Tsarevich

For other uses, see Tsarevich (disambiguation).

Tsarevich (Russian: Царе́вич, IPA: [tsɐˈrʲevʲɪtɕ]) is a Slavic title given to tsars' sons. Under the 1797 Pauline house law, the title was discontinued and replaced with Tsesarevich for the heir apparent alone. His younger brothers were called Grand Dukes. English sources often confused the two terms.

Alexei Nikolaevich, the only son of Nikolay II, was the last member of Russian royalty to be called Tsarevich even though he was actually the Tsesarevich.

In olden times, the term was also applied to descendants of the khans (tsars) of Kazan, Kasimov, and Siberia after these khanates had been annexed by Russia. See Tsareviches of Siberia, for example. The descendants of the deposed royal families of Georgia or the Batonishvili were given the titles of Tsarevich until 1833 when they were demoted to Knyaz after a failed coup to restore the Georgian monarchies.

See also

• Tsarevna