On March 15, 1917 at a railroad in the city of Pskov in western Russia, in the Imperial train, Russian Tsar Nicholas II signed his abdication in favor of his son with Grand Duke Mikhail acting as regent, and decided to abdicate in favor of his brother. “As We do not wish to part from Our beloved son, We transmit the succession to Our brother, the Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich, and give Him Our blessing to mount the Throne of the Russian Empire.”
“In the morning Ruzski came and read his very long direct-wire talk with Rodzianko. According to this, the situation in Petrograd is such that a Ministry of the Duma would now be powerless to do anything, for it has to contend with the Social-Democratic Party, represented by the workers’ committee. My abdication is required. Ruzski transmitted this talk to Headquarters, and Alexeev sent it on to all the commanders-in-chief. By 2 o'clock replies were received from them. The gist of them is that in order to save Russia and keep the army at the front quiet, such a step must be taken. I have agreed. From Headquarters has been sent a draft of a manifesto. In the evening Guchkov and Shulgin arrived from Petrograd, with whom I discussed the matter, and I handed them the signed and altered manifesto. At 1 o'clock in the morning [16th] I left Pskov, with a heavy heart because of the things gone through. All around me there is betrayal, cowardice, and deceit.” - diary of Nicholas II, March 15, Thursday.
In the wake of the February Revolution, his brother Mikhail Alexandrovich chose to decline the throne unless it was offered him by a popularly elected constituent assembly. In the absence of such a circumstance he offered full support to the Provisional Government. Mikhail’s moderation did not endear him to the Bolsheviks however, he was imprisoned and murdered in June 1918. Nicholas and his family were executed on the night of 16/17 July 1918.
