History of the Romanov dynasty

The Romanov dynasty.

The Romanovs are a great dynasty of kings and emperors of Russia, an ancient boyar family that began its existence at the end of the 16th century and still exists today.

Etymology and surname history.
The Romanovs are not quite the correct historical family name, originally the Romanovs came from the Zakharyins. However, Patriarch Filaret (Fyodor Nikitich Zakharyin) decided to take the surname “Romanov” in honor of his father and grandfather, Nikita Romanovich and Roman Yurievich. So, the family received a surname that is still used today.

The Boyar Romanov family gave history one of the most famous royal dynasties in the world. The first tsarist representative of the Romanovs was Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, and the last Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov. Despite the fact that the royal family was interrupted, the Romanovs still exist (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 head the Russian throne in the event of the return of the monarchy.

The large Romanov family bore the name "House of the Romanovs" and had a huge and extensive family tree, which has connections with almost all the royal dynasties of the world.

In 1856, the family received the official coat of arms. The coat of arms of the Romanovs depicts a vulture that holds a golden sword and tarch in its paws, and eight severed lion heads are depicted along the edges of the coat of arms.

Prehistory of the appearance of the Romanov dynasty.
As already mentioned, the Romanov family came from the Zakharyins, but from where the Zakharyins came to the Moscow lands is unknown. Some scholars believe that the family were natives of the Novgorod land, and some say that the first Romanov came from Prussia.

In the 16th century, the boyar family received a new status, becoming relatives of the sovereign himself. This happened due to the fact that Ivan the Terrible married Anastasia Romanovna Zakharyina. Now all relatives of Anastasia Romanovna could count on the royal throne in the future. The opportunity to take the throne fell very soon, after the suppression of the Rurik dynasty, when the question of further succession arose, the Romanovs entered the game.

In 1613, the first representative of the family, Mikhail Fedorovich, was elected to the kingdom. The Romanov era has begun.

Kings and emperors of the Romanov family.
Beginning with Mikhail Fedorovich, several more tsars from this family (a total of five) rule in Russia.

It was:
Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov;
Alexey Mikhailovich Romanov;
Fedor Alekseevich Romanov;
Ivan 5 (John Alekseevich);
Peter 1 (Peter Alekseevich).

In 1721, Russia was finally reorganized into the Russian Empire, and the sovereign received the title of Emperor. The first emperor was Peter 1, recently called the king. In total, the Romanov family gave Russia 14 emperors and empresses.

After Peter 1, they ruled:
Ekaterina 1 (Ekaterina Alekseevna);
Peter 2 (Peter Alekseevich);
Anna Ioannovna;
Ivan 6 (John Antonovich);
Elizabeth (Elizabeth Petrovna);
Peter 3 (Peter Fedorovich);
Catherine 2 the Great (Ekaterina Alekseevna);
Paul 1 (Paul Petrovich);
Alexander 1 (Alexander Pavlovich);
Nikolai 1 (Nikolai Pavlovich);
Alexander 2 (Alexander Nikolaevich);
Alexander 3 (Alexander Alexandrovich);
Nicholas 2 (Nikolai Alexandrovich).
The end of the Romanov dynasty. The last of the Romanovs.

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

The last representative of the imperial family was Nicholas 2, who received the nickname “Bloody” for thousands of people killed during the celebration of his coronation on Khodyn Square, in a huge stampede killed many people. According to historians, Nicholas 2 was a rather soft ruler and made several unfortunate mistakes in domestic and foreign policy, which led to the intensification of the situation inside the country. The unsuccessful Japanese War, as well as the First World War, greatly undermined the prestige of the royal family and the sovereign personally.

In 1905, the first uprising broke out, as a result of which Nicholas was forced to give the people the desired civil rights and freedoms. However, this was not enough, and in 1917 there was a revolution again. This time, Nicholas was forced to resign and renounce the throne. But even this was not enough – the royal family was captured and imprisoned by the Bolsheviks. Russia’s monarchy gradually collapsed in favor of a new type of government.

On the night of July 16-17, 1918, the entire royal family, including Nicholas’ five children and his wife, was shot. The only possible heir, Nicholas’ son, was also killed. All relatives hiding in Tsarskoye Selo, St. Petersburg and other places were found and killed, only those Romanovs who were abroad were saved. The reign of the Romanov family was interrupted, and with it the monarchy in Russia collapsed.

The outcome of the Romanovs.
During the reign of the Romanov dynasty, Russia reached a real flourishing. Russia finally ceased to be a disparate state, the internecine strife ended, and the country gradually began to gain military and economic power, which allowed it to defend its independence and resist the invaders.

Despite the difficulties that occurred periodically in the history of Russia, by the 19th century the country had become a huge powerful Empire, which owned vast territories. In 1861, serfdom was completely abolished, the country switched to a new type of economy and economy.