Sophia Alekseyevna of Russia: The Woman Who Almost Ran the Show

Sophia Alekseyevna of Russia was a princess-turned-political-mastermind who almost became the first female ruler of Russia. Born in 1657, Sophia was the 22nd child of Tsar Alexis of Russia and his second wife, Maria Miloslavskaya. Despite being born into royalty, Sophia rarely got to experience the perks of nobility. Her father was very strict with his family, and Sophia’s childhood was filled with strict rules and endless hours of prayer.

However, Sophia Alekseyevna had bigger plans for her life than just living as a pawn in her father’s royal court. She was incredibly intelligent and had a sharp wit, which earned her many admirers among Russia’s nobility. Over time, Sophia’s influence within the court began to grow, and she slowly but surely started to gain power.

Sophia had a great desire to rule Russia herself, and when her brother, Feodor III, ascended to the throne, she saw her chance. Feodor was not a strong ruler, and Sophia became the de facto leader of Russia. She used her intelligence and charm to gain the support of powerful nobles, and soon, Sophia was essentially running the country.

Sophia Alekseyevna was not content to simply wield power behind the scenes, however. She wanted to be the official ruler of Russia, but there was one big problem: she was a woman. In 1682, Sophia’s half-brother, Peter, was born, and he was designated as the next tsar of Russia. Sophia was furious – she had been grooming herself for the role of ruler for years, and now, this infant was being handed the crown.

Sophia, however, was not one to give up easily. She began scheming to overthrow Peter and become the official ruler of Russia, but her plans were discovered. In 1689, Sophia was arrested and forced to renounce her claim to the throne. She spent the rest of her life in a convent, where she continued to plot and scheme until her death in 1704.

Despite her failure to become tsar, Sophia Alekseyevna of Russia remains a fascinating figure in history. She was a woman ahead of her time who refused to be cowed by the strict rules of her society. She might not have been the first female ruler of Russia, but she certainly paved the way for future women leaders. And who knows – if she’d been born a century or two later, she might have succeeded in her quest for power.