Guchkov, Alexander Ivanovich: Conservative Russian politician and member of Duma. From 1916 on active in working for removal of Tsar. Sent to Pskov February 1917 to help persuade Tsar to abdicate. War minister in Provisional Government. Supported Whites in Civil War. Died in exile.
Guseva, Khionya Kuzminichna: Simbirsk peasant. Attempted to kill Rasputin June 1914. Declared insane. Later released on order of Kerensky. Hermogen (Georgii Yefremovich Dolganyov): Orthodox priest and Bishop. Initially an ally of Rasputin, turned against him and on one occasion struck him. On the Tsar's instructions was accordingly expelled from his bishopric. Re-established contacts with the imperial family in Tobolsk. Drowned by the Bolsheviks 1918.
Iliodor (Sergei Mikhailovich Trufanov): Monk and charismatic preacher. Hostile to Stolypin (who tried to have him rusticated) but protected by Rasputin and the Tsar. Turned against Rasputin and spread rumours he was having an affair with the Empress. Eventually defrocked and died in the US. Kamenev, Lev Borisovich: Leading Bolshevik. Opposed decision to seize power in October 1917, and sought coalition with non-Bolshevik socialists. Nevertheless held senior roles in early Soviet Union. Eventually opposed Stalin. Shot 1936.
Kaplan, Fanya Efimovna: Socialist revolutionary. Tried to assassinate Lenin August 1918. Injured but did not kill him. Shot September that year. Kerensky, Alexander Fyodorovich: Leading socialist politician and brilliant orator. Member of fourth Duma, where he launched a major attack on Rasputin's links with the imperial family. After February 1917 vice-chairman of the Petrograd Soviet and minister in the Provisional Government. Became Prime Minister July 1917 and, after sacking Kornilov, also Chief of staff. Tried to fight back after the October revolution, was swiftly defeated. Died in exile 1970. Kolchak, Alexander Vasilyevich: Admiral and military hero. Led the anti- Bolshevik cause in Siberia, eventually in effect as military dictator. Rigidly right wing and heavily dependent on Western support. After initial military success, he underwent a series of defeats, was handed over to the Bolsheviks in Irkutsk, and shot February 1920.
Kornilov, Lavr Georgievich: General. Appointed army Commander in Chief by Kerensky July 1917, but then suspected of planning a coup. Arrested September 1917 (fatally damaging Kerensky's credibility). Escaped after October to take charge of emerging White army. Killed in action April 1918.
Krupskaya, Nadezhda Konstantinovna: Lenin's wife, and a revolutionary in her own right. Accompanied him in exile and on his return in the 'sealed train'. Later Bolshevik deputy minister. Died 1939.
Lenin, Vladimir Ilyich: Lifetime revolutionary. Creator and leader of the Bolsheviks. After February 1917 returned to Russia with German help, persuaded Bolshevik party to take an ultraradical line which attracted growing public support and led to the seizure of power in October. Thereafter main author of all aspects of Bolshevik policy, including repressive terror. After a series of strokes died in 1924.
Lunacharsky Anatoly Vasilievich: Leading Bolshevik and supporter of Lenin. After revolution given charge of Soviet arts and education. Died 1933. Lvov, Georgy Yevgenievich: Prince, moderate politician, Duma member, civic leader. Chosen as first head of Provisional Government February 1917. After a steady loss of support replaced by Kerensky July 1917. Arrested by Bolsheviks, escaped, died in exile 1925.
Lvov, Vladimir Nikolaevich: Conservative politician and Duma member. Misleadingly intervened between Kerensky and Kornilov precipitating the arrest of the latter and eventually the fall of the Provisional Government. Martov, Yulii Osipovich: Leader of the Mensheviks. Precipitated the walkout from the Council of Soviets on 25 October 1917 which gave power to the Bolsheviks. Representative at the short lived Constituent assembly. Died in exile 1923.
Milyukov, Pavel Nikolaevich: Liberal politician. Leader of the Constitutional democrats (Kadets). Made devastating November 1916 'stupidity or treason' Duma speech attacking Tsarist regime. Foreign Minister of Provisional Government until forced out May 1917. After suppression of Kadets went into exile. Backed formation of White armies. Died 1945.
Yakovlev Vasily Vasilievich (aka Myachin, Konstantin Alexeevich): Violent revolutionary and saboteur. Member of Petrograd Soviet. Appointed March 1918 to transfer imperial family from Tobolsk to Moscow. May have intended rescue, but forced to surrender them to Ekaterinburg Bolsheviks. Later captured by Whites, fled to China, returned 1928, executed 1938.
Plekhanov, Georgy Valentinovich: Early Russian Marxist. Ideas, particularly on subordination of democracy to proletarian power, highly influential with Lenin. Nevertheless opposed the Bolsheviks and the October revolution. Died in exile 1918.
Protopopov, Alexander Dmitrievich: Politician and member of Duma. Close to Rasputin. Made Interior Minister at Empress' behest September 1916. Accused of mental instability. Survived repeated demands for his resignation. Badly mishandled popular anger in February 1917. Shot by Cheka.
Rasputin, Grigory Yefimovich: Mystic and monk. Gained deep influence with imperial family, particularly Empress, through apparent ability to cure Crown Prince's haemophiliac attacks. Fatally sapped credibility of regime as alleged co-ruler with, and lover of, Empress in Tsar's absence at front from August 1915. Murdered December 1916.
Romanova, Alexandra Feodorovna: Empress of Russia. Born a German princess. Married Nicholas II November 1894. Exercised great influence, particularly in her commitment to autocracy. Bore four daughters and a son. Fatally fell under the influence of Rasputin. Murdered, Ekaterinburg, July 1918. Romanov, Alexis Nikolaevich: Heir to the Russian Empire. Born August 1904. Suffered from haemophilia which several times nearly killed him and which apparently only Rasputin could treat. Murdered, Ekaterinburg July 1918. Romanov, Mikhail Alexandrovich: Grand Duke. Younger brother of Nicholas II and second in line to the throne (after Alexis). Military leader. Offered throne by Nicholas on his abdication. Put off acceptance. Arrested by Bolsheviks March 1918, transported to Siberia, murdered there June 1918.
Romanov, Nikolai Alexandrovich: Emperor of Russia 1894-1917. Mystically confident of his bond with the Russian people. Instinctively traditionalist. Unwaveringly committed to autocracy. Pliable, petulant and unreliable with his ministers. Caring family man, sometimes at public cost. Abdicated February 1917. Murdered, Ekaterinburg, July 1918.
Romanov, Nikolai Nikolaevich: Grand Duke, military leader, cousin of Nicholas II and influential with him. Persuaded him to accept Witte's reforms 1905. Russian supreme commander in first year of World War I until succeeded by Tsar himself. Among those who advised Nicholas to abdicate. Died in exile. Rodzyanko, Mikhail Vladimirovich: Chairman of Duma 1911-17. Took centre stage in Petrograd in February 1917. Failed to persuade Tsar to make concessions in time. Persuaded military not to intervene. Chaired Duma committee which, with Soviet, gave birth to Provisional Government. After October joined Whites. Died in exile 1924.
Ruzsky, Nikolai Vladimirovich: General. Commander Northern Front 1916-17. The only senior figure with the Tsar in Pskov 1-2 March 1917. Helped persuade him to abdicate. Later joined Whites. Captured and killed September 1918.
Rykov, Alexei Ivanovich: Leading Bolshevik moderate. Opposed Lenin in aftermath of October revolution. Nevertheless took leading roles in regime thereafter. Executed in great purge 1938.
Sakhanov, Nikolai Nikolaevich: Menshevik member of Petrograd Soviet. Participated in (and later regretted) October 1917 walkout from Congress of Soviets which handed power to the Bolsheviks.