1598-1613
The weakest point in the history of the Russian state. 15 years of civil war and famine killed one-third of the population and took Russia very close to being occupied by Poland.
“The Murder of False Dmitry” by Konstantin Makovsky (1906)
Background
Ivan the Terrible left two sons as heirs. The elder son, although mentally disabled, became tsar Fyodor I. The second son Dmitry was only 8 when he was discovered dead with his throat cut. Everyone blamed Fyodor’s brother-in-law Boris Godunov for murder.
Time of Troubles
When Fydor I died childless the 700-year old Rurik dynasty ended. The Time of Troubles (Smutnoye Vremya) began. Rivaling boyar families fiercely fought for power and the next 12 years saw 6 consecutive rulers murdered. Poland, Sweden and Khazaria attacked on all sides. Famine killed one-third of the population.
Three impostors
In 1605 a Polish man declared he was the real tsarevich Dmitry and had survived the assassination attempt. He became known as False Dmitry, claiming the throne and ruling for a year. He was removed, and the following years saw the appearance of False Dmitry II and False Dmitry III, who were both killed.
By 1610 there was a real possibility that Moscow might fall under the Polish king.
In 1610 Russia was saved by a miraculous reuniting of people inspired by church. The popular army of nobles and Cossacks, led by Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky, drove the Poles and Swedes out of Russia.
Time of Trubles
1598-1613
The weakest point in the history of the Russian state. 15 years of civil war and famine killed one-third of the population and took Russia very close to being occupied by Poland.
“The Murder of False Dmitry” by Konstantin Makovsky (1906)
Background
Ivan the Terrible left two sons as heirs. The elder son, although mentally disabled, became tsar Fyodor I. The second son Dmitry was only 8 when he was discovered dead with his throat cut. Everyone blamed Fyodor’s brother-in-law Boris Godunov for murder.
Time of Troubles
When Fydor I died childless the 700-year old Rurik dynasty ended. The Time of Troubles (Smutnoye Vremya) began. Rivaling boyar families fiercely fought for power and the next 12 years saw 6 consecutive rulers murdered. Poland, Sweden and Khazaria attacked on all sides. Famine killed one-third of the population.
Three impostors
In 1605 a Polish man declared he was the real tsarevich Dmitry and had survived the assassination attempt. He became known as False Dmitry, claiming the throne and ruling for a year. He was removed, and the following years saw the appearance of False Dmitry II and False Dmitry III, who were both killed.
By 1610 there was a real possibility that Moscow might fall under the Polish king.
In 1610 Russia was saved by a miraculous reuniting of people inspired by church. The popular army of nobles and Cossacks, led by Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky, drove the Poles and Swedes out of Russia.
Fyodor I