Tsar Vladimir Vasilyevich Romanov I



On December 10, 1744, the rulership of the Tsardom of Russia was officially handed over to Tsar Vladimir Aleksandr Pyotr Romanov I (Владимир Алексе́евич Пётр Рома́нов), also commonly known by his English name as Jeremiah Garland. Mikhail Sebastian Aleksandr Volkov (Roger Decksteel), the previously tsar, handed over the position of tsar after only a few days his predecessor, Andrew Volkov-Mallace I, stepped down. Romanov is best known as tsar for the large amount of land he conquered for the growing Russian Empire, as well as his advancements in culture and technology he brought to the Russian people. Together, these factors would create what would be known as the '''"Golden Age of Russia". '''

Arrival at St. Petersburg
In 1738, Tsar Andrew Volkov-Mallace I ascended to the position of tsar. Although British, he assumed the position after the previous tsar had fallen ill and unsuspectedly died. This was due to a famous marriage that occured between Volkov-Mallace's parents, James Malace and Princess Maria Romiv of Russia, the latter of which being the daughter of the ill-fated Tsar. Volkov-Mallace assumed the role of Tsar on June 3, 1738. He made his capital at St. Petersburg.

In early 1739, a close friend of Tsar Volkov-Mallace named Jeremiah Garland, decided to move to St. Petersburg. A member of British Parliament, Garland was told to move to St. Petersburg as a British representative for Russia. He soon reunited with his long-time friend, the Tsar, and was invited to become a member of the Tsar's congress. Garland accepted, and was inaugurated into the Russian Congress on March 8, 1739. The same month, Tsar Volkov selected an heir to the Russian throne: his son, Mikhail Sebastian Aleksandr Volkov. This angered many other members of the royal bloodline, seeing Mikhail was "too young" to rule. Soon, purges brokeout that year led by the royal family members. A long struggle would ensue between the Tsar and his family members. This era would become known as "the Warring States".

The Warring States
However, despite the vigorous times the Russian government had recently been going through, Garland became quite accustomed to life in Russia. He had learned fluent Russian (as well as several other languages such as Finnish, Georgian, and Estonian), and had adapted a Russian name: Vladimir Aleksandr Pyotr Romanov. He had chosen the surname "Romanov" in honour of Peter the Great, a previous and legendary Tsar of Russia for which the city St. Petersburg had been named. As far as his position in the Russian government went, he was soon given the honourable position of Governor of Kyiv ("Kiev"), a vital Russian city far south of Moscow and St. Petersburg. There, not only did he govern the city and its surrounding regions, but also aided the Tsar's Army as best as he could. He recruited over 4,000 Cossacks (advanced warrior-like people native of Ukraine) to be trained and disciplined at one of Kyiv's forts. In addition, he was made general of the same force.

In December of 1742, the Warring States had reached their climax. The rebels, led by Lev Kamenev Volkov (Captain Leon), had seized control of the Russian stronghold of Novgorod, located between St. Petersburg and Moscow. There, the rebelling members of the royal family were hidden in a palace, while a rebel army gathered to ambush St. Petersburg, and, hopefully assassinate Tsar Andrew Volkov. However, before said rebel army could go mobile, the Tsar had learned word of this attack, and had readied a massive army himself. The army included the force of Cossacks, led by Garland (now going strictly as Romanov), as well as an elite force led by Mikhail Volkov. On December 20, they marched on to Novgorod to challenge the much smaller force assembled by the rebels. Although much smaller in size, the rebel army, being led personally by Lev Volkov, stood strong against the invading Tsarist army. The battle would become known as the First Battle of Novgorod.

Five days later, the battle ended, on Christmas Day. The Tsarist forces had managed to successfully breach the city walls and storm the palace where the royal family members had been hiding. Romanov, having witnessed the executions of the disloyal royal family members, recalled:

"Despite the triumph Russia had received in capturing the rebel leaders, their execution haunts me till this day. Some had heads decapitated and put on spits, while others were burned alive, their ashes and remaining body parts then taken as trophies by the executioners. It was a horrific scene. The last of the Volkov royal family, save Mikhail and Andrew, were dead."

But, the last of the Volkov family was not dead. The leader of the rebel army (and primary contender for position as tsar), Lev Volkov, had escape execution and went into hiding. He was found about a week later, in the foothills overlooking the city. Rather than being executed like his kin, Tsar Volkov personally requested Lev not be killed, for reasons unknown to this day. He was sent into exile, though his exact location of exile is not known. Some theorize he is alive and well, seeking refuge in the tropics of India or Malaysia, while others say he has died from freezing in Siberian exile. Either way, him being gone, and the death of the rebelling Volkov family, had brought an end to the Warring States.

Becoming Tsar
After the end of the short-lived rebellion, Tsar Volkov promoted Romanov to commander-in-chief of the entire Russian Army, for his leading actions in the First Battle of Novgorod. However, Romanov soon grew weary of military life, and on July 11, 1743, retired from that position. He focused more on Russian politics, which he had become one of the best at. Tsar Volkov was so amazed by Romanov's diplomatic reasoning, he made him one of his most trusted advisors. Romanov would soon grow to be known as "the Tsar's Right-Hand-Man", and even lived in the Winter Palace (the same palace the Tsar lived in), with his own wing.

For the next year, Romanov would continue to help rule alongside Tsar Volkov. As Volkov began to appear less and less in public, Romanov would address the Russian people on the Tsar's behalf. He soon became an important figure in Russian politics. He had, by this point, completely abandoned his original position of British ambassador, the sole reason he had come to Russia in the first place.

In late November of 1744, British dignitaries visited St. Petersburg. Among them was the newly-announced Prime Minister of Great Britain, Benjamin Macmorgan. Macmorgan and Tsar Volkov talked privately for an hour, where Volkov was offered a position in England, as an advisor to the King and a High-Lord of the British Parliament. He was reluctant to simply leave his magnificent kingdom of Russia behind, but was eventually cajoled upon high promises of riches in honour among his native British people. On December 4, 1744, Tsar Andrew Mallace-Volkov I handed down the position of Tsar to his heir, Mikhail Sebastian Aleksandr Volkov.

Still much too young to rule, though, Tsar Mikhail Volkov personally decided to resign the position of Tsar only five days later, on December 9. He had not successfully named an heir yet (let alone had any family members to name heir, as they were all executed during the Warring States). During this short period, controversy rose about who would be the next heir. Some even said that Lev Kamenev Volkev, the sole survivor of the Volkov family save Andrew and Mikhail himself, would return from exile and would be named heir. The following day, December 10, the heir was named to be Vladimir Aleksandr Pyotr Romanov I, for he was the long-time right-hand-man of Tsar Andrew Mallace-Volkov. The same day, Mikhail Volkov resigned, and Romanov was made Tsar of Russia.

The Royal Family

 * Vladimir Aleksandr Pyotr Romanov I (Jeremiah Garland) - Tsar of Russia, Imperator of the Russian Empire
 * Mikhail Sebastian Aleksandr Volkov (Roger Decksteel) - Heir to throne (not related to Tsar)
 * Natanil Iosuf Romanov (Sven Daggersteel) - Royal Family member (son of Tsar)
 * Elizaveta Maria Romanov (Stormwalker) - Royal Family member (daughter of Tsar)

More info to come...