The Romanovs and the Time of Troubles: How Russia Nearly Collapsed

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Time of Troubles — the chaotic period between the death of Tsar Ivan the Terrible's son in 1598 and the rise of the Romanov dynasty in 1613. They discuss the famine that killed a third of Russia's population, the pretender False Dmitry I who claimed to be Ivan's murdered son, and the Polish occupation of Moscow. Lucas details the siege of the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, the rise of Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky, and how their volunteer army expelled the Poles. The conversation also touches on the role of the Cossacks, the election of Mikhail Romanov as tsar, and why this period shaped Russian suspicion of foreign intervention for centuries. The hosts weave in primary sources like the chronicle of the siege and the famous letter from the monks at the Lavra, giving listeners a vivid sense of a society on the brink. #TimeOfTroubles #Smuta #Romanovs #FalseDmitry #KuzmaMinin #DmitryPozharsky #TrinityLavra #PolishOccupation #MikhailRomanov #IvanTheTerrible #BorisGodunov #Cossacks #RussianHistory #Siege #Famine #FexingoHistory #History #EasternEurope Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo