22. Paul I of Russia antagonized his subjects during his short reign
Paul I of Russia was the son of Catherine the Great, believed he was the rightful Tsar during most of her reign, and acceded to the throne upon her death from a stroke. His attempts to reform the army led to the resentment of the nobility, reforms over the treatment of the peasant class increased the resentment, and four years into his reign a conspiracy was formed among his closest advisors to assassinate him and place his son on the throne. His son was in the palace where the assassination of the Tsar took place, though there is no evidence that he was part of the conspiracy. Paul I fought back against his attackers, who eventually killed him by strangling him and kicking his inert body, after which they informed the new Tsar, Alexander I, to assume the throne. Alexander was 23, and in one of his first acts as Tsar decided not to prosecute or otherwise punish the conspirators who killed his father.