The Romanovs

by Simon Sebag Montefiore

First published 2016

Amazon

4.3(3,696)

The Romanovs traces the dynasty that ruled Russia from the accession of Michael Romanov in 1613 to the fall of Nicholas II and the murder of the imperial family in 1918. Montefiore presents succession crises, palace coups, marriages, wars and court factions alongside the expansion of a state that grew from the Muscovite tsardom into one of the largest empires in the world.

The narrative gives sustained attention to rulers including Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, Nicholas I, Alexander II, Alexander III and Nicholas II while also following ministers, favourites, spouses and rivals around them. By combining family biography with imperial history, the book connects intimate dynastic relationships to reform, repression, territorial expansion and the revolutionary crisis that ultimately destroyed the monarchy.

Historical Periods

Imperial Russia1721–1917 CE Early Modern Russia and Muscovy1462–1721 CE Execution of the Romanov Family1918

Genres

Political History

Historical people

Catherine the Great1729–1796 Alexander II of Russia1818–1881 Nicholas I of Russia1796–1855 Nicholas II of Russia1868–1918 Alexander III of Russia1845–1894 Peter the Great1672–1725