CHAPTER XII.
SERFDOM CREATED--THE FIRST ROMANOFF Occasionally there arises a man in history who, without distinction of birth or other advantages, is strong enough by sheer ability to grasp the opportunity, vault into power, and then stem the tide of events.
Such a man was Godwin, father of Harold, last Saxon King; in England; and such a man was Boris Godunof, a _boyar_, who had so faithfully served the terrible Ivan that he leaned upon him and at last confided to him the supervision of his feeble son Feodor, when he should succeed him.

The plans of this ambitious usurper were probably laid from the time of the tragic death of Ivan's son, the Tsarevitch.

He brought about the marriage of his beautiful sister Irene with Feodor, and from the hour of Ivan's death was virtual ruler.

Dmitri, the infant son of the late Tsar, aged five years, was prudently placed at a distance--and soon thereafter mysteriously died (1591).

There can be no doubt that the unexplained tragedy of this child's death was perfectly understood by Boris; and when Feodor also died, seven years later (1598), there was not one of the old Muscovite line to succeed to the throne.