Afanasy Lavrentyevich Ordyn-Nashchokin, the son of a…

Afanasy Lavrentyevich Ordyn-Nashchokin, the son of a petty landowner, had received a good education in the relatively cosmopolitan environment of Pskov.

During the reign of Michael (ruled 1613–45), he had participated in the work of ambassadorial commissions that defined the Russo-Swedish borders and gained a reputation as a talented administrator.

He served in 1656–58 has the virtual ruler of all the Livonian lands recently seized by Russia from Poland-Lithuania.

The experience Ordyn-Nashchokin acquired in dealing with Sweden at this time had persuaded him that Russia should seek to become a maritime power with a Baltic seaboard.

Since Russia could not simultaneously contend for Livonia against Sweden and for Ukraine against Poland, he recommended peace with Poland even at the price of losing Ukraine.

Alexis, however, overrules his plan; he concludes the Treaty of Kardis, a peace settlement made in 1661 between the Tsardom of Russia and the Swedish Empire that formally ends the Russo–Swedish War (1656–1658) and restores the prewar territorial distribution.

Russia surrenders to Sweden all captured territories.

Moreover, all vessels constructed at Tsarevich-Dmitriev are destroyed (the vessels had been constructed in a shipyard founded by Ordyn-Nashchokin).

Overall, the Peace of Kardis maintains the territorial accords of the Treaty of Stolbovo.