OCR Specification focus:
‘rule of Feodor, Golitsyn and relations with the Boyars; accession of Peter and Ivan, 1682 and regency of Sophia, role of Streltsi’
The succession crisis of the late seventeenth century revealed deep tensions within Muscovite politics and society, shaping Russia’s future under the young Peter and his half-brother Ivan.
Rule of Feodor III (1676–1682)
Feodor III, the son of Tsar Alexis, ascended the throne in 1676 at the age of fifteen. Despite his frail health, he presided over a short but notable reign.
Character and Rule
Feodor was plagued by ill health from birth, which limited his ability to lead military campaigns or rule decisively. Nevertheless, he was intelligent and interested in reform. His court was heavily influenced by advisors, most significantly Prince Vasily Golitsyn, who became a central figure in Russian politics.
Golitsyn’s Influence
Golitsyn, a cultured and Western-oriented boyar, encouraged reforms and modernisation, including:
Legal reforms: streamlining of administration and changes in court procedures.
Educational influence: promotion of learning and support for foreign contacts.
Relations with Boyars: Golitsyn sought to balance traditional boyar power with modernising policies, creating both allies and opposition.
Boyars: The highest-ranking nobles in Muscovy, traditionally forming a powerful aristocratic council and often resisting tsarist centralisation.
Feodor’s reign did not witness major wars or territorial expansion, but the gradual cultural shift toward Westernisation laid groundwork for later changes.
Succession Crisis after Feodor’s Death
Feodor died childless in 1682, prompting a succession dispute between two branches of the Romanov family.
Rival Claimants
Ivan V, Feodor’s full brother, was the next in line by hereditary right. However, he was sickly, physically weak, and considered unfit to rule.
Peter I (later Peter the Great), Feodor’s younger half-brother by Alexis’s second marriage, was healthy, energetic, and strongly supported by the Naryshkin family (his mother’s relatives).
This clash created factionalism between the Miloslavsky family (supporters of Ivan) and the Naryshkins (supporters of Peter).
Role of the Patriarch and Boyars
The Boyar Duma (council of nobles) initially supported Peter’s claim due to Ivan’s incapacity. However, their decision fuelled resentment among Miloslavsky supporters and the armed forces.
The Streltsy Uprising of 1682
The Streltsy, the elite Moscow garrison units, became a decisive factor in the succession.
Streltsy: Semi-professional musketeer regiments established in the sixteenth century, acting both as soldiers and a political force in Moscow.
Causes of Revolt
Resentment over poor pay and conditions.
Manipulation by the Miloslavsky faction, which spread rumours that the Naryshkins had murdered Ivan.
Fear of losing influence in the political reshuffle after Feodor’s death.
Events of the Uprising
In May 1682, the Streltsy mutinied, stormed the Kremlin, and killed several Naryshkin supporters.
The violence forced a compromise: both Ivan and Peter were proclaimed joint tsars, ruling together.
The double silver throne used by co-tsars Ivan V and Peter I, preserved in the Moscow Kremlin Armoury. It embodies the unprecedented dual monarchy created in 1682. Source
The Regency of Sophia (1682–1689)
With Ivan and Peter too young to govern, Sophia Alekseyevna, their half-sister, assumed the regency, wielding real power behind the dual monarchy.
Sophia’s Authority
Sophia was politically astute and relied on Prince Vasily Golitsyn as her chief advisor. Together, they pursued:
Diplomatic initiatives, particularly in foreign policy with Poland and the Crimean Khanate.
Strengthening of central control, though always vulnerable to factional struggles.
Appeasement of the Streltsy, whose support had enabled her rise.
Challenges to Sophia
Sophia’s regency was undermined by:
Peter’s growing independence, fostered at Preobrazhenskoe with his play regiments.
Military failures, especially Golitsyn’s disastrous Crimean campaigns against the Ottoman Empire in 1687 and 1689.
Declining Streltsy loyalty, as economic grievances resurfaced.
By 1689, Peter, now seventeen, was able to rally support from his military followers and foreign advisors to stage a coup, ending Sophia’s regency and securing personal control.
Significance of the Accession of Peter and Ivan
The unusual arrangement of dual monarchy (Ivan V and Peter I) highlighted the instability of Muscovite succession traditions.
Ivan V’s Role
Nominal co-tsar with Peter until his death in 1696.
Largely uninvolved in governance due to his frailty.
Symbolically important as a unifying figure for the Miloslavsky faction.
Peter I’s Emergence
Initially overshadowed by Sophia and Ivan, but steadily developed his authority.
His eventual victory in 1689 established the foundation for his later autocratic reforms and drive towards Westernisation.
Key Consequences
The Streltsy demonstrated their political power, though their mutiny foreshadowed their eventual suppression by Peter.
The Boyars’ influence remained strong, but the regency crisis exposed the dangers of divided noble loyalties.
The rise of Sophia illustrated the possibilities of female regency in a patriarchal society, though her failure reinforced gender limitations in Russian politics.
Most significantly, the young Peter gained political experience through opposition to Sophia, shaping his determination to centralise and modernise Russia once he secured sole rule.
FAQ
Golitsyn became Sophia’s chief minister and shaped her policies. He led foreign policy initiatives, including attempts to strengthen ties with Poland and to challenge Ottoman power through the Crimean campaigns.
He was seen as a Westerniser, keen to modernise Russia’s administration and diplomacy. However, his military failures in the Crimea weakened both Sophia’s authority and his own reputation, contributing to the regency’s collapse in 1689.
Sophia capitalised on several advantages:
She was the eldest surviving daughter of Tsar Alexis and half-sister to both Ivan and Peter.
Her education was unusually advanced for a woman of her time, allowing her to speak confidently in political debates.
The Streltsy, who had placed her brothers on the throne, supported her claim.
Her ability to ally with Golitsyn gave her both political credibility and administrative capacity.
The Miloslavsky family, related to Ivan V, argued for his hereditary claim. They relied on the Streltsy to promote unrest in Moscow.
The Naryshkins, maternal relatives of Peter, backed his succession and were initially supported by the Boyar Duma. This rivalry was central to the political violence of 1682, and the resulting compromise left both dynastic factions partially satisfied.
Their intervention in the succession showed the danger of allowing military units a role in politics.
In the longer term:
It encouraged Peter to distrust the Streltsy deeply.
He later suppressed and restructured them after their 1698 revolt.
It highlighted the instability of Moscow’s military forces and accelerated Peter’s later reforms of the army.
Ivan’s frailty meant he never exercised independent authority. In practice, power lay first with Sophia and then with Peter.
His presence as co-tsar:
Provided symbolic unity for the Miloslavsky faction.
Helped maintain legitimacy for Sophia’s regency.
Allowed Peter to develop political experience while technically sharing the throne.
Ivan’s death in 1696 ended the dual monarchy and left Peter as sole ruler.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks)
Who were proclaimed joint tsars in 1682 following the Streltsy uprising?
Mark Scheme:
1 mark for naming Peter I (Peter the Great).
1 mark for naming Ivan V.
(Maximum 2 marks.)
Question 2 (6 marks)
Explain the role of the Streltsy in the succession crisis of 1682.
Mark Scheme:
Award 1 mark for each valid point, up to a maximum of 6. Answers may include:
The Streltsy were the elite Moscow garrison regiments. (1)
They were manipulated by the Miloslavsky faction to support Ivan’s claim. (1)
Rumours spread among them that the Naryshkins had murdered Ivan. (1)
In May 1682, the Streltsy mutinied and stormed the Kremlin. (1)
They killed several of the Naryshkin supporters. (1)
Their actions forced a compromise in which both Peter and Ivan were proclaimed joint tsars. (1)
(Any six points for 6 marks; maximum 6 marks.)
