Ivan Bolotnikov
I. I. Bolotnikov is the guilty before Tsar Vasili Shuisky | |
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https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Файл:Bolotnikov_s_povinnoy.jpg |
Ivan Isayevich Bolotnikov[a] (Russian: Ива́н Иса́евич Боло́тников; 1565–1608) headed a popular uprising in Russia in 1606–1607 known as the Bolotnikov Rebellion (Восстание Ивана Болотникова). The uprising formed part of the Time of Troubles in Russia.
Early life
Describing Bolotnikov, Paul Avrich states, "Contemporaries depict him as a tall and powerfully-built, and an intelligent and energetic leader." Bolotnikov was a slave of Prince Andrei Teliatevsky, before running away to join the Cossacks along the steppe frontier between Muscovy and the Crimean Khanate. Captured by the Crimean Tatars, he was sold into slavery as a helmsman for a Turkish galley. Liberated in a sea battle by German ships, he was taken to Venice. Journeying back to Muscovy, he passed through Poland, where he heard tales of the Tsar Dmitri. This led Bolotnikov to Sambor, where he met Mikhail Molchanov. Molochanov was part of the group who had murdered Feodor Godunov, and subsequently a confederate of Grigori Shakhovskoi, plotting a revolt against Moscow via a new pseudo-Dmitri. In June or July 1606, Molchanov sent Bolotnikov onwards to Putivl with a letter stating he was a servant of the Tsar Dmitri.[1]
Rebellion
Molchanov sent Ivan Bolotnikov to the town of
Siege
Shakhovskoi made Bolotnikov Bolshoi Woywoden of the Putivl garrison, and according to Avrich, augmented that force with "fugitive peasants, impoverished townsmen, Cossacks, slaves, brigands, and drifters of every description who had flocked to Putivl to join the rebellion." Many were veterans of the
Turning point
On 15 November, Liapunov, after being offered higher rank, a seat on the boyar council, and much silver, went over to the tsar with his Riazin militia. The tsar received additional reinforcements from Smolensk and the Northern Dvina. On 26 November, Istoma Pashkov went over to the tsar. On 2 December, Skopin-Shuisky attacked Kolomenskoe and Zaborie, forcing Bolotnikov to retreat southwards to Serpkhov, then onwards to Kaluga, where he underwent a siege for the next six months.[1]
Help from Prince Andrei Telyatevsky
In the spring of 1607, another imposter by the name of False Peter (also known as Ileyka Muromets; he claimed to be the son of Feodor I of Russia) came to Tula with a whole mob of robbers to meet with Prince Grigory Shakhovskoy. Immediately after this, the latter dispatched Prince Andrei Telyatevsky and his men to help out Ivan Bolotnikov, forcing Prince Mstislavsky to lift the siege of Kaluga. Bolotnikov moved to Tula. Thus, all the rebels met together in one place, their joint forces numbering some 30,000 people. It was then that Vasili Shuisky decided to attack all of them at once and left Moscow on May 21, 1607. He besieged Tula, but the insurgents managed to hold out until October despite deprivations and hunger. Bolotnikov sent letters to False Dmitry II in Starodub asking for help, but to no avail.[3]
Surrender and death
Finally, Bolotnikov decided to negotiate his surrender. The tsar promised to pardon the insurgents in return for Tula. On October 10, the rebels surrendered to the authorities. Shuisky, however, did not keep his promise. Instead, he transported all of the rebel leaders to Moscow on October 30, and then executed each of them in a different way. Ivan Bolotnikov was transported to Kargopol, blinded and then drowned.[2]
Sources
This article includes content derived from the Russian Biographical Dictionary, 1896–1918.
References
- ^ In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Isayevich and the family name is Bolotnikov.