Revolution of 1905

The Revolution of 1905 On January 22, 1905, thousands of people led by Georgy Gapon, a revolutionary priest, marched to the Tsars Palace carrying icons and chanting “God save the tsar”. Their aim was to present a petition to Nicholas asking for the summoning assembly, and an eight-hour working day. Nicholas was not in residence and the marchers were fired on by imperial troops. Hundreds were killed and wounded, and the event has become known in Russian history …

…second, the October Revolution (dated on the Julian calendar). In February 1917, riots began in St Petersburg (renamed Petrograd in 1914). When troops were ordered to fire upon the rioters, they joined them instead. Demands for changes in the government finally resulted in the abdication of Nicholas II and his son on March 15, leaving the administration to a provisional government initially headed by Prince Lvov, and from July by Alexander Kerensky. The abdications ended the Russian Empire.