Emperor of Russia

This article is about the ruler of Russia. For Russian monarchs, see List of Russian monarchs.

Emperor and Autocrat of all Russia
Император и Самодержец Всероссийский
Imperial
Imperial Standard (1858–1917)
Last to Reign Nicholas II 1 November 1894 – 15 March 1917
Details
Style	His/Her Imperial Majesty
First monarch	Peter I
Last monarch	Nicholas II
Formation	2 November 1721
Abolition	15 March 1917
Residences	Winter Palace Moscow Kremlin Peterhof Palace Catherine Palace Alexander Palace
Appointer	Hereditary
Pretender(s)	Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia Prince Karl Emich of Leiningen

The Emperor of Russia, also known as the Tsar, was the ruler of the Russian Empire. This title was used from the 16th century until the monarch was abolished in 1917. The Tsar had absolute power over the government, military, and religion in Russia. The position was usually passed down from father to son within royal families.

The Tsars were considered to be divinely appointed and often ruled with strong authority, although some, like Peter the Great, made reforms to modernize Russia. The last emperor was Tsar Nicholas II. He abdicated from the throne in 1917 after Russia's defeat in World War I and following the Russian Revolution. His reign ended the Russian Empire and the Romanov dynasty's 300-year rule of Russia.

List of emperors

See the main article: List of Russian monarchs

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Peter I Пётр Вели́кий Peter the Great	9 June 1672 — 8 February 1725	as a tsar: 2 June 1682 as an emperor: 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 Екатери́на I Алексе́евна	15 April 1684 — 17 May 1727	8 February 1725	17 May 1727	Wife of Peter I	Skavronsky (by birth) Romanov (by marriage)
Peter II 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 of the direct male Romanov line.	Romanov
Anna Анна Иоанновна	7 February 1693 — 28 October 1740	15 February 1730	28 October 1740	Daughter of Ivan V	Romanov
Ivan VI Иван VI	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	Mecklenburg-Brunswick-Romanov
Elizabeth Елизаве́та	29 December 1709 — 5 January 1762	6 December 1741	5 January 1762	Daughter of Peter I and Catherine I, usurped the throne.	Romanov
Peter III Пётр III Фёдорович	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 Екатерина Алексеевна Catherine the Great	2 May 1729 — 17 November 1796	9 July 1762	17 November 1796	Wife of Peter III	Ascania (by birth) Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov (by marriage)
Paul I Па́вел I Петро́вич	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 Александр Павлович	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
Nicholas I Николай I Павлович	6 July 1796 — 2 March 1855	1 December 1825	2 March 1855	Son of Paul I and Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg Younger brother of Alexander I	Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov
Alexander II Алекса́ндр II Никола́евич	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 Алекса́ндр III Алекса́ндрович	10 March 1845 — 1 November 1894	13 March 1881	1 November 1894	Son of Alexander II and Maria Alexandrovna	Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov
Nicholas II Николай II Алекса́ндрович	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 the Bolsheviks	Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov