On the evening of January 7, 1598, Mikhail Nikitich Romanov came to visit his elder brother Fyodor in the white-stone chambers in Zaryadye, famous throughout Moscow. Jumping out of the sleigh and shivering from the bitter cold, he almost ran towards the door.Inside, the walls and ceiling of the chambers were generously decorated with paintings, narrow windows with a semicircular top were covered with carved bars, benches along the walls were upholstered in red velvet. The host was seated at a long oak table laden with jugs, dishes, jugs, and goblets. Fyodor, seeing his brother, smiled and pointed to a chair upholstered in embossed leather, inviting him to join the meal. But he, gesturing for the servants to leave, immediately blurted out:- The king is dead!Fyodor Nikitich gasped, crossed himself at the red corner, muttering hastily "Peace, Lord," and impatiently asked:Who did you leave as heir?Michael spread his hands.- Nobody. He said - everything is the will of God, and with t

In the middle of the huge hall for receptions stood a table filled with dishes and candelabra and many chairs, and at the head of the table Dimitri saw the same chair as in his room. The guests bowed in respect. A tall, stout gentleman of about fifty with slicked-back hair and a long black beard stepped forward, dressed in a dark blue coat and burgundy kuntush. It was the owner of Sambor, the governor of Sandomierz, Jerzy Mniszek. He warmly and respectfully greeted Demetrius and even asked permission to hug him. After talking for a couple of minutes with the prince and princes Vishnevetsky, he made a broad gesture with his hand, pointing to a young man and a girl of about fifteen standing among the guests.- Let me introduce you, Pan Dimitri, my son Nikolai and daughter Marianna, or in Russian - Marina.They approached and bowed. The prince bowed his head, and, raising it, met Marina's eyes and ... It seemed to him that the whole world around him had disappeared, he could not see anyt

Unlike Demetrius, who attracted more and more supporters with his wise actions, the tsarist governors, and Godunov himself, made mistake after mistake. After the victory at Bryansk, Shuisky, furious that all the surrounding towns and villages supported the "imposter", ordered the local population to be killed indiscriminately. Hundreds of families were slaughtered and hanged, and the inhabitants of the Seversk land, seeing such lawlessness, swore allegiance to Demetrius and swore to fight to the death. Everyone understood that those who surrendered would not be spared cruel reprisals.Meanwhile, Boris, having received detailed reports of the victory, sent Peter Sheremetyev to the army, who expressed royal disfavor to Shuisky and the whole army for not being able to capture Dimitri "by their negligence and non-service." The governors, among whom there were many "wavering", were seriously offended, and although they had not yet openly opposed Godunov, they were already thinking about mo

Two days later, Prince Rubets-Mosalsky was already in Tula and informed Dimitri that Fyodor and Maria Godunova had been poisoned. Having crossed himself, the tsarevich ordered to get ready and the next day went to Moscow. On the way, he drove into villages and villages, everywhere he was met with bread and salt, joyful cries and assurances of humility. The prince spoke kindly to everyone, promising to be not a judge, but a father.Finally, on June 20, 1605, Demetrius entered the capital through the Serpukhov Gates. Ahead of him marched the Polish guards, an equestrian squad with trumpets and fluttering banners, drummers marched behind them, priests with crosses walked sedately behind them, behind - Cossacks, archers in scarlet caftans and other troops. The procession was closed by a huge number of carriages and wagons, in which the boyars and prominent citizens from all over the Russian kingdom rode. In the midst of all this splendor, on a richly decorated horse, the prince rode in fu

Three more times Dimitri came to Xenia, trying to get her to talk. Every time she had her mother with her, whom he immediately sent away, but he did not succeed in dispelling the horror that fettered the girl at the sight of him. Gradually the king began to lose patience and get angry. “But what is it?” he thought furiously. He tried again and again to find the words, trying to get through to her heart, but nothing worked. The girl was mortally afraid of him, and at the slightest attempt by Dimitry to touch her, she pressed herself frightened against the wall. Her resistance turned on and irritated him. Finally, unable to stand it, he barked:- Don't you dare piss me off! My will is royal, I want to - I'll take it by force!Xenia cringed, huddled into a ball, but said nothing. Dimitri took a breath and said sternly:- God knows, I wanted to be kind. Next time, I hope you'll be nicer to me. And no - so do not blame me. You are my heart, and I do not intend to wait more.***The Pope se