History of the Russian monarchy

The creation of the summer residence of Russian emperors, Tsarskoye Selo, depended to a greater extent on personal tastes, and sometimes simply the whims of its changing august owners. Since 1834, Tsarskoe Selo became a "sovereign" estate belonging to the reigning monarch. From that time on, it could not be bequeathed, was not subject to division or any kind of alienation, but was transferred to the new king with accession to the throne. Here, in cozy corner, near the capital St. Petersburg, the imperial family was not only the most august family, whose life was elevated to the rank of state policy, but also a large friendly family, with all the inherent human interests and joys.

EMPEROR PETER I

Peter I Alekseevich (1672-1725) - Tsar since 1682, Emperor since 1721. The son of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich (1629-1676) from his second marriage to Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina (1651-1694). Statesman, commander, diplomat, founder of the city of St. Petersburg. Peter I was married twice: by the first marriage - to Evdokia Feodorovna Lopukhina (1669-1731), from whom he had son of a prince Alexei (1690-1718), who was executed in 1718; two sons who died in infancy; second marriage - to Catherine Alekseevna Skavronskaya (1683-1727; later Empress Catherine I), from whom he had 9 children, most of whom, with the exception of Anna (1708-1728) and Elizabeth (1709-1761; later Empress Elizaveta Petrovna), died juveniles. During the Northern War (1700-1721), Peter I annexed to Russia the lands along the Neva River, in Karelia and the Baltic States, previously conquered by Sweden, including the territory with the manor - Saris hoff, Saaris Moisio, on which the front summer residence was later created Russian emperors - Tsarskoye Selo. In 1710, Peter I presented the manor to his wife Ekaterina Alekseevna, and the manor was named "Sarskaya" or "Sarskoye Selo".

EMPRESS CATHERINE I

Catherine I Alekseevna (1684-1727) - Empress since 1725. She ascended the throne after the death of her husband, Emperor Peter I (1672-1725). She was declared queen in 1711, empress in 1721, crowned in 1724. Combined church marriage with Emperor Peter I in 1712. The daughter of the Lithuanian peasant Samuil Skavronsky before the adoption of Orthodoxy was named Marta. The first royal owner of Sarskoye Selo, the future Tsarskoye Selo, after whom the Great Tsarskoye Selo Palace was later named Catherine's. Under her rule, the first stone structures were erected here in 1717-1723, which formed the basis of the Catherine Palace, and part of the regular park was laid out.

EMPEROR PETER II

Peter II Alekseevich (1715 - 1730) - Emperor since 1727. The son of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich (1690-1718) and Princess Charlotte-Christina-Sophia of Braunschweig - Wolfenbüttel (died 1715); grandson of Peter I (1672-1725) and Evdokia Lopukhina (1669-1731). He ascended the throne after the death of Empress Catherine I in 1727 according to her will. After the death of Catherine I, the Sarskoye village was inherited by her daughter Tsesarevna Elizaveta (1709-1761; future Empress Elizaveta Petrovna). At that time, the outbuildings of the Grand (Ekaterininsky) Palace were erected here and received further development park and landscaping.

EMPRESS ANNA IANOVNA

Anna Ioannovna (1693-1740) - Empress since 1730. Daughter of Tsar John V Alekseevich (1666-1696) and Tsarina Praskovya Feodorovna, née Saltykova (1664-1723). She ascended the throne after the death of her cousin, Emperor Peter II (1715-1730) and was crowned in 1730. During this period, Sarskoye Selo (future Tsarskoe Selo) belonged to Tsesarevna Elizaveta (1709-1761; later Empress Elizaveta Petrovna) and was used as a country residence and a hunting castle.

EMPEROR IVAN VI

John VI Antonovich (1740-1764) - emperor from 1740 to 1741. The son of the niece of Empress Anna Ioannovna (1693-1740), Princess Anna Leopoldovna of Mecklenburg and Prince Anton-Ulrich of Brunswick-Lüneburg. He was elevated to the throne after the death of his great-aunt, Empress Anna Ioannovna, according to her will. On November 9, 1740, his mother Anna Leopoldovna committed palace coup and declared herself the ruler of Russia. In 1741, as a result of a palace coup, the ruler Anna Leopoldovna and the young emperor Ioann Antonovich were deposed from the throne by Tsarina Elizabeth (1709-1761), daughter of Peter I (1672-1725). During this time, there were no significant changes in Sarskoye Selo (future Tsarskoye Selo).

EMPRESS ELIZABETH PETROVNA

Elizaveta Petrovna (1709-1761) - Empress since 1741, ascended the throne, overthrowing Emperor John VI Antonovich (1740-1764). Daughter of Emperor Peter I (1672-1725) and Empress Catherine I (1684-1727). She owned Sarskoye Selo (future Tsarskoye Selo) since 1727, which Catherine I bequeathed to her. After her accession to the throne, Elizaveta Petrovna ordered a significant reconstruction and expansion of the Grand Palace (later the Catherine Palace), the creation of a New Garden and the expansion of the old park, the construction of Hermitage park pavilions , Grotto and others in Sarskoye Selo (later Tsarskoye Selo).

EMPEROR PETER III

Peter III Fedorovich (1728-1762) - emperor from 1761 to 1762. Son of the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp Karl Friedrich and Tsesarevna Anna Petrovna (1708-1728), grandson of Emperor Peter I (1672-1725). Before the adoption of Orthodoxy, he bore the name Karl-Peter-Ulrich. The ancestor of the Holstein-Gottorp line of the Romanov dynasty on the Russian throne, which ruled until 1917. He was married to Princess Sophia-Friederike-August of Anhalt-Zerbst (1729-1796), after the adoption of Orthodoxy, she received the name Ekaterina Alekseevna (later Empress Catherine II). From his marriage with Ekaterina Alekseevna, he had two children: a son, Paul (1754-1801; future Emperor Paul I) and a daughter who died in infancy. He was overthrown from the throne in 1762 as a result of a palace coup by his wife Ekaterina Alekseevna and killed. For short reign Peter III there were no significant changes in the appearance of Tsarskoye Selo.

EMPRESS CATHERINE II

Catherine II Alekseevna (1729-1796) - Empress since 1762. She ascended the throne by overthrowing her husband, Emperor Peter III Fedorovich (1728-1762). German Princess Sophia-Friederike-Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst. After the adoption of Orthodoxy, she received the name Ekaterina Alekseevna. In 1745 she married the heir Russian throne Peter Fedorovich later Emperor Peter III. From this marriage she had two children: son Pavel (1754-1801; future Emperor Paul I) and a daughter who died in infancy. The reign of Catherine II significantly influenced the appearance of Tsarskoye Selo, it was during her reign that the former Sarskoye Selo began to be called that. Tsarskoe Selo was the favorite summer residence of Catherine II. By her order, the Bolshoi Palace (at the end of the reign of Catherine II it began to be called the Catherine Palace) was rebuilt here, the design of new interiors in it, the creation of the landscape part of the Catherine Park, the construction of park structures: the Cameron Gallery, the Cold Bath, the Agate Rooms and others, the construction of the Alexander palace.

EMPEROR PAUL I

Pavel I Petrovich (1754-1801) - emperor since 1796. Son of Emperor Peter III (1728-1762) and Empress Catherine II (1729-1796). He was married twice: first marriage (1773) - to the German princess Wilhelmine-Louise of Hesse-Darmstadt (1755-1776), after the adoption of Orthodoxy, named Natalya Alekseevna, who died from childbirth in 1776; second marriage (1776) - to the German princess Sophia-Dorotea-August-Louise of Württemberg (1759-1828; in Orthodoxy Maria Feodorovna), from whom he had 10 children - 4 sons, including future emperors Alexander I (1777-1825 ) and Nicholas I (1796-1855), and 6 daughters. He was killed during a palace coup in 1801. Paul I did not like Tsarskoye Selo and preferred Gatchina and Pavlovsk to him. At this time, in Tsarskoye Selo, the interiors of the Alexander Palace were made out for the Grand Duke Alexander Pavlovich (later Emperor Alexander I), the eldest son of Emperor Paul I.

EMPEROR ALEXANDER I

Alexander I Pavlovich (1777-1825) - emperor since 1801. The eldest son of Emperor Paul I (1754-1801) and his second wife Empress Maria Feodorovna (1759-1828). He ascended the throne after the assassination of his father, Emperor Paul I, as a result of a palace conspiracy. He was married to the German princess Louise-Maria-August of Baden-Baden (1779-1826), who adopted the name Elizaveta Alekseevna during the transition to Orthodoxy, from whose marriage he had two daughters who died in infancy. During his reign, Tsarskoye Selo again acquires the significance of the main suburban imperial residence. New interiors were decorated in the Catherine Palace, and various structures were built in the Catherine and Alexander parks.

EMPEROR NICHOLAS I

Nicholas I Pavlovich (1796-1855) - emperor since 1825. The third son of Emperor Paul I (1754-1801) and Empress Maria Feodorovna (1759-1828). He ascended the throne after the death of his elder brother Emperor Alexander I (1777-1825) and in connection with the renunciation of the throne by the second oldest son of Emperor Paul I, Grand Duke Konstantin (1779-1831). He was married (1817) to the Prussian princess Frederick-Louise-Charlotte-Wilhelmina (1798-1860), who adopted the name Alexandra Feodorovna during the transition to Orthodoxy. They had 7 children, including the future Emperor Alexander II (1818-1881). During this period, new interiors were being designed in the Catherine and Alexander Palaces in Tsarskoe Selo, and the number of park facilities in the Catherine and Alexander parks was expanding.

EMPEROR ALEXANDER II

Alexander II Nikolaevich (1818-1881) - emperor since 1855. Eldest son of Emperor Nicholas I (1796-1855) and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna (1798-1860). Statesman, reformer, diplomat. He was married to the German princess Maximilian-Wilhelmine-August-Sophia-Maria of Hesse-Darmstadt (1824-1880), after the adoption of Orthodoxy, she received the name Maria Alexandrovna. From this marriage there were 8 children, including the future emperor Alexander III(1845-1894). After the death of his wife, Maria Alexandrovna, he entered into a morganatic marriage in 1880 with Princess Ekaterina Mikhailovna Dolgorukova (1849-1922), who, after her marriage to the emperor, received the title of Most Serene Princess Yuryevskaya. From E. M. Dolgorukova, Alexander II had three children who inherited the name and title of their mother. In 1881, Emperor Alexander II died from a bomb explosion thrown at him by a terrorist revolutionary I. I. Grinevitsky. During his reign, there were no significant changes in the appearance of the Tsarskoye Selo imperial residence. New interiors were created in the Catherine Palace and part of the Catherine Park was re-planned.

EMPEROR ALEXANDER III

Alexander III Alexandrovich (1845-1894) - emperor since 1881. The second son of Emperor Alexander II (1818-1881) and Empress Maria Alexandrovna (1824-1880). He ascended the throne after the assassination of his father, Emperor Alexander II, by a terrorist revolutionary in 1881. He was married (1866) to the Danish princess Maria-Sophia-Frederike-Dagmar (1847-1928), who adopted the name Maria Feodorovna during the transition to Orthodoxy. From this marriage, 6 children were born, including the future Emperor Nicholas II (1868-1918). At this time, there were no significant changes in the architectural appearance of Tsarskoe Selo, the changes affected only the decoration of some interiors of the Catherine Palace.

EMPEROR NICHOLAS II

Nicholas II Alexandrovich (1868-1918) - the last Russian emperor - ruled from 1894 to 1917. Eldest son of Emperor Alexander III (1845-1894) and Empress Maria Feodorovna (1847-1928). He was married (1894) to the German princess Alice-Victoria-Helen-Louise-Beatrice of Hesse-Darmstadt (1872-1918), after the adoption of Orthodoxy, she received the name Alexandra Feodorovna. From this marriage there were 5 children: daughters - Olga (1895-1918), Tatyana (1897-1918), Maria (1899-1918) and Anastasia (1901-1918); son - Tsarevich, heir to the throne Alexei (1904-1918). As a result of the revolution that took place in Russia on March 2, 1917, Emperor Nicholas II abdicated the throne. After the abdication, Nicholas II and his family were arrested and detained at the Alexander Palace in Tsarskoe Selo, from where, on August 14, 1917, Nicholas Romanov and his family were sent to Tobolsk. On July 17, 1918, former Emperor Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra Feodorovna and five children were shot by order of the revolutionary government. During the reign of Nicholas II in Tsarskoye Selo, the design of new interiors in the Alexander Palace, the construction of the Fedorovsky town in Tsarskoye Selo, an architectural ensemble, decided in the forms of ancient Russian architecture, took place.

For almost 400 years of the existence of this title, it was worn completely different people- from adventurers and liberals to tyrants and conservatives.

Rurikovichi

Over the years, Russia (from Rurik to Putin) has changed its political system many times. At first, the rulers had a princely title. When, after a period of political fragmentation, a new Russian state, the owners of the Kremlin thought about taking the royal title.

This was done under Ivan the Terrible (1547-1584). This one decided to marry the kingdom. And this decision was not accidental. So the Moscow monarch emphasized that he was the successor. It was they who bestowed Orthodoxy on Russia. In the 16th century, Byzantium no longer existed (it fell under the onslaught of the Ottomans), so Ivan the Terrible rightly believed that his act would have serious symbolic significance.

Such historical figures as this king had a great influence on the development of the whole country. In addition to the fact that Ivan the Terrible changed his title, he also captured the Kazan and Astrakhan khanates, starting Russian expansion to the East.

Ivan's son Fedor (1584-1598) was distinguished by his weak character and health. Nevertheless, under him the state continued to develop. The patriarchate was established. Rulers have always paid much attention to the issue of succession to the throne. This time he stood up especially sharply. Fedor had no children. When he died, the Rurik dynasty on the Moscow throne came to an end.

Time of Troubles

After Fyodor's death, Boris Godunov (1598-1605), his brother-in-law, came to power. He did not belong to the royal family, and many considered him a usurper. Under him, due to natural disasters, a colossal famine began. The tsars and presidents of Russia have always tried to keep calm in the provinces. Due to the tense situation, Godunov failed to do this. Several peasant uprisings took place in the country.

In addition, the adventurer Grishka Otrepiev called himself one of the sons of Ivan the Terrible and began a military campaign against Moscow. He really managed to capture the capital and become king. Boris Godunov did not live up to this moment - he died from health complications. His son Fyodor II was captured by the associates of False Dmitry and killed.

The impostor ruled for only a year, after which he was overthrown during the Moscow uprising, inspired by disgruntled Russian boyars who did not like that False Dmitry surrounded himself with Catholic Poles. decided to transfer the crown to Vasily Shuisky (1606-1610). During the Time of Troubles, the rulers of Russia often changed.

The princes, tsars and presidents of Russia had to carefully guard their power. Shuisky did not hold her back and was overthrown by the Polish interventionists.

First Romanovs

When in 1613 Moscow was liberated from foreign invaders, the question arose of who should be made sovereign. This text presents all the tsars of Russia in order (with portraits). Now it's time to tell about the ascension to the throne of the Romanov dynasty.

The first sovereign of this kind - Michael (1613-1645) - was just a young man when he was put to rule a vast country. His main goal was the struggle with Poland for the lands occupied by it during the Time of Troubles.

These were the biographies of the rulers and the dates of reign until mid-seventeenth century. After Michael, his son Alexei (1645-1676) ruled. He annexed left-bank Ukraine and Kyiv to Russia. So, after several centuries of fragmentation and Lithuanian rule, the fraternal peoples finally began to live in one country.

Alexei had many sons. The eldest of them, Fedor III (1676-1682), died at a young age. After him came the simultaneous reign of two children - Ivan and Peter.

Peter the Great

Ivan Alekseevich was unable to govern the country. Therefore, in 1689, the sole reign of Peter the Great began. He completely rebuilt the country in a European manner. Russia - from Rurik to Putin (in chronological order consider all the rulers) - knows few examples of such an epoch so full of changes.

Appeared new army and fleet. To do this, Peter started a war against Sweden. The Northern War lasted 21 years. During it, the Swedish army was defeated, and the kingdom agreed to cede its southern Baltic lands. Petersburg was founded in this region in 1703 - new capital Russia. Peter's success made him think about changing his title. In 1721 he became emperor. However, this change did not abolish the royal title - in everyday speech, monarchs continued to be called kings.

The era of palace coups

Peter's death was followed by a long period of unstable power. The monarchs succeeded each other with enviable regularity, which was facilitated. As a rule, the guards or certain courtiers were at the head of these changes. During this era, Catherine I (1725-1727), Peter II (1727-1730), Anna Ioannovna(1730-1740), Ivan VI (1740-1741), Elizaveta Petrovna (1741-1761) and Peter III (1761-1762).

The last of them was of German origin. Under the predecessor of Peter III, Elizabeth, Russia waged a victorious war against Prussia. The new monarch renounced all conquests, returned Berlin to the king and concluded a peace treaty. With this act, he signed his own death warrant. The guards organized another palace coup, after which Peter's wife Catherine II was on the throne.

Catherine II and Paul I

Catherine II (1762-1796) had a deep state mind. On the throne, she began to pursue a policy of enlightened absolutism. The Empress organized the work of the famous statutory commission, the purpose of which was to prepare a comprehensive project of reforms in Russia. She also wrote the Order. This document contained many considerations about the transformations needed for the country. The reforms were curtailed when, in the 1770s, the Volga region broke out peasant uprising under the leadership of Pugachev.

All the tsars and presidents of Russia (in chronological order, we listed all the royal persons) took care that the country looked worthy on the foreign arena. She was no exception. She led several successful military campaigns against Turkey. As a result, Crimea and other important Black Sea regions were annexed to Russia. At the end of Catherine's reign, three partitions of Poland took place. So the Russian Empire received important acquisitions in the west.

After the death of the great empress, her son Paul I (1796-1801) came to power. This quarrelsome man was not liked by many in the St. Petersburg elite.

First half of the 19th century

In 1801 there was another and the last palace coup. A group of conspirators dealt with Pavel. His son Alexander I (1801-1825) was on the throne. His reign was Patriotic war and Napoleon's invasion. The rulers of the Russian state have not faced such a serious enemy intervention for two centuries. Despite the capture of Moscow, Bonaparte was defeated. Alexander became the most popular and famous monarch of the Old World. He was also called "the liberator of Europe".

Inside his country, Alexander in his youth tried to implement liberal reforms. Historical figures often change their policies as they age. So Alexander soon abandoned his ideas. He died in Taganrog in 1825 under mysterious circumstances.

At the beginning of the reign of his brother Nicholas I (1825-1855) there was an uprising of the Decembrists. Because of this, conservative orders triumphed in the country for thirty years.

Second half of the 19th century

Here are all the tsars of Russia in order, with portraits. Further, we will talk about the main reformer of the national statehood - Alexander II (1855-1881). He became the initiator of the manifesto on the liberation of the peasants. The destruction of serfdom allowed the development of the Russian market and capitalism. The country began to grow economically. The reforms also affected the judiciary, local self-government, administrative and conscription systems. The monarch tried to raise the country to its feet and learn the lessons that the lost one started under Nicholas I taught him.

But Alexander's reforms were not enough for the radicals. Terrorists attempted several times on his life. In 1881 they were successful. Alexander II died from a bomb explosion. The news came as a shock to the whole world.

Because of what happened, the son of the deceased monarch, Alexander III (1881-1894), forever became a tough reactionary and conservative. But he is best known as a peacemaker. During his reign, Russia did not conduct a single war.

The last king

Alexander III died in 1894. Power passed into the hands of Nicholas II (1894-1917) - his son and the last Russian monarch. By that time, the old world order with the absolute power of kings and kings had already outlived itself. Russia - from Rurik to Putin - knew a lot of upheavals, but it was under Nicholas that there were more than ever many of them.

In 1904-1905. the country experienced a humiliating war with Japan. It was followed by the first revolution. Although the unrest was suppressed, the king had to make concessions public opinion. He agreed to establish a constitutional monarchy and a parliament.

The tsars and presidents of Russia at all times faced a certain opposition within the state. Now people could elect deputies who expressed these sentiments.

In 1914 the First World War. No one then suspected that it would end with the fall of several empires at once, including the Russian one. In 1917, the February Revolution broke out, and the last tsar had to abdicate. Nicholas II, together with his family, was shot by the Bolsheviks in the basement of the Ipatiev House in Yekaterinburg.

It is officially believed that the word “king” comes from the ancient Roman Ceasar, and the kings are called kings only because all the emperors in Rome were called Caesars, starting with Gaius Julius Caesar, whose name eventually became a household name. However, in Russian, a completely different word came from the Roman Ceasar - the word "caesar". That's how, through [k], this name was read in those ancient times. The word “king” comes from the ancient word “Dzar”, it meant the red glow of hot metal, and in this meaning it turned into the word “heat”, as well as dawn, and in this meaning both dawn and glow come from the word “dzar” , and even lightning.
Remember the golden man dug up in 1969 in the Issyk mound? Judging by his attire, this was a dzar, and, in scales like the heat of grief, he really represented good example glow man.
Around that time, about the same people, whose representative was buried in the Issyk mound, had a queen Zarina. She was called Zarina in Persian, and in her own mother tongue, which can be conditionally called Scythian, it was called Dzarnya.
The names Zarina and Zara are still popular in the Caucasus. There is also his male counterpart Zaur.
In modern Ossetian, which is considered a descendant of the Scythian, the word zærinæ means gold, and in Sanskrit, in which "dz" turned into "x", gold as हिरण्य (hiranya).
The word Ceasar is related to the word "mower" and he was named so for the reason that his mother's stomach was cut by the same scythe, as a result of which Caesar was born.
Tsars in Rus' were traditionally called foreign rulers - first the Byzantine basileus, to whom the Hellenized version of the name of Caesar, which sounded like καῖσαρ, had not been applied for a long time, and then to the Horde khans.
After dominance in our territory passed from the Horde to Moscow, the Moscow grand dukes began to be unofficially called tsars - first Ivan III, and then Basil III. However, only Ivan IV, later nicknamed the Terrible, officially appropriated this title to himself, since, in addition to the Moscow principality, he already owned two recent kingdoms - Kazan and Astrakhan. From then until 1721, when Russia became an empire, the royal title became the main title of the Russian monarch.

All Russian tsars from Ivan the Terrible to Michael the Last

appearance

kings	Period of government	Notes
Simeon II Bekbulatovich		He was appointed by Ivan the Terrible, but after some time he was also dismissed.
Fedor I Ivanovich		The last representative of the Rurik dynasty. He was so religious that he considered marital relations sinful, as a result of which he died childless.
Irina Fyodorovna Godunova		After the death of her husband, she was proclaimed queen, but did not accept the throne and went to the monastery.
Boris Fyodorovich Godunov		The first king of the Godunov dynasty
Fedor II Borisovich Godunov		The last king from the Godunov dynasty. Together with his mother, he was strangled by archers who went over to the side of False Dmitry I.
False Dmitry I		According to the generally accepted version, Yuri Bogdanovich Otrepyev, according to some historians, was Tsarevich Dmitry Ivanovich who really survived the assassination attempt.
Vasily Ivanovich Shuisky		Representative of the princely Shuisky family from the Suzdal branch of the Rurikovich. In September 1610, he was extradited to the Polish hetman Zholkiewski and died in Polish captivity on September 12, 1612.
Vladislav I Sigismundovich Vase		He was called to the kingdom by the Seven Boyars, but he actually never entered the reign of Russia and was not in Russia. On his behalf, Prince Mstislavsky exercised power.
Mikhail I Fedorovich		The first king of the Romanov dynasty. The actual ruler until 1633 was his father, Patriarch Filaret.
Alexei I Mikhailovich
Fedor III Alekseevich		He died at the age of 20, leaving no heirs.
Ivan V Alekseevich		From April 27, 1682, he ruled jointly with Peter I. Until September 1689, Princess Sofya Alekseevna actually ruled the country. All the time he was considered seriously ill, which did not stop him from marrying and having eight children. One of the daughters, Anna Ioannovna, later became the empress.
Peter I the Great		On October 22, 1721, the post of head of state became known as the All-Russian Emperor. Cm.:
Catherine I
Peter II		The son of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich executed by Peter.
Anna Ioannovna		Daughter of Ivan V Alekseevich.
Ivan VI Antonovich		Great-grandson of Ivan V. He ascended the throne at the age of two months. The regents under him were Ernst Johann Biron, and from November 7, 1740 - his mother Anna Leopoldovna.
Peter III		Grandson of Peter I and Catherine I, son of Princess Anna Petrovna and Duke of Holstein-Gottorp Karl Friedrich.
Catherine II the Great		Sophia Augusta Frederica of Anhalt-Zerbst, wife of Peter III. She became empress by overthrowing and killing her husband.

EMPERORS

Emperor (from lat. imperator - sovereign) - the title of the monarch, head of state (empire).

Emperors in Russia were from 1721 to 1917. The title Emperor of All Russia (Emperor of All Russia) was adopted for the first time after the victory in the Northern War by Peter I the Great on October 22, 1721 at the request of the Senate “as usual from the Roman Senate for the noble deeds of emperors, such titles were publicly presented to them as a gift and on statutes for memory in eternal childbirth signed. The last Emperor Nicholas II was overthrown during February Revolution 1917.

The emperor had supreme autocratic power (since 1906 - legislative power together with the State Duma and the State Council), officially he was titled "His Imperial Majesty" (in short form - "Sovereign" or "H.I.V.").

Article 1 of the Basic Laws Russian Empire pointed out that “The Emperor of All Russia is an autocratic and unlimited Monarch. To obey his supreme authority, not only out of fear, but also out of conscience, God himself commands. The terms "autocratic" and "unlimited", coinciding in their meaning, indicate that all the functions of state power in law formation, expedient activity within the law (administrative-executive) and the administration of justice are performed undividedly and without the obligatory participation of other institutions by the head of state, who transfers the implementation of some of them by certain bodies acting on his behalf and by his authority (Article 81).

Russia under the emperors was a legal state with a monarchical-unlimited form of government.

Full title of emperor at the beginning of the 20th century. was like this (Article 37 of the Basic Laws of the Russian Empire):
By God's hastening mercy, We, ΝΝ, Emperor and Autocrat of All Russia, Moscow, Kiev, Vladimir, Novgorod; Tsar of Kazan, Tsar of Astrakhan, Tsar of Poland, Tsar of Siberia, Tsar of Tauric Chersonis, Tsar of Georgia; Sovereign of Pskov and Grand Duke Smolensk, Lithuanian, Volyn, Podolsky and Finnish; Prince of Estonia, Livonia, Courland and Semigalsky, Samogitsky, Belostoksky, Korelsky, Tversky, Yugorsky, Permsky, Vyatsky, Bulgarian and others; Sovereign and Grand Duke of Novgorod Nizovsky lands, Chernigov, Ryazan, Polotsk, Rostov, Yaroslavl, Belozersky, Udorsky, Obdorsky, Kondia, Vitebsk, Mstislav and all northern countries Sovereign; and Sovereign of Iversky, Kartalinsky and Kasardinsky lands and regions of Armenia; Cherkasy and Mountain Princes and other Hereditary Sovereign and Possessor; Sovereign of Turkestan; Heir of Norway, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein, Stormarn, Dithmarsen and Oldenburg and others, and others, and others.

In some cases, determined by law, an abbreviated form of title was used: “By God's hastening mercy, We, ΝΝ, Emperor and Autocrat of All Russia, Moscow, Kiev, Vladimir, Novgorod; Tsar of Kazan, Tsar of Astrakhan, Tsar of Poland, Tsar of Siberia, Tsar of Tauric Chersonis, Tsar of Georgia, Grand Duke of Finland and others, and others, and others.

After the adoption by Peter the Great of the title of emperor, on October 22 (November 2), 1721, and the recognition of his title by other countries, Russian state became known as the Russian Empire (Russian Empire).

On February 5 (16), 1722, Peter the Great issued a decree on succession to the throne, in which he abolished the ancient custom of transferring the throne to direct male descendants, but allowed, at the will of the monarch, the appointment of any worthy person as heir.

On April 5 (16), 1797, Paul I established already new order inheritance. Since that time, the order of succession to the Russian throne is based on the principle of primogeniture, i.e. with the accession to the throne by the descendants of their ascendants in the event of the death or abdication of the latter by the time the inheritance is opened. In the absence of heirs in a straight line, the throne should pass to the side ones. Within each line (straight or side), males are preferred over females, and male sidelines are invoked before females. Accession to the throne for the called must be limited to the confession of the Orthodox faith. The majority of the reigning emperor (and heir) comes at the age of sixteen, until this age (as well as in other cases of incapacity) his power is exercised by the ruler, who may be (if there is no person specially appointed by the reigning emperor), the surviving father or mother of the emperor , and in their absence - the closest adult heir.

All the emperors who ruled Russia belonged to one imperial family - the House of Romanov, the first representative of which became the monarch in 1613. Since 1761, the descendants of the daughter of Peter I Anna and the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp Karl-Friedrich reigned, who descended from the family in the male line Holstein-Gottorpov (a branch of the Oldenburg dynasty), and in the genealogy these representatives of the Romanov dynasty, starting from Peter III, are called the Romanovs-Holstein-Gottorp.

By birthright and in terms of the scope of his powers, the emperor was the supreme leader of a great world power, the first official in the state. On behalf of the emperor, all laws were issued, they were appointed to positions.

All government ministers, governors and others senior officials. It was the emperor who determined the most important areas of government activity, including issues of war and peace, and almost uncontrollably disposed of state finances.

The organic nature of the Russian autocracy is inextricably linked with historical conditions development and fate of the Russian Empire, the peculiarities of the Russian folk mentality. The supreme power had support in the minds and souls of the Russian people. The monarchical idea was popular and accepted by society.

In their objective role, all the emperors of Russia were major political figures, whose activities reflected both public interests and contradictions, as well as their personal qualities.

Mind and education, political preferences, moral principles, life principles and the features of the psychological make-up of the character of the monarch to a large extent determined the direction and nature of the domestic and foreign policy of the state of Russia and, ultimately, were of great importance for the fate of the whole country.

In 1917, with the abdication of Nicholas II for himself and his son Tsarevich Alexei, the imperial title and the empire itself were abolished.

The history of Russia is rich in various eras, each of which has left its mark on the life of the country. One of the most intense and controversial was the reign of Peter I the Great, which ended on January 25, 1725 due to the sudden death of the emperor.

Russia without a king? Who ruled after Peter 1

Three years before his death, the autocrat managed to issue a decree that changed the previous order of succession to the throne: now it was not the eldest son who became the heir, but one of the sons whom the father considered worthy to take such an honorable place. This decision was due to the fact that the son of the king, the potential heir to the throne, Tsarevich Alexei, was accused of preparing a conspiracy against own father and, as a result, was sentenced to death. In 1718, the prince died within the walls of the Peter and Paul Fortress.

However, before his death, Peter I did not have time to appoint a new king, leaving the country, for the development of which he had put so much effort, without a ruler.

As a result, the next few years were marked by numerous goals for which the seizure of power was. Since no official heir was appointed, those wishing to sit on the throne tried to prove that it was they who deserved this right.

The very first coup carried out by the guardsmen of the wife of Peter I - by birth Marta Skavronskaya, popularly known as Ekaterina Alekseevna Mikhailova (Catherine I) - brought to power the first woman in the history of Russia.

The enthronement of the future All-Russian Empress was led by an associate of the late tsar, Prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov, who became the de facto ruler of the state.

Russia after Peter 1 is a special milestone in world history. The strict orderliness and discipline that partly characterized the reign of the emperor now lost their former strength.

who is she?

Martha Skavronskaya (real name of the Empress) was from a family of Baltic peasants. She was born on April 5, 1684. Having lost both parents early, the girl was brought up in the family of a Protestant pastor.

During the Northern War (between Sweden and Russia), in 1702, Martha, along with other residents, was captured by the Russian troops, and then in the service of Prince Menshikov. There are two versions of how this happened.

One version says that Marta became the mistress of Count Sheremetyev, the commander of the Russian army. She was seen by Prince Alexander Danilovich - the favorite of Peter the Great - and, using his authority, took the girl to his house.

According to another version, Martha became the manager's servant at Colonel Baur, where Menshikov laid eyes on her and took her to his house. And already here Peter I himself noticed her.

Rapprochement with Peter I

For 9 years, Martha was the mistress of the king. In 1704, she gave birth to his first child, the son of Peter, and then the second son, Pavel. However, both boys died.

The future empress was educated by the sister of Peter I, Natalya Alekseevna, who taught Martha to read and write. And in 1705, the girl was baptized into Orthodoxy under the name of Ekaterina Alekseevna Mikhailova. In 1708 and 1709, Catherine's daughters from Peter Alekseevich, Anna and Elizabeth (who later took the throne under the name

Finally, in 1712, a wedding with Peter I took place in the church of John of Dalmitsky - Catherine became a full member royal family. The year 1724 was marked by the solemn coronation of Martha Skavronskaya in the Assumption Cathedral in Moscow. She received the crown from the hands of the emperor himself.

Who and when ruled in Rus'

After the death of Peter 1, Russia fully learned what a country is worth without an imperious ruler. Since Prince Menshikov won the favor of the tsar, and later helped Catherine I become the head of state, the correct answer to the question of who ruled after Peter 1 would be Prince Alexander Danilovich, who actively participated in the life of the country and made the most important decisions. However, the reign of the empress, despite such strong support, did not last long - until May 1727.

During the reign of Catherine I, an important role in the politics of Russia of that time was played by the one created even before the ascension to the throne of the Empress. It included such noble and prominent people in the Russian Empire of that time as Prince Alexander Menshikov (who headed this body), Dmitry Golitsyn, Fyodor Apraksin, Pyotr Tolstoy.

At the beginning of the reign of Catherine I, taxes were reduced and many condemned to exile and imprisonment were pardoned. Such changes were caused by the fear of riots due to price increases, which invariably had to lead to discontent among the townsfolk.

In addition, the reforms carried out by Peter were canceled or modified:

the Senate began to play a less prominent role in the political life of the country;

governors replaced local authorities;

for the improvement of the troops, a special Commission was organized, consisting of flagships and generals.

Innovations of Catherine I. Domestic and foreign policy

For someone who ruled after Peter 1 (we are talking about his wife), it was extremely difficult to surpass the reformer tsar in the versatility of politics. Of the innovations, it is worth noting the creation of the Academy of Sciences and the organization of an expedition led by the famous navigator Vitus Bering to Kamchatka.

In foreign policy in general, Catherine I adhered to the views of her husband: she supported the claims of the Holstein Duke Karl Friedrich (who was her son-in-law) to Schleswig. This led to an aggravation of relations with England and Denmark. The result of the confrontation was the accession of Russia to the Vienna Union (which included Spain, Prussia and Austria) in 1726.

Russia after Peter 1 gained significant influence in Courland. It was so great that Prince Menshikov planned to become the head of this duchy, but local residents revealed discontent about this.

Thanks to the foreign policy of Catherine I and Alexander Danilovich (that's who ruled Russia after the death of Peter 1 in fact), the empire was able to take possession of the Shirvan region (having achieved concessions on this issue from Persia and Turkey). Also, thanks to Prince Raguzinsky, friendly relations with China were established.

The end of the reign of the empress

The power of Catherine I came to an end in May 1727, when the Empress died at the age of 44 from a lung disease. She was buried in the Peter and Paul Fortress.

Before her death, Catherine wanted to make her daughter Elizabeth empress, but once again she obeyed Menshikov and appointed her grandson, Peter II Alekseevich, who was 11 years old at the time of ascension to the throne, as the heir and tsar of Russia.

The regent was none other than Prince Alexander Danilovich (this fact once again proves who ruled after Peter 1 in Russia). Menshikov soon married the newly-made tsar with his daughter Maria, thus further strengthening his influence on court and state life.

However, the power of Prince Alexander Danilovich did not last long: after the death of the emperor, he was accused of a state conspiracy and died in exile.

Russia after Peter the Great is already a completely different state, where not reforms and transformations came to the fore, but the struggle for the throne and attempts to prove the superiority of some classes over others.