The son of the autocratic Alexander III, he was unlike his powerful father: he was short, quiet and reserved, with only a passing interest in the business of government.
He was the tsar (emperor) of Russia until his overthrow in March 1917, caused in large part by World War I.
He survived a popular but disorganised attempt at revolution in 1905, chiefly by making promises of reform that were later broken.
He led his empire into World War I, blinded by a naive belief that Wilhelm II would not wage war against his own cousin.
He and his family were held under house arrest for a time, before being executed by communist partisans in July 1918.
