You may have heard the word more than once in history classes "Czar" (pronounced tsar) in reference to the kings who ruled Russia over almost five hundred years, right? The first Russian czar was Ivan IV is the last Nicholas II, executed, together with his family, by the Bolsheviks in 1917. But where does the name tsar come from? It comes from the Roman word "Caesar".
The most emblematic dynasty of emperors that emerged in the western world was surely the julius claudian, inaugurated by Octavian Augustus, first emperor and nephew of Julius Caesar, the great general, who was dictator of the RepublicRoman. It is known that “Caesar” was more than a simple name; it was, above all, a political title, which indicated the one to whom the powers of government were delegated. However, the term comes from the Latin "Caesare" whose etymological root points to “cut”/“cut” and also to “hair”/“hairy”. It is not known precisely why this word was associated with the figure of a governor in the context of the history of Rome.
However, the word "tsar" derives from the Greek variant for "cesar", which is "kaisar", since the Russian language, as well as other dialects spoken in Eastern Europe, were formed from the Greek. In northern Europe, especially in Germany, the name "Kaiser", which is addressed to kings, has the same origin.
Among Russians, the title of "tsar" of all Russia was claimed by Ivan IV the Terrible on January 16, 1547, in Moscow Cathedral, before the Patriarch of Constantinople. But the title was only made official in the year 1561.
Ivan was the son of a grand duke (noble title) of Moscow named Vassili III, of the Rurik dynasty. With a violent temper, Ivan took possession of the vast Russian territory, fighting and submitting to his yoke various peoples who had settled there or who bordered the domains of the empire, such as the Tartars.
By Me. Cláudio Fernandes
