Fedor I. Ivanovich years of reign. The reign of Fyodor Ivanovich - strengthening of state power

Decor elements 10.10.2019

People often believe that the highest state power and deep Christian faith are incompatible, that the ruler simply cannot act according to the Gospel - he inevitably has to be a cynic, violate the commandments "for the sake of state interests." There are indeed many examples of this. But there are also opposite examples, which, unfortunately, few people know about. Historian Dmitry Volodikhin tells about Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich, the son of Ivan the Terrible.

Bifurcation syndrome

Some historical figures, included in our textbooks, and in the Russian classical tradition, and in the mass consciousness, seem to have two faces. Generation after generation, intellectuals have been trying to prove that one of these faces is true, and the other is nothing more than a mask, and not even a mask, but an accidental gimmick.

In Russia, they know two Ivanov the Terrible - a wise statesman and a bloody maniac; two Peter the Great - a reformer and a tyrant; two Nikolaev the First - a gendarme of Europe and an enlightened guard; two Georgiev Zhukovs - a tyrant, thoughtlessly wasting soldiers' lives, and a talented commander ... Are these figures only two? Oh no, only the loudest examples were heard.

Attempts to find the golden mean, passing between the Scylla of one myth and the Charybdis of another lead only to the fact that instead of an integral personality the infinite grows up: “on the one hand, one cannot fail to notice, but on the other, one cannot fail to recognize”. In such cases, seemingly wise moderation leads to emptiness, to vagueness. And disputes flare up with renewed vigor.

Probably the most reasonable thing in such cases is to lay out all the main arguments, and then honestly and openly speak out in favor of one of two fundamentally different points of view: "I believe that the arguments in favor of this position outweigh."

Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich (1584-1598), or, according to church tradition, Theodor Ioannovich, is just such a "double" person in Russian history. It is curious that the main essence of both images of this sovereign was succinctly formulated for the educated public by one person - Alexei Konstantinovich Tolstoy.

In the satirical poem "The History of the Russian State from Gostomysl to Timashev", in one quatrain, he brought out the silhouette of the popular opinion about Fyodor Ivanovich:

Fyodor began to reign behind him,
Father is in vivid contrast;
There was no mind not bodor,
To ring only a lot.

What shape do these lines give to the last sovereign of Rurikovich? Fool, blessed, perhaps feeble-minded ...

But the same A. K. Tolstoy dedicated to the sovereign the famous play Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich, staged many times. And there the king appears in a completely different light. This is a tragic figure, not devoid of charm, moreover, flooded with the light of grace. Not blessed - blessed! Not a fool, but a truly kind, disinterested, deeply religious person.

What he is can be seen from the tsar's own remark, uttered in a dispute with Godunov:

What kind of king am I? Me in all matters
Both confusing and deceiving is not difficult.
In only one thing I will not be deceived:
When, in the meantime, what is white or black,
I must choose - I will not be deceived.
There is no need for wisdom, brother-in-law, here
By conscience, you only have to do.

In the course of the play, Prince Ivan Petrovich Shuisky, an enemy of the monarch, who appreciates his human qualities very low, is forced to admit his mistake:

No, he's a saint!
God does not order to climb it -
God will not order! I see simplicity
Yours from God, Fyodor Ioannych, -
I can't climb you!

Fyodor Ivanovich's "doubling" continues to this day. For the Russian Orthodox Church, he is above all a saint, a man of high morality and great piety. Back in the first half of the 17th century, he was included in the calendar as a "Moscow miracle worker."

But if the talk about this monarch comes in secular journalism, then in most cases dismissive reviews sound. You don't have to go far for examples. So, in the fresh book by Pyotr Romanov "Successors: from Ivan III to Dmitry Medvedev" (2008), there is just such a passage: "Were the Russians lucky to have successors? Sometimes yes. More often not very much. It happened that Russia had to get rid of a successor "surgically". And it happened that the country endured for decades something that is ashamed to remember. This usually happened when the interests of the retinue began to dominate at the top of the pyramid of power. Then the questions of the mind, professionalism and decency of the successor, not to mention the interests of the state and the people, receded into the background ... So the fools appeared at the head of the country (Fedor Ioannovich), former laundresses (Catherine I), not the most educated rulers (Anna Ioannovna) ... "and so on. Ivan the Terrible's successor is called here" the holy fool, "but not in the sense of being foolish for Christ's sake, but as a living disgrace for the country.

Which is closer to the truth?

It is worth listening to both sides.

Eyewitness accounts

The roots of an arrogant, derogatory opinion about the mental abilities of the sovereign go back to the 16th century.

Jerome Horsey, an English trade agent, wrote about Fyodor Ivanovich that he was "simple in mind." Jacques Margeret, a French mercenary in the Russian service, wrote a little more sharply: "... power was inherited by Fyodor, a very simple sovereign, who often amused himself by ringing the bells, or spent most of his time in church." The most detailed description of the Russian sovereign belongs to the pen of Gils Fletcher, an English diplomat. In particular, he writes: “The current tsar (named Theodore Ivanovich) regarding his appearance: small stature, stocky and stout, weak physique and inclined to water; his nose is hawkish, his step is unsteady from some relaxation in the limbs; he is heavy and inactive, but he always smiles, so he almost laughs. As for his other properties, he is simple and feeble-minded, but very amiable and good in handling, quiet, merciful, has no inclination for war, is little capable of political affairs and is extremely superstitious. In addition to praying at home, he usually goes on pilgrimage every week to some of the nearby monasteries. "

These three statements were made by foreigners who had no reason to treat Fyodor Ivanovich with special affection or, on the contrary, with hatred. Their words show the general opinion: the Russian monarch is "simple" and does not shine with intelligence, but he is a kind, calm and pious person.

Unfortunately, for several generations of Russian historians and publicists for the most part rely in their conclusions not on this evidence, but on other, much more radical ones. They are quoted much more often — and with a strange, "artistic" pathos. So, endlessly, a phrase from a Swedish source is quoted, according to which Fyodor Ivanovich is a madman, and his own subjects call him the Russian word durak. Who, when and for what called the sovereign so, remains outside the scope of this statement, that is, it is contextless. However, people with a craving for accusatory judgments are very fond of him ... Another favorite phrase from the same row belongs to the Polish envoy Sapieha, who considered that Fyodor Ivanovich had no reason at all. It probably does not make sense to emphasize once again that both the Polish-Lithuanian state and the Swedish crown were then in tense relations with Russia, and the conflict with the Swedes was ultimately resolved by the force of Russian arms. Neither one nor the other had the slightest reason to feel any kind of good feelings for the enemy ruler.

However, there are also clearly benevolent responses from foreigners, where the emphasis has been shifted from Fyodor Ivanovich's "simplicity of mind" to his religiosity. Thus, the Dutch merchant and trade agent in Moscow Isaac Massa speaks with all certainty about the Russian tsar: "very kind, pious and very meek." And further: "he was so pious that he often wanted to exchange his kingdom for a monastery, if only that was possible." Not a word about dementia. Konrad Bussov (the German Landsknecht, who co-authored the Chronicle of the Events of 1584-1613 with Lutheran Pastor Martin Baer) was extremely hostile to Orthodoxy in general. But nevertheless, he recognized Fyodor Ivanovich as a man "very pious" and "in their Moscow way" God-fearing, noting that the tsar was more interested in matters of faith than in matters of government.

So, if you use only foreign sources, then the picture is uneven, devoid of integrity. Let's say no one denies the piety of Fyodor Ivanovich. In the same way, no one talks about his ability to independently solve state issues. But the level of his mental development is assessed in different ways. Someone considers him crazy, while someone does not see any intellectual deficiency or, in the worst case, notes the "simplicity of the mind."

Russian sources paint Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich in a different light. The famous publicist of the 17th century Ivan Timofeev, the author of the historical and philosophical treatise "Vremennik", wrote about the son of Ivan the Terrible with admiration, in superlative tones. Ivan Vasilyevich himself did not get even a third of such praise - Timofeev did not treat him with much piety.

In order to understand how far Ivan Timofeev's delight stretched, it is worth citing an extensive quote from his work: “Through his prayers, my king kept the land intact from enemy intrigues. He was by nature meek, very merciful and blameless to everyone, and, like Job, in all his ways guarded himself from every evil thing, most of all loving piety, church splendor and, after the holy priests, the monastic rank and even brothers in Christ lesser. blessed in the Gospel by the Lord Himself. Simply to say - he devoted himself entirely to Christ and all the time of his holy and reverend reign; not loving blood, like a monk, he spent in fasting, in prayers and entreaties with kneeling - day and night, exhausting himself with spiritual exploits all his life ... Monasticism, united with the kingdom, without dividing, mutually adorned each other; he reasoned that for the future (life) one is of no less importance than the other, [being] an unrecoilable chariot that lifts to heaven. Both that and another were visible only to one faithful, who were attached to him in love. From outside, everyone could easily see in him the king, but inside, through the exploits of monasticism, he turned out to be a monk; by sight he was a crown bearer, and by his aspirations he was a monk. "

The state chronicle contains a description start days the reign of this sovereign. Nowhere are there any signs of imbecile behavior - on the contrary, when the wedding ceremony took place, Fyodor Ivanovich twice publicly made speeches, confirming his desire to repeat this ceremony, first introduced under his father. Of course, now it is difficult to judge how accurately the chronicler conveyed the content of the monarch's speeches. But the very fact of their utterance raises no doubts: the Englishman Horsey, an impartial witness of what is happening, also writes that the tsar made a public speech.

Can you imagine a feeble-minded person in the role of an orator?

The results of a quiet life

The evidence of an unofficial, in other words, private historical monument - "The Piskarevsky Chronicler" is extremely important. It is natural to expect estimates from the chronicle narrative that are not under the control of the government that are radically at variance with those that were "lowered from above." Indeed, the Piskarevsky Chronicle is filled with revelatory statements. So, there are many bitter words written about the oprichnina. Its introduction is reproached to Ivan IV. And this sovereign himself appears, to put it mildly, as an impeccable figure: the chronicler did not forget to list six (!) Of his wives. And an Orthodox person is not supposed to marry more than three times ...

What does the "Piskarevsky Chronicler" tell us about Fyodor Ivanovich? As much good has been said about him as none of the Russian rulers got. He is called "pious", "merciful", "faithful", on the pages of the chronicle there is a long list of his works for the good of the Church. His death is perceived as a real catastrophe, as a harbinger of the worst troubles of Russia: “The sun is darker and dies away from its current, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars from heaven have fallen: for many Christian sins, the last luminary, companion and benefactor of all Ruska earth king and Grand Duke Fyodor Ivanovich ... "Referring to the previous reign, the chronicler broadcasts with extraordinary tenderness:" And the noble and Christ-loving tsar and Grand Duke Theodore Ivanovich reigned ... quietly and righteously, and mercifully, without memento. And all people are at peace and in love, and in silence, and in prosperity in those years. In no summer, during which tsar in the Russian land, except for the Grand Duke Ivan Danilovich Kalita, such silence and prosperity did not happen that with him, the faithful tsar and Grand Duke Theodore Ivanovich of all Russia. "

That was such a durak!

It seems that Fyodor Ivanovich seemed feeble-minded only to those who were accustomed to the caustic, mocking wisdom and merciless cruelty of his father. Of course, after the "thunderstorm" inherent in the reign of Ivan Vasilyevich, his son could look in the eyes of the serving aristocracy as a weak ruler ... But with his "weakness", "simplicity" and "piety", the affairs of the state settled better than under a violent parent.

It was under Fedor Ivanovich that the patriarchate was introduced in Russia.

During all the years of his reign, the Crimeans were unable to breach the Russian defense, but Ivan Vasilyevich in 1571 allowed them to burn down the capital.

In the Urals and in Western Siberia subjects of the Russian tsar managed to gain a foothold only under Fedor Ivanovich. Ataman Yermak, who started the war with the Crimean Khanate during the reign of Ivan Vasilievich, as you know, was killed, and his army was defeated. But service people with names not so famous a few years later managed to successfully advance in the same direction.

Finally, Ivan the Terrible lost the main war of his life - the Livonian one. He not only lost everything he had won by incredible efforts, but also gave the enemy part of the Novgorod region. Under Fedor Ivanovich, new war... The king personally went on a campaign and took part in hostilities. Would the ruler with the regiments be released if he was a helpless idiot? And who could be inspired by such a figure in the troops? Obviously, in the eyes of tens of thousands of military people, the sovereign did not look “foolish” or “mad”. As a result of a fierce struggle, Russia then recaptured Yam, Koporye, Ivangorod and Korela from the Swedes. Moscow managed to achieve partial revenge for the previous defeat in Livonia.

It remains to summarize. Fyodor Ivanovich was a man of unusually pure, moral life, and in piety he was equal to monks from distant monasteries. Foreigners, especially those who had reasons for enmity with the Russian state, sometimes spoke of the tsar as a madman or a mere simpleton. But the facts show otherwise. The sovereign was neither mad nor feeble-minded. Most of all, his "simplicity" was not the simplicity of a mentally retarded, but a blessed, "God's man."

Fyodor Ivanovich Blessed

Fyodor (baptized Theodore) I Ioannovich.

Reign: 1584-1598

2nd Tsar of Russia (March 18, 1584 - January 7, 1598). Grand Duke of Moscow since March 18, 1584.
From the Rurik dynasty. From a kind of Moscow grand dukes.

The third son of Ivan IV the Terrible and Anastasia Romanovna Yuryeva-Zakharova.

Fyodor Ioannovich - the last Rurikovich on the throne by right of inheritance.

Fyodor loved bells and church services, climbed the bell tower, for which he received the nickname "bell ringer" from his father.

Fyodor, weak in mind and health, did not take part in governing the state. Shortly before his death, his father Ivan the Terrible appointed a board of trustees, which was to rule Russia during the reign of his inferior son. It included: the Tsar's uncle Nikita Romanovich Zakharyin-Yuriev, Prince Ivan Fedorovich Mstislavsky, Prince Ivan Petrovich Shuisky, Bogdan Yakovlevich Belsky and Boris Fedorovich Godunov. Soon a struggle for power began, in which the Tsar's brother-in-law B.F.

Even the fulfillment of ritual duties for Fyodor Ioannovich was overwhelming. During the coronation on May 31, 1584 in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, Fedor, without waiting for the end of the ceremony, gave the cap of Monomakh to the boyar Prince Mstislavsky, and the heavy golden "state" to Boris Fedorovich Godunov. This event shocked everyone present. In 1584 the Don Cossacks took the oath of allegiance to Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich.

During the reign of Fyodor the Blessed, Moscow was decorated with new buildings. Kitay-Gorod has been updated. In 1586-1593. in Moscow, a still powerful defensive line, the White City, was built of brick and white stone.

But on the other hand, during the reign of Fedor, it changed sharply to worst position peasants. Around 1592, they were deprived of the right to pass from one master to another, and in 1597 a royal decree was issued on a 5-year search for fugitive serfs. A decree was also issued, according to which it was forbidden for enslaved people to redeem themselves free.

Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich often went and traveled to different monasteries, inviting the highest Greek clergy to Moscow, and prayed a lot. The chroniclers wrote that Fyodor was “meek and gentle”, had mercy on many, richly “gifted” cities, monasteries, and villages.

At the end of 1597, Fyodor Ioannovich fell seriously ill. He gradually lost his hearing and sight. The people loved Tsar Fyodor as the last king of the blood of Rurik and Vladimir Monomakh. Before his death, Fyodor the Blessed wrote a spiritual letter in which he indicated that the state should pass into the hands of Irina. The chief advisers to the throne are two - Patriarch Job and the king's brother-in-law Boris Godunov.

On January 7, 1598, at one o'clock in the afternoon, Fyodor died, imperceptibly, as if asleep. Some sources say that the tsar was poisoned by Boris Godunov, who wanted to become tsar in Russia. When examining the skeleton of Fyodor Ioannovich, arsenic was found in his bones.

With his death, the ruling dynasty of Rurikovich ceased to exist.

In the popular consciousness, he left a good memory for himself as a merciful and God-loving sovereign.

He has been married since 1580 to Irina Fedorovna Godunova (+ 26 September 1603), sister of Boris Godunov. After the death of her husband, she refused the offer of Patriarch Job to take the throne and went to a monastery. They had a daughter with Fyodor the Blessed: Theodosia (1592-1594 +)

Abstract on the academic discipline "History of Russia"

on the topic: "The Board of Fyodor Ioannovich".

Plan

1. Introduction

4. The main events associated with the reign of Fyodor Ioannovich.

5. Conclusion.

6. References.

1. Introduction.

Among the many Russian tsars who have ever ruled our country, the personality of Fyodor Ioannovich - the last of the Rurik dynasty - seems especially controversial and largely underestimated. Distinguished by exceptional kindness, gentle disposition, piety, at first glance, he seems the least suitable candidate for the royal throne. Until now, historians have not established a common opinion regarding this son of Ivan the Terrible. Some believe that this was practically a feeble-minded person, incapable of running the state, others (these opinions appeared recently) believe that Fyodor Ioannovich was a person of a special kind, who, despite the absence leadership qualities, managed to do a lot for his country.

Fyodor Ioannovich was the middle son of Ivan the Terrible, born on May 11, 1557 in Moscow. From childhood he was distinguished by high spirituality, fiery faith, and a passion for church life. Obviously, he was the complete opposite of his father.

The figure of Fyodor Ioannovich is special in Russian history, distinguished by its ambiguity and mystery. An attempt to solve this mystery was made not only by historians, but also by writers. Particularly interesting in this respect is the play by A.K. Tolstoy under the title "Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich". In it, contrary to the prevailing opinion, the monarch appears not as a "blessed fool", but as a bright noble person, a truly believing and merciful person.

An important circumstance is the fact that Fyodor Ioannovich was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church, thanks to his piety, morality and wide charitable activities.

The opposite situation is observed in secular journalism. In it, there is a clear disregard for the last representative of the Rurik dynasty, dominated by negative reviews about him as a worthless person. The revision of Fyodor Ioannovich's activities reveals somewhat different facts, and the revealed circumstances stimulate a more thorough study of this issue. Incomplete study of the topic at the moment makes it especially relevant.

2. The beginning of the reign of Fyodor Ioannovich. Reasons for accession to the throne.

The fact has long been obvious: the death of a strong ruler (such as, for example, Ivan the Terrible) always causes confusion in his inner circle, inevitably there is a struggle for power, a fight for political inheritance and influence. A similar situation developed before the coronation of the third son of Ivan the Terrible - Fyodor Ioannovich. A.N. Bokhanov focuses on the following circumstance: “The accession to the throne of Fyodor Ioannovich was far from desirable for everyone, because Fyodor was not created for the royal role; his father also said that he was “fasting and silent” ”[Boch; 202].

There were many reasons that prevented the ascension of the new king to the throne. These are various clan groups that did not sympathize with the son of Ivan the Terrible; and his special personality traits. Maria Nagaya and the Shuisky family, spreading rumors about Fyodor Ioannovich's mental retardation, pursued their own goals. So, Maria Nagaya, being the mother of Tsarevich Dmitry, believed that it was her son who was the legal heir, and the Shuiskys were very afraid of the inevitable nomination of Boris Godunov, who was the brother of Fyodor Ioannovich's wife Irina. In addition, they did not like Irina's inability to have children. “The childlessness of the queen,” writes A.N. Bokhanov, - became the main pivot of the Shuiskys' court intrigue against Tsar Fyodor ”[Boh; 282]. They sought the divorce of Irina and Fedor, but were powerless before the love of the spouses. The behavior and position of Fyodor Ioannovich in this situation refute his reputation as a "weak-willed", "blissful" and "feeble-minded" person. He shows incredible determination here, demonstrates amazing willpower. However, Fyodor Ioannovich had not only opponents, but also allies. These include boyar Nikita Romanov (in the near future - the founder of a famous dynasty) and Prince Ivan Fyodorovich Mstislavsky, who, however, supported Fyodor Ioannovich only until 1586 - right up to the conspiracy about divorce, which was not rejected by him. After this betrayal, Mstislavsky fell out of favor and ended his days in a monastery (these events took place with the direct participation of Boris Godunov).

So, as a result of everything, an inevitable event happened: Fyodor Ioannovich was married to the kingdom at the age of twenty-seven. This event took place on May 31, 1584. The English diplomat Jerome Horsey, a contemporary of Fyodor Ioannovich and Godunov, describes these historical events, of which he had to be a witness: “When the former Tsar Ivan Vasilyevich died, in the city of Moscow, after reigning for 54 years, some anxiety and excitement arose among the nobility and common people (cominaltie), but it was quickly suppressed. Immediately, on the same night, the boyar Boris Fedorovich Godunov, Prince Ivan Petrovich Shuisky and Bogdan Yakovlevich Belsky - all of them were appointed to establish his son Fedor Ioannovich on the throne, swearing in each other, all the nobility and officials "[Gorsey; 141].

According to D.M. Volodikhin, the imminent uprising of Muscovites turned out to be not so much anxiety, anger or confusion, but rather orchestrated actions that organized groups belonging to the political elite. In the Russian chronicles there are many references to the "great confusion" and enmity between the aristocrats [Ryur; 343]. The insurgents were able to calm down the links of the disagreeable and the organization of the imminent wedding of Fyodor Ioannovich.

So, the obvious reason for Fyodor Ioannovich's accession to the throne was the desire to suppress unrest in the country. Another reason - no less important - is as follows: Tsarevich Fyodor was in 1584 the only legitimate son of Ivan IV, there were no candidates for the throne equivalent to him in principle. His characteristics are remarkable: “an adult, known throughout the country, married, royal blood from royal blood, a good Christian” [Ruhr; 344]. So, the choice for the new king was obvious to the whole people, the approval of his candidacy was undeniable and unanimous. A special impression was made by the congress of the highest clergy for the coronation, which created an imitation of the Zemsky Sobor, the selection process, although in reality this was not.

The reign of Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich lasted thirteen and a half years. In Russian historiography, this era was usually presented as "faceless time", and the tsar himself - as "blessed" [Boh; 207]. They did not expect any high-profile victories or achievements from him. A.N. Bokhanov writes: “Even very knowledgeable historians, but devoid of the“ spiritual eye ”, could not understand and accept the new face of power; for them the words “blessed and holy fool” were synonyms, denoting only a form of mental inferiority ”[Boh; 207]. This is how the famous historian E.F. Shmurlo: “The young Tsar Fyodor, who succeeded Ivan the Terrible, was a man incapable of managing the state: offended by nature in his mind, he was on the blessed one ”[Shm; 223]. The scientist focuses on Fedor's inability to be at the head of the state, weakened by heavy wars and twenty years of arbitrariness of Ivan the Terrible. It should be noted that this opinion is not conclusive and objective. The new view of historians on the believer and the merciful Fedor the Blessed allows us to reveal other details of his reign, which will be discussed below.

The ups and downs associated with intrigue and excitement push the beginning of the reign of Fyodor Ioannovich into the shadows. These events, which have come to the fore, do not take place at the will of the new king and therefore seem to implore his role in governing the country. At the same time, according to the apt remark of D.M. Volodikhin, “the dirt of palace intrigues does not stick to the biography of Fyodor Ioannovich” [Ryur; 343].

The chronicles left to posterity a story about the beginning of the reign of Fyodor the Blessed. And there are hardly any signs of dementia or inappropriate behavior in them. The tsar's speeches cited in the documents point to him as a thinking and intelligent person, capable of “reproducing aloud and publicly a flowery ideological structure” [Ryur; 353].

And yet it is generally accepted that Fyodor Ioannovich was only formally in power, but in fact the country was ruled by his brother-in-law Boris Godunov. But from the standpoint of today, this scheme seems too simple. Of course, Godunov played a huge role in the politics of Russia of this period, but the role of Fyodor Ioannovich cannot be completely ruled out, if only because in order to implement his plans Godunov had to be in active interaction with the tsar, coordinate his plans with him, support good relationship... According to D.M. Volodikhina, Fyodor Ioannovich and Boris Godunov were examples of a successful partnership, co-government, as if they were selected by the "Heavenly Director" [Ryur; 366]. The people loved their tsar very much, seeing in him a strong prayer book for the whole of Russia, who, moreover, gave him respite from the activities of the former, formidable tsar. D.M. Volodikhin writes: “In his constant prayer, in his piety, in his pious zeal, they saw a kind of mystical shield that barred the way in Russia to great troubles” [Ryur; 366]. It was a high mission. And for the so-called. The "low" mission needed Godunov. For practical actions, the latter required the permission of the tsar, and he gave it, as a result of which the actions of Godunov received legal force. Therefore, it is fundamentally wrong to attribute all the achievements to the exclusively enterprising brother-in-law of Fyodor Ioannovich: something was accomplished by the tsar himself, something by their tandem, and everything else was done by Godunov. A lot has been done in the first two and a half years. The most important thing was the establishment of the country's political course in all major areas. Relying on the outstanding qualities of Boris Fedorovich - such as unyielding will, extraordinary mind, courage and determination - Fedor Ioannovich managed to keep the country in a state of relative peace and tranquility. The most important problems related to defense, expansion of lands and the establishment of the patriarchal throne were resolved. In addition, the most important merit of the tsar is the defeat of the Swedes, who did not leave the Russian land alone. Such was the activity of Fyodor Ioannovich in the first half of the reign, until 1592. In the second half of the reign, the leading role in state affairs belongs to Boris Godunov.

3. The importance of Boris Godunov in the management of the state.

Boris Godunov was a descendant of the Tatar murza Chet, a native of the Horde during the time of Ivan Kalita. Godunov managed to advance even under Ivan the Terrible. He was not included in the lists of the oprichnina, and yet he was very close to her; his reputation remained not stained, but his connection with an unsightly past was not in vain: in the eyes of many, he was a “daring upstart” [Shm; 224]. The attitude of the elite of that time to Godunov is very accurately conveyed in the brilliant drama of A.S. Pushkin: "Yesterday's slave, Tatar, Malyuta's son-in-law, / The executioner's son-in-law and the executioner himself in his soul ..." [Pushkin;].

Godunov put the government in order and put an end to the atrocities that had taken place in the previous reign. In relations with foreign states, Godunov honorably supported the dignity of the Russian name. Developing the traditions of government laid down by the previous Russian tsars, in particular, Ivan the Terrible, Godunov resolutely moved towards his goals - the arrangement of the country's external life and internal security. Through his work, a large program for the arrangement of new territories and the strengthening of the economic and administrative order in the old ones began to be implemented. To suppress extortion to the "sovereign's people", the maintenance was doubled, and bribery began to be viewed as a "primary crime" [Boh; 214].

Obviously, since 1592, no special merits have been noted in the reign of Ivan Fedorovich. This is because political, religious and cultural circumstances do not require the direct intervention of the king. He prays for his country, capital and people, goes on pilgrimage trips, does charity work. And although he is present at diplomatic events, he leaves the negotiations to his brother-in-law. When Queen Irina suddenly gives birth to a long-awaited child, the king experiences a special period of hope; when the girl dies soon, his life is filled with grief. And the state at this time is ruled by the wife's brother.

In the middle, second half of the 1590s, the country was solving global problems related to foreign policy: this is the conclusion with the Swedes of the Tyavzin peace, the large-scale development of Siberia and the steppe south, the strengthening of the defense on the Oka line. A large, practical part belongs to Godunov in this state work. It is noteworthy that after the death of Fyodor Ioannovich, luck turns away from Godunov. The famine of 1601 and the murder of Tsarevich Dimitri in Uglich especially affect the deterioration of his situation. The main enemy of Godunov is the impostor who identified himself as the resurrected prince. False Dmitry unleashes an active military campaign against Godunov, which ended in his victory and a short accession to the throne. Boris Godunov died in April 1605, his family was killed.

Thus, the importance of Boris Godunov in the management of the state is obvious. He developed the principles of government laid down by the previous Russian tsars, strengthened the external and internal position of Russia. In addition, he made an ideal pair in tandem with Fyodor Ioannovich, showing determination, practicality and unbending will - qualities that the tsar lacked.

4. The main events associated with the reign of Fyodor Ioannovich.

The significance of Fyodor Ioannovich's activities is determined primarily by his historical deeds - those that contributed to the rise of Of the Russian state and the Russian people. The first major such act was the establishment of the patriarchate in Moscow. What follows is this major event as the liberation of Ivangorod, Yama and Koporye from the occupation of the Swedes. The third event is the foundation of the Donskoy monastery near Moscow after Kazy-Girey was defeated. There are other epochal events that could not have taken place without the participation of Fedor I. We are talking about the restoration of the Conception Monastery, the construction of a large number of churches, the resumption of printing in Moscow. D.M. Volodikhin asserts: “But the three great events named first are so large-scale in their significance and so indissolubly connected with the personality of Fyodor Ioannovich that they should be considered the main merits of the sovereign; they must be remembered first of all when it comes to his reign and his influence on the course of affairs in the Russian state ”[Vol; 224].

But the activity of Fyodor Ioannovich is not limited only to spiritual deeds. Here you can say about the achievements and in foreign policy, which under Tsar Fedor was very successful, and internal. It is important to know: the result of a short war between Sweden and Russia was the return of the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland, which was lost by the previous tsar, as well as the conclusion of "eternal peace" with Sweden (1595). The aggression from the Crimean Khan was also repulsed. Siberia was successfully developed, thanks to which new lands were conquered, and there was an active process of colonization of the country (this is how the cities of Tobolsk and Tyumen (1589) appeared), as well as a significant number of other cities that played the role of "strongholds of Russian colonization" [Pushk; 159].

The most important event domestic policy was the formation of the patriarchate in Moscow (this happened in 1589). Having received the consent of the Orthodox patriarchs of the Eastern Church, Moscow Metropolitan Job became the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. This circumstance raised the Moscow Church to a new level, indicating its peculiarity and independence.

Retreated from active state activities in the second half of his reign, Ioann Fyodorovich suddenly shows himself brightly during the notorious fire of 1594, which happened in Moscow in Kitay-gorod. The fire element was very strong and killed a considerable number of various buildings, including temples and monasteries. Fyodor Ioannovich was very saddened by what had happened and provided great help to the victims of the fire, both morally and materially: "Fyodor Ivanovich at that time visited the Pafnutyev-Borovsky monastery and arrived in the great rupture, and favors the people: he comforts and gives privileges" [Ox; 225]. Kitay-Gorod was rebuilt anew for "benefits" and money from the tsarist treasury. It is impossible not to mention the forty-ton Tsar Cannon, cast in 1586. And this powerful weapon is also a gift to the Russian people from the God-fearing tsar-prayer book.

Fyodor Ioannovich gave his people the opportunity of spiritual elevation and moral respite between the oprichnina and the Troubles. After his death, he left the country strengthened, matured and expanded its possessions. Tsar Fyodor died on January 7, 1598, was soon canonized, and his memory is celebrated twice a year: January 7 according to the old style - January 20 according to the new style and August 26 according to the old style and September 8 in a new way.

5. Conclusion.

The innate holiness made the figure of Fyodor Ioannovich special among the Russian tsars. The duality of his personality gave rise to disputes that are still ongoing: was the last monarch from the Rurik dynasty a madman or a saint during his lifetime, blessed, a prayer book for all of Russia and the entire people. Before agreeing with the first opinion, it is necessary to recall its political and state achievements. This is, first of all, a relatively peaceful situation (the war with the Swedes that happened allowed Russia to return the lost lands, while Ivan the Terrible lost the Livonian War), the establishment of the patriarchate, the pacification of the Tatar horde, which during the time of Ivan the Terrible committed atrocities. The meek Fyodor Ioannovich managed to pacify them. During his reign, there was a significant breakthrough in the development of the lands of the Urals and Siberia, a large number of monasteries and temples and cities. And most importantly, the people loved their blessed tsar, and the short period of his reign was recalled as a blessed time between the belligerent and merciless reign of Ivan the Terrible and the subsequent Time of Troubles.

6. References.

1. Bokhanov A.N. Boris Godunov / A.N. Bokhanov. - M .: Veche, 2012 .-- 352 p.

2. Volodikhin D.M. Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich / D.M. Volodikhin. - M .: Molodaya gvardiya, 2011 .-- 255 p.

3. Volodikhin D.M. Rurikovich / D.M. Volodikhin. - 2nd ed. - M .: Molodaya gvardiya, 2015 .-- 484 p.

4. Horsey J. Notes about Russia. 16th - early 17th century Ed. V.L. Ioannina; Per. and comp. A.V. Sevastyanova. / J. Horsey. - M .: Publishing house of Moscow State University, 1990 .-- 288 p.

5. Pushkarev S.G. Review of Russian history / Pushkarev S.G. - Stavropol: Caucasian Territory, 1993 .-- 416 p.

6. Pushkin A. S. Boris Godunov // Pushkin A. S. Works. In 3 volumes. Vol.2. Poems; Eugene Onegin; Dramatic works. - M .: Fiction, 1986 .-- 527 p.

7. Tolstoy A.K. Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich // Tolstoy A.K. Dramatic trilogy. - M .: Pravda, 1987 .-- 544 p.

8.Shmurlo E.F. History of Russia 862 - 1917 / E.F. Shmurlo. - M .: Agraf, 1997 .-- 736 p.

Fyodor I Ioannovich, also known by name Theodore the Blessed, (May 11, 1557, Moscow - January 7 (17), 1598, Moscow) - the Tsar of All Russia and the Grand Duke of Moscow from March 18 (28), 1584, the third son of Ivan IV the Terrible and Tsarina Anastasia Romanovna Zakharyina-Yuryeva, the last representative of the Moscow branches of the Rurik dynasty. Canonized by the Orthodox Church as "saintly faithful Theodore I Ioannovich, Tsar of Moscow." Commemoration January 7 (20), Sunday before August 26 (according to the old style) / September 4 (according to the new style), i.e. first Sunday in September (Cathedral of Moscow Saints).

  • 1 Biography
  • 2 Death
  • 3 Main events during the reign of Fyodor Ioannovich
  • 4 Written sources about Fyodor Ioannovich
  • 5 Ancestors
  • 6 Memory
    • 6.1 Orthodox Church
    • 6.2 Sculpture
    • 6.3 Burial
  • 7 Notes
  • 8 Literature

Biography

Upon the birth of his son, Ivan the Terrible ordered to build a church in the Feodorovsky monastery in the city of Pereslavl-Zalessky. This temple in honor of Theodore Stratilates became the main cathedral of the monastery and has survived to this day.

On November 19, 1581, the heir to the throne, Ivan, died from a wound, according to one of the unconfirmed versions inflicted by his father. From that time on, Fedor became the heir to the royal throne.

In the words of Ivan the Terrible himself, Fyodor was "a fasting man and a silent man, more for a cell than for the power of a sovereign born." From marriage with Irina Fedorovna Godunova had one daughter (1592), Feodosia, who lived only nine months and died in the same year (according to other sources, she died in 1594). at the end of 1597, he became terminally ill and on January 7, 1598, at one o'clock in the morning, he died. On it the Moscow line of the Rurik dynasty (the offspring of Ivan I Kalita) was cut short.

Most historians believe that Fyodor was incapable of government activities, according to some sources, weak in health and mind; took little part in governing the state, being under the tutelage of first the council of nobles, then his brother-in-law Boris Fedorovich Godunov, who since 1587 was actually co-ruler of the state, and after the death of Fedor became his successor. Boris Godunov's position at the royal court was so significant that overseas diplomats sought an audience with Boris Godunov, his will was the law. Fedor reigned, Boris ruled - everyone knew this both in Russia and abroad.

The historian and philosopher S. M. Soloviev in his "History of Russia from Ancient Times" describes the usual routine of the Tsar as follows:

“He usually gets up around four o'clock in the morning. When he gets dressed and washed, the spiritual father comes to him with the Cross, to which the King applies. Then the cross clerk brings into the room an icon of the Saint, celebrated on that day, before which the Tsar prays for about a quarter of an hour. The priest again enters with holy water, sprinkles it on the icons and the Tsar. Returning from the church, the Tsar sits down in big room where boyars, who are in special favor, come to bow ... About nine o'clock the Tsar goes to mass, which lasts two hours. After lunch and sleep he goes to Vespers ... Every week the Tsar goes on pilgrimage to one of the nearest monasteries. "

Death

Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich died on January 7, 1598. According to the testimony of Patriarch Job, in his dying anguish, the tsar talked with someone invisible to others, calling him a great saint, and at the hour of his death, a fragrance was felt in the Kremlin chambers. The Patriarch himself performed the sacrament of blessing of oil and communed the dying Tsar of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. Theodore Ioannovich died without leaving posterity, and with his death the Rurik dynasty on the royal throne in Moscow ended. He was buried in the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.

Main events during the reign of Fyodor Ioannovich

Reconstruction of Gerasimov

The Moscow Zemsky Sobor in 1584 elected Ivan the Terrible's middle son, Fyodor Ioannovich, as tsar.

In 1584, the Don Cossacks took the oath of allegiance to Tsar Fyodor Ioanovich.

In 1585-1591, the Russian architect Fyodor Savelyevich Kon erected the walls and towers of the White City. The length of the walls is 10 kilometers. Thickness - up to 4.5 meters. Height - from 6 to 7 meters.

In 1586, the famous Tsar Cannon was cast by the Russian cannon foundry Andrei Chokhov.

1589 - the establishment of the patriarchate in Russia, Job, an associate of Boris Godunov, became the first patriarch.

1590-1595 - Russian-Swedish war. The return of Russian cities: Yama, Ivangorod, Koporya, Korela.

The founder of the Romanov dynasty, Mikhail Fedorovich, was a cousin of Fedor I (since Fedor's mother, Anastasia Romanovna, was the sister of Mikhail's grandfather, Nikita Romanovich Zakharyin); the rights of the Romanovs to the throne were based on this relationship.

Written sources about Fyodor Ioannovich

According to the British diplomat Giles Fletcher:

“The present tsar (by the name of Theodore Ivanovich) in relation to his appearance: small stature, squat and plump, of a weak constitution and inclined to water; his nose is hawkish, his step is unsteady from some relaxation in the limbs; he is heavy and inactive, but he always smiles, so he almost laughs. As for his other properties, he is simple and feeble-minded, but very amiable and good in handling, quiet, merciful, has no inclination for war, is little capable of political affairs and is extremely superstitious. In addition to praying at home, he usually goes on pilgrimage every week to some of the nearby monasteries. "

Isaac Massa, Dutch merchant and sales agent in Moscow:

Very kind, pious and very meek ... He was so pious that he often wanted to exchange his kingdom for a monastery, if only that was possible.

Clerk Ivan Timofeev gives Fedor the following assessment:

“Through his prayers, my king has kept the land safe from enemy intrigues. He was by nature meek, very merciful and blameless to everyone, and, like Job, in all his ways guarded himself from every evil thing, most of all loving piety, church splendor and, after the holy priests, the monastic rank and even brothers in Christ lesser. blessed in the Gospel by the Lord Himself. Simply to say - he devoted himself entirely to Christ and all the time of his holy and reverend reign; not loving blood, like a monk, he spent in fasting, in prayers and entreaties with kneeling - day and night, exhausting himself with spiritual exploits all his life ... Monasticism, united with the kingdom, without dividing, mutually adorned each other; he reasoned that for the future (life), one thing matters no less than the other, an unrecoilable chariot that lifts to heaven. Both that and another were visible only to one faithful, who were attached to him in love. From outside, everyone could easily see in him the king, but inside, through the exploits of monasticism, he turned out to be a monk; by sight he was a crown bearer, and by his aspirations he was a monk. "

The evidence of an unofficial, in other words, private historical monument - "The Piskarevsky Chronicler" is extremely important. So much good has been said about Tsar Fyodor that none of the Russian rulers got. He is called "pious", "merciful", "faithful", on the pages of the chronicle there is a long list of his works for the good of the Church. His death is perceived as a real catastrophe, as a harbinger of the worst troubles of Russia: “The sun is darker and dies away from its current, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars from heaven have fallen: for many sins of the Christian repose, the last luminary, companion and benefactor of all Russian land, sovereign Tsar and Grand Duke Fyodor Ivanovich ... "Referring to the previous reign, the chronicler broadcasts with extraordinary tenderness:" And the noble and Christ-loving Tsar and Grand Duke Theodore Ivanovich reigned ... quietly and righteously, and mercifully, immeasurably. And all people are at peace and in love, and in silence, and in prosperity in those years. In no summer, during which tsar in the Russian land, except for the Grand Duke Ivan Danilovich Kalita, such silence and prosperity did not happen that with him, the faithful tsar and Grand Duke Theodore Ivanovich of all Russia. " A contemporary and close to the Tsar's court, Prince I.M.Katyrev-Rostovsky said about the Tsar as follows:

"Having been good-natured from his mother's womb and having no concern for anything, only about spiritual salvation." According to his testimony, in Tsar Theodore "the minority was intertwined with the kingdom without a split, and one served as an adornment to the other."

The famous historian V.O. Klyuchevsky wrote about Saint Theodore in the following way:

"... blessed on the throne, one of those poor in spirit who befits the Kingdom of Heaven, and not earthly, whom the Church so loved to include in her saints"

In an article dedicated to the glorification of the holy Patriarchs Job and Tikhon, Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov) noted:

“Tsar Theodore Ioannovich was an amazing, bright person. It was truly a saint on the throne. He was constantly in thought and prayer, was kind to everyone, life for him was the church service, and the Lord did not darken the years of his reign with disorder and confusion. They began after his death. Rarely has a tsar been so loved and pitied by the Russian people. He was revered as a blessed and holy fool, called "the consecrated king." Not without reason, soon after his death, he was included in the calendar of the locally revered Moscow saints. The people saw in him wisdom, which comes from a pure heart and which is so rich in “the poor in spirit”. This is how Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy portrayed Tsar Fyodor in his tragedy. But for someone else's gaze, this sovereign was different. Foreign travelers, spies and diplomats (such as Pearson, Fletcher or the Swede Petrei de Erlesund) who left their notes about Russia call him at best a "quiet idiot." And the Pole Lev Sapega argued that "it is in vain to say that this sovereign has little reason, I am convinced that he is completely deprived of it."

Ancestors

Fedor I Ioannovich - ancestors
Vasily II the Dark
Ivan III
Maria Borovskaya
Vasily III
Thomas Palaeologus
Sofia Palaeologus
Ekaterina Zakkaria
Ivan the Terrible
Lev Borisovich Glinsky
Glinsky, Vasily Ivanovich
Elena Glinskaya
Stefan Jaksic
Anna Yakshich
Milica Belmushevich
Fyodor Ioannovich
Zakhary Ivanovich Koshkin
Yuri Zakharievich Koshkin
Roman Yurievich Zakharyin-Yuriev
Ivan Borisovich Tuchko-Morozov
Irina Ivanovna Tuchkova
Anastasia Romanovna Zakharyina-Yurieva
Ulyana Fedorovna

Memory

In the Orthodox Church

The veneration of the blessed Tsar began soon after his death: the holy Patriarch Job (+ 1607) compiled "The Tale of the Honest Life of Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich", already from early XVII centuries known iconic images of St. Theodore in a halo. "The book of the verb description of the Russian saints" (1st half of the 17th century) Tsar Theodore was put in the face of Moscow miracle workers. Some handwritten saints among the Moscow saints include his wife, Tsarina Irina, in monasticism Alexander (+ 1603). The memory of Saint Theodore is celebrated on the day of his repose on January 7 (20) and on the week before August 26 (September 8) in the Cathedral of Moscow Saints.

Sculpture

On November 4, 2009, a monument to Tsar Fyodor I Ioannovich was unveiled in Yoshkar-Ola, during whose reign the city was founded (sculptor - People's Artist of the Russian Federation Andrei Kovalchuk).

Burial

He was buried in the Archangel Cathedral together with his father and brother Ivan, on the right side of the altar, behind the iconostasis of the cathedral.

Ivan the Terrible “during his lifetime prepared a burial place for himself in the deacon of the Archangel Cathedral, turning it into an adjoining chapel-church. the tsar himself and his two sons, Ivan Ivanovich and Fyodor Ivanovich, subsequently found rest there. The frescoes of the tomb are few that have survived from the original painting of the 16th century. Here, in the lower tier, there are compositions "Farewell of the Prince to the Family", "Allegory of Sudden Death", "Funeral Service" and "Burial", which make up a single cycle. He was called to remind the autocrat about the unhypocritical judgment, about the vanity of worldly vanity, about the incessant remembrance of death, which does not discern whether there is a beggar, or righteous, or a lord, or a slave. "

Notes (edit)

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Holy Faithful Theodore I Ioannovich, Tsar of Moscow, commemorated January 7 (20).
  2. 1 2 3 4 Dmitry Volodikhin. ... Foma magazine (September 21 2009 08:11).
  3. Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov). Patriarchs of Troubled Times.
  4. Burial places of Ivan the Terrible and his sons

Literature

  • Zimin A. A. The Eve of Terrible Shocks. - M., 1986.
  • Pavlov A.P. Gosudarev Dvor and political struggle under Boris Godunov (1584-1605). - SPb., 1992.
  • Morozova L.E.Two Tsars: Fedor and Boris. - M., 2001.
  • Volodikhin D. Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich. - M., 2011.

Fedor I Ioannovich Information About

After the death of Ivan the Terrible (March 18, 1584), his son Fyodor (1584-1598) ascended the throne. The new tsar was almost 27 years old. Nobody thought that this kind, but weak-willed and very limited person would become the ruler of Russia. For many years his elder brother was the heir to the throne. Ivan... However, in November 1581, according to rumors, in a fit of anger, the tsar killed Ivan with his heavy staff. So Fedor became the heir.

The board of Fyodor Ioannovich

Realizing Fyodor's inability to govern independently, Ivan the Terrible bequeathed to create a kind of "guardianship council" under him. He hoped that the boyars-guardians experienced in state affairs would guide Fedor along the right way... However, the internal logic of the Russian autocracy did not allow for collective rule. The guardians quickly quarreled among themselves. The Polish ambassador at the beginning of Fyodor's reign noted: "Between the nobles, strife and strife are incessant, and the sovereign is not such as to prevent (them)." Simultaneously there is a rapid rise Borisa Godunova.

Under a weak tsar, the boyars waged a struggle for power. Boris Godunov succeeded in ending the strife with harsh measures. He became the de facto ruler of the state. Commanding the name of the tsar, Godunov acted as he saw fit. The brother of the tsar's wife, he had the rank of great boyar, was a large landowner. An intelligent, power-hungry and cunning courtier, Godunov became the tsar's closest assistant.

On January 6, 1598, Tsar Fyodor died at the age of 40. With his death, the ruling dynasty of Rurikovich, which had been in power for more than seven centuries, was cut short.

Death of Tsarevich Dmitry

Tsar Fyodor had no children. In Uglich, surrounded by "mothers and nannies", the last son of Ivan the Terrible, Dmytriy, was growing up, to whom, after Fyodor's death, power was to pass. But fate decreed otherwise.

Tsar Fyodor died without leaving an heir. So the Rurikovi dynasty, which ruled in Russia for more than 700 years, was interrupted. At the end of the prescribed 40-day mourning, the Zemsky Sobor was convened in Moscow. After a long debate and behind-the-scenes struggle, the council elected a new king. Boris Godunov ascended the throne.

British ambassador to Russia in the 17th century this is how he spoke about Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich: “He is small, squat and thick-wool, with a weak physique; his nose is hawkish, his step is unsteady; he is heavy and inactive, but always smiling. He is simple and feeble-minded, but very amiable and good-mannered, quiet, merciful, has no inclination to war, is little capable of political affairs and is extremely superstitious. "

Recommended to read