Ivan Alekseevich Romanov: briefly about the main

Unlike Peter's younger brother, Ivan Alekseevich Romanov lived a short and, in general, an unremarkable life. Information about him in the documents of that time remained a bit. And all that can be learned from them, convinces the researchers that the affairs of the management of Ivan V was least of all interested.

Tsarevich John

Aleksei Mikhailovich, nicknamed Tishaishy, was the second tsar from the Romanov dynasty, who came to power in 1613. From his first marriage with Maria Miloslavskaya, he had thirteen children, the penultimate of whom was Tsarevich Ivan.

Like his older brothers, he did not have good health. Scurvy, epileptic seizures, speech defect, poor vision - these ailments accompanied Ivan Alekseevich all his life.

There is little information about his education, but not all his contemporaries considered him to be mentally feeble. Yes, and Peter I in letters addressed to his elder brother as a man quite reasonable. Tsarevich was educated by a steward Petr Prozorovsky, to whose advice Ivan Alekseyevich Romanov listened attentively until the end of his life.

When he was just three years old, Maria Miloslavskaia died. Soon, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich married again for a young Natalia Naryshkina. Left without a mother, Ivan became attached to his younger brother Peter, and this brotherly affection remained with him forever.

Who should be on the throne?

The death of Tsar Feodor in the spring of 1682 raised the question of succession to the throne. By tradition, the next autocrat was to become a sixteen-year-old Ivan Alekseyevich Romanov. Nevertheless, the Naryshkins were not going to share power with the Miloslavskys.

Dementia of Ivan is the argument that they used to proclaim Peter the Tsar. Since the legitimate challenger did not show any desire to take the throne, his interests were upheld by the elder sister Sophia and the whole family of Miloslavskys.

Thanks to their rumors about the violent death of Ivan in May of the same year, the Streltsi raised a riot. Tsarina Natalia Kirillovna came out to them together with the two princes, accompanied by the boyars. However, the sight of the living Ivan did not reassure the rebellious streltsy. Several days in Moscow, the murders of the Naryshkin's supporters continued.

In the end, the insurgency managed to be extinguished, notifying the streltsy about the compromise solution of the boyars and the patriarch. In June 1682 at the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin two autocrats were crowned at the kingdom: Ivan V and Peter I. Ambitious Sophia was proclaimed by them as a regent.

Specially for the coronation ceremony, a double throne and a copy of Vladimir Monomakh's cap for Peter were made. On Ivan, as the "senior" king, they put a real relic. He was the last Russian tsar, who was crowned with the cap of Monomakh.

Co-rulers

For the next seven years, Sophia actually reigned, although both brothers attended audiences for foreign ambassadors, on a dispute arranged between schismatics and the Orthodox hierarchy, and other official events where the king's participation was required.

And if the affairs of the administration of the country of Peter were not interested only until the time, then Ivan Alekseevich Romanov, in terms of his character and due to many illnesses, was absolutely indifferent to them. Perhaps that is why he always maintained peaceful relations with his brother and sister.

When Sophia intrigued, trying to remove Peter from power, Ivan, under the influence of his tutor Prince Prozorovsky, took the side of his younger brother. However, it can not be said that the "senior" Tsar was not interested in anything at all.

All contemporaries noted his great piety. Despite his physical infirmities, he did not miss church services, often went to a pilgrimage, especially in the Novodevichy Convent. This was the Tsar Ivan Alekseyevich Romanov. Russia's domestic and foreign policy was completely given to Peter's brother.

Family "elder" king

As early as 1684, Ivan was married to Praskovie Saltykova, considered one of the first beauties. Contrary to Sophia's expectations, the couple had five daughters and no son, under the guise of which she counted on a long regency.

According to the testimony of foreign diplomats who lived in Moscow at the end of the 17th century, at the age of 27 Ivan looked like an old man. At official receptions, when he got up, he was supported by his arms, and the Tsar's voice sounded weak and indistinct.

In January 1696, Moscow learned that in the thirtieth year of his life Ivan Alekseyevich Romanov had died. A brief biography of him never represented much interest for historians, unlike the active figure of Peter I. The latter, having begun to reign alone, did not forget the family of his elder brother and always cared about the widow and nieces.

Two daughters of Ivan V died in early childhood. Of the survivors alone, Anna Ioannovna, subsequently became the empress of Russia. The grandson of another daughter, Catherine, inherited the throne under the name of Ivan VI, however, was soon overthrown as a result of the palace coup.