Nikolai II, also known as Nicholas II, was the last Emperor of Russia, reigning from 1894 until his abdication in 1917. He was born on May 18, 1868, and became Tsar after the death of his father, Alexander III. His reign saw significant events, including the Russo-Japanese War and the Russian Revolution. Nikolai II and his family were executed by Bolsheviks in 1918, marking the end of the Romanov dynasty that had ruled Russia for over 300 years. He was canonized as a martyr by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia in 1981, and his legacy remains a topic of debate among historians.