This is a list of the individuals who were, at any given time, considered the next in line to inherit the throne of Russia or Grand Prince of Moscow. Those who actually succeeded (at any future time) are shown in bold. Stillborn children and infants surviving less than a month are not included.

1281 to 1547 At this time the ruler is known as Grand Prince of Moscow.

Heir Status Relationship to Monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason Next in line Monarch Yury Danilovich Heir apparent eldest son 1281 born 4 March 1303 became Grand Prince Ivan Danilovich1288–1303, brother DanielIvan Danilovich Heir presumptive brother 4 March 1303 brother became Grand Prince 21 November 1325 became Grand Prince uncertain Yury Simeon Ivanovich1316–1325, son Simeon Ivanovich Heir apparent eldest son 21 November 1325 father became Grand Prince 31 March 1340 became Grand Prince Ivan Ivanovich1325–1340, brother Ivan I Ivan Ivanovich Heir presumptive brother 31 March 1340 brother became Grand Prince 1348 son born to Grand Prince uncertain SimeonIvan Simeonovich Heir apparenteldest son 1349 born 1353 died Ivan Ivanovich1349–c. 1350, uncleXX Simeonovichc. 1350–1353, brother Ivan Ivanovich Heir presumptive brother 1353 death of Grand Prince's sons 27 April 1353 became Grand Prince Dmitry Ivanovich1353, sonDmitry Ivanovich Heir apparent eldest son 27 April 1353 father became Grand Prince 13 November 1359 became Grand Prince uncertain Ivan II Ivan Ivanovichc. 1356–1359, brother Ivan Ivanovich Heir presumptive brother 13 November 1359 brother became Grand Prince 1364 died Vladimir Andreyevich1359–1364, cousin Dmitry Donskoy Vladimir Andreyevich Heir presumptive cousin 1364 death of Grand Prince's brother c. 1370 son born to Grand Prince uncertainDaniil Dmitrievich Heir apparent eldest son c. 1370 born 15 September 1379 died Vladimir Andreyevich1370–1371, father's cousin Vasily Dmitrievich1371–1379, brother Vasily Dmitrievich Heir apparent eldest son 15 September 1379 brother died 19 May 1389 became Grand Prince Yury Dmitrievich1379–1389, brother Yury Dmitrievich Heir presumptive brother 19 May 1389 brother became Grand Prince 30 March 1395 son born to Grand Prince Andrey Dmitrievich1389–1395, brother Vasily IYury Vasilievich Heir apparent eldest son 30 March 1395 born 30 November 1400 died Yury Dmitrievich1395–1396, uncle Ivan Vasilievich1396–1400, brotherIvan Vasilievich Heir apparent eldest son 30 November 1400 brother died 20 July 1417 died Yury Dmitrievich1400, uncle Daniel Vasilievich1400–1402, brother Yury Dmitrievich1402–1415, uncle Vasily Vasilievich1415–1417, brother Vasily Vasilievich Heir apparent eldest son 20 July 1417 brother died 27 February 1425 became Grand Prince Yury Dmitrievich1417–1425, uncle Yury Dmitrievich Heir presumptive uncle 27 February 1425 nephew became Grand Prince 1433 seized the throne Vasily Yurievich Kosoy1425–1433, son Vasily II

Heir Status Relationship to Monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason Next in line Monarch Vasily Kosoy Heir apparent eldest son 1433 father became Grand Prince 5 June 1434 became Grand Prince Dmitry Yurievich1433–1434, brother Yury II Dmitrievich Dmitry Yurievich Heir presumptive brother 5 June 1434 brother became Grand Prince 1435 Grand Prince deposed by his cousin uncertain Vasily Kosoy

Heir Status Relationship to Monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason Next in line Monarchsuccession uncertain 1435–1440 Vasily IIIvan Vasilievich Heir apparent eldest son 22 January 1440 born 1446 Grand Prince deposed uncertain1447 father returned to throne 27 March 1462 became Grand Prince Andrey Vasilievich Bolshoy1447–1458, brother Ivan Ivanovich1458–1462, sonIvan Ivanovich Heir apparent eldest son 27 March 1462 father became Grand Prince 6 March 1490 died Andrey Vasilievich Bolshoy1462–1479, uncle Ivan III Vasily Ivanovich1479–1483, half-brother Dmitry Ivanovich1483–1490, son Dmitry Ivanovich Heir apparent grandson 1490 father died April 1502 excluded from succession by Grand Prince Vasili Ivanovich1490–1502, half-uncle Vasily Ivanovich Heir apparent eldest living son April 1502 nephew excluded from succession by Grand Prince 27 October 1505 became Grand Prince Yury Ivanovich1502–1505, brother Yury Ivanovich Heir presumptive brother 27 October 1505 brother became Grand Prince 25 August 1530 son born to Grand Prince Andrey Ivanovich1505–1530, brother Vasily IIIIvan Vasilievich Heir apparent eldest son 25 August 1530 born 13 December 1533 became Grand Prince Yury Ivanovich1530–1532, uncle Yuri Vasilievich1532–1533, brotherYuri Vasilievich Heir presumptive brother 13 December 1533 brother became Grand Prince 16 January 1547 Grand Prince crowned Tsar Yury Ivanovich1533–1536, uncle Ivan IV Andrey Ivanovich of Staritsa1536–1537, uncle Vladimir of Staritsa1537–1547, cousin

1547 to 1722 From this point of the ruler is Tsar (Czar) of Russia.

Heir Status Relationship to Monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason Next in line Monarch Yuri Vasilievich Heir presumptive brother 16 January 1547 ruler first crowned Tsar 11 October 1552 son born to tsar Vladimir of Staritsa1547–1552, cousin Ivan IV Dmitry Ivanovich Heir apparent son 11 October 1552 born 26 June 1553 died Yuri Vasilievich1552–1553, uncle Yuri Vasilievich Heir presumptive brother 26 June 1553 tsar's son died 28 March 1554 son born to tsar Vladimir of Staritsa1553–1554, cousinTsarevich Ivan Ivanovich Heir apparent son 28 March 1554 born 19 November 1581 died Yuri Vasilievich1554–1557, uncle Tsarevich Feodor Ivanovich1557–1581, brotherTsarevich Feodor Ivanovich Heir apparent son 19 November 1581 brother died 18 March 1584 became tsar uncertain Tsarevich Dmitry Ivanovich1582–1591, half-brother Tsarevich Dmitry Ivanovich Heir presumptive half-brother 18 March 1584 brother became tsar 15 May 1591 died uncertain Feodor Isuccession uncertain 1591–1598

Heir Status Relationship to Monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason Next in line MonarchTsarevich Feodor Borisovich Godunov Heir apparent eldest son 21 February 1598 father became tsar 13 April 1605 became tsar uncertain Boris Godunovsuccession uncertain 1605–1606 Feodor II False Dmitriy I Dmitry Shuisky Heir presumptive brother 19 May 1606 brother became tsar 17 July 1610 brother dethroned Alexander Shuisky1606–1610, brother Vasili IVsuccession uncertain 1610–1612 Władysław IV Vasa

Heir Status Relationship to Monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason Next in line MonarchIvan Romanov Heir presumptive uncle 26 July 1613 nephew became tsar 9 March 1629 son born to tsar Nikita Romanov, son MichaelTsarevich Alexei Mikhailovich Heir apparent eldest son 9 March 1629 born 14 July 1645 became tsar Ivan Romanov1629–1640, granduncle Nikita Romanov1640–1645, cousinNikita Romanov Heir presumptive cousin 14 July 1645 cousin became tsar 22 August 1648 son born to tsar uncertain Alexei Tsarevich Dmitri Alekseyevich Heir apparent eldest son 22 August 1648 born 6 October 1649 died Nikita Romanov1648–1649, cousinNikita Romanov Heir presumptive cousin 6 October 1649 tsar's son died 15 February 1654 son born to tsar uncertainTsarevich Alexei Alekseyevich Heir apparent eldest son 15 February 1654 born 17 January 1670 died Nikita Romanov1654, cousin uncertain Tsarevich Feodor Alekseyevich1661–1670, brother Tsarevich Feodor Alekseyevich Heir apparent eldest son 17 January 1670 brother died 29 January 1676 became tsar Tsarevich Ivan Alekseyevich1670–1676, brother Tsarevich Ivan Alekseyevich Heir presumptive brother 29 January 1676 brother became tsar 7 May 1682 became tsar Tsarevich Peter Alekseyvich1676–1682, half-brother Feodor IIIsuccession uncertain 1682–1690 Ivan V and Peter I (jointly)Grand Duke Alexei Petrovich Heir presumptive and apparent nephew and eldest son 18 February 1690 born 26 June 1718 died uncertain Grand Duke Alexander Petrovich1691–1692, brotheruncertainHeir apparent eldest son Peter I Grand Duke Peter Alekseyevich1715–1718, sonGrand Duke Peter Alekseyevich Heir apparent grandson 26 June 1718 father died 16 February 1722 Decree of the succession to the throne Grand Duke Peter Petrovich1718–1719, half-uncle uncertain

1722 to 1797 Between Peter I's decree on the succession to the throne of 16 February 1722 and Paul I's decree of 15 May 1797, the Emperor had the right to name his or her own successor. All heirs in this period were nominated by the reigning monarch, rather than holding the position by right of inheritance. Despite Peter the Great's modification of the law to allow nomination of a successor by the monarch, neither he nor his two immediate successors ever nominated an heir, and Catherine I, Peter II, and Anna were all chosen irregularly, after the death of their predecessor. In addition, Ivan VI, who had not named a successor, was deposed in a coup, while Peter III, who was deposed and murdered after a coup, was succeeded not by his son Paul, his chosen successor, but by his wife, who became Catherine II.

Heir Status Relationship to Monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason MonarchGrand Duke Ivan Antonovich Crown heir grand nephew 5 October 1740 proclaimed by Empress 28 October 1740 became emperorAnnaGrand Duke Peter Feodorovich Heir apparent nephew 18 November 1742 proclaimed by Empress 5 January 1762 became emperorElizabethGrand Duke Paul Petrovich Heir apparent son 7 January 1762 proclaimed by Emperor, and then by Empress 17 November 1796 became emperorPeter III and Catherine IIGrand Duke Alexander Pavlovich Heir apparent son 28 November 1796 proclaimed by Emperor 15 May 1797 Decree of the succession to the thronePaul I

1797 to 1917 In 1797, Emperor Paul modified the laws of succession, abolishing the Petrine law and establishing in its place a law establishing semi-Salic succession among his own descendants. This law remained until the abolition of the monarchy.

Although Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich renounced his claims to the throne in 1822, he did so secretly, and so was still widely viewed as heir to the throne until his older brother's death in 1825. At the death of Alexander I, the next brother, who would become Nicholas I, deferred his claims until his older brother Constantine renounced once again, but after Constantine's second renunciation he claimed to have taken the throne immediately upon Alexander's death.

+Heirs to the Russian throne Monarch Heir Relationshipto monarch Became heir(Date; Reason) Ceased to be heir(Date; Reason) Next in line of succession Paul I Tsesarevich Alexander Pavlovich Son 15 May 1797 23 March 1801 Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich, brotherAlexander I Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich Brother 23 March 1801Brother became emperor 26 January 1822Renounced claim to the throne Grand Duke Nicholas Pavlovich, brother Grand Duke Nicholas Pavlovich Brother 26 January 1822Brother renounced 1 December 1825Brother died, became emperor Grand Duke Alexander Nikolaevich, sonNicholas ITsesarevich Alexander NikolaevichSon1 December 1825Father became emperor2 March 1855Father died, became emperor Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich, 1825–1827, uncle Grand Duke Nicholas Alexandrovich, 1843–1855, sonAlexander II Tsesarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich Son 2 March 1855Father became emperor 24 April 1865Died Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich, brotherSon24 April 1865Brother died13 March 1881Father assassinated, became emperor Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, 1865–1868, brother Tsesarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich Son 13 March 1881Father became emperor 1 November 1894Father died, became emperor Grand Duke George Alexandrovich, brotherNicholas II Grand Duke George Alexandrovich Brother 1 November 1894Brother became emperor 10 July 1899Died Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich, brother Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich Brother 10 July 1899Brother died 12 August 1904Son born to emperor Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, uncle Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich Son 12 August 1904Born 15 March 1917 Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich, uncle

See also Tsesarevich

References