Carl Wenig: The last minutes of False Dmitry I (1879)

(Unknown)

A painting by the Baltic-German artist Carl Gottlieb Wenig (1830-1908). This piece shows an historical scene form Russian history. False Dmitriy' was the name of several impostors who claimed to be Tsarevich Dmitry Ivanovich (1582-1591), the youngest son of Tsar Ivan IV 'the Terrible' of Russia The real Dimitry died in 15 May 1591 from a stab wound, under mysterious circumstances but there were rumours that he had survived. When Tsar Feodor I (1557-1598) died without an heir, Russia descended into anarchy (the 'Time of Troubles'). False Dimitry I (shown here) was one of three impostors who claimed to be the son of Ivan IV. With the support of king Sigismund III Vasa of Poland, False Dimity I managed to overthrow tsar Feodor II Borisovich Godunov and was proclaimed tsar instead. The Polish support of Dimitry however soon backfired and soon rumors spread that the new tsar wanted to spread Roman Catholicism, Lutheranism, and sodomy. On 17 May 1606 a large group of Russian nobles (Boyars) and commoners stormed the Kremlin and Dimitry fled. He tried to flee by jumping from a window but he broke his leg in the fall. He was soon captured and killed on the spot. His ashed were allegedly shot from a cannon towards Poland. The reign of tsar False Dimitry I lasted only 11 months. Painting from 1879.