Editing Boris Godunov (opera) (section)

==Historical basis of the plot==
{{Gallery
|title=
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|File:Boris Godunov.jpg|{{center|[[Boris Godunov]]<br />(1551–1605)}}
|File:Basil IV.jpg|{{center|[[Vasili IV of Russia|Vasiliy Shuysky]]<br />(1552–1612)}}
|File:Pseudo-Dmitrius.jpg|{{center|[[False Dmitriy I|The Pretender]]<br />(c. 1582–1606)}}
|File:Marina mniszek.jpg|{{center|[[Marina Mniszech]]<br />(1588–1614)}}
}}
An understanding of the drama of ''Boris Godunov'' may be facilitated by a basic knowledge of the historical events surrounding the [[Time of Troubles]], the [[interregnum]] of relative anarchy following the end of the [[Rurik Dynasty|Ryurik Dynasty]] (1598) and preceding the [[Romanov|Romanov Dynasty]] (1613). Key events are as follows:
* ''1584'' – [[Ivan&nbsp;IV]] "The Terrible", the first [[Grand Prince]] of [[Grand Duchy of Moscow|Muscovy]] to officially adopt the title ''[[Tsar]]'' (Caesar), dies. Ivan's successor is his feeble son, [[Fyodor I]], who cares only for spiritual matters and leaves the affairs of state to his capable brother-in-law, [[boyar]] Boris Godunov.
* ''1591'' – Ivan's other son, the eight-year-old Tsarevich Dmitriy Ivanovich, dies under mysterious circumstances in [[Uglich]]. An investigation, ordered by Godunov and carried out by Prince Vasiliy Shuysky, determines that the Tsarevich, while playing with a knife, suffered an epileptic seizure, fell, and died from a self-inflicted wound to the throat. Dmitriy's mother, [[Maria Nagaya]], banished with him to Uglich by Godunov, claims he was assassinated. Rumors linking Boris to the death are circulated by his enemies.
* ''1598'' – Tsar Fyodor&nbsp;I dies. He is the last of the [[Rurik Dynasty|Ryurik Dynasty]], who have ruled Russia for seven centuries. [[Patriarch Job of Moscow]] nominates Boris to succeed as Tsar, despite the rumors that Boris ordered the murder of Dmitriy. Boris agrees to accept the throne only if elected by the [[Zemsky Sobor]]. This the assembly does unanimously, and Boris is crowned the same year.
* ''1601'' – The [[Russian famine of 1601–1603]] undermines Boris Godunov's popularity and the stability of his administration.
[[File:Polish magnates 1576-1586.PNG|thumb|Polish magnates]]
* ''1604'' – A [[pretender]] to the throne appears in [[Poland]], claiming to be Tsarevich Dmitriy, but believed to be in reality one [[False Dmitri I|Grigoriy Otrepyev]]. He gains the support of the [[Szlachta]], [[magnates]], and, upon conversion to [[Roman Catholicism]], the [[Apostolic Nuncio]] [[Claudio Rangoni (bishop of Reggio Emilia)|Claudio Rangoni]]. Obtaining a force of soldiers, he marches on [[Moscow]]. The False Dmitriy's retinue includes the Jesuits Lawicki and Czernikowski, and the monks Varlaam and Misail of the Chudov Monastery. Crossing into Russia, Dmitriy's invasion force is joined by disaffected [[Cossacks]]. However, after a few victories, the campaign falters. Polish mercenaries mutiny and desert.
* ''1605'' – Boris dies of unknown causes. He is succeeded by his son, [[Fyodor&nbsp;II]]. The death of Boris gives new life to the campaign of the [[False Dmitri I|False Dmitriy]]. Boyars who have gone over to the Pretender murder Fyodor&nbsp;II and his mother. The False Dmitriy enters Moscow and is soon crowned. Prince Shuysky begins plotting against him.
* ''1606'' – The Russian boyars oppose Dmitriy's Polish and Catholic alliances. He is murdered shortly after wedding [[Marina Mniszech]], and is succeeded by Vasiliy Shuysky, now [[Vasily IV|Vasiliy&nbsp;IV]].
* ''1610'' – [[Battle of Klushino]] and Polish seizure and occupation of Moscow. Vasiliy&nbsp;IV is [[Deposition (politics)|deposed]], and dies two years later in a Polish prison. Another pretender claiming to be Dmitriy Ivanovich, [[False Dmitry II|False Dmitriy&nbsp;II]], is murdered.
* ''1611'' – Yet a third pretender, [[False Dmitry III|False Dmitriy&nbsp;III]], appears. He is captured and executed in 1612.
* ''1613'' – The Time of Troubles comes to a close with the accession of [[Michael&nbsp;I of Russia|Mikhail Romanov]], son of [[Patriarch Filaret (Feodor Romanov)|Fyodor Romanov]], who had been persecuted under Boris Godunov's reign.

Note: The culpability of Boris in the matter of Dmitriy's death can neither be proved nor disproved. Karamzin accepted his responsibility as fact, and Pushkin and Mussorgsky after him assumed his guilt to be true, at least for the purpose of creating a tragedy in the mold of Shakespeare. Modern historians, however, tend to acquit Boris.