Aleksey Mikhailovich Romanov - the second sovereign from the Romanov family and the son of the first tsar of the great dynasty. He took the throne at the age of sixteen. During his reign, popular riots, a split in the church, reunification with Ukraine and other cardinal transformations took place in the country. Alexey Mikhailovich carried out reforms taking into account the country's withdrawal from a difficult situation.
Quietest
Alexey Romanov was nicknamed the Quietest. Many historians explain this by the fact that the king had a meek disposition. He knew how to listen to his interlocutor and never raised his voice to anyone.
More "picky" experts have found another explanation. They start from the old postulate of "peace and silence." Alexei Mikhailovich left his sons a strong strong state, which was feared by neighboring countries.
Czar with European views
Aleksey Romanov has always been different from the Rurik dynasty and his father. He was brought up by his uncle (as they called him then) Boris Morozov. From childhood, Alexei Mikhailovich, heinculcated European traditions. For example, even an outfit for a young prince was ordered in Germany and England.
Ever since childhood, the king was fond of reading foreign newspapers: German, English, French. They were specially translated for him into Russian. In order for the prince to be aware of the latest news, an uninterrupted postal line was established with Riga.
Aleksey Mikhailovich managed to make changes to the palace ceremonial. Of course, copying the European model. He himself began to sign diplomatic documents. This has never been done before.
Strengthening autocracy
Aleksey Mikhailovich Romanov introduced the most "revolutionary" reforms. Both internal and external political decisions led to the prosperity of the state. The second ruler from the Romanov family ruled the country more than successfully.
The 17th century was called the most rebellious. A person with a “meek disposition” could hardly cope with such situations. Alexey Mikhailovich ruled hard.
In public matters, he had to rely on someone's weighty opinion, because at the age of sixteen it was difficult to lead an entire power. He came across an unsuccessful adviser - greedy Boris Morozov.
Almost all the power he has concentrated in his hands. He took exorbitant bribes and extortions, setting against himself almost all the estates of Moscow. It was Morozov who introduced the tax on s alt. Instead of five kopecks, a pood of s alt began to be sold at two hryvnias. Therefore, in 1648, one of the mostmajor uprisings - s alt riot.
Revolts and riots
Aleksey Mikhailovich carried out reforms in the midst of constant popular uprisings. Echoes of the s alt rebellion could be traced even in the smallest villages of the state.
In 1650, a new uprising broke out in Pskov and Novgorod. Everyone bought bread to pay off debts for peasants who had fled to Russia, who lived in the territories that had ceded to Sweden along the Stolbovetsky Peace.
The impending famine in Russia paled before the Cossack freemen, which escalated into the Peasants' War of 1670-1671.
Domestic policy
The internal reforms of Alexei Mikhailovich were aimed at strengthening the power of the tsar, while taking into account the views and interests of the estates.
In 1649, the king adopted one of the most important legal documents: the Cathedral Code. Thanks to this decision, it was possible to speak about family, civil, criminal rights, as well as about the actual legal proceedings in the country.
After a series of reforms, the position of the estates has changed. Russian merchants became more legally protected from the arbitrariness of the governors. Also in the trade business they were on a par with foreign merchants.
Each nobleman could be the sole or hereditary owner of the land.
As a result of the adopted reforms, the autocracy was strengthened, and government became more centralized.
Foreign policy
Aleksey Mikhailovich carried out external reforms as well. One of the global issues: the accession of Ukraine. The left-bank part of it was led by Bohdan Khmelnitsky. He has repeatedly proposed unification. In the autumn of 1653, the final decision was made to admit Ukraine to Russia. It was this decision that caused the outbreak of the war with the Commonwe alth.
The military campaign caused a deterioration in relations with Sweden. This state did not approve of the policy of Tsar Alexei and prevented the strengthening of Russia. Therefore, Sweden has closed access to the B altic Sea.
Relations with Sweden deteriorated, and in 1656 the Russian army immediately took major cities, including Riga. However, in 1658, Russia lost ground due to the complicated situation in the Ukrainian lands.
The new war with Poland ended in 1667 with the Andrusovo truce. According to him, Chernihiv, Smolensk lands and the left-bank part of Ukraine became part of Russia.
What reforms did Alexey Mikhailovich carry out?
The king carried out drastic reforms both within his country and abroad. We can definitely say that Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov was a wise politician who achieved his goal.
The last king of Muscovite Russia was able to return Smolensk, Severny lands, Chernigov, Starodub to Russia. Alexei Mikhailovich annexed Ukraine, part of Siberia, founding new cities: Nerchinsk, Selenginsk, Irkutsk, Okhotsk. One of the successful cases was the opening of a passage between Asia and America in 1648.
Monetary reform
Silver kopecks, polushkas and money were in the circulation of the state. largethere was no denomination in Russia at that time. This greatly complicates the implementation of large transactions. Because of this, trade developed slowly. Therefore, Alexei Mikhailovich decided to carry out economic reforms immediately.
During the reign of the king there were wars. Despite this, foreign policy was actively pursued. The territories of modern Ukraine and Belarus joined Russia. There were other coins in circulation in these countries - copper and silver, which were minted on a round mug. And in Russia, money was used, which was made on flattened wire. Later, the territory of the Commonwe alth joined the Russian state.
All these factors led to the need to mint new coins closer to European standards.
Another important reason to carry out a monetary reform is the lack of money in the treasury. There was a war, and the plague epidemic of 1654-1655 captured the country.
In 1654 the tsar gave the order to mint rubles. On one side there should have been an image of a double-headed eagle with a crown on its head, and at the bottom there was an inscription - "ruble", "summer 7162". On the other side - the king-rider on a horse with the inscription "By God's mercy, the great sovereign, tsar and grand duke Alexei Mikhailovich of all Great and Little Russia."
Gradually introduced new coins: fifty dollars, half fifty dollars, hryvnia, altyn and groshevik. Altyn and groshevik were made of copper wire, on the first one there was an inscription “altyn”, and on the second - “4 dengi”.
In Moscow they even created the New Moscow English Mint for minting new coins.
The population was initially reluctant to use the new money. The authorities introduced a restriction on the acceptance of coins. Subsequently, copper money began to depreciate. This led to the fact that the peasants refused to sell grain, and the merchants refused to sell goods for copper money. Thus began the Copper Riot in 1662.
As a result of the uprising, the reform was canceled, money yards began to close. They began to redeem a copper penny at the rate of one hundred copper coins for one silver. As a result, copper coins gradually fell out of circulation.
Modern historians say that the idea to carry out monetary reform was correct. However, the lack of knowledge led to failure and uprisings. Later, Peter I will carry out a similar more successful reform, using other methods.
Military reform
The military reform of Alexei Mikhailovich was carried out from 1648 to 1654. The best parts of the old system have been enlarged in the army. The elite Moscow cavalry, gunners and archers appeared.
The reform of the army of Alexei Mikhailovich assumed the mass creation of regiments of the new system. After the end of the Thirty Years' War, there were many unemployed soldiers. They came in handy in Russia.
The first elective regiment of the soldier's system was formed under the leadership of Colonel Aggey Shepelev. They added Poles, Hungarians, Lithuanians.
Soon formed the second elected regiment - the palace. It was led by Colonel Yakov Kolyubakin.
In the process of adopting the military reform from 1648 to 1654, such units of the army increased in numbers,like gunners, Moscow archers, the elite cavalry of the Tsar's regiment. Regiments of a new system were created: soldiers, dragoons, hussars, reytars. Separately, foreign military personnel were invited to serve.
Customs reform
The customs reform of Alexei Mikhailovich was a necessity in Russia. The taxation system was streamlined during his reign.
In 1655, a special body was created - the Accounts Chamber. The specialists of this chamber controlled the fiscal activity of orders and the execution of the revenue side of the treasury.
The main indirect taxes are trade duties. They were charged for any movement or sale of goods. The treasury received fees from public baths, from the manufacture and sale of beer, vodka, and honey.
Customs duty was replaced by a single ruble duty. Its size was 5% of the value of the goods, with s alt - 10%, with fish - a special duty.
Foreigners had to pay 6% of the value of the goods in domestic customs.
Aleksey Mikhailovich carried out the reforms competently. The document "Cathedral Code" was adopted. Thanks to these measures, trade began to develop, customs taxation was improved, and privileges for foreigners in the matter of trade were abolished.
Church Reform
One can briefly say about Alexei Mikhailovich: a monarch who cared about the improvement of the state. Sometimes in a monolithic country with sole power, wrong steps were taken, which led to disastrous consequences. A striking example is Nikon's reforms. It was they who led to the split of the church and the formation of the Old Believers. This isone of the bloodiest pages in Russia.
The reason for the church reform of Alexei Mikhailovich is to reunite the patriarchal church of Moscow Russia with the Byzantine one. By decrees of the king, many religious rites were changed, liturgical books and icons were corrected.
The non-acceptance of the peoples of church innovations led to an uprising called the "Solovki seat". It went on for eight years. All rebels were severely punished.
King's Family
In the policy of every sovereign of medieval Russia, the issue of inheritance plays an important role.
Aleksey Mikhailovich was married twice. He is the father of 16 children. His first wife Maria Miloslavskaya lived with him for 19 years. In marriage, they had 13 children.
Second wife Natalya Naryshkina gave the king three children. They lived together for five years.
Aleksey Mikhailovich Romanov carried out reforms both internal and external for the successful development of the Russian state. Although many of his actions are still considered controversial.
Results of the reign of the king
During the twenty years of his reign, the Russian Tsar did a lot. During the years of his reign, many uprisings, riots, and wars took place. Despite this, the policy of Alexei Mikhailovich was aimed at strengthening Russia on the world stage. Below are the epochal events that took place during the reign of the king.
Domestic policy:
- The activity of Zemsky Sobors was terminated
- The Sudebnik of 1550 was replaced by the Cathedral Code of 1649. According to this document, the peasants were forever assigned to their masters.
- Alexey Mikhailovich created the Order of Secret Affairs. This contributed to the strengthening of absolutism in the country.
Foreign policy:
- Reunification with Ukraine, return of Russian lands.
- Development of Siberia, construction of new cities.
- Successful wars with the Commonwe alth and Sweden. As a result, the return of Smolensk and Russian lands.
