Czars of Russia
Aim:How did Russia compete in the emerging western world?
Do Now: What empire took over Russia during the Middle Ages?
Czars of Russia
Czar (also spelled as tsar) literally means an emperor or a male monarch. It was the imperial title of Russian rulers, who ruled Russia from 16th century until the Bolshevik revolution in 1917. It is derived from the Latin word Caesar that was the title of Roman emperors. Czar also means a person having great power. The Russian czars were the rulers of Russia, whose reign began with Ivan the Terrible and ended with Nicholas II. They ruled for nearly 350 years. Here is a brief history and timeline of the Russian czars.
Ivan the Terrible
Ivan IV (popularly known as Ivan the Terrible) was the first Russian ruler to assume the title of Czar in 1547. He reigned from 1547-1584. He was an authoritarian and a ruthless ruler. Many people during Ivan's reign were executed at slightest provocation. Ivan is infamous for killing his own son in a fit of rage. Ivan IV died in 1584, leaving his worthless son Feodor, as heir to the throne. The time of troubles began in Russia, after Ivan IVth's death. The country was torn by civil war. There was unrest and the country was even struck by famines. Finally, in 1613, the chaos ended. Representatives of 50 cities and some peasants unanimously elected Mikhail Feodorovich Romanov as the new czar. From here began the Romanov dynasty that ruled Russia till 1917.
Peter the Great
Czar Peter, popularly known as Peter the Great, was the founder of modern Russia and he transformed it into a great European empire. Peter the Great was the fourteenth child of Alexei Mikhailovich, born on May 30, 1672, from his second marriage to Natalia Kirillovna Naryshkina. Having ruled jointly with his brother Ivan V from 1682, with Ivan's death in 1696, Peter was officially declared Sovereign of all Russia.
During his reign, Peter undertook extensive reforms: He created a regular army and navy, subjugated the Church to the state and introduced new administrative and territorial divisions of the country. He paid particular attention to the development of science. He was a far-sighted and skillful diplomat and a talented military leader. His largest accomplishment was Westernizing Russia.
Under Peter's rule, Russia became a great European nation. In 1721, he proclaimed Russia an Empire and was accorded the title of Emperor of All Russia, Great Father of the Fatherland and "the Great."
He married twice and had 11 children, many of whom died in infancy. The eldest son from his first marriage, Czarevich Alexei, was convicted of high treason by his father and secretly executed in 1718.
Peter died from a chill on January 28, 1725, without nominating an heir. He was buried in the Cathedral of the St. Peter and St. Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg.
Catherine the Great
Born on April 21, 1729, in Strettin (now Szczecin), Poland, into the family of Prince Christian August of Anhalt-Zerbst, Catherine was christened Sophia Augusta Frederica. On February 9, 1744, aged 15, she came to Russia at the invitation of Empress Elizaveta Petrovna as the bride of the heir to the throne, Peter Feodorovich. They married in St. Petersburg on August 21, 1745, and she was christened into the Orthodox Church as Ekaterina Alexeevna. Industrious, highly intelligent and strong-willed, she quickly mastered the Russian language. A reader of historical and philosophical works, she entered into correspondence with some of the greatest minds in Europe, including Voltaire.
On June 28, 1762, with the support of the Imperial Guard, she overthrew her husband Peter III. She was crowned Empress of All Russia on September 22, 1762, in the Dormition Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. Her rule was one of the most prosperous periods of the Russian Empire. She undertook a wide range of internal political reforms, waged two successful wars against the Ottoman Empire and occupied vast territories on Russia's southern boundaries, eventually advancing the country's border to the Black Sea. This allowed Russia to have a "Warm Water Port" so that they could trade all year round. She died on November 6, 1796, and was buried in the Cathedral of the St. Peter and St. Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg.
Feudalism in Imperial Russia
Serfdom was prevalent in Russia during the reign of the Russian czars. Almost 80% of the Russian people were either peasants or serfs. The czars did not wish to end the feudal system. As they were afraid of losing power, capitalism was forbidden. Most of the czars were autocratic rulers. They were also oppressive about religion and anti-Semitic.
Timeline of Russian Romanov Czars
1613-1645: Czar Mikhail Feodorovich, founder of the Romanov dynasty 1645-1676: Czar Alexei Mikhailovich 1676-1682: Czar Feodor Alexeevich 1682-1696: Czar Ivan V (joint ruler with Peter I the Great) 1696-1725: Czar Peter I the Great, Emperor of All Russia (From 1721 onwards, the Russian czar was proclaimed Emperor of All Russia. Czar Peter I became the first Emperor of All Russia) 1725-1727: Catherine I, Empress of All Russia 1727-1730: Peter II, Emperor of All Russia 1730-1740: Anna Ivanovna, Empress of All Russia 1740-1741: Ivan VI, Emperor of All Russia 1741-1761: Elizabeth, Empress of All Russia 1761-1762: Peter III, Emperor of All Russia 1762-1796: Catherine II the Great, Empress of All Russia 1796-1801: Paul I, Emperor of All Russia 1801-1825: Alexander I, Emperor of All Russia 1825-1855: Nicholas I, Emperor of All Russia 1855-1881: Alexander II, Emperor of All Russia 1881-1894: Alexander III, Emperor of All Russia 1894-1917: Nicholas II, Emperor of All Russia
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