Tsarevich

For other uses, see Tsarevich (disambiguation).

Tsarevich^{[lower-alpha 1]} (Russian: царевич, IPA: [t͡sɐˈrʲevʲɪt͡ɕ]) was a title given to the sons of tsars.^[1] The female equivalent was tsarevna.^[2]

Under the 1797 Pauline house laws, the title was discontinued and replaced with tsesarevich for the heir apparent alone. His younger brothers were given the title of veliky knyaz, translated as grand prince or, more commonly, as grand duke.

Historically, the term was also applied to descendants of the khans (tsars) of Kazan, Kasimov, and Siberia after these khanates had been conquered by Russia. The descendants of the deposed royal families of Georgia or the batonishvili were given the titles of tsarevich until 1833, when they were demoted to knyaz after a failed coup to restore the Georgian monarchy.

Notes

1. Also spelled Czarevich in English.

References

1. Bushkovitch, Paul (18 March 2021). Succession to the Throne in Early Modern Russia: The Transfer of Power 1450–1725. Cambridge University Press. pp. 74, 106. ISBN 978-1-108-47934-9.
2. Martin, Russell E. (15 June 2012). A Bride for the Tsar: Bride-Shows and Marriage Politics in Early Modern Russia. Cornell University Press. p. 88. ISBN 978-1-5017-5665-8.