Marina Mniszech Political adventurer Country: Poland

1. Biography of Marina Mniszek
2. Marriage to False Dmitry II
3. Alliance with Ataman I.M. Zarutsky

Biography of Marina Mniszek

Marina Mniszek, a political adventuress, was born the daughter of the wealthy and influential Polish voivode, Jerzy (Yuri) Mniszek. She agreed to marry False Dmitry I, dreaming of becoming the Russian Tsarina. In the spring of 1606, she traveled to Moscow with her father and a large entourage, where she reigned for a week after the wedding and coronation. Ambitious and powerful, Marina Mniszek was not killed after her husband's death only because she was not recognized.

Marriage to False Dmitry II

Sent back to her homeland, Marina Mniszek ended up in the Tushino camp, where she secretly married False Dmitry II, recognizing him as her "rescued" husband. After False Dmitry II's death, she pinned all her hopes on her son, whom her supporters called "Tsarevich Ivan Dmitrievich," while the government of Mikhail Fyodorovich Romanov referred to him as "Vorenok."

Alliance with Ataman I.M. Zarutsky

In December 1610, Marina Mniszek found a patron in the ataman I.M. Zarutsky, who dreamed of becoming the first boyar under "Tsarina Marina." In the summer of 1613, losing her supporters, Marina Mniszek and Zarutsky fled to Astrakhan and Yayik. Captured by the Cossacks and musketeers in July 1614, Zarutsky and Marina Mniszek's son were sent to Moscow and executed, while Marina Mniszek herself died in captivity.