krieger
Banned
There are lot of Russian PODs placed in XVII century on this site right now, but I haven't seen this one. Feodor III, Tsar of Russia doesn't die in 1682 and lives since 1718. In addition, he has at least one son with Marfa Apraksina, who is blockin the road to the throne for both Ivan and Petya. Feodor III was well-educated, intelligent and bright-minded person, but he was also a severe polonophile, just as his numbersake Peter III was prusophile. How would it affect his reign? Without regency shenaningans and state of constant political struggles between Miloslavski and Naryshkin families and with capable ruler on the throne Russia would be far better off. On the other hand, after Vienna battle Feodor (driven both by his polonophilia and by the expectation of getting something from Turks) could go straight into war with Turkey. Instead of joining the Holy League in 1686 Russia would join it in 1684. The performance of Russian troops would be much better without internal struggle, but the final result should be that different from OTL and Turkey would be forced to give up something other than Azov to Russia. Maybe Moldova to Poland, if Feodor helps John more eagerly. I think that Feodor would want his son to marry daughter/granddaughter of John III. I don't know if GNW would still happen, but given pro-Polish stance of Feodor and advices of Peter (these two could be very close in ATL) I imagine it happening with similar results as IOTL. And the Polish election is also worth condsidering. I think Feodor could back James Sobieski in the race for the throne, because of polonophilia and the notion that James, lacking any support from his own foreign country (August of Saxony had well...Saxony) would be a easier person for Russians to manipulate. I think we could see Poland becoming a Russian sphere of influence prior to GNW, because John III would be offered Feodor's support in dealing with internal affairs of Poland (perhaps even Russian direct military intervention to secure vivente rege for James, and this isn't even stupid move because even if John III manages to achieve vivente rege and even some government reforms with help of Russians, he isn't going to become an absolute monarch anyhow, and his power is reliable on Russian armed presence, this way the protectorate could be achieved earlier and without a notion from Poles, who would be concentrating their anger meaningless on a King, and not blaming Russians for this situation and ignoring them).