From whom does the Romanov family come? Romanov dynasty

The Romanov dynasty is a Russian boyar family that bore the surname Romanov from the end of the 16th century. 1613 - the dynasty of Russian tsars, which ruled for more than three hundred years. 1917, March - abdicated.
background
Ivan IV the Terrible, by the murder of his eldest son, John, interrupted the male line of the Rurik dynasty. Fedor, his middle son, was handicapped. The mysterious death in Uglich of the youngest son Dimitry (he was found stabbed to death in the courtyard of the tower), and then the death of the last of the Rurikovichs, Theodore Ioannovich, interrupted their dynasty. Boris Fyodorovich Godunov, the brother of Theodore's wife, came to the kingdom as a member of the Regency Council of 5 boyars. At the Zemsky Sobor in 1598, Boris Godunov was elected tsar.
1604 - the Polish army under the command of False Dmitry 1 (Grigory Otrepyev), set out from Lvov to the Russian borders.
1605 - Boris Godunov dies, and the Throne is transferred to his son Theodore and the queen-widow. An uprising breaks out in Moscow, as a result of which Theodore and his mother were strangled. The new tsar, False Dmitry 1, enters the capital accompanied by the Polish army. However, his reign was short-lived: 1606 - Moscow rebelled, and False Dmitry was killed. Vasily Shuisky becomes king.
The impending crisis brought the state closer to a state of anarchy. After the uprising of Bolotnikov and a 2-month siege of Moscow against Russia, the troops of False Dmitry 2 moved from Poland. 1610 - Shuisky's troops were defeated, the tsar was overthrown and tonsured a monk.
The government of the state passed into the hands of the Boyar Duma: the period of the “Seven Boyars” began. After the Duma signed an agreement with Poland, the Polish army was secretly brought into Moscow. The son of King Sigismund III of Poland, Vladislav, became the Russian Tsar. And only in 1612 the militia of Minin and Pozharsky managed to liberate the capital.
And just at that time, Mikhail Feodorovich Romanov entered the arena of History. In addition to him, the Polish prince Vladislav, the Swedish prince Karl-Philip and the son of Marina Mniszek and False Dmitry 2 Ivan, representatives of the boyar families - Trubetskoy and Romanovs - claimed the Throne. However, Mikhail Romanov was still elected. Why?

What suited Mikhail Fedorovich to the kingdom
Mikhail Romanov was 16 years old, he was the grandchild of the first wife of Ivan the Terrible, Anastasia Romanova, and the son of Metropolitan Filaret. Mikhail's candidacy suited representatives of all classes and political forces: the aristocracy was pleased that the new tsar would be a representative of the ancient Romanov family.
Supporters of the legitimate monarchy were pleased that Mikhail Romanov had a relationship with Ivan IV, and those who suffered from terror and chaos of the "distemper" were pleased that Romanov was not involved in the oprichnina, while the Cossacks were pleased that the father of the new tsar was Metropolitan Philaret.
The age of the young Romanov also played into his hands. People in the 17th century did not live long, dying from diseases. The young age of the king could give certain guarantees of stability for a long time. In addition, the boyar groups, despite the age of the sovereign, were determined to make him a puppet in their hands, thinking - "Mikhail Romanov is young, he hasn't reached his mind and he will be familiar with us."
V. Kobrin writes about this as follows: “The Romanovs suited everyone. That's the quality of mediocrity." In fact, for the consolidation of the state, the restoration of public order, not bright personalities were needed, but people who were able to calmly and persistently pursue a conservative policy. “... It was necessary to restore everything, almost rebuild the state - before that its mechanism was broken,” wrote V. Klyuchevsky.
That was Mikhail Romanov. His reign was a time of lively legislative activity of the government, which concerned the most diverse aspects of Russian public life.

The reign of the first of the Romanov dynasty
Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov was married to the kingdom on July 11, 1613. Accepting the wedding, he promised not to make decisions without the consent of the Boyar Duma and the Zemsky Sobor.
So it was at the initial stage of government: on every important issue, Romanov turned to the Zemsky Sobors. But, gradually, the sole power of the tsar began to strengthen: local governors subordinate to the center began to rule. For example, in 1642, when the assembly voted with an overwhelming majority for the final annexation of Azov, which the Cossacks had conquered from the Tatars, the tsar made the opposite decision.
The most important task during this period was the restoration of the state unity of the Russian lands, some of which, after the "... Time of Troubles ..." remained under the control of Poland and Sweden. 1632 - after King Sigismund III died in Poland, Russia began a war with Poland, as a result - the new king Vladislav renounced his claims to the Moscow throne and recognized Mikhail Fedorovich as the Moscow tsar.

Foreign and domestic policy
The most important innovation in the industry of that era was the emergence of manufactories. The further development of handicrafts, an increase in the production of agriculture and crafts, and a deepening of the social division of labor led to the beginning of the formation of an all-Russian market. In addition, diplomatic and trade relations between Russia and the West were established. The major centers of Russian trade were: Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Bryansk. With Europe, maritime trade passed through the only port of Arkhangelsk; most of the goods went by dry route. Thus, actively trading with Western European states, Russia was able to achieve an independent foreign policy.
Agriculture also began to rise. Agriculture began to develop on fertile lands south of the Oka, as well as in Siberia. This was facilitated by the fact that the rural population of Russia was divided into two categories: landowning and black-mossed peasants. The latter accounted for 89.6% of the rural population. According to the law, they, sitting on state land, had the right to alienate it: sale, mortgage, inheritance.
As a result of a reasonable domestic policy, the life of ordinary people has improved dramatically. So, if during the period of "troubles" the population in the capital itself decreased by more than 3 times - the townspeople fled from their destroyed homes, then after the "restoration" of the economy, according to K. Valishevsky, "... a chicken in Russia cost two kopecks, a dozen eggs - a penny. Arriving in Moscow for Easter, he was an eyewitness to the pious and merciful deeds of the tsar, who visited prisons before matins and distributed colored eggs and sheepskin coats to prisoners.

“Progress has also been made in the field of culture. According to S. Solovyov, "... Moscow amazed with its magnificence, beauty, especially in summer, when the greenery of numerous gardens and kitchen gardens joined the beautiful variety of churches." The first Greek-Latin school in Russia was opened in the Chudov Monastery. The only Moscow printing house, destroyed during the Polish occupation, was restored.
Unfortunately, the development of the culture of that era was affected by the fact that Mikhail Fedorovich himself was an exceptionally religious person. Therefore, correctors and compilers of sacred books were considered the greatest scientists of that time, which, of course, greatly hampered progress.
Results
The main reason that Mikhail Fedorovich managed to create a "viable" dynasty of the Romanovs was his carefully weighed, with a large "margin of safety", domestic and foreign policy, as a result of which Russia - albeit not completely - was able to solve the problem of the reunification of Russian lands, were resolved internal contradictions, industry and agriculture developed, the sole power of the sovereign was strengthened, ties with Europe were established, etc.
Meanwhile, indeed, the reign of the first Romanov cannot be counted among the brilliant epochs in the history of the Russian nation, and his personality does not appear in it with special brilliance. And yet, this reign marks a period of rebirth.

400 years ago, the first ruler of the Romanov family, Mikhail Fedorovich, reigned in Russia. His ascension to the throne marked the end of the Russian turmoil, and his descendants were to rule the state for another three centuries, expanding the borders and strengthening the power of the country, which, thanks to them, became an empire. We remember this date with the associate professor of the Russian State University for the Humanities, head of the department of auxiliary historical disciplines, author of the books “The Romanovs. History of the dynasty”, “Genealogy of the Romanovs. 1613-2001" and many others by Evgeny Pchelov.

- Evgeny Vladimirovich, where did the Romanov family come from?

The Romanovs are an old family of the Moscow boyars, whose origins date back to the first half of the 14th century, when the earliest ancestor of the Romanovs lived - Andrei Ivanovich Kobyla, who served Semyon the Proud, the eldest son of Ivan Kalita. Thus, the Romanovs are connected with the family of the Great Moscow princes almost from the very beginning of this dynasty; this, one might say, is the “root” family of the Moscow aristocracy. The earlier ancestors of the Romanovs, before Andrei Kobyla, are unknown to chronicle sources. Much later, in the 17th - 18th centuries, when the Romanovs were in power, a legend arose about their foreign origin, and this legend was created not by the Romanovs themselves, but by their relatives, i.e. descendants of clans of the same root as the Romanovs - the Kolychevs, Sheremetevs, and others. from the Prussian land, once inhabited by the Prussians - one of the Baltic tribes. His name was allegedly Glanda Kambila, and in Russia he became Ivan Kobyla, the father of the same Andrei who is known at the court of Semyon the Proud. It is clear that Glanda Kambila is an absolutely artificial name, distorted from Ivan Kobyla. Such legends about departures of ancestors from other countries were common among the Russian nobility. Of course, this legend has no real basis.

- How did they become Romanovs?

The descendants of the grandson of Fyodor Koshka, Zakhary Ivanovich, were nicknamed the Zakharyins, his son, Yuri, was the father of Roman Yuryevich Zakharyin, and already on behalf of Roman, the surname Romanovs was formed. In fact, these were all generic nicknames, derived from patronymics and grandfathers. So the surname of the Romanovs has a rather traditional origin for Russian surnames.

- Were the Romanovs related to the Rurik dynasty?

They intermarried with the dynasties of the Tver and Serpukhov princes, and through the branch of the Serpukhov princes, they were directly related to the Moscow Rurikovichs. Ivan III was the great-great-grandson of Fyodor Koshka by his mother, i.e. starting with him, the Moscow Rurikoviches were descendants of Andrei Kobyla, but the descendants of Kobyla, the Romanovs, were not descendants of the family of Moscow princes. AT 1547 . the first Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible married Anastasia Romanovna Zakharyina-Yuryeva, the daughter of Roman Yuryevich Zakharyin, who is often and incorrectly called a boyar, although he did not have this rank. From the marriage with Anastasia Romanovna, Ivan the Terrible had several children, including Tsarevich Ivan, who died in a quarrel with his father in 1581 ., and Fedor, who became king in 1584 . Fyodor Ioannovich was the last of the dynasty of Moscow tsars - Rurikovich. His uncle Nikita Romanovich, brother of Anastasia, enjoyed great fame at the court of Ivan the Terrible, Nikita's son, Fyodor, later became the Moscow Patriarch Filaret, and his grandson, Mikhail, was the first tsar from the new dynasty, elected to the throne in 1613

- Were there other pretenders to the throne in 1613?

It is known that in that year, at the Zemsky Sobor, which was supposed to choose a new king, the names of several applicants sounded. The most authoritative boyar at that time was Prince Fyodor Ivanovich Mstislavsky, who headed the Seven Boyars. He was a distant descendant of Ivan III through his daughter, i.e. was a royal relative. According to sources, the leaders of the zemstvo militia, Prince Dmitry Timofeevich Trubetskoy (who was heavily spent during the Zemsky Sobor) and Prince Dmitry Mikhailovich Pozharsky, also claimed the throne. There were other notable representatives of the Russian aristocracy.

- Why was Mikhail Fedorovich elected?

Of course, Mikhail Fedorovich was a very young man, he could be controlled, and he stood outside the court factions fighting for power. But the main thing is the family connection of Mikhail Fedorovich and the Romanovs with Tsar Fedor Ivanovich, the son of Ivan the Terrible. Fedor Ivanovich was perceived at that moment as if the last "legitimate" Moscow tsar, the last representative of the real royal "root". His personality and reign were idealized, as always happens after the era of bloody crimes, and the return to the interrupted tradition, as it were, restored those quiet and calm times. No wonder the Zemstvo militia minted coins with the name of Fyodor Ivanovich, by that time he had already died for 15 years. Mikhail Fedorovich was the nephew of Tsar Fedor - he was perceived as a kind of "reincarnation" of Fedor, a continuation of his era. And although the Romanovs did not have a direct relationship with the Rurikovichs, it was precisely their inherent and family ties through marriages that were of great importance. The direct descendants of the Rurikovichs, whether they were the Pozharsky princes or the Vorotynsky princes, were not perceived as part of the royal family, but only as subjects of the royal dynasty, in their status exalted above their peers. That is why the Romanovs turned out to be the closest relatives of the last of the Moscow Rurikovichs. Mikhail Fedorovich himself did not take any part in the work of the Zemsky Sobor and found out about his decision when an embassy came to him with an invitation to the throne. It must be said that he, and especially his mother, nun Martha, stubbornly refused such an honor. But then, succumbing to persuasion, they nevertheless agreed. Thus began the reign of a new dynasty - the Romanovs.

- Who are the most famous representatives of the Romanov dynasty today? What are they doing?

Now the Romanov family, let's talk about the family, is not very numerous. Representatives of the generation of the 1920s, the first generation of the Romanovs who were born in exile, are still alive. The oldest ones today are Nikolai Romanovich, who lives in Switzerland, Andrei Andreevich, who lives in the USA, and Dimitri Romanovich, who lives in Denmark. The first two recently turned 90 years old. All of them repeatedly came to Russia. Together with their younger relatives and some descendants of the Romanovs along the female lines (like Prince Michael of Kent, for example), they make up the public organization "Association of Members of the Romanov Family." There is also a fund for helping the Romanovs for Russia, which is headed by Dimitri Romanovich. However, the activities of the "Association" in Russia, at least, are not felt too strongly. Among the members of the association there are also very young people, like Rostislav Rostislavich Romanov, for example. A notable figure is a descendant of Alexander II from his second, morganatic marriage, His Serene Highness Prince Georgy Alexandrovich Yuryevsky. He lives in Switzerland and in St. Petersburg, where he often visits. There is a family of the late Prince Vladimir Kirillovich - his daughter Maria Vladimirovna and her son from marriage with the Prussian prince Georgy Mikhailovich. This family considers themselves legitimate contenders for the throne, does not recognize all the other Romanovs and behaves accordingly. Maria Vladimirovna makes "official visits", favors the nobility and orders of old Russia, and in every possible way presents herself as the "Head of the Russian Imperial House". It is clear that this activity has a very definite ideological and political connotation. The family of Vladimir Kirillovich is seeking for themselves some kind of special legal status in Russia, the rights to which are very convincingly questioned by many. There are other descendants of the Romanovs, more or less noticeable, such as Poul Edward Larsen, who now calls himself Pavel Eduardovich Kulikovsky - the great-grandson of Nicholas II's sister, Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna. He frequently appears at numerous events and presentations as a guest. But as such, almost none of the Romanovs and their descendants conduct meaningful and useful activities in Russia.

Perhaps the only exception is Olga Nikolaevna Kulikovskaya-Romanova. By her origin, she does not belong to the Romanov family, but is the widow of Nicholas II's own nephew, Tikhon Nikolaevich Kulikovsky-Romanov, the eldest son of the already mentioned Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna. I must say that her activities in Russia, unlike her other relatives, are extremely active and productive. Olga Nikolaevna heads the V.Kn. Olga Alexandrovna, which was founded by her together with her late husband Tikhon Nikolaevich, who lived in Canada. Now Olga Nikolaevna spends even more time in Russia than in Canada. The Foundation has carried out a huge charitable work, over the years of its existence, having provided real assistance to many medical and social institutions in Russia, the Solovetsky Monastery, etc., up to individual persons in need of such assistance. In recent years, Olga Nikolaevna has been carrying out a great cultural activity, regularly organizing exhibitions of artworks by Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna in different cities of the country, who was engaged in painting a lot and fruitfully. This side of the history of the royal family was completely unknown until recently. Now exhibitions of the works of the Grand Duchess were held not only in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow and the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, but also in centers as remote from the capitals as Tyumen or Vladivostok. Olga Nikolaevna traveled almost all over Russia, she is well known in many parts of our country. Of course, she is a completely unique person, literally charging with her energy everyone who had to deal with her. Her fate is very interesting - after all, before World War II, she studied at the Mariinsky Don Institute, formed before the revolution in Novocherkassk, following the example of the famous Smolny Institute for Noble Maidens, and in exile located in the Serbian city of Belaya Tserkov. The excellent upbringing in a Russian family of emigrants of the first wave and education in this educational institution could not but affect the personality of Olga Nikolaevna herself, she told me a lot about this period of her biography. She knew, of course, the Romanovs of the older generation, for example, the daughter of Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich, the famous poet K.R. - Princess Vera Konstantinovna, with whom she and Tikhon Nikolaevich had friendly relations.

Each page of history has its own lessons for future generations. How does the history of the Romanovs teach us a lesson?

I believe that the most important thing that the Romanovs did for Russia is the emergence of the Russian Empire, a great European power with great culture and science. If they know Russia abroad (namely Russia, not the Soviet Union), then by the names of those people who lived and worked during this period. It can be said that it was under the Romanovs that Russia stood on a par with the leading world powers, and absolutely on an equal footing. It was one of the highest rises of our country in the entire history of its diverse existence. And the Romanovs played a very important role in this, for which we can be sincerely grateful to them.

The ruling dynasty of the Romanovs gave the country many brilliant kings and emperors. It is interesting that this surname does not belong to all of its representatives, the noblemen Koshkins, Kobylins, Miloslavskys, Naryshkins met in the family. The family tree of the Romanov dynasty shows us that the history of this family dates back to 1596.

Family tree of the Romanov dynasty: the beginning

The ancestor of the family is the son of the boyar Fyodor Romanov and the boyar Xenia Ivanovna, Mikhail Fedorovich. The first king of the dynasty. He was a cousin-nephew of the last emperor from the Moscow family branch of the Rurikovichs - Fedor the First Ioannovich. On February 7, 1613, he was elected to reign. On July 21 of the same year, a ceremony was performed for the reign. It was this moment that marked the beginning of the reign of the great Romanov dynasty.

At the beginning of 1917, the Romanov dynasty consisted of 32 males, 13 of whom were killed by the Bolsheviks in 1918-19. Those who escaped this settled in Western Europe (mostly in France) and the United States. In the 1920s and 30s, a significant part of the representatives of the dynasty continued to hope for the collapse of Soviet power in Russia and the restoration of the monarchy.

1. The Council recognized that the right to exercise supreme power in Russia belongs to the dynasty of the House of Romanov.
2. The Council considered it necessary and in accordance with the desire of the population to head the national statehood by the Supreme Ruler from the members of the Dynasty, whom the members of the House of Romanov indicate.
3. The government was asked to enter into negotiations with representatives of the Romanov dynasty.

All current representatives of this family are descendants of the four sons of Nicholas I:

* Aleksandrovichi, descendants of Alexander II. This branch has four living representatives - his great-great-granddaughter, Maria Vladimirovna, her son Georgy, and brothers Dmitry and Mikhail Pavlovich Romanov-Ilyinsky (the youngest of whom was born in 1961).
* Konstantinovichi, descendants of Konstantin Nikolaevich. In the male line, the branch was cut short in 1973 (with the death of Vsevolod, the son of John Konstantinovich).
* Nikolaevich, descendants of Nikolai Nikolaevich the Elder. The two living male representatives are the brothers Nikolai and Dmitry Romanovich Romanov, the youngest of whom was born in 1926.
* Mikhailovichi, descendants of Mikhail Nikolaevich. All other living Romanov men (see below) belong to this branch, the youngest of them was born in 2009.

Only two of the descendants of the Romanovs in the male line remained on the territory of the USSR - the children of Alexander Iskander: (Natalya and Kirill (1915-1992) Androsovs); the rest either left or died.

On December 22, 2011, the President of the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic I.N. Smirnov signed the Decree "On the status of the Russian Imperial House in the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic". According to this decree, on the territory of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, the Russian Imperial House is recognized as a unique historical institution without the rights of a legal entity, taking part in the patriotic and spiritual and moral education of citizens of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, preserving the historical and cultural heritage, traditions of the Pridnestrovian society. Back in 2009, Maria Vladimirovna Romanova was awarded the highest award of the PMR - the Order of the Republic. On June 9, 2011, for the first time since 1917, a representative of the House of Romanov was awarded the state award of Russia: Prince Romanov, Dmitry Romanovich.

In total, as of May 2010, the Romanov family consisted of 12 male representatives. Among them, only four (grandchildren and great-grandson of Prince Rostislav Alexandrovich) are not older than forty years.

Outstanding personalities - the Romanov dynasty.

The genealogical tree includes about 80 people. In this article, we will not touch on everyone, but only the reigning persons and their families.

Family tree of the Romanov dynasty

Mikhail Fedorovich and his wife Evdokia had one son - Alexei. He headed the throne from 1645 to 1676. Was married twice. The first wife is Maria Miloslavskaya, from this marriage the tsar had three children: Fedor - the eldest son, Ivan the Fifth and daughter Sophia. From his marriage with Natalya Naryshkina, Mikhail had one son - Peter the Great, who later became a great reformer. Ivan married Praskovya Saltykova, from this marriage they had two daughters - Anna Ioannovna and Ekaterina. Peter had two marriages - with Evdokia Lopukhina and Catherine the First. From the first marriage, the tsar had a son, Alexei, who later married Sophia Charlotte. Peter II was born from this marriage.

Family tree of the Romanov dynasty: Peter the Great and Catherine the Great

Three children were born from the marriage - Elizabeth, Anna and Peter. Anna married Karl Friedrich, and they had a son, Peter the Third, who married

Family tree of the Romanov dynasty: Miloslavsky branch Catherine II. She, in turn, took the crown from her husband. But Catherine had a son - Pavel the First, who married Maria Feodorovna. From this marriage, the emperor was born, who in the future married Alexandra Feodorovna. Alexander II was born from this marriage. He had two marriages - with Maria Alexandrovna and Ekaterina Dolgorukova. The future heir to the throne - Alexander the Third - was born from his first marriage. He, in turn, married Maria Fedorovna. The son from this union became the last emperor of Russia: we are talking about Nicholas II.

Ivan the Fourth and Praskovya Saltykova had two daughters - Ekaterina and Anna. Catherine married Karl Leopold. From this marriage, Anna Leopoldovna was born, who married Anton Ulrich. The couple had a son, known to us as Ivan the Fourth.

Such, in brief, is the genealogical tree of the Romanovs. The scheme includes all the wives and children of the rulers of the Russian Empire. Second-order relatives are not considered. Undoubtedly, the Romanovs are the brightest and most powerful dynasty that ruled Russia.

For more than 300 years, the Romanov dynasty was in power in Russia. There are several versions of the origin of the Romanov family. According to one of them, the Romanovs come from Novgorod. The family tradition says that the origins of the family should be sought in Prussia, from where the ancestors of the Romanovs moved to Russia at the beginning of the XIV century. The first reliably established ancestor of the family was the Moscow boyar Ivan Kobyla.

The beginning of the ruling dynasty of the Romanovs was laid by the great-nephew of the wife of Ivan the Terrible, Mikhail Fedorovich. He was elected to reign by the Zemsky Sobor in 1613, after the suppression of the Moscow branch of the Rurikovich.

Since the 18th century, the Romanovs have ceased to call themselves tsars. On November 2, 1721, Peter I was declared Emperor of All Russia. He became the first emperor in the dynasty.

The reign of the dynasty ended in 1917, when Emperor Nicholas II abdicated as a result of the February Revolution from the throne. In July 1918, he was shot by the Bolsheviks along with his family (including five children) and close associates in Yekaterinburg.

Numerous descendants of the Romanovs now live abroad. However, none of them, from the point of view of the Russian law on succession to the throne, has the right to the Russian throne.

Below is a chronology of the reign of the Romanov family with the dating of the reign.

Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov. Reign: 1613-1645

He laid the foundation for a new dynasty, being elected at the age of 16 to reign by the Zemsky Sobor in 1613. Belonged to an ancient boyar family. He restored the functioning of the economy and trade in the country, which he inherited in a deplorable state after the Time of Troubles. Concluded "perpetual peace" with Sweden (1617). At the same time, he lost access to the Baltic Sea, but returned the vast Russian territories previously conquered by Sweden. He concluded an "eternal peace" with Poland (1618), while losing Smolensk and Seversk land. Attached land along the Yaik, Baikal, Yakutia, access to the Pacific Ocean.

Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov (Quiet). Reign: 1645-1676

He ascended the throne at the age of 16. He was a gentle, good-natured and very religious person. He continued the reform of the army started by his father. At the same time, he attracted a large number of foreign military specialists who remained idle after graduation. Under him, Nikon's church reform was carried out, which affected the main church rites and books. Returned Smolensk and Seversk land. Annexed Ukraine to Russia (1654). Suppressed Stepan's uprising (1667-1671)

Fedor Alekseevich Romanov. Reign: 1676-1682

The short reign of the extremely painful tsar was marked by a war with Turkey and the Crimean Khanate and the further conclusion of the Treaty of Bakhchisaray (1681), according to which Turkey recognized Left-Bank Ukraine and Kyiv as Russia. A general census was carried out (1678). The fight against the Old Believers received a new round - Archpriest Avvakum was burned. He died at the age of twenty.

Peter I Alekseevich Romanov (the Great). Reigned: 1682-1725 (ruled independently from 1689)

The previous tsar (Fyodor Alekseevich) died without making an order regarding the succession to the throne. As a result, two tsars were crowned on the throne at the same time - the young brothers of Fyodor Alekseevich Ivan and Peter under the regency of their elder sister Sofya Alekseevna (until 1689 - Sophia's regency, until 1696 - formal co-rule with Ivan V). Since 1721, the first Emperor of All Russia.

He was an ardent supporter of the Western way of life. For all its ambiguity, it is recognized by both adherents and critics as the "Great Sovereign".

His bright reign was marked by the Azov campaigns (1695 and 1696) against the Turks, which resulted in the capture of the Azov fortress. The result of the campaigns was, among other things, the king's awareness of the need. The old army was disbanded - the army began to be created according to a new model. From 1700 to 1721 - participation in the most difficult with Sweden, the result of which was the defeat of the hitherto invincible Charles XII and Russia's access to the Baltic Sea.

In 1722-1724, the largest foreign policy event of Peter the Great after the Caspian (Persian) campaign, which ended with the capture of Derbent, Baku and other cities by Russia.

During his reign, Peter founded St. Petersburg (1703), established the Senate (1711) and Colleges (1718), introduced the "Table of Ranks" (1722).

Catherine I. Years of reign: 1725-1727

The second wife of Peter I. A former maid named Marta Kruse, who was taken into captivity during the Great Northern War. Nationality unknown. She was the mistress of Field Marshal Sheremetev. Later, Prince Menshikov took her to him. In 1703, Peter liked her, who made her his mistress, and later his wife. She was baptized into Orthodoxy, changing her name to Ekaterina Alekseevna Mikhailova.

Under her, the Supreme Privy Council was created (1726) and an alliance was concluded with Austria (1726).

Peter II Alekseevich Romanov. Years of government: 1727-1730

Grandson of Peter I, son of Tsarevich Alexei. The last representative of the Romanov family in a direct male line. He ascended the throne at the age of 11. He died at the age of 14 from smallpox. In fact, the administration of the state was carried out by the Supreme Privy Council. According to contemporaries, the young emperor was distinguished by waywardness and adored entertainment. It was entertainment, fun and hunting that the young emperor devoted all his time to. Under him, Menshikov was overthrown (1727), and the capital was returned to Moscow (1728).

Anna Ioannovna Romanova. Years of government: 1730-1740

Daughter of Ivan V, granddaughter of Alexei Mikhailovich. She was invited in 1730 to the Russian throne by the Supreme Privy Council, which she later successfully dissolved. Instead of the Supreme Council, a cabinet of ministers was created (1730). The capital was returned to St. Petersburg (1732). 1735-1739 were marked by the Russian-Turkish war, which ended with a peace treaty in Belgrade. Under the terms of the treaty, Azov departed Russia, but it was forbidden to have a fleet on the Black Sea. The years of her reign are characterized in literature as "the era of the dominance of the Germans at court", or as "Bironism" (by the name of her favorite).

Ivan VI Antonovich Romanov. Years of government: 1740-1741

Great-grandson of Ivan V. Was proclaimed emperor at the age of two months. The baby was proclaimed emperor under the regency of the Duke of Courland Biron, but two weeks later the guards removed the duke from power. The emperor's mother, Anna Leopoldovna, became the new regent. At the age of two he was overthrown. His short reign was subject to a law condemning the name - they were withdrawn from circulation, all his portraits were destroyed, all documents containing the name of the emperor were withdrawn (or destroyed). Until the age of 23, he spent in solitary confinement, where (already half-mad) he was stabbed to death by guards.

Elizabeth I Petrovna Romanova. Years of government: 1741-1761

Daughter of Peter I and Catherine I. During her reign, the death penalty was abolished for the first time in Russia. A university was opened in Moscow (1755). In 1756-1762. Russia took part in the largest military conflict of the 18th century - the Seven Years' War. As a result of the hostilities, Russian troops captured the whole of East Prussia and even briefly took Berlin. However, the short death of the Empress and the coming to power of the pro-Prussian-minded Peter III nullified all military achievements - the conquered lands were returned to Prussia, and peace was concluded.

Peter III Fedorovich Romanov. Years of government: 1761-1762

Nephew of Elizabeth Petrovna, grandson of Peter I - son of his daughter Anna. Reigned 186 days. A lover of everything Prussian, he stopped the war with Sweden immediately after coming to power on extremely unfavorable terms for Russia. I spoke Russian with difficulty. During his reign, a manifesto "On the Liberty of the Nobility", an alliance of Prussia and Russia, a decree on freedom of religion (all -1762) was issued. He stopped the persecution of the Old Believers. He was overthrown by his wife and died a week later (according to the official version - from a fever).

Already during the reign of Catherine II, the leader of the peasant war, Emelyan Pugachev, in 1773, pretended to be the "miracle of the saved" Peter III.

Catherine II Alekseevna Romanova (the Great). Years of government: 1762-1796

Wife of Peter III. expanding the powers of the nobility. Significantly expanded the territory of the Empire during the Russian-Turkish wars (1768-1774 and 1787-1791) and the partition of Poland (1772, 1793 and 1795). It was during the time of Catherine that the Crimea was captured - as a result, Russia was firmly entrenched in the Black Sea, which was undoubtedly facilitated by the foundation of the Black Sea Fleet. The reign was marked by the largest peasant uprising of Yemelyan Pugachev, who pretended to be Peter III (1773-1775). A provincial reform was carried out (1775).

Pavel I Petrovich Romanov: 1796-1801

Son of Catherine II and Peter III, 72nd Grand Master of the Order of Malta. He ascended the throne at the age of 42. Introduced compulsory succession to the throne only through the male line (1797). Significantly eased the situation of the peasants (decree on a three-day corvee, a ban on selling serfs without land (1797)). From foreign policy, the war with France (1798-1799) and the Italian and Swiss campaigns of Suvorov (1799) are worthy of mention. Killed by the guards (not without the knowledge of Alexander's son) in his own bedroom (strangled). The official version is a stroke.

Alexander I Pavlovich Romanov. Years of government: 1801-1825

Son of Paul I. In the reign of Alexander I, Russia defeated the French troops during the Patriotic War of 1812. The result of the war was a new European order, enshrined in the Congress of Vienna in 1814-1815. During numerous wars, he significantly expanded the territory of Russia - he annexed Eastern and Western Georgia, Mingrelia, Imeretia, Guria, Finland, Bessarabia, and most of Poland. He died suddenly in 1825 in Taganrog from a fever. For a long time there was a legend among the people that the emperor, tormented by conscience for the death of his father, did not die, but continued his life under the name of Elder Fyodor Kuzmich.

Nicholas I Pavlovich Romanov. Years of government: 1825-1855

The third son of Paul I. The beginning of the reign was marked by the Decembrist uprising of 1825. The "Code of Laws of the Russian Empire" (1833) was created, a monetary reform was carried out, and a reform in the state village. The Crimean War (1853-1856) was started, until the devastating end of which the emperor did not live. In addition, Russia participated in the Caucasian War (1817-1864), the Russian-Persian War (1826-1828), the Russian-Turkish War (1828-1829), the Crimean War (1853-1856).

Alexander II Nikolaevich Romanov (Liberator). Years of government: 1855-1881

The son of Nicholas I. During his reign, the Crimean War was ended by the Paris Peace Treaty, humiliating for Russia (1856). It was canceled in 1861. Zemstvo and judicial reforms were carried out in 1864. Alaska was sold to the USA (1867). The financial system, education, city self-government, and the army were reformed. In 1870, the restrictive articles of the Peace of Paris were repealed. As a result of the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. returned to Russia Bessarabia, lost during the Crimean War. He died as a result of a terrorist act committed by the People's Will.

Alexander III Alexandrovich Romanov (Tsar-Peacemaker). Years of government: 1881-1894

Son of Alexander II. During his reign, Russia did not wage a single war. His reign is characterized as conservative and counter-reform. A manifesto was adopted on the inviolability of autocracy, the Regulations on the strengthening of emergency protection (1881). He pursued an active policy of Russification of the outskirts of the empire. A military-political Franco-Russian alliance with France was concluded, which laid the foundation for the foreign policy of the two states until 1917. This union preceded the creation of the triple Entente.

Nicholas II Alexandrovich Romanov. Years of government: 1894-1917

Son of Alexander III. The last Emperor of All Russia. A difficult and ambiguous period for Russia, accompanied by serious upheavals for the empire. The Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) turned out to be a heavy defeat for the country and the almost complete destruction of the Russian fleet. The defeat in the war was followed by the First Russian Revolution of 1905-1907. In 1914 Russia entered the First World War (1914-1918). The emperor was not destined to live until the end of the war - in 1917 he abdicated as a result, and in 1918 he was shot with his whole family by the Bolsheviks.

The Romanov dynasty was in power for a little over 300 years, and during this time the face of the country changed completely. From a lagging state, constantly suffering from fragmentation and internal dynastic crises, Russia has become the abode of an enlightened intelligentsia. Each ruler from the Romanov dynasty paid attention to those issues that seemed to him the most relevant and important. So, for example, Peter I tried to expand the territory of the country and liken Russian cities to European ones, and Catherine II put her whole soul into promoting the ideas of enlightenment. Gradually, the authority of the ruling dynasty fell, which led to a tragic ending. The royal family was killed, and power passed to the communists for several decades.

Diagram: Genealogical tree of the Romanovs.

The results of the reign of the Romanovs

During the years of the Romanovs' rule, the Russian monarchy experienced an era of prosperity, several periods of painful reforms, and a sudden fall. The Moscow Kingdom, in which Mikhail Romanov was crowned king, in the 17th century annexed vast territories of Eastern Siberia and came to the border with China. At the beginning of the 18th century, Russia became an empire and became one of the most influential states in Europe. The decisive role of Russia in the victories over France and Turkey further strengthened its position. But at the beginning of the twentieth century, the Russian Empire, like other empires, collapsed under the influence of the events of the First World War.

In 1917 Nicholas II abdicated and was arrested by the Provisional Government. The monarchy in Russia was abolished. A year and a half later, the last emperor and his entire family were shot by decision of the Soviet government. The surviving distant relatives of Nicholas settled in different countries of Europe. Today, representatives of two branches of the Romanov dynasty: Kirillovichi and Nikolaevichi - claim the right to be considered the locum tenens of the Russian throne.