Q 01/05

Petrograd, where the 1917 revolutions played out, regained which name in 1991?

A) Volgograd

B) Saint Petersburg

C) Nizhny Novgorod

D) Kaliningrad

Answer · why

B) Saint Petersburg

The Soviets, or workers' councils, formed there held domestic power alongside the Provisional Government in the "dual power" of 1917.

Q 02/05

Why is the February Revolution so called when it took place in March by Western reckoning?

A) It began on 28 February in Moscow

B) It was named after a February manifesto

C) The Bolsheviks backdated it for propaganda

D) Russia still used the Julian dates

Answer · why

D) Russia still used the Julian dates

The same lag means the October Revolution is celebrated on 7 November.

Q 03/05

Nicholas II abdicated on 15 March 1917 by the Western calendar. How many days behind was Russia's old-style calendar?

A) 7

B) 10

C) 13

D) 16

Answer · why

C) 13

That made it 2 March in Russia; officials had convinced themselves the unrest would subside once the tsar stepped down.

Q 04/05

At which city, halted on his train, was Nicholas II persuaded to abdicate?

A) Pskov

B) Petrograd

C) Mogilev

D) Tsarskoye Selo

Answer · why

A) Pskov

Nikolai Ruzsky, Alexander Guchkov and Vasily Shulgin urged him in unison to give up the throne.

Q 05/05

Nicholas II nominated which relative to succeed him, who then declined the throne?

A) His son Alexei

B) His brother Michael

C) His cousin Nicholas

D) His uncle Vladimir

Answer · why

B) His brother Michael

The 300-year Romanov dynasty ended with that refusal.