Emperor of Russia (1796–1801). He was the disturbed son of the empress Catherine II and Peter III, and was greatly affected by the murder of his father during Catherine’s coup d’état in 1762. After Catherine’s death in 1796 he began a reign of frenzied despotism. He was obsessed by a fear of revolution and joined the coalitions against France. His attempts to violate the order of succession led to a conspiracy, which included his son, Alexander I, and in March 1801 resulted in his murder.