'The Great Reactionary', was this a fair title for Alexander III?

What does the term ‘The Great Reactionary’ mean? A 'reactionary' is someone who opposes social and political reform, such as liberalist attitudes and progress. They react to events, such as the death of AII, in a harsh manner.

What are the key themes to address in this essay? ·        abandonment of the Loris-Melikov reform proposals and AIII's change in ministers ·        the re-establishment of noble power, the land captains, and the undermining of the zemstva and dumas ·        changes in methods of control and repression, including the use of law courts, education, censorship and the police ·        Russification and the treatment of ethnic minorities ·        religious policies ·        lower classes helped + former serfs' positions improved ·        AIII's views on the government ·        Increase in Russian Industrialisation ·        His Personality (described as a ‘limited, unfit ruler whose personality dominated the statesman in him’ and his policies were doomed from the start and pushed Russia towards revolution. Alexander’s own family believed him to be ‘unintelligent, slow to learn and had a very inadequate knowledge of history, literature, economy and the law’.) ·        Alexander was trained by Konstantin Pobedonostsev and the military. In the 15 years before he became Tsar, he privately disagreed with his father about the treatment of Russia’s nationalities and he wanted harsh repressive measures against political extremists. Alexander III did not want the army to be liberalised and he actually wanted the country to aggressive militarily. He made it clear to his father that when he became Tsar he would reverse all of the reforms made under Alexander II. ·        The aristocracy liked him because he was a strong supporter of Russian nationalism and Pan-Slavism and he wanted to return to anti-German policies.

Overview: Alexander III, or Alexander Alexandrovich Romanov (Russian: Александр Александрович Романов) (10 March 1845 – 20 October 1894) was Emperor of Russia, King of Poland and Grand Prince of Finland from 13 March 1881 until his death on 20 October  1894. He was highly conservative and reversed some of the liberal measures of his father, Alexander II. During Alexander's reign Russia fought no major wars, for which he was styled "The Peacemaker" (Russian: "Миротворец").