Russian Empire

From Heterodontosaurus Balls

The secret of politics? Make a good treaty with Russia.
Otto von Bismarck

The Russian Empire, also known as Imperial Russia or just Russia, was a giant historical country. His land stretched from the Baltic Sea to Alaska, from Siberia to Manchuria. He even held a small African colony at one point.

The rise of the Russian Empire coincided with the decline of his rivals, which further helped Russia to spread its influence. At his greatest extent, his size was 22.8 million square kilometers, so he is about 33% bigger than his present self. The empire was characterized by a diverse population, encompassing numerous ethnic groups and cultures, and was ruled by an autocratic monarchy until the Russian Revolution of 1917, which led to the establishment of the Soviet Union and a dramatic shift in political ideology and territorial control.

History

Expansion

In 1721, Tsardom of Russia won against the Swedish Empire in the Great Northern War, giving Russia access to the Baltic Sea and making him become the Russian Empire. Russia was still continuing on his journey to conquer all of Siberia for the rich furs, genociding natives and building watchtowers. The natives tried to fight back but their scattered tribes were no match for Russian cannons. The conquest was completed in 1778, and the natives were forced to give a tax called “yasak” to the tsar. This tax, originally a gift exchange from both parties, evolved into a one-sided tax because the natives would rebel if they deem the things the Russians give them (weapons, tabacco, etc.) unworthy.

The outbreak of two Russo-Turkish wars from 1768 to 1792 made the Ottoman Empire no longer a threat to Russia. It also allowed Russia to gain more territory and extend its influence into the Balkans. Russia also took advantage of the decline of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth to gain its territory, dividing it into three parts which was shared between him, Prussia, and Austrian Empire.

French Troubles

As a major European country, Russia was inevitably involved in the war with the First French Empire. In June 1812, France led an army of 600,000 to invade Russia, which was more than twice the size of Russia's regular army and was more well-equipped. But France’s army was too big and impossible to keep up the supply lines, and Russia burned his capital, Moscow, so there will be nothing to loot. France encountered the cold winter of Russia, causing France to suffer a catastrophic defeat: less than 30,000 French men returned to their homeland. As the French army retreated, the Russian army advanced into Central and Western Europe, and finally reached the gates of Paris. Russian Empire was called the savior of Europe.

In Asia

Russia forced Qing Dynasty to sign a series of unequal treaties, after that it annexed Outer Manchuria. In 1875, the Empire of Japan and Russia signed the “ Sakhalin-Kuril Islands ” Exchange Treaty (Treaty of Saint Petersburg, 1875). Russia gave the northern part of the Kuril Islands to Japan in exchange for the sovereignty of Sakhalin. At the end of the 19th century, Russia was expanding towards Central Asia. In 1867, Russian America was sold to the United States for a very cheap price. During the Eight-Nation Alliance’s campaigns against Qing, the Russian army obtained a large amount of gold mines, coal mines and forest resources in Northeast China. From 1904 to 1905, the Japanese Empire and Russia competed for influence in the Korean Peninsula and Northeast China. This caused the Russo-Japanese War, which Russia suffered a disastrous defeat in.

Collapse

Russia participated in WW1, fighting against Germany. Germany wanted Russia out of the battlefield so thy secretly shipped Lenin to Russia to cause some turmoil. The bad working conditions and food shortages caused by the war made the workers to go on strike. Russia retreated from fighting in WW1. Lenin used to discontent to his advantage, exploited and tricked the workers into believing in the wicked ideology that is Communism. The tsar, Nicholas II, thought for the people and stepped down without any fight. A short-lived republic was formed, which then would be overthrown and couped by Lenin himself. The Reds completely removed the tsar monarch by shooting the entire imperial family dead, fought against the Whites (who had support from almost every country), to create an one-party totalitarian state.

Relations

Friends

Enemies

  • Swedish Empire - Ah, you is pathetic enemy I crush in 1721! XAXAXA, so weak! You still pathetic, and I hope you die, da!
  • First French Empire - Stupid scum think he of can defeat me! Ha! Cannot survive Russian winter? Womp Womp! Monarchs always supreme, forever!
  • Qing Dynasty - Manchuria is mine! 1911, greatest year of all! Tsar very proud!
  • Vladimir Lenin - Screw you! Bah! You ruin everything! You destroy all!!
  • Empire of Japan - AH, YUO THINK YUO TAKE MY ISLANDS, DA? WELL I DECLARE WAR ON YUO! WHY DO I KEEP LOSING… this is of embarrassing… How this happen to great Russia?

How to draw

Flag of Russian Empire on a postcard
Flag of Russian Empire (1858-1896)

Version 1

  1. Draw a ball.
  2. Fill the ball with three horizontal stripes of color top-to-bottom in the following order: white, blue, red.
  3. Add a yellow square on the left side of the ball, covering parts of the white and blue stripes.
  4. Draw a double-headed eagle in the yellow square.
  5. Add the eyes and you are done!

Version 2

  1. Draw a ball.
  2. Fill the ball with three horizontal stripes of color top-to-bottom in the following order: black, yellow, white.
  3. Add the eyes and you are done!
Color Name HEX
White #FFFFFF
Blue #0039A6
Red #D00B0E
Yellow #FFCC33
Black #000000

Informational Gallery

Gallery