The Tsar Michael Romanov is born in 1613.
Michael I has been picked to be Tsar of Russia. The Romanov family began here, following the Time of Troubles.
Peter the Great was king from 1682 to 1725.
Peter I, who is also called Peter the Great, takes the throne. He brings Russia up to date and closer to the West, which makes it stronger in politics and the military. He changes the name of the city to St. Petersburg in 1703.
Catharine the Great was queen from 1762 to 1796.
Isey II is the Empress of Russia. She's also known as Catherine the Great. The borders of Russia get bigger, Russian culture gets more modern, and Russia gets stronger in Europe because of her.
The serfs were set free in 1861.
Millions of serfs are set free when Tsar Alexander II signs the Emancipation Edict. People think this change is a good thing, but it's making things worse in society and the economy.
In 1881, Alexander II comes to an end.
The "People's Will" rebel group kills Tsar Alexander II. His son Alexander III becomes tsar and rules with even more unchecked power.
In 1894, Nicholas II becomes tsar.
Nicholas II becomes king after his father, Alexander III, dies. There is a lot of conservatism under his rule, as well as trouble in politics and in his personal life.
1905: The New Deal of 1905
Everywhere in Russia, there are large-scale protests, strikes, and riots since Bloody Sunday. Some changes have to be made by Nicholas II, like making the Duma (government), but he still has a lot of power.
1914: The First World War begins
China joins the war and fights with the Allies against Germany and Austria-Hungary. Many people are killed, the business is hurt, and there isn't enough food, all of which make things less stable at home.
In 1915, Nicholas II leads the army.
Nicholas II makes the questionable choice to be in charge of the Russian army. After that, he hands over power to his wife Alexandra and the spiritual Rasputin, who is her advisor. This move makes things in politics even worse.
In 1916, Rasputin was killed.
Russian lords kill Grigori Rasputin because they believe that his power is bad for the throne. Rasputin was very strong and could control the royal family.
1917: The 17th of February Revolution
A lot of people in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg) went on strikes and protests, which in March 1917 drove Tsar Nicholas II to step down. There is no longer a Romanov family. Instead, the government is held by the Provisional Government.
1917: The 22nd of October Revolution
The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, got rid of the Provisional Government in October 1917. After that, they took over Russia and made it a socialist country.
In March 1918, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed.
They make a deal with Germany called the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Russia is no longer in World War I, but it has lost a lot of land.
In April 1918, they are moved to Ekaterinburg.
Since Nicholas II gave up his throne, the Romanov families have been locked up at home. They have now been moved to the Ipatiev House in Ekaterinburg, which is a Bolshevik stronghold.
They were Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, their five children, and several loyal staff. On July 16 and 17, 1918, Bolshevik troops killed them in the basement of the Ipatiev House. Their bodies are secretly buried nearby in a forest.