Boris Godunov short biography of the Tsar

Boris Fedorovich Godunov (1552–1605) – boyar, prominent political figure, Russian Tsar from 1598 to 1605. The personality of this man is unique, and his influence on the course of the history of the Russian state is enormous. There are many interesting facts in the biography of Boris Godunov, and the question still arises of how an ordinary nobleman was able to achieve a high position at court, and then completely occupy the Russian throne.

The material was prepared jointly with a teacher of the highest category

Alexandrova Ekaterina Valerievna.

Experience as a history and social studies teacher - 11 years.

Early years

Boris Fedorovich Godunov was born in 1552 into the family of the landowner Fyodor Ivanovich, nicknamed “Crooked”.

After the death of his father, Boris was raised by his paternal uncle. Being a provincial nobleman, young Godunov received a proper education, but was not familiar with the Holy Scriptures. At that time, knowledge of church books was considered the most important sign of education and culture, and therefore among his contemporaries Godunov was considered an illiterate person.

Thanks to his uncle's patronage, Boris ended up in the Kremlin, where he grew up with the royal heirs. The young man was captivated by court luxury, he strove for power, but it was difficult for him to get used to the inhuman torture that Ivan the Terrible subjected to those disgraced. He quickly realized that he would become “one of his own” at court if he learned to control his emotions.

Personality characteristics of Boris Godunov

Boris Godunov is a personality in history that still remains not fully understood. And now this man attracts the attention of numerous researchers. It was Godunov who was destined for the role of ruler who would replace the great dynasty dating back to the 9th century. What was he like? A question that requires detailed study.

Where did the Godunovs come from?

Even during the reign of Ivan, nicknamed Kalita, Boris's ancestor Chet escaped from the Horde, literally immediately he came to the court of the Moscow prince and began serving him. A little later he will accept the Orthodox faith, after which he will be named Zacharias

.
It is this man who is considered the founder of the famous Ipatiev Monastery on the lands of Kostroma.
Boris Godunov.

He managed to get closer to the court thanks to his marriage to the daughter of the famous oprichnina figure M. Skuratov,

chief adviser to Ivan IV himself. He loved his wife and children very much, contemporaries Fr.

And a little later, the successor of the dynasty, Fyodor Ivanovich, and Godunov’s sister, Irina, will become legal spouses. From then on, brother-in-law Boris will become the shadow and “right hand” of the future ruler. Literally immediately Boris Godunov was given the great title of boyar.

Appearance of a historical figure.

Unfortunately, history has not preserved a single authentic portrait of him. The only engraving where he is depicted dates back to the 18th century. But numerous descriptions have been preserved that say that he was attractive in appearance, although not tall, but at the same time well-built.

Personal data.

Boris Godunov had an excellent command of speech, although there is no information about his education; rather, on the contrary, there are assumptions that he did not study anywhere at all and was not literate. But many reject this point of view and believe that he was quite smart and fluent in several languages.

Boris knew how to quickly understand a situation and extract maximum benefit for himself.

He was ambitious in himself
, very cunning,
which is worth only the fact that this man had unlimited power under the living autocrat, Fyodor consulted with him and, as a result, often relied on his opinion.
At the same time, he was very careful
; in order to achieve his goal, he could remain in the shadows for a long time.
A strong-willed
, but at the same time sincere person
with a sober mind and tough character
- this is how many describe him in their memoirs at the very beginning of his journey; as soon as he received power, it instantly spoiled him.

Godunov believed very much in foresight,

he had a whole staff of soothsayers, one of whom once accurately indicated the duration of his reign - seven years.
This man really wanted to please the people, so sometimes he resorted to cunning and “bought” the love of the common people, for example, he spared no money to distribute to the poor
. He donated a lot of funds for the construction of churches and temples, then these actions were held in high esteem.

Path to power

At the age of 18, Boris, thanks to his data, took the place of the state bed guard, becoming a witness to the secret personal life of the tsar. When Boris's sister, Irina, married Ivan the Terrible's second son, Fyodor, the Tsar granted the bed-keeper the title of boyar. The Godunov family slowly but surely climbed up the hierarchical ladder.

After the death of Ivan the Terrible in 1584, the main contender for the throne became his son Fyodor, who was unable to rule the country and needed an intelligent mentor. A fierce struggle for power began at court, in which Boris Godunov gained the upper hand through cunning and intrigue. As a result, since 1585, he, and not Fyodor Ioannovich, actually ruled the country.

On the way to the throne, Godunov had one last opponent left - the illegitimate son of Ivan the Terrible, Dmitry. However, the boy died under unclear circumstances in 1591. Boris Godunov was accused of his death, but a specially created commission could not prove his involvement in the death of the child.

Brief biography of Boris Godunov

Full name

: Godunov Boris Fedorovich

Date and place of birth

: 1552, near Vyazma, Russian Empire

Date and place of death

: 1605 (
54 years old
), Moscow, Russian Empire

Occupation

: statesman, advisor to Ivan the Terrible and Fyodor Ioannovich, tsar elected by the Zemsky Sobor

Foresight and a sharp mind led him to the pinnacle of power. Talent and hard work allowed the state to move forward on the path of progress. But a natural disaster destroyed all the undertakings of Boris Godunov; a short biography will tell about the tragic ending of the reign of this king.

From dirt to Kings

Coming from a provincial noble environment, Boris Godunov was able to advance, ending up in the oprichnina of Ivan the Terrible. Thanks to his abilities, he steadily moved up the career ladder and soon occupied a number of high positions at the royal court. His marriage to Maria Skuratova strengthened his position, and the marriage of the Tsar’s son to Godunov’s sister finally confirmed him in the list of the Tsar’s confidants.

Under Ivan and Fedor

With the death of Ivan IV, Boris became the closest adviser to the new Tsar of Rus'. Under his leadership, a patriarch independent of Constantinople was elected, a defensive line was built in the south, Smolensk was fortified, which became an impregnable fortress for the Poles and Lithuanians. In Moscow, with the help of foreign specialists, a large construction project was launched using advanced technologies. Godunov received a high rank for his participation in repelling the Horde invasion.

To the throne

The sick Tsar Fyodor entrusted Godunov with the management of foreign affairs. The royal brother-in-law was able to conclude a profitable peace with Sweden, returning almost all the lands lost in the Livonian War. When Fyodor Ioannovich died, the Zemsky Sobor elected Boris Godunov to the throne. But the position of the new sovereign was precarious: his place was contested by well-born boyars.

Unlucky years

Having begun successfully, the reign of Tsar Boris was marred by repressions - not always justified. This gave rise to some ferment of minds, but the real disaster was the crop failure. In two years, the price of bread rose tenfold and no measures could provide an effective solution to the issue. Godunov firmly held control, defeated detachments of rebellious peasants and the “armies” of False Dmitry. However, the situation was getting worse.

In April 1605, Tsar Boris died suddenly. According to the official version, the death of the monarch occurred from natural causes, but Godunov had too many enemies and rivals...

Reforms

During this period, Godunov’s activities were aimed at comprehensively strengthening statehood: the first Russian patriarch was elected, large-scale construction of cities, fortifications, and temples began.

Godunov set a deadline for searching for fugitive peasants. From now on, slaves were searched for for five years, and if they were not found, they were considered free people. In addition, he exempted from taxes the lands of those landowners who cultivated their lands with their own hands, without the use of hired workers.

Boris Godunov proved himself to be a talented diplomat in foreign policy, ending the three-year Russian-Swedish war. At the same time, Russian cities that had once been transferred to Sweden were returned.

Reign

In January 1598, the last of the Rurik family, Fyodor Ioannovich, died. Even though he was free to the royal throne, Boris Godunov hastened to take it. First of all, he directed all his efforts towards rapprochement with the West. Overseas doctors and craftsmen, scientists and military men, merchants and industrialists who received generous salaries appeared at the court. Gradually, European culture began to penetrate into Russia.

In a brief biography of Boris Godunov, the beginning of his reign could be called successful if not for a severe famine that claimed more than a hundred thousand lives. Unrest began among the people, rumors appeared that God was punishing Rus' for illegal succession to the throne. The people saw their salvation in the unexpected appearance of False Dmitry 1, the self-proclaimed son of Ivan the Terrible.

Biography of Boris Godunov: briefly, most importantly

One of the most tragic, misunderstood figures in Russian history is undoubtedly Boris Godunov. Many historians agree that he was a capable, intelligent ruler who was unlucky to ascend the throne at a difficult time, when his personal abilities could do little to improve him.

Path to power

Boris Fedorovich Godunov did not belong to the upper class by birth - he was not a boyar. Therefore, Godunov can safely be called a “self-made” man who successfully took advantage of the political moment - the struggle of Ivan the Terrible with the boyars, in which the tsar relied on fresh forces.

Godunov entered the royal oprichnina corps, where he quickly made a career and became the head of the Bed Prikaz. Skillfully using personal connections, Godunov rises from a simple guardsman to become a member of the court: it is known that at Ivan the Terrible’s wedding in 1571 he was the tsar’s friend. To consolidate new connections and career success, Boris marries the daughter of the Tsar's associate Malyuta Skuratov.

In 1578, we see Godunov in the position of the Tsar's keeper and with the boyar title. Contemporaries recall that Godunov always seemed to behave rather modestly and did not interfere on stage. At the same time, he skillfully achieved everything he needed. Ivan the Terrible appreciated the intelligent, devoted and efficient courtier. Boris Godunov became a special confidant of the aging monarch.

Confidant of the new king

After the death of Ivan the Terrible, his son Fyodor Ioannovich took the throne. He was a weak ruler, completely unfit for state affairs. He constantly needed advisers and assistants, and Boris Godunov skillfully used this, acquiring many ranks and with them enormous powers. Now Godunov is the governor of two kingdoms - Astrakhan and Kazan, as well as an equerry and a nearby boyar.

But he was not a “weak and crafty ruler” who thought only about personal gain. Boris worked to strengthen Russian statehood, continuing the work of Ivan the Terrible. It was under him that a new patriarch was elected, and in the everyday life of the country, politics was based on common sense and economic calculation.

Godunov - Tsar

Boris Godunov should not have ascended the royal throne. According to the law of succession to the throne, Tsarevich Dmitry was considered the closest contender. But he died while still a child, under unclear circumstances. Many assume that Boris was the killer, but there is still no evidence of this.

Godunov was elected to the throne in 1598. He continued the policy of reasonable state building, inviting foreigners to Russia in order to learn and borrow their valuable experience. However, he was unable to found a university in Moscow on the Western model - the entire Russian clergy reared up and opposed this. Of course, Godunov had many enemies. Everyone understood that his right to the throne was very conditional and influential boyars were not averse to undermining the new king. Godunov understood this very well and was forced to fight his enemies, suspecting even people from his inner circle of conspiracy.

But it was not the plot of the boyars that brought down the country, but the climate shocks and the terrible crop failure generated by them. Famine years followed one after another, Godunov tried to distribute bread to the hungry, but it was not possible to feed all the suffering. Peasant uprisings began, rumors spread throughout Rus' that Tsarevich Dmitry was alive, and the Lord himself had sent misfortune to Rus', because “the king is not real.”

The Poles took advantage of these rumors and sent troops to Moscow with False Dmitry at their head. The first attack was repulsed, but the tsar's health rapidly deteriorated, and in the midst of the great turmoil that descended on Russian soil, Tsar Boris died, presumably of a stroke, in 1605.

Last days on the throne

Boris Godunov's precarious position was complicated by his state of health: he suffered from urolithiasis and severe migraines. In the last days of his life, he did not trust anyone, and was very suspicious of his retinue. On April 13, 1605, blood gushed from the king’s nose and ears, and he suffered an apoplexy, which caused his death.

Having learned about the death of the sovereign, False Dmitry entered Moscow with an army to the jubilant cries of the crowd. On the same day, the archers strangled Godunov’s family: his wife, Maria Skuratova, and his son Fedor. Only the daughter Ksenia, who was exiled to a monastery, managed to survive. The Godunov family was buried in the Varsonofevsky Monastery, without a funeral service, as suicides.