As the Muscovite-Rus expanded and grew powerful militarily, geopolitically, and economically with the expulsion of the Golden Horde Khanate, it became clear that the future of Muscovy and Russia as a whole lie to the east. Russian settlers and traders began settling in the present day Republic of Udmurtia in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries bringing with them loyalty to the Tsar and the Russian Orthodox Church. The Russian population remained a stably growing minority until the 1960's and 70's, when many Russians moved to the metropolitan areas of Izhevsk and Glazov to profit from the economic development of the region with many practically untapped natural resources and a large manufacturing industry.
PYOTR IL'ICH CHAIKOVSKII:
The world-renowned composer was born on May 7th, 1840 C.E. in Votkinsk, near the present eastern border with Perm Oblast. The musical genius had a happy childhood, and would often long to be in his hereditary estate in Votkinsk while studying and composing in Moscow and the Saint Petersburg Conservatory. At one point, it is said, fearing that their son was too obsessed with music, Chaikovskii's parents locked his piano and other instruments away from young Pyotr Il'ich. Chaikovskii proceeded to tap music on a window and eventually broke it with his melodies. Away from Votkinsk, Chaikovskii went on to write the world-famous ballets "Swan Lake" (based on the Pond of Votkinsk), "The Nutcracker", and "Sleeping Beauty"; an opera of the Pushkin poem "Yevgenii Onegin"; and many popular symphonies. Chaikovskiai's music took after Western styles, alienating himself from "The Five" (Mussorgskii, Rimskii-Korsakov, etc.) Chaikovskiai died in 1893 C.E. reportedly of cholera, although some believe he committed suicide, as his homosexuality was not welcome among the Russian noble class. His works are still performed around the world to this day.
MIHAIL TIMOFEYEVICH KALASHNIKOV:
Mihail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov was born on the 19th of November, 1919 C.E. - shortly after the Russian revolutions of 1917 C.E. - in Altaiskii Krai. In 1938 C.E., just before Nazi Germany initiated Operation Barbarossa, Kalashnikov was drafted into the Red Army of the Soviet Union. After being injured in the line of duty and witnessing the inefficiency and inferiority of Soviet firearms in comparison to those of the Fascist German invaders, Kalashnikov submitted his first model of a machine gun to a weapon design competition. He did not win, but the care and talent manifested in the design put him on the Soviet High Command's radar. After the war, in 1947 C.E., Kalashnikov created his most famous weapon, the AK-47 (Aleksandr Kalashnikov, 1947). It is among the most efficient and reliable firearms in the world. Kalashnikov passed away at the ripe old age of ninety-four in Izhevsk in 2013 C.E. His weapons are still in use by every military force in the world - from professional armies to guerrilla warriors.
Mihail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov was born on the 19th of November, 1919 C.E. - shortly after the Russian revolutions of 1917 C.E. - in Altaiskii Krai. In 1938 C.E., just before Nazi Germany initiated Operation Barbarossa, Kalashnikov was drafted into the Red Army of the Soviet Union. After being injured in the line of duty and witnessing the inefficiency and inferiority of Soviet firearms in comparison to those of the Fascist German invaders, Kalashnikov submitted his first model of a machine gun to a weapon design competition. He did not win, but the care and talent manifested in the design put him on the Soviet High Command's radar. After the war, in 1947 C.E., Kalashnikov created his most famous weapon, the AK-47 (Aleksandr Kalashnikov, 1947). It is among the most efficient and reliable firearms in the world. Kalashnikov passed away at the ripe old age of ninety-four in Izhevsk in 2013 C.E. His weapons are still in use by every military force in the world - from professional armies to guerrilla warriors.