Federal Agency for Education

St. Petersburg State Mining Institute

them. G.V. Plekhanov

(Technical University)

Department of Historical Sciences and Political Science

Essay

Boris Godunov: personality, politician, sovereign

Discipline: “National History”

Completed by: student gr.EG-09 _________ /Y.S. Trufanova/

(signature) (full name)

GRADE: _____________

Date of: __________________

CHECKED BY: k.i. Sc., Associate Professor ________ /F.L.Sevastyanov/

(signature) (full name)

Saint Petersburg

Introduction

The personality of Boris Godunov has always been of interest to contemporaries, historians, writers, poets, artists, and musicians. This is not surprising; his fate still causes a lot of controversy. Having started his service as an ordinary nobleman under Ivan the Terrible, Boris took the post of ruler under the feeble-minded Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich, and then became the ruler of a huge power. Many historians agree on one thing: Boris Godunov was an amazing person in whom good and evil were mysteriously combined. But is there as much “evil” in him as is believed? Versatile statements speak of the duality of understanding of Boris’s personality and his policies. The historical material concerning his personality is so ambiguous and full of various ambiguities that it is impossible to give an unmistakably fair assessment of his moral and political qualities. Boris’s life was accompanied by many dramatic events, both in the history of Russia and in his private life, and above all, he was haunted by accusations of involvement in the tragic death of the young Tsarevich Dmitry in Uglich. However, numerous accusations against Godunov have not been proven by anyone, but the fact that they influenced the attitude of his descendants towards him is a fact.

So who really was Boris Fedorovich Godunov? How did his policy affect the fate of Russia? Let us take a closer look at his fate, the reviews of his contemporaries and various historians about his personal qualities and the changes that he made to the domestic and foreign policy of our state.

General characteristics of the personality of Boris Godunov

1. Origin

Yesterday's slave, Tatar, Malyuta's son-in-law,

The executioner's son-in-law is an executioner himself at heart,

He will take the crown and barmas of Monomakh...

A.S. Pushkin "Boris Godunov"

Legends about Godunov's Tatar origin are well known. The ancestor of the family was considered to be the Tatar Chet-Murza, who supposedly came to Russia under Ivan Kalita. Its existence is stated in the only source - “The Tale of Chet”. But it should be noted that there are many historical inaccuracies in “The Tale of Chet”, and it is unlikely that the information obtained from this legend is trustworthy. From the information that has reached our time, it has been found that the ancestors of Boris Godunov were neither slaves nor Tatars. Coming from Kostroma, they served the boyars at the Moscow court. Low official position and ignorance saved the Godunovs during the days of the oprichnina. Kinship with the boyars, so highly valued before, could now ruin the career of a service man. Unknown nobles were enrolled in the oprichnina corps, and they received all kinds of privileges.

Boris Godunov was born shortly before the conquest of Kazan, in 1552. His father, Fyodor Ivanovich, was a middle-class landowner. Boris's father and his brother Dmitry jointly owned a small estate in Kostroma. Therefore, after the death of his father, Boris was taken into his family by his uncle. Not only family feelings and the early death of his own children prompted Dmitry Ivanovich to take a special part in the fate of his nephew. It was important to prevent the division of the last family estate. Dmitry Godunov ended up in the oprichnina corps at the time of its formation. The king sought to break out of his old environment: he needed new people, and he opened the doors of the palace to them. So the modest Vyazma landowner became a courtier. His uncle's career successes benefited his nephew Boris. V.O. Klyuchevsky wrote that Boris Godunov did not stain himself with service in the oprichnina and did not lower himself in the eyes of society. But this is not entirely true. In fact, Boris put on the oprichnina caftan when he barely reached adulthood.

By chance (or rather because of Naumov’s death), Dmitry Godunov becomes Ivan the Terrible’s bed-boy. Then, having received the Duma rank of okolnik, he leaves his previous position to his nephew. In normal times, the head of the inner palace guard was an inconspicuous figure. In an environment of conspiracies and executions, he found himself among the king's close advisers. Even the head of the oprichnina, Malyuta Skuratov, sought the friendship and protection of the influential bed guard. Guided by political calculations, the influential chief of the guardsmen married his daughter to Boris Godunov. The Skuratovs and Godunovs tried at any cost to become related to the royal family. And they managed to marry the heir to the throne, Fyodor Ivanovich, to Evdokia Saburova (the Saburovs and Godunovs trace their origins to Dmitry Zern). And although some time later Evdokia was exiled to a monastery, kinship with the royal family remained - Grozny’s middle son Fyodor married Irina Godunova, Dmitry’s niece. Boris Godunov became a courtier close to the Tsar. He occupied close positions and carried out orders emanating from the sovereign himself, visited Grozny in his closest retinue, and as a “friend” at the royal wedding. At the age of thirty, Boris had already received the rank of boyar and the important position of “kravchiy”. The elevation of individuals and families through kinship with queens was a common phenomenon in Moscow history, but such elevation was often fragile. The relatives of the Ivanov spouses died along with other victims of his bloodthirstiness. Boris himself, due to his closeness to the Tsar, was in danger; they say that the king severely beat him with his staff when Boris stood up for Tsarevich Ivan, who was killed by his father. But Tsar Ivan himself mourned his son and then began to show Boris even more favor than before for his courage, which, however, cost the latter several months of illness. Boris remained in his favor until the king's death.

Having no illusions about Fedor’s ability to govern, closer to death, Tsar Ivan the Terrible did what the Moscow princes did, leaving the throne to his young heirs. He left his son and his family in the care of faithful people, whose names he named in his will. Ivan the Terrible's will dealt a mortal blow to the ambitious plans of the Godunovs. As Fyodor's closest relatives, they were ready to take the reins of power into their own hands. And at that moment, when there was only one step left to take, an insurmountable barrier appeared on their way, erected by the will of the Tsar, Ivan - the regency council.

1.2. Power struggle

Tsar Ivan IV died in March 1584. Boris lacked the nobility to occupy a high position. But ultimately, the appointment to the post of equerry, carried out contrary to the clearly expressed will of Ivan the Terrible, brought Godunov into the circle of the rulers of the state. In the very first two weeks after the death of Ivan the Terrible, an uprising broke out against Bogdan Belsky, the nephew of the royal executioner Skuratov. Rumors were spread that he was going to put the youngest son of Tsar Ivan, baby Dmitry, in power, so Ivan’s widow, Maria Nagaya, with one and a half year old Dmitry and all her relatives were sent to Uglich, which was given to the prince as an inheritance.

A struggle for power begins. The discord between Nikita Romanov and Mstislavsky attracted general attention. Having become the successor of the ill Romanov, Godunov fought with Mstislavsky with redoubled energy. The clash ended with the resignation of the most distinguished member of the regency council.

In fact, power ended up in the hands of Boris Godunov. He managed to free himself from competitors: Mstislavsky in 1585. became a monk, N.R. Yuryev died in 1586, and I.P. Shuisky in the summer of 1586 He was captured, sent into exile and killed while trying to carry out a coup and eliminate Godunov.

The Zemshchina did not forgive Godunov for his oprichnina past. (The death of Tsarevich Dmitry in Uglich also added fuel to the fire). Godunov felt more and more acutely the fragility of his position. Many considered Boris to be nothing more than a temporary worker. Meanwhile, Fyodor Ioannovich was in poor health. He was sick and almost died in the first year of his reign. Boris understood perfectly well that Fedor’s death would lead to the rapid collapse of his career.

The fate of the Godunovs seemed to hang by a thread. Boris became more and more determined to seek salvation abroad. Under pressure from the zemshchina, Boris disbanded the “yard” guards and thereby lost the opportunity to maintain order and control the situation in the capital. The camp of his supporters was melting before our eyes.

1.3. Carier start

The path to the throne for Godunov was not easy. In the appanage city of Uglich, the heir to the throne, Dmitry, the son of the seventh wife of Ivan the Terrible, grew up. On May 15, 1591, the prince died under unclear circumstances. The official investigation was conducted by boyar Vasily Shuisky. The reasons for what happened came down to the “negligence” of Nagikh, as a result of which Dmitry accidentally stabbed himself with a knife while playing with his peers. The prince was seriously ill with epilepsy. Giving such a child a knife was, in fact, criminal. The chronicle accuses Godunov of the murder of Boris, because Dmitry was the direct heir to the throne and prevented Boris from advancing to him, but this version is not officially supported by anything. On January 7, 1598, Fedor died, and the male line of the Moscow branch of the Rurik dynasty was cut short. The only close heir to the throne was Maria, the daughter of Fyodor’s cousin. On February 17, 1598, the Zemsky Sobor elected Boris Godunov to the throne. The close relationship outweighed the distant relationship of possible contenders for the throne. No less important was the fact that Godunov had actually ruled the country on behalf of Fedor for a long time, and was not going to let go of power after his death.

Boris was crowned king, even more magnificently and solemnly than Theodore, since he accepted Monomakh's utensils from the hands of the ecumenical patriarch. During the wedding, Boris said: “Father, great patriarch Job! God is my witness that in my kingdom there will be neither the orphan nor the poor,” and, shaking the top of his shirt, he said: “I will give this last one to the people.” This is how his reign began, about which historians even of our time have no clear opinion.

We will try to give a brief historical portrait of Boris Godunov in this article. He was outwardly handsome, smart, calculating, skilled with words and the gift of persuasion, but very selfish and selfish. Everything he did was solely for the sake of his own interests, leading to enrichment, strengthening of his power, and advancement of his family. But name one of the greatest politicians in the world who does not possess these qualities.

The historical portrait of Boris Godunov can be supplemented by other features. He was very cunning and calculating: he knew how to wait, take advantage of the right moment, sometimes remaining in the shadows, sometimes acting decisively, to show himself to be virtuous and inspire trust in people. His prudence boiled down to the fact that he never committed rash acts without first examining the current situation.

Boris Godunov through the eyes of his contemporaries

The historical portrait of Boris Godunov, like, perhaps, any person, has a dual characteristic. It has both positive and negative features. Contemporaries pointed out that Boris was virtuous, but the “thorn of envious malice” darkened this quality. This is a belief in denunciations and slanderers, as a result of which a large number of innocent people suffered. This caused the indignation of the “officials” of the Russian land, who rebelled against him and deposed him.

You can also read from the memoirs of his contemporaries that he was magnificent, surpassed everyone in appearance and intelligence, “a wonderful and sweet-tongued man,” he organized many things in the Russian state worthy of praise: he did not like bribery, fought against robbery, theft, but could not get rid of tavern, was pure in soul, merciful and loved to eat abundantly.

Historical portrait of Boris Godunov, given by Russian historians

The historian Karamzin N.M. wrote about Boris Godunov that if he had been born into a family of monarchs, he would have become the best ruler of the world. According to a prominent historian, who saw only a legitimate autocrat as the ruler of the country, those who seized power by killing a child were doomed to an inglorious death.

A.S. Pushkin, studying the materials, saw the tsar in a different light; he believed that Godunov’s tragedy lay in the attitude of the Russian people towards him, who turned away from him. Klyuchevsky V.O., accusing him of many bloody crimes, presented him as an intelligent and undoubtedly talented person, whom his contemporaries suspected of duplicity, but in fact he was an insidious and heartless person.

Soloviev, treating him as a tyrant and a villain, spoke of him as an intelligent and talented politician. Russian S.F. had a different opinion. He denied Boris Godunov’s involvement in the murder of Tsarevich Dmitry; in his view, he was a champion of the interests of the state, expressing the aspirations of the middle class. He believed that there were no documents in Russian history that could prove his involvement in infanticide. All rumors and unfounded accusations denigrate him in the eyes of his descendants. As you can see, it is quite difficult to compose a historical portrait of Boris Godunov.

Appearance at the Moscow throne

Boris Godunov's rise to power is full of tragic events. He appeared at the court of Tsar Ivan the Terrible as a guardsman and made a rapid career. At first he was Ivan the Terrible's friend at his wedding with Maria Sobakina, then he married the daughter of the Tsar's favorite Malyuta Skuratov. His sister Irina became the wife of the weak-minded Tsarevich Fyodor.

Thanks to his character and family ties with the Tsar’s family, Godunov makes a dizzying career at court. After the death of Ivan the Terrible, who, according to the Englishman D. Horsey, was strangled, he becomes regent under the weak-minded tsar. Many historians do not exclude the possibility that there was a conspiracy against Grozny. It was Boris and B. Belsky who were at the bedside of the dying man.

Regent

Afterwards, Tsarevich Fyodor, suffering from dementia, and young Dmitry and his mother Martha, the legal wife of Ivan the Terrible, became direct contenders for the throne. Two opposing sides were formed: on the one hand - Godunov, N. Romanov, princes I. Miloslavsky and P. Shuisky, on the other hand - B. Belsky, Dmitry’s teacher, and the boyars Nagiye.

After the announcement of the death of Ivan the Terrible, an internecine struggle began between the two groups. Belsky tried to rouse the people of Moscow by announcing that if Fyodor Ivanovich was elected to the throne, other people would rule the country. Godunov, being proactive, sends the Tsarina and Tsarevich Dmitry from Moscow to Uglich, and then deals with Nagimi. Belsky, an active participant in the Troubles, is saved from death by Boris Godunov and sent into exile.

A year and a half later, having sent Miloslavsky to the monastery, he exiles and kills Shuisky and becomes the sole regent under the weak-minded Tsar Fyodor. Godunov was actually the sole ruler for 13 years. After the death of the king, who, according to many historians, was strangled, he becomes king.

Reign of Tsar Boris

With his accession to the throne, the “crossing of the Ryurevechi” takes place; the historical portrait of Boris Godunov was supplemented with one more touch, which his contemporaries blame him for. With his coronation, the line of descendants counting from the Rurikovichs was interrupted. According to clerk Ivan Timofeev, it was only because of this that God’s punishment followed and the time of Troubles came to Russia.

Being a regent and being on the throne, Boris Godunov did a lot for the Russian state. Under him, the first water supply system was built in Moscow, and the construction of fortresses began in the Wild Field in southern Russia. Subsequently, these became the following cities: Samara, Tsaritsyno, Saratov, Voronezh, Livny, Belgorod. The city of Tomsk was founded in Siberia. New fortifications were built in Moscow, which made it possible to repel the invasion of Khan-Girey.

During the reign of Godunov, the enslavement of the peasants took place; in 1597, a decree was issued on “fixed years”, according to which serfs who fled before 5 years were ordered to be caught and handed over to the landowners.

Especially a lot has been done for Russia in foreign policy. The conclusion of the Russian-Swedish peace treaty made it possible to return to Russia Korela, Koporye and Yam, lost in the Livonian War. Foreigners came to Russia, its authority was strengthened.

The Great Famine and Death of Boris Godunov

Today, young people make up a historical portrait of Boris Godunov in the 7th grade, but it is unlikely that at this age it is possible to appreciate the entire tragedy of the Russian people in Time of Troubles, which began with the reign of this king, and give him an objective description.

During his reign, the difficult situation in foreign policy was resolved in favor of Russia, trade developed, cities were built, and the first industrial enterprises appeared. Therefore, it is difficult to judge by those rumors and speculations, denunciations of foreign agents who were interested in a weak and fragmented Russia.

The Russian people turned away from him, who, exhausted by the great famine that struck Russia, lasting 3 years (1601-1604), and constant rumors about the atrocities of Godunov, for which God sent Russia a terrible punishment, believed it. Godunov could not do anything about this, although he helped the starving people in every possible way. The uprising led by Khlopok, the appearance of False Dmitry - all this together undermined his strength.

We should not forget about the Poles and Swedes, who pursued a policy of weakening Russia. Therefore, it is difficult to give an objective description of this ruler, who died suddenly at the age of 53 for an unknown reason. According to the report of the English embassy, ​​his death was strange. His wife and son Fyodor, who took the throne after him, were killed, his daughter Ksenia was given as a concubine to the impostor False Dmitry, and Russia plunged into the abyss of terrible turmoil.

The purpose of the lesson: an attempt to reveal the personality of B. Godunov through the integration of history, literature and musical art.

1. Reveal some features of B. Godunov’s personality by means of integration.
2. Show how the interpretation of the personality of Boris Godunov changed in different historical eras.
3. Show how M. P. Mussorgsky reveals the tragedy of B. Godunov in the opera “Boris Godunov”.
4. Emphasize the versatility of human nature in general and the interconnection of past and present.

Equipment: phonograph books with recordings of the opera by M.P. Mussorgsky “Boris Godunov”, Pushkin’s tragedy “Boris Godunov”, reproductions of paintings by artists depicting F.I. Chaliapin in the role of B. Godunov, computer, music player, presentation for the lesson.

Progress of the lesson

Task: to motivate the children to think philosophically about what it means: “The past is in the present.”

Content: The guys talk about how they understand the topic of the lesson. The teacher asks the children not only to think about how often events, situations, problems of the past are repeated again, at a new historical level, but also to think about how multifaceted the personality of an individual can be, and how difficult it is sometimes to understand it . We will try to do this using the example of the fate of Boris Godunov.

Objective: to show how the interpretation of the personality of Boris Godunov has changed by different historians in different historical eras.

The teacher asks the children what they know about B. Godunov?

The guys remember that he was a Russian Tsar, who ascended the throne not on the principle of inheritance, but was the first elected Tsar; they recall the fate of Tsarevich Dimitri.

The teacher reports that the fate of B. Godunov attracted the attention of many researchers, historians, starting with Karamzin, writers, and musicians; you know, I think, the tragedy of A.S. Pushkin “Boris Godunov”, the opera “Boris Godunov” by M.P. Mussorgsky. And this attention is not accidental.

Let's get acquainted with the statements about Boris Godunov: (Each statement is read aloud by a separate student - the text is on the monitor screen, see below). Application– presentation for the lesson).

1. “Russia, deprived of an intelligent and caring tsar in him (Boris), became the prey of villainy for many years. But the name of Godunov, one of the most reasonable rulers in the world, has been and will be pronounced with disgust for centuries, in honor of moral, unwavering justice. Posterity sees the place of the forehead, stained with the blood of innocents, St. Demetrius, dying under the knife of the murderers... sees the vile bribe offered by the hand of the crowned to the slanderers - informers; sees a system of treachery, deceit, hypocrisy before people and God... Was it not he who, finally, most of all contributed to the humiliation of the throne, having sat on it as a holy murderer?” N.M. Karamzin.

2. “Sovereign Tsar and Grand Duke During his reign in the Russian state, Boris Fedorovich Godunov built many cities and monasteries and did many other praiseworthy things. He was light-hearted and merciful in disposition and loving of the poor. And many people were fed their fill from the gifts of his hand.” Stories from Russian chronicles of the 4th–17th centuries.

3. “Boris, a zealous observer of all church statutes and rules of deanery, sober, temperate, hardworking, an enemy of vain fun and an example in family life, a husband, a gentle parent, especially towards his dear, beloved son, whom he loved to the point of weakness...” N.M. .Karamzin.

4. “The cold ashes of the dead have no intercessor except our conscience: everything is silent around the ancient tomb!.. What if we slander these ashes, if we unjustly torment the memory of a person, believing false opinions accepted into the chronicle by senselessness or hostility?” …” N.M. Karamzin.

Students talk about their understanding of these expressions, emphasizing that even the same historian (Karamzin) in one case speaks of Godunov’s undoubted guilt in the murder of Tsarevich Dimitri, and in another he openly doubts this.

The teacher introduces the children to the attitude of other historians to the personality of B. Godunov. The writer and historian N.M. Karamzin argued that “Godunov could have earned the glory of one of the best rulers of the world if he had been born on the throne.” In Karamzin's eyes, only legitimate autocrats were the bearers of state order. Boris usurped power by killing the last member of the royal dynasty, and therefore providence itself doomed him to death. The noble historiographer’s judgments about Godunov were not very deep. A.S. Pushkin understood the historical past incomparably better. He saw the origins of Godunov's tragedy in the attitude of the people to power. Boris died because his own people turned away from him. The peasants did not forgive him for canceling the ancient St. George's Day, which protected their freedom. (Starting with V.N. Tatishchev, many historians considered Godunov the creator of the serfdom regime.) V.O. Klyuchevsky held a different view: “...The opinion about the establishment of serfdom among the peasants belongs to our historical fairy tales. On the contrary, Boris was ready to take measures that would strengthen the freedom and well-being of the peasants.” Klyuchevsky dismissed Godunov’s accusations of many bloody crimes as slander. With bright colors he painted a portrait of a man endowed with intelligence and talent, but always suspected of duplicity, deceit and heartlessness. A mysterious mixture of good and evil - that’s how he saw Boris. S.F. Platonov also did not consider Boris the initiator of the enslavement of the peasants. In his politics, Platonov argued, Godunov acted as a champion of the national good, linking his fate with the interests of the middle class. Numerous accusations against Boris have not been proven by anyone. But they tarnished the ruler in the eyes of his descendants.

The guys conclude that historians, at different times, assessed the personality and activities of Boris Godunov in different ways.

Task: To show the attitude of A.S. Pushkin to the personality of B. Godunov and how M. P. Mussorgsky reveals the tragedy of B. Godunov in the opera “Boris Godunov”.

Let's get acquainted with the plan of A.S. Pushkin and the difficult fate of his work. (Student's story.)

First student. Pushkin, following Karamzin, used the version of B. Godunov’s involvement in the murder of Tsarevich Dimitri, although this version was later disputed by many historians. This interpretation was relevant for his time, when the seizure of power by major historical figures was often carried out by killing the rightful heir. Pushkin's tragedy paints a bigger picture political struggle and the popular movement in Russia. The tsarist government, represented by Nicholas I, tried to demand that Pushkin remake the tragedy, to which he refused. The tragedy turned out to be “highly prohibited.” Pushkin understood that the main reason was that the central problem of his work was the opposition of the autocrat to the people. On this occasion, he wrote to P.A. Vyazemsky: “Zhukovsky said that the Tsar would forgive me for the tragedy - unlikely, my dear. Even though it was written in a good spirit, I couldn’t hide all my ears under the holy fool’s cap, they stick out!” Elsewhere, Pushkin himself says that his tragedy is “full of glorious jokes and subtle hints.” Censorship delayed the tragedy “Boris Godunov” for 5 years. When creating the image of Boris Godunov, Pushkin did not set out to draw a villain from birth. Boris Godunov attracts people with his strength of character, intelligence, and passion. But in order to achieve the power of an autocrat and retain it, one must be a villain. Autocracy is ensured by lust for power, cunning, cruelty, and oppression of the masses. The poet makes this obvious to the whole content of the tragedy.

Second student. 40 years later Mussorgsky turned to this plot. M.P. Mussorgsky turned out to be a very attentive reader; in his own words, he loved to read a lot between the lines. He accurately captured the main dramatic core that formed the basis of the opera: the clash between the people and the royal power. This idea, as well as innovation in the field of musical language, caused the management of the opera house to refuse to stage the opera. It was only thanks to the enthusiasm of the actors that the opera was staged as a benefit performance by one of the actresses and immediately caused fierce controversy.

Listen to Boris’s monologue “The Soul Grieves.”

What shades of Tsar Boris’s state of mind did you catch?

The students say that they heard the intonations of internal tension, secret anxiety.

His words are addressed inward, to himself, and not to the people, but they are caused by a secret thought about the people. The monologue is brief... The more acutely one perceives the intensity of the hero’s state of mind expressed in it.” Boris Godunov sincerely strives to “rule his people” wisely and “in glory.” However, power gained illegally and based on violence cannot bring happiness to the people and the desired satisfaction to the king himself.

And now we will see how the image of B. Godunov is revealed even more fully in the monologue of the second act “I have reached the highest power.” Listening to a fragment.

The students say that they heard either stern concentration in Boris’s soul, or anxiety and confusion.

Yes, indeed, Boris’s sad reflections about the failures that haunt him and about the hostile attitude of the people towards him are conveyed here. Here the deep spiritual tragedy of the king is most fully revealed. In the second edition, having removed the main political meaning, Mussorgsky turned the stern appearance of Boris into a repentant sinner and took pity on him, giving the music of the monologue a warm, almost entirely lyrical tone of grief, repentance, prayer and painful suffering of conscience. The second, main edition, with all the depth and richness of its music, with all the plasticity of the sculpting, gives the action a completely different... slant. The opera becomes the personal drama of Tsar Boris against the romantic backdrop of popular unrest. The image of Boris is revealed with greatest fullness and strength in the second act of the opera. All the most basic and essential things in the music of this act are dedicated to him.

Now we will listen to a scene from act 4 of the opera “Boris Godunov”. This is the scene at St. Basil's Cathedral. The main character of this scene is the Holy Fool. A destitute person suffers deeply, anticipating the misfortunes of his native land. Listening to a scene from an opera.

How can there not be fierce disputes when the Holy Fool, telling how the boys stole a penny from him, says to Boris’s face: “It’s great to slaughter them, like you stabbed the little prince.” With these words, the Holy Fool expresses to Boris the true opinion of the people about him as a murderer tsar. And he refuses to pray for Boris, because “you cannot pray for King Herod.”

The scene with the chimes shakes with deep inner drama, when in the moving figures of the clock the tormented Boris imagines the ghost of the prince he killed. Comparing the nightmare scene in Pushkin's tragedy and in the opera, one can see with what increasing tension this scene is presented in the opera. From Pushkin:

...and my head is spinning,
And the boys have bloody eyes...
And I’m glad to run, but there’s nowhere...terrible!
Yes, pitiful is the one whose conscience is unclean.

In the opera scene, Boris's horror-filled intonations and the ominous sound of the orchestra visibly create a picture of the confusion and madness of the criminal king.

Listening to the scene with the chimes from Act II, try to understand the complexity of Boris’s internal state, maybe you will experience it with him, and then you will understand how he redeemed himself, if indeed there was one. Students say how they felt while listening to the music.

The image of Boris Godunov was brilliantly embodied in his time by the great Russian singer, our fellow countryman, Fyodor Ivanovich Chaliapin. There are memories that when Chaliapin played the role of Boris in the scene with the chimes, pointing to the corner of the stage at the ghost of the murdered prince, all the spectators in the theater stood up and looked there.

“Music shows us, all of humanity, what is happening in the soul of one person.” These words of D. Shostakovich seem to directly refer to the image of Tsar Boris. Carrying through the entire opera the idea of ​​​​condemning autocracy, Mussorgsky does not seek to make Godunov himself a stilted villain. On the contrary, he creates an image that has all the complexity of human character and depth of feeling, attracting the sympathy of listeners.

Task: to make a generalization, conclusions on the topic of the lesson, to express your attitude towards the personality of Boris Godunov.

Content: students talk about how, through the intonations in musical fragments, they felt all the complexity and contradictory nature of B. Godunov’s internal state, and conclude that Boris atoned for his guilt through severe torment and death. Students come to the conclusion that the events of history at the end of the 16th century regained their relevance at the beginning and middle of the 19th century. (“The past is in the present.”)

Teacher: So is the tragedy of a bad conscience relevant in our time?

Statements from the guys on this issue.

Yes, indeed, the question of a bad conscience today is not uncommon. It is sometimes rare that a bad conscience is a tragedy for a person.

Concluding our conversation today, I would like to quote F.I. Chaliapin’s statement from a meeting with V.O. Klyuchevsky, a famous historian of the 19th century.

“In the historian’s story, the figure of Tsar Boris was depicted as so powerful and interesting. I listened and sincerely felt sorry for the tsar, who had enormous willpower and intelligence, wanted to do good to the Russian land and created serfdom... Sometimes it seemed to me that Vasily Shuisky had resurrected and was admitting his mistake - he had ruined Godunov in vain!”

You see what a multifaceted and controversial personality Boris Godunov was. Agree that every person is also multifaceted, and how important it is for the people around him to understand him. And knowledge of the past always helps to better understand the present, because the events of the past are sometimes relevant in our time.

2-03-2018, 15:46 |

Boris Fedorovich Godunov

Boris Fedorovich Godunov is a controversial figure in Russian history. His chances of being on the throne of the Moscow state were very slim. Of course, his rise to power does not refer to the saying “from rags to riches,” but nevertheless. He came from a very ancient family, but not entirely noticeable among other noble princely and boyar families.

Boris Fedorovich was a man who had seen a lot. Even the circumstances at the beginning of his life were very difficult. On the way to power, to the throne, he overcame many obstacles. He did this thanks to his charisma, extraordinary mind, as well as his ability to look for the best solutions in any, even the most seemingly hopeless situation.

Personality of Boris Godunov

As has already been said, the Godunov family was not as noble as, for example, the family of the second elected tsar - Vasily Shuisky. However, despite this, even in his youth Boris managed to experience all the “delights” of the oprichnina regime. One might say that he was then in the thick of all the main events. The personality of Boris Godunov is unique in that, having survived the period, he was able to eventually receive royal regalia and the Monomakh Cap.

The following factors probably helped him in this:

• His own decisions and actions;
• Events of his personal life;
• His acquaintances and family connections.

These factors are typical of the political elite of the time. However, not everyone manages to take full advantage of, for example, the same acquaintances and family connections. Members of the Boyar board or administrative apparatus did not always manage to use their personal qualities for their own benefit, or use connections to advance their careers. Boris Godunov was able to do this. He managed, mainly through cunning and maneuvering, to use all his personal qualities and connections, and ultimately find himself at the top.

All titled families came from the descendants of Rurikovich, Gidemin and Olgerd. The bulk of the titled and untitled nobility were represented by various surnames of the Moscow and Tver nobility. But not everyone, of course, was represented in the Boyar Duma. But all political orders developed only recently, starting with the reign of Ivan III, some were presented in his Code of Laws.

It is worth remembering that Muscovite Rus' at that time was an autocratic monarchy. But already under IvanIII, the status of such an important political institution as the Boyar Duma changed. It became the representative body of titled and not so titled boyar aristocratic noble families. Based on this political life, its space has changed, and quite significantly. There was no longer an open confrontation between Tver and Moscow, there were no civil strife. All this stabilized the political situation.

Origin and career of Boris Godunov

Oprichnina and its rules became decisive, as it later became clear, in the career of Boris Fedorovich Godunov. She allowed him and his family to rise and get closer to power. There was not a single Godunov in the Duma until about 1574. The origin of Boris Godunov, namely his family, comes from the same branch as such surnames as:

1. Saburovs;
2. Vilyaminov-Zernov;

Portraiture did not yet exist as a separate art, so it is almost impossible to find a portrait that would resemble the real Boris Fedorovich. He was born around 1550-1552. Having lost his father early, Boris and his younger sister Irina began to be looked after by their uncle Dmitry Ivanovich Godunov, who was not the last person to help Boris move up the career ladder.

His first mention is in the oprichnina ranks of the army; he appears as a solicitor in 1567. It is important to understand that at that time the Sovereign’s court had already been formed, which consisted of:

1. Duma ranks:
   • Members of the Boyar Duma;
   • Officials of the palace departments;
2. Moscow ranks:
   • Moscow nobles;
   • Stolniks are young people serving official receptions (feasts, embassies);
   • Solicitors - served the royal family (they were involved in organizing those who directly looked after the royal family).

Godunov was just such a lawyer, then he is mentioned in 1570-1572, where Boris already acts as steward of Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich the Young. During the same period, he married Maria Grigorievna Belskaya, daughter of Malyuta Skuratov. Malyuta Skuratov was then close to Boris, which was beneficial for Boris himself.

Board of Boris Godunov

The reign of Boris Godunov, his presence directly in power can be considered back to 1575-76. under Tsar Ivan IV. It so happened that his marriage with Skuratov’s daughter, as well as the marriage of his sister with Tsarevich Fyodor Ivanovich in the fall of 1574, became favorable. Boris Fedorovich was now part of the tsar’s closest circle of friends.

In 1577, he received the position of kravchiy, that is, responsible for the sovereign’s drinking during meals. He was involved in organizing production and purchasing drinks. This position also implied direct communication with the sovereign. In 1580, Boris Fedorovich finally became a boyar.

March 1584 - death of Ivan IV, he died very quickly 5-6 hours after signs of illness appeared. They began to think and decide what to do next. All the Nagi were immediately escorted out of the Kremlin, except for the last wife Maria and son Dmitry. Then the Nagiye were appointed governors to the most distant cities of the North and Siberia. Many close associates were removed, and the Godunov surname did not pretend to anything at all.

Bogdan Belsky began to play a special place, but an uprising occurred to prevent him from coming to power. Many boyars organized an alliance against Belsky, he found himself in disgrace and exiled. Then the political struggle continues. It includes two important events:

1. The Metropolitan blesses. On May 31, 1584, the Council takes place - the wedding;
2. A little earlier, Dmitry and his mother were sent to Uglich, plus they were provided with a full staff of servants.

There were two political trends who laid claim to power, not in the literal sense, of course. They laid claim to a place next to the future tsar, who most likely would be Fyodor Ivanovich. On the one hand, this is Boris Godunov, his uncle and Nikita Zakharyin-Yuryev and the rest, and on the other, such famous boyar families as the Shuiskys, Mstislavskys and others. From the end of May, Godunov began to be in charge of the stables, which was very important and prestigious.

Politics of Boris Godunov

The political struggle continued until 1587. Boris Fedorovich's victory was achieved thanks to his alliance with Nikita Romanovich Zakharyin-Yuryev. When Nikita Romanovich fell ill, Boris promised to take care of his children. Such cooperation provided support for Godunov from the children, relatives and friends of Nikita Zakharyin-Yuryev.

In 1591, a raid was carried out by the Crimean Khan. The army was about 100 thousand people. Sweden also supported the Khan. Khan reached the capital and settled in Kolomna. There was a siege regiment in Gulyai-gorod, commanded by Boris Godunov. He managed to repel the attacks of the Crimean Khan. This victory brought unprecedented glory to Godunov; he was given many gifts. Fyodor Nikitich Romanov, on behalf of the Tsar, informed Boris Fedorovich that he was complaining about the title of servant. It was very honorable; there were only three such people in Russia:

• Prince Starodubsky;
• Prince Ivan Vorotynsky;
• Prince Mikhail Vorotynsky.

Boris Godunov's policy was smart, subtle and calculating. The title of servant made Godunov actually the steward of the Sovereign.

1. Godunov gradually removed all the Shuisky princes from power, in particular Ivan Petrovich, who was in opposition to Boris;
2. 1591 - in Uglich, the investigation commission was headed by Vasily Shuisky, who had recently returned from exile. Maria Nagaya was tonsured a nun, and Dmitry's death was declared accidental;
3. Several large fires occurred in the capital. It was found that these were deliberate arson attacks. Godunov gave the order to quickly restore the burned areas, which was carried out.

Under Boris Fedorovich, relations with England, in particular trade, strengthened; an important truce was concluded with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth for 12 years. A long truce made it possible to maintain calm in the West of Muscovite Rus'. After the failure of the Crimean Khan, Sweden also calmed down, and peace was made with it. And then with the Crimean Khanate. Muscovite Rus' gradually stabilized relations with its neighbors.

Death of Tsarevich Dmitry in Uglich. May 1591

Crowning of Boris Fedorovich Godunov

1595 - introduction of a 5-year period for searching fugitive peasants. This is only one of the steps towards the enslavement of the peasants. The 5-year period of investigation did not completely enslave the peasants. This will be done only in the Council Code of 1649 under Alexei Mikhailovich. Only draft peasants were subject to this rule, but not their children, for example. In addition, the investigation was carried out not by the state, but by the peasant owner himself.

In 1598, on January 6-7, Fyodor Ivanovich died; they had no heirs in the male line. We began to think about how to proceed. For some time after the death of her husband, Irina ruled, but soon she decided to go to the monastery. This was quite common during that time period. She did this on the 9th day according to custom.

By mid-February, the Zemsky Sobor was meeting, mainly representatives of the Sovereign's court were present. The main decision that needed to be made was to choose a new king. On February 17, the Council decision was made. The crowning of Boris Fedorovich Godunov took place in September 1598. Patriarch Job took the most active part in making this decision.

In 1598 the culmination of his political career was reached. The crowning of the kingdom became the pinnacle that Boris Fedorovich had been striving for for many years. He was ready to take on the burden of power, but many circumstances occurred that prevented him from staying on the throne for a long time.

Tsar Boris Godunov

Tsar Boris Godunov became the ruler who was elected by the Zemsky Sobor for the first time in the history of our country. In 1599-1600 became a period of intensified political struggle. The peak and culmination of this struggle was the disgrace against the Romanovs, which dates back to November 1600. The disgrace was supported by various accusations, in particular, the Romanovs were accused of witchcraft and the intention to poison the tsar's family. All the Romanovs found themselves in disgrace. However, after two or three years, many began to be returned from exile.

In 1601-1604. This is a period of disaster in the agricultural sector. Immediately there was a crop failure for 4 years in a row, resulting in famine and uprisings. The uprisings did not happen immediately, but only after the situation had stabilized a little.

• Active “trades” of robbers;
• Khlopko's uprising - 1602-1603;
• The first appearance on the territory of Muscovite Rus' of False Dmitry I (Grigory Otrepiev).

In such a situation, many people supported False Dmitry, and not Boris Fedorovich. False Dmitry I also had Polish troops with him. He appeared on the territory of the country just at the most opportune moment - a moment when many representatives of different social strata became disillusioned with the new king and his rule.

In 1605, there was already an open military confrontation between False Dmitry and Boris Godunov, in which the tsarist army was unable to completely defeat the troops. In addition, during these military operations in April 1605, Boris suddenly dies. Fyodor's son was immediately crowned king, but he ruled for only a couple of months. In early June, during an uprising in the capital, he and his mother were killed.

Boris's body was taken from the Archangel Cathedral to another monastery, and later the tomb of the Godunovs was built in the Trinity Sergius Monastery. This is how the life and reign of the first elected Tsar, Boris Godunov, ended.

Boris Fedorovich Godunov video

PERSONALITY OF BORIS GODUNOV

PERSONALITY OF BORIS GODUNOV

Introduction

The beginning of the way

It's time for testing

Persecution of boyars

Establishment of the Patriarchate

Foreign policy successes

Uglich drama

"Saved Summers"

Zemsky Sobor of 1598

Successful start to Boris's reign

Great famine. The collapse of Godunov.

Bibliography

Introduction

The personality of Boris Godunov, his unheard-of rise and tragic end captured the imagination of his contemporaries and attracted the attention of historians, writers, poets, artists, and musicians. There is nothing surprising. Life path Boris Godunov is extremely unusual. Having started his service as an ordinary nobleman, Boris took the post of ruler under the weak-minded tsar, and then became the ruler of a huge power.

At this time, Russia entered a period of difficult trials. Major natural disasters undermined its productive forces for decades. A long war completed the matter. Indescribable devastation reigned in the country. After the conquest of Narva, the Russians owned a seaport on the Baltic for almost a quarter of a century. Having lost the Livonian War, the state lost the “Narva navigation” necessary for the development of trade in Western Europe. The military defeat undermined Russia's international position.

External failures aggravated the acute internal crisis. Its origins were rooted in the relations between the two main classes of feudal society - landowners and peasants. At the end of the 16th century, the selfish interests of the nobility triumphed. The shackles of serfdom bound the million-strong Russian peasantry.

The oprichnina storm cleared the field of activity for many noble nobles. Boris Godunov was among them. He owed his first successes to the oprichnina. Ivan the Terrible's idea split the feudal class into two rival camps. She left behind many difficult problems. As a ruler, Godunov came face to face with them.

Boris's life was accompanied by many dramatic events. In the first years of his reign, Tsarevich Dmitry, the last scion of a three-hundred-year-old Moscow dynasty, died in Uglich. The mysterious double of the deceased became a source of irreparable trouble for Godunov and his family. The fragile dynasty was driven from the throne by an impostor.

The writer and historian N.M. Karamzin once argued that Godunov could have earned the fame of one of the best rulers in the world if he had been born on the throne.

In Karamzin's eyes, only legitimate autocrats were the bearers of state order. Bori usurped power by killing the last member of the royal dynasty, and therefore providence itself doomed him to death.

The noble historiographer’s judgments about Godunov were not very deep. A.S. Pushkin understood the historical past incomparably better. He saw the origins of Godunov's tragedy in the attitude of the people to power. Boris died because his own people turned away from him. The peasants did not forgive him for canceling the ancient St. George's Day, which protected their freedom.

Beginning with V.N. Tatishchev, many historians considered Godunov the creator of the serfdom regime. V. O. Klyuchevsky held a different view: “... The opinion about the establishment of serfdom among the peasants belongs to our historical fairy tales.”

Klyuchevsky dismissed Godunov’s accusations of many bloody crimes as slander. With bright colors he painted a portrait of a man endowed with intelligence and talent, but always suspected of duplicity, deceit and heartlessness. A mysterious mixture of good and evil - that’s how he saw Boris.

S. F. Platonov dedicated a book to Godunov that has not lost its significance today. He also did not consider Boris the initiator of the enslavement of the peasants. In his politics, Platonov argued, Godunov acted as a champion of the national good, linking his fate with the interests of the middle class. Numerous accusations against Boris have not been proven by anyone. But they tarnished the ruler in the eyes of his descendants.

The beginning of the way

Godunov’s ancestors are natural Kostroma residents who have long served as boyars at the Moscow court. The eldest branch of the family, the Saburovs, flourished until the time of Ivan the Terrible, while the younger branches, the Godunovs and Velyaninovs, withered and fell into decay. The former Kostroma boyars Godunovs eventually became Vyazma landowners. Driven out of the narrow circle of the ruling boyars into the category of provincial nobles, they ceased to receive court ranks and responsible voivodeship appointments.

Dmitry Godunov did not belong to the galaxy of founders of the oprichnina. He received his first Duma rank thanks to an accidental circumstance - the sudden death of the bed servant Naumov. Godunov took the vacant post of head of the Bed Prikaz at a time when the first pages of the oprichnina history were already filled.

Now, encouraged by the tsar’s successes, the boyars demanded a complete abolition of the oprichnina. The upper classes of the feudal class expressed dissatisfaction. The throne shook. Ivan sought in vain for reconciliation with the Zemshchina. And here the frightened leaders of the oprichnina for the first time resorted to mass executions. The wave of terror brought to the surface such adventurers as Malyuta Skuratov and Vasily Gryaznoy. Malyuta Skuratov occupied one of the lowest levels in the monastic hierarchy: he was listed as a sexton. But the fame of his exploits spread throughout the country. The last victims of the oprichnina were its own creators. Among the highest palace ranks, only one bed servant, Godunov, survived. The union of Skuratov and Godunov arose under the roof of the Bed Order. Only an efficient and omnipresent person, capable of furnishing the life of the royal family with unheard-of luxury, could be a bed-maker. Dmitry Godunov was quite suitable for such a role. Tsar Ivan valued home comforts and could not do without his services. The bed order was responsible for the protection of the royal chambers at night. Guided by political calculations, Skuratov married his daughter to his nephew Dmitry Godunov. So Boris turned out to be the son-in-law of the all-powerful chief of the guardsmen.

V. O. Klyuchevsky once wrote that Boris Godunov did not stain himself with service in the oprichnina and did not lower himself in the eyes of society. But this is not entirely true. In fact, Boris put on the oprichnina caftan when he barely reached adulthood. While serving in his uncle's department, he soon received his first court rank. As a solicitor, Boris performed chamberlain duties at court. The troubled oprichnina times were not very conducive to Boris's education. His younger contemporaries considered him completely illiterate. But be that as it may, in his youth Boris received only the beginnings of an education. Contemporaries could not forgive him for his poor knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. So, by the standards of the 16th century, Godunov was a poorly educated gentleman. With the abolition of the oprichnina and the death of Malyuta, the life of the court underwent great changes. Unable to maintain kinship with Tsarevich Ivan, the Godunovs decided to establish themselves at the court of his younger brother, Tsarevich Fyodor. Entering into his fifth marriage, Tsar Ivan announced that he intended to marry his youngest son. Dmitry Godunov hastened to take matters into his own hands and wooed his niece Irina Godunova to the prince. All of Fyodor’s vices were of little importance in the eyes of the bed guard and his nephew. Tsar Ivan, having defeated the imaginary conspiracy in the “yard” Duma, began organizing a new oprichnina, which received the name “usat”. At the end of his life, the tsar almost completely stopped filling both dumas with boyars. An exception was made for the Godunovs alone. Former Vyazma landowner Dmitry Godunov was awarded the rank of boyar. His many years of service as part of the oprichnina, the “court” and the “destiny” received the highest rating. Thirty-year-old Boris Godunov did not have any state merits, but the tsar elevated him to boyar dignity. The Tsar constantly entrusted the Godunovs with the care of their youngest son. When going on military campaigns, he left Fedor in a safe place under their supervision. Boris's position was very honorable, but it limited his field of activity to the walls of the palace. And Boris diligently comprehended the secrets of palace intrigue.

At the end of the Livonian War, events occurred in the royal family that radically changed the fate of the Godunovs. In November 1581, the king quarreled with his eldest son and, in a fit of anger, beat him. From a terrible nervous shock and beatings, Tsarevich Ivan fell ill and soon died. The death of his elder brother opened the path to the throne for Fedor. This death was extremely beneficial for Fedor’s entourage.

Ivan the Terrible's will dealt a mortal blow to the ambitious plans of the Godunovs. As Fyodor's closest relatives, they were now preparing to take the reins of power into their own hands. To achieve power, there was only one step left to take. It was at this moment that an insurmountable obstacle arose on their way, erected by the will of Tsar Ivan - the regency council. During the life of Ivan the Terrible, his will had a decisive influence on events. But with his death - and Ivan IV died in March 1584 - everything changed. Fearing unrest, the government tried to hide the truth from the people and announced that there was still hope for the sovereign’s recovery. But despite the efforts of the authorities, the news of the king’s death still spread throughout the city and caused unrest among the people. Fear of an imminent uprising prompted the boyars to rush to resolve the issue of Ivan the Terrible's successor. In the dead of night they took the oath to the heir, Tsarevich Fyodor. On May 31, 1584, the capital solemnly celebrated the coronation of the new king. Feodor was crowned according to the rank of wedding of the Byzantine emperors. The long ceremony tired him. Without waiting for the end of the coronation, he handed over the Monomakh cap to the boyar Prince Mstislavsky, and the heavy golden apple (“power”) to Boris Godunov. This insignificant episode shocked those present. During the days of the coronation, Fyodor elevated his brother-in-law to the rank of equerry.