DEMEIRIIIS, the assumed name of four different persons who figure prominently in Russian history between the years 1603-13. In 15S4, Ivan the " terrible" died, leaving two sons, Feodor and Demetrius, the former of whom ascended the throne, but proved a weak ruler, and was completely under the control of his brother-in-law Boris. Godunoff; the latter, D., was brought up at a distance from the Muscovite court, and when only 9 or 10 years old, either accidentally killed himself, or, which is more probable, was put to death. In 1598, Feodor died also, and Boris ascended the throne, but his tyrannical measures tendered him very unpopular. In 1603, a strange story reached Russia. It was affirmed that D. was not dead, but had appeared in Poland. The fact was, that a person calling himself D., but who, it was asserted, was in reality a monk, named Grishka Otrepiev, belonging to the convent of Tchudoff, had found means to persuade prince Wisniewski in Lithuania, and afterwards Mniszek, palatine of Sando mir, that he was the true son of Ivan. The latter introduced him to Sigisnnuid III., king of Poland, who saw in him a useful instrument for introducing Polish influence into Russia, and so aided him in his designs against Boris. Towards the close of 1604, he invaded Russia, repeatedly defeated Boris (who died April, 1605), and entered Mos cow in June, the people receiving him With every demonstration of enthusiasm. lie
ruled for some months with vigor; but his manifest predilection for the Poles soon excited the Russians against him, and the arrival of his bride, Marina Mniszek, the daughter of the palatine of Sandomir, on the.12th of May, 1606, brought the discontent to a head. Sixteen days later, an insurrection broke out in the capital, headed by prince Wasili Shuiski. D. was slain, and a multitude of the Poles massacred. Wasili Shuiski now ascended the throne; but in the following year, an individual appeared, alleging that he was D., and that another had been mistaken for him in the Moscow massacre. He found a considerable number of adherents, especially when Marina acknowledged him to be her husband. The Poles also helped him, and for some time it Seemed likely that he would succeed; but at length he was put to death at Kaluga, in 1610. The third false D. gave himself out to be the son of the first. After a brief career, he fell into the bands of the czar, and was strangled. The fourth made the same pretensions, but falling into the hands of the Cossacks, was carried to Moscow, where he was executed in 1613.