How could absolute monarchy and parliament coexist in one country? Why did Nicholas II refuse to share power until the very end? In the history of the Russian Empire in the early 20th century, the traditions of autocracy intertwined with attempts to introduce elements of popular representation. Nicholas II, raised in the spirit of absolute power, perceived the idea of parliamentarism as a threat to the state structure. However, the revolutionary upheavals of 1905 forced the monarch to make concessions - thus the State Duma was created. The lecture will present a story of how monarchy and parliament tried to coexist under one roof. Why did Nicholas II react so painfully to the demands of the deputies? How exactly was the Duma organized and why did its third convocation manage to serve its full term - unlike the previous ones? How were elections conducted, who ended up in power, and why did parliamentarism never take root in Russia? The St. Petersburg poster is available on KudaGo.