List of Russian rulers - wikipedia List of Russian rulers ' List of tsars ' redirects here. For other uses, see tsar and tsar ( disambiguation ). hide This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. ( Learn how and when to remove these template messages ) The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met. ( October 2013 ) This article relies extensively on quotations that were previously collated by an advocacy or lobbying group. Please improve this article or discuss the issue on the talk page. ( October 2013 ) This article includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. ( October 2013 ) Monarchy of Russia Imperial Coat of arms Last Monarch Nicholas II 1 November 1894 -- 15 March 1917 Details Style His / Her Imperial Majesty First monarch Rurik ( as Prince ) Last monarch Nicholas II ( as Emperor ) Formation 862 Abolition 15 March 1917 Residence Winter Palace Appointer Hereditary Pretender ( s ) Disputed : Maria Vladimirovna Andrew Romanov Prince Karl Emich of Leiningen This is a list of all reigning monarchs in the history of Russia. It includes titles Prince of Novgorod, Grand Prince of Kiev, Grand Prince of Vladimir, Grand Prince of Moscow, Tsar of All Rus ' ( Russia ), and Emperor of All Russia. The list started with a semi-legendary Prince of Novgorod Rurik sometime in the mid 9th century ( 862 ) and ended with the Emperor of All Russia Nicholas II who abdicated in 1917, and was executed with his family in 1918. The vast territory known today as Russia covers an area that has been known historically by various names, including Rus ', Kievan Rus ', the Grand Duchy of Moscow, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, and the sovereigns of these many nations and throughout their histories have used likewise as wide a range of titles in their positions as chief magistrates of a country. Some of the earliest titles include Kniaz and Velikiy Kniaz, which mean `` Prince '' and `` Great Prince '' respectively but are often rendered as `` Duke '' and `` Grand Duke '' in Western literature ; then the title of Tsar, meaning `` Caesar '', which was disputed to be the equal of either a king or emperor ; finally culminating in the title of Emperor. According to Article 59 of the 1906 Russian Constitution, the Russian Tsar held several dozen titles, each one representing a region which the monarch governed. The Patriarchs of Moscow, who were the head of Russian Orthodox Church, also have acted as the leaders of Russia from time to time, usually in periods of political upheaval as during the Polish occupation and interregnum of 1610 -- 13. Contents 1 Princes of Rus ', 862 -- 1547 1.1 Princes of Novgorod 1.2 Grand Princes of Kiev 1.3 Grand Princes of Vladimir 1.4 Grand Princes of Moscow 2 Tsars of Russia, 1547 -- 1721 2.1 Time of Troubles 2.2 House of Romanov 3 Emperors of Russia, 1721 -- 1917 4 Nominal Emperor of Russia, 1922 5 See also 6 References 7 External links Princes of Rus ', 862 -- 1547 Main article : List of early East Slavic states The land that is today known as Russia was populated by various East Slavic peoples from before the 9th century. The first states to exert hegemony over the region were those of the Rus ' people, a branch of Nordic Varangians who moved into the region occupied by modern Russia sometime in the ninth century, and set up a series of states starting with the Rus ' Khaganate circa 830. Little is known of the Rus ' Khaganate beyond its existence, including the extent of its territory or any reliable list of its Khagans ( rulers ). Traditionally, Russian statehood is traced to Rurik, a Rus ' leader of Holmgard ( later Novgorod, modern Veliky Novgorod ), a different Rus ' state. Rurik 's successor Oleg moved his capital to Kiev, founding the state of Kievan Rus '. Over the next several centuries, the most important titles were those of the Grand Prince of Kiev and Grand Prince of Novgorod whose holder ( often the same person ) could claim hegemony. By the early 11th century the Rus ' state had fragmented into a series of petty principalities which warred constantly with each other. In 1097, the Council of Liubech formalized the federal nature of the Russian lands. By the 12th century, the Grand Duchy of Vladimir became the dominant principality, adding its name to those of Novgorod and Kiev, culminating with the rule of Alexander Nevsky. After Alexander Nevsky, the region once again broke up into petty states, though the Grand Duchy of Moscow, founded by Alexander Nevsky 's youngest son Daniel, began to consolidate control over the entire Russian territory in the 15th century. Following the Mongol conquests of the 13th century, all of the Russian principalities paid tribute to the Golden Horde, effectively operating as vassals of the Mongol state. The Russians began to exert independence from the Mongols, culminating with Ivan the Great of Moscow ceasing tribute to the Horde, effectively declaring his independence. Last Grand Prince of Moscow Ivan the Terrible assumed the title Tsar of All the Russias in 1547. Princes of Novgorod Name Lifespan Reign start Reign end Notes Family Image Rurik I Рюрик Unknown ( around year 830 ) -- 879 862 879 Founder of Rurik Dynasty Rurikids Oleg of Novgorod Олег 855 -- 912 879 882 Relative of Rurik and regent of Rurik 's son, Prince Igor of Kiev Rurikids Grand Princes of Kiev Name Lifespan Reign start Reign end Notes Family Image Askold and Dir Haskuldr and Dýri 9th century 842 or 862 882 Askold and Dir were Rus chieftains and members of Rurik 's army Askold was a descendent of the Kyi Dynasty Kyi Dynasty ( Askold ) Oleg of Novgorod Олег 855 -- 912 882 Autumn 912 He was successor of Askold and Dir as a regent of Rurik 's son Rurikids Igor I Игорь 878 -- 945 879 ( in Novgorod as an heir of Rurik ), 913 ( as a successor of Rurik after Oleg 's regency ) Autumn 945 Son of Rurik Rurikids Olga of Kiev Ольга 890 -- 969 945 962 Wife of Igor I and regent of Sviatoslav I Rurikids Sviatoslav I Свѧтославъ 942 -- 972 Autumn 945 March 972 Son of Igor I and Olga of Kiev Rurikids Yaropolk I Ярополк I Святославич 950 -- 980 March 972 11 June 980 Son of Sviatoslav I and Predslava Rurikids Vladimir I Володимѣръ Свѧтославичь 958 -- 1015 11 June 980 15 July 1015 Son of Sviatoslav I and Malusha Younger brother of Yaropolk I Rurikids Sviatopolk I Свѧтоплъкъ 980 -- 1019 15 July 1015 Autumn 1016 Son of Yaropolk I During his reign, Kievan Rus ' was conquered by Poland Rurikids Yaroslav I Ꙗрославъ Володимировичъ Мѫдрꙑи 978 -- 1054 Autumn 1016 Summer 1018 Son of Vladimir I and Rogneda of Polotsk Rurikids Sviatopolk I Свѧтоплъкъ 980 -- 1019 14 August 1018 27 July 1019 Restored Rurikids Yaroslav I Ꙗрославъ Володимировичъ Мѫдрꙑи 978 -- 1054 27 July 1019 20 February 1054 Restored Rurikids Iziaslav I Ізяслав I Ярославич 1024 -- 1078 20 February 1054 15 September 1068 First son of Yaroslav I and Ingegerd Olofsdotter Rurikids Vseslav of Polotsk Всеслав Брячиславич 1039 -- 1101 15 September 1068 29 April 1069 Great - grandson of Vladimir I Usurped the Kievan Throne Rurikids Iziaslav I Ізяслав I Ярославич 1024 -- 1078 2 May 1069 22 March 1073 Restored Rurikids Sviatoslav II Святослав Ярославович 1027 -- 1076 22 March 1073 27 December 1076 Third son of Yaroslav I and Ingegerd Olofsdotter Rurikids Vsevolod I Всеволод I Ярославич 1030 -- 1093 1 January 1077 15 July 1077 Fourth son of Yaroslav I and Ingegerd Olofsdotter Rurikids Iziaslav I Ізяслав I Ярославич 1024 -- 1078 15 July 1077 3 October 1078 Restored Rurikids Vsevolod I Всеволод I Ярославич 1030 -- 1093 3 October 1078 13 April 1093 Restored Rurikids Sviatopolk II Святополк Ізяславич 1050 -- 1113 24 April 1093 16 April 1113 Son of Iziaslav I Rurikids Vladimir II Володимѣръ Мономахъ 1053 -- 1125 20 April 1113 19 May 1125 Son of Vsevolod I and Anastasia of Byzantium Rurikids Mstislav I Мстислав Володимирович Великий 1076 -- 1132 20 May 1125 15 April 1132 Son of Vladimir II and Gytha of Wessex Rurikids Yaropolk II Ярополк II Владимирович 1082 -- 1139 17 April 1132 18 February 1139 Son of Vladimir II and Gytha of Wessex Younger brother of Mstislav I Rurikids Viacheslav I Вячеслав Владимирович 1083 -- 2 February 1154 22 February 1139 4 March 1139 Son of Vladimir II and Gytha of Wessex Younger brother of Mstislav I and Yaropolk II Rurikids Vsevolod II Всеволод II Ольгович 1084 -- 1146 5 March 1139 30 July 1146 Grandson of Sviatoslav II Rurikids Igor II Игорь II Ольгович 1096 -- 19 September 1146 1 August 1146 13 August 1146 Grandson of Sviatoslav II Rurikids Iziaslav II Ізяслав Мстиславич 1097 -- 1154 13 August 1146 23 August 1149 Son of Mstislav I and Christina Ingesdotter of Sweden Rurikids Yuri I Юрий Владимирович 1099 -- 1157 28 August 1149 Summer 1150 Son of Vladimir II and Gytha of Wessex Younger brother of Mstislav I, Yaropolk II and Viacheslav I Rurikids Viacheslav I Вячеслав Владимирович 1083 -- 2 February 1154 Summer 1150 Summer 1150 Restored Rurikids Iziaslav II Ізяслав Мстиславич 1097 -- 1154 Summer 1150 Summer 1150 Restored Rurikids Yuri I Юрий Владимирович 1099 -- 1157 August 1150 Winter 1151 Restored Rurikids Iziaslav II Ізяслав Мстиславич 1097 -- 1154 Winter 1151 13 November 1154 Restored Rurikids Viacheslav I Вячеслав Владимирович 1083 -- 2 February 1154 Spring 1151 6 February 1154 Restored Rurikids Rostislav I Ростислав Мстиславич 1110 -- 1167 1154 January 1155 Son of Mstislav I and Christina Ingesdotter of Sweden Younger brother of Iziaslav II Rurikids Iziaslav III Изяслав III Давидович 12th century January 1155 1155 Grandson of Sviatoslav II Rurikids Yuri I Юрий Владимирович 1099 -- 1157 20 March 1155 15 May 1157 Restored Rurikids Iziaslav III Изяслав III Давидович 12th century 19 May 1157 December 1158 Restored Rurikids Mstislav II Мстислав Изяславич 1125 -- 1170 22 December 1158 Spring 1159 Son of Iziaslav II Rurikids Rostislav I Ростислав Мстиславич 1110 -- 1167 12 April 1159 8 February 1161 Restored Rurikids Iziaslav III Изяслав III Давидович 12th century 12 February 1161 6 March 1161 Restored Rurikids Rostislav I Ростислав Мстиславич 1110 -- 1167 March 1161 14 March 1167 Restored Rurikids Vladimir III Владимир III Мстиславич 1132 -- 1173 Spring 1167 Spring 1167 Son of Mstislav I Younger brother of Iziaslav II and Rostislav I Rurikids Mstislav II Мстислав Изяславич 1125 -- 1170 19 May 1167 12 March 1169 Restored Rurikids In 1169 Vladimir - Suzdal troops took Kiev. This act underlined the declining importance of that city. Grand Princes of Vladimir The state of Vladimir - Suzdal ( formally the Grand Duchy of Vladimir ) became dominant among the various petty principalities to form from the dissolution of the Kievan Rus ' state. The title of Grand Prince of Vladimir became one of the three titles ( along with Kiev and Novgorod ) possessed by the most important rulers among the Russian nobility. While Vladimir enjoyed hegemony for a time, it too disintegrated into a series of petty states. The most important of these became Grand Duchy of Moscow, which itself eventually evolved into the Tsardom of Russia. Name Lifespan Reign start Reign end Notes Family Image Andrey I Андрей Боголюбский 1110 -- 1174 15 May 1157 29 June 1174 Son of Yuri I Rurikids Mikhail I Михаил 12th century 1174 September 1174 Son of Yuri I Younger brother of Andrey I Rurikids Yaropolk III Ярополк Ростиславич 12th century 1174 15 June 1175 Grandson of Yuri I Rurikids Mikhail I Михаил 12th century 15 June 1175 20 June 1176 Restored Rurikids Vsevolod III Все́волод III Ю́рьевич Большо́е Гнездо́ 1154 -- 1212 June 1176 15 April 1212 Son of Yuri I and Helene Younger brother of Andrey I and Mikhail I Rurikids Yuri II Ю́рий II 1189 -- 1238 1212 27 April 1216 Son of Vselovod III and Maria Shvarnovna Rurikids Konstantin of Rostov Константи́н Все́володович 1186 -- 1218 Spring 1216 2 February 1218 Son of Vsevolod III and Maria Shvarnovna Elder brother of Yuri II Rurikids Yuri II Ю́рий II 1189 -- 1238 February 1218 4 March 1238 Restored Rurikids Yaroslav II Яросла́в II Все́володович 1191 -- 1246 1238 30 September 1246 Son of Vsevolod III and Maria Shvarnovna Younger brother of Yuri II and Konstantin of Rostov Rurikids Sviatoslav III Святослав III Всеволодович 1196 -- 3 February 1252 1246 1248 Son of Vsevolod III and Maria Shvarnovna Younger brother of Yuri II, Konstantin of Rostov and Yaroslav II Rurikids Mikhail Khorobrit Михайл Ярославич Хоробрит 1229 -- 15 January 1248 1248 15 January 1248 Son of Yaroslav II Rurikids Sviatoslav III Святослав III Всеволодович 1196 -- 3 February 1252 1248 1249 Restored Rurikids Andrey II Андрей Ярославич 1221 -- 1264 December 1249 24 July 1252 Son of Yaroslav II Elder brother of Mikhail Khorobrit Rurikids Alexander Nevsky Алекса́ндр Яросла́вич Не́вский 1220 -- 1263 1252 14 November 1263 Son of Yaroslav II and Rostislava Mstislavna, daughter of Kievan Rus ' Prince Mstislav Mstislavich the Bold Elder brother of Mikhail Khorobrit and Andrey II Rurikids Yaroslav III Ярослав Ярославич 1230 -- 1272 1264 1271 Son of Yaroslav II and Fedosia Igorevna Younger brother of Alexander Nevsky, Andrey II and Mikhail Khorobrit Rurikids Vasily of Kostroma Василий Ярославич 1241 -- 1276 1272 January 1277 Son of Yaroslav II Rurikids Dmitry of Pereslavl Дмитрий Александрович 1250 -- 1294 1277 1281 Son of Alexander Nevsky Rurikids Andrey III Андрей Александрович 1255 -- 1304 1281 December 1283 Son of Alexander Nevsky Younger brother of Dmitry of Pereslavl Rurikids Dmitry of Pereslavl Дмитрий Александрович 1250 -- 1294 December 1283 1293 Restored Rurikids Andrey III Андрей Александрович 1255 -- 1304 1293 1304 Restored Rurikids Michael of Tver Михаил Ярославич 1271 -- 1318 Autumn 1304 22 November 1318 Son of Yaroslav III and Xenia of Tarusa Rurikids Yuri III Юрий Данилович 1281 -- 1325 1318 2 November 1322 Grandson of Alexander Nevsky Rurikids Dmitry of Tver Дми́трий Миха́йлович Тверcко́й 1299 -- 1326 1322 15 September 1326 Son of Michael of Tver and Anna of Kashin Rurikids Alexander of Tver Александр Михайлович Тверской 1281 -- 1339 1326 1327 Son of Michale of Tver and Anna of Kashin Elder brother of Dmitry of Tver Rurikids Alexander of Suzdal Александр Суздале 14th century 1328 1331 Grandson of Andrey II Rurikids Ivan I Ива́н I Дании́лович Калита́ 1288 -- 1340 1332 31 March 1340 Grandson of Alexander Nevsky Son of Daniel of Moscow Rurikids After 1331, the title of the Grand Princes of Vladimir was assigned to the Princes of Moscow. Grand Princes of Moscow Alexander Nevsky, Grand Prince of Vladimir, placed his youngest son Daniel in charge of the territory around Moscow, and establishing the state of Muscovy, originally a vassal state to Vladimir - Suzdal. Daniel 's son Ivan I assumed the title of Vladimir himself, establishing Muscovy as the premier principality among the various Russian states. Later rulers of Muscovy consolidated power, culminating with Ivan III who threw off the Mongol yoke and conquered most of the other Russian states. His son Vasili III completed the task of uniting all of Russia by eliminating the last few independent states in the 1520s. Vasili 's son Ivan the Terrible formalized the situation by assuming the title Tsar of All the Russias in 1547. Name Lifespan Reign start Reign end Notes Family Image Daniel of Moscow Даниил Александрович 1261 -- 4 March 1303 1283 4 March 1303 Son of Alexander Nevsky and Maria Rurikids Yury of Moscow Юрий Данилович 1281 -- 21 November 1325 4 March 1303 21 November 1325 Son of Daniel Elder brother of Ivan I Rurikids Ivan I Ива́н I Дании́лович Калита́ 1288 -- 1340 21 November 1325 31 March 1340 He was a successor of Alexander of Suzdal as Grand Prince of Vladimir and a successor of Yury of Moscow as Grand Prince of Moscow Rurikids Simeon of Moscow Семён Иванович Гордый 7 November 1316 -- 27 April 1353 31 March 1340 27 April 1353 Son of Ivan I and Helena Rurikids Ivan II Иван II Иванович Красный 30 March 1326 -- 13 November 1359 27 April 1353 13 November 1359 Son of Ivan I and Helena Younger brother of Simeon of Moscow Rurikids Dmitry of the Don Дми́трий Ива́нович Донско́й 12 October 1350 -- 19 May 1389 13 November 1359 19 May 1389 Son of Ivan II and Alexandra Vasilyevna Velyaminova Rurikids Vasily I Василий I Дмитриевич 30 December 1371 -- 27 February 1425 19 May 1389 27 February 1425 Son of Dmitry I and Eudoxia Dmitriyevna Rurikids Vasily II Василий II Васильевич Тёмный 10 March 1415 -- 27 March 1462 27 February 1425 30 March 1434 Son of Vasily I and Sophia of Lithuania Rurikids Yury of Zvenigorod Ю́рий Дми́триевич 26 November 1374 -- 5 June 1434 31 March 1434 5 June 1434 Son of Dmitry I and Eudoxia Dmitriyevna Younger brother of Vasily I Rurikids Vasily Kosoy Василий Юрьевич Косой 1421 -- 1435 5 June 1434 1435 Son of Yury of Zvenigorod Rurikids Vasily II Василий II Васильевич Тёмный 10 March 1415 -- 27 March 1462 1435 1446 Restored Rurikids Dmitry Shemyaka Дмитрий Юрьевич Шемяка 15th century 1446 26 March 1447 Son of Yury of Zvenigorod Rurikids Vasily II Василий II Васильевич Тёмный 10 March 1415 -- 27 March 1462 27 February 1447 27 March 1462 Restored Rurikids Ivan III Иван III Васильевич 22 January 1440 -- 6 November 1505 5 April 1462 6 November 1505 Son of Vasily II and Maria of Borovsk Rurikids Vasily III Василий III Иванович 25 March 1479 -- 13 December 1533 6 November 1505 13 December 1533 Son of Ivan III and Sophia Paleologue Rurikids Ivan IV Ива́н Васи́льевич Ivan the Terrible 25 August 1530 -- 28 March 1584 Grand Prince : 13 December 1533 Tsar : 26 January 1547 Grand Prince : 26 January 1547 Tsar : 28 March 1584 Son of Vasily III and Elena Glinskaya Rurikids Tsars of Russia, 1547 -- 1721 From the rule of Ivan III, the Grand Duchy of Moscow effectively became the dominant Russian state, overthrowing the Golden Horde, consolidating all remaining Russian principalities under itself, and conquering lands far from its roots in the city of Moscow. While Ivan III became effective ruler over the entirety of Russia, the situation was not formally recognized until his grandson Ivan IV assumed the title Tsar in 1547, when the state of Russia ( apart from its constituent principalities ) came into formal being. Dates are listed in the Old Style, which continued to be used in Russia until the revolution. Name Lifespan Reign start Reign end Notes Family Image Ivan IV Ива́н Васи́льевич Ivan the Terrible 25 August 1530 -- 28 March 1584 Grand Prince : 13 December 1533 Tsar : 26 January 1547 Grand Prince : 26 January 1547 Tsar : 28 March 1584 Son of Vasily III and Elena Glinskaya Rurikids Simeon Bekbulatovich Симеон Бекбулатович 16th / 17th centuries 1575 1576 Muslim - born Khan of Qasim Khanate Proclaimed Grand Prince of All Rus ' in 1575 and abdicated within a year Qasim Feodor I Фёдор I Иванович 31 May 1557 -- 17 January 1598 28 March 1584 17 January 1598 Son of Ivan IV and Anastasia Romanovna Rurikids Time of Troubles Following the death of the Feodor I, the son of Ivan the Terrible and the last of the Rurik dynasty, Russia fell into a succession crisis known as the Time of Troubles. As Feodor left no male heirs, the Russian Zemsky Sobor ( feudal parliament ) elected his brother - in - law Boris Godunov to be Tsar. Devastated by famine, rule under Boris descended into anarchy. A series of impostors, known as the False Dmitriys, each claimed to be Feodor 's long deceased younger brother ; however, only the first impostor ever legitimately held the title of Tsar. A distant Rurikid cousin, Vasili Shuyskiy, also took power for a time. During this period, foreign powers deeply involved themselves in Russian politics, under the leadership of the Vasa monarchs of Sweden and Poland - Lithuania, including Sigismund III Vasa and his son Władysław IV Vasa. As a child, Władysław was even chosen as Tsar by the Seven Boyars, though he was prevented by his father from formally taking the throne. The Time of Troubles is considered to have ended with the election of Michael Romanov to the throne, who established the Romanov dynasty that would rule Russia until the Russian Revolution of 1917. Name Lifespan Reign start Reign end Notes Family Image Boris Godunov Бори́с Фёдорович Годуно́в ca. 1551 -- 13 April 1605 21 February 1598 13 April 1605 Brother - in - law of Feodor I Chosen by Zemsky Sobor Godunov Feodor II Фёдор II Борисович 1589 -- 20 June 1605 13 April 1605 10 June 1605 Son of Boris Godunov and Maria Grigorievna Skuratova - Belskaya Murdered. Godunov False Dmitriy I Дмитрий Иванович ca. 1581 -- 17 May 1606 10 June 1605 17 May 1606 Claiming to be son of Ivan IV, he was the only imposter to actually sit on the throne of a major power Backed by Polish -- Lithuanian Commonwealth. Murdered. Rurikids ( claimed ) Vasily IV Василий IV Иванович Шуйский 22 September 1552 -- 12 September 1612 19 May 1606 17 July 1610 ( deposed ) Ninth generation descendant of Andrei II in the male line Shuysky Vladislav Władysław IV Waza 9 June 1595 -- 20 May 1648 6 September 1610 November 1612 ( deposed ) 14 June 1634 ( resigned his claim ) King of Poland Son of Sigismund III Vasa and Anne of Austria, Queen of Poland Vasa House of Romanov The Time of Troubles came to a close with the election of Michael Romanov as Tsar in 1613. Michael officially reigned as Tsar, though his father, the Patriarch Philaret ( died 1633 ) initially held the real power. However, Michael 's descendents would rule Russia, first as Tsars and later as Emperors, until the Russian Revolution of 1917. Peter the Great ( reigned 1682 -- 1725 ), a grandson of Michael Romanov, reorganized the Russian state along more Western lines, establishing the Russian Empire in 1721. Name Lifespan Reign start Reign end Notes Family Image Michael Михаи́л Фёдорович Рома́нов 12 July 1596 -- 12 July 1645 26 July 1613 12 July 1645 Founder of Romanov Dynasty First cousin once removed of Feodor I Romanov Alexis Алексе́й Миха́йлович 9 May 1629 -- 29 January 1676 12 July 1645 29 January 1676 Son of Michael I and Eudoxia Streshneva Romanov Feodor III Фёдор III Алексеевич 9 June 1661 -- 7 May 1682 29 January 1676 7 May 1682 Son of Alexis I and Maria Ilyinichna Miloslavskaya Romanov Sophia Alekseyevna ( regent ) Со́фья Алексе́евна 17 September 1657 -- 3 July 1704 17 May 1682 27 August 1689 Daughter of Alexis I and Maria Miloslavskaya Elder sister of Feodor III She ruled as a regent of Ivan V and Peter I Romanov Ivan V Иван V Алексеевич 6 September 1666 -- 8 February 1696 2 June 1682 8 February 1696 Son of Alexis I and Maria Miloslavskaya Younger brother of Sophia Alekseyevna and Feodor III He `` ruled '' jointly with Peter I, but in fact had no power. Romanov Peter I Пётр Вели́кий Peter the Great 9 June 1672 -- 8 February 1725 Tsar : 2 June 1682 Emperor : 2 November 1721 Tsar : 2 November 1721 Emperor : 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 Emperors of Russia, 1721 -- 1917 ( Also Grand Princes of Finland from 1809 until 1917 ; and Kings of Poland from 1815 until 1917 ) The Empire of Russia was declared by Peter the Great in 1721. Officially, Russia would be ruled by the Romanov dynasty until the Russian Revolution of 1917. However, direct male descendants of Michael Romanov came to an end in 1730 with the death of Peter II of Russia, grandson of Peter the Great. The throne passed to Anna, a niece of Peter the Great, and after the brief rule of her niece 's infant son Ivan VI, the throne was seized by Elizabeth, a daughter of Peter the Great. Elizabeth would be the last of the direct Romanovs to rule Russia. Elizabeth declared her nephew, Peter, to be her heir. Peter ( who would rule as Peter III ) spoke little Russian, having been a German prince of the House of Holstein - Gottorp before arriving in Russia to assume the Imperial title. He and his German wife Sophia changed their name to Romanov upon inheriting the throne. Peter was ill - liked, and he was assassinated within six months of assuming the throne, in a coup orchestrated by his wife, who became Empress in her own right and ruled as Catherine the Great ( both Peter and Catherine were descended from the House of Rurik ). Following the confused successions of the descendants of Peter the Great, Catherine 's son Paul I established clear succession laws which governed the rules of primogeniture over the Imperial throne until the fall of the Empire in 1917. Name Lifespan Reign start Reign end Notes Family Image Peter I Пётр Вели́кий Peter the Great 9 June 1672 -- 8 February 1725 Tsar : 2 June 1682 Emperor : 2 November 1721 Tsar : 2 November 1721 Emperor : 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 Skowroński 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 13 February 1730 28 October 1740 Daughter of Ivan V Romanov Anna Leopoldovna ( regent ) А́нна Леопо́льдовна 18 December 1718 -- 19 March 1746 ) 28 October 1740 6 December 1741 Regent for her son Ivan VI Deposed by Empress Elizabeth and Imprisoned Brunswick - Bevern 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 Brunswick - Bevern Elizabeth Елизаве́та 29 December 1709 -- 5 January 1762 6 December 1741 5 January 1762 Daughter of Peter I and Catherine I. Romanov Peter III Пётр III Фëдорович 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, with Rurikid descent. 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 Constantine Pavlovich Константи́н Па́влович 27 April 1779 -- 27 June 1831 1 December 1825 26 December 1825 Son of Paul I and Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg Younger brother of Alexander I Uncrowned ( abdicated the throne ) 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 and Constantine Pavlovich 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 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 18 May 1868 ( N.S. ) -- 17 July 1918 1 November 1894 15 March 1917 N.S. ( 2 March O.S. ) Son of Alexander III and Maria Feodorovna Abdicated the throne during the February Revolution Executed by Bolsheviks Holstein - Gottorp - Romanov Nicholas II abdicated in favour of his brother, Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich, but the next day, after a nominal reign of only 18 hours, `` Emperor Michael II '' abdicated, ending dynastic rule in Russia forever. ( He is not normally considered to be the last tsar. ) See List of leaders of Russia for the continuation of leadership. Nominal Emperor of Russia, 1922 Main article : Line of succession to the Russian throne Name Lifespan Reign start Reign end Notes Family Image Nikolai Nikolaevich 6 November 1856 -- 5 January 1929 8 August 1922 25 October 1922 Grandson of Nicholas I Proclaimed Emperor of Russia by the Zemsky Sobor of the Provisional Priamurye Government. His nominal rule came to an end when the areas controlled by the Provisional Priamurye Government were overrun by the communists. Holstein - Gottorp - Romanov See also Russia portal Monarchy portal Family tree of the Russian rulers List of Russian consorts List of heads of government of Russia List of leaders of the Soviet Union List of leaders of the Russian SFSR Premier of the Soviet Union List of presidents of Russia Prime Minister of Russia References Jump up ^ `` Russian history : Kievan Rus ''. Russiapedia. RT. Retrieved November 26, 2013. Jump up ^ Glenn E. Curtis ( 1996 ). `` Kievan Rus ' and Mongol Periods ''. Russia : A Country Study. Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 26 November 2013. Jump up ^ Suszko, Henryk ( 2003 ). Latopis hustyński. Opracowanie, przekład i komentarze. Slavica Wratislaviensia CXXIV. Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego. ISBN 83 - 229 - 2412 - 7 ; Tolochko, Oleksiy ( 2010 ). The Hustyn ' Chronicle. ( Harvard Library of Early Ukrainian Literature : Texts ) ISBN 978 - 1 - 932650 - 03 - 7 Jump up ^ according to the Tale of Bygone Years, the date is not clearly identified Jump up ^ Montefiore, Simon S. ( 2016 ) The Romanovs, 1613 -- 1918 London : Weidenfeld & Nicolson, pp. 619 -- 621 External links Godunov to Nicholas II by Saul Zaklad ( in Russian ) Principality of Vladimir - Suzdal Timeline of Russian Emperors and Empresses History of Russian imperial titles. Bibliography hide Sovereigns of the Vladimir - Suzdal Principality, Grand Principality of Moscow, Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire Grand Princes Yuri Dolgorukiy Andrei I Bogolyubsky Mikhail of Vladimir Vsevolod the Big Nest Yuri II of Vladimir Konstantin of Rostov Yuri II of Vladimir Yaroslav II of Vladimir Sviatoslav III of Vladimir Andrey II of Vladimir Alexander Nevsky Yaroslav of Tver Vasily of Kostroma Dmitry of Pereslavl Andrey of Gorodets Mikhail of Tver Yuri of Moscow Dmitry the Terrible Eyes Alexander of Tver Ivan I Simeon the Proud Ivan II Dmitry of Suzdal Dmitry Donskoy Vasily I Vasily II Ivan III the Great Vasily III Ivan IV Tsars Ivan IV the Terrible Feodor I Boris Feodor II Dmitry I ( also as Emperor ) Vasili IV Vladislav I Michael I Alexis Feodor III Peter I and Ivan V ( co-rulers ) Emperors and Empresses Peter I the Great Catherine I Peter II Anna Ivan VI Elizabeth Peter III Catherine II the Great Paul Alexander I Nicholas I Alexander II Alexander III Nicholas II People from Russia Political and religious leaders Pre-1168 1168 -- 1917 1922 -- 1991 1991 -- present RSFSR leaders General secretaries Soviet premiers ( 1st deputies ) Soviet heads of state ( and their spouses ) Prime ministers ( 1st deputies ) Foreign ministers Prosecutors general Metropolitans and Patriarchs Saints ( 1, 2 ) Military figures and explorers Field marshals Soviet marshals Admirals Aviators Cosmonauts Scientists, engineers and inventors Aerospace engineers Astronomers and astrophysicists Biologists Chemists Earth scientists Electrical engineers IT developers Linguists and philologists Mathematicians Naval engineers Physicians and psychologists Physicists Weaponry makers Artists and writers Architects Ballet dancers Composers Opera singers Novelists Philosophers Playwrights Poets Sportspeople Chess players Monarchies in the Americas Current Indigenous monarchies Antigua and Barbuda The Bahamas Barbados Belize Canada Grenada Jamaica Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Settled monarchies Denmark Netherlands United Kingdom Former Indigenous monarchies Araucania and Patagonia Aztec Inca Neo-Inca Maya Miskito Taíno Colonial monarchies Courland and Semigallia France Portugal Russia Spain Sweden Latin American monarchies Brazil ( 1822 -- 89 ) Haiti 1804 -- 06 1811 -- 20 1849 -- 59 Mexico 1822 -- 23 1864 -- 67 Related List of monarchs in the Americas List of the last monarchs in the Americas Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Russian_rulers&oldid=856398069 '' Categories : Russia history - related lists Lists of monarchs Lists of European rulers Lists of Russian people Royal titles Russian Empire Russian monarchs Lists of Asian rulers Hidden categories : NPOV disputes from October 2013 All NPOV disputes Articles needing more viewpoints from October 2013 Articles lacking in - text citations from October 2013 All articles lacking in - text citations Articles with multiple maintenance issues All articles with specifically marked weasel - worded phrases Articles with specifically marked weasel - worded phrases from October 2013 Articles with Russian - language external links Use dmy dates from May 2013 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Аҧсшәа Azərbaycanca Български Čeština Deutsch Eesti Esperanto فارسی Français 한국어 Հայերեն Hrvatski Ido Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית Basa Jawa ქართული Latviešu Limburgs Magyar Македонски مصرى မြန်မာဘာသာ Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Occitan Polski Português Română Русский Саха тыла Slovenčina Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska Татарча / tatarça ไทย Türkçe Українська Vepsän kel ' 中文 36 more Edit links This page was last edited on 24 August 2018, at 22 : 09 ( UTC ). 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Question: what were the emperors of the russian empire called
Answer: Tsar