A riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.

Its forests stretch from Europe to the Pacific. Its winters have vanquished the mightiest armies ever mustered. Its people have borne the excesses of some of history’s most notorious rulers. This EMMY-AWARD-winning four-hour series illuminates the imperial past of the world’s largest nation in sumptuous detail.

At the heart of this epic tale are the figures whose names have become legend: Ivan the Terrible, who expanded the empire at the rate of 50 miles–and innumerable lives–a day; Peter the Great, whose sweeping reforms westernized the nation; and Catherine the Great, whose rule was marked by conquest, change and controversy. Filmed on location throughout Russia, enriched by exclusive visits to important sites and museums, and filled with commentary from renowned scholars, this is a kaleidoscopic, captivating portrait of a land that has endured centuries of despair and rebellion, innovation and conflict.

Writer / Producer

Don Campbell

Co-Producers

Doug Shultz

Denise Williams

Narrator

Edward Herrmann

Editors

Mark Fason

Rob Kuhns

Cinematography

Andrei Zhigalov

Peter Schnall

Supervising Producers

Peter Schnall

Hilary Sio

Coordinating Producer

Elana Bluestine

Russian Production

Predworld Entertainment

Original Music

Composed & Conducted By Gary Pozner

Concert Master

Alex Carlson

Piano Concerto

By Lev Abeliovich

Performed by

The Osu Symphony Orchestra, Corvallis Oregon

Musical Director: Marlan Carlson

Pianist: Alexander Tutunov

Courtesy Of Altarus Records Inc.

Props & Sets, U.S.

Chris Lawrence

O&S, Inc.

Production Coordinator

Justine Simonson

Production Associates

Glenn Reimer

Frederic Vernet

Andy Hanna

Assistant Editor

Dan Davis

On-line Editor

Bjorn Bellenbaum

Sound Recordists

Anna Rieke

Mark Mandler

Mark Roy

Lee Edwards

Jonathan Jackson

Additional Cinematography

Tomasz Magierski

John Howarth

Jeff Baker

Location PAs

Natasha Doroshenko

Bogdan Almazov

Archival Research

Sheila Maniar

Map Design

Paul Ranson

Sound Design & Mix

Joe Caterini

Caterini Studios

Historical Consultants

Marilyn Sweezey

Lawrence Langer

Executive Producer

Peter Schnall

Head of Story Development

Hilary Sio

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—For the History Channel—

Executive Producer

Beth Dietrich-Segarra

New York Times, May 26, 2003

"the History Channel's four-hour look at the Russian monarchy is one of those rare documentaries that reach the highest level of television entertainment..."

Christian Science Monitor

"Possibly the best work on TV this week is this lavish and beautifully written documentary about the enslavement of an entire country's lower classes by the iron hand of the tsars...as engaging as it is beautiful."

2003 News & Documentary EMMY AWARD

Outstanding Achievement in a Craft: Best Writing

2003 News & Documentary EMMY AWARD nomination

Outstanding Achievement in a Craft: Best Music and Sound Design