The Romanov family, who ruled Russia from 1613 until 1917, were the last dynasty to occupy the throne of the Russian Empire. Their reign spanned a full three centuries!
Background to the Romanov reign:
There is no consensus among scientists about where the Romanov family came from. Today, two versions are widespread: according to one, the ancestors of the Romanovs arrived in Rus’ from Prussia, and according to the other, from Novgorod.
In the 16th century, the Romanov family became close to the king and could lay claim to the throne. This happened due to the fact that Ivan the Terrible married Anastasia Romanovna Zakharyina, and her whole family now became relatives of the sovereign. After the suppression of the Rurik family, the Romanovs (formerly the Zakharyevs) became the main contenders for the state throne.
In 1613, one of the Romanov representatives, Mikhail Fedorovich, was elected to the kingdom, which marked the beginning of the long reign of the Romanov dynasty in Russia.
The most notable representative of the Romanovs was Peter I (Peter the Great), who in the early 18th century carried out a series of reforms aimed at Europeanizing Russia. He founded St. Petersburg and became the first Emperor of Russia.
Catherine II – Catherine the Great, who came to power in 1762, continued the modernization of the country and strengthened its position in the international arena. Under her leadership, Russia greatly expanded its territories.
End of the Romanov dynasty and the last Romanov:
Despite the fact that there were empresses in Russia, Paul 1 adopted a decree according to which the Russian throne could be transferred only to a boy – a direct descendant of the family. From this moment until the end of the dynasty, Russia was ruled exclusively by men.
The last emperor was Nicholas II. During his reign, the political situation in Russia became very tense. The Japanese War, as well as World War I, greatly undermined the people’s faith in the sovereign. As a result, in 1905, after the revolution, Nikolai signed a manifesto that gave the people extensive civil rights, but this did not help much.
In 1917, a new revolution broke out, as a result of which the king was overthrown. On the night of July 16–17, 1917, the entire royal family, including Nicholas’s five children, was shot. Other relatives of Nicholas, who were at the royal residence in Tsarskoe Selo and other places, were also caught and killed. Only those who had been abroad survived.
The Russian throne was left without a direct heir, and the political system in the country changed – the monarchy was overthrown, the Empire was destroyed.
Their tragic fate, as well as the romantic and mystical elements of their lives, have attracted the attention of historians and fans alike!
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