Tsarist Rule

Who were the tsars?

The tsars were the kings or emperors who ruled Russia. They were autocrats which meant they had absolute power and could make any decision they liked. The position of the tsar was passed down the royal family from father to son.

Who helped the tsars govern Russia?

The tsars relied on the 5 key groups or organisations to rule Russia:

• ❖ Aristocratic ministers gave the tsars advice.
• ❖ The Russian Orthodox Church would support the tsars.
• ❖ The secret police, called the Okhrana, would crush any opposition.
• ❖ The army and navy swore an oath of loyalty to the tsar. The army could be used to crush any opposition.
• ❖ The zemstvos, or locally elected assemblies, set up to administer local affairs which were controlled by aristocrats.

How did the tsars control the countryside?

There were 4 key ways in which the tsars controlled the peasants:

• ❖ The peasants were freed in 1861 and were no longer serfs. However, they were in debt to the landowners because of this.
• ❖ A mir, or village commune, controlled the peasants.
• ❖ Law and order in the countryside was in the hands of the nobles.
• ❖ The zemstvos, or locally elected assemblies, were also controlled by the nobles.

How did the tsars select their ministers?

The tsars selected their ministers from 2 main groups:

• ❖ The aristocracy who were the people in the highest social class in Russia - they had land, money and power.
• ❖ The most senior officials in the Russian Orthodox Church.

What were the tsars responsible for?

The tsar was in charge of everything in the country. He had authority over the Church, all laws, taxation, the army and the navy.