Tsarevna Xenia Borisovna of Russia
Encyclopedia
Xenia Borisovna Godunova (1582–1622) was a Russian Tsarevna
, daughter of Tsar Boris Godunov
, and sister of Tsar Feodor II of Russia
.
She was very beautiful and well educated. Among her fiances were:
Xenia remained a maiden until her father's death in 1605, when her brother Feodor become a Tsar. Some months later, when the Time of Troubles
started, her mother and her brother, Feodor, were killed by order of False Dmitriy I
.
She was spared, but False Dmitriy raped her and kept her in his palace as a concubine lasting five months. Before the arrival of his bride Marina Mniszech
, Xenia was sent to the Voskesesnsky Monastery
in Beloozero and forced to take monastic vows, whereupon she was given the name "Olga". Subsequently, she was transferred to the Assumption Princess Monastery in Vladimir
.
In 1606 she sojourned to the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius to attend the reburial of her father; vestments she sewed as a nun are on display at that Lavra.
Her name is inscribed as "the Nun Olga Borisovna" at the crypt of the Godunovs near the entrance of the Assumption Cathedral at Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra where she is buried with her parents and brother.
, where Princess Xenia was played by actress Violetta Davydovskaya.
Tsarevna
Tsarevna or czarevna is the daughter of a Tsar or Tsaritsa, similar to a princess being the daughter of a King or Queen. A Tsarevna could also be the wife to a Tsar's son....
, daughter of Tsar 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:...
, and sister of Tsar Feodor II of Russia
Feodor II of Russia
Fyodor II Borisovich Godunov of Russia was a tsar of Russia during the Time of Troubles. He was born in Moscow, the son and successor to Boris Godunov...
.
She was very beautiful and well educated. Among her fiances were:
- Prince Gustav of SwedenPrince Gustav of SwedenPrince Gustav of Sweden, or Gustav Eriksson Vasa was a Swedish prince and the son of king Eric XIV of Sweden and Karin Månsdotter....
, who arrived in Moscow in 1600, but the engagement was broken because of his dissolute life. - John, Prince of Schleswig-HolsteinJohn, Prince of Schleswig-HolsteinJohan of Schleswig-Holstein was the youngest son of Frederick II of Denmark and Norway and Sophia of Mecklenburg-Schwerin...
, arrived in 1602, but fell ill and died before the marriage.
Xenia remained a maiden until her father's death in 1605, when her brother Feodor become a Tsar. Some months later, when the Time of Troubles
Time of Troubles
The Time of Troubles was a period of Russian history comprising the years of interregnum between the death of the last Russian Tsar of the Rurik Dynasty, Feodor Ivanovich, in 1598, and the establishment of the Romanov Dynasty in 1613. In 1601-1603, Russia suffered a famine that killed one-third...
started, her mother and her brother, Feodor, were killed by order of False Dmitriy I
False Dmitriy I
False Dmitriy I was the Tsar of Russia from 21 July 1605 until his death on 17 May 1606 under the name of Dimitriy Ioannovich . He is sometimes referred to under the usurped title of Dmitriy II...
.
She was spared, but False Dmitriy raped her and kept her in his palace as a concubine lasting five months. Before the arrival of his bride Marina Mniszech
Marina Mniszech
Marina Mniszech Marina Mniszech Marina Mniszech (Polish: Maryna Mniszchówna or Maryna Mniszech; Russian: Марина Мнишек (Marina Mnishek); also known as "Marinka the witch" in Russian folklore; c...
, Xenia was sent to the Voskesesnsky Monastery
Goritsky Monastery (Goritsy)
The Goritsky Monastery of Resurrection is a Russian Orthodox convent in the village of Goritsy, north of the town of Kirillov, Kirillovsky District, Vologda oblast, Russia...
in Beloozero and forced to take monastic vows, whereupon she was given the name "Olga". Subsequently, she was transferred to the Assumption Princess Monastery in Vladimir
Vladimir
Vladimir is a city and the administrative center of Vladimir Oblast, Russia, located on the Klyazma River, to the east of Moscow along the M7 motorway. Population:...
.
In 1606 she sojourned to the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius to attend the reburial of her father; vestments she sewed as a nun are on display at that Lavra.
Her name is inscribed as "the Nun Olga Borisovna" at the crypt of the Godunovs near the entrance of the Assumption Cathedral at Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra where she is buried with her parents and brother.
In the arts
A fictionalized dramatization of her life during the time of troubles appeared in the Russian film 16121612 (film)
1612 is a 2007 Russian historical fantasy film about the Time of Troubles and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth–Muscovite War . It was directed by Vladimir Khotinenko and produced by Nikita Mikhalkov...
, where Princess Xenia was played by actress Violetta Davydovskaya.