In August 1863, he asked the emperor to relieve him of the post of Viceroy, and Alexander II, aware of how tormented his brother had become by the situation in Warsaw, accepted his resignation.
En agosto de 1863, pediu ao emperador que o eximise do posto de vicerrei, e Alexandre II, consciente de como atormentara ao seu irmán a situación en Varsovia, aceptou a súa dimisión.