The famous expression "St. George's Day" in Russia is associated with the name of Boris Godunov. This man lived only 53 years. Although he went down in history, he could not keep his family in high positions.
Instruction manual
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Boris was born around 1552 in the family of the boyar Fedor Godunov. A successful marriage to Mary, daughter of Malyuta Skuratov, exalted him in society. Then Boris was 18 years old.
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Four years later, Irina, Boris’s sister, got married to Tsarevich Fedor, and this also contributed to the exaltation of Boris. Life went well, and at 28 he became a boyar, and then entered the government as one of its main members.
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Boris Godunov did not avoid the palace struggle, and at 35 he reached the level of state ruler. Tsarevich Dmitry Uglichsky was killed on his instructions.
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When the childless tsar Fedor died, Godunov was 46 years old. At the Zemsky Sobor of 1598 he was elected king. Contemporaries claimed that Boris had exceptional abilities for state affairs. The tsar was friends with the ruling class, respected the interests of the nobility in service. Tsar Godunov resolutely fought against economic ruin, thanks to which he went down in history as a tough ruler. He strengthened serfdom: he conducted a census, banned the peasants, and set a 5-year search term for the fugitives. At the same time, he supported the feudal lords and gave them leniency. In cities, he increased taxes and spread serfdom.
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The tsar resolved with a firm hand not only current state problems, but also looked to the future. He actively colonized the southern regions and Siberia. Thanks to Boris Godunov, the lands captured by Sweden returned to Russia. This speaks of successful actions in foreign policy. Trade with foreigners developed through Arkhangelsk. Russian positions beyond the Volga, in Transcaucasia and in the North Caucasus strengthened.
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Mass famine in the early 17th century exacerbated class contradictions. The result was a peasant war. The king could not cope with the active masses and the opposing nobility from the southern regions. Government power was weakening, despite the support of large feudal lords and the nobility. The concessions to the working people did not help either.
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Boris Godunov died during the struggle against False Dmitry I. The young son of Tsar Fedor ascended the imperial throne, but in 1605 the inhabitants of Moscow rebelled and overthrew the Godunov government. Boris’s son was killed without tasting power. Thus ended the reign of a talented tough ruler. His life was turbulent, and the end appropriate.
