Alexander Gorbatyi-Shuisky
Encyclopedia
Prince Alexander Borisovich Gorbatyi-Shuisky (Александр Борисович Горбатый-Шуйский) was probably the most celebrated and popular general of Ivan the Terrible. The town of Gorbatov in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast
bears his name.
He belonged to the powerful Shuisky
family, being the last scion of its junior branch. His father was one of the most successful generals of Vasily III, but Alexander managed to outshine him at an early age. He was made boyar
in 1544 and led the Russian armies against Khanate of Kazan
in 1547.
Five years later, when Kazan
was besieged, he annihilated the force of prince Yapancha at Arsk
Field, making possible the final conquest of Kazan later that year. In acknowledgement of his important services, he was appointed the first Russian governor of Kazan
. During the next decade he not only managed to keep Kazan in Russian hands, but also rebuilt the ruined citadel
and converted a large portion of the khanate's population to Christianity.
Ivan the Terrible, apparently, grew jealous of Alexander's popularity in Moscow
. In 1564 the tsar incriminated him of secretly supporting Andrey Kurbsky
and plotting against Ivan's life. After that, Alexander and his 17-year-old son Peter were brought to Moscow
and beheaded.
He left two daughters, one of them being married to the noblest Muscovite boyar
, Prince Ivan Mstislavsky
, and another one - to the tsar's brother-in-law, Nikita Romanovich
as his second wife. The latter was grandfather of tsar Mikhail Romanov, but from a first marriage.
Nizhny Novgorod Oblast
Nizhny Novgorod Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Nizhny Novgorod. Population: The oblast is crossed by the Volga River. Apart from Nizhny Novgorod's metropolitan area, the biggest city is Arzamas...
bears his name.
He belonged to the powerful Shuisky
Shuisky
The Princes Shuisky were a Rurikid family of boyars descending from Grand Duke Dmitry Konstantinovich of Vladimir-Suzdal and Prince Andrey Yaroslavich, brother to Alexander Nevsky. Their name is derived from the town of Shuya, of which they gained ownership in 1403. The family briefly reached the...
family, being the last scion of its junior branch. His father was one of the most successful generals of Vasily III, but Alexander managed to outshine him at an early age. He was made boyar
Boyar
A boyar, or bolyar , was a member of the highest rank of the feudal Moscovian, Kievan Rus'ian, Bulgarian, Wallachian, and Moldavian aristocracies, second only to the ruling princes , from the 10th century through the 17th century....
in 1544 and led the Russian armies against Khanate of Kazan
Khanate of Kazan
The Khanate of Kazan was a medieval Tatar state which occupied the territory of former Volga Bulgaria between 1438 and 1552. Its khans were the patrilineal descendants of Toqa Temür, the thirteenth son of Jochi and grandson of Genghis Khan. The khanate covered contemporary Tatarstan, Mari El,...
in 1547.
Five years later, when Kazan
Kazan
Kazan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. With a population of 1,143,546 , it is the eighth most populous city in Russia. Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers in European Russia. In April 2009, the Russian Patent Office granted Kazan the...
was besieged, he annihilated the force of prince Yapancha at Arsk
Arsk
Arsk is a town and the administrative center of Arsky District of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, located on the banks of the Kazanka River, from Kazan, the republic's capital. Arsk is also a station on the Kazan-Agryz railroad. Population:...
Field, making possible the final conquest of Kazan later that year. In acknowledgement of his important services, he was appointed the first Russian governor of Kazan
Kazan
Kazan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. With a population of 1,143,546 , it is the eighth most populous city in Russia. Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers in European Russia. In April 2009, the Russian Patent Office granted Kazan the...
. During the next decade he not only managed to keep Kazan in Russian hands, but also rebuilt the ruined citadel
Kazan Kremlin
The Kazan Kremlin is the chief historic citadel of Tatarstan, situated in the city of Kazan. It was built on behest of Ivan the Terrible on the ruins of the former castle of Kazan khans...
and converted a large portion of the khanate's population to Christianity.
Ivan the Terrible, apparently, grew jealous of Alexander's popularity in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. In 1564 the tsar incriminated him of secretly supporting Andrey Kurbsky
Andrey Kurbsky
Knyaz Andrey Mikhailovich Kurbsky was an intimate friend and then a leading political opponent of the Russian tsar Ivan the Terrible. His correspondence with the tsar is a unique source for the history of 16th-century Russia...
and plotting against Ivan's life. After that, Alexander and his 17-year-old son Peter were brought to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and beheaded.
He left two daughters, one of them being married to the noblest Muscovite boyar
Boyar
A boyar, or bolyar , was a member of the highest rank of the feudal Moscovian, Kievan Rus'ian, Bulgarian, Wallachian, and Moldavian aristocracies, second only to the ruling princes , from the 10th century through the 17th century....
, Prince Ivan Mstislavsky
Mstislavsky
Mstislavsky was a Russian princely family of Gediminid origin who prior to their move to Russia ruled the principality of Mstislavl. In the following, the Mstislavsky family produced some notable military commanders such as Ivan Mstislavsky who fought in the Livonian War...
, and another one - to the tsar's brother-in-law, Nikita Romanovich
Nikita Romanovich
Nikita Romanovich , also known as Nikita Romanovich Zakharyin-Yuriev, was a Muscovite Boyar in 1563 whose grandson Mikhail Feodorovich founded the Romanov dynasty of Russian tsars...
as his second wife. The latter was grandfather of tsar Mikhail Romanov, but from a first marriage.