The coronation of Tsar Nicholas II, the last emperor of Russia, was a lavish affair marred by tragedy. Held on May 26th, 1896, in the Dormition Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, the ceremony marked the official start of his reign. Months of preparation had transformed Moscow, with elaborate decorations and celebratory events planned. However, just days before the coronation, a crowd gathered for a free food handout at Khodynka Field descended into a deadly stampede, leaving over 1,400 people dead and approximately 20,000 injured. Nicholas II, despite the tragedy, proceeded with the coronation. This decision cast a shadow over the festivities and foreshadowed the unrest that would ultimately engulf his reign.
