I'm going to get a He's a-a-ra-s-s-s-s-s-a-s-s-a-s-a-s- Welcome to the Russian rulers podcast, episode 29. Peter takes control.

Last episode, we recanted the story of Sophia, who was serving his regent over Ivan and Peter,

as well as overseeing two disastrous wars against the Crimean

Tatars with over 75,000 Russians killed or captured. Things went from bad to worse for Sophia. As Peter refused to

acknowledge her love, Vassili Gullitsen, when he returned from the campaign.

She now knew the Battle for Control when he returned from the campaign.

She now knew the Battle for Control was on.

Sophia had been solidifying her grip on power,

one by calling herself autocrat or Viliki Goziodar, which put her on an equal footing

with her brother Tsars.

Sophia also tried to have the strelsy force forced the boys to name her Cotsar.

But they, being quite conservative, were not ready for a female ruler, and they were not entirely

happy with her Westernizing push in the military and a Moscovite life.

She went so far as to have a portrait made of her, which you can see on the podcast site at Russian rulers. podhoster.com and on the

Facebook fan page Russian rulers history podcast. Here she was wearing the cap of

monomac while holding the Royal Scepter and Orb.

The anti-Sophia Boiars were now up in arms as they saw Sophia's naked grab for power as a break

from centuries- old traditions of only men being sar.

You would have to go back over 600 years to the time of Olga during the Kiev and Roos period to see a female Russian ruler.

Of course this would change after the reign of Peter, and it can be said that Sophia helped break

the barrier, but now helped break the barrier.

But now was not the time.

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