The Tsar issued his formal declaration of war on 2 August 1914:
BY the Grace of God, We, Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of all Russia, Tsar of Poland, Grand Duke of Finland, etc., etc., proclaim to all Our loyal subjects:
Following her historical traditions, Russia, united in faith and blood with the Slav nations, has never regarded their fate with indifference. The unanimous fraternal sentiments of the Russian people for the Slavs have been aroused to special intensity in the past few days, when Austria-Hungary presented to Serbia demands which she foresaw would be unacceptable to a Sovereign State.
Having disregarded the conciliatory and peaceable reply of the Serbian Government, and having declined Russia's well-intentioned mediation, Austria hastened to launch an armed attack in a bombardment of unprotected Belgrade.
Compelled, by the force of circumstances thus created, to adopt the necessary measures of precaution, We commanded that the army and the navy be put on a war footing, but, at the same time, holding the blood and the treasure of Our subjects dear, We made every effort to obtain a peaceable issue of the negotiations that had been started.
In the midst of friendly communications, Austria's Ally, Germany, contrary to our trust in century-old relations of neighbourliness and paying no heed to Our assurances that the measures We had adopted implied no hostile aims whatever, insisted upon their immediate abandonment, and, meeting with a rejection of this demand, suddenly declared war on Russia.
We have now to intercede not only for a related country, unjustly attacked, but also to safeguard the honour, dignity, and integrity of Russia, and her position among the Great Powers. We firmly believe that all Our loyal subjects will rally self-sacrificingly and with one accord to the defence of the Russian soil.
At this hour of threatening danger, let domestic strife be forgotten. Let the union between the Tsar and His people be stronger than ever, and let Russia, rising like one man, repel the insolent assault of the enemy.
With a profound faith in the justice of Our cause, and trusting humbly in Almighty Providence, We invoke prayerfully the Divine blessing for Holy Russia and our valiant troops.
Given at Saint Petersburg, on the second day of August, in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and fourteen, and the twentieth year of Our reign.
NICHOLAS
Now, at the Winter Palace having earlier sworn to “Never make peace so long as a single enemy remains on Russian soil” (the same pledge as that made by Tsar Alexander I in 1812 when faced with invasion by Napoleon Bonaparte) he strode onto its balcony wearing the uniform of a simple infantryman not that of an elite Guards Regiment hand-in-hand with the Tsarina resplendent in a white dress who pinned back her hat so her face could be seen by the crowd thronging in the square below.
The Tsar signalled for the crowd to hush so he could speak but their excitement was too great as sweltering in the intense heat and with icons held high glistening in the light of a bright and relentless sun they shouted, “Long live the Tsar,” and “Great Father lead us to victory,” fell to their knees, made the sign of the cross, and sang the national anthem. All the imperial couple could do was watch and nod their approval as tears ran down their cheeks.
Witnessing events the French Ambassador Maurice Paleologue wrote:
“At that moment the Tsar really was the Autocrat, the military, political and religious director of his people, the absolute master of their bodies and souls.”
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