“Chronicle of Many Rebellions” in the Context of Historical Memory and Autocratic Ideology of the Russian State in the mid-17th century

Abstract. The article examines the written masterpiece of the middle 17th century – “Chronicle of many rebellions”, which reflected new ideological tendencies, characterizing the beginning of Alexei Mikhailovich reign. The article shows that previous ideological attitudes (reflected in particular in the “New chronicler”) and historical memory established by the mid-century did not respond to the new realities of the named period.
After 1645 it was important for new authorities to form the view on the history of the end 16th – beginning 17th centuries. An official perspective on the events in the Russian history of the 17th century has been presented in the “Chronicle of many rebellions” that eventually became a part of historical memory. A heroic image of Alexei Mikhailovich was created; the events of 1645–1650, the Time of Troubles and the Church reform in 1652 were presented differently. The chronicle also reflected sympathy of the “quietest” king toward his autocratic ancestor Ivan the Terrible, after the reign of the latter the “rebellious period” came and finished only in 1652, when the “quietest” king ordered to correct religious books and managed to calm his lieges.

Keywords: “Chronicle of many rebellions”, Alexey Mikhailovich, The Time of Troubles, the riots of 1648, historical memory, ideology, Ivan the Terrible.