The Origin of Autocracy in Russia

By: John Gonzalez

What is autocracy, and how did it arise in Russia?

In The Origin of Autocracy, N. A. Rozhkov offers one of the earliest systematic explanations of autocratic power, grounding it in the concrete conditions of Muscovite society. Rather than treating autocracy as an abstract political form, he traces its emergence through the development of landownership, service obligations, and social structure.

This edition presents the first translation of the work into any language, making a major but long neglected contribution to Russian historiography available for the first time. Translated, edited, and introduced by John Gonzalez, it combines a faithful English rendering with editorial commentary and reconstructed archival references.

A rigorous and historically grounded study of the origins of autocracy, essential for historians, political theorists, and all serious readers of Russian history.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GQHY5JC2
• ISBN13: 9798249954147
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 502 Pages
• Weight: 1.68 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.1" x 6.0"