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Rockefeller’s Standard Oil gets competition from Nobel

At the beginning of the 1870s, the European oil market was dominated by John D Rockefeller's company, Standard Oil. But the Americans would soon have tough competition from the Nobel brothers' newly-started oil company, Branobel. The new-found oil in Robert Nobel's oil plant in Baku flowed and, with the help of the Russian government in the form of increased export duties, Branobel grew at a rapid rate despite the, initially, backward technical level.

Ludvig’s engineering works – the foundation of the Nobels’ success

After the Russian Revolution and his return to Sweden, the young Swedish engineer Anton Carlsund writes down his memories of his work at Ludvig Nobel's engineering works in St Petersburg. Through his reports, we find out, among other things, that it was orders from the Russian army that laid the foundation for Nobel's successes and travelling on the "Nobel wheel" was all the rage in St Petersburg.

The oil barons in Baku are forced to work together

The competition between the oil barons in Baku is tough and unrelenting for many years. At the same time, the area is, despite its riches, treated like a distant colony. Their desire to create better conditions and an effective city leads to the oil barons joining together in a committee. In 1892, this collaboration develops into a syndicate in order to deal with the competition from the American Standard Oil.

Ludvig Nobel enters the fight for oil

When Ludvig Nobel visits his older brother Robert in Baku in 1876, he is carried along by the oil rush, and he becomes involved in the expansion of the operation. Together with his other brother Alfred, Ludvig founds the company Branobel against Robert’s will. Ludvig takes over the running of the company with his sons Emanuel and Carl.

Emanuel Nobel is forced to leave everything and flee

Emanuel Nobel is 28 when his father Ludvig dies and Emanuel takes over the running of the oil company Branobel. His uncle Alfred was initially doubtful of Emanuel’s leadership ability, but his nephew developed as a business leader and made Nobel’s company flourish. With the Russian Revolution and the nationalisation of all private property, however, everything is lost and Emanuel is forced to flee the country in 1918.

The Nobel family returns to Baku

During the Russian revolution, the entire Nobel family’s huge company conglomerate was confiscated, and all the Westerners fled the country. But in Baku, history lives long in the memory. Following the fall of communism and Azerbaijan’s independence, contact was re-established with the descendants of the Nobel brothers.

The father, Immanuel Nobel – a passionate inventor

The father of the Nobel brothers, Immanuel, was an important inventor whose work interested him more than financial gain. When he was on the edge of bankruptcy, he sought a new future in St Petersburg where his fortunes were reversed. Among other things, he received the Tsar's imperial gold medal before he once again ended up in financial difficulties and was forced to return to Sweden in 1859.

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