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Konrad BussovWriter about Russia
Date of Birth: 01.01.1552
Country:  Sweden |
Content:
- A German Writer on Russia
- Service in Livonia
- Involvement in Russian Affairs
- Witness to the Time of Troubles
- Return to Germany and Authorship
- Authorship Controversy
- Significance of Bussov's Account
A German Writer on Russia
Early Life and Education- Born into the Duchy of Luneburg, Conrad Bussov received a solid education.
Service in Livonia
- In 1601, Bussov joined the service of the Swedish Duke Charles (later King Charles IX) in Livonia, where he held a high-ranking position as intendant of the territories conquered from Poland.
Involvement in Russian Affairs
- Before the outbreak of the Polish-Swedish war, Bussov offered to surrender the city of Marienburg to Tsar Boris Godunov, possibly due to personal motives. This attempt failed, and Bussov subsequently moved to Moscow.
- He married his daughter to Martin Ber, the pastor of the Lutheran church in Moscow.
Witness to the Time of Troubles
- After the death of False Dmitry I, Bussov was forced to leave Moscow and resided in various locations, including Uglich, Kaluga, and Tula.
- He later joined the second False Dmitry and served under Polish King Sigismund III after his death.
Return to Germany and Authorship
- In 1612, Bussov returned to Riga and eventually to Germany, where he died in 1617.
- Between 1612 and 1613, he wrote a comprehensive account (in German) of the events he witnessed from 1584 to 1612, titled "Relatio."
Authorship Controversy
- For many years, Bussov's work was mistakenly attributed to Martin Ber and published under his name.
- In 1850, Bussov's authorship was definitively established, and his work was published in its original German version in 1851.
Significance of Bussov's Account
- As an eyewitness to the Time of Troubles and a participant in many events, Bussov's work provides invaluable insights into this tumultuous period in Russian history.
- In contrast to contemporary chronicler Peter Petrei, Bussov distinguishes between the two False Dmitrys, challenging the popular legend of their identity.
