Shining City Audio, a John Meachum in C-13 original studio.

March 2, 1917, Tsar Nicholas II abdicates the Russian throne.

I'm John Meachum, and this is Reflections of History.

It was the end of one autocracy, one dictatorship, though the decision would help lead to another.

On this date in 1917 amid the Great War, Nicholas II of Russia abdicated amid what is known as the February Revolution,

which would quickly be followed by the rise of the Soviet Union later in the year.

The grandson of Queen Victoria and Nicholas would, along with his immediate family, be murdered by revolutionaries.

His abdication statement is intriguing.

He was hoping that his brother would succeed him, but the grand duke declined, thus making Nicholas the last Tsar of Russia, though not, as we know, the last dictator.

On this date, Nicholas wrote,

in the days of the Great Struggle against the foreign enemies who for nearly three years have tried to enslave our fatherland,

the Lord God has been pleased to send down on Russia a new, heavy trial.

Internal popular disturbances threaten to have a disastrous effect on the future conduct of this persistent war.

The destiny of Russia, the honor of our heroic army, the welfare of the people and the whole future of our dear fatherland,

demand that the war should be brought to a victorious conclusion, whatever the cost.

The cruel enemy is making his last efforts, and already the hour approaches when our glorious army together with our gallant allies will crush him.

In these decisive days in the life of Russia, we thought it our duty of conscience to facilitate for our people the closest union possible,

and a consolidation of all national forces for the speedy attainment of victory.

In agreement with the Imperial Duma, we have thought it well to renounce the throne of the Russian Empire and to lay down the supreme power.

As we do not wish depart from our beloved son, we transmit the secession to our brother, the Grand Duke, Michael, Alexandrovich, and give him our blessing to mount the throne of the Russian Empire.

We direct our brother to conduct the affairs of state in full and involable union with the representatives of the people and the legislative bodies on those principles which will be established by them and on which he will take an inviolable oath.

In the name of our dearly beloved homeland, we call on our faithful sons of the Fatherland to fulfill their sacred duty to the Fatherland, to obey the Tsar and the heavy moment of national trials, and to help him together with the representatives of the people to guide the Russian Empire on the road to victory, welfare, and glory.

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