Alexei Mikhailovich the Quietest illustrated in the Presidential Library’s materials

March 29, 2019 marks the 390th anniversary of the birth of Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov, the Russian Tsar, who deserved the epithet the Quietest, the father of the first Russian emperor, the great reformer Peter I.

The Presidential Library’s portal features digital collection “The Romanov Dynasty. Zemsky Sobor of 1613”, one of the sections of which is devoted to Alexei Mikhailovich. It includes copies of rare old documents that tell about the personal qualities and activities of the sovereign.

The future monarch was born in the family of Tsar Mikhail Feodorovich and his second wife Evdokia Streshneva. Until the age of five, Alexei was raised by the court "mothers" - a kind of maid of honor. Then the boyar Boris Morozov, the favorite of his father, became the constant tutor of the young prince. It was thanks to him that the heir to the Russian throne, being a child, amazed everyone with his education: by the age of 12, he assembled his own library which included vocabulary, grammar and cosmography.

In addition, the boy took a constant part in receptions of foreign ambassadors, which also had a beneficial effect on the level of his intellect.

Alexei became an orphan in 16 years. And then he was anointed tsar. Thus, one of the most enlightened people of his time became the head of our country. In pre-Petrine Russia, this was a great rarity. “He was interested in everything, he wanted to know everything, he wanted to learn everything…”, - says N. Fyodorov in the book “The Quietest Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich” (1913).

Among other things, the new sovereign had truly amazing qualities for his age - kindness and nobility of character. This is reflected in  P. Y. Lvov’s book “Praise to the great sovereign, tsar, Alexei Mikhailovich, the autocrat of all Russia” (1806).

However, all this, alas, did not give Alexei Mikhailovich the opportunity to be a real tsar. For a long time he was in the shadow of his tutor Morozov, who was distinguished by political dexterity and lust for power. The sovereign could not get rid of him, because he loved and revered boyar as a father. However, everything changed a year after the accession of Alexei, during the Salt Riot. In 1646 there was a need to replenish the state treasury. For this, the duty on salt was increased, and the people quickly stopped buying it. The tax was abolished, but instead taxed people began to collect tax arrears for the previous two years. The initiative of these actions, as historians write, belonged to the boyar Boris Morozov, who managed the state affairs on behalf of the tsar. Tensions grew, and two years later, unrest began in Moscow. The people sent petitioners to the court several times, but the tsar didn’t let them go to Alexei Mikhailovich.

At the same time, the sovereign understood that the country needed transformation. The current legislation is very outdated. Therefore, at the Zemsky Sobor of 1649, it was adopted “The Code of the Emperor Tsar and Grand Duke Alexei Mikhailovich”, which remained the main body of laws of our state for two hundred years. It was prescribed not only procedural rules, but also state, civil, administrative and criminal law. In particular, the privileges of the clergy were seriously limited: apart from the highest dignitaries and the patriarch, the ministers of the church were now to be judged on the same basis. This innovation seriously ruined Alexei Mikhailovich’s relations with Patriarch Nikon. Even more, the discord was aggravated against the background of the reform promoted by the patriarch and which led to a religious schism. Ultimately, Nikon was removed from the patriarchate by royal decree.

The Presidential Library’s collections contain many publications telling about the personal life of the monarch. For example, “The Hunting Diary of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich of 1657” written by him. Hunting was the sovereign's favorite entertainment. He often went to nature to take a break from work.

Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov was married twice. In the first marriage - with Maria Miloslavskaya – he had 13 children. And after her death, the tsar married a relative of his favorite, Artamon Matveev, Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina, who had three more children. The elder was the future emperor Peter the Great. At the same time, historians note: father and son were completely different.

However, the “quietest” sovereign, being a contemplator rather than a leader, still played a prominent role in the development of the country. Among his main diplomatic achievements are the inclusion of Ukraine into Russia. Under the “second Romanov” the cities of Irkutsk and Nerchinsk were founded, the development of Siberia continued. The tsar devoted considerable time to the intellectual development of the people. V. Berh writes about this: "Alexei Mikhailovich... put his stardom to such a degree of education that Russia began to have considerable weight in the political system of the European States".

Under Alexei Mikhailovich, theatrical performances began to be given on a regular basis. A good musical education, which the tsar received as a child, allowed him to make a contribution to this area: “Worthy there” hymn, written by the tsar in the “Venetian” style, entered the repertoire of the male choir of the publishing department of the Moscow Patriarchate “Old Russian chant”.

Alexei Mikhailovich the Quietest died in 1676 from a heart attack. He was 46 years old.