Medieval Russian Titles:
Royalty

Royal Titles

се азъ мьстиславъ володимирь сынъ дьржа роусьскоу землю въ свое княжение... -- Мстиславова (Юрьевская) грамота (ок.1130 г.)

So I, Mstislav Volodimir's son keeper of Russian land in my princely rule... -- Mstislavov gramota (c. 1130)

Князь великий новгородский Нижнева Нова города и суздалской, и городецкой, и курмышской, и сарской, и болгарской, и болымецкой, и подолской и всея Понизовские земли заволский юрту и севернова государь князь Дмитрей Констентиновичь

Prince great novgorodian Nizhneva Novagoroda and suzdalskoy, and gorodetskoy, and kurmyshskoy, and sarskoy, and Bulgarian, and bolymetskoy, and to podolskoy and all Ponizovskeye Lands zavolskiy yurta and Northern sovereign prince Dmitrey Konstentinovich' -- Mid-late 14th century. (Dmitri Konstantinovich was a rival of Dmitri Donskoi.)

Божiею милостiю, се язъ Князь Великiй Васильевичь Московскiй, и Новгородскiй, и Ростовскiй, и Пермскiй и иныхь -- Aug 1449

By the grace of God, so I Grand Prince Vasil'evich' Muscovite, and Novgorodian, and Rostovian, and Permian, and others -- Royal titles in the 15th century up to 1462

Се яз Князь Данило Дмитриевич Холмский, что есмь бил челом своему Господину и Оспадарю Великому князю Ивану Васильевичу за свою вину своим осподином Геронтьем Митрополитом всея Руси, и его детми и со служебники, Епископы… -- Клятвенная запись князя Холмского Ивану III (1474 г.). 8 марта 1474 года.

So I prince Danilo Dmitriyevich Kholmskiy, that esm' to beaters by brow to their Master and Ospadaryu [Sovereign] Great prince Ivan Vasilyevich for their fault by their ospodinom [master] Geront'em by the metropolitan of all Rus, and by his children and from servitors, bishops... -- Pledge record of the local prince of Kholm to Ivan III. 8 March 1474.

(July 1488) John “III” Божiею милостiю, Гдрь всея Русiи, Великiй Князь Иванъ Васильевичь Вoлoдимирски, и Московски, и Новогородъцски, и Псковски и Тферски, и Югорски, и Вятски, и Пермски и иныхь

(July 1488) By the grace of God, Sovereign of all Rus, Grand Prince Ivan Vasil'evich' Volodomirian, and Muscovite, and Novgorodina, and Pskovian, and Tverian, and Yugorskian, and Permian, and so on. [Rozn]

(Отписки во время Иоанна III) Государю великому князю Ивану Васильевичу всея Руси холоп твoй такой-то челом бьет...

(Formal address in time of Ivan III used by boyars and servitors) To sovereign grand prince Ivan Vasil'evich of all Rus, kholop (slave) yours that beats with the brow... [Solov'ev]

(Отписок во время Иоанна III) Наияснейшему и вышнейшему господу, господу Ивану Васильевичу, царю всея Руси и великому князю...

(Formal address in time of Ivan III from a Greek servitor) To the most serene/brilliant and most supreme lord, lord Ivan Vasil'evich, tsar of all Rus and grand prince... [Solov'ev]

(1537) [2: vol.2; p.313; Doc.# 175] < John I / ”IV” “the Terrible” (+1584) Мы великiй Гоcударь Иванъ, Божiею милостiю Гоcударь всея Русiи и великiй князь Володимерскiй, Московскiй, Новгородскiй, Псковскiй, Рязанскiй, Тферскiй, Югорскiй, Пермьскiй, [Вятcкiй], Бoлгарскiй, и иныхь

(1537) We great Sovereign Ivan', by the grace of God Sovereign of all Rus and grand prince Volodimerian, Muscovite, Novgorodian, Pskovian, Ryazanian, Tverian, Yugorskian, Permian, [Vyatskian,] Bolgarian and so on. [Rozn]

(Nov 1545) [3: vol.1; p.539; Doc.# 296] Мы Великiй Гоcударь Иванъ, Божiею милостiю единъ правый Гоcударь всеа Русiи и и ныхь многихь землямъ Восточнымъ и Севернымъ Гоcударь и Великiй Kнязь Володимерскiй, и Московскiй, и Новогородцкiй, и Псковскiй, и Смоленскiй, и Тферскiй, и Югорскiй, Пермьскiй, Вятcкiй, Бoлгарскiй, и иныхь

(Nov 1545) We Great Sovereign Ivan', by the grace of God the one right Sovereign of all Rus and many other lands Eastern and Northern Sovereign and Grand Prince Volodimerian, Muscovite, Novgorodian, Pskovian, Smolenskian, Tverian, Yugorskian, Permian, Vyatskian, Bolgarian and so on [Rozn]

(Mar 1556) [2: vol.3; p.69; Doc.# 17] Мы, великiй государь Иванъ, Божiею милостiю царь и великiй князь всеа Русiи, Владимирскiй, Московскiй, Новгородцкiй, Казанскiй, Астараханскiй, Псковскiй, Резанскiй, Тверскiй, Югорскiй, Пермскiй, Вятцкiй, Болгарскiй и иныхъ, и всеа Сибирскiе земли повелитель

(Mar 1556) We great sovereign Ivan', by the grace of God tsar and grand prince of all Rus, Vladimirian, Muscovite, Novgorodian, Kazanian, Astrakhanian, Pskovian, Rezanian, Tverian, Yugorskian, Permian, Vyatskian, Bolgarian etc. and all Siberian lands Sovereign/Master [Rozn]

(Oct 1604) [3: vol.2; p.60-61; Doc.# 50] < Boris Godunov> Божiею милостiю Великого Государя Цара и Великого Князя Бориса Федоровича всеа Русии Самодержцы, Владымерского, Московъского, Новогородского, Цара Казанъского, Цара Астараханьского, Цара Сибирского, Государа Псковъскаго и Великого Князя Смоленьского, Тверьского, Югоръского, Пермъского, Вятъского, Болгарского и иныхъ, Государя и Великого Князя Новагорода Низовское земли, Черниговъского, Резанского, Ростовъского, Ярославъского, Белоозерского, Удорского, Обдоръского, Конденъского, и всея Северъные стороны Повелителя, и Государя Иверское земъли, Грузинскихъ царей, и Кабардинскiе земъли, Черкасскихъ и Горъскихъ князей и иныхъ многихъ Государствъ Государа и Обовладетеля

(Oct 1604) By the grace of God Great Sovereign Tsar and Grand Prince Boris Fedorovich of all Russia Autocrat Vladimirskogo, Moskovskogo, Novgorodskogo, Tsar Kazanskogo, Tsar Astarakhanskogo, Tsar Sibirskogo, Sovereign Pskovskogo, and Grand Prince Smolenskogo, Tverskogo, Yugorskogo, Permskogo, Vyatskogo, Bolgarskogo and others Sovereign and Grand Prince Nizhnij Novgorod lands, Chernigovskogo, Rezanskogo, Rostovskij, Yaroslavskogo, Beloozerskogo, Udorskogo, Obdorskogo, Kondinskogo, and all Northern nations Sovereign/Master, and Sovereign of Iverskie lands, Gruzinskikh tsar, and Kabardinskie lands, Cherkasskikh and Gor'skikh Prince and many other Dominions Sovereign and Owner [Rozn]

Tsar [царь or цесарь] - closer to emperor than king in meaning.
Tsaritsa [царица or цесарица] - wife of a tsar.

Currently used for King/Queen in the official SCA alternate titles list.

For most of SCA period, "tsar" was used exclusively for foreign rulers, most commonly the Mongol Khan and the Byzantine Emperor. However, it has been thought easier to translate into the SCA ranking system than the alternative (see velikij knyaz, below).

The title "tsar" was occasionally used by Ivan III (ruled 1462-1505), and his son Vasili III (1505-1533). In 1547, Ivan IV was the first Russian sovereign formally crowned as "tsar".

According to the 1997 proposal for the current Alternate Titles list, tsaritsa was not used in period for the wife of a _Russian_ tsar, only for the wives of foreign tsars. The term was used OOP by female Russian sovereigns such as Catherine the Great. More importantly for re-enactment purposes, the mostly-period Domostroi recommends praying for the Russian tsaritsa in addition to the tsar.

"Tsar" first appears in the introduction of the Russian Primary Chronicle:

Introduction "These Ugrians appeared under the Emperor [tsar] Heraclius, warring on Chosroes, King of Persia [persidskim tsarem]." царе

Elsewhere in the Primary Chronicle it is used to refer to the Egyptian pharoah, "tsar egipetskij", and the Byzatine emperor. цар

988 [6496] "The Princess [tsaritsa] declared to him..." [The "Princess" here is the sister of the Byzatine emperors.] царица... цари

Sreznevskij entries for tsar" meaning vlastitel (ruler), gosudar:

Прiиде Ходолагоморъ (и) царе иже с ни. [Выт. XIV. 5. Сбор. Болог. XV в. Ак. н.]

Яко древле царь Римъ, прозвася во имя его Римъ гра. [Новг. IV л. Пред. Соф. вр. (по Син. сп. XVI в.)]

Бысть въ Грецехъ царь, именемъ Михаилъ. [Ibid. 6374 г.]

Цреи и црцъ православныхъ, въ благочестiи просiявшыхъ, подъ взметомъ пиши..., цареи же и царицъ неблагочестивыхъ..., но и ратовавшихъ святую христiанскую нашу веру и царствiя земная складомь пиши. [Алфав. XVII в. (Калайд. 204)]

Sreznevskij entries for tsar" meaning Tatar khan range from the year 1267 to 1379.

Sreznesvkij has an extensive set of entries for tsesar"/tsesar"/tsesar'/ts'sar' with the meanings of 1). vlastitel' (ruler), gosudar' and 2.) heavenly king (i.e. Jesus Christ).

Sreznevskij defines tsaritsa as the wife of the Tatar khan, with 2 entries. Fortunately for our purposes he also has entries for tsesaritsa/ts'saritsa, defined as:

1.) ruler, tsaritsa:
Не црци оужьнеи тъчы?..., нъ всемъ коньцемь сего прем?дрости знати. [Гр. Наз. XI в. 89]

Постави одесноую себе, яко цецарицю оукрашеноу. [Стихир. XII в. Ак. н. 164]

И цесарици веселие много пришьствиемь своимь принесъ. [Жит. Феод. Студ. 84]

От црце въхода оуполоучити чьсти. [Ibid. 76]

2.) wife of tsar - Шестьдесятъ есть цесариць, и осмьдесять женимъ [Панд. Ант. XI в. л. 7]

3.) tsarevna (daughter of tsar)

Посла къ нему црця, рекуще: аще хощеши болезни сея избыти, то вьскоре кртися. [Пов. вр. л. 6496 г. (по Ип. сп.)]

По крщнью же приведе црцю на браченье. [Ibid 6496 (по Лавр. сп.)]

4.) name of the Mother of God.

According to George Vernadsky in Ancient Russia, P 253-5

Origin of the title “tsar” In old Slavic literature there are two ways of transcribing “Caesar” – from the Greek form comes kesar’ used by the East Slavs and Bulgars. Among the West Slavs and in the Balkans the form tsesar was derived from the Latin form, and evidently developed into the form tsar. Comparing these terms with Byzantine terminology, tsesar and tsar correspond to the Greek basileus “king” while kesar corresponds to the Greek Caesar. So we have the Bible quote, “We have no king but Caesar” which in Greek is translated as Basilea and Kaisara, respectively, and in medieval Balkan Church Slavonic tsesaria and kesaria, and in late medieval Russian codices tsaria and kesaria.

The word tsar was used in Russia as early as the 10th cent. since we find its derivative “tsarstvo” (kingdom) in Igor’s 945 treaty with Byzantium. It’s possible that the Russian term, tsar, derived independantly from the Bulgarian tsesar, coming from the Iranian word sar (head, chief). There were connections between the Antes (Eastern Slavs in classical period, related to Alans and As) and the As (Alanic tribe that controlled the Antes), and the chief of the Caucasus As was known as sar.

According to George Vernadsky in The Mongols and Russia p. 385-7

As East Russia freed itself from the Tatars, the grand duke of Moscow adopted the titles of autocrat (samoderzhets) to emphasize his new freedom to determine his own policies without outside (Tatar) control, and tsar to express his position free of vassalage to anyone, with vassal states of his own. The titles “tsar” and “autocrat” were used occasionally in the latter part of the reign of Ivan III, and more frequently in the reign of his son, Vasili III. Ivan IV was the first formally crowned as “tsar” in 1547. The title “tsar” was first applied by the Russians to the Byzantine emperor and then to the Mongol khan also. About the time the Russia was finally shedding the last remnants of Mongol control, the Byzantine empire was destroyed by the Turks leading to the marriage of the niece of the last Byzantine emperor to the Russian sovereign. At the time, however, while the Russians recognized the value of the connection, they derived value from Byzantine traditions in other ways. And they derived at least as much support for the Russian ruler’s use of the title “tsar” from his conquest of the khanates of Kazan and Astrakhan (1552 and 1556) “and the throne of Kazan and Astrakjhan has been a tsar’s see from the origins”. This reasoning was used by the Moscow government as it tried to get the king of Poland to recognize the title for the Russian ruler. (Both Byzantine and Mongol royal traditions were used heavily in forming the court protocols of the new Muscovite tsarstvo.)

Currently used for the Crown Prince/Princess in the official SCA alternate titles list.

Sreznevskii defines tsarevich' as a son of the tsar, or son of the Tatar khan - Бы мятежь силе в-ърде, мнози цри побiени быша, и црци, и црвичи. [Новг. I 6868 г. (по Ак. сп.)]

Sreznevskii defines tsarev'na (and tsesarevn'na, separate entry) as a daughter of the tsar

Родися оу Всеволода Ярославича снъ Владимеръ Манама от царевны Грекини. [Хроногр. XVI в. 6561 г. (по сп. Общ. л. др. письм.)]

О посыл'ке Ивана Фрязина по црвноу в Римъ. [Воскр. л. Оглавл. 19.]

The Novgorod Chronicle:

1445 [6953] "Veliki Knyaz Vasili sent two Tartar princes against the Lithuanian towns..." - князь великыи... два царевица

On the birth of his son, Ivan, tsar Ivan IV wrote: "As our son, tsarevich Ivan, was born..."

Not currently used in the official SCA alternate titles list, but suggested (and rejected) in the past as an option for territorial prince/princess.

Even in late period, after the Russian sovereigns adopted the title "tsar", they often also used the title "velikij knyaz". See above.

The use of Velikij Knyaz/etc. (translated as Grand Duke/Duchess) for children of the tsar other than the royal heir seems to date from the reforms of Peter I, well out-of-period. [Wikipedia]

In period, it is usually translated as Grand Prince/Princess, because the Grand Prince was the ruling sovereign of Rus.

His authority was roughly equivalent to the Holy Roman Emperor, i.e. sometimes he was able to order the other princes to do his will, sometimes not.

During the time when Rus was ruled by a Grand Prince, Rus showed deference to the Mongol "Tsar", and to lesser extent, the Byzantine "Tsar". Interestingly, the Russian Grand Princes don't the title "tsar" for themselves until after they rid themselves of the yoke of the Mongols, and the fall of the Byzantine empire.

The term "Veliki Knyaz" first appears in the Novgorod Chronicle in the year 1198 - Veliki Knyaz Ysaroslav. Interestingly, the term "Knyaz of Russia/Rus" князи Русьстемь appears in 1165.

Sreznevskij has several entries for "velikaya knyaginya" dating from 1282 to 1486.

See below for further primary sources.

According to George Vernadsky in Kievan Russia

P 178 – origin of kniaz The old Slavic word for prince is kniaz’ deriving from the old German kuning (koningr in Old Norse) meaning king. Presumably the 6th and 7th cent. Antian and Slovenian princes were clan/tribal elders, as well as the 10th cent. Drevlianian prince Mal. The nature of princely power shifted with the appearance of the Norsemen, who were gradually absorbed into the fabric of Russian political life.

P 181 Late 12th cent. (?) Vsevolod III assumed the title of velikii kniaz’ (he also made some use of the title samoderzhets). This was the beginning of the end of the social and political equality of the members of the house of Riurik. He, and his brother, had a tendency to treat the lesser princes in their domains as podruchniki (lit. "under the arm"), which was resisted by those lesser princes.

Currently used for Duke/Duchess, Count/Countess, and Viscount/Viscountess in the official SCA alternate titles list.

A knyaz could be the ruler of a local principality, such Chernigov or Galicia, theoretically under the authority of the velikii knyaz, who ruled from Kiev, Vladimir, Tver or Moscow depending on the time period and the political situation.

A knyaz could also be a close relative of a velikii knyaz or local ruling knyaz, i.e. a member of the house of Riurik.

Knyazes could also be former velikij knyazes, especially during the Mongol rule when the khan could transfer the yarlik for the grand princely throne at will.

1280 AD All Russian knyazes except velikij knyaz Dmitrii I Aleksandrovich go to meet Khan Tuda-Mangu. Dmitrii is busy attacking Novgorod. Tuda-Mangu cancels his yarlik and gives the Vladimir throne to Dmitri's younger brother, Andrei, knyaz of Kostroma and Gorodets. Dmitri refuses to surrender the yarlik and conflict follows. Tuda-Mangu sends Mongol troops to assist Andrei. Mongols pillage the Vladimir region and install Andrei on throne. [Jelisavcic]

1281 AD Dmitrii goes to Nogai and receives yarlik for Vladimir throne and troops for support to regain the throne. Andrei is forced to give up and move back to Kostroma. However, Tuda-Mangu continues to consider Andrei the legal velikij knyaz. Rostov knyazes likewise remain loyal to Tuda-Mangu. [Jelisavcic]

1293 AD Tokhta confirms Andrei as velikij knyaz of Vladimir and sends Mongol army to support Andrei in battle against Dmitrii. Dmitrii flees to Pskov and then dies. [Jelisavcic]

1315 AD Mikhail returns to Tver with yarlik as velikij knyaz of Vladimir. [Jelisavcic]

1317 AD Yurii III Danilovich marries Agaf'yei, sister of Khan Ozbek, and receives yarlik from his Tatar brother-in-law and campaigns against Tver with support from Novgorod. Mikhail II first defeats the Novgordians and concludes peace with them, then he defeats Yurii at Bortenovo. Yurii flees to Sarai and accuses Mikhail of defying Ozbeg. Mikhail must go to Sarai (it goes badly for him). [Jelisavcic]

1322-25 AD Dmitri Mikhailovich goes to Sarai to receive yarlik for Tver, with a big present. Khan Ozbeg decides that Tver is now sufficiently weakened and punished so he takes yarlik from Yurii Danilovich and gives it to Dmitri, knyaz of Tver who becomes also velikij knyaz of Vladimir by Tatar yarlik [Jelisavcic]

In the Russian Primary Chronicle:

Introduction - "After consulting among themselves, the Polyanians paid a tribute one sword per hearth, which the Khazars bore to their prince [knyaz] and their elders."

Year 852 [6360] - "Twenty-nine years passed between the first year of Michael's reign and the accession of Oleg, Prince [knyaz] of Rus."

Year 882 [6390] - "He thus came to the foot of the hill... representing himself as a stranger on his way to Greece on an errand for Oleg and for Igor, the prince's son [knyazhich Igora]..." "Oleg set himself up as prince [knyaz] in Kiev, and declared that it should be the mother of Rus' cities."

Year 911 [6419] - “Список с договора, заключенного при тех же царях Льве и Алексадре. Мы от рода русского... [names of ambassadors omitted] посланные от Олега, великого князя русского...”
List with agreement, concluded with those tsars Lev and Alexander [Byzantine emperors]. We from the Russian people… sent from Oleg, Russian grand prince…

Year 945 [6453] - "Our Prince is killed, and our Princess [knyaginya] intends to marry their prince [knyaz]."

In the Novgorod Chronicle (selected excerpts):

1016 [6524] "that night Knyaz Yaroslav was at Rakomo"

1142 [6650] "a Knyaz of the Svei" - Свьискеи князь

1158 [6666] "Rostisval went to Smolensk with his Knyaginya" - княгынею

1160 [6668] "and the Knyaginya they let enter the monastery" - княгыню

1165 [6673] "under Rostislav, Knyaz of Russia... under Svyatoslav, Knyaz of Novgorod..." - князи Русьстемь... князи Новгородьстемь

1205 [6713] "Vsevolod's Knyaginya died the same year." - княгыни [note that her name is not actually given]

1218 [6726] "The Almighty appoints both Tsar and Knyaz." - цесаря и князя

1219 [6727] "Knyazes... went against the King's son [королевиця]... and they took with their hands the King's son and his wife [королевиця... съ женою]; and he took peace with the King [королемь]..." (I don't understand who they're talking about here in Galich.)

1245 [6753] "and slew more than eight of their Knyaz's sons... killed the rest of the Knyaz's sons" - княжиць... княжичь...

1263 [6771] "and the Veliki Knyaz Mindovg was killed" - князя велика [Lithuanian ruler]

1266 [6774] "and took Gerden's Knyaginya and two young Knyazes. And Knyaz Gerden..." - княгыню... 2 княлшча... Князь...

1272 [6780] "The Veliki Knyaz of Novgorod, Yaroslav Yaroslavovich died among the Tartars..." - князь великыи Новгородьскыи

1338 [6846] "the knyaz of the Svei" - свеискому князю [see also 1323 under "Korol"]

1367 [6875] "neither Knyaz Alexander nor the Posadnik Lenti, nor any other good men were in the town at that time..." - ни князя... ни посадника... ни иных людии добрых

1420 [6928] "and they sent Knyaz Fedor Patrikeyevich, lieutenant [наместьника] of the Veliki Knyaz..."

1445 [6953] "Veliki Knyaz Vasili sent two Tartar princes against the Lithuanian towns..." - князь великыи... два царевица

In the Russian Primary Chronicle:
Year 882 [6390] - "He thus came to the foot of the hill... representing himself as a stranger on his way to Greece on an errand for Oleg and for Igor, the prince's son [knyazhich Igora]..." "Oleg set himself up as prince [knyaz] in Kiev, and declared that it should be the mother of Rus' cities."

In the Novgorod Chronicle (selected excerpts):

1245 [6753] "and slew more than eight of their Knyaz's sons... killed the rest of the Knyaz's sons" - княжиць... княжичь...

1266 [6774] "and took Gerden's Knyaginya and two young Knyazes. And Knyaz Gerden..." - княгыню... 2 княлшча... Князь...

In 1573, Livland kind Magnus married the tsar's niece and the wedding descriptions says, "and the princess (knyazhna) to be betrothed and to be married by the Dmitrovksij priest..."

According to George Vernadsky in Ancient Russia p 65 and p 179 and p 215

“Clan elders who at first gave their support to the Great Khan (Kagan)…”

“Kagan” is the correct transliteration of the old Russian form of the title. There are several ways of spelling the original Turkish title – “khagan”, “khaqan” etc. The spelling “kagan” is preferred since it corresponds to the official title of the Russian rulers of Kiev and Tmutorokhan, respectively, from the 9th to the 11th cent. A.D.

Tmutorokhan comes from the words “tma” Alanic word for troop of 10,000, and “tarkhan” for a chief.

According to George Vernadsky in Kievan Russia p 174 – Russian kaganate

The idea of the sovereign influence of the prince must have been partly the result of the Khazar influence and it is significant that the title of the Khazar supreme ruler, kagan, was assumed by the Russian ruler of Tmutorokhan and later used by the Kievan and Chernogovan princes who tried to control that city.

Not used in the official SCA alternate titles list.

Used exclusively for foreign or Biblical figures in period Russian texts.

In the Novgorod Chronicle:

1219 [6727] "Knyazes... went against the King's son [королевиця]... and they took with their hands the King's son and his wife [королевиця... съ женою]; and he took peace with the King [королемь]..." (I don't understand who they're talking about here in the city of Galich.)

1300 [6808] "they had a king's lieutenant with them" - наместникъ королевъ [speaking of the Svei]

1323 [6831] "from the king of the Svei" - свеиского короля [see also 1338 under "Knyaz"]

1349 [6857] "The King of Cracow..." - король Краковьскыи

Not used in the official SCA alternate titles list.

Used as one of the titles of the Russian sovereign, and also used to address higher ranking persons more generally.

According to George Vernadsky in The Mongols and Russia p. 349 – As the grand duke’s authority was strengthened within his own territory, he eventually became an absolute sovereign (gosudar’) of his realm. One might say, autocrat, samoderzhets, but in 1500 the term had a different connotation – independence from foreign suzerainty. The expansion of the grand duchy of Moscow at the expense of its neighbors, the other Russian lands, led to the establishment of a unified national state and the principle of monocracy, edinoderzhavie

See also Lordly Titles Page.

Other Royal Titles

In the time of Imperial Russia (post-period), the crown prince was formally known as Naslednik Tsesarevich, which shortened in less formal situations to just Naslednik, or more rarely, Tsesarevich. His wife was called tsesarevicha. I have not yet found evidence that this usage existed in period. [Wikipedia & Википедия]

The term "naslednik" meaning heir or successor, does exist in period according to Sreznevskij, however not necessarily in the sense of a designated royal heir. The Russian sovereigns did not do a very good job of naming their heirs in advance. The principle of primogeniture (eldest son inherits all, or almost all) was not accepted until after the time of Ivan III. For most of period, the eldest surviving _brother_ of the sovereign was generally expected to take over the throne, but other brothers and any sons who were old enough would often contest this succession. So for most of period, it was difficult to know in advance who the true heir was, until the sovereign actually died and all the dust settled. So a title such as "crown prince" is somewhat anachronistic for medieval Rus.

According to George Vernadsky in Kievan Russiap 175 – Samoderzhets
In the late 12th and early 13th cent. the Byzantine imperial title “autocrate”, translated as samoderzhets, was applied by chroniclers to Prince Vsevolod III of Suzdalia and Prince Roman of Galicia, but there is no evidence that either assumed the title officially.

According to George Vernadsky in The Mongols and Russia p. 385-7

As East Russia freed itself from the Tatars, the grand duke of Moscow adopted the titles of autocrat (samoderzhets) to emphasize his new freedom to determine his own policies without outside (Tatar) control, and tsar to express his position free of vassalage to anyone, with vassal states of his own. The titles “tsar” and “autocrat” were used occasionally in the latter part of the reign of Ivan III, and more frequently in the reign of his son, Vasili III. In Ivan IV’s letters to Kurbsky, he explained that “autocrat” was used in the sense of “a ruler absolutely supreme in the internal affairs of the country”.

According to George Vernadsky in The Mongols and Russia p. 349 – As the grand duke’s authority was strengthened within his own territory, he eventually became an absolute sovereign (gosudar’) of his realm. One might say, autocrat, samoderzhets, but in 1500 the term had a different connotation – independence from foreign suzerainty. The expansion of the grand duchy of Moscow at the expense of its neighbors, the other Russian lands, led to the establishment of a unified national state and the principle of monocracy, edinoderzhavie

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