False Dmitry II

Pseudo-Dimitrij

False Dmitry II (Russian: Лжедмитрий II), also known as the Rebel of Tushino, was a pretender to the Russian throne. He is one of the most enigmatic figures of the Time of Troubles, a period of chaos and civil unrest in Russia from 1598 to 1613, following the death of Tsar Feodor I. False Dmitry II claimed to be Dmitry Ivanovich, the youngest son of Ivan the Terrible, who had died under mysterious circumstances in 1591. His appearance and claim to the throne sparked a series of events that further plunged Russia into a state of turmoil.

Background

The Time of Troubles began with the death of Tsar Feodor I, the last of the Rurik Dynasty, leaving Russia without a clear heir to the throne. This period was marked by famine, social unrest, foreign invasion, and the struggle for power among Russia's nobility, known as the boyars. The first False Dmitry, known as False Dmitry I, appeared in 1603, claiming to be the presumed dead son of Ivan the Terrible. His claim was initially supported by many within Russia and by foreign powers, but he was eventually killed in 1606.

Rise of False Dmitry II

Following the death of False Dmitry I, another pretender emerged in 1607, claiming to be the same Dmitry Ivanovich. This second False Dmitry established his court in Tushino, a village outside of Moscow, hence his nickname, the Rebel of Tushino. He managed to gather a significant following, including those disenchanted with the current Tsar, Vasily IV, as well as various Cossack elements and Polish adventurers, attracted by the promise of plunder.

Reign and Downfall

False Dmitry II's "reign" from Tushino was marked by his attempts to capture Moscow and legitimize his claim to the throne. He was recognized as Tsar by some of the Russian nobility and even married Marina Mniszech, who had been the wife of the first False Dmitry, in an effort to strengthen his position. However, his support began to wane as Tsar Vasily IV consolidated power and made alliances with other Russian regions and foreign states.

The turning point came when a third pretender, False Dmitry III, appeared, further complicating the struggle for power. Additionally, the intervention of Swedish and Polish forces in Russian affairs, each supporting different factions, added to the chaos. False Dmitry II was eventually betrayed by his own followers and killed in 1610, and his body was displayed in Moscow as a warning to other would-be usurpers.

Legacy

The phenomenon of the False Dmitries added to the complexity of the Time of Troubles, highlighting the vulnerabilities in the Russian political system and the deep divisions within the country. The eventual end of the Time of Troubles came with the establishment of the Romanov Dynasty in 1613, which would rule Russia until the Russian Revolution in 1917.

False Dmitry II's attempt to seize the throne, despite ultimately failing, is a testament to the turbulent period in Russian history where the legitimacy of power was fiercely contested, and the fate of the nation hung in the balance.