The most successful rulers. The most successful rulers in Russian history

From time immemorial, power has been the prerogative of men. Tsars and kings, khans and shahs became fathers to their people, leading countries to prosperity and prosperity. The role of a woman in power was limited to dynastic marriage and the birth of healthy, strong heirs. However, since the time of the pharaohs, there have been wise and majestic persons who were able to bear the weight of Monomakh’s cap.

Hatshepsut

"Woman with a beard." Egyptian beliefs required that the holder of the crown of the Upper and Lower Kingdoms embody the god Horus. Therefore, Hatshepsut, having ascended the throne after the death of her husband Thutmose II, was forced to wear men's clothing and wear a fake beard. She was eldest daughter and the only heir of Pharaoh Thutmose I was the future Thutmose III, the illegitimate son of her husband, who had barely reached the age of six. Having come to power, she sent the bastard prince to be raised in the temple and single-handedly led Egypt for 22 years. The country devastated by nomads under the rule of Hatshepsut experienced unprecedented economic growth, construction and trade developed, Egyptian ships reached the country of Punt. The female pharaoh personally led a military campaign into Nubia and won. Hatshepsut was supported by the priestly elite and loved by the people. The only thing that she (like most female rulers) can be reproached for is her favorite, the architect Senenmut, the son of a simple scribe. He, of course, could not marry the living embodiment of God, but he loved his queen so much that he even built himself a tomb that exactly replicated his beloved’s sarcophagus.

« You will proclaim her word, you will obey her command. The one who worships her will live; the one who blasphemously speaks ill of Her Majesty will die» (Thutmose I about Queen Hatshepsut).

Cleopatra

"Fatal Beauty" To understand the irony of Cleopatra VII’s fate, you need to know the history of her “cheerful” family. Egyptian rulers, descendants of Ptolemy, the commander of Alexander the Great, married sisters for 12 generations in a row, executed, slaughtered and poisoned children, parents, brothers, husbands and wives. To ascend the throne, Cleopatra had to defeat two sisters - Berenice and Arsinoe, marry two young brothers in turn and poison both. She charmed the young Caesar and bore him a son, Ptolemy Caesarion, to rule on his behalf. She fell in love with the middle-aged Roman commander Mark Antony and bore him three children. She almost managed to embarrass Emperor Octavian, but age still took its toll. And at the same time, Cleopatra should not be considered a frivolous, depraved woman. In terms of education, the Egyptian princess was superior to most ladies of her time - she knew eight languages, and understood not only Homer, but also tactics, medicine, and toxicology. And for almost 30 years she successfully fought against Rome, defending the independence of Egypt.

« Although the beauty of this woman was not such that it is called incomparable and amazes at first sight, her manner was distinguished by irresistible charm. The very sounds of her voice caressed and delighted the ear, and her tongue was like a multi-stringed instrument, easily tuned to any mood.» (Plutarch on Cleopatra).

Elizabeth Taylor as Queen Cleopatra in the film of the same name (1963, directed by J. Mankiewicz)

Princess Sophia

"Bogatyr Princess" Undeservedly forgotten, slandered and pushed into the shadows, the regent-ruler, the elder sister of Peter I from another mother (Miloslavskaya). The very fact of its existence denies rumors about the illegal origin of the first All-Russian Emperor - brother and sister resembled each other like twins, with an iron will, stubbornness, tenacious mind and exorbitant ambition. If Pyotr Alekseevich had been born as weak as his older brothers Ivan and Fyodor, the history of Russia would have taken a different path - Sofya Alekseevna not only tried on the Monomakh cap, but also wore it with pride. Unlike the princess sisters, she was educated, wrote poetry, received ambassadors, and founded the first higher education institution in Rus' in Moscow. educational institution- Slavic-Greco-Roman Academy. And she would have been a good queen... but Peter turned out to be stronger.

« An example of historical women: who freed themselves from the mansion, but did not take moral restraints out of it and did not find them in society» (S. Solovyov about Sofya Alekseevna).

Princess Sophia in the Novodevichy Convent. I. Repin

Elizabeth of England

"Virgin Queen" Like many women rulers of antiquity, they had a difficult fate. Unloved daughter from Anne Boleyn, the king's second wife Henry VIII, executed by him allegedly for treason, in fact - for the inability to give birth to a son. She went through disgrace, exile, exile, imprisonment in the Tower and still took the royal throne. Elizabeth's reign was called the “golden age”; under her wise rule, England defeated the “Invincible Armada” of Spain and became the queen of the seas. Despite the fact that Elizabeth had an official favorite, Robert Dudley, and many courtiers swore love to their queen, who was truly distinguished by amazing beauty, at least in her youth, she claimed that she had retained her virginity and was pure before God.

« I'd rather be a lonely beggar than a married queen».

Eleanor of Aquitaine

"Beautiful lady". Daughter and only heir of the Duke of Aquitaine, wife of Louis VII of France and Henry II Plantagenet, mother of kings Richard the Lionheart, John the Lackland, queens Eleanor of Spain and Joanna of Sicily. The ideal lover, the beautiful lady of all the troubadours of her time. Willful, decisive, formidable, amorous and jealous - according to rumors, she poisoned the “beautiful Rosamund,” Henry’s beloved, about which many sentimental ballads were composed. Married to the young French king by a 15-year-old girl, she did not love her husband, but lived with him for 20 years, gave birth to two daughters, and even went on the Crusade with him. A year after the annulment of her first marriage, she married Heinrich and gave birth to seven more (!) children. When her husband imprisoned her in a tower for unquenchable jealousy, she raised her sons against him. Lived to be 80 years old last day actively participated in European politics, protecting the interests of children.

I'll call that lady young
Whose thoughts and deeds are noble,
Whose beauty cannot be tarnished by rumor,
Whose heart is pure, far from evil.

(Troubadour Bertrand de Born about Eleanor of Aquitaine)

Queen Eleanor. Frederick Sandys

Elizaveta Petrovna

"Merry Queen" Daughter of Peter I and Catherine I, a carefree beauty, a skilled dancer and a kind-hearted person. She did not plan to take the Russian throne, being content with the life of a maiden of royal blood. According to foreign ambassadors, it was not a serious political force. However, at the age of 31, she led a revolt of the guards and ascended the throne, supported by the bayonets of the Preobrazhensky soldiers. The cheerful princess turned out to be a good ruler, at least she was smart enough to find wise ministers for herself. She fought victorious wars, opened the first banks, the imperial theater, and a porcelain factory in Russia. And... she abolished the death penalty - a couple of hundred years earlier than in Europe. The queen was also lucky with her personal life - she entered into a morganatic marriage with the singer Razumovsky. He loved his wife so much that after his death he destroyed the wedding documents so as not to compromise Peter’s daughter.

« I have no relations or correspondence with the enemy of my fatherland».

Portrait of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. I. Argunov

“Country of the Moon” - this is how Indira’s name is translated. Contrary to legends, she is not a daughter or even a relative of Mahatma (Master) Gandhi, but her father, Jawaharlal Nehru, was one of his closest associates. The entire family of young Indira took part in the liberation struggle of India, in the destruction of patriarchal orders and the removal of caste restrictions. Contrary to class prejudices (in India they are still stronger than any laws), Indira married Feroz Gandhi, who professes Zoroastrianism. The marriage led them to prison, but love turned out to be stronger. Even the birth of two sons did not prevent Indira from actively participating in political life countries. In 1964, she became the Prime Minister of India and, with minor interruptions, remained in power for twenty years. She developed the country, eliminated dependence on food imports, built schools, factories, factories. She was killed by political opponents.

« You cannot shake hands with clenched fists» .

Golda Meir

"Grandmother of the State" Born into a hungry, poor family, the daughter of a nurse and a carpenter. Five of the eight children died from malnutrition and disease. She emigrated to America with her parents, graduated from free primary school. She earned money for further education by teaching English to new emigrants. She married a modest young accountant who shared the ideas of Zionism, and with him emigrated to Palestine in 1921. She worked in a kibbutz, washed clothes, and participated in the resistance movement. She joined the labor movement and soon became one of its leaders. In 3 months, she raised $50 million for the newly proclaimed Jewish state, served as ambassador to the USSR, negotiated with the King of Jordan, and eventually became the fourth Prime Minister of Israel. I never wore makeup, didn’t follow fashion, didn’t dress up, but was always surrounded by fans and romantic stories.

“A man who loses his conscience loses everything.”

Margaret Thatcher

"The Iron Lady". This woman's path to power is an example of perseverance and long, hard work. Initially, Margaret did not plan to become a politician; she was attracted to chemistry. She received an Oxford scholarship and worked in the laboratory where one of the first antibiotics was created, under the leadership of Dorothy Hodgkin, a future Nobel laureate. Politics was her hobby, a youthful passion, but you can’t escape fate. First, Margaret joined the Conservative Party, then met her future husband, Dennis Thatcher, studied to be a lawyer, and gave birth to twins four months before taking the exam. Four years later, young Mrs. Thatcher entered the British Parliament. In 1970 she became a minister, and in 1979 - prime minister of Great Britain. “The Iron Lady,” as Soviet newspapers nicknamed Margaret, many did not like her for her tough social policies, the Falklands War and her radical views. However, she improved the education system, making it more accessible to children from poor families, and boosted the economy and production. In 2007, a monument to Margaret Thatcher was erected in the British Parliament - she became the only English prime minister to receive such an honor during her lifetime.

« It is not at all necessary to agree with the interlocutor in order to find a common language with him».

Vigdis Finnbogadottir

"Daughter of the Snows" De jure the second, de facto the first legally elected female president in the world. She held this post four times and left it of her own free will. Initially, she had nothing to do with politics. Vigdis studied in Denmark and France, studied theater and French, returned to her homeland in Iceland, and raised her children alone. On October 24, 1975, she became one of the initiators of the women's strike - all women refused to go to work and do housework to demonstrate how much work falls on their shoulders. In 1980, Vigdis was elected president of the country. She was a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, worked on the problems of women and children, and after leaving politics, she founded the Association for the Study of Spinal Cord Injuries - the doctors of this organization collect and analyze world experience in the treatment of spinal injuries.

« Women by their essence are closer to nature, especially girls and women from the “common people”, who often have direct contact with environment. To achieve success, to protect mother earth from impending disasters, we must resort to the help of women».

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Who ruled Russia most successfully

There have been many rulers in the history of Russia, but not all of them can be called successful. Those who were able expanded the territory of the state, won wars, developed culture and production in the country, and strengthened international ties.

Yaroslav the Wise

Yaroslav the Wise, son of Vladimir the Saint, was one of the first truly effective rulers in Russian stories. He founded the fortress city of Yuryev in the Baltic states, Yaroslavl in the Volga region, Yuryev Russky, Yaroslavl in the Carpathian region and Novgorod-Seversky.

During the years of his reign, Yaroslav stopped the Pecheneg raids on Rus', defeating them in 1038 near the walls of Kyiv, in honor of which the Hagia Sophia Cathedral was founded. Artists from Constantinople were called to paint the temple.

Striving to strengthen international relations, Yaroslav used dynastic marriages, gave his daughter Princess Anna Yaroslavna in marriage to the French king Henry I.

Yaroslav the Wise actively built the first Russians monasteries, founded the first large school, allocated large funds for translations and rewriting of books, published Church Charter and "Russian Truth". In 1051, having gathered bishops, he himself appointed Hilarion as metropolitan, for the first time without the participation of the Patriarch of Constantinople. Hilarion became the first Russians metropolitan

Ivan III

Evgeny Tsyganov as Ivan III in the TV series “Sofia Paleolog” (2016)

Ivan III can confidently be called one of the most successful rulers in Russian history. It was he who managed to gather the scattered principalities around Moscow northeastern Rus'. During his lifetime the composition single state included the Yaroslavl and Rostov principalities, Vyatka, Perm the Great, Tver, Novgorod and other lands.

Ivan III was the first of the Russian princes to accept the title “Sovereign of All Rus'”, and introduced the term “Russia” into use. He became the liberator of Rus' from the yoke. The stand on the Ugra River, which happened in 1480, marked the final victory of Rus' in the struggle for its independence.

The Code of Laws of Ivan III, adopted in 1497, laid the legal foundations for overcoming feudal fragmentation. The Code of Law was progressive for its time: at the end of the 15th century, not every European country could boast of uniform legislation.

The unification of the country required a new state ideology, and its foundations appeared: Ivan III approved the double-headed eagle as the symbol of the country, which was used in the state symbols of Byzantium and the Holy Roman Empire.

During the life of Ivan III, the main part of the architectural ensemble of the Kremlin that we can see today was created. The Russian Tsar invited Italian architects for this. Under Ivan III, about 25 churches were built in Moscow alone.

Ivan groznyj

Grigory Sedov. “Ivan the Terrible admires Vasilisa Melentyeva”, 1875

Ivan the Terrible is an autocrat whose rule still has very different, often opposing, assessments, but at the same time his effectiveness as a ruler is difficult to dispute.

He successfully fought with the successors of the Golden Horde, annexed the Kazan and Astrakhan kingdoms to Russia, significantly expanded the territory of the state to the east, subjugating the Great Nogai Horde and the Siberian Khan Edigei. However, the Livonian War ended with the loss of part of the lands, without solving its main task - access to the Baltic Sea.

Under Grozny, diplomacy developed and Anglo-Russian contacts were established. Ivan IV was one of the most educated people of his time, had a phenomenal memory and erudition, he himself wrote numerous messages, was the author of the music and text of the service for the feast of Our Lady of Vladimir, the canon to the Archangel Michael, developed book printing in Moscow, and supported chroniclers.

Peter I

Portrait of Peter the Great in his youth

Peter's rise to power radically changed the vector of Russia's development. The tsar “opened a window to Europe”, fought a lot and successfully, fought with the clergy, reformed the army, education and tax system, created the first fleet in Russia, changed the tradition of chronology, and carried out regional reform.

Peter personally met with Leibniz and Newton, and was an honorary member of the Paris Academy of Sciences. By order of Peter I, books, instruments, and weapons were purchased abroad, and foreign craftsmen and scientists were invited to Russia.

During the reign of the emperor, Russia gained a foothold on the banks of Sea of ​​Azov, gained access to the Baltic Sea. After the Persian campaign, the western coast of the Caspian Sea with the cities of Derbent and Baku went to Russia.

Under Peter I, outdated forms of diplomatic relations and etiquette were abolished, and permanent diplomatic missions and consulates were established abroad.

Numerous expeditions, including Central Asia, on Far East and to Siberia made it possible to begin a systematic study of the geography of the country and develop cartography.

Catherine II

Catherine II in cinema: actresses Zoya Vasilkova, Marina Vladi, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Marina Alexandrova and Yulia Snigir

The main German on the Russian throne, Catherine the Second was one of the most effective Russian rulers. Under Catherine II, Russia finally gained a foothold in the Black Sea; lands were annexed, called Novorossiya: the Northern Black Sea region, Crimea, and the Kuban region. Catherine accepted Eastern Georgia under Russian citizenship and returned the Western Russian lands seized by the Poles.

Under Catherine II, the population of Russia increased significantly, hundreds of new cities were built, the treasury quadrupled, industry and Agriculture– Russia began to export bread for the first time.

During the reign of the Empress, paper money was introduced in Russia for the first time, a clear territorial division of the empire was carried out, a secondary education system was created, an observatory, a physics laboratory, an anatomical theater, a botanical garden, instrumental workshops, a printing house, a library, and an archive were founded. Founded in 1783 Russian Academy, which has become one of the leading scientific bases in Europe.

Alexander I

Still from the television series “The Romanovs” (2013): actor Nikolai Isakov in the role of Alexander the First

Alexander I is the emperor under whom Russia defeated the Napoleonic coalition. During the reign of Alexander I, the territory Russian Empire expanded significantly: Eastern and Western Georgia, Mingrelia, Imereti, Guria, Finland, Bessarabia, and most of Poland (which formed the Kingdom of Poland) came under Russian citizenship.

Not everything went smoothly with Alexander the First’s internal policy (“Arakcheevshchina”, police measures against the opposition), but Alexander I carried out a number of reforms: merchants, townspeople and state-owned villagers were given the right to buy uninhabited lands, ministries and a cabinet of ministers were established, and a decree was issued about free cultivators, who created the category of personally free peasants.

Alexander II

Still from the film “The Turkish Gambit” (2005): actor Evgeny Lazarev in the role of Alexander II

Alexander II went down in history as the “Liberator”. Under him, serfdom was abolished. Alexander II reorganized the army, shortened the term military service, under him corporal punishment was abolished. Alexander II established the State Bank, carried out financial, monetary, police and university reforms.

During the reign of the emperor, the Polish uprising was suppressed and the Caucasian War ended. According to the Aigun and Beijing treaties with the Chinese Empire, Russia annexed the Amur and Ussuri territories in 1858-1860. In 1867-1873, the territory of Russia increased due to the conquest of the Turkestan region and the Fergana Valley and the voluntary entry into vassal rights of the Bukhara Emirate and the Khanate of Khiva.

What Alexander II still cannot be forgiven for is the sale of Alaska.

Alexander III

Repin’s painting “Reception of volost elders by Alexander III” (in the courtyard of the Petrovsky Palace in Moscow)

Russia spent almost its entire history in wars. There were no wars only during the reign Alexandra III.

He was called “the most Russian Tsar”, “Peacemaker”. Sergei Witte said this about him: “Emperor Alexander III, having received Russia at the confluence of the most unfavorable political conditions, deeply raised the international prestige of Russia without shedding a drop of Russian blood.”

Merits of Alexander III in foreign policy were celebrated by France, which named the main bridge over the Seine in Paris in honor of Alexander III. Even the Emperor of Germany, Wilhelm II, after the death of Alexander III, said: “This, indeed, was an autocratic Emperor.”

In domestic politics, the emperor’s activities were also successful. A real technical revolution took place in Russia, the economy stabilized, industry developed by leaps and bounds. In 1891, Russia began construction of the Great Siberian Railway.

Joseph Stalin

People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs V.M. Molotov in the presence of I.V. Stalin signs the Treaty of Alliance and Mutual Assistance between the USSR and France. December 10, 1944

The era of Stalin's reign was controversial, but it is difficult to deny that he “took over the country with a plow and left with a nuclear bomb.” We should not forget that it was under Stalin that the USSR won the Great Patriotic War. Let's remember the numbers.

During the reign of Joseph Stalin, the population of the USSR increased from 136.8 million people in 1920 to 208.8 million in 1959. Under Stalin, the country's population became literate. According to the 1879 census, the population of the Russian Empire was 79% illiterate; by 1932, literacy of the population had risen to 89.1%.

The total volume of industrial production per capita for the years 1913-1950 in the USSR increased 4 times. The growth in agricultural production by 1938 was +45% compared to 1913 and +100% compared to 1920.

By the end of Stalin's reign in 1953, gold reserves had increased 6.5 times and reached 2050 tons.

Nikita Khrushchev

Khrushchev N.S. at the III Congress of Writers, 1959. Photo: ITAR-TASS

Despite all the ambiguity of internal (return of Crimea) and external ( Cold War) Khrushchev's policies, it was during his reign that the USSR became the world's first space power.

After Nikita Khrushchev’s report at the 20th Congress of the CPSU, the country breathed a freer breath, and a period of relative democracy began, in which citizens were not afraid to go to prison for telling a political joke.

During this period there was a rise in Soviet culture, from which ideological shackles were removed. The country discovered the genre of “square poetry”; the whole country knew the poets Robert Rozhdestvensky, Andrei Voznesensky, Evgeny Yevtushenko, and Bella Akhmadulina.

During the reign of Khrushchev, International Youth Festivals were held, soviet people gained access to the world of imports and foreign fashion. In general, it has become easier to breathe in the country.

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

There have been many rulers in the history of Russia, but not all of them can be called successful. Those who were able expanded the territory of the state, won wars, developed culture and production in the country, and strengthened international ties.

Yaroslav the Wise

Yaroslav the Wise, son of St. Vladimir, was one of the first truly effective rulers in Russian history. He founded the fortress city of Yuryev in the Baltic states, Yaroslavl in the Volga region, Yuryev Russky, Yaroslavl in the Carpathian region and Novgorod-Seversky.

During the years of his reign, Yaroslav stopped the Pecheneg raids on Rus', defeating them in 1038 near the walls of Kyiv, in honor of which the Hagia Sophia Cathedral was founded. Artists from Constantinople were called to paint the temple.

In an effort to strengthen international ties, Yaroslav used dynastic marriages and married his daughter, Princess Anna Yaroslavna, to the French king Henry I.

Yaroslav the Wise actively built the first Russian monasteries, founded the first large school, allocated large funds for translations and rewriting of books, and published the Church Charter and “Russian Truth”. In 1051, having gathered bishops, he himself appointed Hilarion metropolitan, for the first time without the participation of the Patriarch of Constantinople. Hilarion became the first Russian metropolitan.

Ivan III

Ivan III can confidently be called one of the most successful rulers in Russian history. It was he who managed to gather the scattered principalities of northeastern Rus' around Moscow. During his lifetime, the Yaroslavl and Rostov principalities, Vyatka, Perm the Great, Tver, Novgorod and other lands became part of a single state.

Ivan III was the first of the Russian princes to accept the title “Sovereign of All Rus'”, and introduced the term “Russia” into use. He became the liberator of Rus' from the yoke. The stand on the Ugra River, which happened in 1480, marked the final victory of Rus' in the struggle for its independence.

The Code of Laws of Ivan III, adopted in 1497, laid the legal foundations for overcoming feudal fragmentation. The Code of Law was progressive for its time: at the end of the 15th century, not every European country could boast of uniform legislation.

The unification of the country required a new state ideology, and its foundations appeared: Ivan III approved the double-headed eagle as the symbol of the country, which was used in the state symbols of Byzantium and the Holy Roman Empire.

During the life of Ivan III, the main part of the architectural ensemble of the Kremlin that we can see today was created. The Russian Tsar invited Italian architects for this. Under Ivan III, about 25 churches were built in Moscow alone.

Ivan groznyj

Ivan the Terrible is an autocrat whose rule still has a variety of, often opposing, assessments, but at the same time his effectiveness as a ruler is difficult to dispute.

He successfully fought with the successors of the Golden Horde, annexed the Kazan and Astrakhan kingdoms to Russia, significantly expanded the territory of the state to the east, subjugating the Great Nogai Horde and the Siberian Khan Edigei. However, the Livonian War ended with the loss of part of the lands, without solving its main task - access to the Baltic Sea.
Under Grozny, diplomacy developed and Anglo-Russian contacts were established. Ivan IV was one of the most educated people of his time, had a phenomenal memory and erudition, he himself wrote numerous messages, was the author of the music and text of the service for the feast of Our Lady of Vladimir, the canon to the Archangel Michael, developed book printing in Moscow, and supported chroniclers.

Peter I

Peter's rise to power radically changed the vector of Russia's development. The tsar “opened a window to Europe,” fought a lot and successfully, fought with the clergy, reformed the army, education and tax system, created the first fleet in Russia, changed the tradition of chronology, and carried out regional reform.

Peter personally met with Leibniz and Newton, and was an honorary member of the Paris Academy of Sciences. By order of Peter I, books, instruments, and weapons were purchased abroad, and foreign craftsmen and scientists were invited to Russia.

During the reign of the emperor, Russia gained a foothold on the shores of the Sea of ​​Azov and gained access to the Baltic Sea. After the Persian campaign, the western coast of the Caspian Sea with the cities of Derbent and Baku went to Russia.

Under Peter I, outdated forms of diplomatic relations and etiquette were abolished, and permanent diplomatic missions and consulates were established abroad.

Numerous expeditions, including to Central Asia, the Far East and Siberia, made it possible to begin a systematic study of the country’s geography and develop cartography.

Catherine II

The main German on the Russian throne, Catherine the Second was one of the most effective Russian rulers. Under Catherine II, Russia finally gained a foothold in the Black Sea; lands were annexed, called Novorossiya: the Northern Black Sea region, Crimea, and the Kuban region. Catherine accepted Eastern Georgia under Russian citizenship and returned the Western Russian lands seized by the Poles.

Under Catherine II, Russia's population increased significantly, hundreds of new cities were built, the treasury quadrupled, industry and agriculture rapidly developed - Russia began to export grain for the first time.

During the reign of the Empress, paper money was introduced in Russia for the first time, a clear territorial division of the empire was carried out, a secondary education system was created, an observatory, a physics laboratory, an anatomical theater, a botanical garden, instrumental workshops, a printing house, a library, and an archive were founded. In 1783, the Russian Academy was founded, which became one of the leading scientific bases in Europe.

Alexander I

Alexander I is the emperor under whom Russia defeated the Napoleonic coalition. During the reign of Alexander I, the territory of the Russian Empire expanded significantly: Eastern and Western Georgia, Mingrelia, Imereti, Guria, Finland, Bessarabia, and most of Poland (which formed the Kingdom of Poland) came under Russian citizenship.

Not everything was going smoothly with Alexander the First’s internal policy (“Arakcheevism”, police measures against the opposition), but Alexander I carried out a number of reforms: merchants, townspeople and state-owned villagers were given the right to buy uninhabited lands, ministries and a cabinet of ministers were established, and a decree was issued about free cultivators, who created the category of personally free peasants

Alexander II

Alexander II went down in history as the “Liberator”. Under him, serfdom was abolished. Alexander II reorganized the army, shortened the duration of military service, and corporal punishment was abolished under him. Alexander II established the State Bank, carried out financial, monetary, police and university reforms.

During the reign of the emperor, the Polish uprising was suppressed and the Caucasian War ended. According to the Aigun and Beijing treaties with the Chinese Empire, Russia annexed the Amur and Ussuri territories in 1858-1860. In 1867-1873, the territory of Russia increased due to the conquest of the Turkestan region and the Fergana Valley and the voluntary entry into vassal rights of the Bukhara Emirate and the Khanate of Khiva.
What Alexander II still cannot be forgiven for is the sale of Alaska.

Alexander III

Russia spent almost its entire history in wars. There were no wars only during the reign of Alexander III.

He was called “the most Russian Tsar”, “Peacemaker”. Sergei Witte said this about him: “Emperor Alexander III, having received Russia at the confluence of the most unfavorable political conditions, deeply raised the international prestige of Russia without shedding a drop of Russian blood.”
The services of Alexander III in foreign policy were noted by France, which named the main bridge over the Seine in Paris in honor of Alexander III. Even the Emperor of Germany, Wilhelm II, after the death of Alexander III, said: “This, indeed, was an autocratic Emperor.”

In domestic politics, the emperor’s activities were also successful. A real technical revolution took place in Russia, the economy stabilized, industry developed by leaps and bounds. In 1891, Russia began construction of the Great Siberian Railway.

Joseph Stalin

The era of Stalin's reign was controversial, but it is difficult to deny that he “took over the country with a plow and left it with a nuclear bomb.” We should not forget that it was under Stalin that the USSR won the Great Patriotic War. Let's remember the numbers.
During the reign of Joseph Stalin, the population of the USSR increased from 136.8 million people in 1920 to 208.8 million in 1959. Under Stalin, the country's population became literate. According to the 1879 census, the population of the Russian Empire was 79% illiterate; by 1932, literacy of the population had risen to 89.1%.

The total volume of industrial production per capita for the years 1913-1950 in the USSR increased 4 times. The growth in agricultural production by 1938 was +45% compared to 1913 and +100% compared to 1920.
By the end of Stalin's reign in 1953, gold reserves had increased 6.5 times and reached 2050 tons.

Nikita Khrushchev

Despite all the ambiguity of Khrushchev’s domestic (return of Crimea) and foreign (Cold War) policies, it was during his reign that the USSR became the world’s first space power.
After Nikita Khrushchev’s report at the 20th Congress of the CPSU, the country breathed a freer breath, and a period of relative democracy began, in which citizens were not afraid to go to prison for telling a political joke.

This period saw a rise in Soviet culture, from which ideological shackles were removed. The country discovered the genre of “square poetry”; the whole country knew the poets Robert Rozhdestvensky, Andrei Voznesensky, Evgeny Yevtushenko, and Bella Akhmadulina.

During the reign of Khrushchev, International Youth Festivals were held, Soviet people gained access to the world of imports and foreign fashion. In general, it has become easier to breathe in the country.

P.S. I really can’t agree with the last person! Voluntarism, ignorance and cunning cannot be the virtue of a ruler! Personally, I am against such a person in history as Khrushchov!

Let's choose the best ruler of Russia over the past 100 years.

No, I'm serious. It is important. After all, every nation has exactly the rulers it deserves. And a hundred years in the modern world is more than enough time to eliminate the factor of chance and bad luck. Consequently, based on our leaders, it will be possible to draw conclusions about our entire God-bearing people.

Again, many note the amazing portrait resemblance between Nikolai Romanov and Dmitry Medvedev. I'm sure this is not a coincidence either.

So, in chronological order.

1. Nicholas II (ruled 23 years)

Pros: noble origin.

2. Vladimir Lenin (ruled 7 years)

Pros: conducted an important scientific experiment, advanced political science, sociology and mummy science far forward.
Cons: plunged the country into a state civil war, which, however, he won. He was sick a lot, because of which he could not govern the country normally.

3. Joseph Stalin (ruled 29 years)

Pros: won the Great Patriotic War. Significantly expanded our territory. Restored the economy destroyed by wars and revolutions. Created an atomic bomb.
Cons: created an inhumane “vertical” that turned many millions of destinies into blood.

4. Nikita Khrushchev (ruled 11 years)

Pros: launched Gagarin into space.
Cons: almost started the third world war. Showed himself to be an ignorant homophobe.

5. Leonid Brezhnev (ruled 17 years)

Pros: for the first time in the entire thousand-year history of Russia, it raised the standard of living of ordinary citizens to a truly high level. He patched up relations with the West, thereby removing the threat of world war.
Cons: he was seriously ill during the second half of his term, thereby driving the country into an economic impasse.

6. Andropov (ruled 1 year)

Cons: Died too quickly.

7. Chernenko (ruled 1 year)

Cons: Died too quickly.

8. Mikhail Gorbachev (ruled 6 years)

Pros: started long overdue reforms.
Cons: I fell in love with a great country.

9. Boris Yeltsin (ruled 8 years)

Pros: carried out a number of important, although extremely painful, reforms.
Cons: started the war in Chechnya.

10. Vladimir Putin (ruled 8 years)

Pros: stopped the war in Chechnya, continued reforms, restored GDP and living standards almost to Soviet levels, gave Russia a decade of free Internet.
Cons: failed to diversify the economy.

11. Dmitry Medvedev (ruled for 3 years so far)

Pros: won the military conflict with Georgia, continued reforms
Cons: has not yet completed his term in office.

Just in case: in the pros and cons of the rulers, I put what seems important to me personally. You will probably have your own opinion about their advantages and disadvantages.

In any case, please write which of these 11 people you consider the best ruler for Russia. And be sure to explain who you admire in absentia, “from a distance,” and who you would happily elect as president Russian Federation even tomorrow - to live under his wise leadership.

Throughout the history of planet Earth, there have been many rulers, from friendly kings to aggressive dictators. Here is a list of the greatest monarchs in history - those rulers who made life better for their people.

Monarch Suleiman I of the Ottoman Empire

Suleiman I, also known as Suleiman the Magnificent, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, he reigned for 69 years. His reign marked the beginning of a golden age in the Ottoman Empire. During his reign, the Ottoman Empire covered most of the Middle East and Southeastern Europe.

Monarch James I of Great Britain

James I also known as "the wise fool" Christendom", was the king of England and Scotland. During his reign, these two kingdoms were united. Literature and art flourished under his rule. He also wrote many books and poems himself.

Monarch Jan III Sobieski in Poland and Lithuania

Reign: 1674–1696

Jan III Sobieski, also known as Leo Lehistan, was a military and political genius. During his reign, Poland and Lithuania became stable, prosperous states. Jan received the nickname Lev Lehistan after the victory over the Turks at the Battle of Vienna.

Emperor Meiji in Japan

Meiji became Emperor of Japan at the age of 14, when it was a primitive and isolated country. However, thanks to Meiji, towards the end of his reign, Japan became a great industrial power.

Monarch Gustav II Adolf in Sweden

Gustav II was King of Sweden for 21 years. During his reign, Sweden became a major European power. Gustav II led his army against the Protestant Catholic armies of France and Spain. After his death in battle, Sweden became a renowned military power.

Augustus Caesar in Rome

Augustus Caesar was Emperor of Rome for 41 years. During this time, Augustus improved Rome's infrastructure and military power. He also reformed taxation. His reign is called the Pax Romana, or Roman Peace, because diplomacy flourished during this period of time.

Monarch Cyrus II of Persia

Reign: 559 BC BC – 530 BC e.

Cyrus II, also known as Cyrus the Great, ruled Persia for 30 years. During his reign, the Persian Empire covered much of the Middle East, including Iran, Israel and Mesopotamia. During the reign of Cyrus, human rights and military strategy were greatly improved.

Monarch Frederick II of Prussia

Frederick II, also known as Frederick the Great, ruled Prussia for 46 years. During his reign, Prussia's borders were significantly expanded and infrastructure improved.

Queen Victoria in Great Britain

Victoria remained on the throne for more than 63 years - more than any other British monarch. The Victorian era coincided with the Industrial Revolution and the greater expansion of the British Empire. The multiple dynastic marriages of her children and grandchildren cemented the ties between the royal dynasties of Europe and increased England's influence on the continent (she was called the "Grandmother of Europe"). Her birthday is still considered a holiday in Canada. 5