Boris had died just before Dmitri reached Moscow.

He entered the city, and the infatuated people placed in his hand and upon his head the scepter and the crown of Ivan IV.; and after making sure that the wife and the son of Boris Godunof were strangled, this amazing Pretender commenced his reign.
An extraordinary thing had happened.

A nameless adventurer and impostor had been received with tears of joy as the son of Ivan and of St.Vladimir, the seventh wife of Ivan the Terrible even recognizing and embracing him as her son! But Dmitri had not the wisdom to keep what his cunning had won.

His Polish wife came, followed by a suite of Polish Catholics, who began to carry things with a high hand.

The clergy was offended and soon enraged.