Tag: Russian Empire
How the Nobel family helped establish the Russian oil industry
This enterprising family rose from the bottom to incredible heights during their years in Russia. The Nobel Prize was established in 1901. Since then, it has been awarded 615 times to 989 individuals and organizations, mostly from the United States, Great Britain, Germany, France, Sweden and Russia. What few people remember today is that the […]
Foreigners who nobly served Russia
Not only did they bring glory to their new homeland on the battlefield and contribute greatly to the development of her culture, but they also often rose to the very highest levels of power. Scots Russia Beyond (Photo: Public Domain) The Scots were always willing to move to Russia, because in their own homeland they […]
How Russian Cossacks fought Napoleon in 1812
Swift and tenacious Cossack cavalry ravaged Napoleon’s “Grande Armee” like a pack of dogs cornered by a bear. “The Cossacks are the best light troops there are. If I had them in my army I would go round the world with them,” Napoleon said about the Russian Cossack cavalry he encountered during the invasion of […]
Why Russians name shoes, tools and weapons after foreign women
The Russian language, rich in metaphors, surprises many foreigners with the fact that some things are literally feminative of other nationalities. But don’t rush to accuse Russians of misogyny! It’s all about linguistic tradition. The complete coincidence of words denoting a representative of a nationality and an event (or object) is called “homonymy”. In our […]
5 Swiss who nobly served Russia
Some of them were tutors to Russia’s royal heirs, while others helped rebuild Moscow after it was burned down by the French. Still others crushed the enemies of their new homeland on the battlefield. 1. Domenico Trezzini Nadezhda Pivovarova (CC BY-SA) The architect and engineer Domenico Andrea Trezzini was working on building forts in Denmark […]
Moscow blasts Finland for an unacceptable flag stunt
A group of protesters burned the Russian national flag during a demonstration on Finland’s Independence Day The Russian Foreign Ministry lodged an official protest with Finnish authorities on Saturday over what it called an “unprecedented, unacceptable act”. Moscow was referring to a group of protesters who burned a Russian national flag during a mass rally […]
Moscow blasts Finland for unacceptable stunt
A group of protesters burned the Russian national flag during a demonstration on Finland’s Independence Day The Russian Foreign Ministry lodged an official protest with Finnish authorities on Saturday over what it called an “unprecedented, unacceptable act”. Moscow was referring to a group of protesters who burned a Russian national flag during a mass rally […]
Moscow accuses Finland of unacceptable action
A group of protesters burned the Russian national flag during a demonstration on Finland’s Independence Day The Russian Foreign Ministry lodged an official protest with Finnish authorities on Saturday over what it called an “unprecedented, unacceptable act”. Moscow was referring to a group of protesters who burned a Russian national flag during a mass rally […]
5 Dutchmen who nobly served Russia
As born sailors and shipbuilders, the Dutch made a huge contribution to the creation of the regular Russian navy. As captains they gave that honor on more than one occasion with their victories in battle. 1. Franz Timmerman Franz Timmerman. Adriaan Schoonebeek At the end of the 1680s, Tsar Peter I, who in the following […]
5 Scandinavians who nobly served Russia
Among the citizens of the Nordic countries who served Russia, the Danes stood out the most. Even a sea bordering Russia was named after one of them. 1. Cornelius Cruys Cornelius Cruys. Public domain At the end of the 17th century, Tsar Peter the Great began building a navy and began to extensively engage foreign […]
5 Foreigners Who Helped Create the Russian Empire
In the early 18th century, Tsar Peter I (Peter the Great) crushed the mighty Sweden, making Russia one of the leading European powers. In this he also received help from foreign experts and professionals. 1. James Bruce Public domain “A most honest and learned man,” Sir Charles Whitworth, British Ambassador to Russia, said by James […]
These Portuguese served Russia nobly
Until the 18th century, these two great powers at opposite ends of Europe knew basically nothing about each other. However, this did not stop some Portuguese nationals from making careers at dizzying heights in Russia. Antonio de Vieira In 1697, during his Grand Embassy – an extended tour of European countries – Tsar Peter the […]
Putin claims Ukraine is not a country history begs to differ
Vladimir Putin’s misguided views of Ukraine’s independence are inaccurate, as history reveals, writes Susan Bothmann. RUSSIAN PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin claims that “Ukraine is not a real country” and that Ukrainians are really Russians. His invasion is to protect Russian speakers in Donbas from “Nazification”. Like much misinformation, there is sometimes a kernel of truth that […]
Finland, Sweden Offer NATO an edge as rivalry heats up in the north
Washington – The first surprise, for the Finnish conscripts and officers taking part in a military exercise in the Arctic this spring organized by NATO: the sudden roar of a US Navy helicopter attack force that landed in a field right next to the Finns’ well-hidden command post. The second surprise: Finnish Signal Corps communications […]
How magicians tricked Russian tsars
Rasputin was, most likely, the only court physician who could truly cure the Emperor and his family. The rest had simply deceived the other Russian Tsars and Emperors. Here are four of the most notorious of them. 1. Eliseus Bomelius The Alchemist (1634). David Ryckaert III Imagno/Getty Images “The Fierce Magus Bomelius,” as Russian sources […]
8 Soviet women who were FIRST in their field
Successful politicians, scientists and sculptors – the history of the new Soviet state would be unthinkable without them. 1. Nadezhda Krupskaya – the first Soviet “First Lady” Nadezhda Krupskaya General goods She may have been the husband of the leader of the revolution, Vladimir Lenin, but it would be unfair to describe her as just […]
5 Scots who nobly served Russia
Back in their homeland, they faced political and economic difficulties while under pressure from the hated British. However, the Russians offered them high rank, prosperity and an opportunity to participate in the creation of a great empire. 1. Alexander Leslie General goods The Scotsman Alexander Leslie enlisted in the Russian service three times: in 1618, […]
20 masterpieces from the Moscow Kremlin Diamond Fund
The collection here consists of fine jewelry, precious stones, nuggets and coronation regalia that have a special significance in Russian history. The inventory and storage of taxes in Russia dates back to the time of Peter the Great. Coronation regalia, jewel ornaments belonging to members of the royal family and all kinds of jewelery made […]
The most beautiful island monasteries in Russia
During the tsarist period, they were major religious centers and pilgrimages. During the Soviet era, they were converted into prisons, military schools and homes for people with disabilities. Valaam Monastery Kremlin.ru One of Russia’s most famous monasteries is located on the islands in the Valaam archipelago in the northern part of Lake Ladoga. According to […]
EU state calls Russian ambassador Putin’s statements
Estonia has condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statements about the historic loyalty of the city of Narva Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the accused Moscow of a “revengeist policy” after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s comments on the history of the Estonian city of Narva. The Baltic state has called the Russian ambassador, Vladimir Lipaev, […]
EU countries call Russia ambassador because of Putin’s statements
Estonia has condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statements about the historic loyalty of the city of Narva Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the accused Moscow of a “revengeist policy” after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s comments on the history of the Estonian city of Narva. The Baltic state has called the Russian ambassador, Vladimir Lipaev, […]
By throwing their ties with Russia, Sweden and Finland’s leaders are taking their people on a dangerous path
Neutrality has been abandoned without any objective reason other than American-driven Russophobia Sweden and Finland have broken their neutrality status and are seeking NATO membership in response to Russia’s military operation in Ukraine. It is the latest sign that entire countries are falling for the media’s anti-Russian games. After years of relatively calm relations with […]
How the Russian Empire performed at its last Olympics in 1912
The Summer Games in Stockholm became the very last Olympics in which the Russian Empire participated. Next time, already like the Soviet Union, athletes would be forty years later! The history of the Olympic movement in the Russian Empire is quite short and predictably ends with the dissolution of the empire itself. The country had […]
Finland’s NATO debate is probably one of Scotland’s confrontations
Tensions in Ukraine have raised the question of whether NATO membership is vital to Putin’s defense against Russia. If Putin threatens to merge into the Russian Federation those nations that were once not only part of the Soviet Union but also part of the former Russian Empire, then Finland has a right to be concerned. […]
Russia and Russia: What is the difference
From the Slavic tribes to the present, the official name of the country. In articles on Russian history, you can often see Old Russia called ‘Rus”. Is it a special name for the country, for the people or what? It’s still a mystery if ancient Russians actually called themselves Rus ‘- as in’ Rus ‘people’. […]
That is why the Russian Church is blessing Putin’s war
The pope and European priests are urging both Russia and Ukraine to lay down their arms during the coming Easter weekend, when Orthodox Easter is celebrated. But from the supreme leader of the Russian Church, Patriarch Kirill, the message is that war is necessary. It has to do with his close ties to Putin and […]
Finland reveals NATO plans
A senior official says that a “large majority” of Finns support joining the US-led bloc Finland is “most likely“To apply for NATO membership, the country’s EU Minister Tytti Tuppurainen told Sky News on Friday. “At this point, I would say it is very likely, but no decision has been made yet.” She said. She claimed […]
Finland opens up about NATO membership
A senior official said a “large majority” of Finns support joining the US-led bloc Finland is “most likely“To apply for NATO membership, the country’s EU Minister Tytti Tuppurainen told Sky News on Friday. “At this point, I would say it is very likely, but no decision has been made yet.” She said. She claimed one […]
Russia comments on the result of Sweden and Finland joining NATO
The proposed accession to the bloc will hurt northern Europe, including future allies, Moscow said Sweden and Finland will lose some of their sovereignty while jeopardizing their security if they join NATO, the Russian Foreign Ministry warned on Friday, citing the two nations’ expected requests for formal membership in the US-led military bloc. Sweden and […]
No longer neutral War in Ukraine tests Finland’s attitude towards Russia
Finland has traditionally taken a cautious line of neutrality to avoid confrontation with its Russian neighbor. But the war in Ukraine is changing public attitudes, and joining NATO is becoming an increasingly realistic option. Twenty years ago, join NATO would have been unthinkable in Finland. But a historic shift in public opinion is now taking […]
Why Crimean Tatars are afraid when Russia invades Ukraine
Like Vladimir Putin’s strengths wage a brutal war against Ukraine, the Crimean Tatars living in Russian-occupied Crimea and on the Ukrainian mainland feel particularly threatened by the recent invasion of their historical enemy. Some have promised to defend Ukraine, a country many fled to in 2014 after Putin’s forces invaded the Crimean peninsula and began […]
Norway and Finland are only Sweden’s satellites
Past Xander BrettTravel editor The Croft Magazine // Traveling as a student on both sides of the Nordic superpower, it is clear that obedience remains even in independence. Last month I ended up in Estonia: a small country that, now that I will think about it, is not so different from Slovenia in the Balkans […]
What role did Viborg play in Russian history?
The city managed to be part of four different states. For the Swedes, it served as a window to the east; for the Russians – a crucial link in the system of defense of their capital and empire. Viborg is one of the most colorful cities in all of Russia, in terms of culture. There […]
Wednesday’s newspapers: Halla-aho’s "strong words"cyber attack on Nordea, Finland on behalf of Ukraine
Helsingin sanomat newspaper write that Jussi Halla-aho (Finns) – the former leader of the Basic Finns and now the chairman of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee – told the newspaper on Tuesday that the West’s intervention in the war in Ukraine will soon be inevitable, so it would be better to do it sooner rather […]
Monday’s newspapers: Finns and Russia, changed relationship, spring in the air
In its article, Helsingin Sanomat, Finland’s largest circulation magazine, critically analyzes "long cherished" the belief of Finns that they have a "special understanding" Russian way of thinking. According to the HS, this assumption dates back to the period from 1809 to 1917, when Finland was the Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire, when the Finns […]
Finnish anti-war protesters take to the streets to support Ukraine
Protesters took to the city streets around Finland on Thursday to protest against Russia’s military attack on Ukraine. Police estimate that about 1,500 people gathered for a peaceful demonstration in front of the Russian embassy in Helsinki on Thursday afternoon. The protesters shouted slogans e.g. "Alas Putin" and "Russia out" and a Finnish hip hop […]
Sergey Karaganov: Russia’s new foreign policy, the Putin Doctrine
Moscow’s confrontation with NATO is just the start It seems like Russia has entered a new era of its foreign policy – a ‘constructive destruction’, let’s call it, of the previous model of relations with the West. Parts of this new way of thinking have been seen over the last 15 years – starting with […]
The Putin Doctrine: Russia’s new foreign policy
Moscow’s confrontation with NATO is just the start It seems like Russia has entered a new era of its foreign policy – a ‘constructive destruction’, let’s call it, of the previous model of relations with the West. Parts of this new way of thinking have been seen over the last 15 years – starting with […]
President Niinistö: EU-Russia relations may cooler than during the Cold War
Finnish President Sauli Niinistö said on Tuesday that the Minsk process, which aimed to give autonomy to some regions of Ukraine but did not grant them independence, is now dead. Niinistö said it is difficult to predict what will happen next. "The crisis is no longer a European crisis, it has been addressed by the […]
100 masterpieces of Russian literature you should read
From ancient tales to modern novels, we bring you a selection of books that can all be considered timeless classics. Many of them are part of the school program, not only in Russia. 1. The Tale of Igor’s Campaign (1185) W. W. Norton; 1st edition, 1973 This “tale of woe” about Prince Igor’s unsuccessful campaign […]
Tuesday’s newspapers: Ukraine’s reaction, snow chaos
Monday evening Vladimir Putin gave an extensive televised speech announcing the recognition of the separatist republics concentrated in Donetsk and Luhansk, Ukraine, before signing agreements with the leaders of the two breakaway regions. included the transfer of Russian troops to Ukraine. The UN Security Council met shortly afterwards in an emergency session attended by a […]
Rogervik WORST EMPIRE of the Russian Empire
Empress Elizabeth was the first Russian ruler to ban the death penalty. But during her reign, it was a punishment that was essentially the same as a death sentence – hard work for life in the construction of a Baltic port. The average life expectancy of a prisoner in Rogervik’s hard labor camp was less […]
How Crimea became part of Russia and why it was gifted to Ukraine
Jewish enclave, home of a deported nation, a present for the Ukrainians: The difficult history of Russian Crimea In March, it will be eight years since the day Crimea returned to the Russian Federation. This ended its 60-year history as part of Ukraine, which began, not on February 19, 1954, but a little earlier. What […]
30 Russia Beyond Articles You Might Have Missed 2021
These are the best stories of the year, according to our writers and editors. We have put together this list to highlight our most interesting stories, which in many cases were the most difficult to put together. To see the list of our most popular stories by page views, click here. LIFESTYLE 30. Why Russian […]
The complete list of Russian Nobel laureates
After Dmitry Muratov was awarded the Peace Prize in October 2021, we remember other Russian laureates of various Nobel Prizes over the years. Alexander Kislov Russian Empire 1. Ivan Pavlov – Physiology and Medicine, 1904 Ivan Pavlov General goods Famous for his experiments with dogs, a pioneer in physiology, Pavlov was Russia’s first Nobel laureate […]
Russia and the Russians through the eyes of foreign artists
Foreign painters were always excellent guests at the Imperial Court. Russia and its enigmatic landscapes attracted and inspired artists from all over the world. Many foreign artists were active in the Russian Empire from the early 18th century to the first half of the 19th century. The phenomenon was even named Rossica. Western European painters […]
The COMPLETE list of Russian tsars, emperors and presidents
From the founders of the Moscow Tsardom to the current President. The Rurikid dynasty, which ruled the Russian lands from circa 9th century, was most likely founded by Rurik. He is considered the first war commander who had the power of a knyaz (prince) – i.e. a political leader. However, Rurik wasn’t the leader of […]
Marshal Mannerheim, a complex national hero who barely spoke Finnish
Anyone who has spent even the shortest periods in Helsinki or in many parts of Finland already knows the name Mannerheim. According to the Marshal, there are at least dozens of designated streets, squares and public spaces, not least the 5.5 km boulevard in the center of Helsinki, which has served as the capital’s main […]
Archaic villages on the White Sea
Historian and architectural expert William Brumfield discovers the wooden corpses in life in the Russian north. Company. St. Church. Peter & Paul, south view. Right background: village house & Virma River. July 7, 2000 William Brumfield In the early 20th century, Russian chemist and photographer Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky developed a complex process for vivid, detailed color […]
Who fought with Hitler against the Soviet Union during World War II and why
Most Allies in the Third Reich had no reason to join the war against the Soviet Union. The Italians Paxox (CC BY-SA 4.0) Fascist Italy, the largest ally of Nazi Germany during World War II, was largely responsible for the Mediterranean war theater. However, Benito Mussolini also wanted Hitler to give his soldiers a chance […]
7 GREAT Germans who helped shape Russia
For more than 150 years, the Russian Empire was ruled by ethnic Germans – including Romanovs, from Peter III. Apart from them, there were many German people who contributed immensely to Russia’s culture and science. Burkhard Christoph von Münnich (1683-1767) Portrait of Count Burkhard Christoph von Münnich (1683-1767) Getty Images Born: In the Grand Duchy […]
Top 5 LEGENDARY Russian diplomats
Diplomacy is the art of exercising influence and pressure when it suits your country’s best. We have chosen some of Russia’s most effective diplomats, who proved that dialogue and diplomacy can work wonders and help avoid conflicts with rival nations. Aleksandr Griboedov (1795-1829) Griboedov went down in history as the author of a hit comedy […]
The Finnish Independence Day gala has been celebrated in many ways and in many places
The Independence Day dance, which usually brings thousands of guests to the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, has been the most watched media event of the year in Finland for decades. The story continues after the picture President Sauli Niinistö and the first woman Jenni Haukio danced with the 2019 ball.AOP Guests have ranged from ordinary […]
Paasikivi already said that
In Finland’s Russia debate, there are always tensions between principles and practicality. EU decisions on sanctions are based on principles, while business wants to continue business as usual. Such the opposite is not uncommon when legal principles collide with the use of violence and outsiders have to suffer. But one might ask: Are we outsiders? […]
Who did the Russians fight against in Iran during the First World War?
History 11 Nov 2020 Boris Egorov Public Domain In a neutral Iran, opponents during World War I were engaged in a struggle that could change the entire history of West and South Asia. Battlefield: Iran Iran had no plans to join World War I. The country, which had been weakened by domestic political strife, economic […]
5 foreign military commanders who gave Russia credit
History 12 Oct 2020 Boris Egorov Hermitage Museum; Private collection. The Hague; Rybinsk Museum-Preserve; Public Domain After abolishing the opportunity to build a career at home, these officers set off for the remote exotic country of Russia, offering them much-deserved credit for their talents and military capabilities. 1. Patrick Gordon General goods Before Patrick Leopold […]
How Russia removed Finland from Sweden
History 17 September 2020 Boris Egorov Helena Schjerfbeck For the Swedes, their biggest tragedy was losing Finland to the Russian Tsar, but the Finns, in sharp contrast, saw it as an opportunity to one day in the future create their own nation state. When an independent Finland was born out of the ruins of the […]
