On this day – 15th (O.S. 2nd) March 1917 – an illegal coup forced Russia’s last Emperor and Tsar to abdicate, bringing an end to more than 300 years of the Romanov dynasty, the monarchy and the Russian Empire. Upon Nicholas II’s abdication, power in Russia then passed to the Russian Provisional Government, signaling victory for the February Revolution.

It was also on this day in 1917, that the Reigning Icon of the Mother of God was revealed to a peasant woman in Kolomenskoye (near Moscow). Many believe the reappearance of the icon was an indication that the Virgin Mary was displeased with Russia for dethroning the Tsar during the February 1917 Revolution.

Emperor Nicholas II abdicated in the heartfelt belief that his abdication would save the honour of the army, prevent civil war and keep Russia in the war against Germany. Sadly, it did not. In his diary, Nicholas wrote: “I am surrounded by betrayal, cowardice, and deceit.“

The Emperor came under heavy fire of criticism, some of it coming from close relatives.But,Nicholas II’s younger sister Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna (1882-1960), was staunch in her defence of her brother’s difficult decision. “Not only did he want to prevent further disorders when he gave up his crown but he had no other choice.”

The French tutor to Nicholas II’s children, Pierre Gilliard, who followed the Tsar and his family into exile, recalls in his memoirs Thirteen Years at the Russian Court: “I then for the first time heard the Tsar regret his abdication.”

PHOTO: the Manifesto of the Abdication of Nicholas II – English translation, below

English translation of the Act of Abdication

“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 honour 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 to part from Our beloved son, We transmit the succession to Our brother, the Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich, and give Him Our blessing to mount the Throne of the Russian Empire. We direct Our brother to conduct the affairs of the nation with the representatives of the people in 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 in 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. May the Lord God help Russia!” Nikolai

VIDEO: ‘The Conspiracy Against Nicholas II’, written and narrated by Paul Gilbert.
Duration: 7 minutes, 36 seconds. CLICK on the image above to watch this video

Shrouded in controversy, myths and lies

More than a century after this tragic event, the abdication of Emperor Nicholas II continues to be the subject of debate among many historians.

Some historians argue that the act of abdication was invalid for two reasons: one, because it was signed in pencil, violating all the necessary legal and procedural methods and format, and thus had no legal force; and two, because the instrument of abdication was never officially published by the Imperial Senate.

Another Russian historian further adds that “the Tsar’s signing of the instrument of abdication, his status as Tsar remained inviolate and unassailable”.

Further, in his scholarly book ‘Russia 1917. The February Revolution,’ the Russian-born historian George Mikhailovich Katkov (1903-1985), throws yet another coal into the fire:

“ . . . when the Tsar abdicated, and later on behalf of his son, he was accused of having done so in contravention of the Law of Succession and with the aim of introducing a legal flaw into the instrument of abdication that would later allow him to declare it invalid.”

If this is true, it was a very clever move on the part of Nicholas II, not realizing the terrible fate which awaited him and his family 15 months later in Ekaterinburg.

Faithful to the end: three generals who remained loyal to Nicholas II

In addition, historians have also led us to believe that Nicholas II was betrayed by all of his generals in the days leading up to his abdication.

This is incorrect.

Few people realize that when Nicholas II abdicated in March 1917, three generals remained faithful to their oath to the Emperor: Nikolai Iudovich Ivanov (1851-1919), Fyodor Arturovich Keller (1857-1918), and Huseyn Khan Nakhchivanski (1863-1919).

The generals sent telegrams to the Tsar at Mogliev expressing their loyalty to Nicholas II, offering their troops to defend the monarchy. The telegrams never reached the Sovereign, having been intercepted by traitors and supporters of the Provisional Government.

Source: “They did not betray their oath” – the fate of the generals who remained loyal to Nicholas II + PHOTOS

in 1997, a memorial plaque pictured above) was installed at the entranve of the railway station in Pskov. The translation of the text reads: “On March 2 (15), 1917, at 3:05 p.m., in the saloon car of the Tsar’s train at the Pskov station, Emperor Nicholas II abdicated the throne of the Russian State”.

FURTHER READING:

The Tsar’s Chapel in Pskov, in memory of the Tsar’s abdication + PHOTOS

Nicholas II’s stop at Dno, one day before his abdication in 1917

Last church where Nicholas II prayed before his abdication will be restored

© Paul Gilbert. 15 March 2026