Russian Empire

Russian Empire was an empire in Russia and the Steppe (Europe) that lasted from 1721 to 1917 CE, about 196 years. Its people spoke Slavic languages (Russian, Polish, Czech, Serbian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian).

Peter the Great proclaimed the empire after defeating Sweden. It spanned Europe and northern Asia, beat Napoleon in 1812 and freed the serfs in 1861, then collapsed in revolution in 1917.

See Russian Empire on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates: 1721 to 1917 CE
Duration: 196 years
Type: Empire
Region: Russia and the Steppe, Europe
Language family: Slavic
Capital: Saint Petersburg

Came from

Tsardom of Russia 1547 to 1721 CE

Became

Russian Soviet Republic 1917 to 1922 CE
Ukrainian People's Republic 1917 to 1921 CE
Republic of Finland 1917 CE to the present
Republic of Estonia (1918 to 1940) 1918 to 1940 CE
Republic of Latvia (1918 to 1940) 1918 to 1940 CE
Republic of Lithuania (1918 to 1940) 1918 to 1940 CE
Second Polish Republic 1918 to 1939 CE

Events in Europe during its time

1769 Watt's steam engine
1789 French Revolution
1815 Battle of Waterloo
1871 Unification of Germany
1914 First World War begins
1917 Russian Revolution

Neighbours in Europe

Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE
Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE
Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE
Portuguese Empire 1415 to 1999 CE
Habsburg Monarchy 1526 to 1804 CE
United Kingdom 1801 CE to the present
Dutch Republic 1581 to 1795 CE
Kingdom of France (Bourbon) 1589 to 1792 CE
German Empire 1871 to 1918 CE
First French Empire 1804 to 1815 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty) 1270 to 1974 CE, North and West Africa
Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Middle East
Kingdom of Kongo c. 1390 to 1914 CE, Central and Southern Africa
Ayutthaya Kingdom 1351 to 1767 CE, Southeast Asia
Mughal Empire 1526 to 1857 CE, South Asia
Portuguese Brazil 1500 to 1815 CE, South America
New Spain 1521 to 1821 CE, Mesoamerica and Caribbean
Viceroyalty of Peru 1542 to 1824 CE, South America
Qing dynasty 1636 to 1912 CE, East Asia
United States 1776 CE to the present, North America

Questions

When did Russian Empire exist?

1721 to 1917 CE, about 196 years.

Where was Russian Empire?

Russia and the Steppe, in Europe. Its capital was Saint Petersburg.

What language did Russian Empire speak?

Slavic. This family includes Russian, Polish, Czech, Serbian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian.

What came before Russian Empire?

Tsardom of Russia.

What came after Russian Empire?

Russian Soviet Republic, Ukrainian People's Republic, Republic of Finland, Republic of Estonia (1918 to 1940), Republic of Latvia (1918 to 1940), Republic of Lithuania (1918 to 1940) and Second Polish Republic.