Alternative History
Baron
Pyotr Wrangel
Пётр Вра́нгель
130
Born August 27, 1878
Flag of Russia Novalexandrovsk, Russian Empire
Died Flag of Russia Yekaterinburg, Russian Empire
(Flag of Russia Yekateringburg, Russia)
Nationality Flag of Russia Russian Empire
Ethnicity Baltic German & Russian
Education Institute of Mining in St. Petersburg
Nicholas Imperial General Staff Academy
Occupation Military leader, statesman, White Movement fighter
Religion Russian Orthodox
Spouse(s) Olga
Children Pyotr II
Alexis
Nathalie
Parents
  • Nikolay (father)
  • ?? (mother)

Pyotr I Nikolayevich Wrangel (Russian: Пётр Никола́евич Вра́нгель, August 27, 1878 – April 25, 1959) also known by Grand Duke Peter I Nikolayevich; was a Russian military commander and noble who was the Generalissmo of Russia from 1921 to 1931, as well as the Head of State of all South Russia during his tenure. He is the first non-Romanov to ever bear the title of Grand Duke.

Prior to becoming the Generalissmo of Russia, he was commanding general of the anti-Bolshevik White Army in Southern Russia and ruled as its military dictator, after the successful 1919 Moscow offensive, he became the leader of the western United White Army, restoring much hope to the White Movement.

After successfully driving the Bolsheviks from southern Russia, he emerged as its Supreme Commander and eventually, its ruler.

After the White victory, Wrangel supported the monarchists, and was able to successfully divert the political opinion within the Provisional Government into supporting the monarchy. He also convinced Alexander Kerensky to abandon his anti-Tsarist views. After the ascent of Cyril I, upon recognizing Pyotr Wrangel's role in not only uniting the White Army, but also the anti-Bolshevik coalition and restoring support for the monarchy, Cyril I gave him the title Grand Duke.

As the Generalissmo of the Russian Empire, Wrangel was considered the second-most powerful single man of all the Russian Empire, as he himself had already been one of the most important White fighters. Because of his efforts during the Russian Civil War, he is considered a National Hero in Modern Russia, and many streets, parks and monuments are named after him, especially in South Russia. His ability to unite the White fighters and eventually persuade the entire Provisional Government to restore the monarchy led the succeeding Tsar, Cyril I to crown him as a titled Grand Prince of all South Russia.

Today, his descendants are considered one of Russia and Ukraine's most powerful royal families, are are, by the Russian Senate, considered one of Russia's paramount nobilities. His descendants have become prominent in all walks of Russian society.

Russian Civil War[]

After consolidating control in southern Russia, and driving the Bolsheviks up north, Pyotr Wrangel made a bid to unite with the other White forces, specifically in Tsarytsin to unite with Alexander Kolchak's forces. Anton Denikin however, urged Wrangel to take Moscow, however, in this PoD, sick and tired of Denikin's babbling, Wrangel executes Denikin and instead, moves to take Tsarytsin in 1919.

The White forces at first, successfully took and fortified Tsarytsin, however, stubborn Bolshevik resistance led by Stalin almost caused the Whites to retreat, until reinforcements sent by the Whites from Moscow arrived. Stalin as a result, was killed attempting to flee Tsarytsin, taking out now the second major Bolshevik leader.

However, concurrently, Vladimir May-Mayevsky led the offensive in Moscow, along with anti-Bolshevik Leftist attack, resulting in the death of Vladimir Lenin which ended up cutting off the Bolsheviks from supply reinforcements in Tsarytsin. Shortly after, a third offensive led by Nikolai Yudenich re-captured Petrograd from the Soviets, a battle that ended up killing Leon Trotsky, therefore, forcing Mikhail Kalinin to evacuate, and the government of the Russian SFSR re-located to Yekaterinburg, where the Romanovs were executed, as an insulting move against the White Movement.

Pyotr Wrangel recieved much of the credit from the White Movement and the Provisional Government, and therefore, elected him as the Head of State of Russia. Even Alexander Kolchak feared him, and Wrangel threatened to execute Kolchak if the latter didn't abandon his anti-Tsarist views, and reminded him that the Americans did not want him as an ally, causing Kolchak to switch to the monarchist side, very reluctantly.

Become a Grand Duke[]

When Cyril I Vladimirovich returned to Russia, he expected Pyotr Wrangel to be its Head of State, but the Baron showed his loyalty to the Tsar by bowing down before Cyril. While Cyril I accepted this, he awarded the Baron by giving him the prestigious title of Grand Duke, something normally only granted to Romanovs, making him the second non-Romanov to be addressed by the title Duke in Russia. Because of his prominent in South Russia, that region became his main estate.

As such, Moscow was proclaimed the new capital city of Russia.

As Generalissmo of Russia[]

In 1921, the Senate elected the Grand Duke to become the Generalissmo of Russia. As a result, he left the rule of South Russia to elected officials with his approval, as he now carried on the dual role of Generalissmo of all Russia, and the Grand Duke of all South Russia. He elected Pyotr Krasnov to become the Regent of South Russia.

White Terror & Handling of Ex-Bolsheviks and Cooperation with Japan[]

One of the first things that Generalissmo Wrangel did was the elimination of any Bolshevik remnants and Bolshevik-sympathizers. In spite of the fact that the White and monarchist victory had been sealed in Moscow, strong Bolshevik remnants continued to operate in Central Asia, and threaten the frontiers of the fragile empire there.

Thus, the First Great Patriotic War (against Bolsheviks), lasted for another 2-3 years, with the remaining White and Cossack forces pledging their loyalty to the new Tsar and the new Grand Duke/Generalissmo. In 1924, after victories in Central Asia, the last of any credible Bolshevik resistance was vanquished, and U.S. president Woodraw Wilson recognized the new government.

Because the Americans had withdrawn, the Empire of Japan chose to get re-involved, something with Wrangel agreed with. Via a secretive protocol, the Empire of Japan supplied many of the Far Eastern armies of Russia with weapons, ammunition and supplies. In addition, the rump-like Russian Army was also aided by Polish, Finnish and Estonian Volunteers in the north and the west, as Wrangel held close ties with C.G.E Mannerheim, who had also been a Baron in the old Imperial Russian Army.

Legacy[]