Russian Empire
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| - | The '''Russian Empire''' ([[History of the Russian language|Pre-reform Russian]]: Россійская Имперія, [[Russian language|Modern Russian]]: Российская Империя, [[Romanization of Russian|translit]]: ''Rossiyskaya Imperiya'') was a state that existed from 1721 until the [[Russian Revolution of 1917]]. It was the successor to the [[Tsardom of Russia]], and the predecessor of the [[Soviet Union]]. It was [[List of largest empires|the second largest contiguous empire]] the world had seen, surpassed only by the [[Mongol Empire]]. At one point in 1866, it stretched from eastern Europe, across Asia, and into North America. At the beginning of the 19th century, Russia was the largest country in the world, extending from the Arctic Ocean to the north to the [[Black Sea]] on the south, from the [[Baltic Sea]] on the west to the Pacific Ocean on the east. Across this vast realm were scattered the Emperor's 176.4 million subjects, the third largest population of the world at the time, after [[Qing China]] and [[British Raj|British India]], but still represented a great disparity in economic, ethnic, and religious positions. Its government, ruled by the Emperor, was one of the last [[Absolute monarchy|absolute monarchies]] left in Europe. Prior to the outbreak of [[World War I]] in August 1914 Russia was one of the five major [[Great Powers]] of Europe. | + | The '''Russian Empire''' (also known as '''Imperial Russia''', '''Tsarist Russia''' and '''Pre-revolutionary Russia''') was an [[empire]] that existed from 1721 until the [[February Revolution]] of 1917. |
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| + | One of the [[list of largest empires|largest empires]] in world history, stretching over three continents, the Russian Empire was surpassed in landmass only by the [[British Empire|British]] and [[Mongol Empire|Mongol]] empires. The rise of the Russian Empire happened in association with the decline of neighboring rival powers: the [[Swedish Empire]], the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]], [[Qajar dynasty|Persia]] and the [[Ottoman Empire]]. It played a major role in 1812–1814 in defeating [[Napoleon]]'s ambitions to control Europe and expanded to the west and south. | ||
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| + | The [[House of Romanov]] ruled the Russian Empire from 1721 until 1762, and its German-descended cadet branch, the [[House of Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov]], ruled from 1762. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Russian Empire extended from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the [[Black Sea]] in the south, from the [[Baltic Sea]] on the west to the Pacific Ocean, and (until 1867) into [[Russian Alaska|Alaska]] in North America on the east. With 125.6 million subjects registered by the [[Russian Empire Census|1897 census]], it had the third-largest population in the world at the time, after [[Qing dynasty|Qing China]] and India. Like all empires, it included a large disparity in terms of economics, ethnicity, and religion. There were numerous dissident elements, who launched numerous rebellions and assassination attempts; they were closely watched by the [[Okhrana|secret police]], with thousands exiled to [[Siberia]]. | ||
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| + | Economically, the empire had a predominately agricultural base, with low productivity on large estates worked by serfs (until they were freed in 1861). The economy slowly industrialized with the help of foreign investments in railways and factories. The land was ruled by a nobility (the [[boyars]]) from the 10th through the 17th centuries, and subsequently by an [[emperor of All Russia|emperor]]. [[Ivan III of Russia|Tsar Ivan III]] (1462–1505) laid the groundwork for the empire that later emerged. He tripled the territory of his state, ended the dominance of the [[Golden Horde]], renovated the [[Moscow Kremlin]], and laid the foundations of the Russian state. Tsar [[Peter the Great]] (1682–1725) fought numerous wars and expanded an already huge empire into a major European power. He moved the capital from [[Moscow]] to the new model city of [[St. Petersburg]], and led a cultural revolution that replaced some of the traditionalist and medieval social and political mores with a modern, scientific, Europe-oriented, and rationalist system. | ||
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| + | [[Catherine the Great]] (reigned 1762–1796) presided over a golden age; she expanded the state by conquest, colonization and diplomacy, continuing Peter the Great's policy of modernisation along West European lines. Tsar [[Alexander II of Russia|Alexander II]] (1855–1881) promoted numerous reforms, most dramatically the [[Emancipation reform of 1861|emancipation of all 23 million serfs]] in 1861. His policy in Eastern Europe involved protecting the Orthodox Christians under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. That connection by 1914 led to Russia's entry into the [[World War I|First World War]] on the side of France, Britain, and Serbia, against the German, Austrian and Ottoman empires. | ||
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| + | The Russian Empire functioned as an [[absolute monarchy]] until the [[Revolution of 1905]] and then became a de jure constitutional monarchy. The empire collapsed during the [[February Revolution|February Revolution of 1917]], largely as a result of massive failures in its participation in the [[World War I|First World War]]. | ||
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| + | ==See also== | ||
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| + | * [[Alt Danzig]] | ||
| + | * [[Expansion of Russia 1500–1800]] | ||
| + | * [[Foreign policy of the Russian Empire]] | ||
| + | * [[List of Emperors of Russia]] | ||
| + | * [[List of largest empires]] | ||
| + | * [[Military history of Russia]] | ||
| + | * [[Russian conquest of Siberia]] | ||
| + | * [[Russian conquest of the Caucasus]] | ||
| + | * [[Russification]] | ||
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Revision as of 15:53, 21 November 2017
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The Russian Empire (also known as Imperial Russia, Tsarist Russia and Pre-revolutionary Russia) was an empire that existed from 1721 until the February Revolution of 1917.
One of the largest empires in world history, stretching over three continents, the Russian Empire was surpassed in landmass only by the British and Mongol empires. The rise of the Russian Empire happened in association with the decline of neighboring rival powers: the Swedish Empire, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Persia and the Ottoman Empire. It played a major role in 1812–1814 in defeating Napoleon's ambitions to control Europe and expanded to the west and south.
The House of Romanov ruled the Russian Empire from 1721 until 1762, and its German-descended cadet branch, the House of Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov, ruled from 1762. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Russian Empire extended from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Black Sea in the south, from the Baltic Sea on the west to the Pacific Ocean, and (until 1867) into Alaska in North America on the east. With 125.6 million subjects registered by the 1897 census, it had the third-largest population in the world at the time, after Qing China and India. Like all empires, it included a large disparity in terms of economics, ethnicity, and religion. There were numerous dissident elements, who launched numerous rebellions and assassination attempts; they were closely watched by the secret police, with thousands exiled to Siberia.
Economically, the empire had a predominately agricultural base, with low productivity on large estates worked by serfs (until they were freed in 1861). The economy slowly industrialized with the help of foreign investments in railways and factories. The land was ruled by a nobility (the boyars) from the 10th through the 17th centuries, and subsequently by an emperor. Tsar Ivan III (1462–1505) laid the groundwork for the empire that later emerged. He tripled the territory of his state, ended the dominance of the Golden Horde, renovated the Moscow Kremlin, and laid the foundations of the Russian state. Tsar Peter the Great (1682–1725) fought numerous wars and expanded an already huge empire into a major European power. He moved the capital from Moscow to the new model city of St. Petersburg, and led a cultural revolution that replaced some of the traditionalist and medieval social and political mores with a modern, scientific, Europe-oriented, and rationalist system.
Catherine the Great (reigned 1762–1796) presided over a golden age; she expanded the state by conquest, colonization and diplomacy, continuing Peter the Great's policy of modernisation along West European lines. Tsar Alexander II (1855–1881) promoted numerous reforms, most dramatically the emancipation of all 23 million serfs in 1861. His policy in Eastern Europe involved protecting the Orthodox Christians under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. That connection by 1914 led to Russia's entry into the First World War on the side of France, Britain, and Serbia, against the German, Austrian and Ottoman empires.
The Russian Empire functioned as an absolute monarchy until the Revolution of 1905 and then became a de jure constitutional monarchy. The empire collapsed during the February Revolution of 1917, largely as a result of massive failures in its participation in the First World War.
See also
- Alt Danzig
- Expansion of Russia 1500–1800
- Foreign policy of the Russian Empire
- List of Emperors of Russia
- List of largest empires
- Military history of Russia
- Russian conquest of Siberia
- Russian conquest of the Caucasus
- Russification
