The daily gazette., 1877-05-14
From the New York World,
THE OZAR's TITLE OF EMPEROR.

Europe has now three Emperors-in
1870 had four-not taking into account
the Queen of England, whose title OF
Empress OF India properly belongs to
Asia. A quarter of century ago Louis
Napolso and six years ago King William
assumed the imperial title without going
through the preliminary formality of de-
manding its recognition by foreign courts.
We presume that the feeling of mon.
archs on this score is in accordance with
the principle enunciated by Mr.. Squeers,
that man had a right to call his house
an island if he wished to do so; it was no
body's business but his own. A century
and a half ago, however, when there was
only one Emperor universally recognized
in Europe, the case was very different,
and 1t was not till after diplomatic
correspondence extending over a period
of several years that Potter the Greats
claim to the style of Emperor was gener-
ally accorded. The claim was intended
by him to lead the way to his assumption
of the style and rights of Emperor of the
East. The title has been given to one of
his predecessors, however, in Maximilian
'I.'s despatch to the Czar Vassaii in 1914,
where the Mefcovite sovereign was ad-
dressed as "Kaiser und Herrscber aller
Russen." Peters predecessors has been
addressed by foreign courts indiscrimin-
ately as Grand Duke, Gar and Emperor,
sometimes by all three titles, but very
rarely if ever, as Emperor alone. In
English dispatches, from Elizabeth TO
Anne, the style employed was "Lord and
Emperor" though the Czar of Muscovy
was not therefore placed on an equality
with The German Emperor. On the con-
trary, he was classed with Asiatic sover-
eigns, in the same category with the EN-
peror of China. So Lord Carteret's des-
patch to the English Am bassador at Par
is, Sir Luke Schaube, says that it had al
ways been the custom to write to the
Gar ION Illuminated vellum, painted
"and gilt, as one writes to the Emperor
"ot Morocco and FeZ and to many other
"non-European princes, who, resting on
"this CUSTOM" continues the despatch,
"would be equally justified in insisting
on the title of Emperor" Tin es have
changed since them Peter the Greats
father Alexis Michaelovitch, styled him
self at the head of his code, "Tsar ct
Magnus DuX, totius Russia Autocrator,"
and his son began bv calling himself in
his own dominions "Povelitel," substi-
tuting Russian word corresponding suf-
ficiently to the Greek title denoting the
exercise of sole command. The English
Government rendered this with accura-
cy Commander" When in I'll Peter
claimed the title of Emperor the United
Provinces consented readily, as did the
King of Prussia, desirous of Russian
ALLIANCE. 1t was not, however, till 1922
that England and France consented to
the demand for recognition. England
had then used the titles emperor and
emperor and Majesty"
"lmperial and Czarish Majesty" and
even "Czarish and Imperial Majesty"
On the Hanoverian accession the des-
patch announcing George rs elevation
TO the throne was addressed to "The
most high, most potent and most illus |
"trous, our dear brother, the Great Lord |
Gear and Great Duke Peter Alexeiii- |
"witz Emperor of the Northern |
"Coasts, Duke of the Mountains, and of |
"many other dominions, East, West and |
' n orth, from father and from grand |
"father, Heir, Lord and Conqueror" |
When Lord WhItworth and Admiral |
Norris went on a mission to Peter at |
Amsterdam, their letters were addressed |
only to ellis Majesty" and the Russian |
Minister had at first some scruples about |
accepting them. So during Whitworth's
embassy to Moscow the Russians begged |
MN to use the style as of right but he /
always excused himself from making
any proposition" telling them that he
would ma Ike no difficulty about giving
them the title, as he found it established,
but advising them not to raise the ques-
ton, "nor to seek to enlighten themselves
TOO much as to the grounds on which
the title was accorded to them" advice
which was taken. Mr.. Freeman, who is
now hot advocate of the Russian cause
classes the imperial title of the Russian
rulers with that of all other Emperors
save the Kaiser as barbarism and an
mpertinence.