On the Red Staircase


"“The Czarevitch Ivan is said to be indifferent to the high office,” I replied, in a low tone; “he is blind.”

“Ay, and deformed!” said the Russian, promptly. “Yet will the people of Russia demand the recognition of primogeniture. Court intrigues cannot prevail. What a flimsy pretext was this election! The States-General of Russia elected Michael Romanof; the Czar Shuisky fell because he was elected by Moscow alone; and this is not the Moscovite State, but the rabble of the city, and the retainers of the boyars! The Miloslavskys are down to-day, but who dares to predict for to-morrow?”"

A fictional account of the turmoil following the death of Czar Alexis, when Russians were forced to choose between the traditional rule of primogeniture, in the form of the deficient Ivan, and his more suitable but younger half-brother, Peter. - Summary by LynneT (6 hr 53 min)