Russia in the era of Peter the Great. Princess Sophia and Peter I. Palace intrigues and the struggle for the throne Peter I introduced an assembly, which was

SOFIA ALEKSEEVNA Romanova (1657-1704) - ruler of Russia from May 29, 1682 to September 7, 1689 with the title “Great Empress, Blessed Tsarina and Grand Duchess”, the eldest daughter of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich from her 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, and 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 in 1676-1682 by her 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.

The main opponent of the official church in the person of Patriarch Joachim and Sophia was the “schismatic teacher” Nikita Pustosvyat, 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 the 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 of the 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 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 updated, 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

Russian princess, ruler of the Russian state in 1682-1689 under two tsars - her young brothers Ivan V and Peter I. She came to power with the help of V.V. Golitsyn. She was overthrown by Peter I and imprisoned in the Novodevichy Convent.

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 the great reformer - Peter I - to power 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 - weak in mind, fearful, and frail. Sophia quickly mastered reading and writing, read a lot, even wrote poetry, and the teacher assigned to the heir Fedor, the famous Simeon of Polotsk, was very pleased with her. But Father Alexei Mikhailovich noticed without joy how quickly little Sophia was ahead of the future tsar in development. Why does a girl need a diploma? And why didn’t God give intelligence to the heir? To whom should the throne be handed over?

Having lost her mother's affection, Sophia became joyless among the boring cells, dull-witted mothers and nannies, among the whispers of the praying mantises. She hated the gossip of busy girls doing monotonous needlework and the petty intrigues of the female half of the wards. Her soul demanded a broad life, activity and struggle. Two years after the loss of his wife, Tsar Alexei remarried the young, beautiful Natalya Naryshkina. Sophia hated her stepmother from the first days, which was also affected by her father’s alienation from his children from his first marriage and the fact that the new queen, being almost the same age as Sophia, was her complete opposite in character. Natalya Kirillovna was a perfect woman - soft, charming, able to love. Slender, black-eyed, with a beautiful forehead and a pleasant smile, she captivated with her melodious speech and the charm of her movements. Energy radiated from the princess, a nervous smile twitched on her lips, her face, carefully whitened, still betrayed a scrofulous tint. Of course, her intelligent, penetrating eyes attracted admirers to Sophia, but her cold, selfish disposition kept those around her at a respectful distance from the princess. She had difficulty making true friends.

Alexey Mikhailovich died unexpectedly, almost painlessly. The first feeling that pierced Sophia was the feeling of losing something close, but along with it came a treacherous relief, as if a stream of fresh air had burst into a stuffy, locked room. Her brother Fyodor, three years younger than her, sick, weak and very susceptible to the influence of his sister, became the sovereign. Sophia gradually, but with pleasure, delved into the affairs of the state, introduced a hitherto unpracticed order - she, a woman, was present at the royal reports, and over time, without hesitation, publicly began to give her own orders. Many at court were beginning to understand who held the real power here, but few liked it. In the last years of Tsar Alexei's life, a strong Naryshkin party was formed, especially since it had a strong trump card - the healthy, intelligent Tsarevich Peter, who was growing up in the family. True, Fyodor Alekseevich and Sophia also had a younger brother, Ivan, but he was completely weak.

The precariousness of Sophia's position forced her to look for reliable friends; she bet on her relative Miloslavsky and the boyar Vasily Golitsyn she liked. Time passed, and the heart of cold Sophia was melted by Vasily Vasilyevich, the princess’s honest, intelligent servant.

On April 27, 1682, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, people moved in crowds to the Kremlin for the last farewell to the deceased Tsar Feodor. For Sophia, the decisive moment has come. The Naryshkin party did not sleep. Natalya Kirillovna’s first assistant Artamon Sergeevich Matveev hurried from exile to Moscow, and the Dowager Tsarina’s brother Ivan also cheered up. The opposition to Sophia was strong, active, and intelligent. The meeting of the Sovereign Duma opened with a speech by Patriarch Joachim, who announced that Tsarevich John Alekseevich had abdicated the throne in favor of his brother. At first there was silence, and then the boyars, with the exception of a few adherents of Sophia, thought that a healthy, gaining strength Peter would be a worthy hope for the Russian throne.

The Patriarch immediately went to Natalya Kirillovna’s chambers and blessed the young sovereign. The most cherished, golden dreams of Princess Sophia were crumbling. Again the same hated stepmother stood in the way, and again should she return to the stuffy mansion?... Sophia decided to fight to the end.

The core of the Russian military force in the 17th century were the Streltsy, who distinguished themselves more than once on the battlefield and in peaceful garrison service, but by the end of the century they turned into a “state within a state”, into formations that were little subordinate to the government and represented a kind of “freedom” . Sophia decided to bet on these violent, uncontrollable people. With the help of the boyars' close associates, they managed to stage a classic Russian rebellion - "senseless and merciless." A rumor was spread that “Ivashka Naryshkin mocked Tsarevich John, tried on his crown, and then killed the unfortunate man.” Huge crowds of drunken archers burst into the Kremlin. Natalya Kirillovna rushed to the images, her lips barely moved in despair, and the mournful sounds could not be combined into words of prayer. The crowd in the square roared about John's death. The Duma boyars sitting in the Kremlin decided to immediately show both brothers to the enraged rebels. Driven to despair, the queen, accompanied by the patriarch, led both sons to the Red Porch. Sixteen-year-old sick John was trembling with fear, his festering, blind eyes blinked from the pressure of tears. Peter looked boldly, and only a twitching of the facial nerve indicated a strong internal shock. However, a drunken crowd is easy to provoke into riots, but difficult to calm down. After a short lull, Sophia’s agents began to demand the extradition of the monster Ivan Naryshkin, who had mocked the prince. The rioters again rushed to storm the Red Porch. Prince Dolgoruky tried to stop them, but the mad crowd pierced the prince’s heavy body with dozens of spears, and streams of blood stained the steps. This was the first victim of the bloody riot. For two days the rioters raged in Moscow, killing and robbing residents. The Naryshkins were defeated - Matveev and Ivan Kirillovich died a terrible death. The queen locked herself and her son in the palace, trembling with fear.

The beloved chief of the Streltsy, Khovansky, conveyed to the Duma a request to see both brothers on the throne. But due to the illness of the eldest king and the young age of the second, control was transferred to Sophia. According to the rules of decency, the princess for a long time refused the honor shown to her, and then she could not stand it and ordered her name to be written with the names of the sovereigns, limiting herself to the title “Great Empress, Blessed Queen Sophia.”

It is difficult to gain power, but even more difficult to maintain it. The next five years passed in the fight against the Streltsy freemen. Awakened by Sophia herself, the crowd did not want to subside for a long time, feeling its strength. Again the queen had to use cunning, again shed rivers of blood, although educated and not stupid, she understood that she could not “sit on bayonets” for a long time. Her gaze was already directed to the West, Sophia was already close to reforms, to the desire to pull Rus' out of the swamp of routine, but her hands were tied by internal turmoil.

Prince Khovansky, who was influenced by the great schismatic Nikita Pustosvyat, demanded the establishment of public debates about faith. For Sophia, who grew up on the Nikonian reforms, a return to the old was unacceptable, but she could not directly refuse the all-powerful chief of the archers. I had to resort to provocation. With the help of the faithful Vasily Golitsyn, with whom the romance flared up with renewed vigor, she lured Nikita Pustosvyat to the Chamber of Facets, where a discussion between the schismatic priest and the patriarch took place. Moreover, Sophia rudely interfered in the conversation of the clergy and in the end accused Nikita of assault. A few days later the priest was captured, accused of attempting to assassinate the patriarch and executed. All that remained was to deal with the “dog” who had once rendered Sophia an invaluable service by elevating her to the throne - Ivan Andreevich Khovansky.

With her usual cunning, she carried out another dirty murder that could have cost her her very life. On New Year's Eve, and this holiday at that time in Rus' was celebrated on September 1, the royal court drove off to Kolomenskoye. The people were worried; such a thing had never happened before when sovereigns abandoned their subjects on the eve of solemn days. Sophia hid in Kolomenskoye and closely watched Khovansky through his faithful servants. Ivan Andreevich was asked to replace the queen at the traditional prayer in honor of the holiday - an excellent reason to accuse the prince of abuse of power. However, Khovansky sensed the queen’s plans, but still could not protect himself. On her orders, he was forced to go to Kolomenskoye, where he met his death.

In place of the former chief of the Streltsy, Sophia appointed the devoted, but very narrow-minded Fyodor Leontyevich Shaklovity. Tall, slender, with expressive facial features, he was distinguished by exactly that energetic beauty that women like so much. For his sake, Sophia turned away from her former lover Vasily Golitsyn, who, unlike Fedka Shaklovity, was a wise and sober politician. It was not ardent passion that connected Prince Vasily Vasilyevich with Princess Sophia many years ago, but rather vanity, the desire to possess a high-ranking person. But the queen’s intelligence and her strength tied Golitsyn for a long time and firmly, and now, when Sophia found herself a new lover, Vasily Vasilyevich sincerely suffered. The betrayal of her only friend turned into a tragedy for Sophia. Decisive battles for power with the maturing Peter were approaching, and she was left without support.

Natalya Kirillovna lived in Preobrazhenskoye. From time to time, information came from the village that the young king was amusing himself with amusing regiments, drinking a lot, being rowdy and generally devoid of any respectability, freely mixing with common people. Sophia became more and more convinced that it was she, with her intelligence, that the Russian state needed.

The conspiracy drawn up by the queen against Peter failed. To be fair, it should be said that young Peter did not behave too wisely, but at the decisive moment experienced people were near him. Russia wanted to see a strong, energetic ruler on the throne and had difficulty coming to terms with female power. Long-term Russian traditions, as well as Sophia’s personal lack of charm and her inability to get along with those close to her, had an effect. The queen was gradually betrayed by everyone - her close boyars, archers, and the patriarch. When Sophia realized that defeat was inevitable, she decided to ask for peace, but the ambassadors seemed to dissolve in Trinity, where Peter was fleeing the tsarina’s provocations. Then Sophia herself went to the monastery for negotiations, but she was not allowed in. No matter how furious the queen was, left completely alone, she clearly saw that resistance was useless and settled in the Novodevichy Convent.

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 retain 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.

Soon Queen Sophia became the nun Susanna, the name of the all-powerful mistress was forgotten. Russia entered the Petrine era.

Option #1

A1.In 1682-1696 there was a dual power of Peter I and ......

a) Ivan Alekseevich c) Tsarina Natalya Kirillovna

b) princess Sofia Alekseevna d) Catherine I

A2. Who were called archers? Choose the correct answer.

a) princely rulers

b) service people who make up the standing army

c) traders

A3. Name the years of the Northern War.

a) 1550-1583 c) 1700-1721

b) 1622-1634 d) 1756-1763

A4. As a result of the Northern War, Russia...

a) won access to the Baltic Sea

b) lost part of its northern territory

c) strengthened its international position

d) lost her independence

A5. A. Menshikov, F. Apraskin, F. Lefort are known in history as….

a) chicks of Petrov’s nest

b) organizers of the Streltsy revolt at the end of the 17th century

c) figures who participated in the church reform

A6. Famous naval battle during the Northern War:

a) Gangutskoe c) Baltic

b) Azovskoye d) Poltavaskoye

A7. The first Russian newspaper, which was published irregularly for the highest

the court circle was called…….

a) "Vedomosti"

b) "Chimes"

c) "News"

d) "News"

A8. The famous battle brought about a radical turning point in the course of the Northern War.

held….

a) near Poltava

b) near Narva

c) near the village of Lesnoy

d) near the island of Grengam

A9.Petersburg was founded and became the capital of Russia in ....

a) in 1703 c) in 1725

b) in 1712 d) in 1700

A10. In the battle near the village of Lesnoy, where a 16,000-strong Swedish corps was defeated

Russian troops commanded.....

a) F. Lefort c) A. Menshikov

b) Peter I d) F.Apraskin

IN 1. Arrange the following terms in chronological order of their appearance.

A) boards B) orders

B) ministries D) zemstvo

AT 2.

A) Admiralty 1) foreign policy

B) Military 2) naval management

B) Foreign Affairs 3) Army

AT 3 Which of the named persons belongs to the contemporaries of Peter I?

A) M. Speransky D) A. Menshikov

B) A. Arakcheev D) F. Lefort

C) I. Mazepa E) B. Khmelnitsky

1) ABC 2) BVG 3) IOP 4) WHERE

C1.

History test for 7th graders “The Age of Peter I.” North War"

Option No. 2

A1. Princess Sophia, seeking the throne, relied on .....

a) guard c) dat people

b) Streltsy d) Cossacks

A2. The Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy in Russia in the 18th century is….

a) body of the highest class power

b) the first higher educational institution in Moscow and in Russia.

c) an advisory body at the royal court

d) the department in charge of school education

A3. Who was Simeon of Polotsk?

a) Patriarch of Russia

b) organizer of the Streltsy revolt at the end of the 17th century

c) a major master of versification in the 17th century

A4. As a result of which war did Russia gain access to the Baltic Sea?

a) Livonian c) Northern

b) Smolensk d) Seven Years

A5. Which of the named events happened before all the others?

a) Azov campaigns of Peter I

b) the end of the Northern War

c) Battle of Poltava

d) defeat of the Russians near Narva

A6. The famous Battle of Poltava took place......

a) in 1705 c) in 1707

b) in 1709 d) in 1708

A7. The results of the Northern War for Russia did not include....

a) conquest of the Baltic coast

c) annexation of Dagestan

A8. Between which countries was the Northern War fought?

a) Russia and England c) Russia and Sweden

b) Russia and Denmark d) Russia and Poland

A9. Russia became an empire......

a) in 1613, when the Romanov dynasty established itself on the throne

b) since 1654, after the reunification of Ukraine and Russia

c) after the conclusion of the Peace of Nystadt in 1721, when Peter I was proclaimed emperor.

A10. The purpose of the "Great Embassy":

a) find allies in the upcoming war against Sweden

b) find allies in the upcoming war against Turkey

c) purchase military and naval equipment, books, etc.

d) get acquainted with the government structure of Western states.

IN 1. Arrange in chronological order the largest naval battles marked by the victories of the Russian fleet.

Write down the letters that indicate the events in the correct sequence in the table given in the text of the task.

A) Gangutskoe B) Grengamskoe

B) Chesmenskoye D) Sinopskoye

AT 2. Establish a correspondence between the names of the boards and their functions.

A) Chamber Collegium 1) light industry

B) Audit Board 2) finance

B) Manufactory - collegium 3) tax collection

AT 3. What events relate to the reign of Peter I?

A) Northern War D) capture of the Izmail fortress

B) Capture of Kazan D) creation of the Streltsy army

C) Establishment of the Senate E) Battle of Poltava

1) AVE 2) BVG 3) IOP 4) WHERE

C1. Describe the state reforms of Peter I. What did they lead to?

ANSWERS TO TESTS

for 7th grades on history “The Age of Peter I. North War"

Option #1

A1 – a; A2 – b; A3 – c; A4 – a, c; A5 – a, A6 – a; A7 – a; A8 – a; A9 – a; A10 – b;

B1 – VABG;

B2 - A2; B3; IN 1;

B3 – 3 (IOP);

the creation of the Senate, the highest state body subordinate to the emperor in matters of legislation and public administration;

magistrates;

table of ranks.

Option No. 2

A1 – b; A2 – b; A3 – c; A4 – c; A5 – a; A6 – b; A7 – c; A8 – c; A9 – c; A10 – b,c;

B1 – AVBG;

B2 - A3; B2; IN 1;

B3 - 1 (AVE);

C1. Public Administration Reforms:

1) the creation of the Senate - the highest state body subordinate to the emperor for matters of legislation and public administration;

organization of the collegium, subordinate to the Senate;

subordination of the church to the state, formation of the Synod;

division of the state into provinces;

magistrates;

table of ranks.

The reforms led to unlimited absolute royal power. Absolutism took shape in Russia.

The “Women's Century” in Russian history is considered to be the 18th century, when four empresses were on the Russian throne at once - Catherine I, Anna Ioannovna,Elizaveta Petrovna And Catherine II. However, the period of female rule began a little earlier, when at the end of the 17th century, for several years, the princess became the de facto head of Russia Sofya Alekseevna.

About my sister Peter I, primarily thanks to feature films and books, an idea was formed as an out-and-out reactionary who opposed her brother-reformer. In reality, everything was much more complicated.

Sofya Alekseevna was born on September 27, 1657, she was the sixth child and fourth daughter of the Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich.

In the pre-Petrine era, the daughters of Russian tsars were not given much choice - first life in the women's half of the palace, and then a monastery. Time Yaroslav the Wise, when princely daughters were married to foreign princes, they were far behind - it was believed that life within the monastery walls for girls was better than converting to another faith.

Humility and obedience were considered the virtues of princesses, but it quickly became clear that little Sophia had her own opinion on everything. By the age of 7, mothers and nannies ran to complain about the girl directly to the royal father.

Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich acted unexpectedly - instead of punishment, he ordered good teachers to be found for Sophia. As a result, the girl received an excellent education, mastered foreign languages, and soon foreign ambassadors began to report to their countries about amazing changes at the Russian court: the Tsar’s daughter no longer sits at embroidery, but participates in government affairs.

Sofya Alekseevna. Photo: Public Domain

Features of the political struggle of the 17th century

Sophia had no illusions that this would continue. The girl, through foreigners who served at the Russian court, established contacts with the German principalities, trying to find a groom there who would suit her father. But Alexey Mikhailovich was not going to go that far without giving his daughter the opportunity to move abroad.

Alexey Mikhailovich died when Sophia was 19 years old. The princess's brother ascended the throne Fedor Alekseevich.

Just like his namesake Fedor Ioannovich, this Russian Tsar was not in good health and was unable to produce an heir.

There was a rather complicated situation with the succession to the throne. Next in line was the brother of Fyodor and Sophia Ivan Alekseevich, however, he was also often sick and also showed signs of dementia. And the next heir was the still very young Pyotr Alekseevich.

At that time, the highest Russian nobility was conditionally divided into two opposing parties. The first group included relatives of Alexei Mikhailovich’s first wife Maria Miloslavskaya and their supporters, to the second - relatives of the king’s second wife Natalia Naryshkina and their like-minded people.

Fyodor, Ivan and Sophia were the children of Maria Miloslavskaya, Pyotr - Natalya Naryshkina.

Supporters of the Miloslavskys, who maintained their positions under Fyodor Alekseevich, understood how precarious the situation would become in the event of his death. Moreover, at the time of his father’s death, Ivan was only 10 years old, and Peter was only four, so in the event of their accession to the throne, the question of a regent arose.

For Sophia, this political alignment looked very promising. She began to be considered as a candidate for regent. In Russia, despite all its patriarchy, the coming to power of a woman did not cause shock or horror. Duchess Olga, who ruled at the dawn of Russian statehood and became the first Christian among the rulers of Rus', left quite positive impressions of such an experience.

The path to power was opened by rebellion

On May 7, 1682, Fyodor Alekseevich passed away, and a fierce struggle unfolded for the throne. The Naryshkins made the first move - managing to win over to their side Patriarch Joachim, they declared Peter the new king.

The Miloslavskys had an ace up their sleeve for this occasion - the Streltsy army, always dissatisfied and ready to revolt. Preparatory work with the archers had been going on for a long time, and on May 25 a rumor was started that the Naryshkins were killing Tsarevich Ivan in the Kremlin. A riot began and the crowd moved towards the Kremlin.

The Naryshkins began to panic. Natalya Naryshkina, trying to extinguish passions, brought Ivan and Peter to the archers, but this did not calm the rebels. Naryshkin supporters began to be killed right in front of the eyes of 9-year-old Peter. This reprisal subsequently affected both the king’s psyche and his attitude towards the archers.

A scene from the history of the Streletsky revolt in 1682: Ivan Naryshkin falls into the hands of the rebels. Peter I's mother Natalya Kirillovna, sister of Ivan Naryshkin, is wailing on her knees. 10-year-old Peter consoles her. Peter I's sister Sophia watches the events with satisfaction. Photo: Public Domain

The Naryshkins actually capitulated. Under pressure from the Streltsy, a unique decision was made - both Ivan and Peter were elevated to the throne at once, and Sofya Alekseevna was confirmed as their regent. At the same time, Peter was called the “second king”, insisting on his removal together with his mother to Preobrazhenskoye.

So at the age of 25, on June 8, 1682, Sofya Alekseevna became the ruler of Russia with the title “Great Empress Princess and Grand Duchess.”

Crowning of Ivan and Peter. Photo: Public Domain

Reformer by necessity

Sophia, who did not shine with external beauty, in addition to a sharp mind, had enormous ambition. She understood perfectly well that she had no chance of retaining power without taking any measures, without trying to move the development of the state forward.

At the same time, her less than stable position in power did not allow her to take too drastic steps, as her brother later did. However, under Sophia, reform of the army and the tax system of the state began, trade with foreign powers began to be encouraged, and foreign specialists were actively invited.

In foreign policy, Sophia managed to conclude a profitable peace treaty with Poland, the first treaty with China, and relations with European countries actively developed.

Under Sophia, the first higher educational institution in Russia was opened - the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy.

Sophia also has a favorite - Prince Vasily Golitsyn, who actually turned into the head of the Russian government.

In an effort to strengthen her authority with military successes, Sophia organized two campaigns against the Crimean Tatars in 1687 and 1689, which were led, of course, by Vasily Golitsyn. These campaigns were favorably received by the participants in the European anti-Ottoman coalition, but did not bring real success, resulting in high costs and heavy losses.

Prince Vasily Golitsyn 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. Photo: Public Domain

Ghost of Troubles

Meanwhile, Peter was growing up, and in January 1689, at less than 17 years old, at the insistence of his mother, he married Evdokia Lopukhina.

This was a very strong move on the part of the Naryshkin party. It was assumed that Sophia would remain regent until the brothers came of age, and according to Russian tradition, a married young man was considered an adult. Ivan married even earlier, and Sophia no longer had legal grounds for maintaining power.

Peter tried to take power into his own hands, but in key positions there remained people appointed by Sophia, who reported only to her.

Nobody wanted to give in. Around Sophia there was talk that “Peter’s problem” needed to be solved radically.

On the night of August 7-8, 1689, several archers appeared in Preobrazhenskoye, reporting that an assassination attempt was being prepared on the Tsar. Without hesitating for a second, Peter ran under the protection of the powerful walls of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. The next day his mother and wife went there, accompanied by a “funny army.” By that time, this army had long been “amusing” only in name, in reality representing a very formidable force, capable of defending the monastery for a long time in an attempt to storm it.

When Moscow learned about Peter's flight, fermentation began among the people. All this was very reminiscent of the beginning of a new Time of Troubles, and memories of the consequences of the previous one were still fresh in my memory.

Arrest of Sofia Alekseevna. Artist Konstantin Vershilov. Photo: Public Domain

Deprived of power

Meanwhile, Peter began to send orders to the Streltsy regiments to leave Moscow and arrive at the Lavra, threatening death for disobedience. The law in this case was clearly on the side of Peter, and not his sister, and, having weighed all the pros and cons, the archers began to leave in regiments to the king. The boyars, who only yesterday had sworn allegiance to Sophia, followed suit.

The princess understood that time was playing against her. To persuade her brother to reconcile, she convinced the patriarch to go on a peacekeeping mission, but he remained with Peter.

In the monastery itself, Peter diligently portrayed the “correct tsar” - he wore Russian dress, went to church, minimized communication with foreigners and gained popularity.

Sophia made one last attempt - she herself went to the Trinity-Sergius Monastery to negotiate with her brother, but she was turned around on the way and ordered to return to Moscow.

The last supporter of Sophia, the head of the Streletsky order Fedor Shaklovity, were given to Peter by his own confidants. He was soon executed.

It was announced to the princess that Ivan and Peter would take all power into their own hands, and she should go to the Holy Spirit Monastery in Putivl. Then Peter, deciding that Sophia should remain nearby, transferred her to the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow.

Grand Duchess Sophia in the Novodevichy Convent. Artist Ilya Repin. Photo: Public Domain

last try

Sophia was not tonsured a nun; she was given several richly decorated cells, an entire staff of servants was allocated, but she was prohibited from leaving the monastery and communicating with the outside world.

The princess would not be herself if she had not tried to take revenge. She observed the situation in the country and corresponded with her supporters. Peter's tough style and radical reforms contributed to the growth of the number of dissatisfied people.

In 1698, when Peter was abroad with the Great Embassy, ​​a new Streltsy revolt broke out. Its participants, relying on rumors, stated that the real Tsar Peter had died and had been replaced by a foreign “double” who wanted to destroy Russia and the Orthodox faith. The Sagittarius intended to free Sophia and restore her to power.

On June 18, 1698, the rebels were defeated by government troops 40 versts west of Moscow.

The first executions of riot participants took place just a few days after the defeat of the Streltsy. 130 people were hanged, 140 people were whipped and exiled, 1965 people were sent to cities and monasteries.

This, however, was just the beginning. Having urgently returned from a trip to Europe, Peter headed a new investigation, after which new executions followed in October 1698. In total, about 2,000 streltsy were executed, 601 were beaten, branded, and exiled. The persecution of the riot participants continued for another ten years, and the streltsy regiments themselves were soon disbanded.

During interrogations, the archers were asked to testify about the connection between the rebels and Sophia, but none of them betrayed the princess.

This, however, did not save her from new harsh measures from her brother. This time she was forcibly tonsured into a nun under the name Susanna, establishing an almost prison regime for the princess.

Sophia was not destined to gain freedom. She died on July 14, 1704 at the age of 46 and was buried in the Smolensk Cathedral of the Novodevichy Convent.

There is a legend among the Old Believers that the princess managed to escape along with 12 faithful archers and hide on the Volga. In the Old Believer skete of Sharpan there is a burial place of a certain “shema-montress Praskovya” surrounded by 12 unmarked graves. According to legend, these are the graves of Sophia and her associates.

It is difficult to believe this, if only because during her reign Sophia tightened the laws under which the Old Believers were persecuted, and it is unlikely that representatives of this religious movement would have sheltered her. But people love beautiful legends...

Convenient navigation through the article:

Princess Sophia and PeterI. Palace intrigues and the struggle for the throne.

The adolescent period of Peter the Great's life ended with marriage. Now he appeared before his mother as an adult young man who is getting used to military affairs, is interested in shipbuilding and is studying applied exact sciences. He is attached to foreign teachers, has comrades from various walks of life and is not at all interested in politics. Accustomed to physical labor, he is still not ready to engage in social activities, only promising to improve. But in reality, the young prince is engaged only in amusements that are not characteristic of a tsar, forming military “amusing” units in the villages. At this time, his interests as a sovereign are protected by others, whose circle includes: his mother Natalya Kirillovna, Prince Golitsyn and Lev Naryshkin (mother’s brother).

Interesting fact! In his youth, Peter I was most fascinated by the exact sciences, military affairs and shipbuilding.

Princess Sophia in the status of regent of the royal throne

Upon reaching the age of seventeen, Peter could abolish the regency of his sister Sophia. The failures she suffered in the second Crimean campaign of 1689 increasingly became the cause of popular discontent. Having decided that these circumstances will only play into their hands, Peter’s entourage, led by B. Golitsyn, decides to act. However, no one dared to directly overthrow Sofia.

The sister herself, realizing that her reign was approaching its end and would soon have to transfer power to Peter, also did not try to take any actions to strengthen her own position on the Russian throne.

At the same time, back in 1678, she and Shaklovity tried to achieve this goal with the help of the Streltsy revolt. However, the archers did not want to raise a new uprising and demand autocracy for Sofia.

Deprived of the support of the Streltsy, the princess abandoned all thoughts of taking the throne, however, at the same time, she continues to call herself autocrat in official acts. As soon as the Naryshkins found out about this, popular unrest began. To retain power, Sophia had to gain the sympathy of the people.

During this period, the princess and her servant Shaklovity begin to misinform the masses, complaining about their opponents and using all means to inflame hostility between Peter’s entourage and the people (especially the archers). At the same time, everything did not go as Sofia wanted and this undermined her confidence in the success of the business. Every day the relationship between both sides only worsened.

Peter, who returned from Pereyaslavl in the summer of 1689 at the behest of his mother, showed his sister his power. For example, in July he forbade her to participate in the religious procession, and after her disobedience, he himself came and gave his sister a public reprimand.

Interesting fact! Princess Sophia hoped to ascend the throne with the support of the archers, however, having lost their support, she abandoned thoughts of ascending to the throne.

Attempted coup, arrest of Fyodor Shaklovity and unrest of the Streltsy

In addition, at the end of July, he almost refused to give awards to military leaders for their services in the Crimean campaign, and when he agreed, he refused them an audience when they came to thank the tsar. As soon as her sister, seriously frightened by such actions of Peter, began to incite the archers, in the hope of finding protection and support in them, Peter the Great, without explanation, ordered the arrest of Shaklovity, who was not only the chief of the archers, but also a close follower of Sophia’s policies.

The situation unfolded as follows. On August 7, Sofia gathers armed people in the Kremlin. There were rumors that she was informed about the imminent arrival of Peter with amusing units to regain power. At the same time, the streltsy units called to Sofia were in every possible way set up against Peter by several government speakers.

Hearing ardent incendiary speeches against Peter, several adherents of the sovereign brought him this news. However, they exaggerated the current situation in their explanations, saying that the archers were rioting against the king and his mother to kill them.

The Tsar hurried straight from bed to the Trinity Lavra, where in the coming days all the Naryshkins, the Sukharev Streltsy Regiment and officials loyal to the ruler gathered. From here, Peter demanded from his sister a report on the armed meetings on August 7 and a deputation from each rifle regiment.

Sophia refused the archers' attempt to go to Peter and sent Patriarch Joachim to her brother as an intermediary, who did not return. Then the king once again demanded the arrival of representatives from tax people and archers, and this time they came even against Sophia’s wishes. A little later, she herself goes to Peter for reconciliation, but she is stopped by the threat of violence, which is why she returns to Moscow and once again tries to turn the archers against Peter. But the archers hand over Shakalovity to the Tsar. He is followed by another follower of Sophia - Golitsyn.

The end of the regency of Princess Sophia and her further fate

Together with the fate of her sister’s friends (most of them were accused of treason and executed), her fate was also decided. Peter sent her to live until the end of her days in the Novodevichy Convent, where she died

Thus, in the fall of 1689, the regency of Sofia ended and the sick Ivan and the entourage of Peter the Great became the true kings. Peter himself began to reign only after the death of his brother and mother.

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