Russia in 1839 -Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia

ORIGIN OF THE WORD CZAR.293

seen—with one epic story. Moscow was voluntarily sacrificed, and the flames of that sacred conflagration became the signal for the revolution of Germany and the deliverance of Europe. The nations felt at last that they would have no rest until they had annihilated that indefatigable conqueror who sought peace by means of perpetual Avar.

Such were the recollections that absorbed my thoughts at the first view of the Kremlin. To have worthily recompensed Moscow, the Emperor of Russia ought to have re-established his residence in that twice holy city.

The Kremlin is not like any other palace, it is a city in itself; a city that forms the root of Moscow, and that serves as the frontier fortress between two quarters of the world. Under the successors of Gengis-Khan, Asia made her last rush upon Europe : in turning to retreat, she struck the earth with her foot, and from thence rose the Kremlin !

The princes who полу possess this sacred asylum of oriental despotism, call themselves Europeans, because they have chased the Calmucs, their brethren, their tyrants, and their instructors, out of Muscovy. None resemble the khans of Saraï so much as their antagonists, the czars of Moscoav, луЬо have borrowed from them even to their very title. The Russians gave the name of czars to the khans of the Tartars. Karamsin says, on this subject, vol. vi. page 438.: —

" This Avord is not derived from the Latin Cœsar, as several learned men erroneously suppose. It is an ancient oriental Avord, as may be seen in the Slavonian translation of the Bible ; and it was first given by us to the emperors of the East, and afterwards to the

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