Tchaikovsky
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Emperor Aleksandr III

Император Александр III

Born Grand Duke Aleksandr Aleksandrovich on 26 February/10 March 1845 in Sant Petersburg, the second son of Tsar Aleksandr II by his wife Mariia Aleksandrovna (Marie of Hese).

On the death of his elder brother Nikolai in 1865, Aleksandr unexpectedly became heir to the Russian throne, and carried out his brother's wish that he should marry his fiancée, Princess Maria Dagmar, who subsequently became  the Grand Duchess Mariia Fedorovna (Мария Федоровна). Tchaikovsky was commissioned to write a Festival Overture on the Danish National Anthem, Op. 15, as part of the wedding festivities, and he was rewarded for his efforts with a set of jewelled cuff-links, which he promptly sold on to Aleksandr Dubuque.

In March 1881 Aleksandr succeeded to the throne following the assassination of his father. For the coronation celebrations in May 1883, Tchaikovsky was commissioned to write a festival cantata - entitled Moscow - and a Coronation March for orchestra.

Aleksandr III greatly admired Tchaikovsky's music, and members of the Imperial family frequently attended Tchaikovsky’s operas and ballets, buying up new editions of Tchaikovsky’s music to play at home. Tchaikovsky’s outstanding merits as a citizen were also appreciated: he was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir in the fourth degree and a lifetime pension, and was presented with a valuable ring as a personal gift from the Tsar. His death was reported to have "grieved the Tsar and Tsarina greatly", and the Aleksandr III personally decreed that Tchaikovsky should be given a state funeral.

Tsar Aleksandr III died at Livadiia, Crimea, on 20 October/1 November 1894, aged 49.