Who was president after Stalin. The best ruler of the ussr

General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU - the highest position in the hierarchy of the Communist Party and by and large the leader Soviet Union. In the history of the party there were four more positions of its leader central office People: Technical Secretary (1917-1918), Chairman of the Secretariat (1918-1919), Executive Secretary (1919-1922) and First Secretary (1953-1966).

The persons who filled the first two positions were mainly engaged in paper secretarial work. The position of Responsible Secretary was introduced in 1919 to carry out administrative activities. The post of general secretary, established in 1922, was also created purely for administrative and personnel internal work. However, the first general secretary Joseph Stalin, using the principles of democratic centralism, managed to become not only the leader of the party, but of the entire Soviet Union.

At the 17th Party Congress, Stalin was not formally re-elected to the post of General Secretary. However, his influence was already enough to maintain leadership in the party and the country as a whole. After Stalin's death in 1953, Georgy Malenkov was considered the most influential member of the Secretariat. After his appointment as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, he left the Secretariat and Nikita Khrushchev, who was soon elected First Secretary of the Central Committee, entered the leading positions in the party.

Not limitless rulers

In 1964, opposition within the Politburo and the Central Committee removed Nikita Khrushchev from the post of First Secretary, electing Leonid Brezhnev to take his place. Since 1966, the position of the head of the party has again become known as the General Secretary. AT Brezhnev times the power of the General Secretary was not unlimited, since members of the Politburo could limit his powers. The leadership of the country was carried out collectively.

According to the same principle as the late Brezhnev, Yuri Andropov and Konstantin Chernenko ruled the country. Both were elected to the highest party post when their health was deteriorating, and worked as General Secretary a short time. Until 1990, when the Communist Party's monopoly on power was eliminated, Mikhail Gorbachev led the state as General Secretary of the CPSU. Especially for him, in order to maintain leadership in the country, the post of President of the Soviet Union was established in the same year.

After August coup 1991, Mikhail Gorbachev stepped down as General Secretary. He was replaced by Deputy Vladimir Ivashko, who served as Acting General Secretary for only five calendar days, until that moment Russian President Boris Yeltsin suspended the activities of the CPSU.

General Secretaries of the USSR chronological order

General secretaries of the USSR in chronological order. Today they are already just a part of history, and once their faces were familiar to every single inhabitant of a vast country. The political system in the Soviet Union was such that citizens did not choose their leaders. The decision to appoint the next general secretary was made by the ruling elite. But, nevertheless, the people respected the state leaders and, for the most part, perceived this state of affairs as a given.

Joseph Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili (Stalin)

Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili, better known as Stalin, was born on December 18, 1879 in the Georgian city of Gori. He became the first general secretary of the CPSU. He received this position in 1922, when Lenin was still alive, and until the death of the latter he played a secondary role in government.

When Vladimir Ilyich died, a serious struggle began for the highest post. Many of Stalin's competitors had a much better chance of taking him, but thanks to tough, uncompromising actions, Iosif Vissarionovich managed to emerge victorious from the game. Most of the other applicants were physically destroyed, some left the country.

In just a few years of rule, Stalin took the whole country under his "hedgehogs". By the beginning of the 1930s, he finally established himself as the sole leader of the people. The policy of the dictator went down in history:

mass repressions;

· total dispossession;

collectivization.

For this, Stalin was branded by his own followers during the “thaw”. But there is something for which Joseph Vissarionovich, according to historians, is worthy of praise. This is, first of all, the rapid transformation of a ruined country into an industrial and military giant, as well as a victory over fascism. It is quite possible that if the "cult of personality" was not so condemned by all, these achievements would have been unrealistic. Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin died on March 5, 1953.

Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev

Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev was born on April 15, 1894 in the Kursk province (the village of Kalinovka) into a simple working-class family. Participated in the Civil War, where he took the side of the Bolsheviks. In the CPSU since 1918. In the late 1930s he was appointed secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine.

Khrushchev took over the Soviet state shortly after Stalin's death. At first, he had to compete with Georgy Malenkov, who also claimed the highest post and at that time was actually the leader of the country, chairing the Council of Ministers. But in the end, the coveted chair still remained with Nikita Sergeevich.

When Khrushchev was General Secretary, the Soviet country:

launched the first man into space and developed this sphere in every possible way;

· Actively built up five-story buildings, today called "Khrushchev";

planted the lion's share of the fields with corn, for which Nikita Sergeevich was even nicknamed the "maize man".

This ruler went down in history primarily with his legendary speech at the 20th Party Congress in 1956, where he branded Stalin and his bloody policies. From that moment, the so-called “thaw” began in the Soviet Union, when the grip of the state was loosened, cultural figures received some freedom, etc. All this lasted until the removal of Khrushchev from his post on October 14, 1964.

Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev

Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev was born in the Dnepropetrovsk region (village Kamenskoye) on December 19, 1906. His father was a metallurgist. In the CPSU since 1931. He occupied the main post of the country as a result of a conspiracy. It was Leonid Ilyich who led the group of members of the Central Committee that ousted Khrushchev.

The Brezhnev era in the history of the Soviet state is characterized as stagnation. The latter appeared as follows:

· the development of the country has stopped in almost all areas, except for the military-industrial;

The USSR began to seriously lag behind Western countries;

Citizens again felt the grip of the state, repressions and persecution of dissidents began.

Leonid Ilyich tried to improve relations with the United States, which had aggravated back in the time of Khrushchev, but he did not succeed very well. The arms race continued, and after the introduction Soviet troops to Afghanistan, it was impossible to even think about any kind of reconciliation. Brezhnev held a high post until his death, which occurred on November 10, 1982.

Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov

Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov was born in the station town of Nagutskoye (Stavropol Territory) on June 15, 1914. His father was a railroad worker. In the CPSU since 1939. He was active, which contributed to his rapid rise up the career ladder.

At the time of Brezhnev's death, Andropov headed the Committee state security. He was elected by his associates to the highest post. The board of this general secretary covers a period of less than two years. Per given time Yuri Vladimirovich managed to fight a little with corruption in power. But he did nothing drastic. On February 9, 1984, Andropov died. The reason for this was a serious illness.

Konstantin Ustinovich Chernenko

Konstantin Ustinovich Chernenko was born in 1911 on September 24 in the Yenisei province (the village of Bolshaya Tes). His parents were peasants. In the CPSU since 1931. Since 1966 - Deputy of the Supreme Council. Appointed General Secretary of the CPSU on February 13, 1984.

Chernenko became the successor of Andropov's policy of identifying corrupt officials. He was in power for less than a year. The cause of his death on March 10, 1985 was also a serious illness.

Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev

Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev was born on March 2, 1931 in the North Caucasus (the village of Privolnoe). His parents were peasants. In the CPSU since 1952. He proved to be an active public figure. Moved quickly along the party line.

He was appointed Secretary General on March 11, 1985. He went down in history with the policy of "perestroika", which provided for the introduction of glasnost, the development of democracy, the provision of certain economic freedoms and other liberties to the population. Gorbachev's reforms led to mass unemployment, the liquidation of state-owned enterprises, and a total shortage of goods. This causes an ambiguous attitude towards the ruler on the part of the citizens of the former USSR, which collapsed just during the reign of Mikhail Sergeyevich.

But in the West, Gorbachev is one of the most respected Russian politicians. He was even awarded Nobel Prize peace. Gorbachev was Secretary General until August 23, 1991, and the USSR headed until December 25 of the same year.

All deceased general secretaries of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics are buried near the Kremlin wall. Their list was closed by Chernenko. Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev is still alive. In 2017, he turned 86 years old.

Photos of the General Secretaries of the USSR in chronological order

Stalin

Khrushchev

Brezhnev

Andropov

Chernenko

The history of the Russian state is already much more than a millennium, and to be completely honest, even before the onset of awareness and the establishment of statehood, a colossal number of the most diverse tribes lived on vast territories. The final period of ten centuries, and a little more, can be called the most interesting, saturated with the most diverse personalities and rulers significant for the fate of the whole country. And the chronology of the rulers of Russia, from Rurik to Putin, is so long and confusing that it would not be bad to figure out in more detail how we managed to overcome this long journey in several centuries, who was at the head of the people at every hour of his life and for what he be remembered by posterity, leaving for centuries its shame and glory, disappointment and pride. Be that as it may, they all left their mark, were worthy daughters and sons of their time, providing their descendants with a great future.

Main stages: rulers of Russia in chronological order, table

Not every Russian, no matter how sad it may be, is well versed in history, and he can hardly list the list of rulers of Russia in chronological order for at least the last hundred years. And for a historian, this is far from such a simple task, especially if you also need to briefly talk about the contribution of each of them to the history of their native country. That is why historians have decided to conditionally divide all this into the main historical stages, linking them according to some specific feature, for example, according to the social system, foreign and domestic policy, and so on.

Russian rulers: chronology of stages of development

It is worth saying that the chronology of the rulers of Russia can tell a lot even to the person who does not have special abilities, and knowledge in historical terms. The historical, as well as personal characteristics of each of them largely depended on the conditions of the very era when they happened to lead the country in that particular period of time.

Among other things, over the entire historical period, not only the rulers of Russia from Rurik to Putin (the table below will definitely be of interest to you) were replaced by one another, but the historical and political center of the country itself changed its place of deployment, and often this did not depend at all from the people, who, however, did not suffer much from this. For example, until the forty-seventh year of the sixteenth century, the princes ruled the country, and only after that came the monarchization, which ended in November 1917 with the Great October Revolution very tragically.

Further more, and almost the entire twentieth century can be attributed to the stage of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and subsequently the formation of new territories previously belonging to Russia, almost completely independent states. Thus, all the rulers of Russia, from Rurik to Putin, will help to better understand which road we have been moving up to this point, point out the advantages and disadvantages, sort out priorities and clearly weed out historical mistakes so as not to repeat them again and again.

Russian rulers in chronological order: Novgorod and Kyiv - where did az come from

Historical materials, which have no reason to doubt, for this period, which begins in 862 and ends with the end of the reign of the Kyiv princes, are in fact quite scarce. However, they allow you to understand the chronology of the rulers of Russia at that time, although at that time such a state simply did not exist.

Interesting

The chronicle of the twelfth century "The Tale of Bygone Years" makes it clear that in 862 the great warrior and strategist, famous for his enormous mental strength, the Varangian Rurik, taking his brothers, went at the invitation of local tribes to reign in the capital city of Novgorod. In fact, that's when it came crucial moment in the history of Russia, called the "calling of the Varangians", which ultimately helped to unite the Novgorod principalities with the Kyiv ones.

Varyag from the people of Rus Rurik succeeded Prince Gostomysl, and came to power in 862. He ruled until 872, then he died, leaving his young son Igor, who could not be his only offspring, in the care of distant relative Oleg.

Since 872, regent Prophetic Oleg, left to look after Igor, decided not to limit himself to the Novgorod principality, captured Kyiv and moved his capital there. It was rumored that he died far from accidental. snake bite in 882 or 912, but it is no longer possible to understand thoroughly.

After the death of the regent in 912, the son of Rurik came to power, Igor, which is the first of the Russian rulers, can be clearly seen both in Western and Byzantine sources. In autumn, Igor decided to collect tribute from the Drevlyans in larger size than it was supposed to, for which they treacherously killed him.

Prince Igor's wife Duchess Olga she ascended the throne after the death of her husband in 945, and managed to convert to Christianity even before the final decision on the baptism of Russia was made.

Formally, after Igor, his son ascended the throne, Svyatoslav Igorevich. However, since at that time he was three years old, his mother Olga became regent, whom he successfully moved after 956, until he was killed by the Pechenegs in 972.

In 972, the eldest son of Svyatoslav and his wife Predslava came to power - Yaropolk Svyatoslavovich. However, he had to sit on the throne for only two years. Then he simply fell into the millstones of civil strife, was killed and ground into the "torment of time."

In 970, the son of Svyatoslav Igorevich ascended the throne of Novgorod from his own housekeeper Malusha, Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich, who later received the nickname for the adoption of Christianity Great and Baptist. Eight years later, he ascended the throne of Kyiv, seizing it, and also moving his capital there. It is he who is considered the prototype of that very epic character fanned over the centuries with glory and a certain mystical aura, Vladimir the Red Sun.

Grand Duke Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise sat on the Kyiv throne in 1016, which he managed to capture under the guise of unrest, which arose after the death of his father Vladimir, and after him his brother Svyatopolk.

Since 1054, the son of Yaroslav and his wife began to rule in Kyiv Swedish princess Ingigerdy (Irina), named Izyaslav, until he died heroically in the midst of a battle against his own uncles in 1068. buried Izyaslav Yaroslavich in the iconic Hagia Sophia in Kyiv.

Starting from this period, that is, in 1068, some personalities ascended the throne who did not leave any serious trace in historical terms.

Grand Duke, by name Svyatopolk Izyaslavovich rose to the throne already in 1093 and ruled until 1113.

It was at this moment in 1113 that one of the greatest Russian princes of his time came to power. Vladimir Vsevolodovich Monomakh who left the throne after only twelve years.

The next seven years, until 1132, the son of Monomakh sat on the throne, named Mstislav Vladimirovich.

Beginning in 1132, and again for exactly seven years, the throne was taken by Yaropolk Vladimirovich, also the son of the great Monomakh.

Fragmentation and civil strife in ancient Russia: the rulers of Russia in order and randomly

It must be said that the Russian rulers, the chronology of whose leadership is offered to you for general education and increasing knowledge about their own historical basis, always cared for the statehood and prosperity of their own peoples, one way or another. They consolidated their positions in the European arena as best they could, however, their calculation and aspirations were not always justified, but you can’t judge the ancestors too harshly, you can always find several weighty or not very arguments in favor of one or another decision.

During the period when Russia was a deeply feudal land, fragmented into the smallest principalities, the faces on the throne of Kyiv were replaced at a catastrophic speed, without even having time to accomplish anything more or less significant. Around the middle of the thirteenth century, Kyiv generally fell into complete decline, leaving only a few names about that period in the memory of descendants.

Great Russian Rulers: Chronology of Vladimir Principality

The beginning of the twelfth century for Russia was marked by the formation of late feudalism, the weakening of the principality of Kyiv, as well as the emergence of several other centers, from which strong pressure was observed from large feudal lords. The largest such centers were Galich and Vladimir. It is worth dwelling in more detail on the princes of that era, although a significant trace in history modern Russia they did not leave, and perhaps their role was simply not yet appreciated by their descendants.

Rulers of Russia: a list of the times of the Moscow principality

After the decision was made to transfer the capital to Moscow from the former capital of Vladimir, the feudal fragmentation of the Russian lands began to slowly decrease, and main center, of course, began to gradually and unobtrusively increase its own political influence. Yes, and the rulers of that time became much more lucky, they managed to hold out on the throne longer than the miserable Vladimir princes.

Starting from the year 48 of the sixteenth century, in Russia came Hard times. The ruling dynasty of princes actually collapsed and ceased to exist. This period is usually called timelessness, when real power was in the hands of the boyar families.

Monarchical rulers of Russia: chronology before and after Peter I

Historians are accustomed to distinguish three periods of formation and development of Russian monarchical government: the pre-Petrine period, the reign of Peter, as well as the post-Petrine time.

After difficult, troubled times, came to power, glorified by Bulgakov, Ivan Vasilievich the Terrible(from 1548 to 1574).

After the father of Ivan the Terrible, his son was blessed to reign Fedor, nicknamed the Blessed(from 1584 to 1598).

It is worth knowing that Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich was the last of the Rurik dynasty, but he could not leave an heir. Among the people, he was considered inferior, both in terms of health and mental abilities. Beginning in the year 98 of the sixteenth century, times of unrest began, which lasted until the year 12 of the next century. The rulers changed like pictures in a silent movie, each pulling in their own direction, little thinking about the welfare of the state. In 1612, a new royal dynasty, the Romanovs, came to power.

The first representative of the royal dynasty was Michael, he spent time on the throne from 1613 to 1645.

Son of Alexei Fedor took the throne in 76 and spent exactly 6 years on it.

Sofia Alekseevna, his blood sister was engaged in government from 1682 until 1689.

Peter I ascended the throne as a young man in 1689, and stayed on it until 1725. It was the greatest period national history, the country finally gained stability, the economy took off uphill, and the new king began to call himself emperor.

In 1725, she took the throne Ekaterina Skavronskaya, and left it in 1727.

In the year 30, she sat on the throne queen Anna, and ruled for exactly 10 years.

Ivan Antonovich He stayed on the throne for only a year, from 1740 to 1741.

Ekaterina Petrovna ruled from 41 to 61 years.

In the year 62, the throne was taken Catherine the Great, where she stayed until the 96th.

Pavel Petrovich(from 1796 to 1801).

Following Paul came and Alexander I (1081-1825).

Nicholas I came to power in 1825 and left it in 1855.

Tyrant and slob, but very responsible Alexander II had the ability to bite his family on the legs, lying on the floor from 1855 to 1881.

The last of the Russian tsars Nicholas II, ruled the country until 1917, after which the dynasty was completely and unconditionally interrupted. And it was then that a completely new political system called a republic.

Soviet rulers of Russia: in order from the revolution to the present day

The first Russian ruler after the revolution was Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, who formally ruled the huge colossus of workers and peasants until 1924. In fact, by the time of his death, he was no longer able to decide anything, and in his place it was necessary to nominate a strong personality with an iron hand, which happened.

Dzhugashvili (Stalin) Joseph Vissarionovich(from 1924 to 1953).

corn lover Nikita Khrushchev became the very "first" First Secretary until 1964.

Leonid Brezhnev took Khrushchev's place in 1964 and died in 1982.

After Brezhnev, the so-called "thaw" came, when he ruled Yuri Andropov(1982-1984).

Konstantin Chernenko took over general secretary in 1984, and left a year later.

Mikhail Gorbachev decided to introduce the notorious "perestroika", and as a result became the first, and at the same time the only president of the USSR (1985-1991).

Boris Yeltsin, named the leader of an independent Russia from anyone (1991-1999).

The present head of state today, Vladimir Putin has been the President of Russia since the Millennium, that is, 2000. There was a break in his reign for a period of 4 years, when the country was quite successfully led by Dmitry Medvedev.

Nicholas II (1894 - 1917) Due to the stampede that occurred during his coronation, many people died. So the name "Bloody" was attached to the kindest philanthropist Nikolai. In 1898, Nicholas II, taking care of world peace, issued a manifesto in which he called on all countries of the world to completely disarm. After that, a special commission met in The Hague to develop a number of measures that could further prevent bloody clashes between countries and peoples. But the peace-loving emperor had to fight. First, in the First World War, then the Bolshevik coup broke out, as a result of which the monarch was overthrown, and then shot with his family in Yekaterinburg. The Orthodox Church canonized Nicholas Romanov and his entire family as saints.

Rurik (862-879)

Prince of Novgorod, nicknamed the Varangian, as he was called to reign by the Novgorodians because of the Varangian Sea. is the founder of the Rurik dynasty. He was married to a woman named Efanda, with whom he had a son named Igor. He also raised his daughter and stepson Askold. After his two brothers died, he became the sole ruler of the country. He gave all the surrounding villages and settlements to the management of his close associates, where they had the right to independently create a court. Around this time, Askold and Dir, two brothers who had nothing to do with Rurik family ties, occupied the city of Kyiv and began to rule the meadows.

Oleg (879 - 912)

Kyiv prince, nicknamed the Prophet. Being a relative of Prince Rurik, he was the guardian of his son Igor. According to legend, he died, stung in the leg by a snake. Prince Oleg became famous for his intelligence and military prowess. With a huge army for those times, the prince went along the Dnieper. On the way, he conquered Smolensk, then Lyubech, and then took Kyiv, making it the capital. Askold and Dir were killed, and Oleg showed the meadows little son Rurik - Igor as their prince. He went on a military campaign to Greece and, with a brilliant victory, provided the Russians with preferential rights to free trade in Constantinople.

Igor (912 - 945)

Following the example of Prince Oleg, Igor Rurikovich conquered all the neighboring tribes and forced them to pay tribute, successfully repulsed the Pecheneg raids and also undertook a campaign in Greece, which, however, was not as successful as the campaign of Prince Oleg. As a result, Igor was killed by the neighboring conquered tribes of the Drevlyans for his irrepressible greed in extortions.

Olga (945 - 957)

Olga was the wife of Prince Igor. She, according to the customs of that time, very cruelly took revenge on the Drevlyans for the murder of her husband, and also conquered the main city of the Drevlyans - Korosten. Olga was distinguished by very good ability to rule, as well as a brilliant, sharp mind. Already at the end of her life, she accepted Christianity in Constantinople, for which she was later canonized as a saint and named Equal-to-the-Apostles.

Svyatoslav Igorevich (after 964 - spring 972)

The son of Prince Igor and Princess Olga, who, after the death of her husband, took the reins of government into her own hands, while her son grew up, learning the wisdom of the art of war. In 967, he managed to defeat the army of the Bulgarian king, which greatly alarmed the emperor of Byzantium, John, who, in collusion with the Pechenegs, persuaded them to attack Kyiv. In 970, together with the Bulgarians and Hungarians, after the death of Princess Olga, Svyatoslav went on a campaign against Byzantium. The forces were not equal, and Svyatoslav was forced to sign a peace treaty with the empire. After his return to Kyiv, he was brutally killed by the Pechenegs, and then the skull of Svyatoslav was decorated with gold and made from it a bowl for pies.

Yaropolk Svyatoslavovich (972 - 978 or 980)

After the death of his father, Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich, he made an attempt to unite Russia under his rule, defeating his brothers: Oleg Drevlyansky and Vladimir Novgorodsky, forcing them to leave the country, and then annexed their lands to the Kyiv principality. He managed to conclude a new contract with byzantine empire, as well as to attract the horde of the Pecheneg Khan Ildea to his service. Tried to establish diplomatic relations with Rome. Under him, as the Joachim manuscript testifies, Christians were given a lot of freedom in Russia, which caused displeasure of the pagans. Vladimir Novgorodsky immediately took advantage of this displeasure and, having agreed with the Varangians, recaptured Novgorod, then Polotsk, and then laid siege to Kyiv. Yaropolk was forced to flee to Roden. He tried to make peace with his brother, for which he went to Kyiv, where he was a Varangian. Chronicles characterize this prince as a peace-loving and meek ruler.

Vladimir Svyatoslavovich (978 or 980 - 1015)

Vladimir was younger son Prince Svyatoslav. He was Prince of Novgorod since 968. Became Prince of Kyiv in 980. He was distinguished by a very warlike disposition, which allowed him to conquer the Radimichi, Vyatichi and Yotvingians. Vladimir also waged wars with the Pechenegs, with the Volga Bulgaria, with the Byzantine Empire and Poland. It was during the reign of Prince Vladimir in Russia that defensive structures were built at the borders of the rivers: Desna, Trubezh, Sturgeon, Sula and others. Vladimir also did not forget about his capital city. It was under him that Kyiv was rebuilt with stone buildings. But Vladimir Svyatoslavovich became famous and remained in history due to the fact that in 988 - 989. made Christianity the state religion of Kievan Rus, which immediately increased the authority of the country in the international arena. Under him, the state of Kievan Rus entered the period of its greatest prosperity. Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich became an epic character, in which he is referred to only as "Vladimir the Red Sun." Canonized by Russian Orthodox Church, named Prince Equal to the Apostles.

Svyatopolk Vladimirovich (1015 - 1019)

Vladimir Svyatoslavovich, during his lifetime, divided his lands between his sons: Svyatopolk, Izyaslav, Yaroslav, Mstislav, Svyatoslav, Boris and Gleb. After Prince Vladimir died, Svyatopolk Vladimirovich occupied Kyiv and decided to get rid of his rival brothers. He gave the order to kill Gleb, Boris and Svyatoslav. However, this did not help him establish himself on the throne. Soon, Prince Yaroslav of Novgorod expelled him from Kyiv. Then Svyatopolk turned for help to his father-in-law, King Boleslav of Poland. With the support of the Polish king, Svyatopolk again took possession of Kyiv, but soon circumstances developed in such a way that he was again forced to flee the capital. On the way, Prince Svyatopolk committed suicide. This prince was popularly nicknamed the Accursed because he took the life of his brothers.

Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise (1019 - 1054)

Yaroslav Vladimirovich, after the death of Mstislav Tmutarakansky and after the expulsion of the Holy Regiment, became the sole ruler of the Russian land. Yaroslav was distinguished by a sharp mind, for which, in fact, he received his nickname - the Wise. He tried to take care of the needs of his people, built the cities of Yaroslavl and Yuryev. He also built churches (St. Sophia in Kyiv and Novgorod), realizing the importance of spreading and establishing a new faith. It was he who published the first code of laws in Russia called "Russian Truth". He divided the allotments of the Russian land between his sons: Izyaslav, Svyatoslav, Vsevolod, Igor and Vyacheslav, bequeathing them to live in peace with each other.

Izyaslav Yaroslavich the First (1054 - 1078)

Izyaslav was the eldest son of Yaroslav the Wise. After the death of his father, the throne of Kievan Rus passed to him. But after his campaign against the Polovtsy, which ended in failure, he was driven out by the people of Kiev themselves. Then his brother Svyatoslav became the Grand Duke. Only after the death of Svyatoslav, Izyaslav again returned to the capital city of Kyiv. Vsevolod the First (1078 - 1093) It is possible that Prince Vsevolod could well have been a useful ruler, thanks to his peaceful disposition, piety and truthfulness. Being myself an educated person, knowing five languages, he actively contributed to education in his principality. But, alas. Constant, incessant raids of the Polovtsy, pestilence, famine did not favor the rule of this prince. He held onto the throne thanks to the efforts of his son Vladimir, who would later be called Monomakh.

Svyatopolk II (1093 - 1113)

Svyatopolk was the son of Izyaslav the First. It was he who inherited the throne of Kyiv after Vsevolod the First. This prince was distinguished by a rare spinelessness, which is why he failed to calm the internecine friction between the princes for power in the cities. In 1097, a congress of princes took place in the city of Lubicz, at which each ruler, kissing the cross, pledged to own only his father's land. But this shaky peace treaty was not allowed to materialize. Prince Davyd Igorevich blinded Prince Vasilko. Then the princes, at a new congress (1100), deprived Prince Davyd of the right to own Volhynia. Then, in 1103, the princes unanimously accepted Vladimir Monomakh's proposal for a joint campaign against the Polovtsy, which was done. The campaign ended with the victory of the Russians in 1111.

Vladimir Monomakh (1113 - 1125)

Regardless of the right of seniority of the Svyatoslavichs, when Prince Svyatopolk II died, Vladimir Monomakh was elected Prince of Kyiv, who wanted the unification of the Russian land. Grand Duke Vladimir Monomakh was brave, tireless and favorably distinguished himself from the rest by his remarkable mental abilities. He managed to humble the princes with meekness, and he fought successfully with the Polovtsians. Vladimir Monoma is a vivid example of the prince's service not to his personal ambitions, but to his people, which he bequeathed to his children.

Mstislav the First (1125 - 1132)

The son of Vladimir Monomakh, Mstislav the First, was very much like his legendary father, demonstrating the same remarkable qualities of a ruler. All the recalcitrant princes showed him respect, fearing to anger the Grand Duke and share the fate of the Polovtsian princes, whom Mstislav expelled to Greece for disobedience, and sent his son to reign in their place.

Yaropolk (1132 - 1139)

Yaropolk was the son of Vladimir Monomakh and, accordingly, the brother of Mstislav the First. During his reign, he came up with the idea to transfer the throne not to his brother Vyacheslav, but to his nephew, which caused confusion in the country. It was because of these strife that the Monomakhovichi lost the throne of Kyiv, which was occupied by the descendants of Oleg Svyatoslavovich, that is, the Olegovichi.

Vsevolod II (1139 - 1146)

Having become the Grand Duke, Vsevolod II desired to secure the throne of Kyiv for his family. For this reason, he handed over the throne to Igor Olegovich, his brother. But Igor was not accepted by the people as a prince. He was forced to take the veil as a monk, but even the monastic attire did not protect him from the wrath of the people. Igor was killed.

Izyaslav II (1146 - 1154)

Izyaslav II fell in love with the people of Kiev to a greater extent because with his mind, temper, affability and courage he very much reminded them of Vladimir Monomakh, the grandfather of Izyaslav II. After Izyaslav ascended the throne of Kyiv, the concept of seniority, adopted for centuries, was violated in Russia, that is, for example, while his uncle was alive, his nephew could not be a Grand Duke. Between Izyaslav II and Rostov Prince Yuri Vladimirovich began stubborn struggle. Izyaslav was twice expelled from Kyiv in his life, but this prince still managed to retain the throne until his death.

Yuri Dolgoruky (1154 - 1157)

It was the death of Izyaslav II that paved the way to the throne of Kyiv Yuri, whom the people later called Dolgoruky. Yuri became the Grand Duke, but he did not have a chance to reign for long, only three years later, after which he died.

Mstislav II (1157 - 1169)

After the death of Yuri Dolgoruky between the princes, as usual, internecine strife for the throne of Kyiv began, as a result of which Mstislav II Izyaslavovich became the Grand Duke. Mstislav was expelled from the throne of Kyiv by Prince Andrei Yurievich, nicknamed Bogolyubsky. Before the expulsion of Prince Mstislav, Bogolyubsky literally ruined Kyiv.

Andrei Bogolyubsky (1169 - 1174)

The first thing that Andrei Bogolyubsky did, becoming the Grand Duke, was to transfer the capital from Kyiv to Vladimir. He ruled Russia autocratically, without squads and vecha, pursued all those dissatisfied with this state of affairs, but, in the end, he was killed by them as a result of a conspiracy.

Vsevolod III (1176 - 1212)

The death of Andrei Bogolyubsky caused strife between the ancient cities (Suzdal, Rostov) and new ones (Pereslavl, Vladimir). As a result of these confrontations, Andrei Bogolyubsky's brother Vsevolod the Third, nicknamed the Big Nest, began to reign in Vladimir. Despite the fact that this prince did not rule and did not live in Kyiv, nevertheless, he was called the Grand Duke and was the first to make him swear allegiance not only to himself, but also to his children.

Constantine the First (1212 - 1219)

The title of Grand Duke Vsevolod the Third, contrary to expectations, was transferred not to his eldest son Konstantin, but to Yuri, as a result of which strife arose. The decision of the father to approve the Grand Duke Yuri was also supported by the third son of Vsevolod the Big Nest - Yaroslav. And Konstantin in his claims to the throne was supported by Mstislav Udaloy. Together they won the Battle of Lipetsk (1216) and Konstantin nevertheless became the Grand Duke. Only after his death, the throne passed to Yuri.

Yuri II (1219 - 1238)

Yuri successfully fought with the Volga Bulgarians and Mordovians. On the Volga, on the very border of Russian possessions, Prince Yuri built Nizhny Novgorod. It was during his reign that the Mongol-Tatars appeared in Russia, who in 1224 in the Battle of Kalka first defeated the Polovtsy, and then the troops of the Russian princes who came to support the Polovtsy. After this battle, the Mongols left, but thirteen years later they returned under the leadership of Batu Khan. The hordes of the Mongols ravaged the Suzdal and Ryazan principalities, and also, in the battle of the City, they defeated the army of the Grand Duke Yuri II. In this battle, Yuri died. Two years after his death, the hordes of the Mongols plundered the south of Russia and Kyiv, after which all the Russian princes were forced to admit that from now on they all and their lands are under the rule of the Tatar yoke. The Mongols on the Volga made the city of Saray the capital of the horde.

Yaroslav II (1238 - 1252)

The Khan of the Golden Horde appointed Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich of Novgorod as Grand Duke. This prince during his reign was engaged in restoring Russia devastated by the Mongol army.

Alexander Nevsky (1252 - 1263)

Being at first the Prince of Novgorod, Alexander Yaroslavovich defeated the Swedes on the Neva River in 1240, for which, in fact, he was named Nevsky. Then, two years later, he defeated the Germans in the famous Battle on the Ice. Among other things, Alexander fought very successfully with the Chud and Lithuania. From the Horde, he received a label for the Great reign and became a great intercessor for the entire Russian people, since he traveled four times to Golden Horde with rich gifts and bows. was later canonized as a saint.

Yaroslav III (1264 - 1272)

After Alexander Nevsky died, two of his brothers began to fight for the title of Grand Duke: Vasily and Yaroslav, but the Khan of the Golden Horde decided to give the label to reign to Yaroslav. However, Yaroslav failed to get along with the Novgorodians, he treacherously called for own people even Tatars. The Metropolitan reconciled Prince Yaroslav III with the people, after which the prince again swore an oath on the cross to rule honestly and fairly.

Basil the First (1272 - 1276)

Vasily the First was the prince of Kostroma, but he claimed the throne of Novgorod, where the son of Alexander Nevsky, Dmitry, reigned. And soon Vasily the First achieved his goal, thereby strengthening his principality, previously weakened by division into destinies.

Dmitry the First (1276 - 1294)

The entire reign of Dmitry the First proceeded in a continuous struggle for the rights of the great reign with his brother Andrei Alexandrovich. Andrei Alexandrovich was supported by the Tatar regiments, from which Dmitry managed to escape three times. After his third escape, Dmitry nevertheless decided to ask Andrei for peace and, thus, received the right to reign in Pereslavl.

Andrew II (1294 - 1304)

Andrei II pursued a policy of expanding his principality through the armed seizure of other principalities. In particular, he claimed the principality in Pereslavl, which caused civil strife with Tver and Moscow, which, even after the death of Andrei II, were not stopped.

Saint Michael (1304 - 1319)

Prince Mikhail Yaroslavovich of Tver, having paid a large tribute to the khan, received from the Horde a label for a great reign, while bypassing the Moscow prince Yuri Danilovich. But then, while Mikhail was at war with Novgorod, Yuri, conspiring with the Horde ambassador Kavgady, slandered Mikhail before the khan. As a result, the khan summoned Michael to the Horde, where he was brutally killed.

Yuri III (1320 - 1326)

Yuri the Third, married the daughter of Khan Konchaka, who in Orthodoxy took the name Agafya. It was her untimely death that Yuri Mikhail Yaroslavovich of Tverskoy treacherously accused, for which he suffered an unjust and cruel death at the hands of the Horde Khan. So Yuri received a label for reigning, but the son of the murdered Mikhail, Dmitry, also claimed the throne. As a result, Dmitry at the first meeting killed Yuri, avenging the death of his father.

Dmitry II (1326)

For the murder of Yuri III, he was sentenced to death by the Horde Khan for arbitrariness.

Alexander of Tver (1326 - 1338)

The brother of Dmitry II - Alexander - received from the khan a label to the throne of the Grand Duke. Prince Alexander of Tverskoy was distinguished by justice and kindness, but he literally ruined himself by allowing the people of Tver to kill Shchelkan, the khan's ambassador hated by all. Khan sent a 50,000-strong army against Alexander. The prince was forced to flee first to Pskov and then to Lithuania. Only 10 years later, Alexander received the khan's forgiveness and was able to return, but, at the same time, he did not get along with the prince of Moscow - Ivan Kalita - after which Kalita slandered Alexander of Tverskoy in front of the khan. Khan urgently summoned A. Tverskoy to his Horde, where he was executed.

John the First Kalita (1320 - 1341)

John Danilovich, nicknamed "Kalita" (Kalita - wallet) for his stinginess, was very cautious and cunning. With the support of the Tatars, he devastated the principality of Tver. It was he who took upon himself the responsibility of accepting tribute for the Tatars from all over Russia, which contributed to his personal enrichment. With this money, John bought entire cities from the specific princes. Through the efforts of Kalita, the metropolis was also transferred from Vladimir to Moscow in 1326. He laid the Assumption Cathedral in Moscow. Since the time of John Kalita, Moscow has become the permanent residence of the Metropolitan of All Russia and becomes the Russian center.

Simeon the Proud (1341 - 1353)

The Khan gave Simeon Ioannovich not only a label to the Grand Duchy, but also ordered all the other princes to obey only him, so Simeon began to be called the prince of all Russia. The prince died, leaving no heir from a pestilence.

John II (1353 - 1359)

Brother of Simeon the Proud. He had a meek and peaceful disposition, he obeyed the advice of Metropolitan Alexei in all matters, and Metropolitan Alexei, in turn, was highly respected in the Horde. During the reign of this prince, relations between the Tatars and Moscow improved significantly.

Dmitry the Third Donskoy (1363 - 1389)

After the death of John the Second, his son Dmitry was still small, therefore the khan gave the label to the great reign to the Suzdal prince Dmitry Konstantinovich (1359 - 1363). However, the Moscow boyars benefited from the policy of strengthening the Moscow prince, and they managed to achieve a great reign for Dmitry Ioannovich. The Suzdal prince was forced to submit and, together with the rest of the princes of northeastern Russia, swore allegiance to Dmitry Ioannovich. The attitude of Russia towards the Tatars also changed. Due to civil strife in the horde itself, Dmitry and the rest of the princes took the opportunity not to pay the usual dues. Then Khan Mamai entered into an alliance with the Lithuanian prince Jagiello and moved with a large army to Russia. Dmitry and other princes met the army of Mamai on the Kulikovo field, (near the river Don) and at the cost of huge losses on September 8, 1380, Russia defeated the army of Mamai and Jagello. For this victory they called Dmitry Ioannovich Donskoy. Until the end of his life, he took care of strengthening Moscow.

Basil the First (1389 - 1425)

Vasily ascended the princely throne, already having experience of government, since even during the life of his father he shared the reign with him. Expanded the Moscow principality. Refused to pay tribute to the Tatars. In 1395, Khan Timur threatened Russia with an invasion, but it was not he who attacked Moscow, but Edigey, the Tatar Murza (1408). But he lifted the siege from Moscow, receiving a ransom of 3,000 rubles. Under Basil the First, the Ugra River was designated as the border with the Lithuanian principality.

Vasily II (Dark) (1425 - 1462)

Yuri Dmitrievich Galitsky decided to take advantage of the minority of Prince Vasily and claimed his rights to the Grand Duke's throne, but the Khan decided the dispute in favor of the young Vasily II, which was greatly facilitated by the Moscow boyar Vasily Vsevolozhsky, hoping to marry his daughter to Vasily in the future, but these expectations were not destined to come true . Then he left Moscow and assisted Yuri Dmitrievich, and soon he took possession of the throne, on which he died in 1434. His son Vasily Kosoy began to claim the throne, but all the princes of Russia rebelled against this. Vasily II captured Vasily Kosoy and blinded him. Then the brother of Vasily Kosoy Dmitry Shemyaka captured Vasily II and also blinded him, after which he took the throne of Moscow. But soon he was forced to give the throne to Vasily II. Under Vasily II, all metropolitans in Russia began to be recruited from Russians, and not from Greeks, as before. The reason for this was the adoption of the Florentine Union in 1439 by Metropolitan Isidore, who was from the Greeks. For this, Vasily II gave the order to take Metropolitan Isidore into custody and instead appointed Bishop John of Ryazan.

John the Third (1462 -1505)

Under him, the core of the state apparatus began to form and, as a result, the state of Russia. He annexed Yaroslavl, Perm, Vyatka, Tver, Novgorod to the Moscow principality. In 1480, he overthrew the Tatar-Mongol yoke (Standing on the Ugra). In 1497, the Sudebnik was compiled. John the Third launched a large construction in Moscow, strengthened international position Russia. It was under him that the title "Prince of All Russia" was born.

Basil the Third (1505 - 1533)

"The last collector of Russian lands" Vasily the Third was the son of John the Third and Sophia Paleolog. He had a very impregnable and proud disposition. Having annexed Pskov, he destroyed the specific system. He fought twice with Lithuania on the advice of Mikhail Glinsky, a Lithuanian nobleman, whom he kept in his service. In 1514, he finally took Smolensk from the Lithuanians. Fought with the Crimea and Kazan. As a result, he managed to punish Kazan. He withdrew all trade from the city, ordering from now on to trade at the Makariev Fair, which was then transferred to Nizhny Novgorod. Vasily the Third, wishing to marry Elena Glinskaya, divorced his wife Solomonia, which turned the boyars against him even more. From the marriage with Elena, Vasily III had a son, John.

Elena Glinskaya (1533 - 1538)

She was appointed to rule by Vasily III himself until the age of their son John. Elena Glinskaya, having barely ascended the throne, very severely dealt with all the rebellious and dissatisfied boyars, after which she made peace with Lithuania. Then she decided to repulse the Crimean Tatars, who boldly attacked the Russian lands, however, these plans of hers could not be realized, since Elena suddenly died.

John the Fourth (Terrible) (1538 - 1584)

John the Fourth, Prince of All Russia became in 1547 the first Russian Tsar. From the end of the forties he ruled the country with the participation of the Chosen Rada. During his reign, the convocation of all Zemsky Sobors began. In 1550, a new Sudebnik was drawn up, and reforms of the court and administration (Zemskaya and Gubnaya reforms) were also carried out. conquered the Kazan Khanate in 1552, and the Astrakhan Khanate in 1556. In 1565, the oprichnina was introduced to strengthen the autocracy. Under John the Fourth, trade relations with England were established in 1553, and the first printing house in Moscow was opened. From 1558 to 1583, the Livonian War continued for access to Baltic Sea. In 1581, the annexation of Siberia began. The entire domestic policy of the country under Tsar John was accompanied by disgrace and executions, for which he was nicknamed the Terrible by the people. The enslavement of the peasants increased considerably.

Fedor Ioannovich (1584 - 1598)

He was the second son of John the Fourth. He was very sickly and weak, did not differ in sharpness of mind. That is why very quickly the actual control of the state passed into the hands of the boyar Boris Godunov, the brother-in-law of the tsar. Boris Godunov, surrounding himself exclusively devoted people became the absolute ruler. He built cities, strengthened relations with countries Western Europe, built the Arkhangelsk harbor on the White Sea. By order and instigation of Godunov, an all-Russian independent patriarchate was approved, and the peasants were finally attached to the land. It was he who in 1591 ordered the assassination of Tsarevich Dmitry, who was the brother of the childless Tsar Fedor, and was his direct heir. 6 years after this murder, Tsar Fedor himself died.

Boris Godunov (1598 - 1605)

The sister of Boris Godunov and the wife of the late Tsar Fedor abdicated the throne. Patriarch Job recommended that Godunov's supporters convene a Zemsky Sobor, at which Boris was elected tsar. Godunov, having become king, was afraid of conspiracies on the part of the boyars and, in general, was distinguished by excessive suspicion, which naturally caused disgrace and exile. At the same time, the boyar Fyodor Nikitich Romanov was forced to take tonsure, and he became a monk Filaret, and his young son Mikhail was sent into exile at Beloozero. But not only the boyars were angry with Boris Godunov. A three-year crop failure and the pestilence that followed it, which hit the Muscovite kingdom, forced the people to see this as the fault of Tsar B. Godunov. The king tried his best to alleviate the plight of the starving. He increased the earnings of people employed in state buildings (for example, during the construction of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower), generously distributed alms, but people still grumbled and willingly believed the rumors that the legitimate Tsar Dmitry was not killed at all and would soon take the throne. In the midst of preparations for the fight against False Dmitry, Boris Godunov died suddenly, while having managed to bequeath the throne to his son Fyodor.

False Dmitry (1605 - 1606)

The fugitive monk Grigory Otrepiev, who was supported by the Poles, declared himself Tsar Dmitry, who miraculously managed to escape from the murderers in Uglich. He entered Russia with several thousand men. The army came out to meet him, but it also went over to the side of False Dmitry, recognizing him as the legitimate king, after which Fyodor Godunov was killed. False Dmitry was a very good-natured man, but with a sharp mind, he diligently engaged in all state affairs, but caused displeasure of the clergy and boyars, from the fact that, in their opinion, he did not honor the old Russian customs enough, and completely neglected many. Together with Vasily Shuisky, the boyars entered into a conspiracy against False Dmitry, spread a rumor that he was an impostor, and then, without hesitation, they killed the fake tsar.

Vasily Shuisky (1606 - 1610)

The boyars and townspeople elected the old and inept Shuisky as king, while limiting his power. In Russia, rumors arose again about the salvation of False Dmitry, in connection with which new unrest began in the state, intensified by the rebellion of a serf named Ivan Bolotnikov and the appearance of False Dmitry II in Tushino (“ Tushinsky thief"). Poland went to war against Moscow and defeated the Russian troops. After this, Tsar Vasily was forcibly tonsured a monk, and a troubled time of interregnum came to Russia, lasting three years.

Mikhail Fedorovich (1613 - 1645)

Diplomas of the Trinity Lavra, sent throughout Russia and calling for protection Orthodox faith and the fatherland, did their job: Prince Dmitry Pozharsky, with the participation of the zemstvo headman of Nizhny Novgorod Kozma Minin (Sukhoroky), gathered a large militia and moved to Moscow in order to clear the capital of rebels and Poles, which was done after painful efforts. On February 21, 1613, the Great Zemstvo Duma gathered, at which Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov was elected Tsar, who, after long rejections, nevertheless ascended the throne, where the first thing he undertook was to pacify both external and internal enemies.

He concluded the so-called pillar agreement with the Kingdom of Sweden, in 1618 he signed the Treaty of Deulino with Poland, according to which Filaret, who was the parent of the king, was returned to Russia after a long captivity. Upon his return, he was immediately elevated to the rank of patriarch. Patriarch Filaret was an adviser to his son and a reliable co-ruler. Thanks to them, by the end of the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich, Russia began to enter into friendly relations with various Western states, having practically recovered from the horror of the Time of Troubles.

Alexei Mikhailovich (Quiet) (1645 - 1676)

Tsar Alexei is considered one of the the best people ancient Russia. He had a meek, humble disposition, and was very pious. He could not stand quarrels at all, and if they happened, he suffered greatly and tried in every possible way to reconcile with the enemy. In the first years of his reign, his closest adviser was his uncle, the boyar Morozov. In the fifties, Patriarch Nikon became his adviser, who decided to unite Russia with the rest of the Orthodox world and ordered everyone from now on to be baptized in the Greek manner - with three fingers, which caused a split among the Orthodox in Russia. (The most famous schismatics are the Old Believers, who do not want to deviate from the true faith and be baptized with a "fig", as ordered by the patriarch - noblewoman Morozova and archpriest Avvakum).

During the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich, every now and then in different cities riots broke out that were suppressed, and the decision of Little Russia to voluntarily join the Muscovite state provoked two wars with Poland. But the state survived thanks to the unity and concentration of power. After the death of his first wife, Maria Miloslavskaya, in whose marriage the tsar had two sons (Fyodor and John) and many daughters, he remarried the girl Natalia Naryshkina, who bore him a son, Peter.

Fedor Alekseevich (1676 - 1682)

During the reign of this tsar, the issue of Little Russia was finally resolved: its western part went to Turkey, and the East and Zaporozhye - to Moscow. Patriarch Nikon was returned from exile. They also abolished localism - the ancient boyar custom to take into account the service of ancestors when occupying state and military positions. Tsar Fedor died without leaving an heir.

Ivan Alekseevich (1682 - 1689)

Ivan Alekseevich, together with his brother Peter Alekseevich, was elected king thanks to the Streltsy rebellion. But Tsarevich Alexei, suffering from dementia, did not take any part in public affairs. He died in 1689 during the reign of Princess Sophia.

Sophia (1682 - 1689)

Sophia remained in history as the ruler of an extraordinary mind and possessed all necessary qualities real queen. She managed to calm the unrest of the dissenters, curb the archers, conclude an "eternal peace" with Poland, which is very beneficial for Russia, as well as the Nerchinsk Treaty with distant China. The princess undertook campaigns against Crimean Tatars but fell victim to her own lust for power. Tsarevich Peter, however, having guessed her plans, imprisoned her half-sister in the Novodevichy Convent, where Sophia died in 1704.

Peter the Great (Great) (1682 - 1725)

The greatest tsar, and since 1721 the first Russian emperor, statesman, cultural and military figure. He made revolutionary reforms in the country: collegiums, the Senate, bodies of political investigation and state control were created. He made divisions in Russia into provinces, and also subordinated the church to the state. He built a new capital - St. Petersburg. The main dream of Peter was the elimination of Russia's backwardness in development compared to European countries. Taking advantage of Western experience, he tirelessly created manufactories, factories, shipyards.

To facilitate trade and for access to the Baltic Sea, he won the Northern War, lasting 21 years, from Sweden, thereby “cutting through” a “window to Europe”. He built a huge fleet for Russia. Thanks to his efforts, the Academy of Sciences was opened in Russia and the civil alphabet was adopted. All reforms were carried out cruelest methods and caused multiple uprisings in the country (Streletsky in 1698, Astrakhan from 1705 to 1706, Bulavinsky from 1707 to 1709), which, however, were also mercilessly suppressed.

Catherine the First (1725 - 1727)

Peter the Great died without leaving a will. So, the throne passed to his wife Catherine. Catherine became famous for having equipped Bering on a round-the-world trip, and also established the Supreme Privy Council at the instigation of a friend and colleague of her late husband Peter the Great - Prince Menshikov. Thus, Menshikov concentrated virtually all state power in his hands. He persuaded Catherine to appoint the son of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich, who was still sentenced to death by his father, Peter the Great, for being disgusted with the reforms, Peter Alekseevich, as the heir to the throne, and also to agree to his marriage with Menshikov's daughter Maria. Until the age of Peter Alekseevich, Prince Menshikov was appointed ruler of Russia.

Peter II (1727 - 1730)

Peter II ruled for a short time. Having barely got rid of the imperious Menshikov, he immediately fell under the influence of the Dolgoruky, who, in every possible way distracting the emperors from state affairs with fun, actually ruled the country. They wished to marry the emperor to Princess E. A. Dolgoruky, but Pyotr Alekseevich suddenly died of smallpox and the wedding did not take place.

Anna Ioannovna (1730 - 1740)

The Supreme Privy Council decided to somewhat limit the autocracy, therefore they chose Anna Ioannovna, Dowager Duchess of Courland, daughter of John Alekseevich, as empress. But she was crowned on the Russian throne as an autocratic empress and, first of all, having entered into rights, destroyed the Supreme Privy Council. She replaced it with the Cabinet and, instead of the Russian nobles, gave positions to the Germans Ostern and Munnich, as well as to the Courlander Biron. The cruel and unjust rule was later called "Bironism".

Russia's intervention in the internal affairs of Poland in 1733 cost the country dearly: the lands conquered by Peter the Great had to be returned to Persia. Before her death, the empress appointed the son of her niece Anna Leopoldovna as her heir, and appointed Biron as regent for the baby. However, Biron was soon overthrown, and Anna Leopoldovna became the empress, whose reign cannot be called long and glorious. The guards staged a coup and proclaimed Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, daughter of Peter the Great.

Elizaveta Petrovna (1741 - 1761)

Elizabeth destroyed the Cabinet, established by Anna Ioannovna, and returned the Senate. Issued a decree abolishing the death penalty in 1744. In 1954, she established the first loan banks in Russia, which became a great boon for merchants and nobles. At the request of Lomonosov, she opened the first university in Moscow and in 1756 opened the first theater. During her reign, Russia waged two wars: with Sweden and the so-called "seven-year war", in which Prussia, Austria and France took part. Thanks to the peace with Sweden, part of Finland went to Russia. The death of Empress Elizabeth put an end to the Seven Years' War.

Peter the Third (1761 - 1762)

He was absolutely unsuitable for governing the state, but his temper was complacent. But this young emperor managed to turn absolutely all layers of Russian society against him, since he, to the detriment of Russian interests, showed a craving for everything German. Peter the Third, not only did he make a lot of concessions in relation to the Prussian Emperor Frederick II, he also reformed the army according to the same Prussian model, dear to his heart. He issued decrees on the destruction of the secret office and the free nobility, which, however, did not differ in certainty. As a result of the coup, due to his relationship with the empress, he quickly signed the abdication and soon died.

Catherine II (1762 - 1796)

The time of her reign was one of the greatest after the reign of Peter the Great. Empress Catherine ruled harshly, suppressed the peasant uprising of Pugachev, won two Turkish wars, which resulted in the recognition of the independence of Crimea by Turkey, and Russia moved away from the coast Sea of ​​Azov. Russia got the Black Sea Fleet, and active construction of cities began in Novorossia. Catherine II established the colleges of education and medicine. Cadet corps were opened, and for the education of girls - Smolny Institute. Catherine the Second, herself possessing literary abilities, patronized literature.

Paul the First (1796 - 1801)

He did not support the transformations that his mother, Empress Catherine, started in the state system. Of the achievements of his reign, one should note a very significant relief in the life of serfs (only a three-day corvee was introduced), the opening of a university in Dorpat, and the emergence of new women's institutions.

Alexander the First (Blessed) (1801 - 1825)

The grandson of Catherine II, assuming the throne, vowed to govern the country "according to the law and heart" of his crowned grandmother, who, in fact, was engaged in his upbringing. At the very beginning he took whole line various liberation measures aimed at different sections of society, which caused the undoubted respect and love of people. But external political problems distracted Alexander from internal reforms. Russia, in alliance with Austria, was forced to fight against Napoleon, the Russian troops were defeated at Austerlitz.

Napoleon forced Russia to abandon trade with England. As a result, in 1812, Napoleon nevertheless, having violated the agreement with Russia, went to war against the country. And in the same year, 1812, Russian troops defeated Napoleon's army. Alexander the First founded state council in 1800, the ministries and the cabinet. In St. Petersburg, Kazan and Kharkov, he opened universities, as well as many institutes and gymnasiums, Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum. It greatly facilitated the life of the peasants.

Nicholas the First (1825 - 1855)

He continued the policy of improving peasant life. He founded the Institute of St. Vladimir in Kyiv. Published a 45-volume complete collection of laws Russian Empire. Under Nicholas I in 1839, the Uniates were reunited with Orthodoxy. This reunification was a consequence of the suppression of the uprising in Poland and the complete destruction of the Polish constitution. There was a war with the Turks, who oppressed Greece, as a result of the victory of Russia, Greece gained independence. After breaking off relations with Turkey, which England, Sardinia and France sided with, Russia had to get involved in a new struggle.

The emperor died suddenly during the defense of Sevastopol. During the reign of Nicholas I, the Nikolaevskaya and Tsarskoye Selo railways, lived and worked great Russian writers and poets: Lermontov, Pushkin, Krylov, Griboyedov, Belinsky, Zhukovsky, Gogol, Karamzin.

Alexander II (Liberator) (1855 - 1881)

The Turkish war had to be ended by Alexander II. Parisian world was concluded on very unfavorable terms for Russia. In 1858, according to an agreement with China, Russia acquired the Amur region, and later - Usuriysk. In 1864, the Caucasus finally became part of Russia. The most important state transformation of Alexander II was the decision to free the peasants. Killed by an assassin in 1881.

The history of Russia goes back more than a thousand years, although even before the advent of the state, a variety of tribes lived on its territory. The last ten-century period can be divided into several stages. All the rulers of Russia, from Rurik to Putin, are people who were true sons and daughters of their eras.

The main historical stages of the development of Russia

Historians consider the following classification to be the most convenient:

Board of the Novgorod princes (862-882);

Yaroslav the Wise (1016-1054);

From 1054 to 1068, Izyaslav Yaroslavovich was in power;

From 1068 to 1078, the list of rulers of Russia was replenished with several names at once (Vseslav Bryachislavovich, Izyaslav Yaroslavovich, Svyatoslav and Vsevolod Yaroslavovichi, in 1078 Izyaslav Yaroslavovich ruled again)

The year 1078 was marked by some stabilization in the political arena, until 1093 Vsevolod Yaroslavovich ruled;

Svyatopolk Izyaslavovich was on the throne from 1093 to;

Vladimir, nicknamed Monomakh (1113-1125) - one of the best princes of Kievan Rus;

From 1132 to 1139, Yaropolk Vladimirovich had power.

All the rulers of Russia from Rurik to Putin, who lived and ruled during this period and up to the present, saw their main task in the prosperity of the country and strengthening the country's role in the European arena. Another thing is that each of them went to the goal in his own way, sometimes in a completely different direction than his predecessors.

The period of fragmentation of Kievan Rus

During the feudal fragmentation of Russia, changes on the main princely throne were frequent. None of the princes left a serious mark on the history of Russia. By the middle of the XIII century, Kyiv fell into absolute decline. It is worth mentioning only a few princes who ruled in the XII century. So, from 1139 to 1146 prince of Kyiv was Vsevolod Olgovich. In 1146, Igor II was at the helm for two weeks, after which Izyaslav Mstislavovich ruled for three years. Until 1169, such people as Vyacheslav Rurikovich, Rostislav Smolensky, Izyaslav Chernigov, Yuri Dolgoruky, Izyaslav the Third managed to visit the princely throne.

Capital moves to Vladimir

The period of formation of late feudalism in Russia was characterized by several manifestations:

The weakening of the Kyiv princely power;

The emergence of several centers of influence that competed with each other;

Strengthening the influence of the feudal lords.

On the territory of Russia, 2 largest centers of influence arose: Vladimir and Galich. Galich is the most important political center at that time (located on the territory of modern Western Ukraine). It seems interesting to study the list of rulers of Russia who reigned in Vladimir. The importance of this period of history has yet to be assessed by researchers. Of course, the Vladimir period in the development of Russia was not as long as the Kyiv period, but it was after it that the formation of monarchical Russia began. Consider the dates of the reign of all the rulers of Russia of this time. In the first years of this stage in the development of Russia, the rulers changed quite often, there was no stability that would appear later. For more than 5 years, the following princes have been in power in Vladimir:

Andrew (1169-1174);

Vsevolod, son of Andrei (1176-1212);

Georgy Vsevolodovich (1218-1238);

Yaroslav, son of Vsevolod (1238-1246);

Alexander Nevskiy), great commander (1252- 1263);

Yaroslav III (1263-1272);

Dmitry I (1276-1283);

Dmitry II (1284-1293);

Andrei Gorodetsky (1293-1304);

Michael "Saint" of Tver (1305-1317).

All the rulers of Russia after the transfer of the capital to Moscow until the appearance of the first tsars

The transfer of the capital from Vladimir to Moscow roughly coincides chronologically with the end of the period of feudal fragmentation of Russia and the strengthening of the main center of political influence. Most of the princes were on the throne longer than the rulers of the Vladimir period. So:

Prince Ivan (1328-1340);

Semyon Ivanovich (1340-1353);

Ivan the Red (1353-1359);

Alexei Byakont (1359-1368);

Dmitry (Donskoy), famous commander (1368-1389);

Vasily Dmitrievich (1389-1425);

Sophia of Lithuania (1425-1432);

Vasily the Dark (1432-1462);

Ivan III (1462-1505);

Vasily Ivanovich (1505-1533);

Elena Glinskaya (1533-1538);

The decade before 1548 was a difficult period in the history of Russia, when the situation developed in such a way that the princely dynasty actually ended. There was a period of stagnation when boyar families were in power.

The reign of tsars in Russia: the beginning of the monarchy

Historians distinguish three chronological periods in the development of the Russian monarchy: before the accession to the throne of Peter the Great, the reign of Peter the Great and after it. The dates of the reign of all the rulers of Russia from 1548 to the end of the 17th century are as follows:

Ivan Vasilyevich the Terrible (1548-1574);

Semyon Kasimovsky (1574-1576);

Ivan the Terrible again (1576-1584);

Fedor (1584-1598).

Tsar Fedor did not have heirs, so she interrupted. - one of the most difficult periods in the history of our country. Rulers changed almost every year. Since 1613, the country has been ruled by the Romanov dynasty:

Mikhail, the first representative of the Romanov dynasty (1613-1645);

Alexei Mikhailovich, son of the first emperor (1645-1676);

He ascended the throne in 1676 and ruled for 6 years;

Sophia, his sister, ruled from 1682 to 1689.

In the 17th century, stability finally came to Russia. The central government has strengthened, reforms are gradually beginning, which have led to the fact that Russia has grown territorially and strengthened, the leading world powers began to reckon with it. The main merit in changing the face of the state belongs to the great Peter I (1689-1725), who simultaneously became the first emperor.

Rulers of Russia after Peter

The reign of Peter the Great is the heyday when the empire acquired its own strong fleet and strengthened the army. All the rulers of Russia, from Rurik to Putin, understood the importance of the armed forces, but few were given the opportunity to realize the country's huge potential. An important feature that time was aggressive foreign policy Russia, which manifested itself in the forcible annexation of new regions (Russian-Turkish wars, the Azov campaign).

The chronology of the rulers of Russia from 1725 to 1917 is as follows:

Catherine Skavronskaya (1725-1727);

Peter II (killed in 1730);

Queen Anna (1730-1740);

Ivan Antonovich (1740-1741);

Elizaveta Petrovna (1741-1761);

Petr Fedorovich (1761-1762);

Catherine the Great (1762-1796);

Pavel Petrovich (1796-1801);

Alexander I (1801-1825);

Nicholas I (1825-1855);

Alexander II (1855 - 1881);

Alexander III (1881-1894);

Nicholas II - the last of the Romanovs, ruled until 1917.

This ends a huge period of development of the state, when the kings were in power. After the October Revolution, a new political structure appeared - the republic.

Russia during the Soviet era and after its collapse

The first few years after the revolution were difficult. Among the rulers of this period, Alexander Fedorovich Kerensky can be distinguished. After the legal registration of the USSR as a state and until 1924, Vladimir Lenin led the country. Further, the chronology of the rulers of Russia looks like this:

Dzhugashvili Joseph Vissarionovich (1924-1953);

Nikita Khrushchev was First Secretary of the CPSU after Stalin's death until 1964;

Leonid Brezhnev (1964-1982);

Yuri Andropov (1982-1984);

General Secretary of the CPSU (1984-1985);

Mikhail Gorbachev, the first President of the USSR (1985-1991);

Boris Yeltsin, leader of independent Russia (1991-1999);

The current head of state, Putin, has been the President of Russia since 2000 (with a break of 4 years, when Dmitry Medvedev was in charge of the state)

Who are the rulers of Russia?

All the rulers of Russia from Rurik to Putin, who have been in power over the entire more than a thousand-year history of the state, are patriots who wished the flourishing of all the lands of a vast country. Most rulers were not random people in this difficult field and each made his own contribution to the development and formation of Russia. All the rulers of Russia, of course, wanted goodness and prosperity for their subjects: the main forces were always directed to strengthening borders, expanding trade, and strengthening defense capabilities.