Russia was ruled by an emperor called . Him and his ruled alone, with no true representative bodies. Even the , an elected body created in 1905, could be completely by the Tsar when he wished to, and he did. of books and newspapers was frequent, while a operated to crush dissent, often either executing people or sending them to exile in . The result was an under which republicans, democrats, revolutionaries, and others both chaffed and were increasingly desperate for . Some wanted violent change, others peaceful, but as to the Tsar was , opponents were increasingly driven to extreme measures.