Riots in Moscow garrison of Kyiv

Did you know that there occurred riots in Moscow garrison of Kyiv during streltsy (archers) revolt of 1682?

In May 1682, streltsy riot broke out in Moscow. It was caused by the struggle for power between Myloslavsky and Naryshkin boyar clans that broke out after the death of Tsar Fedir Oleksiyovych. Myloslavsky family accused Naryshkin clan of trying to assassinate young Tsar Ioannes Oleksiyovych. As a result of streltsy revolt, there was established the duumvirate of Tsars Peter and Ioannes, their sister Princess Sophia having been their regency.

Despite instructions from Moscow to establish good relations with Kyiv, the newly appointed Kyiv voivode, Prince Petro Prozorovsky Menshoy, had conflicts with both the garrison military and Innocent Gisellle, Archimandrite of Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery. Most probably, streltsy uprising broke out in Kyiv in summer, 1682. As a result of its suppression in Pechersk (near Skorodum small town), several people were executed.

Similar events happened in Nizhyn, where the archers opposed Tymothy Opukhtin, the voivode. It is quite probable that strtelets riots occured at that time in other Hetmanate cities. The main reasons for their mass discontent were the abuse of voivodes, delayed wages, frequent use of corporal punishment and, of course, ideology. However, most likely, Kyiv and Nizhyn archers did not feel too much preoccupied with such issue as the struggle of Princess Sophia and her favorite Vasyl Golitsyn against Naryshkin family. Instead, they tried to use that good moment to clarify issues related to their own field service.

Hanna Filipova

Caption to the illustration:

1. Karl Shteiben. Streltsy revolt of 1682