The Tsars (Czars) of Russia Trivia Quiz

Answer: Emperor

"Tsar" (or "Czar") the Russian word for emperor and is ultimately derived (via Greek) from the word "Caesar", meaning Emperor or monarch. The Russian tsars were equal in status to the British monarchs.

Answer: Ivan IV

Ivan IV Vasilyevich, also known as Ivan the Terrible, was the first ruler to be crowned Tsar. Mikhail of Tver ruled before Ivan the Terrible but he was not crowned Tsar. However, as early as 1472 Muscovy had claimed to be the true successor to Byzantium and early in the 15th century Moscow was sometimes nicknamed the 'Third Rome'.

Answer: Grandson

Peter II was the grandson of Peter the Great and the son of Tsesarevich Alexei Petrovich, the legitimate son of Peter the Great. Peter II was crowned Tsar in 1727 and reigned until his death in 1730.

Answer: Mikhail I Fyodorovich

The first Tsar from the Romanov House was Mikhail I Fyodorovich, the son of Feodor. He was elected as Tsar in 1613 by the National Assembly. His reign marked the end of the Time of Troubles and the start of the reign of the Romanovs.

Answer: Elizaveta Petrovna

Tsarina (Empress) Elizaveta Petrovna, daughter of Peter the Great seized the throne from baby Ivan IV, whom Tsarina Anna Ioannovna had declared her successor. As the daughter of Peter the Great, Tsarina Elizaveta gained much support from Russian guards. She led the country in two wars: the War of Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War. Tsesarevna (Grand Duchess) Anna Petrovna was Elizaveta's sister and the elder daughter of Peter the Great. Marfa Samuilovna Skavronskaya, also known as Catherine I, was the mother of Tsarina Elizaveta.

Answer: Nicholas II

Nicholas II was the last Tsar of Russia and of the House of Romanov. He was the son of Tsar Alexander III and grandson of Tsar Alexander II. Alexei Nikolaevich was the Tsarevich, the son of Tsar Nicolas II.

Answer: Alexandra Feodorovna Romanova

Alix of Hesse, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, became the Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna Romanova after her marriage in 1894 and her coronation in 1896. She was the mother of four Grand Duchesses: Olga Nikolaevna Romanova, Tatiana Nikolaevna Romanova, Maria Nikolaevna Romanova and Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova.

Her son, the heir to the throne, Tsarevich Alexei, died at the age of 13. Tsarina Alexandra was killed in 1917 with the imperial family.

Answer: Hemophilia

Several royal houses carried the gene causing hemophilia. Queen Victoria passed the gene to her descendants, including the Tsarina Alexandra. The Tsarevich Alexei contracted the disease from his mother.

Answer: The Passion Bearers

The Russian Orthodox Church declared the entire imperial family the 'Passion Bearers' as they were executed and died in a Christ-like manner. The entire imperial family was canonized as Royal Martyrs and Passion Bearers.

Answer: Peter the Great

St Petersburg is founded by Peter the Great in 1703 and becomes the imperial capital. In World War I, St Petersburg was renamed Petrograd and under the Communists it was again renamed, this time as Leningrad. Moscow became the capital of Russia. Today, St Petersburg is the second largest city of Russia.