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Boris Fyodorovitch Godunov (Бори́с Фёдорович Годуно́в) (c. 1551 - April 13, 1605) was a tsar of Russia ( 1598 - 1605). Boris Godunov began his career of court service under tsar Ivan the Terrible and became virtual ruler of Russia during the reign of Ivan's imbecile son Fedor ( 1584- 1598). In 1598 Fedor died without an heir, ending the Rurik Dynasty. Boris Godunov then convened a Zemsky Sobor, a national assembly of boyars, church officials, and commoners, which proclaimed him tsar on January 6, 1598. He conducted a successful war against Sweden ( 1590- 1595), promoted foreign trade, and dealt ruthlessly with those boyar families which opposed him. In 1604Events January 14 Hampton Court conference with James I of England, the Anglican bishops and representatives of Puritans September 20 Capture of Ostend by Spanish forces under Ambrosio Spinola after a three year siege. November 1 At Whitehall Palace in Lo boyar animosity combined with popular dissatisfaction ushered in the ' Time of TroublesFor the Dungeons & Dragons plotline, see Time of Troubles (Forgotten Realms . The Time of Troubles ( Russian: Smutnoye Vremya was a period of Russian history comprising the end of 16th and beginning of 17th century. For more information, see Muscovy: Time' - a confused eight-year dynastic and political crisis. Boris Godunov died suddenly in 1605.

Boris Godunov is also the title of Modest Mussorgsky's opera, written in 1868 and revised in 1871 and 1873. See Boris Godunov (opera).

Boris Godunov is also the title of a play by Aleksandr Pushkin.

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