Vasily Shuisky (short biography)

Vasily Shuisky (years of life from 1552 to 1612) was a Russian tsar who belonged to the ancient family of Rurikovich (Suzdal line). This ruler was crowned king as a result of a conspiracy of False Dmitry the First. Also, historians often call Vasily the “boyar prince”.

From the biography of Shuisky that has come down to us, it is known that Vasily was married twice. At the same time, there were no children from the first marriage, but two daughters were born from the second, who died in infancy. Due to the fact that Shuisky did not have an heir, Dmitry Shuisky, Vasily's elder brother, was to take the royal throne.

From about 1584, Shuisky was a boyar, and also acted as head of the judicial chamber and took part in some military campaigns as a governor in 1581, 1583 and 1598. Also during this period, Vasily was exiled into exile (the reasons are not clear).

From 1587 to 1591, Vasily Shuisky was in Galich, after which he was pardoned by Boris Godunov and returned to Moscow with his family.

In 1591, Vasily recognizes an accident as the cause of the death of Tsarevich Dmitry, fearing Boris. At this time, he is also returning to the Boyar Duma.

Four years after the events described, Shuisky takes part in a military campaign against False Dmitry, and was soon exiled again with his family for attempting to carry out a coup. By the end of the year, False Dmitry returned Shuisky and his family to Moscow.

During the events of May 17, 1606 (a major popular uprising), False Dmitry is killed, and Shuisky’s supporters “shout out” him as king. Researchers of Russian history count the beginning of the Troubles from here. Already on June 1, Shuisky received a blessing for the reign of the Metropolitan.

At the same time, Vasily Shuisky himself gives a cross-kissing record that limits his power. In the summer of this year, the board of Vasily Shuisky recognized Tsarevich Dmitry Boris Godunov as the murderer.

During the reign of Shuisky, a new military charter appeared, and the major uprising of Bolotnikov (1607), which marked the second stage of the Time of Troubles in Russia, was suppressed. An agreement was also concluded with Sweden, according to which the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth set the course for the war. The same union turned into the beginning of the Swedish and Polish intervention for Russia.

In 1610, Vasily Shuisky was forcibly tonsured a monk, and the so-called period of the Seven Boyars began throughout the Russian land.

Vasily Ivanovich Shuisky. Born in 1552 - died on September 12 (22), 1612. Russian Tsar Vasily IV Ioannovich (1606-1610). The last king of the Rurik family.

Vasily Shuisky was born in 1552.

Father - Prince Ivan Andreevich Shuisky (1533-1573), Russian statesman and military leader, boyar (since 1566), governor in Smolensk (1569), son of Prince Andrei Mikhailovich Shuisky, who was killed by kennels.

Mother - Anna Feodorovna, her origin is unknown.

Brothers: Andrei Ivanovich, Dmitry Ivanovich, Alexander Ivanovich, Ivan Ivanovich (Button).

The entire influential Shuisky clan was represented at court.

Since 1584, Vasily Shuisky has been a boyar and head of the Moscow Judicial Chamber.

In the campaigns of 1574, 1576, 1577 and 1579 - a rynda with a large saidak (squire-bodyguard of the Grand Duke).

In the summer of 1581 - governor of the Big Regiment during a campaign to Serpukhov.

In July 1582 - governor of the Big Regiment on a campaign to Novgorod (under his brother Andrei).

Voivode of the regiment of the right hand on a campaign to Serpukhov in April 1583.

Governor of Smolensk in 1585-1587.

For unknown reasons, he was in a short exile in 1586.

During the persecution of the Shuiskys by the tsar, from 1587 he was in exile in Galich. In 1591, Boris Godunov, no longer seeing the danger in the Shuiskys, returned them to Moscow. Since then, the Shuiskys have generally behaved loyally.

In 1591 he conducted an investigation into the case of Tsarevich Dmitry. Being under the strict supervision of Godunov, Shuisky recognized the cause of the prince's death as suicide - an accident. From the same year, he was again introduced to the Boyar Duma. After that he was governor of Novgorod. In 1598 - the first governor of the regiment of the right hand in the army of Mstislavsky in the Crimean campaign to Serpukhov.

Since January 1605, he was the commander of the regiment of the right hand in the campaign against False Dmitry I, and won the battle of Dobrynichy. However, not much desiring Godunov's victory, by inaction he allowed the impostor to strengthen.

After the death of Godunov, he tried to carry out a coup, but was arrested and exiled along with his brothers. But False Dmitry I needed boyar support, and at the end of 1605 the Shuiskys returned to Moscow.

During the armed popular revolt on May 17 (27), 1606, organized by Vasily Shuisky, False Dmitry I was killed, and on May 19 (29) a group of followers of Vasily Ivanovich “called out” Shuisky as king.

The reign of Vasily Shuisky

Vasily IV Shuisky was crowned on June 1 (11), 1606 Metropolitan Isidore of Novgorod At the same time, he gave a cross-kissing record that limited his power. In early June, the Shuisky government declared Boris Godunov the murderer of Tsarevich Dmitry.

Shuisky tried to strengthen the army after the humiliating defeats inflicted on the tsarist army by the supporters of False Dmitry. Under him, a new military charter appeared in Russia - the result of processing German samples. At the same time, centrifugal tendencies intensified, the most noticeable manifestation of which was the Bolotnikov uprising, which was suppressed only in October 1607.

In August 1607, Bolotnikov was replaced by a new contender for the throne - False Dmitry II. The tsarist troops were defeated near Bolkhov (May 1, 1608). The tsar with his government was locked up in Moscow, an alternative capital arose under its walls with its own governmental hierarchy - the Tushino camp.

By the end of 1608, Shuisky did not control many regions of the country. The Vyborg treaty of early 1609 promised territorial concessions to the Swedish crown in exchange for armed assistance to the tsarist government. The command of the Russian-Swedish army was taken over by Prince M.V. Skopin-Shuisky. Many saw the young and energetic commander as the successor to the elderly and childless sovereign.

The overthrow and captivity of Vasily Shuisky

Despite the fact that most of the country was liberated from anti-government forces by March 1610, in September 1609, the Polish-Lithuanian king Sigismund III invaded Russia, besieging Smolensk. Tsar Vasily Shuisky himself was not popular among the people. In addition, anti-Shui sentiment in Moscow was fueled by the unexpected death of the young commander Skopin-Shuisky.

The defeat of the troops of Dmitry Shuisky near Klushino from the army of Sigismund on June 24 (July 4), 1610 and the uprising in Moscow led to the fall of Shuisky. July 17 (27), 1610 part of the boyars, the capital and provincial nobility Vasily IV Ioannovich was deposed from the throne and forcibly tonsured a monk, moreover, he refused to pronounce monastic vows himself. In September 1610, he was extradited - not as a monk, but in lay clothes - to the Polish hetman Zolkiewski, who took him and his brothers Dmitry and Ivan in October to Smolensk, and later to Poland. In Warsaw, the tsar and his brothers were presented as prisoners to King Sigismund and took a solemn oath to him.

The former tsar died in custody in the Gostynin castle, 130 versts from Warsaw, and his brother Dmitry died there a few days later. The third brother, Ivan Ivanovich Shuisky, subsequently returned to Russia.

In 1635, at the request of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, the remains of Vasily Shuisky were returned by the Poles to Russia. Vasily was buried in the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.

Vasily Shuisky. Time of Troubles

Personal life of Vasily Shuisky:

Was married twice.

First wife - Princess Elena Mikhailovna Repnina(d. 1592), daughter of the famous boyar Prince Mikhail Petrovich Repnin, who was executed in 1564 by Ivan the Terrible for refusing to put on a funny mask and be a jester (he was stabbed to death right in the church, at the altar).

Why Shuisky married the orphan Repnina is not clear. According to historians, this marriage with the daughter of the executed boyar looks illogical, especially when you consider that another brother, Prince Dmitry Ivanovich, was married to the daughter of Malyuta Skuratov. The first marriage was childless, which ended in divorce.

Second wife - Princess Maria Petrovna Buynosova-Rostovskaya, nee Catherine, monastic Elena (d. 1626), daughter of Prince Peter Ivanovich Buynosov-Rostovsky.

The second marriage took place after the accession to the throne. The second marriage, to which Tsar Vasily Ivanovich did not aspire too much, took place only for reasons of dynastic expediency.

Two daughters were born in it - Anna and Anastasia.

Princess Anna Vasilievna(1609 - 26 September 1609), died in infancy. She was buried in the Ascension Monastery in the Moscow Kremlin, after its destruction by the Bolsheviks, the remains, along with others, were transferred to the underground chamber of the southern annex of the Archangel Cathedral, where they are now. The tomb was found during research work on the necropolis of the Ascension Monastery in the Kremlin. The researcher of the necropolis of the Ascension Monastery T. D. Panova cites an inscription on the lid of the sarcophagus: “September 7118, on the 26th day, in memory of the Holy Apostle Ivan the Theologian, the daughter of the Tsar and Grand Duke Vasily Ivanovich of All Russia, the princess and Grand Duchess Anna Vasilievna of All Russia, was reposed.”

The personality of V.I. Shuisky

Vasily Shuisky was born in $1552$ in the family of a prince Ivan Shuisky. The Shuiskys were the Rurikovichs of the Suzdal-Nizhny Novgorod branch.

The rise of the prince began at the end of the reign of Ivan the Terrible. Vasily's brothers were also at the court - Ivan Button, Andrew, Dmitry.

After the death of Ivan the Terrible, an imbecile became king Fedor Ivanovich. Among all the branches of the Rurikovich, the Shuiskys were the oldest, therefore they had more chances for accession. But at that time he was already actively acting in his favor. Boris Godunov. The Shuiskys were persecuted. Andrei Ivanovich and Ivan Petrovich were exiled, both were soon killed. Vasily Ivanovich at the time of the repressions was already in exile, in Galich.

In $1591 the prince died Dmitry. Then Boris Godunov returned the Shuiskys to Moscow. But Vasily Shuisky was forbidden to marry and, accordingly, continue the Shuisky family. Godunov entrusted the investigation into the circumstances of the death of Tsarevich to a commission led by Vasily Shuisky. After "Uglich case" Shuisky was introduced to the Boyar Duma.

Vasily Shuisky and False Dmitry I

In $1603$ appeared False Dmitry I. Vasily Ivanovich explained to the people that the prince died and was buried in Uglich.

At the beginning of $ 1605 $, Vasily Ivanovich became the commander of the troops moved against False Dmitry I. The result of the victory in Battle of Dobrynich in January, $1605 was deliberately not fixed: Vasily knew about the deterioration in the position of Tsar Boris.

In May, $1605, Boris Godunov was poisoned. Vasily Shuisky became the main candidate for the throne among the boyars. However, the positions of False Dmitry were stronger, the people accepted him. Therefore, after the arrival of the impostor in Moscow, Shuisky was sentenced to death, but at the last moment, False Dmitry replaced it with a link, and soon, he completely returned the prince to the court.

The fall of False Dmitry I and the accession of Vasily Shuisky

The impostor did not reign long. His admiration for Europe and, in particular, Poland, caused great irritation in Moscow. at the wedding with Marina Mnishek in June $1606$ there were a lot of Poles, they behaved extremely cheekily.

$17$ May $1606$ Vasily Shuisky entered the Kremlin with armed men, and the people were already smashing the Poles all over Moscow. The prince called for the expulsion of the impostor, who was eventually killed by an angry mob.

A couple of days later, Shuisky was elected king in the course of "shouting out" his name. He gave a cross-kissing note, promising not to do iniquity; according to the text, the interests of the boyars were guaranteed in the first place.

Board of Vasily Shuisky

Shuisky transferred the remains of Tsarevich Dmitry to Moscow. Then he replaced the patriarch, elected by False Dmitry, with Hermogen.

Vasily Shuisky had enemies who, following the supporters of False Dmitry, began to spread rumors that he had escaped. Unrest began, the largest of which was an uprising Ivan Bolotnikov.

Following the uprising Bolotnikov appeared False Dmitry II. He reached Tushino near Moscow and camped there. The troops of the "Tushino thief" plundered and ravaged the lands throughout most of European Russia. False Dmitry II was helped by the Poles, so Vasily Shuisky made an alliance with their opponent - Sweden. In response to this Sigismund III recalled troops from False Dmitry, as he personally declared war on Russia.

Soon the Tushino camp was set up by the talented nephew of Vasily Mikhail Skopin-Shuisky. After the lifting of the siege from Moscow, they even offered to make him king instead of Vasily, but he refused.

Vasily Shuisky did not like such ideas, and shortly after the feast, Mikhail fell ill and died. Poisoning finally ruined the authority of Vasily Shuisky.

Remark 1

In addition, from the Poles who approached Moscow, led by the hetman Zholkiewski, there was no one to fight back. Under these conditions, the opponents of Shuisky, the nobles Lyapunovs raised Moscow to revolt. $17$ July $1610$ Vasily Shuisky had to step down from the throne. Then he was forcibly tonsured a monk.

Power has passed to "Seven Boyars". They could not repel the attack of the Poles, so they agreed to transfer the throne to the prince Vladislav.

Hetman Zolkiewski handed over Vasily Shuisky as a prisoner to King Sigismund. Vasily Shuisky was imprisoned in Gostyn castle, where he died in $1612$.

History is always tried to be interpreted subjectively, and this also applies to determining the role of rulers, assessing their personality and deeds. Many tried to name the best and worst rulers of Russia more than once, even special votes were held on this topic, while naming the most diverse ones. In this post, we will name the five worst rulers in the history of Russia, based not on subjective assessments, but solely on the results of their reign.

5. Vasily Shuisky

Vasily Shuisky was king from 1606 to 1610. It was a difficult time for Russia. At the beginning of the 17th century, due to crop failures, a terrible famine broke out, peasant uprisings swept across the country, and then an impostor appeared, posing as the miraculously saved son of Ivan the Terrible, Tsarevich Dmitry. At first, False Dmitry suffered setbacks, but after the sudden death in 1605 of Tsar Boris Godunov, the supporters of False Dmitry overthrew Boris's son, 16-year-old Fyodor, and brought him to power.

False Dmitry had many supporters among the people, but a number of miscalculations, such as an attempt to impose foreign orders and flattering with the Poles, undermined his popularity. This was taken advantage of by Vasily Shuisky, who organized a conspiracy against False Dmitry. As a result of the conspiracy, False Dmitry was killed, and Shuisky's supporters proclaimed him king with simple cries in the square.

Vasily Shuisky tried to collect convincing evidence that False Dmitry was in fact not Tsarevich Dmitry, but the impostor Grishka Otrepyev. Unfortunately, the way he ascended the throne and further miscalculations in domestic politics led to the fact that his power turned out to be fragile. The people believed that he seized power by deceit and were unhappy that Shuisky was elected tsar by a small group in Moscow, without convening a Zemsky Sobor. There were rumors about the re-rescue of Tsarevich Dmitry, the discontent of the peasants grew. Ivan Bolotnikov appeared in the south of Russia, allegedly on behalf of Dmitry, and raised a peasant uprising. The tsarist troops suffered defeat after defeat, the rebels reached Moscow itself. It was possible to defeat Bolotnikov only through a secret collusion with some of his supporters.

After the defeat of Bolotnikov, a new threat appeared - False Dmitry II, who, with the help of the Poles and Cossacks, entrenched himself in southern Russia and began to move towards Moscow. Shuisky behaved indecisively, remaining in Moscow and keeping an army with him. As a result, False Dmitry II set up camp in Tushino, not far from Moscow, where many princes, boyars and others, dissatisfied with Vasily Shuisky, went. Shuisky turned to the Swedes for support. The army, which was supposed to help Moscow and included Swedish mercenaries, was led by the tsar's nephew Mikhail Skopin-Shuisky. At first, he was lucky and he inflicted several defeats on the troops of False Dmitry, but died suddenly. The king has lost his last support. In the end, dissatisfied with Shuisky, the boyars in 1610 deprived him of power and entered into an agreement with the Poles, calling the Polish prince Vladislav to the kingdom. Shuisky was handed over to the Poles and went to Poland, where he died 2 years later, a little before the liberation of Moscow by the militia of Minin and Pozharsky.

The results of the reign of Vasily Shuisky: the complete collapse of the central government in Russia, the seizure of a significant part of the territory by impostors and foreign invaders, the looting and devastation of many lands and, finally, the capture of the capital by the Polish invaders and the threat of a complete loss of statehood.

4. Alexander Kerensky

Kerensky was in power for a short time (minister of the provisional government from March 3, and prime minister from July 7 to October 26, 1917, according to the old style), but his decisions had a huge impact on the fate of Russia.

In February 1917 a revolution took place in Russia (in the preparation of which Kerensky also played an important role). The tsar abdicated and power passed to a provisional government formed by deputies of the 4th State Duma. First, Kerensky received the post of Minister of Justice in it, then the Minister of War, and, finally, became Prime Minister. From the very first days of his stay in the government, Kerensky developed a stormy activity, making many populist decisions. Along with such decisions as the cessation of political persecution and the establishment of freedom of speech, he actually destroyed the former judiciary and police. The death penalty was abolished, criminals were released from prisons, and decisions to "democratize" the army paralyzed the ability to maintain discipline in it.

Then Kerensky forced Foreign Minister Milyukov and Minister of War Guchkov to resign, who advocated the war to a victorious end, and he himself became Minister of War. Having received this post, he appointed little-known but close to him officers to key positions in the army. Also, having traveled along the front, he organized the June offensive, which ended in complete failure. The result of this failure was spontaneous demonstrations in Petrograd demanding peace with Germany.

In July, Kerensky becomes prime minister. Soon he had a conflict with Kornilov, who held the post of commander in chief of the army. Kornilov proposes measures to restore order in the country, establish strict discipline and strengthen power. Kerensky opposes these measures. Kornilov and his supporters in the army draw up a plan for the resignation of the government and the transfer of power to the military, troops loyal to Kornilov begin to move towards Petrograd. In response, Kerensky declares Kornilov a rebel, asks for help from the Soviets and distributes weapons to the workers. Kornilov's speech fails, after which the government loses all support in the troops, and the army itself is rapidly falling apart.

In autumn, Kerensky rapidly loses popularity. If in March he was hailed as a "knight of the revolution", now both the left and the right shun cooperation with him. The Socialist-Revolutionary Party, of which Kerensky was a member, is losing influence in the Soviets, and the Bolsheviks are beginning to play an ever greater role in them. In October, Kerensky dissolved the Duma, instead of which a "pre-parliament" was assembled. But it is already becoming quite obvious that the main political parties are not able to agree on anything and create any kind of coalition. The Bolsheviks begin preparations for an armed uprising. Kerensky knows about this and assures that the uprising will be crushed. However, under the influence of the Bolsheviks, the soldiers of the Petrograd garrison go over to the side of the military revolutionary committee, and even the Cossacks called to Petrograd leave, refusing to defend the Provisional Government. On October 25, the Bolsheviks occupy key points in the city, and then, without much effort, the Winter Palace, where the Provisional Government meets.

The results of the reign of Kerensky: the collapse of the public administration system, the police and the army, a significant deterioration in the economic situation, the growth of separatist movements in different parts of the country.

3. Nicholas II

Many people try to present the last Russian tsar as a victim, a martyr and even a saint. But there is no doubt that Nicholas II was one of the worst rulers of Russia. Nicholas's father Alexander III, despite his penchant for drunkenness, was a strong ruler, under him Russia significantly strengthened its position in the world, the authority of power grew. Nicholas was the eldest of Alexander's sons, but his father did not want to see him on the throne at all, considering him incapable of governing the country and expected to transfer power to his youngest son Michael. Unfortunately, at the time of Alexander's death, Mikhail had not yet reached the age of majority (he was only 16), and Alexander took from Nicholas a promise to abdicate the throne and transfer power to Michael after he reached the age of majority. Nicholas never fulfilled this promise. And the mother of Nicholas II generally refused to swear allegiance to him. “My son is incapable of ruling Russia! He is weak. Both mind and spirit. Just yesterday, when my father was dying, he climbed onto the roof and threw cones at passers-by on the street ... And this is the king? No, this is not a king! We will all perish with such an emperor. Listen to me: I'm Nicky's mother, and who, if not a mother, knows her son best of all? Do you want to have a rag doll on the throne?”

At the beginning of the reign of Nicholas II, the gold ruble was introduced, i.e., the ruble was pegged to gold. This led to an artificial limitation of the money supply within the country, and to finance the development of industry and for other purposes, Russia began to take huge loans abroad (by the way, our government is pursuing a similar policy in many respects today). Soon, the Russian Empire confidently took first place in the world in terms of external debt. The growth rate of industrial production under Nicholas II fell markedly, while a significant industry was controlled by foreign capital (in some industries up to 100%), and many manufactured goods were purchased abroad.

The Russian Empire remained an agrarian country, most of its population (more than 80%) were peasants, but famine regularly arose in the country. The allotments of the peasants were reduced, the land issue was very acute. But the government was in no hurry to solve it, preferring to suppress peasant uprisings by force. In the period 1901-1907, in order to suppress the "arbitrariness" of the peasants, entire punitive operations were carried out, troops were brought in, who were instructed to burn peasant houses in case of disobedience and fire cannons at them. Against the backdrop of poverty and destitution of the vast majority of the population, speculators and monopolists prospered. The upper classes lived in luxury, and this could not but irritate the people.

In 1904-1905. Russia suffered a shameful defeat in the Russo-Japanese War. At the beginning of the war, the leadership of Russia and the command of the army were dominated by hatred moods, in preparation for it and during the war, many mistakes were made. Prime Minister Witte said on this occasion "It was not Russia that was defeated by the Japanese, not the Russian army, but by our order, or rather, our boyish control of a 140 million population in recent years."

The defeat in the Russo-Japanese War, along with the difficult situation of the workers and peasants, prompted mass protests of the people and strikes. On January 9, 1905, "Bloody Sunday" took place - the police in St. Petersburg shot a peaceful demonstration of workers who had gathered to hand a petition to the tsar. This event served as an impetus for the beginning of the first Russian revolution of 1905-1907. (in December 1905, real battles unfolded between the workers and the army in Moscow), which was suppressed by the authorities, but its main result was a sharp drop in the people's confidence in the authorities and the tsar personally.

After the beginning of the revolution, in order to calm the people, the first parliament in Russia, the State Duma, was created. But even despite the fact that elections to it were held according to special rules, for example, representatives of the upper classes elected much more deputies from the same number of people than representatives of the lower ones, it soon turned out that the Duma and the elected deputies did not suit the tsar at all. The Duma was repeatedly dismissed, and the tsar arbitrarily adopted certain decrees. The actions of the tsar outraged even the deputies of the noble party of the Cadets.

But all the weakness of the regime and the worthlessness of Nicholas II manifested itself during the First World War. The beginning of the war in 1914 was accompanied by a patriotic upsurge and an increase in the popularity of the tsar, but soon the mood began to change, both among the people and at the top, including the tsar's inner circle. Economic difficulties quickly arose in the country, inflation began to unwind. Weak industry did not carry the load created by the war - there was a catastrophic shortage of weapons and ammunition at the front. The burden on workers increased, women and teenagers were recruited to enterprises. There was not enough fuel, there were difficulties with transportation. Mass mobilization led to a decline in agriculture. In 1916, there were problems with the purchase of bread, the government had to introduce a surplus appropriation - the population was obliged to sell bread forcibly at a fixed price. The number of strikes and peasant uprisings grew, and revolutionary agitation expanded. Unrest began in the national regions. But the king did not do anything to correct the situation, but on the contrary, only aggravated it. In 1915, Nicholas decided to become supreme commander himself and spent time at Headquarters, while in St. Petersburg the key decisions were largely in the hands of the tsarina and her favorite, Grigory Rasputin. Rasputin arbitrarily made certain decisions, appointed and removed ministers, even tried to interfere in the planning of military operations. By 1917, a broad opposition to the tsar had formed. He was no longer supported by anyone, even the grand dukes planned conspiracies to remove Nicholas II from the throne and appoint someone else as king.

At the end of February 1917, mass strikes began in Petrograd, accompanied by rallies and demonstrations. One of their reasons was the lack of bread in the city. Despite attempts to suppress the protests, they escalated, and the soldiers of the Petrograd garrison eventually joined the uprising. The deputies of the State Duma announced the creation of the Provisional Government, which takes over the powers to govern the country. Soon, under pressure from the Stavka generals, Nicholas II abdicated and recognized the Provisional Government. A few days later he was arrested, and in the summer of 1918 he was shot by the Bolsheviks in Yekaterinburg.

The results of the reign of Nicholas II: the accumulation of social and political contradictions, the complete loss of people's trust in power, the paralysis of power itself, leading the country to anarchy, collapse and collapse.

2. Boris Yeltsin

One of the rulers most hated by the people, Boris Yeltsin, was the president of Russia from 1991 to 2000. The mental abilities of this man were clearly manifested already in his youth, when a grenade stolen from a warehouse, which he smashed with a hammer, exploded and tore off two of his fingers on his hand.

Nevertheless, Yeltsin managed to climb the party ladder to the first secretary of the Moscow city committee of the CPSU. In 1990 he was elected a people's deputy of the RSFSR, and then chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR. Even in this post, he actively began to engage in the collapse of the USSR, doing everything to intercept the levers of control and create dual power (under him, on June 12, 1990, a shameful declaration on the state sovereignty of the RSFSR was adopted). In the summer of 1991, Yeltsin won the first presidential elections in the RSFSR under the slogan of "fighting against the nomenklatura and against privileges", handing out many impossible populist promises. After that, his activity on the collapse of the USSR flared up with a vengeance. After the failure of the "putsch" of the GKChP in August 1991, in which Yeltsin played a decisive role, he felt like a master in the country and, having entered into an agreement with the presidents of Ukraine and Belarus Kravchuk and Shushkevich, carried out the final collapse of the USSR.

Participation in the collapse of the country with the falling away of primordially Russian lands, the shrinking of the territory to the borders of the 16th century and the violation of the will of the people, who at the referendum held in the same year, definitely spoke in favor of the preservation of the USSR, is already more than enough to get into the list of the worst rulers. But Yeltsin did not stop there. He created a government of liberal fanatics who hated Russia (for example, Prime Minister Gaidar called Russia "Upper Volta with missiles") and charged him with liberal "reforms". The "reforms" resulted in the destruction of everything that could be destroyed - industry, science, education, the army, etc. And the "reforms" were carried out under the command of American advisers, hundreds of whom came to Moscow in order to harm our country as effectively as possible with their advice .

As a result of Yeltsin's "transformations", the most important achievements of the Soviet period were destroyed. Most of the manufacturing industry was destroyed, most of the scientific research and technological developments were stopped, the army, education and the social sphere were degraded. The standard of living of the population fell catastrophically, hyperinflation was observed in the country - prices rose by 20-30% every month. Even meager salaries were not paid for months; instead of money, enterprises often gave wages in goods that they themselves had to sell on the market. At the beginning of his reign, Yeltsin's destructive potential was somewhat restrained by the Supreme Council, but in 1993 Yeltsin solved this problem by shooting the parliament (of which he himself was chairman 2 years ago) from tanks. The country began to be ruled by a circle of close oligarchs who saw their goal only in plundering the country as much as possible and enriching themselves at the same time.

During Yeltsin's rule in Russia, the birth rate fell sharply, the population began to die out at an accelerated pace. The spread of social vices, alcoholism and drug addiction has sharply increased. The criminal situation has deteriorated catastrophically; in most regions of Russia, organized crime has seized control of all profitable enterprises and businesses. Organized crime groups staged bloody showdowns among themselves right on the streets of cities.

Russia's foreign policy became completely spineless, the leadership followed the US line in everything. Completely enslaving and unprofitable agreements were concluded with other countries (for example, Russia sold 500 tons of weapons-grade uranium to the United States for next to nothing). At the same time, external debts were accumulated, the country lived in anticipation of the next tranche from the IMF in order to finance the most urgent needs. In the first years, the people were fed with promises that after the difficulties of the transition period, market reforms would work and everything would work out, although this was a blatant and outright lie. In 1998, the GKO pyramid, organized by the government, collapsed and the country went through a default. In 1998, Russia's GDP collapsed to a paltry $150 billion, less than Belgium's. People's support for Yeltsin fell to zero, the Duma turned out to approve the government proposed by Yeltsin and even attempted to impeach him. Yeltsin had to compromise and temporarily allow the creation of a government of the opposition.

The war in Chechnya became an absolutely shameful page of Yeltsin's rule. First, Yeltsin allowed the completely frostbitten regime of Dudayev to come to power in Chechnya, who immediately declared that he was not subordinate to Moscow and organized the genocide of the entire non-Chechen population. In 1994, Yeltsin undertook a mediocre operation to “restore constitutional order” in Chechnya, which turned into a war with the Dudaevites, and in 1996 stopped it, in fact accepting the demands of the terrorists and giving them full control over Chechnya. In 1999, the terrorists, who were tired of ruling only Chechnya, tried to seize Dagestan as well, unleashing a new war in the North Caucasus.

On December 31, 1999, Yeltsin resigned ahead of schedule and, in his televised address, asking the people for forgiveness, began to cry.

The results of Yeltsin's rule: Russia denounced the union treaty, turning into one of the fragments of the former great Russia, economically and geopolitically turned from a superpower into a dependent country of the third world, an openly bandit anti-people regime of traitors who think only about their own enrichment and controlled by the enemies of our country.

1 - Mikhail Gorbachev

This man, who was the Secretary General and then President of the USSR from 1985 to 1991, undoubtedly ranks first in the ranking of the worst rulers not only in Russian but also in world history. By the beginning of his reign, the USSR, of course, had accumulated certain problems that needed to be addressed. Nevertheless, the country was one of the two "superpowers", possessed enormous influence, economic and scientific potential and controlled almost half the world. No one could have imagined that in 6 years the USSR would collapse and cease to exist. But Gorbachev did everything to make this happen.

Gorbachev began his reign with beautiful and seemingly correct slogans. He declared that in foreign policy it was necessary to defuse international tension and renounce the arms race, and in domestic policy, openness and acceleration (that is, an increase in the rate of economic development) was necessary. And in 1987, “perestroika” was proclaimed, that is, a large-scale reform of the economic and political sphere (again, under good slogans).

In practice, all this resulted in the deliberate collapse of the country in accordance with the plan developed by the United States - the main and implacable enemy of the USSR. First began corroding the communist ideology. At first, certain periods in the history of the USSR were criticized, for example, the era of Stalin's rule, certain aspects of the Soviet system. Under the pretext that we need more democracy and freedom of speech, control over the media was weakened, the built party vertical was being destroyed. They spoke about the need to fight bureaucrats, with the "command-administrative system."

Since 1987, the leadership recognized the failure of the policy of "acceleration" and the main stage of the collapse of the country began. The CPSU ceased to control the electoral process, and anti-Soviet and nationalists became deputies in many republics. The course for "market" reforms in the economy was openly proclaimed, private enterprises were allowed, large enterprises were given more economic freedom.

Since 1989, the pernicious consequences of "perestroika" have become obvious to everyone. Ethnic clashes begin in the Caucasus and Central Asia, some republics declare their desire to leave the USSR. The situation in the economy is deteriorating, a shortage of necessary goods is artificially created in stores. Cards for sugar, soap and some other goods are being introduced. Gorbachev, fearing that the party would remove him from the post of general secretary, convenes a congress of people's deputies of the USSR, which introduces a new position - the president of the USSR and in the spring of 1990 elects Gorbachev as president. In addition, in 1989 Gorbachev secretly concludes a treacherous agreement with the United States, which, in fact, provides for the liquidation of the socialist camp and the surrender of all positions in Europe. With the participation of the KGB, regimes are being changed in the countries of Eastern Europe, the communists are removed from power there.

In 1990-91, the threat of the collapse of the USSR becomes obvious. However, the people do not want this, in 1991, at the initiative of people's deputies, a referendum was held on the preservation of the USSR. Most are for preservation. Against the background of the "parade of sovereignties", when the republican structures are trying to completely take power into their own hands, Gorbachev is preparing a new draft of the union treaty, which actually turns the USSR into a semblance of the later created CIS. On the eve of its planned signing in August 1991, part of the Soviet elite makes an attempt to disrupt it, restore control of the center and restore order in the country. Gorbachev is cut off from communication at a dacha in Crimea, a state of emergency is declared in the country. However, the poor preparation of the organizers, their indecision and hesitation spoil everything. The "putsch" of the State Emergency Committee is failing, and now nothing prevents the collapse of the country. In December 1991, after Yeltsin, Shushkevich and Kravchuk decide to dissolve the USSR, Gorbachev obediently submits and resigns.

The results of Gorbachev's reign: The USSR, a former superpower, is defeated in the Cold War, voluntarily capitulates to the United States and falls apart. History has never known such an impressive collapse out of the blue.

VASILY IV IVANOVICH SHUISKY(1552-1612) - politician of the Time of Troubles, Russian tsar in 1606-1610.

He came from the family of the Suzdal princes Shuisky, descendants of the brother of Prince Alexander Nevsky Andrei II Yaroslavich. His father served as governor in the Russian army and died in a battle with the Swedes at the Lode fortress in 1573. Contemporaries testify that in spirit and character Vasily Shuisky personified the properties of the old Russian way of life: he was deprived of enterprise, he was nevertheless cunning, patient and steadfast in achieving ambitious political goals.

He began his political career under Ivan the Terrible: in 1576 he was part of his retinue, was a friend at the last wedding of the repeatedly married tsar. In 1581-1582 he guarded the border on the Oka as a governor. In 1582-1583 he was in disgrace, but already in 1584 he was again at court and received the rank of boyar (shortly after his marriage to Prince Elena Mikhailovna Repnina).

After the death of Grozny, at first he took the side of Boris Godunov's opponents, for which he was again disgraced (in 1588 he was imprisoned in Galich, but soon returned to the capital). By flattery and cunning, he managed not only to achieve forgiveness, but also to head the commission of inquiry in May 1591 on the case of Tsarevich Dmitry, who died in Uglich under strange circumstances. People's rumor attributed the blame for the death of Tsarevich Godunov. Shuisky was the only one who knew the truth about the tragedy, but considered it necessary to declare the prince’s illness the cause of death, for which he was favored by the de facto ruler and in 1596 sent with a regiment to Aleksin - "according to the Crimean news" (to prevent the onset of the Crimeans).

An experienced governor, by the beginning of 1605 he actively participated in hostilities against False Dmitry I. After the death of Boris Godunov in May 1605 he was recalled to Moscow. In June 1605, he went over to the side of False Dmitry, publicly declaring that, as a member of the commission investigating the murder of the prince, he knew for sure that "Dmitry remained alive." However, soon he himself led a conspiracy against False Dmitry and accused of spreading rumors about his imposture, was sentenced to death. He miraculously escaped: pardoned by False Dmitry, he was only exiled and, according to some sources, even in exile received information about events in the capital. In May 1606, supported by the boyar and church leaders, large merchants and the provincial nobility (primarily Smolensk), Shuisky was again promoted to the leader of the conspiracy against False Dmitry.

Two days after the assassination of False Dmitry by the conspirators, on May 19, 1606, a group of Shuisky's supporters nominated him to the throne in Moscow. Placed on the throne by the boyars, at his wedding to the kingdom, he gave a “cross-kissing record”, according to which he was obliged to solve all the most important matters “on advice” with him.

In early June, the Shuisky government declared Boris Godunov the murderer of Tsarevich Dmitry, who was canonized as a holy martyr as innocently killed by Tsar Boris.

Shuisky's coming to power intensified the struggle of the southern and metropolitan nobility, which coincided with the outbreak of the peasant war under the leadership of I.I. Bolotnikov. which from the army of Bolotnikov greatly changed the balance of power in favor of government troops. To suppress the social conflict and consolidate the forces of the ruling class, Shuisky not only mobilized all the military resources of the country, but also issued the Code of March 9, 1607, which recognized the serfs as assigned to those owners for whom they were recorded in the cadastres of the 1590s, and established 15 -year term of detecting fugitive peasants.

By the autumn of 1607, the peasant war was drowned in blood and suppressed, but calm did not come. A new impostor appeared in the country - False Dmitry II.

Difficulties in Vasily's public life were complicated by anxieties in private life: the king's wife died. The remarriage was concluded immediately - on January 17, 1608, the already middle-aged (56-year-old), short-sighted and undersized ruler married the young Princess Maria Buynosova of Rostov (? -1626). In January 1608 he moved with her to a new palace in the Kremlin.

Meanwhile, the Polish detachments, together with False Dmitry II, were moving closer and closer to the capital: on May 1, 1608, the impostor defeated the Russian army near Bolkhov and settled in Tushin near Moscow. Shuisky's government and his family found themselves under siege in Moscow. Bread prices have risen sharply. A number of central regions of the country (Ryazan, Arzamas) declared themselves willing to be "at hand" of the second False Dmitry, hoping that this would bring relief.

It became clear to Shuisky that the impostor's detachments could no longer be withdrawn through diplomacy. Therefore, in February 1609, he decided to conclude in Novgorod (Pskov had already managed to swear allegiance to False Dmitry) an agreement with Sweden, according to which, for hiring Swedish troops, he ceded to her part of Russian territory (Korela or Kexholm with the county). Part of the northern Russian lands, especially Vologda, have already staked on False Dmitry, and the receipt of taxes collected in those territories, goods of overseas trade through Arkhangelsk and the Siberian fur treasury would mean an immediate financial collapse of the Shuisky government.

Vasily was faced with the need not to release from his control the spontaneous people's liberation movement against the interventionists, which had been brewing in the country since the end of 1608. At the end of the winter of 1609, he appointed the commander of the troops on the outskirts of the capital of his nephew - the voivode Prince. M.V. Skopin-Shuisky, who enjoyed confidence and respect in the troops and participated in negotiations with the Swedes on the provision of military assistance in the fight against the Poles.

In 1609, the nephew of Vasily Shuisky liberated the Volga cities, in March 1610 he lifted the blockade of the capital, freeing the north and most of the Zamoskovye Territory from the troops of the "Tushino thief" False Dmitry II and his Pole allies. But the growth of his popularity caused the king to fear for the fate of the throne. According to rumors, Vasily Shuisky ordered the poisoning of his nephew, which was carried out by the wife of the tsar's brother Ekaterina Skuratova-Shuiskaya.

The physical elimination of a relative did not bring happiness and success to Tsar Vasily. On June 24, 1610, his army was defeated near Klushin by the numerically superior aggressive Polish army under the command of Sigismund III. The failures of Vasily Shuisky in the fight against the interventionists, the dissatisfaction of the nobles and part of the boyars with territorial concessions to foreigners in the north-west of the country became the reasons for preparing a rebellion against this ruler. It was headed by the Ryazan nobleman Prokopy Lyapunov, who until recently, in 1608, was loyal to his patron even in the Ryazan land, which was in opposition to Shuisky.

In July 1610, the performance of the urban lower classes against the government of Shuisky led to his fall; Vasily was deposed and forcibly tonsured a monk in the Miracle Monastery. Power temporarily passed to a group of boyars. In September 1610, Shuisky was extradited to the Polish hetman S. Zholkevsky, who took him a month later to Smolensk, and later to Warsaw. Mniszeki demanded trial of him for the murder of Maria Mniszek's husband, False Dmitry I, but the Polish Sejm treated Shuisky condescendingly. Vasily Shuisky died on September 12, 1612 in custody in the Gostyn castle.

In 1635 his remains were reburied in the Archangel Cathedral of the Kremlin.

Lev Pushkarev, Natalya Pushkareva