Which historical event occurred on May 30, 1896 in Moscow, Russia four days after the coronation of Nicholas II?

The Khodynka Tragedy was a human stampede that occurred on May 30, 1896, on Khodynka Field located in Moscow, Russia. The tragedy unfolded during the festivities, four days following the coronation of the last Emperor of Russia, Nicholas II and his wife, Empress Alexandra.

A banquet was planned for the Russian people at Khodynka Field. The evening before, people began to gather for this festive event. Gifts planned included a bread roll, a piece of sausage, pretzels, gingerbread and a commemorative cup.

At about 6:00 am on the morning of the celebration day, an estimated half a million people were already gathered on the field. Rumors spread that there was not enough beer or pretzels for everybody and that the enamel cups contained a gold coin. A police force of 1,800 men failed to maintain civil order and in a crowd crush, a resulting panic to flee the scene developed. Not only were 1,389 people killed but an additional 1,300 were injured.

Despite the tragedy, festivities continued as planned elsewhere on the large field, with many people unaware of what had happened. The Emperor and Empress made an appearance in front of the crowd on the balcony of the Tsar's Pavilion in the middle of the field in the afternoon around 2:00 pm. By that time the traces of the incident had been cleaned up.