Tsarevna Sofia

Tsarevna Sofia Alexeyevna is one of the most enigmatic figures in Russian history. In a patriarchal country where women's public activity was inconceivable, she rose to the height of power. Who was she - a usurper of power, a retrograde holding back the future great reformer, or a wise ruler solving problems that were too difficult for many crowned men? If the tsarevna had retained her influence, would Russia have remained a medieval semi-Asian state - or would its Europeanization have occurred more gently than the grand Petrine break from the traditional order? Historian Viktor Naumov answers these questions, often through the voices of the book's characters, reconstructing the speeches of Sofia, her supporters, and enemies based on documents; he debunks numerous myths and misconceptions related to her personality and rule, shows her real role in the Streltsy uprisings of 1682 and 1698, provides a sensational interpretation of the relationship between the tsarevna and her favorite Prince Golitsyn, and creates a vivid and tragic image of the outstanding woman who stood at the helm of a vast country.