The mysterious and controversial personality of the first elected Tsar in Russian history, Boris Fedorovich Godunov, is of interest to scientists, composers, writers and poets, theater and film directors centuries later.
On November 5, the Russia 1 TV channel starts showing the historical series Godunov by Alexei Andrianov about the fate of the Godunov family and Boris Godunov himself, the landowner's son and oprichnik, who became the first elected Russian tsar. His role on the stage of theater, opera and cinema was performed by Maxim Sukhanov, Alexander Zbruev, Sergey Bondarchuk, Nikolai Gubenko, Sergei Zhirnov, Fyodor Shalyapin, popular Soviet actor Nikolai Simonov and his namesake Vladimir Simonov, who played in the acclaimed performance of Peter Stein on the stage of the Et Cetera theater … In the series "Godunov" Sergei Bezrukov became Tsar Boris Fedorovich. On the eve of the main premiere of the fall season of 2018, Teleprogramma.pro understands why the views of historians on the personality of the sovereign are so different, and debunks the main myths about Boris Godunov, in which many have believed since school.
The executioner's son-in-law and the executioner himself at heart
Many people remember Pushkin's lines about “the blood of an innocent baby”, which prevents the new tsar from ascending the throne, from school or college times, and the expression “and bloody boys in their eyes” became winged. Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, when writing his famous tragedy "Boris Godunov" in relation to the tsar was severe. In many respects, the poet was guided by Nikolai Karamzin's "History of the Russian State" and communication with the historian himself. Meanwhile, Karamzin, according to modern researchers, also made inaccuracies, in many of his assessments, as an official historian of the royal court, he was biased and biased, which he did not hide. Pushkin, with his talent, thickened the colors even more - it is not surprising that Boris Godunov became a villain for posterity.
STATE, TSAR AND GRAND PRINCE OF ALL RUSSIA BORIS GODUNOV, IMAGE FROM THE CZAR'S TITULAR.
Karamzin's colleagues also tried. Especially often Boris Godunov appeared as a "devil of hell" among Russian historians of the 16th-early 18th centuries, as well as in foreign works. Modern researchers have a logical explanation for this: this was the official, "state" point of view, the Romanovs could not forgive the tsar for the fact that he once "pushed" them as the main rivals to the throne.
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Boris Godunov - the murderer of Tsarevich Dmitry
Most often, the killer of the heir to the throne, Boris Fedorovich, again, appears in the annals of the Time of Troubles and foreign sources. But today there is more and more talk about the fact that completely different people could have eliminated the tsarevich (if it really was a murder), and it was simply beneficial to make Godunov a "scapegoat." Supporters of this hypothesis note that Boris Godunov did not receive political benefits from this assassination attributed to him, the likelihood that Tsarevich Dmitry could take the throne was negligible. Today, many historians speak in favor of the official version of Godunov's times: the prince accidentally stabbed himself. It is hypothesized that he could have committed unintentional suicide during an epileptic seizure.
TSAR FYODOR IOANNOVICH WEARS A GOLDEN CHAIN ON BORIS GODUNOV. ARTIST A. KIVSHENKO.
Boris Godunov was a "dark" and illiterate person
This persistent myth persisted until the 17th-18th centuries. However, a careful study of the sources of those times has proven that this is not the case. In addition to the fact that the tsar himself was literate, and gave a versatile education to his children, he patronized printing and education, with his submission many European scientists came to Moscow, he fought against drunkenness and drinking establishments, led a thoughtful and very competent economic policy, in in particular, by prohibiting thoughtless deforestation and limiting the production of fur. Perhaps, if it were not for the opposition of the conservative-minded clergy, a university in Moscow would have appeared in the days of Boris Godunov.
SERGEY BONDARCHUK AS BORIS GODUNOV. FROM THE FILM BORIS GODUNOV.
Boris Godunov - ruthless oprichnik
Historians have not been able to find evidence of Godunov's participation in the atrocities of the guardsmen. A / Despite the persistent myth of his bloodthirstiness and aggressiveness, he was a rather peaceful king, primarily a diplomat. He did not fight with his neighbors, encouraged trade, and restored ties with Europe that had practically ceased under Ivan the Terrible. Some enemy boyars even considered Tsar Boris Fedorovich too soft, for which they despised. Even with the main opponents, the tsar preferred to deal without blood: he was exiled to distant cities or monasteries, and noble princes who could have claims to the throne were "just" not allowed to marry.
FRAME FROM THE SERIAL "GODUNOV". SOURCE: TV CHANNEL RUSSIA 1.
Childbirth up to the fifth knee, like Ivan the Terrible, did not cut out. On his conscience, only a few deaths, in particular the boyars Ivan and Andrei Shuisky, one of whom, by the way, very persistently demanded from the Boyar Duma "Godunov's head." You must admit that they are not attracted to atrocities, especially taking into account the era, localities and against the background of other Russian rulers.
Creator of serfdom in Russia
As historians note, the formation of serfdom was a lengthy process that began more than a century before Godunov under Ivan III and it was impossible to stop it. The tsar is blamed, first of all, for the famous decree of 1597 on "fixed years", according to which the peasants who fled from the masters were subject to search, trial and return. According to modern historians, this decree would still have been adopted, regardless of who was on the throne. Researchers also note that it was during the reign of Boris Godunov that decrees were adopted that freed the territories of Siberia, the Russian North, and Cossack villages from serfdom.
BORIS GODUNOV AND TSARITSA MARFA, CALLED TO MOSCOW FOR INTERROGATION ABOUT TSAREVICH DMITRY WHEN THE NEWS ABOUT THE APPEARANCE OF THE AUTHORIZER. ARTIST NIKOLAY GE.
Irina Petrova