He hurried a little, for which he paid with his head. It was worth a little wait, and no one would have imagined that the evil German Lefort had replaced Tsar Peter with his son.
The presence of such a person among the closest associates of Alexei Mikhailovich was a prologue to the era of Peter the Great. This statesman could become a mediator between the Russian political elite and the progressive people of the West, but some did not like his activities. In our Fatherland there are always opponents of idyllic pictures.
Childhood
Men from the Matveyev family from time immemorial have chosen either military service or service to the sovereign in a clerical rank. Clerk Sergei devoted his life to diplomacy. He represented the interests of Russia in Turkey and Persia. He was at home on short visits. During one of her visits in 1625, the wife made her husband happy with her son. The boy was named Artamon.
The wanderer was able to return to Moscow and pay attention to his family only in his declining years. At home, good news awaited him - his heir was serving at the court. When the boy was 12 years old, his family sent him to the retinue of the young prince. The clerk's son was educated together with the autocrat's children, studied manners and the art of war.
Youth
Matveyev Sr. did not want to grow up a lackey from a guy. He persuaded Artamon to ask for military service. The young man knew that his ancestor was a voivode, and he himself dreamed of gaining glory on the battlefield. The tsar was glad that the youth did not sit out in the mansion, and sent his subject to the border with the Commonwealth, where it was then restless.
Our hero arrived in time for the most interesting events - Little Russia revolted under the leadership of Bogdan Khmelnitsky. Artamon managed to both wave his saber and master the profession of a parent, taking part in negotiations with the hetman. When daddy-Khmel died, the young aristocrat tried to establish a dialogue with his heirs, who turned out to be too many. It was not possible to settle matters in the West, since an order came from Moscow to accompany the clergy on the way to the Church Council.
Capital
Returning home in 1666 as a mature man, Artamon immediately married. His personal life was part of the big politics of a noble family, so a difficult bride was chosen for him. She was a certain Evdokia, among whose relatives there were also foreigners. The wife did not come to the Matveyevs' estate alone. She brought with her the girl she was raising. The name of the baby was Natasha. The newlywed made a contribution to the economy by organizing life in a European manner.
Alexei Miaylovich, who by that time occupied the throne, was happy to learn that his childhood friend was back in Moscow. He made him the head of the service dealing with relations with Little Russia. Artamon Matveyev was well aware of the situation in that region. He suggested that the autocrat avoid conflicts with Sweden, supporting his northern neighbor if he decides to attack Poland. In addition to the West, the nobleman was also interested in the East. He helped organize an expedition to China, famous for such exotic and already popular goods in Russia as silk, tea and spices.
Family and state affairs
In addition to working for the good of the Motherland, men were united by leisure. The autocrat often visited Artamon. As it should be in the old days, the house was run by the hostess. Evdokia, who had already given her husband a son, Andrei, violated all traditions - she not only met guests, but also talked with them at the same table. She introduced her faithful to English actors. Artamon Sergeevich liked the work of the actors so much that he organized his own theater.
When in 1671 the tsar decided to remarry, he drew attention to Natalya Naryshkina, the same companion of Evdokia Matveyeva. After the wedding, in gratitude for his pleasant friend in life, the monarch presented the nobleman with the title of Duma boyar and head of the Ambassadorial Prikaz. High ranks did not make the active hero want to rest on his laurels. He continued to actively improve relations between Russia and the West, and in his free time he wrote books on the biography of Fedor, the son of Ivan the Terrible.
Fatal roller coaster
Happiness stayed in the Matveyevs' house not long. First Artamon lost his wife, and then in 1676 Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich died. The diplomat's career was destroyed - he was accused of insulting one of the foreign ambassadors and was exiled to Pustozersk, a town on the banks of the Pechora. In 1680, the objectionable courtier was transported to Mezen near Arkhangelsk. The real reason for the exile was the desire of the boyar to see Peter Alekseevich on the throne. This choice of Matveyev allowed his opponents to turn Fyodor, the stepbrother of the future reformer, against him.
The absence of such a strong figure as Matveyev in the capital weakened the position of the Naryshkin family. As soon as Fedor died, and Peter and John were enthroned, the crowned widow rushed to write a letter to her tutor and benefactor. She returned Artamon Matveyev to the capital and reinstated him in all rights and positions.
At the beginning of May 1682 Artamon and his family returned to their ancestral home. Several hopeful days in the capital ended in a nightmare - the rebellious archers demanded the blood of the boyars, who were considered conspirators. The old man himself went out to the crowd and tried to convince the people to disperse, explaining that he was the first supporter of Peter. Artamon Matveyev was hacked to death with sabers. He was buried in the Moscow Church of St. Nicholas in the Pillars, which was demolished in the 30s. XX century.
