History of Russia

Moscow Fires
On the 11th of February 1183, Moscow was entirely destroyed by fire by the Tartars. In the year 1571, it was again burnt by the Tartars. In 1611, it was again burnt by the Poles.
The Deseret News
Salt Lake City, Utah
July 3, 1861

1709 - June 27 - Peter the Great of Russia defeats Charles XII of Sweden at the Battle of Poltava.

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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

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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.

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1721 - Treaty of Nystad ended Great Northern War; Sweden ceded Estonia, Livonia, Ingria to Russia

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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.

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1727 - May 7 - Jews are expelled from Ukraine by Empress Catherine I of Russia

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1727 - May 29 - Peter II becomes Tsar of Russia aged 11

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(1735 - 1739) Russo-Turkish War fought between Russia and the Ottoman Empire

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1726 - February 8 - The Supreme Privy Council is established in Russia

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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

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1745 - England, Austria, Saxony and the Netherlands formed alliance against Russia

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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

(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

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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.

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1796 - Catherine II died, son Paul I took over the throne

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1800 - Population of Russia (Russian Empire) - 21,248,000

1802 - Paul I assassinated by nobles, his son Alexander I became czar

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1812 - More than three quarters of Moscow destroyed by fire
On the 14th of September, 1812, when Bonaparte entered the city, it was fired by the Russians, and continued burning for several days, destroying more than three-quarters of the city - then more than than twenty miles in circumference - compelling the French army to retreat from the flames. Thirty thousand sick and wounded perished in the flames.
The Deseret News
Salt Lake City, Utah
July 3, 1861

1825 - Alexander I died, succeeded by Nicholas I

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1855 - Nicholas I died, son Alexander II became csar

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1861 - Alexander II issued Emancipation Edict ending serfdom. Rapid industrialization led to growth of working middle class, revolutionary ideas.

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1867 - United States bought Alaska from Russia

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1868 - Russia sends 14,000 criminals to Siberia every year.

St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
September 5, 1868

1870 - Two hundred and sixty girls are employed in the Government telegraph offices in Russia.

St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
June 4, 1870

1881 - Alexander II was assassinated, succeeded by son Alexander III

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1884 - Alexander III commissioned jeweler Carl Gustavovich Faberge to make Easter egg for the Empress

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1891 - Severe famine affected nearly half of Russia's provinces, over 500,000 died

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1894 - Alexander III died, succeeded by son Nicholas II

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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° 20' and 78° N., lon. 17° 40' and 190° E. Surface estimated to comprise one-twenty-sixth of the superficies of the globe, one-seventh of its land, and more than double the extent of Europe, the total area being (as shown in the table) 8,352,940 square miles; coast-line, 25,000 miles. It is but thinly peopled. Pop. (1870) 87,795,987. Capital, St. Petersburg. It is usual to treat of the empire as divided into European and Asiatic Russia, although these divisions are not officially recognized..."
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

1897 - Russian Social Democratic Labor Party established by the Marxists

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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

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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

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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.

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October 16, 1905

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.

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1949 - The Soviet Union successfully detonates an atomic weapon

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 lead from the Americans in the satellite field. But they're not surprised about their Sputnik - Russian for earth satellite.

The Russian people believe Soviet science leads the world. They do not see Western newspaper and magazines, and know little of scientific development outside the Communist world.

Amid the jubilant newspaper and radio accounts of the first man-made moon circling the earth the Soviet government newspaper Izvestia and several leading scientists announced the next targets in the satellite program.

Soon, they said, will come bigger satellites than the 184-pound sphere now aloft.

In time (the Russians didn't say when) a satellite will be sent up which can be brought back to earth intact and will not burn up when it re-enters denser atmosphere as the Sputnik will.

AND THEN, the statements added, the Russians ... 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 with presents for children.
The Morning Record
Meriden, Connecticut
December 24, 1963

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.

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1991 - Mikhail Gorbachev resigns as President of the Soviet Union; Effective legal dissolution of the U.S.S.R.

2023 - Russia is a vast and diverse country with a rich history and culture. There are plenty of places to visit and things to do across this vast nation. Here's a list to get you started:
Moscow:

Red Square and the Kremlin: Start your journey in Moscow at the iconic Red Square. Explore the historic Kremlin complex, visit St. Basil's Cathedral, and see Lenin's Mausoleum.

Bolshoi Theatre: Enjoy a ballet or opera performance at the renowned Bolshoi Theatre, known for its world-class productions.

Tretyakov Gallery: Explore Russian art and culture at the Tretyakov Gallery, home to an extensive collection of Russian masterpieces.

GUM Department Store: Shop for luxury goods and traditional Russian products in this historic shopping arcade.

Izmailovsky Market: Hunt for unique souvenirs, crafts, and antiques in this bustling market.

Sparrow Hills: Take in panoramic views of Moscow from Sparrow Hills and visit the Moscow State University campus.

Moscow Metro: Explore the ornate and beautifully decorated metro stations, often referred to as "underground palaces."

St. Petersburg:

Hermitage Museum: Discover art and history at the Hermitage, one of the... Read MORE...

Russian Names
A full Russian name consists of personal (given) name, patronymic, and family name (surname).

Most Russian family names originated from patronymics, that is, father's name usually formed by adding the adjective suffix -ov(a) or -ev(a). Contemporary patronymics, however, have a substantive suffix -ich for masculine and the adjective suffix -na for feminine.

For example, the proverbial triad of most common Russian surnames follows:

Ivanov (son of Ivan),
Petrov (son of Peter),
Sidorov (son of Sidor).
Feminine forms of these surnames have the ending -a:

Ivanova (daughter of Ivan),
Petrova (daughter of Peter),
Sidorova (daughter of Sidor).
Such a pattern of name formation is not unique to Russia or even to the Eastern and Southern Slavs in general; quite common are also names derived from professions, places of origin, and personal characteristics, with various suffixes (e.g. -in(a) and -sky (-skaya)).

Professions:

kuznets (smith) → Kuznetsov—Kuznetsova
portnoi... Read MORE...