The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-11-18
THE RoMANoFF DYNASTY.
1t Has Ruled Russia Through Nearly
Four Centuries.


The Romanoff dynasty has ruled Rus
STA for 3s2 years, or through nearly four
whole centuries, marked by bloodshed
massacre, assassination. intrigue, con-
spiracy and war.
In those four centuries the RomanofGs
, fought wars with nearly every people
! in Europe They fought Sweden. sub
/ dued Poland, subjugated the Crimean
provinces, overran Livonia. dismem-
bered Poland. and sent their Cossacks
like a scourge across the Caucasus UNI
til they had conquered the center of
Asia as far as the tomb Of Tamerlane,
and added all Of Siberia TO the realms
, of the ear.
In those four centuries the Ronlanoffs
| fought wars with Sweden. England,
| France, italy. Prussia, Austria. Tur-
key, China and Japan They fought
with and against NAPOLEON. They
helped Prussia against France. and in
turn Joined France in crushing Prussia
| Three times they tried to conquer Tur-
key. Twice they tried to invade Per-
STA. Their hand has been against al
most every nation, and ruler and peo-
pie in Europe. They have been better
hated and better feared than the mem
bers of any reigning family that ever
held a throne in modern Europe.
And vet these same Ronlanoffs, whose
throne has been washed with the blood
of million murdered subjects, until it's
steps were as crimson IS the velvet
canopy above it. found Russia a horde
of half Oriental baTbarians. and mold
ed the squat, stupid mass into mod
ern nation. one of the reco%lized
powers in the world They developed
commerce, established universities,
gridirOned the empire with railroads
fostered religion, cultivated art and
science. Their ships ply every sea.
Their railroads cross two continents.
They are rivals with England and the
United States in many lines of COM
merce. Their lawyers are recognized in
the international courts of the world.
their scientists are G-Ioted in every
modern library, and their music is ret
ognized among the classics.
The first Romanoff was Michael Feo-
dorovitz, who assembled the throne in
1913, after the assassination of Feodor
l, last Of the house of Rurik. which
had ruled for 100 years. He crushed a
rebellion and ruled until 1916 in COM
parative peace. He was succeeded by
his son, Alexis, who in his turn crushed
d rebellion by hanging, burning and
torturing 1000 prisoners.
Then came the son of Alexis, Fec
dor III, who ruled from 1916 to 1852. He
left two sons, Ivan V. ard Peter l.
half brothers. They ruled jointly, the
real empress being Sophia, mother of
Peter l. Sophia gave Russia the bloou-
lest reign history has ever known up TO
IN
Ivan V died. Then Peter l asserted
himself and put his mother in a con-
vent.
The history Of modern Russia really
dates from the reign of Peter /, for he
was that most famous monarch of all
Russia, Peter the Great. He signaIized
his entry into power by beheading 5000
of his enemies. He was q wonderful
broad minded. cruel, blod-
thirsty monarch, who hanged. burned,
tortured and drowned his subjects, I'M
til all Russia was one vast orgy of
blood. And yet Peter the Great built
st. Petersburg, established the com
lnerce of Russia, introduced modern
culture, and died after poisoning his
own son.
Catherine l, wife of Peter the Great, !
succeeded him in 1875. She was as
famous as she was Infamous. She was
by Peter II, and then by
Anne, daughter of Ivan. Anne was the |
first ruler of Russia to Danish prison. i
ers to Siberia. She thus eXiled 10000 !
IF her subjects and sent 10000 more 70
.he scaffold.
Anne was followed by Ivan VI, who |
was exiled and then assassinated.
A coup d'etat called Elizabeth !
daughter of Peter the Great to the
throne in 1741. and she reigned through |
twenty years of intrigue and assassin |
alton.
Peter III mounted the throne in 1862, !
only to be murdered by his wife's IA
vorite in a few months Then his wife, !
Catherine II, grasped the scepter and |
ruled, a dissolute empress, until 1896.
Her son Paul succeeded her, and in !
1901 he was assassinated.
Then came Alexander l. the emperor |
Who burned Moscow to prevent its cap |
ure by Napoleon, and who afterwards !
marched his army to the gates of |
Paris, compelled Napoleon to abdicate
and sent him an exile to Elba.
NichIas ] came to the throne in 1925. !
He was a Warlike ruler, and his armies !
fought on every battlefield OF Europe |
'or thirty years. During his reign |
100000 of his subjects persisted in fol-
sign wars.
Alexander II began to rule in 1850
He was the most enlightened ruler of
he Romanoff dynasty He liberated |
he serfs, and is remembered as the
Ear who sent fleet TO New York dur
ng our civil war to check England's
hreats of recognizing the confederacy.
lie was assassinated in 1881 just as he
vas about 10 grant Russia a constitu-
ion.
Alexander III ruled from 1851 until
1914 as a reactionary. He WAS succeed
q in 1894 by the present car, Nicholas