Russian Empire

The **Russian Empire**, also known as the **Tsarist Russia**, **Tsarist Empire** or **Imperial Russia,** and sometimes simply as **Russia**, was a country in Europe and Asia from November 1721 until its collapse in March 1917. It later became the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, or **Russian SFSR**, as part of the Soviet Union. By the late 19th century, it covered about , making it the third-largest empire in history.

## Infobox (former country)

- **conventional long name**: Russian Empire
- **common name**: Imperial Russia
- **native name**:

- **image flag**: Flag of Russia (1896–1918).svg
- **image flag2**: Flag of the Russian Empire (black-yellow-white).svg
- **image coat**: Lesser coat of arms of the Russian Empire.svg
- **symbol type**:
(1882–1917)
- **national motto**: ""
 ("God is with us!")
- **national anthem**: ""
 (1833–1917)
("God Save the Tsar!")
- **capital**: Saint Petersburg

Moscow
(1728–1730)
- **largest city**: Saint Petersburg
- **official languages**: Russian language, RussianFrench language, French (widely used among the upper classes until the 19th century)
- **demonym**: Russians, Russian
- **government type**: Unitary state, Unitary absolute monarchy
(1721–1906)
Unitary state, Unitary parliamentary semi-constitutional monarchy
(1906–1917)
- **legislature**: Governing Senate
- **currency**: Russian ruble
- **year end**: 1917
- **year start**: 1721
- **flag type**: List of Russian flags#Civil ensign and national flag, **Top:**
Civil ensign (1696–1917);
State flag (1896–1917)
**Bottom:**
State flag (1858–1896)
- **recognised languages**: Polish language, Polish, German language, German (in Baltic provinces), Finnish language, Finnish, Swedish language, Swedish, Chinese language, Chinese (in Dalian)
- **religion year**: Russian Empire census, 1897
- **title leader**: Emperor of Russia, Emperor
- **year leader1**: 1721–1725 (first)
- **leader1**: Peter the Great, Peter I
- **year leader4**: 1894–1917 (last)
- **leader4**: Nicholas II of Russia, Nicholas II
- **year deputy1**: 1810–1812 (first)
- **year deputy2**: 1917 (last)
- **deputy2**: Nikolai Golitsyn
- **house1**: State Council (Russian Empire), State Council
(1810–1917)
- **house2**: State Duma (Russian Empire), State Duma
(1905–1917)
- **event pre**: Treaty of Nystad
- **date pre**: 10 September 1721
- **event start**: Proclaimed
- **date start**: 2 November
- **event1**: Table of Ranks
- **date event1**: 4 February 1722
- **event2**: Decembrist revolt
- **event3**: Emancipation reform of 1861, Emancipation reform
- **date event3**: 3 March 1861
- **event4**: Alaska Purchase, Selling of Russian America, Alaska
- **date event4**: 18 October 1867
- **event5**: Russian Revolution of 1905, 1905 Revolution
- **date event5**: Jan 1905 – Jul 1907
- **event6**: October Manifesto
- **date event6**: 30 October 1905
- **event end**: Proclamation of the Russian Republic, Republic
- **date end**: 14 September
- **stat area1**: 22800000
- **stat year1**: 1866
- **stat year2**: Russian Empire census, 1897
- **stat pop2**: 125,640,021
- **p1**: Tsardom of Russia
Russia
- **s1**: Russian Provisional GovernmentProvisional Government
- **flag p1**: Flag of Oryol ship (variant).svg
- **flag s1**: Flag of Russia.svg
- **flag s2**: Flag of Russia.svg
- **s2**: Russian Republic
- **date event7**: 6 May 1906
- **event8**: February Revolution
- **date event8**: 8–16 March 1917