The Romanov Dynasty: Rise, Power, and Bloody End — Fexingo History — Podcast

Romanovs' Lost Heir: The Hemophilia Crisis 02.10.2026 8p

This episode explores the tragic burden of hemophilia within the Romanov dynasty, a genetic condition inherited from Queen Victoria that shaped the fate of Imperial Russia. We examine Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich’s fragile life, his dependence on the enigmatic Grigori Rasputin, and how this private medical crisis eroded public trust in Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna. Through letters, medical records, and eyewitness accounts, we trace how the Tsar’s desperation led to the rise of 'Rasputinism,' influencing political appointments and accelerating the dynasty’s collapse. This narrative delves into the intersection of royal genetics, religious mysticism, and imperial politics during the early twentieth century. #GrigoriRasputin #TsarevichAlexei #Hemophilia #RomanovDynasty #NicholasII #AlexandraFeodorovna #ImperialRussia #RussianRevolution #Yekaterinburg #IpatievHouse #QueenVictoria #GeneticHistory #Rasputinism #TsarskoyeSelo #StPetersburg #Okhrana #Faberge #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Romanovs and the Opium Wars: Tea, Trade, and Tolerance 01.10.2026 12p

While popular history often treats the Romanov empire as a static autocracy, the late nineteenth century saw Tsar Alexander III navigate a delicate diplomatic tightrope between St. Petersburg and Beijing. This episode explores the Treaty of Kyakhta, the backbone of Russo-Chinese relations, and how the Romanovs managed the lucrative but controversial tea trade from Siberia to the imperial table. We examine the Bakhrushin merchant dynasty, whose caravans bridged the vast distances between Orenburg and the Qing capital, and the complex economic policies that fueled Russia's expansion into Central Asia. Beyond the silk and silver, we look at the human cost of this tolerance, including the role of the Trans-Caspian Railway in reshaping regional power dynamics. From the political maneuvering of Emperor Guangxu to the gritty realities faced by merchants in Turkestan and Siberia, this conversation reveals how global trade shaped the fate of an empire. Join us as we trace the steam trails and caravan routes that connected two great powers, uncovering the hidden histories of diplomacy, commerce, and conflict that defined the twilight of the Romanov era. #AlexanderIII #TreatyOfKyakhta #RussoChineseRelations #TeaTrade #Bakhrushin #QingDynasty #Orenburg #TransCaspianRailway #Siberia #Turkestan #GreatGame #EmperorGuangxu #Manchuria #Yekaterinburg #IpatievHouse #AlexeiMikhailovich #History #FexingoHistory #EasternEurope Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Romanovs and the Opium Wars: Tea, Trade, and Tolerance 30.09.2026 9p

While history often frames the Romanov empire through the lens of military conquest or religious schism, Episode 250 explores a quieter, more complex thread: the diplomatic and economic entanglement with Qing China. We trace how Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and his successors navigated the Treaty of Kyakhta in 1727, establishing a fragile peace that allowed Russian merchants to import tea while managing the delicate issue of opium trade restrictions. Lucas and Luna discuss the strategic importance of Orenburg as a trading hub, the role of merchant families like the Bakhrushins, and how this distant relationship influenced Russian domestic policy. The episode highlights the nuanced interactions between the Double-Headed Eagle and the Dragon Throne, revealing how trade agreements shaped the cultural identity of Imperial Russia far more than any battlefield victory. Join us as we unpack the specific terms of these treaties, the personalities involved from both sides, and the lasting impact on the global commodity markets of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. #RomanovDynasty #TreatyOfKyakhta #QingChina #RussianTeaTrade #AlexeiMikhailovich #OrenburgTradingPost #BakhrushinFamily #SinoRussianRelations #ImperialRussia #EurasianHistory #OpiumWarsContext #TsaristPolicy #GlobalCommodities #DiplomaticHistory #EasternEurope #FexingoHistory #HistoryPodcast #HistoricalAnalysis Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Romanovs and the Cult of the Golden Yoke 29.09.2026 13p

This episode explores the economic and social underpinnings of the Russian Empire, focusing on the system of direct taxation known as podushnaya podat. We examine how Peter the Great restructured the state's finances by shifting from household-based levies to a poll tax on individual souls, a move that fundamentally altered the relationship between the serf and the state. Lucas and Luna discuss the administrative machinery required to count every person in an empire spanning eleven time zones, including the challenges faced by local magistrates and the role of Vasily Klyuchevsky in interpreting this fiscal policy. The conversation also touches upon the writings of Samuel Kolb, who documented the early imperial bureaucracy, and traces the lineage of these financial practices back through Alexei Mikhailovich’s reign. By understanding the 'Golden Yoke' of taxation, we gain insight into why the Romanovs struggled to modernize while maintaining autocratic control, setting the stage for later reforms by Sergei Witte and the eventual collapse of the tsarist economy. #RomanovDynasty #RussianHistory #PodushnayaPodat #PetertheGreat #TaxationHistory #SerfdomRussia #ImperialFinance #VasilyKlyuchevsky #SamuelKolb #AlexeiMikhailovich #TsaristEconomy #EasternEurope #FexingoHistory #HistoryPodcast #HistoricalEconomics #RussianEmpire #18thCenturyRussia #Autocracy Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Romanovs' Lost Heir: The Hemophilia Crisis 28.09.2026 8p

This episode explores the genetic curse that haunted the Romanov dynasty from its inception. We trace the lineage of Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich and his mother, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, to their common ancestor Queen Victoria of Britain. Through the lens of modern genetics, we examine how X-linked recessive hemophilia became a political liability for the Russian Empire. The conversation details the medical crises, the desperate search for remedies, and the rise of Grigori Rasputin as the 'God Man' who seemed to hold the power to stop the bleeding. This is not just a medical history, but a story of how a hereditary disease destabilized an autocracy, turning private family tragedy into public scandal and contributing significantly to the fall of the House of Romanov in 1917. #Hemophilia #RomanovDynasty #AlexeiNikolaevich #Rasputin #QueenVictoria #TsarinaAlexandra #RussianHistory #ImperialRussia #Genetics #XLinkedRecessive #Yekaterinburg #NicholasII #RomanovSecrets #MedicalHistory #RussianRevolution #FexingoHistory #HistoryPodcast #EasternEurope Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Romanovs' Hidden War: The Russo-Japanese Conflict 27.09.2026 7p

While the world remembers the Romanovs for their opulence and eventual downfall, few realize that Nicholas II’s reign was defined by a catastrophic gamble in the Far East. This episode explores the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905, a conflict that shattered the myth of European invincibility and reshaped global power dynamics. We trace the diplomatic failures leading to the siege of Port Arthur, the naval disaster at Tsushima Strait, and the Treaty of Portsmouth mediated by Theodore Roosevelt. Through the eyes of Admiral Zinovy Rozhestvensky and General Kuropatkin, we examine how imperial overreach, racial prejudice, and logistical nightmares turned a regional skirmish into a humiliating defeat. This loss not only accelerated domestic unrest in Russia but also signaled the rise of Japan as a major imperial power, setting the stage for the twentieth century's shifting alliances. #RussoJapaneseWar #NicholasII #TsushimaStrait #PortArthur #ZinovyRozhestvensky #SergeiWitte #TheodoreRoosevelt #TreatyOfPortsmouth #AdmiralTogo #RomanovDynasty #RussianImperialArmy #ImperialJapaneseNavy #ManchuriaConflict #KoreaAnnexation #BalticFleet #YellowPeril #Early20thCentury #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Romanovs' Last Dance: Ballet, Politics, and Power 26.09.2026 10p

While we have explored the Romanovs' legal codes, financial struggles, and military campaigns in Central Asia, this episode turns to the Imperial Theatres of St. Petersburg and Moscow. We examine how Empress Elizabeth Petrovna and Catherine the Great used ballet not merely as entertainment, but as a tool of statecraft and cultural legitimization. You will hear about the French influence on Russian court life, the rise of Charles Didelot’s revolutionary choreography, and the political tensions surrounding Marius Petipa’s grand spectacles. From the founding of the Imperial School to Diaghilev’s scandalous export of Russian art to Paris, we trace how dance became an extension of imperial power. This conversation looks at the artists who shaped the empire’s image, including Agrippina Vaganova’s pedagogical legacy and the complex relationship between the Tsars and their star performers. It is a story of glamour, discipline, and the subtle ways culture reinforced authority in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. #RomanovDynasty #RussianBallet #ImperialTheatres #MariusPetipa #CharlesDidelot #ElizabethPetrovna #CatherineTheGreat #Diaghilev #AgrippinaVaganova #StPetersburgHistory #MoscowBallet #RussianCulture #ImperialRussia #ChoreographyHistory #TsaristCourt #FexingoHistory #HistoryPodcast #EasternEurope Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Romanovs' Lost Heir: The Legend of Anastasia 25.09.2026 8p

In this episode, Lucas and Luna turn away from the well-trodden paths of taxation, law, and the Great Game to explore one of history’s most enduring mysteries: the survival of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna. While previous episodes covered her tragic death at the Ipatiev House in Yekaterinburg and the subsequent execution by the Bolsheviks under Yakov Yurovsky, this conversation dives into the decades-long phenomenon that followed. We examine the emergence of Anna Anderson, a woman who claimed to be the lost princess, and how her story captivated the world from Berlin to Hohenzollern Castle. We look at the psychological hunger for a living heir, the role of Dr. Ivan Klimov and Peter Heess in testing these claims, and the eventual scientific debunking via DNA analysis. This is not just about identity fraud; it is about how a monarchy's end created a vacuum filled by myth, grief, and the human desire for second chances. #AnastasiaNikolaevna #AnnaAnderson #RomanovMystery #Yekaterinburg #IpatievHouse #HohenzollernCastle #DrIvanKlimov #PeterHeess #BolshayaGlinka #ChariteHospital #HolmgrenTest #RurikidDynasty #NicholasII #AlexandraFeodorovna #SovietHistory #HistoricalFraud #DNAAnalysis #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Romanovs and the Opium Wars: Tea, Trade, and Tolerance 24.09.2026 11p

While Western powers fought opium wars in China, the Romanov Empire navigated a quieter but equally complex conflict along its southern borders. This episode explores how Tsar Alexander III and his ministers managed the delicate balance between Christian Orthodoxy and Islamic populations in Central Asia. We look at the role of General Mikhail Skobelev’s conquests, the administration of the Turkestan Governor-Generalship, and the specific policies regarding zakat and mosque construction under Russian rule. Through the lens of trade agreements with the Qing Dynasty and the impact of the Trans-Siberian Railway on local economies, we uncover how the Romanovs attempted to govern a multi-ethnic empire without triggering widespread rebellion. The conversation examines the lives of local merchants, the tensions between the Okhrana and religious leaders, and the long-term cultural legacy of Russian imperial presence in Bukhara and Khiva. #AlexanderIII #CentralAsia #RussianEmpire #Skobelev #Turkestan #Bukhara #Khiva #Okhrana #Zakat #Orthodoxy #Islam #TransSiberian #QingDynasty #ImperialPolicy #ColonialHistory #FexingoHistory #HistoryPodcast #EasternEurope Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Romanovs and the Great Siberian Railway 23.09.2026 7p

While earlier episodes explored the political intrigues of St. Petersburg and the tragic final days in Yekaterinburg, this episode shifts focus to the massive infrastructure project that bound the Russian Empire together: the Trans-Siberian Railway. We examine Tsar Alexander III’s visionary decision to connect European Russia with the Pacific, a feat of engineering that faced immense geographical hurdles, financial strain, and diplomatic tension with China. Lucas traces the construction from Vladivostok westward, highlighting the brutal conditions workers endured and the strategic military implications of linking Moscow to the Far East. Luna probes the human cost behind the steel tracks, asking about the laborers who built it and how this railway altered trade routes like the Silk Road. Together, they unpack how this iron artery became both the lifeline and the vulnerability of the Romanov state, setting the stage for the Russo-Japanese War and ultimately contributing to the revolution that ended the dynasty. #TransSiberianRailway #RomanovDynasty #AlexanderIII #NicholasII #Vladivostok #Moscow #Siberia #RussianEmpire #RussoJapaneseWar #YakovRastrelli #SergeiWitte #CircumBaiKalian #BaikalLake #EasternEurope #HistoryPodcast #FexingoHistory #Industrialization #19thCentury Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Romanovs' Secret War on Crime 22.09.2026 7p

While we often remember the Romanovs for their opulence and eventual downfall, few discuss the sophisticated, terrifyingly efficient police state they built to maintain it. This episode explores the Okhrana, the Tsar's secret police, and the complex web of informants, spies, and agents provocateurs that kept a lid on revolutionary sentiment for decades. We dive into the life of Yevno Azef, the double agent who betrayed his own cause while feeding information to the regime, and the controversial strategies of Sergei Zubatov, who tried to co-opt workers by creating state-sponsored unions. From the assassination of Alexander II to the tragic failures leading up to 1917, Lucas and Luna unpack how the pursuit of security ultimately sowed the seeds of the dynasty's destruction, revealing a system where trust was the rarest commodity in St. Petersburg. #Okhrana #YevnoAzef #SergeiZubatov #RussianRevolution #RomanovDynasty #SecretPolice #AgentsProvocateurs #AlexanderII #NicholasII #StPetersburg #RussianHistory #PoliticalEspionage #ImperialRussia #LaborUnions #FexingoHistory #HistoryPodcast #DoubleAgent #TsaristRegime Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Romanovs and the Silk Road's Forgotten Trade 21.09.2026 10p

This episode explores the intricate web of trade, diplomacy, and cultural exchange that defined the Russian Empire’s relationship with Central Asia and China during the nineteenth century. We examine how the Romanovs navigated the complexities of the Great Game while simultaneously fostering economic ties through the Treaty of Kyakhta and the Trans-Caspian Railway. Listeners will discover the role of merchants like the Bakhrushin family, the strategic importance of Orenburg as a gateway to the East, and the diplomatic nuances between Tsar Alexander II and Qing Dynasty officials. The narrative highlights how imperial ambitions were not solely military but deeply rooted in commerce, influencing everything from silk imports to tea consumption in St. Petersburg. We also look at the impact of these connections on local populations in regions like Turkestan and Siberia, revealing the human cost and cultural shifts driven by expanding trade routes. Through specific anecdotes and historical records, this conversation illuminates a lesser-known aspect of Romanov power: their ability to balance expansionist policies with pragmatic economic partnerships. #RomanovDynasty #RussianHistory #CentralAsiaTrade #GreatGame #TreatyOfKyakhta #TransCaspianRailway #Orenburg #QingDynasty #AlexanderII #SilkRoad #TeaTrade #Bakhrushin #Turkestan #Siberia #ImperialRussia #EurasianEmpire #HistoryPodcast #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Romanovs' Forgotten Daughter: Maria Nikolaevna 20.09.2026 8p

We often focus on the tragedy of Anastasia or the mysticism surrounding Rasputin, but Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna offers a different window into the Romanov world. Born in 1899, she was known as 'Mia,' a lively and athletic child who defied the stiff etiquette of the Imperial court. This episode explores her relationship with her father Nicholas II, her role during the early years of World War I, and how her life changed after the family’s abdication in 1917. We look at diaries and letters that reveal a young woman navigating sudden poverty, moving between Tobolsk and Yekaterinburg, and maintaining her dignity in the face of revolution. By examining Mia’s perspective, we see not just a victim of history, but a person with distinct ambitions, friendships, and fears. Her story challenges the monolithic view of the Imperial family as merely pious figures, showing instead a complex web of sibling dynamics and personal resilience before their final days. #GrandDuchessMaria #RomanovHistory #RussianImperialFamily #NicholasII #AlexandraFeodorovna #TsarevichAlexei #WorldWarI #TobolskExile #Yekaterinburg #RussianRevolution #1917 #HistoricalBiography #FemaleHistory #EasternEurope #FexingoHistory #HistoryPodcast #RealPeopleHistory #ImperialRussia Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Romanovs' Secret Spies: The Okhrana's Dark Arts 19.09.2026 7p

This episode explores the hidden world of the Okhrana, the Tsar’s secret police force that operated from 1880 to 1917. We trace how this shadowy organization infiltrated revolutionary circles, using agents provocateurs like Yevno Azef to sabotage uprisings before they began. Lucas and Luna discuss the psychological toll on the spies, the moral compromises made in the name of loyalty to the Crown, and the ultimate irony of a security apparatus that failed to protect its masters. Through stories of surveillance, betrayal, and double-dealing, we uncover how the very tools designed to preserve the Romanov dynasty may have hastened its bloody end. #Okhrana #RomanovDynasty #YevnoAzef #SecretPolice #RussianHistory #ImperialRussia #TsarNicholasII #AgentsProvocateurs #RevolutionaryMovement #DoubleAgent #St Petersburg #Moscow #19thCentury #Early20thCentury #PoliticalSurveillance #FexingoHistory #HistoryPodcast #EasternEurope Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Romanovs' Last Stand: The Execution of the Imperial Family 18.09.2026 7p

On the night of July 16–17, 1918, in a damp basement in Yekaterinburg, the Romanov dynasty met its violent end. This episode moves beyond the myths of Anastasia and the mysticism of Rasputin to examine the cold, bureaucratic mechanics of the Bolshevik execution order. We trace the path of Yakov Yurovsky, the commandant tasked with silencing Tsar Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, their five children, and four servants. Through declassified documents and survivor testimonies, we explore the chaos of the firing squad, the botched initial attempt, and the grim reality of the bodies being dismembered and buried. This is not a story of royal tragedy alone, but of political paranoia, the fragility of power, and the brutal efficiency of the new Soviet regime as it sought to erase the old order forever. #YakovYurovsky #NicholasII #AlexandraFeodorovna #Yekaterinburg #IpatievHouse #Bolsheviks #RomanovExecution #July1918 #SovietHistory #RussianRevolution #TsarevichAlexei #GrandDuchessAnastasia #Cheka #ImperialFamily #EasternEurope #HistoricalTrueStory #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Romanovs and the Great Game: Central Asian Conquest 17.09.2026 8p

While the Romanovs are often remembered for their tragic end in Yekaterinburg or their lavish lives in St. Petersburg, a significant portion of their power came from the brutal expansion into Central Asia. This episode explores the late nineteenth-century race against the British Empire to dominate the Silk Road regions, focusing on the conquest of the Khanates of Khiva, Bukhara, and Kokand. We look at how generals like Mikhail Skobelev used overwhelming military force to redraw maps, and how this imperial ambition created deep resentment among the Yomud Turkmen and other local populations. From the siege of Geok Tepe to the complex diplomacy surrounding the Transcaspian Region, we examine how the Russian Tsars turned the 'Great Game' into a reality that reshaped Eastern Europe and Central Asia forever. #RomanovDynasty #GreatGame #CentralAsiaHistory #MikhailSkobelev #GeokTepe #KhanateOfBukhara #KhanateOfKhiva #KhanateOfKokand #YomudTurkmen #TranscaspianRegion #Ashgabat #RussianEmpire #BritishRaj #SilkRoad #ImperialExpansion #TuranExpedition #KonstantinVonKaufmann #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Romanovs' Forgotten War: The Siege of Port Arthur 16.09.2026 10p

In this episode, we turn away from the intrigues of St. Petersburg and the personal tragedies of the last Tsar to examine the military disaster that shattered Russia’s prestige on the world stage. We trace the origins of the Russo-Japanese War through the lens of Admiral Stepan Makarov, a brilliant naval commander whose death at the hands of a Japanese mine marked a turning point in modern warfare. Lucas and Luna explore the brutal Siege of Port Arthur, where General Anatoly Stoletov and his troops held out against overwhelming odds for months, only to fall into the hands of Emperor Meiji’s forces. We look at the geopolitical tensions in Manchuria and Korea, the role of Sergei Witte’s diplomacy, and how this conflict exposed the structural weaknesses of the Imperial Russian Army. This is not just a story of battles, but of a dynasty’s hubris meeting the reality of industrialized war. #RussoJapaneseWar #PortArthur #StepanMakarov #AnatolyStoletov #NicholasII #SergeiWitte #Manchuria #Korea #ImperialRussia #TsaristNavy #EmperorMeiji #TreatyOfPortsmouth #RussianRevolution1905 #ModernWarfare #NavalHistory #SiegeOfPortArthur #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Romanovs and the Imperial Finances 15.09.2026 9p

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the complex financial machinery that sustained the Romanov dynasty from the time of Peter the Great through Nicholas II. They discuss the establishment of the State Bank, the role of Sergei Witte in industrializing Russia, and the controversial poll tax known as podushnaya podat. The conversation delves into how the empire funded its vast military expansions, managed its debt during wars like the Russo-Japanese War, and struggled with rural poverty despite imperial wealth. Listeners will learn about specific figures like Ivan Vyshnegradsky and Nikolai Bunge, the mechanics of foreign loans from France and Britain, and the social impact of taxation on the peasantry. This narrative examines the economic pressures that contributed to the dynasty's eventual collapse, offering a fresh perspective on the Romanov era beyond political intrigue and royal scandals. #RomanovDynasty #RussianHistory #SergeiWitte #PetertheGreat #NicholasII #StateBankofRussia #PodushnayaPodat #IvanVyshnegradsky #NikolaiBunge #RussoJapaneseWar #Industrialization #ForeignLoans #Peasantry #Taxation #ImperialFinance #EconomicHistory #EasternEurope #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Romanovs and the Great Game in Central Asia 14.09.2026 6p

While we often look to St. Petersburg for the center of Romanov power, the dynasty’s true strategic anxiety lay thousands of miles away in the steppes of Central Asia. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how the Russian Empire transformed from a European monarchy into a continental empire through the brutal, complex process of conquest in Turkestan. We trace the military campaigns led by generals like Mikhail Skobelev and Konstantin von Kaufmann as they dismantled the Khanates of Kokand, Bukhara, and Khiva. You will hear about the infamous Siege of Geok Tepe, the diplomatic chess match with the British Empire known as the Great Game, and the administrative reforms that attempted to civilize these newly acquired territories. This is not just a story of border expansion, but of cultural collision, religious tension, and the heavy cost of imperial ambition on the ground. Join us as we uncover how the double-headed eagle extended its gaze southward, changing the fate of entire nations in the process. #GreatGame #RomanovDynasty #MikhailSkobelev #KonstantinVonKaufmann #GeokTepe #Turkestan #RussianEmpire #KhanateOfBukhara #KhanateOfKhiva #KhanateOfKokand #CentralAsiaHistory #EasternEurope #ImperialExpansion #ColonialRussia #AfghanistanBorder #BritishEmpire #FexingoHistory #HistoryPodcast #19thCenturyRussia Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The Romanovs and the Russian Soul: Orthodoxy & Identity 13.09.2026 11p

We explore how the Romanov dynasty weaponized faith to consolidate power, focusing on the schism between the state church and the Old Believers. Lucas and Luna trace the conflict from Patriarch Nikon’s reforms in the 1650s through the exile of Avvakum, examining how religious uniformity became a tool for imperial control. The episode details the brutal suppression of dissent, the survival of secret communities in remote regions, and the lasting cultural divide that shaped Russian identity for centuries. We look at specific rituals like the two-finger sign versus the three-finger sign, and how these small acts of defiance carried immense political weight. By the end, you will understand why religion was not just a personal matter but the primary battleground for loyalty in Tsarist Russia. #RomanovDynasty #PatriarchNikon #OldBelievers #Avvakum #Raskol #RussianOrthodoxy #TsarAlexis #IvantheTerrible #TwoFingerSign #ThreeFingerSign #ThirdRome #Muscovy #EasternEurope #HistoryPodcast #FexingoHistory #ReligiousSchism #ImperialRussia #RussianHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo