Who was Boris Fyodorovich Godunov?
Q: Who was Boris Fyodorovich Godunov?
A: Boris Fyodorovich Godunov was a famous tsar (emperor) of Russia who ruled as a regent from about 1585 to 1598 and then as tsar from 1598 to 1605.
Q: How did he become Tsar?
A: He had not inherited the throne, but instead became Tsar through his own power and influence.
Q: What is the story of Boris Godunov told in?
A: The story of Boris Godunov is told in Pushkin’s play Boris Godunov and in Mussorgsky’s opera Boris Godunov.
Q: Is the story told by Pushkin and Mussorgsky exactly how it really happened?
A: No, both Pushkin and Mussorgsky had read a book on Russian history written by the court historian Karamzin, written in 1803. Karamzin describes Godunov as a powerful tsar who was also a weak human being, but he changed some historical facts to fit in with this theory.
Q: What made Boris anxious while ruling as Tsar?
A: While ruling as Tsar, Boris was anxious that a pretender would come who would claim to be Dmitri, the son of the previous tsar Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible), and try to get the throne. Dmitri had actually been murdered.
