Four directions (July-September, 1879

The sacred troop']

In August 1879, while Narodnaya Volya had been formed a few months ago, a group of 130 monarchists (mostly members of the army and the Okhrana) had come together with an idea and a proposal: Taynaya Antisotsialisticheskaya Liga (Secret Anti-Socialist League).

A secret monarchical organization that wanted to combat revolutionary anti-monarchical terrorism, the idea in question arose due to members of the Okhrana, whose objective was obviously to persecute said dangerous individuals for the tsarist governmental body.

Although in reality the group, due to the active of one of its members, changed its name to the 'Holy Druzhina' (Священная дружина), which can be translated from the language of the time to 'Holy Troop', 'Holy Squad' or 'Holy Militia'.

The military historian, general, pan-Slavist and publicist Rostislav Andreevich Fadeev (1824-1882) studied the origin of the idea of the Taynaya Antisotsialisticheskaya League and the Holy Druzhina between 1866 and 1879, between the assassination of Alexander II and the reign of Alexander III.

The body was created and led in part by Count Pavel Petrovich Shuvalov (a relative of Ambassador Shuvalov), but other members within the group participated who also took their important part of leadership such as Rostislav Fadeev himself, Sergei Witte, etc.

The capture of G. D. Goldenberg in September 1879 allowed the government to access more information and profiles about members and activities of the Narodnaya Volya.

Because of this Emperor Alexander III, who was informed of the existence of the Holy Druzhina by other members of the Okhrana shortly after its creation, made a decision to integrate the Holy Druzhina into the Okhrana itself.

An option that the Holy Druzhina did not oppose of course, the Okhrana had much more funds and was expanding throughout the territory of Russia.

The Holy Druzhina emerged at a time when the government was seriously concerned about possible attacks and terrorist organizations. The capture of members intensified especially in the period of October-December of 1879 (and all the year 1880), in which the Holy Druzhina and its members hunted terrorist elements of Russia throughout their territory together with other sections of the Okhrana. .

The Okhrana and the Holy Druzhina section had a total of more than 8000 members (compared to less than 500 of the Narodnaya Volya).

*******

[Central Asia: Ili and the results]

By September 1879, the armies of the Qing dynasty had finally managed to recapture the rebellious Muslim territories, not without problems of course. Now it was time to discuss the occupied territory of Ili, which in its brief de-facto independence had attacked and been defeated by the Russians.

For this the Qing dynasty sent a delegate, Chun Hou to discuss with Tsar Alexander III and the advisor Nikolai de Girs the return of the territory of Ili to China.

The group met on the imperial estate of Livadia to discuss such an agreement.

"Russia supports the idea of allowing those Chinese citizens who want to take Russian citizenship to transfer to a territory that is administered by Russia, one part will go to the Qing dynasty and another will go to Russia." Counselor Nikolai de Girs explains.

"Why should Beijing accept that?" The envoy Chun Hou asks.

"Because if not, Qing will have to pay the Russians for the services rendered for about 8 years, in total more than 5 million rubles. Besides, it would get a population that was not defeated by Qing, what are the chances that with a break? 8-year-olds won't immediately rebel against China again? " Nikolai de Girs points out.

The British tried to pressure China to avoid Russian concessions in the region, but on the one hand the Xinjiang and Ili region were considerably depopulated, and Qing could not spend too much money on their development.

Chun Hou sent the Russian proposals to Beijing, where diplomat Zeng Jijie discussed this with the authorities before going to Russia to discuss the terms.

*******

According to the most basic of the treaty:

* Russia would return part of the Ili region, but would receive another in compensation to give home to the citizens of Ili who no longer wanted to be part of China.

* Russia would return all objects of administrative property of the Qing government that have come into its possession.

* All civilians of Ili (not necessarily rebels) would receive pardon, would not be persecuted, and could take Russian citizenship.

Russia initially demanded the possibility of consulates and trade missions (including trade routes to these missions) in: Kashgar, Urga, Jia Yu-guan (Suzhou), Kobd, Ulisutai, Hami (Komul), Turpan, Urumqi and Guchan, and the Joseon Dynasty.

However in the discussions the number decreased to Ili City (Kulja), Tarbagatai (Chuguchak, Tacheng), Kashgar and Urga (Ulan Bator), and the Joseon Dynasty. That is, between Xinjiang and Mongolia.

Qing on the other hand only wanted to pay a total of 5 million rubles for the Russian administration of the territory, but due to expenses in hospitals, schools, military administration, etc. Qing agreed to pay a total of 9 million rubles.

The British press would try to show that the treaty was a Chinese diplomatic victory over Russia, but in reality the treaty was not too damaging or advantageous to either side.

(OOC: Basically the Kazakhstan-China border was formed).

* Aftermath of the Treatise of Livadia.

After years of Russian rule, and the demonstration of life in Russia, the vast majority of the 200,000 inhabitants of Ili moved to the Russian side, naturalizing themselves as Russian citizens.

Those who remained in China were obviously not happy, although the Qing government would honor its agreements with Russia and would not actively persecute the civilians of the defunct Ili Sultanate, the Qing dynasty would not offer important developments for them and now their relatives had a better quality of life on the other side of the border.

Socio-political sentiments that benefited Russia more than Qing.

Also economically, since Russia conserved its investment (since they only invested in the side that they conserved), it gained loyal population and that populated the border with China, etc.

The fact that Russia will win certain trade freedoms in the Joseon dynasty (theoretically a tributary of the Qing dynasty) only further aided the growing trade ties between Russia and Korea.

(OOC: Fun fact, ITL the treaty included Manchuria, but ITL is Korea).

*******

[Eiffel Tower]

Although the attraction is officially called the Tower of the Sun, it is also better known and popularly called the Eiffel Tower (due to the main builder Alexandre Gustave Eiffel), although it was not the most used name during the first years of construction.

The Eiffel Tower had a reddish-brown color for around eight decades, however apart from that much of the original structure would remain intact for longer (not counting improvements in equipment, safety, etc).

On each of the legs of the Eiffel Tower was a stylized state symbol, the double-headed eagle (found in various cultures, but mostly associated with the Byzantine Empire by Russians). A symbol also widely used by the Romanov dynasty, so obviously there were certain propaganda tones behind it.

Each double-headed eagle also features a color, a white double-headed eagle (representing White Russia, the White Sea and white in Russian state symbols), a black double-headed eagle (representing the Black Sea and black in the symbols including the Romanov dynasty and the black-yellow-white tricolor), a blue double-headed eagle (representing the Baltic Sea and the white-blue-red tricolor) and a green double-headed eagle (representing the Pacific Ocean and Green Ukraine).

A total of 72 names were engraved on the sides of the balconies of the first level of the Tower of the Sun, each side with a total of 18 names (mostly mens, but also there are some womans),

A side dedicated to scientists and artists: Mikhail Lomonosov, Dmitry Mendeleev, Pavel Yablochkov, Fyodor Blinov, Pavel Schilling, Vasily Petrov, Alexander Lodygin, Ivan Fyodorov, Nikolay Lobachevsky, Nikolay Pirogov, Karl Ber, Mikhail Ostrogradsky, Boris Jacobi, Alexander Pushkin, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Andrei Rublev, Karl Bryullov, and Ilya Repin.

A side dedicated to military (admirals and generals or military victors): Fyodor Ushakov, Vasily Chichagov, Vladimir Kornilov, Mikhail Lazarev, Andrey Popov, Alexei Senyavin, Grigory Spiridov, Pavel Nakhimov, Fyodor Apraksin, Sviatoslav Igorevich, Alexander Suvorov, Pyotr Bagration, Dmitry Donskoy, Mikhail Kutuzov, Mikhail Skobelev, Dmitry Milyutin, Pyotr Rumyantsev, and Iosif Romeiko-Gurko.

A side dedicated to rulers (leaders and some empresses): Rurik, Oleg the Prophet, Vladimir the Great, Ivan III, Vasily III, Ivan IV, Anastasia Romanovna, Mikhail I, Peter I, Anna I, Catherine II, Alexander I, Nicholas I, Alexandra Feodorovna, Alexander II, Maria Alexandrovna, Alexander III and Maria Feodorovna.

A side dedicated to saints, monks and heroes: Jesus of Nazareth, St Andrew, St. Peter of Moscow, Theodosius, Job of Moscow, Filaret, Sergius of Radonezh, Vasily the Blessed, Seraphim of Sarov, Alexander Nevsky, Ivan Susanin, Isidore , Xenia of Saint Petersburg, Theodore the Varangian, Olga of Kiev, Michael of Chernigov, Luke Zhidiata and Herman of Alaska.

(OOC: Isidore was a monk and invented Russian vodka).

*******

[Synthetic rubber?]

In 1878 the French doctor, chemist and professor Gustave Bouchardat discovered how to turn isoprene into a gummy mass, of course with France in a civil war and the world occupied with other matters, this discovery would not happen in a very notable way until Bouchardat emigrated to Russia.

Where he would be given attention at the University of Saint Petersburg, more specifically by Tsar Alexander III and one of the professors (plus some students).

Professor Alexander Mikhailovich Butlerov and student Ivan Lavrent'evich Kondakov were given the task of production research from the study of the manufacture of synthetic rubber.

Russia was a country that needed rubber for certain products, the problem is that natural rubber does not grow in the usual latitudes of Russia, and Novaya Gvineya could not produce enough rubber to supply the needs of the entire Russian Empire.

Some in the 19th century would look for varieties of natural rubber that could be grown in warmer or colder climates, but Russia was looking for synthetic rubber.

In short, the need needed innovation.

Studies for the manufacture of synthetic rubber (methyl rubber and synthetic rubber from butadiene) would be some of the most notable scientific projects of the Russian Empire from the 1880s and later.

At a time when Europe was going through a 'rubber fever' (and that would extend to later years).

*******

[Textile industry: Synthetic silk]

The Russian silk industry (which already had a certain part of Korean silk in its sphere) would take a giant step forward when a plant in Vladivostok produced the first cellulose-based synthetic silk.

Various mechanized factories of the textile industry were prepared for the future mass production of synthetic silk and derived products, in particular it was prepared that synthetic silk would be taught for the University Exhibition of Saint Petersburg.

Also 'essential factories' were built for certain productions of military material related to synthetic silk.

*******

[Sports culture]

Four other teams are chosen for the Third Edition of the Russian Soccer League:

* Saint Petersburg.

* Kazan.

* Tbilisi: The first Georgian team to currently enter a Russian Soccer League, sponsored by the Georgian bourgeoisie.

* Akmolinsk: First city of Russian Turkestan (more specifically of the Kazakh steppe) to enter the Russian Soccer League, made up mainly of middle-class workers with the support of some large industrialists.

*******

[International]

July 4, 1879, the recent Anglo-Zulu War ends, with an English victory.

Unfortunately the British are not so lucky as to win a decisive battle in Afghanistan.

On July 8, George W. De Long of the U.S. Arctic Expedition (later called Jeannette Expedition) departs from San Francisco to the Bering Strait, with permission from the Russian authorities, to try to reach the North Pole.

Russian authorities insist that Americans must be careful.

August 1, between the Albanian guerrilla militias and the Ottoman army clashes occur throughout Kosovo, Tirana and Vlore. In these clashes involving more than 10,000 Albanian volunteers in total (the Ottomans in combat are 1/3 of the Albanian 'army' but they are more professional and better equipped).

The Albanians are defeated in Kosovo (near the Ottoman border with Serbia), but the Ottomans lose in south-central Albania (Tirana and Vlore).

However during the conflict the Albanian leadership of the Prizren League was seriously damaged (killed in action or taken prisoner). During this, the volunteer Don Aladro (claimant to the Albanian throne) began to gain relevance within the Albanian liberation movement.

At the moment the Ottomans have not produced another massacre (like the Batak massacre), but the Ottoman Empire is still the sick man in Europe and is wasting away with the recent Albanian revolt without the necessary economic, political and military reforms.

August 21, Emperor Napoleon IV allies with the Catholic Church in France for the reconstruction of the Second French Empire, of course this would hinder any deeper secularization effort due to the growing influence of the church by this decision.

At least it helps public relations with the rural majority of France, and allows for some urban-rural reconstruction projects (but there is still a lot of work to do).

The Austro-Hungarians are also helping in these tasks due to increased Austro-French economic cooperation.The sacred troop']

In August 1879, while Narodnaya Volya had been formed a few months ago, a group of 130 monarchists (mostly members of the army and the Okhrana) had come together with an idea and a proposal: Taynaya Antisotsialisticheskaya Liga (Secret Anti-Socialist League).

A secret monarchical organization that wanted to combat revolutionary anti-monarchical terrorism, the idea in question arose due to members of the Okhrana, whose objective was obviously to persecute said dangerous individuals for the tsarist governmental body.

Although in reality the group, due to the active of one of its members, changed its name to the 'Holy Druzhina' (Священная дружина), which can be translated from the language of the time to 'Holy Troop', 'Holy Squad' or 'Holy Militia'.

The military historian, general, pan-Slavist and publicist Rostislav Andreevich Fadeev (1824-1882) studied the origin of the idea of the Taynaya Antisotsialisticheskaya League and the Holy Druzhina between 1866 and 1879, between the assassination of Alexander II and the reign of Alexander III.

The body was created and led in part by Count Pavel Petrovich Shuvalov (a relative of Ambassador Shuvalov), but other members within the group participated who also took their important part of leadership such as Rostislav Fadeev himself, Sergei Witte, etc.

The capture of G. D. Goldenberg in September 1879 allowed the government to access more information and profiles about members and activities of the Narodnaya Volya.

Because of this Emperor Alexander III, who was informed of the existence of the Holy Druzhina by other members of the Okhrana shortly after its creation, made a decision to integrate the Holy Druzhina into the Okhrana itself.

An option that the Holy Druzhina did not oppose of course, the Okhrana had much more funds and was expanding throughout the territory of Russia.

The Holy Druzhina emerged at a time when the government was seriously concerned about possible attacks and terrorist organizations. The capture of members intensified especially in the period of October-December of 1879 (and all the year 1880), in which the Holy Druzhina and its members hunted terrorist elements of Russia throughout their territory together with other sections of the Okhrana. .

The Okhrana and the Holy Druzhina section had a total of more than 8000 members (compared to less than 500 of the Narodnaya Volya).

*******

[Central Asia: Ili and the results]

By September 1879, the armies of the Qing dynasty had finally managed to recapture the rebellious Muslim territories, not without problems of course. Now it was time to discuss the occupied territory of Ili, which in its brief de-facto independence had attacked and been defeated by the Russians.

For this the Qing dynasty sent a delegate, Chun Hou to discuss with Tsar Alexander III and the advisor Nikolai de Girs the return of the territory of Ili to China.

The group met on the imperial estate of Livadia to discuss such an agreement.

"Russia supports the idea of allowing those Chinese citizens who want to take Russian citizenship to transfer to a territory that is administered by Russia, one part will go to the Qing dynasty and another will go to Russia." Counselor Nikolai de Girs explains.

"Why should Beijing accept that?" The envoy Chun Hou asks.

"Because if not, Qing will have to pay the Russians for the services rendered for about 8 years, in total more than 5 million rubles. Besides, it would get a population that was not defeated by Qing, what are the chances that with a break? 8-year-olds won't immediately rebel against China again? " Nikolai de Girs points out.

The British tried to pressure China to avoid Russian concessions in the region, but on the one hand the Xinjiang and Ili region were considerably depopulated, and Qing could not spend too much money on their development.

Chun Hou sent the Russian proposals to Beijing, where diplomat Zeng Jijie discussed this with the authorities before going to Russia to discuss the terms.

*******

According to the most basic of the treaty:

* Russia would return part of the Ili region, but would receive another in compensation to give home to the citizens of Ili who no longer wanted to be part of China.

* Russia would return all objects of administrative property of the Qing government that have come into its possession.

* All civilians of Ili (not necessarily rebels) would receive pardon, would not be persecuted, and could take Russian citizenship.

Russia initially demanded the possibility of consulates and trade missions (including trade routes to these missions) in: Kashgar, Urga, Jia Yu-guan (Suzhou), Kobd, Ulisutai, Hami (Komul), Turpan, Urumqi and Guchan, and the Joseon Dynasty.

However in the discussions the number decreased to Ili City (Kulja), Tarbagatai (Chuguchak, Tacheng), Kashgar and Urga (Ulan Bator), and the Joseon Dynasty. That is, between Xinjiang and Mongolia.

Qing on the other hand only wanted to pay a total of 5 million rubles for the Russian administration of the territory, but due to expenses in hospitals, schools, military administration, etc. Qing agreed to pay a total of 9 million rubles.

The British press would try to show that the treaty was a Chinese diplomatic victory over Russia, but in reality the treaty was not too damaging or advantageous to either side.

(OOC: Basically the Kazakhstan-China border was formed).

* Aftermath of the Treatise of Livadia.

After years of Russian rule, and the demonstration of life in Russia, the vast majority of the 200,000 inhabitants of Ili moved to the Russian side, naturalizing themselves as Russian citizens.

Those who remained in China were obviously not happy, although the Qing government would honor its agreements with Russia and would not actively persecute the civilians of the defunct Ili Sultanate, the Qing dynasty would not offer important developments for them and now their relatives had a better quality of life on the other side of the border.

Socio-political sentiments that benefited Russia more than Qing.

Also economically, since Russia conserved its investment (since they only invested in the side that they conserved), it gained loyal population and that populated the border with China, etc.

The fact that Russia will win certain trade freedoms in the Joseon dynasty (theoretically a tributary of the Qing dynasty) only further aided the growing trade ties between Russia and Korea.

(OOC: Fun fact, ITL the treaty included Manchuria, but ITL is Korea).

*******

[Eiffel Tower]

Although the attraction is officially called the Tower of the Sun, it is also better known and popularly called the Eiffel Tower (due to the main builder Alexandre Gustave Eiffel), although it was not the most used name during the first years of construction.

The Eiffel Tower had a reddish-brown color for around eight decades, however apart from that much of the original structure would remain intact for longer (not counting improvements in equipment, safety, etc).

On each of the legs of the Eiffel Tower was a stylized state symbol, the double-headed eagle (found in various cultures, but mostly associated with the Byzantine Empire by Russians). A symbol also widely used by the Romanov dynasty, so obviously there were certain propaganda tones behind it.

Each double-headed eagle also features a color, a white double-headed eagle (representing White Russia, the White Sea and white in Russian state symbols), a black double-headed eagle (representing the Black Sea and black in the symbols including the Romanov dynasty and the black-yellow-white tricolor), a blue double-headed eagle (representing the Baltic Sea and the white-blue-red tricolor) and a green double-headed eagle (representing the Pacific Ocean and Green Ukraine).

A total of 72 names were engraved on the sides of the balconies of the first level of the Tower of the Sun, each side with a total of 18 names (mostly mens, but also there are some womans),

A side dedicated to scientists and artists: Mikhail Lomonosov, Dmitry Mendeleev, Pavel Yablochkov, Fyodor Blinov, Pavel Schilling, Vasily Petrov, Alexander Lodygin, Ivan Fyodorov, Nikolay Lobachevsky, Nikolay Pirogov, Karl Ber, Mikhail Ostrogradsky, Boris Jacobi, Alexander Pushkin, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Andrei Rublev, Karl Bryullov, and Ilya Repin.

A side dedicated to military (admirals and generals or military victors): Fyodor Ushakov, Vasily Chichagov, Vladimir Kornilov, Mikhail Lazarev, Andrey Popov, Alexei Senyavin, Grigory Spiridov, Pavel Nakhimov, Fyodor Apraksin, Sviatoslav Igorevich, Alexander Suvorov, Pyotr Bagration, Dmitry Donskoy, Mikhail Kutuzov, Mikhail Skobelev, Dmitry Milyutin, Pyotr Rumyantsev, and Iosif Romeiko-Gurko.

A side dedicated to rulers (leaders and some empresses): Rurik, Oleg the Prophet, Vladimir the Great, Ivan III, Vasily III, Ivan IV, Anastasia Romanovna, Mikhail I, Peter I, Anna I, Catherine II, Alexander I, Nicholas I, Alexandra Feodorovna, Alexander II, Maria Alexandrovna, Alexander III and Maria Feodorovna.

A side dedicated to saints, monks and heroes: Jesus of Nazareth, St Andrew, St. Peter of Moscow, Theodosius, Job of Moscow, Filaret, Sergius of Radonezh, Vasily the Blessed, Seraphim of Sarov, Alexander Nevsky, Ivan Susanin, Isidore , Xenia of Saint Petersburg, Theodore the Varangian, Olga of Kiev, Michael of Chernigov, Luke Zhidiata and Herman of Alaska.

(OOC: Isidore was a monk and invented Russian vodka).

*******

[Synthetic rubber?]

In 1878 the French doctor, chemist and professor Gustave Bouchardat discovered how to turn isoprene into a gummy mass, of course with France in a civil war and the world occupied with other matters, this discovery would not happen in a very notable way until Bouchardat emigrated to Russia.

Where he would be given attention at the University of Saint Petersburg, more specifically by Tsar Alexander III and one of the professors (plus some students).

Professor Alexander Mikhailovich Butlerov and student Ivan Lavrent'evich Kondakov were given the task of production research from the study of the manufacture of synthetic rubber.

Russia was a country that needed rubber for certain products, the problem is that natural rubber does not grow in the usual latitudes of Russia, and Novaya Gvineya could not produce enough rubber to supply the needs of the entire Russian Empire.

Some in the 19th century would look for varieties of natural rubber that could be grown in warmer or colder climates, but Russia was looking for synthetic rubber.

In short, the need needed innovation.

Studies for the manufacture of synthetic rubber (methyl rubber and synthetic rubber from butadiene) would be some of the most notable scientific projects of the Russian Empire from the 1880s and later.

At a time when Europe was going through a 'rubber fever' (and that would extend to later years).

*******

[Textile industry: Synthetic silk]

The Russian silk industry (which already had a certain part of Korean silk in its sphere) would take a giant step forward when a plant in Vladivostok produced the first cellulose-based synthetic silk.

Various mechanized factories of the textile industry were prepared for the future mass production of synthetic silk and derived products, in particular it was prepared that synthetic silk would be taught for the University Exhibition of Saint Petersburg.

Also 'essential factories' were built for certain productions of military material related to synthetic silk.

*******

[Sports culture]

Four other teams are chosen for the Third Edition of the Russian Soccer League:

* Saint Petersburg.

* Kazan.

* Tbilisi: The first Georgian team to currently enter a Russian Soccer League, sponsored by the Georgian bourgeoisie.

* Akmolinsk: First city of Russian Turkestan (more specifically of the Kazakh steppe) to enter the Russian Soccer League, made up mainly of middle-class workers with the support of some large industrialists.

*******

[International]

July 4, 1879, the recent Anglo-Zulu War ends, with an English victory.

Unfortunately the British are not so lucky as to win a decisive battle in Afghanistan.

On July 8, George W. De Long of the U.S. Arctic Expedition (later called Jeannette Expedition) departs from San Francisco to the Bering Strait, with permission from the Russian authorities, to try to reach the North Pole.

Russian authorities insist that Americans must be careful.

August 1, between the Albanian guerrilla militias and the Ottoman army clashes occur throughout Kosovo, Tirana and Vlore. In these clashes involving more than 10,000 Albanian volunteers in total (the Ottomans in combat are 1/3 of the Albanian 'army' but they are more professional and better equipped).

The Albanians are defeated in Kosovo (near the Ottoman border with Serbia), but the Ottomans lose in south-central Albania (Tirana and Vlore).

However during the conflict the Albanian leadership of the Prizren League was seriously damaged (killed in action or taken prisoner). During this, the volunteer Don Aladro (claimant to the Albanian throne) began to gain relevance within the Albanian liberation movement.

At the moment the Ottomans have not produced another massacre (like the Batak massacre), but the Ottoman Empire is still the sick man in Europe and is wasting away with the recent Albanian revolt without the necessary economic, political and military reforms.

August 21, Emperor Napoleon IV allies with the Catholic Church in France for the reconstruction of the Second French Empire, of course this would hinder any deeper secularization effort due to the growing influence of the church by this decision.

At least it helps public relations with the rural majority of France, and allows for some urban-rural reconstruction projects (but there is still a lot of work to do).

The Austro-Hungarians are also helping in these tasks due to increased Austro-French economic cooperation.