Alexei Mikhailovich (the Quiet) (19. 03. 1629 to 30. 01. 1676)

Tzar (13. 07. 1645 to 30. 01. 1676)

Alexei Mikhailovich ascended the throne on July 13, 1645, after his father's death. He was a very cultured man; he wrote many decrees himself, and was the first Tzar to sign them himself. During his reign, Alexei Mikhailovich tried to write his memoirs of the war with Poland. Gentle and religious, he was loved by the people, who called him "the Quiet".

At first the Tzar was not greatly interested in government problems. The State was governed by the boyar Morozov and the Tzar's father-in-law, Miloslavski. Under them the financial burden constantly increased. Miloslavskis' lawless oppressions caused the outbreak of the Moscow Insurrection (1648), after which Morozov was exiled to the monastery of Kirillo-Belozersk. Other rebellions broke out in southern cities of Russia and Siberia. In 1650 disturbances were noticed in Novgorod and Pskov. But in 1649 Alexei the Quiet took the governing of the country into his own hands. He drew up the Sobornoye Ulozhenye, a Code of laws (1649) which reflected the nobilities interests. Very soon Patriarch Nikon became his favourite. Nikon replaced the Tzar in solving government problems when the latter was out of the country. The Patriarch made claims for ecclesiastical autonomy or even primacy in the state, which alarmed and then angered the Tzar. To reduce the boyars' power Alexei created the Sovereign Privy Prikaz, a body of central government which solved various political problems without the boyars' participation. Soon after Alexei's death the Prikaz was dissolved. The Government encouraged industrial development, and supported the merchantry. The New Commerce Charter and the Customs Charter were adopted; these provided for the development of domestic and foreign commerce. The most important event in foreign policy was the union of the Ukraine with Russia, proclaimed by hetman Bogdan Khmelnitski on January 8, 1654, at the council of Pereyaslavskaya Rada. But it could not coincide with Poland's interests and a new war broke out, lasting 13 years. In 1667 the Truce of Andrusovo was concluded. During Alexei Mikhailovich's reign the Moscow government extended Russias borders not only to the south-west (where Russia took the Ukraine on the left-bank of the Dnieper and Byelorussian territories), but also to the east and south. The Tzars of Kakhetia and Ymeretia (in Georgia) received Russian support. In Western Siberia cossacks defeated the Khan Kuchum's descendants. The Russians also discovered Eastern Siberia. Russia established diplomatic relations with Western Europe. Military reforms envisaged the building of the first warships on the river Oka, and the creation of a new regular army. At this time the peasant war under Razin (1670-1671), and the Moscow national rebellions (the so-called Solyanoi (Salt) rebellion of 1648, and Medni (Copper) rebellion of 1662) were cruelly put down. Alexei Mikhailovich died on January 30, 1676, at the age of 47. He was buried in the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.

"Romanov Dynasty"