Romanovs

The Romanovs were the Russian imperial dynasty that ruled Russia from 1613 to 1917. The dynasty was founded when Michael I Fedorovich was selected by the Zemsky Sobor to end the Time of Troubles in 1613. The name Romanov derives from a medieval boyar family associated with Michael’s line, and the house he established became the dynasty that governed Russia for more than three centuries. Notable rulers include Peter the Great (r. 1682–1725), who westernized administration and founded St. Petersburg; Catherine the Great (r. 1762–1796), who expanded territory and fostered Enlightenment-era culture; Alexander II (r. 1855–1881), who emancipated the serfs; and Nicholas II (r. 1894–1917), the last emperor.

The dynasty presided over imperial expansion, reform, and the consolidation of the Russian state, and it played a central role in European and Asian geopolitics. The 19th century saw modernization efforts alongside growing social and political tensions, culminating in revolutionary challenges to autocratic rule. The 1905 revolution forced limited constitutional reforms and the creation of a Duma, but autocratic authority remained dominant for several more years.

In 1917, the February Revolution forced Nicholas II to abdicate, ending the dynasty’s reign. In 1918, Nicholas II and his immediate family were executed by Bolshevik authorities, bringing the dynasty to a definitive close. The Romanovs left a lasting legacy in Russian architecture, culture, and administration, and the imperial era they symbolize continues to be a central part of world history and historical memory.