Tsarists

Tsarists refers to supporters of the Tsarist autocracy in Russia. This system of government was characterized by an absolute monarch, the Tsar, who held supreme authority. The Tsarist regime was in place for centuries, with its roots in the Grand Duchy of Moscow and evolving through the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire. The ideology underpinning Tsarism emphasized the divine right of the Tsar, a strong centralized state, and often a close relationship with the Orthodox Church. Socially, Tsarist Russia was hierarchical, with a nobility, clergy, merchant class, and a vast peasantry.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Tsarism faced increasing opposition from various revolutionary and liberal movements who advocated for constitutional monarchy, republicanism, or socialism. These movements included Narodniks, Marxists, and liberal reformers. The autocratic nature of the Tsarist government, its perceived inefficiencies, and social inequalities fueled discontent. Despite attempts at reform, such as those following the 1905 Revolution, the Tsarist regime ultimately proved unable to withstand the pressures of World War I and internal unrest, leading to the February Revolution of 1917 and the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II. Following the revolution, the term "Tsarist" became associated with the old regime and its supporters, many of whom fought against the Bolsheviks in the subsequent Russian Civil War.