• Tsars claim leadership in Russia; establish hereditary monarchy & expand empire

• Over time, variety of men & women shape the role of “tsar” in history

• Two dynasties reign in Russia for over 700 years; Ruriks 441; Romanovs 304

• Changes in society lead to political reorganization and the end of “Tsarist Russia” in 1917

• Russian tsars were addressed by their patronymic, a traditional form of respect used by men and women in Russia, up to and including the present day. To form a patronymic, the person's given name is followed by his or her father's name. For males, the suffix "ovich" is added to the end of the father's name and for females "ovna" is added to the end of the father's name. Certain tsars and tsarinas had special attributes added to their titles. Ivan IV, for example, also was Ivan Vasilievich and Ivan Grozni (thunder), which has been translated into English as Ivan the Terrible.

• Reigned from 1440-1505 CE

• Quadrupled the territory of his state; claimed Moscow to be a Third Rome; built the Moscow Kremlin & laid foundations for the Russian autocracy; was longest-reigning Russian ruler

• Adopted Byzantine traditions; first to take the title “Tsar”

• 1547-1584 CE; Grandson of Ivan III

• Centralized royal power, further limited privileges of the Boyars & granted land to nobles in exchange for military service; Introduced feudal laws tying serfs to lands

• Around 1560 he became unstable (after the death of his wife); exploded in fits of rage; even killed his own son

• Created the Oprichniki to enforce his will of terror; slaughtered thousands of disloyal rebels

• Chosen by Zemsky Sobor as Tsar in 1613 CE to alleviate the “Time of Troubles”

• Ruled from 1613 – 1645 CE

• Established Romanov dynasty which lasted until 1917 CE

• Regained absolute power; strove to “Europeanize” Russia; promoted economic, political and social growth with revolutionary programs

• Reformed Russian society & adopted European traditions• Expanded Russian territory to include port cities; built St. Petersburg• Attempted to catapult Russia into upper echelon of world; conservatives & peasants refused to change

1682- 1725 CE

• Inherited the throne in 1762, ruled to 1796

• Reorganized provincial government; codified laws & reformed education

• Embraced western ideas like Peter; modeled Russian reform based on European ideas

• Achieved a warm-water port for Russia; expanded Russian borders, gobbled up Polish territory

• (The Blessed) Greatly influenced by Catherine the Great • Crowned in the Kremlin on 15 September 1801• Extremely popular among all levels of society• Restructured the nation and attempted to codify Russian legislation• There is a story that he secretly abdicated, faked his death and lived out his days as a monk

EMPEROR OF RUSSIA 1801-1825

• Ruled as a traditional paternal autocrat by any means necessary• Restrained Russian society by censorship, secret police force and religious influence; “Autocracy, Orthodoxy, Nationality”• Refused to abolish serfdom• Promoted education but did not modernize Russian society

Emperor of Russia 1825 - 1855

• (The Emancipator) Autocratic ruler who had compassion for his people; attempted to appeal to public opinion• Reorganized the army & navy; reformed judicial system, abolished capital punishment; emancipated the serfs• Assassinated in 1881

Emperor of Russia 1855 - 1881

• (The Peacemaker) Promoted Russian unity through one language, religion and administration• Reign coincided with an industrial revolution in Russia and the strengthening of capitalism• Domestic policy was harsh, directed against revolutionaries and other liberal movements (Executed Alexander Uylanov)

Emperor of Russia 1881 - 1894

- Reigned from 1894 -1917; last Tsar of Russia

- Family oriented & dedicated to his wife Alexandra of Hesse

- Boosted the growth of heavy industry; built Trans-Siberian Railroad

- Upheld autocratic rule; resisted political change and social reform

- Lost the support of Russian people with poor decisions

Nicholas II and George V (Cousins)