Natalia Naryshkina
Encyclopedia
Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina was the Tsaritsa
of Russia
from 1671 to 1676 as the second spouse of tsar Alexei I of Russia.
(1623–1691) and wife Anna Leontyevna Leontyeva (d. 1706, daughter of Leonty Dimitriyevich Leontyev and spouse Praskovya Ivanovna Rayevskaya who d. 1641), she was brought up in the house of the great Western-leaning boyar
Artamon Matveyev. She was given a more free and Western-influenced upbringing than most Russian women of the time.
On 1 February 1671, she married Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich as his second spouse. They had three children, the future Peter I of Russia
(1672–1725); Tsarevna Natalya who founded the first public theatre in Russia, writing a number of its plays herself; and Tsarevna Feodora. After the throne was secured for her son Peter, Natalya, her brothers, and the patriarch effectively controlled the government.
She became widowed when Tsar Alexei died in 1676; a son from previous marriage ascended the throne as Tsar Feodor
. Feodor and brother Ivan treated their stepmother with affection, always referring to her as "Mama". When Feodor died in 1682, her 10-year old son became Tsar Peter the Great
. She became Regent, with her foster father Artamon Matveyev who was called back from exile, as advisor. However, during the revolt of the Streltsy
on 15 May 1682, two of her brothers and Matveyev were killed and her blood father Kyril Naryshkin was forced to become a monk in a convent. Feodor's elder sister, Sofia Alekseyevna replaced her as Regent.
With Sofia heading the regime of her son Peter was a co-Tsar, Natalya lived in poverty. She had to receive financial support from the Patriarch or others in the Orthodox Church. She spent her time mainly in Alexei's summer palace in Preobrazhenskoe, about 5 km from Moscow, together with her son Peter.
In August 1689, Peter overthrew Sofia, and he and his half-brother Ivan
continued to be co-Tsar. Natalya was back as nominal leader in the court. Her brother, Lev Naryshkin, was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and a de facto prime minister.
When the Patriarch Joachim died in 1690, Peter wanted to appoint Marcellus, Bishop of Pskov, who had travelled overseas and spoke several languages, as the new patriarch. However, Natalya lead the conservative faction in the court to nominate the conservative Adrian, Bishop of Kazan, to head the Russian Orthodox Church.
Tsaritsa
Tsaritsa , formerly spelled czaritsa , is the title of a female autocratic ruler of Bulgaria or Russia, or the title of a tsar's wife....
of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
from 1671 to 1676 as the second spouse of tsar Alexei I of Russia.
Biography
Coming from a petty noble family, daughter of Kirill Poluektovich NaryshkinKirill Poluektovich Naryshkin
Kirill Poluektovich Naryshkin was the maternal grandfather of Peter the Great.Naryshkin's father was an obscure nobleman, Poluekt Ivanovich Naryshkin from Tarusa...
(1623–1691) and wife Anna Leontyevna Leontyeva (d. 1706, daughter of Leonty Dimitriyevich Leontyev and spouse Praskovya Ivanovna Rayevskaya who d. 1641), she was brought up in the house of the great Western-leaning boyar
Boyar
A boyar, or bolyar , was a member of the highest rank of the feudal Moscovian, Kievan Rus'ian, Bulgarian, Wallachian, and Moldavian aristocracies, second only to the ruling princes , from the 10th century through the 17th century....
Artamon Matveyev. She was given a more free and Western-influenced upbringing than most Russian women of the time.
On 1 February 1671, she married Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich as his second spouse. They had three children, the future Peter I of Russia
Peter I of Russia
Peter the Great, Peter I or Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov Dates indicated by the letters "O.S." are Old Style. All other dates in this article are New Style. ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire from until his death, jointly ruling before 1696 with his half-brother, Ivan V...
(1672–1725); Tsarevna Natalya who founded the first public theatre in Russia, writing a number of its plays herself; and Tsarevna Feodora. After the throne was secured for her son Peter, Natalya, her brothers, and the patriarch effectively controlled the government.
She became widowed when Tsar Alexei died in 1676; a son from previous marriage ascended the throne as Tsar Feodor
Feodor III of Russia
Feodor III Alexeevich of Russia was the Tsar of all Russia between 1676 and 1682....
. Feodor and brother Ivan treated their stepmother with affection, always referring to her as "Mama". When Feodor died in 1682, her 10-year old son became Tsar Peter the Great
Peter I of Russia
Peter the Great, Peter I or Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov Dates indicated by the letters "O.S." are Old Style. All other dates in this article are New Style. ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire from until his death, jointly ruling before 1696 with his half-brother, Ivan V...
. She became Regent, with her foster father Artamon Matveyev who was called back from exile, as advisor. However, during the revolt of the Streltsy
Streltsy
Streltsy were the units of Russian guardsmen in the 16th - early 18th centuries, armed with firearms. They are also collectively known as Marksman Troops .- Origins and organization :...
on 15 May 1682, two of her brothers and Matveyev were killed and her blood father Kyril Naryshkin was forced to become a monk in a convent. Feodor's elder sister, Sofia Alekseyevna replaced her as Regent.
With Sofia heading the regime of her son Peter was a co-Tsar, Natalya lived in poverty. She had to receive financial support from the Patriarch or others in the Orthodox Church. She spent her time mainly in Alexei's summer palace in Preobrazhenskoe, about 5 km from Moscow, together with her son Peter.
In August 1689, Peter overthrew Sofia, and he and his half-brother Ivan
Ivan V of Russia
Ivan V Alekseyevich Romanov was a joint Tsar of Russia who co-reigned between 1682 and 1696. He was the youngest son of Alexis I of Russia and Maria Miloslavskaya. His reign was only formal, since he had serious physical and mental disabilities...
continued to be co-Tsar. Natalya was back as nominal leader in the court. Her brother, Lev Naryshkin, was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and a de facto prime minister.
When the Patriarch Joachim died in 1690, Peter wanted to appoint Marcellus, Bishop of Pskov, who had travelled overseas and spoke several languages, as the new patriarch. However, Natalya lead the conservative faction in the court to nominate the conservative Adrian, Bishop of Kazan, to head the Russian Orthodox Church.