Russia

Russia is probably the largest country in the world, not counting the two colonies in Antarctica (names: Mother Russia, Russian Empire.)

History
Russian History diverged from the history of reality in 1463. In 1463 Russian princes banded together as a new wave of Mongol invasions loomed. From 1463-1530 a series of skirmished with their former Mongol overlords led to the unification of Russia. In 1530 a full scale Mongol invasion swept through Russia, Poland, Scandinavia, and down into the Caucuses. Through working with the Kalmaris Union, Jewish Order of the Caucuses, and Prussia, Russia was able to drive back the Mongols after an extended war.

Supposedly Russia fought another war with Japan itself and lost in the 16th century, but the details of that event are not well known outside of Russia. All that can be learned from the event is that Russia lost all of their Pacific holdings to Japan.

Since the war Russia has focused on gaining new territories and expanding their colonial holdings. Their secret services supposedly have agents in almost every nation around the globe, how much of that is myth or rumor is up to speculation.

Territorial Aquisitions
Following the war in 1541 Tzar Ivan was crowned and began a campaign of expansion and conquest. Following civil strife and war in Bulgaria (1520-1543) Russian agents in Bulgaria succeeded in taking power in the country. Over the next decade they worked very closely with the Tzar to integrate Bulgaria into the growing Empire and by 1555 this process was complete.

In 1537 Russia entered into negotiations with the Crimean Khanate to hopefully annex and integrate the territory into greater Russia. When the pitched battles of the Mongolian incursion reached Crimea the entire Khanate was cleansed of life or enslaved by the Mongols. This left the land totally open for the taking and in 1548 the Crimea became an official territory of Russia.

Later in the 16th century plans were drawn up for a colony in the arctic regions of earth. Given the unique Russian tolerance for cold the Tzar felt this action would greatly benefit his people. In 1607 after decades of research the first of these arctic colonies was founded, in Antarctica. The colony is still small and struggling in the wake of the "Little Ice Age" and numbers less than 200 colonists. In 1610 a second colony was founded a few hundred miles away and also numbers less than 200 people.

The Otto-Russo Act of 1665
An alliance between the Ottoman Empire and Russia.

The Brothers of the North pact
An alliance between Russia and Sweden-Finnmark (and their other territories) signed in 1527

Treaty of Union
1658 treaty with the United Kingdoms that saw Russia join the growing confederation of nations.

Mayaztincan-Russian alliance of 1676
The alliance of two great empires. The Mayaztinca Empire agreed to terms created by Russian officials.

Government
Russia is currently organized into an Absolute Monarchy, with succession done in Absolute Agnatic order. There is no parliament, simply a council of advisers to the Tzar. Outside of the Imperial court the rest of Russia is still organized along the feudal lines it has always been.

Economy
Russia is a primarily agrarian state, and as such has little in the way of manufacturing or trade that doesn't revolves around that fact. Russia's primary exports are grains, cattle, Iron, and saltpeter. Russia's primary imports are steel, copper, tin, gold, and firearms. Russia's largest trade partners are the Ottoman Empire, Poland-Lithuania, Sweden, Finland, and England.