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Tsar Nicholas II inherits the throne
Nicholas II inherits the throne when his father, Alexander III, dies from a sudden illness in 1894. (https://www.bl.uk/russian-revolution/articles/timeline-of-the-russian-revolution) -
Vladimir Lenin is arrested
Future leader of the Bolsheviks, Vladimir (Lenin) Ilyich Ulyanov, is arrested for conspiring with Marxist groups and kept in solitary confinement for 13 months, then exiled to Siberia. (https://www.bl.uk/russian-revolution/articles/timeline-of-the-russian-revolution) -
The Khodynka Tragedy
1,300 people are killed in Moscow when a stampede for the free souvenirs breaks out during the festivities associated with Tsar Nicholas II's coronation. (https://www.bl.uk/russian-revolution/articles/timeline-of-the-russian-revolution) -
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Russo-Japanese War
A military conflict between the Russian Empire and Japan, in which Japan destroys Russia and causes it to abandon its expansionist policy in the Far East. Casualties and Loses from the war are 58,000-86,100 for Japan and 43,000-120,000 on the Russian side Read More -
Bloody Sunday
1,000 peaceful protestors are injured or killed outside of the St. Petersburg Winter Palace after troops and police open fire. Tsar Nicholas II is blamed by the Liberal press for the incident. (https://www.bl.uk/russian-revolution/articles/timeline-of-the-russian-revolution) -
October Manifesto
Tsar Nicholas promises civil liberties to the people of Tsarist Russia and creates the Duma (an elected parliament) The Fundamental Laws of 1906 (a de facto Constitution) is issued and results in restrictions on the absolute power of the Tsar. (https://www.bl.uk/russian-revolution/articles/timeline-of-the-russian-revolution) -
Franz Ferdinand is assassinated
Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia, by Serbian assassin, Gavrilo Princip. As a result of the alliances being built prior to this event, this act eventually causes the First World War. (http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/firstworldwar/index-1914.html) -
Russia is pulled into World War 1
Due to Russia's alliance with Serbia, which was recently attacked by Austrian warships, Russia begins to mobilize troops despite Germany issuing threats. Germany, backing the Austro-Hungarian empire, declares war on Russia and puts in place the Schlieffen Plan in an attempt to wage a successful war on two fronts. (http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/firstworldwar/index-1914.html) (https://www.britannica.com/event/Schlieffen-Plan) -
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February Revolution
A series of public protests in Petrograd (St. Petersburg) demanding the abolition of the monarchy in Russia begin and last for 8 days in which an estimated 1,300 people are killed by police and government troops. Despite the massive losses, the protests are successful and Tsar Nicholas II abdicates. Nicholas also pulls his son from the succession and his brother refuses, leaving a Provisional Government to rule over Russia in place of the Tsar. -
Lenin returns from exile
Vladimir Lenin, leader of the Bolshevik Socialist Party, returns to Petrograd after a decade of exile. Read More -
The Milyukov Note
Foreign Minister Pavel Milyukov sends a telegram to the Allied Powers about the Provisional Government's intentions to continue the war. The telegram is leaked, causing an increase of public support of the Bolsheviks as well as several members of the Socialist Revolutionaries and Mensheviks joining the Provisional Government in place of Milyukov (who resigned) (https://www.bl.uk/russian-revolution/articles/timeline-of-the-russian-revolution) -
The June Offensive
An offensive against the Austro-Hungarian army is launched in Galicia, however the civil unrest in Russia causes low morale within the soldiers causing the offensive to collapse within 4 days. Read More -
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July Days
A series of spontaneous anti-government demonstrations planned by industrial-workers and soldiers begin in Petrograd, causing Prince Georgy Lvov to resign as leader of the Provisional Government allowing Alexander Karensky, Russian minister for war, to take his place crushing the demonstrations, expelling Soviets from the Provisional Government, demanding Lenin's arrest, reintroducing the death penalty and granting women the right to vote and hold office -
Russia is officially declared a Republic
Russia is officially declared a Republic. -
October Revolution
The Bolsheviks seize control of Petrograd taking control of the Winter Palace, destroying the last remnants of the Provisional Government. The Bolsheviks then abolish private property while distributing the land amongst the peasantry, propose an immediate withdrawal from the First World War while also outlining measures for an eight-hour working day and minimum wage. -
The Decree of the Press
The Decree of the Press, the first Bolshevik censorship decree, abolishes the 'Bourgeois' press -
Russia-Central Powers armistace
An armistice is brokered between Russian and the Central Powers is signed, and fighting stops -
Brest-Litovsk Treaty
Russia ends its participation in the First World War. Bolshevik Russia loses one-third of its population and railway network as well as half its industry, three quarters of its iron supplies, nine-tenths of its coal resources and much of its food supplies.
