Sophia Alekseyevna (anglicization of Russian Царевна Софья Алексеевна Sofia Alekseyevna) (27 September [O.S.17 September] 1657 – 14 July [O.S. 3 July] 1704) was regent of Russia from 1682 to 1689. She allied herself with a singularly capable courtier and politician, Prince Vasily Galitzine, to install herself during the minority of her brother Ivan V and half-brother Peter I. Her regency was carried out with a firm and heavy fist. She did not hesitate to use violent tactics to promote her agenda. The activity of this "bogatyr-tsarevna" (as Sergey Solovyov called her) was all the more extraordinary, as upper-class Muscovite women, confined to the upper-floor terem and veiled and guarded in public, invariably were kept aloof from any open involvement in politics.

Sophia was the third surviving daughter of Tsar Alexis by his first wife, Maria Miloslavskaya. She was educated bySimeon Polotsky according to tradition. After the death of her brother, Tsar Feodor III, on 27 April 1682, Sophia unexpectedly entered Russian politics, trying to prevent her young half-brother, the 10-year old Peter Alekseyevichfrom inheriting the throne.