Beschreibung:

DIMITRII OF MOSCOW, SON OF IVAN THE TERRIBLE -- ZHITIE DIMITRIIA UGLICHSKOGO [THE LIFE AND MIRACLES OF SAINT DIMITRII OF MOSCOW AND UGLICH AND OF ALL RUSSIA], in Church Slavonic, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON PAPER [Central Russia, mid-17th century] 330 x 205mm. 230 leaves (including first and final blanks, excluding paste-downs), mostly in gatherings of 8, except 8 6 and 27 6 ), COMPLETE, signatures in contemporary Slavonic alphabetic numerals from f.8 onwards, 14 lines written in black ink in a bold uncial script with the usual abbreviations and punctuation, within traditional Russian foliate borders in green, yellow, mauve and red, with similar decorated headlines, FOUR ELABORATE TITLE DECORATIONS in entwined floral designs in muted colours highlighted in gold, each with similar marginal ornament, headings and chapter initials in red, TWENTY-EIGHT LARGE MINIATURES and NINETY-FOUR SMALLER MINIATURES (f.110 with one corner torn away with later restoration, minor soiling from use with occasional smudging affecting text or illustration). Contemporary red velvet over wooden boards, silver centrepiece engraved with the image of St Dimitrii with Moscow in the background, engraved cornerpieces and catches on upper cover, lower cover with central and corner rests (rubbed, extremities worn, metal pieces all slightly damaged, clasps lacking, slightly loose, upper cover detached). A REMARKABLY FINELY WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED MANUSCRIPT PROVENANCE: 1. Collection number '133' on final pastedown; pencilled number '230' on final endpaper. 2. Mogiz Antiquarian Booksellers Shop No. 14 price 350 rubles (printed paper label pasted inside upper cover), with pencil inscription dated July 1939. CONTENT: 18 October, Birth of the holy and righteous God-fearing Tsarevich and Great Prince Dimitrii of Moscow and all Russia, the Wonderworker f.10; 15 May, Martyrdom of Dimitrii f.65; 3 June, Translation of the relics of Dimitrii from the city of Uglich to the capital city of Moscow 1606 f.68; 18 October, Birth and life of Dimitrii f.110; Appearances of Dimitrii Ivanovich of Uglich and Moscow and of all Russia f.142; Translation of the relics of Dimitrii from the city of Uglich to the captial of Moscow f.172; Martyrdom of Dimitrii f.184; Miracles of Dimitrii f.189 An historical document covering the years 1583 to 1606 based on the life of Dimitrii, the youngest child of Tsar Ivan IV Vasil'evich, the Terrible, and his seventh (officially fifth) wife Mariia Fedorovna Nagaia. Dimitrii was born on 19 October 1583 and given the principality of Uglich. Ivan the Terrible had killed his eldest son Ivan in 1581; his second son Fedor (b.1557) who succeeded as tsarevich, was married to Irina, the sister of Boris Godunov. Ivan died on 18 March 1584 leaving his children under the guardianship of Boris. This manuscript traces the reign of Fedor and succeeding years in the traditional manner, laying the blame for Russia's 'Time of Troubles' ( Smutnoe vremia ) on Boris Godunov. During Fedor's reign he exiled the Tsaritsa Mariia and the young Dimitrii to Uglich, where on his orders the tsarevich was murdered on 15 May 1591. The succeeding events including the fire of Moscow and the uprisings and bloodshed are related with a strong bias against Boris. On his order the Tsaritsa Mariia is shorn a nun taking the name of Marfa, supporters of Dimitrii at Uglich are executed and exiled. On Fedor's death on 6 January 1598 Boris has himself elected tsar in Moscow. The first imposter, False Dimitrii, whose real name was Grigorii Otrep'ev, is introduced at the monastery, being ordained a deacon and then defrocked. He is referred to throughout the manuscript as the defrocked monk 'Rostrig'. He fled to Lithuania where he easily won the support of the unruly Lithuanian magnates, and of the Pole Iurii Mniszek. His advance with an army precipitated the death of Boris on 13 April 1605, which facilitated his capture of Moscow. The defrocked monk there is crowned, marries Marina Mniszek