List of Russian monarchs

Monarchy of Russia
Former Monarchy
Imperial Coat of arms
Last Monarch: Nicholas II 1 November 1894 – 15 March 1917
First monarch	Rurik (as Prince)
Last monarch	Nicholas II (as Emperor)
Style	His/Her Imperial Majesty
Official residence	Winter Palace, Moscow Kremlin
Appointer	Hereditary
Monarchy started	862
Monarchy ended	15 March 1917
Current pretender	Disputed Maria Vladimirovna Andrew Romanov Prince Karl Emich of Leiningen

This is a list of all reigning monarchs in the history of Russia. It includes the titles Prince of Novgorod, Grand Prince of Kiev, Grand Prince of Vladimir, Grand Prince of Moscow, Tsar of All Rus'(Russia), and Emperor of All Russia. The list begins with a semi-legendary Rurik, Prince of Novgorod, sometime in the mid 9th century (c. 862) and ends with the Emperor of All Russia Nicholas II who abdicated in 1917, and was executed with his family in 1918.

The vast territory known today as Russia covers an area that has been known historically by various names, including Rus', Kievan Rus', the Grand Duchy of Moscow, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, and the sovereigns of these many nations and throughout their histories have used likewise as wide a range of titles in their positions as chief magistrates of a country. Some of the earliest titles include Kniaz and Velikiy Kniaz, which mean "Prince" and "Great Prince" respectively but are often rendered as "Duke" and "Grand Duke" in Western literature; then the title of Tsar, meaning "Caesar", which was disputed to be the equal of either a king or emperor; finally culminating in the title of Emperor. According to Article 59 of the 1906 Russian Constitution, the Russian Tsar held several dozen titles, each one representing a region which the monarch governed.

The Patriarchs of Moscow, who were the head of Russian Orthodox Church, also have acted as the leaders of Russia from time to time, usually in periods of political upheaval as during the Polish occupation and interregnum of 1610–13.

Princes of Rus', 862–1547

See also: List of early East Slavic states

Parts of the land that is today known as Russia was populated by various East Slavic peoples from before the 9th century. The first states to exert hegemony over the region were those of the Rus' people, a branch of Nordic Varangians who entered the region occupied by modern Russia sometime in the ninth century, and set up a series of states starting with the Rus' Khaganate circa 830. Little is known of the Rus' Khaganate beyond its existence, including the extent of its territory or any reliable list of its Khagans (rulers).

Princes of Novgorod

Main article: Prince of Novgorod

Traditionally, Rus' statehood is traced to Rurik, a Rus' leader of Holmgard (later Novgorod, modern Veliky Novgorod), a different Rus' state.

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Rurik I Рюрик	c. 830 – 879	862	879	Founder of Rurik Dynasty	Rurikids
Oleg of Novgorod Oleg the Seer Олег Вещий	855 – 912	879	882	Relative of Rurik and regent of Rurik's son, Prince Igor	Rurikids

Grand Princes of Kiev

Main article: Grand Prince of Kiev

Rurik's successor Oleg moved his capital to Kiev (now Ukraine), founding the state of Kievan Rus'. Over the next several centuries, the most important titles were those of the Grand Prince of Kiev and Grand Prince of Novgorod whose holder (often the same person) could claim hegemony.

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Askold and Dir Haskuldr and Dýri Аскольд и Дир	9th century	842 or 862	882	Rus' chieftains and members of Rurik's army	Askold: Kyi
Oleg of Novgorod Oleg the Seer Олег Вещий	855 – 912	882	Autumn 912	Successor of Askold and Dir as a regent of Rurik's son	Rurikids
Igor I Igor Rurikovich Игорь Рюрикович	878 – 945	913	Autumn 945	Son of Rurik	Rurikids
Olga of Kiev Olga the Wise (Saint Olga) Ольга Мудрая (Ольга Святая)	890 – 969	945	962	Wife of Igor I and regent of Sviatoslav I	-
Sviatoslav I Sviatoslav Igorevich Святослав Игоревич	942 – 972	Autumn 945	March 972	Son of Igor I and Olga of Kiev	Rurikids
Yaropolk I Yaropolk Svyatoslavich Ярополк Святославич	950 – 980	March 972	11 June 980	Son of Sviatoslav I and Predslava	Rurikids
Vladimir I Vladimir Syatoslavich (Vladimir the Great) Владимир Святославич (Владимир Великий)	958 – 1015	11 June 980	15 July 1015	Son of Sviatoslav I and Malusha Younger brother of Yaropolk I	Rurikids
Sviatopolk I Sviatopolk Vladimirovich (Sviatopolk the Cursed) (Святополк Владимирович) Святополк Окаянный	980 – 1019	15 July 1015	Autumn 1016	Son of Yaropolk I During his reign, Kievan Rus' was conquered by Poland	Rurikids
Yaroslav I Yaroslav Vladimirovich (Yaroslav the Wise) Ярослав Владимирович (Ярослав Мудрый)	978 – 1054	Autumn 1016	Summer 1018	Son of Vladimir I and Rogneda of Polotsk	Rurikids
Sviatopolk I Sviatopolk Vladimirovich (Sviatopolk the Cursed) (Святополк Владимирович) Святополк Окаянный	980 – 1019	14 August 1018	27 July 1019	Restored	Rurikids
Yaroslav I Yaroslav Vladimirovich (Yaroslav the Wise) Ярослав Владимирович (Ярослав Мудрый)	978 – 1054	27 July 1019	20 February 1054	Restored	Rurikids
Iziaslav I Iziaslav Yaroslavich Изяслав Ярославич	1024 – 1078	20 February 1054	15 September 1068	First son of Yaroslav I and Ingegerd Olofsdotter	Rurikids
Vseslav Briachislavich Vseslav the Sorcerer Всеслав Брячиславич (Всеслав Чародей)	1039 – 1101	15 September 1068	29 April 1069	Great-grandson of Vladimir I Usurped the Kievan Throne	Rurikids
Iziaslav I Iziaslav Yaroslavich Изяслав Ярославич	1024 – 1078	2 May 1069	22 March 1073	Restored	Rurikids
Sviatoslav II Sviatoslav Yaroslavich Святослав Ярославич	1027 – 1076	22 March 1073	27 December 1076	Third son of Yaroslav I and Ingegerd Olofsdotter	Rurikids
Vsevolod I Vsevolod Yaroslavich Всеволод Ярославич	1030 – 1093	1 January 1077	15 July 1077	Fourth son of Yaroslav I and Ingegerd Olofsdotter	Rurikids
Iziaslav I Iziaslav Yaroslavich Изяслав Ярославич	1024 – 1078	15 July 1077	3 October 1078	Restored	Rurikids
Vsevolod I Vsevolod Yaroslavich Всеволод Ярославич	1030 – 1093	3 October 1078	13 April 1093	Restored	Rurikids
Sviatopolk II Sviatopolk Iziaslavich Святополк Изяславич	1050 – 1113	24 April 1093	16 April 1113	Son of Iziaslav I	Rurikids
Vladimir II Vladimir Vsevolodovich (Vladimir Monomakh) Владимир Всеволодович (Мономах)	1053 – 1125	20 April 1113	19 May 1125	Son of Vsevolod I and Anastasia of Byzantium	Rurikids
Mstislav I Mstislav Volodimirovich (Mstislav the Great) Мстислав Володимирович (Мстислав Великий)	1076 – 1132	20 May 1125	15 April 1132	Son of Vladimir II and Gytha of Wessex	Rurikids
Yaropolk II Yaropolk Vladimirovich Ярополк Владимирович	1082 – 1139	17 April 1132	18 February 1139	Son of Vladimir II and Gytha of Wessex Younger brother of Mstislav I	Rurikids
Viacheslav I Viacheslav Vladimirovich Вячеслав Владимирович	1083 – 2 February 1154	22 February 1139	4 March 1139	Son of Vladimir II and Gytha of Wessex Younger brother of Mstislav I and Yaropolk II	Rurikids
Vsevolod II Vsevolod Olgovich Всеволод Ольгович	1084 – 1146	5 March 1139	30 July 1146	Grandson of Sviatoslav II	Rurikids
Igor II Igor Olgovich Игорь Ольгович	1096 – 19 September 1146	1 August 1146	13 August 1146	Grandson of Sviatoslav II	Rurikids
Iziaslav II Iziaslav Mstislavich Изяслав Мстиславич	1097 – 1154	13 August 1146	23 August 1149	Son of Mstislav I and Christina Ingesdotter of Sweden	Rurikids
Yuri I Yuri Vladimirovich (Yuri the Long Hands) Юрий Владимирович (Юрий Долгорукий)	1099 – 1157	28 August 1149	Summer 1150	Son of Vladimir II and Gytha of Wessex Younger brother of Mstislav I, Yaropolk II and Viacheslav I	Rurikids
Viacheslav I Viacheslav Vladimirovich Вячеслав Владимирович	1083 – 2 February 1154	Summer 1150	Summer 1150	Restored	Rurikids
Iziaslav II Iziaslav Mstislavich Изяслав Мстиславич	1097 – 1154	Summer 1150	Summer 1150	Restored	Rurikids
Yuri I Yuri Vladimirovich (Yuri the Long Hands) Юрий Владимирович (Юрий Долгорукий)	1099 – 1157	August 1150	Winter 1151	Restored	Rurikids

Grand Princes of Vladimir

Main article: Grand Prince of Vladimir

By the early 11th century the Rus' state had fragmented into a series of petty principalities which warred constantly with each other. In 1097, the Council of Liubech formalized the federal nature of the Rus' lands. By the 12th century, the Grand Duchy of Vladimir became the dominant principality, adding its name to those of Novgorod and Kiev, culminating with the rule of Alexander Nevsky. In 1169 Vladimir-Suzdal troops took Kiev. This act underlined the declining importance of that city.

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Andrey I Andrey Yuryevich (Andrey the Pious) Андрей Юрьевич (Андрей Боголюбский)	1110 – 1174	15 May 1157	29 June 1174	Son of Yuri I	Rurikids
Mikhail I Mikhail Yuryevich Михаил Юрьевич	12th century	1174	September 1174	Son of Yuri I Younger brother of Andrey I	Rurikids
Yaropolk III Yaropolk Rostislavich Ярополк Ростиславич	12th century	1174	15 June 1175	Grandson of Yuri I	Rurikids
Mikhail I Mikhail Yuryevich Михаил Юрьевич	12th century	15 June 1175	20 June 1176	Restored	Rurikids
Vsevolod III Vsevolod Yuryevich (Vsevolod the Big Nest) Всееволод Юрьевич (Всеволод Большое Гнездо)	1154 – 1212	June 1176	15 April 1212	Son of Yuri I and Helene Younger brother of Andrey I and Mikhail I	Rurikids
Yuri II Yuri Vsevolodovich Юрий Всеволодович	1189 – 1238	1212	27 April 1216	Son of Vselovod III and Maria Shvarnovna	Rurikids
Konstantin of Rostov Konstantin Vsevolodovich Константин Всеволодович	1186 – 1218	Spring 1216	2 February 1218	Son of Vsevolod III and Maria Shvarnovna Elder brother of Yuri II	Rurikids
Yuri II Yuri Vsevolodovich Юрий Всеволодович	1189 – 1238	February 1218	4 March 1238	Restored	Rurikids
Yaroslav II Yaroslav Vsevolodovich Ярослав Всеволодович	1191 – 1246	1238	30 September 1246	Son of Vsevolod III and Maria Shvarnovna Younger brother of Yuri II and Konstantin of Rostov	Rurikids
Sviatoslav III Sviatoslav Vsevolodovich Святослав Всеволодович	1196 – 3 February 1252	1246	1248	Son of Vsevolod III and Maria Shvarnovna Younger brother of Yuri II, Konstantin of Rostov and Yaroslav II	Rurikids
Mikhail Yaroslavich Mikhail Khorobrit Михаил Ярославич (Михаил Хоробрит)	1229 – 15 January 1248	1248	15 January 1248	Son of Yaroslav II	Rurikids
Sviatoslav III Sviatoslav Vsevolodovich Святослав Всеволодович	1196 – 3 February 1252	1248	1249	Restored	Rurikids
Andrey II Andrey Yaroslavich Андрей Ярославич	1222 – 1264	December 1249	24 July 1252	Son of Yaroslav II Elder brother of Mikhail Khorobrit	Rurikids
Alexander Yaroslavich Alexander Nevsky Александр Ярославич (Александр Невский)	1221 – 1263	1252	14 November 1263	Son of Yaroslav II and Rostislava Mstislavna, daughter of Kievan Rus' Prince Mstislav Mstislavich the Bold Elder brother of Mikhail Khorobrit and Andrey II	Rurikids
Yaroslav III Yaroslav Yaroslavich Ярослав Ярославич	1230 – 1272	1264	1271	Son of Yaroslav II and Fedosia Igorevna Younger brother of Alexander Nevsky, Andrey II and Mikhail Khorobrit	Rurikids
Vasily Yaroslavich Василий Ярославич	1241 – 1276	1272	January 1277	Son of Yaroslav II	Rurikids
Dmitry Aleksandrovich Дмитрий Александрович	1250 – 1294	1277	1281	Son of Alexander Nevsky	Rurikids
Andrey III Andrey Aleksandrovich Андрей Александрович	1255 – 1304	1281	December 1283	Son of Alexander Nevsky Younger brother of Dmitry of Pereslavl	Rurikids
Dmitry Aleksandrovich Дмитрий Александрович	1250 – 1294	December 1283	1293	Restored	Rurikids
Andrey III Andrey Aleksandrovich Андрей Александрович	1255 – 1304	1293	1304	Restored	Rurikids
Mikhail Yaroslavich Michael of Tver Михаил Ярославич (Михаил Тверской)	1271 – 1318	Autumn 1304	22 November 1318	Son of Yaroslav III and Xenia of Tarusa	Rurikids
Yuri III Yuri Danilovich Юрий Данилович	1281 – 1325	1318	2 November 1322	Grandson of Alexander Nevsky	Rurikids
Dmitry Mikhailovich Dmitry the Fearsome Eyes Дмитрий Михайлович (Дмитрий Грозные Очи)	1299 – 1326	1322	15 September 1326	Son of Michael of Tver and Anna of Kashin	Rurikids
Alexander Mikhaylovich Александр Михайлович	1281 – 1339	1326	1327	Son of Michael of Tver and Anna of Kashin Elder brother of Dmitry	Rurikids
Alexander Vasilyevich Александр Васильевич	14th century	1328	1331	Grandson of Andrey II	Rurikids
Ivan I Ivan Danilovich (Ivan Kalita) Иван Данилович (Иван Калита)	1288 – 1340	1332	31 March 1340	Grandson of Alexander Nevsky Son of Daniel of Moscow	Rurikids

Grand Princes of Moscow

After Alexander Nevsky, the region once again broke up into petty states, though the Grand Duchy of Moscow, founded by Alexander Nevsky's youngest son Daniel, began to consolidate control over the entire Rus' territory in the 15th century, starting the story of Russia. Following the Mongol conquests of the 13th century, all of the Russian principalities paid tribute to the Golden Horde, effectively operating as vassals of the Mongol state. The Russians began to exert independence from the Mongols, culminating with Ivan the Great of Moscow ceasing tribute to the Horde, effectively declaring his independence. His son Vasili III completed the task of uniting all of Russia by eliminating the last few independent states in the 1520s.

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Daniel Aleksandrovich Даниил Александрович	1261 – 4 March 1303	1283	4 March 1303	Son of Alexander Nevsky and Maria	Rurikids
Yuri Danilovich Юрий Данилович	1281 – 21 November 1325	4 March 1303	21 November 1325	Son of Daniel Elder brother of Ivan I	Rurikids
Ivan I Ivan Danilovich (Ivan Kalita) Иван Данилович (Иван Калита)	1288 – 1340	21 November 1325	31 March 1340	He was a successor of Alexander of Suzdal as Grand Prince of Vladimir and a successor of Yury of Moscow as Grand Prince of Moscow	Rurikids
Simeon Ivanovich Simeon the Proud Семён Иванович (Семён Гордый)	7 November 1316 – 27 April 1353	31 March 1340	27 April 1353	Son of Ivan I and Helena	Rurikids
Ivan II Ivan Ivanovich (Ivan the Red) Иван Иванович (Иван Красный)	30 March 1326 – 13 November 1359	27 April 1353	13 November 1359	Son of Ivan I and Helena Younger brother of Simeon of Moscow	Rurikids
Dmitry Ivanovich Dmitry of the Don Дмитрий Иванович (Дмитрий Донской)	12 October 1350 – 19 May 1389	13 November 1359	19 May 1389	Son of Ivan II and Alexandra Vasilyevna Velyaminova	Rurikids
Vasily I Vasily Dmitriyevich Василий Дмитриевич	30 December 1371 – 27 February 1425	19 May 1389	27 February 1425	Son of Dmitry I and Eudoxia Dmitriyevna	Rurikids
Vasily II Vasily Vasilyevich (Vasily the Dark) Василий Васильевич (Василий Тёмный)	10 March 1415 – 27 March 1462	27 February 1425	30 March 1434	Son of Vasily I and Sophia of Lithuania	Rurikids
Yuri Dmitriyevich Юрий Дмитриевич	26 November 1374 – 5 June 1434	31 March 1434	5 June 1434	Son of Dmitry I and Eudoxia Dmitriyevna Younger brother of Vasily I	Rurikids
Vasily Yuryevich Vasily the Squint Василий Юрьевич (Василий Косой)	1421 – 1448	5 June 1434	1435	Son of Yury of Zvenigorod	Rurikids
Vasily II Vasily Vasilyevich (Vasily the Dark) Василий Васильевич (Василий Тёмный)	10 March 1415 – 27 March 1462	1435	1446	Restored	Rurikids
Dmitry Yuryevich Dmitry Shemyaka Дмитрий Юрьевич (Дмитрий Шемяка)	15th century	1446	26 March 1447	Son of Yury of Zvenigorod	Rurikids
Vasily II Vasily Vasilyevich (Vasily the Dark) Василий Васильевич (Василий Тёмный)	10 March 1415 – 27 March 1462	27 February 1447	27 March 1462	Restored	Rurikids
Ivan III Ivan Vasilyevich (Ivan the Great) Иван Васильевич (Иван Великий)	22 January 1440 – 6 November 1505	5 April 1462	6 November 1505	Son of Vasily II and Maria of Borovsk	Rurikids
Vasily III Vasily Ivanovich Василий Иванович	25 March 1479 – 13 December 1533	6 November 1505	13 December 1533	Son of Ivan III and Sophia Paleologue	Rurikids
Ivan IV Ivan Vasilyevich (Ivan the Terrible) Иван Васильевич (Иван Грозный)	25 August 1530 – 28 March 1584	13 December 1533	26 January 1547	Son of Vasily III and Elena Glinskaya	Rurikids

Tsars of Russia, 1547–1721

Vasili's son Ivan the Terrible formalized the situation by assuming the title Tsar of All Rus' in 1547, when the state of Russia (apart from its constituent principalities) came into formal being.

Dates are listed in the Old Style, which continued to be used in Russia until the revolution.

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Ivan IV Ivan Vasilyevich (Ivan the Terrible) Иван Васильевич (Иван Грозный)	25 August 1530 – 28 March 1584	26 January 1547	28 March 1584	Son of Vasily III and Elena Glinskaya	Rurikids
Simeon Bekbulatovich Симеон Бекбулатович	16th/17th centuries	1575	1576	Muslim-born Khan of Qasim Khanate Proclaimed Grand Prince of All Rus' in 1575 and abdicated within a year	Qasim
Feodor I Feodor Ivanovich Фёдор Иванович	31 May 1557 – 17 January 1598	28 March 1584	17 January 1598	Son of Ivan IV and Anastasia Romanovna	Rurikids

Following the death of the Feodor I, the son of Ivan the Terrible and the last of the Rurik dynasty, Russia fell into a succession crisis known as the Time of Troubles. As Feodor left no male heirs, the Russian Zemsky Sobor (feudal parliament) elected his brother-in-law Boris Godunov to be Tsar. Devastated by famine, rule under Boris descended into anarchy. A series of impostors, known as the False Dmitriys, each claimed to be Feodor's long deceased younger brother; however, only the first impostor ever legitimately held the title of Tsar. A distant Rurikid cousin, Vasili Shuyskiy, also took power for a time. During this period, foreign powers deeply involved themselves in Russian politics, under the leadership of the Vasa monarchs of Sweden and Poland-Lithuania, including Sigismund III Vasa and his son Władysław IV Vasa. As a child, Władysław was even chosen as Tsar by the Seven Boyars, though he was prevented by his father from formally taking the throne. The Time of Troubles is considered to have ended with the election of Michael Romanov to the throne, who established the Romanov dynasty that would rule Russia until the Russian Revolution of 1917.

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Boris Godunov Борис Годунов	c. 1551 – 13 April 1605	21 February 1598	13 April 1605	Brother-in-law of Feodor I Elected by Zemsky Sobor	Godunov
Feodor II Feodor Borisovich Фёдор Борисович	1589 – 20 June 1605	13 April 1605	10 June 1605	Son of Boris Godunov and Maria Grigorievna Skuratova-Belskaya Murdered	Godunov
False Dmitriy I Dmitriy Ivanovich Дмитрий Иванович	c. 1581 – 17 May 1606	10 June 1605	17 May 1606	Claiming to be son of Ivan IV, he was the only imposter to actually sit on the throne of a major power Backed by Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Murdered.	Rurikids (claimed)
Vasily IV Vasily Ivanovich (Vasily Shuysky) Василий Иванович (Василий Шуйский)	22 September 1552 – 12 September 1612	19 May 1606	17 July 1610 (deposed)	Ninth generation descendant of Andrei II in the male line	Shuysky
Władysław IV Vasa Владислав IV Ваза	9 June 1595 – 20 May 1648	6 September 1610	November 1612 (deposed) 14 June 1634 (resigned his claim)	King of Poland Son of Sigismund III Vasa and Anne of Austria, Queen of Poland	Vasa

The Time of Troubles came to a close with the election of Michael Romanov as Tsar in 1613. Michael officially reigned as Tsar, though his father, the Patriarch Philaret (died 1633) initially held the real power. However, Michael's descendants would rule Russia, first as Tsars and later as Emperors, until the Russian Revolution of 1917. Peter the Great (reigned 1682–1725), a grandson of Michael Romanov, reorganized the Russian state along more Western lines, establishing the Russian Empire in 1721.

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Michael I Michael Feodorovich Михаил Фёдорович	12 July 1596 – 12 July 1645	26 July 1613	12 July 1645	Founder of Romanov Dynasty First cousin once removed of Feodor I	Romanov
Alexis I Alexis Mikhaylovich (Alexis the Quiet) Алексей I Михайлович (Алексей Тишайший)	9 May 1629 – 29 January 1676	12 July 1645	29 January 1676	Son of Michael I and Eudoxia Streshneva	Romanov
Feodor III Feodor Alekseyevich Фёдор III Алексеевич	9 June 1661 – 7 May 1682	29 January 1676	7 May 1682	Son of Alexis I and Maria Ilyinichna Miloslavskaya	Romanov
Sophia Alekseyevna Софья Алексеевна	17 September 1657 – 3 July 1704	17 May 1682	27 August 1689	Daughter of Alexis I and Maria Miloslavskaya Elder sister of Feodor III She ruled as a regent of Ivan V and Peter I	Romanov
Ivan V Ivan Alekseyevich Иван Алексеевич	6 September 1666 – 8 February 1696	2 June 1682	8 February 1696	Son of Alexis I and Maria Miloslavskaya Younger brother of Sophia Alekseyevna and Feodor III He "ruled" jointly with Peter I, but in fact had no power.	Romanov
Peter I Peter Alekseyevich (Peter the Great) Пётр I Алексеевич (Пётр Великий)	9 June 1672 – 8 February 1725	2 June 1682	2 November 1721	Son of Alexis I and Natalya Naryshkina Younger brother of Sophia Alekseyevna, Feodor III and Ivan V He ruled jointly with Ivan V Regarded as one of the greatest Russian monarchs	Romanov

Emperors of Russia, 1721–1917

(Also Grand Princes of Finland from 1809 until 1917; and Kings of Poland from 1815 until 1917)

Main article: Emperor of All Russia

The Empire of Russia was declared by Peter the Great in 1721. Officially, Russia would be ruled by the Romanov dynasty until the Russian Revolution of 1917. However, direct male descendants of Michael Romanov came to an end in 1730 with the death of Peter II of Russia, grandson of Peter the Great. The throne passed to Anna, a niece of Peter the Great, and after the brief rule of her niece's infant son Ivan VI, the throne was seized by Elizabeth, a daughter of Peter the Great. Elizabeth would be the last of the direct Romanovs to rule Russia. Elizabeth declared her nephew, Peter, to be her heir. Peter (who would rule as Peter III) spoke little Russian, having been a German prince of the House of Holstein-Gottorp before arriving in Russia to assume the Imperial title. He and his German wife Sophia changed their name to Romanov upon inheriting the throne. Peter was ill-liked, and he was assassinated within six months of assuming the throne, in a coup orchestrated by his wife, who became Empress in her own right and ruled as Catherine the Great (both Peter and Catherine were descended from the House of Rurik). Following the confused successions of the descendants of Peter the Great, Catherine's son Paul I established clear succession laws which governed the rules of primogeniture over the Imperial throne until the fall of the Empire in 1917.

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Peter I Peter Alekseyevich (Peter the Great) Пётр I Алексеевич (Пётр Великий)	9 June 1672 – 8 February 1725	2 November 1721	8 February 1725	Son of Alexis I and Natalya Naryshkina Younger brother of Sophia Alekseyevna, Feodor III and Ivan V He ruled jointly with Ivan V Regarded as one of the greatest Russian monarchs	Romanov
Catherine I Yekaterina Alekseyevna Екатерина I Алексеевна	15 April 1684 – 17 May 1727	8 February 1725	17 May 1727	Wife of Peter I	Skowroński
Peter II Peter Alekseyevich Пётр II Алексеевич	23 October 1715 – 30 January 1730	18 May 1727	30 January 1730	Grandson of Peter I via the murdered Tsesarevich Alexei Last male of the direct Romanov line	Romanov
Anna Ioannovna Анна Иоанновна	7 February 1693 – 28 October 1740	13 February 1730	28 October 1740	Daughter of Ivan V	Romanov
Anna Leopoldovna Анна Леопольдовна	18 December 1718 – 19 March 1746	28 October 1740	6 December 1741	Regent for her son Ivan VI Deposed by Empress Elizabeth and Imprisoned	Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Ivan VI Ivan Antonovich Иван VI Антонович	23 August 1740 – 16 July 1764	28 October 1740	6 December 1741	Great-grandson of Ivan V Deposed as a baby, imprisoned and later murdered	Brunswick-Bevern
Elizabeth Yelizaveta Petrovna Елизавета Петровна	29 December 1709 – 5 January 1762	6 December 1741	5 January 1762	Daughter of Peter I and Catherine I	Romanov
Peter III Peter Feodorovich Пётр III Фëдорович	21 February 1728 – 17 July 1762	9 January 1762	9 July 1762	Grandson of Peter I Nephew of Elizabeth Murdered	Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov
Catherine II Yekaterina Alekseyevna (Catherine the Great) Екатерина II Алексеевна (Екатерина Великая)	2 May 1729 – 17 November 1796	9 July 1762	17 November 1796	Wife of Peter III	Ascania, with Rurikid descent
Paul I Pavel Petrovich Павел I Петрович	1 October 1754 – 23 March 1801	17 November 1796	23 March 1801	Son of Peter III and Catherine II Assassinated	Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov
Alexander I Alexander Pavlovich (Alexander the Blessed) Александр I Павлович (Александр Благословенный)	23 December 1777 – 1 December 1825	23 March 1801	1 December 1825	Son of Paul I and Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg First Romanov King of Poland and Grand Prince of Finland	Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov
Constantine Pavlovich Константин Павлович	27 April 1779 – 27 June 1831	1 December 1825	26 December 1825	Son of Paul I and Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg Younger brother of Alexander I Uncrowned (abdicated the throne)	Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov
Nicholas I Nikolay Pavlovich Николай I Павлович	6 July 1796 – 2 March 1855	26 December 1825	2 March 1855	Son of Paul I and Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg Younger brother of Alexander I and Constantine Pavlovich	Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov
Alexander II Alexander Nikolayevich (Alexander the Liberator) Александр II Николаевич (Александр Освободитель)	29 April 1818 – 13 March 1881	2 March 1855	13 March 1881	Son of Nicholas I and Alexandra Feodrovna Nephew of Alexander I Assassinated	Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov
Alexander III Alexander Aleksandrovich (Alexander the Peacemaker) Александр III Александрович (Александр Миротворец)	10 March 1845 – 1 November 1894	13 March 1881	1 November 1894	Son of Alexander II and Maria Alexandrovna	Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov
Nicholas II Nikolay Aleksandrovich (Nicholas the Bloody) Николай II Александрович (Николай Кровавый)	18 May 1868 – 17 July 1918	1 November 1894	15 March 1917	Son of Alexander III and Maria Feodorovna Abdicated the throne during the February Revolution Executed by Bolsheviks	Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov

Nominal emperors after Nicholas II

See also: Line of succession to the Russian throne

Dates after 1918 are in the New Style.

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Michael II Michael Aleksandrovich Михаил II Александрович	4 December 1878 – 13 June 1918	15 March 1917	16 March 1917	Son of Alexander III Abdicated after a nominal reign of only 18 hours, ending dynastic rule in Russia He is not usually recognised as a tsar, as Russian law did not allow Nicholas II to disinherit his son	Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov
Nikolai Nikolaevich Николай Николаевич (nominal)	6 November 1856 – 5 January 1929	8 August 1922	25 October 1922	Grandson of Nicholas I Proclaimed Emperor of Russia by the Zemsky Sobor of the Provisional Priamurye Government His nominal rule came to an end when the areas controlled by the Provisional Priamurye Government were overrun by the communists	Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov
Kirill Vladimirovich Кири́лл Влади́мирович Рома́нов	30 September 1876 – 12 October 1938	31 August 1924	12 October 1938	Grandson of Alexander II Claimed the title Emperor of All the Russias while in exile Recognised by a congress of legitimists delegates in Paris in 1926	Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov

Leaders after the Revolution

See also: List of leaders of Russia

See also

• Family tree of the Russian rulers
• List of Russian consorts
• List of heads of government of Russia
• List of leaders of the Soviet Union
• List of leaders of the Russian SFSR
• Premier of the Soviet Union
• List of presidents of Russia
• Prime Minister of Russia
• Grand Prince of Kiev

External links

• Godunov to Nicholas II by Saul Zaklad
• (Russian) Principality of Vladimir-Suzdal
• Timeline of Russian Emperors and Empresses
• History of Russian imperial titles. Bibliography

Template:Russian emperors Template:Lists of Russians Template:American monarchies