Tsar Paul III - Robou

Tsar Paul III
Paul's takeover had been bloody. During 1834, Officers of the Imperial Army and Navy had revolted against Nicolas I, Paul's father, and had murdered him. Paul had, with Colonel Rosbatatov, taken to the Polish lands of Russia, and raised an army of Poles, Slavs and Loyal Russians.

Throughout the rest of the year he had continued to build his army. In the spring of 1835, now with an army of 50,000 Loyalists, marched back into Russia to reclaim his Kingdom. In a cataclismic battle, Polish forces, under the youthful Prince Felix Czartoryski, broke the Rebel lines, just outside the city of Orel.

The Rebels submitted to Paul, but he could not forget what had happened to his father. During the rest of 1835, Paul's troops carried out a purge of those who had stayed in Russia, and not supported the Loyalist cause. Over 6,000 people were killed in this, including most of the Armies General, leaving open a gap for new ones to buy commisions.

Many people saw Paul as a butcher, but some saw inside him, and saw that he was a young, vibrant ruler whom they believed that with their help could match the success of Paul's anncestor, Peter the Great. However, only time would tell if Paul could prove himself worthy of that title.

Early Life
Paul had an intense early life. Much of it was spent travelling around his father's kingdom. However, during his short periods of rest in St. Petersburg, he learnt how to dance, to charm and to behave. THis brought him out of Palace life as a vibrant, young, romanticist. He joined the Imperial Army at the age of 1829, and served in several wars in the ageing Ottoman Empire. All this was done under the guidence of his mentor, Col. Rasbatatov. When Rasbatatov was sent to Europe, on a mission to help modernise Russia, Paul was stationed in the Western Ukraine. When, in 1834, the officers rose up, he took the loyalists into Poland and eventually won the war.

Early Rule
Paul was crowned Tsar of all the Russians on 25th of December 1834. The coronation was not lavish, as Russia was ravaged by famine, due to the war, which Paul helped to destroy via state funds. He then ordered a purge of all the unloyal. 6,000 people were killed, and the Officers Corps was the worst hit. This, however, laid the way for new younger officers to pave the way for Russia's military development. He also reorganised the structuring of the Councils of Russia, giving more power to the nobles, but still keeping the overall power in his own hands.