The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-24
RUSSIAN NOMENCLATURE.

ROSSlAN NOM ENCLAIO IKE.
To THE EDITOR HERALD:-
In many newspapers OF the day tnero is much con
fusion and in tho of Russian titles and
names. This arises, doubt from the fact that
while oil the WORLD is interested in what Russia 10
doing at tho present tmc but very few persons who
write about Russia know the Russian language or take
the trouble OF acquiring tho slight elementary
knowledge OF 1t which would enable them TO writo
the names Of ana places correctly. Almost
every day meets in tho English journals with
markabe examples Of ignorance Joined with magis.
teria display Of pretended knowledge which is quito
curiosity In Its way. Tho journals chiefly dlstn.
guished in this respect those most hostile to
Russia In English papers OF such high character
the Daily NeiOs aud tho London Times the edi-
toria mistakes arc lew, but of In
respondence and discussions In those papers tho
writers and not tho editors appear. In recent dis
cussion in the Times between Mr.. Douglas A. Fresh
field, distinguished climber Of Caucasian mountain
peaks, and Captain Burnaby, the author Of couple
OF sensation books for the English market, ga Ride
to Kh,va" and son Horseback Through Asia Minor"
Mr. Freshaeld used the word ''Mingrean." Captuin
Burnaby twitted MIN with hs ignorance OF Russian,
and changed "Mingrelan" 10 "Mongrelian." Now,
Mr.. FresnAed was right and Captain Burnaby hope
lessly wrong II the gallant Captain had entered
INTO controversy about some English question and
had corrected his opponent by substituting "Hengsh
man" for Engshman he would not have committed
q more gorgeous Dlunder.
Some correspondents who started for the seat Of
war without any knowledge OF Russian have
succeeded IN avoiding serious mistakes Tor
Inc reason ,,, suppose, ina. tney LOOK
thought 1t worth the while TO learn the Russian Alpha
bet while others, not satisfied with making bIunders
selves, have acted like Captain Burnapy and un.
dertaken to correct men who were right already. A
good example OF this KIND Of work was given low
weeks ago by correspondent OF the London Times,
who stated that the real name OF Prince ImeretinsKy
who has distinguished himself during the present
Ger whose name is known all over Russia, and IL ust
be somewhat difficult 10 make mistake with regard
ut He IS descendant OF The last Tsar, King, of
lmeretia, II mistake not mis- grandson, hence mis-
name lmeretinsky, derived from the noun Imeretia,
and meaning OF or belonging to lmeretia lmeretia,
formerly n small Kingdom west OF the Suram Pass
the Caucasus, forms at present part Of the Russian
government or province OF Kutais Tho other paris
are q uria, Mingrelia and Suanetia
1t is easy enough to avoid mistakes In the use of
Russian names OF men ana places II the writer will
only take the trouble to learn the Russian alphabet
ana supply himself with Russian maps, an army list
aud u ST. Petersburg Almanac With regard to titles
low remarks may be OF service. First OF all aud
most frequently, meet with tho word Czar" which
is given as the Title oil tho sovereign OF Russia In
such a connection the word represents double blum
der, 0lunder in photography and y blunder In tho
OF the word There no such combination OF lot
tors either IN Russian or English. In Russian
The word Is written tsar and that IS tho only proper
way OF writing II In English Now as to the use Of
tho word itself. Tsar Is one OF the titles OF the
reign OF RUSSIA ana Is special In its application. Tho
only title which covers all others emperor I'm Rus
san, imperator), THIS Will bo readily understood II
examine for moment the historical In 862 Ru.
rik was invited by the Inhabitants OF Novgorod 10
come and rule over Them He came and bore tho title
Of knyaz, which means prince or duke. Alter his
death he was succeeded by Oieg. VINO ieit Novgorod
tor kien, which no made the capital OF Russia and
ruled there bearing the same title his predecessor
Whom the descendants oil kurIk increased In NUMBER
the country parcellcd out inso prncipatles aud
divided among them. The eldest In the amly
ken, with the addition OF veliky, or great, 10
his title in order TO distinguish him from The Others
VINO wore simply Khyaz, as Rurk had been. Sucn
the ordcr oil things Ia Klef Till the town
stroyed by The Mongos In lao In consequence Of
the Mongol invasion Russia became divded into two
parts and the family OF Rurk into two branches. In
the East the town OF Vladimir was the the
Veiky Kuyaz and, later, Moscow. In the West, which
included Galca, at present belonging to Austria,
line OF ruling princes became extinct alter tne and
all that part OF Russia passed under the rule OF the
Lithuanian grand dukes. Russia was thus governed
by Two dynasties-ono descended from Rurk, the
other from tho Lithuanian Gcdimin. Having OBJ
tanned Possession Of the West OF Russia the Lithua-
man dukes aspired to dominion over the East also
When the Lithuanian Duke Yagello married Yadylgu,
or Hedwig, the POLISH princess, and became King Of
Poland, Llthuana aud Western Russia were attached
the POIisn crown, Notwithstanding tho Indignant
protests OF the Inhabitants. What had been q struggle
between Two families tor supremacy in Russia be-
came struggle between two nations Tor the
Of Russia II Is necessary to keep this fact
order W understand tho origin and reason OF the COL
lision between Poland and Russia, vol the
historical significance of tsar OF tho different Rus.
sias-that is, OF all Russia During tho Mongol su.
preuacy, wnicn lasted upward OF two hundred years.
The grand dukcs OF Moscow followed one line vi policy
with remarkable ,enacny; that line OF policy was tho
foowng:-First--lo secure to themselves the unds-
pulcd possession o. the principally OF Moscow with
regular hereditary succession from tho iaher TO the
eiuest son. Previously the succession IN the family Of
RurIk mad been tho same IN Turkey at the present
time; when sultan dies he Is succeeded not by his
eldest son. but by the eldest OF his surviving brothers
Such the case In Russia before the rise OF Mos
W. Second-fo unite all the potty princpalitics
with Moscow and form compact state. united and
powerful. This policy succeeded to such q degree
that when the Mongol rule was thrown of thero re-.
NAMED power In Eastern Russia which could think
Tor moment OF challenging tho supremacy OF Mos.
W. All the smaller princes Of tho house OF Rurik
had ceased TO be rulers they mad become simply
owners officials. The first great step had been
taken; Eastern Russia was united the country was
no longer parcollcd out among number OF princes:
tue It'll" veky knyaz, grad duke or prince, no
longer possessed any significance. What needed was
not title 10 designate the ruler OF great
among u number OF INFERIOR ones but the sovereign
OF Russia rho tito tsar was adopted and carried
with IL tho claim TO sovereignty over all Russia for
the rsar asserted himself to and was BY
ms subjects TO be The legal elr OF the princes Of Kcn
ana the lawful sovereign over all the territories which
thcy and thor descendants bad held during a period
OF about four hundred years, ana where, through
every vcsstude, the people had preserved Their Rus
san nationality anu their orthodox aith. The Tito
tsar became peculiarly Russian, nscparably con-
ncced with the question whether Russia Was DO or
not TO be during the long and bitter struggle with
Poland, iogether with the orthodox faith II furnished
tho rallyng cry to al those who believed In aud
fought Tor the independence of Russia. Had " not
been Tor the national faith and the national sovereign
Russia would have gone down before tho onset OF
= "'"h" anu ushppcarcu lOTcVcT from HlstOTy. Alter
Peter the Great, by his victories and reforms, mad
placed his country IN the front rank OF great Powers
new title was deemed necessary TO record that TACT
ana 10 Indicate the new position oil Russia among the
distinct nations oil tho earth--tnc tito emperor was
assumed. THIS latest title covers all preceding ones
and can alone DO properly used when speaking OF tho
sovorogn OF Russia IN HIS capacity OF supreme head
OF the Empire All other titles are special aud HIS
torlcai. Knyaz was ovcriapped by veliKy knyaz;
that In It's turn by tsar and tsar by impcrator.
JANUARY 3, 1875 JEREMIAH CURTIN
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THE HERALD'Sr PRE-EMINENCE.