Russian Empire

“”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 empire, the third largest in history as a matter of fact. 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 his 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 which he regularly genocides, 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.

Since the Russian Empire only conquered continuous clay, almost nobody think of it as colonization and therefore Russia was not seen as a colonial power.

On one hand, Russia sees himself as the final heir to Byzantium, an empire rooted in Orthodox traditions and Eastern European soil. On the other hand, he carries the legacy of the steppes, shaped by centuries of Mongol rule mixed with Tatar blood. This dual identity, imperial and nomadic, east and west, has long defined Russia's geopolitical instincts. And when humiliated by the west, he pivots to the east. From defeat in Europe, Russia turns eastward, seeking redemption and revenge across the vastness of Asia.

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 his influence into the Balkans. Russia also took advantage of the decline of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth to gain his 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 1832, Tsar Nicholas I criminalized sodomy from Russia, which was punishable by exile to Siberia for four to five years.

In Asia

In 1856, the Crimean War came to a bitter end. Russia was humiliated by defeat to the Frenchies and Britanians. For Russia, the wounds ran deeper than the battlefield. The defeat was not only militarily, but also psychological. It marked the moment that Russia was pushed out of the European order. Wounded in Europe, Russia pivoted east, and what he saw was a decaying Qing Empire, sprawling and resource-rich, but complacent and hollow. The nobility was asleep, the people were obedient, and the nation was poorly defended. So, in 1858 Russia launched a boat expedition to the Amur River, determined to seize over a million square kilos of clay from China. This would also grant Russia easy access to the Pacific.

Russia forced Qing Dynasty to sign a series of unequal treaties, after that he 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 and Boxer, the Russian army obtained a large amount of gold mines, coal mines and forest resources in Northeast China. In 1900 Russian Empire conducted a series of ethnic cleansings (pogroms) against the Manchus, Han Chinese and Daurs in Russian-controlled Manchuria, leaving the region with only Cossacks.

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 and humiliating defeat in. As a result, Russia agreed to withdraw from Inner Manchuria. This defeat shocked the Russian people and the rest of the world, since no Asian country had been able to beat a European country for a long time. This humiliation made lots of Russians mad, and they blamed it all on the Tsar. Many people went to peacefully protest in 1905, but got shot at by guards.

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 interests of Russia 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.

Quotes

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“	In Europe, we are followers and slaves, but in Asia, we ought to be masters. In Europe, we are seen as Tatars, but in Asia, we can be Europeans.	”
	— Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Relationships

Friends

• Kingdom of Serbia - Orthodox brother I vill protect.
• United States - Ah, good friend. I sell Alaska to him for cheap, da? But nows seeing how much profit he make in that land, I is of regret. I also help him fight Fake America. Big shame that my successors hate you so much. Such pity!
• Eastern Orthodox Church - Best church! ☦️☦️

Enemies

• Swedish Empire - Ah, you is pathetic enemy I crush in 1721! XAXAXA, so weak! You still pathetic, and I hope you die, da!
• Ottoman Empire - How does it feel to be humiliated by me over and over again?
• 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?
• German Empire - I might not have any weapon or helmet. But will take axe and fight for Tsar.

How to draw

Flag of the Russian Empire

Flag of the Russian Empire (private use)

Flag of Russian Empire (1858-1896)

The official flag of the Russian Empire has been the exact same as the flag for modern Russia for the most part. However, to distinguish Imperial Russia more, a flag introduced in 1914 for private use and patriotism is sometimes used. The flag was planned to be adopted into the national flag after WWI but the Russian Empire fell too soon.

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!

Main Colours:

Color Name		HEX
	White	#FFFFFF
	Blue	#0039A6
	Red	#D52B1E
	Yellow	#FFCC33
	Black	#000000

Emblem Colours:

{{{1}}}

Color Name		HEX
	Very Light Crown Blue	#F2F7F7
	Crown Blue	#A8B6C5
	Crown & Eagle Tongue Crimson	#8F222D
	Crown Jewel Grey	#4E5355
	Ribbon Blue	#4F7499
	Ribbon Blue (Dark Shading)	#214775
	Ribbon Blue (Light Shading)	#1B8EC1
	Eagle Brown	#352F2C
	Eagle Beak & Leg Yellow	#DEB128
	Symbol Yellow	#F2CA1B
	White Pedal Symbols Blue	#94ACCB
	Red	#C8001A
	Pearl Yellow (Dark Shading)	#D97B3B
	Pearl Yellow (Light Shading)	#FFF7AB
	Knight Armor	#DDE7E8
	Dark Yellow Shading	#C6962A
	Cape Blue	#3696C6
	Eagle Leg Yellow (Light Shading)	#FFF015
	Object Blue	#99A8B2
	Object Pearl Blue	CEDADC
	Green	#6B9C6E
	Sky Blue	#66B3E0
	Olive Dragon Green	#506804
	Knight Skin	#F1D2A1
	Eagle Staff Small Crowns	#887D58

Gallery

RegularInformational

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  Oh Napoleon…
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  Russia STRONK
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  Russia vs Japan in China
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  Pire
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  Map of Russian Empire
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  Flag of Russian Empire on a postcard, 1914-1918