Dmitry I (Russian: Димитрий I (Первый), transliterated. Dimitry I, historically known as Pseudo-Demetrius I and False Dmitry I, Russian: Лжедмитрий I) was the Tsar of Russia from 10 June 1605 until his death on 17 May 1606 under the name of Dimitriy Ivanovich (Russian: Дмитрий Иванович). According to historian Chester S.L. Dunning, Dmitry was "the only Tsar ever raised to the throne by means of a military campaign and popular uprisings".
He was the first, and most successful, of three "pretenders" (Russian: самозванцы (sing.: самозванец), translit. samozvanets) who claimed during the Time of Troubles to be the youngest son of Ivan the Terrible, tsarevich Dmitry Ivanovich, who had supposedly escaped a 1591 assassination attempt. It is generally believed that the real Dmitry died in Uglich, and that this Dmitry's name was actually Grigoriy Otrepyev, although this is far from certain. |