Russia, even in the 17th century, was one of the largest realms on earth, and its ruler the possessor of both vast territory and wealth. The mysterious death of Dmitrii of Uglich (1582–1591), the last Rurikid heir, provided opportunities for imposters and for one of the greatest soap operas in history. The first False Dmitrii, Grigorii Otrep’ev (ca. 1582–1606), ruled from June 1605 to May 1606. With the support of the Polish king, who wanted to gain the Russian throne, Otrep’ev marched on Moscow to unseat Boris Godunov (r. 1598–1605). Upon entry, Otrep’ev’s army killed Godunov’s family, and he took the throne. His close association with the Poles and his marriage to Maryna Mniszchówna (d. 1614), a Roman Catholic, led to his fall, because any “true” tsar had to be Russian and a member of the Russian Orthodox faith. The second False Dmitrii, the Polish-backed Felon of Tushino (Tushino Vor) (d. 1610), and his successor, the Little Felon (d. 1614), gained little support. In 1613, the Russians chose a new dynasty, the Romanovs, and stability returned to the succession process for most of the 17th century.