Alexander II (r. 1855–1881), known as the was one of Russia's most transformative yet tragic rulers. He is most famous for the Emancipation Reform of 1861 , which freed over 20 million serfs—roughly a third of the population—earning him comparisons to Abraham Lincoln. His reign, often called the "Era of Great Reforms," modernized Russia's judicial, military, and local government systems, yet he met a violent end at the hands of the very revolutionary movements his liberalization helped foster. Key Historical Highlights