Materials for Russian iconography. Sobral D.A. Rovinsky. I volume (1) - History of arts. The reign of Princess Sophia. Briefly
Princess Sofia Alekseevna
Sofia Alekseevna — eldest daughter Tsar Alexei Fedorovich Romanov and Maria Ilyinichna Miloslavskaya. Ruled by the Moscow state from 1682 to 1689. She bore the title "Great Empress, Blessed Queen and Grand Duchess"“Princess Sophia, a student of Simeon of Polotsk, an intelligent and energetic person, who was stuffy in the cramped semi-monastic atmosphere that surrounded the Moscow princesses; education broadened her mental outlook, developed in her the broad demands of life, the desire to seek answers to these questions outside the tower "(S. F. Platonov " Full course Russian history")
Brief biography of Princess Sophia
- 1657, September 17 - birth
- 1666, August 27 - Sophia's brother Ivan, the future Tsar Ivan V, was born
- 1669, March 3 - death of mother Maria Ilyinichna Miloslavskaya
- 1671, January 22 - Sophia's father Tsar Alexei Mikhalovich remarried Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina
- 1672, May 30 - the son of A. M. Romanov and N. K. Naryshkina Peter, the future Emperor Peter the Great, was born
- 1682, April 27 - the death of Sophia's brother, Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich
- 1682, May 29 - Sophia became the ruler of Muscovy, regenshe under the young tsars Ivan (14 years old) and Peter (10 years old)
- 1689, September - Sophia is removed from power by Peter
- 1689, autumn - Sophia was sent into exile in the Novodevichy Convent near Moscow, but was not tonsured as a nun
- 1697, March - a conspiracy against Peter the Great boyars Sokovnin, Pushkin, Streltsy Colonel Tsykler, who called Sophia an accomplice
- 1698, March-June - Streltsy rebellion in favor of Sophia (with the suppression of the rebellion, the archers were tortured and under torture they showed Sophia's participation)
- 1698, October 21 - Sophia is forcibly tonsured a nun
- 1704, July 3 - Sophia's death in the Novodevichy Convent
Accession of Sofia Alekseevna
Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich died without leaving heirs. According to unwritten rules, the successors of the dynasty were to be the brothers of Fyodor and Sophia Ivan, the son of Maria Ilyinichna Miloslavskaya or Peter, the son of Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina. Supporters and relatives of the Miloslavsky family, including Sophia, stood for Ivan. For Peter - relatives and supporters of the Naryshkin family, including Patriarch Joachim. In the behind-the-scenes struggle, the Naryshkins first excelled. and the patriarch and the Boyar Duma proclaimed Peter the Tsar under the guardianship of his mother N. K. Naryshkina. The Miloslavskys did not accept defeat and with the help of the archers (the riot of May 15-17, 1682, which went down in history under the name Khovanshchina), on May 26 they forced the Boyar Duma to proclaim Ivan V the first tsar, the second Peter I so that the reign was entrusted, due to the youth of the kings , Sofia Alekseevna
The reign of Princess Sofya Alekseevna
“The main figures in the reign of Sophia were Prince V.V. Golitsyn and the duma clerk Shaklovity. The first was the head of the Ambassadorial Prikaz, the main government figure in Moscow's foreign relations and in internal management. The second was the head of the streltsy army and the main guardian of Sophia's interests.
- 1682, July 5 - in the Faceted Chamber of the Kremlin, a religious dispute between representatives of the current doctrine and schismatics
“The dispute caused street riots, at the dispute itself they argued for a long time and ... did not come to any result. Nevertheless, the schismatics proclaimed victory. The mass of the Moscow population, with tense attention awaiting the outcome of the dispute, was led into considerable temptation by a number of scandals and the absence of a firm government that could not maintain order, and the uncertainty - where is the church truth? The government was embarrassed by the fact that on that day they clearly saw how unreliable the streltsy army was; the archers insulted Sophia when she interfered in a dispute, supported the schismatics and obeyed Khovansky, whom they adored, much more than they obeyed the government.
After the dispute, Sophia had two concerns: to deprive the schismatics of the support of the archers and to curb Khovansky, who could abuse the affection of the archers. Sophia soon reached the first. With exhortations and handouts, she persuaded the archers to lag behind the split-teachers. One of them was executed (Nikita Pustosvyat), others were exiled. It was not so easy to settle scores with Khovansky. Sofya was afraid to directly remove Khovansky, because this could irritate the archers and lead to new unrest. It seemed impossible to tolerate him at the head of the military force, Khovansky behaved badly: he flattered the archers, dropped discipline; there were rumors that he threatened to remove the Miloslavskys from power, ... to take over the kingdom for himself and for his son "
- 1682, August 20 - royal family left Moscow from sin and settled in the village of Vozdvizhensky. Khovansky was called there
- 1682, September 17 - the decision of the Boyar Duma Khovansky and his son were executed
“The trial, sentence and execution followed on the same day, suddenly, unexpectedly. Obviously, Sophia was afraid of interference from the archers; fearing their excitement, on September 17 she informed them by letter that the Khovanskys had been executed, and added that there was no royal wrath on the archers themselves. But the archers did not believe. They thought that punishment for Khovansky would befall them too. So they revolted; according to rumors, expecting an attack on Moscow by the tsarist troops, they led the city into a state of siege and prepared for armed defense.
This forced the government to retire to the Trinity Lavra (which was a first-class fortress of that time) and collect the noble militia from the cities. The military preparations of the government showed the archers their own weakness, the impossibility of resistance and the need to submit. Through the patriarch who remained in Moscow, they ask for forgiveness from Sophia. Sophia gives them forgiveness with one condition: the archers must completely obey their superiors and not interfere in their own affairs.
- 1682, October 8 - the end of the Streltsy rebellion
- 1682-1687 - resumption and completion of the construction of the Big Stone Bridge near the Kremlin across the Moscow River
- 1684, May - at a meeting with the ambassadors of the Vatican, Sophia "granted freedom" of religion for the Jesuits living in Moscow, thereby causing discontent of the patriarch and adherents of antiquity and the true faith
- 1684, summer - the Moscow Protocol was signed on the addition and correction of the Treaty of Cardis with Sweden
- 1684, August 10 - Agreement on embassy ceremonial with Denmark
- 1685, April 7 - the so-called "Twelve Articles" were adopted - the law of the Moscow state, which defines various degrees of punishment for the Old Believers, starting with the death penalty by burning alive, ending with imprisonment in monasteries, beating with batogs, deprivation of property
- 1686, May 6 - " Eternal Peace» with Poland
“The Polish king Jan Sobieski agreed to an eternal peace, according to which he forever ceded to Moscow everything that she won from Poland in the 17th century. (most importantly Kyiv). This world of 1686 was very large diplomatic victory, which Moscow owed to V.V. Golitsyn. But in this world, Moscow had to start a war with Turkey and the Crimea, its subordinates.
- 1687, February-June - an unsuccessful campaign of Moscow troops under the leadership of Golitsyn against the Crimea
- 1687, September - the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy was opened in Moscow - the first higher educational institution in Russia
- 1689, February-May - Golitsyn's second unsuccessful campaign against the Crimea
"The failure of the second Crimean campaign 1689, aroused general discontent and gave a convenient pretext for action against Sophia of the matured Peter. In the summer of 1689, he began to show Sophia his power. In July, he forbade Sophia to participate in procession, and when she did not obey, he himself left, thus arranging a vowel trouble for his sister. At the end of July, he barely agreed to issue awards to the participants in the Crimean campaign and did not receive the Moscow military leaders when they came to him to thank him for the awards. When Sophia, frightened by Peter's antics, began to arouse the archers with the hope of finding support and protection in them, Peter did not think about arresting the archer chief Shaklovity for a while .... By the beginning of August 1689, relations had become so tense that everyone was waiting for an open break ... It happened on August 7th.
In the evening, Sophia gathered a significant armed force in the Kremlin. They say that she was frightened by a rumor that on the night of August 7-8, Peter would come to Moscow with amusing things and deprive Sophia of power. Streltsy, called to the Kremlin, were worried in favor of Sophia and against Peter by several persons loyal to the ruler. Seeing military preparations in the Kremlin, the tsar's followers let him know about the danger. But they exaggerated the danger and informed Peter that the archers “revolted” against him and his mother and were plotting a mortal “murder” on them. Peter, straight from his bed, threw himself on a horse and, with three escorts, rode away from Preobrazhensky to the Trinity Lavra.
In the following days, starting on August 8, all the Naryshkins, all the nobles and officials who were on the side of Peter, gathered in the Lavra; the armed force also appeared - the amusing and Sukharev Streltsy Regiment. With the departure of Peter and his court to the Lavra, an open break came. From the Lavra, Peter and the persons leading him demanded that Sophia report on armaments on August 7 and send deputations from all the archery regiments. Not releasing the archers, Sophia sent Patriarch Joachim to Peter as an intermediary for a truce. But the patriarch devoted to Peter did not return to Moscow. Peter again demanded representatives from the archers and from the hard-working people of Moscow. This time they came to the Lavra against Sophia's wishes. Seeing that it is impossible to resist Peter, that there is no support in the archers, Sophia herself goes to the Trinity to put up with Peter.
But she is brought back from the road in the name of Peter and threatened, if she comes to the Trinity, to treat her "dishonestly." Returning to Moscow, Sophia tries to raise the archers and the people against Peter, but fails. The archers themselves force Sophia to hand over Shaklovity to Peter, who was executed on September 11th. After the extradition of Shaklovity, V. Golitsyn also voluntarily appeared in the Lavra, he was declared exile from Peter to Kargopol (later to Pinega) for arbitrariness in administration and for negligence in the Crimean campaign "
Sofia Alekseevna(September 27, 1657 - July 14, 1704) - princess, daughter of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, in 1682-1689 regent under the younger brothers Peter and Ivan.
early years
Princess Sofya Alekseevna was born in the family of Alexei Mikhailovich and his first wife, Maria Ilyinichna Miloslavskaya, and was the sixth child and fourth daughter among the sixteen children of Alexei Mikhailovich. She received the traditional princely name "Sofya", the same name was given to her early deceased aunt - Princess Sofya Mikhailovna.
Streltsy revolt of 1682 and rise to power
On April 27 (May 7), 1682, after 6 years of reign, the sickly Tsar Fedor Alekseevich died. The question arose of who should inherit the throne: the older, sickly Ivan, according to custom, or the young Peter. Enlisting the support of Patriarch Joachim, the Naryshkins and their supporters on April 27 (May 7), 1682, elevated Peter to the throne. In fact, the Naryshkin clan came to power and Artamon Matveev, summoned from exile, declared the “great guardian”. It was difficult for the supporters of Ivan Alekseevich to support their pretender, who could not reign due to extremely poor health. The organizers actually palace coup announced the version of the hand-handed transfer of the “scepter” by the dying Fyodor Alekseevich to his younger brother Peter, but there was no reliable evidence of this.
Streltsy rebellion in 1682. Streltsy dragging Ivan Naryshkin out of the palace. While Peter I comforts his mother, Princess Sophia watches with satisfaction. Painting by A. I. Korzukhin, 1882
The Miloslavskys, relatives of Tsarevich Ivan and Princess Sophia by their mother, saw in the proclamation of Peter the Tsar an infringement of their interests. Streltsy, of whom there were more than 20 thousand in Moscow, had long shown discontent and willfulness; and, apparently, incited by the Miloslavskys, on May 15 (25), 1682, they spoke openly: shouting that the Naryshkins strangled Tsarevich Ivan, they moved to the Kremlin. Natalya Kirillovna, hoping to calm the rebels, together with the patriarch and the boyars, led Peter and his brother to the Red Porch. However, the uprising was not over. In the first hours, the boyars Artamon Matveev and Mikhail Dolgorukov were killed, then other supporters of Queen Natalia, including her two brothers Naryshkins.
On May 26, elected representatives from the archery regiments came to the palace and demanded that the elder Ivan be recognized as the first tsar, and the younger Peter as the second. Fearing a repetition of the pogrom, the boyars agreed, and Patriarch Joachim immediately performed a solemn prayer service in the Assumption Cathedral for the health of the two named kings; and on June 25 he crowned them to the kingdom.
On May 29, the archers insisted that Princess Sofya Alekseevna take over the government due to the infancy of her brothers. Tsarina Natalya Kirillovna, together with her son Peter, the second tsar, had to retire from the court to a palace near Moscow in the village of Preobrazhensky.
Regency
Sophia ruled, relying on her favorite Vasily Golitsyn. De la Neuville and Kurakin cite later rumors that there was a carnal relationship between Sophia and Golitsyn. However, neither Sophia's correspondence with the favorite, nor evidence from the time of her reign confirm this. “The diplomats saw nothing in their relationship except Sophia’s goodwill towards the prince, and did not find in them an indispensable erotic connotation.”
The princess continued the fight against the "schism" already at the legislative level, adopting "12 articles" in 1685, on the basis of which thousands of people accused of "schism" were executed.
Voltaire said of her: “She had a lot of intelligence, composed poetry, wrote and spoke well, with a pleasant appearance combined many talents; they were marred only by her ambition.".
Under Sophia, the “Eternal Peace” beneficial for Russia was concluded with Poland, the unfavorable Treaty of Nerchinsk with China (the first Russian-Chinese treaty, valid until 1858). In 1687 and 1689, under the leadership of Vasily Golitsyn, campaigns were undertaken against the Crimean Tatars, but they did not bring much benefit, although they strengthened the authority of Russia in the eyes of the allies in the Holy League. On July 21, 1687, a Russian embassy arrived in Paris, sent by the regent to Louis XIV with a proposal to join the Holy League against the Turkish sultan, at that time a French ally.
Deposition
May 30, 1689 Peter I turned 17 years old. By this time, at the insistence of his mother, Tsarina Natalya Kirillovna, he married Evdokia Lopukhina, and, according to the customs of that time, entered the age of majority. The elder Tsar Ivan was also married. Thus, there were no formal grounds for the regency of Sofya Alekseevna (the infancy of the kings), but she continued to hold the reins of government in her hands. Peter made attempts to insist on his rights, but to no avail: the archery chiefs and order dignitaries, who received their positions from the hands of Sophia, still carried out only her orders.
Between the Kremlin (the residence of Sophia) and Peter's court in Preobrazhensky, an atmosphere of hostility and mistrust was established. Each of the parties suspected the opposite of intending to resolve the confrontation by force, by bloody means.
On the night of August 7-8, several archers arrived in Preobrazhenskoye and reported to the tsar about the impending assassination attempt on him. Peter was very frightened and on horseback, accompanied by several bodyguards, he immediately rode off to the Trinity-Sergius Monastery. In the morning next day Tsarina Natalya and Tsaritsa Evdokia went there, accompanied by the entire amusing army, which by that time constituted an impressive military force capable of withstanding a long siege within the Trinity walls.
In Moscow, the news of the tsar's flight from Preobrazhensky made a stunning impression: everyone understood that civil strife was beginning, threatening great bloodshed. Sophia begged Patriarch Joachim to go to Trinity to persuade Peter to negotiate, but the patriarch did not return to Moscow and declared Peter a full-fledged autocrat.
On August 27, a royal decree signed by Peter came from the Trinity, demanding all archery colonels to appear at the disposal of the tsar, accompanied by elected archery, 10 people from each regiment, for non-compliance - the death penalty. Sophia, for her part, forbade the archers to leave Moscow, also under pain of death.
Some archery commanders and privates began to leave for the Trinity. Sophia felt that time was working against her, and decided to personally negotiate with her younger brother, for which she went to Trinity, accompanied by a small guard, but in the village of Vozdvizhensky she was detained by a streltsy detachment, and the steward I. Buturlin sent to meet her, and then the boyar, prince Troekurov announced to her that the tsar would not accept her, and if she tried to continue her journey to the Trinity, force would be applied to her. Sophia returned to Moscow with nothing.
This failure of Sophia became widely known, and the flight of boyars, clerks and archers from Moscow increased. At Trinity, they were sympathetically met by Prince Boris Golitsyn, a former uncle the king, who at that time became Peter's chief adviser, and manager at his headquarters. To the newly arrived high-ranking dignitaries and archery chiefs, he personally brought a cup and, on behalf of the king, thanked him for his faithful service. Ordinary archers were also given vodka and awards.
Peter in the Trinity led an exemplary life of the Moscow Tsar: he was present at all divine services, spent the remaining time in councils with members of the boyar duma and in conversations with church hierarchs, rested only with his family, wore Russian dress, Germans did not accept, which was strikingly different from the way of life that he led in Preobrazhensky and which was disapprovingly perceived by most of all sections of Russian society - noisy and scandalous feasts and fun, amusing activities, in which he often acted as a junior officer, and even ordinary, frequent visits to Kukuy, and, in particular, the fact that the king with Germans behaved as with equals, while even the most noble and dignitary Russians, referring to him, according to etiquette, had to call themselves his slaves And serfs.
Princess Sofia Alekseevna in the Novodevichy Convent. Painting by Ilya Repin
Meanwhile, the power of Sophia was steadily crumbling: in early September, hired foreign infantry, the most combat-ready part of the Russian army, headed by General P. Gordon, left for Trinity. There she swore allegiance to the king, who personally came out to meet her. The highest dignitary of the government of Sophia, "royal great seals and state great embassy affairs protector", Vasily Golitsyn left for his estate near Moscow Medvedkovo, and retired from the political struggle. The ruler was actively supported only by the head of the streltsy order, Fyodor Shaklovity, who tried by all means to keep the streltsy in Moscow.
From the king came a new decree - grab(arrest) Shaklovity and deliver to Trinity in the glands(in chains) for detective(investigations) in the case of the attempt on the king, and all who support Shaklovity will share his fate. The archers who remained in Moscow demanded that Sophia extradite Shaklovity. She initially refused, but was forced to give in. Shaklovity was taken to Trinity, confessed under torture, and was beheaded. One of the last to appear at Trinity was Prince Vasily Golitsyn, where he was not allowed to see the tsar, and was exiled with his family to Pinega, in the Arkhangelsk region.
The ruler had no adherents left who were ready to risk their lives for the sake of her interests, and when Peter demanded that Sophia retire to the Holy Spirit Monastery (Putivl), she had to obey. Soon, Peter decided that it was not safe to keep her away, and transferred her to the Novodevichy Convent. In the monastery, guards were assigned to her.
Life in a monastery, death
During the Streltsy uprising of 1698, the archers, according to the investigation, intended to call her to the kingdom. After the suppression of the rebellion, Sophia was tonsured a nun under the name of Susanna.
She died on July 3 (14), 1704, before her death she was tonsured into the great schema, taking her former name, Sophia. She was buried in the Smolensky Cathedral of the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow. In the old believer skete of Sharpan there is a burial place of the schematress Praskovya (“ queen's grave”), surrounded by 12 unmarked graves. The Old Believers consider this Praskovya to be Tsarevna Sophia, who allegedly fled from the Novodevichy Convent with 12 archers.
In art
- Ivan Lazhechnikov. "Last Novik". Historical novel about the fictional son of Sophia and Golitsyn
- Apollo Mike. Sagittarius legend about Princess Sofya Alekseevna. 1867
- E. P. Karnovich. "At the height and at the bottom: Tsarevna Sofya Alekseevna" (1879)
- A. N. Tolstoy. "Peter the First" (1934)
- N. M. Moleva, "The Empress - Sophia" (2000)
- R. R. Gordin, "The Game of Destiny" (2001)
- T. T. Napolova, The Queen Stepmother (2006)
Cinema
- Natalya Bondarchuk - "Youth of Peter" (1980).
- Vanessa Redgrave "Peter the Great" (1986).
- Alexandra Cherkasova - "Split", (2011).
- Irina Zheryakova - “The Romanovs. Film II "(2013).
She was educated at home. Her teacher was the preacher, writer and poet Simeon Polotsky. Sophia knew Latin well, Polish language, wrote plays for the court theater, understood theological issues, was fond of history.
The life of Sofya Alekseevna coincided with a cruel civil strife that broke out between the relatives of her deceased mother, the Miloslavskys, and her stepmother, the Naryshkins. During these years, after the death of Alexei Mikhailovich, the youngest brother Sophia Fedor from Miloslavsky.
In 1682, with the death of Fyodor, Princess Sophia began to take part in Russian politics, as she was not happy that the young Peter, the son of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and his second wife Natalya Naryshkina, was elected to the royal throne. After the Streltsy rebellion, in May 1682, the warring factions reached a compromise, and two kings, two half-brothers, Ivan V (son of Alexei Mikhailovich from his first marriage) and were on the throne. Sofya Alekseevna headed the government under both underage tsars.
Sophia ensured that her name was included in the official royal title "Great Sovereigns and the Great Empress Tsarevna and Grand Duchess Sofya Alekseevna." A few years later, her image was minted on coins, and since 1686 she already called herself an autocrat and the following year issued this title by a special decree.
The policy of the reign of Princess Sophia largely contributed to the renewal public life. Industry and trade began to develop noticeably. The country began to produce velvet and satin. The Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy was opened. International relations are being established. Sophia began to reorganize the army along the European lines.
During these years, the Eternal Peace was concluded with Poland, as a result of which the Left-Bank Ukraine, Kyiv and Smolensk were assigned to Russia. The Nerchinsk Treaty (1689) was concluded with China. The war began with Turkey and the Crimean Khanate.
In 1689, relations between Sophia and the boyar-noble group supporting Peter I escalated to the extreme. As a result, the party of Peter I won a final victory, and Sophia's royal biography ended. All supporters of the princess lost real power, her name was excluded from the royal title. Sofya Alekseevna herself goes without tonsure to the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow, where she rewrites church books and writes a lot.
During the Streltsy uprising of 1698, Sophia repeated her attempt to get into power. In her letters to the archers, she asked to support her and oppose the king. The uprising was brutally suppressed. Sofya Alekseevna was tonsured a nun under the name of Susanna and lived for another seven years.
Something incredible happened in Russia at the end of the 17th century: in a country where house-building traditions were very strong, and women led mostly reclusive lives, Princess Sofya Alekseevna began to manage all the affairs of the state. It happened so unexpectedly and at the same time naturally that the Russians began to take it for granted. Until some time, Princess Sofya Alekseevna, whose biography is so unusual, did not cause indignation in anyone. However, after several years, when she had to transfer the reins of government into the hands of Peter I, people were surprised: how did it happen that they revered the empress, who was just a woman. Undoubtedly, outstanding personality was Princess Sophia. Her photo and biography will give you some idea of her.
Sophia's life in seclusion
It all started with death. However, after his death, Princess Sophia (reigned 1682-1689) did not immediately realize that she had become free. The daughter of the autocrat sat as a recluse in the tower for 19 years with her sisters. She went to church only accompanied and sometimes attended with her father performances arranged by Artamon Matveev. The princess, brought up according to house building, was also one of the best students of Simeon of Polotsk, a famous enlightener. She was fluent in Polish, read Greek and in Latin. Repeatedly this woman surprised her surroundings by composing a tragedy that was immediately played out in the family circle. And sometimes Sophia wrote poetry. The princess is so good at artistic creativity that even the famous writer and historian Karamzin noted this. He wrote that the talent of the princess allowed her to compare with the best writers.
Chance to get out
In 1676, with the accession of her brother Sophia, the latter suddenly realized that there was a chance to finally leave the tower. Her brother became seriously ill, and at that time Sophia was often next to him. The princess often visited Fedor's chambers, communicated with clerks and boyars, sat in the Duma, delved into the essence of governing the country.
The autocrat died in 1682, and a dynastic crisis arose in the state. Pretenders for the throne were not fit for such a responsible post. The heirs were the son of Natalia Naryshkina, the young Peter and the weak-minded Ivan, whom Maria Miloslavskaya gave birth to Alexei Mikhailovich. These two parties - the Naryshkins and the Miloslavskys - fought among themselves.
The election of Peter as sovereign
Tsar, according to tradition, was to be Ivan. However, this would entail the need for guardianship for the duration of his reign. Sophia hoped so. The princess was disappointed when 10-year-old Peter was elected sovereign. Sophia could only congratulate her stepbrother on this. It was difficult for her now to challenge the legitimacy of his accession.
Revolt of archers and the reign of Sophia
However, Sophia had nothing to lose. The decisive and independent princess could not but take advantage of the situation that had developed in her favor. Sophia used the archery regiments for her purpose. The princess persuaded them to revolt, as a result of which John and Peter officially began to reign. And Sophia was entrusted with the government of the state.
However, the joy of this victory could be premature. These days Sophia's power seemed illusory. The archers, led by Prince Khovansky, had too real power. Under a plausible pretext, Sophia lured Khovansky from the capital to the village of Vozdvizhenskoye. Here the chief was accused of treason and executed. The army, therefore, was without a leader. Tsarevna Sofya Alekseevna immediately threw out a cry, mobilizing the noble militia to protect the legitimate government. The archers were in a state of shock, they did not know what to do. At first, they planned to give battle to the ruler and the boyars, but they caught on in time and capitulated. Sophia now dictated her will to the archers. Thus began the 7-year regency of Princess Sofya Alekseevna.
commutation of sentences
Sophia's favorite, Prince Vasily Golitsyn (pictured above), became head of government. He was a talented diplomat. Close and long communication with him made Sophia a staunch supporter of mitigation of punishments and education. By the way, later rumors spread about the existence of a carnal connection between them. However, neither the correspondence with the favorite of the princess, nor the evidence relating to the time of her reign, confirm this.
However, the influence of Golitsyn on Sophia, of course, was great. In particular, a decree was issued according to which creditors were forbidden to take debtors-husbands without their wives to work off the debt. In addition, it was forbidden to collect debts from orphans and widows if there was no estate left after the death of their fathers and husbands. From now on, "outrageous words" were not executed. Severe punishment was replaced by exile and a whip. Previously, a woman who cheated on her husband was buried up to the neck in the ground alive. Now, such a painful death was replaced by an easier one - the traitor was threatened with beheading.
Industry development
The reign of Princess Sophia was also marked by a number of initiatives for the development of industry, the revival of trade with the West. This affected in particular the weaving industry. In our country, expensive fabrics began to be made: brocade, satin and velvet. Previously, they were imported from overseas. Foreign specialists began to be discharged from abroad in order to teach Russian masters.
Foundation of the academy, promotion of education and the arts
Sophia in 1687 opened the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy. The business of its creation was started during the reign of Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich. After the Kyiv scientists began to persecute the Patriarch Joachim, Golitsyn and Sophia took them under protection. The princess encouraged the construction of stone choirs in Moscow, the study of languages and various arts. Young people from noble families went abroad for training.
Successes in foreign policy
And in the area foreign policy progress has been noticeable. Russia concluded Eternal Peace with the Commonwealth. This power, according to the conditions presented by Golitsyn, recognized the transition to the Russian state of Kyiv and the belonging of Russia to the Left-Bank Ukraine, Seversky and Smolensk lands. The Treaty of Nerchinsk concluded with China was another important political event. At that time, Russian lands in Siberia bordered on this state.
Crimean campaigns
However, there were also failures that, in the end, brought in and led to the overthrow of Sophia and Golitsyn (his portrait is presented above). An experienced diplomat, the favorite of the princess was a gentle and indecisive person. He didn't see himself as a general at all. However, Sophia insisted that this man lead the Crimean campaign, which ended in failure. The army from the campaign carried out in 1687 returned back. They were prevented by the Tatars, who set fire to the steppe. However, Sophia staged even the inglorious return with all solemnity. She wanted to support Golitsyn. At that time, it was openly said about the favorite that he only killed people in vain by embarking on this adventure. And the second campaign was unsuccessful. It was undertaken two years later.
Sophia loses power
Until the kings grew up, the regency of Princess Sophia allowed her to independently resolve all state issues. During the reception of foreign ambassadors, the princess hid behind the throne and told the brothers how to behave. However, as time went on, Peter matured over the years of Sophia's reign. On May 30, 1689, he turned 17 years old. At the insistence of Natalya Kirillovna, his mother, he had already married Evdokia Lopukhina by this time and became an adult, according to the concepts of that time. In addition, Ivan, the elder tsar, was also married. That is, there were no formal grounds for continuing the regency. However, Sophia still held the reins of power in her hands. This led to conflicts with Peter.
The relationship between him and his sister became increasingly hostile. The princess was well aware that the balance of power would change from year to year not in her favor. In order to strengthen her own position, she made an attempt to marry the kingdom back in 1687. Fyodor Shaklovity, an approximate clerk of the princess, began agitation among the archers. However, they did not forget what happened to Prince Khovansky, and refused to support Sophia.
The first skirmish between the princess and Peter occurred when Sophia dared to participate with the kings in the procession of the cross. Peter was angry. He said that she was a woman, so she should leave immediately, as it was obscene for the fair sex to follow the crosses. However, Sophia decided to ignore her brother's rebuke. Then Peter himself left the ceremony. He inflicted a second insult on his sister by refusing to accept Prince Golitsyn after the Crimean campaign.
An attempt to eliminate Peter
So, Sophia's wedding attempt failed. However, there was another way out - it was possible to eliminate Peter. Again the princess relied on the archers, but this time in vain. Someone started a provocative rumor, saying that Peter's amusing regiments were going to Moscow in order to kill Tsar Ivan and the ruler. Sophia called on the archers for protection. And Peter, in turn, heard rumors that an attack by "dirty bastards" was being prepared (this is what Peter called the archers). The tsar was not afraid of the threat, but since childhood, the picture of 1682 remained in his mind, when the archers carried out a massacre against people close to him. Peter decided to take refuge in the Trinity-Sergius Monastery. After some time, amusing regiments also came here, and also, to the surprise of many, one regiment of archers, commanded by Sukharev.
Sophia was puzzled by Peter's flight. She wanted to reconcile with her brother, but her attempts were unsuccessful. Then Sophia decided to turn to the help of the patriarch. But he reminded her that she was just a ruler under sovereigns, and went to Peter. Supporters of Sophia became less and less. The boyars, who recently swore allegiance to her, somehow imperceptibly left the princess. And the archers arranged for Peter, who was going to Moscow, a repentant meeting. As a sign of humility, they laid their heads on the blocks by the road.
Confinement to a monastery, last hope
At the end of September 1689, 32-year-old Sophia was imprisoned by order of Peter in the Novodevichy Convent. However, in 1698 she had hope. Then Peter went to Europe, and the archery regiments, which were stationed far from the capital, moved to Moscow. They intended to return Sophia to the throne, and to "lime" the sovereign, who did not favor the archers, if he returned from abroad.
The execution of archers, the fate of Sophia
But the rebellion was crushed. Descendants will remember for a long time the mass execution of archers. And Peter, who had not seen his sister for 9 years, came to her for the last explanation in the Novodevichy Convent. The involvement of the princess in the Streltsy rebellion was proved. Shortly thereafter, the former ruler was tonsured a nun by order of Peter. She was given the name Susanna. She no longer had any hope of the throne. Shortly before her death, she accepted the schema and returned her name. On July 3, 1704, Princess Sophia died, whose biography was so atypical for her time.
In the pre-Petrine era, the fate of girls born in the royal chambers was unenviable. The life of each of them developed according to the same scenario: childhood, youth, monastery. Princesses were not even taught to read and write. The daughter of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and the sister of Peter I flatly refused to put up with a similar state of affairs. Princess Sophia. Thanks to her sharp mind and cunning, this woman became the de facto ruler in Rus' for seven whole years.
Until the 18th century, the fate of the princesses was predetermined. According to their status, they were forbidden to marry courtiers, and the idea of marriage with European monarchs was not allowed, since it was impossible for the daughters of Russian rulers to convert to Catholicism. That is why no one particularly burdened himself with teaching the princesses to read and write. Basically, their education was limited to the basics of needlework. After the girls turned 20-25 years old, they were sent to monasteries. The exception was the daughter of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Sophia.
Sofya Alekseevna was one of the 16 children of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. The little princess was different from her sisters: she showed curiosity, refused to spend time in endless prayers, and did not obey her mothers-nannies. To the surprise of the courtiers, her father not only did not get angry with his daughter for such disobedience, but, on the contrary, hired a teacher for her.
Already at the age of 10, Princess Sophia learned to read and write, mastered several foreign languages interested in history and science. As the princess grew older, rumors about her spread far beyond the borders of the country. There were no lifetime images of the princess, but according to contemporaries, Sophia could not be called a beauty. The Frenchman Foy de la Neuville described it like this: “She is terribly fat, she has a head the size of a pot, facial hair, lupus on her legs, and how wide, short and rough her figure is, her mind is thin, sharp and political”.
After the death of Alexei Mikhailovich, the Russian throne was taken by his son Fedor Alekseevich. He was very painful, so the princess volunteered to look after her brother. In the intervals between caring for the king, Sophia made useful friendships with the boyars and understood court intrigues. It was then that she met Prince Vasily Golitsyn.
Golitsyn had an excellent education, was known as a talented diplomat, and was well brought up. The princess, unwittingly, fell in love with the prince, who was also 14 years older than her. However, Golitsyn was considered an exemplary family man. The princess and the prince began a trusting relationship.
When Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich died in 1682, the young Peter was elevated to the throne, and his mother Natalya Naryshkina was appointed regent. Princess Sophia did not want to put up with this state of affairs, and with the support of Prince Golitsyn, she staged a streltsy revolt, after which the newly-made tsar and his mother were overthrown. Just a couple of weeks later, two brothers Peter and Ivan were put on the reign, and Sophia was appointed regent.
The beginning of Sophia's reign was marked by a number of positive reforms. Foreign traders, teachers, craftsmen were attracted to Russia. The Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy was opened. Under the princess, the punishments were slightly mitigated. Now those accused of theft were not executed, but limited to chopping off their hands. Women who killed men were not left to die in suffering, buried up to their chests, but their heads were immediately cut off.
Time passed, and Peter matured. Now he no longer obeyed his sister in everything. Mother Natalya Naryshkina constantly whispered to young Peter the story of how his sister managed to become the de facto head of state. In addition, everyone knew that Sophia's regency should end when Peter comes of age or after his marriage. At the insistence of his mother, the tsar married at the age of 17, but Sophia did not even think of resigning.
The situation escalated in early August 1689. Several archers arrived in the village of Preobrazhenskoye to Peter, informing him of a possible assassination attempt. The heir hid in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. Gradually, all the boyars and streltsy troops went over to his side.
Vasily Golitsyn prudently left for his estate. The only one who supported Sophia was her favorite - the head of the streltsy order, Fyodor Shalkovity. Later he was beheaded, and Sofya Alekseevna was left all alone.
Peter I exiled her to the Novodevichy Convent and assigned guards. The woman continued to be honored and even fed from the royal kitchen. In 1698, the archers, dissatisfied with the reforms of Peter "replaced by the Germans", who was abroad at that moment, again tried to elevate Sophia to the throne. The case ended with the tsar ordering her sister to be forcibly cut into a nun.
Peter I, who took the throne, became famous for his cardinal reforms. But during the reign
