Texts for the club (Kids)
1. Mikhail Romanov. The Tsar in Love
The tsar was now in his twenties, the grown man. Accordingly, it was announced that the great ruler Mikhail had reached the age of adulthood and the time had come for him to take a wife. The tsar’s mother found a bride for her son but Mikhail made his own decision.
Years ago, during his exile, he had fallen in love with Masha Khlopova, the daughter of one his guardians and promised to marry only her. The tsar’s decisions were announced and his bride to be was found rooms within the Palace. The Saltykov brothers, relatives of the tsar’s mother were put in charge of her safety. But just before the wedding, Masha suddenly fell dangerously ill.
2. Mikhail Romanov. The Tsar in Love (part 2)
The palace was alive with rumor and suspicion. The Saltykovs summoned the best foreign doctors, who announced that a terrible disease was devouring the royal bride from within and no cure was possible. People were soon whispering that the tsar’s mother was behind it, because she was opposed to the marriage.
In any event, Masha eventually recovered, only to be exiled to Siberia, for apparently concealing an illness from the tsar’s advisers. An investigation later concluded she’d been poisoned by the Saltykovs, who were dismissed from court.
3. Mikhail Romanov. Maria Dolgorukova, Mikhail’s First Wife
When tsar Mikhail turned 28, his relatives began to worry without an heir the future of the dynasty was in doubt. Once more his mother had a candidate. This time Mikhail agreed to the match and was married to Princess Maria Dolgorukova. But four months later, Maria fell sick and died. The cause never fully established.
After this latest disaster, Mikhail dismissed his mother from any involvement in his marital affairs and instead arranged for the traditional election of a Russian Royal bride. The advice he received was to watch the girl carefully from afar, appraising their age, complexion, and eyes, and hair. The tradition of electing a tsar’s bride was essentially a beauty contest, involving thousands of candidates from noble families.
4. Alexey Romanov
Aleksey Mikhailovich Romanov was the second Russian tsar of the house of Romanov. Aleksey was surrounded by servants and nurses. He then came under the charge of a tutor, a boyar named Boris Ivanovich Morozov, who exerted great influence over his pupil for the next 30 years. At the age of five he learned to read, and at the age of seven he knew how to write. He was clever and quick-witted.
Aleksey received some formal education, but it was limited to practical subjects needed to conduct the affairs of the state. He was taught history, geography, mathematics and natural sciences, as well as military and foreign affairs. He even tried to write verses and left notes about the Polish War. He liked to philosophize and was a passionate hunter.
5. Fedor Alexeyevich
Feodor owned a large music library, sang well and was a talented composer. But his greatest passion was for horse breeding. When Feodor was only 3 he was not given a toy horse like most of the other 3 year olds, but a real horse because he was the son of the tsar. The little boy was in awe. For the rest of his life he would be obsessed with everything to do with horses.
When he was thirteen, Feodor decided to travel to the countryside by sledge. He was given a hot-tempered horse to pull it. But the horse couldn’t move it. It reared, threw the rider off and he fell under the sledge. It ran over Feodor Alexeyevich with all its weight and crashed his chest. Feodor survived, but he suffered chest and back pains for the rest of his life.
6. Sophia Alexeyevna
Born on 27th September 1651, Sophia Alekseyevna was the daughter of tsar Alexey and his first wife Maria Miloslavskaya. Sophia had a very active mind and convinced her father to allow her to share lessons with her sick brother Feodor, heir to the Russian throne. The tsar also had two other sons, Ivan, who was an invalid and blind, and Peter, the son he had from his second wife Nataliya Naryshkina.
Sophia Alekseyevna showed outstanding intelligence, energy and ambition, and was a well-educated woman. As she grew older, Sophia began to attend council meetings, and even shared her ideas and advice on state matters.
7. Sophia Alexeyevna (part 2)
In 1676, Sophia’s father died. Her sick brother became tsar Fyodor III and Sophia his chief advisor. However, Feodor died in 1682, aged only 20. Supported by the streltsy, she seized power after Feodor's death and was proclaimed regent during the minority of her brother Ivan V, and of her half-brother, Peter I. Sophia wished to be crowned tsarina, but she lacked sufficient support among the nobility and clergy.
The most considerable actions of Sophia Alekseyevna’s government in foreign policy were the peace treaty with Poland in 1686, the Treaty of Nerchinsk with China in 1689, and entry into war with Turkey and the Crimean Khanate.
8. Peter I
Peter the Great was a Russian tsar in the late 17th century who is best known for his reforms. He created a strong navy, organized his army according to western standards and introduced new administrative divisions of the country. During his reign, Peter overcame opposition from the country's aristocracy and started changes in all areas of Russian life.
Peter focused on the development of science and recruited several experts to educate his people about technological advancements. He concentrated on developing commerce and industry He modernized the Russian alphabet and established the first Russian newspaper. Peter was also a skillful diplomat.
9. Peter Becoming a Ship Master
Peter was fascinated by everything to do with craftsmanship. By the age of 18, he knew smithing, carpentry, wool-turning and shoe making. He’d studied military science, fortification and ship building and learned German by speaking to men from the foreign quarter. This was an area of Moscow set aside for foreigners.
A new foreign quarter was built just outside the walls along the Yauza river. It was self-governed and home to Europeans of all nationalities. Most were military men, doctors or craftsmen, all seeking professional opportunities in Russia.
10. Peter I, France Lefort, Marriage
The Swiss soldier France Lefort was an experienced officer, handsome, capable and well-connected. He soon joined the tsars inner circle, along with Alexander Menshikov becoming one of Peter’s most trusted friends and advisers. And then there was Anna Mons – the daughter of a Dutch wine merchant who soon became Peter’s lover.
Peter started to go to the foreign quarter often, learning to speak German and Dutch, dancing with girls, drinking wine and smoking his pipe. His mother was horrified and decided Peter should get married the 19 year old Evdokia Lopukhina. She was tall, beautiful and sensible. But just 2 months after the wedding, the new husband left for Lake Pleshcheevo.
