Historical Study: The Final Years of the Romanov Dynasty

So after a week of playing AC: Russia (one of the hardest AC games I've played yet) I am once again inspired by the Russian Revolution. This historical event in 1917 marked the downfall of the Romanov Dynasty under Czar Nicholas II and the establishment of Communist Russia under the Bolsheviks leaders Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky. I was first inspired by this topic after watching two of my all time favorite films Reds and Doctor Zhivago. I suppose in those days I was far more left leaning and perhaps a bit more sympathetic towards the Communist cause. However after playing AC Russia I am beginning to see the event in a broader light pertaining to the injustice committed by both the Czarists and the Bolsheviks . 

What makes a historical revolution so interesting is that there are many aspects and defining figures to it. I suppose the perspective often depends on where your political allegiance lies, conservative or progressive. I for one have always favored the progression of humanity and often consider revolutions as a romantic liberation by the people from an unjust tyrant. Consider the American Revolution or the French Revolution, two major historical events by which the people overthrew their monarchies. This didn't pan out so well for the French, however the Americans were able to establish the defining model of democracy from this change in government. 

So naturally, as a man of the people, I originally favored the Bolsheviks when I first read about the Russian Revolution of 1917. I considered the ideals of this movement to be purely righteous, where the working class was uniting to overthrow an unfair and ineffective monarchy. And the movement was certainty within reason to call for change after falling behind to Japan by 1905. By this point Imperial Russia was quickly losing traction in the modern industrial world, and just as was happening in China, modernization and revolution was eminent. 

The revolutionary fervor really began to heat up after losing the Russo-Japanese War in 1905. This lead to the Russian Revolution of 1905 and the infamous massacre of Bloody Sunday on January 22nd. The massacre of over 200 demonstrators calling for a constitutional government became the turning point for the Czar's approval. This anti-monarchy fervor reached an even greater temperature at the onset of WWI in 1914. By this point Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin had their communist revolution well under way and it did not take much for the imperial dominoes to fall. The monarchy was eventually toppled in the February Revolution of 1917 by an interim government that was quickly replaced by the Bolsheviks in the October Revolution of 1917. From this point on Russia became known as the Soviet Union, and after WWII they had become a superpower next to America until the 1990s. 

However in this post I want to divert away from the Communist Revolution that I have written about various times (see Russian Revolution, Russian Culture). Instead I want to look at the event from the opposite perspective; the imperial family of the Romanovs. I don't by any means think the abdication was unjust, rather a necessary event in accordance with the rest of the world's transition from monarchy to constitutional governments. However just as I wrote about the fall of the Bourbon Dynasty (Finals Years of Marie Antoinette), I want to highlight some of the cruel injustice enforced in this event, particularly the unnecessary execution of the Romanov children. There are some very interesting aspects to the fall of the Romanov Dynasty considering key characters such as Nicholas II, Alexandra, Rasputin, and Anastasia. 

Brief History of the Romanov Dynasty

When I think of Imperial Russia there are really three monarchs for me that stand out above the rest. First there was Peter the Great who transformed the Tsardom of Russia into Imperial Russia in 1721. It was he, who brought Russia to the forefront of European power, by modernizing the cities and it's military. Thru the ideals of the western enlightenment he established a better system of government and infrastructure. His victory at the Great Northern War over the Scandinavian regions, established Imperial Russia as a new power in Europe.

The next great monarch I associate with Imperial Russia is Catherine the Great, who ruled over Russia for 30 years from 1762 to 1796. She demonstrated female authority by defeating the Ottoman Empire and furthering Russia's imperial territory throughout Europe and Asia. However by the 1850s during the Industrial Age, Imperial Russia began to fall behind the western powers of England, France, and the rising Germany. This decline was made most apparent at their defeat in the Crimean War in 1856 which marked a turning point for Imperial Russia.

In 1894 Czar Nicholas II ascended to the throne and was committed to sustaining imperial authority that his father established. He was concerned by the rising threat of Imperial Germany and established an alliance with France to help contain them. However to his east was another rising industrial power in the Empire of Japan. Things took a sharp downward turn for Nicholas II after Russia's defeat to Japan in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. From this point on the revolutionary fervor began to take center stage and the Nicholas was approaching his endgame. 

The Influence of Rasputin

Quite coincidentally during this downward turn for Imperial Russia, the mysterious Grigori Rasputin arose to influence. His story is no doubt one of great intrigue portrayed in many books and movies. I first came to understand his portrayal as the villainous sorcerer in the animated film, Anastasia. Of course this was no doubt a fabrication of his character, however he was still factually engaged in mystical and spiritual practices. He eventually amassed a cult following by the early 1900s that brought him great recognition and fame throughout Russia. 

Despite his peasant upbringing, Rasputin no doubt had an influence over the wealthy and his spiritual practice began welcomed by many of the elite throughout Moscow and St. Petersburg. In 1905 he first met the Tsar Nicholas II and found great favor with his wife Alexandra. From that point on the Romanov family felt he processed a spiritual power that could heal their sick son, Alexei (who indeed was mysteriously healed by 1912). It was also speculated around this time that Rasputin, who was known for his sexual promiscuity, was having an affair with the empress Alexandra.  

As Rasputin's influence over the Romanov family continued to grow, there were many within the Russian Orthodox church he felt he was a heretic. By 1909 his sexual controversary began to unravel with accusations of rape, which many felt were a danger to the royal family. At the onset of WWI, many right wing political members felt Rasputin had completely compromised the falling dynasty and blamed him for all of Russia's problems. In 1916 several prominent aristocrats such as Felix Yusupov, Dmitri Pavlovich, and Vladimir Purishkevich had Rasputin assassinated. However even despite his death, the fall of the Romanov Dynasty was well underway due to the unpopular involvement in WWI.

The Abdication, Imprisonment, and Execution

The film Doctor Zhivago makes it quite clear that it was World War I that was the final domino for the revolution. Hundreds-of-thousands of Russian peasants were put on the frontline and slaughtered by the superior German machinery. This devastating toll of Russian lives demonstrated Russia's inferiority in an industrial world and furthermore the loss-of-confidence in the Czar. By February of 1917 things finally reached a breaking point in Russia due to a brutal winter, a famine, and the death toll of WWI. The imperial army quickly sided with the revolutionary fervor and an in effort to restore order Nicholas II abdicated his throne on March 2nd, 1917. A provisional government was thus put in place, and after it's glorious 300 year reign the Romanov Dynasty had come to an end. 

Now here's where things get really interesting, and almost mirror the final months of the Bourbon Dynasty during the French Revolution. The imperial family had various chances to escape the growing tension and live a life in exile, however they were somewhat delusional of the severity at hand. After all Nicholas did have powerful allies in his cousins King George V of England and Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany. However he stubbornly refused to give in to panic a decision that would ultimately cause his family's demise. On March 20th of 1917 his family was put under house arrest by the provisional government. 

During this time in the spring and summer of 1917, despite heightened surveillance, the royal family was still well protected by the provisional government. Nicholas and his wife Alexandra insisted upon remaining calm and ignorant of the ongoing political events in Moscow. They lived a secluded life in the countryside mansion in Tobolsk, enjoying the forest and partaking in leisure activity. Even after the Bolsheviks seized power during the October Revolution, Nicholas still shrugged off escape plans and did not feel threatened by Vladimir Lenin. Things however began to turn by the winter of 1917-1918, when their royal funds were heavily reduced. 

By March of 1918 their window at escape quickly had begun to close as the Bolshevik Red Army heightened security measures on the royal family. This was in reaction to the growing threat of anti-revolutionaries forces such as the White Army who were more sympathetic towards restoring the monarchy. On April 30th the Romanov family was relocated to the much smaller Ipateiv House in Yekaterinburg under heavy surveillance. The situation grew more dire for the Romanov's in May, when the Czechoslovak white army was approaching the city of Moscow. At this point Leon Trotsky and Vladimir Lenin felt the monarchy was too dangerous to be left alive. 

On July 17th the chief guard of the Ipateiv House, Yakov Yurovsky received his orders to execute the family. This was then carried out late at night by a firing squad in the basement. Tsar Nicholas was the first to be shot and murdered, and was then followed by the death of his wife and children; Olga, Anastasia, Tatiana, Maria, and Alexi. The daughters were wearing so much jewelry that it took numerous shots and eventual bayonet stabbings to kill them. Their bodies were then buried in the forest, and the shocking news was delivered to all of Russia. The Bolshevik reasoning for the execution was that the Czar was planning to escape and aid the counter revolutionaries. The execution of these young innocent children demonstrate the wickedness of the Red Army. 

The Legend of Anastasia

One final point of interest in regards to the execution of the Romanov Dynasty is this urban legend of the grand duchess Anastasia. The general folktale during the Soviet Era was that since her body was never discovered she somehow escaped the execution. This lead to multiple impersonators claiming to be the princess, most famously Anna Anderson. While the impersonators never had full proof, their royal claims became fodder for the media and literature. To this day, this is a very popular story that became celebrated in the iconic animated musical Anastasia. It was also the premise of the game I just played, Assassin's Creed: Russia which is the reason for this interest. 

While I find the story to be quite intriguing and romantic, it seems like the stuff of a Disney fairytale. A lost girl who happens to be a princess. There can be no way she managed to escape the basement of slaughter that the rest of her family suffered. Furthermore there was DNA proof in the 1990s that she was indeed executed on that most unfortunate day in 1918. While it makes for yet another great example of classic and iconic Russian literature, it is ultimately a falsehood. The grand duchess Anastasia, alongside her family, was sadly executed on the fateful day. It was not until many years later in the 1980s that the Bolshevik cruelty was recognized and the legacy of the Romanov family was restored as martyred saints.

Game Review: Assassin's Creed Chronicles: Russia

The past week I took on the final game of the Assassin's Creed Chronicles series, AC: Russia. Let me just say right off hand that this side-scrolling game was probably the hardest one I've played yet. Just like AC: India, it required speed and perfection without having the ability to fight your way out of things. The setting and backdrop however was very impressive, set during the Russian Revolution of 1917-1918. This is of course a historical topic that has always fascinated me and I have written various times about here in this blog. This game gave me yet another perspective on the fall of the Romanov dynasty, of which I will later do further research into.

The main assassin in this game is Nikolai Orelov who desires to leave Russia after the October Revolution of 1917. He is however tasked by the brotherhood with one final mission to steal an artifact from the templars. During Orelov's mission he witnesses the execution of Czar Nicholas II and his family which troubles him deeply. He does however manage to rescue the grand duchess Anastasia which further complicates his mission. In choosing to rescue her, he becomes an enemy of the Bolsheviks, the Templars, and even his own Assassin brotherhood. 

The gameplay is structured with the 2.5D side-scrolling format as with all AC Chronicle games. This provides mostly linear/up-and-down movement with a bit of depth. Just like Arbaaz from AC India, Orelov cannot fight his way out of situations (it seemed this was not the case for Shao Jun in AC China, who was very stealthy yet equally affective in combat). That makes AC Russia, all the more difficult when being detected by an enemy most often results in instant desynchronization. I found just about every stage in this game to be very challenging, especially the last couple sequences which eventually cost me a controller due to frustration (it was due for an upgrade anyway). 

Orelov has a unique arsenal of weaponry, and I would consider him more of a gunman than the typical blade yielding assassin. His weapons include a rifle, smoke bombs, and a mechanical winch he uses to pull things or deactivate electrical outlets. I suppose a part of this unique AC weaponry is due to the time period of this game, where guns and machinery have became the norm. This setting in 1918 Russia is the most modern setting of all AC games and concludes my chronological order of playing the games, which I embarked on about a year ago at this time.  

Another interesting aspect of this game is playing as the character of Anastasia in several of the later sequences. For some peculiar reason she has suddenly become possessed by the assassin skills of Shao Jun and in her escape she also becomes a deadly assassin. While she does not posses the weaponry that Orelov has, she later acquires magical "Helix" skills such as disappearing and making her enemies disappear. Most of her missions require escape and she is aided simultaneously by Orelov. The game brings back the sniper element introduced in AC India, where Orelov must do quick long range shooting to secure an area. This was most difficult at the final sequence fighting against the tank. 

While the game was extremely difficult and frustrating it succeeded in inspiring my historical appetite. The Russian Revolution has been one of my favorite historical topics since I first watched the film, Reds and Doctor Zhivago back in 2008. Those films pertained more to the Communist Bolshevik uprising and overlooked the cruelty of the Romanov execution. The animated movie Anastasia however is more on par with this game that turns the Bolsheviks into the enemies rather than the liberators. This is of course a political opinion however the execution of young children is most disturbing no matter the reasoning. As for the case of Anastasia presented in this game, I feel that her escape is mostly an urban legend. She was most likely executed with her parents and siblings, however I will dive further into this intriguing topic in my next post. 

Game Review: Assassin's Creed Syndicate

The past month now I have returned to British culture, with a specific focus on the Industrial Age of the 19th century. This is much thanks to my full emersion into the video game, Assassin's Creed Syndicate. The game takes place in London 1860s, with a very detailed map of the industrial city and it's many iconic landmarks. The storyline also intercedes with many famous historical figures of the age, which I will get into later. As per usual I have taken on this historical time period thru multiple fronts such as in books and TV, in conjunction with my gaming experience. I've been currently reading Charles Dickens' "David Copperfield" which is a complete embodiment of the industrial age of London portrayed in this game. I also consider the Sherlock Holmes movies and TV series to give a proper visual of this setting. 

The Setting

The game setting is quite similar to Assassin's Creed: Unity (set in Paris) in which the game is entirely an urban experience. This is a break from the frontier and water settings in ACIII, AC IV, and AC Rouge. I enjoy both experiences (the urban and frontier settings) and can understand why this game didn't have any frontier settings after seeing the enormous map of London. There was also however a minor water element to this game thru the River Thames that ran thru the city. While the assassin's could operate a boat, they still could swim and steal cargo on moving ships if need-be. 

The two main characters of this game were brother-and-sister, Jacob and Evie Frie. I enjoyed both characters, more-so Evie, and really enjoyed the option to choose which character to play as. There were also several missions in the game that could only be played with one or the other, which I thought was a fair way to include both in the story. The character of Evie, had a strong and sexy style to her, that reminded me somewhat of Kate Beckinsale in the movies Underworld (same Gothic style without the vampires). I played most the game with Evie and would say she is probably my favorite female assassin in the series, right along with Shao Jin. 

Just as with most Assassin's Creed games, I am always mesmerized by the historical cities and the free reign ability to roam and climb the architectural wonders. In this setting of 1860s London the two big landmarks that impressed me were that of Saint Paul's Cathedral and the iconic House of Parliament. The Big Ben clock tower soars over the city just as the Eiffel Tower does over Paris. I also was quite impressed with the booming industrial city that it was. From the many factories churning smoke into the skies, to the busy traffic (both on the roads and in the river). Another cool feature of this game was the carriage traffic and the ability to drive a carriage rather than the usual horse. 

The Gameplay

The structure of the game had all the usual components of the Assassin's Creed series with some new additions. There was of course the stealth mode, with eagle vision, and a vast arsenal of knives, blades, and guns. However the game offered character upgrades and new skills to acquire (a concept that was further enhanced in the more free combat style of AC: Origins and AC: Odyssey). The enemies also had a level to them, which made it more difficult to fight someone with a higher level. This was something I did not understand until halfway thru AC: Origins, and frustrated me greatly. However I later adapted and learned to do side missions to continue to upgrade the character. This is a great way to take collect points and money and take on all the game has to offer. 

Another new feature in this game and perhaps my favorite was the grapple hook. The ability to grapple up and across giant buildings (rather than have to climb) made for a refreshing change. It reminded me of the Batman games a bit, a tool he uses often to get an aerial advantage. I used the grapple hook quite frequently to cover ground faster, yet also to make assassinations and quick escapes. This feature was honestly probably my favorite thing about this game, aside from the incredible historical city and it's characters. Other new weapons included brass knuckles and an electrical bomb which was ideal in devastating multiple enemies at a time. 

Other features in this game included gang wars (similar to that of AC: Rouge in New York City 1750s). Jacob and Evie establish the Rooks, to win back the city from the Templar gang known as the Blighters. This is emblematic of Industrial London history as portrayed in popular tv series such as the Peaky Blinders. Each region is divided into various tasks such as a bounty hunt, or assassinating a templar, or liberating children from a factory, or an all out gang war. As I often do in these games, I made this an additional goal of mine to conquer the entire map. It also helps to control regions because you get more support from your gang members if ever caught in a tight spot. 

Perhaps my biggest complaint of this game was the movement up, down, and across buildings. I felt it was not as easy to free jump from one spot to another. This was especially the case when trying to exit the carriage which I thought was often quite discombobulated controls. The historical missions were also a bit sloppy with more errors I felt compared to the main missions. That being said this game was still very enjoyable for me and everything I would expect from my favorite video game series. I began with a desire to better understand the city of London, and walked away with that and more. 

The Historical Characters 

Another thing I greatly enjoyed about this game quite different than the others were the side missions of historical characters. In most the AC games, the main story intercedes with many historical figures and events. This game however offers multiple side missions and interactions with historical characters throughout the city. I suppose this concept was first introduced in the Ezio Trilogy with missions pertaining to Leonardo da Vinci and Copernicus and also returned in AC III with Daniel Boone's missions. However I think it was completely expanded in this game with 6 historical stories (in which I partook and completed each one).

My favorite was that of Charles Dickens, one of England's most famous authors who embodies the whole setting of industrial England. It is thru his writings that I came to understand the cruel and unusual condition of the working class and more so on that of child labor during that age. His character presents the assassin's with ghostly and mysterious tasks, no doubt a homage to his writings. Perhaps the most challenging task in the entire game for me was capturing and arresting a hypnotist, who would hypnotize me if not captured properly. 

There were also minor stories pertaining to Charles Darwin and his scientific endeavors regarding evolution. There was missions with Alexander Graham Bell and his electrical inventions that later gave Jacob and Evie the useful electrical bomb. There were medical missions with Florence Nightingale, often considered one of the founders of nursing. And political missions with Karl Marx, who I was not aware lived in London during the 1850s until his death in 1880s. Much of his communist dealings and organizations began to gain traction in the industrial city of London. I found this to be quite intriguing of an ideology that would later spread to the far east of Moscow. 

The final historical story becomes available after you beat the main sequence in level 10. This pertains to Queen Victoria and working with her secret service operative Alfred Fleming (who is no doubt a homage to James Bond author Ian Fleming). This historical sequence was in my opinion the most difficult, since each mission had some form of James Bond action element. This included jumping on a moving train, to driving a carriage full of explosives, assassinating suicide bombers, and the final task of defusing four bombs in House of Parliament. Each of these tasks were extremely challenging yet also very thrilling. 

Urban Study: London

Now that I've gotten back to work, I've had less time to read, write, and play video games. However I am still pressing on with my Assassin's Creed tour, and the past few weeks have undergone a British phase, much thanks to the game Assassin's Creed Syndicate (which I will soon have a full game review on). This game takes place in 1860s London, and highlights the grim industrial city that it once was. Actually my impression of London to this day is still a murky industrial city however with so much incredible monuments and history. In this post I'd like to make a deep cultural dive into the urban infrastructure of one the world's most iconic cities. 

If you've read my blog for some years now, it would be fair to claim that British history and culture are among my favorite topics. I suppose for me it began with my love of the Beatles as a teenager to later becoming familiar with their iconic literature (Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, George Orwell, JR Tolkein, and JK Rowling). The appreciation took a deeper level when I discovered the English Premier League, that has to this day become my favorite soccer league. Within the EPL I have become familiar with the teams, the cities, the vocabulary, and the customary traditions of England as a whole. Waking up to the EPL on the weekend mornings with a cup of coffee truly brings me joy. 

I also especially enjoy British history, and consider them as the founders and guardians of world order. By the 1500s in the age of discovery, they became the new world power ushered in by the golden age of Queen Elizabeth. Their empire later became one of the largest in the world, by which the sun never set. And from this empire was born the more powerful nation of the United States, which would later surpass their founders, however still accustomed to their fatherland. Consider to this day English remains the most popular language spoken in the world. And especially consider that it was England, who stood up to two of history's most atrocious conquerors Napoleon and Hitler, and saved Europe from complete submission. Thus in my opinion, England has always been the righteous guardians of the world. 

However I digress with this homage to British history and here I intend to specifically target the urban center of this culture. It is the city of London that has long been the headquarters of the British way and here in this iconic city resides many famous stories to share. I consider the city of London among my favorite historic cities on par with Paris, Rome, Boston, or Washington DC. I was glad to have visited the city in the spring of 2018 and seen some of the iconic monuments. However still I would like to spend more time there to get a more complete experience. In this post I'd like to highlight the timeline of the city's history with it's iconic landmarks. 

History of London

I suppose when it comes to the foundation of every major city it usually pertains to the area's geography. In the ancient days of natives and barbarians, civilizations always found greatest sustainability around riverbeds. In the case of London it is the River Thames that breaks inland from the North Sea. This river provided sufficient resources for it's earliest Celtic settlers as far back as 1100 BC. According to ancient legend the city of London was founded by Brutus of Troy, a descendant of the heroic Aeneas. This is of course on par with the fictional tales of  King Arthur, yet demonstrates Britain's early apperception for storytelling. 

In the Iron Age of the Roman Empire, the region was inhabited by a Celtic tribe known as the Trinovantes. However the settlement became overthrown by the Roman empire, during their conquest of Britain in the year 43 AD. The city was briefly recaptured by the Brittonic queen Boudica in 60 AD, however restored to Roman control ten years later. Under Roman authority the settlement thrived and became known as Londinium, the capital of Roman Britain. The city was often victim to Saxon pirate raids, however continued to expand under Roman control until it's decline in 500 AD. 

Following the fall of the Roman Empire, London became inhabited by Germanic tribes known as the Anglo-Saxons. The settlement of London became the center of the vast Saxon territory and was often referred to as Middle-Saxon (or Middlesex). In 604 AD King Saeberht of Essex converted the tribe to Christianity in accordance with the Roman Holy Sea. However despite it's thriving growth, the city was victim to constant viking attacks in the 9th century. The city was sacked in 842 AD by the Great Danish Heathen Army, and was not fully restored to British control until 886. Alfred the Great from Wessex restored the Saxon control of London and strengthened it's defenses. 

London continued to thrive as the booming center of Britain, and became the capital of the newly established Kingdom of England in 927 AD. However still during the time Viking raids from the Scandinavian regions presumed. In 1042 Edward the Confessor was able to restore English authority in the region and commissioned the monumental Westminster Abbey in 1065. However a year later, the city of London became the epicenter of the Norman Conquest led by William the Conqueror. Thus this tribe from Normandy France, consisting of Norse Vikings from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark became the new inhabitants of London. William the Conqueror was crowned king in the newly built Westminster Abbey. 

Medieval London

From this point on the city of London began it's medieval age under the authority of the Norman dynasty. The iconic fortress of the Tower of London was erected in 1078 and later became an infamous prison. Other iconic buildings were later constructed such as the Westminster Palace, which was the early residence of the English Monarchy until the 1500s. In 1209 the Old London Bridge was built and stood for nearly 600 years as the main bridge across the Thames River, until it was replaced by a more modern design in the 1800s. During the 1200s the city was subject to Jewish persecutions, peasant uprisings, and French hostility. Following the First Barons War of 1215, the Magna Carta was signed as the new code of law for England.

By the year 1300 London continued to grow as a thriving metropolis with a population of nearly 80,000. However the city was severely affected by the Black Death from 1347-1351 which spread throughout Europe. This pandemic cost nearly 200 million lives, and to this day remains the deadliest pandemics in history. London however returned to prominence during the Renaissance and Reformation of the 1400s-1500s. The Tudor Dynasty strengthened the British economy and under Henry VIII completely changed the dynamics of  religious authority with the established of the Church of England. No longer did the British Crown answer to the Catholic Church, yet rather to it's own religious denomination on par with the Protestant Reformation.

During the Age of Discovery under Queen Elizabeth, London became a booming city of mercantile trade. The British East India Company became headquartered out of  London in the year 1600, and quickly expanded Britain's imperial might. Soon Britain was bringing in wealth from it's colonies in America, Africa, India, and Asia. By 1605 it had become the largest city in Europe, with a population of 225,000. Also during the time the arts began to flourish, and London became a center for theatrical entertainment, thanks to the popularity of the playwright William Shakespeare. 

During the English Civil War of 1642-1651, the city of London took the side of the Parliamentarians who sought to overthrow the monarchy and establish religious freedom. Oliver Cromwell successfully defeated the Royalist army and had King Charles I executed in 1649 in the northern district of Whitehall. The monarchy was later restored in 1660 after the death of Oliver Cromwell. During this time the city became vastly overpopulated and suffered another terrible pandemic known as the Great Plague in 1665 which killed nearly 100,000 people. 

Things got worse for the city of London in the year 1666 when the city was devastated by the Great Fire of London. The fire started on a windy night at a bakery in Pudding Lane and quickly spread throughout the entire city. The fire lasted for 4 days, and although did not cause many fatalities it destroyed nearly 60% of the city's buildings. This included 13,000 houses, 87 churches, and countless other buildings. The most devastating loss was the monumental Old Saint Paul Cathedral which stood for nearly 400 years as the landmark of the city. 

Following this devastating fire, the monarchy commissioned Sir Christopher Wren to restore the city's architectural wonder. In a span of 60 years after the great fire, Christopher Wren designed over 50 buildings and churches in London, including the construction of his masterpiece, Saint Paul's Cathedral. For this Christopher Wren is regarded as the greatest English architect of all time yet also as the architect of the city of London. By the 1690s London had recovered from the fire, and returned to economic prominence thanks to it's newly established Bank of England as well as the thriving East India Company.   

By the 18th century Britain's global power continued to grow with it's Act of Union in 1707 with Scotland. It continued it's firm grasp on the colonial Americas and it's prospering trade with India. During the 1750s, England succeeded in defeating the French during the Seven Years War and driving them out of colonial America. In 1761 King George III acquired Buckingham Palace as the new royal residence of the monarchy. The city experienced some minor economic setbacks from their defeat at the American Revolutionary War however bounced back quickly thanks to new ideals of Enlightenment. 

Industrial London

After several years of intense war with Napoleon's France, Britain once again emerged victorious in the early 1800s. This ushered in a new era of Industrial Revolution by which London became the most populated city in the world with over 1 million residents. This number multiplied to 6.7 million by 1900, thus demonstrating the booming metropolis that it had become. The city became a center for industry yet also great poverty during the 1850s (a setting demonstrated in Assassin's Creed Syndicate and the literary works of Charles Dickens). This was an era before child labor laws, in which many children were forced to work in factories. The crime and slums of London were a defining part of the city's working-class industrial machine.     

One can only imagine London in the 1850s-1900s, perhaps on par with the industrial wastelands of Gary or New Jersey. In 1858 The Great Stink took a hold of the city, a terrible smell of sewage that caused outbreaks of cholera. Furthermore the city become a refuge for Irish immigrants recovering from the Great Famine. In response to the wasteland the city was becoming, the civil engineer Joseph Bazalgette established a proper sewage system by the 1860s. Further urban renovations continued to restore London's allure such as the monumental House of Parliament with it's iconic clock tower of Big Ben. Also there was the construction of the Tower Bridge which opened in 1886 as a new landmark in the city. 

Modern day London

By the 20th century, London's economic superiority was surpassed by the booming industry of America and challenged by other up-and-comers in Europe. At the time Germany had also become a major industrial producer and sought to establish superiority in Europe. The outbreak of the First World War in 1914 was primarily fought between the two superpowers of Europe, England and Germany. London endured it's first ever aerial bombings by German Zepplins during WWI causing nearly 700 deaths. England however endured as the victors of WWI and brought new harsh regulation on Germany. 

During the 1930s, London suffered from the global economic Great Depression and experienced heightened numbers of unemployment and poverty. This gave way to rising new political ideals such as Communism from Russia and Fascism from Germany. As always though England remained steadfast, even at the outbreak of WWII. In the face of German aggression under the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, Winston Churchill arose to lead the British people. The people of London were again the victims of terrible German Aerial bombardments at the Battle of Britain in 1940-1941. This German Blitz caused severe damage to the city including a second great fire and over 40,000 civilian causalities. However the Cathedral of Saint Paul stood amidst the wreckage and the British people endured the German assault and later responded with victory in 1945. 

London was slow to rebuild after the devastation of World War II and took the backseat while new global superpowers emerged such as the United States and Russia. At this point Queen Elizabeth II began her reign in 1953, still reigning to this day as the longest ever British monarch. London still remained a populated industrial city and by the 1960s had once again emerged as a cultural center. The success of British rock musicians such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, gave way to a new youth culture that spread into America and throughout the world. Britain was once again the trendsetters and experienced a new subculture within the city of London.  

The city began a new modernization phase in the 2000s with iconic constructions such as the Millennium Dome, the London Eye, th3 30 Saint Mary building, and the Shard. Furthermore it's hosting of the Olympics in 2012 brought the city once again to global attention. The city has unfortunately been the site of various terrorist attacks in the modern age. However it continues to thrive as one of Europe's most historic cultural centers. It has an impressive population of 9.3 million and is the 4th biggest city in Europe (behind Istanbul, Moscow, and Paris). 

   

Architecture- Key Landmarks 

Westminster Abbey

• Construction: 1060
  
• Purpose: Abbey church
• Significance: It was built by Edward the Confessor as the first major landmark of London shortly before the Norman Conquest of 1066. The building was first designated as a great monastery for the Catholic Church until the 1500s when it was transformed by King Henry VIII into a Church of England. It's tower cathedral structure is very similar to that of Notre Dame in Paris and is one of London's most royal sites. It has been the ceremonial site for the monarch's coronation since it's construction. It's Gothic architecture makes it a very awe-inspiring site in the city of London, a style that was copied for the iconic House of Parliament. 

Windsor Castle

• Construction: 1076
• Purpose: Residence of the English Monarchy
• Significance: It was built by William the Conqueror on the outskirts of London as the primary residence of the monarchy. The castle estate is similar to the Palace of Versailles outside of Paris, that provides the monarchy a secluded location away from the public. The castle was renovated and expanded various times throughout the middle ages. It was later replaced by Buckingham Palace in the 1700s yet still remains to this day one of the monarchy's primary residences.    

Tower of London

• Construction: 1078
  
• Purpose: Fortification, armory, prison
• Significance: One of the first major constructions in the city of London by the Norman conquest of William the Conqueror. The building was designed as a major fortification along the Thames River to defend the newly acquired Norman territory. The fortress' most iconic structure is the White Tower which served as an Armory and later a prison for over 700 years. During the Tudor reign it housed various iconic monarchs such as Queen Elizabeth and Anne Boleyn before she was beheaded. 

Saint Paul's Cathedral

• Construction: 1675-1710
  
• Purpose: The mother church of London
• Significance: The original Old Saint Pauls Cathedral was first built in 1087 and served as an iconic landmark of medieval London. However it was later tragically burnt during the devastating fire of 1666. The Cathedral was later replaced by the design of Christopher Wren with a baroque, neo-classical element that was completed in 1710. The building's white color and massive dome, later went on the influence the construction of the US Capitol. It stands today as a proud structure of London, that endured the German bombings of WWI and most notably the blitz of WWII.  

Buckingham Palace

• Construction: 1703
• Purpose: Royal residence of the Monarchy
• Significance: The building was originally built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703, yet later became a royal residence when King George III acquired it in 1761. The building then underwent various expansion and became the primary house of residence for Queen Victoria during the 1800s. It serves today as the royal residence of the monarchy on par with the White House of Washington DC. Perhaps it's most iconic feature is it's golden gate, and the guards dressed in red with their big fluffy black hats.  

Trafalgar Square

• Construction: 1840
  
• Purpose: Town square and historical commemoration
• Significance: The town square was designed to commemorate Britain's victory against Napoleon France at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The square consists of fountains, statues of lions, and it's most iconic structure the Nelson Column. This impressive obelisk stands tall at 169 feet and commemorates Britain's greatest military commander, Admiral Horatio Nelson who died at the Battle of Trafalgar. 

Westminster Palace

• 
  Construction: 1840
• Purpose: House of Parliament
• Significance: It was originally built in 1016 as a royal residence in the district of Westminster, yet later evolved into the House of Parliament in the 1500s. The original building was later burnt by a fire in 1834 and fully replaced by the monument that we see today. It's replacement incorporated the similar Gothic architecture of it's neighboring landmark, the Westminster Abbey. In 1859 it's building's most iconic feature was completed, that of the Big Ben clock tower. The building is without question the most iconic landmark in the city of London on par with the Eiffel tower of Paris or the Colosseum of Rome.    

Tower Bridge

• Construction: 1886-1894
  
• Purpose: Bridge across the Thames River
• Significance: While it is often mistaken with the famous London Bridge, the Tower Bridge stands over the River Thames as the most architecturally impressive bridge in London. It resembles it's neighboring medieval structure of the Tower of London with it's giant white towers. Also the blue suspension rigs give this bridge a modern modern appeal. This is one of my favorite bridges in the world on par with the Brooklyn Bridge or the Golden Gate Bridge. 

30 Saint Mary Axe

• Construction: 2004
• Purpose: Business skyscraper
• Significance: Also known as the Gherkin (the British pickle) this building has a very unique design with its wide and round circumference. It's modern structure stands at an impressive 591 feet and has become an iconic feature of the London skyline. Although it is only the 18th tallest building in London, it's structural design makes it one of the most distinctive. 

The Shard

• Construction: 2012
  
• Purpose: Business skyscraper
• Significance: It is the tallest structure in London and demonstrates the modern day skyline of a booming city. The building has a modern day glass-like structure to it, resembling other modern skyscrapers such as the Shanghai Tower or One World Trade Center. It towers over the city near the River Thames at an impressive 1016 feet. I'll never forget seeing this building for the first time while riding the London Underground subway. It glimmered at night with a modern day appeal like a giant pyramid overlooking the historical city.