ALEXANDER I.,, Emperor of Russia was born Dec. 23, 1777. In 1801 he suc ceeded his father, the murdered Emperor Paul. Many reforms were at once in itiated as to education, serfdom, press censorship. In 1805, joining the coali tion against Napoleon, he was present at the battle of Austerlitz, where the allied armies of Austria and Russia were de feated, and retired with the remains of his forces into Russia. Next year he came forward as the ally of Prussia, but in 1807, after the battles of Ey]au and Friedland, he was obliged to conclude the Peace of Tilsit. In 1808 he declared war on England, and, attacking her ally Sweden, wrested therefrom the province of Finland. In the war of France against Austria in 1809 he took only a lukewarm part; against Turkey he re newed hostilities, which were continued till the Peace of Bucharest in 1812. The unnatural alliance of Alexander with France could not, however, be main tained; and though he was not with his troops during the French invasion of Russia (1812), he took an active part in the great struggles of 1813 and 1814. At
the occupation of Paris after the down fall of Napoleon in 1814, he was the central figure, and was received with enthusiasm in London. At the Congress of Vienna he laid claim to Poland, but promised to confer on it a constitution. On Napoleon's return from Elba, Alex ander urged the energetic renewal of the war. The most important political outcome of this period was the Holy Al liance, founded by Alexander, and ac cepted by all the Christian powers of Europe, except Great Britain. Many causes contributed to force him into a re actionary course, especially the influence of Metternich. He died at Taganrog, Dec. 1, 1825.