"We, by the grace of God, Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russias, of Moscow, Kiev, Vladimir, Novgorod, Tsar of Kazan, Tsar of Astrakhan, Tsar of Poland, Tsar of Siberia, Tsar of Tauric Chersonesos, Tsar of Georgia, Lord of Pskov, and Grand Duke of Smolensk, Lithuania, Volhynia, Podolia, and Finland, Prince of Estonia, Livonia, Courland and Semigalia, Samogitia, Białystok, Karelia, Tver, Yugra, Perm, Vyatka, Bulgaria, and other territories; Lord and Grand Duke of Nizhni Novgorod, Chernigov; Ruler of Ryazan, Polotsk, Rostov, Yaroslavl, Beloozero, Udoria, Obdoria, Kondia, Vitebsk, Mstislavl, and all northern territories; Ruler of Iveria, Kartalinia, and the Kabardinian lands and Armenian territories - hereditary Ruler and Lord of the Circassians and Mountain Princes and others; Lord of Turkestan, Heir of Norway, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein, Stormarn, Dithmarschen, Oldenburg, and so forth, and so forth, and so forth."
Grand indeed were the titles of Nicholas II, the Czar of Russia. And at a first glance it seemed that his realm, the vast Russian Empire was indeed "the third Rome", an empire like no other. But now it seemed that a new "Time of Troubles" (Смутное время) was upon the realm. Russia was an agrarian, backward and torn country, where the rich and powerful nobility still ruled the poor workers and peasants with an iron fist. After the humiliating defeats in the war against Japan and the following strikes, mutinies and riots the reluctant Nicholas II had been finally forced to make minor reforms. But the threat of a revolution still lurked within the cities and countryside of Mother Russia, and the current leaders of the Empire knew all too well that unless they could succesfully guide their country through the possible new challenges, the consequences could well be disastrous. The people were beginning to questionize the absolute power of the Czar, but for now the internal situation of Russia was still under control.
Later on historians have often marked this sense of unsecurity, the fear of the upcoming changes and the clashes between the different political sects within Russia as the major causes of the assasination of Grigori Rasputin. This controversial Siberian monk who had gained much influence in the royal court due his alleged ability to help the mortally sick Tsarevich Alexei, was shot to death in St. Petersburg during the New Year celebrations of 1914. The fact that his murderer was never caught greatly frustrated the royal family, but it also indicated that the killers had allies within the Охранное отделение(Ohrannoje otdelenije), the notorious Russian "secret police."
The rapidly deteriorating health of his son and the difficult internal situation of the country made the Czar increasingly reclusive, and the government and his personal advisors quietly took over most of the day-to-day affairs of the imperial administration. But while the Czar grieved, the Russian Empire faced a new major challenge.
Russia chose to stand by her Serbian brothers, and the leaders of Austria-Hungary in turn decided to risk it all in their quest for revenge. The Great War had begun, and the Russian Empire was to play a crucial role in the bloody fighting of the grim years ahead.
Doomsday 1.2, Normal/Furious, together with the 1914-mod tweaked with the excellent changes made by the Black Guardian. They include longer combat, higher casualties - and yes, the game no longer crashes if the "Russian Civil War"-event fires.
Last edited: