Imperial Russia

▲ WAR AGAINST NAPOLEON

French emperor Napoleon I invaded
Russia in 1812, but suffered heavy losses
due to harsh winter conditions and food
shortages. After defeating French forces
at the Battle of Leipzig, Russia and its allies Russia became an empire in 1721 (see pp.124–125), and over
marched into Paris, the French capital,
in March 1814, forcing Napoleon to the next 200 years expanded its territory and slowly emerged
go into exile. as a major European power. Despite this, the people of Russia
were largely illiterate and poor, and by 1917 they had risen
CATHERINE THE GREAT up in revolt against their rulers.

Catherine the Great (reigned Imperial Russia was ruled by a single
1762–1796) was a German princess family, the Romanov Dynasty. Though
who overthrew her husband, Peter III the empire slowly industrialized, the
of Russia, to rule the empire in her czars failed to modernize their
own right. Intelligent and cultured, government and introduce reforms.
she promoted women’s The country was largely rural, and
education, and right up until the mid-19th century
established many ordinary people working the
institutions for land were serfs—unfree people
learning in Europe.
with few rights (see p.124).
Jews were forced to live in a
poor region known as the Pale
of Settlement. In the late 19th
century, violent massacres forced
many Jews to migrate to the West.
142
The pace of industrialization picked
up in the mid-19th century, which
created more jobs for people. Aware
of the wide gap between rich and
poor, workers began to demand
more rights, leading eventually to
the downfall of the Romanovs. Yet
this social unrest overlapped with
great artistic developments in Russia.
Writers such as Leo Tolstoy and
Alexander Pushkin wrote fine novels
and poems, while composers like
Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Igor Stravinsky
created musical works that drew
worldwide fame.
 ROYAL REGALIA
IMPERIAL RULERS
Russian rulers were crowned in elaborate
ceremonies. From the coronation of During the reign of Catherine the

1762–1796
Catherine the Great in 1762 onward, all
Great, the Russian Empire expands
monarchs used the Great Imperial Crown,
which was decorated with more than to the Black Sea coast, and takes
5,000 gemstones. The last czar, Nicholas II, in parts of Poland and Alaska.
had the jeweled Imperial Coronation egg
made for his wife, Czarina Alexandra, to
celebrate his coronation.
Czar Alexander I comes to the throne

1801–1825
after his father, Paul I, is killed.

1750–1900
The red spinel is the Early in his reign, he introduces
▲ THE CRIMEAN WAR
crown’s largest stone.
In 1853, war broke out between Russia many reforms that he overturns
and an alliance of France, Britain, and the later in life.
IMPERIAL Ottoman Empire. Most of the fighting took
CORONATION
place in the Crimean Peninsula in eastern
EGG
Europe. The war was one of the first to use Czar Nicholas I takes the throne

1825–1855
modern technologies such as railroads to after surviving a military revolt
transport ammunition, but ended in against him. During his reign, Russia
defeat for Russia.
expands its borders further and
develops industry.
GREAT IMPERIAL
CROWN
Alexander II is a liberal ruler

1855–1881
Replica of the FACT who brings in many
czarina’s coach
The House reforms in Russia,
of Romanov was including freeing the
the last imperial dynasty serfs in 1861.
to rule Russia. Their He is killed
THE LAST CZAR ▼ reign had lasted almost in 1881.
Nicholas II was a weak ruler, who
300 years.
refused to modernize his country
ALEXANDER II
and led Russia disastrously in World
War I. He was overthrown during the
Alexander III opposes any reform
1881–1894

revolution of 1917, and along with

his family (below), killed in 1918. that limits his power and reverses
many of the new laws introduced
CZARINA by his father.
ALEXANDRA

GRAND
After military losses, Nicholas II
1894–1917

DUCHESS MARIA
quickly loses popularity and is
CZAR forced to leave the throne after
NICHOLAS II
the revolution of 1917.
GRAND
DUCHESS
OLGA GRAND DUCHESS
ANASTASIA

GRAND
DUCHESS
TATIANA

CZAREVITCH
ALEXEI