Bogdan Matveyevich Khitrovo (Russian:Богдан Матвеевич Хитрово) (c. 1615 – 27 March 1680) was a high-placedRussian statesman, orboyar, who servedTsar Alexis and his sonFyodor III, supporting the party ofMaria Miloslavskaya. He is also noted for his patronage of icon-painterSimon Ushakov andSimeon of Polotsk, the first Russian poet.
It appears likely that Khitrovo was born in Grigoryevskoye, his father's estate in the region ofKaluga. He later would endow theLyutikov Monastery in nearbyVorotynsk with a number of generous gifts, including an icon featuring his own portrait. He made a name for himself in the mid-1640s as a governor ofTemnikov. At that time he established a chain of forts along theVolga river, includingSimbirsk, which has an equestrian monument in his honor.
Starting in 1648, Khitrovo pursued a brilliant career at court. He was in charge of manyprikazes between 1649 and 1664 and he held the office of Master of Arms, or Lord of theKremlin Armoury, from 1654 until his death. This position allowed him to oversee the activities of major icon-painters in the employ of the Tsar. In the face of opposition from such eminent personages asAvvakum, Khitrovo encouraged the artists' interest in Western art, which resulted in an unprecedented flowering ofnaturalism in Russian icon-painting.
Khitrovo was related through his mother to the powerfulFyodor Rtishchev, with whom he shared a keen interest in Western culture and a penchant for philanthropy. He led Russian forces during aprolonged war with Poland and took part in the negotiations that led to theTreaty of Andrusovo. During the last 16 years of his life he performed the task of administeringthe Kremlin palaces, as well as other state estate, including several million of serfs.
The old boyar made a bequest of theKhitrovo Gospel, as well as other books and icons, to theTroitse-Sergiyeva Lavra and other monasteries. According to his will, all hiskholops (slaves) were set free. His tomb is in the crypt of theNovodevichy Convent cathedral.