Timeline of Russia

By haileynothstein
  • 988 BCE

    Vladmir the Great

    Adopted Rurik religion and converted it to Orthodox Christianity. Known as the man who brought Christianity to Ukraine and Russia.
  • 450 BCE

    Scythians

    Lands were overrun by the same nomadic warriors who brought down Roman Empire. Land was then settled by Slavs.
  • 1040

    Yaroslav the Wise

    Confided laws and conquered new lands, his reign marked the golden age of Kievan Rus.
  • 1242

    Golden Horde

    Ruled by Khan from his new capital at Sarai, the Rus princes were hi vassals.
  • 1283

    Daniel Nevsky

    Son of Alexander Nevsky, founded the Principality of Moscow.
  • Period: to

    Time of Troubles

    Because of a state of anarchy, people were terrorized by war, famine, and plague. Up to a third of them perished.

  • Zemsky Sobor

    The Russian Assembly realized the country needed a new leader.
  • Period: to

    Mikhail Romanov

    The 16 year old noble was elected by the Russian Assembly as the next Tsar.

  • Sobornoye Ulozheniye

    New legal code implemented by Tsar Alexei. It turned all Russian peasants, 80% of the population, into serfs (slaves).

  • Patriarch Nikon

    Imposed religious reforms that split the church between Reformers and “Old Believers”. It’s a schism that continues to this day.

  • Catherine the Great

    Student and admirer of the French Enlightenment. Also corresponded with the French philosopher, Voltaire.
  • Period: to

    Russo-Turkish War

    Defeated Ottoman Empire, winning new lands. Also won the fortress of Azof and Kerch.
  • Period: to

    Pugachev Revolt

    Led by the renegade cossack Yemelyan Pugachev, Rebels took many fortresses and towns.

  • New Russia

    New lands in the south were named Novorossiya, “new russia”. Settled by Russian colonists under supervision of Prince Potemkin.

  • Partitions of Poland

    Polish-Lithiuanian Commonwealth was carved up in a series of partitions with Russia taking the lion's share. Poland didn’t re-emerge as an independent nation until 1918.
  • Period: to

    Greek War of Independence

    Russia supported Greece in war against the Ottomans, which led to war with Russia.

  • Victory over Napoleon

    Confirmed Russia's status as world power. But, there was a discontent amongst intellectuals and army officers.

  • The Decembrists

    Formed secret societies to plot the overthrow of Russia’s autocratic system. Used the confusion to launch a military coup.
  • Period: to

    Russo-Persian War

    In Caucasus, the border clashed with Persia leading to the war. It ended in complete Russian victory.

  • November Uprising

    A Polish revolt led by young army officers, crushed by Russian troops. Alexander Pushkin, shot in a duel and died two days later.

  • Alexander the II

    Had been a reformer, hailed as ‘“he Liberator” for freeing Russia’s serf. He was assassinated by left-wing terrorists in St. Petersburg.

  • Alexander the III

    Believed his fathers reforms had unleashed dangerous forces within Russia, which led to his death. As emperor, he publicly to reassert autocratic rule. His secret police, the Okhrannka, was ordered to infiltrate Russia’s many revolutionary groups.

  • Jewish Pogroms

    Targeted in murderous race riots known as “pogroms”. Government expelled 20,000 jews from Moscow, and many who could began to leave the country.

  • Franco-Russian Alliance

    Concerned with the growing power of Germany, Russia and France signed an alliance. Both sides promising military aid of one were attacked.

  • Sergi White

    Appointed Russia’s new Minister of Finance. His reforms helped to modernize the Russian economy.

  • Nicholas II

    Became ruler of Russian Empire. Stretched from the Baltic to the Pacific, inhabited by 126 million people, from 194 ethnic groups.

  • 1905 Revolution

    Forced the Tsar to allow the creation of state duma, or national assembly. Power was limited and the compromise pleased neither the Tsar nor the reformers. This divided empire was plunged into fresh crisis by world war.

  • WWI Begins

    Country suffered a series of devastating defeats. While at home, there were food shortages and economic chaos.

  • Tsar becomes a Commander in Chief

    Tsar was held accountable for countries crisis because of being the commander in chief. He gets in the way of government reform.

  • Rasputin Murdered

    Murdered by Russian aristocrats, possibly with the help of British secret agents. Both groups determined to end his influence over the Tsar.