The Ruling Circles of Russia in the Final Stage of the Time of Troubles

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the position of the boyars and court elites at the final stage of the Time of Troubles (1613–1619). During the Time of Troubles, the boyars lost their authority and influence in the country. After the liberation of Moscow, the boyars, who had been besieged in the Kremlin with the Poles, were forced to retire to their estates and came to Moscow only by February 21. However, the boyars could not unite and nominate a single candidate for the throne. The election of Mikhail Romanov took place without a solid support by the boyar aristocracy and gentry. The decisive role in the election of Mikhail Romanov to the throne belonged to the Cossacks and common people who supported his candidacy. With the ascension of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich to the throne, the traditional position of the Boyar Duma was restored, but this did not ensure the victory of the old boyar aristocracy. The lack of corporate unity among the old aristocracy and serious contradictions between the old boyars and the leaders of the “Sovet Vseia Zemli” contributed to the court group of relatives and favorites of the mother of Tsar Mikhail, headed by Saltykov, coming to power. In the years 1613–1619, the Boyar Duma and the ceremonial ranks were intensively replenished by people from the Romanovs’ circle. The author comes to the conclusion that during the first years of the reign of Mikhail Fyodorovich, the position of the Romanovs in the ruling elite was strengthened, which helped to overcome the political crisis of the Time of Troubles.