Vasily IV Ivanovich Shuisky is known in Russian history as the Tsar who reigned from 1606 to 1610. The ruler came from the princely family of the Shuiskys and was the last descendant of the Rurikovichs on the Russian throne. In 1552, a son, Vasily, was born into the princely family of Ivan Andreevich and Anna Fedorovna Shuisky. The boy was not an only child; the future ruler grew up with his brothers Andrei, Dmitry and Ivan. Little is known about the prince’s childhood and youth.
At a young age, Vasily IV became interested in politics. Shuisky joins the Moscow Court Chamber and later seeks promotion. Vasily Ivanovich was named a boyar. The prince took part in military campaigns, and was once even sent into exile at the request of the Godunov family.
Beginning of reign
The reign of Vasily Shuisky had a difficult start. It is known that the political career of Vasily IV began at the time when he was on the throne. At this time, Tsarevich Dmitry, the future tsar, allegedly miraculously escaped, appeared. Shuisky did not like this, so the boyar began to weave intrigues against the possible future ruler. Soon Boris Godunov dies, and a man hated by Vasily IV ascends to the throne.
Vasily IV keeps hatred inside himself and prepares a plan to overthrow the false king. In the meantime, he helps to rule and supports the initiatives of False Dmitry. Twice the boyar tried to overthrow the ruler. The first time the conspiracy was discovered, after which the future king was sentenced to death. But the merciful false sovereign took pity on Vasily and returned him to service.
The second plot turned out to be successful. In 1606, False Dmitry I was killed. The boyars immediately elevated Vasily Shuisky to the throne. In return, the new tsar promised the Boyar Duma the transfer of part of his powers.
Domestic policy
The years of Vasily Shuisky's reign became part of Russian history, which is called the Time of Troubles. Conspiracies were hatched against the authorities, and the onslaught of European states prevented the establishment of internal relations. Despite this, Vasily IV managed to make a number of changes in the life of the Russian state.
Shuisky's domestic policy began with the introduction of methods to strengthen power. The Tsar signs the sign of the cross. The document significantly limited the prince’s capabilities, but this was the desire of the boyars who chose Vasily IV as ruler. To improve sentiment among the nobles, in order to win their favor, Vasily IV introduces a 10-year investigation of the peasants. But even this did not help keep the boyars on the side of the ruling government after the arrival of False Dmitry I.
Shuisky began strengthening the army. The ruler paid special attention to discipline within the troops. The basic rules were indicated in the military regulations. Vasily IV took his example from the Germans. The manual spelled out the rules of conduct for soldiers and leaders. Popular discontent gradually gained momentum, despite the government's attempts to pacify its subjects. There was constant unrest in different parts of the country. Shuisky saw the only correct solution to the problem in the enslavement of the peasants.
Foreign policy
Vasily Shuisky had an aristocratic origin. Having become king, Vasily IV tried to please the boyars who wanted to enter into an alliance with the Poles. The primary task in foreign policy for Shuisky was rapprochement with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. But diplomatic negotiations with the Polish rulers did not bring the expected result.
The uprisings organized by I. Bolotnikov only hindered the establishment of peace with the Poles, since False Dmitry, together with dissatisfied citizens, captured citizens of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Poland and Moscow were on the brink of hostilities. The Poles strongly recommended that the Russian authorities return the captured foreigners.
But the authorities, represented by Vasily Shuisky, preferred to choose a different path - rapprochement with the Swedes. The Swedish ruler Charles IX put pressure on the Russian Tsar. The European sent letters in which he reported an imminent attack on the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and called on Muscovites to join. In the second letter, the Swede announced plans to overthrow Shuisky. The organizers of the riots were the Poles.
Events unfolded in an unfavorable way for Vasily IV. On the one hand, there is a possible “crusade” against the country of Charles IX, on the other, strange relations with the Poles. Shuisky tried to avoid direct answers to the questions asked by the Swedish side. He got off with general phrases like “there will be no violation of the peace, but he cannot confirm peace with Sweden.”
Foreign rulers continued to put pressure on the Russian Tsar. Some needed land and the opportunity to trade on Russian territory, others wanted to return Mniszek and the detained Poles. As a result, Shuisky achieved peace with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. But the king understood that the agreement could be violated at any moment.
The doubts of the Russian ruler were confirmed later, when people opposed to the alliance with Moscow came to power among the Poles. Historians believe that the Poles contributed to the instigation of internecine wars within the country and the emergence of False Dmitry II. Poland put pressure on the Cossacks, whom it saw as destroyers of the government foundation in Russia.
The reign of Vasily Shuisky turned out to be turbulent. Mnishek and False Dmitry II opposed the current government. The Poles, meanwhile, occupied Tushino and opposed Moscow. The Russian Tsar did not have the opportunity to confront the impending threat alone, so Vasily IV became closer to the Swedes. The Swedish king still wants to expand his influence in Russian lands. In exchange for Sweden's cooperation, Kola, Ivangorod, and Korela must withdraw. History has preserved the letters sent by Charles IX to the commissioners:
“The opportunity has come to take advantage of the unrest in Russia for the territorial enrichment of the Swedish crown that it is impossible to miss it; this would mean making a political mistake, which cannot be justified either before God or before people.”
Intervention in such conditions became more and more realistic. In addition to fighting the Swedes, Vasily Shuisky had to confront the Tushins. The Tsar felt the need for additional military personnel, but help could only be obtained from the Horde. The Tatars liberated Oskol and Liven for Vasily IV.
New money transfers to the Horde did the trick: the Tatars attacked False Dmitry II in Borovsky district. Despite the regular replenishment of the Horde treasury at the expense of Moscow, Vasily Shuisky did not receive a positive result from cooperation with the Horde. The Horde decided that there was too little money from Moscow, and began to rob the common people.
The prince tried in every possible way to defend the capital and the Russian state. Shuisky's reign did not bring visible changes in foreign policy. The Swedes tried to gain Russian lands, the Horde plundered the people, the Poles, together with False Dmitry II, organized conspiracies against Vasily IV.
Overthrow
In 1609, relations with the Poles deteriorated completely. This was evidenced by the fact that the Polish-Lithuanian king Sigismund III besieged Smolensk. With his own forces, the Moscow Tsar was able to liberate most of the Russian lands from the invaders. Despite this, Vasily Shuisky was not popular among the people; his contemporaries considered him an illegitimate ruler.
The desire to overthrow the king grew. The death of commander Skopin-Shuisky added confidence to the townspeople. An uprising arose, which allowed the ruler to be removed from the throne. Vasily IV was forced to take monastic vows and was tonsured as a monk.
Personal life
The biography of Vasily Shuisky describes two marriages. The first union did not produce heirs. The king had no desire to marry again, so after the death of his wife, the ruler remained a bachelor for a long time. The second wife of the Tsar was the daughter of Prince Pyotr Ivanovich Buinosov-Rostovsky, Maria.
There was no love between husband and wife, since marriage was required to continue the dynasty. Tsar Boris insisted on the union, who did not want to transfer the throne to strangers. The marriage brought the ruler two daughters, who died at a young age. The Belsky Chronicle says:
“Tsar Vasily Ivanovich of All Rus' had only two daughters, and they died in infancy; This is what Nastasya and Anna are called.”
Death
After the overthrow, Shuisky found himself in the hands of the Polish hetman. The ex-tsar and his brothers are brought to Smolensk, then transported to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and presented to King Sigismund. The princes had no choice but to take the oath to the Polish ruler.
While imprisoned in Gostyninsky Castle, the ex-sovereign dies. A few days later they announced the death of brother Dmitry. Only Ivan Shuisky managed to return to his native lands. Decades later, Vasily’s remains were transported at the request of Mikhail Fedorovich to the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.
Vasily Ivanovich Shuisky( - September 12 ) - Russian Tsar from 1610 ( Vasily IV Ioannovich). Representative of the princely family of the Shuiskys (Suzdal branch of the Rurikovichs). After his deposition, he lived in captivity among the Poles.
Before accession
Boyar and head of the Moscow Court Chamber since 1584. Rynda with a large saadak on campaigns, , and. Voivode of the Great Regiment on the campaign to Serpukhov in the summer of 1581. Voivode of the Great Regiment on the campaign to Novgorod in July 1582 under his brother Andrei. Voivode of the regiment of the right hand in the campaign to Serpukhov in April 1583. Voivode of Smolensk in -1587. For unknown reasons, he was briefly exiled in 1586
Few people were happy with Tsar Vasily. The main reasons for the discontent were V. Shuisky’s incorrect path to the throne and his dependence on the circle of boyars who elected him and played with him like a child, as a contemporary put it.
Russian History. Complete course of lectures, lecture 42
In addition, anti-Shui sentiments in Moscow were fueled by the unexpected death of the young commander Skopin-Shuisky.
The former tsar died in custody at Gostynin Castle, 130 versts from Warsaw, and a few days later his brother Dmitry died there. The third brother, Ivan Ivanovich Shuisky, subsequently returned to Russia.
Marriages and children
Vasily Shuisky was married twice. His first marriage remained childless, after which he remained single for a long time. From the second, which took place after his accession to the throne, he had only two daughters. The author of the Belsky Chronicler wrote:
“Tsar Vasily Ivanovich of All Russia had only two daughters, and they died in infancy; This is what Nastasya and Anna are called.”
The second marriage, which Tsar Vasily Ivanovich really was not too keen on and agreed to only for reasons of dynastic expediency, took place after a long widowhood, and then a direct ban from Tsar Boris, who was afraid of seeing pretenders to the throne in the new generation of Shuisky princes, which could create a threat the reign of his son. Already Tsar Dmitry, according to Jacques Margeret, wanted to break this heavy and undeserved ban imposed on the senior prince Shuisky, but a coup took place and yesterday’s groom turned from a boyar into a king. Then the need to fight enemies, including personal participation in the campaign near Tula, pushed aside questions about other state and dynastic interests for a long time,” writes Shuisky’s biographer V.N. Kozlyakov. His brother Dmitry was considered the tsar’s heir.
In art
Vasily Shuisky is one of the main characters in Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin’s tragedy “Boris Godunov”.
In films based on it film adaptations The role of Shuisky was performed by:
- Nikandr Khanaev (Boris Godunov, film-opera, 1954)
- Anatoly Romashin (Boris Godunov, 1986, director Sergei Fedorovich Bondarchuk)
- Kenneth Riegel (Boris Godunov, film-opera, 1989)
- Leonid Gromov (Boris Godunov, 2011)
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Notes
Literature
- Librovich S. F. The Tsar in Captivity - the story of Vasily Shuisky’s stay in Poland. - 1904.
- Skrynnikov R. G. Vasily Shuisky. - M., 2002.
- Bakhrevsky V. A. Vasily Ivanovich Shuisky, autocrat of all Rus'. - M., 2002.
- Kozlyakov V. N. Vasily Shuisky / Vyacheslav Kozlyakov. - M.: Young Guard, 2007. - 304, p. - (Life of remarkable people. Series of biographies. Issue 1075). - 5,000 copies. - ISBN 978-5-235-03045-9.(in translation)
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Excerpt characterizing Vasily IV Shuisky
- Yes, yes, do that.Pierre did not have that practical tenacity that would give him the opportunity to directly get down to business, and therefore he did not like him and only tried to pretend to the manager that he was busy with business. The manager tried to pretend to the count that he considered these activities very useful for the owner and shy for himself.
There were acquaintances in the big city; strangers hastened to get acquainted and cordially welcomed the newly arrived rich man, the largest owner of the province. The temptations regarding Pierre's main weakness, the one that he admitted during his reception to the lodge, were also so strong that Pierre could not refrain from them. Again, whole days, weeks, months of Pierre’s life passed just as anxiously and busyly between evenings, dinners, breakfasts, balls, not giving him time to come to his senses, as in St. Petersburg. Instead of the new life that Pierre hoped to lead, he lived the same old life, only in a different environment.
Of the three purposes of Freemasonry, Pierre was aware that he did not fulfill the one that prescribed every Freemason to be a model of moral life, and of the seven virtues, he completely lacked two in himself: good morals and love of death. He consoled himself with the fact that he was fulfilling another purpose - the correction of the human race and had other virtues, love for one's neighbor and especially generosity.
In the spring of 1807, Pierre decided to go back to St. Petersburg. On the way back, he intended to go around all his estates and personally verify what was done from what was prescribed to them and in what situation the people were now, which God had entrusted to him, and which he sought to benefit.
The chief manager, who considered all the ideas of the young count almost madness, a disadvantage for himself, for him, for the peasants, made concessions. Continuing to make the task of liberation seem impossible, he ordered the construction of large school buildings, hospitals and shelters on all estates; For the master's arrival, he prepared meetings everywhere, not pompously solemn ones, which, he knew, Pierre would not like, but just the kind of religious thanksgiving, with images and bread and salt, just the kind that, as he understood the master, should have an effect on the count and deceive him .
The southern spring, the calm, quick journey in the Viennese carriage and the solitude of the road had a joyful effect on Pierre. There were estates that he had not yet visited - one more picturesque than the other; The people everywhere seemed prosperous and touchingly grateful for the benefits done to them. Everywhere there were meetings that, although they embarrassed Pierre, deep down in his soul evoked a joyful feeling. In one place, the peasants offered him bread and salt and an image of Peter and Paul, and asked permission in honor of his angel Peter and Paul, as a sign of love and gratitude for the good deeds he had done, to erect a new chapel in the church at their own expense. Elsewhere, women with infants met him, thanking him for saving him from hard work. At the third estate he was met by a priest with a cross, surrounded by children, whom, by the grace of the count, he taught literacy and religion. In all the estates, Pierre saw with his own eyes, according to the same plan, the stone buildings of hospitals, schools, and almshouses that were to be opened soon. Everywhere Pierre saw reports from managers about corvée work, reduced compared to the previous one, and heard for this the touching thanksgiving of deputations of peasants in blue caftans.
Pierre just didn’t know that where they brought him bread and salt and built the chapel of Peter and Paul, there was a trading village and a fair on Peter’s Day, that the chapel had already been built a long time ago by the rich peasants of the village, those who came to him, and that nine-tenths The peasants of this village were in the greatest ruin. He did not know that due to the fact that, on his orders, they stopped sending children of women with infants to corvee labor, these same children carried out the most difficult work in their half. He did not know that the priest who met him with the cross was burdening the peasants with his extortions, and that the disciples gathered to him with tears were given to him, and were bought off by their parents for a lot of money. He did not know that the stone buildings, according to the plan, were erected by their own workers and increased the corvee of the peasants, reduced only on paper. He did not know that where the manager indicated to him in the book that the quitrent was reduced by one third at his will, the corvée duty was added by half. And therefore Pierre was delighted with his journey through the estates, and completely returned to the philanthropic mood in which he left St. Petersburg, and wrote enthusiastic letters to his mentor brother, as he called the great master.
“How easy, how little effort is needed to do so much good, thought Pierre, and how little we care about it!”
He was happy with the gratitude shown to him, but was ashamed to accept it. This gratitude reminded him how much more he could have done for these simple, kind people.
The chief manager, a very stupid and cunning man, completely understanding the smart and naive count, and playing with him like a toy, seeing the effect produced on Pierre by the prepared techniques, more decisively turned to him with arguments about the impossibility and, most importantly, the unnecessaryness of the liberation of the peasants, who, even without They were completely happy.
Pierre secretly agreed with the manager that it was difficult to imagine happier people, and that God knows what awaited them in the wild; but Pierre, although reluctantly, insisted on what he considered fair. The manager promised to use all his strength to carry out the will of the count, clearly understanding that the count would never be able to trust him not only as to whether all measures had been taken to sell forests and estates, to redeem from the Council, but would also probably never ask or learns how the built buildings stand empty and the peasants continue to give with work and money everything that they give from others, that is, everything that they can give.
In the happiest state of mind, returning from his southern trip, Pierre fulfilled his long-standing intention to call on his friend Bolkonsky, whom he had not seen for two years.
Bogucharovo lay in an ugly, flat area, covered with fields and felled and uncut fir and birch forests. The manor's yard was located at the end of a straight line, along the main road of the village, behind a newly dug, full-filled pond, with the banks not yet overgrown with grass, in the middle of a young forest, between which stood several large pines.
The manor's courtyard consisted of a threshing floor, outbuildings, stables, a bathhouse, an outbuilding and a large stone house with a semicircular pediment, which was still under construction. A young garden was planted around the house. The fences and gates were strong and new; under the canopy stood two fire pipes and a barrel painted green; the roads were straight, the bridges were strong with railings. Everything bore the imprint of neatness and thrift. The servants who met, when asked where the prince lived, pointed to a small, new outbuilding standing at the very edge of the pond. Prince Andrei's old uncle, Anton, dropped Pierre out of the carriage, said that the prince was at home, and led him into a clean, small hallway.
Pierre was struck by the modesty of the small, albeit clean, house after the brilliant conditions in which he last saw his friend in St. Petersburg. He hurriedly entered the still pine-smelling, unplastered, small hall and wanted to move on, but Anton tiptoed forward and knocked on the door.
- Well, what's there? – a sharp, unpleasant voice was heard.
“Guest,” answered Anton.
“Ask me to wait,” and I heard a chair being pushed back. Pierre walked quickly to the door and came face to face with Prince Andrei, who was coming out to him, frowning and aged. Pierre hugged him and, raising his glasses, kissed him on the cheeks and looked at him closely.
“I didn’t expect it, I’m very glad,” said Prince Andrei. Pierre said nothing; He looked at his friend in surprise, without taking his eyes off. He was struck by the change that had taken place in Prince Andrei. The words were affectionate, a smile was on Prince Andrei’s lips and face, but his gaze was dull, dead, to which, despite his apparent desire, Prince Andrei could not give a joyful and cheerful shine. It’s not that his friend has lost weight, turned pale, and matured; but this look and the wrinkle on his forehead, expressing long concentration on one thing, amazed and alienated Pierre until he got used to them.
When meeting after a long separation, as always happens, the conversation could not stop for a long time; they asked and answered briefly about things that they themselves knew should have been discussed at length. Finally, the conversation gradually began to dwell on what had previously been said fragmentarily, on questions about his past life, about plans for the future, about Pierre’s travels, about his activities, about the war, etc. That concentration and depression that Pierre noticed in the look of Prince Andrei now was expressed even more strongly in the smile with which he listened to Pierre, especially when Pierre spoke with animated joy about the past or the future. It was as if Prince Andrei wanted, but could not, take part in what he said. Pierre began to feel that enthusiasm, dreams, hopes for happiness and goodness in front of Prince Andrei were not proper. He was ashamed to express all his new, Masonic thoughts, especially those renewed and excited in him by his last journey. He restrained himself, was afraid to be naive; at the same time, he irresistibly wanted to quickly show his friend that he was now a completely different, better Pierre than the one who was in St. Petersburg.
“I can’t tell you how much I experienced during this time.” I wouldn't recognize myself.
“Yes, we have changed a lot, a lot since then,” said Prince Andrei.
- Well, what about you? - asked Pierre, - what are your plans?
- Plans? – Prince Andrey repeated ironically. - My plans? - he repeated, as if surprised at the meaning of such a word. - Yes, you see, I’m building, I want to move completely by next year...
Pierre silently peered intently into the aged face of (Prince) Andrei.
“No, I’m asking,” said Pierre, “but Prince Andrei interrupted him:
- What can I say about me... Tell me, tell me about your journey, about everything you did there on your estates?
Pierre began to talk about what he had done on his estates, trying as much as possible to hide his participation in the improvements made by him. Prince Andrei several times suggested to Pierre what he was telling, as if everything that Pierre had done was a long-known story, and he listened not only not with interest, but even as if ashamed of what Pierre was telling.
Pierre felt awkward and even difficult in the company of his friend. He fell silent.
“But here’s what, my soul,” said Prince Andrei, who was obviously also having a hard time and shyness with his guest, “I’m here in bivouacs, and I came just to have a look.” I'm going back to my sister now. I'll introduce you to them. “Yes, you seem to know each other,” he said, obviously entertaining the guest with whom he now felt nothing in common. - We'll go after lunch. Now do you want to see my estate? “They went out and walked around until lunch, talking about political news and mutual acquaintances, like people who are not very close to each other. With some animation and interest, Prince Andrei spoke only about the new estate and building he was organizing, but even here, in the middle of the conversation, on the stage, when Prince Andrei was describing to Pierre the future location of the house, he suddenly stopped. “However, there’s nothing interesting here, let’s go have lunch and leave.” “At dinner the conversation turned to Pierre’s marriage.
“I was very surprised when I heard about this,” said Prince Andrei.
Pierre blushed the same way he always blushed at this, and hastily said:
“I’ll tell you someday how it all happened.” But you know that it's all over and forever.
- Forever? - said Prince Andrei. – Nothing happens forever.
– But do you know how it all ended? Have you heard about the duel?
- Yes, you went through that too.
“The one thing I thank God for is that I didn’t kill this man,” said Pierre.
- From what? - said Prince Andrei. – It’s even very good to kill an angry dog.
- No, killing a person is not good, it’s unfair...
- Why is it unfair? - repeated Prince Andrei; what is just and unjust is not given to people to judge. People have always been mistaken and will continue to be mistaken, and in nothing more than in what they consider just and unjust.
Vasily Ivanovich Shuisky (born 1552 - death September 12 (22), 1612) - Russian Tsar from 1606 to 1610 (Vasily IV Ioannovich). From the princely family of Shuisky. The last of the Rurik family on the Russian throne.
In his spirit and character, Vasily Shuisky highly personified the properties of the old Russian way of life. He shows a lack of enterprise, a fear of every new step, but at the same time patience and perseverance. His youth passed under Ivan the Terrible. Under his son Fyodor Ivanovich, Shuisky was sent to Uglich in 1591 to conduct an investigation into the strange death of Tsarevich Dimitri. As a result of the investigation, it was confirmed that the prince cut himself with a knife during an epileptic fit. But both contemporaries and descendants, not without reason, suspected Shuisky of concealing the real cause of death.
1598 - after the death of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich, Shuisky, both due to the nobility of his family and his proximity to the extinct dynasty, seemed to be a more faithful contender for the royal throne. However, Boris Godunov became king. 1604 - after a pretender appeared within Russian borders, calling himself Tsarevich Dimitri, Shuisky on Red Square, in front of a large crowd of people, repeated several times that this was undoubtedly an impostor, because he himself buried a real prince in Uglich with his own hands.
Reassured by such assurances, Godunov in January 1605 sent Shuisky with an army against “Dmitry”. Shuisky fought with the challenger and defeated him at Dobrynichi. However, after that the war became protracted. Meanwhile, Boris Godunov died. 1605, May - the entire army swore allegiance to the “prince”.
Shuisky, along with other boyars, also recognized Dmitry as tsar. However, he had no doubt that he was dealing with an impostor. On June 20, Dmitry entered Moscow, and already on the 23rd, Shuisky was captured for sedition. They reported that he announced to the merchant Fyodor Konev and some Kostya the doctor that the new tsar was not the son of Ivan the Terrible, and instructed them to secretly disclose this to the people. But the matter quickly came to light, and Dmitry ordered Shuisky to be tried by the Zemsky Sobor.
According to our chronicles, Prince Vasily behaved with firm dignity in these difficult circumstances. Not only did he not renounce his words, but even under torture he continued to repeat that under the guise of Dmitry there was an impostor. He did not name any of his accomplices, and he alone was sentenced to death: his brothers were only deprived of their freedom.
The 25th was set for the execution of the sentence. Shuisky was taken to the scaffold, a fairy tale or an announcement of guilt had already been read to him, he had already said goodbye to the people, declaring that he was dying for the truth, for the faith and the Christian people, when a messenger rode up announcing a pardon. Execution was replaced by exile. But this punishment was not carried out either.
Coup. Murder of False Dmitry
On July 30, when he was crowned king, Dmitry announced forgiveness to all those who had been disgraced. Among others, the Shuiskys returned, who, it seems, did not even have time to get to their place of exile. The boyars and their estates were returned to them. Having established himself in the former power, Prince Vasily Ivanovich immediately resumed his intrigues. But now he acted more carefully and prepared the coup more carefully.
Soon, princes Vasily Vasilyevich Golitsyn and Ivan Semenovich Kurakin joined the conspiracy. The boyars decided among themselves to kill the tsar first, and then decide which of them would rule. At the same time, they swore that the new tsar should not take revenge on anyone for previous annoyances, but, according to general advice, rule the Russian kingdom.
Having reached an agreement with the noble conspirators, Shuisky began to select others from among the people, and won over to his side the 18,000-strong detachment of Novgorod and Pskov troops stationed near Moscow and assigned to the campaign against the Crimea. At about four in the morning on May 17, 1606, they struck the bell on Ilyinka, at Elijah the Prophet’s, in the Novgorod courtyard, and all the bells in Moscow began to speak at once. Crowds of people poured into Red Square; There, boyars and nobles, numbering up to two hundred, were already sitting on horses, fully armed.
Without waiting for a lot of people to gather, Vasily Shuisky, accompanied by some associates, entered the Kremlin through the Spassky Gate, holding a cross in one hand and a sword in the other. Near the Assumption Cathedral, he got off his horse, venerated the image of the Vladimir Mother of God and said to those around him: “In the name of God, go against the evil heretic.” The crowds moved towards the palace. Dmitry, having learned what was the matter, ran across the gallery to the stone palace, wanted to go down to the ground along the stage, but fell from a height of 15 fathoms into the courtyard and was badly broken.
The Streltsy, who did not take part in the conspiracy, picked it up; at first they did not want to give it up, but then they started negotiations. While passions were heating up, a certain Grigory Valuev jumped up to the wounded False Dmitry and shot him. After the goal of the conspiracy was achieved, Shuisky needed a lot of strength to stop his dispersed supporters. There was a massacre in the city for seven hours straight. According to some sources, 1200 or 1300 Poles were killed, and 400 Russians, according to others - 2135 Poles alone, while others believe - 1500 Poles and 2000 Russians.
Vasily Shuisky - Tsar
On May 19, at 6 a.m., merchants, peddlers, and artisans gathered on Red Square. The boyars, court officials and clergy came out to the people and proposed to elect a new patriarch, who was to stand at the head of the temporary government and send out letters to convene council people from the cities. However, at the proposal of the boyars, the crowd began to shout that the tsar was needed more than the patriarch, and Prince Vasily Ivanovich Shuisky should be the tsar.
No one dared to oppose this proclamation of the crowd, which had just marked its strength by killing Dmitry, and Shuisky was not even elected, but was shouted out as king. 1606, June 1 - he was crowned king without any pomp, like a man entering into a secret marriage or ashamed of his insignificance. The new king was a little old man, 53 years old, very ugly, with dim eyes, well-read, very smart and very stingy. Immediately after this, a new patriarch was enthroned - the former Metropolitan of Kazan Hermogenes, known for his resistance to the non-Orthodox actions of Dmitry.
Time of Troubles
The coup that took place in Moscow gave rise to new unrest. Events in Ukraine took on a particularly violent character. There has never been a shortage of daring and brave people. Now they even appeared in abundance. The troops gathered near Yelets elected Istomy Pashkov as leader and swore all of them to stand for the rightful Tsar Dmitry. At the same time, Ivan Bolotnikov appeared from Poland and announced that he had seen Dmitry, who had escaped, abroad and that he had instructed him to lead the uprising.
Bolotnikov’s 1,300 Cossacks came to Kromy and completely defeated the 5,000-strong Tsar’s detachment. From that moment on, his name became widely known, and many military men began to flock to his banner. Bolotnikov's charters caused a rebellion that engulfed the Moscow land like a fire. In Venev, Tula, Kashira, Aleksin, Kaluga, Ruza, Mozhaisk, Orel, Dorogobuzh, Zubtsov, Rzhev, Staritsa, Dmitry was proclaimed.
The Lyapunov nobles raised the entire Ryazan land in the name of Dmitry. Vladimir and the whole world were indignant. In many Volga cities and distant Astrakhan, Dmitry was proclaimed. Of the large cities, only Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Novgorod and Pskov remained loyal to the Moscow Tsar. And among the outlying cities, Smolensk showed strong zeal for Shuisky. Its inhabitants did not like the Poles and did not expect anything good from the king they installed.
March to Moscow. Split
1606, autumn - Bolotnikov marched on Moscow. The cities surrendered to him one after another. On December 2, he was already in the village of Kolomenskoye. Fortunately for Shuisky, a split occurred in Bolotnikov’s army. The nobles and boyars' children, dissatisfied with the fact that the slaves and peasants wanted to be equal to them, without seeing Dmitry, who could resolve disputes between them, began to become convinced that Bolotnikov was deceiving them, and began to retreat from him.
The Lyapunov brothers were the first to set an example for this retreat; they arrived in Moscow and bowed to Shuisky, although they did not tolerate him. Bolotnikov was defeated by the young prince Mikhail Vasilyevich Skopin-Shuisky and went to Kaluga. But with the onset of summer, his forces began to increase again with the arrival of the Cossacks. A new impostor appeared, calling himself Tsarevich Peter, the unprecedented son of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich.
Bolotnikov went to Tula and united here with Peter. Then Shuisky took decisive measures: strict orders were sent out to serving people from everywhere, monastic and church estates were also supposed to field warriors, and thus up to 100,000 people gathered, whom the tsar decided to lead himself.
Suppression of the uprising
1607, June 5 - on the Vosma River he met a united army of rebels. A stubborn battle went on for the whole day, and Shuisky was able to win. Bolotnikov and Tsarevich Peter retreated to Tula, and Shuisky began a siege. A certain Krovkov suggested that the Tsar flood the city by damming the Upa River. At first, Shuisky and the boyars laughed at such a proposal, but then they gave Krovkov complete freedom.
He ordered each of the military men to bring a bag of earth and began to pond the river: the water surrounded the city, flowed inside it, and cut off all communications between the residents and the surrounding area. Famine came, and Bolotnikov and Peter went to negotiations with the tsar, agreeing to surrender if Vasily promised them pardon. Shuisky promised mercy. 1607, October 10 - Tula surrendered, but the king did not keep his word. Peter was hanged immediately. Bolotnikov was exiled to Kargopol and drowned there. Shuisky returned to Moscow in triumph, although he already knew about the appearance of a new impostor.
The appearance of another False Dmitry. New turmoil
Back in early June, a suspicious young man appeared in Starodub, calling himself a relative of Nagikh and spreading rumors everywhere that Dmitry was alive. When the Starodubians approached him with decisive questions, he declared himself Dmitry. It is unknown who this False Dmitry was, but his idea was at first crowned with complete success. A squad quickly began to gather around the impostor, over which he appointed Pan Makhovetsky as chief.
1607, spring - he moved towards the capital. The same thing that happened before with the first Dmitry and Bolotnikov was repeated - city after city surrendered to the impostor without resistance, and the tsarist troops, who had a huge numerical superiority, suffered only defeats. On June 1, the army approached Moscow and became a camp in Tushino. It seemed that the final triumph of False Dmitry was just around the corner. But then the people’s attitude towards him changed.
When the Tushins besieged the Trinity Monastery, they met fierce resistance under its walls. Other cities followed the example of the famous Sergius Monastery, timidly at first, but then more and more confidently. This was greatly facilitated by the outrages of the Tushins. Countless bands of Cossacks then roamed throughout the Russian land and, in the name of Dmitry, committed such monstrous crimes that the memories of the oprichnina of Grozny paled in comparison.
First of all, the northern cities returned under the rule of Shuisky: Galich, Kostroma, Vologda, Beloozero, Ustyuzhna, Gorodets, Bezhitsky Verkh, Kashin. They were followed by Vladimir and Yaroslavl. Shuisky sensitively sensed the change in public consciousness and in his letters began to address directly the lands with an exhortation to maintain unity and to get everyone together. “And if they don’t get together soon,” he wrote, “but they all begin to live separately and do not stand up for themselves, then they will see the ultimate ruin from thieves, desolation of houses, desecration of wives and children; and they will be traitors to themselves, to our Christian faith, and to their fatherland.”
Soon, external war was added to the internal turmoil. 1609, September - the Polish army under the command of King Sigismund besieged Smolensk. The townspeople stubbornly resisted the enemy. Trying to increase his strength, the king sent a strict order to Tushino for all Polish knighthood to come to his aid. The leaders of the Tushino Poles were undecided for a long time about what to do. They stopped taking the impostor into account; they considered him a swindler and a deceiver.
In December, the impostor secretly left for Kaluga. After this, some of the Tushino residents went after him, others went to Moscow to confess. Shuisky's position was strengthened for a short time. However, on June 24, 1610, his brother Prince Dmitry Shuisky, who was marching with an army to help Smolensk, was completely defeated by Hetman Zholkiewsky at Klushin. False Dmitry again moved towards Moscow, took Serpukhov, Kashira and on July 11 stood near the village of Kolomenskoye.
The turmoil, which had subsided, arose with renewed vigor. Prokopiy Lyapunov raised the entire Ryazan land against Vasily. He wrote to his brother Zakhar in Moscow that Shuisky could no longer be tolerated on the throne, he must be deposed. Zakhar, together with Prince Vasily Golitsyn, began to communicate with the impostor’s commanders and agreed that the Muscovites would bring Shuisky together, and the Tushino people would abandon their thief (although the Tushino people did not fulfill their promise).
Overthrow of Tsar Vasily Shuisky
On July 17, Lyapunov with his comrades and a large crowd burst into the palace and began to say to the tsar: “How long will Christian blood be shed for you? The earth is desolate, nothing good is being done during your reign, take pity on our death, lay down the royal staff, and we will somehow provide for ourselves.” Shuisky replied: “You dared to say this to me when the boyars don’t tell me anything like that,” and pulled out a knife.
Lyapunov then went to Red Square, where people were already gathering. After long speeches, the boyars and all sorts of people sentenced: beat the sovereign Vasily Ivanovich with his forehead, so that he, the sovereign, leaves the kingdom so that a lot of blood is shed, and the people say that he, the sovereign, is unhappy and proud, and the Ukrainian cities that retreated to the thief, they don’t want him, the sovereign, for the kingdom. The royal brother-in-law, Prince Vorotynsky, went to the palace and announced to him the verdict of the council: “The whole earth strikes you with its brow; leave your state for the sake of internecine warfare, because they don’t love you and don’t want to serve you.”
Vasily had to agree to this request, announced on behalf of the entire Moscow people. He put down the royal staff and immediately left the Kremlin with his wife to his former boyar house. On July 19, Lyapunov with four comrades and monks from the Chudov Monastery came to Shuisky’s house and announced that in order to calm the people he needed to take haircut. Shuisky flatly refused. Then the tonsure was performed by force. The old man was held by the hands during the ceremony, and Prince Tyufyakin pronounced monastic vows in his place, while Shuisky himself never ceased to repeat that he did not want to be tonsured. His wife was also tonsured, and his brothers were put into custody.
Having overthrown Vasily Shuisky, the boyar duma began negotiations with Hetman Zholkiewski and had to agree to the election of Prince Vladislav as Russian Tsar. At the end of October, the hetman left Moscow, taking with him, at the request of the boyars, Vasily and his family. On October 30, he solemnly entered the royal camp near Smolensk. On the same day, he presented the captive Vasily and his brothers to Sigismund. They say that they demanded that Shuisky bow to the king. The deposed tsar answered: “It is impossible for the sovereign of Moscow and all Rus' to bow to the king: I was taken captive not by your hands, but handed over by Moscow traitors, their slaves.”
1611, October - after the capture of Smolensk, the king was given an honorary entry into Warsaw. The deposed tsar was also taken among the Russian prisoners. When all three Shuiskys were placed in front of the king, Vasily touched the ground with his hand and kissed this hand. Then Shuisky was admitted to the king's hand. This spectacle was great, amazing and producing pity, say contemporaries. Although Yuri Mnishek demanded a trial of Shuisky for the murder of Dmitry, the Sejm treated him with compassion.
Death of Vasily Shuisky
By order of Sigismund, all three brothers were imprisoned in Gostyn Castle near Warsaw. Their contents were not meager, as can be seen from the list of things and clothes left after Vasily’s death. He did not live long and died in September 1612. The former king was buried not far from the place of imprisonment. Contemporaries and descendants did not favor Shuisky; there are no numbers of accusations that were brought against him during his life and after his death. Meanwhile, one cannot help but admit that there were many moments in his life when he showed true wisdom, courage and even greatness of soul. His unfortunate fate is worthy not so much of censure as of pity and compassion.
K. Ryzhov
Why the reign of Vasily Shuisky ended with his overthrow, you will learn from this article.
Reasons for the overthrow of Vasily Shuisky
Vasily Ivanovich Shuisky (lived 1552-1612) is a descendant of the Rurikovichs and Russian Tsar from 1606 to 1610.
It is worth noting right away that those times were quite troubled. Boris Godunov, False Dmitry I, False Dmitry II and others fought for power and the throne. Shuisky himself was in secret opposition to Boris Godunov, at the same time he supported False Dmitry I and then coordinated a conspiracy against him and took the Russian throne. The tsar from the boyar circle suppressed the loud uprising of Bolotnikov and in 1607 signed a decree regarding a 15-year search for peasants. The power of Vasily Shuisky was shaken. When False Dmitry II appeared on the scene, Shuisky, wanting to deal with his competitor as quickly as possible, concluded an agreement with Sweden in 1609. The terms of the agreement ultimately did not lead to anything good. The Muscovites deposed him from the throne and forcibly tonsured him as a monk. Afterwards he was handed over to Poland as a prisoner, where he died.
Why was Vasily Shuisky overthrown?
Vasily Shuisky was overthrown for the following reasons:
- He expressed the will and interests of some of the boyars who were not included in the Boyar Duma of False Dmitry II. Shuisky's reign acquired the character of a Civil War.
- The concluded agreement with Sweden led to Polish intervention.
- Rumor has it that Vasily poisoned his nephew Skopin-Shuisky in order to get rid of another competitor.
- On June 24, 1610, a battle between the Poles and the Russians took place. Near Klushin, Shuisky's troops were defeated, which completely undermined his authority.
We hope that from this article you learned why Vasily Shuisky was overthrown.
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