CHAPTER XII

ALEXANDER II, THE CZAR LIBERATOR (1855-1881 A.D.) 578

The fall of Sebastopol, 579. Amelioration in the condition of the soldier, 585. The emancipation of the serfs, 586. Laws and social rights granted to the peasants, 588. Text of the imperial proclamation, 589. Effects of the new conditions, 593. Abolition of corporal punishment, 595. Reforms in the courts of justice, 596. The Polish insurrection of 1863, 597. The subjection of the Caucasus, 598. The taking of Schamyl, 599. Wars with Khokand and Bokhara, 600. A glance at the past history of Bokhara, 600. The conquest of Khiva, 601. The Russo-Turkish War, 602. Spread of education and civilisation, 606. The death of Alexander II, 607.

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