After the death of Fedor III (r. 1676–82), there was confusion
as to who would succeed to the throne, since the Miloslavskii
and Naryshkin clans competed for power. At first, the healthy
ten-year-old Peter (r. 1682–1725) was acclaimed tsar with
his mother, Natalia Naryshkina, acting as regent. A month later,
Sofiia, in the name of her sickly sixteen-year-old brother Ivan,
claimed the crown. Sofiia spread rumors that the Naryshkins planned
to kill Ivan, and the strel’tsy revolted to prevent the
outrage. They butchered several Naryshkins and their allies,
and terrorized Peter and his mother. A unique compromise was
reached: Ivan V and Peter I would reign as co-tsars, with Sofiia
ruling as regent.