Estates and museums of fairy-tale heroes. Fairytale map of Rus'. Sculptural group “Make way for ducklings”

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Tsarist Russia was ruled by three dynasties: the Rurikovichs, the Godunovs and the Romanovs. The reign of the Rurikovichs and Romanovs dates back centuries, while the Godunovs reigned for only 7 years. Why was the founder of the dynasty Boris Godunov unable to consolidate Moscow State for your descendants? The answer to this question lies in his biography.

Image from the Tsar's title book

Godunov Boris Fedorovich (years of life: 1551/1552-1605) belonged to the Kostroma noble family. His ancestors served at the Moscow court since the time of Ivan Kalita (14th century). The Godunov family had a very interesting genealogical legend connecting their origin with the Tatar Murza Chet. According to family tradition, this Murza converted to Orthodoxy and founded the Kostroma Ipatiev Monastery. Most historians are critical of this legend, noting that it was beneficial for Godunov to decorate his initial history with a noble ancestor - the “prince” of the Golden Horde.

Boris Godunov's middle name is Fedorovich. But his father Fedor did not distinguish himself with a high rank, and he died quite early. The pedigree of Stepanida Ivanovna’s mother is generally unknown. It is unlikely that Boris would have gotten to the capital's court without relatives who took him in for upbringing. The boy grew up in the house of his uncle Dmitry Godunov, a bed servant and later a boyar under Tsar Ivan the Terrible.

Service at court

Boris Godunov began serving at court in 1567. Three years after this, Maria Grigorievna Skuratova-Belskaya, daughter of the head of the guardsmen, Malyuta Skuratov, became his wife. A successful marriage strengthens Boris's position, and he soon becomes a boyar.

True, Godunov became a prominent political figure only after Fyodor Ivanovich (1584-1598) came to power. Godunov's sister Irina was the tsar's wife. Largely thanks to this, Boris began to occupy a special position among the courtiers. In the struggle for influence on the tsar, he defeated even such influential rivals as the Shuiskys and Mstislavskys.

Under Fyodor Ivanovich, Godunov was a kind of top manager. It was he who contributed to the establishment of the patriarchate in Moscow, headed by Archbishop Job. This church reform led to the independence of the Russian Church from the Greek. His economic policy was no less successful, which was facilitated by scribal descriptions of lands. The colonization of the outskirts and the strengthening of the country's borders continued.

However, in 1591 an event occurred that is still directly associated with Boris Godunov. The youngest son of Ivan the Terrible, Tsarevich Dmitry, died. According to investigative documents that have survived to this day, the death occurred as a result of an epileptic seizure. However, some contemporaries stated that this was a murder beneficial to Godunov.

The question of Godunov’s involvement in the death remains open. The courtier's accusers claim that Dmitry's murder saved Boris from possible disgrace and opened the way to the throne. Direct evidence of this was not found, but the Uglich case caused irreparable damage to Godunov. Until the end of his days he had to answer for the death of Dmitry.

accession

The election of Boris Godunov to the throne was an unprecedented event. It happened a few weeks after the death of Fyodor Ivanovich. During this period, meetings of the Boyar Duma and the Zemsky Sobor took place. Godunov left the Kremlin at this time, citing mourning for the deceased Tsar. What was also unusual about his accession was that he refused to become a ruler.

According to the official point of view, the powerful courtier wanted the problem of succession to the throne to be resolved as legitimately as possible. But Godunov’s opponents considered his behavior hypocrisy.

And they had reasons, because, despite Godunov’s absence, a full-fledged “campaign” for his election to the throne unfolded in Moscow. Everything was used - from bribery and flattery to persuasion and intimidation. The apogee of all this was the march of Muscovites to the Novodevichy Convent in order to “beg” him to accept power. As a result, the Zemsky Sobor elected Boris as king, and September 1, 1598 became the date of his crowning.

Reign (1598-1605)

The beginning of the reign of Boris Godunov did not at all foreshadow the imminent collapse of the new dynasty. In the first two years of his reign, circumstances favored him. The country recognized the new king.

Domestic policy

First of all, Godunov did everything possible to strengthen his position. The beginning of his reign was associated with the issuance of letters of grant to the nobles and the provision of tax benefits. A golden chervonets was issued especially for royal awards. The obverse of this coin was decorated with an image of the ruler in royal robes.

The colonization of Siberia continued. The appearance of such cities as Turinsk, Mangazeya and Tomsk is the merit of Godunov. The new king encouraged stone construction and innovations such as printing.

But very soon he encountered a problem that became one of the main reasons for dissatisfaction with his rule. The famine of 1601-1603, provoked by natural disasters and crop failure, became fatal for the new dynasty. In the eyes of people with a medieval consciousness, all this could mean only one thing - the newly elected king was “displeasing to God.” Therefore, social tension grew every day, foreshadowing imminent unrest.

It is worth noting that it was in 1601 that Godunov began direct persecution against the Romanovs, whom he considered his main rivals in the struggle for the Russian throne. Then, together with his father and mother, the future Tsar Mikhail Romanov was sent into exile. However, the overthrow of the Godunov dynasty was provoked not by this ancient boyar family, but by a man whose identity researchers are still arguing about.

Foreign policy

Godunov's reign began with a successful campaign against the Crimean Khan. Then a truce was concluded with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Among the main directions foreign policy included contacts between Russia and the West. The Tsar invited foreign industrialists, scientists, military men and doctors to the country, and sent Russian people to study abroad.

How did the reign of Boris Godunov end?

The main reason for the failures of Godunov, and then his son, was the appearance of an impostor posing as the deceased Tsarevich Dmitry. He went down in history as False Dmitry I. In October 1604, he appeared on Russian territory along with an armed army. The impostor received support from Polish magnates.

Despite the victory over the impostor at Dobrynichi in January 1605, it was not possible to suppress the flaring anti-government movement. On April 13, 1605, Boris Godunov died unexpectedly for everyone. Witnesses said he suffered a "stroke" with blood gushing from his mouth, nose and ears. There were a variety of rumors about his death, some spoke of murder, others of suicide.

Like other Russian crown bearers, Boris was initially buried in the Archangel Cathedral of the Kremlin. But soon False Dmitry ordered his remains to be transferred to the Barsanuphievsky Monastery. In the end, his grave became the family tomb in the Trinity-Sergius Monastery.

The fate of Godunov’s children was also very sad. His son Fedor stayed in power for only a month and a half, after which he was killed without trial. Daughter Ksenia was tonsured a nun; rumor said that before this, False Dmitry had dishonored her.

Tomb of the Godunovs in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra

How do historians assess the personality of Boris Godunov?

In pre-revolutionary Russia, the image of this figure was mainly negative. Suffice it to recall the drama “Boris Godunov”, written by Alexander Pushkin. Historians of that time also did not favor Boris; for example, Tatishchev called him a “holy killer” and a “slave king.” But there were also those who found positive features in his activities, for example, M. Pogodin.

Soviet historiography largely vindicated Boris Godunov, focusing on his government activities. In modern historiography, there is a widespread view that after being elected tsar, Godunov could well have become a successful ruler, if not for a number of unforeseen circumstances. So, if not for the terrible famine, the results of Boris’s reign could well have been different.

It is as difficult to give an unambiguous assessment to the historical portrait of Boris Godunov as to any other prominent one. That is why the series of historians exploring various aspects of his biography does not stop.

February 14, 2018

Establishment of the Moscow Patriarchate

Of the internal measures of the reign of Fyodor Ioannovich, the most important was the establishment of the Russian patriarchate.

Although from the middle of the 15th century the Russian Church was independent, its metropolitans were chosen from among the Russian clergy and did not go to the Constantinople Patriarch for approval, but in Moscow they were also burdened by the nominal dependence of their church on the patriarch, who had become a slave of the Turkish Sultan. Moscow considered itself the Third Rome, preserving ancient Orthodoxy in purity, and wanted its archpastor to be equal to the oldest Greek hierarchs.

Greek clergy often came to Russia to collect alms; but among them there was not yet a single patriarch. And so, at the beginning of the reign of Tsar Fyodor Boris Godunov, Patriarch Joachim of Antioch arrived in Moscow (1586). The king received him solemnly. Then the guest was taken to the Assumption Cathedral to see Metropolitan Dionysius. This latter, standing in full vestments in the middle of the cathedral, was the first to bless the patriarch, and then accepted the blessing from him. Joachim lightly remarked that it would be more convenient for the Metropolitan to first be blessed by the Patriarch. But Dionysius did this not by his own will, but in agreement with the sovereign, which clearly reflected the second thought of Godunov’s government. Then the sovereign sent his brother-in-law Boris to Joachim to ask him to consult with other patriarchs on how to establish a Russian patriarch in the Moscow state. Joachim promised. He left Moscow generously gifted. Other patriarchs, having learned about the desire of the government of Boris Godunov and Fedor, were in no hurry to fulfill it, and the matter could have dragged on if, by chance, two years later, the Constantinople Patriarch Jeremiah himself had not personally arrived in Moscow, who was overthrown several times and elevated to his see Sultan. Since his patriarchal church was converted into a mosque, he intended to build a new one and came through Lithuania to the Moscow state to raise funds.

The Patriarch and his retinue were placed in the Ryazan courtyard and provided with abundant food, but the bailiffs did not allow outsiders to see him. This is what we usually did with foreign embassies. The ceremonial royal reception of guests took place on July 21, 1588. Then the patriarch was taken to the Small Reply Chamber, where he talked with the ruler Boris Godunov, telling him about his former misadventures in Constantinople and about his journey through the Lithuanian lands. But, apparently, there was no talk here about the establishment of the Russian patriarchate. Only a few months later, gradually, Godunov's government involved Jeremiah in negotiations about this. He did not suddenly agree to the establishment of the Russian patriarchate; then he agreed, but on the condition that he himself remain in Russia for this purpose. Then official negotiations were only opened, which Boris Godunov took over.

The government of Boris Godunov wanted to elevate its own man, Metropolitan Job, to the rank of patriarch, and not a visiting Greek. It came with the usual diplomatic dexterity: Jeremiah was offered to be the Russian patriarch and live in the ancient capital Vladimir-Zalessky. Jeremiah said that the patriarch should live with the sovereign, in Moscow. Boris Godunov answered him that the tsar did not want to offend his pilgrim, Metropolitan Job, by removing him from Moscow. After long negotiations, generous gifts and promises, Jeremiah abandoned his intention to stay in Russia and agreed to appoint a Russian patriarch for her. A spiritual council was convened, which elected three candidates for this dignity, Metropolitan Job, Archbishops Alexander of Novgorod and Archbishop Varlaam of Rostov, leaving the final choice to the sovereign. But this choice was known in advance: the sovereign and Boris Godunov pointed to Job. His ceremonial dedication to the patriarchate took place on January 26, 1589 in the Assumption Cathedral; it was performed by Jeremiah in concelebration with Russian bishops. After this there was a feast in the sovereign's palace. During dinner, Job got up from the table and went on a donkey ride around the Kremlin; then he returned to the palace. The next day there was a solemn meal with Patriarch Job. Then he left the table again, and, sitting on the donkey, rode around White City, just built; Part of the way his donkey was led by the reins of the ruler Boris Godunov himself.

Job, first patriarch of Moscow. Miniature from the royal title book

Jeremiah's companion, Archbishop Arseny of Elasson, described the luxury and splendor of the Moscow court. With particular delight, he talks about the reception of both patriarchs on January 27 by the sovereign, and then in the chambers of Boris Godunov’s sister, Tsarina Irina. He admires her beauty, speaks of her 12-pronged pearl crown, in honor of the 12 apostles, and her velvet robe studded with pearls. She presented Jeremiah, among other gifts, with a precious cup, abundantly filled with pearls and semi-precious stones, and asked him to pray to God to grant her an heir to the Russian state. It was not cheap for the government of Boris Godunov to fulfill Moscow's long-standing desire for the Russian patriarchate.

The elevation of the Moscow archpastor was one of the most important affairs of the reign of Boris Godunov. It also led to the rise of some other bishops. Four archdioceses were elevated to the dignity of metropolises: Novgorod, Kazan, Rostov and Krutitsa; and six bishops received the title of archbishop: Vologda, Suzdal, Nizhny Novgorod, Smolensk, Ryazan and Tver. In addition, it was established that there should be seven or eight bishoprics, most of which were newly established, such as: Pskov, Rzhev, Ustyug, Belozersk, Kolomensk, Bryansk, Dmitrov. The Ecumenical Patriarch left, showered with generous gifts. In May 1591, Metropolitan Dionysius of Tarnovo arrived in Moscow for alms and with a letter with which the Patriarchs of Antioch and Jerusalem, together with Tsaregrad, confirmed the establishment of the Russian Patriarchate. He was assigned fifth place, that is, after the four eastern patriarchs, Moscow was not very happy with the last condition, because it wanted to get third place on the grounds that it considered itself the Third Rome.

Thus, since the reign of Boris Godunov, the Russian Church has become a completely independent patriarchy independent of Constantinople, which has elevated it both in its own eyes and in the opinion of other Christian peoples. Church relations between Moscow and Western Russia also changed. Previously, the renewal of a special Kyiv metropolitanate in the mid-15th century divided the Russian Church in two. But after the establishment of the Moscow Patriarchate under Boris Godunov, the Western Russian metropolitans could no longer consider themselves equal to the Moscow archpastors, and if not de facto, then de jure, Russian church unity was restored to some extent. The elevation of the title was accompanied by new advantages in ritual and vestments: the Moscow patriarch now wore a miter with a cross at the top, a velvet mantle of green or crimson; its church pulpit, instead of the previous eight steps, rose to twelve.

By establishing the patriarchate, ruler Boris Godunov fulfilled the long-standing desire of the Russian people and personally gained strong support at the head of the Russian Church: in Patriarch Job, who owed everything to him, and in other bishops elevated by him. Having support in the clergy, Boris Fedorovich tried to win over the military class in his favor. Therefore, he diligently took care of his estates and estates. For this reason, the beginning of the attachment of peasants to the land, and therefore the beginning of serfdom in Russia, is also attributed to the reign of Boris Godunov.

Godunov clears his way to the throne

The most important event in its consequences at the beginning of the reign of Boris Godunov was the sudden death of the nine-year-old Tsarevich Dmitry, who was sent with his mother and relatives Nagimi to his appanage city of Uglich. The investigation into the Tsarevich’s case announced that Dmitry killed himself in a fit of epilepsy, but his contemporaries did not believe this. There was a persistent rumor among the people that the prince was killed on the orders of ruler Godunov, who was clearing the way for himself to the throne after the death of the childless Tsar Fedor.

Suspicion and distrust of the actions of Boris Godunov spread among the people, reaching the point of absurdity. In June 1591 there was a big fire in Moscow, the White City was badly damaged. There was a rumor among the people that it was the ruler Godunov who ordered the city to be set on fire in order to prevent Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich from traveling to Uglich, where he was supposedly going to conduct a personal investigation into the death of Tsarevich Dmitry. And when Boris began to generously help fire victims, this was interpreted in the sense of currying favor with the people because of the same crime. In July, the famous raid on Moscow by Kazy-Girey took place, and there were people who began to accuse Godunov that he had let the khan down in order to divert general attention from the death of Tsarevich Dmitry. Boris's government tried to gain popular favor through generosity; royal favors were usually associated with the name of Godunov, distributed as if at his intercession; and the disgraces came “on the advice” of the boyar Duma. The evil slander greatly irritated the ruler. A search began; those convicted were tortured, their tongues were cut, and they were starved in prison. In 1592, Tsar Fedor's wife and Boris's sister, Irina Feodorovna, gave birth to a daughter, but the following year the little princess Feodosia died. And then Boris Godunov was accused of her death. It is curious, however, how quickly the descendants of Tsar Ivan III disappeared. In Riga, occupied by the Poles, lived the widow of the titular Livonian king Magnus, Marya Vladimirovna, with her little daughter Evdokia. Godunov, with the promise of various benefits, convinced her to return to Moscow. But then she was forced to cut her hair, and her daughter soon died, and this death was also attributed to the insatiable ambition of Boris Godunov, who, standing at the head of the board, cleared his way to the throne by eliminating all possible competitors. The baptized Kasimov Khan Simeon Bekbulatovich, whom Ivan the Terrible once jokingly installed as tsar over the zemshchina, lost his sight after the death of Tsarevich Dmitry - and rumor blamed ruler Godunov for this!

Boris Godunov's desire for the throne was also expressed in his appeal to the witches, whom he called and asked about the future. The Magi allegedly predicted to Godunov that he would indeed reign, but not more than seven years, and Boris exclaimed to this: “even if it’s seven days, but only reign!” Suspicion towards him reached the point that some legends attribute to him the poisoning of Fyodor Ivanovich himself. After his death, Boris had only two outcomes left: either achieving the throne, or falling, which would lead him to a monastery or to the chopping block. Of course, he chose the first outcome.

Election of Boris Godunov to the throne

The sickly Fyodor Ivanovich had only reached the age of forty. He died on January 7, 1598. The reigning family ended with him, and everyone expected what order he would make regarding the succession to the throne. There is various news on this matter. According to one, before his death, to the questions of the patriarch and boyars, to whom the kingdom and the queen orders, he answered: “In this kingdom of mine and in you, God, who created us, is free; as He pleases, so it will be.” But saying goodbye alone to Irina, he, according to the same legend, “did not order her to reign, but ordered her to take on the monastic image.” According to other, more reliable news, on the contrary, he bequeathed the throne to Irina, and appointed Patriarch Job, his cousin Fyodor Nikitich Romanov-Yuryev, and his brother-in-law, Boris Godunov, as executors of his spiritual duties. With the news of Fyodor's death, people rushed in crowds to the Kremlin Palace to say goodbye to the deceased sovereign. The people's grief was quite sincere; It has been a long time since Russia has experienced such a relatively quiet and prosperous time as the reign of Fyodor Ivanovich. Fedor, for his piety and chaste life, was revered by the people almost as a holy man. The Russian people were depressed by fears for the future.

Boyars, officials and citizens unquestioningly swore allegiance to Irina; she could not only rule the state like Elena Glinskaya, but also directly reign. But, very pious and alien to the love of power, she was accustomed to being guided by the advice of her brother Boris, and now, apparently, she had one intention: to ensure that Boris was elected to the throne. From a ruler-regent, Boris Godunov was supposed to become a real sovereign. On the ninth day after the death of her husband, Irina retired to the Moscow Novodevichy Convent and there she soon took monastic vows under the name of Alexandra, leaving the clergy, boyars and people to choose a new king for themselves. Governance of the state passed into the hands of Patriarch Job and the boyar duma; but the soul of the government remained Boris Godunov, to whom Job was devoted with all his heart. Government letters continued to be issued “by decree” of Tsarina Irina.

Wife of Fyodor Ivanovich, Tsarina Irina Godunova, sister of Boris, wife of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich

Among the noblest boyars there were many descendants of Vladimir the Great, who remembered their appanage princely ancestors and considered themselves entitled to take the Moscow throne. But none of them had reliable support among the people. Recently, two boyar families stood closest to the throne: the Shuisky, or Suzdal, descended from Alexander Nevsky, and the Romanov-Yuryevs, close relatives of the last sovereigns on the female side, cousins of Fyodor Ivanovich. However, their time has not yet come. Irina was considered the legitimate queen, and she had a brother, Boris; All circumstances were on his side. Boris Godunov had been in charge of all affairs of the board for at least ten years. Two of his most powerful allies acted in his favor: the patriarch Job and the nun queen Alexandra. They say that the first one sent reliable monks throughout Russia who impressed upon the clergy and people the need to elect Boris Godunov as king; and the second secretly called upon the military centurions and pentecostals and distributed money to them so that they could persuade their subordinates to do the same. His former intelligent rule spoke even more strongly in favor of Boris Godunov: the people got used to him; and the governors and officials personally appointed by him pulled society in his direction. There is no reason to reject the following story from foreigners. When Irina retired to the monastery, clerk Vasily Shchelkalov came out to the people in the Kremlin and offered to swear allegiance to the boyar duma. “We don’t know either princes or boyars,” the crowd answered, “we only know the queen to whom we swore allegiance; she is also the mother of Russia in the chernitsy.” In response to the clerk’s objection that the queen had renounced rule, the crowd exclaimed: “Long live (or long live) her brother Boris Fedorovich!” Then the patriarch with the clergy, boyars and the people went to the Novodevichy Convent, where, following his sister, her brother often began to retire. There the patriarch asked the queen to bless her brother for the kingdom; asked Boris to accept this kingdom. But the latter responded with refusal and assurances that it had never even occurred to him to think about the royal throne. The crown's first open offer was rejected by Boris. This can be simply explained by the fact that the election of the Tsar had to be carried out by the Great Zemstvo Duma from the elected people of the entire Russian land, and the ruler Boris Godunov could only accept election as monarch from it.

In February, elected officials from the cities gathered in Moscow and, together with Moscow officials, formed the Zemsky Sobor. The number of its members extended over 450; the majority belonged to the clergy and military service class, which was devoted to Godunov, who had long been at the head of the board; the elections themselves were carried out by order of Patriarch Job and under the supervision of officials loyal to Godunov. Consequently, it was possible to foresee in advance who the conciliar election to the kingdom would focus on. On February 17, the patriarch opened a meeting of the Great Zemstvo Duma, and in his speech directly pointed to the ruler Boris Godunov. The entire meeting decided to “immediately beat Boris Fedorovich with his forehead and not look for anyone other than him for the state.” For two days in a row, prayers were served in the Assumption Cathedral for the Lord God to grant them Boris Fedorovich as sovereign. And on the 20th, the patriarch and clergy with the people went to the Novodevichy Convent, where Boris Godunov was then staying, and with tears begged him to accept the election. But this time they received a decisive refusal. Then Patriarch Job resorts to extreme measures. The next day, February 21, after solemn prayers in all the churches of the capital, he raises banners and icons and goes in procession to the Novodevichy Convent, calling not only citizens there, but also their wives with infants. The Patriarch and all the bishops agreed that if this time the Tsarina and her brother refused to fulfill the will of the people, then excommunicate Boris from the church, and lay down the bishop's vestments, dress in simple monastic dress and prohibit church services everywhere.

Boris Godunov left the monastery; fell prostrate before the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God and with tears told the patriarch why he erected miraculous icons. The Patriarch, for his part, reproached him for opposing the will of God. Job, the clergy and boyars entered the queen’s cell and beat her with tears; The people crowding around the monastery fell to the ground crying and sobbing and also begged the queen to give her brother to the kingdom. Finally, nun Alexandra declares her consent and orders her brother to fulfill the desire of the people. Then Boris, as if involuntarily, says with tears: “Be, O Lord, Thy holy will!” After that, everyone went to church, and there the patriarch blessed Boris Godunov to the kingdom.

It is difficult to say how much sincerity and how much hypocrisy was in these actions. However, it can be assumed that everything was done under the secret leadership of Boris Godunov, in whose hands were all the threads of control. There is news that bailiffs almost forcibly drove people to the Novodevichy Convent and forced them to cry and scream; They add that the minions who entered the queen’s cell with the clergy, when the latter approached the window, from behind her gave a sign to the bailiffs, and they ordered the people to fall to their knees, pushing the disobedient ones in the neck. They say that many who wanted to pretend to cry smeared their eyes with saliva. On the part of Boris Godunov, repeated refusals are explained by the expectation of election from the great Zemstvo Duma and the desire to give his consent the appearance of subordination to the persistent popular will, and finally by Russian custom, which demanded that even a simple treat should not be accepted suddenly, but only after intense requests. They say that the Shuiskys almost ruined things: after the refusal on February 20, they began to say that it was not appropriate to further beg Boris Godunov and that another tsar should be elected. But the patriarch rejected their offer and organized a religious procession the very next day. They also say that the boyars wanted to elect Godunov under conditions that limited his power, and they were preparing a letter on which he was supposed to swear allegiance. Having learned about this, Boris Godunov refused even more so that with popular prayers, any restrictive conditions would become inappropriate.

Boris Godunov's own reign

Boris spent the entire Great Lent and Easter next to his sister in the Novodevichy Convent and only after that was installed in royal palace with his wife Maria Grigorievna, daughter Ksenia and son Fedor; it was furnished with solemn church ceremonies and a sumptuous feast. Further, the reign of Boris Godunov was carried out on his own behalf. Boris understood well that his strength on the throne depended on the support of the military-service class, and he tried to gain their favor.

Rumors came from Crimea that Khan Kazy-Girey was preparing for a new raid on Moscow. It is unknown whether these rumors were well-founded or deliberately started, but Boris cleverly took advantage of them. He ordered the military men to hurry to their gathering places and move the regiments to Serpukhov, where he himself arrived in early May with a brilliant court. Here he personally arranged for the huge army that had gathered. They say that it reached half a million, as if Russia had never fielded such a large army. The nobles and boyar children tried to show zeal in front of the new Tsar Boris Godunov and almost all came with full number armed people, and the boyars temporarily put aside their parochial scores. The tsar spent several weeks in the camp near Serpukhov, showering the military men with various favors. Finally news came that the khan, having heard about the royal preparations, canceled his campaign; Ambassadors came from him with peace proposals. They were led to the king through a crowded camp, in which gunfire was heard; The Tatar ambassadors left, frightened by the sight of Russian power. Boris Godunov returned to Moscow, dismissing the warriors to their homes and leaving the detachments necessary for guard duty. The serving people were very pleased with the new king and expected the same favors from him in the future. Godunov entered the capital in triumph, as if after a great victory.

Only on September 1, 1598, Boris Godunov was crowned king. The Tsar and the Patriarch spoke a greeting to each other. But what was outside the custom and amazed his contemporaries was the following vow, unexpectedly and loudly pronounced by Boris in response to the patriarchal blessing: “Great Father, Patriarch Job! God is my witness that there will be no beggar or orphan in my kingdom! Taking himself by the collar of his shirt, he added: “I’ll share the last shirt with them!” Foreigners add that Boris Godunov, in addition, made a vow for the first 5 years of his own reign not to execute any criminals, but only to exile. However, next to such vows, a cross-kissing record was drawn up, which too resonated with the king’s distrust of his subjects, exposing his suspicion and superstition. Those who swore under this record, in addition to the promise not to look for anyone else in the Moscow state besides Tsar Boris Godunov and his children, also swore that no harm would be done to the sovereign and his family, neither in food, nor in drink, nor in clothing, nor in dishonorable potions or roots. don’t give, don’t get sorcerers and witches for the sovereign’s daring, don’t send any daring to the sovereign in the wind, and if he finds out about someone’s such plans, he reports about it without any cunning.

The royal wedding of Boris Godunov was accompanied by luxurious feasts, entertainment for the people and many favors: awards to the boyars, okolnichy, the issuance of double annual salaries to service people, benefits to merchants in the payment of duties, and to peasants and foreigners in taxes and quitrents. Of Godunov's numerous relatives, Dmitry Ivanovich Godunov was granted the position of stablemaster, and Stepan Vasilyevich - the position of butler. Boris tried to reconcile with his election the old boyar families, who considered themselves more entitled to this election. He became related to the Shuiskys and the Romanovs: Vasily Ivanovich Shuisky’s brother Dmitry was married to the royal sister-in-law (the youngest daughter of Malyuta Skuratov) Ekaterina, and Ivan Godunov married the Romanovs’ sister Irina.

The first years of Boris Godunov's own reign were, as it were, a continuation of the time of Fyodor Ivanovich. Within the state, the experienced and active ruler Godunov worked hard to maintain civil order and justice and really showed concern for the lower classes of the population. He reduced the number of taverns, again allowed some cases of peasants transferring from one landowner to another, and severely punished thieves and robbers.

The foreign policy of the period of Boris Godunov’s own reign set the goals of bringing Russia closer to Europe and strengthening the new dynasty on the throne through marriage alliances with the ruling families of the West. Godunov loved his children and cared about their future. He tried to marry his daughter Ksenia to one of the European princes, and he raised his son, Fyodor, with special care, tried to give him the best education and, in order to arouse the love of the people for him, presented him as an intercessor and peacemaker. Boris not only seated Fyodor next to him at ceremonial receptions, but also sometimes instructed him to receive foreign ambassadors. Boris gave his son the status of co-ruler - a custom not new in the Moscow state, dating back to Byzantium.

Godunov's suspicion and his persecution of the boyars

But all of Boris’s efforts to ensure the strength of his dynasty were in vain. Godunov lacked open, courageous character and generosity dear to the people. (These qualities were possessed by his contemporary Henry IV, the founder of the Bourbon dynasty in France.) Instead of showing more trust and being able to forgive, during the years of his own reign Boris Godunov increasingly revealed petty envy and suspicion. With oaths, he thought to protect himself and his family from assassination attempts. Something similar is repeated in his decree on the healing cup. Before drinking this cup, it was now necessary to say a special prayer for the health and happiness of the Tsar’s Majesty and his family, for the infinity of his descendants in the “Russian Kingdom,” etc. Fearing intrigues from the noblest boyars, Boris Godunov carefully monitored them and encouraged espionage and denunciations. The latter soon set him up for actions that finally deprived him of popular favor.

Among the boyars who suffered during the reign of Boris Godunov from his suspicion was Bogdan Belsky, once his friend, removed from Moscow at the beginning of the reign of Fyodor Ioannovich and then returned from exile. Concerned with the construction of fortresses in southern Ukraine against the Crimeans, Godunov at the beginning of his own reign sent Belsky to build the city of Borisov there. But the tsar was informed that Belsky generously rewarded military men, and endowed the poor with money and clothes; for which both of them glorify him. They also reported his following boast: “Boris is king in Moscow, and I am in Borisov.” Godunov became angry with Belsky and ordered him to be captured and imprisoned in a distant city. One foreigner (Brussov) adds that Godunov ordered his foreign physician to pluck Belsky’s thick beard, probably in retaliation for the fact that he did not like foreigners and was a zealot of old Russian customs. The nobles who were with Belsky during the construction of the city also suffered.

During the reign of Boris Godunov, disgrace also raged against other noble boyars, mostly due to denunciations of their servants and slaves. Prince Shestunov's servant reported on his master. Although the accusation turned out to be unimportant, and Shestunov was left alone, the informer was generously rewarded: on the square in front of all the people it was announced that the tsar was granting him an estate and enlisting the boyars’ children in the estate. After such encouragement of denunciations, the servants of the boyars often began to level various accusations against their masters. Denunciations increased to such an extent that wives began to denounce their husbands, and children began to denounce their fathers. The accused were tortured and languished in prisons. Sadness and despondency spread throughout the state. Those boyar servants who did not confirm the charges brought against their masters in court were burned with fire and had their tongues cut until the desired testimony was forced out of them.

Having begun to rule on his own, Boris reached the Romanov-Yuryevs (the founders of the next reigning dynasty), who seemed dangerous to him due to their proximity to the last kings of Vladimirov’s house and the people’s disposition towards them. Godunov’s minions managed to persuade Bartenev, a servant of one of the five Nikitich brothers, Alexander. Semyon Godunov gave Bartenev bags of various roots; he planted them in Alexander Nikitich’s pantry, and then came with a denunciation, saying that his master had stored some kind of poisonous potion. During the search, the planted bags were discovered. They tried to make the case public: the bags were brought to the courtyard of the patriarch himself. The Romanov brothers were taken into custody; They also took their relatives, the princes of Cherkassy, Repnin, Sitsky and others. Their servants, on the orders of Godunov, were tortured, trying to extract the necessary testimony from them. A verdict followed in July 1601. The eldest of the Romanov brothers, Fyodor Nikitich, the most gifted and enterprising, was tonsured under the name of Philaret and exiled to the Anthony Siysky Monastery, in the Kholmogory region. His wife Ksenia Ivanovna, née Shestova, was tonsured under the name of Martha and exiled to Zaonezhie. Alexander Nikitich was exiled to Usolye-Luda around White Sea, Mikhail Nikitich in Perm region, Ivan Nikitich in Pelym, Vasily Nikitich in Yarensk. Three of the brothers could not withstand the harsh exile and died before the end of Boris Godunov’s reign. Filaret and Ivan survived. Ivan was returned by Godunov to Moscow. But Filaret Nikitich remained in captivity; spies reported on all his speeches. Filaret was cautious at first, and the bailiff Voeikov reported: “Only when he remembers his wife and children, he says: My little children! who will feed and water them? And my poor wife! is she alive? The tea was brought there, where no rumor would ever go. As soon as you remember them, it’s like a spear in your heart. They bother me a lot; May God grant that God will clean them up earlier.” Three years later (in 1605), the bailiff Voeikov already complains about the Siysk abbot Jonah for making various concessions to Elder Philaret. And about the latter he reports that he “does not live according to the monastic order, laughs at God knows what and talks about worldly life, about hunters and about dogs, how he lived in the world, and is cruel to the elders, scolds them and wants to beat them, and says to them: you will see what I will be like from now on.” This change in Filaret’s behavior occurred after rumors about the successes of the impostor and expectations of the imminent fall of the Godunovs reached the distant north.

The disasters of the end of the reign of Boris Godunov

To the despondency spread by disgraces and executions (contrary to Boris's promise during the royal wedding), physical disasters were added. The last years of Boris Godunov's reign turned out to be very difficult for Russia. In 1601, a terrible famine occurred due to an extremely rainy summer, which did not allow the grain to ripen, and an early frost, which completely killed it. People grazed grass like cattle; They even ate human flesh in secret and died in large numbers. Boris Godunov wanted to attract people with favors and ordered to distribute money to poor people. But this measure caused even greater evil: residents of the surrounding regions moved to Moscow and starved to death on the streets and along the roads. The famine was joined by a pestilence. In Moscow alone, they say, about half a million died. Only a good harvest in 1604 ended the disaster. Around this time, in order to give work to black people, Boris Godunov ordered to break wooden palace Grozny and in its place erected new stone chambers in the Kremlin. (In 1600 he completed the famous bell tower of Ivan the Great.)

Due to famine and pestilence, terrible robberies also increased. The Time of Troubles began. Many boyars and nobles, not having anything to feed their servants, dismissed their slaves; the slaves ran away from others on their own. These hungry, wandering crowds made up numerous bandits of robbers, which were especially rampant in Seversk Ukraine. They appeared near Moscow itself, under the command of the daring chieftain Khlopki Kosolap. Boris Godunov sent a significant army against them with the commander Ivan Basmanov. Only after a stubborn battle did the royal army scatter the robbers, losing their commander in the process. Khlopko was captured and hanged (1604).

Discontent with royal suspicion and disasters recent years the reign of Boris Godunov undermined the strength of his throne and prepared minds for

Among Russian autocrats there is hardly a person whose image has left such a controversial mark on history. Truly gifted with a statesman's mind, he devoted himself entirely to the good of Russia. The political line pursued preceded the glorious deeds of Peter I by almost a century. But, having become a victim of a fatal combination of circumstances and the oppression of his own passions, he remained in the consciousness of the people as a child killer and a usurper of power. His name is Boris Godunov.

History of the ascension to the throne

The future sovereign of all Rus', Boris Fedorovich Godunov, was descended from one of the Tatar princes who settled in Moscow lands in the 14th century. He was born in 1552 into the family of a poor landowner of the Vyazemsky district, and if not for chance, this man, who went down in history as Tsar Boris Godunov, would have remained unknown to anyone.

His biography after the death of his father makes sharp turn. While still a young man, he found himself in the family of his uncle, who during the oprichnina made a brilliant career at the court of Ivan the Terrible. The smart and ambitious nephew took full advantage of the opportunities that opened up to him. Having become a guardsman himself, he managed to break into the tsar’s inner circle and win his favor. His position was finally strengthened after his marriage to the daughter of one of the most powerful people of that time - Malyuta Skuratov.

The death of Ivan the Terrible and the further strengthening of Godunov

After some time, Godunov manages to arrange the marriage of his sister Irina with the son of Ivan the Terrible, Fedor. Having thus become related to the sovereign himself and received the title of boyar, the former Vyazma landowner became one of the highest state elite. But, being a cautious and far-sighted man, Boris tries to stay in the shadows, which does not prevent him, however, at the end of Ivan the Terrible’s life from exerting a significant influence on many government decisions.

When Ivan the Terrible died on March 18, 1584, with the accession of his son Fyodor to the throne, a new stage began on Godunov’s path to supreme power. Fedor became king according to the law of succession to the throne, but due to his mental limitations he could not lead the country. For this reason, a regency council was created, consisting of the four most eminent boyars. Godunov was not included in their number, but short term through intrigue he managed to completely seize power into his own hands.

Most researchers argue that during the fourteen years of Fyodor Ioannovich’s reign, Boris Godunov was the de facto ruler of Russia. His biography of those years paints the image of an outstanding political figure.

Strengthening the country and growing cities

Having concentrated all supreme power in his hands, he directed it towards the comprehensive strengthening of Russian statehood. As a result of his works, in 1589 the Russian Orthodox Church found its patriarch and became autocephalous, which increased the prestige of Russia and strengthened its influence in the world. At the same time, his domestic policy was distinguished by intelligence and prudence. During the reign of Godunov, the construction of cities and fortifications began on an unprecedented scale throughout the country.

The reign of Boris Godunov became the heyday of Russian church and secular architecture. The most talented architects enjoyed full support. Many of them were invited from abroad. It was on Godunov’s initiative that the cities of Samara, Tsaritsyn, Saratov, Belgorod, Tomsk and many others were founded. The foundation of the fortresses of Voronezh and Liven is also the fruit of his statesmanship. To protect against possible aggression from Poland, a grandiose defensive structure was erected - the Smolensk fortress wall. And at the head of all these endeavors was Boris Godunov.

Briefly about other actions of the ruler

During this period, in Moscow, at the direction of Godunov, the first water supply system in Russia was built - an unheard of thing at that time. From the Moscow River, using specially made pumps, water flowed to the Konyushenny Yard. At the end of the 16th century, this was a real technical breakthrough. In addition, the reign of Boris Godunov was marked by another important initiative - the nine-kilometer walls of the White City were built. Constructed of limestone and lined with brick, they were fortified with twenty-nine watchtowers.

Somewhat later, another line of fortifications was built. She was where she is today Garden Ring road. As a result of such large-scale work on the construction of defensive structures, the army of the Tatar Khan Kazy-Girey, who approached Moscow in 1591, was forced to abandon attempts to storm the city and retreated. Subsequently, it was completely defeated by the Russian troops pursuing it.

Foreign policy of Boris Godunov

Briefly describing his achievements in the field of diplomacy, we should first of all mention the peace treaty he concluded with Sweden, which ended a war that lasted more than three years. Godunov took advantage of the difficult situation that had developed within Sweden, and as a result of a treaty favorable to Moscow, he managed to return all the lands lost as a result of the Livonian War. Thanks to his talent and ability to negotiate, Ivangorod, Yam, Koporye and a number of other cities again became part of Russia.

The death of the young prince

In May 1591, an event occurred that largely overshadowed the historical image of Boris Godunov. In the appanage city of Uglich, under very mysterious circumstances, the legal heir to the throne, the youngest son of Ivan the Terrible, the young Tsarevich Dmitry, died. Since his death opened the way for Godunov to reign, general rumor hastened to accuse him of organizing the murder.

The official investigation, headed by boyar Vasily Shuisky and establishing the cause of death as an accident, was perceived as an attempt to hide the crime. This largely undermined Godunov’s authority among the people, which his political opponents did not fail to take advantage of.

Accession to the throne

After the death of Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich, the Zemsky Sobor elected Boris Godunov to the kingdom. The date of his ascension to the throne is September 11, 1598. According to the customs of those years, everyone - from the supreme boyars to the small service people - kissed the cross, taking an oath of allegiance to it. From the first days, the reign of Boris Godunov was marked by a tendency towards rapprochement with the West. In those years, many foreigners came to Russia, who subsequently left a noticeable mark on the development of the country. Among them were military men, merchants, doctors and industrialists. Boris Godunov invited them all. His biography during this period is marked by acts similar to the future achievements of Peter the Great.

Strengthening the boyar opposition

But the new sovereign was not destined to rule Russia calmly and serenely. In 1601, famine began in the country, caused by the loss of crops due to heavy weather conditions. It lasted three years and claimed many lives. Boris's opponents took advantage of this. They in every possible way contributed to the spread of rumors among the people that the disasters that befell the country were God's punishment for the murderer king for the death of the legitimate heir to the throne.

The situation was aggravated by the fact that Godunov, suspicious and inclined to see treason everywhere, having ascended the throne, brought many boyar families into disgrace. They became his main enemies. When the first news appeared about the approaching False Dmitry, posing as a prince who had escaped death, Godunov’s position became critical.

The end of Godunov's life

Constant nervous stress and overwork undermined his health. Boris Godunov, whose biography until then had been a chain of continuous ascensions through the ranks of power, at the end of his life found himself in political isolation, deprived of all support and surrounded by a ring of ill-wishers. He died on April 13, 1605. His sudden death gave rise to rumors of poisoning and even suicide.

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