I'm going to go. He's

a-a-ra-s-s-s-s-a-s-s-a-s-a-s- Welcome to the Russian rulers podcast, episode 57. The misery is beyond description.

Last week, Nicholas the first kept a firm control over Russia, but his overzealousness in pursuing a war with the Ottoman Turks is about

to reverse the fortunes of Russia and the Romanovs.

The aftermath of this war would set the stage for two world wars in the 20th century and

would eventually doom the ruling family. Many view the upcoming Crimean War

as the beginning of the end for the Romanovs.

But as you've heard me say this before, I believe the seeds were planted with Paul the

first.

It is his son Nicholas the first, who allowed the sea to germinate, grow, and by not fertilizing it properly,

it became rotten and ill-equipped to handle the fast-paced new world around Russia.

Alexander the first defeated Napoleon, which showed that Russia was now on par with the rest of Europe

militarily, all because of the Westernization started by Peter the Great and pushed along by

Catherine II. Whereas Paul halted his mother's policies, he did not abandon the

Westernization of the military. He wanted a bigger and better army.

It was Alexander in his post-Napoleonic mystical era that the Russians do what Russian rulers do best.

Fall backwards, believing that the old ways are the best ways.

And that tradition is how you keep power and make your people happy. It was this thinking along with

Nicholas's embracing the idea that set the stage for disaster. The Russian

military and its leader that SAR saw no reason to continue modernization

as I had just now defeated one of the greatest generals of all time.

They were whipping the Turks left and right, and helped his Greek brethren gain freedom.

...