Russian Czars Increase Power Chapter 21 Section 4 Russian Czars Increase Power

The First Czar – Ivan IV Ivan IV of Russia came to the throne at 16 years old He seized control from the Boyars who are Russian land owning nobles. Ivan also married Anastasia Romanov, from the powerful Romanov Boyar family. He took the title Czar since the Russian king married the last Byzantine (aka Roman) princess.

Ivan iV into Ivan the Terrible During his first 13 years, Ivan was winning wars/ land, gave Russia a great law code, and ruled justly However, after 1560 when Anastasia died, Ivan blamed the Boyars. He organized a secret police to hunt down Boyars

Ivan the Terrible Hunts Traitors Using his secret police, Ivan hunted down any Boyar who was rumored to be a “traitor”. He would then also hunt down that Boyar’s family even their serfs and their families.

Ivan the Terrible…Kills his own Son? Ivan even famously killed his own son Therefore, Ivan’s second son, who was very sickly, took over and died just three years after Ivan.

Michael Romanov When Ivan’s son passed away, Michael Romanov (Anastasia’s grandnephew) was chosen by representatives of Russian cities. Romanov establishes a dynasty that goes from 1613-1917 The Romanovs strengthened Russia by passing a great law code and putting down revolts Since they held total power they could become absolute monarchs as well. Their first was Peter The Great

Before Peter the Great Russia was backwards with so many boyars and serfs When a boyar sold land, he sold serfs on it too Boyars could pay debts with Serfs The Mongols isolated Russia from Europe Russia had no warm water port city, they froze over during the winter months (Oct-April) Religiously, the Russians were Orthodox and not Catholic or Protestant, thus looked at as heretics.

Peter Visits the West As Peter the Great grew up, he was fascinated by Western European ways came to the throne at 24, he embarked on the “Grand Embassy” and traveled throughout Western Europe He met every major European leader in every European Country Peter realized that he needed to Westernize, or modernize, Russia This is how he became an Absolute Ruler He would Westernize Russia through: The Orthodox Church Limiting The Boyars Russia’s Military

Peter Westernizes the Russian Orthodox Church Peter brought the Russian Orthodox Church under state control. He abolished the Patriarch, or leader, and set up a Holy Synod, or council This Synod was set up and appointed by him

Peter Westernizes the Boyars and the Russian Military Peter controlled the Boyars through western traditions of granting titles and land to people Since these new Russian “Lords” were given everything by Peter, they were incredibly loyal Peter modernizes his military by hiring European officers. These officers drilled the Russians in European military tactics with European weapons By his death Peter had an army of 20,000 well trained/ elite soldiers

Peter Westernizes Russia As Peter Westernized he also: Introduced potatoes, becoming a Russian standard for food and drink Started the first Russian newspaper, which he conveniently edited himself. Raised women’s social status by having them at social events Ordered nobles to give up their traditional clothes and fashions, for Western ones…

For example… Russian Czar before Peter Peter the Great

Moving the Capital The most symbolic move the Peter made to Westernize Russia was moving the capital from Moscow, Michael Romanov’s city The city Peter moved it to was won after 21 long years of fighting the Swedish. Although it was built on a swamp, killing up to 100,000 Russians in its construction, St. Petersburg, Russia was built.

St. Petersburg as the capital Peter builds his great palace, The Hermitage, and forces all Russian nobles to move there This was the culmination of Peter’s Westernization as Russia now also had its all year port city and capital