The period from 1682 to 1689 is characterized in the Russian state as triarchy of Sophia, Ivan and Peter. In April 1682, Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich died. He left neither heirs nor a will. However, he had brothers and sisters who had the right to the throne.

Among the men, these were Ivan (1666-1696), born of Maria Ilyinichna Miloslavskaya, and Peter (1672-1725), born of Natalia Kirillovna Naryshkina. As for women, they were not distinguished by their strong and strong-willed character, with the exception of Princess Sofia Alekseevna (1657-1704).

According to all dynastic rules, the throne should have been taken by 16-year-old Ivan. He was older than Peter, who at that time was only 10 years old. However, the direct heir was in very poor health, but behind him stood a powerful political force in the person of the Miloslavskys. The Naryshkins stood behind Peter, but the boy was younger in age, but his health was fine.

The boyars, led by Patriarch Joachim, gathered for a council. After much debate, they decided to give power to Peter, since he was a healthy child. The initiator of this proposal was the patriarch. The head of the church was guided by state interests, and not by palace intrigues. However, the Miloslavskys were people of a different sort.

Rallying around Sofia Alekseevna, they organized the Streltsy revolt in May 1682. A huge crowd of armed people burst into the Kremlin and killed many Naryshkins. Moreover, the murders took place in front of Peter and Ivan, who were taken to the rebel archers to show that both boys were alive and well.

The result of the bloody events was the triarchy. Power was divided between two boys. Both of them were proclaimed kings. But taking into account their health and age, they decided to assign a co-ruler to them. Princess Sofya Alekseevna became her. She was an educated, strong-willed, energetic woman. She wanted to rule, and not sit in the mansion doing embroidery.

Political activities of Princess Sophia

The new ruler ruled the country skillfully and harshly. At first, she reined in the archers, who felt their strength after the massacre of the Naryshkins. By order of the princess, the main rebels Ivan Khovansky and Alexei Yudin were executed. After this, the Streltsy became extremely flexible and accommodating, and in November 1682 the Streltsy rebellion was ended.

Prince Vasily Vasilyevich Golitsyn (1643-1714) became the first minister and favorite under the ruler. He was an educated man, fluent in three languages. He gravitated towards Western culture and tried to carry out some reforms. But the favorite turned out to be a bad military leader.

Tsars Ivan, Peter and ruler Sophia

He launched two military campaigns in 1687 and 1689 against the Crimean Khanate. But they ended unsuccessfully and did not bring glory to Golitsyn. The campaigns were preceded by the signing of the “Eternal Peace” with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth on May 6, 1686. This agreement ended the Russian-Polish war, which lasted 32 years on the western borders of the Muscovite kingdom. Left Bank Ukraine, Zaporozhye, Kyiv, Smolensk, Starodub and Chernigov were officially recognized as Russia. According to the agreement, the country joined the Holy League against Turkey, which was the reason for the Crimean campaigns of Prince Golitsyn.

The Treaty of Nerchinsk was concluded with China in 1689. But for the Russian kingdom it was unprofitable. According to it, Russia lost the Albazin fortress and the Amur River.

Under Princess Sophia, the merciless struggle against the Old Believers continued. In April 1685, a law was issued that consisted of 12 articles. It outlined various degrees of punishment for the Old Believers, as well as for those who assisted them. The punishments provided for were very cruel: beating with batogs, confiscation of property, imprisonment in a monastery and burning at the stake. As a result of this law, thousands of schismatics were executed.

On the initiative of the ruler, the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy was established in 1687. It became the first higher educational institution in Russia. In the middle of the 18th century it was transformed into the Imperial Moscow University.

Thus, during the years of her reign, Princess Sofya Alekseevna showed herself to be an extraordinary politician who did a lot for the Moscow kingdom. The woman was a born leader and felt on the throne like a fish in water. But she was just a co-ruler of the legitimate kings. The main threat to her power came from Peter. At the end of January 1689, he got married and, according to the concepts of that time, became an adult.

Princess Sofya Alekseevna after dethronement

Deposition of Princess Sophia

After the accession of his co-ruler, Peter and his mother lived not in Moscow, but outside the city in the village of Preobrazhenskoye. Here he became seriously interested in war games and made friends with foreigners. The boy grew up quickly, but rarely visited the white-stone, remembering the Streltsy riot and fearing for his life.

For her part, Sophia dreamed of getting rid of Peter and calmly ruling with the sick Ivan. In this regard, the situation in the royal environment gradually became tense. The culmination was August 1689.

At the beginning of the month, several archers arrived in Preobrazhenskoye. They informed the king that an assassination attempt was being prepared against him. Frightened, Peter jumped on his horse and, accompanied by several people, rode off to the Trinity-Sergius Monastery. The next day his mother and wife left there under the protection of a funny army.

When this news reached Moscow, everyone realized that the triarchy had ended and a time of troubles was coming. Those people who had minor government posts under the princess decided to take advantage of this situation first of all. They placed their bets on the young king and began to run over to him. And a bad example, as we know, is contagious.

The situation for Sophia was aggravated by the fact that Peter had all the legal rights to power. We must also not forget that at one time the patriarch himself nominated a then 10-year-old boy to the throne. Therefore the head Orthodox Church also went to the monastery and remained with the legitimate contender for the throne.

After this, boyars and military leaders began to leave Moscow en masse. Everyone tried to appear before the young king as quickly as possible in order to assure him of their devotion.

At the beginning of September, Princess Sofya Alekseevna was left practically alone. She was even abandoned by her favorite Golitsyn, who left for his estate near Moscow. And soon a messenger from Peter arrived in Moscow. He demanded that the co-ruler leave the capital and go to the Holy Spirit Convent in Putivl. She had no choice but to obey.

However, the woman was soon transferred to the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow. She was kept there under guard. In 1698, she became a nun, taking the name Susanna. The would-be queen died on July 3, 1704. She was buried in the monastery cathedral. And her half-brother Ivan was removed from power and died in 1696. The era of Peter the Great began in Russia.

Alexey Starikov

Born on September 27 (17 according to the old style) 1657 in Moscow. One of six daughters from her marriage to Maria Miloslavskaya, who gave birth to the Tsar two more sons - Fyodor and Ivan.

The princess introduced a hitherto unpracticed order - she, a woman, was present at the royal reports, and over time, without hesitation, she publicly began to give her own orders.

Sophia's reign was marked by her desire for a broad renewal of Russian society. The princess took all measures to develop industry and trade. During Sophia's reign, Russia began producing velvet and satin, previously imported from Europe. Under her, the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy was created. Sofya Alekseevna sent the first Russian embassy to Paris. During her reign, a famous dispute about faith took place in the Faceted Chamber of the Kremlin, which put an end to many years of church schism.

In addition, the first population census took place, a reform was carried out tax system, and the rules for obtaining government positions were changed (now not only the title, but also the business qualities of applicants were required from officials). Sophia began reorganizing the army along European lines, but did not have time to complete what she started.

During the reign of Sophia, small concessions were made to the settlements and the search for runaway peasants was weakened, which caused discontent among the nobles. In foreign policy, the most significant actions of the government of Sofia Alekseevna were the conclusion of the “Eternal Peace” of 1686 with Poland, which assigned Left Bank Ukraine, Kyiv and Smolensk to Russia; Treaty of Nerchinsk in 1689 with China; entry into the war with Turkey and the Crimean Khanate. In 1689, there was a break between Sophia and the boyar-noble group that supported Peter I. The party of Peter I won.

SOFIA ALEKSEEVNA Romanova (1657-1704) - ruler of Russia from May 29, 1682 to September 7, 1689 with the title “Great Empress, Blessed Queen and Grand Duchess” eldest daughter Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich from his first marriage to Tsarina Maria Ilyinichna, née Miloslavskaya.

Meeting of Alexei Mikhailovich and Maria Miloslavskaya

Alexey Mikhailovich Romanov (Quiet)

Maria Ilyinichna Miloslavskaya

Sometimes it happens that strong, original individuals are unlucky with the timing or circumstances of birth. Princess Sophia could have become a great ruler, she could have become famous throughout the world, like Catherine II, but fate played a cruel joke on her - she was too late to be born, and history was already beginning to favor her opponents and was rapidly leading to the power of a great reformer - Peter I. Sophia was doomed.

From childhood, her fate seemed to tease her, lure her with illusions, push her to take decisive action, and ultimately deceive her. Sophia lost her mother early. Among her eight sisters and four brothers, she turned out to be the smartest, and most importantly, the healthiest. Unfortunately, Tsarina Maria Ilyinichna was fertile, but children, especially boys, were born sickly - and weak in mind, and fearful, and frail. But Father Alexei Mikhailovich noticed without joy how quickly little Sophia was ahead of the future tsar in development. And why didn’t God give intelligence to the heir? To whom should the throne be handed over?

Sofya Alekseevna was born on September 17, 1657 in Moscow. She received a good education at home, knew Latin, spoke fluent Polish, wrote poetry, read a lot, had beautiful handwriting. Her teachers were Simeon of Polotsk, Karion Istomin, Sylvester Medvedev, who from childhood instilled in her respect for the Byzantine princess Pulcheria (396-453), who achieved power under her sick brother Theodosius II.

Samuil Gavrilovich Petrovsky-Sitnyanovich (Simeon Polotsky)

Trying to appear God-fearing and humble in public, Sophia in reality from her youth strove for complete power. A good education and natural tenacity of mind helped her win the trust of her father, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich.

Sofya Alekseevna Romanova

Having lost her mother at the age of 14 (1671), she painfully experienced her father’s imminent second marriage to Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina and the birth of her half-brother Peter (the future Tsar Peter I).

After the death of her father (1676), she began to become interested in state affairs: the country was ruled by her from 1676-1682 brother, Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich, on whom she had a strong influence. Sick, fond of poetry and church music, four years younger than his 19-year-old sister, Fyodor was not independent in his actions.

Fedor Alekseevich Romanov

Therefore, at first, the widowed Tsarina Naryshkina tried to manage the country, but the relatives and sympathizers of Fyodor and Sophia managed to moderate her activity for a while, sending her and her son Peter into “voluntary exile” to the village of Preobrazhenskoye near Moscow.

Sophia perceived the sudden death of Fyodor on April 27, 1682 as a sign and signal for active action. The attempt of Patriarch Joachim to proclaim Sophia's 10-year-old half-brother, Tsarevich Peter, king, and to remove 16-year-old Ivan V Alekseevich, the last male representative of the Romanov family from his marriage to M.I. Miloslavskaya, from the throne, was challenged by Sophia and her like-minded people.

Ivan V Alekseevich

Taking advantage of the uprising of the Streltsy on May 15-17, 1682, who rebelled against burdensome taxes, Sophia managed to achieve the proclamation of two brothers as heirs to the throne - Ivan V and Peter (May 26, 1682) with Ivan’s “primacy”.

This gave Sophia the reason to be “shouted out” by the regent on May 29, 1682 - “so that the government, for the sake of the young years of both sovereigns, would be handed over to their sister.” The kings were crowned a month later, on June 25, 1682.

Having essentially usurped supreme power, Sophia became the head of the country. The leading role in her government was played by experienced courtiers close to the Miloslavskys - F.L. Shaklovity and especially Prince. V.V. Golitsyn is an intelligent, European-educated and courteous handsome man, at the age of 40, experienced in dealing with women. The status of a married man (he remarried in 1685 to the boyar E.I. Streshneva, the same age as Sophia), did not prevent him from becoming the favorite of the 24-year-old princess.

Vasily Vasilievich Golitsyn

However, in the way of the reforms conceived by this government were adherents of the “old faith” (Old Believers), of whom there were many among the Streltsy who elevated Sophia to the heights of power. They were patronized by Prince Ivan Khovansky, who became the head of the Court Order in June 1682 and had deceptive hopes for a political career.

Ivan Andreevich Khovansky Tararui

The Old Believers wanted to achieve equality in matters of doctrine and insisted on opening a “debate on faith,” to which Sophia, educated and confident in her intellectual superiority, agreed. The debate opened on July 5, 1682 in the Kremlin chambers in the presence of Sophia, Patriarch Joachim and a number of high-ranking clergy.

Main opponent official church in the person of Patriarch Joachim and Sophia, the “schismatic teacher” Nikita Pustosvyat acted, who suffered a shameful defeat.

The regent immediately showed decisiveness: she ordered the execution of Pustosvyat and his supporters (some of them were beaten with whips, the most stubborn were burned). Then she set to work on Khovansky, who, with his lust for power, arrogance and vain hopes for the throne for himself or his son, alienated not only the “Miloslavsky party”, but also the entire aristocratic elite. Since rumors spread among the archers he led about the inadmissibility of women on the Russian throne (“It’s high time to join the monastery!”, “Enough of stirring up the state!”), Sophia, along with her entourage, left Moscow for the village of Vozdvizhenskoye near the Trinity-Sergius Monastery. Rumors about Khovansky's intention to exterminate royal family forced her to save the princes: on August 20, 1682, Ivan V and Peter were taken to Kolomenskoye, and then to the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery near Zvenigorod. By agreement with the boyars, Khovansky was summoned along with his son to Vozdvizhenskoye. Having obeyed, he arrived, not knowing that he was already doomed. On September 5 (17), 1682, the execution of Khovansky and his son put an end to the “Khovanshchina.”

However, the situation in the capital stabilized only by November. Sophia and her court returned to Moscow and finally took power into her own hands. She placed Shaklovity at the head of the Streletsky order to eliminate the possibility of riots. Small concessions were made to the Sagittarius regarding everyday life (the prohibition of separating husband and wife when paying off a debt, the cancellation of debts from widows and orphans, the replacement of the death penalty for “outrageous words” with exile and whipping).

Having strengthened her position, Sophia, with the support of Golitsyn, took up foreign policy issues, regularly attending meetings Boyar Duma. In May 1684, Italian ambassadors arrived in Moscow. After talking with them, Sophia - unexpectedly for many adherents of antiquity and the true faith - “granted freedom” of religion to the Jesuits living in Moscow, thereby causing dissatisfaction with the patriarch. However, a flexible approach to foreign Catholics was required by the interests of foreign policy: Guided by her teacher, the “pro-Westernist” S. Polotsky and with the support of Golitsyn, Sophia ordered the preparation of confirmation of the previously concluded Kardis peace with Sweden, and on August 10, 1684 she concluded a similar peace with Denmark. Considering Russia's main task to be the fight against Turkey and the Crimean Khanate, in February-April 1686 Sophia sent Golitsyn to defend the country's interests in negotiations with Poland. They ended with the signing of the “Eternal Peace” with her on May 6 (16), 1686, which assigned Left Bank Ukraine, Kyiv and Smolensk to Russia. This peace, which granted freedom of Orthodox religion in Poland, conditioned all concessions on Russia's entry into the war with Turkey, which threatened the southern Polish lands.

Bound by the obligation to start a war in 1687, the government of Sophia issued a decree on the start of the Crimean campaign. In February 1687, troops under the command of Golitsyn (who was appointed field marshal) went to the Crimea, but the campaign against Turkey’s ally, the Crimean Khanate, was unsuccessful. In June 1687, Russian troops turned back.

The failures of the military campaign were compensated by the successes of the cultural and ideological plan: in September 1687, the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy opened in Moscow - the first higher education educational institution in Russia, which gave Sophia the status of an educated and enlightened ruler. The Tsar's court began to turn into the center of scientific and cultural life in Moscow. Construction revived, the Kremlin walls were renewed, and the construction of the Big Stone Bridge near the Kremlin across the Moscow River began.

In February 1689, Sophia again gave the order to begin a campaign against the Crimeans, which also turned out to be inglorious.

Despite another failure, Sophia Golitsyn’s favorite was rewarded for him “above all merit” - a gilded cup, a sable caftan, an estate and a monetary gift of 300 rubles in gold.

And yet, the failure of the Crimean campaigns became the beginning of his fall, and with it the entire government of Sophia. The far-sighted Shaklovity advised the regent to immediately take radical measures (first of all, kill Peter), but Sophia did not dare to take them.

Peter, who turned 17 on May 30, 1689, refused to recognize Golitsyn’s campaign as successful. He accused him of “negligence” during the Crimean campaigns and condemned him for submitting reports to Sophia alone, bypassing the co-ruler kings. This fact became the beginning of an open confrontation between Peter and Sophia.

In August 1689, Golitsyn, sensing the approach of an imminent outcome, hid in his estate near Moscow and thereby betrayed Sophia. She tried to gather the forces of the Streltsy army, while Peter, together with the Naryshkins, took refuge under the protection of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. Patriarch Joachim, sent by Sophia, went over to his side (who did not forgive her for allowing the Jesuits into the capital), and then the archers handed over Shaklovity to Peter (he was soon executed).

On September 16, Golitsyn tried to repent and declare his loyalty to Sophia’s half-brother and her former “heart friend,” but was not accepted by Peter. The next day, September 7, 1689, Sophia's government fell, her name was excluded from the royal title, and she herself was sent to the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow - however, without being tonsured as a nun. I.E. portrayed her as formidable in anger and ready to resist two centuries later. Repin (Princess Sophia in the Novodevichy Convent, 1879): in the painting he depicts a gray-haired old woman, although she was only 32 years old at that time.

Peter exiled Sophia Golitsyn's favorite with his family to the Arkhangelsk region, where he died in 1714. But even in his absence, the princess was not going to give up. She looked for supporters and found them. However, attempts to organize real resistance to Peter I failed: denunciations and surveillance of her in the monastery ruled out success. In 1691, among the executed supporters of Sophia was the last student of S. Polotsk - Sylvester Medvedev. In March 1697, another Streltsy conspiracy in her favor, led by Ivan Tsykler, failed. In January 1698, taking advantage of the absence of Peter in the capital, who had left for Europe as part of the Great Embassy, ​​Sophia (who was 41 years old at that time) again tried to return to the throne. Taking advantage of the discontent of the archers, who complained about the burdensomeness of Peter's Azov campaigns in 1695-1696, as well as about the conditions of service in the border cities, she called on them to disobey their superiors and promised to free them from all hardships if she was elevated to the throne.

Peter received news of the conspiracy while in Western Europe. Urgently returning to Moscow, he sent an army led by P.I. against the Streltsy. Gordon, who defeated the conspirators near the New Jerusalem Monastery on June 18, 1698.

Patrick Leopold Gordon of Ochluchrys

Russia experienced the last surge of Streltsy unrest in the spring of 1698. Sophia was waiting for these speeches and, although she did not take an active part, she hoped that the hated Peter would not be able to stay in power, that disappointed and enlightened compatriots would fall at her feet, calling for the throne. However, the last uprising also ended in bloody massacres. But Sophia was not forgotten: in front of her cells, the king ordered 195 people to be hanged, of whom three, hanging in front of her windows themselves, were given testimonies about the letters that the queen wrote, inciting rebellion. And for a long time, five whole months, the queen had the opportunity to admire the decaying human bodies and inhale the pungent cadaverous smell

On October 21, 1698, Sophia was forcibly tonsured a nun under the name of Susanna. She died in captivity on July 3, 1704, having adopted the schema under the name of Sophia before her death. She was buried in the Smolensk Cathedral of the Novodevichy Convent.

Novodevichy Convent in Moscow

Sofya Alekseevna Romanova in the Novodevichy Convent

Having never been married and having no children, she remained in the memories of her contemporaries as a person of “great intelligence and the most tender insight, a maiden full of more masculine intelligence.” According to Voltaire (1694-1778), she “had a lot of intelligence, composed poetry, wrote and spoke well, and combined many talents with a beautiful appearance, but all of them were overshadowed by her enormous ambition.” No real portraits of Sophia have survived, with the exception of an engraving created by order of Shaklovity. On it Sophia is depicted in royal vestments, with a scepter and orb in her hands.

Assessments of Sophia's personality vary greatly. Peter I and his admirers consider her a retrograde, although the state abilities of Peter's half-sister were noted already in the historiography of the 18th - early 20th centuries. - G.F. Miller, N.M. Karamzin, N.A. Polev, N.V. Ustryalov and I.E. Zabelin saw in her the embodiment of the Byzantine ideal of an autocrat, S.M. Solovyov considered her a “hero-princess” , who, with the inner freedom of her personality, liberated all Russian women from prison seclusion, who tragically did not find support in society. Other historians (N.A. Aristov, E.F. Shmurlo, some Soviet scientists) were also inclined to this assessment. Foreign researchers consider her “the most decisive and capable woman who has ever ruled in Russia” (S.V.O. Brian, B. Lincoln, L. Hughes, etc.).

Natalia Pushkareva

Sofya Alekseevna (17 (27) September 1657 - 3 (14) July 1704) - princess, one of the six daughters of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and Maria Ilyinichna Miloslavskaya. in 1682-1689, regent for his younger brothers Peter and Ivan.

Princess Sofya Alekseevna was one of the most extraordinary women in Russian history, she possessed not only various talents, but also a strong and decisive character, a daring and sharp mind, which prompted this woman to seize power and for some time become the autocratic ruler of a huge state.

Palace of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich in Kolomenskoye.

When a daughter was born to Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and his first wife Maria Miloslavskaya in 1657, she was named Sophia and sent, as expected, to the female half of the palace, where women were supposed to raise the child. Sophia lost her mother early.

Ryabtsev Yu. S. Queen Maria of Miloslavskaya.

Nothing foreshadowed a great future for the girl. Moreover, at that time the fate of future princesses was predetermined. Getting married was an impossible task for them. Russian suitors were not worthy of them, and foreigners professed other faiths. WITH early years they were taught the simple sciences of conducting household, needlework and reading church books, prohibiting the display of feelings, emotions and disobedience of character, and upon reaching mature age The royal daughters were sent to a monastery, where they spent their lives in seclusion and reading prayers.

Portrait of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich (1629-1676)

However, such a life outraged the growing girl more and more, and more and more often the courtiers and numerous nannies noticed the unyielding and impudent character of the young princess. When the tsar was informed about the difficult temperament of seven-year-old Sophia, he was not only not angry, but also ordered the serious education of his daughter, hiring her the best mentors and teachers. So, by the age of ten, the girl mastered literacy, reading, science, history and foreign languages.

Portrait of Princess Sophia, Hermitage.

Rumors about the unusual princess spread outside the palace, and the Tsar-father was proud of his daughter and even, despite everything, began to take her on his trips around the country. Those close to her bowed before the mind and wisdom of the young girl, unprecedented legends circulated about her erudition and insight, and the men, it seemed, did not even attach importance to the fact that Sophia did not at all have regular facial features and a stately figure. On the contrary, she was a little plump, with sharp, angular movements and a strong, far from feminine physique. At the same time, the royal daughter aroused sincere interest and sympathy in men, but her heart was silent.

Makovsky K.E. Portrait of Princess Sophia.

Through foreigners - commanders of the Butyrsky regiment, who were related to Western European nobility, Sophia, with the help of her Miloslavsky relatives, hoped to find herself a sovereign spouse in one of the small principalities of Germany. However, Alexey Mikhailovich rejected all offers. He believed that such a marriage would make Russia politically dependent. Sophia had only one thing left: to become a queen in her own country.


Sofya Alekseevna Romanova 1682-1696, porcelain.

In 1676, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich died. The Russian throne was taken by his heir, the sickly and weak Fedor, the tsar’s son from his first wife Maria Miloslavskaya. Sophia approached her brother, spent all her time near him, protecting and caring for him, and in the meantime she established strong friendships with close boyars and military leaders, winning them over to her side. So, after a few months, Naryshkin and the Tsar’s nine-year-old heir, Peter, were practically removed from Naryshkin’s court, while Sophia continued to gain popularity and sympathy from those around her and strengthen her position near the Tsar’s throne. It was then that she met the famous boyar Vasily Golitsyn.

The treasurer of the royal great seal and state great embassy affairs, close boyar and governor of Novgorod, Prince Vasily Vasilyevich Golitsyn with an award medal. In the portrait of V.V. Golitsyn is depicted with the text of “eternal peace” between Russia and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, signed with his active participation, and with the “sovereign gold” on his chest - a military award received for commanding the 1687 campaign against the Crimean Khanate.

He was much older than the young princess, was distinguished by his special wisdom, rich life experience, versatile talents and managed, without wanting to, to conquer young Sophia. Golitsyn was very educated, fluent in Polish, Greek, German and Latin, understood music, was fond of art and was keenly interested in European culture. A descendant of the famous Lithuanian prince Gediminas, the aristocratic and well-mannered prince was also good-looking and had a piercing, slightly cunning look, which gave his face even more originality.

Having always disliked men and often despised them for their weakness and lack of will, Princess Sophia suddenly unexpectedly fell in love with the refined and gallant prince. However, although he felt sympathy for the young girl, he could not reciprocate her feelings. Vasily Vasilyevich had a wife and six children, besides, he loved his wife and was considered an impeccable family man.

Chambers of the book Vasily Golitsyn Photo of the 1920s.

Nevertheless, he offered Sophia sincere friendship and support. Golitsyn and the princess spent all the time together: he invited her to his house, where visiting foreigners from Europe often visited, who talked about foreign traditions and customs that impressed Sofia Alekseevna. Vasily Vasilyevich revealed to the girl his dreams of reorganizing the state, carrying out the most unexpected reforms and changing the laws that existed in the country. The princess, who listened in fascination to her lover’s speeches, admired him more and more.

A. I. Korzukhin. The mutiny of the Streltsy in 1682. The Streltsy dragged Ivan Naryshkin out of the palace. While Peter I consoles his mother, Princess Sophia watches with satisfaction.

At the end of April 1682, when the young Tsar died, Peter was appointed as the new autocrat under the regency of the Dowager Tsarina Natalya Naryshkina, the widow of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Sofya Romanova was not happy with this turn of events, and she, together with Prince Golitsyn and close boyars, staged an armed rebellion, during which the young Tsar Peter and his mother, Natalya Naryshkina, were overthrown from the throne. This happened on May 15, and a few days later Ivan and Peter became kings, but Sofya Alekseevna was appointed regent for the young brothers. She was destined to rule Russian state seven long years.

During Sophia's reign, military and tax reforms were carried out, industry developed, trade with foreign countries. Golitsyn, who became right hand princesses, brought foreign masters, famous teachers and artists to Russia, and encouraged the introduction of foreign experience in the country.

Grand Empress Princess and Grand Duchess Ruler-Regent of the Russian Kingdom
Sofya Alekseevna.

At the beginning of July 1682, with skillful actions she stopped the mutiny of the Streltsy (Khovanshchina) in Moscow. The rioters, trying to give a religious flavor to their speech, decided to attract the Old Believer apologist priest Nikita from the city of Suzdal, putting him forward for a spiritual dispute with the patriarch. The queen moved the “debate about faith” to the palace, to the Faceted Chamber, thereby isolating Fr. Nikita from the crowd of people. Not having sufficient arguments to support the arguments of the Suzdal priest, Patriarch Joachim interrupted the dispute, declaring his opponent an “empty saint.” The priest will later be executed. And the queen continued the fight against the “schism” now at the legislative level, having adopted the famous “12 Articles” in 1685, on the basis of which thousands of people guilty of Old Belief were executed.

Vasily Perov. Nikita Pustosvyat. Dispute about faith. 1880-81. (“debate about faith” on July 5, 1682 in the Faceted Chamber in the presence of Patriarch Joachim and Princess Sophia)

The relationship between Golitsyn and Sophia became warmer, and a few years later Vasily Vasilyevich already experienced the most tender feelings for the thirty-year-old princess. And although she gained a lot of weight and her facial features became even rougher, Sofya Alekseevna became more and more desirable to the prince. Once a wonderful father and faithful husband, Golitsyn moved away from his wife and practically did not see the children, devoting all his time to his “beloved girl Sophia.” And she, blinded by feeling, idolized and adored her already middle-aged favorite.

“Ugric” gold for the Crimean campaigns of Peter I and Ivan V (eagle). Princess Sophia (tails). 1689 At the end of the 17th century. the name “Ugric” was supplanted by a new name for the coin - “chervonets”, which had the same weight.

So, the princess appointed him as a military leader and insisted that he go on the Crimean campaigns in 1687 and 1689. Sophia dreamed that Golitsyn, who was the winner, would have unlimited trust, and she would finally be able to fulfill her dream - to marry her beloved prince. She sent him letters full of delight and the most reverent feelings: “When will I see you in my arms?... My light, father, my hope... Great would be the day for me when you, my soul, return to me.” Boyar Golitsyn answered her with the same passionate and tender messages.

However, Vasily Golitsyn, having neither the talent of a commander nor the knowledge of an experienced warrior, returned from the campaigns defeated. His beloved, in order to somehow justify the favorite in the eyes of those close to him, arranged a magnificent feast in honor of the prince, but his popularity gradually weakened. Even her close circle began to be wary of the actions of Sophia, who was blindly in love with Golitsyn.

Nikishin Vladimir.

Meanwhile, the queen begged her favorite to convince his legal wife to go to a monastery and go with her, with Sophia, to the crown. Golitsyn, who was distinguished by his nobility, could not take such a decisive step for a long time, but the wise and kind soul The prince's wife herself proposed to dissolve their marriage, granting her beloved husband freedom. It is still unknown whether Sophia and Vasily Golitsyn had children together, however, some historians claim that the princess had a child from her beloved favorite, but kept his existence a strict secret. The lovers' romance flared up more and more, but the situation in the palace became tense every day.

Having grown up and having a very contradictory and stubborn character, Peter no longer wanted to listen to his domineering sister in everything. He contradicted her more and more often, reproached her for excessive independence and courage, not inherent in women, and listened more and more to his mother, who told her son the long-standing story of the accession to the throne of the cunning and insidious Sophia. In addition, the state papers stated that the regent would be deprived of the opportunity to govern the state if Peter came of age or got married. 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 concepts of that time, he had entered the age of majority, but his sister, Sofya Alekseevna Romanova, still remained on the throne.

Seventeen-year-old Peter became the most dangerous enemy for the ruler, and she, as the first time, decided to resort to the help of the archers. However, this time the princess miscalculated: the archers no longer believed either her or her favorite, giving preference to the young heir. At the end of September, they swore allegiance to Peter, and he ordered his sister to be imprisoned in the Novodevichy Convent. The people preferred to see the king on the throne rather than the princess: “The empress is full of trouble with the people, it’s time to go to the monastery.”

N. Nevrev. Peter I in foreign attire in front of his mother Tsarina Natalya, Patriarch Andrian and teacher Zotov.

Several cells were decorated and perfectly decorated for her, with windows overlooking the Maiden Field; she had many servants and all the amenities of life necessary for a person accustomed to luxury. She did not need anything, only she was not allowed to leave the monastery fence, not to see or talk to anyone outside; Only on major holidays was she allowed to see her aunts and sisters. So the thirty-two-year-old princess was removed from power and forever separated from her lover. Vasily Golitsyn was deprived of his boyar title, property and ranks and exiled to a distant Arkhangelsk village, where the prince lived until the end of his days.

Princess Sofya Alekseevna in the Novodevichy Convent. Painting by Ilya Repin.

Seven years later, the sickly and weak-minded Tsar Ivan died. The two kingdoms are over. Peter conquered Azov, completing the job that Prince Golitsyn had begun so unsuccessfully, and went to Europe to study. Before his departure abroad, Peter visited his sister in his cell to say goodbye, but found her so arrogant, cold and irreconcilable that he left the Novodevichy Convent in extreme excitement. Despite all Sofia's intrigues, Peter respected her intelligence. He said about her: “It’s a pity that with her great mind she has great anger and deceit.”

The morning of the Streltsy execution. Hood. V. I. Surikov, 1881.

The Sagittarius took advantage of this to start a new rebellion and install Sophia in the kingdom. True, none of them, under terrible torture, confirmed the princess’s personal participation. More than a thousand archers were executed, 195 of them Peter ordered to be hanged in front of the sister’s windows in the Novodevichy Convent. The bodies of those executed hung there all winter as a warning.

Novodevichy Convent.

After this Streltsy revolt and meeting with her stern brother, the princess was tonsured as a nun under the name of Susanna. She lived in the monastery for fifteen long years and died on July 4, 1704, before reaching the age of forty-seven. She was buried in the Smolensk Cathedral of the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow.

And it was forgotten almost immediately after the burial. If historians later remembered her, it was only as an “intriguer” who almost ruined Peter’s noble cause. Her lover, favorite and favorite friend survived former princess and the ruler of the Russian State for ten years and died in 1714 in exile, in the village of Pinega, Arkhangelsk region and was buried according to his will in the Krasnogorsk monastery.

In the Old Believer monastery of Sharpan there is the burial place of schema-nun Praskovya (“the queen’s grave”), surrounded by 12 unmarked graves. Old Believers consider this Praskovya to be Princess Sophia, who allegedly fled from the Novodevichy Convent with 12 archers.

Princess Sophia

Sofya Alekseevna Romanova (born September 17 (27), 1657 - death July 3 (14, 1704) - princess, ruler-regent of the Russian kingdom. Daughter and his first wife - Maria Ilyinichna Miloslavskaya.

Early years. Character

More and more often, courtiers and numerous nannies noticed Sophia’s unyielding and impudent character. When the Tsar was informed about the difficult disposition of the 7-year-old princess, he not only did not get angry, but also ordered 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 the extraordinary princess spread outside the palace, and the king was proud of his daughter and even, despite everything, began to take her on his trips around the country. Those close to her bowed before the mind and wisdom of the young princess, unprecedented legends were told about her erudition and insight, and men, it seemed, even stopped attaching importance to the fact that the young girl could not boast of regular facial features and a stately figure. On the contrary, she was a little plump, with sharp, angular movements and a strong, far from feminine physique. At the same time, Sophia aroused sincere curiosity and sympathy in men, but her heart was silent.

Background to the rise to power

Her teacher was Simeon of Polotsk. Sophia was never married and had no children. Her only passion was the desire to rule. After his death he was elected to the throne (1682). As a result, the Naryshkin family, relatives and adherents of the mother of Peter I, Natalya Kirillovna, rose in power. The Miloslavsky family, relatives of the first wife of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, headed by Princess Sofya Alekseevna, took advantage of the then-occurring streltsy unrest to exterminate the main representatives of the Naryshkin family and paralyze Natalya Kirillovna’s influence on state affairs. The result was the proclamation on May 23, 1682 of two tsars, John and Peter Alekseevich, who were to rule jointly, with John remaining the first tsar and Peter the second.

1) Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich (1629-1676); 2) Queen Maria Miloslavskaya (Yu. Ryabtsev)

Regency

On May 29, at the request of the archers, due to the minority of both princes, Princess Sophia was proclaimed ruler of the state. From that time until 1687, she essentially became the ruler of the state. They even tried to proclaim her queen, but she did not find sympathy among the archers.

Calming the 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.” By order of Sophia, the main leaders of the schismatics were captured; Nikita Pustosvyat was executed. Severe measures were taken against the schismatics: they began to persecute them, beat them with a whip, and the most stubborn were burned.

Sophia continued the fight against the “schism” at the legislative level, adopting the famous “12 Articles” in 1685, on the basis of which thousands of schismatics were executed.

After the schismatics, the archers were pacified. The head of the Streltsy Order, Prince Khovansky, who was very popular among the Streltsy and showed at every step his arrogance not only towards the boyars, but also towards Sophia, was captured and executed. The Sagittarius resigned themselves. Duma clerk Shaklovity was appointed head of the Streltsy order.

Tsarina Natalya Kirillovna shows the rebellious archers the living and healthy Tsarevich Ivan

Foreign and domestic policy

Sofya Alekseevna concluded the “Eternal Peace” with Poland, which was beneficial for Russia, and the Nerchinsk Treaty with China. Russia received Kyiv and Smolensk forever, but for this Russia took upon itself the obligation to start a war with the Crimean Khanate, because Crimean Tatars Rzeczpospolita (Poland) was devastated. Poland finally abandoned left-bank Little Russia.

1687 - Prince V.V. Golitsyn led the Russian army on a campaign to 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 a second campaign to the Crimea. Russian army it reached Perekop. However, they could not take it and returned ingloriously. These failures caused swipe according to the prestige of the ruler Sophia. Many of the princess's followers lost faith in her.

1687 - the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy was opened in Moscow - this is the first secular institution of higher education in Russia. 1755 - it was transformed into the Imperial Moscow University.

Arrest of Princess 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 never stopped different possible ways maintain contact with the archers who were dissatisfied with their service. Sophia's life in the monastery was at first calm and even happy. A nurse and maids lived with her. Good food and various delicacies were sent to her from the royal kitchen. Visitors were allowed to Sophia at any time; she had the opportunity to walk throughout the entire territory of the monastery at will. Only at the gate stood a guard of soldiers loyal to Peter.

1698 - when Peter was abroad, the archers rebelled, with the goal of entrusting the reign to Princess Sophia again. ended in failure, the leaders were executed. Peter returned from abroad. Executions resumed.

Princess Sophia a year after her imprisonment in the Novodevichy Convent, during the execution of the Streltsy (I. Repin)

Monastic tonsure

After Peter's personal interrogation, Sofya Alekseevna was forcibly tonsured into monasticism under the name of Susanna. She was placed under strict supervision. More than a thousand archers were executed, the tsar ordered 195 of them to be hanged in front of their sister’s windows in the Novodevichy Convent. The bodies of those executed, as a warning, hung there 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 in the Novodevichy Convent. The sisters were forbidden to see her except for Easter and the temple holiday in the Novodevichy Convent. For another five years, her imprisonment in the monastery lasted under the vigilant supervision of guards. Queen Sophia died in 1704. She was buried in the Smolensk Cathedral of the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow.