tsaarit

Tsaarit is a term derived from the Slavic word for "emperor" or "caesar." Historically, it specifically referred to the rulers of the Grand Duchy of Moscow and later the Russian Empire. The title of tsar was first adopted by Ivan IV in 1547, signifying a claim to supreme power and a connection to the Roman and Byzantine Empires. The tsarist system was characterized by autocracy, where the tsar held absolute political power, often supported by the Orthodox Church and a hierarchical social structure. The last tsar of Russia, Nicholas II, was overthrown in the February Revolution of 1917, bringing an end to centuries of tsarist rule. The term "tsar" is sometimes used more broadly to describe any autocratic ruler, though its primary historical context is Russia.