The Romanov family is the history of the reigning family. The Romanovs: the main secrets of the dynasty

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 came 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 14th century. The first reliably established ancestor of the family is the Moscow boyar Ivan Kobyla.

Start ruling dynasty The Romanovs were laid down by the great-nephew of Ivan the Terrible’s wife, Mikhail Fedorovich. He was chosen to reign Zemsky Sobor in 1613, after the suppression of the Moscow branch of the Rurikovichs.

Since the 18th century, the Romanovs stopped calling 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 the throne as a result of the February Revolution. In July 1918, he was shot by the Bolsheviks along with his family (including five children) and associates in Yekaterinburg.

Numerous descendants of the Romanovs now live abroad. However, none of them, from the point of view Russian law on succession to the throne, has no 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. He belonged to an ancient boyar family. He restored the functioning of the economy and trade in the country, which he had inherited in a deplorable state after the Time of Troubles. Concluded “perpetual peace” with Sweden (1617). At the same time, I lost access to Baltic Sea, but returned vast Russian territories previously conquered by Sweden. Concluded an “eternal peace” with Poland (1618), while losing Smolensk and the Seversk land. Annexed the lands along the Yaik, Baikal region, Yakutia, access to the Pacific Ocean.

Alexey 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 army reform begun by his father. At the same time, he attracted a large number of foreign military specialists who were left idle after graduation. It was held in his presence church reform Nikon, which affected the main church rituals and books. He 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 Bakhchisarai Peace Treaty (1681), according to which Turkey recognized Left Bank Ukraine and Kyiv as Russia. A general census of the population was carried out (1678). The fight against the Old Believers received 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 orders regarding the succession to the throne. As a result, two tsars were crowned on the throne at the same time - Fyodor Alekseevich’s young brothers Ivan and Peter under the regency of their older sister Sophia Alekseevna (until 1689 - Sophia’s regency, until 1696 - formal co-rule with Ivan V). Since 1721, the first All-Russian Emperor.

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 conflict 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 the Collegium (1718), and introduced the “Table of Ranks” (1722).

Catherine I. Years of reign: 1725-1727

Second wife of Peter I. A former servant named Martha Kruse, captured during the Northern War. Nationality unknown. She was the mistress of Field Marshal Sheremetev. Later, Prince Menshikov took her to his place. In 1703, she fell in love with Peter, 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. Reign: 1727-1730

Grandson of Peter I, son of Tsarevich Alexei. The last representative of the Romanov family in the direct male line. He ascended the throne at the age of 11. He died at the age of 14 from smallpox. In fact, the government of the state was carried out by the Supreme Privy Council. According to the recollections of contemporaries, the young emperor was distinguished by his willfulness 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. Reign: 1730-1740

Daughter of Ivan V, granddaughter of Alexei Mikhailovich. She was invited to the Russian throne in 1730 by the Supreme Privy Council, which she subsequently 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 was ceded to Russia, but it was forbidden to have a fleet in the Black Sea. The years of her reign are characterized in literature as “the era of German dominance at court,” or as “Bironovism” (after the name of her favorite).

Ivan VI Antonovich Romanov. Reign: 1740-1741

Great-grandson of Ivan V. Was proclaimed emperor at the age of two months. The baby was proclaimed emperor during the regency of Duke Biron of Courland, 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 - all his portraits were removed from circulation, all his portraits were confiscated (or destroyed) and all documents containing the name of the emperor were confiscated (or destroyed). He spent until he was 23 years old in solitary confinement, where (already half-insane) he was stabbed to death by guards.

Elizaveta I Petrovna Romanova. Reign: 1741-1761

Daughter of Peter I and Catherine I. Under her, for the first time in Russia, death penalty. 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 fighting, Russian troops captured all of East Prussia and even briefly took Berlin. However, the rapid death of the empress and the rise to power of a pro-Prussian-minded Peter III nullified all military achievements - the conquered lands were returned to Prussia, peace was concluded.

Peter III Fedorovich Romanov. Reign: 1761-1762

Nephew of Elizaveta Petrovna, grandson of Peter I - son of his daughter Anna. Reigned for 186 days. A lover of everything Prussian, he stopped the war with Sweden immediately after coming to power on conditions that were extremely unfavorable for Russia. I had difficulty speaking Russian. During his reign, the manifesto “On the Freedom of the Nobility”, the union of Prussia and Russia, and a decree on freedom of religion were issued (all in 1762). Stopped the persecution of Old Believers. He was overthrown by his wife and died a week later (according to the official version - from fever).

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

Catherine II Alekseevna Romanova (Great). Reign: 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 Catherine's reign that Crimea was captured - as a result, Russia became firmly entrenched in the Black Sea, which was undoubtedly facilitated by the founding of the Black Sea Fleet. The reign was marked by the largest peasant uprising of Emelyan Pugachev, posing as 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 three-day corvee, 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 guards (not without the knowledge of his son Alexander) in his own bedroom (strangled). The official version is a stroke.

Alexander I Pavlovich Romanov. Reign: 1801-1825

Son of Paul I. During the reign of Alexander I, Russia defeated French troops during the Patriotic War of 1812. The result of the war was a new European order, enshrined Congress of Vienna 1814-1815 During numerous wars, he significantly expanded the territory of Russia - he annexed Eastern and Western Georgia, Mingrelia, Imereti, Guria, Finland, Bessarabia, most Poland. He died suddenly in 1825 in Taganrog from 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 to live under the name of Elder Fyodor Kuzmich.

Nicholas I Pavlovich Romanov. Reign: 1825-1855

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

Alexander II Nikolaevich Romanov (Liberator). Reign: 1855-1881

Son of Nicholas I. During his reign, the Crimean War was ended by the Paris Peace Treaty (1856), humiliating for Russia. It was abolished in 1861. In 1864, zemstvo and judicial reforms were carried out. Alaska was sold to the United States (1867). The financial system, education, city government, and the army were subject to reform. Restrictive articles were abolished in 1870 Parisian world. As a result of the Russian-Turkish war of 1877–1878. returned Bessarabia, lost during the Crimean War. Died as a result of a terrorist act committed by Narodnaya Volya.

Alexander III Alexandrovich Romanov (Tsar the Peacemaker). Reign: 1881-1894

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

Nicholas II Alexandrovich Romanov. Reign: 1894-1917

Son of Alexander III. The last Emperor All-Russian. A difficult and controversial period for Russia, accompanied by serious upheavals for the empire. The Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) resulted in a severe 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 to see the end of the war - in 1917 he abdicated the throne as a result, and in 1918 he was shot with his entire family by the Bolsheviks.

Romanovs - great dynasty tsars and emperors of Russia, an ancient boyar family that began to exist at the end of the 16th century. and still exists today.

Etymology and history of the surname

The Romanovs are not quite correct historical surname kind. Initially, the Romanovs came from the Zakharyevs. However, Patriarch Filaret (Fyodor Nikitich Zakharyev) decided to take the surname Romanov in honor of his father and grandfather, Nikita Romanovich and Roman Yuryevich. This is how the family received a surname that is still used today.

The boyar family of the Romanovs gave history one of the most famous royal dynasties in the world. The first royal representative of the Romanovs was Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, and the last was Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov. Although the royal family was interrupted, the Romanovs still exist to this day (several branches). All representatives of the great family and their descendants live abroad today, about 200 people have royal titles, but none of them has the right to lead the Russian throne in the event of the return of the monarchy.

The large Romanov family was called the House of Romanov. A huge and extensive family tree has connections with almost everyone royal dynasties peace.

In 1856 the family received an official coat of arms. It depicts a vulture holding a golden sword and a tarch in its paws, and along the edges of the coat of arms are eight severed lion heads.

Background to the emergence of the Romanov royal dynasty

As already mentioned, the Romanov family descended from the Zakharyevs, but where the Zakharyevs came to the Moscow lands is unknown. Some scholars believe that family members were natives Novgorod land, and some say that the first Romanov came from Prussia.

In the 16th century. The boyar family received a new status, its representatives became relatives of the sovereign himself. This happened due to the fact that he married Anastasia Romanovna Zakharyina. Now all of Anastasia Romanovna’s relatives could count on the royal throne in the future. The opportunity to take the throne came very soon, after the suppression. When the question of further succession to the throne arose, the Romanovs came into play.

In 1613, the first representative of the family, Mikhail Fedorovich, was elected to the throne. The era of the Romanovs began.

Tsars and emperors from the Romanov family

Starting from Mikhail Fedorovich, several more kings from this family ruled in Rus' (five in total).

These were:

• Fedor Alekseevich Romanov;
• Ivan the 5th (Ioann Antonovich);

In 1721, Rus' was finally reorganized into the Russian Empire, and the sovereign received the title of emperor. The first emperor was Peter the 1st, who until recently was called Tsar. In total, the Romanov family gave Russia 14 emperors and empresses. After Peter the 1st they ruled:

The end of the Romanov dynasty. The Last of the Romanovs

After the death of Peter the 1st, the Russian throne was often occupied by women, but Paul the 1st passed a law according to which only a direct heir, a man, could become emperor. Since then, women have no longer ascended the throne.

The last representative of the imperial family was Nicholas II, who received the nickname Bloody for the thousands of people who died during the two great revolutions. According to historians, Nicholas 2nd was a fairly mild ruler and made several unfortunate mistakes in the internal and foreign policy, which led to a tense situation within the country. Unsuccessful, and also greatly undermined the prestige royal family and personally of the sovereign.

In 1905, an outbreak broke out, as a result of which Nicholas was forced to give the people what they wanted civil rights and freedom - the power of the sovereign weakened. However, this was not enough, and in 1917 it happened again. This time Nicholas was forced to resign his powers and renounce the throne. But this was not enough: the royal family was caught by the Bolsheviks and imprisoned. The monarchical system of Russia gradually collapsed in favor of a new type of government.

On the night of July 16-17, 1917, the entire royal family, including Nicholas's five children and his wife, was shot. The only possible heir, Nikolai's son, also died. All relatives hiding in Tsarskoe Selo, St. Petersburg and other places were found and killed. Only those Romanovs who were abroad survived. The reign of the Romanov imperial family was interrupted, and with it the monarchy in Russia collapsed.

Results of the Romanov reign

Although during the 300 years of the reign of this family a lot happened bloody wars and uprisings, in general, the power of the Romanovs brought benefits to Russia. It was thanks to the representatives of this family that Rus' finally moved away from feudalism, increased its economic, military and political power and turned into a huge and powerful empire.

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 Troubles, 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 ancient family of Moscow boyars, the origins of which go back to the first half of the 14th century, when the earliest ancestor of the Romanovs lived, Andrei Ivanovich Kobyla, who served Semyon Proud, the eldest son of Ivan Kalita. Thus, the Romanovs are associated with the family of the Great Moscow Princes almost from the very beginning of this dynasty; this, one might say, is the “indigenous” 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 origin as the Romanovs - the Kolychevs, Sheremetevs, etc. According to this legend, the ancestor of the Romanovs allegedly left for Rus' “from Prussian”, i.e. from the Prussian land, once inhabited by the Prussians - one of the Baltic tribes. His name was allegedly Glanda Kambila, and in Rus' he became Ivan Kobyla, the father of that same Andrei, who was known at the court of Semyon the Proud. It is clear that Glanda Kambila is a completely artificial name, distorted from Ivan Kobyla. Such legends about the departures of ancestors from other countries were commonplace among the Russian nobility. Of course, this legend has no basis in reality.

- How did they become the Romanovs?

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

- Were the Romanovs related to the Rurik dynasty?

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

- Were there other contenders for the throne in 1613?

It is known that that year, at the Zemsky Sobor, which was supposed to choose a new king, the names of several contenders were heard. 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 spent heavily during the Zemsky Council) 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 groups 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. Fyodor Ivanovich was perceived at that moment as the last “legitimate” Moscow Tsar, the last representative of the real Tsar’s “root”. His personality and reign were idealized, as always happens after an era of bloody crimes, and the return to the interrupted tradition seemed to restore those quiet and calm times. It was not for nothing that the zemstvo militia minted coins with the name of Fyodor Ivanovich, who had already been dead for 15 years by that time. 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, their inherent and family ties through marriages were of great importance. The direct descendants of the Rurikovichs, be they the Pozharsky princes or the Vorotynsky princes, were not perceived as part of the royal family, but only as subjects royal dynasty, in its status elevated above its 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 learned about its 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 finally agreed. Thus began the reign of a new dynasty - the Romanovs.

- Who is the most famous representatives House of the Romanovs? What are they doing?

Now the Romanov clan, we will talk specifically about the clan, is not very numerous. Representatives of the generation of the 1920s, the first generation of Romanovs born in emigration, are still alive. The oldest today are Nikolai Romanovich, living in Switzerland, Andrei Andreevich, living in the USA, and Dmitry Romanovich, living in Denmark. The first two recently turned 90 years old. All of them came to Russia several times. Together with their younger relatives and some female descendants of the Romanovs (like Prince Michael of Kent, for example), they form the public organization “Association of Members of the Romanov Family.” There is also a Romanov assistance fund for Russia, which is headed by Dimitri Romanovich. However, the activities of the Association in Russia, according to at least, not too noticeable. Among the members of the association there are also very young people, like Rostislav Rostislavich Romanov, for example. A notable figure is the descendant of Alexander II from his second, morganatic marriage, His Serene Highness Prince Georgy Alexandrovich Yuryevsky. He lives in Switzerland and St. Petersburg, where he often visits. There is the family of the late Prince Vladimir Kirillovich - his daughter Maria Vladimirovna and her son from her marriage to the Prussian prince Georgy Mikhailovich. This family considers itself legitimate contenders for the throne; it 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 some kind of special legal status for itself in Russia, the rights to which are being very convincingly questioned by many. There are other descendants of the Romanovs, more or less noticeable, such as Paul Edward Larsen, who now calls himself Pavel Eduardovich Kulikovsky - the great-grandson of the sister of Nicholas II, Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna. He often 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 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. It must be said that her activities in Russia, unlike her other relatives, are extremely active and productive. Olga Nikolaevna heads the Charitable Foundation named after 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 enormous charitable work, over the years of its existence providing real assistance to many medical and social institutions in Russia, the Solovetsky Monastery, etc., right down to individual individuals in need of such assistance. IN last years Olga Nikolaevna carries out extensive cultural activities, regularly organizing exhibitions of artistic works of Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, who was a lot and fruitfully engaged in painting, in different cities of the country. This side of the history of the royal family was completely unknown until recently. Now exhibitions of the Grand Duchess’s works have been held not only in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow and the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, but also in centers as distant from the capitals as Tyumen or Vladivostok. Olga Nikolaevna has traveled almost all of Russia, she is well known in many parts of our country. Of course, she is a completely unique person, literally charging everyone who has encountered her with her energy. Her fate is very interesting - after all, before the Second World War, she studied at the Mariinsky Don Institute, formed even before the revolution in Novocherkassk following the example of the famous Smolny Institute of Noble Maidens, and in exile was located in the Serbian city of Bila Tserkva. Excellent upbringing in a Russian family of emigrants of the first wave and education in this educational institution could not but affect Olga Nikolaevna’s personality; 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 holds its own lessons for future generations. What lesson does the history of the Romanov reign teach us?

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. Even if they know Russia abroad (precisely Russia, not Soviet Union), then by the names of those people who lived and worked during this period. We can say that it was under the Romanovs that Russia stood on a par with the leading world powers, and on absolutely equal terms. This was one of the highest rises of our country in the entire history of its diverse existence. And the Romanovs played a very big role in this, for which we can be sincerely grateful to them.

The Romanov dynasty dates back to Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, elected to the Russian throne on March 3, 1613. And almost 200 years later Emperor Paul I in 1797 he issued the Law on Succession to the Throne, according to which the right to the throne was reserved for every member of the House of Romanov, regardless of his gender, with the exception of those who voluntarily renounced their rights to it.

The reign of the Romanovs can be divided into three periods.

The first is associated with the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich (1613-1645), his son Alexei Mikhailovich (1645-1676) and son Alexey Mikhailovich Fyodor Alekseevich (1676-1682).

The second is associated with the emergence of a new title for the monarch in the Russian Empire: emperor. It includes the periods of the reign of Peter the Great (1682-1725), Catherine I (1725-1727), Peter II (1727-1730), Anna Ioannovna (1730-1740), Ivan VI (1740-1741), Elizabeth (1741- 1761), Peter III (1761-1762) and Catherine II the Great (1762-1796).

The last period fell on the reign Paul I (1796-1801), Alexander I (1801-1825), Nicholas I (1825-1855), Alexander II (1855-1881) and Alexander III (1881-1894), when the throne in the House of Romanov began to be transmitted through the direct male line according to the decree of Paul I on succession to the throne.

304 years in power

For 304 years, the Romanov dynasty was in power in Russia. The descendants of Mikhail Fedorovich ruled until February Revolution 1917. Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov was elected to the throne at the age of 16 by the Zemsky Sobor. The choice fell on the young prince because he was a descendant of the Rurikovichs, the first dynasty of Russian tsars.

Were not long-lived

Most of the Russian tsars and emperors from the Romanov dynasty lived rather short lives. Mikhail Fedorovich lived for 49 years, during the years of his reign he managed to restore centralized power in the country. Only Peter I, Elizaveta I Petrovna, Nicholas I and Nicholas II lived more than 50 years, and Catherine II and Alexander II lived more than 60 years. No one lived to be 70 years old. Peter II lived the shortest: he died at the age of 14.

Holstein-Gottorp

The direct line of succession to the throne among the Romanovs stopped in the 18th century. Elizaveta Petrovna, the daughter of Catherine I and Peter I, had no children, so she appointed her nephew, the future Peter III, as successor. On it, the Romanov line was interrupted, but a new one appeared, Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov, which runs along the female line, since Peter’s mother is Elizabeth’s sister.

Two kings on the throne

IN late XVII centuries, two princes were crowned to the throne at once. After the death of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, the eldest son Fyodor Alekseevich reigned for a short time and died unexpectedly in 1682. According to the law of succession to the throne, the next oldest fifteen-year-old should have become king. Ivan, but he was not distinguished by either intelligence or health. Then it was decided to crown two brothers at the same time: Ivan and ten-year-old Peter, the future Peter I. Since the older brother, due to his weakness, and the younger brother, due to his infancy, were not able to independently manage state affairs, then until Peter came of age, their eldest became the ruler of the state sister, Princess Sophia.

On the occasion of the wedding to the kingdom, royal crowns were placed on Ivan and Peter: on Ivan - the old Monomakh cap, on Peter - a new crown specially made for this occasion, called the Monomakh cap of the second outfit. Also, a double throne was made in the Kremlin court workshops. More than two hundred kg of silver were used to make it.

The richest dynasty

Before the February Revolution of 1917, the Romanov dynasty was considered one of the richest in Europe. Jewelry for the Russian imperial court was created by the best craftsmen of that time: Hieronymus Pozier and Carl Faberge, Karl Bohlin and Gottlieb Jan.

Hunting lovers

Many monarchs of the Romanov dynasty were passionate about hunting. Under Alexei Mikhailovich, a special Sokolniki yard was created in Moscow, and under Elizaveta Petrovna, a hunting pavilion “Monbijou” was built in Tsarskoe Selo. Hunting traditions were continued by Anna Ioannovna, Catherine II and Alexander III. Other members of the imperial family had other hobbies. For example, Peter I played the drums, bagpipes and oboe, Nicholas I made engravings on copper and painted them with watercolors, and Maria Feodorovna, wife of Paul I, carved cameos from stone and glass.

Numerous wars

During the reign of the Romanovs, the territory of Russia grew almost five times. Each monarch of the Romanov dynasty left his heir a country larger in size than he received from his predecessor.

During the reign of the Romanovs fell:

• Russian-Polish War (1654-1667)
• Russo-Turkish wars
• North War (1700-1721)
• Seven Years' War (1756-1763)
• Russo-Austro-French War (1805)
• Patriotic War (1812)
• Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)
• First World War (1914-1918).

Romanovs- an old Russian noble family (which bore such a surname from the middle of the 16th century), and then a dynasty of Russian tsars and emperors.

Why did the historical choice fall on the Romanov family? Where did they come from and what were they like by the time they came to power?

Genealogical roots of the Romanov family (XII - XIV centuries)

The boyar is considered the ancestor of the Romanovs and a number of other noble families Andrey Ivanovich Kobyla (†1347), who was in the service of the Grand Duke of Vladimir and Moscow Semyon Ivanovich Proud (eldest son of Grand Duke Ivan Kalita).

The dark origin of the Mare gave freedom for pedigree fantasies. According to family tradition, the ancestors of the Romanovs “left for Rus' from Lithuania” or “from Prussia” at the beginning of the 14th century. However, many historians believe that the Romanovs came from Novgorod.

They wrote that his father Kambila Divonovic Gland was the prince of Zhmud and fled from Prussia under the pressure of the German crusaders. It is quite possible that Kambila, remade in the Russian style into Kobyla, having suffered defeat in his homeland, went to serve the Grand Duke Dmitry Alexandrovich, the son of Alexander Nevsky. According to legend, he was baptized in 1287 under the name Ivan - after all, the Prussians were pagans - and his son received the name Andrei at baptism.

Glanda, through the efforts of genealogists, traced his family back to someone Ratshi(Radsha, Christian name Stefan) - a native of Prussia, according to others, a Novgorodian, a servant of Vsevolod Olgovich, and maybe Mstislav the Great; according to another version of Serbian origin.

The name is also known from the geneological chainAlexa(Christian name Gorislav), in monasticism St. Varlaam. Khutynsky, died in 1215 or 1243.

No matter how interesting the legend may be, the real relationship of the Romanovs is observed only with Andrei Kobyla.

Andrey Ivanovich Kobyla had five sons: Semyon Stallion, Alexander Yolka, Vasily Ivantai, Gabriel Gavsha and Fyodor Koshka, who were the founders of 17 Russian noble houses. The Sheremetevs, Kolychevs, Yakovlevs, Sukhovo-Kobylins and others famous in the world are traditionally considered to be of the same origin as the Romanovs (from the legendary Kambila). Russian history childbirth.

The eldest son of Andrei Kobyla Semyon, by nickname Stallion, became the founder of the Blues, Lodygins, Konovnitsyns, Oblyazevs, Obraztsovs and Kokorevs.

Second son Alexander Yolka, gave birth to the Kolychevs, Sukhovo-Kobylins, Sterbeevs, Khludnevs and Neplyuevs.

Third son Vasily Ivantey, died childless, and the fourth - Gabriel Gavsha- laid the foundation for only one family - the Bobarykins.

Younger son, Fyodor Koshka (†1393), was a boyar under Dmitry Donskoy and Vasily I; left six children (including one daughter). From him came the families of the Koshkins, Zakharyins, Yakovlevs, Lyatskys (or Lyatskys), Yuryev-Romanovs, Bezzubtsevs and Sheremetevs.

The eldest son of Fyodor Koshka Ivan Fedorovich Koshkin (†1427) served as a governor under Vasily I and Vasily II, and his grandson,Zakhary Ivanovich Koshkin (†1461), was a boyar under Vasily II.

The children of Zakhary Ivanovich Koshkin became the Koshkins-Zakharyins, and the grandchildren simply became the Zakharyins. From Yuri Zakharyevich came the Zakharyins-Yuryevs, and from his brother Yakov - the Zakharyins-Yakovlevs.

It should be noted that numerous descendants of Andrei Kobyla married princely and boyar daughters. Their daughters were also in considerable demand among noble families. As a result, over a couple of centuries they became related to almost the entire aristocracy.

Rise of the Romanov family

Tsarina Anastasia - the first wife of Ivan the Terrible

The rise of the Romanov family occurred after the marriage in 1547 of Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible to Anastasia Romanovna Zakharyina-Yuryeva, who bore him a son - the future heir to the throne and the last of the Rurikovich family, Fyodor Ioannovich. Under Fyodor Ioannovich, the Romanovs took a prominent position at court.

Brother of Queen Anastasia Nikita Romanovich (†1586)

Brother of Queen Anastasia Nikita Romanovich Romanov (†1586) is considered the founder of the dynasty - his descendants were already called the Romanovs.

Nikita Romanovich himself was an influential Moscow boyar, an active participant in the Livonian War and diplomatic negotiations. Of course, survival at the court of Ivan the Terrible was quite scary thing. And Nikita not only survived, but steadily rose to the top, and after the sudden death of the sovereign (1584), he entered the nearby Duma of his nephew, Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich, along with Mstislavsky, Shuisky, Belsky and Godunov. But soon Nikita Romanovich shared his power with Boris Godunov and took monastic vows under the name Nifont. Died peacefully in 1586. He was buried in the family tomb in the Moscow Novospassky Monastery.

Nikita Romanovich had 6 sons, but only two went down in history: the eldest - Fedor Nikitich(later Patriarch Filaret and father of the first tsar of the Romanov dynasty) and Ivan Nikitich, which was part of the Seven Boyars.

Fyodor Nikitich Romanov (Patriarch Filaret)

Boyarin Fyodor Nikitich (1554-1633) the first of the family to bear the surname “Romanov”. Being a cousin of Tsar Feodor Ioannovich (son of Ivan IV the Terrible), he was considered a rival of Boris Godunov in the struggle for power after the death of Feodor Ioannovich in 1598. He married for love a poor girl from an ancient Kostroma family, Ksenia Ivanovna Shestova, and lived with her in perfect harmony, giving birth to five sons and a daughter.

The years of the reign of Fyodor Ivanovich (1584-1598) were the happiest in the life of the future patriarch. Unencumbered by the responsibilities of government and secret intrigues, not consumed by ambition, like Boris Godunov or the sad, envious Vasily Shuisky, he lived for his own pleasure, while simultaneously laying the foundation for an even greater rise of the Romanov family. Over the years, the rapid rise of Romanov began to concern Godunov more and more. Fyodor Nikitich continued to play the role of a carefree young man who took his position for granted, but he was too close to the throne, which sooner or later was bound to be empty.

With the coming to power of Boris Godunov, together with the other Romanovs, he fell into disgrace and was exiled in 1600 to the Anthony-Siysky Monastery, located 160 km from Arkhangelsk. His brothers, Alexander, Mikhail, Ivan and Vasily were tonsured as monks and exiled to Siberia, where most of them died. In 1601, he and his wife Ksenia Ivanovna Shestova were forcibly tonsured as monks under the names “Filaret” and “Martha,” which should have deprived them of their rights to the throne. But, appeared on Russian throne False Dmitry I (who before his accession was Grishka Otrepyev's slave to the Romanovs), wanting to actually prove his relationship with the Romanov house, in 1605 returned Philaret from exile and elevated him to the rank of Metropolitan of Rostov. And False Dmitry II, at whose Tushino headquarters Filaret was, promoted him to patriarch. True, Filaret presented himself as a “captive” of an impostor and did not insist on his patriarchal rank...

In 1613, the Zemsky Sobor elected Philaret’s son to reign. Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov. His mother, nun Martha, blessed him for the kingdom with the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God, and from that moment on, the icon became one of the shrines of the House of Romanov. And in 1619, the former boyar Fyodor Nikitich, with the light hand of his son, Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, became the “official” Patriarch Filaret. But by nature he was a secular man and had little understanding of church and theological matters. Being the parent of the sovereign, he was officially his co-ruler until the end of his life. He used the title “Great Sovereign” and a completely unusual combination of the monastic name “Filaret” with the patronymic “Nikitich”; actually led Moscow politics.

The further fate of the Romanovs is the history of Russia.