Russia 2019 (11) MOSCOW - One Square to Another

Our next stop was Red Square (#1), but we saw several interesting things on the way.

Here is the Tsar Cannon (#21). As you can see from the comparison with Mike, it is huge, and a beautiful work of art. A monument of Russian artillery, it was cast in bronze in 1586 by master caster Andrey Chokhov. It weighs just over 39 tons with an internal diameter barrel of 890mm (35 inches). Documented by Guinness World Records, it is the largest "bombard by caliber" in the world. It was mostly symbolic, but there are tracings that it was fired at least once. Look at the cannon balls behind Mike. Holy moly!

Then there is the Tsar Bell (#20), commissioned by Empress Anna in 1733. This is purported to be the largest bell in the world weighing in at 222 tons. It is 6.14m (21 feet) tall, 6.6m (22 feet) in diameter, and as thick as 61cm (24 inches). It is decorated with angels, flora, oval medallions of saints, and the Empress herself.

It was never hung or even rung because the completed bell cracked during a fire when water was sprayed on its hot surface. The broken piece weighs almost 13 tons. The humongous ringer is stored inside (not shown).

We walked along a lovely park (left on diagram). Some of our fellow travelers heard a nightingale in this area. I could hear it, too...beautiful...but not so lucky to see it. Avid bird watchers did get a glimpse though. They were soooo excited!

Lilacs everywhere, every color. Smelled wonderful.

We saw the Senate Building (#17). Originally the highest judicial offices, the governing senate, and the president's administration were housed here. Today it is all the administrative offices of the president.

In England if the Queen is in the house, the British flag flies overhead. No one lives in the Kremlin now (Stalin was the last) and the guide said for security reasons it is not known generally where President Putin lives or hangs out. Here the flag flies 24-7, so as not to indicate if Putin is on-site. 

We walked by this gated back door entrance into some buildings. Our guide said this is where the "security" services are now housed.

At times throughout our driving, all traffic halted at intersections. If someone with red license plates was proceeding, they had the total right of way. There were a number of black cars with smoky windows and red license plates parked here.

We saw clergy strolling here and there. There are two levels in the Russian Orthodox Church. If wearing black, they are monk-priests or higher priests and are pledged to celibacy. If they wear white robes, they are parish or secular priests serving laymen. They are expected to be married.

Here is another view of the crenellated wall and the Kremlin Clock on the Spasskaya Tower (#22). A clock tower could have been constructed here as early as 1491, but has been damaged or destroyed and rebuilt a number of times. Currently each clock face is 6.12 meters (20.1 feet) in diameter. Roman numerals are .72m (2.4 feet) in height. Total weight of the clock and bells is 25 tons.

 

Various melodies and bell strikes are played at different times of day, including excerpts from Russia's national anthem and operas. This clock is used like the ball drop in NYC on New Year's Eve. People gather around and cheer at the stroke of midnight.

This was taken from the GUM store entrance into Red Square. Kremlin wall, Senate palace (green dome), and Lenin's tomb (under tower). The Square is open to the public 24/7. 

Russia 2019 (10) MOSCOW - A Square, But Not Red Square

Next stop was Cathedral Square with five major churches and a bell tower. It was so reminiscent of piazzas (or squares) in Italy. Some of the architects used were, in fact, Italian.

Domes - Onion, pear, or helmet-shaped domes are generally believed to represent lit candles. They are usually larger in diameter than the pedestal they sit on and are more tall than wide. The number of domes may have a special meaning. One alone represents Jesus Christ. Three domes represent Christ, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit. Read more on domes:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onion_dome

----- (#4 on map) Archangel Michael Cathedral. Construction was completed in 1508 with Italian architect Aloisio the New supervising. It was used as the main necropolis or burial place of Russian czars. There are 54 burials here, including Ivan the Terrible's son Demetrius. In this case, the five domes on top represent Jesus Christ and the four evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).

----- (#5) Annunciation Cathedral. This name refers to the celebration of the announcement by Archangel Gabriel to Mary that she would become the mother of Jesus. It connects directly to the Great Kremlin Palace (#15). It was originally the personal chapel of the Moscow czars and its abbot was the personal confessor to the royal family until the 20th century. 

----- (#8) Church of the Deposition of the Virgin's Robe. Construction began in 1484. The name celebrates a festival going back to the 5th century when Mary's robe was taken from Palestine to Constantinople to protect that city from being conquered. It was originally constructed as the private chapel of the Patriarchs (official title of the Bishop or head of the Russian church), but later taken over by the royal family in the mid-17th century.

----- (#3) Dormition (or Assumption) Cathedral. Built in 1475 and consecrated on the Feast of Dormition (passing of earthly life) of the Mother of God. She is believed to be a patron saint of Russia. It was the major Russian Orthodox church from the 15-19th centuries, even after the capital was moved to St. Petersburg. It is also where all the coronations of tzars and emperors took place.

It is a grand example of ancient Russian architecture (yet influenced by Italy) with a mass of frescoes inside and at the entrance. All emperors of the Romanov House were coronated here. Also, this was the burial place of the Patriarchs of Moscow.

This is the only cathedral we entered and it was dazzling...huge, with icons and brilliantly colorful frescoes ceiling-to-floor, wall-to-wall, telling stories of the Bible. It had a private praying box first built for Ivan the Terrible in 1551 and used later by other czars. Czarinas had a separate praying place on the opposite side of the church. No photos allowed. 

Dormition Cathedral is connected to the Patriarch's Palace (#12) by a narrow alley.

----- The Church of the Twelve Apostles (#6) is within the Patriarch's Palace. This is a minor cathedral originally commissioned by Patriarch Nikon (he tried to reign supreme over the royal family and government, but did not succeed) for use as his personal residence in 1653. Today it houses the Applied Arts Museum (design and decoration of everyday objects--fashion, automotive, kitchen, etc.).

----- Ivan the Great Bell Tower (#19) is a nearby church tower built in 1508, as three of the cathedrals in the square do not have their own belfries. At 81 meters (266 feet), it is the tallest structure in the Kremlin. It has 22 bells. It is not named after Ivan the Terrible, but after John-of-the-Ladder (sometimes called Ivan and several other names), a monk in the 5-6th centuries from Mount Sinai. The "ladder" refers to raising one's body and soul to God through ascetic virtues. Hope I got this right, research confusing!

All of these churches are now part of the Kremlin Museums, along with the Armory. On rare occasion they may be used for religious services.

Asides: George is the patron saint of Moscow. The Russian Orthodox Church does not use any musical instruments. They do not have any religious statues (3-dimensional idols), although icons (2-dimensional renderings) were prominent to explain biblical stories for those that could not read. In communion, they use real wine. There are no pews in churches except for elders or illness; everyone has to stand for services that last up to three hours. Even today!!

To learn more about the Russian Orthodox Church, you could look here:

http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/ (their official website)

or

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Russian-Orthodox-church

or Kremlin Museums:

https://www.kreml.ru/en-Us/about-museums/kremlin/

Russia 2019 (9) MOSCOW - First Stop, the Kremlin and Armory

Our bus driver was Andrew and guide was Anna on this first tour day. She was a wealth of information.

On the drive she pointed out many landmarks, including the Russian State Library with a statue of author Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881). 

The Church of St. Nicholas at Tverskaya Zastava. It opened its doors in 1922 servicing the Old Believers community (those that believe in the original ritual practices of the Eastern Orthodox Church before the reforms of the mid-1600s). It didn't function for long. Later it was used as an anti-aircraft defense storehouse, a sculptor's studio, and again as a church starting in 1995. The modern office buildings surrounding it were built in 2007-08. Everywhere in Moscow you see multiple styles of architecture side-by-side.

The first McDonald's in the USSR opened January 31, 1990 on Pushkin Square. It was, however, from a Canadian franchise, not the USA.

OK, back to "old" history. Evidence of human habitation on this land goes back to 500 BC. Originally this area was called the "grad of Moscow." It was built and destroyed and rebuilt several times. The title Kremlin was first recorded in 1331. It was finally recognized as a major municipality when in 1336 the seat of the Orthodox Church moved here from Vladimir, a town east of Moscow.

Remember we have one complimentary tour in each port. The Kremlin was our port tour for Moscow. Kremlin means fortress and there are many "kremlins" in Russia. So here it is not just one building, but a number of buildings, churches, and squares within a walled district.

Here is what the wall looks like. The Moskva (Moscow) River flows by outside the wall.

There are many towers around the wall where I imagine lookouts once protected the fort. Each one has a different name.

I will be reporting on several areas on this map, but we start with the Armory (#13 - yellow building in the upper right).  

The Armory Chamber Museum is part of the Grand Kremlin Palace complex.

The Armory originated 1508. It was used to produce, purchase and store weapons, jewelry and household items of the czars. This continued until around 1703 when the capital was moved to St. Petersburg by Peter the Great. In 1851, it was established as one of the oldest museums in Moscow. Today it is the "storehouse" of priceless and glittering relics of Russian royalty.

Unfortunately we were not allowed to take photos inside, but I'll tell you some the  amazing things we saw.
     - Ten Faberge eggs (the most in any one place in Russia, more later on the eggs)
     - Crown of Kazan studded with pearls, garnets, and turquoise (worn by Ediger Mahmet, the last ruler of the Tartar state of Kazan. This 16th century crown is the second oldest in Russia)
     - Other crowns and scepters, including fur crowns (fur is replaced every 30 years and it had just been replaced, so gorgeous)
     - Awards, trophies, gifts from other countries encrusted with precious metals and stones
     - Imperial carriages and sleighs (some from 18th century, most impressive)
     - Weapons (swords and pikes), armor, chain mail, horse armor and regalia
     - The ivory and walrus tusk throne of Ivan the Terrible (earliest surviving czar throne)
     - The double throne used by Peter the Great and half-brother Ivan (hope you read about this in my previous "Czar History" entry)
     - Ceremonial clothes worn by Peter the Great, wedding dresses, ermine capes
     - Clocks, crosses, icons, chalices, large ornamental book covers, tableware and silverware
     - Porcelain (150 pieces, a hand-painted gift from Napoleon) and more
     - Portraits

There was a little bit of everything and all simply jaw-dropping. To see photos, go here. Click on each section and right or left arrow to see examples of some of these treasures:
https://www.kreml.ru/en-Us/visit-to-kremlin/what-to-see/oruzheynaya-palata-zaly/

It was well worth the extra tour dollars to see this venue in addition to the free Kremlin tour.

An aside: Not sure what is going on with the font size change. I can't seem to fix it. Hrrump!

Russia 2019 (8) MOSCOW - Let the Tours Begin

We were glad our first tour did not begin until the afternoon on Day 2. It gave us time to catch-up to the time zone and browse the boat a bit.

We grabbed the "whispers," what they called our personal listening devices. We used these on all the tours and re-charged them each evening. They were volume adjustable and worked very well. If you didn't hear the guide, you knew you were too far behind and had to spot them fast, so not to become lost.

The red paddle was on a stick and was called a "lollipop." It had our particular tour number on it, like 3B, etc. The guides held these up so we could easily follow them. It came in very handy as there were sooooo many tour groups, it would have been hard to keep up without it.

There were various tours, depending on what you had individually booked, leaving the ship at the same time. As we disembarked the boat we got an ID card to use in case we got lost. This would help us get back to the ship. We also got a bus number, again like 3B. This told us which bus to board for our particular tour.

Buses were clean and new. There were two doors for quick loading and unloading. Each passenger had a seat belt, which we wore after experiencing the crazy traffic. There was one restroom on-board, but we had ample opportunity to use public restrooms during the tour. These were all modern and clean. Tour time was built in for the long bus rides and potty stops. All the bus drivers were careful and safe, although we did have one minor traffic incident (more on that later).

As traffic was a mess in Moscow, the bus ride to almost every venue took about an hour. Every hour seemed to be rush hour there. Guides filled in the time with information about the day's destination and in general about the history and area.

An aside: My friend Ina just sent this article from Condé Nast Traveler magazine rating Moscow as the city with the worst traffic congestion in the world. I knew I was not imagining things. Read the article here:
https://www.cntraveler.com/story/15-cities-with-the-worst-rush-hour-traffic-in-the-world?utm_source=nl&utm_brand=cnt&utm_mailing=CNT_Daily_AM_062419&utm_campaign=aud-dev&utm_medium=email&bxid=5c33ac7b24c17c321cea865e&cndid=49274691&hasha=cccaf9038d10988446a740b2178cec85&hashb=3c513587963c22948b98135a001b3faba6739caf&hashc=85699353faa2d87467312c9e3ef909f32d8a50fb695ee8e67b31ea12b53ae896&esrc=PureWow_SWPS_2017&utm_content=Final&utm_term=CNT_Daily

One confusing thing was the tour tipping arrangement. Through our cruise literature it was suggested we give bus drivers (they were different each tour) $1 USD pp per day and each tour guide $2 USD pp. We had set aside an envelope with a bunch of $2 bills just for that use. But it was not clear at first that there were two types of tour guides. Some were locals and they should get their $2, but others were Viking personnel dressed in red polo shirts.

We had prepaid the lump sum of $300 pp or $600 for the two of us suggested by Viking. That assured all Viking personnel of food servers, hospitality, room service, front desk, security, etc. would automatically get their fair share. But we did not realize at first that the Viking guides were included in the prepaid arrangement. So for about 5 days they got additional tips, until we caught on to the situation. Oh, well. They got a little extra, but did a great job!

Oh, one other thing. Not just anyone can be a tour guide in Russia. There is a 2-year education process. They spend 30 days studying in each museum or tourist venue and are tested at various points throughout the program. Several guides said it was a tough process, but well worth it.

Russia 2019 (7) ON BOARD - Breakfast and a Briefing

Our "Viking Daily" newsletter advised meal times each day. We had three options for our morning meal.

1) On the lightest side you could get a beverage and pastries at the 24-hour coffee station just outside the restaurant. It had one of those Nespresso push-button machines with a number of choices including coffee, hot water (a selection of tea bags was on hand), hot chocolate, and a few Italian-style coffees like cappuccino and latte. Cookies were usually available all day as well.

The white contraption on the left is the hand sanitizer. They had one at the entrance to the ship and the entrance to the dining room. I wasn't so worried about Legionnaire's disease on this small boat, but it was psychologically comforting to have.

2) Another choice was a continental breakfast in the 4th floor Panorama Bar. It included cheeses, sliced meats, fruit, pastries and the usual beverages. We ate there once. It was fine, but we prefer a warm breakie.

3) Then there was the dining room or Restaurant. Lots of choices. Here's the menu:

The above items were delivered by your server. This menu was the same every day, but there were many other options to choose from. Both Mike and I tried the pancakes one day. They were Russian style...maybe 4-inches in diameter max, thicker, heavier. Lots of choices to add to the batter or top them off. I ordered savory mushroom and Mike had blueberries.

The servers always poured our coffee or other beverage, but if you did not want to order off the menu, there was a huge help-yourself buffet with four hot options--scrambled eggs, at least two meats, some style of potatoes, and a choice of veggies (mushrooms being one).

There was also an order-your-own omelet station with various items to add. I usually had a "Greek" style with cheese, mushroom, spinach.

Mike usually had the hot oatmeal or their cold oatmeal-like muesli. With these you had many sweet or savory or syrupy options for toppings.

There was also a cheese and cold cuts area, many bread and pastry choices, and a large section of whole and cut fruits.

Here's one of my meals. The bacon looks overdone, but it was to my taste. (Yes, I'm mostly a veg head, but I do eat bacon on occasion. It's not a religious thing for me; it's a texture thing.)  I also enjoyed a glass of kefir each day with a fruit puree on top. My faves were cherry and apricot. The cherry juice was wonderful also.

You could have whatever options you liked or one of everything on the menu. There was no limit. We don't usually eat breakfast, but on this cruise we surely did.

At 10:00 there was a safety drill and review. We stood outside our cabins and put on our life jackets. You had to tie it in a special knot. The captain and some crew came around to check things out and adjust our knots.

While we waited we got a chance to meet our neighbors. There was another Debbie across the hall. Later we met a third and heard there was a fourth Debbie on board, but never ran into her. We all spelled our full names differently--Deborah, Debra, Debora.

At 10:45, Program Director Margo announced over the P.A. system to meet her in the 4th floor Sky Bar (lecture room) to describe the day's activities and options.

At 11:00, she continued with a lecture on Russian souvenirs (best place to buy them and hints on authenticity) and Russian foods--borscht, blini, seasonings, caviar, pelmeni (national dish of Russia and we would have a cooking class on how to make these), stroganoff, stuffed cabbage, and pavlova (meringue-based dessert named after Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, usually incorporating fruit and whipped cream). Sour cream is served with every meal. Lunches are usually soup. Russia is starting to produce wines. And, of course, all about vodka!

Well, 12 noon rolled around and it was time for lunch. More on that later.

Russia 2019 (6) HISTORY - Czar Report

Sorry this entry is so long! You don't need to read it all, but use as a reference. Lots of confusing research on this, so hope all is basically correct. Let me know if you find an error.

Five asides:
1 ) Definition of "boyar" is privileged class of rich landowners who served government leaders as aides and councilors.

2) Definition of Eastern and Western Europe varies. I'll define Western Europe as from Spain to the western border of Poland and a fluctuating line down to western Greece. Eastern Europe is Poland's western border to the Ural Mountains. Western Russia is its western border to the Ural mountains. Everything to the east side of the Ural Mountains including Siberia is Eastern Russia. Are you confused yet?

3) The word czar is derived from Italy's Julius Caesar (who ruled 1,500 years earlier). A czar is an autocratic, all-powerful leader, like an emperor or king. It is sometimes spelled "tzar." Scrabble accepts both spellings.

4) Depending on your source, many names below are spelled slightly differently.

5) Czars with stars (**) were most prominently talked about on this cruise. 

The fascinating history of Russia was a driving factor in wanting to visit this mysterious country. I say mysterious because "what can you believe in the news?" Why is it more difficult to get a visa compared to most countries? And what is daily life there really like?
We wished to learn more and see the actual sights where its history was made.

I had a hard time keeping timelines straight, so made a list of czars and emperors that might help clear up our scattered thoughts.

Vasili II (1425-1462)

Ivan III the Great (nicknamed Gatherer of Russian Lands) (1462–1505)
Ended dominance of the Mongols and Tartars by defeating the Golden Horde. Tripled the size of Russian lands. Renovated the Kremlin and cleaned up the shanty town of poor peasants and criminals in the area that is now Red Square.

Vasili III (1505-1533)

?

** Ivan IV the Terrible (1547–1584)
A member of Rurik House or dynasty. He brutally overpowered his rivals to become the first undisputed czar of Russia and, in the process, greatly expanded the empire by annexing territories such as Astrakhan (an area along the Volga River) and into Siberia. It is widely believed that he killed his eldest son in a rage. He also initiated a long correspondence with Queen Elizabeth I in order to build relations with England and established trade agreements. So some good things and a whole lotta bad. He died of a stroke while playing chess.

Feodor I (sometimes called Feodor the Blessed) (1584-1598)
Second son of Ivan the T. He was physically weak and possibly feeble-minded, but a pious man not interested in politics. Boris Godunov was the brother of Feodor's wife and a trusted advisor. Boris ultimately ruled Russia as a de facto regent until Feodor's death.

** Boris Godunov (1598–1605)
It is also believed that Boris assassinated Ivan the T's third son Dmitry in Uglich where Dmitry and his mother had been exiled. Because Feodor had no heirs, Boris seized the throne. He outlined the Western-thinking policies later instituted by Peter the Great. He allowed education in Western European countries and invited Western teachers into Russia. He especially courted Scandinavian territories, hoping to get easy access to the Baltic Sea. But he restricted freedom of peasants to transfer loyalty from one noble to another, confirming the idea of serfdom. Near his death by stroke, the "Time of Troubles" began...famine, civil war, and disputes with Poland and Sweden.

Feodor II (1605-1605)
After the sudden death of his father Boris, he was proclaimed czar at age 16. Although his father set up precautions, his position was immediately challenged by pretender False Dmitry I with the backing of revolutionaries. Feodor's mother tried to take control of the situation, but she and her son were arrested and strangled.

False Dmitry I (1605-1606)
It is believed the legitimate Dmitry was, in fact, assassinated in Uglich (a town we would visit). But this man claimed to be the youngest son of Ivan the T, who had escaped the assassination attempt and was the heir to the czar-hood. While in power, he restored Yuri's Day when serfs could change their noblemen and instilled more Western ways. He also married a Polish woman and tried to consolidate the Papal and Eastern Orthodox churches. That lead Prince Ivan Shuisky to conspire with the boyars and an agitated population to storm the palace. Dmitry tried to escape by jumping out of a window, but broke his leg in the fall. He was captured and executed on the spot.

Vasili IV (1606-1610 )
His father was Ivan Shuisky. He reigned, but was never formally recognized. Seems the boyars ran the show during his time.

Vladislav I (1610-1613)
At age 15, he was elected czar by the Seven Boyars in 1610. Militarily he tried to gain power, but never formally assumed the throne due to his father's attempts to convert the Russian Orthodox Church to Catholicism. In 1632 he became king of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania.

Michael I (1613-1645)
At age 16, he was elected by the boyars as the first czar of the Romanov House. He allowed relatives of his mother and later his father to handle the daily operations. The greatest expansion in Russian history occurred during this reign, including annexing more of Siberia and clearing lands occupied by Sweden and Poland. During his time, both financial difficulties and diplomatic, commercial and cultural relations with Europe improved, Sadly, serfdom continued. Music had been outlawed by the church in 12th century. but Michael reintroduced it with Western singers and instruments. He died after fainting in church.

Alexis the Benevolent (1645-1676)
Son of Michael I, he also acceded to czar at age 16. His reign started badly, due to adult advisor Morozov who cut government salaries, added a tax on salt, developed a state monopoly on tobacco, and instituted other acts of hardship. The population rebelled, the bad influencers were eliminated, and the tide turned for the better. Later Alexis became known as the benevolent czar.

Feodor III (1676-1682)
He was the eldest surviving son of Alexis and gained the czar-ship at 15 when his father died unexpectedly. He was well-educated and versed in state matters, but disabled and half paralyzed from birth with an unknown disease, possibly scurvy. He continued making more liberal reforms and lessening severe laws. He founded the Academy of Sciences, where professors could teach anything not prohibited by the Orthodox Church.

** Ivan V (1682-1696)
Younger son of Alexis the Benevolent by his first wife. His reign was in name only as he had serious mental and physical disabilities. After compromises between feuding family members, a double throne was built for Ivan (16 years old) and Peter (10 years old) to share. There was, however, a curtain behind Peter's chair so advice could be given to him from behind. Ivan was named senior czar but, in essence, his sister (and Peters half-sister) Sofia reigned as regent for the next seven years. He died at age 27 leaving no sons, which allowed Peter to continue his reign without contenders.

** Peter the Great (1682–1725)
Born the only son of Alexis by his second wife. There is more to the story, but at age 17 Peter wished to declare his majority and take senior command of the czar-ship. Ivan's tutor persuaded him to give up his claim and to support Peter's leadership, thus terminating Sofia's regency. Over time, Ivan's involvement diminished completely and Peter became sole czar and later self-proclaimed emperor.

Peter is best known for efforts and accomplishments in bringing Russia into the "Enlightenment" era. He took an incognito 18-month tour throughout Western Europe. That resulted in the revamping or "Westernizing" of Russia's military and bureaucracy to mirror what he observed. He even required officials to shave their beards and dress in Western-style garb. Another achievement was overpowering the Swedish army in the Battle of Poltava in 1709 giving prestige to the Russian military. He annexed the huge Ukraine territory and declared all his lands to be an Empire rather than a czardom. After capturing lands on the Baltic Sea, he founded the city of St. Petersburg in 1703 as Russia's new capital. That remained until the 1917 revolution when the capital was returned to Moscow. Much more to be said about this guy, but this entry is not totally about PtG. At 52, he died of gangrene of the bladder.

** Catherine I (1724-1727)
In 1724, PtG's second wife was officially crowned empress, although she was not the actual commander for another year. Peter had no surviving male children and had not named a successor. As Catherine was very popular with the military and commoners, troops stormed the meeting where the next emperor was being decided and this bloodless coup resulted in Catherine as the next uncontested empress. She was the first woman to rule Imperial Russia and continued to embrace PtG's policies to  modernize her country. She also constructed a "modest" summer palace in the city of Pushkin. She died two years later of a stroke at age 67.

Peter II (1727-1730)
He was son of PtG's son Alexis by his first wife. PtG did not like Alexis and accused him of treason. Alexis was executed and Peter II, the grandson, was basically disowned after that. When Catherine died, it was determined the only male grandson of PtG should re-gain his inheritance and become Russia's next leader. Unfortunately, Peter II had no real interest in government and was left to his amusements while advisers handled state affairs. He died (childless) of smallpox and was buried near his murdered father Alexis.

Anna (1730-1740) 
Through much deliberation, next came Anna, daughter of PtG's half-brother and co-ruler, Ivan V. Much of her governance was continuing the actions initiated by her uncle PtG to Westernize the country. Anna also initiated elaborate architectural improvements in St. Petersburg, instituted the Cadet Corp (a young men's pre-naval academy), and resurrected the Secret Office of Investigation to punish those committing political crimes. Before her excruciating death by kidney stone, she declared grand-nephew Ivan VI as her successor. This perpetuated Ivan V's family lineage, rather than PtG's line.

Ivan VI (1740-1741)
He was two months old when he became Emperor, with his mother declared regent. Two months later, Elizabeth (daughter of PtG) declared a coup and seized the throne. Ivan and his parents were imprisoned far from the capitol for more than 20 years, when he was executed by guards during an attempt (unbeknownst to him) by other guards trying to free him .

** Elizabeth (of Russia) (1741–1762)
She was daughter of PtG by his second wife. In a bloodless, military-backed coup, she took power in 1741. She was involved in two European wars. Domestically, she established the University of Moscow and spent fortunes building various palaces. She also tore down Catherine I's original small summer palace and replaced it in all its glory as you see it today. We would visit Catherine's palace with its famous Amber Room on this trip. In spite of her flagrant spending, she is one of the most beloved rulers of the time. At the end of her life she suffered fainting spells and a stroke. She died unmarried and childless.

Peter III (1862-1862)
He was Elizabeth's sister Anna's orphaned child living in Germany. As Elizabeth had no children, she brought him to Russia to tutor him in the language and the ways of his future country. After Elizabeth's death, her nephew took over for six months, was arrested during a coup organized by his wife Catherine and palace guards, abdicated, and assumed murdered (although no written record). This was reportedly due to his liberal reforms and  pro-Prussian leanings.

** Catherine II, The Great (1762–1796)
In a juxtaposition, Peter III had married Catherine. She was German and had no Russian blood.She took over after the coup against her husband. While in power, she greatly expanded Russian borders, annexing Crimea, parts of Poland, lands along the Black Sea, and the Alaskan territory. She continued the policies of PtG to Westernize her country, yet tightening the serfdom system. Catherine II was the victim of many maligning sex rumors, but likely did have numerous paramours. In any case, she was most popular and her era is considered the "Golden Age of Russia." She died of a stroke at age 67, longest ruling female ever in Russia.

Paul I (1796-1801)
Officially, the only son of Peter III and Catherine II, although Catherine hinted that he was actually the offspring of one of her lovers. He initiated the laws of succession to the throne, leaving the crown only to the next male heir. These were followed until the revolutions of 1917. He was assassinated by conspirators.

Alexander I (1801–1825)
Eldest son of Paul I and his second (German) wife Sofie. Alex I ruled during the Napoleonic Era. During the first half of his reign he somewhat aligned with the French dictator, but later turned against him. In the War of 1812, Russia overcame the invasion of Napoleon. This boosted Alex I's ego and he formed a holy alliance with Austria and Prussia, reversed the idea of liberalism started by previous czars, removed foreign teaches from school, and established a more religious line of study. Although paranoid of poisoning or kidnapping, he died of a common cold.

Nicholas I (1825–1855)
Second son of Paul I and Sofie. The inklings of the Russian Revolution of 1917 probably started during the reign of Nicolas I, as he was a callous, unsympathetic ruler. He treasured the military more than anything and repelled any uprising by the common man. As a result, this drove the economy down the drain. He kept up a good facade until the Crimean War of 1853, when it became apparent that the military was undisciplined and poorly trained. It also came to light that all of Russia had only 600 miles of railroad track vs. the US's 10,000 miles at that time. But for all his conservative policies, he did not believe in serfdom. He was unable, however, to institute his more liberal policies before his death of pneumonia (although it was rumored to be suicide).

Alexander II the Liberator (1855–1881)
This Alex was son of Nicholas I. His nickname is due to the fact that he abandon the serfdom system about the same time that President Lincoln freed the slaves (1861). He also reformed the penal code, improved and expanded the university system, reversed some nobility privileges, and sold Alaska to the US. Even though he instituted some pro-active domestic policies, revolutionaries continued to pressure for more reforms. After a number of attempts, Alexander II was assassinated in 1881 with a bomb thrown under his carriage.

Alexander III the Peacemaker (1881-1894)
Son of Alexander II. He was the Emperor of Russia, King of Poland, and Grand Duke of Finland all at the same time. Although he was quite conservative (reversing earlier reforms), no wars were fought during his reign, thus the nickname "Peacemaker." He died of kidney disease.

** Nicholas II (1894–1917)
The son of Alex III and last czar of the Romanov House and of Russia. After witnessing the assassination of his grandfather Alex II (at age 13), he established extremely conservative policies. He was very religious and built more churches than were built in the previous century. This combination lead to a series of disastrous circumstances starting with the influence of deranged Russian monk Rasputin, defeat in the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-05, the 1905 uprising, and finally the two revolutions of 1917. In October, the czar and his government were ultimately overthrown by a small group of communists lead by Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky. The deposed czar Nicholas, wife Alexandra, four daughters (Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia), and hemophiliac son Alexei were moved several times and finally murdered in the Ural mountain town of Ekaterinburg in July 1918.

OK, this is all more than you probably wanted to know, but these are highlights and there is a lot more interesting and intriguing info to learn. You can check further at Wikipedia.com or Britannica.com and search any of their names.


Also...

Vladmir Lenin
Ruled Soviet Russia (1917-1922) and Soviet Union (1922-19424).

Joseph Stalin (1943-1953)

The USSR reorganized and was officially renamed the Russian Federation in 1991.