CZAR, more properly Zar, is a title of the Russian emperor. The word is derived from the old Slavonic language, and signifies much the same as Ger. Kaiser, Lat. Cwar, to which it probably owes its origin; although some etymologists identify it with the termination of the names of the old Assyrian kings—such as Plialassar, Nabonassar, and Nabopolassar. After the 12th c., we find the Russian annalists giving the title of C. to the grand duke Wladimir, Monomaeh (died 1125), and to several of his successors In general. however, the rulers of the various Russian provinces were called grand dukes till the 16th century. Thus, we have the grand dukes of Wladimir, 'Clew, Mos cow, etc. The grand duke Wassilij Iwanowitch first assumed. in the year 1505, the title of Samodershez, which signifies autocrat. The son of Wassilij, Iwan II., Wassilije witch the cruel, caused himself to he solemnly crowned C., 16th Jan.. 1547. From this time, the Russian monarchs called themselves czars of Moscow; and after the conquest of Little Russia and Smolensk, czars of all the Russlas. The word now became prat
tieally the equivalent of emperor; Peter I., in 1724, thought fit to assume this latter title in addition; and as the Russian language had no term corresponding to it besides C., the Latin word Imperator was introduced, while the empress was termed Impera trios. At first, several European powers refused to sanction the assumption of imperial dignity by the Russian C., but ultimately consented to do so, The wife of the C. was mimed czarina (czarina); the sons, czarewitch; the daughters, cznrewna; but after the death of Alcxei—Peter L's son—these titles were abolished, and the imperial princes called grand dukes, and the imperial princesses grand duchesses. In 1799, the emperor Paul I. introduced the title of cesarewitch (not ezarewitch) for his second son, the grand duke Constantine. The heir-apparent and his wife are still called cesarevitch and cesarevna. Among the Russian people themselves, the emperor is more frequently called gossudar (hospodar, i.e., lord) than czar.