[DOC] [TLE] Russian Empire - Wikipedia [PAR] His policy in Eastern Europe involved protecting the Orthodox Christians under 
the rule of the Ottoman Empire. That connection by 1914 led to Russia's entry... [DOC] [TLE] History of Russia - Wikipedia [PAR] The History of Russia begins with that of the Eastern Slavs and the Finno-Ugric 
peoples. ... The Russian Revolution in 1917 was triggered by a combination of ... 
of the north Caucasus, demonstrating the presence of early humans in Russia 
from a very ..... As a result, the Grand Duchy of Moscow tripled in size under his 
rule. [DOC] [TLE] History of Finland - Wikipedia [PAR] The land area that now makes up Finland was settled immediately after the last 
ice age, which ... However, Finland remained an independent democracy in 
North Europe. ..... During his rule, the Swedish church was reformed (1527). ..... a 
Grand Duchy in the Russian Empire until the end of 1917, with the czar as Grand 
Duke... [DOC] [TLE] Russian Revolution of 1917 | Britannica.com [PAR] Russian Revolution of 1917, two revolutions, the first of which, in February (
March ... When his brother, Grand Duke Michael, refused the throne, more than 
300 years ... the country: peasant land seizures, nationalist independence 
movements in ... plotted with Kornilov in the hope of gaining control over the 
Petrograd Soviet). [DOC] [TLE] History of Lithuania: Complete, Yet Brief | True Lithuania [PAR] After his death the Grand Duchy of Lithuania fell back to pagan ways leading to a 
... Ruled by Grand Duke Vytautas Lithuania became the largest state in Europe, 
... The Russians banned Lithuanian language and suppressed Catholic religion. 
... Lithuania became the first Soviet-controlled country to restore independence... [DOC] [TLE] Short History of Finland - Bridge Guys [PAR] Finland is a republic which became independent in 1917. ... Other outstanding 
features of Finlands scenery are its myriad lakes and islands. ... Finlands 
neighboring countries are Sweden to the west, Norway to the north, Russia to the 
east and ... The Czar declares Finland a semi-autonomous Grand Duchy with 
himself as... [DOC] [TLE] History of Finland - Lonely Planet Travel Information [PAR] Independence; Building a nation; The Winter War & its continuation; The ... 
Sweden gained control of southwest Finland, much of the northwest coast .... 
Russia in 1809 as an autonomous grand duchy with its own senate and the ... of 
October 1917 enabled the Finnish senate to declare independence on 6 
December 1917. [DOC] [TLE] A Brief History of Finland - A World History Encyclopedia [PAR] A concise history of Finland from Ancient Times to today. ... He agreed that 
Finland would become a Grand Duchy rather than a part of Russia and ... It 
enabled the Finns to export timber from their great forests to western Europe 
more easily. ... Then on 6 December 1917 the Diet declared Finland an 
independent Republic. [DOC] [TLE] A Brief History of Russia [PAR] The early history of Russia , like those of many countries, is one of migrating ... I n 
the early part of the ninth century, as part of the same great movement that 
brough .... Ivan the Terrible succeeded his father Vasily III as Grand Duke of 
Moscow in ... and rule in Moscow , his response was to embark on a Grand Tour 
of Europe. [DOC] [TLE] History of Finland, The Russian Grand Duchy of Finland, 1809-1917 [PAR] Imperial assurances that Finland would be autonomous and that its traditions 
would be ... The chief instrument of government in the grand duchy was the 
Government Council, ... The period of Russian rule was characterized by 
peaceful internal ... The creation of the independent Finnish state in the twentieth 
century was... [DOC] [TLE] History - Finland - issues, area, power, policy [PAR] Finland, a province and a grand duchy of the Swedish kingdom from the 1150s ... 
As a result of over six centuries of Swedish rule, Finnish political institutions ... 
Thus, Finland was the first European country to offer women political suffrage at 
... of power in Russia in the late fall of 1917, Finland declared its independence 
on... [DOC] [TLE] Finland - Country Reviews

Question: This N. European country was a grand duchy ruled by Russia before gaining its independence in 1917
Answer: Finland