# List of heirs to the Russian throne

This is a list of the individuals who were, at any given time, considered the next in line to inherit the throne of Russia or Grand Prince of Moscow. Those who actually succeeded (at any future time) are shown in bold. Stillborn children and infants surviving less than a month are not included.

## 1281 to 1547

At this time the ruler is known as Grand Prince of Moscow.
| Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Next in line | Monarch |
| Yury Danilovich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 1281 | born | 4 March 1303 | became Grand Prince | Ivan Danilovich 1288–1303, brother | Daniel |
| Ivan Danilovich | Heir presumptive | brother | 4 March 1303 | brother became Grand Prince | 21 November 1325 | became Grand Prince | uncertain | Yury |
| Ivan Danilovich | Heir presumptive | brother | 4 March 1303 | brother became Grand Prince | 21 November 1325 | became Grand Prince | Simeon Ivanovich 1316–1325, son | Yury |
| Simeon Ivanovich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 21 November 1325 | father became Grand Prince | 31 March 1340 | became Grand Prince | Ivan Ivanovich 1325–1340, brother | Ivan I |
| Ivan Ivanovich | Heir presumptive | brother | 31 March 1340 | brother became Grand Prince | 1348 | son born to Grand Prince | uncertain | Simeon |
| Ivan Simeonovich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 1349 | born | 1353 | died | Ivan Ivanovich 1349–c. 1350, uncle | Simeon |
| Ivan Simeonovich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 1349 | born | 1353 | died | XX Simeonovich c. 1350–1353, brother | Simeon |
| Ivan Ivanovich | Heir presumptive | brother | 1353 | death of Grand Prince's sons | 27 April 1353 | became Grand Prince | Dmitry Ivanovich 1353, son | Simeon |
| Dmitry Ivanovich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 27 April 1353 | father became Grand Prince | 13 November 1359 | became Grand Prince | uncertain | Ivan II |
| Dmitry Ivanovich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 27 April 1353 | father became Grand Prince | 13 November 1359 | became Grand Prince | Ivan Ivanovich c. 1356–1359, brother | Ivan II |
| Ivan Ivanovich | Heir presumptive | brother | 13 November 1359 | brother became Grand Prince | 1364 | died | Vladimir Andreyevich 1359–1364, cousin | Dmitry Donskoy |
| Vladimir Andreyevich | Heir presumptive | cousin | 1364 | death of Grand Prince's brother | c. 1370 | son born to Grand Prince | uncertain | Dmitry Donskoy |
| Daniil Dmitrievich | Heir apparent | eldest son | c. 1370 | born | 15 September 1379 | died | Vladimir Andreyevich 1370–1371, father's cousin | Dmitry Donskoy |
| Daniil Dmitrievich | Heir apparent | eldest son | c. 1370 | born | 15 September 1379 | died | Vasily Dmitrievich 1371–1379, brother | Dmitry Donskoy |
| Vasily Dmitrievich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 15 September 1379 | brother died | 19 May 1389 | became Grand Prince | Yury Dmitrievich 1379–1389, brother | Dmitry Donskoy |
| Yury Dmitrievich | Heir presumptive | brother | 19 May 1389 | brother became Grand Prince | 30 March 1395 | son born to Grand Prince | Andrey Dmitrievich 1389–1395, brother | Vasily I |
| Yury Vasilievich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 30 March 1395 | born | 30 November 1400 | died | Yury Dmitrievich 1395–1396, uncle | Vasily I |
| Yury Vasilievich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 30 March 1395 | born | 30 November 1400 | died | Ivan Vasilievich 1396–1400, brother | Vasily I |
| Ivan Vasilievich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 30 November 1400 | brother died | 20 July 1417 | died | Yury Dmitrievich 1400, uncle | Vasily I |
| Ivan Vasilievich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 30 November 1400 | brother died | 20 July 1417 | died | Daniel Vasilievich 1400–1402, brother | Vasily I |
| Ivan Vasilievich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 30 November 1400 | brother died | 20 July 1417 | died | Yury Dmitrievich 1402–1415, uncle | Vasily I |
| Ivan Vasilievich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 30 November 1400 | brother died | 20 July 1417 | died | Vasily Vasilievich 1415–1417, brother | Vasily I |
| Vasily Vasilievich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 20 July 1417 | brother died | 27 February 1425 | became Grand Prince | Yury Dmitrievich 1417–1425, uncle | Vasily I |
| Yury Dmitrievich | Heir presumptive | uncle | 27 February 1425 | nephew became Grand Prince | 1433 | seized the throne | Vasily Yurievich Kosoy 1425–1433, son | Vasily II |
| Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Next in line | Monarch |
| Vasily Kosoy | Heir apparent | eldest son | 1433 | father became Grand Prince | 5 June 1434 | became Grand Prince | Dmitry Yurievich 1433–1434, brother | Yury II Dmitrievich |
| Dmitry Yurievich | Heir presumptive | brother | 5 June 1434 | brother became Grand Prince | 1435 | Grand Prince deposed by his cousin | uncertain | Vasily Kosoy |
| Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Next in line | Monarch |
| succession uncertain 1435–1440 | succession uncertain 1435–1440 | succession uncertain 1435–1440 | succession uncertain 1435–1440 | succession uncertain 1435–1440 | succession uncertain 1435–1440 | succession uncertain 1435–1440 | succession uncertain 1435–1440 | Vasily II |
| Ivan Vasilievich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 22 January 1440 | born | 1446 | Grand Prince deposed | uncertain | Vasily II |
| Ivan Vasilievich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 1447 | father returned to throne | 27 March 1462 | became Grand Prince | Andrey Vasilievich Bolshoy 1447–1458, brother | Vasily II |
| Ivan Vasilievich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 1447 | father returned to throne | 27 March 1462 | became Grand Prince | Ivan Ivanovich 1458–1462, son | Vasily II |
| Ivan Ivanovich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 27 March 1462 | father became Grand Prince | 6 March 1490 | died | Andrey Vasilievich Bolshoy 1462–1479, uncle | Ivan III |
| Ivan Ivanovich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 27 March 1462 | father became Grand Prince | 6 March 1490 | died | Vasily Ivanovich 1479–1483, half-brother | Ivan III |
| Ivan Ivanovich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 27 March 1462 | father became Grand Prince | 6 March 1490 | died | Dmitry Ivanovich 1483–1490, son | Ivan III |
| Dmitry Ivanovich | Heir apparent | grandson | 1490 | father died | April 1502 | excluded from succession by Grand Prince | Vasili Ivanovich 1490–1502, half-uncle | Ivan III |
| Vasily Ivanovich | Heir apparent | eldest living son | April 1502 | nephew excluded from succession by Grand Prince | 27 October 1505 | became Grand Prince | Yury Ivanovich 1502–1505, brother | Ivan III |
| Yury Ivanovich | Heir presumptive | brother | 27 October 1505 | brother became Grand Prince | 25 August 1530 | son born to Grand Prince | Andrey Ivanovich 1505–1530, brother | Vasily III |
| Ivan Vasilievich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 25 August 1530 | born | 13 December 1533 | became Grand Prince | Yury Ivanovich 1530–1532, uncle | Vasily III |
| Ivan Vasilievich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 25 August 1530 | born | 13 December 1533 | became Grand Prince | Yuri Vasilievich 1532–1533, brother | Vasily III |
| Yuri Vasilievich | Heir presumptive | brother | 13 December 1533 | brother became Grand Prince | 16 January 1547 | Grand Prince crowned Tsar | Yury Ivanovich 1533–1536, uncle | Ivan IV |
| Yuri Vasilievich | Heir presumptive | brother | 13 December 1533 | brother became Grand Prince | 16 January 1547 | Grand Prince crowned Tsar | Andrey Ivanovich of Staritsa 1536–1537, uncle | Ivan IV |
| Yuri Vasilievich | Heir presumptive | brother | 13 December 1533 | brother became Grand Prince | 16 January 1547 | Grand Prince crowned Tsar | Vladimir of Staritsa 1537–1547, cousin | Ivan IV |

## 1547 to 1722

From this point of the ruler is Tsar (Czar) of Russia.
| Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Next in line | Monarch |
| Yuri Vasilievich | Heir presumptive | brother | 16 January 1547 | ruler first crowned Tsar | 11 October 1552 | son born to tsar | Vladimir of Staritsa 1547–1552, cousin | Ivan IV |
| Dmitry Ivanovich | Heir apparent | son | 11 October 1552 | born | 26 June 1553 | died | Yuri Vasilievich 1552–1553, uncle | Ivan IV |
| Yuri Vasilievich | Heir presumptive | brother | 26 June 1553 | tsar's son died | 28 March 1554 | son born to tsar | Vladimir of Staritsa 1553–1554, cousin | Ivan IV |
| Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich | Heir apparent | son | 28 March 1554 | born | 19 November 1581 | died | Yuri Vasilievich 1554–1557, uncle | Ivan IV |
| Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich | Heir apparent | son | 28 March 1554 | born | 19 November 1581 | died | Tsarevich Feodor Ivanovich 1557–1581, brother | Ivan IV |
| Tsarevich Feodor Ivanovich | Heir apparent | son | 19 November 1581 | brother died | 18 March 1584 | became tsar | uncertain | Ivan IV |
| Tsarevich Feodor Ivanovich | Heir apparent | son | 19 November 1581 | brother died | 18 March 1584 | became tsar | Tsarevich Dmitry Ivanovich 1582–1591, half-brother | Ivan IV |
| Tsarevich Dmitry Ivanovich | Heir presumptive | half-brother | 18 March 1584 | brother became tsar | 15 May 1591 | died | uncertain | Feodor I |
| Feodor I ||||||||
| Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Next in line | Monarch |
| Tsarevich Feodor Borisovich Godunov | Heir apparent | eldest son | 21 February 1598 | father became tsar | 13 April 1605 | became tsar | uncertain | Boris Godunov |
| succession uncertain 1605–1606 | succession uncertain 1605–1606 | succession uncertain 1605–1606 | succession uncertain 1605–1606 | succession uncertain 1605–1606 | succession uncertain 1605–1606 | succession uncertain 1605–1606 | succession uncertain 1605–1606 | Feodor II |
| succession uncertain 1605–1606 | succession uncertain 1605–1606 | succession uncertain 1605–1606 | succession uncertain 1605–1606 | succession uncertain 1605–1606 | succession uncertain 1605–1606 | succession uncertain 1605–1606 | succession uncertain 1605–1606 | False Dmitriy I |
| Dmitry Shuisky | Heir presumptive | brother | 19 May 1606 | brother became tsar | 17 July 1610 | brother dethroned | Alexander Shuisky 1606–1610, brother | Vasili IV |
| succession uncertain 1610–1612 | succession uncertain 1610–1612 | succession uncertain 1610–1612 | succession uncertain 1610–1612 | succession uncertain 1610–1612 | succession uncertain 1610–1612 | succession uncertain 1610–1612 | succession uncertain 1610–1612 | Władysław IV Vasa |
| Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Next in line | Monarch |
| Ivan Romanov | Heir presumptive | uncle | 26 July 1613 | nephew became tsar | 9 March 1629 | son born to tsar | Nikita Romanov, son | Michael |
| Tsarevich Alexei Mikhailovich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 9 March 1629 | born | 14 July 1645 | became tsar | Ivan Romanov 1629–1640, granduncle | Michael |
| Tsarevich Alexei Mikhailovich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 9 March 1629 | born | 14 July 1645 | became tsar | Nikita Romanov 1640–1645, cousin | Michael |
| Nikita Romanov | Heir presumptive | cousin | 14 July 1645 | cousin became tsar | 22 August 1648 | son born to tsar | uncertain | Alexei |
| Tsarevich Dmitri Alekseyevich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 22 August 1648 | born | 6 October 1649 | died | Nikita Romanov 1648–1649, cousin | Alexei |
| Nikita Romanov | Heir presumptive | cousin | 6 October 1649 | tsar's son died | 15 February 1654 | son born to tsar | uncertain | Alexei |
| Tsarevich Alexei Alekseyevich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 15 February 1654 | born | 17 January 1670 | died | Nikita Romanov 1654, cousin | Alexei |
| Tsarevich Alexei Alekseyevich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 15 February 1654 | born | 17 January 1670 | died | uncertain | Alexei |
| Tsarevich Alexei Alekseyevich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 15 February 1654 | born | 17 January 1670 | died | Tsarevich Feodor Alekseyevich 1661–1670, brother | Alexei |
| Tsarevich Feodor Alekseyevich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 17 January 1670 | brother died | 29 January 1676 | became tsar | Tsarevich Ivan Alekseyevich 1670–1676, brother | Alexei |
| Tsarevich Ivan Alekseyevich | Heir presumptive | brother | 29 January 1676 | brother became tsar | 7 May 1682 | became tsar | Tsarevich Peter Alekseyvich 1676–1682, half-brother | Feodor III |
| succession uncertain 1682–1690 | succession uncertain 1682–1690 | succession uncertain 1682–1690 | succession uncertain 1682–1690 | succession uncertain 1682–1690 | succession uncertain 1682–1690 | succession uncertain 1682–1690 | succession uncertain 1682–1690 | Ivan V and Peter I (jointly) |
| Grand Duke Alexei Petrovich | Heir presumptive and apparent | nephew and eldest son | 18 February 1690 | born | 26 June 1718 | died | uncertain | Ivan V and Peter I (jointly) |
| Grand Duke Alexei Petrovich | Heir presumptive and apparent | nephew and eldest son | 18 February 1690 | born | 26 June 1718 | died | Grand Duke Alexander Petrovich 1691–1692, brother | Ivan V and Peter I (jointly) |
| Grand Duke Alexei Petrovich | Heir presumptive and apparent | nephew and eldest son | 18 February 1690 | born | 26 June 1718 | died | uncertain | Ivan V and Peter I (jointly) |
| Grand Duke Alexei Petrovich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 18 February 1690 | born | 26 June 1718 | died | uncertain | Peter I |
| Grand Duke Alexei Petrovich | Heir apparent | eldest son | 18 February 1690 | born | 26 June 1718 | died | Grand Duke Peter Alekseyevich 1715–1718, son | Peter I |
| Grand Duke Peter Alekseyevich | Heir apparent | grandson | 26 June 1718 | father died | 16 February 1722 | Decree of the succession to the throne | Grand Duke Peter Petrovich 1718–1719, half-uncle | Peter I |
| Grand Duke Peter Alekseyevich | Heir apparent | grandson | 26 June 1718 | father died | 16 February 1722 | Decree of the succession to the throne | uncertain | Peter I |

## 1722 to 1797

Between Peter I's decree on the succession to the throne of 16 February 1722 and Paul I's decree of 15 May 1797, the Emperor had the right to name his or her own successor. All heirs in this period were nominated by the reigning monarch, rather than holding the position by right of inheritance. Despite Peter the Great's modification of the law to allow nomination of a successor by the monarch, neither he nor his two immediate successors ever nominated an heir, and Catherine I, Peter II, and Anna were all chosen irregularly, after the death of their predecessor. In addition, Ivan VI, who had not named a successor, was deposed in a coup, while Peter III, who was deposed and murdered after a coup, was succeeded not by his son Paul, his chosen successor, but by his wife, who became Catherine II.
| Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Monarch |
| Grand Duke Ivan Antonovich | Crown heir | grand nephew | 5 October 1740 | proclaimed by Empress | 28 October 1740 | became emperor | Anna |
| Grand Duke Peter Feodorovich | Heir apparent | nephew | 18 November 1742 | proclaimed by Empress | 5 January 1762 | became emperor | Elizabeth |
| Grand Duke Paul Petrovich | Heir apparent | son | 7 January 1762 | proclaimed by Emperor, and then by Empress | 17 November 1796 | became emperor | Peter III and Catherine II |
| Grand Duke Alexander Pavlovich | Heir apparent | son | 28 November 1796 | proclaimed by Emperor | 15 May 1797 | Decree of the succession to the throne | Paul I |

## 1797 to 1917

In 1797, Emperor Paul modified the laws of succession, abolishing the Petrine law and establishing in its place a law establishing semi-Salic succession among his own descendants. This law remained until the abolition of the monarchy.
Although Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich renounced his claims to the throne in 1822, he did so secretly, and so was still widely viewed as heir to the throne until his older brother's death in 1825. At the death of Alexander I, the next brother, who would become Nicholas I, deferred his claims until his older brother Constantine renounced once again, but after Constantine's second renunciation he claimed to have taken the throne immediately upon Alexander's death.
Heirs to the Russian throne :
| Monarch | Heir | Relationship to monarch | Became heir (Date; Reason) | Ceased to be heir (Date; Reason) | Next in line of succession |
| Paul I | Tsesarevich Alexander Pavlovich | Son | 15 May 1797 Law of succession changed | 23 March 1801 Father assassinated, became emperor | Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich, brother |
| Alexander I | Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich | Brother | 23 March 1801 Brother became emperor | 26 January 1822 Renounced claim to the throne | Grand Duke Nicholas Pavlovich, brother |
| Alexander I | Grand Duke Nicholas Pavlovich | Brother | 26 January 1822 Brother renounced | 1 December 1825 Brother died, became emperor | Grand Duke Alexander Nikolaevich, son |
| Nicholas I | Tsesarevich Alexander Nikolaevich | Son | 1 December 1825 Father became emperor | 2 March 1855 Father died, became emperor | Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich, 1825–1827, uncle |
| Nicholas I | Tsesarevich Alexander Nikolaevich | Son | 1 December 1825 Father became emperor | 2 March 1855 Father died, became emperor | Grand Duke Constantine Nikolaevich, 1827–1843, brother |
| Nicholas I | Tsesarevich Alexander Nikolaevich | Son | 1 December 1825 Father became emperor | 2 March 1855 Father died, became emperor | Grand Duke Nicholas Alexandrovich, 1843–1855, son |
| Alexander II | Tsesarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich | Son | 2 March 1855 Father became emperor | 24 April 1865 Died | Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich, brother |
| Alexander II | Tsesarevich Alexander Alexandrovich | Son | 24 April 1865 Brother died | 13 March 1881 Father assassinated, became emperor | Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, 1865–1868, brother |
| Alexander II | Tsesarevich Alexander Alexandrovich | Son | 24 April 1865 Brother died | 13 March 1881 Father assassinated, became emperor | Grand Duke Nicholas Alexandrovich, 1868–1881, son |
| Alexander III | Tsesarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich | Son | 13 March 1881 Father became emperor | 1 November 1894 Father died, became emperor | Grand Duke George Alexandrovich, brother |
| Nicholas II | Grand Duke George Alexandrovich | Brother | 1 November 1894 Brother became emperor | 10 July 1899 Died | Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich, brother |
| Nicholas II | Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich | Brother | 10 July 1899 Brother died | 12 August 1904 Son born to emperor | Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, uncle |
| Nicholas II | Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich | Son | 12 August 1904 Born | 15 March 1917 Father abdicated, monarchy abolished | Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich, uncle |