FEDOR I VANOVICH, the last Czar of Russia of the dynasty of Ruric, ascended the throne in 1584, after the death of his father, the celebrated tyrant Ivan Vasilevich. He was weak iu body aud mind; but the affairs of the government were conducted by Godoonoff during hia reign, which was marked by aorne events that produced a decisive influence on the destiniea of the Russian empire. It was during Fedor'a reign that the peasants of Muscovy, who had hitherto enjoy ed personal liberty, and could pass from the estate of one landowner to that of any other who would grant them better conditiona, were con verted into serfs attached to the ground (servi glebaa adscripti). This change was introduced in 1592, by the instrumentality of Godoonoff, who adopted that menature in order to obtain a party among the landowners. There had been, previously to that epoch, domeatic slam in Russia, but the predial aerie date only from that time. The Greek church of Moscow origivally depended on the patriarch of Constantinople, who consecrated the metropolitan of Moscow; but atter the capture of Con stantinople by the 'Amite, the supremacy of the Greek patriarch over tho Muscovite church was almost destroyed. Jeremy, patriarch of Constantinople, arriving iu 1588 at Moscow, hi order to collect alma for the erection of churches, was received with great honours by Fedor, who, being exceedingly devout, presented the head of the Greek church with rich donations. Jeremy acknowledged the kindness of Fedor by consecrating a patriarch of Moscow, which dignity lasted till the time of Peter the Great, who abolished it, and declared himself the head of the RID/Liao church. The conquest of Siberia, which had been commenced under Ivan Vasilevich, was completed under Fedor, during whose reign Russia made the first attempt to extend its influ euce over the Caucasian regions. The khan of Crimea invaded Russia, and penetrated to the capital, but ho was repulsed from the walla of Moscow in 1591. The reign of Fedor is also remarkable for many diplomatical relations with foreign courts, and particularly with that of England. The most important event of Feder's reign was his attempt to get himself elected king of Poland, in 1587. Fodor, or rather his prime minister Godoonoffi promised to the state. of Poland and Lithuania, that if they elected him king, he would unite all the forces of Moscow with those of Poland. and conquer the Crimea for Moscow, and NV.Ilachla, 3loldavia, and Hungary for Poland. The pro posed union would have easily created a power capable of accomplish ing not only the projected but even much more extensive conquests.
Fedor. proposals were readily accepted by the majority of the Lithu anians, and they found many partisan. even amongst the Poles. lie was on the point of being elected, when the overbearing conduct of the Muscovite ambassadors destroyed the hopes of Fedor, and Sigismund Vasa, prince of Sweden, was elected king of Poland. Fedor died in 1591, and with him ended the dynasty of Rurio on the throne of Moscow, his younger brother Demetrius having been murdered through the instrumentality of Godoonoff.
FEDOlt ALEXEYEVICII, Czar of Russia, the eldest brother of Peter the Great, ascended the throne after the death of his father, Alexia. Michaylowich, 1676, being only nineteen years of age. llis youth and delicate constitution did not prevent him from displaying remarkable talents and energy, and the strong will which he constantly evinced to improve the barbarous institutions of his country, may almost justify us in supposing that but for his death he might have accomplished the greater part of what was afterwards performed by his brother Peter the Great. Fedor distinguished his reign particularly by putting an end to a monstrous custom which had acquired the force of law in Muscovy. According to this custom, called Meet nichestvo (literally 'placeship,' from Mato, place), no member of a great family could be put tinder the command of or give precedence to a person whose birth was considered inferior to his. All the noble families of the country were registered in a roll called Itazriad,' or ' Arrangement; and all the disputes which frequently arose about precedent, not only at the court but even in active service, were settled by referring to this kind of herald's office. Such a system necessarily frequently proved very detrimental to the public service ; but it was so deeply rooted, that even Ivan Vasilevich, who deluged Muscovy with blood and decimated its nobility, was unable to destroy the Mesteicheetvo. Fedor abolished the practice by very simple means: he assembled his boyarde, or principal nobles, and having expostulated with them on the bad consequence. of the above mentiord custom, threw, in the presence of the assembly, all the Tolle of the 'Razriad ' into the fire. The genealogical records of the Muscovite nobles, whioh did not relate to their claims of precedence, were spared by Fedor, and arranged in order by his command. Fedor died In 1652, at the ace of twenty-five.