PAUL I TSAR OF RUSSIA

Paul I was the son of Peter III, also known as Peter The Great, and Catherine II. He became Tsar of Russia in 1796 until he died in 1801. He was born in 1754.

Catherine II, also known as Catherine The Great, seized power from her mentally unstable husband in 1762. Although she done great things for Russia she herself died under rather strange circumstances in a stable trampled to death by a horse wearing only a nightdress.

When Paul was acceding to the throne, he introduced a law of succession based on Primogeniture. He limited nobility’s exploitation of labourer Serfs attached to their estates.

Furthermore, he also brought in a law stopping foreign travel, imports of Western music and books.

Fearing the revolution spreading into Russia, he joined a coalition against France in 1798. His foreign policy led to poor relationship with Britain and an abortive raid on British colony India.

He was murdered in 1801 in a conspiracy of army officers and nobles, with the support of his son, Alexander who followed on the throne as Alexander I.