Nicholas II (1894 - 1917) Due to the stampede that occurred during his coronation, many people died. Thus, the name “Bloody” was attached to the kindest philanthropist Nikolai. In 1898, Nicholas II, caring for world peace, issued a manifesto calling on all countries in the world to completely disarm. After this, a special commission met in The Hague to develop a number of measures that could further prevent bloody clashes between countries and peoples. But the peace-loving emperor had to fight. First in the First World War, then the Bolshevik coup broke out, as a result of which the monarch was overthrown, and then he and his family were shot in Yekaterinburg. The Orthodox Church canonized Nikolai Romanov and his entire family as saints.
Rurik (862-879)
The Novgorod prince, nicknamed Varangian, as he was called to reign over 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 suburbs to the management of his confidants, where they had the right to independently conduct justice. Around this time, Askold and Dir, two brothers who were in no way related to Rurik by family ties, occupied the city of Kyiv and began to rule the glades.
Oleg (879 - 912)
Prince of Kyiv, nicknamed the Prophetic. Being a relative of Prince Rurik, he was the guardian of his son Igor. According to legend, he died after being bitten in the leg by a snake. Prince Oleg became famous for his intelligence and military valor. With a huge army at that time, the prince went along the Dnieper. On the way, he conquered Smolensk, then Lyubech, and then took Kyiv, making it the capital. Askold and Dir were killed, and Oleg showed the little son of Rurik, Igor, to the glades as their prince. He went on a military campaign to Greece and with a brilliant victory secured the Russians preferential rights to free trade in Constantinople.
Igor (912 - 945)
Following the example of Prince Oleg, Igor Rurikovich conquered all the neighboring tribes and forced them to pay tribute, successfully 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 neighboring conquered tribes of the Drevlyans for his irrepressible greed in extortions.
Olga (945 - 957)
Olga was the wife of Prince Igor. She, according to the customs of that time, very cruelly took revenge on 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 abilities, as well as a brilliant, sharp mind. Already at the end of her life, she converted to Christianity in Constantinople, 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 of power into her own hands while her son grew up, learning the intricacies of the art of war. In 967, he managed to defeat the army of the Bulgarian king, which greatly alarmed the Byzantine emperor John, who, in cahoots with the Pechenegs, persuaded them to attack Kyiv. In 970, together with the Bulgarians and Hungarians, after the death of Princess Olga, Svyatoslav went on a campaign against Byzantium. The forces were not equal, and Svyatoslav was forced to sign a peace treaty with the empire. After his return to Kyiv, he was brutally killed by the Pechenegs, and then Svyatoslav’s skull was decorated with gold and made into a bowl for pies.
Yaropolk Svyatoslavovich (972 - 978 or 980)
After the death of his father, Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich, made an attempt to unite Rus' under his rule, defeating his brothers: Oleg Drevlyansky and Vladimir of Novgorod, forcing them to leave the country, and then annexed their lands to the Principality of Kyiv. He managed to conclude a new agreement with the Byzantine Empire, and also attract the horde of the Pecheneg Khan Ildea into his service. Tried to establish diplomatic relations with Rome. Under him, as the Joachim manuscript testifies, Christians were given a lot of freedom in Rus', which caused the displeasure of the pagans. Vladimir of Novgorod immediately took advantage of this displeasure and, having agreed with the Varangians, recaptured Novgorod, then Polotsk, and then besieged Kyiv. Yaropolk was forced to flee to Roden. He tried to make peace with his brother, for which he went to Kyiv, where he was a Varangian. Chronicles characterize this prince as a peace-loving and meek ruler.
Vladimir Svyatoslavovich (978 or 980 - 1015)
Vladimir was youngest son Prince Svyatoslav. He was the Prince of Novgorod from 968. Became Prince of Kyiv in 980. He was distinguished by a very warlike disposition, which allowed him to conquer the Radimichi, Vyatichi and Yatvingians. Vladimir also waged wars with the Pechenegs, with Volga Bulgaria, with the Byzantine Empire and Poland. It was during the reign of Prince Vladimir in Rus' that defensive structures were built on the boundaries of the rivers: Desna, Trubezh, Osetra, Sula and others. Vladimir also did not forget about his capital city. It was under him that Kyiv was rebuilt with stone buildings. But Vladimir Svyatoslavovich became famous and remained in history thanks to the fact that in 988 - 989. made Christianity state religion Kievan Rus, which immediately strengthened the country’s authority in the international arena. Under him, the state of Kievan Rus entered its period of greatest prosperity. Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich became an epic character, in which he is referred to as “Vladimir the Red Sun.” Canonized by Russian Orthodox Church, named Prince Equal to the Apostles.
Svyatopolk Vladimirovich (1015 - 1019)
During his lifetime, Vladimir Svyatoslavovich divided his lands between his sons: Svyatopolk, Izyaslav, Yaroslav, Mstislav, Svyatoslav, Boris and Gleb. After Prince Vladimir died, Svyatopolk Vladimirovich occupied Kyiv and decided to get rid of his rival brothers. He gave the order to kill Gleb, Boris and Svyatoslav. However, this did not help him establish himself on the throne. Soon he himself was expelled from Kyiv by Prince Yaroslav of Novgorod. Then Svyatopolk turned for help to his father-in-law, King Boleslav of Poland. With the support of the Polish king, Svyatopolk again took possession of Kiev, but soon circumstances developed such 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 lives of his brothers.
Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise (1019 - 1054)
Yaroslav Vladimirovich, after the death of Mstislav of Tmutarakansky and after the expulsion of the Holy Regiment, became the sole ruler of the Russian land. Yaroslav was distinguished by a sharp mind, for which, in fact, he received his nickname - the Wise. He tried to take care of the needs of his people, built the cities of Yaroslavl and Yuryev. He also built churches (St. Sophia in Kyiv and Novgorod), understanding the importance of spreading and establishing the new faith. It was he who published the first set of laws in Rus' called “Russian Truth”. He divided the plots of the Russian land between his sons: Izyaslav, Svyatoslav, Vsevolod, Igor and Vyacheslav, bequeathing them to live in peace among themselves.
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 Kievans themselves drove him away. Then his brother Svyatoslav became the Grand Duke. Only after the death of Svyatoslav did Izyaslav return to the capital city of Kyiv. Vsevolod the First (1078 - 1093) It is likely that Prince Vsevolod could well have been a useful ruler, thanks to his peaceful disposition, piety and truthfulness. Being himself an educated man, knowing five languages, he actively contributed to enlightenment in his principality. But, alas. Constant, incessant raids of the Polovtsians, pestilence, and 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 the Second (1093 - 1113)
Svyatopolk was the son of Izyaslav the First. It was he who inherited the Kyiv throne after Vsevolod the First. This prince was distinguished by a rare lack of spine, which is why he was unable to calm the internecine friction between the princes for power in the cities. In 1097, a congress of princes took place in the city of Lyubich, at which each ruler, kissing the cross, pledged to own only his father’s land. But this fragile peace treaty was not allowed to come to fruition. Prince Davyd Igorevich blinded Prince Vasilko. Then the princes, at a new congress (1100), deprived Prince David 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 in Russian victory in 1111.
Vladimir Monomakh (1113 - 1125)
Despite the right of seniority of the Svyatoslavichs, when Prince Svyatopolk the Second died, Vladimir Monomakh, who wanted the unification of the Russian land, was elected Prince of Kyiv. Grand Duke Vladimir Monomakh was brave, tireless and stood out from the rest with 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 similar to his legendary father, demonstrating the same remarkable qualities of a ruler. All the disobedient 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, he came up with the idea of transferring the throne not to his brother Vyacheslav, but to his nephew, which caused turmoil in the country. It was because of these strife that the Monomakhovichs lost the throne of Kiev, which was occupied by the descendants of Oleg Svyatoslavovich, that is, the Olegovichs.
Vsevolod the Second (1139 - 1146)
Having become the Grand Duke, Vsevolod the Second 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 robe did not protect him from the wrath of the people. Igor was killed.
Izyaslav the Second (1146 - 1154)
Izyaslav the Second fell in love with the people of Kiev to a greater extent because with his intelligence, disposition, friendliness and courage he very much reminded them of Vladimir Monomakh, the grandfather of Izyaslav the Second. After Izyaslav ascended the Kiev throne, the concept of seniority, accepted for centuries, was violated in Rus', that is, for example, while his uncle was alive, his nephew could not be the Grand Duke. A stubborn struggle began between Izyaslav II and Rostov Prince Yuri Vladimirovich. Izyaslav was driven out of Kyiv twice during his life, but this prince still managed to retain the throne until his death.
Yuri Dolgoruky (1154 - 1157)
It was the death of Izyaslav the Second that paved the way to the throne of Kyiv Yuri, whom the people later nicknamed Dolgoruky. Yuri became the Grand Duke, but he did not reign for long, only three years later, after which he died.
Mstislav the Second (1157 - 1169)
After the death of Yuri Dolgoruky, as usual, internecine strife began between the princes for the Kiev throne, as a result of which Mstislav the Second Izyaslavovich became the Grand Duke. Mstislav was expelled from the Kyiv throne by Prince Andrei Yuryevich, nicknamed Bogolyubsky. Before the expulsion of Prince Mstislav, Bogolyubsky literally ruined Kyiv.
Andrey Bogolyubsky (1169 - 1174)
The first thing Andrei Bogolyubsky did when he became Grand Duke was to move the capital from Kyiv to Vladimir. He ruled Russia autocratically, without squads or councils, persecuted everyone who was 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 ancient cities (Suzdal, Rostov) and new ones (Pereslavl, Vladimir). As a result of these confrontations, Andrei Bogolyubsky’s brother Vsevolod the Third, nicknamed the Big Nest, became king in Vladimir. Despite the fact that this prince did not rule and did not live in Kyiv, nevertheless, he was called the Grand Duke and was the first to force an oath of allegiance not only to himself, but also to his children.
Constantine the First (1212 - 1219)
The title of Grand Duke Vsevolod the Third, contrary to expectations, was transferred not to his eldest son Constantine, but to Yuri, as a result of which strife arose. The father’s decision to approve Yuri as Grand Duke was also supported by Vsevolod the Big Nest’s third son, Yaroslav. And Konstantin was supported in his claims to the throne by Mstislav Udaloy. Together they won the Battle of Lipetsk (1216) and Constantine nevertheless became the Grand Duke. Only after his death did the throne pass to Yuri.
Yuri the Second (1219 - 1238)
Yuri successfully fought with the Volga Bulgarians and Mordovians. On the Volga, on the very border of Russian possessions, Prince Yuri built Nizhny Novgorod. It was during his reign that the Mongol-Tatars appeared in Rus', who in 1224, at the Battle of Kalka, defeated first the Polovtsians, 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 Batu Khan. Hordes of Mongols devastated the Suzdal and Ryazan principalities, and also defeated the army of Grand Duke Yuri II in the Battle of the City. Yuri died in this battle. Two years after his death, hordes of Mongols plundered the south of Rus' and Kyiv, after which all Russian princes were forced to admit that from now on they 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 Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich of Novgorod as Grand Duke. During his reign, this prince was engaged in restoring Rus', devastated by the Mongol army.
Alexander Nevsky (1252 - 1263)
Being at first the Prince of Novgorod, Alexander Yaroslavovich defeated the Swedes on the Neva River in 1240, for which, in fact, he was named Nevsky. Then, two years later, he defeated the Germans in the famous Battle of the Ice. Among other things, Alexander fought very successfully 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, since he traveled to 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 reign to Yaroslav. However, Yaroslav failed to get along with the Novgorodians; he treacherously called even the Tatars against his own people. The Metropolitan reconciled Prince Yaroslav III with the people, after which the prince again swore an oath on the cross to rule honestly and fairly.
Vasily the First (1272 - 1276)
Vasily the First was the prince of Kostroma, but laid claim to the throne of Novgorod, where the son of Alexander Nevsky, Dmitry, reigned. And soon Vasily the First achieved his goal, thereby strengthening his principality, previously weakened by division into appanages.
Dmitry the First (1276 - 1294)
The entire reign of Dmitry the First took place in a continuous struggle for the rights of the grand duke with his brother Andrei Alexandrovich. Andrei Alexandrovich was supported by Tatar regiments, from which Dmitry managed to escape three times. After his third escape, Dmitry nevertheless decided to ask Andrei for peace and, thus, received the right to reign in Pereslavl.
Andrew the Second (1294 - 1304)
Andrew the Second pursued a policy of expanding his principality through the armed seizure of other principalities. In particular, he laid claim to the principality in Pereslavl, which led to civil strife with Tver and Moscow, which, even after the death of Andrei II, was not stopped.
Saint Michael (1304 - 1319)
The Tver prince Mikhail Yaroslavovich, having paid a large tribute to the khan, received from the Horde a label for grand reign, bypassing the Moscow prince Yuri Danilovich. But then, while Mikhail was waging war with Novgorod, Yuri, conspiring with the Horde ambassador Kavgady, 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 khan's daughter Konchaka, who in Orthodoxy took the name Agafya. It was for her premature death that Yuri insidiously accused Mikhail Yaroslavovich Tverskoy, for which he suffered an unjust and cruel death at the hands of the Horde Khan. So Yuri received a label to reign, but the son of the murdered Mikhail, Dmitry, also laid claim to 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 the Third, 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 for the Grand Duke's throne. Prince Alexander of Tverskoy was distinguished by justice and kindness, but he literally ruined himself by allowing the Tver people to kill Shchelkan, the Khan’s ambassador, hated by everyone. Khan sent a 50,000-strong army against Alexander. The prince was forced to flee first to Pskov and then to Lithuania. Only 10 years later, Alexander received the khan’s forgiveness and was able to return, but at the same time, he did not get along with the Prince of Moscow - Ivan Kalita - after which Kalita slandered Alexander Tverskoy in front of the khan. Khan urgently summoned A. Tverskoy to his Horde, where he executed him.
John the First Kalita (1320 - 1341)
John Danilovich, nicknamed “Kalita” (Kalita - wallet) 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 of accepting tribute for the Tatars from all over Rus', which also contributed to his personal enrichment. With this money, John bought entire cities from appanage princes. Through the efforts of Kalita, the metropolis 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 Rus' and becomes the Russian center.
Simeon the Proud (1341 - 1353)
The Khan gave Simeon Ioannovich not only the label for the Grand Duchy, but also ordered all the other princes to obey only him, so Simeon began to call himself the Prince of All Rus'. 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 peace-loving disposition, he obeyed the advice of Metropolitan Alexei in all matters, and Metropolitan Alexei, in turn, enjoyed great respect 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, so the khan gave the label for the grand reign to the Suzdal prince Dmitry Konstantinovich (1359 - 1363). However, the Moscow boyars benefited from the policy of strengthening the Moscow prince, and they managed to achieve grand reign for Dmitry Ioannovich. The Suzdal prince was forced to submit and, together with the rest of the princes of northeastern Rus', swore allegiance to Dmitry Ioannovich. The relationship between Rus' and the Tatars also changed. Due to civil strife within the horde itself, Dmitry and the rest of the princes took the opportunity not to pay the already familiar quitrent. Then Khan Mamai entered into an alliance with the Lithuanian prince Jagiell and moved with a large army to Rus'. Dmitry and other princes met Mamai’s army on the Kulikovo field (next to the Don River) and at the cost of huge losses on September 8, 1380, Rus' defeated the army of Mamai and Jagiell. For this victory they nicknamed Dmitry Ioannovich Donskoy. Until the end of his life, he cared about strengthening Moscow.
Vasily the First (1389 - 1425)
Vasily ascended the princely throne, already having experience of rule, 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 Rus' with invasion, but it was not he who attacked Moscow, but Edigei, the Tatar Murza (1408). But he lifted the siege from Moscow, receiving a ransom of 3,000 rubles. Under Vasily the First, the Ugra River was designated as the border with the Lithuanian principality.
Vasily the Second (Dark) (1425 - 1462)
Yuri Dmitrievich Galitsky decided to take advantage of the minority of Prince Vasily and declared his rights to the grand ducal throne, but the khan decided the dispute in favor of the young Vasily II, which was greatly facilitated by the Moscow boyar Vasily Vsevolozhsky, hoping in the future to marry his daughter to Vasily, but these expectations were not destined to come true . Then he left Moscow and assisted Yuri Dmitrievich, and he soon took possession of the throne, on which he died in 1434. His son Vasily Kosoy began to lay claim to the throne, but all the princes of Rus' rebelled against this. Vasily the Second captured Vasily Kosoy and blinded him. Then Vasily Kosoy’s brother Dmitry Shemyaka captured Vasily the Second and also blinded him, after which he took the throne of Moscow. But soon he was forced to give the throne to Vasily the Second. Under Vasily the Second, all metropolitans in Rus' began to be recruited from Russians, and not from Greeks, as before. The reason for this was the acceptance of the Florentine Union in 1439 by Metropolitan Isidore, who was from the Greeks. For this, Vasily the Second gave the order to take Metropolitan Isidore into custody and appointed Ryazan Bishop John in his place.
John the Third (1462 -1505)
Under him, the core of the state apparatus and, as a consequence, the state of Rus' began to form. He annexed Yaroslavl, Perm, Vyatka, Tver, and Novgorod to the Moscow principality. In 1480, he overthrew the Tatar-Mongol yoke (Standing on the Ugra). In 1497, the Code of Laws was compiled. John the Third launched a large construction project in Moscow, strengthened international situation Rus'. It was under him that the title “Prince of All Rus'” was born.
Vasily the Third (1505 - 1533)
“The last collector of Russian lands” Vasily the Third was the son of John the Third and Sophia Paleologus. He was distinguished by a very unapproachable and proud disposition. Having annexed Pskov, he destroyed the appanage 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 Crimea and Kazan. In the end, he managed to punish Kazan. He recalled all trade from the city, ordering from now on to trade at the Makaryevskaya fair, which was then moved to Nizhny Novgorod. Vasily the Third, wishing to marry Elena Glinskaya, divorced his wife Solomonia, which further turned the boyars against themselves. From his marriage to Elena, Vasily the Third had a son, John.
Elena Glinskaya (1533 - 1538)
She was appointed to rule by Vasily the Third himself until their son John came of age. Elena Glinskaya, as soon as she ascended the throne, dealt very harshly with all the rebellious and dissatisfied boyars, after which she made peace with Lithuania. Then she decided to repel the Crimean Tatars, who boldly attacked Russian lands, however, these plans were not allowed to come true, since Elena died suddenly.
John the Fourth (Grozny) (1538 - 1584)
John the Fourth, Prince of All Rus', became the first Russian Tsar in 1547. Since the late forties, he ruled the country with the participation of Elected Rada. During his reign, the convening of all Zemsky Sobors began. In 1550, a new Code of Law was drawn up, and reforms of the court and administration were carried out (Zemskaya and Gubnaya reforms). conquered the Kazan Khanate in 1552, and the Astrakhan Khanate in 1556. In 1565, the oprichnina was introduced to strengthen the autocracy. Under John the Fourth, trade relations with England were established in 1553, and the first printing house in Moscow was opened. From 1558 to 1583, the Livonian War for access to the Baltic Sea continued. In 1581, the annexation of Siberia began. The entire internal policy of the country under Tsar John was accompanied by disgraces and executions, for which the people called him the Terrible. The enslavement of peasants increased significantly.
Fyodor Ioannovich (1584 - 1598)
He was the second son of John the Fourth. He was very sickly and weak, and lacked mental acuity. That is why very quickly the actual control of the state passed into the hands of the boyar Boris Godunov, the tsar’s brother-in-law. Boris Godunov, surrounding himself with exclusively devoted people, became a sovereign ruler. He built cities, strengthened relations with countries Western Europe, built Arkhangelsk harbor on the White Sea. By order and instigation of Godunov, an all-Russian independent patriarchate was approved, and the peasants were finally attached to the land. It was he who in 1591 ordered the murder of Tsarevich Dmitry, who was the brother of the childless Tsar Feodor and was his direct heir. 6 years after this murder, Tsar Fedor himself died.
Boris Godunov (1598 - 1605)
The sister of Boris Godunov and the wife of the late Tsar Fyodor abdicated the throne. Patriarch Job recommended that Godunov’s supporters convene a Zemsky Sobor, at which Boris was elected tsar. Godunov, having become king, was afraid of conspiracies on the part of the boyars and, in general, was distinguished by excessive suspicion, which naturally caused disgrace and exile. At the same time, boyar Fyodor Nikitich Romanov was forced to take monastic vows, and he became the monk Filaret, and his young son Mikhail was sent into exile to Beloozero. But it was not only the boyars who were angry with Boris Godunov. A three-year crop failure and the ensuing pestilence that struck the Muscovite kingdom forced the people to see this as the fault of Tsar B. Godunov. The king tried as best he could to ease the lot of the starving people. He increased the earnings of people working on government buildings (for example, during the construction of the bell tower of Ivan the Great), generously distributed alms, but people still grumbled 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, and at the same time managed 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 rightful 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 sufficiently respect the old Russian customs, and completely neglected many. Together with Vasily Shuisky, the boyars entered into a conspiracy against False Dmitry, spread a rumor that he was an impostor, and then, without hesitation, they killed the fake tsar.
Vasily Shuisky (1606 - 1610)
The boyars and townspeople elected the old and inexperienced Shuisky as king, while limiting his power. In Russia, rumors about the salvation of False Dmitry again arose, in connection with which new unrest began in the state, intensified by the rebellion of a serf named Ivan Bolotnikov and the appearance of False Dmitry II in Tushino (“Tushino thief”). Poland went to war against Moscow and defeated Russian troops. After this, Tsar Vasily was forcibly tonsured a monk, and it came to Russia Time of Troubles an interregnum lasting three years.
Mikhail Fedorovich (1613 - 1645)
The letters of the Trinity Lavra, sent throughout Russia and calling for the defense of the Orthodox faith and the fatherland, did their job: Prince Dmitry Pozharsky, with the participation of the Zemstvo head of Nizhny Novgorod Kozma Minin (Sukhorokiy), gathered a large militia and moved towards 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 met, at which Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov was elected Tsar, who, after much denial, nevertheless ascended the throne, where the first thing he did was to pacify both external and internal enemies.
He concluded the so-called pillar agreement with the Kingdom of Sweden, and in 1618 he signed the Treaty of Deulin with Poland, according to which Filaret, who was the Tsar’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 adviser to his son and a reliable co-ruler. Thanks to them, by the end of the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich, Russia began to enter into friendly relations with various Western states, having practically recovered from the horror of the Time of Troubles.
Alexey Mikhailovich (Quiet) (1645 - 1676)
Tsar Alexei is considered one of the the best people ancient Russia. He had a meek, humble disposition and was very pious. He absolutely could not stand quarrels, and if they happened, he suffered greatly and tried in every possible way to reconcile with his enemy. In the first years of his reign, his closest adviser was his uncle, boyar Morozov. In the fifties, Patriarch Nikon became his advisor, who decided to unite Rus' with the rest of the Orthodox world and ordered everyone from now on to be baptized in the Greek manner - with three fingers, which created a split among the Orthodox in Rus'. (The most famous schismatics are the Old Believers, who do not want to deviate from the true faith and be baptized with a “cookie”, as the Patriarch - Boyarina Morozova and Archpriest Avvakum ordered).
During the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich, riots broke out every now and then in different cities, which were suppressed, and the decision of Little Russia to voluntarily join the Moscow state provoked two wars with Poland. But the state survived thanks to the unity and concentration of power. After the death of his first wife, Maria Miloslavskaya, in whose marriage the tsar had two sons (Fedor and John) and many daughters, he married a second time to the girl Natalya Naryshkina, who bore him a son, Peter.
Fedor Alekseevich (1676 - 1682)
During the reign of this tsar, the issue of Little Russia was finally resolved: its western part went to Turkey, and the East and Zaporozhye to Moscow. Patriarch Nikon was returned from exile. They also abolished localism - the ancient boyar custom of taking into account the service of their ancestors when occupying government and military positions. Tsar Fedor died without leaving an heir.
Ivan Alekseevich (1682 - 1689)
Ivan Alekseevich, together with his brother Pyotr Alekseevich, was elected tsar thanks to the Streltsy 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 a ruler of extraordinary intelligence and possessed all the necessary qualities of a real queen. She managed to calm the unrest of the schismatics, curb the archers, and conclude “ eternal peace"with Poland, very beneficial for Russia, as well as the Nerchinsk Treaty with distant China. The princess undertook campaigns against the Crimean Tatars, but fell victim to her own lust for power. Tsarevich Peter, however, having guessed her plans, imprisoned his half-sister in the Novodevichy Convent, where Sophia died in 1704.
Peter the Great (1682 - 1725)
The greatest tsar, and since 1721 the first Russian emperor, statesman, cultural and military figure. He carried out revolutionary reforms in the country: collegiums, the Senate, bodies of political investigation and state control were created. He made divisions in Russia into provinces, and also subordinated the church to the state. Built new capital- Saint Petersburg. Peter's main dream was to eliminate Russia's backwardness in development compared to European countries. Taking advantage of Western experience, he tirelessly created manufactories, factories, and shipyards.
To facilitate trade and for access to the Baltic Sea, he won from Sweden Northern War, lasting 21 years, thereby “cutting through” a “window to Europe.” 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 using the most brutal methods and caused multiple uprisings in the country (Streletskoye in 1698, Astrakhan from 1705 to 1706, Bulavinsky from 1707 to 1709), which, however, were also mercilessly suppressed.
Catherine the First (1725 - 1727)
Peter the Great died without leaving a will. So, the throne passed to his wife Catherine. Catherine became famous for equipping Bering in trip around the world, and also established the Supreme Privy Council at the instigation of the friend and ally of her late husband Peter the Great, Prince Menshikov. Thus, Menshikov concentrated virtually all state power in his hands. He persuaded Catherine to appoint as heir to the throne the son of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich, to whom his father, Peter the Great, had sentenced Peter Alekseevich to death for his aversion to reforms, and also to agree to his marriage with Menshikov’s daughter Maria. Before Peter Alekseevich came of age, Prince Menshikov was appointed ruler of Russia.
Peter the Second (1727 - 1730)
Peter the Second did not rule for long. Having barely gotten rid of the imperious Menshikov, he immediately fell under the influence of the Dolgorukys, who, by distracting the emperors in every possible way with amusements from state affairs, actually ruled the country. They wanted to marry the emperor to Princess E. A. Dolgoruky, but Peter 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 Ivan Alekseevich, as empress. But she was crowned on the Russian throne as an autocratic empress and, first of all, having assumed her rights, she destroyed the Supreme Privy Council. She replaced it with the Cabinet and instead of the Russian nobles, she distributed positions to the Germans Ostern and Minich, as well as the Courlander Biron. The cruel and unjust rule was subsequently called “Bironism.”
Russia's intervention in the internal affairs of Poland in 1733 cost the country dearly: the lands conquered by Peter the Great had to be returned to Persia. Before her death, the empress appointed the son of her niece Anna Leopoldovna as her heir, and appointed Biron as regent for the baby. However, Biron was soon overthrown, and Anna Leopoldovna became the empress, whose reign cannot be called long and glorious. The guards staged a coup and proclaimed Empress Elizaveta 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. She established the first loan banks in Russia in 1954, which became a great boon for merchants and nobles. At Lomonosov's request, 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 years”, in which Prussia, Austria and France took part. Thanks to the peace concluded with Sweden, part of Finland was ceded to Russia. The “Seven Years” War was brought to an end by the death of Empress Elizabeth.
Peter the Third (1761 - 1762)
He was absolutely unsuited to governing the state, but he was of a complacent disposition. But this young emperor managed to turn absolutely all layers of Russian society against himself, since, to the detriment of Russian interests, he showed a craving for everything German. Peter the Third, not only made a lot of concessions in relation to the Prussian Emperor Frederick the Second, but also reformed the army according to the same Prussian model, dear to his heart. He issued decrees on the destruction of the secret chancellery and the free nobility, which, however, were not distinguished by certainty. As a result of the coup, because of his attitude towards the empress, he quickly signed an abdication of the throne and soon died.
Catherine the Second (1762 - 1796)
Her reign was one of the greatest after the reign of Peter the Great. Empress Catherine ruled harshly, suppressed Pugachev's peasant uprising, won two Turkish wars, the result of which was the recognition of the independence of Crimea by Turkey, as well as the withdrawal of the coast of the Sea of Azov to Russia. Russia acquired the Black Sea Fleet, and active construction of cities began in Novorossiya. Catherine the Second established the colleges of education and medicine. Cadet corps were opened, and the Smolny Institute was opened to train girls. Catherine the Second, herself possessing literary abilities, patronized literature.
Paul the First (1796 - 1801)
He did not support the changes that his mother, Empress Catherine, started in the state system. Among the achievements of his reign, one should note a very significant improvement in the life of serfs (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 the Second, upon 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 took a number of different liberation measures aimed at different sections of society, which aroused the undoubted respect and love of people. But external political problems distracted Alexander from internal reforms. Russia, in alliance with Austria, was forced to fight against Napoleon; Russian troops were defeated at Austerlitz.
Napoleon forced Russia to abandon trade with England. As a result, in 1812, Napoleon nevertheless, violating 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 the State Council in 1800, ministries and the cabinet of ministers. He opened universities in St. Petersburg, Kazan and Kharkov, as well as many institutes and gymnasiums, and the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum. Made the life of the peasants much easier.
Nicholas the First (1825 - 1855)
He continued the policy of improving peasant life. Founded the Institute of St. Vladimir in Kyiv. Published a 45-volume complete collection of laws of the Russian Empire. Under Nicholas the First in 1839, the Uniates were reunited with Orthodoxy. This reunification was a consequence of the suppression of the uprising in Poland and the complete destruction of the Polish constitution. There was a war with the Turks, who oppressed Greece, and as a result of Russia's victory, Greece gained independence. After the rupture of relations with Turkey, which was 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, Nikolaevskaya and Tsarskoye Selo railways, 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 Treaty was concluded on very unfavorable terms for Russia. In 1858, according to an agreement with China, Russia acquired the Amur region, and later Usuriysk. In 1864, the Caucasus finally became part of Russia. The most important state transformation of Alexander II was the decision to free the peasants. He died at the hands of an assassin in 1881.
With the death of Stalin - the “father of nations” and the “architect of communism” - in 1953, a struggle for power began, because the one he established assumed that at the helm of the USSR there would be the same autocratic leader who would take the reins of government into his own hands.
The only difference was that the main contenders for power all unanimously advocated the abolition of this very cult and the liberalization of the country’s political course.
Who ruled after Stalin?
A serious struggle unfolded between the three main contenders, who initially represented a triumvirate - Georgy Malenkov (Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR), Lavrentiy Beria (Minister of the United Ministry of Internal Affairs) and Nikita Khrushchev (Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee). Each of them wanted to take a place in it, but victory could only go to the candidate whose candidacy was supported by the party, whose members enjoyed great authority and had the necessary connections. In addition, they were all united by the desire to achieve stability, end the era of repression and gain more freedom in their actions. That is why the question of who ruled after Stalin’s death does not always have a clear answer - after all, there were three people fighting for power at once.
The triumvirate in power: the beginning of a split
The triumvirate created under Stalin divided power. Most of it was concentrated in the hands of Malenkov and Beria. Khrushchev was assigned the role of secretary, which was not so significant in the eyes of his rivals. However, they underestimated the ambitious and assertive party member, who stood out for his extraordinary thinking and intuition.
For those who ruled the country after Stalin, it was important to understand who first of all needed to be eliminated from the competition. The first target was Lavrenty Beria. Khrushchev and Malenkov were aware of the dossier on each of them that the Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who was in charge of the entire system of repressive bodies, had. In this regard, in July 1953, Beria was arrested, accusing him of espionage and some other crimes, thereby eliminating such a dangerous enemy.
Malenkov and his politics
Khrushchev's authority as the organizer of this conspiracy increased significantly, and his influence over other party members increased. However, while Malenkov was the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, key decisions and policy directions depended on him. At the first meeting of the Presidium, a course was set for de-Stalinization and the establishment of collective governance of the country: it was planned to abolish the cult of personality, but to do this in such a way as not to diminish the merits of the “father of nations.” The main task set by Malenkov was to develop the economy taking into account the interests of the population. He proposed a fairly extensive program of changes, which was not adopted at the meeting of the Presidium of the CPSU Central Committee. Then Malenkov put forward these same proposals at the session of the Supreme Council, where they were approved. For the first time after Stalin’s autocratic rule, the decision was made not by the party, but by an official government body. The CPSU Central Committee and the Politburo were forced to agree to this.
Further history will show that among those who ruled after Stalin, Malenkov would be the most “effective” in his decisions. The set of measures he adopted to combat bureaucracy in the state and party apparatus, to develop the food and light industry, to expand the independence of collective farms bore fruit: 1954-1956, for the first time since the end of the war, showed an increase in the rural population and an increase in agricultural production, which long years decline and stagnation became profitable. The effect of these measures lasted until 1958. It is this five-year plan that is considered the most productive and effective after the death of Stalin.
It was clear to those who ruled after Stalin that such successes would not be achieved in light industry, since Malenkov’s proposals for its development contradicted the tasks of the next five-year plan, which emphasized the promotion
I tried to approach problem solving from a rational point of view, using economic rather than ideological considerations. However, this order did not suit the party nomenklatura (led by Khrushchev), which practically lost its predominant role in the life of the state. This was a weighty argument against Malenkov, who, under pressure from the party, submitted his resignation in February 1955. His place was taken by Khrushchev's comrade-in-arms, Malenkov became one of his deputies, but after the 1957 dispersal of the anti-party group (of which he was a member), together with his supporters, he was expelled from the Presidium of the CPSU Central Committee. Khrushchev took advantage of this situation and in 1958 removed Malenkov from the post of Chairman of the Council of Ministers, taking his place and becoming the one who ruled after Stalin in the USSR.
Thus, he concentrated almost complete power in his hands. He got rid of the two most powerful competitors and led the country.
Who ruled the country after the death of Stalin and the removal of Malenkov?
Those 11 years that Khrushchev ruled the USSR were rich in various events and reforms. The agenda included many problems that the state faced after industrialization, war and attempts to restore the economy. The main milestones that will remember the era of Khrushchev’s reign are as follows:
- The policy of virgin land development (not supported by scientific study) increased the number of sown areas, but did not take into account climatic features that hampered development Agriculture in the developed territories.
- The “Corn Campaign,” the goal of which was to catch up and overtake the United States, which received good harvests of this crop. The area under corn has doubled, to the detriment of rye and wheat. But the result was sad - climatic conditions did not allow obtaining a high yield, and the reduction in areas for other crops provoked low harvest rates. The campaign failed miserably in 1962, and its result was an increase in the price of butter and meat, which caused discontent among the population.
- The beginning of perestroika was the massive construction of houses, which allowed many families to move from dormitories and communal apartments into apartments (the so-called “Khrushchev buildings”).
Results of Khrushchev's reign
Among those who ruled after Stalin, Nikita Khrushchev stood out for his unconventional and not always thoughtful approach to reform within the state. Despite the numerous projects that were implemented, their inconsistency led to Khrushchev's removal from office in 1964.
The history of Rus' goes back more than a thousand years, although even before the advent of the state, a variety of tribes lived on its territory. The last ten-century period can be divided into several stages. All the rulers of Russia, from Rurik to Putin, are people who were true sons and daughters of their eras.
Main historical stages of development of Russia
Historians consider the following classification to be the most convenient:
Reign of the Novgorod princes (862-882);
Yaroslav the Wise (1016-1054);
From 1054 to 1068 Izyaslav Yaroslavovich was in power;
From 1068 to 1078, the list of rulers of Russia was replenished with several names (Vseslav Bryachislavovich, Izyaslav Yaroslavovich, Svyatoslav and Vsevolod Yaroslavovich, in 1078 Izyaslav Yaroslavovich ruled again)
The year 1078 was marked by some stabilization in the political arena; Vsevolod Yaroslavovich ruled until 1093;
Svyatopolk Izyaslavovich was on the throne from 1093 to;
Vladimir, nicknamed Monomakh (1113-1125) - one of the best princes of Kievan Rus;
From 1132 to 1139 Yaropolk Vladimirovich had power.
All the rulers of Russia from Rurik to Putin, who lived and ruled during this period and up to the present time, have their own main task were seen in the country's prosperity and strengthening the country's role in the European arena. Another thing is that each of them walked towards the goal in their own way, sometimes in a completely different direction than their predecessors.
The period of fragmentation of Kievan Rus
During the times of feudal fragmentation of Rus', changes on the main princely throne were frequent. None of the princes left a serious mark on the history of Rus'. By the middle of the 13th century, Kyiv fell into absolute decline. It is worth mentioning only a few princes who ruled in the 12th century. So, from 1139 to 1146 Vsevolod Olgovich was the prince of Kyiv. In 1146, Igor the Second was at the helm for two weeks, after which Izyaslav Mstislavovich ruled for three years. Until 1169, such people as Vyacheslav Rurikovich, Rostislav Smolensky, Izyaslav Chernigovsky, Yuri Dolgoruky, Izyaslav the Third managed to visit the princely throne.
The capital moves to Vladimir
The period of formation of late feudalism in Rus' was characterized by several manifestations:
Weakening of the Kyiv princely power;
The emergence of several centers of influence that competed with each other;
Strengthening the influence of feudal lords.
On the territory of Rus', 2 largest centers of influence arose: Vladimir and Galich. Galich was the most important political center at that time (located on the territory of modern Western Ukraine). It seems interesting to study the list of Russian rulers who reigned in Vladimir. The importance of this period of history will still have to be assessed by researchers. Of course, the Vladimir period in the development of Rus' was not as long as the Kiev period, but it was after it that the formation of monarchical Rus' began. Let us consider the reign dates of all the rulers of Russia at this time. In the first years of this stage of development of Rus', rulers changed quite often; there was no stability, which would appear later. For more than 5 years, the following princes were in power in Vladimir:
Andrew (1169-1174);
Vsevolod, son of Andrei (1176-1212);
Georgy Vsevolodovich (1218-1238);
Yaroslav, son of Vsevolod (1238-1246);
Alexander (Nevsky), great commander (1252-1263);
Yaroslav III (1263-1272);
Dmitry I (1276-1283);
Dmitry II (1284-1293);
Andrey Gorodetsky (1293-1304);
Michael "Saint" of Tverskoy (1305-1317).
All rulers of Russia after the transfer of the capital to Moscow until the appearance of the first tsars
The transfer of the capital from Vladimir to Moscow chronologically approximately coincides with the end of the period of feudal fragmentation of Rus' and the strengthening of the main center of political influence. Most of the princes were on the throne longer than the rulers of the Vladimir period. So:
Prince Ivan (1328-1340);
Semyon Ivanovich (1340-1353);
Ivan the Red (1353-1359);
Alexey Byakont (1359-1368);
Dmitry (Donskoy), famous commander (1368-1389);
Vasily Dmitrievich (1389-1425);
Sophia of Lithuania (1425-1432);
Vasily the Dark (1432-1462);
Ivan III (1462-1505);
Vasily Ivanovich (1505-1533);
Elena Glinskaya (1533-1538);
The decade before 1548 was a difficult period in the history of Russia, when the situation developed in such a way that the princely dynasty actually ended. There was a period of timelessness when boyar families were in power.
The reign of tsars in Rus': the beginning of the monarchy
Historians identify three chronological periods development of the Russian monarchy: before the accession to the throne of Peter the Great, the reign of Peter the Great and after him. The reign dates of all the rulers of Russia from 1548 to the end of the 17th century are as follows:
Ivan Vasilyevich the Terrible (1548-1574);
Semyon Kasimovsky (1574-1576);
Again Ivan the Terrible (1576-1584);
Feodor (1584-1598).
Tsar Fedor had no heirs, so it was interrupted. - one of the most difficult periods in the history of our homeland. Rulers changed almost every year. Since 1613, the Romanov dynasty has ruled the country:
Mikhail, the first representative of the Romanov dynasty (1613-1645);
Alexei Mikhailovich, son of the first emperor (1645-1676);
He ascended the throne in 1676 and reigned for 6 years;
Sophia, his sister, reigned from 1682 to 1689.
In the 17th century, stability finally came to Rus'. The central government has strengthened, reforms are gradually beginning, leading to the fact that Russia has grown territorially and strengthened, and the leading world powers have begun to take it into account. The main credit for changing the appearance of the state belongs to the great Peter I (1689-1725), who simultaneously became the first emperor.
Rulers of Russia after Peter
The reign of Peter the Great was the heyday when the empire acquired its own strong fleet and strengthened the army. All Russian rulers, from Rurik to Putin, understood the importance of the armed forces, but few were given the opportunity to realize the country's enormous potential. An important feature of that time was the aggressive foreign policy Russia, which manifested itself in the forcible annexation of new regions (Russian-Turkish wars, the Azov campaign).
The chronology of the rulers of Russia from 1725 to 1917 is as follows:
Ekaterina Skavronskaya (1725-1727);
Peter the Second (killed in 1730);
Queen Anna (1730-1740);
Ivan Antonovich (1740-1741);
Elizaveta Petrovna (1741-1761);
Pyotr Fedorovich (1761-1762);
Catherine the Great (1762-1796);
Pavel Petrovich (1796-1801);
Alexander I (1801-1825);
Nicholas I (1825-1855);
Alexander II (1855 - 1881);
Alexander III (1881-1894);
Nicholas II - the last of the Romanovs, ruled until 1917.
This marks the end of a huge period of development of the state, when the kings were in power. After the October Revolution, a new political structure appeared - the republic.
Russia during the USSR and after its collapse
The first few years after the revolution were difficult. Among the rulers of this period one can single out Alexander Fedorovich Kerensky. After the legal registration of the USSR as a state and until 1924, Vladimir Lenin led the country. Next, the chronology of the rulers of Russia looks like this:
Dzhugashvili Joseph Vissarionovich (1924-1953);
Nikita Khrushchev was the First Secretary of the CPSU after Stalin's death until 1964;
Leonid Brezhnev (1964-1982);
Yuri Andropov (1982-1984);
General Secretary of the CPSU (1984-1985);
Mikhail Gorbachev, first president of the USSR (1985-1991);
Boris Yeltsin, leader of independent Russia (1991-1999);
The current head of state is Putin - President of Russia since 2000 (with a break of 4 years, when the state was led by Dmitry Medvedev)
Who are they, the rulers of Russia?
All the rulers of Russia from Rurik to Putin, who were in power for more than thousand-year history states are patriots who wanted the flourishing of all lands of a huge country. Most of the rulers were not random people in this difficult field and each made their own contribution to the development and formation of Russia. Of course, all the rulers of Russia wanted the good and prosperity of their subjects: the main forces were always directed to strengthening the borders, expanding trade, and strengthening defense capabilities.
The history of the Russian state goes back much more than a millennium, and to be completely honest, even before the onset of awareness and 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, full of a wide variety of personalities and rulers that were significant for the fate of the entire country. And the chronology of the rulers of Russia, from Rurik to Putin, is so long and confusing that it would not be a bad idea to understand in more detail how we managed to overcome this long journey of several centuries, who stood at the head of the people at every hour of their lives and why they be remembered by descendants, leaving their shame and glory, disappointment and pride for centuries. Be that as it may, they all left their mark, were worthy daughters and sons of their time, providing their descendants with a great future.
Main stages: rulers of Russia in chronological order, table
Not every Russian, no matter how sad it may be, is well versed in history, let alone list the rulers of Russia in chronological order at least in the last hundred years it will hardly be able to. And for a historian this is far from such a simple task, especially if you also need to briefly talk about the contribution of each of them to history home country. That is why historians decided to conditionally divide all this into the main historical stages, connecting them according to some specific characteristic, for example, social order, external and domestic policy and so on.
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 has no special abilities or knowledge in historical terms. The historical, as well as personal, characteristics of each of them largely depended on the conditions of the very era when they happened to lead the country at that particular period of time.
Among other things, for the entire historical period, not only the rulers of Rus' 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 location, and often this did not depend at all on the people, who, however, This didn't hurt much. For example, until the forty-seventh year of the sixteenth century, the country was ruled by princes, and only after that came monarchization, 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 in the territories previously belonging to Russia. Thus, all the rulers of Russia, from Rurik to Putin, will help us better understand the path we have taken up to this point, point out the advantages and disadvantages, sort out the priorities and clearly weed out historical mistakes so as not to repeat them in the future, again and again.
Russian rulers in chronological order: Novgorod and Kyiv - where I came from
Historical materials that have no reason to doubt, for a given period that begins in 862 and ends with the end of the reign Kyiv princes, are actually quite scarce. However, they allow us 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 strength 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 “calling of the Varangians,” which ultimately helped unite the Novgorod principalities with the Kyiv principalities.
Varangian from the people of Rus' Rurik replaced Prince Gostomysl, and came to power in 862. He ruled until 872, when he died, leaving his young son Igor, who might not have been his only offspring, in the care of his distant relative Oleg.
Since 872, regent Prophetic Oleg , left to look after Igor, decided not to limit himself to the Novgorod principality, captured Kyiv and moved his capital there. It was rumored that he did not die from an accidental snake bite in 882 or 912, but it is no longer possible to find out thoroughly.
After the death of the regent in 912, Rurik’s son came to power, Igor, which is the first of the Russian rulers to be clearly traced in both Western and Byzantine sources. In the fall, Igor decided to collect tribute from the Drevlyans in larger size, than it was supposed to, for which they treacherously killed him.
Prince Igor's wife Duchess Olga 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 only had to sit on the throne for two years. Then he simply fell into the millstone of civil strife, was killed and ground into the “flour of time.”
In 970, the son of Svyatoslav Igorevich ascended to the Novgorod throne from his personal housekeeper Malusha, Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich, who later received the nickname for accepting Christianity Great and Baptist. Eight years later, he ascended the Kiev throne, seizing it, and also moving his capital there. It is he who is considered the prototype of that same epic character, covered for centuries with glory and a certain mystical aura, Vladimir the Red Sun.
Grand Duke Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise sat on the Kiev throne in 1016, which he managed to seize under the guise of unrest, which arose after the death of his father Vladimir, and after him his brother Svyatopolk.
From 1054, the son of Yaroslav and his wife, the Swedish princess Ingigerda (Irina), named Izyaslav, began to rule in Kyiv, until he died heroically in the midst of a battle against his own uncles in 1068. Buried Izyaslav Yaroslavich at the iconic Hagia Sophia in Kyiv.
Starting from this period, that is, 1068, some personalities ascended the throne who did not leave any serious mark in historical terms.
Grand Duke, by name Svyatopolk Izyaslavovich rose to 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 that he left the throne after just twelve years.
For the next seven years, until 1132, the son of Monomakh, named Mstislav Vladimirovich.
Beginning in 1132, and again for exactly seven years, the throne was occupied by Yaropolk Vladimirovich, also the son of the great Monomakh.
Fragmentation and civil strife in Ancient Rus': the rulers of Russia in order and at random
It must be said that the Russian rulers, the chronology of whose leadership is offered to you for general education and to increase knowledge about their own historical basis, have always cared for the statehood and prosperity of their own people, 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 one cannot judge their ancestors too harshly; one can always find several weighty or not so weighty arguments in favor of one or another decision.
During the period when Rus' was a deeply feudal land, fragmented into the smallest principalities, persons on the throne of Kyiv changed at a catastrophic speed, without even having time to accomplish anything more or less significant. Around the middle of the thirteenth century, Kyiv 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 Rus' was marked by the emergence of late feudalism, the weakening of the principality of Kyiv, as well as the emergence of several other centers from which strong pressure was observed from large feudal lords. The largest such centers were Galich and Vladimir. It is worth dwelling in more detail on the princes of that era, although there is no significant trace in history modern Russia they did not leave, and perhaps their role was simply not yet appreciated by their descendants.
Rulers of Russia: list of times of the Moscow Principality
After it was decided to move the capital to Moscow from the previously capital Vladimir, feudal fragmentation Russian lands began to gradually shrink, and the main center, of course, began to gradually and unobtrusively increase its own political influence. And the rulers of that time became much more fortunate; they managed to hold on to the throne longer than the miserable Vladimir princes.
Since 48 of the sixteenth century, difficult times have come 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 and after Peter I
Historians are accustomed to distinguishing three periods of formation and development of Russian monarchical rule: pre-Petrine period, the reign of Peter, as well as post-Petrine time.
After difficult troubled times, the glorified Bulgakov came to power. Ivan Vasilievich Grozny(from 1548 to 1574).
After the father of Ivan the Terrible, his son was blessed to reign Feodor, nicknamed the Blessed(from 1584 to 1598).
It is worth knowing that Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich was the last of the Rurik family, but he was never able to leave an heir. People considered him inferior, both in terms of health and mental abilities. Beginning in the year 98 of the sixteenth century, times of unrest began, which lasted until the year 12 of the next century. The rulers changed like pictures in a silent movie, each pulling in his own direction, thinking little about the good of the state. In 1612 a new one came to power royal dynasty- Romanovs.
The first representative of the royal dynasty was Michael, he spent time on the throne from 1613 to 1645.
Alexey's son Fedor took the throne in 76 and spent exactly 6 years on it.
Sofya Alekseevna, his blood sister was engaged government from 1682 until 1689.
Peter I ascended the throne as a young man in 1689, and remained on it until 1725. This was the greatest period in Russian history, the country finally gained stability, the economy took off, and the new king began to call himself emperor.
In 1725, the throne was occupied by Ekaterina Skavronskaya, and left him in 1727.
In 30 she 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.
In 1962 she took the throne Catherine the Great, where she stayed until 1996.
Pavel Petrovich(from 1796 to 1801).
Following Paul came Alexander I (1081-1825).
Nicholas I came to power in 1825 and left it in 1855.
A tyrant and a slob, but very responsible Alexander II had the opportunity to bite his family's legs by lying on the floor from 1855 to 1881.
The most recent of Russian tsars Nicholas II, ruled the country until 1917, after which the dynasty was completely and unconditionally interrupted. And it was then that a completely new political system called a 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 the 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 a strong personality with an iron hand had to be put forward in his place, 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 Khrushchev's place in 1964 and died in 1982.
After Brezhnev, the so-called “thaw” came, when he ruled Yuri Andropov(1982-1984).
Konstantin Chernenko took over the post 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 leader of a Russia independent from anyone (1991-1999).
The real head of state today, Vladimir Putin has been the President of Russia since the “millennium”, that is, 2000. There was a break in his reign for a period of 4 years, when he led the country quite successfully Dmitry Medvedev.
