See Also

Tsar

Tsar , occasionally spelled Czar or Tzar and sometimes Csar or Zar in English English language

English is a widely distributed language that originated in England [i] but is now the primary language ... 

, is a Slavonic Slavic peoples

The Slavic peoples are a linguistic and ethnic branch of Indo-European people [i]s, living mainly in Europe [i] ... 

 term designating certain monarchs. Originally, and during most of its history, the title
tsar meant Emperor Emperor

An emperor is a monarch [i], usually the sovereign [i] ruler of an empire [i] or another type o ... 

 in the European medieval sense of the term, i.e., a ruler who has the same rank as a Roman Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization [i] that grew out of the city-state [i] of Rome [i], founded in the Italian Peninsula [i] ... 

 or Byzantine emperor due to recognition by another emperor or a supreme ecclesiastical official . Occasionally, the word could be used to designate other, non-Christian supreme rulers. In Russia and Bulgaria, the imperial connotations of the term were blurred with time and by the 19th century it had come to be viewed as an equivalent of king , .

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Timeline

927   Peter I succeeds Simeon the Great Simeon I of Bulgaria

Tsar Simeon the Great was the ruler of Bulgaria [i], who reigned 893 [i] May 27 [i], 927 [i]. ... 

 on the throne of Bulgaria Bulgaria

Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a country in Southeastern Europe [i]. ... 

 and is recognised as Tsar by the Byzantine Empire Byzantine Empire

Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used since the 19th century [i] to describe the Greek-spea ... 

976   Samuil of Bulgaria Samuil of Bulgaria

Samuil , also sometimes referred as Samuel or Samoil, was Tsar [i] of Bulgaria [i] ... 

 starts reign as Tsar

1002   All-out war breaks out between Byzantine Byzantine Empire

Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used since the 19th century [i] to describe the Greek-spea ... 

 Emperor Emperor

An emperor is a monarch [i], usually the sovereign [i] ruler of an empire [i] or another type o ... 

 Basil II Basil II

Basil II the Bulgar-Slayer was Byzantine emperor [i] from January 10 [i], 976 [i] to December 15 [i], ... 

 and Bulgaria Bulgaria

Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a country in Southeastern Europe [i]. ... 

n tsar Samuil Samuil of Bulgaria

Samuil , also sometimes referred as Samuel or Samoil, was Tsar [i] of Bulgaria [i] ... 

.

1230   Bulgaria Bulgaria

Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a country in Southeastern Europe [i]. ... 

n tsar Ivan Asen II Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria

Ivan Asen II, emperor of Bulgaria [i] from 1218 to 1241. ... 

 defeats Theodore of Epirus Despotate of Epirus

The Despotate of Epirus was one of the medieval [i] Greek [i] successor states of the ... 

 near the village of Klokotnitsa.

1280   The Asen dynasty of tsars of Bulgaria Bulgaria

Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a country in Southeastern Europe [i]. ... 

 ends.

1547   Grand Duke Ivan IV Ivan IV of Russia

Ivan IV Vasilyevich was the Grand Duke of Muscovy [i] from 1533 [i] to 1547 [i] and was the first ruler ... 

 of Muscovy becomes the first Tsar of Russia Russia

Russia , also the Russian Federation , is a country [i] that stretches over a vast expanse of Eurasia [i] ... 

.

1605   Pretender Dmitri is crowned officially tsar Dmitri II False Dmitriy I

False Dmitriy I, Cyrillic [i] ???????, was one of three pretender [i]s to the Russia [i] ... 

1613   An Assembly of the Russian Empire elects Mikhail Romanov Michael I of Russia

Mikhail Feodorovich Romanov was the first Russia [i]n tsar of the house of Romanov [i], being the son of ... 

 to be Tsar of Russia Russia

Russia , also the Russian Federation , is a country [i] that stretches over a vast expanse of Eurasia [i] ... 

, and establishes the Romanov Dynasty Romanov

The House of Romanov was the second and last imperial [i] dynasty [i] of Russia [i], which ruled ... 

.

1645   Alexei Mikhailovich Alexis I of Russia

Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov ]] [i] - January 29 [i], 1676 [i] (O.S.) [i]) was a Tsar [i] of ... 

, Tsar of Russia Russia

Russia , also the Russian Federation , is a country [i] that stretches over a vast expanse of Eurasia [i] ... 

 came to the throne.

1676   Feodor III Feodor III of Russia

Feodor III of Russia was the Tsar [i] of all Russia [i], during whose short reign the Polish [i] ... 

 becomes Tsar of Russia Russia

Russia , also the Russian Federation , is a country [i] that stretches over a vast expanse of Eurasia [i] ... 

   More Events >>



Encyclopedia


Czar and tzar redirect here. For other uses, see Tsar Tsar

Tsar , occasionally spelled Czar or Tzar and sometimes Csar or Zar in English [i] ... 



Tsar , occasionally spelled Czar or Tzar and sometimes Csar or Zar in English English language

English is a widely distributed language that originated in England [i] but is now the primary language ... 

, is a Slavonic Slavic peoples

The Slavic peoples are a linguistic and ethnic branch of Indo-European people [i]s, living mainly in Europe [i] ... 

 term designating certain monarchs.

Originally, and during most of its history, the title tsar meant Emperor Emperor

An emperor is a monarch [i], usually the sovereign [i] ruler of an empire [i] or another type o... 

 in the European medieval sense of the term, i.e., a ruler who has the same rank as a Roman Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization [i] that grew out of the city-state [i] of Rome [i], founded in the Italian Peninsula [i] ... 

 or Byzantine emperor due to recognition by another emperor or a supreme ecclesiastical official . Occasionally, the word could be used to designate other, non-Christian supreme rulers. In Russia and Bulgaria, the imperial connotations of the term were blurred with time and by the 19th century it had come to be viewed as an equivalent of king , . The modern languages of these countries use it as a general term for a monarch., . For example, the title of the Bulgarian monarchs in the 20th century was not generally interpreted as imperial.

"Tsar" was the official title of the supreme ruler in the following states:
  • Bulgaria Bulgaria

    Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a country in Southeastern Europe [i].... 

     in 913–1018, in 1185-1422 and in 1908–1946
  • Serbia Serbia

    Serbia, officially the Republic of Serbia is a landlocked [i] country in Central [i] ... 

     in 1346–1371
  • Russia Russia

    Russia , also the Russian Federation , is a country [i] that stretches over a vast expanse of Eurasia [i] ... 

     from about 1480 until 1721

Etymology and spelling

The word tsar is a contraction of the earlier tsesar , derived from the Roman title Caesar, but not from its devalued Byzantine derivative Kaisar . Originally the name of the deified dictator Caesar Julius Caesar

Gaius Julius Caesar , July 12 [i] or July 13 [i], 100 BC [i] – March 15 [i], 44 BC [i]) was a Roman [i] ... 

 and then of his adopted son, the first emperor Augustus, the word Caesar came to designate the Roman emperor, together with the additional titles of Imperator Imperator

The Latin [i] word imperator was a title originally roughly equivalent to commander during the perio ... 

 and Augustus, and the Republican dignity of Princeps . From the Antonine period the title Caesar by itself was also granted to junior associates in imperial power or heirs-designate, with which its importance started to decline. This is expressed even more clearly in Diocletian Diocletian

Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus , born ??????? and known in English as Diocletian, wa... 

's Tetrarchy Tetrarchy

Tetrarchy can be applied to any system of government where power is divided between four individuals bu... 

 293–306, in which power was shared between two senior emperors and two junior emperors . In the Byzantine period the title Caesar ceased to imply imperial association or the promise of succession to the throne, and after the Komnenian Komnenos

The Komnenos or Comnenus family was an important dynasty in the history of the [[Byzantine Empire]... 

 reforms, it was outranked by new titles such as despotes and sebastokrator.

Like German German language

German is a West Germanic language [i]. ... 

 Kaiser, Old Church Slavonic tsesar was derived directly from the Roman title Caesar, and not from the lower-ranking Byzantine Kaisar, as can be seen from etymological development and the coexistence of the distinct terms tsesar and kesar with different meanings in early Cyrillic Cyrillic alphabet

The Cyrillic alphabet is an alphabet [i] used for several East and South Slavic languages [i]; and many other languages [i] ... 

 texts. The word is thus cognate with German German language

German is a West Germanic language [i]. ... 

 Kaiser, Gothic Gothic language

The Gothic language is an extinct [i] Germanic language [i] that was spoken by the Goths [i] ... 

 káisar, Dutch Dutch language

Dutch is a West Germanic [i] language [i] spoken by around 22 million people, mainly in the Netherlands [i] ... 

 keizer, Danish Danish language

Danish is one of the North Germanic languages [i] , a sub-group of the Germanic [i] ... 

 kejser, Swedish Swedish language

Swedish is a North Germanic language [i] spoken predominantly in Sweden [i] a ... 

 kejsare, Norwegian Norwegian language

Norwegian is a Germanic language [i] spoken in Norway [i]. ... 

 keisar/keiser, and Hungarian Hungarian language

Hungarian is a Finno-Ugric language [i], unrelated to the other languages of Central Europe [i] ... 

 császár. The contraction of tsesar into tsar occurred by the way of shorthand writing of titles in Slavonic manuscripts . One may see examples of this in the East Slavic Primary Chronicle. The first attested examples seem to date from the 10th-century grave inscription of Mostic from Preslav Preslav

Preslav was capital of the First Bulgarian Empire [i] from 893 [i] to 972 [i]. ... 

 .

Modern usage seems to have standardized on the use of tsar to describe former rulers of Russia , while czar is used to informally describe an expert in charge of implementing policy : economics czar, drug czar, etc.

The Russian pronunciation of tsar is , the Bulgarian, Serbian and Macedonian one though many if not most English-speaking people pronounce it considerably differently: or . This is because although English has in words like cats, it is unusual for this sound to start an English word.

The spelling tsar is the closest possible transliteration of the original using standard English spelling, while the scholarly transliteration is car, with the letter 'c' standing for '?' in Slavic languages employing the Latin alphabet . Tsar has been accepted in Standard English for the last century as a correct usage. The use of "czar" is typically found in American English and has also been accepted into general use for more than a century there. The French adopted the form tsar during the 19th century 19th century

The 19th century lasted from 1801 [i] through 1900 [i] in the Gregorian calendar [i].
... 

, and it became more frequent in English towards the end of that century, following its adoption by The Times The Times

The Times is a national newspaper [i] published daily in the United Kingdom [i] since 1785, and unde ... 

. The spelling tzar with 'z' is also very common, and represents an alternative transliteration of the first letter ?, derived from German.

The early spelling czar originated with the Austria Austria

Austria is a landlocked [i] country in central Europe [i]. ... 

n diplomat Baron Sigismund von Herberstein, whose Rerum Moscoviticarum Commentarii Notes on Muscovite Affairs

Notes on Muscovite Affairs was a book in Latin [i] by Baron Sigismund von Herberstein [i] on the geogr ... 

, 'Notes on Muscovite Affairs', was the main source of knowledge of Russia in early modern western Europe, while not found in any of the Slavic language Slavic languages

The Slavic languages , a group of closely related language [i]s of the Slavic peoples [i] and a subgroup ... 

s.

Meaning in the Slavic languages


In contrast to the Latin word "imperator", the Byzantine Greek term basileus Basileus

Basileus, signifies "sovereign [i]". ... 

had both political and Biblical connotations. In the history of the Greek language, the word originally meant something like "potentate", had gradually approached the meaning of "king" in the Hellenistic Period Hellenistic civilization

The term Hellenistic was established by the German [i] historian [i] Johann Gustav Droysen [i] ... 

, and designated "emperor" after the inception in the Roman Empire Roman Empire

The Roman Empire was a phase of the ancient Roman [i] civilization characterized by an autocratic [i] ... 

. As a consequence, Byzantine sources continued to call the Biblical and ancient kings "basileus", even when that word had come to mean "emperor" when referring to contemporary monarchs
As the Greek "basileus" was consistently rendered as "tsar" in Slavonic translations of Greek texts, the dual meaning was transferred into Church Slavonic Church Slavic language

The Church Slavic language is the liturgical language [i] of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church [i], Macedonian Orthodox Church [i] ... 

. Thus, "tsar" was not only used as an equivalent of Latin "imperator" but was also used to refer to Biblical rulers and ancient kings. In contrast, the title of Western European kings was derived from the name of Charlemagne Charlemagne

Charlemagne was the King of the Franks [i] who conquered Italy [i] and took the Iron Crown of Lombardy [i]... 

  or was transliterated from the Greek as "?????".

From this ambiguity, the development has moved in different directions in the different Slavic languages. Thus, the Bulgarian and Russian languages no longer use tsar as an equivalent of the term emperor/imperator as it exists in the West European tradition. Currently, the term tsar refers to native sovereigns, ancient and Biblical rulers, as well as monarchs in fairy tales and the like. The title of king is perceived as alien and is reserved for European royalty . Foreign monarchs of imperial status, both inside and outside of Europe, ancient as well as modern, are generally called imperator , rather than tsar.

In contrast, the Serbian language translates "emperor" as tsar and not as imperator, whereas the equivalent of king is used to designate monarchs of non-imperial status, Serbian as well as foreign, including Biblical and other ancient rulers - just like Latin "rex".

In the West Slavic language West Slavic languages

The West Slavic languages is a subdivision of the Slavic language group [i] that includ... 

s, the use of the terms is identical to the one in English and German: a king is designated with one term , an emperor is designated with another, derived from Caesar as in German , while the exotic term "tsar" is reserved for the Russian emperor.

Bulgaria

The sainted Boris I is sometimes retrospectively referred to as tsar, because at his time Bulgaria was converted to Christianity. However, the title "tsar" were actually adopted and used for the first time by his son Simeon I Simeon I of Bulgaria

Tsar Simeon the Great was the ruler of Bulgaria [i], who reigned 893 [i] May 27 [i], 927 [i].
... 

, following a makeshift imperial coronation performed by the Patriarch of Constantinople Patriarch of Constantinople

The Patriarch of Constantinople [i] is the Ecumenical Patriarch, ranking as the "first among equals [i]... 

 in 913. After an attempt by Byzantium to revoke this major diplomatic concession and a decade of intensive warfare, the imperial title of the Bulgarian ruler was recognized by the Byzantine government in 924 and again at the formal conclusion of peace in 927. Since in Byzantune political theory there was place for only two emperors, Eastern and Western , the Bulgarian ruler was crowned basileus as "a spiritual son" of the Byzantian basileus.

Some of the earliest attested occurrences of the contraction "tsar" from "tsesar" are found in the grave inscription of the cargubil Mostich, a contemporary of Simeon I and Peter I, from Preslav Preslav

Preslav was capital of the First Bulgarian Empire [i] from 893 [i] to 972 [i]. ... 

.

It has been hypothesized that Simeon's title was also recognized by a papal mission to Bulgaria in or shortly after 925, as a concession in exchange for a settlement in the Bulgarian-Croatian Croatia

Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a country in Europe [i], at the crossroads of th ... 

 conflict or a possible attempt to return Bulgaria to union with Rome. Thus, in the later diplomatic correspondence conducted in 1199-1204 between the Bulgarian ruler Kaloyan and Pope Innocent III Pope Innocent III

Pope Innocent III , born Lotario de' Conti di Segni, was Pope [i] from January 8 [i], 1198 [i] unt... 

, Kaloyan — whose self-assumed Latin title was "imperator Bulgarorum et Blachorum" — claims that the imperial crowns of Simeon I Simeon I of Bulgaria

Tsar Simeon the Great was the ruler of Bulgaria [i], who reigned 893 [i] May 27 [i], 927 [i].
... 

, his son Peter I, and of Samuel Samuil of Bulgaria

Samuil , also sometimes referred as Samuel or Samoil, was Tsar [i] of Bulgaria [i] ... 

 were somehow derived from the Papacy Pope

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome [i], and, as Successor [i] of Saint Peter [i], is t ... 

. The Pope, however, only speaks of reges, kings of Bulgaria in his replies, and eventually grants only that lesser title to Kaloyan, who nevertheless procedes to thank the Pope for the "imperial title" conferred upon him.

The title, later augmented with epithets and titles such as autocrat to reflect current Byzantine practice, was used by all of Simeon's successors until the complete conquest of Bulgaria Bulgaria

Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a country in Southeastern Europe [i].... 

 by the Ottoman Empire Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire , is also sometimes known in the West [i] as the Turkish Empire. ... 

 in 1422. In Latin sources the Emperor of Bulgaria is sometimes designated "Emperor of Zagora" . Various additional epithets and descriptions apart, the official style read "Emperor and autocrat of all Bulgarians and Greeks".

During the five-century period of Ottoman rule in Bulgaria, the sultan Sultan

For information on the racehorse, see Sultan [i]
... 

 was fequently referred to as "tsar". This may be related to the fact that he had claimed the legacy of the Byzantine Empire or to the fact that the sultan was called "Basileus" in medieval Greek.

After Bulgaria's liberation from the Ottomans in 1878, its new monarchs were at first autonomous prince . With the declaration of full independence, Ferdinand I of Bulgaria Ferdinand I of Bulgaria

Ferdinand I, Tsar of Bulgaria, born Prince Ferdinand Maximilan Karl Leopold Maria of Saxe-Coburg and... 

 adopted the traditional title "tsar" in 1908 and it was used until the abolition of the monarchy in 1946. . However, these titles weren't generally perceived as equivalents of "Emperor" any longer. In the Bulgarian as in the Greek vernacular, the meaning of the title had shifted and the rulers of these countries were recognized only as kings by international diplomacy.

Russia


The term "tsar" was used once by Church officials of Kievan Rus Kievan Rus'

Kievan Rus' was the early, mostly East Slavic [i] state dominated by the city of Kiev [i] ... 

 in the naming of Yaroslav the Wise Yaroslav I the Wise

Yaroslav I the Wise was thrice Grand Prince of Novgorod [i] and Kiev [i], uniting the two principaliti... 

 of Kiev Kiev

Kiev, also written as Kyiv is the capital [i] and the largest city of Ukraine [i], lo ... 

. This may be connected to Yaroslav's war against Byzantium and to his efforts to distance himself from Constantinople. However, other princes of Kievan Rus Kievan Rus'

Kievan Rus' was the early, mostly East Slavic [i] state dominated by the city of Kiev [i] ... 

 never called themselves as "tsars" After the fall of Constantinople to the Crusaders and the Mongol invasion of Rus, the term "tsar" was applied by some people of Kievan Rus Kievan Rus'

Kievan Rus' was the early, mostly East Slavic [i] state dominated by the city of Kiev [i] ... 

 to the Mongol Mongols

Mongols are an ethnic group [i] that originated in what is now Mongolia [i], Russia [i], and China [i] ... 

  overlords of the Rus' principalities. Yet the first Russian ruler to openly break with the khan, Mikhail of Tver Mikhail Yaroslavich

Mikhail Yaroslavich, also known as Michael of Tver, was a Prince [i] of Tver [i] who ruled as Grand Prince [i]... 

, assumed the title of "Basileus of Rus" and "tsar".

Following his assertion of independence from the Golden Horde Golden Horde

The Golden Horde was a Tatar [i]-Mongol [i] state established in parts of present-day Russia [i], Ukraine [i]... 

 and perhaps also his marriage to an heiress of the Byzantine Empire Byzantine Empire

Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used since the 19th century [i] to describe the Greek-spea ... 

, "Veliki Kniaz" Ivan III Ivan III of Russia

Ivan III Vasilevich, also known as Ivan the Great, was a grand duke of Muscovy [i] who first adop ... 

 of Muscovy Muscovy

Muscovy is a traditional Western name for the Russia [i]n state that existed from the 14th century [i] ... 

 started to use the title of tsar regularly in diplomatic relations with the West. From about 1480, he is designated as "imperator" in his Latin correspondence, as "keyser" in his correspondence with the Swedish regent, as "kejser" in his correspondence with the Danish king, Teutonic Knights, and the Hansa. Ivan's son Vasily III Vasili III of Russia

Vasili III Ivanovich was the Grand Prince [i] of Moscow [i] from 1505 [i] to 1533 [i]. ... 

 continued using these titles, as his Latin letters to Clement VII Pope Clement VII

Pope Clement VII , born Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici [i], was a cardinal [i] from 1513 [i] ... 

 testify: "Magnus Dux Basilius, Dei gratia Imperator et Dominator totius Russiae, nec non Magnus Dux Woldomeriae", etc. . Herberstein correctly observed that the titles of "kaiser" and "imperator" were attempts to render the Russian term "tsar" into German and Latin, respectively.

This was related to Russia's growing ambitions to become an Orthodox "Third Rome Third Rome

*New Rome [i] ... 

", after Constantinople had fallen Fall of Constantinople

The Fall of Constantinople was the conquest of the Byzantine [i] capital by the Ottoman Empire [i] under ... 

. The Muscovite ruler was recognized as an emperor by Maximilian I, the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire Holy Roman Empire

The Holy Roman Empire was a mainly Central Europe [i]an conglomeration of lands [i] in the Middle Ages [i] ... 

 in 1514. However, the first Russian ruler to be formally crowned as "tsar of all Russia" was Ivan IV Ivan IV of Russia

Ivan IV Vasilyevich was the Grand Duke of Muscovy [i] from 1533 [i] to 1547 [i] and was the first ruler... 

, until then known as Grand Prince of all Russia . Some foreign ambassadors — namely, Herberstein , Daniel Printz a Buchau and Just Juel — indicated that the word "tsar" should not be translated as "emperor", because it is applied by Russians to David, Solomon and other Biblical kings, which are simple "reges". On the other hand, Jacques Margeret, a bodyguard of False Demetrius I False Dmitriy I

False Dmitriy I, Cyrillic [i] ???????, was one of three pretender [i]s to the Russia [i] ... 

, argues that the title of "tsar" is more honorable for Muscovites than "kaiser" or "king" exactly because it was God and not some earthly potentate who ordained to apply it to David, Solomon, and other kings of Israel. Samuel Collins, a court physician to Tsar Alexis Alexis I of Russia

Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov ]] [i] - January 29 [i], 1676 [i] (O.S.) [i]) was a Tsar [i] of ... 

 in 1659-66, styled the latter "Great Emperour", commenting that "as for the word Czar, it has so near relation to Cesar... that it may well be granted to signifie Emperour. The Russians would have it to be an higher Title than King, and yet they call David Czar, and our kings, Kirrols, probably from Carolus Quintus Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor

Charles V was ruler of the Burgundian territories [i], King of Castile [i], King of Aragon [i] ... 

, whose history they have among them".

In short, the Westerners were at a loss as to how the term "tsar" should be translated properly. In 1670, Pope Clement X Pope Clement X

Pope Clement X , born Emilio Bonaventura Altieri, was Pope [i] from April 29 [i], 1670 [i] to July 22 [i] ... 

 expressed doubts that it would be appropriate for him to address Alexis as "tsar", because the word is "barbarian" and because it stands for an "emperor", whereas there is only one emperor in the Christian world and he does not reside in Moscow. Reviewing the matter, abbot Scarlati opined that the term is not translatable and therefore may be used by the Pope without any harm. Paul Menesius, the Russian envoy in Vatican, seconded Scarlati's opinion by saying that there is no adequate Latin translation for "tsar", as there is no translation for "shah" or "sultan". In order to avoid such difficulties of translation and to assert his imperial ambitions more clearly, an edict of Peter I the Great Peter I of Russia

Peter I the Great . ruled Russia [i] from 7 May [i] 1682 [i] until his death, before 1696 jointly wit ... 

 decreed that the Latin-based title imperator should be used instead of "tsar" .

The title tsar remained in common usage, and also officially as the designator of various titles signifying rule over various states absorbed by the Muscovite monarchy . In the 18th century, it was increasingly viewed as inferior to "emperor" or highlighting the oriental side of the term. Upon annexing Crimea Crimea

Crimea /kra?'mia/ or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is an autonomous republic [i] of Ukraine [i] ... 

 in 1783, Catherine the Great Catherine II of Russia

Catherine II of Russia, called the Great , born Sophie Augusta Frederike of Anhalt-Zerbst) so... 

 adopted the hellenicized title of "Tsarina of Tauric Chersonesos Chersonesos

Chersonesos also known as Chersonese [i], Chersonesos, Cherson, Khersones and Korsun ... 

", rather than "Tsarina of the Crimea", as should have been expected. By 1815, when a large part of Poland was annexed, the title had clearly come to be interpreted in Russia as the equivalent of Polish Król "king", and the Russian emperor assumed the title "tsar of Poland" , .

Since the word "tsar" remained the popular designation of the Russian ruler despite the official change of style, its transliteration of this title in foreign languages such as English is commonly used also, in fact chiefly, for the Russian Emperors up to 1917.

Full style of Russian Sovereigns

The full title of Russian emperors started with By the Grace of God, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and went further to list all ruled territories. For example, according to the article 59 of the Russian Constitution of April 23, 1906, "the full title of His Imperial Majesty is as follows: We, ------ by the grace of God, Emperor Emperor

An emperor is a monarch [i], usually the sovereign [i] ruler of an empire [i] or another type o... 

 and Autocrat of all the Russia Russia

Russia , also the Russian Federation , is a country [i] that stretches over a vast expanse of Eurasia [i] ... 

s, of Moscow Moscow

Moscow is the capital [i] of Russia [i] and the country's principal political, economic, financial, edu ... 

, Kiev Kiev

Kiev, also written as Kyiv is the capital [i] and the largest city of Ukraine [i], lo ... 

, Vladimir Vladimir

Vladimir is an old city in Russia [i]. ... 

, Novgorod Velikiy Novgorod

Velikiy Novgorod is the foremost historic city of North-Western Russia [i]. ... 

, Tsar of Kazan Kazan

Kazan is the capital city of the Republic of Tatarstan [i], Russia [i], and one of Russia's la ... 

, Tsar of Astrakhan Astrakhan

Astrakhan, a major city in southern European Russia [i] and the administrative center of Astrakhan Oblast [i]... 

, Tsar of Poland Poland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country located in Central Europe [i]. ... 

, Tsar of Siberia Siberia

Siberia is a vast region of Russia [i] constituting almost all of Northern Asia [i]. ... 

, Tsar of Tauric Taurica

Taurica also known as Tauris, Taurida, Tauric Chersonese, and Chersonesus Taurica was th... 

 Chersonesos Chersonesos

Chersonesos also known as Chersonese [i], Chersonesos, Cherson, Khersones and Korsun ... 

, Tsar of Georgia Georgia

Georgia may mean:
  • Georgia [i], a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia: **Formerly ... 

    , Lord of Pskov Pskov

    Pskov is an ancient city [i], located in the north-west of Russia [i] about 20 km east from the Estonia [i] ... 

    , and Grand Duke of Smolensk Smolensk

    Smolensk is a city [i] in western Russia [i], located on the Dnieper River [i] ... 

    , Lithuania Lithuania

    Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania , is a country in northern Europe.... 

    , Volhynia Volhynia

    Volhynia comprises the historic region in western Ukraine [i] located between the rivers Pripyat [i] ... 

    , Podolia Podolia

    The region of Podolia is a historical region in the west-central and south-west portions of present-day ... 

    , and Finland Finland

    The Republic of Finland , is one of the Nordic countries [i]. ... 

    , Prince Prince

    The term prince , from the Latin [i] root princeps [i], when used for a member of the highest aristocracy [i]... 

     of Estonia Estonia

    Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia , is a country in Northern Europe [i]. ... 

    , Livonia Livonia

    Livonia once was the land of the Finnic [i] Livonians [i], but came in the Middle Ages to designate a m ... 

    , Courland Courland

    Courland is an historical Baltic [i] province [i] now part of Latvia [i]. ... 

     and Semigalia, Samogitia Samogitia

    Samogitia is one of the five ethnographic [i] regions of Lithuania [i]. ... 

    , Bialystok Bialystok

    Bialystok is the largest city in north-eastern Poland [i] and the capital of the Podlachian Voivodeship [i] ... 

    , Karelia Karelia

    Karelia is the land of the Karelian and Finnish peoples [i] and is a vast inhabited area in Northern Europe [i] ... 

    , Tver Tver

    Tver is a city in Russia [i], the administrative center of Tver Oblast [i]. ... 

    , Yugra Yugra

    Yugra was the name of the lands between the Pechora River [i] and Northern Urals [i] in the Russia [i] ... 

    , Perm Perm

    Perm is a city in and administrative center of Perm Krai [i], Russia [i]. ... 

    , Vyatka, Bulgaria Volga Bulgaria

    Volga Bulgaria or Volga-Kama Bolghar, is a historic state that existed between the 7th [i] ... 

    , and other territories; Lord and Grand Duke of Nizhni Novgorod Nizhny Novgorod

    Nizhny Novgorod , colloquially shortened as Nizhny and also transliterated [i] ... 

    , Chernigov Chernihiv

    Chernihiv is an ancient city in northern Ukraine [i]. ... 

    ; Ruler of Ryazan Ryazan

    Ryazan is a city in the Central Federal District [i] of Russia [i], the administrative center of Ryazan Oblast [i] ... 

    , Polotsk Polatsk

    Polatsk is a historical city in Belarus [i], situated on the Dvina [i] river.... 

    , Rostov Rostov

    ----

Rostov is one of the oldest towns in Russia [i] and an important tourist centre of the so called Golden ring [i] ... 

, Yaroslavl Yaroslavl

Yaroslavl is a city [i] in Russia [i], the administrative center of Yaroslavl Oblast [i] ... 

, Beloozero Belozersk

Belozersk, known as Beloozero until 1777, is a town [i] in Vologda Oblast [i] ... 

, Udoria, Obdoria Salekhard

Salekhard is a town [i] in and the administrative center of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug [i] ... 

, Kondia, Vitebsk Vitebsk

Vitsyebsk is a city in Belarus [i], near the border with Russia [i] and Latvia [i]. ... 

, Mstislavl Mstislavl

Mstsislaw or Mstislavl is a town in Mahilyow Voblast [i], Eastern Belarus [i]. ... 

, and all northern territories ; Ruler of Iveria Caucasian Iberia

Iberia was a name given by the ancient Greeks [i] and Romans [i] to the anci ... 

, Kartalinia, and the Kabardinian lands and Armenia Armenia

Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked [i] mountainous country in the South ... 

n territories - hereditary Ruler and Lord of the Circassians and Mountain Princes and others; Lord of Turkestan Turkestan

Turkestan is a region in Central Asia [i], which today is largely inhabited by Turkic people [i] ... 

, Heir of Norway Norway

Insert non-formatted text here
... 

, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein Schleswig-Holstein

Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost [i] of the 16 Bundeslnder [i] ... 

, Stormarn Stormarn

ame=Stormarn|
state=Schleswig-Holstein|
... 

, Dithmarschen Dithmarschen

ame=Dithmarschen|
state=Schleswig-Holstein|
... 

, Oldenburg Oldenburg

Oldenburg is an Independent City [i] in Lower Saxony [i], Germany [i]. ... 

, and so forth, and so forth, and so forth."

For example, Nicholas II of Russia Nicholas II of Russia

Nicholas II of Russia was the last Emperor of Russia [i], King of Poland [i], and Grand Duke of Finland [i] ... 

  was titled as follows :
????? ??????????????? ???????? ??, ??????? ?????? ?????????? ? ??????????? ?????????????
??????????, ????????, ????????????, ????????????,
???? ?????????, ???? ????????????, ???? ????????, ???? ?????????, ???? ????????? ????????????, ???? ??????????,
???????? ?????????, ?
??????? ????? ??????????, ?????????, ?????????, ?????????? ? ???????????;
????? ???????????, ???????????, ??????????? ? ????????????, ???????????, ????????????, ??????????,
????????, ????????, ????????, ???????, ?????????? ? ?????;
???????? ? ??????? ????? ?????????? ????????? ?????, ????????????, ?????????, ?????????,
??????????, ???????????, ???????????, ????????, ?????????, ??????????, ?????????, ???????????? ?
???? ???????? ?????? ??????????; ?
???????? ????????, ???????????? ? ???????????? ????? ? ??????? ?????????;
??????????? ? ???????? ?????? ? ????? ????????? ???????? ? ??????????;
???????? ?????????????;
?????????? ??????????,
??????? ????????-???????????, ????????????, ????????????? ? ??????????????, ? ??????, ? ??????, ? ??????.


  • The Emperor's subsidiary title of Tsar of Kazan proclaimed the chief Orthodox dynasty as successor in law to the mighty Islamic khanate of Kazan Khanate of Kazan

    The Kazan Khanate was a medieval Tatar [i] state which occipied the territory of former Volga Bulgaria [i] ... 

    , not maintaining its 'heathen' title , but christening it. It should also be noted that Khans of Kazan were mentioned in Russian chronicles such as Kazan Chronicle as Tsars of Kazan.
  • The Emperor's subsidiary title of Tsar of Siberia is somewhat misleading, as there never was such a kingdom, only a very weak Tatar Khanate of Sibir, easily subdued in the early stages of the exploration and annexation of the hugely larger Siberia, most of it before inhabited by nomadic tribal people without a state in the European sense.
  • The subsidiary title of Tsar in chief of Transcausasian Georgia Georgia

    Georgia may mean:
  • Georgia [i], a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia: **Formerly ... 

    is the continuation of a royal style of a native dynasty, that had as such been recognized by Russia; it was a new, Slavonic style, imposed after the former regional superpower, which had used native and even Persian styles refelecting imperial pretences, had been reduced to a vassal unable to ward off its mighty neighbours.
  • The subsidiary title of Tsar of Poland Poland

    Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country located in Central Europe [i]. ... 

     demonstrates the Russian Emperors' rule over the legally separate Polish Kingdom, nominally in personal union with Russia, established by the Congress of Vienna Congress of Vienna

    The Congress of Vienna was a conference between ambassadors from the major powers in Europe [i] that was ... 

     in 1815 , in a sense reviving the royal style of the pre-existent national kingdom of Poland. Internationally and in Poland, the tsars were referred to as Kings of Poland.


In some cases, defined by the Code of Laws, the Abbreviated Imperial Title' was used:
"We, ------ by the grace of God, Emperor Emperor

An emperor is a monarch [i], usually the sovereign [i] ruler of an empire [i] or another type o... 

 and Autocrat of all the Russia Russia

Russia , also the Russian Federation , is a country [i] that stretches over a vast expanse of Eurasia [i] ... 

s, of Moscow Moscow

Moscow is the capital [i] of Russia [i] and the country's principal political, economic, financial, edu ... 

, Kiev Kiev

Kiev, also written as Kyiv is the capital [i] and the largest city of Ukraine [i], lo ... 

, Vladimir Vladimir

Vladimir is an old city in Russia [i]. ... 

, Novgorod Velikiy Novgorod

Velikiy Novgorod is the foremost historic city of North-Western Russia [i]. ... 

, Tsar of Kazan Kazan

Kazan is the capital city of the Republic of Tatarstan [i], Russia [i], and one of Russia's la ... 

, Tsar of Astrakhan Astrakhan

Astrakhan, a major city in southern European Russia [i] and the administrative center of Astrakhan Oblast [i]... 

, Tsar of Poland Poland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country located in Central Europe [i]. ... 

, Tsar of Siberia Siberia

Siberia is a vast region of Russia [i] constituting almost all of Northern Asia [i]. ... 

, Tsar of Tauric Taurica

Taurica also known as Tauris, Taurida, Tauric Chersonese, and Chersonesus Taurica was th... 

 Chersonesos Chersonesos

Chersonesos also known as Chersonese [i], Chersonesos, Cherson, Khersones and Korsun ... 

, Tsar of Georgia Georgia

Georgia may mean:

  • Georgia [i], a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia: **Formerly ... 

    , Lord of Pskov Pskov

    Pskov is an ancient city [i], located in the north-west of Russia [i] about 20 km east from the Estonia [i] ... 

    , and Grand Duke of Smolensk Smolensk

    Smolensk is a city [i] in western Russia [i], located on the Dnieper River [i] ... 

    , Lithuania Lithuania

    Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania , is a country in northern Europe.... 

    , Volhynia Volhynia

    Volhynia comprises the historic region in western Ukraine [i] located between the rivers Pripyat [i] ... 

    , Podolia Podolia

    The region of Podolia is a historical region in the west-central and south-west portions of present-day ... 

    , and Finland Finland

    The Republic of Finland , is one of the Nordic countries [i]. ... 

    , and so forth, and so forth, and so forth."


In other cases, also defined by the Code of Laws, the Short Imperial Title' was used:
"We, ------ by the grace of God, Emperor Emperor

An emperor is a monarch [i], usually the sovereign [i] ruler of an empire [i] or another type o... 

 and Autocrat of all the Russia Russia

Russia , also the Russian Federation , is a country [i] that stretches over a vast expanse of Eurasia [i] ... 

s, Tsar of Poland Poland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country located in Central Europe [i]. ... 

, Grand Duke of Finland Finland

The Republic of Finland , is one of the Nordic countries [i]. ... 

, and so forth, and so forth, and so forth."

Titles in the Russian Royal/Imperial family

Tsaritsa is the term used for an Empress Emperor

An emperor is a monarch [i], usually the sovereign [i] ruler of an empire [i] or another type o... 

, though in English contexts this seems invariably to be altered to tsarina . In Imperial Russia Russian Empire

The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until it was declared a republic in August 1917.
... 

, the official title was Empress . Tsaritsa could be either the ruler herself or the wife of the tsar. The title of tsaritsa is used in the same way in Bulgaria and Serbia.

Tsesarevich is the term for a male Malé

Mal , population 81,647 , is the capital [i] of the Republic of Maldives [i]. ... 

 heir apparent, the full title was Heir Tsesarevich , informally abbreviated in Russia to The Heir .

Tsarevich was the term for a son. In older times the term was used in place of "Tsesarevich" . A son who was not a heir was formally called Velikii Kniaz . The latter title was also used for grandsons .

Tsarevna was the term for a daughter and a granddaughter of a Tsar or Tsaritsa. The official title was Velikaya Kniaginya , translated as Grand Duchess or Grand Princess.

See also Grand Duchess for more details on the Velikaya Kniaginya title.

Tsesarevna was the wife of the Tsesarevich.

Notes

  1. When Nicholas II abdicated in 1917 he abdicated not just on his own behalf but also on behalf of his teenage son, Alexey Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich of Russia

    Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich, of the House of Romanov [i], was Tsesarevich [i] of Russia [i] and was t ... 

    , who was too ill to take up the throne. He named as his heir his own brother Mikhail Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich of Russia

    Grand Duke Michael of Russia, Mikhail Aleksandrovich Romanov sometimes called Tsar Michael ... 

    . Mikhail initially considered accepting the throne, conditional upon the people accepting him as their ruler. But a day or two later he decided against this course. He saw no need to formally abdicate a throne he had never formally accepted. He was never properly proclaimed as "Tsar Mikhail II". Historians and lists of tsars differ as to whether to regard Mikhail or Nicholas II as the last tsar. Nicholas II was undoubtedly the last tsar to rule Russia and so was the last effective tsar. Mikhail, if he can be said to have been Tsar at all, exercised no governmental functions and merely reigned nominally for a very short time. Mikhail, like his brother Nicholas, was executed by the Bolshevik Bolshevik

    Bolsheviks were members of the Bolshevik faction of the Marxist [i] Russian Social-Democratic Labour Party [i]... 

    s in 1918.
  2. In 1924 Grand Duke Cyril Romanov proclaimed himself Emperor in exile.
  3. Moscow Moscow

    Moscow is the capital [i] of Russia [i] and the country's principal political, economic, financial, edu ... 

     and Saint-Petersburg Saint Petersburg

    Saint Petersburg listen is a city located in northwestern Russia [i] on t ... 

     are known as the two tsar's capitals, though the latter was precisely founded as the new capital, symbolizing the new empire after Peter had shed the formal style of Tsar.

Georgia

After Russia had established its protectorate over the kingdom of Georgia, the Russian Emperor recognised the following styles and titles as of 24th September 1783
  • for its 'Hereditary Sovereign and Prince' until the annexation, when he himself added this realm to his full style with the same title of Tsar: The Most Serene Tsar , by the will of our Lord, Tsar of Kartli, Tsar of Kakheti Kakheti

    Kakheti is a province in Eastern Georgia [i]. ... 

    , Hereditary Prince of Samtzkhé-Saatabago, Ruling Prince of Kazakh Kazakhstan

    Kazakhstan, also spelled Kazakstan, , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a country th... 

    , Borchalo, Shamshadilo, Kak, Shaki Shaki

    Shaki, sometimes written as Seki or Sheki, is a city in North-west Azerbaijan [i], in the rayon of the same name [i] ... 

    , and Shirvan, Prince and Lord of Ganja Ganja

    Ganja is Azerbaijan [i]'s second largest city.

... 

 and Erivan Yerevan

Yerevan is the largest city and capital [i] of Armenia [i]. ... 

, with the style of His Majesty; however these Russian designations were largely ignored in Georgia by the Georgians themselves, who continued to use the ancient styles and titles : The Mepe-Umaglesi 'Most High King' , by the will of our Lord, Mepe-Mepeta 'King of Kings' of the Abkhazis, Kartvelians, Ranians, Kakhetians and the Armenians, Shirvanshah Shirvanshah

History
The role of Shirvanshah state in national development of Azerbaijan [i] is hard to underesti ... 

 and Shahanshah Shahanshah

Shahanshah is a Persia [i]n monarchial [i] title, literally meaning King of Kings [i] ... 

  and Master of all the East and West
.
  • All sons of the Georgian Sovereign, including the Heir, were styled: Tsarevitch 'Prince' Grouzinskii, i.e. Prince of Georgia, with the style of His Highness.
  • All legitimate male descendants of Kings Irakli II and Giorgi XII, in the male line, were styled: Kniaz 'Prince' Grouzinskii, i.e. Prince of Georgia, with the style of His Serene Highness.
  • More remote princes of the blood or descendants in the natural line, also received the title of Kniaz Bagration , frequently with a territorial or other designation, e.g. Bagration-Mukhranskii 'Bagration of Mukhrani'.

Serbia

The title Tsar was also used in Serbia, but only by two monarchs —