Moscow. As a result, Little Russia was subject to all the horrors
of war, but the Russian power prevailed in the end. Then the Cossacks
of the Don broke out, and until 1671 the territory between that river
and the Volga suffered terribly.

Alexis' reign was remarkable for the introduction of so-called
"reforms" in the Church, which were confined wholly to ceremonies (p. 144)
and externals. The czar supported the "reformer" Nicon, and those who
did not agree with him were called _religious madmen_ and suffered
persecution. The monasteries near Archangel rebelled and troops were
sent against them; but it was eight months before the sturdy monks
capitulated.

Alexis continued his father's efforts to reestablish intercourse with
Western Europe. But the West was only recovering from the terrible
Thirty Years' War, so that little interest was shown.

Alexis had married twice. From the first marriage he had two sons
Feodor and Ivan, and six daughters; by his second wife he had one son,
Peter, and two daughters. When he died, in 1676, he was succeeded by
his eldest son Feodor.

Feodor Alexievitch, the third czar of the Romanof family, reigned only
six years, from 1676 to 1682. It was under his reign that a truce for
twenty years with Turkey, restored peace to White Russia.

Hitherto Russia had suffered from the rivalry resulting from disputes
caused by precedence of birth; generals had lost battles, because they
refused to serve under men whom they looked upon as inferiors. At an
assembly of the higher clergy, it was resolved to burn the Book of
Rank, and the czar made a law that any one disputing about his rank,
should lose it as well as his property.

To protect the Greek Church from dividing into sects, an academy was
founded at Moscow where the Slav, Latin, and Greek languages were
taught.

XVII--EARLY YEARS OF PETER THE GREAT (PETER ALEXIEVITCH). (p. 145)

Feodor died childless, and should have been succeeded by his little
brother Ivan, but the child was of unsound mind. The other son of
Alexis, Peter, was the child of his last wife, and nine years old at
the time. The question about the succession was discussed in the
Council, and decided in Peter's favor, and his mother Natalia became
Regent. Among Peter's half sisters was one, Sophia, twenty-five years
old, who did not propose to submit to this decision. She took part in
Feodor's funeral, in defiance of the law which forbade women to appear