The Christmas Revolt of 1905

### Outcome

Government victoryArrest and execution of rebel soldiers, including Erik Verraten

Succession of Nikolai II

Burning of St.Romovna

Belinsky made capital of Karoleva

### Also known as

The 1905 Revolt, The December Revolt, The Winter Revolt

### Locations

St.Peter's IslandSt.Romovna

The Bridge

The Romovna Palace

Outside of St.Romovna

### Cause

The November RiotDispleasure with the Karolevian Royal Family

### Civilian Casualties

A significant number of civilian casualties, unknown number

See also: The History of Karoleva

The **Christmas Revolt of 1905** was a commoner revolt led by Erik Verraten against the Karolevian monarchy in St.Romovna, Karoleva. The revolt was devastating on both sides, with the deaths of Frederik III in a rebel kangaroo court and of Grand Duchess Tatiana during the 400th Anniversary Ball. The revolt ended with the defeat of the rebel army by Karolevian-Eurova forces outside of St.Romovna, with the succession of Nikolai II with Dowager Queen Alexandra as his regent. The most devastating loss was the Burning of St.Romovna, ordered by Dowager Queen Alexandra.

## Background

The unsuccessful reign of Frederik III and unpopularity of Queen Alexandra led to mass hatred for the Royal Family. Large gaps between the upper and lower classes in Karoleva meant the elite of Karoleva lived comfortable lives while many were left poor, freezing, and starved.

On 14 November 1905, a gathering of peaceful commoners marched to the Romovna Palace to express their grievances to King Frederik III. Afraid that the protesters were armed and violent, Frederik III ordered the Royal Guard to shoot at the protesters which killed many.

## Events

### Red Day

#### Protests at the Romovna Palace

The November Riot caused mass unrest among the people of St.Romovna. Protests at the Romovna Palace only started to increase.

19 December 1905, Erik Verraten gave a speech outside the gates of the Romovna Palace about the tyranny of the Royal Family. This speech grew many spectators though they dispersed after the Royal Guard fired a warning shot.

Juste dan Renon, who was training Royal Guards at the time, tried to calm Verraten down. Grand Duke Nikolai agitated Verraten through the palace gates. Verraten told the Grand Duke that they wanted food, housing, clothing, and education for the people of Karoleva.

When seeing the Grand Duke in the courtyard speaking to Verraten, Grand Duchess Maria ran into the courtyard to bring him inside the palace.

Verraten pointed a gun at the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Maria. This was followed with Grand Duchess Tatiana and Charlotte running into the courtyard as well. Protesters pointed guns at the royals and at the Royal Guard. Someone in the group, though it's unknown who, fired their weapon which killed a royal guard.

This led to a shootout between the Royal Guard and the rebel protesters. Grand Duke Nikolai himself was shot by Erik Verraten in the stomach, but survived. Many protesters and guards were killed in the shootout and the streets were littered with corpses.

#### The St.Peter's Island Uprising

After the shootout, Frederik III ordered a city wide curfew and anyone found outside the city after dark was to be arrested. The Romovna Palace was placed under lockdown, with no one being allowed in or out without his permission. Martial law was declared, and ordered all in the city to swear an oath of loyalty and police in the city tripled.

Erik Verraten and a group of his men positioned themselves in the city streets waiting for the soldiers to march into St.Peter's Island, which was considered The Slums in St.Romovna.

Verraten and his men shot at marching soldiers from the streets and from the doors and windows of homes, killing many soldiers in the process. Verraten himself killed many guards, including a captain.

Using rooftops and their homes to their advantage, the rebels under Verraten were able to kill many soldiers on St.Peter's Island. The soldiers that advanced into St.Peter's Island were forced to retreat across the Bridge that went over the Dvina river.

#### Blockade of St.Peter's Island

Upon hearing about that the rebels under Verraten had taken St.Peter's Island, Frederik III ordered that St.Peter's Island to be blocked off to trap them inside, along with bringing in more soldiers from the countryside. Frederik III also allowed Juste dan Renon to return to service in order to help defeat Verraten's rebel army. The next day, gates were erected on all bridges leading out of St.Peter's.

#### Destruction of the St.Peter's Gates

After the events of Red Day, Verraten capitalized on his success in taking St.Peter's Island by putting up posters around the island calling the 19th of December "Red Day" which is what is known as today. When informed that the island was being shut off from the rest of the city, Verraten with a group of citizens that they would force the gates upon if they didn't. While he did this, Anya Labelle picked the locks of the gates. After the soldiers didn't open the gates, Verraten and the group of citizens teared down the gate and threw it in the Dvina river. Verraten and his group killed many soldiers doing so.

#### Verraten's Audience with King Frederik III

After the destruction of the gates, Verraten requested an audience with King Frederik III at the Romovna Palace. In the Romovna Palace throne room, Frederik III received Verraten who was with Anya Labella and Bear Jenkins. Verraten told Frederik to instate him as King of Karoleva and leave Karoleva with his family or he would take the crown by force. Frederik refused and Verraten told him his family would be dead by the end of next year.

## Anniversary of 400 years of Petrovna rule

21 December 1905 marked the 400th anniversary of Nikolai I's accession to the Karolevian throne. In celebration, a large ball was prepared in honor of the Petrovna's long rule and festivities were held around the city.

### Attack on the Romovna Plaace

Verraten was able to get into the palace using stolen clothes, along with Anya Labelle, Lisbeth Vaughn, Tommy Milkins, and Bear Jenkins. Verraten and Labelle went by the name of the Duke and Duchess of Brotterdam. When Frederik III was making his speech in front of the guests, Verraten went on stage and preached about the Royal Family's tyranny. Meanwhile, the Grand Duchess, the Queen, and the Grand Duke tried to escape the ballroom.

While trying to flee, Grand Duchess Tatiana was attacked by Bear Jenkins. While the other Grand Duchesses were carrying her towards the door, Erik Verraten shot her again while aiming for Grand Duchess Maria. The rebels that infiltrated the palace killed many palace guards and members of the nobility. Verraten was almost stopped by Juste dan Renon but was able to flee, along with the rest of his inner circle.

### The Night of Fire

By the orders of Juste dan Renon, known rebels bases and the bridge were rigged with explosives, killing many rebels in their homes and those on their way back to the island from the palace. Verraten and his group worked to put out fires caused by the explosions. Renon's men, called Wraiths, said the explosions were caused by the rebels while the rebels blamed it on the Royal Family.

#### Capture of the Royal Family

With the help of Dyria "La" Kilman, the Grand Duchesses were able to escape and the Royal Family tried to flee via car to the train station to go to Tsarskoe. To get to the train station, the Royal Family had to pass through St.Peter's Island. While driving through, Verraten shot the tires of the car and the Royal Family was dragged out of the car. Frederik III was separated from his family, the women were taken to Verraten's shack, and the Grand Duke was separated from the rest of the family. After the capture of the Royal Family, Renon's Wraiths set fire to the Romovna Palace. Verraten brought Frederik III back to the Romovna Palace and left him there so he could save the palace from burning.

## Civil War in St.Romovna

Most of the Royal Family being captured by rebels marked the official start of civil war in St.Romovna. With his family behind enemy lines, Frederik III connected Eurova for reinforcement. Verraten was convinced by Dyria 'la" Kilman to let the Grand Duchesses go. Verraten eventually agreed, threatening to execute them if they did not leave the country in two days. But Verraten did not let go of Queen Alexandra or Grand Duke Nikolai.

### Storming of the Romovna Palace

Verraten, with a large following of followers in order to capture Frederik III. Verraten and his men killed palace guards and looted the palace. Verraten went to Frederik III's study and forced him to come with him back to St.Peter's Island. Before being taken prisoner, Frederik III left orders for General Mendoza. King Frederik III was captured and taken to Verraten's shack.

### Grand Duchesses flight to Tsarskoe

Went to the St.Peter's Island Orphange ran by Tommy Milkins under a fake names of Katya and Olga.They spent the night there before leaving to the Romovna Palace. The Grand Duchesses went to the Romovna Palace, to see it looted and empty. While in the palace, they were found by Juste dan Renon. Renon offered to escort them to where ever they needed to go. They requested to go to the train station and Renon escorted them from the Romovna Palace.

Renon transported the Grand Duchessses to the train station by taking a boat across the Dvina river. When they reached the train station, where they pretended to be refugees. Renon brought them to the Kathrin Palace and they were taken in by the 5th and 19th legions.

### Battle of St.Peter's Island

Lieutenant Tombs let a group of soldiers into St.Peter's Island to find rebels and the Royal Family. Soldiers marched throughout St.Peter's Island and surrounding neighborhoods. Soldiers conducted door to door searches. Rebel soldiers led by Bear Jenkins fought the royal army until losses on both side turned the battle into a stalemate.

#### Rescue of Queen Alexandra

Tombs ordered Evani Greyson to find Frederik III while he and his troops continued to fight the rebels. There was massive losses on both sides. Greyson was able to find Queen Alexandra in Verraten's shack and she was taken in by the Royal Army.

#### The Christmas Truce

On the struck of midnight on 25 December 1905, bells chimed signalling Christmas Day. Both sides agreed to a cease fire and the royal soldiers crossed over the bridge away from St.Peter's Island.

## The End of the Revolt

During the Christmas Truce, the Karolevian Royal Army was able to act on all of King Frederik III's orders. All known royal sympathizers were evacuated from the city. Communication between St.Romovna and the outside world were severed, save for an emergency line to Tsarskoe. St.Romovna was put under a heavy blockade with the help of reinforcements from Eurova, who arrived on the early morning on 26 December.

### Trial of King Frederik III

Verraten and his inner circle organized a trial to be held for King Frederik III ran by his rebels. Everyone in Verraten's inner circle and his followers attended the trial. General Mendoza ordered for soldiers to infiltrate the theater in civilian clothing to save King Frederik III, while other soldiers were sent to find Grand Duke Nikolai.

Verraten lead the trial and asked if the crowd of rebels believed Frederik III should be executed or exiled. The crowd screamed that Frederik III should be executed, after which Verraten shot Frederik III in the head. After Frederik III was shot, Renon shot three cannisters of white phosphorous into the theater which killed almost everyone in the theater. Verraten, and those in his inner circle, were able to escape the theater.

### The Burning of St.Romovna

After being informed of King Frederik III's death, Queen Alexandra ordered General Mendoza to burn St.Romovna.Queen Alexandra was also informed that Grand Duke Nikolai had been rescued by a group of soldiers. Queen Alexandra and Grand Duke Nikolai were reunited before they left to board the royal yacht. After their departure, a legion of soldiers were sent to burn down St.Romovna, only leaving the Cathedral of St.Therese standing. Due to Grand Duke Nikolai still being in his minority, Queen Alexandra was Queen Regent until he came of age. Queen Alexandra, Nikolai II, and those on the royal yacht set sail for Ekaterinburg.

### The Rebels flee St.Romovna

The rebels that were in the theater were able to escape the city using escape tunnels, bringing with them clean water, ammo, and weapons. The rebel army was able to settle in a clearing in the nearby forest where they set up camp.

#### Coronation of Erik Verraten

While in the clearing, Verraten was crowned King in a makeshift coronation by a priest in front of the rebel army. Verraten ordered his rebels to publish the picture of his coronation in the rebel newspapers. After he was crowned, Verraten said they would be marching back to St.Romovna to rebuild and give aid to the poor.

### Confession of Juste dan Renon

Juste dan Renon returned to Tsarskoe to see Grand Duchess Charlotte, he told her that he committed war crimes in order to defeat the rebellion that the Royal Family needed to take him in so he could confess his crimes as a rebel. Shortly after this, news that a rebel army was moving towards Tsarskoe forced the Grand Duchesses, Grand Duchess Ilsa, and Dowager Queen Maria to leave to a city near Ekaterinburg.

### The Battle of St.Romovna

Verraten ordered his rebel soldiers to march towards Tsarskoe and towards Ekaterinburg. During their march, Tombs and his men were able to recapture St.Romovna. While marching towards Tsarskoe, the army was intercepted by Karolevian-Eurovan army lead by General Axis, who decimated the rebel army. Tommy Milkins was killed in this battle, and the rest of Verraten's inner circle were able to hide in the forest for four days until being caught.

## Aftermath

The Royal Family reunited in Ekaterinburg and later moved to the new capital of Belinsky. After being caught, Erik Verraten hanged in the presence of the Royal Family a month and a half later. Anya Labelle was captured but her execution was put off after discovering she was pregnant with Verraten's child, later named Erik "Theo" Labelle Douleur. Anya's brother Dmitri, who was a royal guard, helped her escape and she returned to St.Romovna and became the leader of the Novaya Karoleva. Lisbeth Vaughn was able to escape the Karolevian-Eurovan forces and settled in the new capital. Juste dan Renon confessed to war crimes, but in the name of the rebellion and not the royal family. Renon was put on trail and was put into a Belinsky prison. The Burning of St.Romovna was pinned on the rebel army and Queen Alexandra ruled Karoleva as Regent until Nikolai II reached his majority in 1907. Grand Duchess Tatiana's body was recovered but King Frederik III body was not found.

## Timeline

* Red Day
	+ The December Shooting
	+ The St.Peter's Island Uprising
	+ The Blockade of St.Peter's Island

* Assault of the Romovna Palace
* The Night of Fire
	+ The Wraith's Rebellion
* The Storming of the Romovna Palace
* Battle of St.Peter's Island
* The Christmas Truce
* The Trial of Frederik III
* The Burning of St.Romovna
* The Battle of St.Romovna

Notes for me:

The 400th Ball