May Day demonstrations challenge the authorities

Nicholas II replaced Pyotr Sviatopolk-Mirsky with Alexander Bulygin as minister of the interior. Bulygin was later assigned to design a consultative assembly. The source date is 15 January Old Style.

Ivan Kalyayev killed Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich with a bomb in Moscow. The Socialist Revolutionary Combat Organization carried out the assassination. The source date is 4 February Old Style.

Russian and Japanese armies began one of the largest land battles of the Russo-Japanese War. The eventual Russian defeat further weakened the prestige of the imperial government. The source date is...

Nicholas II instructed Alexander Bulygin to prepare proposals for an elected consultative body. The promised Duma would initially have no legislative power. The source date is 18 February Old Style.

A government commission intended to investigate workers’ grievances failed after worker delegates demanded free elections and public proceedings. The source date is 18 February Old Style.

Tens of thousands of textile workers began a prolonged strike. Their elected council of deputies is often regarded as one of the first soviets of the revolution. The source date is 12 May Old Style.

Japan’s navy destroyed much of Russia’s Baltic Fleet in a two-day battle. The disaster exposed the weakness of the imperial state and increased pressure to end the war. The source date is 14 May Old...

A congress of zemstvo and municipal representatives met in Moscow and pressed for a representative national assembly and civil rights. The source date is 24 May Old Style.

Security forces fired on a workers’ gathering during the long textile strike, causing deaths and injuries and deepening confrontation in the city. The source date is 7 June Old Style.

Striking workers joined a large funeral procession for people killed during the repression of their movement. The source date is 8 June Old Style.