The beginning of the reign of Vasily Shuisky
From 1604 to 1605, Vasily Ivanovich Shuisky was in opposition to False Dmitry I. However, after his death in June 1605, he went over to the side of the impostor. At the same time, Shuisky twice led conspiracies against False Dmitry. After the exposure of the first conspiracy, Vasily Ivanovich was sentenced to death, but then pardoned - in need of support, False Dmitry returned Shuisky to Moscow. As a result of the second conspiracy in 1606, which ended in the Moscow popular uprising, False Dmitry I was killed.After his death, a party of Moscow boyars “shouted out” Shuisky as king (May 19, 1606). In exchange for this, Vasily IV undertook an obligation to the Boyar Duma to significantly limit his powers.
Domestic and foreign policyVasily Shuisky
Almost immediately after Shuisky’s accession, rumors spread that Tsarevich Dmitry was alive. One of his supporters, Ivan Isaevich Bolotnikov, raised a popular uprising in the fall of 1606, which swept more than seventy cities in the south and southwest of Russia.
However, back in August 1607, a new Polish intervention began. In June 1608, False Dmitry II settled in the village of Tushino near Moscow. This marked the beginning of a new siege of Moscow. Gradually, the power of False Dmitry strengthened, and dual power was actually established in the country.
In order to confront the “Tushino thief,” Tsar Vasily concluded an agreement with Sweden in February 1608, according to which the Swedish troops committed to act on the side of the Russian Tsar in exchange for possession of the Karelian volost. This act caused natural discontent on the part of various segments of the population. In addition, he violated previously concluded agreements with the Poles and gave the Polish king Sigismund III a reason for an open invasion.
At the end of 1608, a people's liberation movement began against the Polish intervention. During this period, Shuisky's position became quite precarious. But thanks to his nephew Skopin-Shuisky, who commanded the Russian-Swedish troops, the tsar was able to repel the Poles. In March 1610, the Tushins were defeated, Moscow was liberated, and False Dmitry II fled.
Sverje tion king
After the defeat of False Dmitry II, the unrest did not stop. Shuisky's difficult position in Moscow was aggravated by the intensified struggle for power. Vasily Galitsin and Prokopiy Lyapunov attempted to rouse the people against the current tsar. At the same time, under unclear circumstances, Skopin-Shuisky died suddenly.
On June 24, 1610, Shuisky's troops were defeated by the Polish army under the command of Hetman Stanislav Zolkiewsky. There was a danger that the Russian throne would be taken by the Polish prince Vladislav. Shuisky was unable to oppose anything to the Polish onslaught, for which he was deposed by the Moscow boyars in July 1610. Vasily Shuisky was forcibly tonsured together with his wife as a monk, and after Hetman Stanislav Zholkiewski entered Moscow, he was transported to Warsaw, where he died while in custody.
Vasily Ivanovich Shuisky came from the Rurikovich family. He was born around 1553, when Ivan IV the Terrible reigned, and lived under Boris Godunov. Vasily Shuisky, whose reign as tsar brought a lot of worries and worries, rose to prominence during the Time of Troubles. But it all ended tragically.
Ascension to the throne
In 1604, when Godunov was still alive, an impostor appeared in the south, calling himself Tsarevich Dmitry (False Dmitry I) who had survived in Uglich. Unexpectedly, Tsar Boris died, and at the Tula headquarters Dmitry received guests, including boyars from Moscow, who invited him to the kingdom. As a result, feeling the support of the political elite and the people, on June 20, 1605, he solemnly entered the Kremlin.
He first sentenced Shuisky to death, then sent him into exile, and then forgave him and returned him. But False Dmitry's reign was not long - he lasted less than a year.
Intrigues of Shuisky and his supporters
The fickle people, seeing that the new tsar welcomed foreigners and married a Polish woman, at a signal from Shuisky and his accomplices, began to beat Poles throughout the capital, and Vasily Shuisky himself, laying claim to the throne, entered the Kremlin with the people. Dmitry tried to escape through the window, but fell out and died.
In the morning Vasily Shuisky was shouted out to the kingdom. His reign began with an unprecedented act. In the Assumption Cathedral, he swore on the cross that he would exercise power only together with the boyars. Obviously, in order to get a bit of power, he was ready to sacrifice everything. Vasily Shuisky, whose rule became negotiable, gave access to power to the boyar elite.
Reign
Vasily Shuisky began his reign by distributing letters throughout the country. They announced what crimes Dmitry had committed. The free south received them with distrust. Fermentation began in the minds, and the rebels gathered an army. It was led by Ivan Bolotnikov and went to Moscow. He assured everyone that he had met with Dmitry, who had survived. Near Kolomensk, and this is almost at the walls of Moscow, Bolotnikov’s forces split.
The poor - the dregs of society - began to rob everything. The nobles who took part in the campaign wisely went over to the side of the king.
The position of the nobility during the reign of Vasily Shuisky is briefly characterized by one word - “discontent.” It was not for nothing that they joined Bolotnikov’s detachments. Firstly, they did not like the “boyar tsar”. Secondly, they began to defend their rights: the government began to pay daily “feed money” to all the bankrupt nobles and paid salaries to the warriors. Tsar Vasily Shuisky, whose reign was characterized by the expansion of unrest, as it turned out, did not sit firmly on the throne.
New impostor
In 1606, a certain Ileika Muromets appeared on the Don. He began to call himself the son of Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich and led an army to Moscow. His troops moved to Tula, where Bolotnikov fortified himself. There they came to an end. Shuisky's army dammed the Upa River and flooded the Tula Kremlin. Bolotnikov, who surrendered, and all his accomplices were drowned.
Tushino thief
The period of Vasily Shuisky’s reign was very difficult, since he found himself hostage to the turmoil that he himself sowed on his way to power. A new impostor appeared - False Dmitry II, who, having gathered an army of nobles, marauders and all sorts of rabble, moved towards Moscow and set up a camp in Tushino. By the way, thanks to this he received the nickname - Tushinsky thief. The Romanovs, Trubetskoys, and Saltykovs, who were thirsty for power, joined him.
Polish intervention
Shuisky, finding himself locked in Moscow, asked for help from the Swedes. The young, intelligent commander Skopin-Shuisky distinguished himself very much in the fight against Bolotnikov and the new contender for the throne. With a small detachment, including several hundred Swedes, he successfully defeated gangs of marauders.
But the King of Poland, Sigismund, declared war on Rus' under the pretext of its alliance with the Swedes. His army stood near Smolensk. The Tushino camp quickly came running to him. The siege was lifted from Moscow. Skopin-Shuisky was greeted everywhere as a hero; moreover, he liberated the Trinity-Sergius Monastery from the siege.
The boyars of Moscow decided to open the city to Sigismund. Skopin-Shuisky returned to fight him, but did not have time to do anything: he was poisoned.
Fall of Shuisky
The Moscow boyars organized a conspiracy against the tsar and forcibly tonsured him as a monk.
Vasily Shuisky, whose reign spanned 1606-1610, was transferred to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Humiliated and broken, he died in prison in 1612.
Events of the reign of Vasily Shuisky
The main events under Tsar Vasily Shuisky can be briefly listed as follows:
- Shuisky's promise on the cross (“kissing record”) is valid only with the consent of the boyar Duma. That is, the country was ruled by the boyars, not the tsar.
- The uprising of Ivan Bolotnikov.
- Concessions to the nobles. Thus, the search period for fugitive peasants increased to 15 years.
- Continuous struggle with impostors, bands of bandits and other scum.
Shuisky's reign was difficult due to the constant invasion of interventionists.
Vasily Ivanovich Shuisky( - September 12 ) - Russian Tsar from to 1610 ( Vasily IV Ioannovich). Representative of the princely family of the Shuiskys (Suzdal branch of the Rurikovichs). After his deposition, he lived in captivity among the Poles.
Before accession
Boyar and head of the Moscow Court Chamber since 1584. Rynda with a large saadak on campaigns, , and. Voivode of the Great Regiment on the campaign to Serpukhov in the summer of 1581. Voivode of the Great Regiment on the campaign to Novgorod in July 1582 under his brother Andrei. Voivode of the regiment of the right hand in the campaign to Serpukhov in April 1583. Voivode of Smolensk in -1587. For unknown reasons, he was briefly exiled in 1586
Few people were happy with Tsar Vasily. The main reasons for the discontent were V. Shuisky’s incorrect path to the throne and his dependence on the circle of boyars who elected him and played with him like a child, as a contemporary put it.
Russian History. Complete course of lectures, lecture 42
In addition, anti-Shui sentiments in Moscow were fueled by the unexpected death of the young commander Skopin-Shuisky.
The former tsar died in custody in Gostyninsky Castle, 130 versts from Warsaw, and a few days later his brother Dmitry died there. The third brother, Ivan Ivanovich Shuisky, subsequently returned to Russia.
Marriages and children
Vasily Shuisky was married twice. His first marriage remained childless, after which he remained single for a long time. From the second, which took place after his accession to the throne, he had only two daughters. The author of the Belsky Chronicler wrote:
“Tsar Vasily Ivanovich of All Russia had only two daughters, and they died in infancy; This is what Nastasya and Anna are called.”
The second marriage, which Tsar Vasily Ivanovich really was not too keen on and agreed to only for reasons of dynastic expediency, took place after a long widowhood, and then a direct ban from Tsar Boris, who was afraid of seeing pretenders to the throne in the new generation of Shuisky princes, which could create a threat the reign of his son. Already Tsar Dmitry, according to Jacques Margeret, wanted to break this heavy and undeserved ban imposed on the senior prince Shuisky, but a coup took place and yesterday’s groom turned from a boyar into a king. Then the need to fight enemies, including personal participation in the campaign near Tula, pushed aside questions about other state and dynastic interests for a long time,” writes Shuisky’s biographer V.N. Kozlyakov. His brother Dmitry was considered the tsar’s heir.
In art
Vasily Shuisky is one of the main characters in Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin’s tragedy “Boris Godunov”.
In films based on it film adaptations The role of Shuisky was performed by:
- Nikandr Khanaev (Boris Godunov, film-opera, 1954)
- Anatoly Romashin (Boris Godunov, 1986, director Sergei Fedorovich Bondarchuk)
- Kenneth Riegel (Boris Godunov, film-opera, 1989)
- Leonid Gromov (Boris Godunov, 2011)
Write a review about the article "Vasily IV Shuisky"
Notes
Literature
- Librovich S. F. The Tsar in Captivity - the story of Vasily Shuisky’s stay in Poland. - 1904.
- Skrynnikov R. G. Vasily Shuisky. - M., 2002.
- Bakhrevsky V. A. Vasily Ivanovich Shuisky, autocrat of all Rus'. - M., 2002.
- Kozlyakov V. N. Vasily Shuisky / Vyacheslav Kozlyakov. - M.: Young Guard, 2007. - 304, p. - (Life of remarkable people. Series of biographies. Issue 1075). - 5,000 copies. - ISBN 978-5-235-03045-9.(in translation)
Links
- (up to 10th generation)
Excerpt characterizing Vasily IV Shuisky
- Yes, yes, do that.Pierre did not have that practical tenacity that would give him the opportunity to directly get down to business, and therefore he did not like him and only tried to pretend to the manager that he was busy with business. The manager tried to pretend to the count that he considered these activities very useful for the owner and shy for himself.
There were acquaintances in the big city; strangers hastened to get acquainted and cordially welcomed the newly arrived rich man, the largest owner of the province. The temptations regarding Pierre's main weakness, the one that he admitted during his reception to the lodge, were also so strong that Pierre could not refrain from them. Again, whole days, weeks, months of Pierre's life passed just as anxiously and busyly between evenings, dinners, breakfasts, balls, not giving him time to come to his senses, as in St. Petersburg. Instead of the new life that Pierre hoped to lead, he lived the same old life, only in a different environment.
Of the three purposes of Freemasonry, Pierre was aware that he did not fulfill the one that prescribed every Freemason to be an example of moral life, and of the seven virtues, he completely lacked two in himself: good morals and love of death. He consoled himself with the fact that he was fulfilling another purpose - the correction of the human race and had other virtues, love for one's neighbor and especially generosity.
In the spring of 1807, Pierre decided to go back to St. Petersburg. On the way back, he intended to go around all his estates and personally verify what was done from what was prescribed to them and in what situation the people were now, which God had entrusted to him, and which he sought to benefit.
The chief manager, who considered all the ideas of the young count almost madness, a disadvantage for himself, for him, for the peasants, made concessions. Continuing to make the cause of liberation seem impossible, he ordered the construction of large school buildings, hospitals and shelters on all estates; For the master's arrival, he prepared meetings everywhere, not pompously solemn ones, which, he knew, Pierre would not like, but precisely the kind of religious thanksgiving, with images and bread and salt, precisely those that, as he understood the master, were supposed to influence the count and deceive him .
The southern spring, the calm, quick journey in the Viennese carriage and the solitude of the road had a joyful effect on Pierre. There were estates that he had not yet visited - one more picturesque than the other; The people everywhere seemed prosperous and touchingly grateful for the benefits done to them. Everywhere there were meetings that, although they embarrassed Pierre, deep down in his soul evoked a joyful feeling. In one place, the men offered him bread and salt and an image of Peter and Paul, and asked permission in honor of his angel Peter and Paul, as a sign of love and gratitude for the good deeds he had done, to erect a new chapel in the church at their own expense. Elsewhere, women with infants met him, thanking him for saving him from hard work. At the third estate he was met by a priest with a cross, surrounded by children, whom, by the grace of the count, he taught literacy and religion. In all the estates, Pierre saw with his own eyes, according to the same plan, the stone buildings of hospitals, schools, and almshouses that were to be opened soon. Everywhere Pierre saw reports from managers about corvée work, which had been reduced compared to before, and for this he heard touching thanksgivings from deputations of peasants in blue caftans.
Pierre just didn’t know that where they brought him bread and salt and built the chapel of Peter and Paul, there was a trading village and a fair on Peter’s Day, that the chapel had already been built a long time ago by the rich peasants of the village, those who came to him, and that nine-tenths The peasants of this village were in the greatest ruin. He did not know that due to the fact that, on his orders, they stopped sending children of women with infants to corvee labor, these same children carried out the most difficult work in their half. He did not know that the priest who met him with the cross was burdening the peasants with his extortions, and that the disciples gathered to him with tears were given to him, and were bought off by their parents for a lot of money. He did not know that the stone buildings, according to the plan, were erected by their own workers and increased the corvee of the peasants, reduced only on paper. He did not know that where the manager indicated to him in the book that the quitrent was reduced by one third at his will, the corvée duty was added by half. And therefore Pierre was delighted with his journey through the estates, and completely returned to the philanthropic mood in which he left St. Petersburg, and wrote enthusiastic letters to his mentor brother, as he called the great master.
“How easy, how little effort is needed to do so much good, thought Pierre, and how little we care about it!”
He was happy with the gratitude shown to him, but was ashamed to accept it. This gratitude reminded him how much more he could have done for these simple, kind people.
The chief manager, a very stupid and cunning man, completely understanding the smart and naive count, and playing with him like a toy, seeing the effect produced on Pierre by the prepared techniques, more decisively turned to him with arguments about the impossibility and, most importantly, the unnecessaryness of the liberation of the peasants, who, even without They were completely happy.
Pierre secretly agreed with the manager that it was difficult to imagine happier people, and that God knows what awaited them in the wild; but Pierre, although reluctantly, insisted on what he considered fair. The manager promised to use all his strength to carry out the will of the count, clearly understanding that the count would never be able to trust him not only as to whether all measures had been taken to sell forests and estates, to redeem from the Council, but would also probably never ask or learns about how the built buildings stand empty and the peasants continue to give with work and money everything that they give from others, that is, everything that they can give.
In the happiest state of mind, returning from his southern trip, Pierre fulfilled his long-standing intention to call on his friend Bolkonsky, whom he had not seen for two years.
Bogucharovo lay in an ugly, flat area, covered with fields and felled and uncut fir and birch forests. The manor's yard was located at the end of a straight line, along the main road of the village, behind a newly dug, full-filled pond, with the banks not yet overgrown with grass, in the middle of a young forest, between which stood several large pines.
The manor's courtyard consisted of a threshing floor, outbuildings, stables, a bathhouse, an outbuilding and a large stone house with a semicircular pediment, which was still under construction. A young garden was planted around the house. The fences and gates were strong and new; under the canopy stood two fire pipes and a barrel painted green; the roads were straight, the bridges were strong with railings. Everything bore the imprint of neatness and thrift. The servants who met, when asked where the prince lived, pointed to a small, new outbuilding standing at the very edge of the pond. Prince Andrei's old uncle, Anton, dropped Pierre out of the carriage, said that the prince was at home, and led him into a clean, small hallway.
Pierre was struck by the modesty of the small, albeit clean, house after the brilliant conditions in which he last saw his friend in St. Petersburg. He hurriedly entered the still pine-smelling, unplastered, small hall and wanted to move on, but Anton tiptoed forward and knocked on the door.
- Well, what's there? – a sharp, unpleasant voice was heard.
“Guest,” answered Anton.
“Ask me to wait,” and I heard a chair being pushed back. Pierre walked quickly to the door and came face to face with Prince Andrei, who was coming out to him, frowning and aged. Pierre hugged him and, raising his glasses, kissed him on the cheeks and looked at him closely.
“I didn’t expect it, I’m very glad,” said Prince Andrei. Pierre said nothing; He looked at his friend in surprise, without taking his eyes off. He was struck by the change that had taken place in Prince Andrei. The words were affectionate, a smile was on Prince Andrei’s lips and face, but his gaze was dull, dead, to which, despite his apparent desire, Prince Andrei could not give a joyful and cheerful shine. It’s not that his friend has lost weight, turned pale, and matured; but this look and the wrinkle on his forehead, expressing long concentration on one thing, amazed and alienated Pierre until he got used to them.
When meeting after a long separation, as always happens, the conversation could not stop for a long time; they asked and answered briefly about things that they themselves knew should have been discussed at length. Finally, the conversation began to dwell little by little on what had previously been said fragmentarily, on questions about his past life, about plans for the future, about Pierre’s travels, about his activities, about the war, etc. That concentration and depression that Pierre noticed in the look of Prince Andrei now was expressed even more strongly in the smile with which he listened to Pierre, especially when Pierre spoke with animated joy about the past or the future. It was as if Prince Andrei would have wanted, but could not, take part in what he was saying. Pierre began to feel that enthusiasm, dreams, hopes for happiness and goodness in front of Prince Andrei were not proper. He was ashamed to express all his new, Masonic thoughts, especially those renewed and excited in him by his last journey. He restrained himself, was afraid to be naive; at the same time, he irresistibly wanted to quickly show his friend that he was now a completely different, better Pierre than the one who was in St. Petersburg.
“I can’t tell you how much I experienced during this time.” I wouldn't recognize myself.
“Yes, we have changed a lot, a lot since then,” said Prince Andrei.
- Well, what about you? - asked Pierre, - what are your plans?
- Plans? – Prince Andrey repeated ironically. - My plans? - he repeated, as if surprised at the meaning of such a word. - Yes, you see, I’m building, I want to move completely by next year...
Pierre silently peered intently into the aged face of (Prince) Andrei.
“No, I’m asking,” said Pierre, “but Prince Andrei interrupted him:
- What can I say about me... Tell me, tell me about your journey, about everything you did there on your estates?
Pierre began to talk about what he had done on his estates, trying as much as possible to hide his participation in the improvements he had made. Prince Andrei several times suggested to Pierre what he was telling, as if everything that Pierre had done was a long-known story, and he listened not only not with interest, but even as if ashamed of what Pierre was telling.
Pierre felt awkward and even difficult in the company of his friend. He fell silent.
“But here’s what, my soul,” said Prince Andrei, who was obviously also having a hard time and shyness with his guest, “I’m here in bivouacs, and I came just to have a look.” I'm going back to my sister now. I'll introduce you to them. Yes, you seem to know each other,” he said, obviously entertaining the guest, with whom he now felt nothing in common. - We'll go after lunch. Now do you want to see my estate? “They went out and walked around until lunch, talking about political news and mutual acquaintances, like people who are not very close to each other. With some animation and interest, Prince Andrei spoke only about the new estate and construction he was organizing, but even here, in the middle of the conversation, on the stage, when Prince Andrei was describing to Pierre the future location of the house, he suddenly stopped. “However, there’s nothing interesting here, let’s go have lunch and leave.” “At dinner the conversation turned to Pierre’s marriage.
“I was very surprised when I heard about this,” said Prince Andrei.
Pierre blushed the same way he always blushed at this, and hastily said:
“I’ll tell you someday how it all happened.” But you know that it's all over and forever.
- Forever? - said Prince Andrei. – Nothing happens forever.
– But do you know how it all ended? Have you heard about the duel?
- Yes, you went through that too.
“The one thing I thank God for is that I didn’t kill this man,” Pierre said.
- Why? - said Prince Andrei. – It’s even very good to kill an angry dog.
- No, killing a person is not good, it’s unfair...
- Why is it unfair? - repeated Prince Andrei; what is just and unjust is not given to people to judge. People have always been mistaken and will continue to be mistaken, and in nothing more than in what they consider just and unjust.
Biography before accession
Board
Marriages and children
In art
Vasily Ivanovich Shuisky(upon accession to the throne) (1552 - September 12, 1612) - Russian Tsar from 1606 to 1610. Son of Prince Ivan Andreevich Shuisky.
Biography before accession
Boyar and head of the Moscow Court Chamber since 1584. Rynda with a large saadak in the campaigns of 1574, 1576, 1577 and 1579. Voivode of the Great Regiment on the campaign to Serpukhov in the summer of 1581. Voivode of the Great Regiment on the campaign to Novgorod in July 1582 under his brother Andrei. Voivode of the regiment of the right hand in the campaign to Serpukhov in April 1583. Voivode of Smolensk in 1585-87. For unknown reasons, he was briefly exiled in 1586.
During the persecution of the Shuiskys by Godunov, he was in exile in Galich from 1587. In 1591, Godunov, no longer seeing danger in the Shuiskys, returned them to Moscow. Since then, the Shuiskys have generally behaved loyally.
In 1591 he led the 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 reintroduced to the Boyar Duma. After that he was the governor of Novgorod. The first governor of the right-hand regiment in Mstislavsky’s army in the Crimean campaign to Serpukhov 1598
In January 1605 he was appointed commander of the right-hand regiment in the campaign against False Dmitry and won a victory in the battle of Dobrynichi. However, not really wanting Godunov to win, he allowed the impostor to gain strength through inaction.
After the fall of Godunov, he tried to carry out a coup, but was arrested and exiled along with his brothers. But False Dmitry needed boyar support, and at the end of 1605 the Shuiskys returned to Moscow.
During the popular uprising on May 17, 1606, False Dmitry I was killed, and on May 19, a group of Vasily Ivanovich’s adherents “called” Shuisky king. He was crowned on June 1 by Metropolitan Isidore of Novgorod.
Vasily Ivanovich gave a sign of the cross, which limited his power. In early June, the Shuisky government declared Boris Godunov the murderer of Tsarevich Dmitry.
Board
Shuisky's coming to power intensified the struggle among the boyars and between the southern and capital nobility, which led to an uprising under the leadership of I. Bolotnikov. In the fight against him, Shuisky put forward a program for the consolidation of all layers of the feudal class, taking into account their interests in politics on peasant (Code of March 9, 1607), serf (decrees 1607-1608), land and financial issues.
Individual concessions in the legislation on slaves were aimed at splitting the rebel camp. The unity of the feudal class by the spring of 1607 and the support of the largest cities of the Volga region and the north allowed Shuisky to crush the uprising in October 1607. But already in August 1607, a new stage of Polish intervention in Russia began (False Dmitry II). After the defeat at Volkhov (May 1, 1608), Shuisky's government was besieged in Moscow. By the end of 1608, many regions of the country came under the rule of False Dmitry II. In February 1609, the Shuisky government concluded an agreement with Sweden, according to which it ceded part of Russian territory in exchange for hiring Swedish troops.
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 (see Delagardie's campaign). Prince M.V. Skopin-Shuisky took over command of the Russian-Swedish army. Many saw the young and energetic commander as the successor to the elderly and childless sovereign.
The defeat of Dmitry Shuisky's troops near Klushino from the army of Sigismund III on June 24, 1610 and the uprising in Moscow led to the fall of Shuisky. On July 17 (27), 1610, part of the boyars, the capital and provincial nobility, Vasily IV Ioannovich was overthrown from the throne and forcibly tonsured a monk, and he himself refused to pronounce monastic vows. In September 1610 he was handed over (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.
The former tsar died in custody in Gostyninsky Castle, 130 versts from Warsaw, and a few days later his brother Dmitry died there. The third brother, Ivan Ivanovich Shuisky, subsequently returned to Russia.
Marriages and children
- Princess Elena Mikhailovna Repnina (+1592); She is usually considered the daughter of the boyar Prince Mikhail Petrovich Repnin, but according to genealogical records he only had a son, Alexander.
- (from 1608) Princess Maria Petrovna Buinosova-Rostov (+1626), daughter of Prince Peter Ivanovich Buinosov-Rostov
- Princess Anna Vasilievna (1609 - died in infancy)
- Tsarevna Anastasia Vasilievna (1610 - died in infancy)
In art
Vasily Shuisky is one of the main characters in Alexander Pushkin’s tragedy “Boris Godunov”. In the film of the same name based on it (directed by Sergei Fedorovich Bondarchuk), the role of Shuisky was played by Anatoly Romashin.
Vasily IV Ivanovich Shuisky is known in Russian history as the Tsar who reigned from 1606 to 1610. The ruler came from the princely family of the Shuiskys and was the last descendant of the Rurikovichs on the Russian throne. In 1552, a son, Vasily, was born into the princely family of Ivan Andreevich and Anna Fedorovna Shuisky. The boy was not an only child; the future ruler grew up with his brothers Andrei, Dmitry and Ivan. Little is known about the prince’s childhood and youth.
At a young age, Vasily IV became interested in politics. Shuisky joins the Moscow Court Chamber and later seeks promotion. Vasily Ivanovich was named a boyar. The prince took part in military campaigns, and was once even sent into exile at the request of the Godunov family.
Beginning of reign
The reign of Vasily Shuisky had a difficult start. It is known that the political career of Vasily IV began at the time when he was on the throne. At this time, Tsarevich Dmitry, the future tsar, allegedly miraculously escaped, appeared. Shuisky did not like this, so the boyar began to weave intrigues against the possible future ruler. Soon Boris Godunov dies, and a man hated by Vasily IV ascends to the throne.
Vasily IV keeps hatred inside himself and prepares a plan to overthrow the false king. In the meantime, he helps to rule and supports the initiatives of False Dmitry. Twice the boyar tried to overthrow the ruler. The first time the conspiracy was discovered, after which the future king was sentenced to death. But the merciful false sovereign took pity on Vasily and returned him to service.
The second plot turned out to be successful. In 1606, False Dmitry I was killed. The boyars immediately elevated Vasily Shuisky to the throne. In return, the new tsar promised the Boyar Duma the transfer of part of his powers.
Domestic policy
The years of Vasily Shuisky's reign became part of Russian history, which is called the Time of Troubles. Conspiracies were hatched against the authorities, and the onslaught of European states prevented the establishment of internal relations. Despite this, Vasily IV managed to make a number of changes in the life of the Russian state.
Shuisky's domestic policy began with the introduction of methods to strengthen power. The Tsar signs the sign of the cross. The document significantly limited the prince’s capabilities, but this was the desire of the boyars who chose Vasily IV as ruler. To improve sentiment among the nobles, in order to win their favor, Vasily IV introduces a 10-year investigation of the peasants. But even this did not help keep the boyars on the side of the ruling government after the arrival of False Dmitry I.
Shuisky began strengthening the army. The ruler paid special attention to discipline within the troops. The basic rules were indicated in the military regulations. Vasily IV took his example from the Germans. The manual spelled out the rules of conduct for soldiers and leaders. Popular discontent gradually gained momentum, despite the government's attempts to pacify its subjects. There was constant unrest in different parts of the country. Shuisky saw the only correct solution to the problem in the enslavement of the peasants.
Foreign policy
Vasily Shuisky had an aristocratic origin. Having become king, Vasily IV tried to please the boyars who wanted to enter into an alliance with the Poles. The primary task in foreign policy for Shuisky was rapprochement with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. But diplomatic negotiations with the Polish rulers did not bring the expected result.
The uprisings organized by I. Bolotnikov only hindered the establishment of peace with the Poles, since False Dmitry, together with dissatisfied citizens, captured citizens of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Poland and Moscow were on the brink of hostilities. The Poles strongly recommended that the Russian authorities return the captured foreigners.
But the authorities, represented by Vasily Shuisky, preferred to choose a different path - rapprochement with the Swedes. The Swedish ruler Charles IX put pressure on the Russian Tsar. The European sent letters in which he reported an imminent attack on the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and called on Muscovites to join. In the second letter, the Swede announced plans to overthrow Shuisky. The organizers of the riots were the Poles.
Events unfolded in an unfavorable way for Vasily IV. On the one hand, there is a possible “crusade” against the country of Charles IX, on the other, strange relations with the Poles. Shuisky tried to avoid direct answers to the questions asked by the Swedish side. He got off with general phrases like “there will be no violation of the peace, but he cannot confirm peace with Sweden.”
Foreign rulers continued to put pressure on the Russian Tsar. Some needed land and the opportunity to trade on Russian territory, others wanted to return Mniszek and the detained Poles. As a result, Shuisky achieved peace with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. But the king understood that the agreement could be violated at any moment.
The doubts of the Russian ruler were confirmed later, when people opposed to the alliance with Moscow came to power among the Poles. Historians believe that the Poles contributed to the instigation of internecine wars within the country and the emergence of False Dmitry II. Poland put pressure on the Cossacks, whom it saw as destroyers of the government foundation in Russia.
The reign of Vasily Shuisky turned out to be turbulent. Mnishek and False Dmitry II opposed the current government. The Poles, meanwhile, occupied Tushino and opposed Moscow. The Russian Tsar did not have the opportunity to confront the impending threat alone, so Vasily IV became closer to the Swedes. The Swedish king still wants to expand his influence in Russian lands. In exchange for Sweden's cooperation, Kola, Ivangorod, and Korela must withdraw. History has preserved the letters sent by Charles IX to the commissioners:
“The opportunity has come to take advantage of the unrest in Russia for the territorial enrichment of the Swedish crown that it is impossible to miss it; this would mean making a political mistake, which cannot be justified either before God or before people.”
Intervention in such conditions became more and more realistic. In addition to fighting the Swedes, Vasily Shuisky had to confront the Tushins. The Tsar felt the need for additional military personnel, but help could only be obtained from the Horde. The Tatars liberated Oskol and Liven for Vasily IV.
New money transfers to the Horde did the trick: the Tatars attacked False Dmitry II in Borovsky district. Despite the regular replenishment of the Horde treasury at the expense of Moscow, Vasily Shuisky did not receive a positive result from cooperation with the Horde. The Horde decided that there was too little money from Moscow, and began to rob the common people.
The prince tried in every possible way to defend the capital and the Russian state. Shuisky's reign did not bring visible changes in foreign policy. The Swedes tried to gain Russian lands, the Horde plundered the people, the Poles, together with False Dmitry II, organized conspiracies against Vasily IV.
Overthrow
In 1609, relations with the Poles deteriorated completely. This was evidenced by the fact that the Polish-Lithuanian king Sigismund III besieged Smolensk. With his own forces, the Moscow Tsar was able to liberate most of the Russian lands from the invaders. Despite this, Vasily Shuisky was not popular among the people; his contemporaries considered him an illegitimate ruler.
The desire to overthrow the king grew. The death of commander Skopin-Shuisky added confidence to the townspeople. An uprising arose, which allowed the ruler to be removed from the throne. Vasily IV was forced to take monastic vows and was tonsured as a monk.
Personal life
The biography of Vasily Shuisky describes two marriages. The first union did not produce heirs. The king had no desire to marry again, so after the death of his wife, the ruler remained a bachelor for a long time. The second wife of the Tsar was the daughter of Prince Pyotr Ivanovich Buinosov-Rostovsky, Maria.
There was no love between husband and wife, since marriage was required to continue the dynasty. Tsar Boris insisted on the union, who did not want to transfer the throne to strangers. The marriage brought the ruler two daughters, who died at a young age. The Belsky Chronicler says:
“Tsar Vasily Ivanovich of All Rus' had only two daughters, and they died in infancy; This is what Nastasya and Anna are called.”
Death
After the overthrow, Shuisky found himself in the hands of the Polish hetman. The ex-tsar and his brothers are brought to Smolensk, then transported to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and presented to King Sigismund. The princes had no choice but to take the oath to the Polish ruler.
While imprisoned in Gostyninsky Castle, the ex-sovereign dies. A few days later they announced the death of brother Dmitry. Only Ivan Shuisky managed to return to his native lands. Decades later, Vasily’s remains were transported at the request of Mikhail Fedorovich to the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.
