List of Russian rulers
Monarchy of Russia | |
---|---|
| |
Nicholas II | |
Details | |
Style | His Imperial Majesty |
First monarch | Rurik (as Prince) |
Last monarch | Nicholas II (as Emperor) |
Formation | 862 |
Abolition | 15 March 1917 (formally 1 September 1917) |
Residence | Winter Palace |
Appointer | Hereditary |
Pretender(s) |
Disputed: Maria Vladimirovna |
This is a list of all reigning monarchs in the history of Russia. It includes titles Prince of Novgorod, Grand Prince of Kiev, Grand Prince of Vladimir, Grand Prince of Moscow, Tsar of All Rus', and Emperor of All Russia. The list started with a semi-legendary Prince of Novgorod Rurik sometime in the mid 9th century (862) and ended with the Emperor of All Russia Nicholas II who abdicated in 1917, and was executed with his family in 1918.
The vast territory known today as Russia covers an area that has been known historically by various names, including Rus', Kievan Rus',[1][2] the Grand Duchy of Moscow, the Tsardom of Muscovy and the Russian Empire, and the sovereigns of these many nations and throughout their histories have used likewise as wide a range of titles in their positions as chief magistrates of a country. Some of the earliest titles include Kniaz and Velikiy Kniaz, which mean "Prince" and "Great Prince" respectively but are often rendered as "Duke" and "Grand Duke" in Western literature; then the title of Tsar, meaning "Caesar", which was disputed to be the equal of either a king or emperor; finally culminating in the title of Emperor. The full title of the Russian Emperors, according to Article 59 of the 1906 Russian Constitution, was given as:
- Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russias, of Moscow, Kiev, Vladimir, Novgorod, Tsar of Kazan, Tsar of Astrakhan, Tsar of Poland, Tsar of Siberia, Tsar of Chersonesos Taurica, Tsar of Georgia, Lord of Pskov, and Grand Duke of Smolensk, Lithuania, Volhynia, Podolia, and Finland, Prince of Estland, Livland, Courland and Semigalia, Samogitia, Belostok, Karelia, Tver, Yugra, Perm, Vyatka, Bulgaria and other territories; Lord and Grand Duke of Nizhny Novgorod, Sovereign of Chernigov, Ryazan, Polotsk, Rostov, Yaroslavl, Beloozero, Udoria, Obdoria, Kondia, Vitebsk, Mstislavl, and all northern territories; Sovereign of Iveria, Kartalinia, and the Kabardinian lands and Armenian territories – hereditary Lord and Ruler of the Circassians and Mountain Princes and others; Lord of Turkestan, Heir of Norway, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein, Stormarn, Dithmarschen, Oldenburg, and so forth, and so forth, and so forth.
The Patriarchs of Moscow, who were the head of Russian Orthodox Church, also have acted as the leaders of Russia from time to time, usually in periods of political upheaval as during the Polish occupation and interregnum of 1610–13.
Princes of Rus', 862–1547
The land that is today known as Russia was populated by various East Slavic peoples from before the ninth century. The first states to exert hegemony over the region were those of the Rus' people, a branch of Nordic Varangians who moved into the region occupied by modern Russia sometime in the ninth century, and set up a series of states starting with the Rus' Khaganate sometime around 830 or so. Little is known of the Rus' Khaganate beyond its existence, including the extent of its territory or any reliable list of its Khagans (rulers). Traditionally, Russian statehood is traced to Rurik, a Rus' leader of Holmgard (later Novgorod, modern Veliky Novgorod), a different Rus' state. Rurik's successor Oleg moved his capital to Kiev, founding the state of Kievan Rus'. Over the next several centuries, the most important titles were those of the Grand Prince of Kiev and Grand Prince of Novgorod whose holder (often the same person) could claim hegemony. By the early 11th century, however, the Rus' state had fragmented into a series of petty principalities which warred constantly with each other. In 1097, the Council of Liubech formalized the federal nature of the Russian lands. By the 12th century, the Grand Duchy of Vladimir became the dominant principality, adding its name to those of Novgorod and Kiev, culminating with the rule of Alexander Nevsky. After Alexander Nevsky, the region once again broke up into petty states, though the Grand Duchy of Moscow, founded by Alexander Nevsky's youngest son Daniel, began to consolidate control over the entire Russian territory in the 15th century. Following the Mongol conquests of the 13th century, all of the Russian principalities paid tribute to the Golden Horde, effectively operating as vassals of the Mongol state. The Russians began to exert independence from the Mongols, culminating with Ivan the Great of Moscow ceasing tribute to the Horde, effectively declaring his independence. The last Grand Duke (sometimes Grand Prince) of Moscow Ivan the Terrible assumed the title Tsar of All Russias in 1547.
Princes of Novgorod
Name |
Lifespan |
Reign start |
Reign end |
Notes |
Family |
Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rurik I
|
830 – 879 | 862 | 879 | Founder of Rurik Dynasty | Rurikids | |
Oleg of Novgorod
|
855 – 912 | 879 | 882 | Relative of Rurik and regent of Rurik's son, Prince Igor of Kiev | Rurikids |
Grand Princes of Kiev
Name |
Lifespan |
Reign start |
Reign end |
Notes |
Family |
Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Askold and Dir
|
9th century | 842[3][4] or 862 | 882 | Askold and Dir were Rus chieftains and members of Rurik's army Askold was a descendent of the Kyi Dynasty |
Kyi Dynasty (Askold) | |
Oleg of Novgorod
|
855 – 912 | 882 | Autumn 912 | He was successor of Askold and Dir as a regent of Rurik's son | Rurikids | |
Igor I
|
878 – 945 | 879 (in Novgorod as a heir of Rurik), 913 (as a successor of Rurik after Oleg's regency) | Autumn 945 | Son of Rurik | Rurikids | |
Olga of Kiev
|
890 – 969 | 945 | 962 | Wife of Igor I and regent of Sviatoslav I | Rurikids | |
Sviatoslav I
|
942 – 972 | Autumn 945 | March 972 | Son of Igor I and Olga of Kiev | Rurikids | |
Yaropolk I
|
950 – 980 | March 972 | 11 June 980 | Son of Sviatoslav I and Predslava | Rurikids | |
Vladimir I
|
958 – 1015 | 11 June 980 | 15 July 1015 | Son of Sviatoslav I and Malusha Younger brother of Yaropolk I |
Rurikids | |
Sviatopolk I
|
980 – 1019 | 15 July 1015 | Autumn 1016 | Son of Yaropolk I During his reign, Kievan Rus' was conquested by Poland |
Rurikids | |
Yaroslav I
|
978 – 1054 | Autumn 1016 | Summer 1018 | Son of Vladimir I and Rogneda of Polotsk | Rurikids | |
Sviatopolk I
|
980 – 1019 | 14 August 1018 | 27 July 1019 | Restored | Rurikids | |
Yaroslav I
|
978 – 1054 | 27 July 1019 | 20 February 1054 | Restored | Rurikids | |
Iziaslav I
|
1024 – 1078 | 20 February 1054 | 15 September 1068 | First son of Yaroslav I and Ingegerd Olofsdotter | Rurikids | |
Vseslav of Polotsk
|
1039 – 1101 | 15 September 1068 | 29 April 1069 | Great-grandson of Vladimir I Usurped the Kievan Throne |
Rurikids | |
Iziaslav I
|
1024 – 1078 | 2 May 1069 | 22 March 1073 | Restored | Rurikids | |
Sviatoslav II
|
1027 – 1076 | 22 March 1073 | 27 December 1076 | Third son of Yaroslav I and Ingegerd Olofsdotter | Rurikids | |
Vsevolod I
|
1030 – 1093 | 1 January 1077 | 15 July 1077 | Fourth son of Yaroslav I and Ingegerd Olofsdotter | Rurikids | |
Iziaslav I
|
1024 – 1078 | 15 July 1077 | 3 October 1078 | Restored | Rurikids | |
Vsevolod I
|
1030 – 1093 | 3 October 1078 | 13 April 1093 | Restored | Rurikids | |
Sviatopolk II
|
1050 – 1113 | 24 April 1093 | 16 April 1113 | Son of Iziaslav I | Rurikids | |
Vladimir II
|
1053 – 1125 | 20 April 1113 | 19 May 1125 | Son of Vsevolod I and Anastasia of Byzantium | Rurikids | |
Mstislav I
|
1076 – 1132 | 20 May 1125 | 15 April 1132 | Son of Vladimir II and Gytha of Wessex | Rurikids | |
Yaropolk II
|
1082 – 1139 | 17 April 1132 | 18 February 1139 | Son of Vladimir II and Gytha of Wessex Younger brother of Mstislav I |
Rurikids | |
Viacheslav I
|
1083 – 2 February 1154 | 22 February 1139 | 4 March 1139 | Son of Vladimir II and Gytha of Wessex Younger brother of Mstislav I and Yaropolk II |
Rurikids | |
Vsevolod II
|
1084 – 1146 | 5 March 1139 | 30 July 1146 | Grandson of Sviatoslav II | Rurikids | |
Igor II
|
1096 – 19 September 1146 | 1 August 1146 | 13 August 1146 | Grandson of Sviatoslav II | Rurikids | |
Iziaslav II
|
1097 – 1154 | 13 August 1146 | 23 August 1149 | Son of Mstislav I and Christina Ingesdotter of Sweden | Rurikids | |
Yuri I
|
1099 – 1157 | 28 August 1149 | Summer 1150 | Son of Vladimir II and Gytha of Wessex Younger brother of Mstislav I, Yaropolk II and Viacheslav I |
Rurikids | |
Viacheslav I
|
1083 – 2 February 1154 | Summer 1150 | Summer 1150 | Restored | Rurikids | |
Iziaslav II
|
1097 – 1154 | Summer 1150 | Summer 1150 | Restored | Rurikids | |
Yuri I
|
1099 – 1157 | August 1150 | Winter 1151 | Restored | Rurikids | |
Iziaslav II
|
1097 – 1154 | Winter 1151 | 13 November 1154 | Restored | Rurikids | |
Viacheslav I
|
1083 – 2 February 1154 | Spring 1151 | 6 February 1154 | Restored | Rurikids | |
Rostislav I
|
1110 – 1167 | 1154 | January 1155 | Son of Mstislav I and Christina Ingesdotter of Sweden Younger brother of Iziaslav II |
Rurikids | |
Iziaslav III
|
12th century | January 1155 | 1155 | Grandson of Sviatoslav II | Rurikids | |
Yuri I
|
1099 – 1157 | 20 March 1155 | 15 May 1157 | Restored | Rurikids | |
Iziaslav III
|
12th century | 19 May 1157 | December 1158 | Restored | Rurikids | |
Mstislav II
|
1125 – 1170 | 22 December 1158 | Spring 1159 | Son of Iziaslav III | Rurikids | |
Rostislav I
|
1110 – 1167 | 12 April 1159 | 8 February 1161 | Restored | Rurikids | |
Iziaslav III
|
12th century | 12 February 1161 | 6 March 1161 | Restored | Rurikids | |
Rostislav I
|
1110 – 1167 | March 1161 | 14 March 1167 | Restored | Rurikids | |
Vladimir III
|
1132 – 1173 | Spring 1167 | Spring 1167 | Son of Mstislav I Younger brother of Iziaslav II and Rostislav I |
Rurikids | |
Mstislav II
|
1125 – 1170 | 19 May 1167 | 12 March 1169 | Restored | Rurikids |
In 1169 Vladimir-Suzdal troops took Kiev. This act underlined the declining importance of that city.
Grand Princes of Vladimir
The state of Vladimir-Suzdal (formally the Grand Duchy of Vladimir) became dominant among the various petty principalities to form from the dissolution of the Kievan Rus' state; the title of Grand Prince of Vladimir became one of the three titles (along with Kiev and Novgorod) possessed by the most important rulers among the Russian nobility. While Vladimir enjoyed hegemony for a time, it too would disintegrate into a series of petty states, the most important of which became Grand Duchy of Moscow, which itself would eventually evolve into the Tsardom of Russia.
Name |
Lifespan |
Reign start |
Reign end |
Notes |
Family |
Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andrey I
|
1110 – 1174 | 15 May 1157 | 29 June 1174 | Son of Yuri I | Rurikids | |
Mikhail I
|
12th century | 1174 | September 1174 | Son of Yuri I Elder brother of Andrey I |
Rurikids | |
Yaropolk III
|
12th century | 1174 | 15 June 1175 | Grandson of Vladimir II | Rurikids | |
Mikhail I
|
12th century | 15 June 1175 | 20 June 1176 | Restored | Rurikids | |
Vsevolod III
|
1154 – 1212 | June 1176 | 15 April 1212 | Son of Yuri I and Helene Younger brother of Andrey I and Mikhail I |
Rurikids | |
Yuri II
|
1189 – 1238 | 1212 | 27 April 1216 | Son of Vselovod III and Maria Shvarnovna | Rurikids | |
Konstantin of Rostov
|
1186 – 1218 | Spring 1216 | 2 February 1218 | Son of Vsevolod III and Maria Shvarnovna Elder brother of Yuri II |
Rurikids | |
Yuri II
|
1189 – 1238 | February 1218 | 4 March 1238 | Restored | Rurikids | |
Yaroslav II
|
1191 – 1246 | 1238 | 30 September 1246 | Son of Vsevolod III and Maria Shvarnovna Younger brother of Yuri II and Konstantin of Rostov |
Rurikids | |
Sviatoslav III
|
1196 – 3 February 1252 | 1246 | 1248 | Son of Vsevolod III and Maria Shvarnovna Younger brother of Yuri II, Konstantin of Rostov and Yaroslav II |
Rurikids | |
Mikhail Khorobrit
|
1229 – 15 January 1248 | 1248 | 15 January 1248 | Son of Yaroslav II | Rurikids | |
Sviatoslav III
|
1196 – 3 February 1252 | 1248 | 1249 | Restored | Rurikids | |
Andrey II
|
1221 – 1264 | December 1249 | 24 July 1252 | Son of Yaroslav II Elder brother of Mikhail Khorobrit |
Rurikids | |
Alexander Nevsky
|
1220 – 1263 | 1252 | 14 November 1263 | Son of Yaroslav II and Rostislava Mstislavna, daughter of Kievan Rus' Prince Mstislav Mstislavich the Bold Elder brother of Mikhail Khorobrit and Andrey II |
Rurikids | |
Yaroslav III
|
1230 – 1272 | 1264 | 1271 | Son of Yaroslav II and Fedosia Igorevna Younger brother of Alexander Nevsky, Andrey II and Mikhail Khorobrit |
Rurikids | |
Vasily of Kostroma
|
1241 – 1276 | 1272 | January 1277 | Son of Yaroslav II | Rurikids | |
Dmitry of Pereslavl
|
1250 – 1294 | 1277 | 1281 | Son of Alexander Nevsky | Rurikids | |
Andrey III
|
1255 – 1304 | 1281 | December 1283 | Son of Alexander Nevsky Younger brother of Dmitry of Pereslavl |
Rurikids | |
Dmitry of Pereslavl
|
1250 – 1294 | December 1283 | 1293 | Restored | Rurikids | |
Andrey III
|
1255 – 1304 | 1293 | 1304 | Restored | Rurikids | |
Michael of Tver
|
1271 – 1318 | Autumn 1304 | 22 November 1318 | Son of Yaroslav III and Xenia of Tarusa | Rurikids | |
Yuri III
|
1281 – 1325 | 1318 | 2 November 1322 | Grandson of Alexander Nevsky | Rurikids | |
Dmitry of Tver
|
1299 – 1326 | 1322 | 15 September 1326 | Son of Michael of Tver and Anna of Kashin | Rurikids | |
Alexander of Tver
|
1281 – 1339 | 1326 | 1327 | Son of Michale of Tver and Anna of Kashin Elder brother of Dmitry of Tver |
Rurikids | |
Alexander of Suzdal
|
14th century | 1328 | 1331 | Grandson of Andrey II | Rurikids | |
Ivan I
|
1288 – 1340 | 1332 | 31 March 1340 | Grandson of Alexander Nevsky Son of Daniel of Moscow |
Rurikids |
After 1331, the title of the Grand Princes of Vladimir was assigned to the Princes of Moscow.
Grand Princes of Moscow
Alexander Nevsky, Grand Prince of Vladimir, placed his youngest son Daniel in charge of the territory around Moscow, and establishing the state of Muscovy, originally a vassal state to Vladimir-Suzdal. Daniel's son Ivan I assumed the title of Vladimir himself, establishing Muscovy as the premier principality among the various Russian states. Later rulers of Muscovy would consolidate power, culminating with Ivan III who threw off the Mongol yoke and conquered most of the other Russian states. His son Vasili III completed the task of uniting all of Russia by eliminating the last few independent states in the 1520s. Vasili's son Ivan the Terrible formalized the situation by assuming the title Tsar of All Russias in 1547.
Name |
Lifespan |
Reign start |
Reign end |
Notes |
Family |
Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Daniel of Moscow
|
1261 – 4 March 1303 | 1283 | 4 March 1303 | Son of Alexander Nevsky and Maria | Rurikids | |
Yury of Moscow
|
1281 – 21 November 1325 | 4 March 1303 | 21 November 1325 | Son of Daniel Elder brother of Ivan I |
Rurikids | |
Ivan I
|
1288 – 1340 | 1332 | 31 March 1340 | He was a successor of Alexander of Suzdal as Grand Prince of Vladimir and a successor of Yury of Moscow as Grand Prince of Moscow | Rurikids | |
Simeon of Moscow
|
7 November 1316 – 27 April 1353 | 31 March 1340 | 27 April 1353 | Son of Ivan I and Helena | Rurikids | |
Ivan II
|
30 March 1326 – 13 November 1359 | 27 April 1353 | 13 November 1359 | Son of Ivan I and Helena Younger brother of Simeon of Moscow |
Rurikids | |
Dmitry of the Don
|
12 October 1350 – 19 May 1389 | 13 November 1359 | 19 May 1389 | Son of Ivan II and Alexandra Vasilyevna Velyaminova | Rurikids | |
Vasily I
|
30 December 1371 – 27 February 1425 | 19 May 1389 | 27 February 1425 | Son of Dmitry I and Eudoxia Dmitriyevna | Rurikids | |
Vasily II
|
10 March 1415 – 27 March 1462 | 27 February 1425 | 30 March 1434 | Son of Vasily I and Sophia of Lithuania | Rurikids | |
Yury of Zvenigorod
|
26 November 1374 – 5 June 1434 | 31 March 1434 | 5 June 1434 | Son of Dmitry I and Eudoxia Dmitriyevna Younger brother of Vasily I |
Rurikids | |
Vasily Kosoy
|
1421 – 1435 | 5 June 1434 | 1435 | Son of Yury of Zvenigorod | Rurikids | |
Vasily II
|
10 March 1415 – 27 March 1462 | 1435 | 1446 | Restored | Rurikids | |
Dmitry Shemyaka
|
15th century | 1446 | 26 March 1447 | Son of Yury of Zvenigorod | Rurikids | |
Vasily II
|
10 March 1415 – 27 March 1462 | 27 February 1447 | 27 March 1462 | Restored | Rurikids | |
Ivan III
|
22 January 1440 – 6 November 1505 | 5 April 1462 | 6 November 1505 | Son of Vasily II and Maria of Borovsk | Rurikids | |
Vasily III
|
25 March 1479 – 13 December 1533 | 6 November 1505 | 13 December 1533 | Son of Ivan III and Sophia Paleologue | Rurikids | |
Ivan IV
|
25 August 1530 – 28 March 1584 | Grand Prince: 13 December 1533 Tsar: 26 January 1547 |
Grand Prince: 26 January 1547 Tsar: 28 March 1584 |
Son of Vasily III and Elena Glinskaya | Rurikids |
Tsars of Russia, 1547–1721
From the rule of Ivan III, the Grand Duchy of Moscow effectively became the dominant Russian state, overthrowing the Golden Horde, consolidating all remaining Russian principalities under itself, and conquering lands far from its roots in the city of Moscow. While Ivan III became effective ruler over the entirety of Russia, the situation was not formally recognized until his grandson Ivan the IV assumed the title Tsar in 1547, that the state of Russia (apart from its constituent principalities) came into formal being.
Dates are listed in the Old Style, which continued to be used in Russia.
Name |
Lifespan |
Reign start |
Reign end |
Notes |
Family |
Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ivan IV
|
25 August 1530 – 28 March 1584 | Grand Prince: 13 December 1533 Tsar: 26 January 1547 |
Grand Prince: 26 January 1547 Tsar: 28 March 1584 |
Son of Vasily III and Elena Glinskaya | Rurikids | |
Simeon Bekbulatovich
|
16th / 17th centuries | 1575 | 1576 | Muslim-born Khan of Qasim Khanate Proclaimed Grand Prince of All Rus' in 1575 and abdicated within a year |
Qasim | |
Feodor I
|
31 May 1557 – 17 January 1598 | 28 March 1584 | 17 January 1598 | Son of Ivan IV and Anastasia Romanovna | Rurikids |
Time of Troubles
Following the death of the Feodor I, the son of Ivan the Terrible and the last of the Rurik dynasty, Russia fell into a succession crisis known as the Time of Troubles. As Feodor left no male heirs, the Russian Zemsky Sobor (feudal parliament) elected his brother-in-law Boris Godunov to be Tsar. Devastated by famine, rule under Boris descended into anarchy. A series of impostors, known as the False Dmitriys, each claimed to be Feodor's long deceased younger brother; however, only the first impostor ever legitimately held the title of Tsar. A distant Rurikid cousin, Vasili Shuyskiy, also took power for a time. During this period, foreign powers deeply involved themselves in Russian politics, under the leadership of the Vasa monarchs of Sweden and Poland-Lithuania, including Sigismund III Vasa and his son Władysław IV Vasa. As a child, Władysław was even chosen as Tsar by the Seven Boyars, though he was prevented by his father from formally taking the throne. The Time of Troubles is considered to have ended with the election of Michael Romanov to the throne, who established the Romanov dynasty that would rule Russia until the Russian Revolution of 1917.
Name |
Lifespan |
Reign start |
Reign end |
Notes |
Family |
Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boris Godunov
|
ca. 1551 – 13 April 1605 | 21 February 1598 | 13 April 1605 | Brother-in-law of Feodor I Chosen by Zemsky Sobor |
Godunov | |
Feodor II
|
1589 – 20 June 1605 | 13 April 1605 | 10 June 1605 | Son of Boris Godunov and Maria Grigorievna Skuratova-Belskaya | Godunov | |
Dmitriy I
|
ca. 1581 – 17 May 1606 | 10 June 1605 | 17 May 1606 | Claimed to be son of Ivan IV Backed by Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth |
Rurikids (claimed) |
|
Vasily IV
|
22 September 1552 – 12 September 1612 | 19 May 1606 | 17 July 1610 (deposed) |
Ninth generation descendant of Andrei II in the male line | Rurikids | |
Vladislav I
|
9 June 1595 – 20 May 1648 | 6 September 1610 | November 1612 (deposed) 14 June 1634 (resigned his claim) |
King of Poland Son of Sigismund III Vasa and Anne of Austria |
Vasa |
House of Romanov
The Time of Troubles came to a close with the election of Michael Romanov as Tsar in 1613. Michael officially reigned as Tsar, though his father, the Patriarch Philaret (died 1633) initially held the real power. However, Michael's descendents would rule Russia, first as Tsars and later as Emperors, until the Russian Revolution of 1917. Peter the Great (reigned 1682-1725), a grandson of Michael Romanov, reorganized the Russian state along more Western lines, establishing the Russian Empire in 1721.
Name |
Lifespan |
Reign start |
Reign end |
Notes |
Family |
Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Michael I
|
12 July 1596 – 12 July 1645 | 26 July 1613 | 12 July 1645 | Founder of Romanov Dynasty First cousin once removed of Feodor I |
Romanov | |
Alexis I
|
9 May 1629 – 29 January 1676 | 12 July 1645 | 29 January 1676 | Son of Michael I and Eudoxia Streshneva | Romanov | |
Feodor III
|
9 June 1661 – 7 May 1682 | 29 January 1676 | 7 May 1682 | Son of Alexis I and Maria Ilyinichna Miloslavskaya | Romanov | |
Sophia Alekseyevna
|
17 September 1657 – 3 July 1704 | 17 May 1682 | 27 August 1689 | Daughter of Alexis I and Maria Miloslavskaya Elder sister of Feodor III She ruled as a regent of Ivan V and Peter I |
Romanov | |
Ivan V
|
6 September 1666 – 8 February 1696 | 2 June 1682 | 8 February 1696 | Son of Alexis I and Maria Miloslavskaya Younger brother of Sophia Alekseyevna and Feodor III He ruled jointly with Peter I |
Romanov | |
Peter I
|
9 June 1672 – 8 February 1725 | Tsar: 2 June 1682 Emperor: 2 November 1721 |
Tsar: 2 November 1721 Emperor: 8 February 1725 |
Son of Alexis I and Natalya Naryshkina Younger brother of Sophia Alekseyevna, Feodor III and Ivan V He ruled jointly with Ivan V Regarded as one of the greatest Russian monarchs |
Romanov |
Emperors of Russia, 1721–1917
(Also Grand Princes of Finland from 1809 until 1917; and Kings of Poland from 1815 until 1917)
The Empire of Russia was declared by Peter the Great in 1721. Officially, Russia would be ruled by the Romanov dynasty until the Russian Revolution of 1917. However, direct male descendants of Michael Romanov came to an end in 1730 with the death of Peter II of Russia, grandson of Peter the Great. The throne passed to Anna, a niece of Peter the Great, and after the brief rule of her niece's infant son Ivan VI, the throne was seized by Elizabeth, a daughter of Peter the Great. Elizabeth would be the last of the direct Romanovs to rule Russia. Elizabeth declared her nephew, Peter, to be her heir. Peter (who would rule as Peter III) spoke little Russian, having been a German prince of the House of Holstein-Gottorp before arriving in Russia to assume the Imperial title. He and his German wife Sophia changed their name to Romanov upon inheriting the throne. Peter was ill-liked, and he was assassinated within six months of assuming the throne, in a coup orchestrated by his wife, who became Empress in her own right and ruled as Catherine the Great (both Peter and Catherine were descended from the House of Rurik). Following the confused successions of the descendants of Peter the Great, Catherine's son Paul I established clear succession laws which governed the rules of primogeniture over the Imperial throne until the fall of the Empire in 1917.
Name |
Lifespan |
Reign start |
Reign end |
Notes |
Family |
Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Peter I
|
9 June 1672 – 8 February 1725 | Tsar: 2 June 1682 Emperor: 2 November 1721 |
Tsar: 2 November 1721 Emperor: 8 February 1725 |
Son of Alexis I and Natalya Naryshkina Younger brother of Sophia Alekseyevna, Feodor III and Ivan V He ruled jointly with Ivan V Regarded as one of the greatest Russian monarchs |
Romanov | |
Catherine I
|
15 April 1684 – 17 May 1727 | 8 February 1725 | 17 May 1727 | Wife of Peter I | Romanov | |
Peter II
|
23 October 1715 – 30 January 1730 | 18 May 1727 | 30 January 1730 | Grandson of Peter I | Romanov | |
Anna
|
7 February 1693 – 28 October 1740 | 13 February 1730 | 28 October 1740 | Daughter of Ivan V | Romanov | |
Ivan VI
|
23 August 1740 – 16 July 1764 | 28 October 1740 | 6 December 1741 | Great-grandson of Ivan V Murdered |
Romanov | |
Elizabeth
|
29 December 1709 – 5 January 1762 | 6 December 1741 | 5 January 1762 | Daughter of Peter I and Catherine I | Romanov | |
Peter III
|
21 February 1728 – 17 July 1762 | 9 January 1762 | 9 July 1762 | Grandson of Peter I Murdered |
Romanov | |
Catherine II
|
2 May 1729 – 17 November 1796 | 9 July 1762 | 17 November 1796 | Wife of Peter III | Ascania | |
Paul I
|
1 October 1754 – 23 March 1801 | 17 November 1796 | 23 March 1801 | Son of Peter III and Catherine II Assassinated |
Romanov | |
Alexander I
|
23 December 1777 – 1 December 1825 | 23 March 1801 | 1 December 1825 | Son of Paul I and Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg First Romanov King of Poland and Grand Duke of Finland |
Romanov | |
Constantine Pavlovich
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27 April 1779 – 27 June 1831 | 1 December 1825 | 26 December 1825 | Son of Paul I and Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg Younger brother of Alexander I Uncrowned (he resigned from the throne) |
Romanov | |
Nicholas I
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6 July 1796 – 2 March 1855 | 1 December 1825 | 2 March 1855 | Son of Paul I and Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg Younger brother of Alexander I and Constantine Pavlovich |
Romanov | |
Alexander II
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29 April 1818 – 13 March 1881 | 2 March 1855 | 13 March 1881 | Son of Nicholas I and Alexandra Feodrovna Assassinated |
Romanov | |
Alexander III
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10 March 1845 – 1 November 1894 | 13 March 1881 | 1 November 1894 | Son of Alexander II and Maria Alexandrovna | Romanov | |
Nicholas II
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6 May 1868 – 17 July 1918 | 1 November 1894 | 15 March 1917 | Son of Alexander III and Maria Feodorovna He resigned from the throne after many protests Executed by Bolsheviks |
Romanov |
See List of leaders of Russia for the continuation of leadership.
Pretenders to the Russian throne since 1917
- Cyril Vladimirovich, Grand Duke of Russia (1924–1938) of the Vladimirovichi Branch
- Vladimir Cyrillovich, Grand Duke of Russia (1938–1992) of the Vladimirovichi Branch
- Maria Vladimirovna, Grand Duchess of Russia (1992–present) of the Vladimirovichi branch
- Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia, heir apparent and son of Maria Vladimirovna, of the Vladimirovichi branch.
- Nicholas Romanov, Prince of Russia (1992–2014) of the Nikolaevichi branch
- Prince Dimitri Romanovich of Russia (2014–present) of the Nikolaevichi branch
- Prince Andrew Andreevich (born 1923)
See Line of succession to the Russian throne
See also
- Family tree of the Russian rulers
- List of heads of government of Russia
- List of leaders of the Soviet Union
- List of leaders of the Russian SFSR
- Premier of the Soviet Union
- List of presidents of Russia
- Prime Minister of Russia
References
- ↑ "Russian history: Kievan Rus". Russiapedia. RT. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
- ↑ Glenn E. Curtis (1996). "Kievan Rus' and Mongol Periods". Russia: A Country Study. Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
- ↑ Suszko, Henryk (2003). Latopis hustyński. Opracowanie, przekład i komentarze. Slavica Wratislaviensia CXXIV. Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego. ISBN 83-229-2412-7; Tolochko, Oleksiy (2010). The Hustyn' Chronicle. (Harvard Library of Early Ukrainian Literature: Texts) ISBN 978-1-932650-03-7
- ↑ according to the Tale of Bygone Years, the date is not clearly identified
External links
- Godunov to Nicholas II by Saul Zaklad
- (Russian) Principality of Vladimir-Suzdal
- Timeline of Russian Emperors and Empresses
- History of Russian imperial titles. Bibliography
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