Russian Royalty ~He was the second son of Czar Nicholas I of Russia and Alexandra Feodorovna. He was an active child somewhat quick tempered, loud, and described as stout, not really handsome. While visiting away from the homeland, the nineteen-year-old Grand Duke met the sixteen-year-old, tall and beautiful Princess Alexandra. He fell in love with her as soon as they met. On September 11, 1848 they married in the Winter Palace in Russia and the bride converted to Russian Orthodoxy, taking the name of Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna. Constantine was educated from a child to be the commander of the Russian navy, which is what he did most of his life. Inheriting the outdated fleet of Peter the Great, he made many reforms including intense training for the personnel. The Russian Navy played an important part in the Crimean War, where Constantine and his brother the Czar Alexander II witnessed the true terrors of war, including the death of their father. From that experience, Constantine main goal was peace for his country. He played an important role in the emancipation of the serfs, which many nobles disapproved, thus fought him for years against his decision. In 1862, he was appointed to the post of Viceroy of Poland. Shortly after arriving to Poland, he was shot in the shoulder by an assailant. The czar asked him to return home for his own safety, but both Constantine and his wife requested to stay, which proved to be a mistake as the country revolted and became uncontrollable. In August 1863, he asked the emperor to relieve him of the post of Viceroy and it was accepted. Constantine was unhappy with the failure of not being a political leader and had a "mid-life crises". He returned to his duties as Admiral-General of the Imperial Navy, but his relationship with his wife, which he called "government issued", started to fail leading to a couple of extramartial affairs and fathering six children. He had other embarrassing personal family problems, when his oldest son was found guilty of stealing pieces of royal jewelry, declared insane, and banished to Asia for the rest of his life. Also, his youngest son died from a brain hemorrhage in 1862. In April 1885, his two surviving illegitimate sons died days apart of scarlet fever. After his brother's death, a nephew Alexander III began his reign. Since he did not care for his uncle's behavior, he belittled him at every chance including refusing Constantine's sons the title of Grand Duke; they were to be addressed as Prince. Constantine was not allow at court except once, his granddaughter's wedding. It was at this wedding in August 1889, he suffered from a severe stroke leaving him dependent, unable to ambulate or speak. His wife Alexandra, with the help of servants, became his primary caregiver, but she restricted his visitors not allowing him to see his mistress and their children. So angry about this, with every effort, he pulled Alexandra by the hair on her head and beat her with his walking stick. Before his death, Alexandra did invite his mistress and their remaining children to the palace for a farewell visit.