HERE's the Russian poll...

[Alexander I]

I didn't forget Alexander Nevsky; I considered including him, but only a maximum of 10 choices is allowed.

And yes, Rurik was chieftain of the Rus, the Viking tribe that conquered the Slavs and formed Russia.

[loinburger]

Ivan the Terrible. I don't think that anybody managed to expand the empire more than he did. So what if he was a bit sociopathic.

[datakodin]

Originally posted by Alexander01
I didn't forget Alexander Nevsky; I considered including him, but only a maximum of 10 choices is allowed.

Alexander Nevsky was not a ruler. At that time, Novgorod was a kind of ansient democracy. They invited a king just for war time.

So, Alexander defeated Sweden army in 1240, German army in 1242 and - together with General Winter - explained to mongols that they have nothing to do in northern part of Russia. But when the wars were finished he was usually expelled from the city.

He was very good and lucky mercenary, not king.

[Myrddin]

It has to Boris to add life to the AI:

abrupt changes of government policy - lets sack some ministers today

populist gestures - we love/hate the president (frequently)

diplomatic illnesses - who can predict his diplomatic stance (or dance)

and ... Kalinka on the sound track

[SerapisIV]

Off-Topic but On-Topic. As an addendum to the 10% incoherency of Boris Yeltsin, here's a past WWWF Grudge Match, Boris Yeltsin versus Ted Kennedy in a shot-4-shot drinking match.

WWWF Grudge Match - Yeltsin vs. Kennedy

[SerapisIV]

Oh yeah, not about leaders, but the great Russian generals better be part of Civ3, not just European and American generals as great military leaders. Guys like Aleksandr Suvorov and Georgy Zhukov have done enough to warrant a Civ3 appearance.

[Buck Birdseed]

Since Firaxis is going for at least a nominal inclusion of female leaders in Civ3, it'd be a shame if they didn't include the most illustrious female monarch of them all, Catherine the Great. I mean, Joan of Arc didn't do much at all compared to Catherine...

[Fidel]

i must admit russians have many interesting leaders, far more than some other civs. of course interesting can be read as controversial.....
catherine, the humping machine....why not

[Buck Birdseed]

She didn't hump much more than most Male monarchs at the time. Except they didn't award their former mistresses huge estates. Or had one of them murder their spouse.

However, she's definately more well known for her diplomatic prowess. Perhaps the best personification of Machiavelli's renaissance prince.

[Ecthy]

Peter I

He was oen of the most important characters in Russian history, especially when it comes to leading Russia out of backwardness.

Stalin also did efficient work cocnerning industrialisation, but his means were.... extreme. After he died, many peole in the socialist world went on distance to him and his ideals. Peter I stays the man.

BTW, those who say that both Lenin and Stalin are actually Soviet leaders should remember the words abstraction and play balance... we don't really need 2 civs for the fellas, and the country's role in the world hasn't really changed during the time

(the soviet union actually consisted of more countries than only Russia, yet all of them were part of the Russian Empire before the revolution, so it doesn't really make a big difference )