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Decembrist Revolt
A revolt led by the Russian army after Nicholas I's assumption of power after his preferred brother, Constantine, chose not to succeed. Because the Russian population did not know of Constantine's resignation, they believed that Nicholas prevented Constantine from ruling. The event took place in St. Petersburg, and was led by a group of liberals who felt threatened by the Tsar's conservative policies. Ultimately, the liberals lost and led to the Tsar's prevention of future liberal movements. -
Russo-Persian War
War that occurred between Russia and Iran over a land dispute from 1813 with the previous Russo-Persian War. Russia wins in the last major military conflict between Russia and Iran. -
Tolstoy is Born
Leo Tolstoy is born in Yasnaya Polyana, outside of St. Petersburg, Russia. -
November Uprising
Also known as the Polish-Russo War or the Cadet Revolution, the November Uprising describes the rebellion of the partitioned Poland against the Russian Empire. The result: Russian victory, emergence of the Organic Statute of the Kingdom of Poland and the end of Poland. -
Battle of Warsaw
Another rebellion by the Polish that was crushed two days into the conflict. -
The Green Stick
Tolstoy's brother tells young Tolstoy that he wrote a secret that will make all men happy on a green stick and buried in the Kakaz Forest. This is where Tolstoy asks to be buried when he dies. -
Leaves University
Tolstoy wasn't a good student and after three years left University. After he inherits Yasnaya Polyana, he moves to Moscow and begins a terrible gambling habit. -
Tolstoy joins the army
Tolstoy joins the army alongside his brother, and they are soon moved to the Caucuses. During this time, he begins writing Childhood. -
Crimean War
The Crimean War was caused by the rapid decline of the Ottoman Empire that coincided with Russian desire for land. The immediate cause however was Russian concern over Christians in the Holy Land, then located in the Ottoman Empire, a pretext to start a war as the underlying cause was land expansion. However, fearful of Russian expansion, GB, France, and the Ottoman Empire intervened and halted Russian conquest. The war ended with Allied victory and the Treaty of Paris, which caused many wars. -
Brother, Dmitry Dies
Tolstoy's brother dies of tuberculosis. At the same time, Tolstoy tries to free all of his serfs and transfer the land they work, but his serfs are suspicious of his offer and thus refuse. -
Treaty of Aigun
A treaty, considered unequal, between Russia and the Qing dynasty that established the border between China and the Russian Empire. -
Tolstoy Opens a School
Tolstoy opened a school on his 4000 acre Yasnaya Polyana land founded and based on his own ideology. In the same year, he has a son outside of wedlock with a married peasant. -
Emancipation Reform of 1861
The act in which Tsar Alexander II abolished serfdom on private and domestic/household estates. This occurred during the time of Enlightened Absolutism, in which the absolute sovereign made "progressive" changes to society in order to create more social freedom in order to advance his nation, while also maintaining absolute control over their empire. -
January Uprising
This was another failed attempt to overthrow Russian rule over Poland. Despite their failure in the November Uprising, the recent defeat of the Russian forces in the Crimean War spurred a hope that unified the Polish in another attempt to gain their independence. -
War and Peace
Tolstoy publishes what will later become one of his most acknowledged and commemorated pieces of literature and his first novel: War and Peace, which addresses the main themes of human nature, love, and family happiness. The publication date is debated to be between 1865-69 -
April Uprising
An uprising that aimed and succeeded, though 2 years later, at re-establishing Bulgaria, and separating it from the Ottoman Empire. The suppression of the rebellion led to the Russo-Turkish War. -
Anna Karenina
One of Tolstoy most important novels about a love affair and the dynamic shifts in characters that the reader would deem the antagonists. Tolstoy stresses the idea that no character is perfect and before judging people by their outward character, try to understand their inner nature, in order to have a deeper understanding into their though process and actions. -
Russo-Turkish War
A war fought between the Ottoman Empire and a coalition between Russia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, and Montenegro during a period of rising nationalism. This resulted in the coalitions victory, in which Russia paved way to its establishment on the Black Sea. -
Converts to Christianity
At the age of 50, Tolstoy ends a long internal struggle by converting to Christianity. -
Treaty of San Stefano
Ended the Russo-Turkish War that was imposed by the Russians over the Ottomans in which the Russians took some territory, gave some territory to other European nations, and established the independence of the Bulgarian principality. -
Congress of Berlin
was a diplomatic meeting between major European powers that led to the replacement of the Treaty of San Stefano with the Treaty of Berlin as a new conclusion to the Russo Turkish War. This was another attempt by the other major powers to stop Russian domination in the region by redistributing the land that Russia claimed autonomy over after defeating Turkey in the Russo-Turkish War. -
The Death of Ivan Ilyich
In this novella, Tolstoy discusses the theme of human mortality and preaches the message that people should realize that they are mortal souls with limited time, and that this realization should thus, thrust them into a positive, kind, and forgiving mindset in which they can act morally and ethically in life and towards fellow man. -
Renounces all Possessions
Tolstoy declares that he will give all of his possessions to his serfs but when his sons and wife object, he gives the estate to the family. -
RSDLP
The RSDLP or the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party held its first meeting in 1898, a revolutionary socialist political party founded in Belarus. -
Letter to Nicholas II
In this letter, Tolstoy warns Nicholas II of an impending civil war in Russia if he won't give Russia its freedom. -
Tolstoy is Excommunicated from the ROC
After writing Resurrection, the Russian Orthodox Church excommunicates Tolstoy because he wrote his own religion model that he urged others to follow. -
Socialist Revolutionary Party
A major political party in Russia that believed in revolutionary socialism of democratic socialist and agrarian socialist forms. -
Kishinev Pogrom
An anti-Jewish riot in Kishinev. It lasted three days until April 9. More rioting occurred 2 years later in October 1905. There were multiple waves of violence with 49 people were killed, some women were raped, and more than 1000 homes were damaged. The persecution of Jews in Russia prompted Herzl's Uganda Scheme for the resettlement of Jews and led to American Jewish support and aide for the Jewish population in Russia. -
Russo-Japanese War
An imperial conflict between Russia and Japan over their ambitions in Manchuria and Korea. This was the first time a non-European country had defeat a European power. -
Russian Revolution of 1905
Characterized by strikes by urban workers and peasants prompted by shortage of food and by Russia's loss to Japan in the Russo-Japanese War. Later, Bloody Sunday caused more wide spread rebellion. During these strikes and rebellions, peasants looted and burned cities, and homes. In order to end the violence, Nicholas II agreed to establish an elected assembly in order to make reforms. -
Bloody Sunday
A group mainly made up of workers peacefully marched to the Tsar's palace to request reforms on working conditions. The guards were ordered to open fire, which turned the people against the Tsar and prompted the violent phase of the Russian Revolution of 1905. -
October Manifesto
A document issued by the emperor Nicholas II that ended autocracy in Russia and established constitutional monarchy. -
Tolstoy Dies
While escaping his wife by train, Tolstoy falls ill and stops in Astapovo and dies a few days later. He asks to be buried by the green stick that his brother told him about during his childhood.
