Russian Empire Российская империя Rossiyskaya Imperiya 1721-1991 OT equivalent: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Central Asia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, no Buryatia |
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| Royal anthem: "Боже, храни царя" "Bozhe, khrani tsarya" ("God Save the Tsar") |
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| Capital | Moscow | |||||
| Official languages | Russian | |||||
| Demonym | Russian | |||||
| Government | Constitutional semi-theocratic monarchy | |||||
| - | Emperor/Tsar | Cyril I (first) Maria I (last) |
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| - | Generalissimos | Pyotr Wrangel (first) Pavel Grachev (last) |
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| - | Chancellor | Georgy Lvov (first) Franko Korkunov (last) |
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| - | Upper House | Senate | ||||
| - | Lower House | Assembly | ||||
| Population | ||||||
| - | estimate | 284,040,000 (1989) | ||||
The Russian Empire (Russian: Российская империя, Rossiyskaya Imperiya) was a country that existed in Eurasia from its inception in 1721 up to its dissolution in 1991, and its formation into the Russian Republic. It was one of the largest modern monarchies that maintained system where the moanrchs and nobility still wielded power and thrived in the modern day.
The rise of the Russian Empire coincided with the decline of neighbouring rival powers: the Swedish Empire, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Qajar Iran, the Ottoman Empire, and Qing China. From the 10th to 17th centuries, the Russians were ruled by a noble class known as the boyars, above whom was an absolute monarch titled the tsar. The groundwork of the Russian Empire was laid by Ivan III (r. 1462–1505), who greatly expanded his domain, established a centralized Russian national state, and secured independence against the Tatars. His grandson, Ivan IV (r. 1533–1584), became in 1547 the first Russian monarch to be crowned "tsar of all Russia". Between 1550 and 1700, the Russian state grew by an average of 35,000 square kilometres (14,000 sq mi) per year. Major events during this period include the transition from the Rurik to the Romanov dynasties, the conquest of Siberia, and the reign of Peter I (r. 1682–1725).
Peter I transformed the tsardom into an empire, and fought numerous wars that turned a vast realm into a major European power. He moved the Russian capital from Moscow to the new model city of Saint Petersburg, which marked the birth of the imperial era, and led a cultural revolution that introduced a modern, scientific, rationalist, and Western-oriented system. Catherine II (r. 1762–1796) presided over further expansion of the Russian state by conquest, colonization, and diplomacy, while continuing Peter I's policy of modernization towards a Western model. Alexander I (r. 1801–1825) helped defeat the militaristic ambitions of Napoleon and subsequently constituted the Holy Alliance, which aimed to restrain the rise of secularism and liberalism across Europe. Russia further expanded to the west, south, and east, strengthening its position as a European power. Its victories in the Russo-Turkish Wars were later checked by defeat in the Crimean War (1853–1856), leading to a period of reform and intensified expansion into Central Asia. Alexander II (r. 1855–1881) initiated numerous reforms, most notably the 1861 emancipation of all 23 million serfs.
By the start of the 19th century, Russian territory extended from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Black Sea in the south, and from the Baltic Sea in the west to Alaska, Hawaii, and California in the east. By the end of the 19th century, Russia had expanded its control over the Caucasus, most of Central Asia and parts of Northeast Asia. Notwithstanding its extensive territorial gains and great power status, the empire entered the 20th century in a perilous state. A devastating famine in 1891–1892 killed millions and led to popular discontent. As the last remaining absolute monarchy in Europe, the empire saw rapid political radicalization and the growing popularity of revolutionary ideas such as communism. After the 1905 revolution, Nicholas II authorized the creation of a national parliament, the State Duma, although he still retained absolute political power.
When Russia entered the First World War on the side of the Allies, it suffered a series of defeats that further galvanized the population against the emperor. In 1917, all hell broke loose and Russia descended into full-on civil war between nationalist "Whites" and communist "Reds", a civil war won by the monarchist factions of the Whites and the ascend of Cyril I as the new Tsar, after extensive help from the eastern powers of China and Japan. The Empire thus, experienced some more territorial losses, losing Buryatia and Tuva to independence.
During the Interwar Period, the Tsardom saw huge technological and social advancements under the leadership of Pavel Milyukov and Pyotr Struve, mass industrialization. During World War II, the Russian Empire was attacked by Nazi Germany and the Axis allies, sustaining one of the largest causalities of the war. Afterwards, the Russian Empire emerged as a military superpower achieving many feats, the same feats as the Soviet Union of our OTL. The 1960s through 1970s saw the Empire advancing in space, science, arts and military, seeing itself as the protector of European and Christian monarchies, and would finally began to expand into territories that the First Empire never was able to reach into. However in the 1980s, China began to reach parity with it.
During the leadership of Franko Korkunov, Pavel Grachev and Wolfgang Rasskazov, the Russian Empire experienced economic, internal, political and military turmoil that would go on to lead what many historians consider the true collapse and final end of the Russian Empire, as many of the territories within it were lost to independence. Ukraine, Central Asia and the Caucasus were lost to independence. In its place, the Russian Commonwealth was formed, still with the Emperor (Empress in this case) as the Head of State. However, Russian influence abroad still remained strong.
History[]
Formation - restoration of monarchy under Cyril I Vladimirovich - 1921[]
After the First World War, China and Japan started to grow into the major powers of the Eastern Hemisphere. As a result of China and Russia's alliance that was formed after the Russo-Japanese War, Generalissimo and Regent Zhang Zhonchang sent forces into the Russian Far East and Central Asia to help the White Army fight against the Bolsheviks. The monarchist government of China also supported Cyril as the new Head of State of Russia. This would be the true beginning of Russia's true path to becoming an "Eastern Power", as Russia came to accept many facets of Chinese and Far Eastern influence.
Pyotr Wrangel, the Generalissimo of White Russia, was at first, very reluctant to support Cyril I (or Kiril I), due to him appeasing to some Leftist views, as he himself, was an aristocrat of old who favored the old ways. However, he ultimately knew that Russia needed to "move on". Thanks to Roman's ego-centric, violent, aggressive and divisive attitude, and Roman's pro-war attitude against China, to levels even Baron Wrangel could not stand, Roman's complete and total lack of diplomacy, the Asiatic Cavalry Division turned on the latter, with Chinese support with General Boris Rezhukin speaking to Baron Wrangel and Grand Duke Cyril I personally, in addition, the lack of presence of Nicholas I also made Cyril I's case easier. Many criticized Nicholas I and his supporters as being very archaic, backwards and detrimental to Russia's future development.
Interwar period - Autocracy of Russia[]
Under the leadership of Cyril I, and his first Generalissimo, Pyotr Wrangel, and Prime Minister Georgy Lvov, and Foreign Minister Lavr Kornilov, the Russia would begin the seeds to modernization. Cyril I officially re-named the state as the "Autocracy of Russia", with Cyril I as its Autocrat of all Russia. However, many still referred to Cyril I as the Tsar, and Russia as a Tsardom.
Admittingly, the Russian state picked up where Empire left off, a nation in economic and total ruin, that was still dealing with fringe Bolshevik groups and Soviet states in the former Russian Empire. Wrangel became a reminiscent of Stalin, basically ruling the Russian Empire as Cyril I's right-hand man.
However, the country achieved the role of preserving monarchy, and stood as the largest monarchy where royals still wielded political power, and in spite of having a Prime Minister, Cyril I was the one making decisions with Wrangel enforcing his decisions.
In the 1930s, country began to finally experience rapid modernization and recovery. Chancellor Pyotr Struve enforced mass industrialization, and Generalissimo ???? put a large-scale emphasis on tanks and warships for the Imperial Russian Forces, allowing the Empire to again, become a great power of the East.
In 1936, the Russians supported the monarchists in the Spanish Civil War, that successfully brought a Bourbon monarch back to the throne, namely Alfonso XIII, beginning a new era in Russian-Spanish relations.
Second World War[]
During the Second World War, the Russian Empire was attacked by Nazi Germany, Fascisty Italy who exploited the internal conflict. In this ATL, relations between Russia and Germany are actually friendly, with the two signing a similar 1939 Russo-German Peace Agreement.
In spite of early Eastern Axis successes, the Eastern Front ended with the Russian siege of Constantinople, a triple Russian, Chinese and American and invasion of Japan. Greece was torn between monarchists and republicanists, with the former basing their government in Constantinople, and the latter in Athens.
After World War II, Tsar Vladimir I Kirilovich proclaimed the Russian Empire as the protector of Christian European monarchies worldwide, and established an Eastern Orthodox union with Romania, Yugoslavia, East Greece and Bulgaria, and a pan-Slavic Christian alliance with Poland, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria, up until the expulsion of Yugoslavia in 1948 and Albania years later.
In the 1960s, the Second Russian Empire finally experienced heights it has never experienced before. It began to establish alliances with other monarchies worldwide, to combat the British Empire, and the United States, basically becoming a reminiscent of the our OTL's Soviet Union, only with Eastern Orthodoxy and monarchy as its rallying cry, instead of communism and State Atheism.
In the 1950s and 1960s, with wealthy descendants of Russian emigres re-migrating to Russia, the seeds for the re-growth of a rejuvenated empire were planted. It is during this time-period when many technological and military innovations were achieved in the Russian Empire, with little to no foreign support.
Naval expansion was achieved in the mid-1980s, with the Russians helping establish constitutional monarchies worldwide, and once-more, the Russian Empire was seen as a superpower, and a protector of Christian monarchies worldwide. This did not sit well with the United States, whom many saw as the protector of Christian democracy worldwide. Thus, the cold war ensues between the Russian Empire and the United States. Additionally in the 1980s, the naval forces of the neighboring China finally to reach parity with Russia, as the geography of Russia just does not allow it to become a naval superpower.
Cold War[]
Russia now emerges as the largest monarchy in Europe, thanks to its territorial size.
Instead of communism, the Russian Empire emerges as the representation of monarchies, quasi-theocratic monarchies, and wielded influence in Eastern Europe, the Asia-Pacific, Africa and Middle East. However some countries, such as Yugoslavia and Albania left the Russian sphere of influence thanks to disagreements. Additionally, Russian Empire was unable to keep a large force in Greece or unify the "Greek Empire", limiting its forces into a small portion of Anatolia due to the unrealistic nature of keeping such a large force in Greece.
Sputnik, the world's first space satellite
The mid-1960s began a golden age in Russia as in our OT, filled with technological, social and military developments never-before experienced in Russia. This included the invention of rocket technology, space probes, and etc. So Yuri Gagarin and Sergey Korolev return in this ATL, under the direction of Otto Struve.
From 1978 to 1979, Generalissimo Dmitry Ustinov authorized for military support of the Shah and his family during the Iranian Revolution. Thanks to Russian support, Ayatollah Khameinei is captured and executed. Thus, in 1979, both nations signed the Russo-Persian Treaty, this time, with Ivan I present, known as the "Friendship between the Shah and the Tsar".
The height of its power, the Russian Empire possessed over 33 overseas military bases, had the world's second-largest navy, and the largest air force and ground army. Its most important ally was China, which contributed to its limited presence in Eastern Europe.
Beyond technology and military, many of the famous artists of the White Movement that had to flee Russia, don't flee and contribute to the enriching of Russian art, thus truly making the Russian Empire a true supepower. However, the Russian Empire's prowess was challenged by the Empire of China, its own ally who by the time the mid-1980s came, and officially reached parity with the Russian Empire and become poised to be the new superpower of the East.
Thus, this led to the further decreasing of Russian forces in Eastern Europe, and while the 1980s was fueld with economic growth, this was offset by the incredibly high costs of maintaining overseas bases with much warm coastlines.
Ethnic riots and civil unrest, end of the empire, formation of Commonwealth 1985-1993[]
St. Petersburg unrest, 1990
In 1985, Franko Korkunov became Prime Minister of Russia, under the military senate of ??? and foreign minister Wolfgang Rasskazov. The late 1980s was filled with ethnic and separatist demonstrations, therefore Korkunov began to enact policies to cater to ethnic minorities and liberalize Russian society, which did not fare well and only seemed to further irritate Russia's internal situation. Ethnic separatists exploited Korkunov's liberal policies and declared independence. In the ensuing chaos, Procurator General Sergey Sokolov was killed, leading Pavel Grachev to succeed him in 1991.
One of the moves Korkunov made was eliminating the need to be Russian Orthodox to become the Foreign Minister, resulting in the ascent of Wolfgang Rasskazov, the first Catholic foreign minister. He also allowed the predominantly-Muslim regions to enact Islamic law, in service of the Empress of Russia.
Korkunov was often-not, forced to backtrack on his liberal policies, and worked closely with General Sokolov and later General Grachev in declaring and implementing martial law. The leadership of the three did not fare any better when Foreign Minister Rasskasov granted Khalkha, Tajikistan, Moldova and West Ukraine their independence, trigger hostile opposition from the ultranationalists and conservatives.
In addition, republicanists in Russia's traditional allies began to overthrow their theocratic monarchies, and became American allies, resembling the post-Warsaw Pact states becoming part of NATO.
End of the Empire - 1991[]
The Imperial Assembly on fire after being shelled by tanks operating by democratic mutinees within the Imperial Army, 1993
The same as our timeline, a large number of countries suceded, namely Ukraine, Azerbaijan and the whole of Central Asia. to which Tsaritsa Maria I Vladimirovna finally intervened in Russian politics, deposing of all three, and ruling the Commonwealth as an absolute monarchy for a couple years. Unlike Nicholas II however, Maria I was able to restore control in the Commonwealth, but ultimately, it never regained its former Imperial-era glory.
Now both ethnic separatists and ultraconservatives were up in arms, and Russia fell into full-scale internal conflict, an era that would effect Russia in the decades to come, as the United States would temporarily become the dominant world superpower.
It would not be until 2008 when the Russian Commonwealth would gain its imperial-era glory, with the collapse of the United States.
Politics[]
Economy[]
The economy of the Russian Empire at its greatest extent was the world's second-largest, and wielded considerable influence. It had been considered Europe and Asia's most powerful economy. In 1989, its economy was $5.5 trillion USD, second only to the United States. It had been the world's largest producer of natural gas, and the second-largest exporter of oil, second only to Saudi Arabia.
In spite of many Western nations' reluctance to trade with Russian Empire, there were many Russian products that the Western nations were forced to import.
The ruble was the petrol-currency of the European and Middle Eastern nations, and was considered the prime hub of trade in Europe.
Military[]
The military of the Russian Empire was the world's secondary superpower, having the world's largest modern ground army, largest air force and second-largest manpower of any modern military at the time. It consisted of the Imperial Ground Army (also known as the Imperial Russian Army), Imperial Aerial Forces (including air-defense), Imperial Special Forces and the Imperial Royal Guards.
After the Russian Civil War, the Imperial Russian Forces underwent its own "industrial revolutions", and the leaders of the empire put strong emphasis on massive tank production. At the time of the World War II, the Russian Empire fielded the largest tank force in all of Europe.
At its peak and greatest strength, the Russian Empire had over 27,320 aircraft total, 35,320 tanks, and a total of 210 naval vessels. Its military spending in 1989 was $372.4 billion USD.
Its military wielded considerable influence in all seven continents and regions and was involved a in a large number of overseas military operation, namely the military operations in China in support of the Empire of China, or "North China", the Korean War, Vietnam War, Uprising in Czehoslovakia, Hungarian Revolution, Invasion of Czechoslovakia, Invasion of Afghanistan and Invasion of Iran. Cuba was the Russian Empire's westernmost puppet state.
Space program[]
At the end of the 1950s, with the help of engineers and technologies captured and imported from defeated Nazi Germany, the Russians constructed the first satellite – Sputnik 1 and thus overtook the United States in terms of using space. This was followed by other successful satellites, where test dogs flight was sent. On 12 April 1961, the first cosmonauts, Yuri Gagarin and Prince Otto Struve, were sent to the space. They once flew around the Earth and successfully landed in the Kazakh steppe. At that time, the first plans for space shuttles and orbital stations were drawn up in Imperial Russian design offices, but in the end personal disputes between designers and management prevented this.
As for Lunar space program; the Russian Empire only had a program on automated spacecraft launches; with no manned spacecraft used; passing on the "Moon Race" part of Space Race.
In the 1970s, specific proposals for the design of the space shuttle began to emerge, but shortcomings, especially in the electronics industry (rapid overheating of electronics), postponed the program until the end of the 1980s. The first shuttle, the Buran, flew in 1988, but without a human crew. Another shuttle, Ptichka, eventually ended up under construction, as the shuttle project was canceled in 1991. For their launch into space, there is today an unused superpower rocket, Energia, which is the most powerful in the world.
In the late 1980s, the Second Russian Empire managed to build the Mir orbital station. It was built on the construction of Salyut stations and its only role was civilian-grade research tasks.
- In the 1990s, when the US Skylab was shut down due to lack of funds, Mir was the only orbital station in operation. Gradually, other modules were added to it, including American ones. However, the station deteriorated rapidly after a fire on board, so in 2001 it was decided to bring it into the atmosphere where it burned down.
Religion[]
Constitutionally, like its predecessor and successor, the Russian Empire was an Orthodox state, however citizens enjoyed a constitutional freedom of religion, and the empire was truly a multi-religious state,. Although 70% of the population was Russian Orthodox, which was governed by the Patriarch of Moscow.
Lutherans dominated the Baltic Grand Principality, Muslims dominated Central Asia, and Buddhists formed large communities in the east and Buddhists formed the majority in Kalmykia, which today is an independent country and the only European country to have a majority-Buddhist population.
Political divisions[]
The Russian Empire was divided into Grand Duchies & Grand Principalities (OT equivalent: Federal District), followed by Principalities & Governorates (OT equivalent: republics). The Grand Duchies are all ruled by a Grand Duke, hailing from the male line of the Romanovs, or anybody bestowed the title of Grand Duke/Duchess by the Tsar, hence Grand Dukes, while Grand Principalities are ruled by non-Romanov nobilities or in the case of the Grand Principality of the Urals, someone from the non-male line of the Romanovs, and Governorates are ruled by a Governor-General as the local Head of State with a Head Minister as the local Head of Government, who is titled as so in official Russian documents.
Grand Duchies & Principalities[]
- Grand Duchy of Northwest Russia (OT equivalent: Northwestern Federal District)
- Grand Duchy of Moscow (OT equivalent: Central Federal District)
- Grand Duchy of the Caucasus (OT equivalent: North Caucasus Federal District, Georgia, Azerbaijan, seceded into Azerbaijan, Armenia and Kalmykia)
- Grand Duchy of Central Asia (OT equivalent: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan, seceded into Turkestan and Tajikistan)
- Grand Principality of South Russia (OT equivalent:Crimea and Rostov)
- Grand Principality of Ukraine (OT: Ukraine, seceded into the modern Hetamanate of Ukraine)
- Grand Principality of Siberia (OT equivalent: Siberian Federal District)
- Grand Principality of West Russia (OT equivalent: Belarus and adjacent areas)