CZAR, ziir (Russ. tsari, Bohem. tsar, OChurch Slay. tsc'sari, tsiisarii, through 01-1G. keisar, from Lat. Ca-sar). The alternative title of the Russian Emperor; also written TSAR. During the Middle Ages the Emperor of the East and the Mongol Khans appear under the title of Czars in Russian contemporary literature, while the rulers of the various Russian provinces are called grand dukes till the sixteenth century. In 1547, however, Ivan the Terrible caused him self to be solemnly crowned Czar of Moscow. From this time the Russian monarchs called themselves by this title until the conquest of Little Russia and Smolensk caused them to as sume that of Czar of All the Russias. The word now became practically the equivalent of Em peror; yet Peter I., in 1724, thought fit to assume this latter title in addition, and as the Russian language had no term corresponding to it, the Latin word Imperator was introduced, while the Empress was termed Imperatritsa. At first
several European powers refused to sanction the assumption of imperial dignity by the Russian Czar, but ultimately consented to do so. The wife of the Czat was named Czaritsa (Czarina) ) ; the sons, Czarevitch; the daughters. Czarevna ; but after the death of Alexis, Peter L's son, these titles were abolished, and the imperial princes were called grand dukes and the imperial princesses grand d7tchesses. In 1799 the Em peror Paul I. introduced the title of Cesarevitch (not Czarevitch) 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 Em peror is more frequently called (7osudar, i.e. lord, than Czar. See RussiA.