Welcome to Russian History Retail, Episode 230, 1917, Part 3.

Last time, we covered the events of 1917 up until the time that Tsar Nicholas II became

citizen Nicholas after his abdication. Today, we continue the journey through the most

tumultuous year in Russian history. Before we go on to the events, I want to bring

up something that Nicholas did in his final moments as Tsar, which was highly illegal.

In 1797, Tsar Paul issues the law of succession. In it, he states that the line of succession

can only go from father to son. Nicholas gave up his throne, naming his brother Michael

as heir. Even if Michael had agreed and he didn't, it would have been an illegal succession

and would have thrown the crown into a tizzy. Before Nicholas abdicated, he dissolved the

Duma, so when he left office, there was no legitimate government in Russia. This left

the provisional government with a serious problem. Was it really the legitimate heir of the

leadership and rule of Russia? It would be devil them until they were out of power.

One of the reasons Michael Romanov rejected the offer to become Tsar was his wish to have

a constituent assembly, known as the Zemsky-Sobor. Called on just as it was when his ancestor,

the first Michael Romanov, was named Tsar. This, of course, was never done. No Zemsky-Sobor

was there to save the monarchy.

The date we begin this episode is old calendar, and it's March 16th. Nicholas is now a private

citizen, and we have two groups vying for power in Russia. The first is an out-dispanded

Duma, which transformed itself into the provisional Duma committee. They represented the land-owning

citizens of Russia. The second group was the Petrograd Soviet of workers and soldiers and deputies.

They would represent the working class, but would not make any claim to ruling Russia

as they believed that a second revolution was coming. One that would arrive after a

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