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In: History - European·History - Ancient·History - Modern (1750+)
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #15269.
The work is a sweeping survey of Russian history, presented as a single‑volume “empire” narrative that moves from mythic origins in the fifth century BCE through the reign of Alexander I and beyond. Its opening pages set a deliberately concise tone, declaring that modern readers lack patience for endless battle chronicles and court gossip, and promising a “perspicuous” tracing of Russia’s path from “infancy to the present hour.” The author relies heavily on the authority of the Russian historian Karamsin, whose extensive chronicles are cited as the factual backbone up to Alexander I, while also pointing readers toward French and German sources for deeper study. The table of contents outlines a chronological march through early tribal incursions, the rise of Kievan princes, Mongol domination, the reforms of Ivan III and Ivan IV, the transformative reign of Peter the Great, and the subsequent imperial dynasties, giving a clear sense of the book’s comprehensive scope.
Written in the earnest, didactic style of late‑19th‑century scholarship, the prose is formal and occasionally moralizing, reflecting the author’s sympathy for the oppressed and his disdain for aristocratic usurpation. The lack of footnotes and the reliance on a single Russian source give the text a single‑voice authority that will appeal to readers who enjoy a grand, panoramic overview rather than a tightly footnoted academic treatise. Those with an interest in the evolution of Russian statehood, the interplay of Eastern and Western influences, or the broader sweep of European imperial history will find this volume a valuable, if somewhat dated, companion to more specialized studies.
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PREFACE.
The world is now too busy to read voluminous history. The interminable details of battles, and the petty intrigues of courtiers and mistresses, have lost their interest. In this volume it has been our object to trace perspicuously the path which Russia has trod from earliest infancy to the present hour. The career of this empire has been so wild and wonderful that the historian can have no occasion to call in the aid of fancy for the embellishment of his narrative.
The author has not deemed it necessary to incumber his pages with notes to substantiate his statements. The renowned Russian historian, Karamsin, who wrote under the patronage of Alexander I., gives ample authentication to all the facts which are stated up to the reign of that emperor. His voluminous history, in classic beauty, is unsurpassed by any of the annals of Greece or Rome. It has been admirably translated into French by Messrs. St. Thomas and Jauffret in eleven imperial quarto volumes. In the critical citations of this author, the reader, curious in such researches, will find every fact in the early history of Russia, here stated, confirmed.
There are but few valuable works upon Russia in the English language. Nearly all, which can be relied upon as authorities, are written either in French or German. The writer would refer those who seek a more minute acquaintance with this empire, now rising so rapidly in importance, first of all to Karamsin. The "Histoire Philosophique et Politique de Russie Depuis les Temps les Plus Recules Jusqu'au Nos Jours, par J. Esneaux," Paris, five volumes, is a valuable work. The "Histoire de Russie par Pierre Charles Levesque," eight volumes, is discriminating and reliable. The various volumes of William Tooke upon Russian history in general, and upon the reign of Catharine, contain much information.
It is only since the reign of Peter the Great that Russia has begun to attract much attention among the enlightened nations of Europe. Voltaire's life of this most renowned of the Russian sovereigns, at its first publication, attracted much notice. Since then, many books have been written upon fragments of Russian history and individual reigns. From most of these the author has selected such events as have appeared to him most instructive and best adapted to give the reader a clear conception of the present condition and future prospects of this gigantic empire. The path she has trod, since her first emergence into civilization from the chaos of barbarism, can be very distinctly traced, and one can easily count the concentric accretions of her growth. This narrative reveals the mistakes which have overwhelmed her with woe, and the wisdom which has, at times, secured for Russia peace and prosperity.
In writing these histories of the monarchies of Continental Europe, the author has no wish to conceal his abhorrence of aristocratic usurpation. Believing in the universal brotherhood of man, his sympathies are most cordially with the oppressed masses. If the people are weak and debased, the claim is only the more urgent upon the powerful and the wise to act the part of elder brothers, holding out the helping hand to those who have fallen. The author feels grateful for the reception which the first number of this series, the Empire of Austria, has received from the American public. He hopes that this volume will not prove less interesting or instructive. In the course of a few months it will be followed by the History of Italy.
CONTENTS.
Primeval Russia.--Explorations of the Greeks.--Scythian Invasion.--Character of the Scythians.--Sarmatia.--Assaults Upon the Roman Empire.--Irruption of the Alains.--Conquests of Trajan.--The Gothic invasion,--The Huns--their Character and Aspect.--The Devastations of Attila.--The Avars.--Results of Comminglings of these Tribes.--Normans.--Birth of the Russian Empire--The Three Sovereigns Ruric, Sineous and Truvor.--Adventures of Ascolod and Dir.--Introduction of Christianity.--Usurpation of Oleg.--His Conquests.--Expedition Against Constantinople.
Expedition to Constantinople.--Treaty with the Emperor.--Last Days of Oleg.--His Death.--Igor Assumes the Scepter.--His Expedition to the Don.--Descent Upon Constantinople.--His Defeat.--Second Expedition.--Pusillanimity of the Greeks.--Death of Igor.--Regency of Olga.--Her Character.--Succession of Sviatoslaf.--His Impiety and Ambition.--Conquest of Bulgaria.--Division of the Empire.--Defeat, Ruin and Death of Sviatoslaf.--Civil War.--Death of Oleg.--Flight of Vladimir.--Supremacy of Yaropolk.
Flight of Vladimir.--His Stolen Bride.--The March Upon Kief.--Debauchery of Vladimir.--Zealous Paganism.--Introduction of Christianity.--Baptism in the Dnieper.--Entire Change in the Character of Vladimir.--His Great Reforms.--His Death.--Usurpation of Sviatopolk the Miserable.--Accession of Yaroslaf.--His Administration and Death.--Accession of Ysiaslaf.--His Strange Reverses,--His Death.--Vsevolod Ascends the Throne.--His Two Flights to Poland.--Appeals to the Pope.--Wars, Famine and Pestilence.--Character of Vsevolod.
Character of Vsevolod.--Succession of Sviatopolk.--His Discomfiture.--Deplorable Condition of Russia.--Death of Sviatopolk.--His Character.--Accession of Monomaque.--Curious Festival At Kief.--Energy of Monomaque.--Alarm of the Emperor At Constantinople.--Horrors of War.--Death of Monomaque.--His Remarkable Character.--Pious Letter To His Children.--Accession of Mstislaf.--His Short But Stormy Reign.--Struggles For the Throne.--Final Victory of Ysiaslaf.--Moscow in the Province of Souzdal.--Death of Ysiaslaf.--Wonderful Career of Rostislaf.--Rising Power of Moscow.--Georgievitch, Prince of Moscow.
Centralization of Power At Kief.--Death of Rostislaf.--His Religious Character.--Mstislaf Ysiaslavitch Ascends the Throne.--Proclamation of the King.--Its Effect.--Plans of Andre.--Scenes At Kief.--Return and Death of Mstislaf.--War in Novgorod.--Peace Concluded Throughout Russia.--Insult of Andre and Its Consequences.--Greatness of Soul Displayed By Andre.--Assassination of Andre.--Renewal of Anarchy.--Emigration From Novgorod.--Reign of Michel.--Vsevolod III.--Evangelization of Bulgaria.--Death of Vsevolod III.--His Queen Maria.
Accession of Georges.--Famine.--Battle of Lipetsk.--Defeat of Georges.--His Surrender.--Constantin Seizes the Scepter.--Exploits of Mstislaf.--Imbecility of Constantin.--Death of Constantin.--Georges III.--Invasion of Bulgaria.--Progress of the Monarchy.--Right of Succession.--Commerce of the Dnieper.--Genghis Khan.--His Rise and Conquests.--Invasion of Southern Russia.--Death of Genghis Khan.--Succession of His Son Ougadai.--March of Bati.--Entrance into Russia.--Utter Defeat of the Russians.
Retreat of Georges II.--Desolating March of the Tartars.--Capture of Vladimir.--Fall of Moscow.--Utter Defeat of Georges.--Conflict of Torjek.--March of the Tartars Toward the South.--Subjugation of the Polovtsi.--Capture of Kief.--Humiliation of Yaroslaf.--Overthrow of the Gaussian Kingdom.--Haughtiness of the Tartars.--Reign of Alexander.--Succession of Yaroslaf.--The Reign of Vassuli.--State of Christianity.--Infamy of Andre.--Struggles With Dmitri.--Independence of the Principalities.--Death of Andre.
Defeat of Georges and the Tartars.--Indignation of the Khan.--Michel Summoned To the Horde.--His Trial and Execution.--Assassination of Georges.--Execution of Dmitri.--Repulse and Death of the Embassador of the Khan.--Vengeance of the Khan.--Increasing Prosperity of Russia. --The Great Plague.--Supremacy of Simon.--Anarchy in the Horde.--Plague and Conflagration.--The Tartars Repulsed.--Reconquest of Bulgaria.--The Great Battle of Koulikof.--Utter Rout of the Tartars.
Recovery of Dmitri.--New Tartar invasion.--The Assault and Capture of Moscow.--New Subjugation of the Russians.--Lithuania Embraces Christianity.--Escape of Vassali From the Horde.--Death of Dmitri.--Tamerlane--His Origin and Career.--His Invasion of India.--Defeat of Bajazet.--Tamerlane Invades Russia.--Preparations for Resistance.--Sudden Retreat of the Tartars.--Death of Vassali.--Accession of Vassali Vassilievitch.--The Disputed Succession.--Appeal to the Khan.--Rebellion of Youri.--Cruelty of Vassali.--The Retribution.
Ivan III.--His Precocity and Rising Power.--The Three Great Hordes.--Russian Expedition Against Kezan.--Defeat of the Tartars.--Capture of Constantinople By the Turks.--The Princess Sophia.--Her Journey To Russia, and Marriage With Ivan III.--Increasing Renown of Russia.--New Difficulty With the Horde.--The Tartars invade Russia.--Strife On the Banks of the Oka.--Letter of the Metropolitan Bishop.--Unprecedented Panic.--Liberation of Russia.
Alliance With Hungary.--A Traveler From Germany.--Treaty Between Russia and Germany.--Embassage to Turkey.--Court Etiquette.--Death of the Princess Sophia.--Death of Ivan.--Advancement of Knowledge.--Succession of Vassili.--Attack Upon the Horde.--Rout of the Russians.--The Grand Prince Takes the Title of Emperor.--Turkish Envoy to Moscow.--Efforts To Arm Europe Against the Turks.--Death of the Emperor Maximilian, and Accession of Charles V. to the Empire of Germany.--Death of Vassili.
Vassili At the Chase.--Attention To Distinguished Foreigners.--The Autocracy.--Splendor of the Edifices.--Slavery.--Aristocracy.--Infancy of Ivan IV.--Regency of Helene.--Conspiracies and Tumults.--War with Sigismond of Poland.--Death of Helene.--Struggles of the Nobles.--Appalling Sufferings of Dmitri.--Incursion of the Tartars.--Successful Conspiracy.--Ivan IV. At the Chase.--Coronation of Ivan IV.
The Title of Tzar.--Marriage of Ivan IV.--Virtues of His Bride.--Depraved Character of the Young Emperor.--Terrible Conflagrations.--Insurrections.--The Rebuke.--Wonderful Change in the Character of Ivan IV.--Confessions of Sin and Measures of Reform.--Sylvestre and Alexis Adachef.--The Code of Laws.--Reforms in the Church.--Encouragement To Men of Science and Letters.--The Embassage of Schlit.--War With Kezan.--Disasters and Disgrace.--Immense Preparation For the Chastisement of the Horde.--The March.--Repulse of the Tauredians.--Siege of Kezan.--Incidents of the Siege.
Siege of Kezan.--Artifices of War.--The Explosion of Mines.--The Final Assault.--Complete Subjugation of Kezan.--Gratitude and Liberality of the Tzar.--Return To Moscow.--Joy of the inhabitants.--Birth of An Heir To the Crown.--Insurrection in Kezan.--The Insurrection Quelled.--Conquest of Astrachan.--The English Expedition in Search of a North-East Passage to India.--The Establishment at Archangel.--Commercial Relations Between France and Russia.--Russian Embassy to England.--Extension of Commerce.
Terror of the Horde in Tauride.--War with Gustavus Vasa of Sweden.--Political Punctilios.--The Kingdom of Livonia Annexed to Sweden.--Death of Anastasia.--Conspiracy Against Ivan.--His Abdication.--His Resumption of the Crown.--Invasion of Russia by the Tartars and Turks.--Heroism of Zerebrinow.--Utter Discomfiture of the Tartars.--Relations Between Queen Elizabeth of England, and Russia.--Intrepid Embassage.--New War with Poland.--Disasters of Russia.--The Emperor Kills His Own Son.--Anguish of Ivan IV.
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