Belyi Tsar
Last updated 2026-09-09
The Belyi Tsar (Russian: Белый царь "White Tsar"), also known by his personal name Monomakh Snezhnyi (Russian: Мономах Снежный), was the God of Love and the first Cryo Archon of The Seven, who presided over Snezhnaya.
He was born 5,000 years ago from the remains of the Cryo Dragon as the result of a Hyperborean experiment to create a Primordial Human a millenium prior. Ignorant of his origins, he was believed both by himself and others to be a Snowland Fae. He eventually set out on a campaign to unify the many Fae tribes of the north, which concluded 3,000 years ago in a battle against King Miscislav of the Volkodlak Alliance. During his reign, he took an interest in Hyperborea, seeking to uncover the truth of his origins, and sent numerous research expeditions to its ruins in the Shadow Realm. After uncovering his true origins and becoming Cryo Archon 2,000 years ago, he accepted the purpose that the Hyperboreans had intended for him, and began to pursue the goal of completing his ascension as a Primordial Human, establishing the Hvergelmir institute to support him. However, before his ambition could come to fruition, he fell in a battle against the Abyss during the Cataclysm 500 years ago and was succeeded by the Tsaritsa.
Profile
The Belyi Tsar led the Snowland Fae, who served as Snezhnaya's nobility during his rule. However, after his death and the ascension of the Tsaritsa to rulership, they have lost most of their former influence.[3][4]
The Tsar claimed to be the product of a "sacred bloodline" that placed him above over fae and made him the only one destined to rule. Scholars seem to agree that there was nothing that actually differentiated him from his fellow fae, and that he merely made this claim to appear more legitimate.[5] In truth, the Tsar wasn't even a fae at all, and merely took their form for convenience. The reality was that he was an incomplete Primordial Human, a failed attempt at creating a being with the same authority as Nibelung,[2] though he was unaware of this fact when making the claim.[6]
Initially, the Tsar resented the Hyperboreans and Anacharsis, viewing them as heretical usurpers. He lambasted the angels for their betrayal while doing the same to the Voyager for seemingly inviting Hyperborea's destruction in a fit of delusion for their own selfish gain. Meanwhile, he respected the Heavenly Principles as Teyvat's "Great Judge".[6] However, after learning the terrible truth, he instead recognized the former for their bravery to fight against their destined destruction, and knew he had to make up for his mistakes.[7]
According to a folk tale, the Belyi Tsar had a younger twin brother known as the King of Midsommar Oak, whom he loved dearly. Sadly, a "tragic quarrel" caused him to accidentally kill his brother, and in his grief, his domain became shrouded in unrelenting winter. However, the unrelenting winter is known by the fae to have predated the Tsar, so this story is likely to be just a folk tale.[8] His true nature as a Hyperborean experiment also makes the existence of a brother unlikely.[2]
According to a legend passed down by the Fae, in an attempt to "unite the entire continent", the Tsar had to defeat his final enemy. This enemy did not age or die, as his life was stored far away from his body and he would merely rise again when struck down. So to learn the truth of the Tsar's final foe, a spirit of frost and a traveler from beyond the palace's walls set out on a journey, eventually finding a way to slay him. The Tsar would have to find a fissure with a tree that grew downwards inside, upon the branches of which sat a crow, whose stomach contained a snow-white hare, whose eye contained a door that led to a world "as black as spilled ink", and finally within that world was the egg that held the life of the Tsar's enemy. In order to traverse the black realm, the frost spirit and the traveler forged him "wings of ancient moonlight". However, Wind Gliders were invented long after the Tsar's reign, so it's speculated that this legend could just be a tale crafted to explain the origin of a similar-looking Wind Glider.[9]
Quests and Events
World Quests
- On One Side a Palace, On the Other a Tomb
- The Stone Beasts, Like Ghouls Seated (as ??? during flashback)
Hidden Exploration Objectives
- A Certain Noble's Relics (as ???)
Story
The Belyi Tsar was the product of a Hyperborean experiment carried out 6,000 years ago to create a Primordial Human from the remains of the Cryo Dragon. However, the Sovereign's innate power afflicted the land with Holy Soil, turning Snezhnaya from its original lush, green state into a land of ice and cold. 1,000 years later, Monomakh Snezhnyi awoke from the remains of the Cryo Dragon,[2] emerging from an icy egg.[10] Monomakh was unaware of his true nature, and believed himself a fae.[6]
Over 3,000 years ago, he founded Kitezh, the first city of Snezhnaya and the imperial capital. At an unknown time, he entered into a peace agreement with King Miscislav of Misclavli after a conflict. Over the years, this allowed the empire to advance both economically and socially at a quick rate.[5]
Several decades later, Monomakh had envoys sent to the Vila fae, who were vassals of Miscislav. The envoys demanded the Vila stop sending tributes to Miscislavli. Three years after, Miscislav declared these actions in violation of their current treaty, and sent an ultimatum to the Pale Star Court, demanding thirty times the number of grain, gold, and slaves the Vila would have sent. Monomakh refused and rallied his empire for war, declaring that giving in to Miscislav would only serve to let resentment boil, and it would be better to fight for victory or at least die trying. In the following year, Miscislav and his forces launched an assault on Kitezh; the battle ended with Monomakh personally killing Miscislav, as well as fae Grand Dukes Skoldyryt and Vodyanoy, by hurling his spear across the battlefield. Afterwards, all remaining Fae clans swore allegiance to Monomakh and he took on the title of Belyi Tsar.[5]
Once, the Tsar ended up in Hyperborea, discovering the nature of their secrets as well as his own true nature.[1] What he really was was a Primordial Human, designed by the Hyperboreans to fill the void left by Nibelung's death, but the process was incomplete.[2] This did little to alleviate his inner conflict, and he pondered whether he should still shoulder the responsibilities given to him by the Hyperboreans now that they were gone; he continued ruminating on the issue during several more visits to the fallen nation.[7]
2,000 years ago,[7] after returning from his latest forays into the Shadow Realm, he accepted Celestia's offer to let him ascend to the position of Cryo Archon,[11] and agreed to open up his realm to humans.[8] He also began to persue the original goal of the Hyperboreans—to ascend to the status of a Primordial Human and overthrow the Heavenly Principles.[2] When the Archon War concluded across the continent with the ascension of the last victor, the Belyi Tsar traveled to Liyue to attend the gatherings of the original Seven Archons.[12][13]
During a period known as the "pioneering age", the Tsar had the borderland of Nod-Krai fully explored and industrialized, bringing new opportunities for the populace.[14][15] During this period, the Khaenri'ahn exile known as Rauthvangi came to Snezhnaya,[16][17] who sought to rebel against the Heavenly Principles for his own reasons.[14] Going by the name of Professor Rotwang, Rauthvangi became a regular attendant of the Tsar's court and a favorite of the Tsar, thanks to his proficiency with astrology and alchemy.[18] Around this time, during one of the many times the Belyi Tsar wandered through the Shadow Realm, he found the only working time capsule left and discovered an infant Aksinya inside. He brought her back to the court of the fae and raised her.[1]
During her adulthood, the Tsar gave Aksinya a pair of earrings as a gift. When she asked him what he would like in return, he first thought to ask for nothing. However, he ultimately confided in her the dream he once held.[1] The Tsar tasked Alvis, Pavlina, Koshchei and Aksinya to "seek the stairway leading to the vacant seat in the court of the stars", a plan that had roots in the information he had gleaned from Hyperborea.[19]
While creating Aberrant Chimeric Monsters, one of Koshchei's discarded prototypes became a Chimeric Winged Lion, which had a degree of sentience unlike his other creations. The Tsar took pity on this creature and named it Zver.[20]
The Tsar ultimately fell to the Abyss during the Cataclysm. He led an expedition to Khaenri'ah, in which he perished.[21] The expedition forces consisted of himself, Zver, Snowland Fae, and many Aberrant Chimeric Monsters under Zver's command.[20] There, they fought against "the hounds of the God of Darkness", forces under an entity known as Chernobog who threatened to invade Snezhnaya. After a week of fighting, their forces were routed. The Tsar's consciousness was destroyed in the process,[22][23][24] and his body was dragged back to Snezhnaya by Zver.[20] He was succeeded by Anastasya Feodorovna Snezhnaya as Cryo Archon and she was crowned the Tsaritsa of All Snezhnaya.[17][5]
Legacy
The Belyi Tsar's body was interred within the Pale Crown Palace, where his body—which was still alive even without his consciousness—began to grow into a massive tree known as the Tsar's White Birch.[24]
After the Eye of Graeae's power was fully restored, Aksinya took the power of the Primordial Human and moved it into the Belyi Tsar's consciousless body, allowing it to move once more. The Traveler and Paimon, who had gone after Aksinya, fought the Tsar's body, as the Eye of Graeae realized that its awakening and powers was a sign of inexorable times to come. Utilizing the Eye of Graeae's remaining functions, the Traveler was able to defeat the Primordial Human, and the Belyi Tsar's body disintegrated into dust. Although the palace had not been visited by other fae since it had been closed off, the Traveler and Paimon quickly left the scene after the latter felt that they would be blamed for the body's disappearance if they were spotted.[25]
Character Mentions
Character Stories
| Character | Stories |
|---|---|
Character Voice-Overs
| Character | Voice-Overs |
|---|---|
|
Trivia
- White Tsar (Mongolian: Цагаанхаан Cagaanxaan; Russian: Белый царь Belyy tsar; Turkic: Aqqaɣan) is an unofficial title of the Russian sovereign among Turkic and Mongolic peoples dating back to the 15th century.
- In Russian folklore, the White Tsar is a bearer of good fortune, justice, and prosperity.
- The Belyi Tsar's folkloric, accidental killing of his younger brother in an argument is likely a reference to the historically unproven plot of Ivan the Terrible's killing of his son Ivan Ivanovich, portrayed in the famous painting Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan by Russian artist Ilya Repin.
- The titles of the Belyi Tsar ("King of Winter Icelea") and his brother ("King of Midsommar Oak")[8] line up with the titles from a mythological archetype regarding the seasons of summer and winter. In the tales, the two fight at each spring and autumn equinox, and the stronger one (the one aligned with the upcoming season) kills the weaker. Then, the fallen ruler is reborn and rises up to overthrow and kill the living king in an eternal cycle.
- Certain accounts erroneously depict the Tsar's victory over the Miscislavli as something he achieved on his lonesome,[26] rather than being a great effort by his entire empire.[5]
- Monomakh wielded the Frostbreath polearm during his conquest to unify Snezhnayan fae.
Aliases and Titles
- The Belyi Tsar was known by these aliases and titles:
Etymology
- Belyi (Russian: Белый Belyy) means "white" in Russian. Tsar (Russian: Царь Tsar') is the equivalent of “emperor” in Russian.
- The name Monomakh may be derived from Vladimir II Monomakh, a Grand Prince from Kyivan Rus in the second half of the XI—early XII centuries
- The nickname Monomakh derives from Vladimir's mother's Byzantine aristocratic family, the House of Monomachos (Greek: Μονομάχος "Lone Warrior").
- The surname Snezhnyi (Russian: Снежный "Snowy") is the masculine form of Snezhnaya.
Other Languages
Belyi Tsar
| Language | Official Name | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | Belyi Tsar | — |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 白沙皇 Bái Shāhuáng | White Tsar |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 白沙皇 Bái Shāhuáng | |
| Japanese | ツァーリ・ベールイ Tsaari Beerui | Belyi Tsar |
| Korean | 하얀 차르 Hayan Chareu | White Tsar |
| Spanish | Zar Belyi | Belyi Tsar |
| French | Tsar Belyi | Belyi Tsar |
| Russian | Белый царь Belyy tsar' | White Tsar |
| Thai | Belyi Tsar | — |
| Vietnamese | Bạch Sa Hoàng | White Tsar |
| German | Weißer Zar | White Tsar |
| Indonesian | Belyi Tsar | — |
| Portuguese | Czar de Inverno / Czar Belyi | Tsar of Winter / Belyi Tsar |
| Turkish | Çar Belyi | Belyi Tsar |
| Italian | Tsar Belyi | Belyi Tsar |
Monomakh Snezhnyi
| Language | Official Name |
|---|---|
| English | Monomakh Snezhnyi |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 莫诺马赫・雪奈茨尼伊 Mònuòmǎhè Xuěnàicíníyī |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 莫諾馬赫・雪奈茨尼伊 Mònuòmǎhè Xuěnàicíníyī |
| Japanese | モノマフ・スネージヌィ Monomafu Suneejinwi |
| Korean | 모노마흐・스네즈니 Monomaheu Seunejeuni |
| Spanish | Monómaco Snezhni |
| French | Monomakh Snezhnyi |
| Russian | Мономах Снежный Monomakh Snezhnyy |
| Thai | Monomakh Snezhnyi |
| Vietnamese | Monomakh Snezhnyi |
| German | Monomakh Snezhnyi |
| Indonesian | Monomakh Snezhnyi |
| Portuguese | Monomakh Snezhnyi |
| Turkish | Monomakh Snezhnyi |
| Italian | Monomakh Snezhnyi |
Change History
- The Belyi Tsar was mentioned in-game.
- The Winter Tsar was mentioned in the description for the Dyed Tassel artifact.
- March 31, 2025:
- The Belyi Tsar was mentioned in the Web Event: Song of the Welkin Moon.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Artifact, Disenchantment in Deep Shadow: Pendulum That Ceased Amidst a Great Fall
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 World Quest, Her Palace Collapses Into the Blizzard, Part 1: An Ark That Used to Be a Soul
- ↑ Loading Screen Tip: Fae
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Event: Song of the Welkin Moon - Snowland Fae
The fae who once followed the first Cryo Archon, the Belyi Tsar, ruling the Northlands in their entirety. Though now shorn of their former glory, they still influence the nation in their own ways. - ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Book: A Brief History of the Pale Starborn
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Interactable, Pale Crown Palace: Notes by a Certain Noble Individual (II)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Interactable, Pale Crown Palace: Notes by a Certain Noble Individual (IV)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Weapon: Bloodsoaked Ruins
- ↑ Wing Glider: Wings of the Silent Moon
- ↑ Weapon Ascension Material: The Frost Emperor's Revival
- ↑ Interactable, Pale Crown Palace: Notes by a Certain Noble Individual (V)
- ↑ Archon Quest, Chapter I, Act III - A New Star Approaches, Part 3: Solitary Fragrance
Ganyu: When the Archon War came to its end two thousand years ago, the first iteration of The Seven would gather in Liyue and drink with Rex Lapis. - ↑ Zhongli's Character Story: Character Story 5
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Artifact, Night of the Sky's Unveiling: Crown of the Befallen
- ↑ Artifact, Long Night's Oath: Dyed Tassel
- ↑ Artifact, Night of the Sky's Unveiling: Revelation's Toll
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Artifact, Long Night's Oath: Lightkeeper's Pledge
- ↑ Artifact, Night of the Sky's Unveiling: Vessel of Plenty
- ↑ Artifact, Disenchantment in Deep Shadow: Ovations That Ceased Upon Festivity
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 World Quest, On One Side a Palace, On the Other a Tomb, Part 2: The Stone Beasts, Like Ghouls Seated
- ↑ Interactable, Reed Miller's Great Treasure: Brahe's Notes (II)
- ↑ NPC Dialogue: Tolfin
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Weapon: Nightweaver's Looking Glass
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 World Quest, Her Palace Collapses Into the Blizzard, Part 1: An Ark That Used to Be a Soul
Aksinya: His body... has remained alive even after the passing of his consciousness. - ↑ World Quest, Her Palace Collapses Into the Blizzard, Part 1: An Ark That Used to Be a Soul
- ↑ Traveler's Voice-Over: About the Belyi Tsar
- ↑ Weapon: Frostbreath
- ↑ Artifact, Long Night's Oath: Dyed Tassel
- ↑ Weapon Ascension Material: Triumph of the Pale Star Army
- ↑ Vestnik
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
