The rurikovich dynasty: physical impairments and mental problems of the governers and their influence on the history of russia

Abstract

The article presents the generalized analysis of the state of health, physical and mental ailments of the governers of the Rurik dynasty (862-1598) based on the study of information about the diseases and causes of death of the princes and tsars of the first Russian dynasty contained in the annals of the XII-XVII centuries, the testimonies of contemporaries and other historical and literary monuments of the past. In addition, we used the data of X-ray anthropological and forensic medical studies of the remains of Russian leading persons, carried out in different years, as well as the results of a medical pathopsychological analysis of their personality. The aim of the study was to find out whether the health status, including the presence of diseases, the consequences of injuries, made an impact on their performance of state functions. Based on this, the compositional structure of the article consists of four content elements: 1. Rurikovichs and their ailments that affected the affairs of the board. Outstanding representatives are Andrey Bogolyubsky, Ivan IV and Fyodor Ioannovich. As shown by the X-ray anthropological study of the skeleton of Andrei Bogolyubsky, the pride of the prince (“did not bow his head to anyone”) is explained by fused cervical vertebrae, his unrestrained courage, irascibility and impulsivity are associated with hyperthyroidism. The state of physical and mental health of the first Russian Tsar Ivan IV determined a sharp change in the success of the first years of his independent rule to massive repression, political and military failures of the last two decades. Among the possible versions are the following: chronic syphilis against the background of mercury intoxication resulting from its treatment; poisoning with mercury drugs in the treatment of polyarthritis; deliberate poisoning of the sovereign with elements of heavy metals. Psychiatric researchers acknowledge that Ivan IV had a paranoid psychopathy with ideas of greatness and persecution on a previous epileptoid basis. The last tsar of the studied dynasty, Fyodor Ioannovich, due to his “mental scarcity” (possibly debility), could not rule independently and was at first under the tutelage of boyars, then his brother in law Boris Godunov. 2. Rurikovichs, whose illnesses and the consequences of injuries did not prevent them from performing their state functions. Among them are Yaroslav the Wise, Vladimir Monomakh, Vasily II the Dark, whose illnesses and serious injuries did not become an obstacle to successfully rule the country. Yaroslav the Wise took part in many battles, despite the lameness, presumably as a result of a purulent lesion suffered in infancy, which led to a subluxation of the right hip joint, as well as a result of an injury to the right knee joint in adulthood. Numerous injuries received in battles and on the hunt by Vladimir Monomakh did not prevent the prince from living to 72 years of age and becoming the most successful Russian commander and politician of his time. Similarly, numerous injuries and even blindness did not serve as an obstacle for the Moscow Prince Vasily II the Dark to win a long term internecine war and a hold a long reign. 3. Rurikovichs, whose early death influenced the fate of the state. Of course, there are many such cases in the history of the Ruriks dynasty, however, the most striking examples are the following: the death of princes Alexander Nevsky, Simeon the Gordy, Dmitry Donskoy. Significant political and military successes might have been expected from these leaders. 4. Rurikovichs, whose illnesses and premature death violated the order of succession to the throne. These include Prince Svyatoslav Yaroslavovich, the consequence of whose premature death caused by a surgical operation (“cutting the nodule”) were long civil strife; the eldest son of Ivan III - Ivan Molodoy, whose death resulted in unsuccessful treatment for “aching legs” (possibly arthritis) and led to a political crisis. Finally, the most obvious reason for the change of the dynasty and the beginning of the Time of Troubles was the death of the youngest son of Ivan the Terrible, Tsarevich Dmitry. It was long considered to be a political murder committed on the orders of Boris Godunov, but many modern researchers, including doctors, are inclined to believe that the prince really could have injured his carotid artery (or jugular vein) with a knife during an epileptic seizure. Dmitry’s death might have occurred as a result of the most dramatic condition in epileptology - status epilepticus.