The name of Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich Romanov is not as widely known today as the names of his father Alexei Mikhailovich and younger brother Peter Alekseevich. And in vain.
Having received from his father fortified, perked up after the troubles and civil wars country, Fedor Alekseevich became the forerunner of many reforms and transformations that we today associate with the name of Peter. Everyone knows that history does not tolerate the subjunctive mood. And, nevertheless, it can be assumed that if Fedor Alekseevich had not died so early, today we would be talking about the great reformer and reformer of Russia, Tsar Fedor III.
Short life and short reign
Fedor was the second son of Alexei Mikhailovich and his first wife, Maria Ilyinichna Miloslavskaya. In a marriage with Miloslavskaya, Alexei Mikhailovich had 13 children, four of them were sons. Almost all the daughters of Maria Ilyinichna were strong and healthy, but the sons were born weak. The eldest son Alexei died at the age of 15, Simeon lived only to the age of three. Two sons of Mary reigned: Ivan Alekseevich, who was co-ruler of Peter I, and was not distinguished by either health or intelligence, and Fedor, who, although he was as in poor health as his brothers, had all the makings of a statesman.
He was born on May 30, 1661. His tutor was the monk Simeon of Polotsk - one of the most educated people of his time, spiritual writer, theologian, poet and translator. He instilled in Fedor an interest in Western culture in its Polish version. Under the guidance of Simeon of Polotsk, the prince learned Polish, latin languages, was able to get acquainted with the works of European scientists and philosophers.
Fedor's reign began in 1676, after Alexei Mikhailovich died. The first months of his reign, Fedor was seriously ill, he suffered from "scrobut" - scurvy. The state was actually ruled by a friend of the late Alexei Mikhailovich Artamon Matveev - the godfather of the second wife of the late sovereign Natalya Naryshkina, a relative of the first wife Ivan Miloslavsky and Patriarch Joachim. However, having risen to his feet, Fedor firmly took power into his own hands and began by sending Matveev, who was too sympathetic to little Peter Alekseevich, into exile.
The short reign of Fedor lasted only 6 years, in 1682 he died. But during this time the young sovereign managed to do quite a lot.
The main transformations of Fedor Alekseevich
Among the main merits of the young king should be attributed the abolition of parochialism - the procedure for occupying positions, based not on the personal qualities of the applicant, but on what position his ancestors held. Localism was a real burden for the Russian state, which prevented the appointment of truly capable people, and drowned any undertaking in disputes over who should obey whom. Fedor ordered to burn all the category books, which indicated the positions held by representatives of noble families. Instead, he introduced genealogical books, where only genealogy was recorded.
Next important step there was concern for the enlightenment of Russia. A printing house was opened at the Printing Yard, where they began to publish books: liturgical literature, scientific works, secular works, translations from Latin. Fedor Alekseevich developed a project for an educational institution, which was opened after his death, and was called the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy.
Under Fyodor Alekseevich, units of the army received a new development, which were manned and armed according to the European model and were called "regiments of a foreign system."
The young tsar was also engaged in reforming the state apparatus: he abolished a number of orders, combining orders that were similar in function.
In 1678, a general census of the population was carried out, and a year later, household taxes were introduced. This increased the tax burden, but it caused an influx of funds into the state treasury.
Fedor achieved considerable success in foreign policy: another war against the Ottoman port and the Crimean Khanate ended with victory. Türkiye and Poland were forced to recognize Left-Bank Ukraine and Kyiv for Russia. Fyodor Alekseevich also tried to return access to the Baltic Sea, but to no avail. This task was able to realize his younger brother Peter.
Fedor did a lot for the improvement of Moscow. Here they began to pave the streets, laid the first sewage system, and the shopping malls were removed from Red Square. In addition, the sovereign created a system of loans for Muscovites who lost their homes as a result of fires, which were very frequent in the wooden capital.
Finally, it was under Fyodor Alekseevich that Russian aristocrats began to wear European clothes. Young boyars began to shave their beards, cut their hair in the Polish manner, and dress in the Polish fashion. It was forbidden to appear at the court in single rows and okhabnys. Under Fyodor Alekseevich, the first periodical publication, Chimes, appeared in Russia. It was a handwritten "digest" of news from European newspapers, which was read to the tsar and the boyar duma by the clerks of the Ambassadorial order. At this time, foreign fashions also penetrated into painting, artists began to paint portraits in the European style, they were called "parsuns".
Fyodor Alekseevich abolished crippling executions, such as cutting off hands, ears, cutting off the tongue, and in general, he thought about humanizing punishments. This, however, did not prevent him from ordering the burning of the main ideologist of the Old Believers, Archpriest Avvakum Petrov. They say that the reason for this decision was the fact that Avvakum spoke insultingly about his father in letters to his supporters.
Fedor took care of the education of his younger brothers - Ivan and Peter, ordered books, globes, ship models and other manuals for them.
A lot was done, but even more projects remained projects, since Fedor Alekseevich died in 1682.
Question of succession
Fedor Alekseevich was married twice. His first wife, a Pole from the Smolensk nobles, Agafya Grushetskaya, gave birth to his son in 1681, who was named Ilya. The boy died on the 10th day of his life, and Queen Agafya soon died. The second marriage with Marfa Apraksina lasted a little more than two months. The sovereign died at the age of 20.
He did not have time to give any orders regarding the heir, so a dynastic crisis arose, which caused an aggravation of the struggle between the supporters of Tsarevich Ivan and Tsarevich Peter. The unrest ended with a compromise decision: to make the brothers co-rulers, appointing Princess Sophia as regents under them.
It is believed that the younger brother of Fedor carried out all the reforms. But many of them laid the foundation for it.
In 1679 a census was taken. They also canceled the decree on non-extradition of fugitives who signed up for military service. In the same year, the tax burden increased and household taxation was introduced. This made it possible to enrich the treasury, but increased the burden of serfdom.
Under Fedor, the punishment for theft was mitigated. If earlier they cut off their hands, now thieves with their families were exiled to Siberia.
On January 12, 1682 localism was abolished. The essence of localism was that a person was appointed to public office not for his abilities, experience and achievements, but depending on the place occupied by his ancestors. Those. the son of a person who held a certain position cannot be promoted to a higher position. This hindered effective management. All category books were burned, and all boyar families were recorded in genealogical books.
In March 1861, the Typographic School was opened.
In the same year, Fedor advocated the opening of a Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy in Moscow. This educational institution opened after his death. People of all classes could study there. And the poor were given special scholarships. Academy graduates could apply for government positions at court. Patriarch Joachim opposed secular education.
The king also built special shelters for orphans, in which they were taught various sciences and crafts.
During the reign of Fyodor Alekseevich, the Kremlin palace complex was rebuilt, and a sewer system was installed in the Kremlin. Also in Moscow, stone buildings were built, because. the king saw in them protection from fire.
The struggle with the Old Believers also continued, which began during the reign. Archpriest Avvakum, who predicted the death of Fedor III, was burned.
Foreign policy of Fyodor Alekseevich Romanov
1676 - 1681 - Russo-Turkish War. In 1681, the Treaty of Bakhchisaray was concluded, according to which the border between Russia and Turkey was established along the Dnieper. Russia was left with Kyiv, Staiki and Tripoli.
Fedor Alekseevich was an outstanding, strong personality, he tried to turn Russia into a large and strong power. He laid a solid foundation for further transformations in Russia, continued by Peter I.
The indelible mark left by Fedor Alekseevich in the history of Russia
At the age of fifteen, Fedor Alekseevich ascended the Russian throne and left a memory of himself as the most educated ruler.
However, his reign was short-lived (a little less than six years), therefore, despite competent rule, he became a forgotten sovereign.
Despite his adolescence, Fedor Alekseevich was able to understand and appreciate the consequences of the Miloslavskys who led the country at that time. The sovereign freed himself from their influence, surrounding himself with smart, enterprising, and also loyal people.
In the short period of his reign, Fedor Alekseevich was able to carry out significant transformations in the country. The first thing he started with was the census of the population, as well as the introduction of household taxation. This gave its results, which brought replenishment to the treasury. Many of the undertakings of Fedor III formed the basis of the reforms subsequently carried out by Peter I, for example, the Provincial reform, the Table of Ranks.
The domestic policy of the young tsar was aimed exclusively at the benefit of the state. He became the first sovereign who, for the sake of the Fatherland, began to invite educated, albeit not noble, people to serve. Thus, he abolished the system of parochialism and ordered the destruction of all digit books. In addition, the sovereign mitigated the criminal punishment, since that time the perpetrators began to be exiled to Siberia.
Fedor Alekseevich - the first tsar who began to invite teachers from abroad, also under him they began to shave their beards and shorten their hair.
Another important step in the reign of Tsar Fedor was the restriction of the rights of the church and the beginning of the process of eliminating the patriarchate. However, the early death of the sovereign did not allow him to carry out all his undertakings, they were continued by his younger half-brother Peter I.
Tsar Fedor - an outstanding and strong personality
Fedor Alekseevich was an outstanding personality, an educated, literate and intelligent person: he composed poetry, sang well, and was well versed in painting. The sovereign left an indelible mark on the history of Russia - he developed a project to create the first Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy in Moscow, designed to train representatives of all classes, but it opened after his death.
In addition to state affairs, the young king was fond of horseback riding, he was very fond of horses and was well versed in them. Also, when his health allowed and severe attacks passed, he was fond of falconry and archery.
Speaking about the royal passion for falconry, I would like to pay attention to the magnificent skins, stuffed animals and birds of various kinds offered by the Rus Velikaya store. The works of talented craftsmen are of excellent quality, in addition, they are all hypoallergenic. A magnificent skin or a beautiful scarecrow can decorate and transform the interior of any house or apartment.
After the death of Alexei Mikhailovich in 1676, his son Fyodor Alekseevich became king. From 1679, when he was 18 years old, he firmly took power into his own hands. These years before the death of the king in 1682 became an important period in the history of the country. They largely paved the way for the future reforms of Peter I.
Young people rallied around the king capable people who were said to be men of great intelligence and the most pious state. This is okolnichiy Yazykov, the Likhachev brothers, governor V.V. Golitsyn.
A new supreme body appeared - the Punishment Chamber, which was directly subordinate to the tsar. Fedor Alekseevich increasingly signed decrees without consulting the Boyar Duma. The tsar reduced the number of orders, personally set the working hours of the central departments, demanding that matters be dealt with without red tape.
Under Fedor Alekseevich, the reform of the army began. Shelves of the new system were completed. There were nine territorial military districts. Each of them had shelves, which, if necessary, merged into a single Russian army. Here, the army also determined the dependent people, they were obliged to put them from their estates by the nobles.
The head of the united military orders was in charge of military affairs. This was a genuine centralization of military affairs in the country. With the preservation of the noble cavalry and archery units, most of the nobles in the districts were enrolled in the Reiters' regiments, and the subordinate people were enrolled in the soldier's regiments. Streltsy units, in fact, were approaching regular troops. New military ranks- colonels, lieutenant colonels, captains. The first elective (shock) regiments were formed, which became the prototype Russian guard. By decree of the king, nobles who evaded regimental service were deprived of their estates.
At the same time, the government of Fyodor Alekseevich supported the land ownership of the nobles and the right to peasant labor. A number of decrees brought together estates with estates. The tsar ordered the creation of a new notch line, moving it south, and the remaining lands in the rear to be populated with people and given to the landowners. The search for runaway peasants intensified.
In the financial area, the government of Fyodor Alekseevich, instead of a multitude of taxes, introduced a single tax reduced in total size - archery money. They were counted by household, depending on the wealth of the people.
Former beneficiaries were taxed. Old debts and arrears were forgiven, and those who evaded the single tax were threatened with great disgrace and cruel punishment without mercy.
Reformed Fedor Alekseevich and local government. The power of the governors in the field and their responsibility to the center were strengthened. Many functions of the abolished institutions were transferred to the governors.
Previously, people had to please many officials. From now on, their only boss, in particular with regard to tax collection, was the voivode. They tried to appease him. The king, of course, knew that the governors were robbing the people, taking bribes, and plundering the state treasury. Therefore, the decree on the voivodship administration said that if any of the voivodes was seen in the smallest: a bribe or self-interest, they would be punished for that.
Yet the circle of bribe-takers has shrunk. But customs fees and other duties were withdrawn from the voivodeship department. They were collected by heads and kissers chosen by the world.
At the end of his short life, in 1682, Fedor Alekseevich went to the abolition of localism. Relying on the influence of the Church Council and the Boyar Duma, he signed a document on the abolition of places in the military and civil service, the appointment of people according to breed, birth, and indicated to serve without great sovereign will indicate.
1670s - early 1680s were significant in that for the first time in many centuries, Russia on its southern borders switched from defense to offensive. Successes in the war with Poland, the appearance on the left bank of the Dnieper of Hetman Ukraine, dependent on Russia, changed general situation in this part of Eastern Europe. Poland and Russia entered into a military alliance against a common enemy - Turkey, which claimed Ukrainian and South Russian lands.
Russian troops launched an offensive on a wide front from the Dniester to the Turkish fortress of Azov. At first, success accompanied the Russians. Their regiments broke through to the Sea of Azov. A young Russian galley fleet built on the Voronezh nerfs soon approached there. The Russian infantry, planted on the boats, together with the Cossacks walking along the coast, carried out a number of raids on the Crimean territory. The Crimean Khan was forced to curtail his offensive operations and turn to the protection of native lands. For the first time, the war unfolded on enemy territory. It was a historic event.
But in 1677 the Polish king made peace with Turkey and stopped supporting Russia. Nevertheless, the struggle continued. She passed already under the new Russian tsar. Be headed by a young voivode, Prince V.V. Golitsyn and an experienced military leader, Prince G. G. Romodanovsky.
A hundred thousand Turkish army broke through to Chigirin, where a small but courageous Russian garrison and Cossacks settled. Romodanovsky's army, which included regiments of the new system, and Cossacks from the Left-Bank Ukraine hurried to their aid. In a number of battles, the Turks were defeated and fled from Chigirin. In these battles, the newly formed Russian regiments showed themselves well.
But Türkiye did not give up the fight. Rejecting peace proposals, the Sultan in 1678 sent a huge new army to Chigirin. This was the second Chigirin campaign. The month-long siege of the city ended with the fact that the Russian garrison under the command of the Scottish general P. Gordon, the future associate of Peter I, set fire to the city.
The gospel, which belonged to Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich and was in perfect order, having preserved the artillery, was left by Chigorin. Turks and Tatars seized significant territories in the Right-Bank Ukraine.
But the battles continued, the Russian troops pushed the enemy to the south. However, the forces to lead active fighting the warring parties did not have.
As a result, in 1681 peace was concluded for 20 years. Türkiye recognized Russia's rights to the Left-Bank Ukraine and Kyiv. Right-bank Ukraine was considered a neutral zone, available for use by all parties, including the Tatars. The Slavic population fled from here to the left bank of the Dnieper.
Two Chigirinsky defenses showed high level training of the new Russian army, but revealed many shortcomings - parochial disputes, lack of unity of command, archaism of the local army. All this was taken into account in the reform of the army, which began during and after the war, and in the abolition of parochialism. But most importantly, the initiative in the south is gradually beginning to pass to Russia.
Under Fyodor Alekseevich, the country was turning towards Western culture, Western civilization. A project of state-administrative reorganization of the country was developed. It was supposed to create a number of institutions that would reduce the influence of the Boyar Duma and the power of the Patriarch. The principle of distribution of civil servants according to the degrees corresponding to the positions was developed. It was planned to divide the country into governorships (future provinces). In church administration, it was about increasing the role of metropolitans and limiting the power of the Patriarch.
The development of a plan for the creation of technical schools for poor children began. In Moscow, the Slavic-Latin School was opened, where Latin was taught. The project of creating the Russian Academy was discussed.
This turn towards new civilizational values was reflected in everyday life. The king welcomed the decoration of houses according to Western models - with paintings and mirrors. He forbade coming to the palace in long-skirted clothes and ordered them to be changed to western-style caftans. Traditional clothes, in his opinion, are appropriate for a woman's dress, but are not needed for service and travel time.
The tsar's undertakings and projects met with fierce resistance from both the Patriarch and the Boyar Duma.
The uprising of the archers in 1682 and the rise of Sophia to power
Immediately after the death of Fedor Alekseevich, boyar groups began to move. The metropolitan elite did not want to transfer power to the eldest son of Alexei Mikhailovich - 16-year-old sickly and weak-minded Ivan, behind whom stood the Miloslavskys. She was afraid of the eldest daughter of Alexei Mikhailovich - the educated, energetic and intelligent Sofya Alekseevna. Together with her favorite V.V. Golitsyn (1643-1714), prominent statesman and a military leader, one of the leaders of the reforms, she led the Miloslavsky party.
Activity was also shown by those who last years stood next to the king and carried out reforms. They were afraid of losing their positions under the Miloslavskys. It was these figures, in alliance with the Naryshkins and the Patriarch, who declared 10-year-old Letr Alekseevich tsar. They went to the palace for the election of the king, having hooked their shells under the caftans.
In front of the Red Porch of the Tsar's Palace, the Patriarch, the highest ranks of the Church and Moscow nobles gathered people of various ranks. Many of them were prepared in advance by the supporters of the Naryshkins. When asked by the Patriarch who the people of Moscow want to see on the throne, friendly voices rang out: “Peter Alekseevich!” Shouts in favor of Ivan were muffled. The patriarch blessed Peter I to reign.
However, the Miloslavskys did not calm down. In the struggle for power, they decided to use the discontent of the archers stationed in Moscow. The situation in the Streltsy regiments really became threatening. The archers met the military reform painfully. New duties in the service tore them away from the trades and trade that they were engaged in in peacetime. Regimental commanders abused their power, sent archers to work in their gardens. The archers sent petitions to the king, but everything remained the same. The head of the Streltsy order, Prince Dolgorukov, ordered to seize one of the petitioners and flog him with a whip. The archers recaptured their comrade. They laid the blame for the situation on people close to the late tsar.
This is what Princess Sophia and her supporters decided to take advantage of. Their people began to appear in the archery regiments, handing out money and generous promises. The archers refused to obey the commanders, shouting: “We don’t want the Naryshkins and Matveev to rule us, we will break their necks!”
On May 15, 1682, a rebellion began. In the morning, a rumor spread that the Naryshkins had killed Tsarevich Ivan. With a drumbeat and unfolded banners, the archers moved to the Kremlin, crushed the guards and broke through to the royal palace. Tsarina Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina came out to meet them on the porch with Peter and Ivan alive and unharmed. The archers were embarrassed for a moment, then demanded to extradite the traitors. The head of the Streltsy order, Dolgorukov, and his son attacked the archers with abuse. This infuriated the archers. They rushed to the porch, threw aside the tsarina and Peter, and threw Dolgorukov onto the spears of their comrades. Boyar A.S. Matveev and Prince M.A. Cherkassky were killed right there. Peter I could not forget this terrible scene of reprisals against loved ones all his life. Since then, a nervous tic appeared on his face in moments of excitement or anger. Streltsy captured the Kremlin and the capital. Over the next two days, massacres of nobles and colonels continued.
On May 18, the rebellion ended. At the request of the archers, their favorite was placed at the head of the Streltsy order - the old military governor, Prince I.A. Khovansky. The archers demanded large cash payments. Part of the money was given to them. Streltsy declared themselves outward infantry (palace guards), proclaimed free all slaves and destroyed the bondage available to them in the Kholopy order.
On May 26, 1682, under pressure from the archers, the Boyar Duma and the Patriarch declared Ivan Alekseevich the first tsar, and Peter only the second. Three days later, power was solemnly handed over to Princess Sophia, who became regent for the brothers. Ambassadorial order and related institutions headed by Prince V.V. Golitsyn.
There were formally three rulers in the country. Moscow was in the hands of the archers for several months, and the new government acted with an eye on them. The Boyar Duma concentrated considerable power in its hands. Sophia and Golitsyn now reckoned with her opinion. The opponents of the Miloslavskys also remained in its composition. The possibility of gradually limiting the autocratic power of the monarch appeared in the country.
In 1683-1684. Sophia's government was forced to gather elected people from the nobility and, together with the Boyar-Stavets Duma and the Cathedral, discuss the issue of war with Sophia Aleksestn's Turkey and the Crimea.
Sofya, Golitsyn and their supporters tried to limit the arbitrariness of the archers. Golitsyn united around himself a group of boyars and nobles, determined to restore order in the country. The main state posts were divided between them. Order was soon restored in the capital. Sophia was urged to deliver a decisive blow to the archers, but the princess hesitated.
At the end of August, the royal court hastily left the capital and moved to the village of Kolomenskoye under the protection of noble detachments. This challenged the streltsy omnipotence. A week later, the journey continued. The yard stopped in the village of Vozdvizhensky. Hence followed the order: all officials to come to the sovereign's court. The boyars, okolnichy, duma people, stolniks, clerks were drawn to the place where the court was located. The head of the Streltsy order, I. A. Khovansky, and his son moved there. Near the village of Pushkin, he was met by a detachment of government troops sent to meet him. Khovansky was seized, the indictment was read to him, and he was executed. Upon learning of the massacre, the archers captured the Kremlin.
The royal court arrived at the well-fortified Trinity-Sergius Monastery, which was placed under a state of siege. Sophia appointed V.V. as the head of the government forces. Golitsyn. The prince called under the walls of the Trinity all the nobles who were able to bear arms. Boyar-noble Russia rose up against the archery anarchy.
A few days later, the archers, having lost their leader, surrendered to the mercy of the authorities. At the head of the noble militia V.V. Golitsyn entered Moscow.
The ruler forgave the rebels who obeyed. The royal court returned to the Kremlin.
On the way to further reforms
The situation in the country remained difficult. Russia needed further progress along the path of civilization. The government of Princess Sophia continued the reforms begun under Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich. Caught in the camp of Sophia V.V. Golitsyn became the successor and continuer of the former Russian policy.
After returning royal court orders began to work in Moscow, the Boyar Duma began to meet regularly, the regent attended its meetings. The number of duma officials increased due to Sophia's supporters. The role of the feudal elite in the life of the state increased. Some began to talk about introducing gentry rule in Russia, as in Poland. In the history of Russia, this was the last rise of boyar influence.
Sophia tried to restore order in the field of legal proceedings, the words "law" and "order" became the slogan of the new government. Attempts were made to improve the process of legal proceedings, to speed up the procedure for considering cases. The fight against bribery began.
The government canceled death penalty for a number of crimes. Golitsyn was a supporter of free enterprise, including with the involvement of foreigners. All large quantity parts of the Russian army were transferred to a regular basis. In the interests of the nobility, which helped to suppress the streltsy rebellion, the government organized land surveying and assigning them to service people. At the same time, it was guided by the principle of personal service of people, and not by their breed.
Despite the demands of the nobility to tighten the search for runaway peasants, Sophia issued a decree forbidding the return of peasants who had gone to the cities to serfdom. Only governors were allowed to organize a search. According to the memoirs of foreign diplomats, it is known that V.V. Golitsyn nurtured the idea of liberating the peasants from serfdom, advocated the transformation of savages into people, and proposed at first to transfer the serfs from corvée to quitrent.
The government has improved the system of education and enlightenment. In 1687, the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy was opened in Moscow, where young M.V. Lomonosov came to study years later.
In the house of Chancellor Golitsyn, everything was arranged in a Western manner. A beautiful stone building in Okhotny Ryad was decorated with paintings, prints, mirrors, chandeliers, busts of famous people. The library included books on history, philosophy, medicine, astronomy in different languages. The prince went out to foreign guests dressed in the Polish fashion. Golitsyn was fluent in Polish, German, Greek, and Latin. owned foreign languages and Sophia.
Fedor III Alekseevich born May 30, 1661. Russian tsar since 1676, from the Romanov dynasty, son of the tsar Alexey Mikhailovich and queens Maria Ilyinichna , the elder brother of Tsar Ivan V and the half-brother of Peter I. One of the most educated rulers of Russia.
Biography
Fedor Alekseevich Romanov was born in Moscow on May 30, 1661. During the reign Alexey Mikhailovich
more than once the question of succession to the throne arose. The prince died at the age of sixteen Alexey Alekseevich
. The second tsar's son Fedor was then nine years old. Fedor succeeded to the throne at the age of fourteen. They were crowned king in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin on June 18, 1676. His ideas about royal power were largely formed under the influence of one of the philosophers of that time, Simeon of Polotsk, who was the tutor and spiritual mentor of the prince. Fedor Alekseevich Romanov was well educated. He knew Latin well and spoke Polish fluently. His teacher was the famous theologian, scientist, writer and poet Simeon of Polotsk. Unfortunately, Fedor Alekseevich did not differ good health, since childhood was weak and painful. He ruled the country for only six years.
With health to the king Fedor Alekseevich
bad luck. As a child, Fyodor Alekseevich was run over by sledges, he also suffered from scurvy. But God rewarded him with a clear mind, a bright soul and a kind heart. Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, guessing that the age of Fedor would be short, but gave him, like other children, an excellent education, for which Simeon Polotsky, a monk from White Russia, was responsible. Tsarevich Fedor is credited with rhymed translations of psalms into Russian. Poetry for him could become a matter of life, but his business was different. September 1, 1674 Alexei Mikhailovich brought his son to the Execution Ground and declared him heir to the throne. Fedor Alekseevich delivered a speech, but his health did not allow him to spoil the public with his art for a long time. It was difficult for him to walk, stand, sit. Boyarin F.F. Kurakin and okolnichiy I.B. Khitrovo, responsible for the upbringing of the heir, stood nearby. Before his death, the tsar called Fedor, without a shadow of a doubt handed over the holy cross and scepter into his fragile hands and said: “I bless you, son, to the kingdom!”.
The reign and reforms of the king
Part of the reignFedor Alekseevich occupied the war with Turkey and Crimean Khanate because of Ukraine. Only in 1681, in Bakhchisarai, the parties officially recognized the reunification with Russia, the Left-Bank Ukraine and Kyiv. Russia received Kyiv under an agreement with Poland in 1678 in exchange for Nevel, Sebezh and Velizh. in business internal management The country Fedor Alekseevich is best known for two innovations. In 1681, a project was developed to create the subsequently famous Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy. Many figures of science, culture and politics came out of its walls. It was in it in the XVIII century. the great Russian scientist M.V. Lomonosov. And in 1682 Boyar Duma abolished the so-called localism. In Russia, by tradition, state and military people were appointed to various positions not in accordance with their merits, experience or abilities, but in accordance with the place that the ancestors of the appointed person occupied in the state apparatus. The son of a man who once occupied a lower position could never rise above the son of an official who once occupied a higher position, no matter what merit. This state of affairs annoyed many and hindered the effective administration of the state.
The short reign of Fyodor Alekseevich was marked by important actions and reforms. In 1678 a general census of the population was carried out, and in 1679 household direct taxes were introduced, which increased the tax burden. In military affairs, in 1682 localism, which paralyzed command in the army, was abolished; in connection with this, digit books were burned. Thus, an end was put to the dangerous custom of the boyars and nobles to reckon with the merits of their ancestors when occupying a position. Genealogical books were introduced to preserve the memory of ancestors. In order to centralize government controlled some related orders were consolidated under one person. The regiments of the foreign system received a new development.
The main of the domestic political reforms was the destruction of the "emergency seat" Zemsky Cathedral January 12, 1682 - localities - the rules by which everyone received ranks in accordance with the place that the ancestors of the appointee occupied in the state apparatus. At the same time, category books with lists of positions were burned as the “main culprits” of local disputes and claims. Instead of bits, it was ordered to have a genealogical book. All well-born and noble people were entered into it, but already without indicating their place in the Duma.
Foreign policy of Fedor Alekseevich
In foreign policy, he tried to return to Russia access to the Baltic Sea, lost during the years of the Livonian War. Much more attention than Alexei Mikhailovich paid to the regiments of the "new system", staffed and trained in the Western manner. However, the solution of the "Baltic problem" was hampered by the raids of the Crimean and Tatars and Turks from the south. Therefore, Fedor's major foreign policy action was the successful Russian-Turkish war of 1676-1681, which ended with the Bakhchisaray peace treaty, which secured the unification of the Left-Bank Ukraine with Russia. Russia received Kyiv even earlier under an agreement with Poland in 1678 in exchange for Nevel, Sebezh and Velizh. During the war of 1676-1681 in the south of the country, the Izyumskaya notch line (400 versts) was created, connected with Belgorodskaya.
Internal management
In matters of internal government of the country Fedor Alekseevich left a mark in the history of Russia with two innovations. In 1681, a project was developed to create the subsequently famous, Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy
, which opened after the death of the king. It was in it that the Russian scientist M.V. Lomonosov studied in the 18th century. Moreover, representatives of all classes were supposed to be allowed to study at the academy, and scholarships were awarded to the poor. The tsar was going to transfer the entire palace library to the Academy. Patriarch Joachim was categorically against the opening of the academy, he was generally against secular education in Russia. The king tried to defend his decision. Fedor Alekseevich ordered to build special shelters for orphans and teach them various sciences and crafts. The sovereign wanted to arrange all the disabled in almshouses, which he built at his own expense. In 1682, the Boyar Duma once and for all abolished the so-called localism. According to the tradition that existed in Russia, state and military people were appointed to various positions not in accordance with their merits, experience or abilities, but in accordance with localism, that is, with the place that the ancestors of the appointed person occupied in the state apparatus.
Russo-Turkish War
In the 1670s there was Russo-Turkish War, which was caused by Turkey's desire to subjugate Left-bank Ukraine. In 1681, the Bucharest Peace Treaty was concluded between Russia and Turkey, according to which the border between these countries was established along the Dnieper. The cities of Kyiv, Vasilkov, Trypillya, Staiki, located in the Dnieper Right Bank, remained with Russia. Russians received the right to fish in the Dnieper, as well as to extract salt and hunt in the lands adjacent to the Dnieper. During this war, in the south of the country, the Izyumskaya serif line, about 400 versts long, was created, which covered Sloboda Ukraine from the attacks of the Turks and Tatars. Later this defensive line was continued and connected with the Belgorod notch line.
The wedding and first wife of Fedor Alekseevich Romanov
In the summer of 1680 the king Fedor Alekseevich saw on procession girl he liked. He instructed Yazykov to find out who she was, and Yazykov told him that she was the daughter Semyon Fedorovich Grushetsky, by name Agafya. The king, without violating grandfather's customs, ordered to convene a crowd of girls and chose Agafya from them. Boyar Miloslavsky tried to upset this marriage, blackening the royal bride, but did not achieve the goal and he himself lost influence at court. On July 18, 1680, the tsar married her. The new queen was of an humble family and, as they say, was of Polish origin. At the Moscow court, Polish customs began to enter, they began to wear kuntushi, cut their hair in Polish and learn the Polish language. The tsar himself, brought up by Simeon Sitiyanovich, knew Polish and read Polish books.
But soon, among the cares of the government, the queen died Agafya
(July 14, 1681) from childbirth, and after her a newborn baby, baptized under the name of Elijah.
The second wedding of the king
Meanwhile, the king was weakening day by day, but his neighbors supported in him the hope of recovery, and he entered into a new marriage with Marfa Matveevna Apraksina, a relative of Yazykov. The first consequence of this union was the forgiveness of Matveev.
The exiled boyar several times wrote petitions to the tsar from exile, justifying himself from the false accusations leveled against him, asked for the patriarch's petition, turned to various boyars and even to his enemies. Matveev, as a relief, was transferred to Mezen with his son, with his son's teacher, the gentry Poborsky, and servants, up to 30 people in total, and they gave him 156 rubles in salary, and, in addition, they released grain, rye, oats, and barley. But that didn't make things any easier for him. Begging again the sovereign to grant him freedom, Matveev wrote that in this way "it will be for a day for us your serfs and our orphans three coins each ..." "Church opponents," wrote Matveev in the same letter, "Avakum's wife and children receive a penny per person, and small three coins, and we, your serfs, are not opponents of either the church or your royal command. However, the Mezen governor Tukhachevsky loved Matveev and tried in every way he could to alleviate the fate of the exiled boyar. The main disadvantage was that it was difficult to get bread in Mezen. The inhabitants ate game and fish, which were there in great abundance, but scurvy raged there from lack of bread. In January 1682, as soon as the tsar announced Martha Apraksina as his bride, the captain of the stirrup regiment Ivan Lishukov was sent to Mezen with a decree to announce to the boyar Artamon Sergeevich Matveev and his son that the sovereign, recognizing their innocence, ordered them to be returned from exile, to return the court to them in Moscow, Moscow region and other estates and belongings left for distribution and sale; granted them the estate from the palace villages of Upper Landekh with villages and ordered them to freely release the boyar and his son to the city of Lukh, giving them road and pit carts, and in Lukh to wait for a new royal decree. Matveev owed this favor to the request of the royal bride, who was his goddaughter. Although the tsar announced that he recognized Matveev as completely innocent and falsely slandered, although before the release of Matveev he ordered one of his slanderers, doctor David Berlov, to be sent into exile, he did not dare, however, to return the boyar to Moscow - apparently, the royal sisters who hated Matveev prevented , and the young queen did not yet have enough strength to lead the king to such an act that would irritate the princesses to the extreme. However, the young queen a short time gained so much strength that she reconciled the tsar with Natalya Kirillovna and Tsarevich Peter, with whom, in the words of a contemporary, he had "indomitable disagreements." But the king did not have long to live with his young wife. A little over two months after his wedding, on April 27, 1682, he died before he was 21 years old.
Marriage and children
Wives:
1) from July 18, 1680 Agafia Semyonovna Grushetskaya(died 14 July 1681);
2) from February 15, 1682 Marfa Matveevna Apraksina(died 31 Dec. 1715). + 27 Apr. 1682
Having become king, Fyodor exalted his favorites - the bed-keeper Ivan Maksimovich Yazykov and the room attendant Alexei Timofeevich Likhachev. These were people of no nobility, they arranged the marriage of the king. They say that Fedor saw a girl who he really liked. He instructed Yazykov to inquire about her, and he reported that this was Agafya Semenovna Grushetskaya, the niece of the Duma clerk Zaborovsky. The deacon was given to know that he would not give his niece in marriage until the decree, and soon Fyodor married her. All five sons of Alexei Mikhailovich, born to him by his first wife, Maria Ilinichnaya Miloslavskaya, were weak and sickly people. Three died during the life of his father, and the youngest, Ivan, added mental underdevelopment to physical weakness. The eldest, Fedor, suffered from severe scurvy, could hardly walk, leaning on a stick, and was forced to spend most of his time in the palace. He received a sufficient education: he spoke Polish well, knew Latin, learned to compose verses, and even helped his mentor Simeon of Polotsk to translate psalms. Being 14 years old, in 1674 Fedor was solemnly declared heir to the throne, and only two years later he was supposed to take the place of the suddenly deceased Alexei Mikhailovich.
death of the king
The last months of the tsar's life were overshadowed by great grief: his wife died of childbirth, whom he married for love, contrary to the advice of the boyars. Together with his mother, the newborn heir also died. When it became obvious that Fedor Alekseevich will not live long, yesterday's favorites began to seek friendship from the younger brothers of the king and their relatives. After the death of Fyodor Alekseevich, both brothers came to the throne - Ivan And Peter. Ivan Alekseevich was a sickly person and could not actively help his younger brother, but he always supported him. And Peter I was able to create the Russian Empire from the Muscovite state.
