Tsar Alexander II is assassinated. Alexander II, Tsar of Russia since 1855, is killed in St. Petersburg by a bomb launched by a member of the revolutionary group “People’s Will.” Formed in 1879, the group carried out terrorist acts and assassinations aimed at overthrowing the tsarist autocracy, and before assassinating him on March 13, 1881, they made several attempts on the tsar’s life. Alexander did much to liberalize and modernize Russia (in 1861 he abolished serfdom), but he always defended his authority, even through repression, especially against reformist movements. On the same day he was assassinated, he had signed a proclamation (the so-called Loris-Melikov Constitution), which provided for the creation of two legislative commissions, composed of indirectly elected representatives. He was succeeded by his son Alexander III, who rejected the Loris-Melikov Constitution. The assassins of Alexander II were arrested and hanged, and their group was finally disbanded.
