Russian Czars Increase Power

Ivan III Laid foundation for absolute monarchy Conquered territory around Moscow Liberated Russia from Mongols Centralized Russian government Succeeded by son Vasily – his son, Ivan IV

Ivan IV 3 yrs. old when he came to throne During early years, boyars fought for power and control of Ivan At 16 he seized power for himself; crowned himself czar Married Anastasia, related to old Romanov boyar family

Ivan’s Good Period  Victories  Added land  Gave Russia a law code  Ruled justly

Ivan’s Bad Period after 1560  Anastasia died; Ivan accused boyars of poisoning her and he turned against the boyars  He organized his own police force, the oprichniki, to hunt down traitors; they dressed in black and rode black horses; executed many boyars and peasants  He seized boyar lands and gave it to a new class of nobles loyal to him  Ivan killed his oldest son in 1581 during a quarrel

“Time of Troubles”  Ivan’s remaining son was left to rule  He was mentally and physically weak; incapable of ruling  He died without an heir  Russia went into a time of turmoil as boyars struggled for power  Heirs of czars died mysteriously; imposters tried to claim the throne

Rise of the Romanovs 1613: Russian city representatives met to choose a new czar They chose Michael Romanov- grandnephew of Ivan’s wife, Anastasia Romanov dynasty ruled for 300 years The Romanov’s restored order to Russia; paved way for absolute rule

Peter the Great of Russia He shared rule at first with feeble- minded half –brother 1696: became sole ruler Russia was a land of boyars and serfs when Peter took the throne

Russia’s Contrast to Europe  Serfdom lasted longer in Russia than Western Europe (mid- 1800s)  Serfs in Russia sold with the land – could be presents or payments of debt  Mongol rule had cut Russia off from the Renaissance and Age of Exploration  Geographic barriers also isolated Russia – only seaport, Archangel, which had ice most of the year  Westerners who cam to Russia stayed in a separate part of Moscow

Russia’s Religion  Russians followed Eastern Orthodoxy – becomes Russian Orthodox Church  Catholics and Protestants were seen as heretics to the Russians

Peter Visits the West  Peter regularly visited the German quarter of Moscow – he was fascinated by modern tools and machines there  Peter also had a passion for ships and the sea  He believed Russia’s future was dependent on a warm-water port if they were to compete with the modern states of Europe  1697: he embarked on the “Grand Embassy” – a long visit to western Europe to learn about customs and technologies.  He took 200 servants and 55 boyars with him; he kept his identity a secret and worked as a ship’s carpenter; until he was recognized as he was over 61/2 ft. tall.

Peter’s Reforms  Peter’s goal for Russia became westernization  Russians were not happy.  To make changes above the dissatisfaction of his people, he needed to increase his powers as absolute monarch  The first thing he did was bring the Russian Orthodox Church under his control - he abolished the office of patriarch - he set up the Holy Synod under his direction

 He reduced the power of the landowners - he recruited able men from low-ranking families and promoted them to positions of authority; gave them land - they owed much to czar and remained loyal to him alone

 He modernized the army - hired European officers - men were drilled with European tactics and weapons - made being a soldier a lifetime job – professional - numbered 200,000 by Peter’s death - imposed heavy taxes to pay for army

Westernizing Russia  Introduced potatoes into diet  Initiated the first newspaper  Raise women’s status  Ordered nobles to wear Western fashions and shave beards

Peter’s “Window on the West” St. Petersburg

 Peter wanted a seaport easier to travel to the West  He fought Sweden to gain piece of the Baltic coast – took 21 years of war  He gained St. Petersburg – his “window on the West” in 1703  He forced serfs to work to build the city  25,000 – 100,000 people died from working conditions and diseases  He ordered many Russian nobles to live there  By time of his death – Russia was a power to be reckoned with

Catherine the Great Peter had no heir (he had killed his only son who had disapproved of his westernization. This set off a power struggle within the Romanov family Russian nobles reasserted their independence Catherine was a German princess who wed the heir to Russian throne at 15

 She became Russian and won the loyalty of the people  1762: Russian army officers loyal to her murdered her husband, Peter III – the question was “Was she involved?”  She was an efficient ruler: she reorganized government, codified laws, promoted state education for boys and girls  She embraced western ideas: encouraged French language and customs; a student of Enlightenment thinkers

Catherine’s Absolutism  Often ruthless  Exempted boyars from taxes  Increased boyar’s power over their serfs  Peasants (serfs) rebelled; she repressed them and life became unbearably harsh

Catherine’s Expansionism  She was determined to spread Russia’s borders  Russo-Turkish War (1774) – Russia’s war against the Ottomans gave her a warm water port on the Black Sea  1770s: Poland became a target  1772: Russia, Prussia, and Austria agreed to partition Poland  1793: Catherine took eastern Poland after further partitioning  1795: Austria, Prussia, and Russia took a final partitioning; Poland disappeared from the political map