Alexander I of Russia was born on 12 December 1777 in Saint Petersburg. Emperor of Russia from 1801, Alexander I came to the throne after the murder of his father, Paul I. He began his reign with liberal plans for reform, but was drawn into the wars against Napoleon, suffering defeat at Austerlitz and reaching a settlement at Tilsit. Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812 ended in disaster for France, and Alexander's armies marched to Paris. At the Congress of Vienna he was a leading figure, and he promoted the Holy Alliance among the conservative monarchs. In his later years he grew mystical and reactionary. He died suddenly in Taganrog, and a legend arose that he had faked his death.
Before and after
- from 14 June 1777 to 17 October 1777Saratoga campaign
- 14 August 1777Birth of Hans Christian Ørsted
- 11 September 1777Battle of Brandywine
- from 19 September 1777 to 17 December 1777Battles of Saratoga
- 12 December 1777Birth of Alexander I of Russia
- 1778Discovery of molybdenum
- 25 February 1778Birth of José de San Martín
- from 25 May 1778 to 30 May 1778Mount Hope Bay raids
- 30 May 1778Death of Voltaire
More in Wars, politics & history
- 16 December 1773Boston Tea Party
- from 14 July 1789 to 9 November 1799French Revolution
- from 1821 to 1829Greek War of Independence
- from 12 April 1861 to 9 April 1865American Civil War
- from 24 April 1877 to 3 March 1878Tenth Russo-Turkish War
- 27 August 1896Anglo-Zanzibar War
The era
This moment belongs to the Industrial era (1760 CE to 1914 CE), steam, factories and revolutions. You can also browse everything in the 18th century.