Dancer Makhmud Esambaev biography. Pas for the whole world: ballet dancers from Russia, famous throughout the world
Tsar and Grand Duke Moscow and All Rus' (1598-1605).
Boris Fedorovich Godunov was born in 1549 or 1552 in the family of the boyar Fyodor Ivanovich Godunov (d. in the late 1560s). According to legend, the Godunovs descended from the Tatar prince Chet, who arrived from the Golden Horde around 1330. According to the “Sovereign Genealogy” of 1555, the Godunovs trace their origins to the Kostroma patrimonial landowner Dmitry Zern. Probably, the clan really had Horde roots, since the ancestors of its individual branches bore names of Tatar origin.
The first mention of B.F. Godunov dates back to 1567, when he was a member of the Tsar's Oprichnina Court. His rise is associated with his marriage to his daughter Maria (around 1570) and the marriage of the prince to B.F. Godunov’s sister Irina (around 1574).
In 1577, B.F. Godunov received the rank of clerk, and in 1580 he became a boyar. At the wedding of Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible with Maria Naga (November 1580), he was the queen’s “friend.”
The death of Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich in 1581, which made his brother Fyodor Ivanovich heir to the throne, contributed to the further rise of the latter's brother-in-law, B.F. Godunov. By 1584, he entered the circle of people close to Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible. From that time on, he could influence the course of court affairs that affected the interests of the Godunov clan. IN Last year life of the Tsar B. F. Godunov gained especially big influence at court, together with B. Ya. Belsky, he became one of the closest advisers to Ivan IV the Terrible. It was B.F. Godunov and B.Ya. Belsky who were next to the tsar on March 18 (27), 1584 in last minutes his life, they announced to the people from the porch about the death of the sovereign.
With the accession to the throne of Feodor I Ivanovich, who was unable to rule the country, a sharp struggle broke out among the court for influence on the monarch, from which B. F. Godunov emerged victorious. During the entire reign of his son Ivan IV the Terrible, he was the de facto ruler of the state, and in 1587 he received from the tsar the right to independent diplomatic relations.
The activities of the government of B.F. Godunov were aimed at the comprehensive strengthening of the state. Thanks to his efforts, in 1588 the first Russian patriarch was elected, who became the Metropolitan of Moscow. In domestic policy B.F. Godunov was guided by common sense and calculation and sought to overcome economic devastation. The crisis of the 1570s - early 1580s forced the government to establish serfdom. In 1580-1590, a gross census was carried out, in 1584 church tarkhans were abolished, and in 1592-1593 “St. George’s Day” was established. In 1597, a decree was issued on “preparatory years”, according to which peasants who fled from their masters “before this... year for five years” were subject to investigation, trial and return “back to where someone lived.” Those who fled six years ago or earlier were not covered by the decree; they were not returned to their former owners. In order to support the farms of small and medium-sized landowners, their arable land was “whitewashed.” The Code of 1597 regulated the position of slaves, especially indentured servants. “Posad construction” was carried out in the cities, which satisfied some of the interests of the townspeople. The “white settlements”, whose population did not pay taxes, were liquidated. Thus, the number of tax-paying people has increased. The increase in treasury revenues allowed for the active construction of cities and fortifications. Church construction was carried out on a large scale. B.F. Godunov effectively encouraged the colonization of Siberia and southern regions countries.
In foreign policy B.F. Godunov proved himself to be a talented diplomat. He managed to partially eliminate the consequences Livonian War 1558-1583. On May 18 (27), 1595, a peace treaty was concluded between Sweden and Tyavzino in the village of Tyavzino. Taking advantage of the difficult internal political situation in Sweden, B.F. Godunov managed to return to Russia, Yam,. In the 1580-1590s, Russian positions in the North Caucasus, Transcaucasia and Trans-Volga region strengthened, and the volume of foreign trade through and along the Volga increased sharply.
The mysterious death of the potential heir to the throne - the half-brother of Tsar Fyodor I Ivanovich Tsarevich, which happened on May 15 (24), 1591, cast a shadow of involvement in this death on B.F. Godunov.
The death of the childless Tsar Fyodor I Ivanovich on January 6 (15), 1598 marked the beginning of a dynastic crisis in the Russian state. Tsarina Irina Fedorovna renounced her reign, and on February 17 (26), 1598, the Zemsky Sobor elected her brother B.F. Godunov to the throne. The election of Tsar Boris Fedorovich was accompanied by the provision of a number of benefits, primarily to the district nobility.
The beginning of the reign of Boris Godunov was marked by a number of progressive measures in domestic policy (especially in the field of education). However, the main direction of the government's activities was the fight against the economic crisis that was gradually gripping the country. Many of the king's undertakings were interrupted by the famine of 1601-1603, which had catastrophic consequences for the country.
The distress of the population and the ineffectiveness of government measures led to public opinion to the conviction that the reign of Boris Godunov “is not blessed by God” because it is lawless, achieved through untruth. Mass famine caused popular unrest and riots, the largest of which was the uprising led by Ataman Khlopok (1603).
The arrival from Poland in 1604 of an impostor who declared himself the “miraculously saved” Tsarevich Dmitry Ivanovich, finally undermined the position of Boris Godunov. The seeds of unrest fell on the well-prepared soil of popular discontent. The weakness of the government of Boris Godunov was revealed in the inability to cope with the growing movement of the masses, on the one hand, and the nobility of the southern regions of the country, on the other.
On April 13 (23), 1605, Tsar Boris Fedorovich died suddenly in the Moscow Kremlin in the midst of the fight against False Dmitry I. He was buried in the Kremlin
Among Russian autocrats there is hardly a person whose image has left such a controversial mark on history. Gifted with a truly statesmanlike 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 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, then with the accession to the throne of his son Fedor began new stage 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 Russian statehood. As a result of his labors 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 - nine-kilometer walls were built White City. Constructed of limestone and lined with brick, they were fortified with twenty-nine watchtowers.
Somewhat later, another line of fortifications was built. It was located where the Garden Ring passes today. As a result, so large-scale works During the construction of defensive structures, the army of the Tatar khan Kazy-Girey, which 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 difficult situation, which had developed within Sweden, and as a result of a treaty favorable to Moscow, 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.
Death of the young prince
In May 1591, an event occurred that largely overshadowed historical image Boris Godunov. In the specific city of Uglich, under very mysterious circumstances, the legal heir to the throne died, younger son Ivan the Terrible - young Tsarevich Dmitry. 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, a famine began in the country, caused by the loss of crops due to severe weather conditions. It lasted three years and took away a lot human 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.
Nomination
Death of Tsarevich Dmitry
Godunov on the throne
Repression
Great Famine
The appearance of an impostor
Death and posterity
In culture
Boris Fedorovich Godunov(1552 - April 13, 1605) - boyar, brother-in-law of Tsar Fyodor I Ioannovich, in 1587-1598 the de facto ruler of the state, from February 17 (27), 1598 - Russian Tsar.
Origin
According to legend, the Godunovs were descended from the Tatar prince Chet, who came to Rus' during the time of Ivan Kalita. This legend is recorded in the chronicles early XVII century. According to the sovereign's genealogy of 1555, the Godunovs trace their origins to Dmitry Zern. Godunov's ancestors were boyars at the Moscow court. Boris Godunov was born in 1552. His father, Fyodor Ivanovich Godunov, nicknamed Crooked, was a middle-class landowner.
Nomination
After the death of his father (1569), Boris was taken into his family by his uncle, Dmitry Godunov. During the years of the oprichnina, Vyazma, in which Dmitry Godunov’s possessions were located, passed to the oprichnina’s possessions. The ignorant Dmitry Godunov was enrolled in the oprichnina corps and soon received at court high rank chapters of the Bed Order.
The promotion of Boris Godunov begins in the 1570s. In 1570 he became a guardsman, and in 1571 he was a groomsman at the Tsar’s wedding to Marfa Sobakina. In the same year, Boris himself married Maria Grigorievna Skuratova-Belskaya, daughter of Malyuta Skuratov. In 1578, Boris Godunov became a master. Two years after the marriage of his second son Fyodor to Godunov’s sister Irina, Ivan the Terrible granted Boris the title of boyar. The Godunovs slowly but surely climbed the hierarchical ladder: in the late 1570s - early 1580s. they won several local cases at once, gaining a fairly strong position among the Moscow nobility.
Godunov was smart and careful, trying for the time being to stay in the shadows. In the last year of the Tsar's life, Boris Godunov gained great influence at court. Together with B.Ya. Belsky, he became one of the close people of Ivan the Terrible.
The role of Godunov in the history of the tsar’s death is not entirely clear. On March 18, 1584, Grozny, according to D. Horsey, was “strangled.” It is possible that a conspiracy was drawn up against the king. In any case, it was Godunov and Belsky who were next to the tsar in the last minutes of his life, and they announced to the people from the porch about the death of the sovereign.
Fyodor Ioannovich ascended the throne. The new king was unable to rule the country and needed a smart adviser, so a regency council was created from four people: Bogdan Belsky, N.R. Yuryeva (Romanova), I.F. Mstislavsky and I.P. Shuisky.
On May 31, 1584, on the day of the Tsar’s coronation, Boris Godunov was showered with favors: he received the rank of equerry, the title of close great boyar and governor of the Kazan and Astrakhan kingdoms. However, this did not at all mean that Godunov had sole power - at court there was a stubborn struggle between the boyar groups of the Godunovs, Romanovs, Shuiskys, and Mstislavskys. In 1584, B. Belsky was accused of treason and exiled; V next year Nikita Yuryev died, and the elderly Prince Mstislavsky was forcibly tonsured a monk. Subsequently, the hero of the defense of Pskov, I.P., also fell into disgrace. Shuisky. In fact, since 1585, 13 of the 14 years of the reign of Fyodor Ioannovich, Boris Godunov ruled Russia.
Head of government under Tsar Feodor
The activities of Godunov's reign were aimed at comprehensively strengthening statehood. Thanks to his efforts, the first Russian patriarch was elected in 1589, who became Metropolitan Job of Moscow. The establishment of the patriarchate testified to the increased prestige of Russia. The internal policy of the Godunov government was dominated by common sense and prudence. An unprecedented construction of cities and fortifications began.
Boris Godunov patronized talented builders and architects. Church and urban construction. On the initiative of Godunov, the construction of fortresses began in the Wild Field - the steppe outskirts of Rus'. The Voronezh fortress was built in 1585, and Livny in 1586. In 1592, the city of Yelets was restored. The city of Belgorod was built on the Donets in 1596, and Tsarev-Borisov was built to the south in 1600. For security waterway From Kazan to Astrakhan, cities were built on the Volga - Samara (1586), Tsaritsyn (1589), Saratov (1590). The settlement and development of the lands deserted during the yoke to the south of Ryazan (the territory of the present Lipetsk region) began. In Siberia in 1604 the city of Tomsk was founded.
In the period from 1596 to 1602, one of the most grandiose architectural structures pre-Petrine Rus' - the Smolensk fortress wall, which later began to be called “the stone necklace of the Russian Land.” The fortress was built on the initiative of Godunov to protect the western borders of Russia from Poland.
Under him, unheard-of innovations entered the life of Moscow, for example, a water supply system was built in the Kremlin, through which water was raised by powerful pumps from the Moskva River underground to the Konyushenny Yard. New fortifications were also built. In 1584-91, under the leadership of the architect Fyodor Savelyev, nicknamed the Horse, the walls of the White City were erected with a length of 9 km (they encircled the area contained within the modern Boulevard Ring). The walls and 29 towers of the White City were made of limestone, lined with brick and plastered. In 1592, on the site of the modern Garden Ring Another line of fortifications was built, wooden and earthen, nicknamed “Skorodom” for the speed of construction.
In the summer of 1591, the Crimean Khan Kazy-Girey with an army of one and a half hundred thousand approached Moscow, however, finding himself at the walls of a new powerful fortress and under the guns of numerous cannons, he did not dare to storm it. In minor skirmishes with the Russians, the khan's troops were constantly defeated; this forced him to retreat, abandoning his baggage train. On the way to the south, to the Crimean steppes, the khan's army suffered heavy losses from the Russian regiments pursuing him. For the victory over Kazy-Girey, Boris Godunov received the greatest reward of all the participants in this campaign (although the main governor was not he, but Prince F. Mstislavsky): three cities in the Vazhsky land and the title of servant, which was considered more honorable than that of a boyar.
Godunov sought to alleviate the situation of the townspeople. According to his decision, traders and artisans who lived in “white” settlements (privately owned, paying taxes to large feudal lords) were counted among the population of “black” settlements (paying tax - “tax” - to the state). At the same time, the size of the “tax” levied on the settlement as a whole was left the same, and the share of the individual city dweller in it decreased.
The economic crisis of the 1570s and early 1580s forced them to establish serfdom. On November 24, 1597, a decree was issued on “preparatory years”, according to which peasants who fled from their masters “before this... year for five years” were subject to investigation, trial and return “back to where someone lived.” Those who fled six years ago or earlier were not covered by the decree; they were not returned to their former owners.
In foreign policy, Godunov proved himself to be a talented diplomat. On May 18, 1595, a peace treaty was concluded in Tyavzin (near Ivangorod), ending the Russian-Swedish war of 1590 - 1593. Godunov managed to take advantage of the difficult internal political situation in Sweden, and Russia, according to the agreement, received Ivangorod, Yam, Koporye and Korela. Thus, Russia regained all the lands transferred to Sweden as a result of the unsuccessful Livonian War.
Death of Tsarevich Dmitry
The heir to the throne during the life of Tsar Theodore was his younger brother Dmitry, son of the seventh wife of Ivan the Terrible. On May 15, 1591, the prince died under unclear circumstances in the appanage city of Uglich. Official investigation conducted by boyar Vasily Shuisky. Trying to please Godunov, he reduced the reasons for the incident to the “negligence” of the Nagikhs, as a result of which Dmitry accidentally stabbed himself with a knife while playing with his peers. The prince was rumored to be ill with epilepsy.
The chronicle of the Romanov times accuses Godunov of the murder of Boris, because Dmitry was the direct heir to the throne and prevented Boris from advancing to him. Isaac Massa also writes that “I am firmly convinced that Boris hastened his death with the assistance and at the request of his wife, who wanted to quickly become a queen, and many Muscovites shared my opinion.” Nevertheless, Godunov’s participation in the conspiracy to kill the prince has not been proven.
In 1829, historian M.P. Pogodin was the first to risk speaking out in defense of Boris’s innocence. The original criminal case of the Shuisky commission, discovered in the archives, became the decisive argument in the dispute. He assured many historians of the 20th century (S. F. Platonov, R. G. Skrynnikov) that the real reason The death of Ivan the Terrible's son was still an accident.
Godunov on the throne
On January 7, 1598, Fyodor Ioannovich died, and the male line of the Moscow branch of the Rurik dynasty was cut short. The only close heir to the throne was the second cousin of the deceased, Maria Staritskaya (1560-1611?).
On February 17 (27), 1598, the Zemsky Sobor elected Fyodor's brother-in-law Boris Godunov as tsar and took the oath of allegiance to him. On September 1 (11), 1598, Boris was crowned king. The close relationship outweighed the distant relationship of possible contenders for the throne. No less important was the fact that Godunov had actually ruled the country on behalf of Fedor for a long time, and was not going to let go of power after his death.
Boris's reign was marked by the beginning of Russia's rapprochement with the West. There was never before in Rus' a sovereign who was so favorable to foreigners as Godunov. He began to invite foreigners to serve. In 1604, he sent the okolnik M.I. Tatishchev to Georgia to marry his daughter to a local prince.
Repression
The first tsar not from the Rurikovichs (except for such a figurehead as Simeon Bekbulatovich), Godunov could not help but feel the precariousness of his position. In terms of his suspicion, he was not much inferior to Grozny. Having ascended the throne, he began to reduce personal accounts with the boyars. According to a contemporary, “he blossomed like a date with the leaves of virtue and, if the thorns of envious malice had not darkened the color of his virtue, he could have become like the ancient kings. In a rage, he vainly accepted slander against the innocent from slanderers, and therefore brought upon himself the indignation of the officials of the entire Russian land: from here many insatiable evils arose against him and the beauty of his flourishing kingdom was suddenly overthrown.”
This suspicion was already evident at first in the oath record, but later it came to disgrace and denunciations. Boris did not allow Princes Mstislavsky and V.I. Shuisky, who, due to their nobility, could have claims to the throne, to marry. From 1600, the king's suspicion increased noticeably. Perhaps Margeret’s news is not without probability that even at that time dark rumors were spreading that Demetrius was alive. The first victim of Boris's suspicion was Bogdan Belsky, whom the tsar instructed to build Tsarev-Borisov. Based on a denunciation of Belsky’s generosity to military men and careless words: “Boris is the Tsar in Moscow, and I am in Borisov,” Belsky was summoned to Moscow, subjected to various insults and exiled to one of the remote cities.
Prince Shestunov's servant denounced his master. The denunciation turned out to be unworthy of attention. Nevertheless, the informer was told the tsar's favor in the square and announced that the tsar, for his service and zeal, would grant him an estate and order him to serve as a child boyar. In 1601, the Romanovs and their relatives suffered due to a false denunciation. The eldest of the Romanov brothers, Feodor Nikitich, was exiled to the Siysky monastery and tonsured under the name of Philaret; His wife, having tonsured her hair under the name of Martha, was exiled to the Tolvuisky Zaonezhsky churchyard, and their young son Mikhail (the future king) to Beloozero.
Great Famine
Boris's reign began successfully, but a series of disgraces gave rise to despondency, and soon a real catastrophe broke out. In 1601 there were long rains, and then early frosts struck and, according to a contemporary, “ beat the strong scum with all the labor of human deeds in the fields" The following year, the harvest failed again. A famine began in the country and lasted three years. The price of bread increased 100 times. Boris prohibited the sale of bread above a certain limit, even resorting to persecution of those who inflated prices, but did not achieve success. In an effort to help the hungry, he spared no expense, widely distributing money to the poor. But bread became more expensive, and money lost value. Boris ordered the royal barns to be opened for the hungry. However, even their reserves were not enough for all the hungry, especially since, having learned about the distribution, people from all over the country flocked to Moscow, abandoning the meager supplies that they still had at home. About 127 thousand people who died of hunger were buried in Moscow, but not everyone had time to bury them. Cases of cannibalism appeared. People began to think that this was God's punishment. The conviction arose that Boris's reign was not blessed by God, because it was lawless, achieved through untruth. Therefore, it cannot end well.
In 1601-1602, Godunov even went to the temporary restoration of St. George's Day. True, he did not allow an exit, but only the export of peasants. The nobles thus saved their estates from final desolation and ruin. The permission given by Godunov concerned only small service people; it did not extend to the lands of members of the Boyar Duma and the clergy. But this step did not greatly increase the king’s popularity.
Mass hunger and dissatisfaction with the establishment of “lesson years” became the cause of a major uprising led by Khlopok (1602-1603), in which peasants, serfs and Cossacks participated. The insurgency spread to about 20 counties central Russia and the south of the country. The rebels united into large detachments that advanced towards Moscow. Boris Godunov sent an army against them under the command of I.F. Basmanov. In September 1603, in a fierce battle near Moscow, the rebel army of Khlopok was defeated. Basmanov died in battle, and Khlopok himself was seriously wounded, captured and executed.
At the same time, Isaac Massa reports that “... the reserves of bread in the country were greater than all the inhabitants could eat in four years... noble gentlemen, as well as all monasteries and many rich people had barns full of bread, some of it already rotted from being left for many years, and they did not want to sell it; and by the will of God the king was so blinded, despite the fact that he could order everything he wanted, he did not command in the strictest way that everyone sell their grain.”
The appearance of an impostor
Rumors began to circulate throughout the country that the “born sovereign,” Tsarevich Dmitry, was alive. Detractors spoke unflatteringly about Godunov - “a worker.” At the beginning of 1604, a letter from a foreigner from Narva was intercepted, in which it was announced that the Cossacks had Dmitry, who had miraculously escaped, and that great misfortunes would soon befall the Moscow land.
On October 16, 1604, False Dmitry I with detachments of Poles and Cossacks moved towards Moscow. Even the curses of the Moscow Patriarch did not cool the people’s enthusiasm on the path of “Tsarevich Dmitry.” However, in January 1605, government troops defeated the impostor at the Battle of Dobrynichi, who, with the few remnants of his army, was forced to leave for Putivl.
Death and posterity
The situation for Godunov was complicated by his state of health. Already in 1599, references to his illnesses appeared; the king was often unwell in the 1600s. April 13, 1605 Boris Godunov seemed cheerful and healthy, he ate a lot and with appetite. Then he climbed the tower, from which he often overlooked Moscow. He soon left there, saying that he felt faint. They called a doctor, but the king became worse: blood began to flow from his ears and nose. The king fainted and soon died. There were rumors that Godunov poisoned himself in a fit of despair; version about natural death more likely, since Godunov was often sick before. He was buried in the Kremlin Archangel Cathedral.
Boris's son, Fyodor, an educated and extremely intelligent young man, became king. Soon there was a rebellion in Moscow, provoked by False Dmitry. Tsar Fedor and his mother were killed, leaving only Boris's daughter, Ksenia, alive. A bleak fate awaited her as the impostor's concubine. It was officially announced that Tsar Fedor and his mother were poisoned. Their bodies were put on display. Then Boris’s coffin was taken out of the Archangel Cathedral and reburied in the Varsonofevsky Monastery near Lubyanka. His family was also buried there: without a funeral service, like suicides.
Under Mikhail Fedorovich, the remains of Boris, his wife and son were transferred to the Trinity Monastery and buried in a sitting position at the northwestern corner of the Assumption Cathedral. Ksenia was buried there in 1622, and Olga in monasticism. In 1782, a tomb was built over their tombs.
In culture
In 1710 German composer Johann Matteson wrote the opera “Boris Godunov, or the Throne Achieved by Cunning.” However, the opera premiered only in June 2007 - for a long time The score was kept in the Hamburg archive, then in the Yerevan archive, where it ended up after the Great Patriotic War.
In 1824-25 Pushkin wrote the tragedy “Boris Godunov” (published in 1831), dedicated to the reign of Boris Godunov and his conflict with False Dmitry I. The tragedy takes place in 1598 - 1605. and ends with a description of the murder of Fyodor and the “proclamation” of “Dmitry Ivanovich” as the new tsar (the final remark of the tragedy became widely known - The people are silent). The first production of the tragedy was 1870, Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg.
In 1869 Modest Mussorgsky completed work on opera of the same name based on the text of Pushkin’s drama, which was first staged on stage in the same Mariinsky Theater(1874).
In 1870, A.K. Tolstoy published the tragedy “Tsar Boris”, the action of which, like Pushkin’s, covers seven years of the reign of Boris Godunov; The tragedy is the final part of a historical trilogy (the first are “The Death of Ivan the Terrible” and “Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich”).
Children
- Fyodor Borisovich Godunov (1589 - June 10, 1605).
- Xenia (1582-1622).
"Boris Godunov" A.S. Pushkin - superb example Russian realistic tragedy, which describes the difficult turning point in history Russian state- the era of Troubles.
The author achieved extraordinary historical authenticity; he managed to recreate " last century in all its truth." Initially, Pushkin designated the genre of "Boris Godunov" as a historical and political tragedy addressed to pressing issues at that time - historical role the masses and interaction with despotic power.
History of creation
The publication of the X and XI volumes of N.M. Karamzin’s largest work “History of the Russian State,” containing a detailed narrative about the era of the Time of Troubles, inspires Pushkin to create a true masterpiece of Russian historical realistic drama. He begins work on the work with a careful study of the features historical era and characters of that time, right down to taking notes on fragments of Karamzin’s great historical work. The beginning of work dates back to the end of 1824, also known exact date the end of work on the work was November 7, 1825, but after that, for some time, the author continued to make his own edits.
Analysis of the work
The action begins in 1598. Princes Shuisky and Vorotynsky discuss the murder of Tsarevich Dimitri; Vasily Shuisky accuses the Tsar’s brother-in-law, Boris Godunov, of this terrible crime. Shocked by the death of Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich, the Russian people beg Boris, who has secluded himself in a monastery, to take control of the state into his own hands. After some deliberation, he gives his consent.
1603 Cell of the Chudov Monastery. Having learned from Elder Pimen the circumstances of the martyrdom of Tsarevich Dimitri, his cell attendant Grishka Otrepiev plans to use this knowledge for selfish purposes and escapes from the monastery. The monk Gregory is plotting blasphemy - he is going to impersonate the late prince in order to subsequently ascend to the royal throne. Having barely escaped the guards looking for him, Grishka escapes to Poland. There he charms the daughter of Voivode Mnishek Marina, and confesses to her his imposture.
Meanwhile, a letter appears in Shuisky's house about allegedly miraculous salvation the prince, after which the prince goes with this news to the king. Boris is overcome by terrible pangs of conscience; he tries to find out from Shuisky the truth about the death of the boy.
In 1604, inspired by the impostor False Dmitry, Polish troops crossed the Russian border. Meanwhile, in Uglich the relics of the innocently murdered prince were discovered, which finally proved Otrepyev’s imposture.
In December of the same year, near Novgorod-Seversky, a battle between Boris’s troops and the Poles took place. Godunov loses the battle. On Cathedral Square, a scene between Boris and the holy fool takes place, where the latter accuses the king of infanticide, comparing him to Herod.
Arriving in Moscow, Tsar Boris suddenly dies. Being in his death throes, he blesses his son, the young lad Fyodor, for the kingdom. The disgraced nobleman Gavrila Pushkin pushes one of the governors to treason and Execution Place proclaims False Dmitry king. Further unfolds terrible tragedy- the boyars break into the imprisoned children and Godunov’s wife and kill them. Boyar Mosalsky lies to the people that Boris’s entire family took poison and died, and proclaims the power of False Dmitry. The people are silent.
Main characters
The author reveals his image in many ways - as a powerful and wise ruler, loving husband and father, Boris is endowed with many virtues. An experienced politician, gifted with a powerful will, a brilliant mind and sincere concern for his people, the king, nevertheless, could not win the people's love. The people could not forgive him for the murder of the prince; in addition, the policy of total enslavement of the peasants was also not to the liking of the common people. All the royal generosity and good deeds were perceived by the people as hypocritical means to appease and deter from rebellion masses. According to Pushkin, it was the lack of popular support, love and respect that was main reason tragedy of Tsar Boris.
A meek and humble elder, the chronicler monk of the Chudov Monastery is one of central characters Pushkin's tragedy, he is the only witness to the tragic murder. Pimen unintentionally provokes his cell attendant Grigory into imposture with just one careless mention of the equal age of Otrepiev and the murdered prince. At the same time, he declares the power of the king as given by God, and subsequently calls on the people to repent for the sins of the child-killer king.
The image of one of the main characters begins to unfold in the cell of Elder Pimen. The passionate nature of the young monk takes precedence over his desire for solitude within the monastery walls. Further, Grishka reveals himself both as an ardent lover and as a young man obsessed with a thirst for power. In the guise of the Pretender, he enlists the support of both the boyars and the Polish gentry, but he will never be able to win the love of the people. Instead of cheers, popular silence awaits the newly installed king.
The ambitious daughter of a Polish governor, the wife of False Dmitry, she was ready to achieve royal power by any means, being equally indifferent to both passionate love The impostor, and to the political interests of his people.
A prominent representative of the boyar opposition, a participant in almost all political conspiracies. His role has great weight and significance in the plot of the tragedy. He is the first to investigate the murder of the prince and far-sightedly assesses the consequences of the news about the Pretender. Resourcefulness, sober and cold calculation - character traits behavior of this actor both in relation to the king and in relation to his entourage.
Holy fool. The significance of the role of this character is that he allowed himself, in the square in front of St. Basil's Cathedral, to publicly accuse the tsar of murdering the little prince. The second appearance in the scene of the battle of Kromy will be marked by the cry of the Holy Fool about the fate of the Russian people in the coming Time of Troubles.
Structure of the work
The plot and compositional structure of the poem has its own innovative features - due to a break with the rules of classicism, instead of the usual five acts we see 23 scenes that constantly change the scene of action, which is also an innovative feature of the author's plan. A new interpretation and violation of the three unities typical of the tragedy of classicism (time of action, place of action and unity of action), a violation of the purity of the genre (mixing tragic, comic and everyday scenes) allow us to call Pushkin’s tragedy a successful attempt at a revolution in Russian and world drama.
The main innovative component is showing the image of the people as the main protagonist. The tragedy perfectly shows the dynamism of his development. The passive and unconscious masses of the people acquire unprecedented power, and as a result, the power to influence the course of historical events. The people are invisibly present in all episodes of the play, including monologues and dialogues of its characters, and come to the fore in key scenes like the chorus in the tragedies of ancient times.
Final conclusion
“Boris Godunov” is a realistic tragedy, which for Pushkin was the result of deep thoughts and a brilliant innovative embodiment of a large-scale literary and artistic understanding the history of the Russian state. The moral result of the work can be designated as the irreconcilability of a weak and defenseless people with the injustice of a lawless government.
