Natalya Naryshkina

Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina (. * 22 Augustjul / September 1 1651greg in Moscow, .. . † 25 Januarjul / February 4 1694greg in Moscow) was the wife of Tsar Alexis I

She was born as the daughter of Kirill Poluektowitsch Naryshkin (1623-1691), a Tatar boyars and moderate officials in the Foreign Service, and his wife Anna Leontjewna Leontiev († 1706). She was stepdaughter of Foreign Minister Artamon Matveyev and thus came into contact with the very highest circles.

On February 1, 1671 she was married to Tsar Alexei I.. His first wife Maria Ilyinichna Miloslavskaya had died two years earlier. This had given him 13 children, the oldest son, Tsarevich Alexei, 16 -year-old died. The other two sons, who later Tsar Fyodor III. and Ivan V were weak or feeble-minded. Hoping to witness a healthy heir to the throne, he married his second wife, Natalia.

The marriage produced three children, the only son was the later Tsar Peter I.

• Peter I (* May 30, 1672 - † January 28, 1725 ), Tsar of Russia
• Natalya ( born August 25, 1673 - † June 18, 1716 ), Grand Duchess of Russia, founder of the first Russian theater, even wrote pieces
• Feodora ( born April 4, 1674 - † November 1675 ), Grand Duchess of Russia

In 1676 her husband died and his feeble son Feodor succeeded him as Tsar, who, however, died already in 1682. Its insane brother Ivan followed officially as Tsar, it came to the throne was disputed by his half-brother Peter from the second marriage of his father. Natalya was used as regent and ruled with the support of her stepfather Matveyev. During an uprising in 1682, however, two of her brothers and her stepfather were murdered, her biological father was forced to go into a convent. Sofia Alexeyevna, the oldest sister of Ivan followed her as regent.

Her son Peter ruled as co- tsar, thereby Natalya was not in danger, but lived in poverty. She was in need of financial support on the part of the Orthodox Church and lived with her ​​son Peter in summer palace Preobraschenskoje, 5 km outside of Moscow.

1689 Sofia was overthrown. Natalya was allowed to return to the court and her brother Lev Naryshkin was Foreign Minister and Prime Minister.

After a short illness Natalya died in 1694, on 31 October 1721 their son Peter Emperor of Russia.