Russia is an endlessly captivating country. Founded by a band of Vikings bound for the riches of the east, in time it was beaten and bargained into a mighty state, one shaped by a series of ambitious rulers. Throughout its history it has faced countless calamities, achieved remarkable feats in literature, music, technology and so much more and played a key role in world affairs. Yet so much of its fascinating past is a mystery to those who dwell outside of its borders.
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Kievan Rus’ Making the Motherland • IN A TALE WORTHY OF ONE OF THE GREAT SAGAS, A BAND OF ELITE NORTHERN WARRIORS ON THEIR WAY TO THE CITY OF DREAMS FOUND THEMSELVES IN A GOLDEN LAND OF PLENTY…
The anti-Normanist view
Battle on the Ice • LAKE PEIPUS, RUSSIA, 5 APRIL 1242
Ivan the Great • BORN AMID THE CHAOS OF CIVIL WAR, IVAN III WOULD RISE TO UNIFY THE RUSSIAN LANDS AND THROW OFF THE YOKE OF THE MONGOLS FOREVER
Holy Russia • NO CHURCH IS MORE MARKED BY ITS MARTYRS, NOR MORE COMPROMISED BY ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH EARTHLY POWER
The Battle of Orsha
Ivan The terrible first tsar • WAS HIS MURDEROUS REIGN THE INSPIRATION FOR RUSSIAN DICTATORS WHO FOLLOWED?
Ivan and Elizabeth • THE ODD CONNECTION BETWEEN THE RUSSIAN TSAR AND THE VIRGIN QUEEN
How terrible was ‘the Terrible’? • THERE’S A PLETHORA OF GRUESOME HORROR STORIES SURROUNDING IVAN, BUT JUST HOW CRUEL WAS HE IN REALITY?
Who were the boyars? • THE TARGET OF IVAN’S IRE, WHAT ROLE DID THESE ARISTOCRATS PLAY IN SOCIETY?
What’s in a name? • EXPLORING THE POPULARITY OF THE TITLE ‘CAESAR’
The conquest of Siberia • DRIVEN BY THE HUNGER FOR NEW TERRITORY, IN THE 16TH CENTURY RUSSIA EMBARKED ON THE RUTHLESS SUBJUGATION OF A VAST AND HOSTILE LAND IN THE FROZEN EAST
The Khanate of Sibir
Rule of the Romanovs 1613-1917 • CHARACTERISED BY INTRIGUE, AMBITION, TREACHERY, AND REVOLUTION, THE ROMANOV DYNASTY REIGNED FOR OVER 300 YEARS – WITH VERY MIXED RESULTS. PREPARE TO MEET SOME OF ITS MOST FASCINATING FIGURES…
The Pedigree • DISCOVER THE LINEAGE OF THE TSARS AND TSARINAS THAT TOOK RUSSIA FROM IMPERIAL AUTOCRACY TO RUIN AND REVOLUTION
RULE OF THE ROMANOVS
The Winter Palace
Peter I The great transformer • THE RESTLESS TSAR WHO DRAGGED RUSSIA INTO THE FUTURE
The tragedy of Alexis • PETER COLDLY IGNORED HIS SON – WITH APPALLING CONSEQUENCES
Poltava 1709 • THIS BATTLE WAS DESCRIBED BY DANIEL DEFOE AS “AN ARMY OF VETERANS BEATEN BY A MOB”
Peter’s trusted advisers • THE TSAR CHOSE THE MEN TO PLACE IN HIGH OFFICE, THOUGH NOT ALWAYS WISELY
Catherine II Sex, lies and military might • HOW THE UNSTOPPABLE RUSSIAN RULER ENTHRALLED AN EMPIRE
Date for an empress • WHO IS THE PERFECT LOVER FOR CATHERINE THE GREAT?
Expansion of an empire • HOW CATHERINE EXTENDED RUSSIAN TERRITORY
Enlightenment pen pals • CATHERINE CORRESPONDED WITH MANY OF THE GREAT MINDS OF HER DAY
A cold December morning in St. Petersburg • THE DECEMBRIST CONSPIRATORS SOUGHT REFORM THROUGH REBELLION, BUT THEIR DREAMS WERE BRUTALLY SUPPRESSED
Partitioning Persia
Alexander II Liberating Russia • ALEXANDER II WAS A MAN OF CONTRADICTIONS. SWINGING WILDLY BETWEEN LIBERAL AND REACTIONARY POLICIES, HE LEFT A LEGACY OF IMPORTANT REFORMS AND PERSONAL FAILURES
A scandalous liaison • ALEXANDER II’S AUDACIOUS AFFAIR WITH A TEENAGE PRINCESS DEVASTATED HIS FAMILY AND LEFT THE COUNTRY STUNNED
Notes from the underground • THE REIGN OF ALEXANDER II SAW THE RISE OF RUSSIA’S INTELLIGENTSIA
Russia at war • MILITARY CONFLICT HAS BROUGHT RUSSIA TO THE PINNACLE OF TRIUMPH AND THE BRINK OF DISASTER
Nicholas II Curse of the tsar...