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Tsar Fedor ascended the throne in full accordance with the tradition of succession to the throne and in accordance with the will of Ivan IV, but neither in personal qualities nor in his abilities was he suitable for the role of the ruler of the country.
According to the dying order of Ivan the Terrible, under the incapacitated Tsar Fedor, a kind of regency council was created, which included five boyars: uncle king Nikita Romanovich Zakharyin-Yuriev, Prince Ivan Fedorovich Mstislavsky, Prince Ivan Petrovich Shuisky, Bogdan Yakovlevich Volsky and brother-in-law king Boris Fyodorovich Godunov.
A clash between the members of the council, divided into two opposing factions, was inevitable. At first, Zakharyin-Yuriev, relying on the Moscow nobility and the settlement, tried to reconcile the service princes (Shuisky and Mstislavsky) and the nominees of Ivan IV (Belsky and Godunov). But Belsky immediately took up dangerous political intrigues. Then, on April 2, 1584, unrest of the Moscow Posad was inspired against him, and he was sent into exile as a governor in Nizhny Novgorod. At the end of the same year, Yuryev fell ill and the department departed, which sharply aggravated the confrontation between Boris Godunov and Shuisky. Godunov was supported by the prikaz bureaucracy, headed by Duma clerks Andrei and Vasily Shchelkalov, supporters of a strong centralized state. This allowed Godunov to get rid of another rival - I.F. Miloslavsky, sent in 1585 to the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery and forcibly tonsured a monk there.
In 1586, the leaders of the Shuisky boyar clan tried, under the pretext of Tsarina Irina's infertility, to achieve a divorce from Fedor Ivanovich and thereby remove B. Godunov from power. At the same time, they relied on the Moscow townspeople. Boris managed to suppress the unrest that arose in the capital in May 1586, and soon I.P. Shuisky and his brothers were first exiled to their estates, then transported to Beloozero and Kargopol, where they were secretly murdered. After that, the boyar opposition was finished, and Boris Godunov could now openly become the regent of the state. He received the title of "ruler, servant and equestrian boyar and yard governor", he was granted the right of external relations by the Boyar Duma. The British called him "Lord Protector Russia ".
By origin, Boris Godunov belonged to a large untitled boyars. He approached Tsar Ivan IV in the last years of his reign mainly through the marriage of his sister Irina to Tsarevich Fedor. Godunov himself, married to the daughter of Malyuta Skuratov, was closely associated with oprichnina circles. Contemporaries highly appreciated Boris: "the husband is very smart and sweet-tongued," but at the same time they noted his great lust for power. An outstanding politician, Boris knew how to be what circumstances required. In this he was helped by a natural mind and a strong will. He was not a well-educated person, but, as one of the foreigners who knew Boris wrote, "he had no equal throughout the country in intelligence, reason and advice." A cautious and far-sighted, generous and peaceful ruler who won the sympathy of the general population, he was cunning and treacherous, flattering and cunning - but it was thanks to all these qualities that Boris Godunov managed to reach the heights of power.
To strengthen the economic position of the state, Godunov's government at the church Cathedral in 1584, she achieved the abolition of tax benefits of the church and monasteries. At the same time, a land census was carried out to account for the entire land fund, in connection with which peasant transitions on St. George's Day were prohibited, and in 1597 a decree was issued on a five-year period for detecting fugitive peasants. This was an important step in the establishment of serfdom in Russia, thereby strengthening the economic position of the service nobility. But the peasant was not yet attached to the personality of the landowner, but to the land. In addition, attachment concerned only the owner of the court, but not his children and nephews.
In an effort to limit the economic power of the church, the government of Godunov, at the same time, took care of the growth of its authority, which found expression in the establishment in 1589 of the patriarchate in Russia(the Russian church has been trying to achieve this since the middle of the 15th century). At the Church Council, Job, an ardent supporter of Godunov, was proclaimed the first Patriarch of Moscow. The establishment of the patriarchate made the Russian Orthodox Church legally independent of the Patriarch of Constantinople.
On May 15, 1591, in Uglich, Tsarevich Dmitry (the son of Ivan the Terrible by his last wife, Maria Nagoya) died during an attack of "falling sickness", and rumors declared Boris Godunov to be the culprit of his death. Sources do not give an unequivocal answer to the question of the causes of the death of the prince, but it is obvious that this tragedy cleared the way for Godunov to the throne.
In 1598, with the death of a childless Fedora Ivanovich the ruling dynasty of Rurikovich ceases to exist.
Another Zemsky Sobor in February 1598 elected Boris Godunov as Tsar.
The last Russian tsar from the Rurik dynasty, one of the three sons of Ivan the Terrible. Incapable of state activity, he actually transferred control of the state to the boyar Nikita Romanovich Zakharyev-Yuriev, and after his death - to the boyar Boris Godunov (his brother-in-law).
1590-1593 War with Sweden.
The Russian lands on the Baltic coast, captured by the Swedes during the Livonian War, were reclaimed.
1595 Tyavzinsky peace with Sweden.
Russia got back the cities that had gone to Sweden according to the Plyussky truce.
1597 Adoption of the law on “lesson years».
From temporary measures (the introduction of reserved years in 1581), the government moved to permanent ones. This law provided for a five-year term for the investigation of fugitive peasants and proceeded from a permanent ban on "peasant exit".
1598-1605 Board of Boris Godunov.
He became the Russian Tsar by decision of the Zemsky Sobor. Famine and epidemics fell during his reign, but he was able to replenish the treasury devastated by the Livonian War.
1605-1606 Board of False Dmitry I.
Posing as a miraculously saved Tsarevich Dmitry - the son of Ivan the Terrible, the Russian throne was taken by the impostor Grigory Otrepyev. Boyar Vasily Shuisky organized a conspiracy against False Dmitry I.
1606-1607 The uprising led by Ivan Bolotnikova.
According to the historian V. B. Kobrin, he was a professional warrior and a ruined nobleman. His army was heterogeneous in social composition: Cossacks, peasants, serfs, townspeople, service people of all ranks. The uprising was suppressed by the troops of V. Shuisky, and Bolotnikov himself was blinded and drowned.
1606-1610 The reign of Vasily Shuisky.
Vasily Shuisky was a descendant of the princes of Suzdal, who at one time competed with the princes of Moscow in the struggle for the grand prince's throne. Elected (“called out”) to the kingdom by the Zemsky Sobor. For the first time in the history of Russia, he swore allegiance to his subjects: he gave a “record”, the observance of which he secured by kissing the cross.
1608-1609 The adventure of False Dmitry II.
The new impostor (origin unknown) pretended to be the surviving Tsar False Dmitry I. In 1608-1609. created a fortified camp in the village of Tushino (hence "Tushinsky Thief"), from where he unsuccessfully tried to capture Moscow. With the beginning of the Polish intervention, he fled to Kaluga, where he was killed.
1610-1612 The Board of the Seven Boyars.
In July 1610, nobles and townspeople staged a coup: they overthrew V. Shuisky. The boyars took advantage of the result - the country was ruled by the Boyar Duma, headed by F.I. Mstislavsky. A government of seven boyars was formed. Having decided to place the Polish prince Vladislav on the Russian throne, the boyars let Polish troops into the Kremlin, led by Hetman Gonsevsky, who began to rule the country autocratically.
1611, spring-summer The fight against the Polish invaders of the first militia under the leadership of P. Lyapunov. The first militia failed to liberate Moscow, although its detachments blocked the city from all sides. One of the reasons for the unsuccessful actions of the militias was the strife that began among them.
1611, autumn The formation of the second militia under the leadership of K. Minin and D. Pozharsky.
The second militia began to be created in one of the largest cities in the country - Nizhny Novgorod. K. Minin's call - not to seek personal benefits, but to give everything to a common cause - resonated with ordinary people. Material resources were raised with the help of the population of many cities.
1612, October Liberation of Moscow from the Poles.
The second militia led successful battles with the detachments of Hetman Khodkevich near the Devichy Monastery and Poklonnaya Hill. Poles settled in the Kremlin, left without the help of Khodkevich, were forced to surrender.
1613, February Election by the Zemsky Sobor to the kingdom of Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov.
The Romanov boyars had a formal right to the Russian throne as relatives of the former dynasty: Mikhail's grandfather, Nikita Romanovich Zakharyin-Yuriev, was the brother of Ivan the Terrible's first wife, Anastasia Romanovna. The Zemsky Sobor unanimously voted for the sixteen-year-old Mikhail Romanov, and on July 13 he became the Russian Tsar.
1613-1645 The reign of Mikhail Romanov.
Michael was not able to independently manage the state, he was led: in 1613-1633. father, Fyodor Romanov - Patriarch Filaret, who officially bore the title of "Great Sovereign", - then the boyars.
1617 Stolbovsky world.
According to this agreement, the Swedes returned Novgorod, Staraya Russa, Porkhov, Ladoga and Gdov with counties to the Russians. At the same time, Izhora land with Ivangorod, Koporye, Yam, Oreshok and the city of Korela with the county remained behind Sweden. Thus, after the Peace of Stolbov, Russia remained cut off from the Baltic Sea.
1618 Deulin truce.
The truce was not easy for Russia. Poland received Smolensk, Chernigov and Novgorod-Seversky lands. At the same time, Vladislav still considered himself a contender for the Russian throne, not recognizing Mikhail Romanov as the legitimate Russian tsar.
1645-1676 The reign of Alexei Mikhailovich.
Alexei Romanov was one of the most educated people of his time (he studied theology, philosophy, sacred music, knew Greek and Polish). In domestic politics, he adhered to the idea of \u200b\u200bautocracy. Created a code of state laws (Council Code of 1649); introduced a new type of troops; Together with Patriarch Nikon, he carried out a church reform that caused a split in the Orthodox Church. Under him, the uprising of S. Razin was suppressed, Ukraine was reunited with Russia (1654), Smolensk and Novgorod-Seversky lands were returned. He waged wars with Poland (1654-1667) and Sweden (1656-1658).
The last Rurikovich, who inherited power, was weak in body and mind and could not rule the country, just as he could not have heirs. The reign of Fedor Ivanovich fell on difficult years for Russia. The legacy of the great father was left in a disorderly state that required urgent reforms.
General political environment
The reign of Ivan Vasilyevich ended under unfavorable conditions. Firstly, the unsuccessful war with Lithuania, and secondly, while fighting the Swedes for free duty-free trade in the Baltic Sea, Russia not only did not get what it wanted, but lost part of its lands.
The oprichnina system undermined the economic power of the large aristocracy and physically exterminated its most prominent figures, who could have been a support during the reign of Fyodor Ivanovich. St. George's Day was canceled, and the peasantry accumulated hatred for the state, because they had to perform more and more high duties for the patrimonials and landowners. State taxes also increased. The boyars and princes themselves, the estates, tried to belittle the nobles and strengthen their own positions, to regain the influence lost under Grozny. The nobles also fought against the dominance of the boyars.
Identity of the heir
There was not even a show of brides, which was a long tradition. Grozny just decided that. This marriage served as the first step in the rise of Boris Godunov. But Ivan IV foresaw that there might not be children in the marriage, so in this case he ordered in his will to marry Fedor to Princess Irina Mstislavskaya. However, the intrigues of Boris Godunov sent this princess to a monastery. At the age of 27, in 1584, the reign of Fedor Ivanovich began.
But he did not change his habits - he still surrounded himself with holy fools, monks, he liked to climb the bell tower to ring the bells. Meanwhile, the country was waiting for action. Ivan IV established a council of trustees under his weak-minded son, but the members of the council all quarreled, and Shuisky and Godunov remained in the political arena, who eventually won. Tsarevich Dmitry, who had no right to the throne, was removed with his mother to Uglich. This was required to weaken the Naga clan.
On the realm
When the board of trustees finally collapsed, the rapid rise of Boris Godunov, brother, began. Cunning and efficiency made him the most influential person in the reign of Fyodor Ivanovich. He received the right to lead a horse during the solemn departures of the king. Then it was real power. On the instructions of the "stable" important royal decisions were made. Realizing the precariousness and unreliability of his position, Godunov sought support from the nobility. During the reign of Fyodor Ivanovich, at the instigation of Godunov, a five-year term was set for the search for fugitive peasants (decree of 1597), since the nobles suffered more than the patrimonials from a shortage of people cultivating the land. Another gift was made to the nobles. The poorest landlords, who cultivated the land themselves, were exempted from paying taxes.
State position
During the reign of Fyodor Ivanovich (1584-1598), the economy began to be restored and the economic situation improved. Abandoned empty lands were plowed up. Godunov took land from the boyars and distributed them to the landowners, thereby strengthening his position.
But only those who served were placed on the ground. Moreover, in 1593-1594 the legitimacy of land ownership by monasteries was clarified. Those who did not have documents were deprived of their inheritance in favor of the sovereign. These lands could already be assigned to townspeople and service people. Thus, Godunov relied on the poor and "thin".
Church reform
In Moscow, it was believed that the dignity of the Russian Orthodox Church was belittled. In 1588, a patriarch from Constantinople arrived in the capital and agreed to independence in church affairs, that is, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church from a metropolitan became a patriarch.
On the one hand, this kind of independence emphasized the prestige of Russian Orthodoxy, and on the other hand, it separated it from the world, delaying development, preventing new ideas from entering. The patriarchate was formally elective, but in fact only one candidate was proposed, who was chosen - Job. The spiritual authority was subordinate to the state and supported it in every possible way. Such a strengthening of secular power occurred during the reign of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich.
Completion of the conquest of Siberia
The beginning was laid by the merchants Stroganovs, who called on Yermak for help. After his death, the remnants of his detachment left Siberia, but in 1587 Moscow sent help, and the city of Tobolsk was founded. The movement to the East continued the reign of Fedor Ivanovich and Boris Godunov.
Little War in the West
The Free Trade War in the Baltic began in 1590 and ended five years later. This allowed Godunov to return the Russian cities on the Finnish coast and to make trade with Sweden lively, which brought him popularity among Russian merchants.
The southern borders were also fortified, and the Crimean Tatars from 1591 no longer annoyed Moscow. In the north, in Arkhangelsk, in 1586 a new White Sea market was opened. The country gradually grew richer and lived relatively quietly, so the chroniclers recalled the times when there was “great silence” in Moscow.
Despite the weakness of the sovereign, the years of government, thanks to Godunov's smart policy, were successful. In 1598 the blessed Tsar Theodore died. He was forty years old. He left no heirs, and with him the
FYODOR IVANOVICH(05/31/1557-01/06/1598) - tsar since March 1584, the last Russian sovereign from the Rurik dynasty.
Son of Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible and Anastasia Romanovna Zakharyina-Yuryeva. Since 1573, he was repeatedly nominated as a candidate for the Polish throne. After the death at the hands of Ivan IV of his eldest son Ivan (1582), Fedor became the actual heir to the throne, although his father considered him incapable of governing the state. Before his death, Ivan IV established a regency council to help Fedor from among the most influential boyars and two duma clerks - the Shchelkalov brothers.
The first years of the reign of Fyodor Ivanovich were marked by a fierce struggle between palace groups. According to contemporaries, Fedor Ivanovich paid little attention to state affairs. He devoted most of his time to the palace economy, decorating the Kremlin chambers, and made generous contributions to the monasteries. The king's favorite pastime was bear fights.
Since 1587, power in the country has actually been concentrated in the hands of the boyar B.F. Godunov, whose sister - Irina - Fedor Ivanovich was married. The years of Fyodor Ivanovich's tenure on the throne were characterized by a gradual recovery of economic life, which was in a state of crisis after the Livonian War of 1558-1583. Godunov's government took a number of measures to further enslavement of the peasants (the introduction of fixed years, etc.) and to increase the tax burden on the draft population - the main source of replenishment of the treasury.
The foreign policy of this period was characterized by certain successes. As a result of the war with Sweden 1590-1593. Russia returned a number of cities of the Novgorod land, torn away during the Livonian War, developed trade relations with England and France. The annexation of Western Siberia was completed, the defense system of the southern borders was strengthened, etc., Russia's influence in the Caucasus was noticeably increased. In Siberia and on the southern outskirts of Russia, dozens of new cities and forts arose.
An important event that testified to the consolidation of the unified Russian state and the strengthening of its position in the international arena was the establishment in 1589 of the patriarchate.
However, both measures in the field of domestic policy and foreign policy actions fueled the growing contradictions within the country and in relations with neighboring countries - the Commonwealth, Sweden, the Crimean Khanate, the Ottoman Empire, implicitly preparing a systemic crisis (distemper) at the beginning. 17th century
Fedor Ivanovich died without heirs: his only daughter died in infancy. Tsarina Irina Feodorovna, after the death of her husband, despite the fact that all the highest boyars formally swore allegiance to her, retired to the Novodevichy Convent. The issue of a new Russian tsar was to be decided by the Zemsky Sobor. However, the decision was almost predetermined: the brother of the widowed queen, the all-powerful Boris Godunov, was elected king.
Fedor I Ioannovich
2nd Tsar and Grand Duke of All Russia
Tsar Fedor I Ioannovich
Theodore I Ioannovich (nicknamed the Blessed; May 11, 1557 (15570511), Moscow - January 7, 1598, Moscow) is the third son of Ivan IV the Terrible and Tsarina Anastasia Romanovna, the last representative of the Moscow branch of the Rurik dynasty.
In 1557, Tsar John IV Vasilyevich (the Terrible) with his wife Anastasia was in Pereslavl at the consecration of one of the cathedrals. The queen was not idle. After praying, they went to Moscow. Having driven seven miles from Pereslavl, near the village of Sobilovo, Tsarina Anastasia gave birth to her son, who was named Theodore in holy baptism. Theodore Stratilat became his heavenly patron. At the birthplace of Theodore Ioannovich, a chapel-cross was erected.
Pereslavl-Zalessky. Chapel-cross at the birthplace of Theodore Ioannovich
In gratitude to God for his son, Tsar Ivan the Terrible becomes a patron and temple builder. On the site of a wooden temple in the name of the great martyr Theodore Stratilates, the king builds a stone temple, which has been preserved to this day. Later, in the attached gallery of the temple, two more side-chapels were consecrated in honor of the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God and in honor.
The Cathedral of Theodore Stratilates built in 1557. Feodorovsky Convent
On November 19, 1581, the heir to the throne, Ivan, died from a wound inflicted by his father. Since that time, Fedor became the heir to the royal throne.
According to Ivan the Terrible himself, Fedor was “a fasting and silent man, more for a cell than for sovereign power born.”
A study of the remains of Ivan the Terrible showed that in the last six years of his life he developed osteophytes, and to such an extent that he could no longer walk - he was carried on a stretcher. Examining the remains of M.M. Gerasimov noted that he had not seen such powerful deposits in the deepest old people. Forced immobility, combined with a general unhealthy lifestyle, nervous shocks, etc., led to the fact that in his 50s, the tsar looked already a decrepit old man.
In August 1582, A. Possevin, in the report of the Venetian Signory, stated that "the Moscow sovereign will not live long." In February and early March 1584, the tsar was still engaged in state affairs. By March 10, the first mention of the disease dates back (when the Lithuanian ambassador was stopped on the way to Moscow "due to the sovereign's illness"). On March 16, deterioration began, the king fell into unconsciousness, but on March 17 and 18 he felt relief from hot baths. But in the afternoon of March 18, the king died. The body of the sovereign was swollen and smelled bad "because of the decomposition of the blood."
Vifliofika preserved the Tsar's dying order to Boris Godunov:
“When the Great Sovereign of the last path was honored, the most pure body and blood of the Lord, then as a witness presenting his confessor Archimandrite Theodosius, filling his eyes with tears, saying to Boris Feodorovich: I command you my soul and my son Feodor Ivanovich and my daughter Irina ... ". Also, before his death, according to the chronicles, the tsar bequeathed to his youngest son Dmitry Uglich with all the counties.
Fedor established himself on the throne not without troubles. Prince Bogdan Volsky intrigued a lot in favor of Dmitry, but the boyars hostile to him and the people besieged Belsky in the Kremlin, forced him to surrender and exiled to Nizhny Novgorod.
The news has also been preserved that eminent people from all cities came to Moscow and prayed with tears to Tsarevich Fedor that he would be king in the Muscovite state and be crowned with a royal crown.
On the night of March 18-19, 1584, the son of Ivan the Terrible, Fedor, ascended the throne. On May 31, Fedor was married to the kingdom.
Most historians believe that Fedor was incapable of state activity, according to some reports, he was in poor health and mind; took little part in government, being under the tutelage first of the council of nobles, then of his brother-in-law Boris Fedorovich Godunov, who from 1587 was actually the sole ruler of the state, and after the death of Fedor became his successor. The position of Boris Godunov at the royal court was so significant that overseas diplomats sought audiences with Boris Godunov, his will was law. Fedor reigned, Boris ruled - everyone knew this both in Russia and abroad.
According to the Englishman D. Fletcher, the new tsar was “small in stature, squat and stout, weak in build and prone to dropsy; his nose is hawkish, his tread is unsteady from a certain relaxation in his limbs; he is heavy and inactive, but always smiling, so almost laughing ... He is simple and weak-minded, but very amiable and good in handling, quiet, merciful, has no inclination for war, little capable of political affairs and extremely superstitious.
A blissful smile never left his face, and in general, although he was distinguished by extreme simplicity and imbecility, he was very affectionate, quiet, merciful and pious. He spent most of the day in church, and as entertainment he liked to watch fistfights, jesters' amusements and fun with bears. If someone beat the tsar with his forehead, he sent him to Godunov.
From "Russian history in the biographies of its main figures" N.I. Kostomarov:
Tsar Feodor Ivanovich was a stranger to everything, in accordance with his feeble-mindedness. He got up at four o'clock, the confessor came to him with holy water and with an icon of that saint whose memory was celebrated on this day. The king read prayers aloud, then went to the queen, who lived separately, went with her to matins, then sat down in an armchair and received loved ones, especially monks. At nine o'clock in the morning I went to mass, at eleven o'clock I dined, then I slept, then I went to vespers, sometimes before vespers to the bathhouse. After vespers, the tsar spent time in amusements until night: they sang songs to him, told tales, jesters amused him with antics. Theodore was very fond of bell ringing and sometimes went himself to ring the bell tower. Often he made pious journeys, walked around the Moscow monasteries. But in addition to such pious inclinations, Theodore showed others, reminiscent of his parent's disposition. He liked to watch fist fights and fights between people and bears. The petitioners who turned to him did not see any participation from him: "avoiding worldly fuss and dokuki", he sent them to Boris Godunov. Theodore's dementia did not, however, inspire contempt for him. According to popular belief, the weak-minded were considered sinless and therefore were called "blessed". The monks praised the piety and holy life of Tsar Theodore, they attributed to him alive the gift of insight and divination.
Ivan the Terrible understood in which hands he was transferring power. Leaving the throne to Fedor, he entrusted his son and the state to the cares of the near boyars - I.F. Mstislavsky, N.R. Zakharyina-Yuryeva, I.P. Shuisky and B.F. Godunov. The first two were elderly people, and the main struggle broke out between Shuisky and Godunov. The latter managed to gain the upper hand, and a year after Fedor's accession to the throne, the almighty boyar, whose sister, Irina Godunova, was married to the Russian tsar, became the de facto ruler of the country.
Fedor I Ioannovich. Reconstruction of Gerasimov
The main events in the reign of Fyodor Ioannovich
Tsar of All Russia and Grand Duke of Moscow from March 18 (28), 1584 to January 7 (17), 1598The Moscow Zemsky Sobor in 1584 elected the youngest son of Ivan the Terrible, Fyodor Ioannovich, as tsar.
In 1584, the Don Cossacks took an oath of allegiance to Tsar Fyodor Ioanovich.
In 1585 -1591. Russian architect Fyodor Savelyevich Kony erected walls and towers white city . The length of the walls is 10 kilometers. Thickness - up to 4.5 meters. Height from 6 to 7 meters.
In 1586, the Russian cannon caster Andrei Chokhov cast the famous Tsar Cannon .
Tsar Cannon
1589 - the establishment of the patriarchate in Russia, the first patriarch was Job, an associate of Boris Godunov. Fedor Ivanovich, although he was not canonized, was nevertheless recognized as such by Patriarch Job, who compiled his life.
1590-1595 - Russian-Swedish war. Return of Russian cities: Pit, Ivangorod, Koporye, Korely.
From his marriage with Fedor, he had one daughter (1592), Theodosia, who lived only nine months and died in the same year (according to other sources, she died in 1594).
In con. In 1597, Tsar Fedor I Ivanovich fell mortally ill and died on January 7, 1598 at one in the morning. It stopped the Moscow line of the Rurik dynasty (offspring of Ivan I Kalita). The name of this king became especially popular during the Time of Troubles, at the beginning of the 17th century. Each impostor in one way or another sought to become either Fyodor's brother or his close relative. In the popular mind, he left a good memory as a God-loving and merciful sovereign.
Fedor I Ioannovich, engraving
Contemporaries about Fyodor Ioannovich
Dutch merchant and sales agent in Moscow Isaac Massa:
“In particular, he glorified the few foreigners who served with him, who behaved better than the Muscovites themselves. He was so pious that he often wished to exchange his kingdom for a monastery, if only that were possible.
Clerk Ivan Timofeev gives Fedor the following assessment:
“With his prayers, my king kept the land unharmed from enemy machinations. He was meek by nature, very merciful and blameless to everyone, and, like Job, in all his ways he guarded himself from every evil thing, loving piety, church grandeur and, after the holy priests, the monastic rank and even the lesser brothers in Christ. gratified in the Gospel by the Lord himself. It’s easy to say that he gave himself all over to Christ and all the time of his holy and reverend reign, not loving blood, as a monk spent in fasting, in prayers and supplications with kneeling - day and night, exhausting himself with spiritual exploits all his life.
They also wrote about him that he discussed state affairs with the boyars in the Front Room, and he discussed especially sensitive issues with his entourage in his office.
The heir to the throne during the life of Tsar Fedor was his younger brother Dmitry, the son of the seventh wife of Ivan the Terrible. On May 15, 1591, Tsarevich Dmitry died under unclear circumstances in the specific city of Uglich. The official investigation was conducted by the boyar Vasily Shuisky. Trying to please Godunov, he reduced the causes of what happened to Nagikh's "negligence", as a result of which Dmitry accidentally stabbed himself with a knife while playing with his peers. The prince, according to rumors, was sick with an "epilepsy" disease (epilepsy).
The chronicle of the times of the Romanovs blames Boris Godunov for the murder, 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 become queen as soon as possible, and many Muscovites shared my opinion." Nevertheless, Godunov's participation in the conspiracy to kill the tsarevich has not been proven.
In 1829, the historian M.P. Pogodin was the first to take the risk of defending Boris's innocence. The original of the criminal case of the Shuisky Commission, discovered in the archives, became the decisive argument in the dispute. He convinced many historians of the 20th century (S.F. Platonov, R.G. Skrynnikov) that the true cause of the death of Ivan the Terrible's son was still an accident.
The only close heir to the throne was the second cousin of the late tsar, who was tonsured a nun, Maria Staritskaya (1560-1611).
January 16, 1598 - February 21, 1598 - Tsarina of Russia Irina I Feodorovna, widow of the deceased tsar.
After attempts to appoint the widow of the deceased Tsar Irina, Boris's sister, as the ruling queen, on February 11/23, 1598, the Zemsky Sobor (including Irina's "recommendation") elected Fyodor's brother-in-law, Boris Godunov, as king, and swore allegiance to him.
On September 1/11, 1598, Boris was married to the kingdom. A close property, which was typical for that time, outweighed the distant relationship of possible contenders for the throne. No less important was the fact that Godunov had long actually ruled the country on behalf of Fedor and was not going to let go of power after his death.
