Tsarevich Alexei Alexeyevich of Russia

Tsarevich Alexei Alexeyevich (, Aleksey Alekseyevich; 15 February 1654 – 17 January 1670) was the second son and heir of Tsar Alexis of Russia and Maria Miloslavskaya, brother of Tsar Feodor III, Tsar Ivan V, and Tsarevna Sophia and half-brother of Tsar Peter the Great. Biography He was baptised with the same name "Alexey" as his father, but their namesake saints were different. Among the Tsarevich's teachers was Symeon of Polotsk, who taught Alexei Latin and Polish; the prince also studied Slavic grammar, arithmetic and philosophy. For him, books and so-called "children's fun" (educational toys) were brought from abroad. He was distinguished, according to his contemporaries, by his great ability to learn, good memory and curiosity. During the absence of the tsar in the capital (including his stay in the active army), he was considered the interim ruler of the Russian state; during this period, official letters were issued on his behalf.