Time of Troubles

Quick Facts: Who was Time of Troubles?

Subject:

Time of Troubles

Known for:

A period of profound political crisis, famine, and foreign invasion in 17th-century Russia.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Time of Troubles (Russian: Смутное время, romanized: Smutnoye vremya), also known as Smuta (Russian: Смута, lit. 'troubles'), was a period of political crisis in Russia which began in 1598 with the death of Feodor I, the last of the House of Rurik, and ended in 1613 with the accession of Michael I of the House of Romanov at the 1613 Zemsky Sobor. It was a period of deep social crisis and lawlessness following the death of Feodor I, a weak and possibly intellectually disabled ruler who died without an heir. His death ended the main line of the Rurik dynasty, leading to a violent succession crisis with numerous usurpers and false Dmitrys (impostors) claiming the title of tsar. Russia experienced the famine of 1601–1603, which killed almost a third of the population, within three years of Feodor's death.

Career & Major Achievements

Russia was also occupied by the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the Polish–Russian War and lost Smolensk. The Time of Troubles ended with the election of Michael Romanov as tsar by the Zemsky Sobor of 1613, establishing the Romanov dynasty, which ruled Russia until the February Revolution in 1917. Tsar Feodor I was the second adult son of Ivan the Terrible, the first tsar of Russia. Feodor's elder brother, Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich, was the heir apparent; Feodor was never considered a serious candidate for the Russian throne. However, Tsarevich Ivan was allegedly killed in anger by his father on 19 November 1581, making Feodor the new heir apparent.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

According to the historian Chester Dunning, "Tsar Ivan knew perfectly well that Fedor could not rule on his own; before his own death in 1584, he set up a council of regents to govern in his son's name. Ivan named as regents two leading boyars; Fedor's uncle, Nikita Romanovich Zakharyin-Yuriev (head of the Romanov clan), and Prince Ivan F. Mstislavsky; he also named two leading members of his own court: a premier prince of the blood, the popular and heroic Prince Ivan Petrovich Shuisky, and Fedor's brother-in-law, Boris Godunov. On the day of the coronation, Boris was named koniushii boiarin (master of the horse or equerry) – a title that immediately identified him as the most powerful member of the boyar council. Prince Ivan Mstislavsky made a bid for power in 1585. He was stopped by the other regents and was forced to become a monk – which in Russia was an irreversible step.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1581: 1581 Milestone — However, Tsarevich Ivan was allegedly killed in anger by his father on 19 November 1581, making Feodor the new heir apparent.
2. 1584: 1584 Milestone — According to the historian Chester Dunning, "Tsar Ivan knew perfectly well that Fedor could not rule on his own; before his own death in 1584, he set up a council of regents to govern in his son's name.
3. 1585: 1585 Milestone — Prince Ivan Mstislavsky made a bid for power in 1585.
4. 1598: 1598 Milestone — 'troubles'), was a period of political crisis in Russia which began in 1598 with the death of Feodor I, the last of the House of Rurik, and ended in 1613 with the accession of Michael I of the House of Romanov at the 1613 Zemsky Sobor.
5. 1601: 1601 Milestone — Russia experienced the famine of 1601–1603, which killed almost a third of the population, within three years of Feodor's death.
6. 1613: 1613 Milestone — The Time of Troubles ended with the election of Michael Romanov as tsar by the Zemsky Sobor of 1613, establishing the Romanov dynasty, which ruled Russia until the February Revolution in 1917.

Notable Quotes by Time of Troubles

“The tsar's death without an heir brought to an end the only ruling dynasty Moscow had ever known.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Time of Troubles

True or False: “The Time of Troubles was solely caused by internal power struggles among the boyars and usurpers.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While internal strife was major, the period also involved devastating famine (1601–1603) and foreign military occupation by the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abraham Ortelius — Historical peer (Died in 1598) (1598): Pioneering cartographer, creator of the first modern atlas, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum.
• Alessandro Algardi — Historical peer (Born in 1598) (1598): Master of High-Baroque Sculpture, renowned for his portrait busts in Rome.
• André Le Nôtre — Historical peer (Born in 1613) (1613): Master French landscape architect, famed for the formal gardens of Versailles.
• Carlo Gesualdo — Historical peer (Died in 1613) (1613): Italian composer, prince, and controversial figure known for chromatic madrigals and his infamous homicide.
• Anne of Austria — Historical peer (Born in 1601) (1601): Queen of France, mother of Louis XIV, and powerful regent during the Fronde.
• Kobayakawa Hidekane — Historical peer (Died in 1601) (1601): Samurai warrior known for gunnery skill, pivotal figure in late Sengoku period conflicts.
• Abel Tasman — Historical peer (Born in 1603) (1603): Dutch explorer famed for charting Tasmania and New Zealand for the VOC.
• Ahmad al-Mansur — Historical peer (Died in 1603) (1603): Saadi Sultan of Morocco, known as 'the Golden' for his influence in the 16th century.
• Abdullah al-Sallal — Historical peer (Born in 1917) (1917): Yemeni military officer and revolutionary who led the North Yemeni Revolution of 1962.
• Adolf von Baeyer — Historical peer (Died in 1917) (1917): Pioneering German chemist known for indigo synthesis and IUPAC nomenclature.

Frequently Asked Questions about Time of Troubles