Russia, 1762-1825: Military Power, the State, and the People

From 1762 through 1825, Russia was almost continually at war. Hartley (international history, London School of Economics) investigates the structure of the military in Russia and how a country with almost no infrastructure managed to win so many battles and expand its territory. She notes that, rather than develop a more structured central government Russia only became more entrenched in tradition. The military contact with other nationalities only reinforced the Russians' sense of their own identity. The invasion by Napoleon was the only war fought on Russian soil and it left an indelible mark on the mentality of the country that lasts to this day. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
A study of the Russian Empire at the peak of its military power and success (1762-1825), this important book examines how a country with none of the obvious trappings of modernization was able to significantly expand its territory. Russia's military and naval victories culminated in the triumphal entrance of Russian forces into Paris in 1814 in celebration of the defeat of Napoleon. Hartley's treatment is wide-ranging and discusses many aspects of the nature of the Russian state and society-not merely issues such as recruitment, but also institutional, legal, and fiscal structures of the state, the unique nature of Russian industrialization and social organization at the urban and village level, as well as the impact on cultural life. She covers the reign of two of Russia's most prominent rulers: Catherine II (1762-1796) and Alexander I (1801-25).
A study of the Russian Empire at the peak of its military power and success, this book examines how a country with none of the obvious trappings of modernization was able to sustain the level of military effort and support the largest standing army in Europe, along with the resulting strain on state and society.