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Period: to
Time of Troubles
Occured during the period between the end of the Rurik dynasty and the establishment of the Romanov dynasty. During this period, foreign intervention, uprisings, and attempts on the throne threatened to destroy the state and caused social and economic instability. -
Tsar Alexander I
The beginning of Tsar Alexander I's rule. -
Death of Tsar Alexander I
The end of Tsar Alexander I's 24 years of ruling. His death was unexpected and raised questions about succession. -
Questions of succession
After Alexander's death, some Russians (aka. the Decembrists) began a patriotic revolt in an attempt to convince Constantine to take the throne. The Decembrists hoped for a constitutional monarchy, but their campaign failed to convince conservatives or the peasantry, and Nicholas, Constantine's brother, claimed the throne. -
Period: to
Tsar Nicholas' reign
Nicholas was a conservative and mercilessly suppressed rebels and stopped revolts. During his reign, the Russian Empire was not influenced by the French Revolution. -
Period: to
Alexander II's reign
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Emancipation of serfs
Serfs were used as servants and physical laborers. Their lives were controlled by the elites, and they set the foundation for Russia's agrarian economy. -
Third largest empire in history
The Russian Empire reached it's greatest extent, of 23.7 million square kilometers, in 1866. It's only rival at the time was the British Empire, which was larger in size but organized very differently. -
Beginning of World War I
Russia begins to suffer from heavy German defeats. -
Russian Revolution
The Russian Provisional Government declares Russia a republic, ending the Russian Empire. This event was prefaced by the abdication of the throne in February of 1917.