In 1613, the most representative and numerous of all that ever met in the 16th–17th centuries, the Zemsky Sobor, took place. It was attended by elected officials from the nobility, townspeople, white clergy and, possibly, the black-growing peasantry. The main question was the election of a sovereign.

As a result of heated debates, the candidacy of 16-year-old Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov turned out to be the most acceptable. He became a real contender for the throne not because he was better, but because he ultimately satisfied everyone. Unlike other applicants, M. Romanov was relatively neutral: without having time to prove himself in any way, he allowed all aspirations and dreams of overcoming the turmoil to be tied to himself. Just as the name of Tsar Dmitry once embodied a whole legend, so Romanov was the personification of the program of returning to “antiquity and peace,” reconciliation and compromise of all social forces on the basis of serfdom and autocracy. With his family connection with the previous dynasty, Mikhail Fedorovich most of all embodied the idea of ​​a return to antiquity. 2

The history of the Romanov family also contributed to the choice. For the aristocracy they were their own - a venerable old Moscow boyar family. The Romanov family was started by Andrei Ivanovich Kobyla, who was close to the Moscow Grand Duke Simeon the Proud and had 5 sons. His descendants until the beginning of the 16th century. were called Koshkins until the end of the 16th century. - Zakharyins. Then the Zakharyins split into two branches: the Zakharyins-Yakovlevs and the Zakharyins-Yuryevs. The Romanovs descended from the latter. The Romanovs were closely related to the Rurikovichs. Nikita Romanovich was the brother of Ivan the Terrible’s first wife, Anastasia Romanovna. Anastasia's son Fedor was the last Russian Tsar from the Rurik dynasty. Under Boris Godunov, the Romanov family was accused of witchcraft. Nikita Romanovich's four sons fell into disgrace. One of the sons, Fyodor Nikitich, was forcibly tonsured a monk under the name Filaret. 3

Decisive in the election of the new sovereign was the pressure of the free Cossacks, which prevailed at the time of the election in Moscow and which, in fact, forced the aristocracy and clergy to rush to make a choice. The Romanovs were popular among the free Cossacks thanks to the Tushino patriarchate of Filaret. So, his son Mikhail was elected king, and the consequences of the Time of Troubles were the first to be overcome by the Romanovs. The first Romanovs include Mikhail Fedorovich (1613 - 1645), his son Alexei Mikhailovich (1645 - 1676) and Peter I (1682 - 1725).

Mikhail Fedorovich inherited a completely ruined country. The Swedes were in Novgorod. The Poles occupied 20 Russian cities. The Tatars plundered the southern Russian lands without interruption. Crowds of beggars and gangs of robbers roamed the country. The royal treasury was empty. The Poles did not recognize the elections of the Zemsky Sobor of 1613 as valid. In 1617, the Polish prince Vladislav organized a campaign against Moscow, stood at the walls of the Kremlin and demanded that the Russians elect him as their king.

Michael's position on the throne was desperate. But society, tired of the disasters of the Time of Troubles, rallied around its young king and provided him with all possible assistance. At first, the Tsar’s mother and her relatives, the Boyar Duma, played a large role in governing the country. For the first 10 years of the reign, the Zemsky Sobors met continuously. In 1619, the king's father returned from Polish captivity. In Moscow he was proclaimed patriarch. Based on the interests of the state, Filaret removed his wife and all her relatives from the throne. Smart, powerful, experienced, he and his son confidently began to rule the country until his death in 1633. After that, Mikhail himself quite successfully dealt with the affairs of state government.

His son and successor, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, did not live long (born March 19, 1629, died January 29, 1676). Having received the throne by right of inheritance, he professed faith in the chosenness of the king and his power. Distinguished, like his father, by his gentleness and meekness of character, he could also show temper and anger. Contemporaries depict his appearance: plump, even corpulent figure, low forehead and white face, plump and rosy cheeks, Brown hair and a beautiful beard; finally, a soft look. His “much quiet” disposition, piety and fear of God, love of church singing and falconry were combined with a penchant for innovation and knowledge. In the first years of his reign, a large role in state affairs was played by his “uncle” (educator), boyar B.I. Morozov, who became the tsar’s brother-in-law (they were married to his own sisters), and relatives from his first wife - the Miloslavskys. 4

Alexey Mikhailovich experienced a turbulent era of “rebellions” and wars, rapprochement and discord with Patriarch Nikon. Under him, Russia's possessions expanded in the east, in Siberia, and in the west. Active diplomatic activity is being carried out. A lot has been done in the area domestic policy. A course was pursued to centralize control and strengthen the autocracy. The backwardness of the country dictated the invitation of foreign specialists in manufacturing, military affairs, first experiments, attempts at transformation (establishing schools, regiments of the new system, etc.).

In his palace possessions, the tsar was a zealous owner, strictly making sure that his serfs regularly fulfilled their duties and made all kinds of payments. From his first wife M.I. Miloslavskaya, Alexey Mikhailovich had 13 children; from the second - N.K. Naryshkina - three children. Many of them died early. Three of his sons became kings (Fedor, Ivan and Peter), his daughter Sophia became regent for the young brother kings (Ivan and Peter).

The next ruler I consider is Peter I Great, Russian Tsar from 1682 (ruled from 1689), the first Russian emperor (from 1721), the youngest son of Alexei Mikhailovich from his second marriage to N.K. Naryshkina.

Briefly characterizing the activities of Peter I, it is necessary to pay attention to the following merits of this ruler. He carried out public administration reforms (the Senate, collegiums, bodies of higher state control and political investigation were created; the church was subordinate to the state; the country was divided into provinces, a new capital was built - St. Petersburg). Peter I used the experience of Western European countries in the development of industry, trade, culture, and pursued a policy of mercantilism (the creation of manufactories, metallurgical, mining and other plants, shipyards, piers, canals). He also supervised the construction of the fleet and the creation of a regular army and led the army in the Azov campaigns, the Northern War, the Prut and Persian campaigns; and also commanded troops during the capture of Noteburg, in the battles of the village of Lesnoy and near Poltava.

Peter's activities contributed to the strengthening of the economic and political position of the nobility. On his initiative, many educational establishments, Academy of Sciences, adopted the civil alphabet. The reforms of Peter I were carried out by cruel means, through extreme strain of material and human forces (poll tax), which entailed uprisings (Streletskoye 1698, Astrakhan 1705-1706, Bulavinskoye 1707-1709), which were mercilessly suppressed by the government. As the creator of a powerful absolutist state, Peter I achieved recognition of Russia as a great power.

The Romanovs are a Russian boyar family that began its existence in the 16th century and gave rise to great dynasty Russian tsars and emperors who ruled until 1917.

For the first time, the surname “Romanov” was used by Fyodor Nikitich (Patriarch Filaret), who named himself so in honor of his grandfather Roman Yuryevich and father Nikita Romanovich Zakharyev, he is considered the first Romanov

The first royal representative of the dynasty was Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, the last was Nikolai 2 Alexandrovich Romanov.

In 1856, the coat of arms of the Romanov family was approved; it depicts a vulture holding a golden sword and a tarch, and at the edges there are eight cut off lion heads.

“House of Romanov” is a designation for the totality of all the descendants of the different branches of the Romanovs.

Since 1761, the descendants of the Romanovs in the female line reigned in Russia, and with the death of Nicholas 2 and his family, there were no direct heirs left who could lay claim to the throne. However, despite this, today dozens of descendants live around the world royal family, varying degrees of kinship, and all of them officially belong to the House of Romanov. The family tree of the modern Romanovs is very extensive and has many branches.

Background to the Romanov reign

There is no consensus among scientists about where the Romanov family came from. Today, two versions are widespread: according to one, the ancestors of the Romanovs arrived in Rus' from Prussia, and according to the other, from Novgorod.

In the 16th century, the Romanov family became close to the king and could lay claim to the throne. This happened thanks to the fact that Ivan the Terrible married Anastasia Romanovna Zakharyina, and her entire family now became relatives of the sovereign. After the suppression of the Rurikovich family, the Romanovs (formerly the Zakharyevs) became the main contenders for the state throne.

In 1613, one of the Romanov representatives, Mikhail Fedorovich, was elected to the throne, which marked the beginning of the long reign of the Romanov dynasty in Russia.

Tsars from the Romanov dynasty

• Fedor Alekseevich;
• Ivan 5;

In 1721, Russia became an Empire, and all its rulers became emperors.

Emperors from the Romanov dynasty

The end of the Romanov dynasty and the last Romanov

Despite the fact that there were empresses in Russia, Paul 1 adopted a decree according to which the Russian throne could only be transferred to a boy - direct descendant kind. From that moment until the very end of the dynasty, Russia was ruled exclusively by men.

The last emperor was Nicholas 2. During his reign, the political situation in Russia became very tense. Japanese War, as well as the First World War, greatly undermined the people's faith in the sovereign. As a result, in 1905, after the revolution, Nicholas signed a manifesto that gave the people extensive civil rights, but that didn't help much either. In 1917, a new revolution broke out, as a result of which the tsar was overthrown. On the night of July 16-17, 1917, the entire royal family, including Nicholas's five children, was shot. Other relatives of Nicholas, who were in the royal residence in Tsarskoye Selo and other places, were also caught and killed. Only those who were abroad survived.

The Russian throne was left without a direct heir, and the political system in the country changed - the monarchy was overthrown, the Empire was destroyed.

Results of the Romanov reign

During the reign of the Romanov dynasty, Russia reached real prosperity. Rus' finally ceased to be a fragmented state, civil strife ended, and the country gradually began to gain military and economic power, which allowed it to defend its own independence and resist invaders.

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

Russia under the first Romanovs The first Russian tsar of the new dynasty was Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov (1613-1645). By the time his reign began, he was barely 16 years old. At that age he could not be an independent politician. Upon ascending the throne, Mikhail took a solemn oath, in which he promised not to rule without the Zemsky Sobor and the Boyar Duma. The king kept this oath until his father returned from captivity. Filaret, proclaimed patriarch in 1619, also received the title of “great sovereign” and became co-ruler of his son. Until his death in 1633, Filaret was the de facto ruler of Russia. After the death of Mikhail, his son Alexei Mikhailovich (1645-1676) became king. Already under the first kings of the Romanov dynasty, there was a significant strengthening of royal power and a weakening of the role of class-representative bodies in state life. Mikhail Fedorovich’s promise to rule in accordance with the Zemsky Sobor and the Boyar Duma was not accidental: in conditions of economic ruin and the weakness of the central government, the tsar was forced to look for support. First of all, the Zemsky Sobor became such a support. Throughout the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich, a feature of the Zemsky Sobors was a significant increase in the representation of the lower classes. Moreover, the deputies elected to the Council received “instructions” from their voters and had to defend them before the Tsar. However, as the tsarist power strengthened and the situation in the country stabilized, Zemsky Sobors began to meet less and less often. After Filaret's death, some nobles proposed transforming the Zemsky Sobor into a permanent parliament. However, these ideas did not meet the interests of the autocratic government. Councils began to be convened only to approve projects already prepared by the tsar, and not to discuss ways of developing the country. The last Zemsky Sobor, at which various strata of Russian society were widely represented, was convened in 1653. It accepted the population of Left Bank Ukraine and Kyiv into Russian citizenship. Further main support The bureaucracy and the army became autocratic power. The Boyar Duma also gradually lost its former role. The composition of the Duma was expanded by Mikhail Fedorovich - this is how he thanked those who supported his accession to the throne (up to one hundred people). Moreover, the Duma now included not only the clan aristocracy, but also representatives of humble families. The Duma was still called upon to resolve the most important issues - war and peace, approval of bills, introduction of new taxes, resolution of controversial issues, etc. Its work was led by the tsar or a boyar appointed by him. The increase in the size of the Duma made it too cumbersome and forced the tsar to create a more flexible governing body, consisting of the most trusted persons - the “near” (“small”, “secret”) Duma, which gradually replaced the “big” Duma. The Boyar Duma began to be convened in full force less and less often. The “nearby” Duma concentrated in its hands the solution of many issues of public administration. The growth of the country's territory and the complication of economic problems led to a significant increase in the number of orders. IN different time in Russia there were about a hundred of them. Issues of foreign policy (including the release of prisoners of war for ransom) were in charge of the Ambassadorial Prikaz. The palace management and property of the king was handled by the order of the Great Palace. The state order was responsible for the safety of jewelry and belongings of the royal family. The stable order managed numerous royal stables and equipment for royal trips. The Yamsk order was responsible for fast and reliable postal communications. With the increase in the scale of stone construction in the capital and large cities, the Order of Stone Affairs arose. Perhaps the central place was occupied by the Petition Order, which considered the petitions and complaints of the royal subjects. Under Alexei Mikhailovich, there was also an Order of Secret Affairs, which controlled the activities of all government institutions and was in charge of the household of the royal family. However, the numerical growth of orders had a negative impact on the management system as a whole, confused the responsibilities of employees, and increased bureaucratic red tape and abuse of power. Sometimes orders were engaged in solving the same or similar problems. Thus, judicial issues were resolved by the Robber and Zemsky orders. Military affairs were in charge of the Razryadny, Streletsky, Pushkarsky, Inozemsky, Reitarsky, and Cossack orders. A number of orders were responsible for control over local government. All this indicated the need to reform the order system and simplify it. In the 17th century, the main administrative unit remained the county. By the end of the century there were more than 250 of them. The counties, in turn, were divided into camps and volosts. From the very beginning of the century, the tsar appointed governors at the head of counties and a number of border cities. They not only headed local military units, but also had the highest administrative and judiciary: were responsible for collecting taxes, fulfilling duties by the population, and administered justice. To overcome the consequences of the Troubles, it was necessary to pass many new laws. As before, their projects were prepared on behalf of the Tsar by those close to him and gained force after the consent of the Boyar Duma and the Tsar. In cases where the bill was especially important, it was approved by the Zemsky Sobor. The emergence in the first half of the century of new laws, applied along with the laws of earlier times, required their streamlining and consolidation into a single document - a code of laws. The compilation of such a code was entrusted to the confidants of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, headed by Prince N.I. Odoevsky. When drawing up the Council Code (adopted by the Zemsky Sobor in 1649), not only Russian laws, but also foreign ones were used. The young Tsar Alexei himself also participated in the development of the code of laws. The Code reflected the increased role of the tsar in the life of the country. For the first time, the concept of “state crime” was introduced into the law (against the honor and health of the tsar and his family, representatives of state power and the church), for which severe punishment was provided. The Code approved the full right of the landowner to the land and dependent (serf) peasants. An indefinite search for fugitive peasants and a heavy fine for harboring fugitives were established. Thus, during the 17th century, there was a growing tendency to strengthen the autocratic power of the tsar, who now relied not on class representation, but on the bureaucratic apparatus and the army; the final establishment of serfdom took place; The rights and privileges of the nobility, the social support of the tsarist autocracy, increased significantly.

1. Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov (1613 – 1645). Board tasks: completion of the fight with Poland and Sweden; the return of territories lost during the time of troubles; establishing diplomatic relations with neighboring states; restoration of the destroyed economy; restoration of central authority in all regions; improvement of public administration; taking measures to strengthen autocracy; pacification of the country and restoration of Russian statehood. Results of the board: 1617 – Peace of Stolbovo with Sweden (Russia returned the Novgorod land and lost the Baltic coast); 1618 – Deulin truce with Poland (Poland received Smolensk and the Northern Land, but the Polish king and Grand Duke of Lithuania Vladislav IV renounced claims to the Russian throne); establishment of strong centralized power throughout the country through the appointment of governors and village elders; overcoming the severe consequences of the Time of Troubles, restoring normal economy and trade; annexation of the Lower Urals, Baikal region, Yakutia and Chukotka to Russia, access to the Pacific Ocean; reorganization of the army (1631-1634), creation of regiments of the “new system”: Reitar, Dragoon, Soldier; foundation of the first ironworks near Tula (1632).

2. Alexey Mikhailovich Romanov (1645 - 1676). Results of the reign: 1648 – military reform; 13-year war with Poland (1667) (Smolensk and left-bank Ukraine pass to Russia); 1654 – coinage reform (rubles);

3. Fedor III Alekseevich (1676 – 1682). Results of the reign: In 1678 a general census was carried out; In 1679, household direct taxes were introduced, which increased tax oppression. In military affairs, in 1682, the paralyzing local leadership in the army was abolished, and in connection with this, rank books were burned. This put an end to the dangerous custom of boyars and nobles to consider the merits of their ancestors when taking up a position.

The uprising of Stepan Razin: Peasants' War 1670−1671 In Soviet historiography, the reasons indicated are that the period for searching for fugitive peasants became indefinite, and excessive feudal oppression manifested itself. The beginning of the uprising is counted from 1670. The Razins captured Tsaritsyn and approached Astrakhan, which surrendered without a fight. There they executed the governor and nobles and organized their own government led by Vasily Us and Fyodor Sheludyak. After this, the population of the Middle Volga region (Saratov, Samara, Penza) freely went over to Razin’s side. This success was facilitated by the fact that Razin declared everyone who came over to his side a free person. In September 1670, the Razins laid siege to Simbirsk, but were unable to take it. Government troops led by Prince Dolgorukov moved towards Razin. A month after the start of the siege, the tsarist troops defeated the rebels, and the seriously wounded Razin’s associates took him to the Don. Fearing reprisals, the Cossack elite, led by military ataman Kornil Yakovlev, handed Razin over to the authorities. In June 1671 he was executed in Moscow; a few years later his brother Frol was also executed. Despite the execution of their leader, the Razins continued to defend themselves and were able to hold Astrakhan until November 1671.

The reign of Mikhail Romanov (briefly)

The reign of Mikhail Romanov (briefly)

The first ruler of Russia from the new Romanov dynasty was the chosen one of the Zemsky Sobor in 1613, Mikhail Romanov. His parents were Ksenia Ioannovna Shestova and Fyodor Nikitich Romanov. Thus, it was Mikhail who turned out to be the closest in kinship to the former Russian tsars. It is necessary to clarify that the Polish prince Vladislav and the Swedish prince Karl-Philip also laid claim to the Russian throne at that time. After the liberation of Moscow by the militia of Pozharsky and Minin, the future ruler and his mother lived in the Ipatiev Monastery, and Mikhail’s father, under the name Filaret, would later become patriarch (after the coronation of his son). Throughout the entire period, until 1633, the state was actually ruled by Patriarch Filaret.

Having learned about the election of a new king, the Poles tried to prevent this with a small detachment. But on the way to the monastery they met Ivan Susanin, who, at the cost of his life, directed the Poles along the wrong road into the forest, where he was killed by them, but did not tell them how to get to the monastery.

The economy of the state, which was in decline after the very unsuccessful beginning of the seventeenth century for Russia, began to gradually recover. In 1617, a peace treaty was concluded with Sweden, which returned the previously captured Novgorod region. After the actual signing of the treaty with Poland in 1618, Polish troops were completely removed from Russian soil. However, the Smolensk, Seversk and Chernigov territories were lost. Prince Vladislav, refusing to accept the new Russian Tsar, styled himself nothing less than the ruler of Russia.

Frequent raids by the Tatars, which were provoked by Turkey, lead to the formation of serif features in the South of Russia. In order to fight them, they were involved Don Cossacks. At the same time, warm relations were established with Persia, and the lands of the Russian state increased significantly due to the conquest of Siberian territories. During the reign of Mikhail Romanov, taxation of the townspeople was significantly increased.

Besides, in this period An attempt is being made to form a regular army. It should be noted that foreign specialists acted as officers in this army. At the very end of the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, the so-called dragoon regiments were formed, which guarded the external state borders.

The end of the biography of this ruler comes in 1645, and his power passes to his son Alexei.

The main directions of Mikhail Romanov's policy: