Marina (Marianna) Mniszek is a noble Polish young lady, a “political lady of the Middle Ages” who played a significant role in the history of Russia. But it was a difficult time for our country, "troubled times."
Childhood
Marina Mniszek was born in 1588 in the Polish town of Sombor. Her father was the Polish governor Jerzy (or in Russian, Yuri) Mniszek. The father was a vain man, dreamed of power, and his character was most likely passed on to his daughter. Nothing is known about Marina’s mother.
When the girl Mnishek was sixteen years old, a young man arrived in the place where they lived, who played a key role in Marina’s life and in the history of Russia. It was Grigory Otrepiev, subsequently named False Dmitry I.
The young people immediately liked each other, and Marina's father matured a plan. He decided to help elevate False Dmitry to the throne and make him his son-in-law.
Personal life of Marina Mnishek
Marina Mnishek and False Dmitry first got married in the Catholic Church, and the young husband went to conquer Moscow. Having called himself Tsarevich Dmitry, who was considered dead, the con man entered the royal throne. Following him a few days later the future Queen Marina arrived, who was greeted with honors.
But the Polish customs of the newly minted royal couple began to annoy the Russian boyars over time. A remarkable fact - Marina Mnishek first brought to Russia
the plug. The boyars, when they saw the queen at the table with this "damn instrument with teeth, " were extremely indignant. Among them, a conspiracy against False Dmitry began to mature. And a few months later, a group of boyars led by Vasily Shuisky killed False Dmitry I.
Marina Mnishek tried to escape, but did not have time, she was seized and sent into custody in Yaroslavl. And Vasily Shuisky became the Russian Tsar.
But the adventures of Marina Mnishek did not end there. News came from Kaluga about the appearance of a new prince - False Dmitry II. Historians argue about its origin - either it was the son of Prince Kurbsky, or the priestly son Matvey Verevkin, or the son of a Jew from the city of Shklov. In any case, the person was a character of wayward, unpleasant appearance, a drunkard and a rowdy. Marina Mnishek was asked to recognize her husband in him in exchange for the Moscow throne. And Marina agreed, for having learned the taste of royal power, she could no longer forget it.
The new husband often behaved obscenely, but Marina tolerated him, hoping to move to Moscow again. However, in Russia it was restless, after the removal of Vasily Shuisky from the throne, the Polish king Sigismund III claimed the throne. Marina tried to negotiate with him, but the Polish monarch did not want to cede the throne to a powerful and cunning compatriot. Mnishek had to spend time in Kaluga in the company of a hated husband. True, they talked about the connection of the liar with the famous governor Zarutsky, an aggressive and powerful man.
