Alexander I of Russia (Russian: Aleksandr I Pavlovich) (23 December [O.S.

12 December] 1777 – 1 December [O.S.

19 November] 1825),[1] (Russian: Aleksandr Blagoslovennyi, meaning Alexander the Blessed) serves as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825.

He is also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania.

He was born in Saint Petersburg to Grand Duke Paul Petrovich, later Emperor Paul I, and Maria Feodorovna, daughter of the Duke of Württemberg.

The eldest of four brothers, Alexander succeeds to the throne after his father is murdered, and rules Russia during the chaotic period of the Napoleonic Wars.

In the first half of his reign Alexander tries to introduce liberal reforms, while in the second half his conduct becomes much more arbitrary, which leads to the revocation of many earlier reforms.

In foreign policy, Alexander gains some successes, mainly by his diplomatic skills and by winning several military campaigns.

In particular, Russia acquires Finland and part of Poland under his rule.

His sudden death in Taganrog, under allegedly suspicious circumstances, gives rise to rumors that Alexander in fact did not die in 1825, but instead chose to "disappear", living the rest of his life in anonymity.