Sovereign of all Russia

The Sovereign of all Russia was a very important title used long ago by the grand princes of Moscow. This title showed that the person was the leader of a big area called Russia. Later on, the title changed to something new: sovereign, tsar and grand prince. This shows how the way leaders were called changed over time in Russian history. The title helped people know who was in charge and made big decisions for the country.

History

Dmitry Shemyaka used the title sovereign from 1446 and put it on his coins. After his brother Vasily II came back to Moscow and took the title of grand prince, he also used the title sovereign on his coins.

Ivan III, after growing his land and marrying Sophia Palaiologina, took the title of sovereign and said he ruled all the old lands of Kievan Rus, even some under Lithuanian control. His full title was very long: Ivan, by the Grace of God, the Sovereign of all Russia and the Grand Prince of Vladimir, and Moscow, and Novgorod, and Pskov, and Tver, and Yugorsk, and Perm, and Bulgar and others. During his time, the Russian lands came together and freed themselves from Mongol rule, helping the grand prince feel like the ruler of all Russia. Ivan also used the title tsar in letters to other countries. He had his grandson Dmitry crowned as grand prince using the crown of Monomakh for the first time, a special crown that showed Moscow’s link to the Byzantine Empire, even though Dmitry never became ruler.