Vasily IV

ModernEmperorRussia1552 — 1612

Boyar tsar during the Time of Troubles.

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Quick Facts

Born

1552

Died

1612

Country

Russia

Era

Modern

Occupation

Emperor

Score Overview

Military (10%)15

Political (20%)26

Influence (20%)46

Legacy (20%)37

Leadership (15%)38

Strategy (15%)55

Total Score37.4

Vasily IV — Complete Timeline

1606 AD

Bolotnikov RebellionWar◆ Major

Ivan Bolotnikov led a massive peasant and Cossack uprising against Vasily IV, claiming to be a commander of the resurrected False Dmitry. The rebels besieged Moscow but were defeated by Vasily's army in 1607.

RebellionBolotnikovPeasant War

Impact: national

Coronation as Tsar Vasily IVPolitical Action◆ Major

Vasily Shuisky was proclaimed Tsar by a boyar assembly after the overthrow of False Dmitry I. His coronation was irregular, lacking the traditional Zemsky Sobor approval, which weakened his legitimacy.

CoronationBoyarsLegitimacy

Impact: national

1608 AD

Siege of Moscow by False Dmitry IIWar◆ Major

False Dmitry II, another impostor, established a rival court at Tushino near Moscow. Vasily IV's forces were unable to dislodge him, leading to a dual power situation in Russia for over a year.

TushinoImpostorSiege

Impact: national

1609 AD

Treaty of Vyborg with SwedenPolitical Action◆ Major

Vasily IV signed a treaty with Sweden, ceding the fortress of Korela in exchange for Swedish military aid against False Dmitry II and the Polish intervention. This brought Sweden into the Russian conflict.

SwedenTreatyMilitary Aid

Impact: regional

1610 AD

Overthrow and Forced MonasticismPolitical Action◆ Major

After the Polish army defeated Russian-Swedish forces at the Battle of Klushino, boyars overthrew Vasily IV. He was forcibly tonsured as a monk and later handed over to the Poles, dying in captivity in 1612.

OverthrowPolandCaptivity

Impact: nationaltragic