March 6 in Russian history

1913: Russia begins to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the house of Romanovs. During the celebrations the royal family visited a number of cities especially important in the history of Russia and the royal house: Moscow, Vladimir, Suzdal, Nizhny Novgorod, Yaroslavl and Kostroma, where Mikhail Romanov learned in 1613 that he was elected the new tsar. On the anniversary day, Nikolay II received congratulations from highest statesmen in the Winter Palace. Among these statesmen there was the chairman of the State Duma Mikhail Rodzyanko, who would demand the tsar to abdicate the throne. On that day, after a speech, Rodzyanko presented an icon of Christ to Nikolay II.

1917: Manifesto on the restoration of the independence of Finland. Finland was a part of the Russian empire since 1809, when the "four Estates" of Finland pledged allegiance to the emperor Alexander I and the emperor gave the solemn assurance of sovereign rights, promising to respect the constitutional rights of the Finnish citizens. Since 1890s Russia begins to limit the Finnish autonomy justifying it by the necessity to bring Finnish laws in agreement with the imperial laws. In 1900, a law was adopted which aims to replace the Finnish language with Russian in the state establishments. In 1901, the freedom of assembly in Finland was limited. In 1903, the governor of Finland is granted the extraordinary authority. The police of Finland was autonomous from the Russian police and in 1904 Russian revolutionaries begin terrorist acts in Finland and kill the governor Bobrikov and some other people.

The situation is threatening, but in 1905 Russian government attempts to restore good relations. The authorities of the governor are withdrawn, the constitution of Finland is restored, a new law on elections is adopted by the Finnish parliament, Finnish and Swedish languages are officially proclaimed the state languages. For the first time in the world, the universal suffrage is granted to all citizens, including women.

In 1909, though, things are getting worse again and the parliament is dissolved and only in 1917, after the February revolution and the fall of the monarchy the constitution is restored. The Provisional Government did not plan to give independence to Finland, since it was agreed that this question should be left to the Constituent Assembly. Moreover, the Provisional Government in principle was against the secessions of any kind (and I would support them, to tell you the truth). However, the pro-independence movement gets stronger in Finland and in summer the parliament is dissolved again.