Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-06-07

ANCESTORS OF THE RUSSIAN GAR.

Sunday, the 10Th of May, was an important
event. The Nihilists threatened that it
would never take place, and the date for the
ceremonies to be einaugurated was postponed
from time to time, in consequence Of the
threats Of the disaffected element, including
women as well as men, scattered all over
the vast empire, and all deeply in earnest
to prevent the successful coronation of a son
Of the emperor who came to a violent death
at their hands, by the explosion of an assaS-
sins bomb, in March, 1881. But, according
to the published reports in the English and
American newspapers, which correspon-
dence, however, was all subjected to the ap-
proval of Russian censors before it's trans
mission was permitted, not single unto
ward event to the imposing ceremonies oc-
Cured. They were undertaken and COM
pleted with barbaric splendor, such as neith-
er Greek nor Roman conquerorr ever sur,
passed, and Alexander III has safely defied
the threats of his enemies and is now in
fact, as well as in form, the head of one Of
the strongest powers of civil government on
the globe.
1t is quite opportune, in this connection,
to lecall the tragic history Of the Russian
dynasty. 1t is tale Of lust, treachery,
blood and sin, interspersed here and there
with noble deeds. A recent writer has
summed up list of crimes resulting in the
death of Car, or one other member of the
royal household. The crimes committedby
the Cars themselves among their subjects
by their own hands or through their agents,
would fill volume. Rubik was the found
er of the Russian Carbon. The tale of
horror began with his son Igor. We quote
the historic narrative as folloWs
After having exacted OnerOus tributes of
the DrevlianS, a subject tribe, Igor was
marching back to his capital, Kief, when
the thought struck him that he might
squeeze more out of the Drevlians. Not
wishing his lieutenants to share the fruit OF
his contemplated eXtOrtions, he sent the
main body of his army on to Kief, and went
back with a small force among the Drevlians,
who, driven to extremity, massacred him
and the whole of his guard near their town
of KOrOsten.
Sviatoslaf, the son Of Igor, was waylaid
and killed by the Petchenegans, a hostile
tribe. His head was cut off and his skull,
ornamented with circle Of gold, was used
as goblet by the Prince of the Petchene-
ganS.
Sviatoslaf left three sons, Iaropolk, who
reigned in Kief; Oleg, ruler of the Drew
Halls, dllu WIN llCluo"uy LII ANoN-
gorod. Soon after their fathers death the
brothers went to war. Iaropolk slew Oleg,
and in his turn died at the hands of Vladi-
mir, at whose instigatiOn he was slain in his
fathers palace.
SViatOp0lk, the successor of Vladimir, had
his brother Boris, Vladimir's favorite son,
assassinated in his tent. He meted out a
similar fate to two or more Of his brothers.
Another brother, HaraSlaf, who ruled in
Novgorod aided by his subjects, hurled the
fraticide from the throne. Sviatopolk at
last died of fear while flying from the aveng-
ing sword Of Yaraslaf.
Towards the close Of the eleventh century
David, one of the descendants of the Rurik,
tore out the eyes Of one of his kingmen,
whose appanage he coveted. For this crime
David himself was deprived Of his appanage
by the other Princes.
The Grand Prince Andrew BOgolioubski,
of Souzdal, descendant Of Rurik, after
vainly trying to consolidate the power of
Russia, which was divided among numer-
Gus petty Princes, was cruelty assassinated
by his subjects.
In the thirteenth century, when Russia
groaned under Tartar dominion, several Of
the Russian Princes of the House of Rurik
were summoned to the Great Horde, accused
of insubOrdinatiOn, tried and executed.
The Grand Prince Alexander Nevski, when
returning from the Great Horde, to which
he had gone to interpose with the Khan in
behalf of his people, against whom the
Khan threatened to march, died under cir
cumstances, which rendered it highly prob
able that poison had been administered to
him before he left the Tartar camp.
The Grand Prince of Moscow, George
Danielovitch, whose wife had died while
of fbn EronI Drinna Mil-hoi1 nf
Tever, accused the latter before the Horde
of having poisoned the princess. Mikhail
appeared in person before the Horde to an
swer the charge. Usbek-Khan, who was a
brother of the princess, consented to Mikha-
il's DEATH and he was assassinated in his
tent by hireling of the Grand Prince of
Moscow. The triumph of the Grand Prince
George was, however, Of short duration, for
being accused of withholding the tribute
due the Khan, he journeyed to the Horde,
and was assassinated by the son of his vic
tim, who was himself at once executed by
the Khan.
In 1923 Alexander, the Grand Prince of
Tever, second son of the Milhail mentioned
above, having incurred the enmity of the
Khan, was, together with his son, executed
at the Horde.
In 1431 Vassilli Vassillievitch, the Grand
Prince of Moscow, in an excess OF fury, had
the eyes of his cousin, Nassilli the Squinter,
put out. Ten years later Il brother of the
ter--Chemiaka--hav taken Vassilli
Vassilievitch prisoner, put out his eyes and
proclaimed himself Grand Prince. In the
following year he was depOsed. In 145O he
attempted to regain the throne, but was de-
feated by the MuscOvtes. He fled to Nov
gorod where he is said to have died three
years later of poison.
The despot Ivan III, who assembled the
throne about 1880, shortly afterWard had one
of his brothers arrested while at court and
loaded with chains, under the burden OF
which he expired.
Ivan the Great, condemned his grandson
Diminitri, to perpetual Imprisonment. HIS
cruel captivity was terminated by violent
death.
Nassili, the son of Ivan the Great, i'm
prisOned his nephew, Prince BelSki, who |
was murdered while in captivity.
Ivan the Terrible, suspecting his eldest
son of conspiring with the Boyards to de-
throne him, struck him down with an iron
bound staff, killing him almost instantly. |
Dimitri, the ten year-old son of Ivan the
Terrible, was murdered by creature of
Boris Gudonof His throat was cut while
at play. With him ended the dynasty OF
the House of Rurik.
Dlmltrl Y, known as tne lalSe DlHlltrl,
who reigned for brief period after Boris |
Gudonof, was mobbed few years after he
assembled the throne, and was shot through |
the breast and killed by a man in the |
crowd. His young soll, Ivan, was after
ward hanged.
Alexis, the son of Peter the Great, was
tried for treason and condemned to death
The Car, however too impatient SO wait
for the execution, poisoned him with a
drink which he recommended as salutary
medicine.
The conspiracy which brought the fa-