Sofia Paleolog. How a Byzantine princess built a new empire in Russia

Sofya Alekseevna (1657-1704), Russian princess and Grand Duchess, ruler of Russia (1682-1689).

She was born on September 27, 1657. The third daughter of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich from her first marriage to Maria Ilyinichnaya Miloslavskaya. Together with her half-brother Fyodor Alekseevich, she studied with the educator and poet Simeon of Polotsk. Contemporaries noted in Sophia a sharp mind, a brilliant command of rhetoric and knowledge of foreign languages. Sophia herself was engaged in literary creativity.

In May 1682, at the time of the Streltsy uprising in the capital, she took the position of a “merciful, meek and merciful” princess. Her speech to the archers who broke into the Kremlin, generous promises, praises and quick satisfaction of the demands of the rebels (primarily about the payment of salaries that had not been paid for many years) led to a temporary calm in the capital. Sophia, supported by archers and faithful Miloslavsky boyars, became the ruler.

In August 1682, in the midst of new unrest, the princess deceived the royal family and the court from Moscow, depriving the rebels of the opportunity to act on behalf of the tsars Ivan V and Peter I. Having executed the head of the streltsy order, Prince I. A. Khovansky with his son, Sophia declared the popular uprising the result of aristocratic conspiracies.

Having retained their material gains, the archers and soldiers renounced political demands and within a few years were carefully "taken apart": divided by privileges, dispersed among provincial cities and reduced.

Sophia entered politics without rights, legalizing real power through an alliance with princes V.V. Golitsyn, Odoevsky and other prominent men of the Duma, as well as relying on the young energetic administrator Fyodor Leontyevich Shaklovity (a duma clerk, then a roundabout). By the summer of 1683, she actually created her own government, but only after the conclusion of the Eternal Peace with Poland (1686) she received the status of a “co-reigning” princess, whose name was written in official documents.

Only her coronation could consolidate the power of the regent. Preparations for this were carried out in 1687-1689. Even the noble supporter of Peter I, Prince B. I. Kurakin, admitted: Sophia ruled “with all diligence and justice, so that there has never been such a wise government in the Russian state. And the whole state came during her reign seven years later in the color of great wealth, commerce, and crafts, and sciences also multiplied ... and then the freedom of the people triumphed.

However, Sophia lost power when trying to eliminate Peter, who had already reached the age of majority. In September 1689, she was imprisoned in the Novodevichy Convent. In 1698, a new streltsy uprising broke out. Streltsy from outlying cities marched on Moscow, hoping to return Sophia to power.

The “Women's Age” in Russian history is considered to be the 18th, when four empresses visited the Russian throne at once - Catherine I, Anna Ioannovna,Elizaveta Petrovna And Catherine II. However, the beginning of the period of female rule was laid a little earlier, when at the end of the 17th century, for several years, the princess became the actual head of Russia. Sofia Alekseevna.

About sister Peter I, primarily thanks to feature films and books, there was an idea of ​​\u200b\u200bas a notorious reactionary who opposed her reformer brother. In fact, 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 off to foreign princes, they were far behind - it was believed that life in the monastery walls was better for girls than a transition to a different faith.

Humility and humility were considered the virtues of the 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 to find good teachers 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 state affairs.

Sofia Alekseevna. Photo: Public Domain

Features of the political struggle of the XVII century

Sophia had no illusions that this would continue in the future. 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 Alexei Mikhailovich was not going to go so far, not giving his daughter the opportunity to move abroad.

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

Like his namesake Fedor Ioannovich, this Russian tsar was not distinguished by good health and could not produce an heir.

There was a rather complicated situation with the succession to the throne. The next in line was the brother of Fedor and Sophia Ivan Alekseevich However, he was also often ill and also showed signs of dementia. And the next heir was still quite young Peter Alekseevich.

At that time, the highest Russian nobility was conditionally divided into two opposing parties. The first belonged to the relatives of the first wife of Alexei Mikhailovich Maria Miloslavskaya and their supporters, to the second - relatives of the second wife of the king Natalia Naryshkina and their associates.

Fedor, Ivan and Sophia were the children of Maria Miloslavskaya, Peter - Natalia Naryshkina.

Supporters of the Miloslavskys, who maintained their positions under Fedor Alekseevich, understood how precarious the situation would become in the event of his death. At the same time, at the time of his father's death, Ivan was only 10 years old, and Peter was four at all, so that in the event of their accession, 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 and 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.

Revolt opened the way to power

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

The Miloslavskys had an ace up their sleeve for this occasion - the archery army, always dissatisfied and ready for a riot. Preparatory work with the archers had been going on for a long time, and on May 25 a rumor was launched that the Naryshkins were killing Tsarevich Ivan in the Kremlin. A riot began, and the crowd moved to 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. Supporters of the Naryshkins were killed right in front of 9-year-old Peter. This massacre subsequently affected the psyche of the king, and his attitude towards the archers.

A scene from the history of the Streltsy revolt in 1682: Ivan Naryshkin falls into the hands of the rebels. Mother of Peter I Natalya Kirillovna, sister of Ivan Naryshkin, laments on her knees. 10-year-old Peter consoles her. The sister of Peter I, Sophia, watches the events with satisfaction. Photo: Public Domain

The Naryshkins actually capitulated. Under pressure from the archers, a unique decision was made - both Ivan and Peter were immediately elevated to the throne, confirming Sofya Alekseevna as regent under them. At the same time, Peter was called the "second king", insisting on his removal 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 Tsarevna and Grand Duchess."

Crowning of Ivan and Peter. Photo: Public Domain

Reformer in Necessity

Sophia, who did not shine with outward beauty, in addition to her sharp mind, had great ambition. She perfectly understood that she had no chance to maintain power without taking any measures, without trying to move the development of the state forward.

At the same time, her not the most stable position in power did not allow her to take too drastic steps, as her brother later did. Nevertheless, under Sophia, the 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 were actively developing.

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

Appeared at Sophia and a favorite - Prince Vasily Golitsyn, who actually became 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, led, of course, by Vasily Golitsyn. These campaigns were favorably received by the members of 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 the "eternal peace" between Russia and the Commonwealth, signed with his active participation, and with the "sovereign's 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 the age of less than 17, at the insistence of his mother, he married Evdokia Lopukhina.

On the part of the Naryshkin party, this was a very strong move. 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 people appointed by Sophia remained in key positions, who were subordinate only to her.

Nobody wanted to give up. Surrounded by Sophia, there was talk that the "problem of Peter" should be solved radically.

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

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

The 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 insubordination. 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 go to the king in regiments. Following the boyars, who had sworn allegiance to Sophia yesterday, also stretched out.

The princess understood that time was playing against her. In order to persuade her brother to reconciliation, 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 a 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 Streltsy order Fyodor Shaklovity, gave Peter his own entourage. Soon he was executed.

It was announced to the princess that Ivan and Peter took all power into their own hands, and she was to go to the Holy Spirit Monastery in Putivl. Then Peter, deciding that Sophia should stay 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 as a nun, she was given several richly decorated cells, a whole staff of servants was allocated, but she was forbidden to leave the monastery and communicate 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 an increase in the number of dissatisfied.

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 died, he was replaced by a foreign "double" who wants to destroy Russia and the Orthodox faith. The archers intended to free Sophia and restore her to power.

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

The first executions of the participants in the rebellion took place just a few days after the defeat of the archers. 130 people were hanged, 140 people were beaten with a whip and exiled, 1965 people were sent to cities and monasteries.

This, however, was only the beginning. Urgently returning from a trip to Europe, Peter led a new investigation, after which new executions followed in October 1698. In total, about 2000 archers were executed, beaten with a whip, branded and exiled 601. The persecution of the participants in the rebellion continued for another good ten years, and the archery regiments themselves were soon disbanded.

During interrogations, the archers were required to testify about the connection of the rebels with Sophia, but none of them betrayed the princess.

True, this did not save her from new tough measures on the part of her brother. This time she was forcibly tonsured as a nun under the name Susanna, establishing a practically prison regime for the princess.

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

Among the Old Believers there is a legend that the princess managed to escape with 12 faithful archers and hide on the Volga. In the old believer skete Sharpan there is a burial place of a certain "schema woman Praskovya" surrounded by 12 unmarked graves. According to legend, these are the graves of Sophia and her associates.

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

From May 16, 1682 The reign of Princess Sofya Alekseevna began. Important appointments were made. Prince Vasily Vasilyevich Golitsyn became the head of the Ambassadorial Order, Prince Ivan Andreevich Khovansky - of the Streltsy Order, boyar Ivan Mikhailovich Miloslavsky - the head of the Foreign, Reitarsky and Pushkarsky orders.

Sophia completely controlled the situation in the capital. Relatives of Natalya Kirillovna were either killed or miraculously escaped from Moscow. Her father, Cyril Poluektovich, on the petition of archers to the "Great Sovereign and Empress Princesses", was tonsured by decree of the Great Sovereign. Peter's mother was isolated from everyone.

The ruler rewarded the archers well. She ordered them to pay 10 rubles each in addition to their salaries and ordered to arrange a sale only for the archers at the lowest prices “boyar bellies and disgraced remnants”. Sophia ordered them to clear the streets of Moscow from corpses, they did it unquestioningly. She awarded the Streltsy army with the honorary title "Outdoor Infantry".

But Peter still remained an autocratic ruler. At any moment, Sophia's power could shake. The ruler, through Prince I. A. Khovansky, who had been devoted to her for the first few weeks, agreed with the archers on another deal, and on May 23 the winners and “many officials of the Muscovite state” (who simply could not physically be interrogated in a week due to the distance between cities) wished that both brothers, Peter and Ivan, would sit on the throne. The petition handed over by I. A. Khovansky to Princess Sophia ended menacingly: “If anyone opposes him, they will come again with weapons and there will be a considerable rebellion.”

The princess listened to I. A. Khovansky, gathered the highest officials of the state in the Faceted Chamber and briefly outlined to them the “requirement of the archers”. Sophia convened the Council, but there was a hitch. Some people felt that dual power would do nothing good for the country. In response, their opponents developed at the Council a whole theory about the benefits and benefits of this mode of state government. Indeed, it is difficult for one king to govern a large country. Two is much easier! One goes on a campaign with an army, and the other rules the state. Archers very wisely!

Sophia didn't stop there. And two days later, the archers demanded that Ivan be made the first king, and Peter the second. On May 26, the Council fully satisfied their demand. It was Sophia's endless performance.

Already on May 29, the archers again appeared with a demand that "the government, for the sake of the young years of both sovereigns, hand them over to their sister." Sofya coaxed, disagreed, played a part; and she was begged almost with tears in her eyes. Finally she agreed. She ordered in all decrees to write her name along with the names of the kings, without requiring another title, except for "the great empress, the noble princess and grand duchess Sophia Alekseevna."

Sagittarius, not feeling the measure, demanded from Sophia a moral reward for the great atrocities and for the services rendered to her. And she could not refuse the brave warriors. On June 6, Sophia presented the archers with a letter of commendation, sealed with a red seal and signed by the first tsar Ivan and the second tsar Peter, in which the riot of May 15-16, 1682 was called "the beating for the house of the Most Holy Theotokos." In honor of the glorious feat of the archers, it was ordered to erect a stone pillar near the Execution Ground with a long list of crimes of people innocently killed by them. On the same "monument of death" it was strictly forbidden to call archers bad words. The stone pillar has been erected. Tin boards with inscriptions were attached to it. The shooters were happy. And Sophia too. She became the sole ruler of the country. Proud, arrogant, imperious, Sophia gave the impression of a self-confident and omnipotent regent. But the grandeur was deceptive!

According to the general opinion, Sophia was a person of great, outstanding "great mind and the most tender insights, more than a masculine mind full of a virgin" - as one of her enemies put it about her. The opinions of historians about it are not distinguished by impartiality and in most cases are far from being similar to each other. Under Peter and for the first time after Peter's death, Sophia's personality was treated very hostilely, they considered her an enemy of Peter's transformations, an inveterate defender of antiquity and mental darkness.
Only at the end of the 18th century were attempts made to remove at least part of the accusations against Sophia. G.F. Miller respected her activities as a ruler; N.M. Karamzin and Polevoy recognized Sophia as a wonderful woman, blinded only by lust for power. Ustryalov speaks of Sophia indignantly, calling her the Russian Pulcheria. I.E. Zabelin sees in Sophia the embodiment of Byzantine ideals. In her activities, she had a definite goal, "firmly and unswervingly decided to fight her stepmother, to go towards her power-hungry goal; she led a decisive conspiracy against her brother and his family." For S.M. Solovyov, Sophia is a "bogatyr-tsarevna", "an example of a historical woman who freed herself from the tower, but did not bear moral restraints from it and did not find them in society." In a similar way, Kostomarov explains much of Sophia's activities. Aristov, in his book "Moscow Troubles in the Reign of Tsarevna Sofya Alekseevna", tries to whitewash Sophia. In his opinion, the whole reason for the May riot lies in the archers and in no one else. Pogodin does not go as far as Aristov, but he does not dare to blame Sophia alone for the Streltsy riots. Brikner considers Sophia power-hungry, thinks that in 1682 she took advantage of the streltsy unrest as ready-made material, and in 1689 agitated against Peter. Sophia's previous accusations of everything, in his opinion, were based on shaky ground, and therefore Brickner refuses to "determine the measure of Sophia's crimes." Belov, without justifying Sophia, considers the Naryshkins guilty, seeing in them the same active force as the Miloslavskys were. Professor E.F. Shmurlo adheres to this view. In his opinion, Sophia is not at all a professional intriguer, just as she did not go with the flow, surrendering to the dictates of fate. “Sofya coveted nothing else, but the very same thing that Natalya Kirillovna coveted. Both women grabbed the royal crown, one for her son, the other for her brother, with the only difference being that one, out of maternal feeling, wanted to see this crown on her head son for the sake of her son's interests, while the other saw in her brother an instrument of personal interests... The crown went to Natalya, and now Sophia had to pull it out... In essence, both sides were worth one another. where there is a struggle, someone must attack and someone must defend."

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

Princess Sofya Alekseevna was one of the most extraordinary women in Russian history, 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 in 1657 Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and his first wife Maria Miloslavskaya had a daughter, she was named Sophia and sent, as it was supposed, to the female half of the palace, where women were supposed to raise the child. Sophia lost her mother early.

Ryabtsev Yu. S. Tsaritsa Maria Miloslavskaya.

Nothing foretold 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 grooms were not worthy of them, and foreigners professed other faiths. From an early age they were taught the simple sciences of housekeeping, needlework and reading church books, forbidding them to show feelings, emotions and disobedience of character, and upon reaching adulthood, 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 resented the growing girl more and more, and more and more courtiers and numerous nannies noticed the intractable and impudent character of the young princess. When the tsar was informed about the heavy temper of the seven-year-old Sophia, he not only was not angry, but also ordered that his daughter be seriously educated, hiring the very best mentors and teachers. So, by the age of ten, the girl had 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, against all odds, began to take her on his trips around the country. Close associates 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 features and a stately figure. On the contrary, she was slightly overweight, 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 - the commanders of the Butyrsky regiment, who were related to the Western European nobility, Sophia, with the help of her relatives Miloslavsky, hoped to find a sovereign spouse in one of the small principalities of Germany. However, Alexei Mikhailovich rejected all proposals. 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.


Sofia Alekseevna Romanova 1682-1696, porcelain.

In 1676, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich died. The Russian throne was occupied by his heir, the sickly and weak Fyodor, the tsar's son from his first wife, Maria Miloslavskaya. Sophia approached her brother, spent all the time near him, protecting and caring for him, and in the meantime she made strong friendships with close boyars and military leaders, inclining them to her side. So, a few months later, the nine-year-old heir to the tsar, Peter, was practically removed from the court of Naryshkin, and Sophia continued to gain popularity and sympathy from others and strengthen her position near the royal throne. Then she met the famous boyar Vasily Golitsyn.

The royal great press and state great embassy affairs saver, close boyar and governor of Novgorod Prince Vasily Vasilyevich Golitsyn with an award medal. On the portrait of V.V. Golitsyn is depicted with the text of "eternal peace" between Russia and the Commonwealth, signed with his active participation, and with the "sovereign's 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, distinguished by special wisdom, rich life experience, versatile talents and managed, unwittingly, to conquer the young Sophia. Golitsyn was highly 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-bred prince was also good-looking and possessed a piercing, slightly sly look, which gave his face even more originality.

Always disliking men and often despising them for weakness and lack of will, Princess Sophia suddenly unexpectedly fell in love with the refined and gallant prince. However, he, although he felt sympathy for the young girl, could not reciprocate her. 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 from the 1920s

Nevertheless, he offered Sophia sincere friendship and support. All the time Golitsyn and the princess spent together: he invited her to his house, where visiting foreigners from Europe often visited, who talked about foreign traditions and customs that struck the impression of Sofya 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, fascinated by listening to the speech of her lover, admired him more and more.

A. I. Korzukhin. Streltsy rebellion in 1682. Streltsy dragging Ivan Naryshkin out of the palace. While Peter I comforts his mother, Princess Sophia watches with satisfaction.

At the end of April 1682, when the young tsar died, Peter was appointed the new autocrat under the regency of the dowager tsarina Natalya Naryshkina, the widow of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. This turn of events did not suit Sophia Romanova, and she, together with Prince Golitsyn and close boyars, staged an armed revolt, 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 the Russian state for seven long years.

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

Grand Empress Tsarevna and Grand Duchess Ruler-Regent of the Russian Tsardom
Sofia Alekseevna.

At the beginning of July 1682, with skillful actions, she stopped the rebellion of the archers in Moscow (“Khovanshchina”). The rebels, trying to give a religious coloring to their speech, decided to involve 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, isolating Fr. Nikita from the crowd of people. Not having sufficient argumentation for the arguments of the Suzdal priest, Patriarch Joachim interrupted the dispute, declaring his opponent "an empty saint." The priest would later be executed. And the queen continued the fight against the “schism” now at the legislative level, adopting in 1685 the famous “12 Articles”, on the basis of which thousands of people guilty of the Old Believers were executed.

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

Relations 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 became very stout and her features became even rougher, for Prince Sofya Alekseevna became more and more desirable. Once a wonderful father and faithful husband, Golitsyn moved away from his wife and practically did not see children, devoting all his time to "beloved girl Sofya." And she, blinded by feeling, idolized and adored the 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 XVII century. the name "Ugric" was supplanted by the new name of the coin - "chervonets", which had the same weight.

So, the princess appointed him a military commander and insisted that he go on the Crimean campaigns in 1687 and 1689. Sophia dreamed that Golitsyn, who was the winner, would be given 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 ... That day would be great for me when you, my soul, return to me.” Boyar Golitsyn answered her with the same ardent and tender messages.

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

Nikishin Vladimir.

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

Growing up and possessing a very contradictory and stubborn character, Peter no longer wanted to listen to his domineering sister in everything. He increasingly contradicted her, reproached her with excessive independence and courage, not inherent in women, and listened more and more to her mother, who told her son the old story of the accession to the throne of the cunning and treacherous Sophia. In addition, state papers said that the regent was deprived of the opportunity to govern the state in the event of Peter's coming of age or his marriage. 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, 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, like the first time, decided to resort to the help of archers. However, this time the princess miscalculated: the archers no longer believed either her or her favorite, preferring the young heir. At the end of September, they swore allegiance to Peter, and he ordered the sister to be imprisoned in the Novodevichy Convent. The people preferred to see the king on the throne, and not the princess: “It’s enough for the empress to stir up the people, it’s time to go to the monastery.”

N. Nevrev. Peter I in a foreign outfit in front of his mother Tsarina Natalia, Patriarch Andrian and teacher Zotov.

For her, several cells were finished and perfectly cleaned, with windows on the Maiden's Field, she had a lot of servants and all the comforts 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 with 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 duality is over. Peter conquered Azov, completing the work so unsuccessfully started by Prince Golitsyn, and left for Europe to study. Before his departure abroad, Peter visited his sister in a cell for parting, but found her so haughty, cold and implacable that he left the Novodevichy Convent in extreme excitement. Despite all the intrigues of Sophia, Peter respected her mind. He said about her: "It is a pity that with her great mind she has great anger and deceit."

Morning of the archery execution. Hood. V. I. Surikov, 1881.

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

Novodevichy Convent.

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

And was forgotten almost immediately after the burial. If later historians remembered her, then only as a “schemer”, who almost ruined the noble cause of Peter. Her lover, favorite and beloved friend outlived the former princess and ruler of the Russian State for ten years and died in 1714 in exile, in the village of Pinega, Arkhangelsk Territory and was buried by will in the Krasnogorsk Monastery.

In the old believer skete of Sharpan there is the burial place of the schemist Praskovya (“the queen's grave”), surrounded by 12 unmarked graves. The Old Believers consider this Praskovya to be Tsarevna Sophia, who allegedly fled from the Novodevichy Convent with 12 archers.