Vladimir Lenin

Vladimir Lenin (pronunciation: vla-DEE-meer LEH-nin) was a Russian revolutionary, politician, and political theorist. He served as the head of government of Soviet Russia from 1917 to 1922 and of the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1924.

Etymology

The name "Vladimir" is of Slavic origin, meaning "ruler of the world". "Lenin" is a pseudonym that he adopted in 1901. The exact origins of this pseudonym are unknown, but it is believed to be derived from the river Lena in Siberia.

Related Terms

Russian Revolution: A period of political and social revolution across the territory of the Russian Empire, commencing in 1917 with the abolition of the monarchy, and concluding in 1923 with the Bolshevik establishment of the Soviet Union at the end of the Civil War.
Soviet Union: A federal socialist state in Northern Eurasia that existed from 1922 to 1991.
Bolshevik Party: The communist party led by Lenin that seized power in the Russian Revolution of 1917.
Marxism-Leninism: A political philosophy developed by Lenin, which builds upon the ideas of Marxism. It was the official state ideology of the Soviet Union and other ruling parties making up the Comintern.
Joseph Stalin: Lenin's successor as the leader of the Soviet Union.