President of Russia
Appointed President of the Military Revolutionary Committee
Role range: 1917-1918
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Leon Trotsky Biography and Timeline — Page 4
Follow Leon Trotsky through 326 dated historical records for Russia.
Leon Trotsky, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
326Distinct records
4 of 9Page
1917–1918Years on this page
1917
President of Russia
Appointed President of the Military Revolutionary Committee
Garrison Control
The Soviet claims authority over the Petrograd garrison during the crisis.
Role range: 1917-1918 – 1917-1917
Garrison Order
Claims authority over Petrograd garrison orders through the Soviet.
Role range: 1917-1918 – 1917-1917
Insurrection Preparation
The Soviet provides organisational support for preparations before the uprising.
Role range: 1917-1918 – 1917-1917
Insurrection Preparation
Uses Soviet authority to shield Bolshevik preparations.
Role range: 1917-1918 – 1917-1917
Second Congress of Soviets
The Second Congress confirms the Bolshevik takeover of government power.
Role range: 1917-1936 – 1917-1917
Second Congress of Soviets
Presides over Congress as the uprising succeeds.
Role range: 1917-1936 – 1917-1917
Second Congress of Soviets
Presides over the Second Congress as Bolsheviks seize power.
Role range: 1917-1936 – 1917-1917
October Revolution
Announces that the Provisional Government has been overthrown.
Role range: 1917-1918 – 1917-1917
October Revolution
Trotsky uses the Petrograd Soviet as a base for revolutionary action.
Role range: 1917-1918 – 1917-1917
Second Congress of Soviets
Trotsky presides as Soviet delegates approve the transfer of power.
Role range: 1917-1918 – 1917-1917
Post-Revolution Soviet
The Petrograd Soviet becomes a foundation of the new revolutionary government.
Role range: 1917-1918 – 1917-1917
Post-Revolution Soviet
Uses the Soviet as a base for new Bolshevik authority.
Role range: 1917-1918 – 1917-1917
Kerensky-Krasnov Rising
Trotsky helps organise Soviet resistance against the advance of Krasnov's Cossack forces.
Role range: 1917-1918 – 1917-1917
Kerensky-Krasnov Rising
The Petrograd Soviet strengthens its military organisation after the failure of the Kerensky-Krasnov advance.
Role range: 1917-1918 – 1917-1917
Commander in Chief
Appointed Commander in Chief
Commander in Chief
Appointed Commander in Chief
Role range: 1914-1918
People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs
Takes charge of Soviet foreign policy as People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs in the new Council of People's Commissars.
Role range: 1917-1991
Civil War Defence
Helps defend Petrograd from Kerensky-Krasnov forces.
Role range: 1917-1922 – 1917-1917
Ceasefire
A ceasefire commences between Russia & the Central Powers
Role range: 1914-1918
Peace
A ceasefire commences between Russia & the Central Powers
Role range: 1914-1918
Peace
Brest Litovsk talks begin between Russia & the Central Powers
Role range: 1914-1918
Ceasefire
Official ceasefire between Russia & the Central Powers
Role range: 1914-1918
Peace
Official ceasefire between Russia & the Central Powers
Role range: 1914-1918
Armistice
A 28 day armistice is signed with the Central Powers
Role range: 1914-1918
Armistice
The 28 day armistice with the Central Powers begins
Role range: 1914-1918
Conference of Brest Litovsk
Talks resume at Brest Litovsk
Role range: 1914-1918
Peace
Peace negotiations commence with the Central Powers
Role range: 1914-1918
Peace
Peace negotiations with the Central Powers are broken off
Role range: 1914-1918
Conference of Brest Litovsk
A letter intercepted from Trotsky to a partisan indicates Russia is playing for time
Role range: 1914-1918
Novy Mir Editorial Work
Writes for the Russian-language socialist newspaper Novy Mir during his brief stay in New York.
Soviet Authority
The Petrograd Soviet becomes central to Bolshevik political authority.
Role range: 1917-1918 – 1917-1917
Mezhrayonka Leadership
Works with the Mezhrayonka, a revolutionary group that moves increasingly toward cooperation with the Bolsheviks.
Role range: 1917-1918 – 1917-1917
The Struggle for State Power
Writes The Struggle for State Power during the revolutionary confrontation over which institutions should govern Russia.
Role range: 1917-1918 – 1917-1917
1918
Conference of Brest Litovsk
Ukrainian nationalists have separate peace talks with the Germans
Role range: 1914-1918
Independence of Russia
Ukrainian nationalists have separate peace talks with the Germans
Role range: 1914-1918
Independence of Ukraine
Ukrainian nationalists have separate peace talks with the Germans
Role range: 1914-1918
Bolshevik Party
The Bolsheviks denounce the terms offerred at the peace negotiations
Role range: 1914-1918
Peace
The Bolsheviks denounce the terms offerred at the peace negotiations
Role range: 1914-1918
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.