Grigory Otrepyev

This list is ranked 1 because this fraudster managed to become a Russian Tsar with his fraud.

Grigory Otrepyev (fake Dmitriy I) is the Russian Tsar, from July 21, 1605 until his death on May 17, 1606, under the name Dimitriy Ioannovich. He was one of three fraudsters who claimed, during a period of civil unrest in Russia, to be the youngest son of Ivan the Terrible, tsarevitch Dmitriy Ivanovich, who was thought to have escaped the 1591 assassination attempt.

Generally, people believe that the real Dmitriy was actually killed in Uglich and that the fake Dmitriy real name is Grigory Otrepyev, even though this is far from what it should be. Otrepyev claimed that his mother (Tsar Ivan's wife) had anticipated the murder and had sent him to the monastery to hide.

A number of people who knew Tsar Ivan later claimed that Dmitriy did not resemble a young tsarevitch. Dmitriy displayed aristocratic skills such as riding and literacy and spoke well in two languages; Russia and Poland.

A number of nobles agreed to support him against Tsar Goudonov. He attracted a large number of followers and formed an army that fought on his behalf in two battles.

When Tsar Boris Goudonov died suddenly, Russian troops began to defect to Dmitriy's side and, on June 1, Moscow nobles were imprisoned as well as the newly crowned tsar, Feodor II and his mother who was later killed.

Grigory suddenly declared himself a Tsar.

In the end, because of the rumors that Grigory intended to convert Russia to Catholicism, the rebellion ensued and after only ten months of power, he was shot dead in the Kremlin.