DBWI: What if the Tsar of Russia was overthrown?

[Garrett_Cartoonist]

It's a historic event that is basically legend at this point. The Russian royal family was hated, and the Tsar hated his job, and his family carried a genetic disease that could destroy their whole lineage. However, in 1905, during his sleep, he had a vision of Jesus, who said that he needed to change his ways. At least, that's what Nicolas II said, and he said that that experience, and a few other rather mysterious circumstances following it, left a real impact on him and his family. Since then, the monarchy has given most of its political power to the Duma, becoming a constitutional monarchy along the lines of the UK or the Benelux. In the 100 years following, a series of marriages have mostly cleaned up the bloodline, and the hemophilia has been almost entirely eliminated, with the rare oddball here and there. The current members of the House of Romanov are beloved by the Russian people and are considered really nice down-to-earth people who regularly tour the country and meet with sick children and all that good juicy stuff, basically being like the House of Windsor in Britain. However, how do you think history would have changed if Nicolas II had never had that change? How would that effect Russia and the rest of the World.

 

[Montgomerie Ward]

Well a deciding factor was during World War I, when the Bolsheviks came close to overthrowing the monarchy, despite the monarchy's popularity. When Russia withdrew from the war to suppress the Revolution, Wilhelm II took pity on Nicholas and double-crossed Vladimir Lenin, extraditing him to his execution. At the Paris Peace Conference, Russia returned the favor by vouching for Germany that it not be punished too harshly and that it keep its Kaiser as a figurehead. The Allies, using re-armed German troops, helped the war weary White Russians to annihilate the remaining Bolsheviks. Alexander Kerensky was elected Premier of Russia for his leading role in suppressing the Revolution.

Although the British Royal Family loves the Romanovs, Parliament does not, and they still view the Russian Empire as a threat. If not for French diplomatic intervention, there would have been an Anglo-Russian war in the Indo-Persian front. This is one of the reasons why the Anglo-Japanese Alliance was renewed in 1921 (and continues to be renewed), but on the condition that Japan leave the Chinese mainland alone. Wilhelm II objected, but under Chancellor Paul von Hindenburg, Germany joined the Anglo-Japanese Alliance in response to the renewal of the Franco-Russian Alliance. China and Italy are playing the two power blocs against each other, while the United States found neither appealing.

 

[overoceans]

Probably ASB, but can you imagine a situation where Grigori Rasputin, instead of just being a harmless court jester-type for the royals, actually has the ear of a man with serious political authority? Probably butterflies away his ever getting invited to dinner at the White House.

 

[HIM Dogson]

Perhaps a defeat against Japan could do it? Historically Nicholas's sweeping reforms calmed down the rioters enough that Russia could resume the war; the Japanese had won at sea but had no answer to the fully assembled Russian army on land.

 

[1940LaSalle]

Well a deciding factor was during World War I, when the Bolsheviks came close to overthrowing the monarchy, despite the monarchy's popularity. When Russia withdrew from the war to suppress the Revolution, Wilhelm II took pity on Nicholas and double-crossed Vladimir Lenin, extraditing him to his execution. At the Paris Peace Conference, Russia returned the favor by vouching for Germany that it not be punished too harshly and that it keep its Kaiser as a figurehead. The Allies, using re-armed German troops, helped the war weary White Russians to annihilate the remaining Bolsheviks. Alexander Kerensky was elected Premier of Russia for his leading role in suppressing the Revolution.

Although the British Royal Family loves the Romanovs, Parliament does not, and they still view the Russian Empire as a threat. If not for French diplomatic intervention, there would have been an Anglo-Russian war in the Indo-Persian front. This is one of the reasons why the Anglo-Japanese Alliance was renewed in 1921 (and continues to be renewed), but on the condition that Japan leave the Chinese mainland alone. Wilhelm II objected, but under Chancellor Paul von Hindenburg, Germany joined the Anglo-Japanese Alliance in response to the renewal of the Franco-Russian Alliance. China and Italy are playing the two power blocs against each other, while the United States found neither appealing.

I'm not so sure about that. Perhaps so during the presidency of Adlai Stevenson or Albert Ritchie, but presidents like Eisenhower, Scranton, Ford, Kemp, and Whitman have all built up and solidified the special relation the US has with Great Britain, and the near-special relation with Germany. OK, I'll concede that US-Japanese relations are probably best described in terms like "polite", "cordial", and "amiable" rather than warmer terms, but it's still not bad. Face it: the US has a lot more in common with Great Britain and Germany than it does with France and Russia--and you know that the Franco-Russian Alliance is definitely not widely popular: it's viewed as too alien / foreign.

 

[Garrett_Cartoonist]

Oh, also, what does everyone here think about the current royal family? Tsar Alexander VI, Empress Natasha, Grand Duchess Nadia (she's rather famous for her acts of charity and monthly TV specials to raise money for the homeless (OOC: Basically a modern, Russian Princess Diana)) and Grand Duke Lyosha?

 

[Garrett_Cartoonist]

Probably ASB, but can you imagine a situation where Grigori Rasputin, instead of just being a harmless court jester-type for the royals, actually has the ear of a man with serious political authority? Probably butterflies away his ever getting invited to dinner at the White House.

Yeah! I remember that photograph! Even today, it's rather amusing