TSAR, TSARINA

The term tsar and its variants derive from the Latin word caesar, or emperor. During the fifteenth century, Muscovite grand prince Ivan III began using the term to introduce an added level power and majesty to his rule. In 1547 his son, sixteen-year old prince Ivan IV, crowned himself tsar of all Russia. Indicating the increased significance of Orthodoxy, Ivan adopted other conventions from the Byzantine Empire at the same time, including a variety of court rituals and the double-headed eagle emblem. The eagle signified the uniting of eastern and western Christianity through Ivan III's marriage to Sophia Paleologue, a niece of the last Byzantine emperor, Constantine XI.

Russian leaders continued to be tsars until 1721, when Peter the Great styled himself as "Emperor of All Russia." Peter chose the more Western style because he wanted to reflect Russia's observance of the rule of law and entry into the Age of Reason. However, the term tsar remained in common usage to designate the Russian ruler.

Tsar is used for the male sovereign; his consort is the tsarina. In the event of a female sovereign, such as Catherine the Great, she is crowned tsaritsa. The heir to the throne is designated the tsarevich a word derived from tsar plus the male patronymic suffix "evich."

The term itself has outlived the Russian monarchy. Russian leaders who exhibit autocratic tendencies, most notably Boris Yeltsin, have been derided or lampooned as tsars (e.g., Tsar Boris). Even in the United States, individuals with considerable personal authority have been dubbed tsar. For example, the leader of U.S. drug policy was informally known as the drug tsar.

See also: autocracy

bibliography

Iskenderov, A. A., and Raleigh, Donald J., eds. (1996). The Emperors and Empresses of Russia: Rediscovering the Romanovs. Armonk, NY: M. E. Sharpe.

Lincoln, W. Bruce. (1981). The Romanovs: Autocrats of All the Russias. New York: Dial Press.

Ann E. Robertson