Irina Gudunova was the wife of the last Rurikid Tsar, Feodor. They had no children except for a lone daughter who died young, and there were many court intrigues in an attempt to have the Tsar divorce her on account on her alleged infertility, although her and Feodor may have simply been a bad 'match.'
After Feodor's death, she withdrew to a monastery and took the veil, and the Zemsky Sobor offered the crown to Boris Godunov. One interesting aspect that Wikipedia notes, although I'm not sure how credible, is that Irina could've perhaps taken the throne as a reigning Tsarista, rather than a mere consort, given the fact the Rurikid dynasty was extinct. One plus would be a connection to the former dynasty as Feodor's wife, although Russia had never had a reigning female ruler (they'd have to wait another century for that). But at least later on in Russian history, a woman claiming the throne from her husband wasn't an entirely uncommon occurrence, with women such as Catherine I and Catherine II, as well as Peter I's daughters. Even Maria Feodorovna, wife of Paul I, tried to claim the throne over her son following his death. These were women of a different time, but it's still an interesting question, considering Sophia's regency for her brothers Ivan and Peter nearly a century later. Perhaps the Russians wouldn't be as opposed to a female ruler as one might think.
What if after Feodor's death, Irina claims the throne in her own right? What happens? Do the Boyars attempt to manipulate her and use her as a puppet, or does she find herself a 16th century Maria Feodorovna who is wholly ignored and by passed in fave or the original man elected by the Zemsky? Would her reign avoid the time of troubles or merely postpone them? Is she allowed to reign alone or is a new husband forced upon her? Should she reign alone, what policies might she pursue? Unfortunately we know little about her personality, but the idea of a late 16th century Tsarina in Russia is quite interesting.
After Feodor's death, she withdrew to a monastery and took the veil, and the Zemsky Sobor offered the crown to Boris Godunov. One interesting aspect that Wikipedia notes, although I'm not sure how credible, is that Irina could've perhaps taken the throne as a reigning Tsarista, rather than a mere consort, given the fact the Rurikid dynasty was extinct. One plus would be a connection to the former dynasty as Feodor's wife, although Russia had never had a reigning female ruler (they'd have to wait another century for that). But at least later on in Russian history, a woman claiming the throne from her husband wasn't an entirely uncommon occurrence, with women such as Catherine I and Catherine II, as well as Peter I's daughters. Even Maria Feodorovna, wife of Paul I, tried to claim the throne over her son following his death. These were women of a different time, but it's still an interesting question, considering Sophia's regency for her brothers Ivan and Peter nearly a century later. Perhaps the Russians wouldn't be as opposed to a female ruler as one might think.
What if after Feodor's death, Irina claims the throne in her own right? What happens? Do the Boyars attempt to manipulate her and use her as a puppet, or does she find herself a 16th century Maria Feodorovna who is wholly ignored and by passed in fave or the original man elected by the Zemsky? Would her reign avoid the time of troubles or merely postpone them? Is she allowed to reign alone or is a new husband forced upon her? Should she reign alone, what policies might she pursue? Unfortunately we know little about her personality, but the idea of a late 16th century Tsarina in Russia is quite interesting.
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It's a pretty interesting POD, IMO.