Paul I of Russia

Paul I was Emperor of Russia from 1796 until his assassination in 1801. He lived much of his life overshadowed by his mother, Catherine the Great. As emperor he set the laws of succession to the Russian throne that lasted until the end of the Romanov dynasty, imposed the first limits on serfdom through the Manifesto of three-day corvee, tried to curtail noble privilege and pursued military reforms that were deeply unpopular with officers. His unpredictable behavior fed the conspiracy that ended his life. In 1799 he joined the Second Coalition against Revolutionary France with Britain and Austria, then withdrew after setbacks, realigned with France and led the Second League of Armed Neutrality against Britain. Late in his reign Kartli and Kakheti in eastern Georgia were added to the empire, and he was reported to be planning a joint invasion of British India with the French. He served as Grand Master of the Russian tradition of the Knights Hospitaller from 1799 to 1801 and was killed in a struggle with officers who sought his abdication. His son Alexander I succeeded him.