1888-89

Vladimir Ilyich studies literature of the earlier generations of Russian revolutionaries and begins to study law. Resides in Kazan and Samara.

1892

August 4

Gains license to practice law.

1893

Becomes active in Marxist study group. Moves to St. Petersburg on  September 12.

1895

Journeys to Europe to meet European and exiled Russian revolutionaries.

1895

Plans to publish Rabochye Delo, an illegal newspaper, but is arrested in St. Petersburg on December 20.

1895

Autumn

League of Struggle for the Emancipation of the Working Class is founded in St. Petersburg, with Vladimir Ilyich a member.

1896

Vladimir Ilyich held by authorities for the entire year.

1897

February 10

Vladimir Ilyich is exiled to Shushenskoye in Siberia.

1898

March

Founding Congress of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party RSDLP in Minsk.

1898

July 22

Marriage of Vladimir Ilyich to N.K. Krupskaya.

1899

April 5-12

Publication of Vladimir Ilyich’s book, The Development of Capitalism in Russia.

1900

February 10

Siberian exile ends. Vladimir Ilyich settles in Pskov.

1900

July 29

Vladimir Ilyich leaves Russia for Europe to begin publishing activities. Settles in Munich in September.

1900

December 24

First issue of Vladimir Ilyich’s paper, Iskra.

1901

May

Krupskaya rejoins Vladimir Ilyich abroad after completing her term of exile in Ufa.

1901

December

Uses the pseudonym “Lenin” for the first time.

1902

March

Lenin publishes the famous What is to be Done?.

1903

April

Lenin moves to London after a brief residence in Geneva.

1903

July 30 - August 23

Second Congress of the RSDLP is held. Party splits into Bolshevik and Menshevik factions. Lenin is separated from Iskra.

1905

January

Lenin begins publishing a new paper, Vyperod.

1905

January 22

Bloody Sunday in St. Petersburg. Revolution of 1905 begins.

1905

April 25 - May 10

Third Congress of the RSDLP. Mensheviks do not attend.

1905

June - July

Lenin composes Two Tactics of Social Democracy in the Democratic Revolution.

1905

November

Lenin returns to St. Petersburg

1906

April 23 - May 8

Fourth Congress of the RSDLP. Mensheviks participate. Lenin elected to Presidium.

1907

January

Lenin moves to Finland on exile

1907

August

Stuttgart Congress of the Socialist International. Lenin attends.

1908

January 20

Lenin settles in Geneva.

1908

October

Lenin completes his book, Materialism and Empiriocriticism.

1908

December

Lenin moves to Paris.

1908

January 3-9, 1909

Fifth Congress of the RSDLP. Lenin again elected to Presidium.

1910

August

Lenin attends the Copenhagen Conference of the Second International.

1911

Summer

Lenin directs Party school near Paris.

1912

January18-30

Prague Conference. Bolsheviks establish themselves as an autonomous political party.

1912

April

First issue of Pravda, published in Russia.

1914

August 1

Germany declares war on Russia. WWI begins.

1914

August

Lenin is forced to leave Russia, and emmigrates to Berne, Switzerland.

1915

September 5-8

Zimmerwald Conference of anti-war Socialists. Lenin attends.

1916

January - June

Lenin writes Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism.

1916

February

Moves to Zurich.

1916

April 24-30

Second “Zimmerwald Conference”, held at Kienthal. Lenin a participant.

1917

March 12

Czar Nicholas II abdicates. Provisional Government is formed in Russia.

1917

April 16

Lenin arrives in Petrograd

1917

April 17

Lenin publishes the April Theses, calling for the overthrow of the provisional government and redefining Bolshevik tactics.

1917

May

Seventh Congress of the RSDLP Bolsheviks in Petrograd. Lenin takes a prominent role.

1917

June 3 - 14

First All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers and Soldiers.

1917

July

Uprising known as the “July Days”.

1917

July

Lenin is forced into exile; escapes to Finland.

1917

August 8-16

Sixth Congress of the RSDLP. Lenin guided the Congress from underground, taking part in drafting the most important resolutions of the congress. The Congress unanimously elected Lenin its honorary chairman.

1917

September

Lenin argues for a new uprising.

1917

mid-October

Lenin returns to Petrograd secretly from Finland, and pushes for an immediate insurrection.

1917

November 7

The Soviet government is formed, with Lenin as Chairman.

1918

March 3

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk ends hostilities with Germany.

1918

March 10

Lenin and the Soviet Government move to Moscow.

1918

August 30

Fanny Kaplan attempts assassination of Lenin. Lenin wounded.

1919

March 2-6

Communist International Comintern is founded.

1921

February 23 - March 17

Kronstadt uprising against the Soviet Government.

1921

March 17

Tenth Party Congress. New Economic Policy NEP is begun.

1922

May 26

Lenin suffers his first stroke.

1922

November 20

Lenin’s last public speech.

1922

December 15

Lenin suffers his second stroke.

1922

December 24

Polit Buearu orders that Lenin be kept in isolation.

1922

December 30

Formal establishment of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics USSR.

1923

March 2

Lenin writes his last document; Better Fewer, But Better

1923

March 9

Lenin suffers his third stroke. No longer able to speak.

1923

May 12

Lenin removed to a Party sanitorium at Gorki.

1924

January 21

Lenin dies from fourth stroke.