French invasion of RussiaThe French invasion of Russia, also known as the Russian campaign, the Second Polish War, the Army of Twenty nations, and the Patriotic War of 1812 was launched by Napoleon to force the Russian Empire back into the continental blockade of the United Kingdom. Napoleon's invasion of Russia is one of the best studied military campaigns in history and is listed among the most lethal military operations in world history. It is characterized by the massive toll on human life: in less than six months nearly a million soldiers and civilians died.
Saint PetersburgSaint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991; see below), is the second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the Neva River, at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. The city had a population of roughly 5.6 million residents as of 2021. Saint Petersburg is the fourth-most populous city in Europe, the most populous city on the Baltic Sea, and the world's northernmost city of more than 1 million residents.
Leo TolstoyInfobox writer | name = Leo Tolstoy | image = Лев Толстой (Чертков, 1910) - 0003600121.jpg | alt = | caption = Tolstoy in 1910 by Vladimir Chertkov | pseudonym = | native_name = Лев Николаевич Толстой | birth_date = | birth_place = Yasnaya Polyana, Krapivensky Uyezd, Tula Governorate, Russian Empire | death_date = | death_place = Astapovo, Ranenburgsky Uyezd, Ryazan Governorate, Russian Empire | resting_place = Yasnaya Polyana, Tula | occupation = Writer, religious thinker | language = Russian | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = Imperial Kazan University (not graduated) | period = Modern | movement = Realism | years_active = 1847–1910 | genres = | subjects = Christian anarchism, pacifism | notableworks = | awards = Griboyedov Prize (1892) | spouse = | children = 14 | parents = | relatives = | signature = Leo Tolstoy signature.
Battle of BorodinoThe Battle of Borodino (bərədjɪˈno) took place near the village of Borodino on during Napoleon's invasion of Russia. The Grande Armée won the battle against the Imperial Russian Army, but failed to gain a decisive victory and suffered tremendous losses. Napoleon fought against General Mikhail Kutuzov, whom the Emperor Alexander I of Russia had appointed to replace Barclay de Tolly on after the Battle of Smolensk. After the Battle of Borodino, Napoleon remained on the battlefield with his army; the Imperial Russian forces retreated in an orderly fashion southwards.
Russian nobilityThe Russian nobility (дворя́нство) arose in the Middle Ages. In 1914 it consisted of approximately 1,900,000 members (about 1.1% of the population) in the Russian Empire. Up until the February Revolution of 1917, the noble estates staffed most of the Russian government and possessed a Gentry assembly. The Russian word for nobility, dvorianstvo (), derives from Slavonic dvor (двор), meaning the court of a prince or duke (kniaz), and later, of the tsar or emperor. Here, dvor originally referred to servants at the estate of an aristocrat.
Eugene OneginEugene Onegin, A Novel in Verse (pre-reform Russian: Евгеній Онѣгинъ, романъ въ стихахъ; post-reform Евгений Оне́гин, ромáн в стихáх) is a novel in verse written by Alexander Pushkin. Onegin is considered a classic of Russian literature, and its eponymous protagonist has served as the model for a number of Russian literary heroes (so-called superfluous men). It was published in serial form between 1825 and 1832. The first complete edition was published in 1833, and the currently accepted version is based on the 1837 publication.
NovelA novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The English word to describe such a work derives from the novella for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itself from the novella, a singular noun use of the neuter plural of novellus, diminutive of novus, meaning "new". According to Margaret Doody, the novel has "a continuous and comprehensive history of about two thousand years", with its origins in the Ancient Greek and Roman novel, in Chivalric romance, and in the tradition of the Italian Renaissance novella.
Historical fictionHistorical fiction is a literary genre in which the plot takes place in a setting related to the past events, but is fictional. Although the term is commonly used as a synonym for historical fiction literature, it can also be applied to other types of narrative, including theatre, opera, cinema, and television, as well as video games and graphic novels. An essential element of historical fiction is that it is set in the past and pays attention to the manners, social conditions and other details of the depicted period.
Decembrist revoltThe Decembrist Revolt (Восстание декабристов) took place in Russia on , following the sudden death of Emperor Alexander I. Alexander's heir-presumptive, Konstantin, had privately declined the succession, unknown to the court, and his younger brother Nicholas ascended the throne as Emperor Nicholas I. While some of the army had sworn loyalty to Nicholas, a force of about 3,000 troops tried to mount a military coup in favour of Konstantin.
HussarA hussar (həˈzɑr , hʊˈzɑr ; huszár ˈhusaːr; husarz ˈxusaʂ; husar / хусар xûsaːr) was a member of a class of light cavalry, originating in Central Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries. The title and distinctive dress of these horsemen were subsequently widely adopted by light cavalry regiments in European armies during the late 17th and 18th centuries. By the 19th century, hussars were wearing jackets decorated with braid plus shako or busby hats and had developed a romanticized image of being dashing and adventurous.
