The three-hundred year Romanov dynasty came to an abrupt end during the Russian Revolution of February 1917, following the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II. There were many factors that facilitated the fall of the Romanov dynasty; a much debated factor among them was the influence of Grigori Rasputin considered as ‘fatal disease’ by revisionist historian, Michael Lynch that imposed significant threat to the Romanov dynasty. Rasputin 's influence over government posts and his rumoured relationship with the Tsarina was undoubtedly damaging to the reputation of the tsar, as people began to mock the tsarist regime at a time when it was already under immense pressure. However, the role of Rasputin in the fall of the Romanov dynasty was less significant
Peter Alexeyevich Romanov was a Russian Emperor who ruled the Russian Tsardom from 1682 to his death in 1725. During his rule, he lead successful wars that expanded Russia, ultimately forming Russia into a major European power. He also sought to modernize Russia, replacing the traditional medieval style social and political systems with ideas based on science and modernism through cultural revolution. This change in idealism was inspired by Westernization and Enlightenment, and his efforts have made a lasting legacy which can be seen in some of Russia’s governmental institutions today. Peter was born on June 9th, 1672 to the Tsar Alexis and his second wife, Natalya Naryshkina.
Nicholas II was extremely strict when it came to his government and as a result forbade any form of democracy in Russia and imposed absolute autocracy on all the citizens. His domestic policy was so strict political parties were illegal to form and he even made the Okhrana, a secret police that arrested and imprisoned any political critics, rebels, or those who voiced a negative opinion against the Russian autocracy. As a result, the citizens, especially those of lower class, despised the government and would often attempt to revolt. However, since the revolts were unorganized and ineffective, Nicholas II was able to end them very swiftly. After the defeat in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, Russia suffered extreme humiliation as well as economic decline.
The Romanov Family: Standing for Imperial Russia In the Russian empire there were two dynasties to rule, the Rurikids and the Romanov. Between the Rurikids dynasty (862-1547) there were four certain parts of Russia that were ruled by princes: Novgorod, Kiev, Vladimir, and Moscow. The Tsars of Russia 1547-1721 (ruler of all Russia) was the first to rule.
Boyars struggled for power, and heirs of czars died under mysterious conditions. Several impostors tried to claim the throne. Finally, in 1613, people from many Russian cities met to choose the next czar. Their choice was Michael Romanov, the grandnephew of Ivan IV’s wife, Anastasia. Thus began the Romanov dynasty, which ruled Russia for over 300 years.
Czar Ivan IV inherited the throne, which made him the ruler of Russia. He was considered an absolute monarch and killed those who opposed him. Czar Ivan rises to power by expanding Russian territory. By expanding the Russian territory, he accomplished in taking over the influential regions of Kazan and Astrakhan. The challenges that Czar Invan IV faced were drought, famine, and the loss of his wife, which left him mentally unstable.
Czar Nicholas and the Romanov Dynasty: Czar Nicholas was the last czar of the Romanov (Russian) Dynasty to rule Russia. Czar Nicholas and the Romanov Dynasty played a crucial role in provoking the start of the Russian Revolution (“Romanov Dynasty”). During the Russian Revolution, Russia was beginning to fall towards an economic corruption. Czar Nicholas was aware of the severity of lack of human necessities, yet he ignored the citizens. As a result, the citizens rioted the capital of Petrograd, making demands for food and better working conditions.
During the 15th century, Vladimir III used his power and authority to exemplify the principles of an Absolute Monarch by forcing supreme control over the citizens of his kingdom, including the Transylvanian nobles; striking fear in the minds and hearts of those who tried to challenge him and establishing himself as a benevolent king in the eyes of the Holy Catholic Church. Vladimir III demonstrated the principles of an Absolute Monarch by using techniques that would create a reputation of fear around him. Vlad The Impaler struck fear into the hearts and minds of those who tried to oppose him to secure his place at the top. According to Source B: German Woodblock (late 15th century) of Vlad invading Germanic Lands, Vlad was admiring his work
Absolutism in Russia For a long time Russia was isolated from the rest of Europe. It did not experience many of the things that happened in western Europe like new technology, Renaissance, the Protestant reformation, and the spread of many ideas. Russia’s temperatures were frigid and resulted in there being no warm-water port. A warm-water port was necessary for year-round trade and growth.
For Japan, the overall results were great as they had won the war against Russia. That was the first time an Asian country had beaten a european country. That had enlarged the nationalism in Japan. But after 240 days of fierce violent aggression fighting, it resulted to an end. During the war, Japan had lost around 60,000 men and Russia had lost 30,000 men.
With no signs of the czar’s attempt to solve the complications, Russia banded together and filled the streets with strikes and riots. A revolution was peaking among the peasants. The uprising brought Nicholas ll no choice but to abdicate his throne. This was an opportunity
At the time of his death, the people had already spread rumours and turned their backs on him and the monarchy. “Russia breathes more freely” titles the article, followed by ‘Well rid of Rasputin”. The monk who was hated and feared by the people had his death celebrated. Aristocrats were the ones to throw him in the river of Neva in St Petersburg after his attempted murder due to the fear they had over Rasputin’s influence in the Romanov court. After being thrown into the freezing water, he was later found dead from drowning (Harris,
Absolute Monarchism in the recipe which starts the revolution. In the Russian Revolution , there is Czar Nicholas II and in the French Revolution there is king Louis the XVI and queen Marie Antoinette In both revolutions there was a certain group of people that started the revolution. In the France 3 state and in Russia Soviets and Bolsheviks. Both revolutions had starvation due to the monarchy
The Russian Revolution, which was started by Lenin and his followers, was a rebellion that occurred in 1917 which forced higher powers to act to the needs of the lower class. For instance, many citizens were worried for their protection in consequence to the lack of survival necessities due to an early drought. Furthermore, their current czar during the time was incapable for his position as a czar and made horrendous decisions as czar. For example, when the czar, Nicholas, entered in World War I, he sent untrained troops into countless battles of failure which costed in mass amounts of lost life (paragraph 23).
Russia was no longer a monarchy: it was a provisional government. Even though the provisional government was formed to rule over Russia, it never truly did. Other groups, such as the Bolsheviks, attempted to assume power in Russia. With the February Revolution coming to a close, the Bolsheviks had an opportunity to gain the power lost by the Romanovs. Around the time of the provisional government, a Russian Menshevik Internationalist named N. Sukanov recorded his personal experience describing the series of events that happened when the government arose.
This false leadership that Nicholas, the Tsar, acquired was presented to the nation involving war or involving the people’s treatment. This faulty leadership given by Nicholas was tested when he involved a dangerous man, Rasputin, into their government. The nation uproared in reply to the absurd decisions made by Nicholas which also resulted in the creation of many revolts, and also of the Russian Revolution. The nation did get what they wanted in the end, which was a new ruler and a stronger nation. The new Russian ruler, Vladimir Lenin, however consisted of plans to repay Romanovs for deconstructing their nation.