Bogdan Belsky

Bogdan Yakovlevich Belsky (?????? ????????? ???????? in Russian) (? - 1611) was a Russian statesman and a close associate of Ivan the Terrible.

Related Topics:
Russian - 1611 - Russian - Statesman - Ivan the Terrible

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It should be noted that Bogdan was not related to the great Gedyminid princely family of the same name. It is belived that he became welcome at the royal court owing to his kinship with the infamous Malyuta Skuratov. His name was first mentioned in 1571, when Belsky was tsar's bodyguard (?????, or rynda) during his military campaigns. He would soon become tsar's closest associate and would even sleep in his chamber. Strangely enough, Ivan the Terrible never promoted Belsky to any significant post or changed his official status, not even after Belsky had forced one of the most important fortresses - Wolmar - to surrender in 1577 during the Livonian War. For this, he was only repaid with a Portuguese gold coin and a golden chain. In 1578, Bodgan Belsky was appointed oruzhnichiy (?????????, or keeper of tsar's weapons) and wouldn't make his way up any further. In reality, Belsky was Ivan the Terrible's vremenshchik (?????????), or minion. The tsar would entrust him his intimate affairs, such as inquiries about his potential fiancee Maria Hastings (1581), and negotiations with Jerome Bowes (English ambassador) about tsar's possible marriage with this lady (1583 - 1584). Belsky was also in charge of the fortunetellers, who had been gathered from all over Russia due to the appearance of a comet and who had foretold tsar's death. Oddly enough, Ivan IV died in Belsky's arms, when they sat down to play chess. There are indications that Ivan the Terrible entrusted Belsky with his younger son Dmitry Ivanovich.

Related Topics:
Gedyminid - Family of the same name - Malyuta Skuratov - 1571 - Tsar - Bodyguard - Ivan the Terrible - Fortress - Wolmar - 1577 - Livonian War - Portuguese - Gold - Golden chain - 1578 - Minion - Fiancee - Maria Hastings - 1581 - Jerome Bowes - English - Ambassador - Marriage - 1583 - 1584 - Fortuneteller - Russia - Comet - Ivan IV - Chess - Dmitry Ivanovich

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