Nicholas II Alexandrovich Romanov was the son of Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna (Born Princess Dagmar of Denmark) he was born 18 May [O.S. 6 May] 1868, he became Emperor on 1 November 1894 after his father's death. While he supported and advocated Social and political reforms as well as modernization , his insistence on traditional autocracy and an unpreparedness for his role in his youth lead to a troubled and controversial reign that eventually to unrest.