Part 62

Explore the historical events leading to the fall of Imperial Russia, including the Crimean War and World War I, in Civilization V.

Russia emerged as a dominant military power in Europe, but its prestige was damaged by an inability to defeat a French-English force during the Crimean War (1853-1856). This led Tsar Alexander II to enact reforms, including the abolition of serfdom in 1861. However, the emancipation terms were burdensome, requiring peasants to pay annual "redemption payments" for their freedom, often leaving them in a worse condition than before. Legal reforms based on European models were also instituted, but the peasantry was still not treated as full citizens.

The 1870s saw a rise in revolutionary activity, particularly among university students. An attempt in 1873 to incite a peasant revolution failed, resulting in the imprisonment or exile to Siberia of many students. Surviving revolutionaries turned to covert actions, including assassinations. In 1881, a terrorist group successfully assassinated Alexander II; its leaders were captured and executed.

Tsar Alexander III responded with repressive laws that limited education and civil freedoms. His son, Nicholas II, ascended the throne in 1894.

The Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) resulted in significant Russian defeats, weakening the central government. This led to widespread strikes and protests demanding reforms. In 1905, a march by St. Petersburg workers on the Winter Palace to present demands was met with gunfire from troops, killing 130 people in an event known as "Bloody Sunday." Riots erupted across Russia, and later that year, the Tsar agreed to establish an elected assembly. Unrest persisted for two years.

The creation of the "Duma," a new assembly, divided the opposition. Some pursued reform from within, while radicals operated outside the system. The country struggled until the outbreak of the Great War.

World War I began in 1914 when an Austro-Hungarian action against Serbia drew Russia into the conflict. Germany joined Austria's side, and France and Great Britain joined Russia's. Tsar Nicholas II's forces were quickly encircled and captured by the Germans. In 1915, a German/Austrian offensive advanced into Poland and Russia's western provinces. The entry of Turkey, Russia's traditional enemy, into the war on Germany's side further strained the Russian government.

Tsar Nicholas II's leadership during the crisis was poor. He moved his court to Belarusia to personally command the army, leaving governance to his wife and her advisor, Rasputin. Rasputin was murdered in 1916 by a conspiracy involving members of the Royal Family's allies.

While the military situation improved in 1916, the domestic situation worsened. Food shortages, exacerbated by conscription and import blockades, and rampant inflation led to increased worker unrest. The March Revolution of 1917 called for the abolition of the aristocracy. Cossacks, ordered to disperse the crowds, mutinied and joined the insurgents. The Duma subsequently joined the insurgency, and on March 15, the Tsar abdicated and was later executed with his family. Imperial Russia ended, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was established.

The USSR lasted fifty years, achieving victory over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War (World War II) and serving as a counterbalance to the United States. Its primary failure was its inability to match the living standards of other European and Western countries. The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 due to internal economic problems, with some external pressure from the United States and its allies.

The New Russian Federation has transitioned to oligarchic capitalism, creating many millionaires but leaving many citizens in poverty. It has freed former client states but continues to exert influence over its neighbors. While nominally a democracy, power appears increasingly concentrated. The future of this nation in the 21st century remains uncertain, but it is expected to remain a significant global power.