Russian tsars and emperors table. Grand dukes of ancient Russia and the Russian empire
The Norman or Varangian theory, revealing the aspects of the formation of statehood in Russia, is based on one simple thesis - the vocation of the Varangian prince Rurik by Novgorodians to manage and protect a large territory of the tribal union of Ilmen Slovenes. Thus, the answer to the question of what event is associated with the emergence of the dynasty is quite understandable.
This thesis is present in the ancient one, written by Nestor. At the moment it is controversial, but one fact is still undeniable - Rurik became the founder of the whole dynasties of sovereigns who ruled not only in Kiev, but also in other cities of the Russian land, including Moscow, and that is why the dynasty of rulers of Russia was called Rurikovich.
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Dynasty history: the beginning
The pedigree is rather complicated, it is not so easy to understand it, but the beginning of the Rurik dynasty is very easy to trace.
Rurik
Rurik became the first prince in their dynasty. Its origin is an extremely controversial issue. Some historians suggest that he was from a noble Varangian-Scandinavian family.
Rurik's ancestors came from the merchant Hedeby (Scandinavia) and were related to Ragnar Lodbrok himself. Other historians, differentiating the concepts of "Norman" and "Varangian", believe that Rurik was of a Slavic family, perhaps he was related to the Novgorod prince Gostomysl (it is believed that Gostomysl was his grandfather), and for a long time lived with his family on the island of Rugen ...
Most likely, he was a jarl, that is, he had a military squad and kept boats, engaged in trade and sea robbery. But precisely with his vocation first in Staraya Ladoga, and then in Novgorod, the beginning of the dynasty was connected.
Rurik was drafted to Novgorod in 862 (when he began to rule for sure, of course, it is not known, historians rely on data from the PVL). The chronicler claims that he came not alone, but with two brothers - Sinius and Truvor (traditional Varangian names or nicknames). Rurik settled in Staraya Ladoga, Sinius in Beloozero, and Truvor in Izborsk. Interesting that any other mentions there are no brothers in PVL. The beginning of the dynasty is not connected with them.
Oleg and Igor
Rurik died in 879, leaving young son Igor(or Ingvara, according to the Scandinavian tradition). A guard, and possibly a relative of Rurik, Oleg (Helg) was supposed to rule on behalf of his son until he came of age.
Attention! There is a version that Oleg ruled not just as a relative or a confidant, but as an elected earl, that is, he had all the political rights to power under the Scandinavian and Varangian laws. The fact that he handed over power to Igor could really mean that he was his close relative, possibly his nephew, his sister's son (according to the Scandinavian tradition, the uncle is closer than his own father; boys in Scandinavian families were given to be raised by their maternal uncle).
How many years reigned Oleg? He successfully ruled the young state until 912. It was he who deserved the merit of the complete conquest of the path "from the Varangians to the Greeks" and the capture of Kiev, then Igor took his place (already as the Kiev ruler), by that time married to a girl from Polotsk (according to one version) - Olga.
Olga and Svyatoslav
Igor's board cannot be called successful... He was killed by the Drevlyans in 945 during an attempt to take double tribute from their capital, Iskorosten. Since Igor's only son, Svyatoslav, was still small, the throne in Kiev was common decision the boyars and squads were occupied by his widow Olga.
Svyatoslav ascended the Kiev throne in 957. He was a warrior prince and never stayed long in his capital. rapidly growing state... During his lifetime, he divided the lands of Russia between his three sons: Vladimir, Yaropolk and Oleg. He gave to Vladimir (the illegitimate son) Novgorod the Great. He put Oleg (the younger) in Iskorosten, and left the elder Yaropolk in Kiev.
Attention! Historians know the name of Vladimir's mother; it is also known that she was a whitewashed servant, that is, she could not become the wife of the ruler. Perhaps Vladimir was the eldest son of Svyatoslav, his firstborn. That is why he was recognized as a father. Yaropolk and Oleg were born from the legal wife of Svyatoslav, possibly a Bulgarian princess, but they were younger than Vladimir in age. All this, subsequently, influenced the relations of the brothers and led to the first princely civil strife in Russia.
Yaropolk and Vladimir
Svyatoslav died in 972 on the island of Khortytsya(Dnieper rapids). After his death, the Kiev throne was occupied by Yaropolk for several years. A war for power in the state began between him and his brother Vladimir, which ended with the assassination of Yaropolk and the victory of Vladimir, who eventually became the next Kiev prince. Vladimir ruled from 980 to 1015. His main merit is Baptism of Russia and the Russian people in the Orthodox faith.
Yaroslav and his sons
Between the sons of Vladimir, immediately after his death, broke out civil war, as a result of which the throne was taken by one of the eldest sons of Vladimir from the Polotsk princess Ragneda - Yaroslav.
Important! In 1015 Svyatopolk (later nicknamed the Cursed) took the Kiev throne, he was not Vladimir's own son. His father was Yaropolk, after whose death Vladimir took his wife as his wife, and recognized the born child as his firstborn.
Yaroslav reigned until 1054... After his death, the ladder law came into force - the transfer of the Kiev throne and the "junior" in seniority in the Rurik family.
The Kiev throne was taken by the eldest son of Yaroslav - Izyaslav, Chernigov (the next in "seniority" throne) - Oleg, Pereyaslavsky - the youngest son of Yaroslav Vsevolod.
For a long time, the sons of Yaroslav lived peacefully, observing the behests of their father, but, ultimately, the struggle for power passed into an active phase and Russia entered the era of feudal fragmentation.
Pedigree of Rurikovich... The first Kiev princes (table or the Rurik dynasty scheme with dates, by generation)
| Generation | Prince's name | Years of reign |
| 1st generation | Rurik | 862-879 (Novgorod reign) |
| Oleg (Prophetic) | 879 - 912 (Novgorod and Kiev reign) | |
| II | Igor Rurikovich | 912-945 (Kiev reign) |
| Olga | 945-957 | |
| III | Svyatoslav Igorevich | 957-972 |
| IV | Yaropolk Svyatoslavich | 972-980 |
| Oleg Svyatoslavich | Prince-governor in Iskorosten, died in 977 | |
| Vladimir Svyatoslavich (Saint) | 980-1015 | |
| V | Svyatopolk Yaropolkovich (Vladimir's stepson) Cursed | 1015-1019 |
| Yaroslav Vladimirovich (Wise) | 1019-1054 | |
| VI | Izyaslav Yaroslavovich | 1054-1073; 1076-1078 (Kiev reign) |
| Svyatoslav Yaroslavovich (Chernigov) | 1073-1076 (Kiev reign) | |
| Vsevolod Yaroslavovich (Pereyaslavsky) | 1078-1093 (Kiev reign) |
Pedigree of the Rurikovichs of the period of feudal fragmentation
It is incredibly difficult to trace the dynastic line of the Rurikovich clan during the period of feudal fragmentation, since the ruling princely the genus has grown to the maximum... The main branches of the clan at the first stage of feudal fragmentation can be considered the Chernigov and Pereyaslavl line, as well as the Galician line, which should be discussed separately. The Galician princely house originates from the eldest son of Yaroslav the Wise, Vladimir, who died during the life of his father, and whose heirs received Galich as their inheritance.
It is important to note that all representatives of the family sought to occupy the Kiev throne, since in this case they were considered the rulers of the entire state.
Galician heirs
Chernigov house
Pereyaslavsky house
With the Pereyaslavsky house, nominally considered the youngest, everything is much more complicated. It was the descendants of Vsevolod Yaroslavovich who gave rise to the Vladimir-Suzdal and Moscow Rurikovichs. The main representatives of this house were:
- Vladimir Vsevolodovich (Monomakh) - was a Kiev prince in 1113-1125 (VII generation);
- Mstislav (the Great) - the eldest son of Monomakh, was a Kiev prince in 1125-1132 (VIII generation);
- Yuri (Dolgoruky) - the youngest son of Monomakh, became the ruler of Kiev several times, the last one in 1155-1157 (VIII generation).
Mstislav Vladimirovich gave rise to the Volyn House of Rurikovich, and Yuri Vladimirovich - Vladimir-Suzdal.
Volynsky house
Pedigree of Rurikovich: Vladimir-Suzdal house
The Vladimir-Suzdal house became the main one in Russia after the death of Mstislav the Great. The princes who made their capital first Suzdal, and then Vladimr-on-Klyazma, played a key role in the political history of the period of the Horde invasion.
Important! Daniel Galitsky and Alexander Nevsky are known not only as contemporaries, but also as rivals for the grand ducal label, and they also had a fundamentally different approach to faith - Alexander adhered to Orthodoxy, and Daniel converted to Catholicism in exchange for the opportunity to receive the title of King of Kiev.
Pedigree of Rurikovich: Moscow House
In the final period of feudal fragmentation, the House of Rurikovich consisted of more than 2000 members (princes and younger princely families). Gradually, the leading position was taken by the Moscow House, which traces its lineage from the youngest son of Alexander Nevsky - Daniil Alexandrovich.
Gradually, the Moscow House from the grand-ducal was transformed into the royal... Why did this happen? Including thanks to dynastic marriages, as well as successful internal and foreign policy individual representatives of the House. The Moscow Rurikovichs did a gigantic job of "collecting" the lands around Moscow and the overthrow of the Tatar-Mongol Yoke.
Moscow Ruriks (scheme with dates of government)
| Generation (from Rurik in a straight male line) | Prince's name | Years of reign | Significant marriages |
| XI generation | Alexander Yaroslavovich (Nevsky) | Prince of Novgorod, Grand Duke of the Horde label from 1246 to 1263 | _____ |
| XII | Daniil Moskovsky | 1276-1303 (Moscow reign) | _____ |
| XIII | Yuri Daniilovich | 1317-1322 (Moscow reign) | |
| Ivan I Daniilovich (Kalita) | 1328-1340 (Great Vladimir and Moscow reign) | _____ | |
| XIV | Semyon Ivanovich (Proud) | 1340-1353 (Moscow and Great Vladimir reign) | |
| Ivan II Ivanovich (Red) | 1353-1359 (Moscow and Great Vladimir reign) | ||
| Xv | Dmitry Ivanovich (Donskoy) | 1359-1389 (Moscow reign, and from 1363 to 1389 - the Great Vladimir reign) | Evdokia Dmitrievna, the only daughter of Dmitry Konstantinovich (Rurikovich), Prince of Suzdal - Nizhny Novgorod; accession to the Moscow principality of all territories of the principality of Suzdal-Nizhny Novgorod |
| Xvi | Vasily I Dmitrievich | 1389-1425 biennium | Sofia Vitovtovna, Daughter of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Vitovt (complete reconciliation of the Lithuanian princes with the ruling Moscow house) |
| Xvii | Vasily II Vasilievich (Dark) | 1425-1462 biennium | _____ |
| Xviii | Ivan III Vasilievich | 1462 - 1505 | In the second marriage with Sophia Palaeologus (the niece of the latter Byzantine emperor); nominal eligibility: to be considered the successor of the imperial Byzantine crown and caesar (king) |
| XIX | Vasily III Vasilievich | 1505-1533 biennium | In the second marriage with Elena Glinskaya, a representative of a wealthy Lithuanian family, descending from the Serbian rulers and Mamai (according to legend) |
| XX |
For almost 400 years of existence of this title, completely different people have worn it - from adventurers and liberals to tyrants and conservatives.
Rurikovich
Over the years, Russia (from Rurik to Putin) has changed its political system many times. At first, the rulers bore the title of prince. When, after a period of political fragmentation, a new Russian state was formed around Moscow, the owners of the Kremlin thought about accepting the royal title.
This was done under Ivan the Terrible (1547-1584). This one decided to marry the kingdom. And this decision was not accidental. So the Moscow monarch emphasized that he was the legal successor It was they who bestowed Orthodoxy on Russia. In the 16th century, Byzantium no longer existed (it fell under the onslaught of the Ottomans), so Ivan the Terrible rightly believed that his act would have serious symbolic significance.
Historical figures such as this king had a great influence on the development of the entire country. In addition to the fact that Ivan the Terrible changed his title, he also captured the Kazan and Astrakhan khanates, starting the Russian expansion to the East.
Ivan's son Fedor (1584-1598) was distinguished weak character and health. Nevertheless, under him, the state continued to develop. The patriarchate was established. The rulers have always paid much attention to the issue of succession to the throne. This time he stood up especially sharply. Fedor had no children. When he died, the Rurik dynasty on the Moscow throne was suppressed.
Time of Troubles
After the death of Fyodor, Boris Godunov (1598-1605), his brother-in-law, came to power. He did not belong to the reigning family, and many considered him a usurper. Under him, due to natural disasters, a colossal famine began. The tsars and presidents of Russia have always tried to keep the provinces calm. Because of the tense situation, Godunov failed to do this. Several peasant uprisings took place in the country.
In addition, the adventurer Grishka Otrepiev called himself one of the sons of Ivan the Terrible and began a military campaign against Moscow. He really managed to capture the capital and become king. Boris Godunov did not live up to this moment - he died from health complications. His son Fyodor II was captured by False Dmitry's associates and killed.
The impostor ruled for only a year, after which he was overthrown during the Moscow uprising, inspired by disgruntled Russian boyars, who did not like the fact that False Dmitry surrounded himself with Catholic Poles. decided to transfer the crown to Vasily Shuisky (1606-1610). In the Time of Troubles, the rulers of Russia often changed.
The princes, tsars and presidents of Russia had to carefully guard their power. Shuisky did not keep her and was overthrown by the Polish invaders.
The first Romanovs
When, in 1613, Moscow was liberated from foreign invaders, the question arose of who to make the sovereign. In this text, all the kings of Russia are presented in order (with portraits). Now it's time to talk about the accession to the throne of the Romanov dynasty.
The first sovereign of this kind - Michael (1613-1645) - was quite a young man when he was put to rule a huge country. His main goal the struggle with Poland for the lands captured by it during the Time of Troubles began.
These were the biographies of the rulers and the dates of their reign until the middle of the 17th century. After Michael, his son Alexei (1645-1676) ruled. He annexed the left-bank Ukraine and Kiev to Russia. So, after several centuries of fragmentation and Lithuanian rule, the fraternal peoples finally began to live in one country.
Alexei had many sons. The eldest of them, Theodore III (1676-1682), died at a young age. After him came the simultaneous reign of two children - Ivan and Peter.
Peter the Great
Ivan Alekseevich was unable to govern the country. Therefore, in 1689, the sole reign of Peter the Great began. He completely rebuilt the country in a European manner. Russia - from Rurik to Putin (in chronological order consider all the rulers) - knows few examples of an era so saturated with changes.
A new army and navy appeared. For this, Peter started a war against Sweden. The Northern War lasted 21 years. In the course of it, the Swedish army was defeated, and the kingdom agreed to cede its southern Baltic lands. In this region, St. Petersburg was founded in 1703 - the new capital of Russia. Peter's successes made him think about changing the title. In 1721 he became emperor. However, this change did not abolish the royal title - in everyday speech monarchs continued to be called tsars.
The era of palace coups
The death of Peter was followed by a long period of instability of power. Monarchs succeeded each other with enviable regularity, which was facilitated. At the head of these changes, as a rule, there was a guard or certain courtiers. During this era, Catherine I (1725-1727), Peter II (1727-1730), Anna Ioannovna (1730-1740), Ivan VI (1740-1741), Elizaveta Petrovna (1741-1761) and Peter III (1761-1762) ).
The last of them was of German origin. Under the predecessor of Peter III, Elizabeth, Russia waged a victorious war against Prussia. The new monarch abandoned all conquests, returned Berlin to the king and concluded a peace treaty. By this act, he signed his own death warrant. The guards organized another palace coup, after which the wife of Peter, Catherine II, was on the throne.
Catherine II and Paul I
Catherine II (1762-1796) had a deep state mind. On the throne, she began to pursue a policy of enlightened absolutism. The Empress organized the work of the famous commissioned commission, the purpose of which was to prepare a comprehensive project of reforms in Russia. She also wrote the Mandate. This document contained many considerations about the necessary reforms for the country. The reforms were curtailed when a peasant uprising led by Pugachev broke out in the Volga region in the 1770s.
All the tsars and presidents of Russia (in chronological order we have listed all the royal persons) made sure that the country looked worthy on the external arena. She was no exception. She carried out several successful military campaigns against Turkey. As a result, Crimea and other important Black Sea regions were annexed to Russia. At the end of Catherine's reign, there were three partitions of Poland. So the Russian Empire received important acquisitions in the west.
After the death of the great empress, her son Paul I (1796-1801) came to power. This quarrelsome man was disliked by many in the St. Petersburg elite.
First half of the 19th century
In 1801, the next and last palace coup took place. A group of conspirators dealt with Paul. His son Alexander I (1801-1825) was on the throne. His reign fell on the Patriotic War and the invasion of Napoleon. The rulers of the Russian state have not faced such a serious hostile intervention for two centuries. Despite the capture of Moscow, Bonaparte was defeated. Alexander became the most popular and famous monarch of the Old World. He was also called the "liberator of Europe".
Inside his country, Alexander in his youth tried to implement liberal reforms. Historical figures often change their politics with age. So Alexander soon abandoned his ideas. He died in Taganrog in 1825 under mysterious circumstances.
At the beginning of the reign of his brother Nicholas I (1825-1855) there was an uprising of the Decembrists. Because of this, for thirty years, conservative orders triumphed in the country.
Second half of the 19th century
Here are all the tsars of Russia in order, with portraits. Next, we will focus on the main reformer of the national statehood - Alexander II (1855-1881). He initiated a manifesto for the emancipation of the peasants. The elimination of serfdom allowed the development of the Russian market and capitalism. Economic growth began in the country. The reforms also affected judiciary, local government, administrative and conscription systems. The monarch tried to raise the country to its feet and learn the lessons that the lost one begun under Nicholas I taught him.
But the radicals were not satisfied with Alexander's reforms. Terrorists attempted several times on his life. They were successful in 1881. Alexander II was killed by a bomb explosion. The news came as a shock to the whole world.
Because of what happened, the son of the deceased monarch, Alexander III (1881-1894), forever became a tough reactionary and conservative. But most of all he is known as a peacemaker. During his reign, Russia did not fight a single war.
The last king
Alexander III died in 1894. Power passed into the hands of Nicholas II (1894-1917) - his son and the last Russian monarch. By that time, the old world order with the absolute power of kings and kings had already outlived its usefulness. Russia - from Rurik to Putin - knew a lot of upheavals, but it was under Nikolai that more than ever happened.
In 1904-1905. the country went through a humiliating war with Japan. The first revolution followed. Although the unrest was suppressed, the king had to make concessions to public opinion. He agreed to establish a constitutional monarchy and parliament.
The tsars and presidents of Russia at all times faced a certain opposition within the state. Now people could elect deputies who expressed these sentiments.
In 1914, the First World War began. No one then suspected that it would end with the fall of several empires at once, including the Russian one. In 1917, the February Revolution broke out, and the last tsar had to abdicate. Nicholas II and his family were shot by the Bolsheviks in the basement of the Ipatiev House in Yekaterinburg.
He ruled Rus during the period of Svyatoslav's minority. In the annals, she is not called an independent ruler, but appears as such in Byzantine and Western European sources. She ruled until at least 959, when her embassy to the German king Otto I was mentioned (Chronicle of the Continuer of Reginon). The date of the beginning of the independent rule of Svyatoslav is not exactly known. In the annals, the first campaign is marked by the year 6472 (964) (PSRL, vol. I, stb. 64), but it is likely that it still started earlier.Nicholas II (1894 - 1917) Many people died due to the stampede that occurred during his coronation. So the name "Bloody" was attached to the kindest philanthropist Nicholas. In 1898, Nicholas II, caring for world peace, issued a manifesto, where he called on all countries for the world to completely disarm. After that, a special commission met in The Hague to work out 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 a Bolshevik coup broke out, as a result of which the monarch was overthrown, and then, together with his family, were shot in Yekaterinburg. The Orthodox Church canonized Nikolai Romanov and his entire family.
Rurik (862-879)
Prince of Novgorod, nicknamed Varangian, as he was called to reign by the Novgorodians from across 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 Askold's daughter and stepson. After his two brothers died, he became the sole ruler of the country. He gave all the surrounding villages and townships to the management of his entourage, where they had the right to independently administer the court. Around this time, Askold and Dir, two brothers who had nothing to do with Rurik family ties, occupied the city of Kiev and began to rule over the glades.
Oleg (879 - 912)
Kiev prince, nicknamed the Prophet. As 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 at that time, the prince went along the Dnieper. On the way, he conquered Smolensk, then Lyubech, and then took Kiev, making it the capital. Askold and Dir were killed, and Oleg showed the glades 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 neighboring tribes and forced them to pay tribute, successfully repelled the raids of the Pechenegs 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 conquered neighboring 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 the main city of the Drevlyans - Korosten. Olga was distinguished by very good leadership skills, as well as a brilliant, sharp mind. Already at the end of her life, in Constantinople she adopted Christianity, for which she was subsequently canonized 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 into her own hands, while her son was growing 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, being in collusion with the Pechenegs, persuaded them to attack Kiev. 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 Kiev, 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 Kiev principality. He managed to conclude a new treaty with the Byzantine Empire, and also to recruit the horde of the Pechenezh Khan Ildeya into his service. He tried to establish diplomatic relations with Rome. Under him, as the Joachim manuscript testifies, Christians were given a lot of freedom in Russia, which caused the displeasure of the pagans. Vladimir Novgorodsky immediately took advantage of this displeasure and, having agreed with the Varangians, anew seized Novgorod, then Polotsk, and then laid siege to Kiev. Yaropolk was forced to flee to Roden. He tried to make peace with his brother, for which he went to Kiev, where he was the Varangians. The chronicles characterize this prince as a peace-loving and meek ruler.
Vladimir Svyatoslavovich (978 or 980 - 1015)
Vladimir was youngest son Prince Svyatoslav. He was a Novgorod prince since 968. He became the prince of Kiev in 980. He was distinguished by a very warlike disposition, which allowed him to conquer the Radimichi, Vyatichi and Yatvingians. Vladimir also fought 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 on 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 Kiev 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 Kievan Rus, which immediately strengthened the country's authority 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 as "Vladimir the Red Sun". Canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church, named Equal to the Apostles Prince.
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 Kiev 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 he was expelled from Kiev by Prince Yaroslav of Novgorod. Then Svyatopolk turned to his father-in-law - the King of Poland Boleslav for help. With the support of the Polish king, Svyatopolk again seized Kiev, 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 Damned because he took the life of his brothers.
Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise (1019 - 1054)
After the death of Mstislav Tmutarakan and after the expulsion of the Holy Regiment, Yaroslav Vladimirovich became the sole ruler of the Russian land. Yaroslav was distinguished by a sharp mind, for which, in fact, he received his nickname - 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 Kiev and Novgorod), realizing the importance of disseminating and approving new faith... It was he who published the first set of laws in Russia called "Russian Truth". He divided the allotments of the Russian land between his sons: Izyaslav, Svyatoslav, Vsevolod, Igor and Vyacheslav, bequeathed them to live among themselves in peace.
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 Polovtsians, which ended in failure, the Kievites themselves drove him out. Then his brother Svyatoslav became the Grand Duke. Only after the death of Svyatoslav, Izyaslav returned to the capital city of Kiev. Vsevolod the First (1078 - 1093) Perhaps Prince Vsevolod could well have been a useful ruler, thanks to his peaceful disposition, piety and truthfulness. An educated man himself, knowing five languages, he actively contributed to enlightenment in his principality. But alas. Constant, incessant raids of the Polovtsians, pestilence, famine did not favor the rule of this prince. He remained on 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 Kiev throne after Vsevolod the First. This prince was distinguished by a rare spinelessness, which is why he did not manage to calm the internecine friction between the princes for power in the cities. In 1097, a congress of princes was held in the city of Lubich, at which each ruler, kissing the cross, pledged to own only his father's land. But this shaky peace treaty was not allowed to come true. Prince Davyd Igorevich blinded Prince Vasilko. Then the princes, at a new congress (1100), deprived Prince Davyd of the right to own Volyn. Then, in 1103, the princes unanimously accepted Vladimir Monomakh's proposal for a joint campaign against the Polovtsians, which was done. The campaign ended with a Russian victory in 1111.
Vladimir Monomakh (1113 - 1125)
Regardless of the seniority of the Svyatoslavichs, when Prince Svyatopolk II died, Vladimir Monomakh was elected Prince of Kiev, wishing to unite the Russian land. Grand Duke Vladimir Monomakh was brave, tireless and distinguished himself favorably 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 wonderful qualities of a ruler. All the rebellious 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 in their place he sent his son to reign.
Yaropolk (1132 - 1139)
Yaropolk was the son of Vladimir Monomakh and, accordingly, the brother of Mstislav the First. During his reign, the idea came to him 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 Monomakhs lost the Kiev throne, which was occupied by the descendants of Oleg Svyatoslavovich, that is, the Olegovichs.
Vsevolod II (1139 - 1146)
Having become the Grand Duke, Vsevolod II wanted to secure the throne of Kiev 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 monastic vows, 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 in to a greater extent because with his intelligence, disposition, friendliness and courage he reminded them very much of Vladimir Monomakh, the grandfather of Izyaslav II. After Izyaslav ascended the Kiev throne, 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 of Rostov Yuri Vladimirovich. Izyaslav was twice driven from Kiev 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 Kiev 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, after which he died.
Mstislav II (1157 - 1169)
After the death of Yuri Dolgoruky between the princes, as usual, internecine strife for the Kiev throne began, as a result of which Mstislav II Izyaslavovich became the Grand Duke. Prince Andrei Yurievich, nicknamed Bogolyubsky, expelled Mstislav from the Kiev throne. Before the expulsion of Prince Mstislav, Bogolyubsky literally ravaged Kiev.
Andrey Bogolyubsky (1169 - 1174)
The first thing that Andrei Bogolyubsky did when he became the Grand Duke was to move the capital from Kiev to Vladimir. He ruled Russia autocraticly, without squads and veche, pursued all those who were dissatisfied with this state of affairs, but, in the end, he was killed by them as a result of a conspiracy.
Vsevolod the Third (1176 - 1212)
The death of Andrei Bogolyubsky caused strife between the ancient cities (Suzdal, Rostov) and the new (Pereslavl, Vladimir). As a result of these confrontations, the brother of Andrei Bogolyubsky, 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 Kiev, 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, transferred not to his eldest son Konstantin, but to Yuri, as a result of which strife arose. The father's decision to approve Yuri as Grand Duke was also supported by the third son of Vsevolod the Big Nest - Yaroslav. And Constantine in his claim to the throne was supported by Mstislav Udaloy. Together they won the Battle of Lipetsk (1216) and Constantine nevertheless became the Grand Duke. Only after his death, the throne passed to Yuri.
Yuri II (1219 - 1238)
Yuri fought successfully 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 in Russia that the Mongol-Tatars appeared, who in 1224, in the battle of Kalka, defeated the Polovtsians first, and then the troops of the Russian princes, who came to support the Polovtsians. After this battle, the Mongols left, but thirteen years later they returned under the leadership of Khan Batu. Hordes of Mongols devastated the Suzdal and Ryazan princedoms, and also, in the battle of the City, defeated the army and the Grand Duke Yuri II. In this battle, Yuri died. Two years after his death, hordes of Mongols plundered the south of Russia and Kiev, after which all Russian princes were forced to admit that from now on they all and their lands were under the rule of the Tatar yoke. The Mongols on the Volga made the city of Sarai the capital of the horde.
Yaroslav II (1238 - 1252)
The Khan of the Golden Horde appointed the Grand Duke of Novgorod Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. During his reign, this prince was engaged in restoring Russia, devastated by the Mongol army.
Alexander Nevsky (1252 - 1263)
At first, being a Novgorod prince, Alexander Yaroslavovich in 1240 defeated the Swedes on the Neva River, 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 very successfully fought against 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 four times to The Golden Horde with rich gifts and bows. was subsequently canonized.
Yaroslav the Third (1264 - 1272)
After Alexander Nevsky died, his two 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 Yaroslav to reign. Nevertheless, Yaroslav did not manage to get along with the Novgorodians, he treacherously called on even the Tatars to his own people. The metropolitan reconciled Prince Yaroslav the Third with the people, after which the prince again swore an oath on the cross to rule honestly and justly.
Basil the First (1272 - 1276)
Vasily the First was a Kostroma prince, but he claimed the throne of Novgorod, where the son of Alexander Nevsky, Dmitry, reigned. And soon Basil the First achieved his goal, thereby strengthening his principality, which had been weakened by division into estates.
Dmitry the First (1276 - 1294)
The entire reign of Dmitry the First proceeded in a continuous struggle for the rights of the Grand Duke 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 Andrey for peace and, thus, received the right to the Pereslavl reign.
Andrew the Second (1294 - 1304)
Andrew II pursued a policy of expanding his principality through the armed seizure of other principalities. In particular, he claimed a principality in Pereslavl, which caused feuds 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 grand duke, bypassing the Moscow prince Yuri Danilovich. But then, while Mikhail was at war with Novgorod, Yuri, in agreement with the Horde ambassador Kavgadye, slandered Mikhail in front of the khan. As a result, the khan summoned Mikhail to the Horde, where he was brutally killed.
Yuri the Third (1320 - 1326)
Yuri the Third, married the daughter of Khan Konchak, who took the name Agafya in Orthodoxy. It was in her premature death that Yuri cunningly accused Mikhail Yaroslavovich of Tverskoy, for which he suffered an unfair and cruel death at the hands of the Horde Khan. So Yuri received a label for reign, but the son of the murdered Mikhail, Dmitry, also claimed the throne. As a result, Dmitry killed Yuri at the first meeting, avenging his father's death.
Dmitry the Second (1326)
For the murder of Yuri III, he was sentenced to death by the Horde Khan for arbitrariness.
Alexander Tverskoy (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 Tverites to kill Shchelkan, the hated Khan ambassador. The Khan sent an army of 50,000 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 Tversky in front of the khan. The Khan urgently summoned A. Tverskoy to his Horde, where he was executed.
John the First Kalita (1320 - 1341)
Ioann Danilovich, nicknamed "Kalita" (Kalita - purse) for his stinginess, was very careful and cunning. With the support of the Tatars, he devastated the Tver principality. It was he who took upon himself the responsibility to accept tribute for the Tatars from all over Russia, which also contributed to his personal enrichment. With this money, John bought up entire cities from appanage princes. Through the efforts of Kalita, the metropolitanate was also transferred from Vladimir to Moscow in 1326. He founded 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 for the Great Duke, 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 without leaving an heir from a pestilence.
John the Second (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 grand duke 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 the grand duke for Dmitry Ioannovich. The Suzdal prince was forced to submit and, together with the rest of the princes of north-eastern Russia, swore allegiance to Dmitry Ioannovich. The relationship between Russia and the Tatars also changed. Due to civil strife in the horde itself, Dmitry and the other princes took the opportunity not to pay the already familiar quitrent. Then Khan Mamai entered into an alliance with the Lithuanian prince Jagell and marched with a large army to Russia. Dmitry with other princes met the army of Mamai on the Kulikovo field (near the Don river) and at the cost of huge losses on September 8, 1380, Russia won a victory over the army of Mamai and Yagell. For this victory, they called Dmitry Ioannovich Donskoy. Until the end of his life, he cared about strengthening Moscow.
Basil the First (1389 - 1425)
Vasily ascended the princely throne, already having the experience of reign, since even during his father's life 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 Edigei, the Tatar murza (1408). But he lifted the siege from Moscow, having received a ransom in the amount of 3,000 rubles. Under Vasily the First, the Ugra River was designated as the border with the Lithuanian principality.
Basil the Second (Dark) (1425 - 1462)
Yuri Dmitrievich Galitsky decided to take advantage of the minority of Prince Vasily and claimed his rights to the grand-ducal throne, but the khan resolved the dispute in favor of the minor Vasily II, which was greatly facilitated by the Moscow boyar Vasily Vsevolozhsky, hoping in the future to marry his daughter to Vasily, but these expectations were not destined to come true ... Then he left Moscow and provided assistance to Yuri Dmitrievich, and soon he seized 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 the Kosoy and blinded him. Then the brother of Vasily the Kosoy Dmitry Shemyak 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 Basil II. Under Vasily II, all the 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 Isidor into custody and instead appointed Bishop John of Ryazan.
John the Third (1462 -1505)
Under him, the nucleus of the state apparatus began to form and, as a result, the state of Rus. 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 "Code of Laws" was drawn up. John the Third launched a large building 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 the Russian lands" Vasily the Third was the son of John III and Sophia Paleologue. He was distinguished by a very impregnable and proud disposition. Having annexed Pskov, he destroyed the specific system. He fought with Lithuania twice on the advice of Mikhail Glinsky, a Lithuanian nobleman, whom he kept in his service. In 1514 he finally took Smolensk from the Lithuanians. He fought with the Crimea and Kazan. As a result, he managed to punish Kazan. He recalled 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 further turned the boyars against himself. From a marriage with Elena, Basil the Third had a son, John.
Elena Glinskaya (1533 - 1538)
Was appointed to rule by Basil III himself until the age of majority of their son John. Elena Glinskaya, having barely ascended the throne, dealt very harshly with all the rebellious and disgruntled 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 were not given to be realized, since Elena died suddenly.
John the Fourth (the Terrible) (1538 - 1584)
John the Fourth, Prince of All Russia, became the first Russian tsar in 1547. Since the late forties, he ruled the country with the participation of the Chosen Rada. During his reign, the convocation of all Zemsky Councils began. In 1550, a new Code of Law was drawn up, as well as reforms of the court and administration (Zemskaya and Gubnaya reforms). He 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 links with England in 1553, and the first printing house in Moscow was opened. From 1558 to 1583 the Livonian War continued for access to the Baltic Sea. In 1581, the annexation of Siberia began. The entire internal policy of the country under Tsar John was accompanied by disgrace and executions, for which he was popularly called the Terrible. The enslavement of the peasants increased significantly.
Fedor Ioannovich (1584 - 1598)
He was the second son of John the Fourth. He was very sickly and weak, did not have a sharp mind. That is why very quickly the actual government of the state passed into the hands of the boyar Boris Godunov, the king's brother-in-law. Boris Godunov, having surrounded himself with exclusively devoted people, became a sovereign ruler. He built cities, strengthened relations with countries Western Europe, built the Arkhangelsk harbor on the White Sea. By order and instigation of Godunov, an all-Russian independent patriarchate was established, and the peasants were finally attached to the land. It was he who, in 1591, ordered the assassination of Tsarevich Dmitry, who was a brother of the childless Tsar Fedor, and was his direct heir. 6 years after this murder, Tsar Fyodor himself died.
Boris Godunov (1598 - 1605)
Boris Godunov's sister and wife of the late Tsar Fyodor abdicated the throne. Patriarch Job recommended Godunov's supporters to gather the 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 to Beloozero. But not only the boyars were angry with Boris Godunov. A three-year crop failure and the pestilence that followed it, which fell on the Muscovite kingdom, forced the people to see the fault of Tsar B. Godunov in this. The king tried as best he could to alleviate the plight of the starving. He increased the earnings of people employed in government buildings (for example, during the construction of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower), generously distributed alms, but people still murmured and willingly believed rumors that the legitimate Tsar Dmitry had not been killed at all and would soon take the throne. In the midst of preparations for the fight against False Dmitry, Boris Godunov suddenly died, while managing to bequeath the throne to his son Fedor.
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 people. An 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 dealt with all state affairs, but caused the displeasure of the clergy and boyars, because, in their opinion, he did not respect the old Russian customs enough, and in many even neglected. 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, killed the fake tsar.
Vasily Shuisky (1606 - 1610)
Boyars and townspeople elected the old and inexperienced Shuisky as tsar, thus limiting his power. In Russia, rumors arose again about the salvation of False Dmitry, in connection with which new troubles began in the state, reinforced by the rebellion of a servant named Ivan Bolotnikov and the appearance of False Dmitry II in Tushino ("Tushino thief"). Poland went to war against Moscow and defeated the Russian troops. After that, Tsar Basil was forcibly tonsured into a monk, and came to Russia Time of Troubles an interregnum lasting three years.
Mikhail Fedorovich (1613 - 1645)
The diplomas of the Trinity Lavra, sent out all over Russia and calling for the protection of the Orthodox faith and the fatherland, did their job: Prince Dmitry Pozharsky, with the participation of the Zemstvo head 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 denials, nevertheless ascended the throne, where the first thing he did was to pacify both external and internal enemies.
He concluded the so-called pillar treaty with the Kingdom of Sweden, in 1618 he signed the Deulinsky treaty with Poland, according to which Filaret, who was the king's parent, was returned to Russia after a long captivity. Upon his return, he was immediately elevated to the rank of patriarch. Patriarch Filaret was an advisor 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, practically recovering from the horror of the time of troubles.
Alexey Mikhailovich (Quiet) (1645 - 1676)
Tsar Alexei is considered one of the best people in ancient Russia. He had a meek, humble disposition, was very pious. He could not endure quarrels at all, and if they happened, he suffered a lot and tried in every possible way to make peace with the enemy. In the first years of his reign, his closest adviser was his uncle, 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 to be baptized in the Greek manner from now on - with three fingers, which caused a split among the Orthodox in Russia. (The most famous schismatics are Old Believers who do not want to deviate from the true faith and be baptized with a "fig", as ordered by the patriarch - boyarina Morozova and archpriest Avvakum).
During the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich, riots broke out in different cities, which they managed to suppress, and the decision of Little Russia to voluntarily join the Moscow state provoked two wars with Poland. But the state held out thanks to the unity and concentration of power. After the death of his first wife, Maria Miloslavskaya, in marriage with whom the tsar had two sons (Fedor and John) and many daughters, he married again to the girl Natalya Naryshkina, who bore him a son, Peter.
Fedor Alekseevich (1676 - 1682)
During the reign of this tsar, the question 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. And also abolished parochialism - the ancient boyar custom to take into account the service of ancestors when holding government and military posts. Tsar Fyodor died without leaving an heir.
Ivan Alekseevich (1682 - 1689)
Ivan Alekseevich, together with his brother Peter Alekseevich, was elected tsar thanks to the rifle revolt. But Tsarevich Alexei, suffering from dementia, did not take any part in state affairs. He died in 1689 during the reign of Princess Sophia.
Sophia (1682 - 1689)
Sophia remained in history as the ruler of an extraordinary mind and possessed all necessary qualities a real queen. She managed to calm the unrest of the schismatics, curb the archers, conclude "eternal peace" with Poland, very beneficial for Russia, as well as the Treaty of Nerchinsk with distant China. The princess undertook campaigns against Crimean Tatars, but fell victim to her own lust for power. Tsarevich Peter, however, having figured out her plans, imprisoned his half-sister in the Novodevichy Convent, where Sophia died in 1704.
Peter the Great (the Great) (1682 - 1725)
The greatest tsar, and since 1721 the first Russian emperor, statesman, culture and military leader. He made revolutionary reforms in the country: collegia, 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. Built a new capital - St. Petersburg. Peter's main dream was to eliminate the backwardness of Russia in development in comparison with European countries. Taking advantage of Western experience, he tirelessly created manufactories, factories, shipyards.
To facilitate trade and for access to the Baltic Sea, won over Sweden The northern war, lasting 21 years, thus "cutting through" the "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 with the most brutal methods and caused numerous uprisings in the country (Streletskoye in 1698, Astrakhan from 1705 to 1706, Bulavinskoye from 1707 to 1709), which, however, were just as ruthlessly suppressed.
Catherine the First (1725 - 1727)
Peter the First died without leaving a will. So, the throne passed to his wife Catherine. Catherine became famous for equipping Bering in trip around the world, 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 in his hands virtually all state power... He persuaded Catherine to be the heir to the throne to appoint the son of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich, to whom his father, Peter the Great, had passed the death sentence for his disgust for reforms - Peter Alekseevich, and also to agree to his marriage with Menshikov's daughter Maria. Until the age of majority of Peter Alekseevich, Prince Menshikov was appointed the ruler of Russia.
Peter II (1727 - 1730)
Peter II did not rule for long. 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 amusement, actually ruled the country. They wished to marry the emperor to Princess E. A. Dolgoruka, 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, so they chose Anna Ioannovna, the Dowager Duchess of Courland, daughter of Ioann Alekseevich, as Empress. But she was crowned on the Russian throne as an autocratic empress and, first of all, having entered into law, she destroyed the Supreme Privy Council. She replaced him with the Cabinet and instead of the Russian nobles handed out positions to the Germans Ostern and Minich, as well as to the Courland Biron. The cruel and unjust government was later called "Biron region".
Russia's interference 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 her niece Anna Leopoldovna's son as her heir, and appointed Biron as regent for the baby. However, Biron was overthrown in a short time, and Anna Leopoldovna, whose reign could not be called long and glorious, became the empress. 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 founded the first borrowed banks in Russia, which was 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 fought two wars: with Sweden and the so-called "seven-year", in which Prussia, Austria and France took part. Thanks to the peace treaty with Sweden, part of Finland was ceded to Russia. The "Seven Years" War ended with the death of Empress Elizabeth.
Peter the Third (1761 - 1762)
He was absolutely unadapted to governing the state, but his disposition was complacent. But this young emperor managed to turn against himself absolutely all strata of Russian society, since, to the detriment of Russian interests, he 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, were not distinguished by certainty. As a result of the coup, due to his relationship to the empress, he quickly signed an abdication and died soon after.
Catherine the Second (1762 - 1796)
The time of her reign was one of the greatest after the reign of Peter the Great. Empress Catherine ruled harshly, suppressed the peasant uprising of Pugachev, won two Turkish wars, which resulted in the recognition of the independence of the Crimea by Turkey, and Russia withdrew the coast of the Sea of Azov. Russia got the Black Sea Fleet, and in Novorossiya, active construction of cities began. Catherine II established the collegiums of education and medicine. Cadet corps were opened, and for the training of girls - the Smolny Institute. Catherine II, herself possessing literary abilities, patronized literature.
Paul the First (1796 - 1801)
He did not support the transformations initiated by his mother, Empress Catherine, in state system... Of the achievements of his reign, it should be noted that the life of serfs was greatly facilitated (only a three-day corvee was introduced), the opening of a university in Dorpat, as well as the emergence of new women's institutions.
Alexander the First (Blessed) (1801 - 1825)
The grandson of Catherine II, ascending the throne, vowed to rule the country "according to the law and heart" of his crowned grandmother, who, in fact, was involved in his upbringing. At the very beginning, he undertook whole line various liberation measures aimed at different sectors of society, which aroused the undoubted respect and love of people. But external political problems distracted Alexander from internal reforms. Russia in an 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 treaty with Russia, went to war against the country. And in the same year, 1812, Russian troops defeated Napoleon's army. Alexander the First established a state council in 1800, ministries and a cabinet of ministers. In St. Petersburg, Kazan and Kharkov, he opened universities, as well as many institutes and gymnasiums, the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum. He made the life of the peasants much easier.
Nicholas the First (1825 - 1855)
He continued the policy of improving peasant life. He founded the Institute of St. Vladimir in Kiev. 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 the result of the suppression of the uprising in Poland and the complete destruction of the Polish constitution. A war was fought with the Turks, who oppressed Greece, as a result of the victory of Russia, Greece gained independence. After breaking off relations with Turkey, which sided with England, Sardinia and France, Russia had to join a new struggle.
The emperor died suddenly during the defense of Sevastopol. During the reign of Nicholas the First, the Nikolaev and Tsarskoye Selo railways were built, the great Russian writers and poets lived and worked: Lermontov, Pushkin, Krylov, Griboyedov, Belinsky, Zhukovsky, Gogol, Karamzin.
Alexander II (Liberator) (1855 - 1881)
Alexander II had to end the Turkish war. 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 - Usuriisk. In 1864, the Caucasus finally became part of Russia. The most important state transformation of Alexander II was the decision to free the peasants. Killed by an assassin in 1881.
The history of the Russian state is already much more than a millennium, and to be completely honest, even before the onset of awareness and the establishment of statehood, a colossal number of the most diverse tribes lived on vast territories. The final period of ten centuries, and a little more, can be called the most interesting, saturated with the most diverse personalities and rulers, significant for the fate of the entire country. And the chronology of the rulers of Russia, from Rurik to Putin, is so lengthy and confusing that it would not be bad to understand in more detail how we managed to overcome this long path for several centuries, who stood at the head of the people at every hour of its life and why to be remembered by descendants, leaving in the centuries their shame and glory, disappointment and pride. Whatever it was, but they all left their mark, were worthy daughters and sons of their time, providing their descendants with a great future.
The main stages: the rulers of Russia in chronological order, table
Not every Russian, no matter how sad it may be, is well versed in history, and he can hardly list the list of the rulers of Russia in chronological order at least for the last hundred years. And for a historian, this is far from being such a simple task, especially if you also need to briefly tell about the contribution of each of them to the history of their native country. That is why historians decided to conditionally divide all this into the main historical stages, linking them according to some specific criterion, for example, according to the social structure, external and domestic policy etc.
Russian rulers: chronology of stages of development
It is worth saying that the chronology of the rulers of Russia can tell a lot even to a person who does not have any special abilities or knowledge in the historical sense. The historical as well as the personal characteristics of each of them largely depended on the conditions of the very era when they happened to lead the country in that particular period of time.
Among other things, over the entire historical period, not only the rulers of Russia from Rurik to Putin (the table below will definitely be of interest to you), were replaced by one another, but the historical and political center of the country itself changed its place of deployment, and often it did not depend at all from the people, which, however, did not suffer much from this. For example, until the forty-seventh year of the sixteenth century, the country was ruled by princes, and only after that monarchization began, which ended in November 1917 with the Great October Revolution very tragically.
Further more, and almost the entire twentieth century can be attributed to the stage of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and subsequently the formation of new, almost completely independent states on the territories previously belonging to Russia. Thus, all the rulers of Russia, from Rurik to Putin, will help to understand more about which road we have been moving up to this moment, to point out the advantages and disadvantages, to sort out priorities and clearly weed out historical mistakes so as not to repeat them again and again.
Russian rulers in chronological order: Novgorod and Kiev - where did I go
Historical materials, which have no reason to doubt, for a given period, which begins in 862 and ends with the end of the reign Kiev princes are actually quite scarce. However, they allow to understand the chronology of the rulers of Russia at that time, although at that time such a state simply did not exist.
Interesting
The chronicle of the twelfth century "The Tale of Bygone Years" makes it clear that in 862 the great warrior and strategist, famous for his enormous power of mind, the Varangian Rurik, taking his brothers, went at the invitation of local tribes to reign in the capital city of Novgorod. In fact, it was then that a turning point in the history of Russia came, called the "vocation of the Varangians", which ultimately helped to unite the Novgorodian principalities with those of Kiev.
Varyag from the people of Russia Rurik replaced Prince Gostomysl, and came to power in 862. He ruled until 872, then he died, leaving his young son Igor, who could not be his only offspring, in the care of a distant relative of Oleg.
Since 872, regent Prophetic Oleg , left to look after Igor, decided not to confine himself to the Novgorod principality, captured Kiev and moved his capital there. It was rumored that he was not killed by accident. snakebite in 882 or 912, but it is no longer possible to understand thoroughly.
After the death of the regent in 912, the son of Rurik came to power, Igor, which the first of the Russian rulers can be clearly traced, both in Western and Byzantine sources. In the fall, Igor decided to collect tribute from the Drevlyans in a larger amount than was due, for which they treacherously killed him.
Prince Igor's wife, Duchess Olga She ascended the throne after the death of her husband in 945, and managed to convert to Christianity even before the final decision on the baptism of Rus was made.
Formally, after Igor, his son ascended the throne, Svyatoslav Igorevich... However, since at that time he was three years old, his mother Olga became regent, whom he successfully moved after 956, until he was killed by the Pechenegs in 972.
In 972, the eldest son of Svyatoslav and his wife Predslava came to power - Yaropolk Svyatoslavovich... However, he had to sit on the throne for only two years. Then he simply fell into the millstones of civil strife, was killed and ground up in the "torment of time."
In 970, the son of Svyatoslav Igorevich ascended the throne of Novgorod from his own private housekeeper Malusha, the prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich, who later received the nickname for the adoption of Christianity Great and Baptist... Eight years later, he ascended the Kiev throne, seizing it, and also transferring his capital there. It is he who is considered the prototype of that very epic character fanned by fame and a certain mystical aura for centuries, Vladimir the Red Sun.
Grand Duke Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise He sat on the Kiev throne in 1016, which he managed to capture under the guise of turmoil, which arose after the death of his father Vladimir, and after him, his brother Svyatopolk.
Since 1054, the son of Yaroslav and his wife, the Swedish princess Ingigerda (Irina), named Izyaslav, began to rule in Kiev until he died heroically in the midst of a battle against his own uncles in 1068. Buried Izyaslav Yaroslavich in the iconic Hagia Sophia in Kiev.
Starting from this period, that is, 1068, certain personalities ascended the throne, who did not leave any serious trace in the historical sense.
Grand Duke, by name Svyatopolk Izyaslavovich took the throne already in 1093 and ruled until 1113.
It was at this moment in 1113 that one of the greatest Russian princes of his time came to power Vladimir Vsevolodovich Monomakh who left the throne after only twelve years.
The next seven years, until 1132, the son of Monomakh sat on the throne, by name Mstislav Vladimirovich.
Starting in 1132, and again for exactly seven years, the throne took Yaropolk Vladimirovich, also the son of the great Monomakh.
Fragmentation and civil strife in Ancient Russia: the rulers of Russia in order and randomly
It must be said that the Russian rulers, the chronology of whose leadership is offered to you for general education and increasing knowledge about their own historical basis, always caring for the statehood and prosperity of their own peoples, one way or another. They consolidated their positions in the European arena as best they could, but their calculations and aspirations were not always justified, but you can't judge your ancestors too harshly, you can always find several weighty or not very strong arguments in favor of one or another decision.
In the period when Russia was a deeply feudal land, fragmented into the smallest principalities, the persons on the throne of Kiev were replaced with catastrophic speed, without even having time to accomplish anything more or less significant. Around the middle of the thirteenth century, Kiev generally fell into complete decline, leaving only a few names about that period in the memory of descendants.
Great Russian rulers: chronology of the Vladimir principality
The beginning of the twelfth century for Russia was marked by the formation of late feudalism, the weakening of the principality of Kiev, as well as the emergence of several other centers, from where strong pressure from large feudal lords was observed. The largest such centers were Galich and Vladimir. It is worth dwelling a little more on the princes of that era, although there is a significant trace in history modern Russia they did not leave, and perhaps their role has simply not yet been appreciated by their descendants.
The rulers of Russia: a list of the times of the Moscow principality
After it was decided to move the capital to Moscow from the earlier capital Vladimir, the feudal fragmentation of the Russian lands began to gradually decrease, and the main center, of course, began to gradually and unobtrusively increase its own political influence. And the rulers of that time began to be much more lucky, they managed to hold out on the throne longer than the unfortunate Vladimir princes.
Beginning in the 48th year of the sixteenth century, hard times fell in Russia. The ruling dynasty of princes actually collapsed and ceased to exist. This period is usually called timelessness, when real power was in the hands of boyar families.
Monarchical rulers of Russia: chronology before Peter I and after him
Historians are accustomed to identifying three periods of the formation and development of Russian monarchical rule: the pre-Petrine period, the reign of Peter, and also the post-Petrine period.
After hard times of troubles, he came to power, glorified by Bulgakov, Ivan Vasilievich the Terrible(from 1548 to 1574).
After father Ivan the Terrible, his son was blessed to reign Fedor, nicknamed the Blessed(from 1584 to 1598).
It is worth knowing that Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich was the last of the Rurik family, but he could not leave an heir. The people considered him inferior, both in terms of health and mental abilities. Beginning in 98 of the sixteenth century, times of turmoil began, which lasted until the 12th year of the next century. The rulers changed, like pictures in a silent movie, each pulled in his own direction, thinking little about the welfare of the state. In 1612, a new one came to power. royal dynasty- The Romanovs.
The first representative of the royal dynasty was Michael, he spent time on the throne from 1613 to 1645.
Alexei's son Fedor took the throne in 76 and spent exactly 6 years on it.
Sofya Alekseevna, his blood sister was in charge of state government from 1682 until 1689.
Peter I ascended the throne as a young man in 1689, and stayed on it until 1725. It was the greatest period national history, the country finally gained stability, the economy took off, and the new tsar began to call himself emperor.
In 1725 she took the throne Ekaterina Skavronskaya, and left it in 1727.
In 30 year he sat on the throne queen anna, and ruled for exactly 10 years.
Ivan Antonovich stayed on the throne for only a year, from 1740 to 1741.
Ekaterina Petrovna ran from 41 to 61 years old.
In the 62nd year took the throne Catherine the Great, where she stayed until the 96th.
Pavel Petrovich(from 1796 to 1801).
Following Paul came and Alexander I (1081-1825).
Nicholas I came to power in 1825, and left it in 1855.
Tyrant and sloven, but very responsible Alexander II had the ability to bite his household on the legs, lying on the floor from 1855 to 1881.
The very last of the Russian tsars Nicholas II, ruled the country until 1917, after which the dynasty was completely and unconditionally interrupted. Moreover, it was then that a completely new political system was formed, called the republic.
Soviet rulers of Russia: in order from the revolution to the present day
The first Russian ruler after the revolution was Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, who formally ruled a huge colossus of workers and peasants until 1924. In fact, by the time of his death, he was no longer able to decide anything and in his place it was necessary to put forward a strong personality with with an iron hand, which is what happened.
Dzhugashvili (Stalin) Joseph Vissarionovich(from 1924 to 1953).
Corn lover Nikita Khrushchev became the very "first" First Secretary until 1964.
Leonid Brezhnev took over from Khrushchev in 1964 and died in 1982.
After Brezhnev came the so-called "thaw", when Yuri Andropov(1982-1984).
Konstantin Chernenko took over as general secretary in 1984 and left a year later.
Mikhail Gorbachev decided to introduce the notorious "perestroika", and as a result became the first and at the same time the only president of the USSR (1985-1991).
Boris Yeltsin, named the head of Russia, independent from anyone (1991-1999).
The current head of state today, Vladimir Putin has been the President of Russia since the "millennium", that is, in 2000. There was a break in his reign for a period of 4 years, when the country was quite successfully led by Dmitry Medvedev.
