Another calm period in Russia... (April-June, 1872).

Electricity]

For the period of 1872-1873 the public buildings of Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Helsinki and Kiev were mostly electrified and illuminated, some private buildings and homes also began to be, but much more slowly.

By 1872 electrification had reached Kharkov, Nizny Novgorod, Odessa, Poltava, and Saratov, among other cities. However, the capacities of Russian power plants also began to increase.

In 1871 the Electric Lighting Company of Russia, under Pavel Nikolayevich Yablochkov developed the world's first alternating current electrical transformer, which was now being integrated into Russian cities and industries.

These inventions allowed the most efficient distribution of electricity.

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"I am interested in recruiting some individuals to the ELC." Emperor Alexander III mentions in a meeting with Yablochkov, regarding the following projects of the state company.

"Very good. Who?" Yablochkov questions.

"Aleksandr Nikolaevich Lodygin, currently living in Saint Petersburg, has recently applied for a permit to patent an incandescent lamp and Vladimir Nikolaevich Chikolev, has been working on a 'differential principle' of arc lamps." Emperor Alexander III responds. "I'm especially interested in these 'incandescent lamps'"

"... Forgive me for saying so, Your Highness, but I don't think that project has a future."

*******

Aleksandr Nikolaevich Lodygin was persuaded to enter the ELC by Vladimir Chikolev, a mutual friend between Lodygin and Yablochkov. It was in 1872 that Yablochkov and Lodygin met for the first time to work together.

During this time Vasily Fedorovich Didrikhson also began working at the ELC but it would not be notable until 1874. Dmitry Alexandrovich Lachinov on the other hand would only enter and become notable until his work in 1880.

Lodygin was an interesting man, an inventor interested in building electric motor airplanes, diving apparatus, and of course the use of incandescent lamps.

He originally intended to use iron filaments, but having failed he began to use ones from a carbon rod. The project now was precisely about the use of incandescent lamps, which Yablochkov thought had no future.

In these experiments Yablochkov would discover the use of kaolin, and developed an incandescendent lamp of this material, which did not require vacuum and the "filament" did not burn in the open air. Although due to the differences of opinions of him Yablochkov began to theorize with lead-acid batteries.

Perhaps the biggest problem for the ELC was Lodygin in politics, he clung to liberal and conservative right-wing points, especially moving closer to the Russian populist movement.

Believing that the intelligentsia had lost their touch with the people and if said intelligentsia approached the common people they would find their roots, their place in the state, the country and the world.

Perhaps Lodygin was too gentle and hard-working, because this made him suspicious of many of the conservatives in the government. Because at that time the Russian populists were divided into revolutionaries, anarchists and liberals (where Lodygin fit).

Worse still, ideology was part of the thinking of Alexander Ivanovich Herzen, whose goal was socialism. Although in the 1870s and 1880s the word and current was widely applied outside of socialism (for example associating with chauvinists and conservatives).

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[Sports culture]

Four other cities emerge victorious in the preliminaries for the Russian Soccer League to be held in 1873.

In this case the following four cities (with 8 still to be decided) are:

* Chita: Sports team from the Siberian city of Chita, the second oldest team in the region, formed mainly by reasons of the local elite (industrialists and nobility).

* Helsinki: The only team from the Grand Duchy of Finland to make it to the league, made up of the growing Fennoman movement and the middle class (they defeated the Svecoman team "Helsingfors").

* Saint Petersburg: The team of the capital of the Russian Empire, made up of the upper-middle class and obviously sponsored by a remarkable number of nobles and industrialists from the heart of Russia.

* Omsk: Historically the first soccer team formed in the Siberian region, formed by the Russian upper-middle class from Omsk who grew interested in sport.

*******

[Dynasty]

The Tsesarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich was raised by his father in his arms, the Gatchina palace was celebrating the fourth birthday of the heir to the imperial throne.

A holiday was declared in the city of St. Petersburg while family and guests gave gifts to young Tsesarevich Nicholas.

*******

After his fourth birthday, Tsesarevich Nicholas began to display certain traits, which in his time were interpreted as inherited from his father, a particularly curious child.

Young Tsesarevich's questions about everything (topics often outside his age or education, such as history, news, etc.). On many occasions, for example, young Tsesarevich went to the offices of his father.

"What are you doing?". The young Tsesarevich Nicholas asks approaching his father.

"Ah, some projects for the future. At the moment we are focusing on railway projects, such as the Trans-Siberian or the Caucasus railways, but there is still a lot to do." Emperor Alexander III mentions.

"What does it say?". The Tsesarevich asks, leaning closer to his father.

"White Sea – Baltic Canal". The emperor mentions, then turning the page. "And this is the Volga-Don canal." Alexander III points out.

The childhood of the Tsesarevich began mainly with dances, sporting events and assistance to certain projects of his father, his formal education would not begin until he was 5 years old.

*******

[International]

In the north of Spain at the end of April the Third Carlist War begins against King Leopold I of Spain, where the Carlists support Don Carlos, Duke of Madrid or also called Carlos VII of Spain.

General Juan Prim leads the forces loyal to King Leopold I, while Carlos VII points to his generals in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. The Carlists emerge in the north of Spain invading the area of Navarra, where they defeat a numerically inferior Liberal force (3000 Carlists against 1000 Liberals).

King Leopold I calls home for help from the German Emperor Wilhelm I.

In France in mid-June, a Legitimist-Orleanist coalition launches the crowning of Henry V as the rightful monarch of France to the public.

The coalition's claim is backed by military leaders Henri Eugène Philippe Louis d'Orléans, Duke of Aumale and Patrice de MacMahon, 6th Marquis of MacMahon, who are joined by men like Georges Ernest Jean-Marie Boulanger.

The Legitimist-Orleanist army near Paris (arisen in rural areas) has a number suddenly close to the Parisian "Bonapartist" army. Starting conflicts in the Parisian capital.

Most of the French provinces still declare themselves, at least for the moment, in support of Napoleon IV, but the government has had to retreat to the west when Henry V's army defeats Napoleon IV's army, forcing the young emperor to escape with his cabinet.

Former Emperor Napoleon III and father of the young emperor calls for a ceasefire, but his voice after the Franco-Prussian war falls on deaf ears. A public coronation of Henry V is held in Paris.

Austria-Hungary prepares an expedition to support the young Emperor Napoleon IV.

*******

[German perspective]

"We must send help to Leopold." The Deutscher Kaiser Wilhelm I and some other ministers of the German Empire argued before Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, during a meeting of discussions about foreign policy.

"Absolutely not, it is Leopold's fault for accepting the Spanish crown. The sensible thing he can do now is abdicate and go home." Chancellor Bismarck insists.

"But we cannot leave King Leopold like this, he is part of the Hohenzollern dynasty. Will leaving him like this not leave a bad image?" Emperor Wilhelm I argues. "We could even add Spain to the dual alliance and have France surrounded on three fronts."

"We surround France and they will become an even greater danger, they will not allow it." Chancellor Otto von Bismarck argued.

"France is very busy right now ...". Voices murmured between the Kaiser and the Chancellor.

"And once one side is victorious, they will lay their eyes on us." The chancellor raises his voice. "No matter the ruler, the French people will remain the same, and they will try to take Elsaß-Lothringen."

"... So we are going to remain neutral regarding the French crisis?" Emperor Wilhelm I asks.

"No, it is not something we can afford in the long term. We do not have to support a claimant to the French throne, we can support anyone ... anyone." Bismarck remarks.