Unlike his younger brother Peter, Ivan Alekseevich Romanov lived a short and, in general, unremarkable life. There is little information about him in the documents of that time. And everything that can be gleaned from them convinces researchers that Ivan V was the least interested in government affairs.
Prince John
Aleksey Mikhailovich, nicknamed the Quietest, was the second tsar of the Romanov dynasty, which came to power in 1613. From his first marriage to Maria Miloslavskaya, he had thirteen children, the penultimate of which was Tsarevich Ivan.
Like his older brothers, he was not in good he alth. Scurvy, epilepsy attacks, speech impediment, poor eyesight - these ailments accompanied Ivan Alekseevich all his life.
There is practically no information about his education, but not all contemporaries considered him to be weak-minded. Yes, and Peter I himself addressed his elder brother in letters as a completely reasonable person. The steward Pyotr Prozorovsky was appointed tutor of the prince, to whose advice Ivan Alekseevich Romanov carefully listened until the end of his life.
When he was only three years old, diedMaria Miloslavskaya. Soon, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich married a second time to the 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 Fyodor in the spring of 1682 raised the issue of succession to the throne. According to tradition, the next autocrat was to be sixteen-year-old Ivan Alekseevich Romanov. Nevertheless, the Naryshkins were not going to share power with the Miloslavskys.
Ivan's dementia is the argument they used to proclaim Peter the tsar. Since the legitimate pretender showed no desire to take the throne, his interests were defended by his elder sister Sophia and the entire Miloslavsky family.
Thanks to the rumor spread by them about the violent death of Ivan in May of the same year, the archers revolted. Tsarina Natalya Kirillovna came out to them together with both princes, accompanied by the boyars. However, the sight of a living Ivan did not calm the rebellious archers. For several days, murders of Naryshkin supporters continued in Moscow.
In the end, the rebellion was extinguished by informing the archers of the compromise between the boyars and the patriarch. In June 1682, in the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin, two autocrats were married at once to the kingdom: Ivan V and Peter I. The ambitious Sophia was proclaimed regent under them.
Specially for the coronation ceremony, a double throne and a copy of Vladimir Monomakh's cap for Peter were made. On Ivan, as on the "senior" tsar, they entrusted a genuine relic. He turned out to be the last Russianking, who was crowned with the cap of Monomakh.
Co-rulers
The next seven years, Sophia actually reigned, although both brothers were present at audiences for foreign ambassadors, at a dispute arranged between schismatics and the Orthodox hierarchy, and other official events where the participation of the king was required.
And if Peter was not interested in the affairs of governing the country only for the time being, then Ivan Alekseevich Romanov, by the nature of his character and due to many illnesses, was absolutely indifferent to them. Perhaps that is why he always maintained peaceful relations with both his brother and sister.
When Sophia was intriguing, trying to remove Peter from power, Ivan, under the influence of his tutor, Prince Prozorovsky, took the side of his younger brother. However, it cannot be said that the “senior” king was not interested in anything at all.
All contemporaries noted his great piety. Despite bodily infirmities, he did not miss church services, often went on a pilgrimage, especially to the Novodevichy Convent. Such was Tsar Ivan Alekseevich Romanov. The domestic and foreign policy of Russia was completely given over to the hands of brother Peter.
The family of the "senior" king
Back in 1684, Ivan was married to Praskovya S altykova, who was considered one of the first beauties. Contrary to Sophia's expectations, the couple had five daughters and not a single son, under whose cover she counted on a long regency.
According to the evidenceforeign diplomats who lived in Moscow at the end of the 17th century, by the age of 27, Ivan Alekseevich looked like an ancient old man. At official receptions, when he got up, he was supported by the arms, and the king's voice sounded weak and indistinct.
In January 1696, Moscow learned that Ivan Alekseevich Romanov had died at the age of 30. His brief biography has never been of great interest to 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 took care of his widow and nieces.
Two daughters of Ivan V died in early childhood. Of the survivors, one, Anna Ioannovna, later became the Empress of Russia. The grandson of another daughter, Catherine, succeeded to the throne under the name of Ivan VI, however, he was soon overthrown as a result of a palace coup.
