House of Romanov Рома́новы |
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Country | |
Origin | Russian, German, Lithuanian |
Founded | 1613 |
Founder | Michael I |
Final ruler | Nicholas II |
Deposition | 1917 (February Revolution) |
Current head | Disputed since 1992: |
Cadet branches | Several minor branches |
Titles |
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The House of Romanov (/ˈroʊməˌnɔːf, -ˌnɒf, roʊˈmɑːnəf/; also Romanoff;Russian: Рома́новы, Románovy, IPA: [rɐˈmanəf]) was the second dynasty to rule Russia, after the House of Rurik, reigning from 1613 until the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II on March 15, 1917, as a result of the February Revolution.
The Romanovs achieved prominence as boyars of the Grand Duchy of Moscow, later the Tsardom of Russia. In 1613, following years of interregnum (Time of Troubles), the zemsky sobor offered the Russian crown to Mikhail Romanov. He acceded to the throne as Michael I, becoming the first Tsar of Russia from the House of Romanov. His grandson Peter I established the Russian Empire and transformed the country into a continental power through a series of wars and reforms.