RuHistory

Parents: Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and Tsarina Maria Ilinichna Miloslavskaya.

Important events:
One of the less important events under Sophie was a public debate between the church authorities and the Old Believers in the Palace of Facets on 5 July 1682.  The event was attended by Patriarch Joachim, archbishops and several members of the royal family, including Sophie's sisters, Alexis's sister Tatiana and his second wife Natalia Naryshkina.  Archbishop Athanasius of Kholmogory spoke on behaif of the authorities, while Nikita Pustosvyat represented the schismatics. During the debate, Nikita Pustosvyat tell on the archbishop, knocking him off his feet - to the delight of the Streltsy guards, who were mostly Old Believers. Sophie later executed Nikita Pustosvyat and burnt many schismatics at the stake.

• 1685 - Last tributes paid to the khan of Crimea.
• 1686 - Conclusion of "eternal peace" with Poland, recognising Russia's right to Smolensk, Kiev and western Ukraine.
• 1687 - Opening of the Slavonic, Greek and Latin Academy in Moscow.
• 1689 - Signing of the Treaty of Nerchinsk with China, establishing the Sino-Russian border.

......1689 Sophie was accused of treason and banished to the Novodevichy Convent. She spent the rest of her life as a nun, guarded by one hundred men. Before she died, she took the schema - the highest and strictest monastic discipline.

Sophie was born in Moscow on 17 September 1657. She received an excellent education from Simeon Polotsky, learning both Latin and Polish. She studied history and wrote poems and plays. Although physically unattractive, she more than made up for this with her quick mind, energy and ambition.

After  the death of Fedor II in 1682, the Streltsy guards supported Sophie's demand to be made co-ruler alongside the two young tsar - ten-year-old Peter and sixteen-year-old Ioann. On 29 May 1682, she was formally proclaimed the regent.  Sophie ruled with the help of her lover, the intelligent and handsome Prince Vasily Golitsyn. She sent Peter and his mother to live in the village of Preobrazhenskoe, while the sickly Ioann was no match for elder sister and Prince Golitsyn, who quickly concentrated power in their own hands.

Sophie's image was struck on Russian coins from 1684 onwards and she assumed the title of autocrat in 1686. Fearing only the schismatics and the guards, she persecuted the Old Believers and destroyed the power of the Streltsy.

Sophie's dream of ruling Russia on her own was thwarted by Peter the Great, who pursued his own independent line after marrying in January 1689. His half-sister attempted to dethrone him with the help of the Streltsy guards in August 1689, but Peter was supported by his own forces. Many boyars and public  officials refused to side with the ambitious regent against the lawful tsar. She was accused of treason and banished to the Novodevichy Convent. In 1689, when Peter was abroad, Sophie attempted to seize power again with the help of the Streltsy guards. The rebellion was quickly defeated a total of 1,182 Streltsy guards, several of whom were left hanging outside Sophie's prison cell at the convent. Sophie spent the rest of her life as a nun, guarded by one hundred men. Before she died, she took the schema - the highest and strictest monastic discipline. She died on 3 July 1704 and was buried in the Smolensk Cathedral of the Novodevichy Convent.

Династия Романовых  1613-1917