Alternate History Of The World 2- Terrible Tsardom
First published: Wednesday March 4th, 2026
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Welcome back! It’s been a while, but here’s a link to the last blog: #1 - The New Order
Romania
The Romanians are in an interesting spot. They are stuck between Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria on one hand, and Russia on the other. Chaos may be brewing, as the Romanians have an aging king, Carol I. Eventually, on December 3, 1913, Carol I dies at the age of 74, making his nephew Ferdinand I the new king.
Ferdinand would begin to drift towards Russian alignment, holding a conference with Tsar Nicholas on December 18 in St. Petersburg. The two would begin to reach an agreement where Russia would grant a defensive pact to Romania if they could use naval bases in Constanța. The Romanians and Russians sign the St. Petersburg Agreement on December 21, 1913. What a nice Christmas present for them. After the agreement, the Russians begin to ramp up naval activities in the Black Sea. Ports in Odessa, Sevastopol, and Rostov fill with ships going in and out of the Harbor. The increased naval presence puts the Ottomans on edge.
Finland
The Grand Duchy of Finland is full of political tension between socialists and liberals that both strive to fight Russification. Since December 1899, the Diet of Finland has been mostly an advisor, having no real control over lawmaking. Small-scale protests in January 1914 in Helsinki would eventually receive attention from Tsar Nicholas II, who sent in a militia of 3,000 men to Helsinki. The violent clash that ensued from January 3-9 would be known as the January Uprising. A similar protest in Tallinn, Estonia, from January 13-16 also occurred, resulting in more casualties on both sides despite having less people.
January Uprising
| Nation | Forces | Casualties |
|---|---|---|
| Finland | ~4,500 protesters | ~300 dead |
| Estonia | ~2,500 protesters | ~400 dead |
| Russian Militias in Finland | 3,000 soldiers | 3 wounded |
| Russian Militias in Estonia | 2,500 soldiers | 1 dead, 7 wounded |
With tensions brewing in Finland, Tsar Nicholas II decides to visit on January 31, 1914. Upon exiting the Helsinki train station, the Tsar makes his way to Senate Square and delivers a speech. The next day, February 1st, upon leaving his hotel, the Tsar is shot by a Finnish liberal. While the Tsar does live, he is in poor health, and the Finnish independence movement lives to see another day.