Near people of the first Romanovs. Kozlyakov V.

people close to the reigning persons, temporary workers and favorites were in all eras, regardless of what the ruler was called: the king, king or emperor. It was they who often created politics, standing behind the monarch’s back or discussing the most topical state issues with him face to face.

in Rus' they called them “close people”. The famous historian Vyacheslav Nikolayevich Kozlyakov tells about three such “neighboring people” of the 17th century in his new book. The heroes of the book were the “first boyar” of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich Prince Ivan Borisovich Cherkassky, tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Boyarin Boris Ivanovich Morozov and “Great Chancellor”, “Russian Richelieu” Artamon Sergeyevich Matveev.