Time of Troubles 2.0

To be honest, I don't know much about Russian history during this time, but I was looking for ideas & I found the Moscow Uprising of 1648 (A.K.A. the Salt Riot). What if Tsar Alexis I is somehow killed during it, leaving his son Dmitry(who was born that August) in charge? If Dmitry dies the following year as OTL, the only male Romanov left alive is Alexis’s 1st cousin-once-removed Nikita, who is not a descendent of Tsar Michael I & is very big on European culture. Could this lead to a second Time of Troubles, ending in a new dynasty ruling Russia? Could Sweden, Poland, or the Ottoman Empire take advantage of the situation?
 
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You would have to check with those in the know about Russian succession laws of the day, but considering they allowed a diarchy after Feodor III's death, with a Regent in a personage other than the tsar's mother (not sure how common THOSE were with the Rurikids besides everyone's favorite, Boris Godunov), simply to not trouble the waters and accept Tsar Nikita I, maybe marry him to the widowed Maria Miloslavskaia (if he's unwed, though that might smack too much of the pseudo-Dmitris).

AFAIK, it was a schlep to find a suitable candidate after the FIRST time of troubles. However, Alexei had enough sisters, the eldest of whom, Irina, had been betrothed to Waldemar of Denmark, so maybe the boyars decide that they're either ready for Tsarina Irina or they marry Nikita to Irina, or they marry Irina to their candidate (not sure which Rurikids are still available though).
 
You would have to check with those in the know about Russian succession laws of the day, but considering they allowed a diarchy after Feodor III's death, with a Regent in a personage other than the tsar's mother (not sure how common THOSE were with the Rurikids besides everyone's favorite, Boris Godunov), simply to not trouble the waters and accept Tsar Nikita I, maybe marry him to the widowed Maria Miloslavskaia (if he's unwed, though that might smack too much of the pseudo-Dmitris).

AFAIK, it was a schlep to find a suitable candidate after the FIRST time of troubles. However, Alexei had enough sisters, the eldest of whom, Irina, had been betrothed to Waldemar of Denmark, so maybe the boyars decide that they're either ready for Tsarina Irina or they marry Nikita to Irina, or they marry Irina to their candidate (not sure which Rurikids are still available though).
Let's go with Tsarina Irina married to another noble because from I've heard, she supported the religious conservatives of the Orthodox Church, so I don't see her being very into marrying a big frondeur like Nikita. Any ideas for eligible Boyars?
 
I wanted to do a TL with this PoD, and since my co-author on A&D decides to move on another TL, I can help with this.
The Morozovs were pretty much unpopular, so Nikita can get to call the shots, and Irina can get forced into marriage IMO (the Danish betrothal project by this was broken, and she is free to marry). The PROMINENT Rurikids were culled by then, and while there are quite a lot of bigwig families, say Romodanovsky clan (though they're only one of the bunch of Starodub Rurikids families and TBH lucked into the spotlight they take in A&D), they are "up for grabs" with Irina.
Also, Irina was OK with Nikon's ideas, which were progressive for a time, so I think you overestimate her opinion. Later on, her stronghead position (Alexis I treated her sister as more of "first lady" than either of his wives) may come to bite Nikita in the back, as he's a middle-aged man married to a young lady. If he dies as OTL - fun and games for folks involved.

I wanted to do different PoD, though - 1646, and random death in bear-hunting accident, Alexis was a bear-hunting fan.
 
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