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 28

Sophia and Galitzen, keeping the throne warm for Peter.

Last episode we followed Sarpeter as he grew up in Priobrajenskoy, playing war games with his friends. He also developed his love

of ships at this time, which was to have huge implications for Russia and the not too distant future.

Luckily for Peter, he had all this free time

as his half-sister Sophia was running things

as the unnamed regent behind SARS Ivan and Peter.

When Sophia made her grab for power with the help of the Strelsy, she was a mere 25 years old.

Her uncle, Ivan Miloslavsky, the Strelsy commander Fyodor Shach Lovitti,

and the monk Sylvester Medvedev

were three of the main advisors to Sophia, but there was one other who reportedly had the greatest influence on her and it was Prince Vassiliovich Goulizen.

Golizen was a brilliant statesman who believed that Russia needed to Westernize to become

great. He conversed in Latin. He collected art, books, and maps from all over

Europe, which he proudly displayed throughout his house. Vassili was 39 and married with a number of children when he became the de facto prime minister.

Sophia was said to be in love with him, but there is little evidence that they were lovers.

While privately holding power, Sophia had to publicly stay in the shadows during official ceremonies, but everyone knew who his boss. Foreign dignitaries would present

themselves to the Boyd SARS one day and to Sophia the next. Her reign lasting seven years was a mixed bag. She and Golitson had a number of

international policy successes over the years, such as the continuation of the Treaty of Cadis with Sweden.

It meant that the Russians gave up claims in Finland and the Baltic ports, but it no longer

had to worry about invasion from the north, which was important

as the government coffers were still barren.

The next treaty to keep in place was with their arch enemies, the Poles.

...