Succession to the Throne in Early Modern Russia

Abstract

Succession to the throne was essential to the survival of the state in Russia as well as the rest of Europe in the early modern era, for all but a few states were monarchies. For all of these states, the practices of succession existed alongside conceptions about the rules of succession, a combination of custom and in some cases written law. Succession in Western EuropeEuropean historians have assumed that hereditary succession by primogeniture was the normal Western practice, laid down in the Middle Ages and by the early modern era, in most cases, no longer a contentious issue. The discussion of European absolutism has revolved around the relationships of kings to the various countries' elites and to institutions such as law courts and assemblies of estates. 1 Yet there obviously was also a relationship between royal power and succession practices.Hereditary monarchy was not universal. 2 The most important of Europe's elective monarchies was the Holy Roman Empire. Elections of the kings of the Romans and emperors went back deep into the Middle Ages, but in the early modern era the basis was the Golden Bull of 1356. The imperial system placed the election in the hands of seven electors, all prelates 1 Roland Mousnier, Les institutions de la France sous la monarchie absolue, 2 vols. (Paris:Presses universitaires de France, 1974-80); Bernard Barbiche, Institutions de la monarchie française à l'époque moderne, XVI e -XVIII e siècles (Paris: Presses universitaires de France, 2001);

A Muscovite Republic?

“…Rulers (generally following dynastic lines) named successors in testaments or "anticipatory" titles or ceremonies, and in moments of crisis (1598,1613,1682), acclamation by Councils of the Land demonstrated direct popular sovereignty. 10 Violence could be used to defend and create legitimate power, as in the Time of Troubles when patriarch and provincial gentry mobilized the populace with the language of unanimity and Godly community to expel foreign invaders and select a new sovereign.…”