved Nicholas II?

Other family members of Nicholas II?


Attempts upon Alexander II's life?

Alexander II's  life....?

AGRBear

[David_Pritchard]

Bear,

I started to make up a chart listing all of the assasinations, assasination attempts and mthods of attack on members of the IF but I stopped myself. You of all people should be able to answer this question yourself, you have the reference books and have discussed many of the attempts on this forum. Why should someone else be asked to do the research that you can well do on your own?

David

[Tsarfan]

The tzars and their families were constantly under the threat of attacks from revolutionaries or nihilists.

I think the threat of assassination has been a constant condition under which government leaders have lived and was in no way unique to the last few Romanovs.

Russian tsars who were assassinated:

-  Ivan VI
-  Peter III
-  Paul I
-  Alexander II

Other assassinations or attempts on European monarchs in the 60 years preceding WWI:

-  Napoleon III of France (attempt in 1858)
-  Alexander III (attempt in 1887)
-  Victoria of England (attempt in 1887)
-  Elizabeth of Austria (1898)
-  Alphonso XIII of Spain (attempt in 1905)
-  Franz Ferdinand of Austria (1914)

Even in the United States, three presidents were assassinated during the above time frame:

-  Lincoln (1865)
-  Garfield (1881)
-  McKinley (1901)

In fact, the United States may hold the lead in terms of leaders either assassinated or attempted.  Beyond the above three:

-  John F. Kennedy
-  Andrew Jackson (attempted)
-  Franklin D. Rossevelt (attempted)
-  Harry S. Truman (attempted)
-  Gerald Ford (attempted)
-  Ronald Reagan (attempted)
-  Jefferson Davis (President of the Confederacy - attempted)

Certainly Nicholas and Alexandra had reason to fear for their safety.  However, their lot was no more precarious than that of other world leaders who have had to find ways to remain effective and in touch with events with the spectre of assassination hanging over them.

[Louis_Charles]

The list is gruesome enough, but it could also include Alexander and Draga of Serbia.

Helpfully,

Simon

[Tania]

A litle off the subject, but does anyone know if there was an accounting of those who attempted assassinations on Lenin to the present day leaders of Russia ? Perhaps that might be on a seperate thead. I have just wondered how many have actually tried...

Tatiana+

[AGRBear]

I don't have the answer to the numbers of attempts for imperial tsars  or soviet czars.

Here is a sketch about the Borki train crash in which Tsar Alex. III and his family were involved.



I had always thought this train crash was due to an attempt on Tsar Alex. III's  life but I think some time ago this subject was discussed and someone said it wasn't  an attempt to assassinate,  the reasons was bad tracks.

Anyone know which answer is correct?

There was Lenin's brother's group of bombers.... So that's two attempts/plots.

Were there other attempts/plots on Alex. III's life?

[Tsarfan]

In checking various sources, it does appear that references to an attempt on the life of Alexander III have been dropped.

The list I posted earlier of assassinations was done off the top of my head.  Yesterday I found a more comprehensive listing of assassinations and attempts against heads of state or heads of government.  It is staggeringly long and indicates how much assassination has been a part of politics since time immemorial.

If one looks only at the 19th century up through WWI, here's what one finds:

1800 - attempt to blow up Napoleon Bonaparte
1800 - attempt to shoot King George II and Queen Charlotte of England
1801 - murder of Tsar Paul I
1804 - plot to kill Napoleon Bonaparte
1812 - British Prime Minister Spencer Perceval shot to death
1835 - attempt to shoot King Louis-Phillipe of France
1835 - attempt to kill U.S. President Andrew Jackson
1840 - attempt to shoot Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of England
1842 - two separate attempts to kill Queen Victoria
1849 - attempt to kill Queen Victoria
1850 - attempt to kill Queen Victoria
1855 - attempt to kill Napoleon III of France
1858 - attempt to kill Napoleon III of France
1861 - attempt to kill Queen Amalia of Greece
1865 - U.S. President Abraham Lincoln shot to death
1866 - attempt to kill Tsar Alexander II
1872 - attempt to kill Queen Victoria
1873 - attempt to kill Tsar Alexander II
1878 - attempt to kill King Alfonso XII of Spain
1878 - attempt to kill Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany
1878 - King Umberto I of Italy stabbed
1879 - attempt to kill Alfonso XII and Queen Maria Christina of Spain
1879 - two separate attempts to Kill Tsar Alexander II
1880 - U.S. President James Garfield shot to death
1881 - Tsar Alexander II killed by bomb
1882 - attempt to kill Queen Victoria
1894 - French President Marie Francois Carnot stabbed
1895 - Queen Myongsong of Korea killed
1897 - Spanish Prime Minister Antonio del Castillo shot to death
1898 - Empress Elizabeth of Austria-Hungary stabbed to death
1901 - U.S. President William McKinley shot to death
1901 - King Umberto I of Italy killed
1903 - King Alexander I and Queen Draga of Serbia killed
1905 - attempt to kill French President Emile Loubet and King Alfonso XIII of Spain
1906 - attempt to kill Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain
1908 - Portugese King Carlos I and Crown Prince Luis Filipe killed
1910 - Egyptian Prime Minister Butros Ghali Pasha shot to death
1911 - Russian Prime Minister Pyotr Stolypin shot to death
1912 - King Vittorio Emanuele III of Italy injured in assassination attempt
1912 - US President Theodore Roosevelt injured in assassination attempt
1912 - Spanish Prime Minister Jose Canalejas y Mendez killed
1913 - King George I of Greece shot to death
1914 - Archduke and Heir Franz Ferdinand and his wife shot to death
1916 - Austrian Minister-President Karl von Stuergkh shot to death

From this, it seems that few places were safe for monarchs and prime ministers . . . and England seemed to be the most dangerous place of all.

I think fear of assassination is too often given as an excuse for Nicholas' and Alexandra's self-imposed isolation at Tsarskoye Selo.  (Of four tsars who had been assassinated, three were killed by their own nobility or even family.)  Every one of their peers across Europe, and even U.S. Presidents, had at least as much reason to be worried . . . but few of them reacted with as complete a withdrawal from the social scene of their countries as did Nicholas and Alexandra.  It seems to me that fear of assasination is really a convenient cover story for Alexandra's inability or disinclination to handle the social obligations of her job and for Nicholas' acquiescing in it.  And this failure cost the monarchy dearly, for it triggered the build-up of resentment that caused the salons of St. Petersburg to become the first venue for circulating the rumors that eventually so eroded the reputation of the imperial family.

[AGRBear]

....[in part]...
In checking various sources, it does appear that references to an attempt on the life of Alexander III have been dropped.

The list I posted earlier of assassinations was done off the top of my head.  Yesterday I found a more comprehensive listing of assassinations and attempts against heads of state or heads of government.  It is staggeringly long and indicates how much assassination has been a part of politics since time immemorial.

If one looks only at the 19th century up through WWI, here's what one finds:


1801 - murder of Tsar Paul I

1866 - attempt to kill Tsar Alexander II

1873 - attempt to kill Tsar Alexander II


1879 - two separate attempts to Kill Tsar Alexander II



.....

I think fear of assassination is too often given as an excuse for Nicholas' and Alexandra's self-imposed isolation at Tsarskoye Selo.  (Of four tsars who had been assassinated, three were killed by their own nobility or even family.)  Every one of their peers across Europe, and even U.S. Presidents, had at least as much reason to be worried . . . but few of them reacted with as complete a withdrawal from the social scene of their countries as did Nicholas and Alexandra.  It seems to me that fear of assasination is really a convenient cover story for Alexandra's inability or disinclination to handle the social obligations of her job and for Nicholas' acquiescing in it.  And this failure cost the monarchy dearly, for it triggered the build-up of resentment that caused the salons of St. Petersburg to become the first venue for circulating the rumors that eventually so eroded the reputation of the imperial family.

I agree. 

And to make matters worst,  Nicholas II's mother, the Dowager Empress, who  understood the need of the nobility as well as her own,  became the person the upper circles contacted, invited to all the important functions and there the important peopl who knew what was occuring, whispered all the secrets which in this kind of society and in those times was important to know.

Not so unlike even today as  all our cell phones and electronics devices flow into  the "grapevine" of information flows with the waggle of tongues so did the waggle of tongues in Imperial  Russia during their  balls, parties, dinners and over tea and sandwiches.  And, the Russian court rotated around what was being said, or not being said.

Nicholas II understood this and remained close to his mother who was able to give him the latest, however,  Alexandera, had closed her smalll circle down to woman who were too caught up in their own self needs....  Of course,  it was important for Alexandra to care for her ill son Alexei,  but in her position she had to be more than a mother, she was the wife of the Tsar.

Although I can understand Alexandra failures,  I can't set them aside and forget about them either.  She was what we call a "millstone" which help drag Nicholas II and all her childeren down and this made it possible for the Bolsheviks to take control and in the end execute the IF.

Alexandra's  failures started the moment she refused the first time to be part of the world into which she married.

So,  that's why I agree... 

[James1941]

Tsarfan has an impressive list. However, if you analyse the list it turns out that most of these attempts were made by a single individual and that person most often was mentally ill or delusional. Of those attempts listed, only a few were the work of an organized conspiracy among a group of revolutionaries or terrorist hoping to overthrow the political system.
1800--Napoleon Bonaparte
1801--Tsar Paul I
1804--Napoleon Bonaparte
1865--Abraham Lincoln
1866--Alexander II
1873--Alexander II
1879--two attempts on Alexander II
1881--death of Alexander II
1895--Queen Myongsong of Korea
1903--King Alexander and Queen Draga of Serbia
1905--Grand Duke Serge
1911--Stolypin killed
1914--Archdule Franz Ferdinand and Duchess Sohie.
Tsarfan's list doesn't include Russian government minister like Plehve and others on which attempts were made, some successful and some not. I think Russian rulers were in much more danger than other crowned heads and they had good reason to be concerned with their safety. Look at how many attempts were made against Alexander II who complained that they hunted him like an animal, even trying to kill him in his own home, and he was a "liberal" tsar.

[Tsarfan]

Tsarfan has an impressive list. However, if you analyse the list it turns out that most of these attempts were made by a single individual and that person most often was mentally ill or delusional. Of those attempts listed, only a few were the work of an organized conspiracy among a group of revolutionaries or terrorist hoping to overthrow the political system.

True, but consider poor old Victoria.  After having been assaulted several times -- more than any tsar -- did it really matter much whether it was because of personal insanity or organized conspiracy.  I could even argue that assassination attempts arising from group conspiracies were potentially more addressable by government action or policy than were attempts by deranged individuals.

Tsarfan's list doesn't include Russian government minister like Plehve and others on which attempts were made, some successful and some not.

Nor does my list contain many names of government officials in other countries who were attacked during this same time period.  I eliminated from my list the names of all but heads of state and their prime ministers from every country, not just Russia.  (And I was quite surprised at how many attempts there were on lesser officials outside of Russia.)

Look at how many attempts were made against Alexander II who complained that they hunted him like an animal, even trying to kill him in his own home, and he was a "liberal" tsar.

No reason Victoria could not have made the identical complaint.


My point in all this is that today we tend to think of the 19th century as the last great calm before the storms of the 20th century broke over the world.  Anchored in this view, putting the microscope only on imperial Russia can make it look uniquely violent and uniquely disposed toward revolution.  But the fact is that the 19th century was on the boil across Europe, and fear of social revolution was not restricted to Russia.  Bismarck sponsored the world's first workers compensation legislation out of fear that, if the government didn't take the lead in reducing the suffering of the burgeoning industrial workers, the socialists in Germany would.  Karl Marx was predicting that history's endgame move to communism would start in England -- and soon -- and he was taken seriously enough for the government there to put more focus on social legislation. Worried about the various radical populist trends putting roots down in American politics, the U.S. tackled the stranglehold monopolies were developing on its economy with the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890.  Even Lenin thought Russia would bring up the rear of the march to a new world order, not be in the vanguard.

The real difference is not that Russia was more threatened by revolution than other countries.  The difference was that Russia -- at least before 1905 -- chose to implement no palliative policies to lessen the appeal of revolution.

[James1941]

Every thing you write is true. I disagree with only one or two small points. I especially agree that every country experienced social unrest and had groups dedicated to overthrowing the current system and bringing about a change in the social order. In fact, some historians had speculated that the German generals and right wing groups started World War I because they believed it would (a) set Russia back on its heels and prevent it from becoming too strong, and (b) rally the nation to the throne and the present system and set the socialists back on their heels. In other words it was as much a political calculation as a military one.
My point was that for most of the attempts you listed the perpetrator was a mentally delusioned individual who acted because God told him to, or he thought he had been wronged, or his victim was an easily attacked symbol. These kind of people are dangerous to any ruler. As King Edward VII remarked, it went with the job.
However, I will argue this. Of all the royal families it seems only two--the Russian and the Spanish--felt the need to hide behind masses of secret policemen following them everywhere and hidden behind every bush.
And it wasn't only Nicholas and Alexandra who hid away at Tsarkoye Selo. Alexander III and Maria Fyodorovna also hid away at Gatchina. Which indicates it wasn't just Alexandra's disllike of public appearances.Queen Victoria wasn't shadowed by large numbers of royal protectors like the tsars and the king of Spain. And as a point, remember she had been reigning since 1838, far longer than any of the others mentioned so it is natural she would have more attempts against her. And none of her attackers had political agendas. So, I disagree that she was in more danger than the Russian rulers. King George of Greece, who was killed by an assassin, felt free to walk the streets without any royal bodyguards. Perhaps he should have been more concerned. Empress Elizabeth was accompanied only by a lady in waiting as she walked the several blocks from the hotel to the steamer. You would never see a Russian tsar doing that.  The American president didn't even have protection until after President McKinley's assassination, and people could walk into the White House and walk around without even a pass. In essence my argument is that only the Russian imperial family seemed to feel it was under siege, and that it had to cower behind patrols of cossacks on the perimiters of its palaces, and bevies of Okhrana men shadowing their every move. Why? Perhaps it was just paranoia based on the horrible attemts against Alexander II. No other royal family had to worry about college students and professional revolutionaries associated in groups like The People's Wiill dedicated to their erradication from the earth. This was probably because in other monarchies change could come about through political action, even in monarchies like Germany and Austria-Hungary. Thus killing the monarch was not necessary to bring about change. Thus, attacks against these monarchs were made by men who acted out of mental derrangement. Whereas in Russia, political change was in the hands of the tsar, and thus killing him could bring about the hoped for change. It is all very complicated and cannot be explained by any one set of actions. And again, I am not against your argument, just one or two points in it. Basically we agree on the substance of the matter.

[Elisabeth]

Tsarfan, the situation in Russia was not the same as in Western Europe or the United States. As James pointed out, most assassination attempts on Western leaders and heads of state were perpetrated by lone individuals, many of whom were mentally ill. In Russia terrorism was a highly organized affair carried out by revolutionary groups like the People’s Will and later, under Alexander II’s grandson, Nicholas II, even by an actual political party, the Socialist Revolutionaries.

The number of attempts on Alexander II’s life alone was quite extraordinary. But other government officials also suffered.

1866- The revolutionary Dmitry Karakozov fired a pistol at Alexander II while he was walking in the Summer Garden

1873 – The People’s Will attempted to mine the railroad carrying Alexander II’s train not just once but twice

1878- Vera Zasulich attempted to assassinate General Trepov, the Chief of the Police
 
1879- Prince Kropotkin, Governor-General of Kharkhov, was assassinated by a revolutionary who also volunteered to kill the tsar (the People’s Will turned down his offer)

1880- The People’s Will blew up the Yellow Hall of the Winter Palace, where the tsar would be dining. The explosion killed eleven people and wounded fifty-six. (Queen Victoria never faced exploding bombs in Buckingham Palace!)

The People’s Will made seven (yes, seven) more attempts that year to assassinate the tsar. All of them miscarried.

Finally, as we all know, on March 1, 1881, the People’s Will succeeded in assassinating Alexander II.

1887- The self-proclaimed Terrorist Section of the People’s Will (including Lenin’s brother, Alexander Ulyanov) was discovered plotting to assassinate Alexander III. The bombs were already prepared.

Revolutionary terrorism was brought under control during the reign of Alexander III, but experienced a major revival under Nicholas II with the formation of the Socialist Revolutionary Party. The S.R.s murdered many government officials, including two ministers of the interior, Sipiagin (1902) and Plehve (1904). Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich was assassinated as well. According to the historian Nicholas Riasanovsky, terrorism on the Left claimed 1,400 deaths in 1906 and upwards of 3,000 in 1907. For example, the attempt to assassinate Stolypin in August 1906 resulted in the deaths of 32 people. And although the prime minister escaped, his son and daughter were both wounded, his daughter quite seriously.

The threat to the imperial family was real. After all, what happened to the Romanovs after the October Revolution? Members of that dynasty were murdered in Ekaterinburg, Alapaievsk, Perm, and Petrograd.