Tsesarevich
Encyclopedia
Tsesarevich was the title of the heir apparent
or presumptive
in the Russian Empire
. It either preceded or replaced the given name and patronymic.
, including sons of non-Russian rulers accorded that title, e.g. Crimea
, Siberia
, Georgia
. Normally, there was only one tsesarevich at a time (an exception was Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich, who was accorded the title until death, even though law gave it to his nephew), and the title was used exclusively in Russia.
The title came to be used invariably in tandem with the formal style "Successor" (Naslednik), as in "His Imperial Highness the Successor Tsesarevich and Grand Duke". The wife of the Tsesarevich was the Tsesarevna.
discontinued use of "tsar" as his main title, and adopted that of imperator (emperor), whereupon the title of tsarevich (and "tsarevna", retained for life by Ivan V
's daughters) fell into desuetude. The Emperor's daughters were henceforth referred to as "tsesarevna" (Peter had no living son by this time). In 1762, upon succeeding to the imperial throne, Peter III
accorded his only son Paul Petrovich
(by the future Catherine the Great
) the novel title of tsesarevich, he being the first of eleven Romanov heirs who would bear it. However, at the time the title was conferred, Paul was recognized as Peter's legal son, but not as his legal heir. Nor would he be officially recognized as such by his mother after her usurpation of the throne.
More often he was referred to by his other title of "grand duke
", which pre-dated tsesarevich, being a holdover from the Rurikid days before the grand dukes of Muscovy adopted the title of tsar. When Paul acceded to the throne in 1796, he immediately declared his son tsesarevich, and the title was confirmed by law in 1797 as the official title for the heir to the throne (incorporated into Article 145 of the Fundamental Laws). Thus the childless Alexander I
's brother Constantine Pavlovich
was tsesarevich and, oddly, retained the title even after he renounced the throne in 1825 in favor of his younger brother, Nicholas I
.
Thenceforth, it was borne by the Emperor's eldest son until 1894, when it was conferred by Nicholas II
on his brother Grand Duke George Aleksandrovich
, with the stipulation that his entitlement to it would terminate upon the birth of a son to Nicholas, who was then betrothed to Alix of Hesse
. When George died in 1899, Nicholas did not confer the title upon his oldest surviving brother Michael Aleksandrovich
, although Nicholas's only son would not be born for another five years. Alexei Nikolaevich
would be the Empire's last tsesarevich.
was designated as the Tsesarevich by his father, Grand Duke Cyril
, after he claimed the throne in 1924. Since 1997 the title has been attributed to Vladimir's grandson, George Mikhailovich Romanov
, whose mother, Maria Vladimirovna
, conferred it on him in her capacity as pretender
to the throne. Those who refer to him by a dynastic title, however, more usually address him as grand duke.
Until the end of the empire most people in Russia and abroad, verbally and in writing continued to refer to the Sovereign as "tsar". Perhaps for that reason the title of tsesarevich was less frequently used to refer to the heir apparent than either tsarevich or grand duke, particularly in less educated circles.
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
or presumptive
Heir Presumptive
An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question...
in the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
. It either preceded or replaced the given name and patronymic.
Usage
It is often confused with "tsarevich", which is a distinct word with a different meaning: Tsarevich was the title for any son of a tsarTsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
, including sons of non-Russian rulers accorded that title, e.g. Crimea
Crimean Khanate
Crimean Khanate, or Khanate of Crimea , was a state ruled by Crimean Tatars from 1441 to 1783. Its native name was . Its khans were the patrilineal descendants of Toqa Temür, the thirteenth son of Jochi and grandson of Genghis Khan...
, Siberia
Siberia Khanate
The Khanate of Sibir were the patrilineal descendants of Shayban , the fifth son of Jochi and grandson of Genghis Khan. The Khanate had an ethnically diverse population of Siberian Tatars, Khanty, Mansi, Nenets and Selkup people. Along with the Khanate of Kazan it was the northernmost Muslim state....
, Georgia
Kartl-Kakheti
The Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti was created in 1762 by the unification of two eastern Georgian kingdoms, which had existed independently since the disintegration of the united Georgian Kingdom in the 15th century....
. Normally, there was only one tsesarevich at a time (an exception was Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich, who was accorded the title until death, even though law gave it to his nephew), and the title was used exclusively in Russia.
The title came to be used invariably in tandem with the formal style "Successor" (Naslednik), as in "His Imperial Highness the Successor Tsesarevich and Grand Duke". The wife of the Tsesarevich was the Tsesarevna.
History
In 1721 Peter the GreatPeter I of Russia
Peter the Great, Peter I or Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov Dates indicated by the letters "O.S." are Old Style. All other dates in this article are New Style. ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire from until his death, jointly ruling before 1696 with his half-brother, Ivan V...
discontinued use of "tsar" as his main title, and adopted that of imperator (emperor), whereupon the title of tsarevich (and "tsarevna", retained for life by Ivan V
Ivan V of Russia
Ivan V Alekseyevich Romanov was a joint Tsar of Russia who co-reigned between 1682 and 1696. He was the youngest son of Alexis I of Russia and Maria Miloslavskaya. His reign was only formal, since he had serious physical and mental disabilities...
's daughters) fell into desuetude. The Emperor's daughters were henceforth referred to as "tsesarevna" (Peter had no living son by this time). In 1762, upon succeeding to the imperial throne, Peter III
Peter III of Russia
Peter III was Emperor of Russia for six months in 1762. He was very pro-Prussian, which made him an unpopular leader. He was supposedly assassinated as a result of a conspiracy led by his wife, who succeeded him to the throne as Catherine II.-Early life and character:Peter was born in Kiel, in...
accorded his only son Paul Petrovich
Paul I of Russia
Paul I was the Emperor of Russia between 1796 and 1801. He also was the 72nd Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta .-Childhood:...
(by the future Catherine the Great
Catherine II of Russia
Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great , Empress of Russia, was born in Stettin, Pomerania, Prussia on as Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg...
) the novel title of tsesarevich, he being the first of eleven Romanov heirs who would bear it. However, at the time the title was conferred, Paul was recognized as Peter's legal son, but not as his legal heir. Nor would he be officially recognized as such by his mother after her usurpation of the throne.
More often he was referred to by his other title of "grand duke
Grand Prince
The title grand prince or great prince ranked in honour below emperor and tsar and above a sovereign prince .Grand duke is the usual and established, though not literal, translation of these terms in English and Romance languages, which do not normally use separate words for a "prince" who reigns...
", which pre-dated tsesarevich, being a holdover from the Rurikid days before the grand dukes of Muscovy adopted the title of tsar. When Paul acceded to the throne in 1796, he immediately declared his son tsesarevich, and the title was confirmed by law in 1797 as the official title for the heir to the throne (incorporated into Article 145 of the Fundamental Laws). Thus the childless Alexander I
Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania....
's brother Constantine Pavlovich
Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich of Russia
Constantine Pavlovich was a grand duke of Russia and the second son of Emperor Paul I. He was the Tsesarevich of Russia throughout the reign of his elder brother Alexander I, but had secretly renounced his claim to the throne in 1823...
was tsesarevich and, oddly, retained the title even after he renounced the throne in 1825 in favor of his younger brother, Nicholas I
Nicholas I of Russia
Nicholas I , was the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855, known as one of the most reactionary of the Russian monarchs. On the eve of his death, the Russian Empire reached its historical zenith spanning over 20 million square kilometers...
.
Thenceforth, it was borne by the Emperor's eldest son until 1894, when it was conferred by Nicholas II
Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until...
on his brother Grand Duke George Aleksandrovich
Grand Duke George Alexandrovich of Russia
Grand Duke George Alexandrovich of Russia, , was the third son of Alexander III and Empress Marie of Russia. He was named George after his mother's younger brother, King George I of Greece...
, with the stipulation that his entitlement to it would terminate upon the birth of a son to Nicholas, who was then betrothed to Alix of Hesse
Alexandra Fyodorovna of Hesse
Alix of Hesse and by Rhine later Alexandra Feodorovna Romanova , was Empress consort of Russia as spouse of Nicholas II, the last Emperor of the Russian Empire...
. When George died in 1899, Nicholas did not confer the title upon his oldest surviving brother Michael Aleksandrovich
Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich of Russia
Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich of Russia was the youngest son of Emperor Alexander III of Russia.At the time of his birth, his paternal grandfather was still the reigning Emperor of All the Russias. Michael was fourth-in-line to the throne following his father and elder brothers Nicholas and...
, although Nicholas's only son would not be born for another five years. Alexei Nikolaevich
Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich of Russia
Alexei Nikolaevich of the House of Romanov, was the Tsesarevich and heir apparent to the throne of the Russian Empire. In English, his title is usually given as Tsarevich, a title that has a separate meaning in Russia. Alexei was the youngest child and only son of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress...
would be the Empire's last tsesarevich.
Tsesarevich of Russia
| Picture | Name | Heir of | Birth | Became Heir to the Throne | Created Tsesarevich | Ceased to be Tsesarevich | Death | Tsesarevna |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tsesarevich Paul Petrovich later Paul I Paul I of Russia Paul I was the Emperor of Russia between 1796 and 1801. He also was the 72nd Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta .-Childhood:... |
Peter III Peter III of Russia Peter III was Emperor of Russia for six months in 1762. He was very pro-Prussian, which made him an unpopular leader. He was supposedly assassinated as a result of a conspiracy led by his wife, who succeeded him to the throne as Catherine II.-Early life and character:Peter was born in Kiel, in... |
1 October 1754 | 5 January 1762 | 6 November 1796 became Emperor |
23 March 1801 | Princess Wilhelmina Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt Natalia Alexeievna of Russia The Grand Duchess Natalia Alexeievna of Russia was the first wife of the future Tsar Paul I of Russia, the only son of the Empress Catherine II... |
||
| Catherine II Catherine II of Russia Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great , Empress of Russia, was born in Stettin, Pomerania, Prussia on as Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg... |
Princess Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg | |||||||
| Tsesarevich Alexander Pavlovich later Alexander I Alexander I of Russia Alexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania.... |
Paul I Paul I of Russia Paul I was the Emperor of Russia between 1796 and 1801. He also was the 72nd Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta .-Childhood:... |
23 December 1777 | 17 November 1796 | 24 March 1801 became Emperor |
1 December 1825 | Princess Louise of Baden | ||
 |
Tsesarevich Constantine Pavlovich Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich of Russia Constantine Pavlovich was a grand duke of Russia and the second son of Emperor Paul I. He was the Tsesarevich of Russia throughout the reign of his elder brother Alexander I, but had secretly renounced his claim to the throne in 1823... |
Alexander I Alexander I of Russia Alexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania.... |
27 April 1779 | 24 March 1801 | 27 June 1831 | Princess Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld | ||
| Tsesarevich Alexander Nikolaevich later Alexander II Alexander II of Russia Alexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881... |
Nicholas I Nicholas I of Russia Nicholas I , was the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855, known as one of the most reactionary of the Russian monarchs. On the eve of his death, the Russian Empire reached its historical zenith spanning over 20 million square kilometers... |
29 April 1818 | 1 December 1825 | 2 March 1855 became Emperor |
13 March 1881 | Princess Marie of Hesse | ||
 |
Tsesarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich | Alexander II Alexander II of Russia Alexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881... |
20 September 1843 | 2 March 1855 | 24 April 1865 | |||
| Tsesarevich Alexander Alexandrovich later Alexander III Alexander III of Russia Alexander Alexandrovich Romanov , historically remembered as Alexander III or Alexander the Peacemaker reigned as Emperor of Russia from until his death on .-Disposition:... |
10 March 1845 | 24 April 1865 | 13 March 1881 became Emperor |
1 November 1894 | Princess Dagmar of Denmark | |||
| Tsesarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich later Nicholas II Nicholas II of Russia Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until... |
Alexander III Alexander III of Russia Alexander Alexandrovich Romanov , historically remembered as Alexander III or Alexander the Peacemaker reigned as Emperor of Russia from until his death on .-Disposition:... |
18 May 1868 | 13 March 1881 | 1 November 1894 became Emperor |
17 July 1918 | |||
| Tsesarevich George Alexandrovich Grand Duke George Alexandrovich of Russia Grand Duke George Alexandrovich of Russia, , was the third son of Alexander III and Empress Marie of Russia. He was named George after his mother's younger brother, King George I of Greece... |
Nicholas II Nicholas II of Russia Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until... |
9 May 1871 | 1 November 1894 | 9 August 1899 | ||||
 |
Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich | 12 August 1904 | 15 March 1917 Monarchy abolished |
17 July 1918 | ||||
Tsesarevna of Russia
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Tsesarevna | Ceased to be Tsesarevna | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Natalia Alexeievna born Wilhelmina Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt Natalia Alexeievna of Russia The Grand Duchess Natalia Alexeievna of Russia was the first wife of the future Tsar Paul I of Russia, the only son of the Empress Catherine II... |
Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt Louis IX of Hesse-Darmstadt was the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt from 1768 - 1790. He was a son of Louis VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt, and Charlotte of Hanau-Lichtenberg and Müntzenberg.... (Hesse-Darmstadt House of Hesse The House of Hesse is a European royal dynasty from the region of Hesse, originally and still formally the House of Brabant.-History:The origins of the House of Hesse begin with the marriage of Sophie of Thuringia, daughter of Louis IV, Landgrave of Thuringia and Elizabeth of Hungary with Henry... ) |
25 June 1755 | 29 September 1773 | 15 April 1776 | Tsesarevich Paul Petrovich Paul I of Russia Paul I was the Emperor of Russia between 1796 and 1801. He also was the 72nd Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta .-Childhood:... |
||
| Maria Feodorovna born Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg |
Friedrich II Eugen, Duke of Württemberg Friedrich II Eugen, Duke of Württemberg Friedrich Eugen of Württemberg , the fourth son of Duke Karl Alexander and Princess Maria Augusta of Thurn and Taxis .-Royal duke:... (Württemberg House of Württemberg The Württemberg family is a European royal family and a German dynasty from Württemberg. The House has its origins, according to recent research, probably in the vicinity of the Salian dynasty.-History:... ) |
25 October 1759 | 26 September 1776 | 6 November 1796 became Empress |
5 November 1828 | |||
| Elizabeth Alexeievna born Louise of Baden |
Charles Louis, Hereditary Prince of Baden (Baden) |
24 January 1779 | 28 September 1793 | 17 November 1796 husband's accession |
24 March 1801 became Empress |
16 May 1826 | Tsesarevich Alexander Pavlovich Alexander I of Russia Alexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania.... |
|
| Anna Feodorovna born Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld |
Francis, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld) |
23 September 1781 | 26 February 1796 | 24 March 1801 husband's accession |
20 March 1820 marriage annulled |
15 August 1860 | Tsesarevich Constantine Pavlovich Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich of Russia Constantine Pavlovich was a grand duke of Russia and the second son of Emperor Paul I. He was the Tsesarevich of Russia throughout the reign of his elder brother Alexander I, but had secretly renounced his claim to the throne in 1823... |
|
| Maria Alexandrovna born Marie of Hesse and by Rhine |
Louis II, Grand Duke of Hesse Louis II, Grand Duke of Hesse Louis II was Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine from 1830 until 5 March 1848 . He was the son of Louis I, Grand Duke of Hesse.... (Hesse-Darmstadt House of Hesse The House of Hesse is a European royal dynasty from the region of Hesse, originally and still formally the House of Brabant.-History:The origins of the House of Hesse begin with the marriage of Sophie of Thuringia, daughter of Louis IV, Landgrave of Thuringia and Elizabeth of Hungary with Henry... ) |
8 August 1824 | 16 April 1841 | 2 March 1855 became Empress |
8 June 1880 | Tsesarevich Alexander Nikolaevich Alexander II of Russia Alexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881... |
||
| Maria Feodorovna born Dagmar of Denmark |
Christian IX of Denmark Christian IX of Denmark Christian IX was King of Denmark from 16 November 1863 to 29 January 1906.Growing up as a prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, a junior branch of the House of Oldenburg which had ruled Denmark since 1448, Christian was originally not in the immediate line of succession to the Danish... (Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg) |
26 November 1847 | 9 November 1866 | 13 March 1881 became Empress |
13 October 1928 | Tsesarevich Alexander Alexandrovi Alexander III of Russia Alexander Alexandrovich Romanov , historically remembered as Alexander III or Alexander the Peacemaker reigned as Emperor of Russia from until his death on .-Disposition:... |
||
Post-Monarchy
In exile, Vladimir RomanovGrand Duke Vladimir of Russia
Vladimir Cyrillovich, Grand Duke of Russia was the Head of the Imperial Family of Russia and Titular Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russias from 1938 to his death.-Early...
was designated as the Tsesarevich by his father, Grand Duke Cyril
Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich of Russia
Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich of Russia was a member of the Russian Imperial Family. After the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the deaths of Tsar Nicholas II and his brother Michael, Cyril assumed the Headship of the Imperial Family of Russia and later the title Emperor and Autocrat of all the...
, after he claimed the throne in 1924. Since 1997 the title has been attributed to Vladimir's grandson, George Mikhailovich Romanov
George Mikhailovich of Russia
Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia is the heir apparent to Maria Vladimirovna, Grand Duchess of Russia, a claimant to the disputed Headship of the Imperial Family of Russia...
, whose mother, Maria Vladimirovna
Maria Vladimirovna
Maria Vladimirovna, Grand Duchess of Russia , has been a claimant to the headship of the Imperial Family of Russia and pretender to the titles Empress and Autocrat of All the Russias and Queen of Poland, since 1992...
, conferred it on him in her capacity as pretender
Pretender
A pretender is one who claims entitlement to an unavailable position of honour or rank. Most often it refers to a former monarch, or descendant thereof, whose throne is occupied or claimed by a rival, or has been abolished....
to the throne. Those who refer to him by a dynastic title, however, more usually address him as grand duke.
Until the end of the empire most people in Russia and abroad, verbally and in writing continued to refer to the Sovereign as "tsar". Perhaps for that reason the title of tsesarevich was less frequently used to refer to the heir apparent than either tsarevich or grand duke, particularly in less educated circles.