A Short History of Russia

Short History of Russia, A

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Title: A Short History of Russia
Author: Mary Platt Parmele
Release Date: October 23, 2005 [EBook #16930]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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[Frontispiece: Peter the Great.]

A SHORT HISTORY OF RUSSIA
BY
MARY PLATT PARMELE

ILLUSTRATED

NEW YORK
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
1907

Copyright, 1899, 1904, 1906,
BY MARY PLATT PARMELE

PREFACE.
If this book seems to have departed from the proper ideal of historic narrative--if it is the history of a Power, and not of a _People_--it is because the Russian people have had no history yet. There has been no evolution of a Russian nation, but only of a vast governing system; and the words "Russian Empire" stand for a majestic world-power in which the mass of its people have no part. A splendidly embroidered robe of Europeanism is worn over a chaotic, undeveloped mass of semi-barbarism. The reasons for this incongruity--the natural obstacles with which Russia has had to contend; the strange ethnic problems with which it has had to deal; its triumphant entry into the family of great nations; and the circumstances leading to the disastrous conflict recently concluded, and the changed conditions resulting from it--such is the story this book has tried to tell.
M. P. P.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
Natural Conditions Greek Colonies on the Black Sea The Scythians Ancient Traces of Slavonic Race

CHAPTER II.
Hunnish Invasion Distribution of Races Slavonic Religion Primitive Political Conceptions

CHAPTER III.
The Scandinavian in Russia Rurik Oleg Igor Olga's Vengeance Olga a Christian Sviatoslaf Russia the Champion of the Greek Empire in Bulgaria Norse Dominance in Heroic Period

CHAPTER IV.
System of Appanages Vladimir the Sinner Becomes Vladimir the Saint Russia Forcibly Christianized Causes Underlying Antagonism Between Greek and Latin Church Russia Joined to the Greek Currents and Separated from the Latin

CHAPTER V.
Principalities Headship of House of Rurik Relation of Grand Prince to the Others Civilizing Influences from Greek Sources Cruelty not Indigenous with the Slavs How and Whence it Came Primitive Social Elements The Drujina End of Heroic Period Andrew Bogoliubski New Political Center at Suzdal

CHAPTER VI.
The Republic of Novgorod Invasion of Baltic Provinces by Germans Livonian and Teutonic Orders Russian Territory Becomes Prussia Mongol Invasion Genghis Khan Cause of Downfall

CHAPTER VII.
The Rule of the Khans Humiliation of Princes Novgorod the Last to Fall Alexander Nevski Russia Under the Yoke

CHAPTER VIII.
Lithuania Its Union with Poland A Conquest of Russia Intended Daniel First Prince of Moscow Moscow Becomes the Ecclesiastical Center Power Gravitates Toward that State Centralization Dmitri Donskoi Golden Horde Crumbling

CHAPTER IX.
Origin of Ottoman Empire Turks in Constantinople Moscow the Spiritual Heir to Byzantium Ivan Married to a Daughter of the Caesars Civilizing Streams Flowing into Moscow Work for Ivan III. And How He Did it Friendly Relations with the Khans Reply to Demand for Tribute in 1478 The Yoke Broken

CHAPTER X.
Vasili the Blind Fall of Pskof Splendor of Courts Ceremonial Nature of Struggle which was Evolving

CHAPTER XI.
Ivan IV. His Childhood _Coup d'��tat_ Unmasking of Adashef and Silvester A Gentle Youth Developing into a Monster Solicitude for the Souls of his Victims Destruction of Novgorod England Enters Russia by a Side Door Friendship with Elizabeth Acquisition of Siberia The Sobor or States-General Summoned Ivan Slays his Son and Heir His Death

CHAPTER XII.
Boris Godunof The Way to Power A Boyar Tsar of Russia Serfdom Created The False Dmitri Mikhail the First Romanoff

CHAPTER XIII.
Time of Preparation The Cossacks Attempt of Nikon Death of Mikhail Alexis Sympathizes with Charles II. Natalia Death of Alexis Feodor

CHAPTER XIV.
Sophia Regent Peter I. Childhood Visit to Archangel Azof Captured How a Navy was Built Sentiment Concerning Reforms A Conspiracy Nipped in the Bud Peter Astonishes Western Europe

CHAPTER XV.
Charles XII. Battle of Narva St. Petersburg Founded Mazeppa Poltova Peter's Marriage with Catherine

CHAPTER XVI.
Campaign against Turks Disaster Averted Azof Relinquished Treaty of Pruth Reforms The Raskolniks Visit to France His Son Alexis a Traitor His Death

CHAPTER XVII.
Catherine I. Anna Ivanovna Ivan VI. Elizabeth Petrovna French Influences Succeed the German Peter III. His Taking off Catherine II.

CHAPTER XVIII.
Conditions in Poland Victories in the Black Sea Pugatchek the Pretender Peasants' War Reforms Partition of Poland Characteristics of Catherine and of her Reign Her Death

CHAPTER XIX.
Paul I. Napoleon Bonaparte Franco-Russian Understanding Assassination of Paul Alexander I.

CHAPTER XX.
Plans for a Liberal Reign Austerlitz Alexander I. an Ally of Napoleon Rupture of Friendship French Army in Moscow Its Retreat and Extinction The Tsar a Liberator in Europe Failure of Reforms Araktcheef's Severities Conspiracy at Kief Death of Alexander I.

CHAPTER XXI.
Constantine's Renunciation Revolt Succession of Nicholas I. Order Restored Character of Nicholas His Policy