Birth of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov

Birth of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov

Alexei Mikhailovich was the second Russian Tsar from the Romanov dynasty, who ruled from 1645 to 1676,
Alexei was born on 19th March 1629 in Moscow.
Alexei was the son of Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, the first Russian tsar of the Romanov dynasty, and Evdokia Romanova.

Behind the names of Peter the Great and other significant figures in Russian history, the figure of Alexei Mikhailovich often remains in the shadows.
He did not seek to radically reform the political system, however, he did everything to save the country after the difficult and crisis ‘Time of Troubles’.

The reign of Alexei became part of the so-called “Rebellious Age”.
The new historical milestone got its name due to the large number of uprisings throughout the country.
The newly-made sovereign coped with his task and the issues of restoring the state system, and the socio-economic situation.
The period of his reign ensured the strengthening of statehood, the succession of power from the old dynasty to the new one.

By the age of eleven, Alexei began to master writing and church singing.
His desk books were the Book of Hours, the Acts of the Holy Apostles and the Psalter.
He was very fond of reading, and at the age of thirteen he already owned a decent library.
The young Tsarevich not only studied hard, he also knew how to relax.
He was fond of music, and loved horses.

Alexei had a meek and rather good-natured disposition.
He was a devout, religious man, observing church rituals.
Three times a week he did not drink or eat.
Because of the peculiarities of his character and piety, he was nicknamed the Quietest ~ although sometimes he broke down and suffered from fits of anger.

The public first saw the crown prince when he turned 14.
Two years later, his father died and the 16-year-old boy inherited his father’s throne.
For the first three years, he carefully listened to everything that the boyars advised.
Then as Alexei got his own view of what was happening in his country, the young man gradually grew stronger, and became tougher.
In matters of domestic policy, Alexei was guided solely by his own knowledge and skills.
Alexei was the first tsar to sign laws, on his own authority.

Alexei married Maria Miloslavskaya, in 1648.
Their marriage was said to be harmonious.
They had thirteen children ~ five sons and eight daughters ~ in twenty-one years of marriage.
Maria died only weeks after her thirteenth childbirth.
Alexis remarried on 1st February 1671 to Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina.
Of their three children together, one of them was the future Peter the Great.

Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov died of a heart attack, on 9th February 1676.
It came as a shock for everyone, as he was only 46 years old.
Alexei was interred in The Cathedral of the Archangel, in Cathedral Square, Moscow ~ Russia.

? Portrait of Alexis by an unknown Russian artist, c. 1670/1680