Famous Russian Rulers

Vote for Your Favourite Russian Rulers

Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

 1 
Peter the Great
(First Emperor of Russia)
Peter the Great
49
Birthdate: June 9, 1672
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Moscow
Died: February 8, 1725
Peter the Great ruled the Tsardom of Russia, and then the Russian Empire, from 1682 to 1725. He ushered in the Enlightenment and cultural revolution in Russia. He also strengthened the Russian navy and launched the Russo-Persian War. Saint Petersburg, the capital of Russia till 1917, was established by him.
 2 
Alexander II of Russia
(Emperor of Russia (1855 - 1881))
Alexander II of Russia
26
Birthdate: April 29, 1818
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Died: March 13, 1881

Alexander II of Russia was the Emperor of Russia, Grand Duke of Finland, and King of Poland from 1855 to 1881. He became known as Alexander the Liberator for his most significant reform, which was the Emancipation Reform of 1861. He is also credited with reorganizing the judicial system, abolishing corporal punishment, and imposing universal military service in Russia.

 3 
Nicholas II
(Emperor of Russia (1894 - 1917))
Nicholas II
33
Birthdate: May 18, 1868
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Died: July 17, 1918

Nicholas II reigned as the last Emperor of All Russia from 1894 until his abdication in 1917. His reign oversaw a series of reforms in Russia. These reforms included the introduction of literacy programs, civil liberties, and methods to modernize the empire's infrastructure. However, these reforms were eventually undermined by Nicholas' love for autocratic rule.

Recommended Lists:
 4 
Ivan the Terrible
(Former Tsar of Russia (1547 - 1575))
Ivan the Terrible
37
Birthdate: August 25, 1530
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Kolomenskoye, Moscow, Russia
Died: March 28, 1584
Ivan the Terrible, son of Vasili III, served as the Grand Prince of Moscow from 1533 to 1547. The “Chosen Council” declared him the tsar at 16 and established the Tsardom of Russia. Ivan’s reign was known for wars such as the Livonian War, which damaged Russia’s economy. 
 5 
Alexander I of Russia
(Emperor of Russia from 1801 to 1825)
Alexander I of Russia
18
Birthdate: December 23, 1777
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Died: December 1, 1825

Alexander I was the emperor of Russia and the eldest son of Paul I. While he was initially a friend of Napoleon Bonaparte, he later joined hands with his opponents to defeat him. He was also part of the Congress of Vienna and later contributed to the formation of the Holy Alliance.

 6 
Alexander III of Russia
(Emperor of Russia (1881 - 1894))
Alexander III of Russia
28
Birthdate: March 10, 1845
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Died: November 1, 1894
Alexander III ruled as the emperor of Russia, the king Poland, and the grand duke of Finland, from 1881 to 1894. He reversed many liberal policies that had been implemented by his father, Alexander II, earlier. He passed the “May Laws” and did not participate in any major war.
 7 
Nicholas I of Russia
(Emperor of Russia (1825 - 1855))
Nicholas I of Russia
11
Birthdate: July 6, 1796
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Gattšina lossipark, Russia
Died: March 2, 1855

Nicholas I of Russia reigned as Emperor of Russia, Grand Duke of Finland, and King of Poland from 1825 to 1855. Nicholas I is remembered for his controversial reign, under which the Russian Empire achieved great geographical expansion. He also played a key role in creating an independent Greek state and was successful in ending the Russo-Turkish War of 1828–1829.

 8 
Paul I of Russia
(Emperor of Russia (1796 - 1801))
Paul I of Russia
15
Birthdate: October 1, 1754
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Died: March 24, 1801
Paul I ruled as the Russian emperor from 1796 till his assassination in 1801. He was officially the son of Peter III and Catherine the Great, but it is believed he was sired by Catherine’s lover, Sergei Saltykov. Paul established the law of succession to the throne of Russia.
 9 
Ivan VI of Russia
(Emperor of Russia)
Ivan VI of Russia
8
Birthdate: August 23, 1740
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Died: July 16, 1764
The eldest child of Duke Anthony Ulrich and Duchess Anna Leopoldovna, Ivan VI of Russia, took over the throne as a 2-month-old baby, with his mother as the regent. His first cousin Elizabeth’s coup later resulted in his imprisonment for 20 years and his eventual assassination. 
 10 
Felix Yusupov
(Prince of Russia)
Felix Yusupov
3
Birthdate: March 23, 1887
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Died: September 27, 1967

Felix Yusupov was a Russian prince and count from the Yusupov family. He participated in the assassination of the controversial mystic Grigori Rasputin. He was born into a wealthy family and led a flamboyant life. He was happily married to Princess Irina of Russia, the niece of Tsar Nicholas II, for more than 50 years.

 11 
Peter II of Russia
(Emperor of Russia (1727 - 1730))
Peter II of Russia
8
Birthdate: October 23, 1715
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Died: January 30, 1730
Peter II Alexeyevich, the only son of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich, ruled as the emperor of Russia from 1727 to 1730. He became a Tsar as a child but died an untimely death due to small pox at 14, on the day that he had planned to marry Ekaterina Dolgorukova.
 12 
Oleg of Novgorod
(Grand Prince of Kiev From 882 to 912)
Oleg of Novgorod
4
Birthdate: 0845 AD
Birthplace: Russia
Died: 0912 AD
Oleg of Novgorod, or Oleg the Prophet, was a Varangian prince who reigned over the Rus' people in late 9th and 10th centuries. He established the rule of Kievan Rus' and attacked Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. He finds mention in Scandinavian legends and in many historical films.
 13 
Ivan III of Russia
(Former Grand Prince of Moscow (1462 - 1505))
Ivan III of Russia
3
Birthdate: January 22, 1440
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Died: October 27, 1505

Ivan III of Russia was a Grand Prince of Moscow and Grand Prince of all Rus'. He initially served as the co-ruler and regent for his blind father, Vasily II, before officially occupying the throne. He vastly expanded his kingdom and  laid the foundations of the Russian state. His reign—lasting 43 years—was one of the longests in Russian history.

 14 
Peter III of Russia
(Emperor of Russia (January 1762 - July 1762))
Peter III of Russia
16
Birthdate: February 21, 1728
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Kiel, Germany
Died: July 17, 1772

Peter III of Russia reigned over Russia as the emperor for just six months in 1762 before being deposed by people loyal to his wife Catherine II, who then succeeded him. In his short reign, Peter made progressive reforms, including the abolishment of the secret police, which was renowned for its extreme violence. Peter is often portrayed in films.

 15 
Boris Godunov
(Tsar of Russia (1598 to 1605))
Boris Godunov
3
Birthdate: August 12, 1552
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Vyazma, Russia
Died: April 23, 1605
 16 
Michael I of Russia
Michael I of Russia
5
Birthdate: July 12, 1596
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Moscow
Died: July 12, 1645
 17 
Rurik
(Prince of Novgorod and Founder of the Rurik Dynasty)
Rurik
3
Birthdate: 0824 AD
Birthplace: Russia
Died: 0879 AD

Viking prince Rurik is part of Norse legends and finds mention in The Russian Primary Chronicle of the 12th century. The founder of the Rurik dynasty, he is said to have been invited by the people of Novgorod too form an orderly government, though historians deny his existence.

 18 
Alexis of Russia
(Tsar of Russia from 1645 until his death in 1676)
Alexis of Russia
5
Birthdate: March 19, 1629
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Died: February 8, 1676
 19 
Igor of Kiev
(Ruler)
Igor of Kiev
3
Birthdate: 0877 AD
Birthplace: Russia
Died: 0945 AD
 20 
Ivan V of Russia
(Tsar of Russia)
Ivan V of Russia
4
Birthdate: September 6, 1666
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Died: February 8, 1696
 21 
Feodor III of Russia
(Russian Child Ruler)
Feodor III of Russia
4
Birthdate: June 9, 1661
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Died: May 7, 1682
 22 
Alexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia
(Tsarevich of Russia)
Alexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia
3
Birthdate: February 28, 1690
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Preobrazhenskoye, Moscow, Russia
Died: July 7, 1718
 23 
Vasili IV of Russia
(Tsar of Russia)
Vasili IV of Russia
3
Birthdate: September 22, 1552
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
Died: September 12, 1612
 24 
Fyodor II of Russia
(Emperor)
Fyodor II of Russia
2
Birthdate: 1589 AD
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Died: June 20, 1605
 25 
False Dmitriy I
(Emperor)
False Dmitriy I
2
Birthdate: October 19, 1582
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Moscow
 26 
Yaropolk I of Kiev
(Ruler)
Yaropolk I of Kiev
2
Birthdate: 0952 AD
Birthplace: Russia
Died: June 1, 0978
 27 
Daniel of Moscow
(Grand Prince of Moscow)
Daniel of Moscow
1
Birthdate: 1261 AD
Birthplace: Vladimir, Russia
Died: March 4, 1303
 28 
Ivan I of Moscow
(Grand Prince of Moscow)
Ivan I of Moscow
2
Birthdate: November 1, 1288
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Died: March 31, 1340
 29 
Prince Vasili Alexandrovich of Russia
(Prince)
Prince Vasili Alexandrovich of Russia
1
Birthdate: July 7, 1907
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Gatchina, Russia
Died: June 24, 1989
 30 
Dmitry of Uglich
(Tsarevich)
Dmitry of Uglich
1
Birthdate: October 19, 1582
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Died: May 15, 1591
 31 
Vasily II of Moscow
(Prince of Moscow)
Vasily II of Moscow
1
Birthdate: March 10, 1415
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Moscow, Grand Duchy of Moscow
Died: March 27, 1462
 32 
Vasily I of Moscow
(Prince of Moscow)
Vasily I of Moscow
1
Birthdate: December 30, 1371
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Moscow, Grand Duchy of Moscow
Died: February 27, 1425
 33 
Ivan II of Russia
(Grand Prince of Moscow)
Ivan II of Russia
1
Birthdate: March 30, 1326
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Died: November 13, 1359
 34 
Roman the Great
(Prince)
Roman the Great
1
Birthdate: 1152 AD
Birthplace: Kyiv
Died: June 19, 1205
 35 
Yury of Moscow
(Prince)
Yury of Moscow
1
Birthdate: 1281 AD
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Died: November 21, 1325
 36 
Sviatopolk II of Kiev
(Ruler)
Sviatopolk II of Kiev
1
Birthdate: November 8, 1050
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Russia
Died: April 16, 1113
 37 
Gleb Vladimirovich
(Prince)
Gleb Vladimirovich
2
Birthdate: 0990 AD
Birthplace: Murom, Russia
Died: September 9, 1015