Russian philology
III of Russia. Throughout this period, the government was largely run by Artamon Matveev,
an enlightened friend of Alexis, the political head of the Naryshkin family and one of Peter's
greatest childhood benefactors.
This position changed when Feodor died in 1682. As Feodor did not leave any children, a
dispute arose between the Miloslavsky family (Maria Miloslavskaya was the first wife of
Alexis I) and Naryshkin family (Natalya Naryshkina was the second wife) over who should
inherit the throne. Peter's other half-brother, Ivan V of Russia, was next in line for the throne,
but he was chronically ill and of infirm mind. Consequently, the Boyar Duma (a council of
Russian nobles) chose the 10-year-old Peter to become Tsar with his mother as regent.
This arrangement was brought before the people of Moscow, as ancient tradition demanded,
and was ratified. Sophia Alekseyevna, one of Alexis' daughters from his first marriage, led a
annaabi.ee 
