January 7, 2008

On this date in 1598, Boris Gudunov became Tsar (also written as "Czar"; "Tzar"; and "KHAAAAAAAN!") of Russia, leading to all sorts of Abbot & Costello-like routines whenever one citizen asked another who the Zarr was. What's that you say? I didn't ask you if he was doing the job right, I asked the fella's name.

As a member of the ruling council before his tzarship (Enterprise!) began, Boris was responsible for the 1587 decree which forbade peasants from transferring themselves (also known as: moving) from one landowner to another, bringing the age of serfdom to its highest (by which I mean "lowest") point. It was also at this time that the peasants suggested that he change his last name to "Totalisuks."

But among the people who he didn't totally enslave, Gudunov was very popular, bringing in an age of prosperity and intellectual progress (with, you know, a GLARING oversight or two). He opened foreign relations, and allowed for some religious freedoms, and brought in foreign teachers, and then died childless and alone in 1622.

In summary, if I were forced to fully summarize his reign in exactly two words, they would be these:

Pretty good.

*****
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It's Festa del Tricolore in Italy today! The day when EVERYONE eats Neapolitan!