Romanov Unpopularity

Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Political Effects of the First World War

The tsar took over direct command of the army, sidelining the Duma (the parliament), which was dissolved in 1914 AD. But World War One did not go as he had planned.

The Duma

The tsar took over direct command of the army, sidelining the Duma, which was dissolved in 1914 AD.
But the war did not go according to plan, and the Duma was recalled a year later.
The tsar refused to follow the Duma’s request that he replace his ministers with new ones.
- By 1917 AD the Duma was a big source of opposition to the tsar.

The tsar as commander-in-chief

The tsar had no experience of warfare but ignored his advisers anyway.
- This made him an unpopular commander-in-chief of the army.
However, he usually followed the advice of the generals, and so had little impact on the running of the war.
But, because he was commander-in-chief, he was blamed by the people for the defeats.
- In fact, it was the bad training and bad leadership of the army which was more to blame.

Unrest in Petrograd

As commander-in-chief, he was mainly based at the front.
- When the situation in Petrograd escalated, Nicholas II was not present to deal with the situation.
In Petrograd, both soldiers and ordinary workers were disillusioned.
- The war led the tsar to lose the respect of his people and the support of those among whom he had once been popular.
- His status as a ‘little father’ to the people was reduced.

Grigori Rasputin

Grigori Rasputin was a self-proclaimed mystic, holy man, and preacher. He worked at Tsar Nicholas II's court.

Rasputin's background

In 1869, Rasputin was born as a peasant in Western Siberia.
Whilst growing up in such a poor environment, historians think that he may have been a criminal involved in drinking alcohol, thieving and blasphemy.

Rasputin's religious awakening

Rasputin went to a monastery in Verkhoturye.
This religious experience supposedly revolutionised him as a person.
Rasputin became deeply religious after his time at the monastery.

The role of the tsarina

The tsar and his wife (known as the tsarina) were desperate for someone to heal their son Alexei (who suffered from hemophilia).
They had been introduced to Rasputin, who 'cured' Alexei during one of his hemophiliac episodes.

Tsar's confessor

In 1910, the tsar needed a new confessor (personal priest).
Tsarina Alexandra, Tsar Nicholas II's wife supported making Rasputin the Tsar's new confessor.

Rasputin's role in the Court

Rasputin was a Russian Orthodox Christian, but he also believed in spirits, healing and other mystical/pagan parts of religion.
He 'healed' the Tsar's son Alexei and was Tsar Nicholas II's personal confessor.

Controversy

Despite his religious beliefs, Rasputin was a womaniser. He supposedly took bribes, was corrupt and took sexual favours to use what were believed to be his 'healing powers'. Lots of his untoward behaviour happened in public.
The Russian people thought that Rasputin was too influential.

The Winter of 1916-17 AD

The long-term trends combined with short-term triggers to tip Russia towards revolution.

Winter 1916-17 AD

In Petrograd and Moscow, a lack of food and unrest among workers led to instability in the cities.
- This was made worse by the protests on International Women's Day on the 23rd February.

Putilov Steelworks

Strikes protesting about the declining winter living standards began to combine with the people’s dissatisfaction with the tsar's regime. These strikes grew in size.
At the Putilov Steelworks strike in February, workers demand higher wages.
- Tensions were made worse when the owners locked the workers out of the steelworks and refused to pay them.

Demonstrations

80,000 people demonstrated on the 14th of February, demanding that the Duma take control from the tsar.
The cold winter of 1916-17 AD had caused a great deal of suffering.
- Although the weather improved in late February, living conditions did not improve and more people took to the streets.