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Russo-Japanese War
Russia's defeat by Japan highlights the inefficiency and corruption of the Tsarist regime, fueling revolutionary sentiments. -
Bloody Sunday
Peaceful protesters marching to present a petition to Tsar Nicholas II are massacred by the Imperial Guard in St. Petersburg, igniting widespread outrage and unrest. -
Tsar Nicholas II's October Manifesto
Tsar Nicholas II issues the October Manifesto, promising civil liberties and the establishment of the Duma, Russia's first parliament, in response to the 1905 Revolution. -
Period: to
February Revolution
Massive protests and strikes in Petrograd led to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II and the establishment of the Provisional Government. -
Return of Lenin
Vladimir Lenin returns to Russia from exile, galvanizing the Bolshevik movement with his April Theses, which call for "Peace, Land, and Bread." -
October Revolution
The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, overthrow the Provisional Government in Petrograd, leading to the establishment of Bolshevik rule. -
Period: to
Russian Civil War
Following the Bolshevik takeover, a brutal civil war erupts between the Red Army (Bolsheviks) and the White Army (anti-Bolsheviks), leading to millions of deaths. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
The Bolshevik government signs a peace treaty with Germany, ending Russia's involvement in World War I but ceding significant territory. -
Execution of the Romanovs
Tsar Nicholas II and his family are executed by Bolsheviks, marking the definitive end of the Romanov dynasty.