The path to power of the Saburovs and the Godunovs

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the political role of Saburovs and Godunovs at the Sovereign's court in the 15th-16th centuries. The path to power of the Saburov and Godunov clans is analyzed through various official appointments, representation in the Boyar Duma and in the Court administration, by examining the marriage and family ties of persons belonging to these clans. The author focuses his main attention on the reign of Ivan the Terrible, when the Godunov clan was significantly strengthened and outstripped the Saburovs. The author proposes an explanation for the suddenly increasing influence of the Godunovs, which involves such factors as cohesion and corporatism of the clan, a skillful use of the current political situation and the unexpected chance for promotion in the Oprichny Court, the marriage of Boris Fedorovich Godunov to the daughter of the favorite of the Tsar, Malyuta Skuratov, which was followed by the wedding of Tsarevich Fyodor to Boris's sister Irina Fyodorovna. Plots related to the service of the Saburovs and the Godunovs are complemented by excurses into the field of anthroponymy, the study of secular and monastic names of female representatives of these clans.