Bogdan Belsky
Encyclopedia
Bogdan Yakovlevich Belsky (died 1611) was a Russia
n statesman
and a close associate of Ivan the Terrible.
Bogdan was not related to the great Gedyminid princely family of the same name
. It is believed that he became welcome at the royal court owing to his kinship with Malyuta Skuratov
. His name was first mentioned in 1571, when Belsky was tsar
's bodyguard
(rynda
) during his military campaigns. He would soon become tsar's closest associate and would even sleep in his chamber.
Ivan never promoted Belsky to any significant post or changed his official status, not even after Belsky had forced one of the most important fortresses - Wolmar - to surrender in 1577 during the Livonian War
. For this, he was only repaid with a Portuguese
gold
coin and a golden chain
. In 1578, Bodgan Belsky was appointed oruzhnichiy (оружничий, or keeper of tsar's weapons) and wouldn't make his way up any further. In reality, Belsky was Ivan's vremenshchik (временщик), or minion. The tsar would entrust him his intimate affairs, such as inquiries about his potential fiancée Mary Hastings (1581), and negotiations with Jerome Bowes
, the English ambassador, about the tsar's possible marriage with this lady (1583–1584).
Belsky was also in charge of the fortunetellers, who had been gathered from all over Russia after the appearance of a comet
and who had foretold the tsar's death. Ivan died in Belsky's arms, when they sat down to play chess
. There are indications that Ivan entrusted Belsky with his younger son Dmitry Ivanovich.
parties emerged. Bogdan Belsky sided with the Nagoys (relatives of Maria Nagaya
, the tsarina). Boris Godunov
was the only influential boyar to offer protection to Belsky. After the exile of Dmitry Ivanovich and the Nagoys to Uglich
, the frontrunning boyars joined their efforts in their struggle against Bogdan Belsky, inciting the citizens of Moscow
. He was blamed for the death of Ivan and accused of plotting to murder Feodor I
in order to transfer power to Boris Godunov or even seize it himself. On hearing the news of Belsky's removal to Nizhny Novgorod
(1584), the Muscovite
s calmed down. They didn't know, however, that he had been sent there as a voivode.
In 1591, Bogdan Belsky was among those who fought with the Crimean Khanate
. In 1592, he took part in the Finnish Campaign. In 1593, Belsky was among those sent to negotiate peace with the Crimean khan. Upon Feodor I's death in 1598, Bogdan Belsky returned to Moscow and nominated himself for the throne. He failed, however, and soon began his anti-Godunov campaign seemingly in favor of Simeon Bekbulatovich
. Tsar Boris Godunov appointed Belsky okolnichy
and hastily sent him away from Moscow, ordering him to build the town of Tsaryov-Borisov on the shores of the Donets River (1599–1600). Belsky's continuing defiance in the outlying region of Russia put the tsar against him; Belsky tried to win the favor of the service class people
and is known to have said once that Boris was the tsar in Moscow, and he was the tsar in Borisov. In 1601, Belsky was deassigned from Borisov, subjected to corporal punishment
(they say that Godunov ordered his beard plucked), stripped of his property, and sent to prison in the provinces.
on the day of False Dmitry I’s arrival in Moscow, he tried to convince the Muscovites of the latter’s royal origins. Later on, False Dmitry I would bestow the rank of boyar upon him. When Vasili IV
came to power, he sent Belsky away from Moscow to Kazan
as a voivode. It is still unknown whether Bogdan Belsky pledged allegiance to Wladislaus IV or not, but his name was not on list of those, who had been asking for mercy from the Polish
king Sigismund III Vasa
and his son. When in 1611 the citizens of Kazan decided to swear allegiance to False Dmitry II
(also known as Thief of Tushino
), Belsky tried to talk them out of it and refused to submit to the impostor. For this, he was killed by a mob in 1611.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
and a close associate of Ivan the Terrible.
Bogdan was not related to the great Gedyminid princely family of the same name
Belsky
The Belsky or Belski family was a princely family of Gediminid origin in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. It later deflected to the Grand Duchy of Moscow and played a key role during the regency of Ivan IV of Russia. The family started with Ivan Vladimirovich, son of Vladimir Olgerdovich and grandson...
. It is believed that he became welcome at the royal court owing to his kinship with Malyuta Skuratov
Malyuta Skuratov
Grigory Lukyanovich Skuratov-Belskiy , better known as Malyuta Skuratov was one of the most odious leaders of the Oprichnina during the reign of Ivan the Terrible....
. His name was first mentioned in 1571, when Belsky was tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
's bodyguard
Bodyguard
A bodyguard is a type of security operative or government agent who protects a person—usually a famous, wealthy, or politically important figure—from assault, kidnapping, assassination, stalking, loss of confidential information, terrorist attack or other threats.Most important public figures such...
(rynda
Rynda
Rynda was a bodyguard of Russian grand princes and tsars in 16-17th centuries. They were selected from young men of noble origin. They were not court officials and were not paid for the service.The position was abolished by reforms of Peter the Great in 1698....
) during his military campaigns. He would soon become tsar's closest associate and would even sleep in his chamber.
Ivan never promoted Belsky to any significant post or changed his official status, not even after Belsky had forced one of the most important fortresses - Wolmar - to surrender in 1577 during the Livonian War
Livonian War
The Livonian War was fought for control of Old Livonia in the territory of present-day Estonia and Latvia when the Tsardom of Russia faced a varying coalition of Denmark–Norway, the Kingdom of Sweden, the Union of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland.During the period 1558–1578,...
. For this, he was only repaid with a Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
coin and a golden chain
Golden Chain
There are multiple uses for the term Golden Chain:*Golden chain is the common name for the genus Laburnum, and related species of small trees with decorative yellow flowers.*Golden Chain , an alleged group of al Qaeda's wealthy sponsors...
. In 1578, Bodgan Belsky was appointed oruzhnichiy (оружничий, or keeper of tsar's weapons) and wouldn't make his way up any further. In reality, Belsky was Ivan's vremenshchik (временщик), or minion. The tsar would entrust him his intimate affairs, such as inquiries about his potential fiancée Mary Hastings (1581), and negotiations with Jerome Bowes
Jerome Bowes
Sir Jerome Bowes was an English ambassador to Russia and Member of Parliament in England.-Early life:He was of a Durham family, son of John Bowes, who married Anne, daughter of Gunville of Gorleston in Suffolk . His name occurs in the list of the gentlemen who followed Edward Clinton, to France,...
, the English ambassador, about the tsar's possible marriage with this lady (1583–1584).
Belsky was also in charge of the fortunetellers, who had been gathered from all over Russia after the appearance of a comet
Comet
A comet is an icy small Solar System body that, when close enough to the Sun, displays a visible coma and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena are both due to the effects of solar radiation and the solar wind upon the nucleus of the comet...
and who had foretold the tsar's death. Ivan died in Belsky's arms, when they sat down to play chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
. There are indications that Ivan entrusted Belsky with his younger son Dmitry Ivanovich.
Belsky during the reign of Boris Godunov
After the death of Ivan, a number of boyarBoyar
A boyar, or bolyar , was a member of the highest rank of the feudal Moscovian, Kievan Rus'ian, Bulgarian, Wallachian, and Moldavian aristocracies, second only to the ruling princes , from the 10th century through the 17th century....
parties emerged. Bogdan Belsky sided with the Nagoys (relatives of Maria Nagaya
Maria Nagaya
Maria Feodorovna Nagaya was a Russian tsarina and eighth wife of Ivan the Terrible.Maria married Ivan IV in 1581 and a year later gave birth to their son Dmitry. After the Tsar's death in 1584, Nagaya, her son and her brothers were sent into exile to Uglich by Boris Godunov, where she lived...
, the tsarina). Boris Godunov
Boris Godunov
Boris Fyodorovich Godunov was de facto regent of Russia from c. 1585 to 1598 and then the first non-Rurikid tsar from 1598 to 1605. The end of his reign saw Russia descend into the Time of Troubles.-Early years:...
was the only influential boyar to offer protection to Belsky. After the exile of Dmitry Ivanovich and the Nagoys to Uglich
Uglich
Uglich is a historic town in Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia, which stands on the Volga River. Population: A local tradition dates the town's origins to 937. It was first documented in 1148 as Ugliche Pole...
, the frontrunning boyars joined their efforts in their struggle against Bogdan Belsky, inciting the citizens of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. He was blamed for the death of Ivan and accused of plotting to murder Feodor I
Feodor I of Russia
Fyodor I Ivanovich 1598) was the last Rurikid Tsar of Russia , son of Ivan IV and Anastasia Romanovna. In English he is sometimes called Feodor the Bellringer in consequence of his strong faith and inclination to travel the land and ring the bells at churches. However, in Russian the name...
in order to transfer power to Boris Godunov or even seize it himself. On hearing the news of Belsky's removal to Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod , colloquially shortened to Nizhny, is, with the population of 1,250,615, the fifth largest city in Russia, ranking after Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Yekaterinburg...
(1584), the Muscovite
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
s calmed down. They didn't know, however, that he had been sent there as a voivode.
In 1591, Bogdan Belsky was among those who fought with the Crimean Khanate
Crimean Khanate
Crimean Khanate, or Khanate of Crimea , was a state ruled by Crimean Tatars from 1441 to 1783. Its native name was . Its khans were the patrilineal descendants of Toqa Temür, the thirteenth son of Jochi and grandson of Genghis Khan...
. In 1592, he took part in the Finnish Campaign. In 1593, Belsky was among those sent to negotiate peace with the Crimean khan. Upon Feodor I's death in 1598, Bogdan Belsky returned to Moscow and nominated himself for the throne. He failed, however, and soon began his anti-Godunov campaign seemingly in favor of Simeon Bekbulatovich
Simeon Bekbulatovich
Simeon Bekbulatovich was a khan of the Khanate of Qasim. After the period of the Oprichnina , Ivan the Terrible named Simeon Grand Prince of All Rus' . He participated in the Livonian war as a commander of the main regiment of the Muscovite army. Subsequently, he was named Grand Prince of Tver'...
. Tsar Boris Godunov appointed Belsky okolnichy
Okolnichy
Okolnichy was an old rank and a position at the court of Moscow rulers from the Mongol invasion of Rus' until the government reform undertaken by Peter the Great...
and hastily sent him away from Moscow, ordering him to build the town of Tsaryov-Borisov on the shores of the Donets River (1599–1600). Belsky's continuing defiance in the outlying region of Russia put the tsar against him; Belsky tried to win the favor of the service class people
Service class people
Service class people were persons bound by obligations of service, especially military service, to the Muscovite Russian state.In early Siberia, service-men and promyshleniks were the two main classes of the Russian population. Service-men were nominally servants of the tsar, had certain legal...
and is known to have said once that Boris was the tsar in Moscow, and he was the tsar in Borisov. In 1601, Belsky was deassigned from Borisov, subjected to corporal punishment
Corporal punishment
Corporal punishment is a form of physical punishment that involves the deliberate infliction of pain as retribution for an offence, or for the purpose of disciplining or reforming a wrongdoer, or to deter attitudes or behaviour deemed unacceptable...
(they say that Godunov ordered his beard plucked), stripped of his property, and sent to prison in the provinces.
Belsky during the Time of Troubles
Godunov's death in 1605 contributed to Belsky's return to Moscow. Kissing the iconIcon
An icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
on the day of False Dmitry I’s arrival in Moscow, he tried to convince the Muscovites of the latter’s royal origins. Later on, False Dmitry I would bestow the rank of boyar upon him. When Vasili IV
Vasili IV of Russia
Vasili IV of Russia was Tsar of Russia between 1606 and 1610 after the murder of False Dmitriy I. His reign fell during the Time of Troubles....
came to power, he sent Belsky away from Moscow to Kazan
Kazan
Kazan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. With a population of 1,143,546 , it is the eighth most populous city in Russia. Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers in European Russia. In April 2009, the Russian Patent Office granted Kazan the...
as a voivode. It is still unknown whether Bogdan Belsky pledged allegiance to Wladislaus IV or not, but his name was not on list of those, who had been asking for mercy from the Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
king Sigismund III Vasa
Sigismund III Vasa
Sigismund III Vasa was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, a monarch of the united Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1587 to 1632, and King of Sweden from 1592 until he was deposed in 1599...
and his son. When in 1611 the citizens of Kazan decided to swear allegiance to False Dmitry II
False Dmitry II
False Dmitry II , also called the rebel of Tushino, was the second of three pretenders to the Russian throne who claimed to be Tsarevich Dmitry Ivanovich of Russia, the youngest son of Ivan the Terrible...
(also known as Thief of Tushino
Tushino
Tushino is a former village and town to the north of Moscow, which has been part of the city's area since 1960. Between 1939 and 1960, Tushino was classed as a separate town. The Skhodnya River flows across the southern part of Tushino....
), Belsky tried to talk them out of it and refused to submit to the impostor. For this, he was killed by a mob in 1611.