1917 2nd March
Appointment as Foreign Minister
Miliukov becomes foreign minister in the first Provisional Government headed by Prince Lvov.
Russian Revolution · permanent subject timeline
Russian Provisional Government
The temporary government between the February and October Revolutions. This page combines historical context with 37 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database Russian Revolution collection.
Historical context
Russian Provisional Government: overview and significance
What happened?
The Provisional Government emerged from the State Duma after the collapse of the monarchy and intended to govern until a Constituent Assembly could determine Russia's permanent political order. It inherited the war, economic disruption, land unrest and a rapidly radicalizing political environment.
Why was it important?
The government possessed formal ministerial authority but could not ignore the power of the soviets. Continued participation in the First World War and repeated political crises progressively weakened its legitimacy.
World History Database records
Russian Provisional Government timeline
The records below are selected from the 726-record Russian Revolution collection and rendered as static HTML for reading and indexing.
1917
1917 2nd March
Appointment as War and Navy Minister
Guchkov becomes minister of war and navy in the first Provisional Government.
1917 2nd March
Formation of Provisional Government
Lvov becomes minister-chairman of the Provisional Government formed after negotiations between Duma leaders and Soviet representatives.
1917 3rd April
Return from Switzerland
Lenin arrives at Finland Station after returning from exile and immediately challenges support for the Provisional Government.
1917 4th April
April Theses
Condemns the Provisional Government as bourgeois and urges "no support" for it, as "the utter falsity of all its promises should be made clear" & condemns World War I as a "predatory imperialist war" and the "revolutionary defensism" of foreign social democrat parties, calling for
1917 4th April
Presentation of April Theses
Lenin presents the April Theses, rejecting support for the Provisional Government and demanding transfer of power to the Soviets.
1917 4th April
Provisional Government
Condemns the Provisional Government as bourgeois and urges "no support" for it, as "the utter falsity of all its promises should be made clear" & condemns World War I as a "predatory imperialist war" and the "revolutionary defensism" of foreign social democrat parties, calling for revolutionary defeatism
1917 6th April
April Policy
Defends cooperation with the Provisional Government.
1917 20th April
April Crisis Demonstrations
Public demonstrations erupt after Miliukov's war-policy note becomes known, deepening the first major crisis of the Provisional Government.
1917 2nd May
Resignation as Foreign Minister
Miliukov resigns from the Provisional Government after the April crisis destroys support for his foreign-policy position.
1917 22nd May
Appointment as Supreme Commander
Brusilov becomes supreme commander of the Russian army as the Provisional Government prepares a new offensive.
1917 1st July
July Days
Criticises the Provisional Government as war weariness intensifies.
1917 3rd July
Provisional Government
The July Days refer to events that take place in Petrograd, Russia, between 3 July and 7 July (Julian calendar) (16 July 20 July, Gregorian calendar), when soldiers and industrial workers engage in spontaneous demonstrations against the Russian Provisional Government
1917 15th July
Menshevik Party
The Kadets walk out of the Russian Provisional Government, threatening the Mensheviks and the Socialist Revolutionaries (SRs) with the breakup of the Government coalition and a Government crisis results
1917 15th July
Provisional Government
The Kadets walk out of the Russian Provisional Government, threatening the Mensheviks and the Socialist Revolutionaries (SRs) with the breakup of the Government coalition and a Government crisis results
1917 16th July
July Days
The July Days begin as soldiers and workers protest against the Provisional Government.
1917 17th July
Provisional Government
A new provisional Government is set up with Kerensky at its head
1917 19th July
Provisional Government
The Provisional Government issues an order for the arrest of Lenin, who is forced to go underground
1917 9th August
Constituent Assembly
The Provisional Government schedules Constituent Assembly elections for 12 Nov
1917 9th August
Constitution of Russia
The Provisional Government schedules Constituent Assembly elections for 12 Nov
1917 9th August
Election
The Provisional Government schedules Constituent Assembly elections for 12 Nov
1917 9th August
Provisional Government
The Provisional Government schedules Constituent Assembly elections for 12 Nov
1917 27th August
Kornilov Affair
Dismisses Kornilov after concluding that the commander in chief is challenging the authority of the Provisional Government.
1917 September
Kornilov Affair
The affair damages Kerensky's relationship with senior army officers and further isolates the Provisional Government.
1917 25th October
Coup
The 2nd alln Congress of Soviets proclaims transfer of power to the Soviets. Declares the Provisional Government deposed
1917 25th October
October Revolution
Announces that the Provisional Government has been overthrown.
1917 25th October
Provisional Government
Declares the Provisional Government deposed
1917 25th October
Provisional Government Declared Overthrown
Lenin announces that the Provisional Government has been overthrown as the Bolsheviks consolidate control of Petrograd.
1917 26th October
Capture of Winter Palace
Podvoisky helps direct forces surrounding the Winter Palace as the remaining Provisional Government ministers are arrested.
1917 28th October
Kerensky-Krasnov Rising
Krasnov's Cossack detachment advances toward Gatchina during the unsuccessful attempt to restore the Provisional Government.
1917 October
Bolshevik Party
The Bolsheviks overthrow the Provisional Government on the eve of the meeting of Second All Congress of Soviets
1917 October
Congress of Soviets
The Bolsheviks overthrow the Provisional Government on the eve of the meeting of Second All Congress of Soviets. Power is given to the 2nd Congress of Soviets but withdrawn after Lenins opposition
1917 October
Coup
The Bolsheviks overthrow the Provisional Government on the eve of the meeting of Second All Congress of Soviets
1917 October
Provisional Government
The Bolsheviks overthrow the Provisional Government on the eve of the meeting of Second All Congress of Soviets
1917
Bolshevik Party
A Bolshevik decree establishes the Supreme Economic Council over all economic bodies. The Bolsheviks overthrow the Provisional Government on the eve of the meeting of Second All Congress of Soviets. Publication of "Will The Bolsheviks Retain State Power?"
1917
Chief of Staff
Serves under Mikhail Alekseyev of the provisional Government
1917
Provisional Government
Serves under Mikhail Alekseyev of the provisional Government
Editorial provenance
Sources and editorial review
Compiled and edited by World History Database
Historical context is editorial material; the chronology is generated from World History Database Russian Revolution records.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
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