Sofya Alekseevna Romanova (born September 17 (27), 1657 - death July 3 (14), 1704) - princess, ruler-regent of the Russian kingdom. Daughter of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and his first wife, Maria Ilyinichna Miloslavskaya.
Early years. Character
Increasingly, the courtiers and numerous nannies noticed Sophia's uncompromising and impudent character. When the sovereign was informed about the heavy disposition of the 7-year-old princess, he not only did not get angry, but ordered to take up the serious education of his daughter, hiring the best mentors and teachers for this. So, by the age of 10, the girl was able to master literacy, reading, science, history and foreign languages.
Rumors about an extraordinary princess spread outside the palace, and the king was proud of his daughter and even, in spite of everything, began to take her on his trips around the country. The close ones bowed to the mind and wisdom of the young princess, unprecedented legends were told about her erudition and insight, and the men seemed to even cease to attach importance to the fact that the young girl could not boast of the correct facial features and stately figure. On the contrary, she was a little plump, with sharp, angular movements and a strong, far from female physique. At the same time, in men, Sophia aroused sincere curiosity and sympathy, but her heart was silent.
Prehistory of coming to power
Simeon Polotsky was her teacher. Sophia was never married and did not have children. Her only passion was the desire to rule. After the death of Fyodor Alekseevich, Peter 1 was elected to the kingdom (1682). As a result, the family of Naryshkins, relatives and adherents of the mother of Peter I, Natalya Kirillovna, rose to prominence. The Miloslavsky family, relatives of the first wife of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, headed by Princess Sophia Alekseevna, took advantage of the riots of the archers that took place then to exterminate the main representatives of the Naryshkin family and paralyze the influence of Natalya Kirillovna on state affairs. As a result, on May 23, 1682, two tsars, John and Peter Alekseevich, were proclaimed, who were supposed to rule together, while John remained the first king, and Peter - the second.
Promotional video:
1) Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich (1629-1676); 2) Tsarina Maria Miloslavskaya (Y. Ryabtsev).
Regency
On May 29, at the request of the streltsy, due to the infancy of both princes, Princess Sophia was proclaimed the ruler of the state. From that time until 1687, she became, in fact, the ruler of the state. They even tried to proclaim her the queen, but she did not find sympathy among the archers.
Suppression of riots
First of all, Sophia pacified the excitement raised by the schismatics, who, under the leadership of Nikita Pustosvyat, began to seek the restoration of the "old piety." At the behest of Sophia, the main leaders of the schismatics were captured; Nikita Pustosvyat was executed. Severe measures were taken against the schismatics: they were persecuted, beaten with a whip, and the most stubborn were burned to death.
Sophia continued her struggle against the “schism” at the legislative level, adopting in 1685 the famous “12 Articles”, on the basis of which thousands of schismatics were executed.
After the splitters, the archers were pacified. The head of the streltsy order, Prince Khovansky, who was very popular among the archers and who showed his arrogance at every step not only towards the boyars, but also towards Sophia, was captured and executed. Sagittarians resigned themselves. Duma clerk Shaklovity was appointed head of the Strelets' order.
Tsarina Natalya Kirillovna shows the rebellious archers the living and healthy Tsarevich Ivan.
Foreign, domestic policy
Sofya Alekseevna signed the Eternal Peace, beneficial for Russia, and the Treaty of Nerchinsk with China with Poland. Russia received forever Kiev, Smolensk, but for this Russia undertook the obligation to start a war with the Crimean Khanate, because the Crimean Tatars devastated Rzeczpospolita (Poland). Poland finally abandoned the left-bank Little Russia.
1687 - Prince V. V. Golitsyn led the Russian army on a campaign to the Crimea. The army reached the tributary of the Dnieper, meanwhile the Tatars set fire to the steppe, and the Russians had no choice but to turn back.
1689 - Golitsyn went on his second campaign to the Crimea. The Russian army reached Perekop. However, they could not take it and returned ingloriously. These failures dealt a strong blow to the prestige of the ruler Sophia. Many of the princess's adherents have lost faith in her.
1687 - the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy was opened in Moscow - this is the first secular higher educational institution in Russia. 1755 - it was transformed into the Imperial Moscow University.
1687, July 21 - the first Russian embassy arrived in Paris.
The arrest of Tsarevna Sophia (K. Veshchilov).
Loss of power
1689, August - a coup took place in Moscow. Peter came to power, and Princess Sophia was imprisoned in the Novodevichy Convent; from there she did not cease in various possible ways to maintain contact with the archers, who were unhappy with their service. Sophia's life in the monastery was initially calm and even happy. A wet nurse and maids lived with her. From the royal kitchen they sent her good food and various delicacies. Visitors were allowed to Sophia at any time, she had the opportunity to walk throughout the monastery at will. Only at the gate stood a guard of soldiers loyal to Peter.
1698 - when Peter was abroad, the streltsy raised an uprising, with the goal of entrusting the reign to Princess Sophia again. The rifle revolt ended in failure, the leaders were executed. Peter returned from abroad. The executions resumed.
Arevna Sophia a year after her imprisonment in the Novodevichy Convent, during the execution of the archers (I. Repin).
Monastic tonsure
After Peter's personal interrogation, Sofya Alekseevna was forcibly tonsured into monasticism under the name of Susanna. She was under strict supervision. More than a thousand archers were executed, 195 of them were ordered by the tsar to be hanged in front of the windows of his sister in the Novodevichy Convent. The bodies of the executed, for an ostracis, sagged all winter.
Sophia's sister, Martha, was tonsured under the name of Margarita and was sent to the Alexandrovskaya Sloboda, to the Assumption Monastery. Sophia remained at the Novodevichy Convent. The sisters were forbidden to see her except for Easter and the temple feast in the Novodevichy Convent. For another five years, she was imprisoned in a monastery under the vigilant supervision of the guards. Queen Sophia died in 1704. She was buried in the Smolensk Cathedral of the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow.