Emperor Nicholas II was the last ruler of the Russian Empire, reigning from 1894 until his abdication in 1917. He was born in 1868 and became Tsar after the death of his father, Alexander III. Nicholas II is often remembered for his struggles to modernize Russia and his inability to address the growing unrest among the people, which ultimately led to the Russian Revolution. During his reign, Nicholas II faced numerous challenges, including military defeats in World War I and economic turmoil. In 1918, he and his family were executed by Bolsheviks, marking the end of the Romanov dynasty and a significant turning point in Russian history.