<sod>Paul I was murdered in his palace in Saint Petersburg in 1801. Alexander I succeeded him on the throne and later died without leaving a son. His brother, crowned [[Nicholas I of Russia|Nicholas I]], succeeded him on the throne.<ref name="gotha"/> The succession was far from smooth, however, as hundreds of troops took the oath of allegiance to Nicholas's elder brother, [[Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich of Russia|Constantine Pavlovich]] who, unbenknownst to them, had renounced his claim to the throne in 1822, following his marriage. The confusion, combined with opposition to Nicholas' accession, led to the [[Decembrist revolt]].<ref name="burkeI"/> Nicholas I fathered four sons, educating them for the prospect of ruling Russia and for military careers, from whom the last branches of the dynasty descended.<eod>
<sod>Paul I was murdered in his palace in Saint Petersburg in 1801. Alexander I succeeded him on the throne and later died without leaving a son. His brother, crowned [[Nicholas I of Russia|Nicholas I]], succeeded him on the throne.<ref name="gotha"/> The succession was far from smooth, however, as hundreds of troops took the oath of allegiance to Nicholas's elder brother, [[Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich of Russia|Constantine Pavlovich]] who, unbeknownst to them, had renounced his claim to the throne in 1822, following his marriage. The confusion, combined with opposition to Nicholas' accession, led to the [[Decembrist revolt]].<ref name="burkeI"/> Nicholas I fathered four sons, educating them for the prospect of ruling Russia and for military careers, from whom the last branches of the dynasty descended.<eod>