Before 1914, the monarchy in Russia was characterized by autocratic rule, with the Tsar holding absolute power. Tsar Nicholas II, the last emperor, ruled with a belief in divine right and saw himself as the protector of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian state. The monarchy maintained control through a vast bureaucracy and military, suppressing dissent and opposition. However, widespread discontent grew due to economic hardship, social inequality, and political repression, leading to the 1905 Revolution, which forced Nicholas II to make concessions, including the establishment of a Duma (parliament), although his reluctance to share power ultimately contributed to the regime's downfall in 1917.