Tsar

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Paja_Jovanović-Krunisanje_Cara_Dušana

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Serbian_Emperor_Stefan_Dušan,_cropped

Tsar_Nicholas_II_-1898

Tsar (also spelled Czar, Tzar, or Csar) is a title used to designate East and South Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers of Eastern Europe. The term is derived from the Latin word Caesar, which was used to denote Roman emperors. The title was first adopted by the First Bulgarian Empire and later by the Grand Duchy of Moscow, which evolved into the Tsardom of Russia.

Etymology

The word "Tsar" is derived from the Latin Caesar, which was a title used by Roman emperors. The term was adopted by the Slavic peoples to denote their own rulers, signifying their supreme authority and imperial status.

Historical Usage

First Bulgarian Empire

The title of Tsar was first used in the First Bulgarian Empire by Simeon I of Bulgaria in the early 10th century. Simeon I declared himself "Tsar of the Bulgarians and the Greeks" after a series of military victories and the expansion of his empire.

Grand Duchy of Moscow

The title was later adopted by the rulers of the Grand Duchy of Moscow. In 1547, Ivan IV of Russia, also known as Ivan the Terrible, was officially crowned as the first Tsar of All Rus'. This marked the beginning of the Tsardom of Russia, which lasted until the early 18th century.

Tsardom of Russia

The Tsardom of Russia was established in 1547 and lasted until 1721, when Peter the Great proclaimed the Russian Empire and adopted the title of Emperor. The title of Tsar continued to be used informally to refer to the Russian monarchs until the fall of the Russian Empire in 1917.

Significance

The title of Tsar was more than just a designation of rulership; it symbolized the divine right of the monarch to rule and was often associated with autocratic power. The Tsar was considered the supreme ruler, with authority over both the state and the church.

Related Titles

Other titles similar to Tsar include Emperor, King, and Kaiser. These titles also denote supreme rulers but are used in different cultural and historical contexts.

List of Notable Tsars

• Ivan IV of Russia (Ivan the Terrible)
• Peter the Great
• Catherine the Great
• Nicholas II of Russia

See Also

• Russian Empire
• First Bulgarian Empire
• Grand Duchy of Moscow
• Emperor
• King
• Kaiser