"I go to the throne ": Moscow as the symbolof political attraction in so-called "The other legend"
The theme and image of Moscow acquires special significance in the periods of severe historical and political ordeals. The compiler of «The other legend», the compilatory monument dedicated to the events of the Time of Troubles, is interested in the history of the capital, its image only in historical and political aspect. The episodes of related themes that mention the toponym Moscow, are different artistically and are characterized by different degrees of dissemination of the narrative. Stories about the accession to the throne of B. Godunov, V. Shumsky, the approval of the board of seven boyars are lapidary, they focus is not so much on the city itself, as on Muscovites and their reactions. Stories of False Dmitry I, I. Bolotnikov uprising and P. Gorchakov et al. are characterized by detailed narrative about how those going to the throne conquered Moscow and tried to capture it. In both types of narrative Moscow appears as a symbol of the Russian throne, the power symbol, the symbol of all the Moscow State. The difference in the description is partly due to very specific starting positions of the power-hungry people, particularly, their location: if the attempts to seize the throne were from inside or outside. Depending on their location and ideological attitudes the compiler chooses different narrative storytelling models, which are at times contrasting - from the biblical archetype to the protocol ceremonies, as in the case of the conquest of Moscow, Boris Godunov and the False Dmitry I. Each of the contenders for the throne is using its own methods of conquest of the city, from verbal persuasion to direct threats and reprisals against residents. And each of them gives special importance to the conquest of Moscow, not only because it is «reigning» city, but also because it is the «mother» of cities of the Russian land.