Childbearing as a Direction of the Inner Policy of Late 16th-Century Russia

The authors analyze the approaching dynastic crisis in late 16th-century Russia as a special direction of the policy of Tsar Fedor Ioannovich’s government. The policy was concerned, firstly, with the belittling of the dynastic rights of Dmitry of Uglich, and, secondly, with the attempts of Fedor and his wife Irina Fedorovna to bear their own heir. The latter problem was addressed with the use of all medical and non-medical resources available in the late 16th century: from secret diplomacy, invitation of foreign doctors and an English midwife to Russia to votive building, pilgrimage to monasteries, creating icons dedicated to saints who patron childbearing, and so on. Thirdly, the concentration of the ruling couple on pilgrimage, church building etc., for which much money and time was needed, was connected with the activity of Boris Godunov as the real head of the government. The collapse of this policy after the death of Princess Feodosia was the reason why Boris Godunov attempted to found a new, Godunov dynasty on the Muscovite throne.

Keywords

Russia, dynastic crisis, Tsar Fedor Ioannovich, Tsar Boris Godunov, diplomacy, Russian-English relations, inner policy, votive building

Received

17.06.2022

Publication date

29.07.2022

Number of characters

23509

Cite

GOST	Stolyarova L., Belousov P. “Childbearing” as a Direction of the Inner Policy of Late 16th-Century Russia // ISTORIYA – 2022. – V. 13. – Issue 5 (115) [Electronic resource]. URL: https://history.jes.su/S207987840021613-3-1 (circulation date: 21.05.2024). DOI: 10.18254/S207987840021613-3
MLA	Stolyarova, Lyubovj, Belousov, Peter "“Childbearing” as a Direction of the Inner Policy of Late 16th-Century Russia." ISTORIYA 13.5 (115) (2022) DOI: 10.18254/S207987840021613-3
APA	Stolyarova L., Belousov P. (2022). “Childbearing” as a Direction of the Inner Policy of Late 16th-Century Russia. ISTORIYA 13(5 (115)) DOI: 10.18254/S207987840021613-3

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