In May, we commemorate the memory of Prince Mikhail Skopin-Shuisky, who defeated the army of False Dmitry II and was considered Russia's hope for overcoming the Time of Troubles. His death still sparks debates among historians.

Mikhail Vasilyevich was born in 1586, when Russia was already on the brink of the Time of Troubles. From an early age, he was close to his fourth cousin, Vasily Shuisky, who became the Russian sovereign after the overthrow of False Dmitry I. During this time, young Mikhail was appointed a voivode and sent to suppress the Bolotnikov uprising, which he accomplished successfully. In the decisive battle, Skopin-Shuisky defeated the troops of Ivan Bolotnikov, who barely managed to escape. This victory brought the young voivode fame. He was appointed commander of the advance army and in 1607 again defeated the rebels near Kaluga, ending the war with Bolotnikov in victory.

After returning to the capital, Mikhail Vasilyevich became the youngest boyar at the age of 22. He became the last hope of his uncle, whose troops, led by the incompetent Dmitry Shuisky, were defeated by the new pretender, False Dmitry II. It was Mikhail Skopin-Shuisky who was sent to meet the pretender. On the way, he gathered significant forces and, after a successful raid against the pretender and the invaders, returned triumphantly. However, along with fame came envy and concerns from the sovereign and his own uncle, Vasily Shuisky.

During the battles, one of the rebels, Prokopy Lyapunov, sent Mikhail a letter proposing he take the throne, but he firmly refused. Now Moscow saw the 23-year-old boyar as the main contender for the throne. Against this backdrop, his sudden death at the christening of Ivan Vorotynsky's son appears suspicious. The boyar died after taking a cup from the hands of Maluta Skuratov's daughter. Upon learning of his death, the troops nearly ravaged the city, and those suspected of murdering Mikhail narrowly escaped punishment. For many years, the boyar was silent, but in the 19th century, he became known as one of the liberating heroes.