The House of Romanov ruled as tsars of Russia for over 300 years, from 1613 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. During their reign, the Romanovs transformed Russia from a medieval backwater into one of the most powerful empires in the world. Here is the story of the first seven Romanov tsars who laid the foundation for Imperial Russia:
1. Michael I (1613-1645)
Michael Romanov was elected tsar in 1613, bringing an end to the Time of Troubles – a period of political instability following the end of the Rurik dynasty. As the first Romanov tsar, Michael focused on restoring order and rebuilding the country. He made peace with Sweden and Poland and established a new code of laws. Michael‘s reign marked the beginning of the Romanov dynasty that would rule Russia for the next three centuries.
2. Alexis (1645-1676)
Alexis, the son of Michael I, came to the throne at age 16. During his reign, Russia expanded its territory, annexing Ukraine and gaining access to the Black Sea. Alexis also reformed the Russian government, creating a new legal code and establishing the Thirteen Chancelleries to oversee different aspects of state affairs. He promoted trade and industry and laid the foundation for Russia‘s emergence as a major power.
3. Fyodor III (1676-1682)
Fyodor III succeeded his father Alexis at age 15. His reign was short, lasting only six years, but he made some important reforms. Most notably, Fyodor abolished the mestnichestvo system, which had awarded government posts based on ancestry rather than merit. This paved the way for a more modern bureaucracy. Fyodor died without an heir in 1682, leading to a succession crisis.
4. Ivan V (1682-1696) and Peter I (1682-1725)
After Fyodor‘s death, his two younger brothers Ivan and Peter were proclaimed co-tsars, with their older sister Sophia acting as regent. However, Peter soon seized power and became the sole ruler of Russia. Peter I, also known as Peter the Great, was one of the most influential Russian leaders of all time. He embarked on a program of westernization and modernization, reforming the government, military, economy, and church. Peter expanded Russian territory through successful wars against the Ottoman Empire and Sweden. He also built a new capital, St. Petersburg, as Russia‘s "window to Europe." By the time of his death in 1725, Peter had transformed Russia into a major European power.
5. Catherine I (1725-1727)
Catherine I was the second wife of Peter the Great and became the first woman to rule Imperial Russia after his death. A former peasant, Catherine rose to become Empress through her intelligence and political savvy. She continued many of Peter‘s policies and maintained Russia‘s strength and influence. However, her reign was short and marked by court intrigues.
6. Peter II (1727-1730)
Peter II was the grandson of Peter the Great and came to the throne at age 11. His reign was dominated by powerful courtiers who sought to manipulate the young tsar for their own gain. Peter II died of smallpox in 1730 at the age of 14 without ever having ruled in his own right.
7. Anna (1730-1740)
Anna Ivanova, the niece of Peter the Great, was chosen as the new monarch by the Supreme Privy Council. She agreed to certain "Conditions" that limited her power, but soon after assuming the throne had the council arrested and assumed autocratic power. Anna‘s reign was known as a "dark era" in which she relied heavily on German advisors and restored some of the harsher policies of pre-Petrine Russia. She continued to modernize and westernize the government and military but was deeply unpopular with the Russian nobility.
The first century of Romanov rule saw Russia‘s transformation into a major empire under far-sighted rulers like Peter the Great. Tsars like Alexis and Fyodor III made important reforms that paved the way for Russia‘s rise. But it also had its share of turbulence, from the succession crisis after Fyodor III to the unpopular reigns of Peter II and Anna.
Still, these early Romanovs set the stage for Imperial Russia‘s later glory. The empire they built would go on to become one of the world‘s great powers, known for its richculture, vast size, and ambitious rulers. The Romanov dynasty left an indelible mark on Russian history – one still felt to this day.
