Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (1870–1924) and Lev Davidovich Trotsky (1879–1940)

Though they were bitter political foes for 14 years, Lenin and Trotsky came together in the summer of 1917 and oversaw the Bolshevik takeover of power in October. Though Lenin was the clear leader of the revolutionary government, he appointed Trotsky to key positions, notably fighting the civil war. Lenin also protected Trotsky, who had accumulated many enemies. Following Lenin’s death, in 1924, Trotsky was pushed out of power and into exile.