Kings and Emperors. History of the Russian monarchy

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

appearance

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

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 avenged the Drevlyans for the murder of her husband, and also conquered main city 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 agreement with the Byzantine Empire, and also to attract the horde of the Pecheneg Khan Ildea to his service. Tried to fix 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 the youngest son of 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 approving 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, indefatigable, 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 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. A stubborn struggle began between Izyaslav II and Prince Yuri Vladimirovich of Rostov. 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 of 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, as he traveled to the Golden Horde four times 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. Nevertheless, Yaroslav failed to get along with the Novgorodians, he treacherously called on even the Tatars against his own people. 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 the international position of 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, having surrounded himself with exclusively devoted people, became a sovereign ruler. He built cities, strengthened relations with the countries of 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)

The diplomas of the Trinity Lavra, sent all over Russia and calling for the defense of the 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 best people of 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, riots broke out every now and then in different cities, which they managed to suppress, 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 married a second time to the girl Natalya 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 no participation public affairs, suffering from dementia, Tsarevich Alexei, did not accept. 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 the 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 by the most cruel 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 Pugachev peasant uprising, won two Turkish wars, which resulted in the recognition of the independence of the Crimea by Turkey, and also the coast of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov departed Russia. Russia got the Black Sea Fleet, and active construction of cities began in Novorossia. Catherine II established the colleges of education and medicine. opened cadet corps, and for the education of girls - the 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 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 of the 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 the rupture of relations with Turkey, on the side of which England, Sardinia and France sided, Russia had to join 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. The Paris peace 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.

Alexey Mikhailovich(1629-1676), tsar since 1645. Son of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich. During the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich, the central government was strengthened and serfdom took shape (Sobornoe ukaz 1649); reunited with the Russian state Ukraine (1654); returned Smolensk, Seversk land, etc.; uprisings in Moscow, Novgorod, Pskov (1648, 1650, 1662) and a peasant war under the leadership of Stepan Razin were suppressed; There was a split in the Russian Church.

Wives: Maria Ilyinichna Miloslavskaya (1625-1669), among her children is Princess Sophia, the future tsars Fedor and Ivan V; Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina (1651-1694) - Peter's mother

Fedor Alekseevich(1661-1682), tsar since 1676. Son of Alexei Mikhailovich from his first marriage with M.I. Miloslavskaya. Under him, various groups of boyars ruled. Household taxation was introduced, localism was abolished in 1682; the unification of Left-bank Ukraine with Russia was finally fixed.

Ivan V Alekseevich (1666-1696), tsar since 1682. Son of Alexei Mikhailovich from his first marriage to M.I. Miloslavskaya. Sick and unable to state activity, proclaimed king together with his younger brother Peter I; until 1689, sister Sophia ruled for them, after her overthrow - Peter I.

Peter I Alekseevich (Great) (1672-1725), tsar from 1682 (ruled from 1689), the first Russian emperor (from 1721). The youngest son of Alexei Mikhailovich - from his second marriage with N.K. Naryshkina. Carried out reforms government controlled(the Senate, boards, bodies of higher state control and political investigation were created; the church is subordinate to the state; the country was divided into provinces, a new capital, St. Petersburg, was built). He pursued a policy of mercantileism in the field of industry and trade (the creation of manufactories, metallurgical, mining and other plants, shipyards, marinas, canals). He led the army in the Azov campaigns of 1695-1696, the Northern War of 1700-1721, the Prut campaign of 1711, the Persian campaign of 1722-1723, etc.; he commanded troops during the capture of Noteburg (1702), in battles at Lesnaya (1708) and near Poltava (1709). He supervised the construction of the fleet and the creation of a regular army. Contributed to the strengthening of the economic and political position of the nobility. At the initiative of Peter I, many educational institutions, the Academy of Sciences were opened, a civil alphabet was adopted, etc. The reforms of Peter I were carried out by cruel means, by extreme exertion of material and human forces, oppression of the masses (head tax, etc.), which entailed uprisings (Streletskoye 1698, Astrakhan 1705-1706, Bulavinskoye 1707-1709, etc.), mercilessly suppressed by the government. Being the creator of a powerful absolutist state, he achieved recognition for Russia by the countries of Western Europe of the authority of a great power.

Wives: Evdokia Fedorovna Lopukhina, mother of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich;
Marta Skavronskaya, later Catherine I Alekseevna

Catherine I Alekseevna (Marta Skavronskaya) (1684-1727), empress from 1725. The second wife of Peter I. She was enthroned by the guards, headed by A.D. Menshikov, who became the de facto ruler of the state. Under it, the Supreme Privy Council was created.

Peter II Alekseevich (1715-1730), Emperor from 1727. Son of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich. In fact, A.D. Menshikov, then the Dolgorukovs, ruled the state under him. He announced the cancellation of a number of reforms carried out by Peter I.

Anna Ivanovna(1693-1740), Empress from 1730. Daughter of Ivan V Alekseevich, Duchess of Courland from 1710. She was enthroned by the Supreme Privy Council. In fact, E.I. Biron was the ruler under her.

Ivan VI Antonovich (1740-1764), emperor in 1740-1741. Great-grandson of Ivan V Alekseevich, son of Prince Anton Ulrich of Brunswick. E.I. Biron ruled for the baby, then mother Anna Leopoldovna. Overthrown by the guard, imprisoned; killed when V.Ya.Mirovich tried to free him.

Elizaveta Petrovna(1709-1761/62), empress since 1741. Daughter of Peter I from marriage with Catherine I. Enthroned by the guards. She contributed to the elimination of the dominance of foreigners in the government, nominated talented and energetic representatives from among the Russian nobility to government posts. The actual leader of domestic policy under Elizabeth Petrovna was P.I. Shuvalov, whose activities are associated with the abolition of internal customs and the organization of foreign trade; rearmament of the army, improvement of its organizational structure and control systems. During the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna, the orders and bodies created under Peter I were restored. The establishment of Moscow University (1755) and the Academy of Arts (1757) on the initiative of M.V. Lomonosov contributed to the rise of Russian science and culture. The privileges of the nobility were strengthened and expanded at the expense of the serfs (distribution of land and serfs, a decree of 1760 on the right to exile peasants to Siberia, etc.). Peasant protests against serfdom were brutally suppressed. The foreign policy of Elizabeth Petrovna, skillfully directed by Chancellor A.P. Bestuzhev-Ryumin, was subordinated to the task of fighting against the aggressive aspirations of the Prussian king Frederick II.

Peter III Fedorovich (1728-1762), Russian emperor from 1761. german prince Karl Peter Ulrich, son of the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp Karl Friedrich and Anna, the eldest daughter of Peter I and Catherine I. From 1742 in Russia. In 1761 he made peace with Prussia, which nullified the results of the victories of Russian troops in the Seven Years' War. Introduced German orders in the army. Overthrown in a coup organized by his wife Catherine, killed.

Catherine II Alekseevna (Great) (1729-1796), Russian Empress from 1762. German Princess Sophia Frederick Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst. She came to power, overthrowing with the help of the guards Peter III, her husband. She formalized the class privileges of the nobles. Under Catherine II, the Russian absolutist state significantly strengthened, the oppression of the peasants intensified, a peasant war took place under the leadership of Emelyan Pugachev (1773-1775). The Northern Black Sea region, Crimea, the North Caucasus, Western Ukrainian, Belarusian and Lithuanian lands (in three sections of the Commonwealth) were annexed. She pursued a policy of enlightened absolutism. From the late 80's - early 90's. actively participated in the struggle against the French Revolution; pursued freethinking in Russia.

Pavel I Petrovich (1754-1801), Russian Emperor from 1796. Son of Peter III and Catherine II. Introduced a military-police regime in the state, Prussian orders in the army; restricted the privileges of the nobility. He opposed revolutionary France, but in 1800 he made an alliance with Bonaparte. Killed by conspiring nobles.

Alexander I Pavlovich (1777-1825), emperor since 1801. The eldest son of Paul I. At the beginning of his reign, he carried out moderate liberal reforms developed by the Unofficial Committee and M.M. Speransky. In foreign policy, he maneuvered between Great Britain and France. In 1805-1807 he participated in anti-French coalitions. In 1807-1812 he temporarily became close to France. He led successful wars with Turkey (1806-1812) and Sweden (1808-1809). Under Alexander I, East Georgia (1801), Finland (1809), Bessarabia (1812), Azerbaijan (1813), and the former Duchy of Warsaw (1815) were annexed to Russia. After the Patriotic War of 1812, he headed the anti-French coalition of European powers in 1813-1814. He was one of the leaders of the Vienna Congress of 1814-1815 and the organizers of the Holy Alliance.

Nicholas I Pavlovich (1796-1855), Russian emperor since 1825. Third son of Emperor Paul I. Honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1826). Ascended the throne after the sudden death of Alexander I. Suppressed the Decembrist uprising. Under Nicholas I, the centralization of the bureaucratic apparatus was strengthened, the Third Department was created, the Code of Laws of the Russian Empire was drawn up, and new censorship charters were introduced (1826, 1828). The theory of official nationality gained currency. The Polish uprising of 1830-1831 and the revolution in Hungary of 1848-1849 were suppressed. An important aspect of foreign policy was the return to the principles of the Holy Alliance. During the reign of Nicholas I, Russia participated in Caucasian war 1817-1864, Russian-Persian war of 1826-1828, Russian-Turkish war of 1828-1829, Crimean war of 1853-1856.

Alexander II Nikolayevich (1818-1881), emperor since 1855. The eldest son of Nicholas I. He carried out the abolition of serfdom and then carried out a number of other bourgeois reforms (zemstvo, judicial, military, etc.) that contributed to the development of capitalism. After the Polish uprising of 1863-1864, he switched to a reactionary internal political course. Since the late 1970s, repressions against revolutionaries have intensified. In the reign of Alexander II, the accession to Russia of the Caucasus (1864), Kazakhstan (1865), most of Central Asia (1865-1881) was completed. A number of attempts were made on the life of Alexander II (1866, 1867, 1879, 1880); killed by the people.

Alexander III Alexandrovich (1845-1894), Russian emperor since 1881. Second son of Alexander II. In the first half of the 1980s, in the conditions of the growth of capitalist relations, he abolished the poll tax and lowered redemption payments. Since the 2nd half of the 80s. carried out counter-reforms. Suppressed the revolutionary-democratic and workers' movement, strengthened the role of the police and administrative arbitrariness. In the reign of Alexander III, the annexation of Central Asia to Russia (1885) was basically completed, the Russian-French alliance was concluded (1891-1893).

Nicholas II Aleksandrovich (1868-1918), the last Russian emperor (1894-1917). Eldest son of Alexander III. His reign coincided with rapid development capitalism. Under Nicholas II, Russia was defeated in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, which was one of the reasons for the revolution of 1905-1907, during which the Manifesto was adopted on October 17, 1905, allowing the creation political parties and established the State Duma; Stolypin agrarian reform began to be carried out. In 1907 Russia became a member of the Entente, in which it entered World War I. From August 1915 he was commander in chief. During the February Revolution of 1917 he abdicated. Shot with his family in Yekaterinburg

History of the Russian monarchy

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

EMPEROR PETER I

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

EMPRESS CATHERINE I

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

EMPEROR PETER II

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

EMPRESS ANNA IANOVNA

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

EMPEROR IVAN VI

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

EMPRESS ELIZABETH PETROVNA

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

EMPEROR PETER III

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

EMPRESS CATHERINE II

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

EMPEROR PAUL I

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

EMPEROR ALEXANDER I

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

EMPEROR NICHOLAS I

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

EMPEROR ALEXANDER II

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

EMPEROR ALEXANDER III

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

EMPEROR NICHOLAS II

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