History of Russia Part 4

The History of Russia continues with the accession of Emperor Nicholas I in 1825, who survives the Decembrist Revolt to adopt a doctrine of 'Orthodoxy, Autocracy, and Nationality'. Russia is victorious against Persia (1828) and the Ottoman Empire (1829), and crushes the November Uprising in Poland (1830). In 1837 Russia's greatest poet Alexander Pushkin is killed in a duel. In 1851 Russia's first major railway opens, connecting Moscow and , and one year later 'father of Russian socilaism' Alexander Herzen emigrates to London. In 1853 Russia defeats the Ottoman navy at the Battle of Sinop, but Britain and France then declare war on Russia to prevent it making further gains at Ottoman expense. They besiege the Crimean naval base at Sevastopol and blockade , forcing Russia to sign a humiliating peace.