Sophia Alekseyevna of Russia - Rise To Regent

Rise To Regent

Although Sophia emerged on the scene during the dynastic struggles of 1682, her prior influences can help to explain her regency. At the previous change of rule, Sophia may have acted in the interest of her brother, Fyodor, as various rumors exist of her pleading the dying Alexis not to proclaim Peter the heir. Fyodor’s capability to lead Russia raised questions, based on his sickly nature and poor health. His mental ability developed quite nicely, however, as he was taught by Simeon Polotsky. During his brief reign, many historians argue that Fyodor actually ‘ruled under the protectorate of Sophia his sister.’ As his health began to decline, more individuals rose up to counsel Fyodor, and Sophia found her influence steadily declining. Taking advantage of a courtroom never open to a woman in her position, she utilized her connections, making allies and formally planning on securing the throne. As Fyodor’s poor health caught up to him, Sophia immediately erupted onto the political scene, attending her late brother’s funeral and causing a commotion while doing so. In Sophia’s age, the female relatives of the Tsar were kept away from the courtroom and other political workrooms, and funerals were traditionally carried on without the women. In her way, Sophia stormed the funeral, insisting on her presence and simultaneously setting off a chain of events that would result in her regency.

The Miloslavsky party took advantage of the Moscow Uprising of 1682 to place Sophia on the seat of power. As Alexis descended from the throne, he left behind him two separate families, both of which boasted at least one rightful heir. As the clans of Alexis' two wives embraced in conflict, Sophia crafted her scheme to ensure power for her and her family. Promoting the case of her brother Ivan V, a legitimate heir to the throne, Sophia attempted to convince the patriarch and the boyars that their recent decision to crown Peter should be reversed. Insisting that Peter’s election breaks monarchic laws by skipping over her brother, who would have been next in line to rule if not for his ineptitude, she proposed a shared crown with Ivan. Upon the court’s swift and unanimous rejection of dual tsars, Sophia reached to the discouraged military troop, the Streltsy, for their aid and support. The unjust dismissal of Ivan’s reign acted as a catalyst to the already displeased and frustrated troops. Multiple issues, including merciless motivational tactics and lack of rest, drove the Streltsy to violently oppose the ‘unjust’ election of Peter. As the fighting ceased and Peter’s life was left forever scarred by the blood spilt within his Naryshkin clan, the Streltsy received their initial demands. Following the momentum of the Streltsy rebellion, the incompetent Ivan was crowned senior tsar and Peter, of only nine years, junior tsar. Despite her gender, Sophia had been deemed the sole intellectually mature royalty at the time of Fyodor’s death, making her the favorite to govern in place of the child, Peter, and the inept Ivan. Using the education and political savvy she acquired by Fyodor’s side, she convinced the nobles and patriarch of her capacities to rule Russia. As Sophia had arranged before her brother’s death, Vasily Galitzine was installed as a de facto head of government, responsible for most of the policies during her regency.