The word tsar derives from “Caesar.” Ivan IV first adopted the title in 1547, when he elevated himself from “Duke of Moscow” to “Tsar of All Rus.” He adopted the Latinite name, but retained the Slavic state. Now, nearly 100 years after the death of the last tsar, President Vladimir Putin seems to be doing the reverse, adopting the trappings of imperialism without the title.

The most recent example of this has been the creation this spring of a new internal security force directly under the Russian president’s control. Some have already taken to calling the new force a praetorian guard.