The history of the royal title in Russia
October 18 The members of the Synod of 1721 "had a secret reasoning." Having considered the “deeds”, “works” and “leaderships” of his royal majesty in connection with the “eternal peace” concluded with Sweden after the Northern War, they decided that they should “invent a decent” for the monarch “from a common face for all subjects”. This "decent" was the decision to "pray to the king," "pleasing title of father of the fatherland, Peter the Great and the Emperor of Russia."
Understanding that this is a state case, the members of the Synod "decided" to report about it "secretly" to the secular power - the Senate. October 19 this was done through the vice-president of the Synod Feofan Prokopovich. 20, 21 22, and the morning of October held a joint session of the Senate and Synod in the Audience Chamber, that is, in a ceremonial throne room of St. Petersburg, is in the "daub and wattle boards» building in Trinity Square. 22 1721 October, the (New Style - November 2) in St. Petersburg in the Trinity Cathedral of Tsar Peter I was podneson "emperor" title. It is believed that on this day the Russian kingdom, Muscovy officially became the Russian Empire and the countdown has begun a new, imperial period stories country.
In the epoch of the Tatar-Mongolian yoke and before him, the eldest among the appanage princes bore the title of Grand Duke. Ya.N. Shchapov notes that references to the princes like kings refers to two major figures of Russia XII-XIII centuries .: Mstislav Great and Andrew Bogoliubsky.
After Russia became dependent on the Golden Horde, the king (derived from the Latin caesar) was called the Great Khan of the Golden Horde. The title of king, first of all, indicated that his owner was a fully sovereign ruler and did not depend on anyone. That is, the Grand Duke, being a tributary of the Horde, in the hierarchy, naturally, stood below.
It should be noted, by the way, that until a certain moment (before the reign of Dmitry Donskoy) the legitimacy of the Great Khan as the head over the Russian princes in Russia was not questioned, and the Tatar-Mongol yoke itself was perceived as a punishment of God for sins, which must be humbly endured.
The era of Ivan III, when Russia freed itself from the yoke and became a completely independent state, includes the first cases when the Grand Duke used the title “Tsar” (or “Caesar”) in diplomatic correspondence, so far only in relations with small German princes and the Livonian Order; Royal title begins to be widely used in literary works.
You could take whatever the title, but foreign rulers could not admit it - that's why Ivan III and tries to royal rank in the diplomatic correspondence with the smaller states.
In 1489, the ambassador of the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Nikolai Poppel, on behalf of his overlord, offered Ivan III a royal title. The Grand Duke refused, stating that "we are the mercy of God sovereigns in their own land from the beginning, from the first of our ancestors, and ordination of have a building from God, as our ancestors, and we are ... and placing as before no one wanted and now do not we want. "
It is worth noting that, producing the word "king" from caesar, the Russian rulers considered this title to be the same as the emperor ("caesar" in the Byzantine Empire), and after the fall of Byzantium under the onslaught of the Turks in 1453, Russia was perceived as the heiress and the only stronghold of Orthodoxy (or, more broadly, of all Christianity, since the other Christian denominations were considered "wrong"). Hence the famous "Moscow - Third Rome".
Similarly, this title was interpreted by Western monarchs - but not always, and when it was beneficial for them.
In the contract of the Moscow State with Denmark 1493, Ivan III was named the “totius rutzci Imperator”. Emperor and was named Vasily III in the treaty with the Emperor Maximilian I, the prisoner in Moscow in 1514 g .: «Kayser und Herscher alter Reussen». In Latin literacy Albrecht of Brandenburg 1517 Vasily III was also named «Imperator al Doniinator totius Russiae».
Officially, only the grandson of Ivan III, Ivan the Terrible, decided to assume the royal title. January 16 1547, the Grand Duke of Moscow and All Russia Ivan was solemnly crowned with the title of king. In a speech at the royal wedding, the metropolitan described the height of the royal authority of the church with the words of Joseph Volotsky: "Hear the king and understand that God gave you power and strength from the Most High, you are the Lord in Your place of election on earth ...".
The royal title allowed to take a significantly different position in diplomatic relations with Western Europe. The title of Grand Duke was translated as "Prince" or even "Grand Duke". The title “king” was either not translated at all, or translated as “emperor”. The Russian autocrat thus stood on a par with the only emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in Europe.
The boyars did not immediately inform the foreign states about the coronation of 16-year-old grandson of Ivan III. Only two years later the Polish ambassadors in Moscow learned that Ivan IV of "king and married" following the example of their forefather Monomakh and then name it "does not take someone else's." After listening to this extremely important statement, the ambassadors immediately demanded that they provide written evidence. But clever boyars refused, fearing that Poles received a written response will be able to consider the objections, and then argue with them will be difficult. The couriers sent to Poland tried to explain the meaning of the Moscow changes so as not to cause displeasure to the Polish court.
Now, they said, the land owned by Russian emperor our one, because something Metropolitan and crowned him king crown of Monomakh. In the eyes of the Muscovites, the coronation thus symbolized the beginning of Ivan’s autocratic reign in the fourteenth year of his reign.
Ivan the Terrible crowned the realm in 1547, but his foreign colleagues did not immediately recognize him for this title. In 7 years, in 1554, England recognized him unconditionally. More difficult was the question of title in Catholic countries, in which the theory of a single "holy empire" held fast. In the 1576, Emperor Maximillian II, whose wanting to attract the Terrible the alliance against Turkey, offered him in the future throne and the title of "vskhodnogo [eastern] Caesar." John IV was completely indifferent to the "Tsarist Greek", but demanded the immediate recognition of himself as the king of "All Russia", and the emperor yielded in this important matter of principle, especially since Maximilian I recognized the royal title for Vasily III, calling him "God's mercy tsar and owner of the All-Russian and Grand Duke ". It is much harder turned the papal throne, who defended the exclusive right to provide the popes and other royal titles of princes, and on the other hand, did not admit violations of the principle of "one of the empire." In this irreconcilable position, the papal throne found support from the Polish king, who perfectly understood the significance of the claims of the Moscow Sovereign. Sigismund II Augustus presented to the papal throne a note in which he warned that the recognition by the papacy of Ivan IV of the title "Tsar of All Russia" would lead to the rejection of lands inhabited by Muscovites "Rusyns" from Poland and Lithuania, and would attract Moldovans and Vlachs to his side. For his part, John IV attached special importance to the recognition of his royal title is the Polish-Lithuanian state, but Poland during the XVI century, and did not agree to his request.
It is known that in the correspondence 1580, the famous Flemish cartographer G.Merkatora the English geographer R.Gaklyuytom Russian monarch called «le grand emperior de Moscovie».
So, the title "Tsar" was perceived by the Russian rulers as equal to the imperial one. However, not all of their foreign colleagues agreed with this - at that time in Europe was only one Empire - Holy Roman Emperor, so too should be only one.
Poland-oriented False Dmitry I wanted to be called the emperor. In a letter to the Polish King Sigismund III False Dmitry I, «according to ancient custom among the great and powerful kings and emperors", he reported on his reign. He pointed out that he received the blessing as an heir from our "most eminent mother." Then followed the unusual for the previous tradition explanation of the new royal title: "we are crowned and sacred peace anointed by our holiest patriarch not only to the dignity of the emperor of our vast possessions, but also to the dignity of the king of all Tatar kingdoms, who have long obeyed our monarchy."
After reviewing all titulature Falsdmitry of formula I correspond in foreign (messages to Pope, Polish King and nobles), NN Bantysh-Kamensky pointed out that since the fall of 1605, they have monotonous symbolism of names: “We, the Most Serene and Most Invincible Monarch, Dimitriy Ivanovich, by the grace of God, Caesar and Grand Prince of All Russia, and all Tatar states, and many other lands, to the monarchy Moscow-owned sovereign and king. " All of these titles applied for recognition of the power of False Dmitry I and the highest among the Most Powerful earthly monarchs and pointed to its divine counterpart - the King of kings.
It is clear that the indicated symbols-names immediately gave rise to a sharply negative reaction in the Western courts, among foreign politicians and diplomats. They were negatively evaluated by contemporaries in Russia. Konrad Bussov noted the reaction of foreigners in Moscow: “vanity increased daily ... he ... it manifested itself not only in the fact that in every luxury and pomp they surpassed all other former kings, but he even ordered to call himself" the king of all kings ". Interestingly, this title the Impostor was originally distributed only for internal use (that is, at court). Stanislav Borsa, referring to the murder of False Dmitry I, concluded: "It seems so pleased God, who did not want any longer to endure the pride and arrogance of Demetrius, who did not recognize the unmatched any sovereign in the world and is almost equal to God."
The Poles, of course, rejected the imperial title of False Dmitry. Read more about the history of False Dmitry I claim to the imperial title can read on our website in a passage from the book of Basil Ulyanovsk "Time of Troubles."
As you know, the full royal title ("Big title") included a list of lands subject to the king. In 1645, that is, during the death of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, the first sovereign from the Romanov dynasty, and his son Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich coming to power, the “Big title” sounded like this: “By the grace of God, we, the great sovereign, the tsar and the grand duke Alexei Mikhailovich , All Russia, autocrat, Vladimirsky, Moscow and Novgorod, Tsar of Kazan, Tsar Astrakhan, Tsar of Siberia, Sovereign of Pskov and Grand Prince of Tver, Ugra, Perm, Vyatka, Bulgarian and others, Sovereign and Grand Duke of Novgorod Nizovskii Land, Ryazan , Rostov, Yaroslavl, Beloozersk, Udora, Obdorsk, Kondi and all northern countries sovereign and sovereign of Iversk land, Kartalinsky and Georgian kings and Kabardian lands, Cherkasy and Highland Princes and many other states sovereign and owner. "
The mention of the Caucasus and Transcaucasia, which was not yet subjugated at that time, in the title of king could be surprising. In this case, the desired was issued as valid.
This question was studied by G.K. Kotoshikhin in the essay "About Russia in the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich." Inclusion of out of control areas in the royal title meant illegal claims to other people's prerogatives. Such actions could threaten diplomatic complications. Because of this, the royal court was forced to go to the tricks. In reading and writing, addressed to the Christian sovereigns, large royal title was reproduced in full, listing the eastern lands, in the charters in "busurmanskie state" and, first of all, to the Shah of Persia "eastern" Titley not indicated. Otherwise, "as if he were written by those captions by all ... and all the Busurmanian states would use war for him then." Kotoshikhin indicates that the Turkish Sultan and the Shah of Persia the Russian tsar was written "The bulk Titley not with all, only by" lord ". That is the final phrase in the title remained" and All severnyya lord of the country, "a phrase as" land Iverskogo Kartli and Georgian kings, Kabardian lands Cherkassky and Mountain princes, and other many countries sovereign and owner of "shot. If you wonder about the reasons for the sequence enumeration areas in the royal title of the XVII century, it can be assumed that not only the importance and status Emel or the sequence of entry into the state predetermine it, but also practical considerations: in the end should deliver what most controversially, that can always be removed if necessary Given this fact, we can talk about what a great title in the XVII century -.. not so much a reflection in the minds of law in the territory, or the expression of ideas about the territorial integrity of the state as a means of diplomatic game in a situation in which a certain fragmentation of the West and the East, the existence of two worlds, insufficient but well-informed about each other because of the relatively weak interest in each other and the lack of development of diplomatic and trade relations, gave Russia a chance to raise the prestige of the power of their kings at the expense of one part of Eurasia in its relations with the other.
As noted above, not all in Europe recognize the equality of the royal imperial title, and such equality was not in the relations between Russia and the Holy Roman Empire. The "Records perpetrated in Moscow between the Russian and Tsesarskaya courtyards" Tsesarskaya envoys extraordinary clearly pointed out that the current in the XVII century. Tradition establishes a higher status of the emperor with respect to other sovereigns and is expressed in the fact that not only to the Russian Tsar, but also to other European kings from the emperor is always written by the title "presvetleyshestvo".
In the minds of Russian diplomats and the Russian court Alexei Mikhailovich task to achieve recognition of their sovereign "Majesty" Empire of his title meant being able to put on a par with the Russian czar emperor. In fact, in the international practice of that period, the term "king" = "king" = "glorification"; the term "emperor" = "majesty".
The task was solved only after a sharp strengthening of Russia in the international arena after the victory over Sweden in the Northern War. However, it is worth noting that Peter I was called emperor even before 1721. During his stay in England in 1698, the imperial resident Hoffmann reported that the Russian monarch was all "called the emperor of Russia here," and after visiting the king of the parliament, someone started a joke that he saw "the king on the throne and the emperor on the roof" - Peter through the window watched as the English king claimed the land tax bill. Peter I and people from Western Europe who served in Russia were called the emperor. Only in this way, for example, did brilliant French architect J.B.A. Leblon address in numerous letters and projects.
As mentioned in the beginning, Peter I do not voluntarily assumed the title of emperor, and it was an initiative of the Synod. It is known that prior to this act the king held talks with some senators and the Archbishop of Novgorod and Pskov, Theodosius Yanovsky and Feofan Prokopovich. The talks with the monarch proved to be necessary, as the king of "long renounced" to take the title, and led to many "reasons". However, the "important insights" senators and bishops prevailed and Peter "leaned out".
Perhaps this behavior of the king was nothing more than a tribute to tradition and some kind of theatrical modesty - not immediately accept the offer. And, perhaps, for the objections of Peter were more compelling motives. After the introduction of the differences between the title of "Emperor" and "King" meant that Russia recognizes that the imperial title of the king above - contrary views that existed in Russia since the days of Ivan the Terrible. It is likely that this was not entirely to the liking of Peter I.
It should be noted that Feofan Prokopovich in the "Word of praise ... the memory of Peter the Great", noted that prior to the adoption in 1721, the title of "the great emperor," the title of the "first and was called by all".
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