Originally and during most of its history, the title tsar which is derived from Caesar, meant Emperor in the European medieval sense of the term. In other words, a ruler who has the same rank as a Roman or Byzantine emperor.
Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible) – Ivan was the first to assume the title of Tsar. He was born on August 25, 1530. From 1533-1547 he was the Grand prince of Moscow assuming the title of Tsar of Russia in 1547 holding it until his death on March 18, 1584. It is most probable that he was murdered.
Peter I (Peter the Great) – He was born on June 9, 1672 and ruled Russia from May 7, 1682 until his death on February 8, 1725. It was a jointly rule until 1696 with his weak and sickly half-brother, Ivan V. While Peter ruled he carried out a policy of “Westernization” an expansion that transformed the Tsardom of Russia into the Russian Empire.
Catherine II (Catherine the Great) – She is sometimes referred to as an epitome of the “enlightened despot” and reigned as Empress of Russia for 34 years, from June 28, 1762 until her death on November 17, 1796. Born on May 2, 1729 she was the wife of Peter III, who ruled as Emperor for six months before his assassination. Some believe that Catherine may have been the leader of the rebellion that made her Empress. She was Empress during the American Revolution, but refused to side with either party.
Alexander I – Emperor of Russia from March 23, 1801 to December 1, 1825. He was born on December 23, 1777 the son of Paul I. He succeeded to the throne after his father was murdered, and ruled Russia during the Napoleonic Wars. During a trip to Southern Russia, he caught a cold, which developed into typhus. He died in the southern city of Taganrog on December 1, 1825. Since he was childless at his death his younger brother Nicholas I became emperor when the middle brother declined the title. He was the godfather of Alexandrina Victoria, who ruled as Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.
Nicholas II – The last Emperor of Russia. Born on May 18, 1868 the eldest son of Alexander III. He ruled from November 1, 1894 until his forced abdication in 1917. After his abdication he was excelled with his family to Tobolsk, Siberia in the Urals. It was there at 2:33 on morning July 17, 1918 that he and the royal family was executed.
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“6 Things to Consider” was published by from 2007 until 2017. In January of 2018 the Web site was discontinued due to a technical issue. However the posts, over 1000, were saved and one will be republished each Tuesday here at my “View from the Shore”