Knyaz Andrey Mikhailovich Kurbsky (Андрей Михайлович Курбский in Russian) (1528-1583) was an intimate friend and then a leading political opponent of the Russian tsar Ivan the Terrible. His correspondance with the tsar is a unique source for the history of 16th-century Russia. Kniaz’ or knyaz is a word found in some Slavic languages. ... Events June 19 - Battle of Landriano - A French army in Italy under Marshal St. ... 1583 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. ... Ivan IV (August 25, 1530–March 18, 1584) was the first ruler of Russia to assume the title of tsar. ...

Kurbsky belonged to a family of Rurikid princes, which got its name from the village of Kurba near Yaroslavl. At an early age, he gained renown for the courage displayed in the annual campaigns against Kazan. During the decisive siege of Kazan he commanded the right flank of the Russian army and was wounded. Two years later, he defeated the Udmurt rebels and was appointed boyar. At that time, Kurbsky became one of the closest associates and advisors to the tsar. Rurik Dynasty ... Yaroslavl (Jaroslavl, Russian: ) is a city in Russia, an administrative center of Yaroslavl Oblast, located 250 km NE of Moscow at 57°37′N 39°51′E The historical part of the city, a World Heritage Site, is located at the confluence of Volga and Kotorosl. ... Kazan (Tatar Qazan, Казан; Russian Казань) is the capital city of Tatarstan and one of Russias largest cities. ... Udmurts are Finno-Ugric people that speak the Udmurt language. ... A boyar (also spelled bojar; Romanian: boier) was a member of the highest rank of the feudal Russian and Romanian aristocracy, second only to the ruling princes, from the 10th through the 17th century. ...

During the Livonian War, Kurbsky led the Russian troops against the fortress of Yuryev, which he took. After Ivan failed to renew his commission, Kurbsky defected to Lithuania on April 30, 1564, citing impending repressions as his reason. Later the same year he led a Polish army against Muscovy. The Polish king gave him the town of Kovel in Volhynia, where he lived in peace, defending his Orthodox subjects from Polish encroachments. The Reformation reached Livonia in the 1520s. ... Image of Tartu street Tartu (German, Polish Dorpat, Russian Юpьeв Yuryev) is the second largest city of Estonia, with its population of 101,246 (the Population Census data is from 2000) in an area of 38. ... April 30 is the 120th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (121st in leap years), with 245 days remaining, as the last day in April. ... Events March 27 — Naples bans kissing in public under the penalty of death June 22 — Fort Caroline, the first French attempt at colonizing the New World September 10 — The Battle of Kawanakajima Ottoman Turks invade Malta Modern pencil becomes common in England Conquistadors crossed the Pacific Spanish founded a colony... The Oprichnina (Russian: Опричнина) formed a section of Russia ruled directly by the Tsar under Ivan the Terrible. ... Muscovy (Moscow principality (княжество Московское) to Grand Duchy of Moscow (Великое Княжество Московское) to Russian Tsardom (Царство Русское)) is a traditional Western name for the Russian state that existed from the 14th century to the late 17th century. ... Coat of Arms, circa 1993 Kovel (In Ukrainian and in Russian: Ковель, in Polish: Kowel) is a town now situated in western Ukraine in the Volyn oblast. ... Pochayiv Lavra, the spiritual heart of Volhynia Volhynia (Ukrainian: , Polish: , Russian: ; also called Volynia) comprises the historic region in western Ukraine located between the rivers Pripyat and Western Bug -- to the north of Galicia and of Podolia. ... ...

Kurbsky is best remembered for a series of vitriolic letters he exchanged with the tsar between 1564 and 1579. In 1573, he wrote a political pamphlet, which voiced the former independent princeling's disapproval of Ivan's slide towards absolutism. In his writings, Kurbsky blames the tsar for a number of pathologically cruel crimes, but historians still disagree as to whether his claims should be given credit. Kurbsky's language is remarkable for abundance of foreign loans, especially from Latin, which he had mastered in emigration. Events March 27 — Naples bans kissing in public under the penalty of death June 22 — Fort Caroline, the first French attempt at colonizing the New World September 10 — The Battle of Kawanakajima Ottoman Turks invade Malta Modern pencil becomes common in England Conquistadors crossed the Pacific Spanish founded a colony... Events January 6 - The Union of Atrecht united the southern Netherlands under the Duke of Parma, governor in the name of king Philip II of Spain. ... Events January - articles of Warsaw Confederation signed, sanctioning religious freedom in Poland. ... A pamphlet is an unbound booklet (that is, without a hard cover or binding). ... Absolutism is a political theory which argues that one person, who is often generally a monarch, should hold all power. ... Latin was the language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ...

External link

• Correspondance of Ivan IV and Kurbsky (in Russian)
• Kurbsky's History of the Grand Prince of Moscow (in Russian)