Accession of Paul I. to the Throne.--Influence of Hereditary Transmission of Power.--Extravagance of Paul.--His Despotism.--The Horse Court Martialed.--Progress of the French Revolution.--Fears and Violence of Paul.--Hostility to Foreigners.--Russia Joins the Coalition Against France.--March of Suwarrow.--Character of Suwarrow.--Battle on the Adda.--Battle of Novi.--Suwarrow marches on the Rhine.--His Defeat and Death.--Paul Abandons the Coalition and Joins France.--Conspiracies at St. Petersburg. CHAPTER XXIX. ASSASSINATION OF PAUL AND ACCESSION OF ALEXANDER. From 1801 to 1807. Assassination of Paul I.--Implication of Alexander in the Conspiracy.--Anecdotes.--Accession of Alexander.--The French Revolution.--Alexander Joins Allies Against France.--State of Russia.--Useful Measures of Alexander.--Peace of Amiens.--Renewal of Hostilities.--Battle of Austerlitz.--Magnanimity of Napoleon.--New Coalition.--Ambition of Alexander.--Battles of Jena and Eylau.--Defeat of the Russians. CHAPTER XXX. REIGN OF ALEXANDER I. From 1807 to 1825. The Field of Eylau.--Letter to the King of Prussia.--Renewal of the War--Discomfiture of the Allies.--Battle of Friedland.--The Raft at Tilsit.--Intimacy of the Emperors.--Alexander's Designs upon Turkey.--Alliance Between France and Russia.--Object of the Continental System.--Perplexities of Alexander.--Driven by the Nobles to War.--Results of the Russian Campaign.--Napoleon Vanquished.--Last Days of Alexander.--His Sickness and Death. CHAPTER XXXI. NICHOLAS. From 1825 to 1855. Abdication of Constantine.--Accession of Nicholas.--Insurrection Quelled.--Nicholas and the Conspirator.--Anecdote.--The Palace of Peterhof.--The Winter Palace.--Presentation at Court.--Magnitude of Russia.--Description of the Hellespont and Dardanelles.--The Turkish Invasion.--Aims of Russia.--Views of England and France.--Wars of Nicholas.--The Polish Insurrection.--War of the Crimea.--Jealousies of the Leading Nations.--Encroachments.--Death of Nicholas.--Accession of Alexander II. CHAPTER I. PARENTAGE AND BIRTH OF RUSSIA. From 600 B.C. to A.D. 910. Primeval Russia.--Explorations of the Greeks.--Scythian Invasion.--Character of the Scythians.--Sarmatia.--Assaults upon the Roman Empire.--Irruption of the Alains.--Conquests of Trajan.--The Gothic Invasion.--The Huns.--Their Character and Aspect.--The Devastations of Attila.--The Avars.--Results of Comminglings of these Tribes.--Normans.--Birth of the Russian Empire.--The Three Sovereigns Rurik, Sineous and Truvor.--Adventures of Ascolod and Dir.--Introduction of Christianity.--Usurpation of Oleg.--His Conquests.--Expedition Against Constantinople.