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History of Russia
Journey back in time to Russia
(Soviet Union) (U.S.S.R.)
Visit Russia. Discover its history. Learn about the people who lived there through stories, old newspaper articles, pictures, postcards and genealogy.
Are you from Russia ? Do you have ancestors from there? Tell us YOUR story!

Christmas in Russia is most widely celebrated on January 7. This is because the Russian Orthodox Church adheres to the Julian calendar, which is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar. Preceding the Russian Orthodox Christmas, New Year's Day is on January 1 and is often considered the more important holiday.
The Russian Santa Claus is named Ded Moroz, or Father Frost. On New Year's Eve, he places presents for children under the New Year tree (as opposed to a Christmas tree). He is accompanied by Snegurochka, a snow maiden said to be his granddaughter. He carries a staff; dons a red, blue, silver, or gold coat lined with white fur; and wears valenki, traditional felt boots made of wool. Unlike Santa, Ded Moroz is tall and thin—and instead of traveling via sleigh, he gets around Russia by taking a troika, a vehicle led by three horses.
tripsavvy.com
There is MUCH more to discover about Russia. Read on!
History, News and Stories of Russia

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1709 - June 27 - Peter the Great of Russia defeats Charles XII of Sweden at the Battle of Poltava.
www.onthisday.com
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1714 - August 7 - The Battle of Gangut: the first important victory of the Russian Navy during the Great Northern War against Sweden
onthisday.com
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1718 - June 26 - Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich of Russia, Peter the Great's son, mysteriously dies after being sentenced to death by his father for plotting against him.
www.onthisday.com
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1721 - Treaty of Nystad ended Great Northern War; Sweden ceded Estonia, Livonia, Ingria to Russia
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ asia/ russia/ rutimeln.htm
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1725 - May 21 The Order of St. Alexander Nevsky is instituted in Russia by the empress Catherine I. It would later be discontinued and then reinstated by the Soviet government in 1942 as the Order of Alexander Nevsky.
onthisday.com
1727 - May 7 - Jews are expelled from Ukraine by Empress Catherine I of Russia
onthisday.com
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1727 - May 29 - Peter II becomes Tsar of Russia aged 11
onthisday.com
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(1735 - 1739) Russo-Turkish War fought between Russia and the Ottoman Empire
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ asia/ russia/ rutimeln.htm
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1726 - February 8 - The Supreme Privy Council is established in Russia
onthisday.com
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1739 - Russo-Turkish War ended with Treaty of Nissa; Russia ceded claims on Crimea and Moldavia, its navy was barred from the Black Sea
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ asia/ russia/ rutimeln.htm
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1745 - England, Austria, Saxony and the Netherlands formed alliance against Russia
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ asia/ russia/ rutimeln.htm
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1753 - Russian women are granted the right to what’s known as a “separate economy”: the ability to earn their own income and retain it for her own use, independent of her husband.
https://www.theguardian.com/money/us-money-blog/2014/aug/11/women-rights-money-timeline-history
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(1756 - 1763) Seven Years War - France, Great Britain clashed in Europe and North America; France, Russia, Austria, Saxony, Sweden and Spain sided against Britain, Prussia and Hanover
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ asia/ russia/ rutimeln.htm
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1762 - Treaty of Saint Petersburg ended Russian participation in Seven Years War. Csar Peter III overthrown by Imperial Guard, replaced by his wife, Catherine II.
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ asia/ russia/ rutimeln.htm
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1796 - Catherine II died, son Paul I took over the throne
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ asia/ russia/ rutimeln.htm
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1800 - Population of Russia (Russian Empire) - 21,248,000
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1802 - Paul I assassinated by nobles, his son Alexander I became czar
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ asia/ russia/ rutimeln.htm
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1825 - Alexander I died, succeeded by Nicholas I
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ asia/ russia/ rutimeln.htm
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1855 - Nicholas I died, son Alexander II became csar
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ asia/ russia/ rutimeln.htm
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1861 - Alexander II issued Emancipation Edict ending serfdom. Rapid industrialization led to growth of working middle class, revolutionary ideas.
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ asia/ russia/ rutimeln.htm
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1867 - United States bought Alaska from Russia
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ asia/ russia/ rutimeln.htm
1868 - Russia sends 14,000 criminals to Siberia every year.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
September 5, 1868
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1870 - Two hundred and sixty girls are employed in the Government telegraph offices in Russia.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
June 4, 1870
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1881 - Alexander II was assassinated, succeeded by son Alexander III
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ asia/ russia/ rutimeln.htm
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1884 - Alexander III commissioned jeweler Carl Gustavovich Faberge to make Easter egg for the Empress
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ asia/ russia/ rutimeln.htm
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1891 - Severe famine affected nearly half of Russia's provinces, over 500,000 died
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ asia/ russia/ rutimeln.htm
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1894 - Alexander III died, succeeded by son Nicholas II
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ asia/ russia/ rutimeln.htm
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1895 - Russia
"Russia, formerly called Muscovy, mus'ko-ve, is the largest state in the world, comprising the whole of the N. of Europe and Asia, between lat. 38°... Read MORE...
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1897 - Russian Social Democratic Labor Party established by the Marxists
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ asia/ russia/ rutimeln.htm
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1900 - Population of Russian Empire (includes Finland and Poland) - 136,305,900
Population of Russian Empire (excludes Finland and Poland) - 119,546,234 -
1901 - Socialist-Revolutionary Party founded
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ asia/ russia/ rutimeln.htm
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1903 - At second congress of Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, party split into two factions: Mensheviks and Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ asia/ russia/ rutimeln.htm
1905 - October 16 – Russian Revolution of 1905: The Russian army opens fire in a meeting on a street market in Tallinn, killing 94 and injuring over 200.
www.wikipedia.org
October 16, 1905
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Christmas was banned as a religious holiday under the reign of the Soviet Union in 1929, and as a result New Year’s Day was made into the bigger celebration; if people wanted to celebrate Christmas, they had to do so in secret.
worldholidaytraditions.com
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1949 - The Soviet Union successfully detonates an atomic weapon
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1957 - October 4 - USSR launches Sputnik 1 - Space race begins
Russian People Tickled Pink at Success of Their Sputnik
MOSCOW (AP) - The Russian people are tickled pink that their scientists have grabbed the... Read MORE...
1963 - December 24 - Grandfather Frost
Russian children believe in Grandfather Frost. They think he is a neighbor to Santa Claus at the North Pole who comes in a horse-drawn troika sleigh... Read MORE...
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After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, people were free to celebrate Christmas again, but to this day it still remains the smaller, quieter holiday following the big New Year’s celebrations.
worldholidaytraditions.com
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1991 - Mikhail Gorbachev resigns as President of the Soviet Union; Effective legal dissolution of the U.S.S.R.
Russia Genealogy
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Updated: 12/25/2020 11:20:21 AM
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