Both Sergei Witte and Empress Alexandra also have grave concerns about his methods. When Grand Duke Sergei is murdered, Nicholas dismisses his Police Chief and considers Pyotr Rachovsky as a suitable replacement, even though he is rumoured to use agent provocateurs. Petersburg's working class leads to the assassination of the interior minister Vyacheslav von Plehve and then to a disastrous demonstration led by police spy Georgy Gapon. While Nicholas is pre-occupied by war with Japan, the health of his only son Alexei, and the continual unsolicited advice of his cousin the Kaiser, a rising tide of discontent among St. In Russia, the question is no longer whether revolution, but how and led by whom? In London, Vladimir Lenin is developing his own, more radical, brand of Marxism and manoeuvres to divide the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party from his rival Julius Martov. Nicholas II has been Tsar for nine years. Meanwhile, the autocratic conservatism of the Imperial Government is breeding revolutionaries. The young Tsarevich is similarly apprehensive. The Imperial Family exerts efforts to hide the outcome to the outside world to cover what may be a potential scandal.Īlexander III of Russia doubts the ability of his son and heir-apparent, Nicholas, to rule Russia. Tragedy besets the Imperial Family when Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary and his young mistress Mary Vetsera are found dead at the hunting lodge at Mayerling. The elderly Chancellor seeks support from Vicky but she blames him for the estrangement between mother and son. Unfortunately, events will prove fatal for Bismarck as, first Wilhelm I and then his successor Frederick III (Fritz), die and the imperious Wilhelm-now Kaiser Wilhelm II-assumes the throne Bismarck was forced to resign. His plans also extend to Fritz and Vicky's son Wilhelm, who has become estranged from his parents. The British princess is unprepared for her new life in Germany, where her liberal views clash with the Prussian doctrine of iron and blood.īismarck's aim of a unified German empire is furthered through a new League of the Three Emperors. Queen Victoria's eldest daughter Victoria ("Vicky") marries Prince Frederick ("Fritz") of Prussia.
Franz, however, has other ideas when he prefers Helene's 15-year-old sister Elisabeth.
His mother Archduchess Sophie is determined to ensure the Habsburg line and favours her niece Helene as the future empress. Franz Josef is Emperor of Austria and unmarried.
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