Grand Duke of Russia.
He was the junior brother of Alexander I, who was to succeed him to the Russian throne. His secret abdication led to a 25-day interregnum and caused the Decembrist Revolt.
Background
Lived: 1779-1831.
Konstantin Pavlovich was the second son of Paul I and Maria Fyodorovna of Württemberg. Similarly to his older brother Alexander, he was also taken away from his parents and raised by Catherine the Great. Of all the Paul’s children, Konstantin resembled him the most, both physically and mentally.
Abdication
When Alexander I died in December 1825, Konstantin was falsely known for 25 days as His Imperial Majesty Konstantin I Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias.
It was not known to the public that he had secretly abdicated already in 1823, leaving the throne to his younger brother Nicholas.
When news of his abdication came to St. Petersburg, a group of young officers provoked an uprising against Nicholas that came to be known as the Decembrist Revolt.
Legacy
Konstantin Pavlovich died of cholera. Notably, he is remembered as a man, who sometimes took a stand against his brother, the emperor.
In Poland, where he was a Governor, he is remembered as an extremely ruthless ruler.
Konstantin Pavlovich Romanov
Grand Duke of Russia.
He was the junior brother of Alexander I, who was to succeed him to the Russian throne. His secret abdication led to a 25-day interregnum and caused the Decembrist Revolt.
Background
Lived: 1779-1831.
Konstantin Pavlovich was the second son of Paul I and Maria Fyodorovna of Württemberg. Similarly to his older brother Alexander, he was also taken away from his parents and raised by Catherine the Great. Of all the Paul’s children, Konstantin resembled him the most, both physically and mentally.
Abdication
When Alexander I died in December 1825, Konstantin was falsely known for 25 days as His Imperial Majesty Konstantin I Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias.
It was not known to the public that he had secretly abdicated already in 1823, leaving the throne to his younger brother Nicholas.
When news of his abdication came to St. Petersburg, a group of young officers provoked an uprising against Nicholas that came to be known as the Decembrist Revolt.
Legacy
Konstantin Pavlovich died of cholera. Notably, he is remembered as a man, who sometimes took a stand against his brother, the emperor.
In Poland, where he was a Governor, he is remembered as an extremely ruthless ruler.
Russia Under Nicholas I