BETWEEN GOD AND TSAR: RELIGIOUS SYMBOLISM AND THE ROYAL WOMEN OF MUSCOVITE RUSSIA [Hardcover]

ISOLDE THYRET (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2001

Challenging traditional interpretations of the roles of royal women in patriarchal Muscovite society, Between God and Tsar opens a new approach to understanding medieval Russia. Drawing upon a wide range of sources in anthropology, sociology, art history, and literature, it sheds light on the lives of the tsaritsy, about which little has been known, and on the culture surrounding them. This pioneering study demonstrates that the wives of the early tsars played complex roles in government, especially during times of crisis, and shows how religious culture perpetuated the expressions of their legitimacy as female rulers.

Muscovite Russia's values were sanctioned by religion, and it is through religious images that the royal women's claims to rulership can be seen most clearly. Thyrêt explores Orthodox iconography—such as that of the Golden Palace of the Tsaritsy, which proclaims Irina Godunova's right to act as an independent ruler—and shows how the Muscovite court used gendered images to reveal the spiritual power of female rulers. Myths and legends adapted from one generation to another also underscore royal wives' claim to authority based on their great spiritual power.

Illuminating medieval Russia's art, literature, and culture, Between God and Tsar opens new ways to understand the tsaritsy. Students of Russian history have often wondered how and why, under the Romanovs, female rulers governed so often. Thyrêt's broadly researched study provides an answer. Between God and Tsar offers stimulating insights into the power of Russia's royal women and how it was manifest in Muscovite culture.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An important study that opens up the whole area of women at the Russian court before Peter's time."
—Russian Review

"Finely nuanced."—American Historical Review

"Highly recommended.... The book breaks new ground."—Canadian Slavonic Papers

About the Author

Isolde Thyrêt, Associate Professor of History at Kent State University, is the author of a variety of articles on medieval Russian women and popular religion.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 291 pages
• Publisher: Northern Illinois University Press; 1 edition (July 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0875802745
• ISBN-13: 978-0875802749
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,801,055 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid, Scholarly Work, May 8, 2007

By 

Tse-t'ien (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: BETWEEN GOD AND TSAR: RELIGIOUS SYMBOLISM AND THE ROYAL WOMEN OF MUSCOVITE RUSSIA (Hardcover)

This is a solid, scholarly work on Russian women in the Early Imperial period. There isn't much I've found in English on women during this time, so Between God and Tsar is a very welcome addition. The monograph relies heavily on interpretations of material items such as tapestries, icons, and paintings. Dr. Thyret's conclusions seem solid, but the pictures of the items she is analyzing are very poor (a fault of the publisher), which makes it more difficult to check her analysis against your own. The book also has a few organizational problems; some chapters try to cover too many divergent topics. Overall, though, a very good book and a most welcome addition to the field.