Explore More - 2017

From Peter the Great to

From Peter the Great to Tsar Nicholas II, the Russian imperial dynasty has a fascinating and dramatic history The House of ROMANOV 114 VIKINGCRUISES.COM | EXPLORE MORE 2017

THE ROMANOVS The Romanov Dynasty was the last imperial dynasty to rule over Russia, from 1613 until they were overthrown in the brutal events of the Russian Revolution of 1917. Over the course of their period in power, Russia underwent radical change and saw extremely contrasting administrations, from that of the exalted Peter the Great to the weak and ineffectual Tsar Nicholas II. After the death of Fyodor I in 1598 (the last ruler of the Rurik Dynasty), Russia endured 15 chaotic years known as the “Time of Troubles” (1598–1613), culminating in the election of Michael I of Russia (Mikhail Feodorovich Romanov) as first tsar of the House of Romanov. For some time, the Romanovs were content to maintain the status quo in Russia. Power continued to be centralized, but little was done to keep Russia up to speed with the rapid economic and political change in the rest of Europe. Then came Peter the Great. An exemplary statesman with unwavering willpower and extraordinary energy, Peter was also a skillful diplomat who abolished archaic elements of Russian government during his reign from 1682 to 1725. Not only called “the Great” for his impressive height (he towered at almost 7 ft), Peter also turned Russia into one of the most influential European powers, modernizing the country significantly. To do this, he studied other foreign powers. He traveled like an ordinary man under an assumed name for some time, including a spell working as a carpenter on a ship. By 1721, Peter had gained unlimited power in his country and was proclaimed emperor. Perhaps the greatest part of his legacy was commissioning and building the grand city of St. Petersburg. Though undoubtedly a powerful leader, Peter remains a controversial figure, with many arguing that he was a man before his time. Nevertheless, the years following his death were of marked instability, with the Russian throne occupied by six different successors until Catherine the Great. Clockwise, from facing page: The tsar’s throne in the Summer Wooden Palace in Kolomenskoye, rebuilt in 2010; Tsar Nicholas II with his family in 1914; illustration from a 1673 book representing a crowd at the Ipatiev Monastery imploring Mikhail Romanov’s mother to let him become tsar; painting of Peter the Great by Paul Delaroche, 1838 EXPLORE MORE 2017 | VIKINGCRUISES.COM 115