The Russian czar during World War I was Nicholas II. He ruled from 1894 until his abdication in 1917 amid the turmoil of the Russian Revolution. Nicholas II's reign saw Russia enter the war in 1914 alongside the Allies, facing significant military defeats and severe social and economic unrest at home. His decision to take command of the armed forces exacerbated his detachment from the civilian population and his inability to address pressing issues, which ultimately led to widespread dissatisfaction. The immense pressures of the war, coupled with internal strife, resulted in his abdication and the end of the Romanov dynasty.