Pretenders and Popular Monarchism in Early Modern Russia: The False Tsars of the Time and Troubles

by Maureen Perrie

This is the first scholarly account by a Western historian of the Time of Troubles, the period of civil war and foreign invasion in early-seventeenth-century Russia. The author focuses on the various pretenders or royal imposters who appeared at this time; she traces their careers and offers explanations for their success. Her analysis of the phenomenon of pretense illuminates popular perceptions of the monarchy in early modern Russia, and demonstrates how social protest could take the form of support for imposters claiming to be the "true tsar".

288 pages, Paperback

First published September 21, 1995

About the author

Maureen Perrie is Professor Emeritus of Russian History at the University of Birmingham, and a lecturer in Russian History at the Centre for Russian and East European Studies at the University of Birmingham.