Russia

The Russian Empire (1721-1917), also known as Imperial Russia, was a country in Europe as well as Asia. It was made in 1721, when Peter I of Russia founded it. Before that, it was known as the Duchy of Moscow. It lasted until it was declared a republic in March 1917 after the Russian Revolution. It borders many countries, such as Qing China, Kazakh, Crimea, The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Kingdom of Sweden.

Description
Russia, during the 1700 hundreds the country has steadily declined over the years due to corrupt rulers and multiple cues occurring over the years. Will you lead Russia to beat The Ottoman Empire or make it the poorest monarchy on Earth?

Backstory
Russia was ruled by various kingdoms like the Kievan Rus until the territory was rampaged by the Mongol Empire which later would be broken into different states in 1263. Muscovy was initially a puppet state the Golden Horde until 1480 after which it became an independent kingdom and started expanding its own borders. In 1553, Ivan IV, famously known as Ivan the Terrible proclaimed the Tsardom of Russia as well as initiating Oprichnina which involved mass repressions, public executions, and confiscated land. Eventually in 1721, Tsar Peter I signed the Treaty of Nystad which proclaimed the Russian Empire

Although there are disputes whether when was the empire officially established. The Treaty of Nystad seems to be the popular choice for the when was the empire's proclamation.

Tsar Peter I made reforms which changed the political and social structure of the Russian Empire, and as a result of the Great Northern War, which Sweden lost. Russia's military was transformed into a capable army which made Russia into a great power that have the ability to alter European politics. He also made the boyars loyal to the monarchy which they were called the Nobility. Eventually Peter I died in 1725 and was briefly succeeded by Catherine I until the crown was put on the head of Anna, who won against the Ottomans in the Russo-Turkish War of 1735 - 1739 as well as Russia joining the Seven Years' War with little to no gain.

Catherine the Great eventually became ruler of Russia after she commenced a successful coup against Empress Elizabeth's husband. She was seen in Russia as nice and compassionate ruler who was the symbol of the Russian Enlightenment which turned Russia into the great science power we know of today. She also waged war against the Ottoman Empire, Persia, and partitioning the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with Prussia and Austria. She eventually died in 1796 but her legacy transformed Russia into a great European power.

Entering into the 19th century and in Europe, other European powers were suffering from the victories of Napoleon I of France, who was by that time the undisputed European Power, Russia in the start of the Napoleonic Wars was with the side of the coalition against Napoleon, but after seeing Napoleon's successes, they think it is a great time to pull out in order to save their kingdom from being ravaged by France. Russia eventually grew closer to Napoleon and sooner or later, France and Russia are now in an alliance which secured France's position and power in Europe as well as blockading British goods from Europe which Russia initially agreed upon. But when the blockade took effect, Russia's economy was suffering and soon traded with Britain once again. Napoleon, who was angered by Russia's continued trade with the British decided to invade Russia in 1812. When France invaded Russia, Alexander I was surprised and initiated the Scorched Earth Policy which burned all of the lands before Moscow which the policy was effective in slowing down the invaders, and even though Napoleon had already captured Russia's capital Moscow, the city was burned so that in the long-term, they can't live off the land any longer so Napoleon decided the army's fate and did a desperate retreat back to Europe which devasted Napoleon's Grand Armee, but the Russians didn't stop there and when the coalition was reunited, they eventually reached Paris and was forced to surrender.

After the Napoleonic Wars, Russia was known as the "Savior of Europe", but soon Great Britain spread its Industrial Revolution which advanced scientific, political, invention, and economic progress as well as liberalizing their governments. Russia, who was a great power, now experienced its weaknesses as Russia's economy and society was lagging behind those of the West, Russia was still an agriculture-based economy while Europe was transforming their economies to industrial ones, as well as Russia still maintaining its autocratic style of government while Europe democratized. Russia's resistance to social and economic progression led Russia into a declining European Power, but its power is still comparable to those of the West.

Meanwhile, Russia expanded its borders to the East in recent centuries and eventually reached the border of the Qing Dynasty, the two monarchies signed agreements in maintaining peace between the two countries while maintaining competition on who shall dominate Siberia. And Russia eventually reached Alaska during the scramble for North America, During the American Revolution, there were rumors the Russians supported the Continental Army, but the Russian monarchy insisted that they were neutral during the conflict just to calm the British down, and when the United States declared its independence from Britain, the Russians established diplomatic ties with America and were rumors that during the American Civil War, the Russians supported the Union but in fact, they were neutral just so that the Union would pretend to show Britain it's power. After the Civil War, The Russian Empire sold its land in North American to the United States because they thought that the land was useless, and they have more problems near its core lands. But when the Americans discovered oil in Alaska, the Russians soon realized that selling their lands in North America was a huge mistake as the oil that was discovered there would help Russia further progress and industrialize its economy.

In Europe, they often fought against the Ottoman Empire for control over the Black Sea as well as the Balkans so that they can save the Orthodox Christians in the Balkans from the Muslim Ottomans. They also supported Prussia in establishing the German Empire, but when the Germans did not care about the Russo-Turkish War of 1877 - 1878, their alliance is soon to be broken. They also rivaled the British Empire for who can become the largest empire and they also competed for dominance in India and Afghanistan until they made a panhandle for Afghanistan splitting border contact between the two empires.

By the time Nicholas II ascended to the throne, the 20th century approached. The Industrial Revolution struggled to bring significant influence in Russia but eventually, Russia did accept the industry as a major contribution to the economy, but industrial progress was still slow, and the country was still dependent on agriculture for its economy. Living conditions did improve, however. They also participated in the Boxer Rebellion against the Qing Dynasty in 1899 together with the Eight-Nation Alliance and they gained significant influence in Manchuria, they constructed railways all the way to Dalian to establish a warm-water port for Russia, but Japan also wanted influence in the region and sparked the Russo-Japanese War (1904 - 1905) and the world was spooked when Japan prevailed in the war thanks to its rapid industrialization and modern army compared to Russia's larger but older army.

In 1914, tensions throughout Europe sparked World War I, Russia declared war on Austria-Hungary for attacking its ally Serbia, but then Germany declared war on Russia which it got declared war on by France, so it's safe to say that Russia was on the side of the Entente. Germany thought that Russia will take time to prepare its army so while Russia is still preparing, Germany will blitz through France and then focus on Russia. But Russia was already prepared by the time Germany's advance towards Paris stalled, Russia did initially good in the war and even penetrated into German territory and deep into Austria-Hungary until the tides turned in the Eastern Front during the Battle of Tannenberg, which the German's repelled and soon entered deep into Russian territory. By 1916, the Russian populous was starving, they lacked food to eat, and the farms can't meet the demands of the people because Russia is still doing old school land ownership. So, in early 1917, people in Petrograd (Now St. Petersburg) protested in defiance against the Tsar and eventually, Tsar Nicholas II abdicated and officially dissolving the Russian Empire. A provisional government was established to democratize Russia. Germany requested an exiled communist in Switzerland by the name of Vladimir Lenin to overthrow the government in Petrograd and so he did, he executed the Imperial Romanov Family in July 1918, he also pulled Russia out of the war signing the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. He started a revolution against the Republic starting the Russian Civil War. The Civil war lasted from 1917 - 1923 as a struggle between the White Mensheviks and the Communist Bolsheviks. Despite allied support, the Republic was no match and eventually collapsed to the now Soviet Union.