Cherbourg. The Imperial Yacht "Polar Star". Nicholas II, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, Paris, 1896

Путешествие Цесаревича Николая II на Восток Pусские наследники, начиная от Павла I и до Александра III, завершив курс наук, отправлялись в путешествие. Чаще всего путешествий было два: большое – по России, чуть поменьше – по Европе. На этот раз для Николая планировалось совершенно необычное, грандиозное, морское и сухопутное турне, которое объединило оба путешествия. Причем та, и другая части путешествия, в значительной их части, должны были проходить по территории, где раньше не бывал ни один цесаревич. 1890-1891. The journey of Tsarevich Nicholas II to the East Russian heirs, starting from Paul I and Alexander III, completing the course of science, went on a trip. Most of the travels were two: large - in Russia, a little less - in Europe. This time for Nikolay, an unusual, grandiose, sea and land tour was planned, which combined both trips. Parts of the journey were to planned through a territories Russian cesarevitches never visited before. 1890-1891.

During the 1890s, Russia's foreign policy moved away from Germany and toward France. After Bismarck lost office, there was no renewal of the Reinsurance treaty between Russia and Germany. The German bankers stopped lending to Russia, which increasingly depended on Paris banks. Russia left Bismarck's Three Emperors' League (with Germany and Austria) and instead took up the French proposal for closer relationships and a military alliance. Russia felt humiliated after Austria and Germany prevented it from helping Serbia. The Anglo-Russian Entente and the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907 made both countries part of the Triple Entente. Both Britain and Russia were then part of the subsequent alliance against the Central Powers in the First World War.