czar

Czar, also spelled tsar or czar, is a title used historically to designate a ruler or supreme leader in certain Slavic and neighboring states. The word derives from the Latin title Caesar, passing into Slavic languages through the form tsar, and is rendered in English as czar or tsar. The spelling czar is common in English-language historical and popular writing, while tsar reflects closer transliteration from Slavic sources.

In Russia, the title was used by rulers who claimed broad sovereign authority. The first Russian ruler to adopt the title in a formal sense was Ivan IV, who in 1547 proclaimed himself Tsar of All Russia, signaling a claim to a centralized, autocratic monarchic power. The title signified both political sovereignty and, in some periods, a claim of divine sanction. In 1721, Peter the Great established the Russian Empire and took the title of Emperor (Imperator), but the term tsar remained in common usage and in ceremonial contexts. The term was also used by rulers in other Slavic states, most notably Bulgaria and Serbia, where equivalents of the title appeared in historical records and translations as tsar.

Modern usage of czar generally falls into two categories. As a historical term, it refers to the rulers of Russia and other states that used the title. In contemporary language, czar is often used metaphorically to denote a government official assigned to oversee a specific policy area, such as a “drug czar” or a “cyber czar,” though these are informal or administrative titles rather than sovereign ones. Spelling variations—czar and tsar—are both common, with tsar more common in direct transliteration and czar more prevalent in English-language historical writing.