A week later, preparations for the coronation of Nicholas as the Tsar of the Russian Empire were complete. The air in the Winter Palace was thick with anticipation---not the heavy dread that had clung to the recent funeral of Alexander I, but a vibrant, almost breathless excitement. The succession, once clouded by the unexpected passing of the late Emperor, had resolved itself with quiet dignity. Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich, with a grace that belied his earlier private renunciation, had firmly and publicly affirmed his decision, clearing the path for his younger brother, Nicholas.
Moscow, the ancient heart of Russia, had been transformed into a breathtaking tableau of Imperial splendor, its streets now a stage fit for a Tsar. Triumphal arches, adorned with gilded symbols of power and prosperity, soared above the cobbled paths. Elegant tribunes, draped in rich crimson and gold, lined the processional route, ready to welcome the throngs of loyal subjects. Pavilions, intricately designed and bedecked with banners, dotted the landscape, while towering obelisks, gleaming under the sun, marked the city's proud history. As twilight descended, the city truly came alive, illuminated by a spectacle of five hundred thousand fires. Every spire, every dome, every ancient wall of the Kremlin sparkled with a radiant glow, a dazzling display of light. Seamen from the Navy Admiralty had installed lights on the Ivan the Great Belfry and the very tops of the Kremlin towers, ensuring the entire city shimmered under a canopy of man-made stars.
On June 14, 1826, the majestic river of carriages and mounted guards flowed through the ancient capital as Emperor Nicholas I and Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna entered Moscow. The imperial couple, with their young heir, the future Alexander II, seated beside them in a magnificent carriage, moved with stately grace. As they reached the Red Porch, a wave of hushed reverence swept through the crowd. There, members of the coronation committee awaited, presenting the Emperor and Empress with bread and salt, a deeply symbolic Russian ritual that spoke of the people's virtues and gratefulness to the Tsar.
The eve of the coronation brought another ceremony of "incredible concourse"—the ceremonial transfer of the Imperial regalia. A procession of nine carriages, each carrying priceless symbols of the Romanov dynasty, moved from the Armoury Chamber, past the Manezh, through the Iverskie Gates to Red Square, and finally through the Spasskie Gates to the Nikolaevsky Palace.
The heart of the coronation unfolded on July 1, 1826, within the hallowed walls of the Assumption Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin. This venerable cathedral, the sacred site for Russian coronations since 1547, was transformed into a breathtaking sanctuary. An enormous, rectangular canopy, draped in rich crimson velvet and emblazoned with the embroidered coat of arms of the Russian Empire, hung majestically under its dome, casting a warm, regal glow over the proceedings. The air within the cathedral vibrated with the solemn strains of Orthodox liturgy, presided over by Philaret, the revered Archbishop of Moscow. The court choir, positioned on an elevation between the Annunciation and Archangel Cathedrals, filled the space with hymns and fanfares, their voices soaring to the vaulted ceilings. Readings from the Old Testament---from Isaiah---and the Gospel, fittingly on "rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesar's," resonated with profound meaning. Archbishop Philaret, a figure of immense spiritual authority, emerged from the altar bearing a silver reliquary containing the crucial documents of succession: Paul I's decree, Alexander I's testament, and Konstantin's formal abdication.
Publicly reading these documents, his voice rang out loud before the oath of allegiance. Alexander was actually excited to hear the speech, as it wasn't documented in any records, so he was curious why it had a "wonderful effect" on the assembled populace.
"Your Imperial Majesty, Most Pious Sovereign Emperor Nicholas Pavlovich! Your Imperial Majesty, Most Pious Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna! Beloved children of Holy Rus'!"
The entire place was silent as everyone listened attentively. Alexander's siblings, watching everything unfold with curiosity were fully focused. As this is their first time seeing such a huge crowd of people at one place.
"We stand this day within these hallowed walls, under the watchful gaze of our Lord, in this ancient and sacred heart of our Fatherland. By the grace of Almighty God, and by the steadfast will of His Divine Providence, the path to the throne has been made clear, and the succession has passed seamlessly, as decreed by the will of Heaven and the holy laws of our blessed Empire. Your Imperial Majesty, you have borne the weight of this transition with a humility and wisdom that reflects a sovereign chosen by Heaven. You have stepped forth into this immense responsibility, not from earthly ambition, but as a servant of the Almighty, called to the greatest and most demanding of all vocations. For indeed, all power, all authority, descends from God. The scepter you are about to receive, the crown that shall rest upon your brow, are not mere symbols of earthly dominion, but sacred instruments of divine will. The burden of a Tsar is the heaviest of all, a service demanding unwavering faith, boundless wisdom, and ceaseless dedication. It is a path fraught with trials, where the welfare of millions rests upon a single soul. Therefore, we pray that the Wisdom that sits at the right hand of God's throne be with you, O Sovereign. May your heart be ever in His hand, that you may turn every deed, every decision, to the benefit of the people God has entrusted to your care, and to His eternal glory. May the Holy Spirit, whose invisible power you are about to receive through the visible sign of anointing, illuminate your rule, guiding you in righteousness and truth. To you, O Pious Sovereign, and to your beloved Empress, we offer our fervent prayers and our humble blessings. May your reign be long, prosperous, and filled with divine grace. May peace and stability flourish throughout your vast Empire, and may the Orthodox faith, the bedrock of our nation, shine ever brighter under your pious protection. Before the solemn oath of allegiance, before the sacred anointing that will bind you irrevocably to this divine service, let the voice of the Holy Church, the voice of God's blessing, resound through this cathedral and across all of Holy Rus'! I permit and bless!"
With that, the assembled populace cheered and clapped, solidifying the divine mandate of the new Tsar. Grand Prince Konstantin himself, having arrived from Warsaw, stood as an assistant to the sovereign. Nicholas and his brother locked eyes, both smiling before looking away---a moment of understanding known only to them.
The core of the ceremony began with the sacred rituals of crowning and anointing. Emperor Nicholas I, clad in a general's uniform adorned with gilded needlework in the shape of oak branches, approached the throne. In a symbolic act of supreme authority, he crowned himself with the Great Imperial Crown. This dazzling masterpiece, first used for Catherine the Great, was a spectacle of 4,936 diamonds, 75 large white pearls, and a magnificent 398.72-carat red spinel, all culminating in a cross of five diamonds, symbolizing God-given power and divine order. He then took up the Imperial Sceptre, a burnished gold rod surmounted by the famed Orlov Diamond, and the Imperial Orb, a polished gold sphere encircled by diamonds and topped by a large sapphire and a cross.
Following his own crowning, Nicholas I turned to his beloved spouse, Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna. He gently took his Imperial Crown and briefly touched it to her forehead. He then crowned her with the smaller consort's crown, equally magnificent in its diamond-encrusted splendor. Empress Alexandra, radiant in her silver brocade coronation dress, intricately embroidered with silver threads and reflecting the romantic European fashion of the 1820s, stood beside him.
The anointing followed, a profound spiritual moment. Nicholas was sealed with holy chrism oil in eight sacred places: his forehead, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, breast, hands, and feet—a ritual mirroring the sacrament of chrismation and underscoring his "quasi-sacerdotal role." Uniquely for this occasion, he then communed directly of the Body and Blood of Christ, using his own hands, a privilege symbolizing his spiritual equality among Russia's senior clergy at that moment.
As the ceremony concluded, Nicholas I ascended the upper step of the Red Porch, turning to face the vast crowds that filled the Kremlin Square. In an unprecedented gesture, one never before performed by a Russian Emperor, he bowed his head three times to greet his loyal subjects. The reaction was immediate and overwhelming. Loud shouts of excitement filled the air. Hats flew upwards; strangers hugged, and many cried from overwhelming happiness.
Alexander's heart was beating wildly as well, as he first-hand experienced this moment. Something he had only read about was unfolding before his eyes, still feeling exciting and surreal. But also solemnly thinking to himself.
'I wonder if Father's rule will differ slightly due to the prevention of the Decembrist revolt.' It was hard to say, after all it wasn't solely due to the revolt that he was extremely conservative in the original timeline. 'He is a man afraid of change.' Concluded Alexander as he knows his father's character well both from "his" knowledge of history and from being his son.
His siblings, were joyous despite not understanding the significance of their father's action, infected by the atmosphere's happiness. The festivities continued, extending beyond the solemn rituals. A grand court masquerade was held at the Bolshoi Theatre, recently reconstructed after the fire of 1812, where ladies embraced national pride by appearing in traditional Russian sarafans, adorned with pearls and brilliants. A ceremonial play, destined to become a coronation tradition, was also performed. The meticulous planning ensured that every aspect of the celebration contributed to an atmosphere of shared jubilation and national unity. Commemorative medals, struck to mark the occasion, served as lasting tokens of this momentous day.