Industrial Russia- 1825-1848: Beginnings
This TL assumes some knowledge of Russian history. Wikipedia has a pretty good Russian history section if some of the names and terms are unfamiliar. Also, if I simply list an event with no description, assume it follows OTL.
POD 1825- Grand Duke Constantine does not marry a non-royal Polish woman, and inasmuch is eligible to receive the office of Tsar. Thus, when Tsar Alexander I dies on schedule in 1825, his nomination of Constantine as Tsar is accepted. A disappointed Nicholas I settles in for a life of hunting and dancing. Constantine is surprisingly liberal, at least compared to the typical Russian leader. He has spent much of his life in Poland, which at the time has one of the most advanced, progressive constitutions in Europe. Constantine was devoted to this Polish state, and very much shaped by his experiences there. There is no Decembrist Revolution, as the immediate cause for this was an attempt to place the more-liberal Constantine on the throne rather than the old-school Nicholas. Thus, the emerging Russian intelligentsia and modernizers found in the Decembrist Movement are not crushed and forever branded as enemies of the state. In the future, such forward-thinking people will have much more influence than in OTL.
1820’s- Speransky begins his immense codification and reorganization of the jumbled Russian law system. Under the pressure of Constantine, the new Russian system of law modeled after the Polish constitution contains more economic and governmental reform. In addition to removing the old feudal customs of law, it grants many new rights to serfs and begins the long process of breaking the power of the landed gentry in Russia. Serfs now have a shorter work week, more freedom of movement, the power to buy themselves out of serf status, and equal status under law. It also establishes an elected advising council for the Tsar, the Duma (I don’t speak Russian, if this is the wrong term, feel free to correct me). However, Constantine does not really give any heed to the Duma, alternately ignoring, dissolving, and then reforming the council, depending on his mood at the moment. (As much as I would like Russia to have some semblance of democracy, it is just not realistic if there is no middle class clamoring for rights. Russia is not getting democracy until it gets industry, and a class actually capable of leaning on a Tsar and making him give up some power).
1826-1828- War with Persia over Georgia. Russia wins handily, with General Ivan Paskevich becoming a national hero for his efforts. The Treaty of Turkmanchai grants Russia parts of Armenia including Erivan, naval rights on the Caspian Sea, commercial concessions, and an indemnity.
1828- War with the Ottoman Empire over the Greek Independence Movement. Russia, along with Britain and France, support the right of Greece to independence. Russia defeats Turkey, gaining the mouth of the Danube, some Caucasus territories, and the usual rights and indemnities. Unlike Nicholas, Constantine actively supports the rebellion. Constantine was raised by his grandmother, Catherine the Great, with the goal of creating a Constantinople-centered Orthodox Empire. Though in his adulthood he realizes this is not possible, he still sympathizes with the Orthodox Greek cause.
1830- Revolts in Paris and Belgium, with lesser unrest in Italy and Germany. Constantine, as required by the Treaty of Versailles, sends troops to help quell the uprisings, though he has no strong convictions about the necessity of maintaining the old order. He immediately recognizes the July Monarchy of Louis-Philippe, and opens diplomatic relations with Belgium.
Warsaw Revolt- Polish Nationalists, as in OTL, rise up against Russian rule. However, they lack the support of the peasants and common folk. Constantine has actually been observing the Polish Constitution, giving Poland a lot of say in its own internal affairs, and not forcibly Russifying Polish culture. Lacking a mass of angry peasants (a prerequisite of just about every rebellion), the uprising is easily handled by the local garrison, and does not even make the front page of the St. Petersburg Times.
1832- Due to the much-less successful Polish Revolt, and corresponding lack of a major Russian military presence, the Organic Statute is not put into effect. This law would have made Poland an indivisible part of the Russian Empire, attempted to erase the independent Polish culture, and appointed an authoritarian military governor. Poland keeps its special status within the Empire.
Mohammad Ali declares Egypt independent. The Ottoman Empire appeals to various European capitols for help. None is received.
1833- Convention of Berlin. Prussia, Russia, and Austria pledge to come to each other’s aid in event of a rebellion.
1830’s- First tendrils of industrialization creep into Russia. Due to Constantine’s reforms, capital labor steadily gains an advantage over manorial. Many landlords begin to go into debt, and the dispossessed serfs migrate into cities looking for work. Small pockets of factories utilizing British-imported steam-machinery grow up around Moscow, St. Petersburg, and the Ural Mountains. A middle class begins to arise in the North, selling their manufactured goods to the still overwhelmingly rural South. In particular, cotton and steel prove key components. However, Russia’s manufactures are not up to British or French quality, and so have little draw in Europe. The main market is still domestic, and increasingly, Central Asia and China.
1837- Victoria ascends to the British throne.
1838- First Anglo-Afghan War. The British, fearful for India in the face of Russian advances towards Central Asia, invade Afghanistan. Start of the “Great Game” between Russian and Britain over Central Asia.
1842-1848- Continued Russian industrialization in all sectors. Landlords continue to plummet, while the urban population rises due to the movement of serfs. Many new factories are built, especially along the Volga River. Western ideas continue to penetrate into Russia.
Growth of the Slavophiles. In the words of Riasonovksy: “a group of romantic intellectuals who formulated a comprehensive and remarkable ideology centered on their belief in the superior nature and supreme historical mission of Orthodoxy and of Russia.” They are quite successful, as Constantine is an enthusiastic supporter. Calls for Slavic unification intensify.
Overview- Russia has a much less autocratic, reactionary ruler than Nicholas. Due to this, serfs are granted many more rights (though still not completely freed) earlier than in OTL. The great Russian legal reform of Speransky is also taken to a further degree in bringing Russia an efficient government (though they are still a long ways from a "good" government). This has caused an earlier decline of the old feudal economic system in Russia, and corresponding earlier growth of other industries. Poland has maintained its special status within the Empire, and its modern liberal constitution is a model for where Russia should head. Most significantly for the rest of Europe, Constantine is much less of a reactionary than Nicholas. Russia in TTL has much less vigor for sending hundreds of thousands of troops to help squash rebellions in Germany, France, Austria, etc.
The next installment will deal with the effects of this different Russia on 1848, and the Crimean War. Please leave some feedback... this is my first real TL and I would love some suggestions for improvement.
This TL assumes some knowledge of Russian history. Wikipedia has a pretty good Russian history section if some of the names and terms are unfamiliar. Also, if I simply list an event with no description, assume it follows OTL.
POD 1825- Grand Duke Constantine does not marry a non-royal Polish woman, and inasmuch is eligible to receive the office of Tsar. Thus, when Tsar Alexander I dies on schedule in 1825, his nomination of Constantine as Tsar is accepted. A disappointed Nicholas I settles in for a life of hunting and dancing. Constantine is surprisingly liberal, at least compared to the typical Russian leader. He has spent much of his life in Poland, which at the time has one of the most advanced, progressive constitutions in Europe. Constantine was devoted to this Polish state, and very much shaped by his experiences there. There is no Decembrist Revolution, as the immediate cause for this was an attempt to place the more-liberal Constantine on the throne rather than the old-school Nicholas. Thus, the emerging Russian intelligentsia and modernizers found in the Decembrist Movement are not crushed and forever branded as enemies of the state. In the future, such forward-thinking people will have much more influence than in OTL.
1820’s- Speransky begins his immense codification and reorganization of the jumbled Russian law system. Under the pressure of Constantine, the new Russian system of law modeled after the Polish constitution contains more economic and governmental reform. In addition to removing the old feudal customs of law, it grants many new rights to serfs and begins the long process of breaking the power of the landed gentry in Russia. Serfs now have a shorter work week, more freedom of movement, the power to buy themselves out of serf status, and equal status under law. It also establishes an elected advising council for the Tsar, the Duma (I don’t speak Russian, if this is the wrong term, feel free to correct me). However, Constantine does not really give any heed to the Duma, alternately ignoring, dissolving, and then reforming the council, depending on his mood at the moment. (As much as I would like Russia to have some semblance of democracy, it is just not realistic if there is no middle class clamoring for rights. Russia is not getting democracy until it gets industry, and a class actually capable of leaning on a Tsar and making him give up some power).
1826-1828- War with Persia over Georgia. Russia wins handily, with General Ivan Paskevich becoming a national hero for his efforts. The Treaty of Turkmanchai grants Russia parts of Armenia including Erivan, naval rights on the Caspian Sea, commercial concessions, and an indemnity.
1828- War with the Ottoman Empire over the Greek Independence Movement. Russia, along with Britain and France, support the right of Greece to independence. Russia defeats Turkey, gaining the mouth of the Danube, some Caucasus territories, and the usual rights and indemnities. Unlike Nicholas, Constantine actively supports the rebellion. Constantine was raised by his grandmother, Catherine the Great, with the goal of creating a Constantinople-centered Orthodox Empire. Though in his adulthood he realizes this is not possible, he still sympathizes with the Orthodox Greek cause.
1830- Revolts in Paris and Belgium, with lesser unrest in Italy and Germany. Constantine, as required by the Treaty of Versailles, sends troops to help quell the uprisings, though he has no strong convictions about the necessity of maintaining the old order. He immediately recognizes the July Monarchy of Louis-Philippe, and opens diplomatic relations with Belgium.
Warsaw Revolt- Polish Nationalists, as in OTL, rise up against Russian rule. However, they lack the support of the peasants and common folk. Constantine has actually been observing the Polish Constitution, giving Poland a lot of say in its own internal affairs, and not forcibly Russifying Polish culture. Lacking a mass of angry peasants (a prerequisite of just about every rebellion), the uprising is easily handled by the local garrison, and does not even make the front page of the St. Petersburg Times.
1832- Due to the much-less successful Polish Revolt, and corresponding lack of a major Russian military presence, the Organic Statute is not put into effect. This law would have made Poland an indivisible part of the Russian Empire, attempted to erase the independent Polish culture, and appointed an authoritarian military governor. Poland keeps its special status within the Empire.
Mohammad Ali declares Egypt independent. The Ottoman Empire appeals to various European capitols for help. None is received.
1833- Convention of Berlin. Prussia, Russia, and Austria pledge to come to each other’s aid in event of a rebellion.
1830’s- First tendrils of industrialization creep into Russia. Due to Constantine’s reforms, capital labor steadily gains an advantage over manorial. Many landlords begin to go into debt, and the dispossessed serfs migrate into cities looking for work. Small pockets of factories utilizing British-imported steam-machinery grow up around Moscow, St. Petersburg, and the Ural Mountains. A middle class begins to arise in the North, selling their manufactured goods to the still overwhelmingly rural South. In particular, cotton and steel prove key components. However, Russia’s manufactures are not up to British or French quality, and so have little draw in Europe. The main market is still domestic, and increasingly, Central Asia and China.
1837- Victoria ascends to the British throne.
1838- First Anglo-Afghan War. The British, fearful for India in the face of Russian advances towards Central Asia, invade Afghanistan. Start of the “Great Game” between Russian and Britain over Central Asia.
1842-1848- Continued Russian industrialization in all sectors. Landlords continue to plummet, while the urban population rises due to the movement of serfs. Many new factories are built, especially along the Volga River. Western ideas continue to penetrate into Russia.
Growth of the Slavophiles. In the words of Riasonovksy: “a group of romantic intellectuals who formulated a comprehensive and remarkable ideology centered on their belief in the superior nature and supreme historical mission of Orthodoxy and of Russia.” They are quite successful, as Constantine is an enthusiastic supporter. Calls for Slavic unification intensify.
Overview- Russia has a much less autocratic, reactionary ruler than Nicholas. Due to this, serfs are granted many more rights (though still not completely freed) earlier than in OTL. The great Russian legal reform of Speransky is also taken to a further degree in bringing Russia an efficient government (though they are still a long ways from a "good" government). This has caused an earlier decline of the old feudal economic system in Russia, and corresponding earlier growth of other industries. Poland has maintained its special status within the Empire, and its modern liberal constitution is a model for where Russia should head. Most significantly for the rest of Europe, Constantine is much less of a reactionary than Nicholas. Russia in TTL has much less vigor for sending hundreds of thousands of troops to help squash rebellions in Germany, France, Austria, etc.
The next installment will deal with the effects of this different Russia on 1848, and the Crimean War. Please leave some feedback... this is my first real TL and I would love some suggestions for improvement.
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