Describe the feat of Alyosha Popovich in brief. Who were the prototypes of the three heroes (4 photos)

Alyosha Popovich is a legendary Russian hero and warrior, who, as the youngest, is one of the three famous ancient Russian epic heroes. The image of this hero is more folklore and collective than real, but this character, according to historians, had his own real prototype, who lived approximately in the 13th century on the territory of Kievan Rus. According to different versions, it could even be several people: the son of the Orthodox Rostov priest Leonty, a resident of the city of Piryatin in the Poltava region, and the famous hero Alexander the Khorobr (Olesha), a famous historical and public figure who lived in Rostov in the 12th-13th centuries.

The image of a hero - an epic hero

(Illustration of the heroic warrior Alyosha Popovich)

In the famous painting by artist Vasnetsov “Bogatyrs” ( approx. fragment in the first image), written at the beginning of the 19th century, he is presented as a young warrior, much younger in age than the other heroes, with a slightly sly and mysterious smile. As a weapon, he has a bow and a quiver of arrows, and a harp is tied near the saddle, which indicates his cheerful disposition and the lyrical nature of his character. In the epics, it was not even primarily his strength as a warrior that was noted (sometimes his lameness was even emphasized as a kind of weakness), but his prowess, agility, ingenuity, cunning, acumen and resourcefulness. Alyosha is also fearless and strong, like other Russian heroes, but in his battles with enemies he tries to defeat them not with strength and power, but with intelligence, cunning and frankly reckless courage.

In general, the image of this hero is characterized by a certain duality, because along with his positive aspects, the Russian people also awarded him not very flattering character traits, such as boastfulness and arrogance of his exploits, cunning and resourcefulness, the ability to make evil and sometimes insidious jokes, which were condemned and were condemned by his more senior comrades in military affairs. Also, the weak points of this epic character’s character are envy and pride. However, despite all his shortcomings, he is a deeply religious and pious person (probably, the upbringing of his father as a clergyman had an effect).

Famous exploits of the youngest of the heroes

The main occupation of the legendary hero was serving the Kyiv prince as a defender of the Russian people from the enemies of the Kyiv state. The main feat we attribute to this legendary hero is his victory over Tugarin, the real-life Polovtsian Khan Tugorkan. In epics, this character is depicted as a kind of mythical monster, sometimes with the prefix Serpent or Zmeevich, which makes him more terrifying and mysterious. He comes to Kyiv as a foreign invader, Grand Duke Vladimir and his entourage are unable to resist him and receive him as a dear guest. Alyosha Popovich alone does not bow his head to him, treats him without respect and fear, challenges him to a duel and wins in a difficult battle. Again, according to the epic version, not with the help of strength and valor, but using natural ingenuity and cunning. The character of this epic hero is distinguished not only by courage and daring, but also by unbridled youthful recklessness, adventurism, harshness of statements and some rashness of actions. The battle with the Polovtsian Khan Tugorkan turned into victory and glory for Alyosha; later folk storytellers created their own mythological version of this event, in which the khan was turned into a snake-like monster, defeated by Russian ingenuity, cunning, and, of course, courage.

The famous hero was seen in many internecine conflicts and battles of that time; he died in May 1223 on the Kalka River as a participant in the historical battle of the united forces of the Slavs and Cumans against the Mongol-Tatar army.

Historical sources “settled” the great trinity over different centuries. The names of the three heroes became symbols of childhood for many generations of children.

In epics and legends there are three heroes - Ilya Muromets, Nikitich And Alesha Popovich often perform various feats together. They save their native land from hordes of enemies, go out to fight strange villains, and help out pretty maidens in trouble.

Their deeds were reflected not only in the Slavic epic, but also in stories that were passed down from mouth to mouth for centuries by Finns, Altaians, Germans, and Scandinavians. Who were these three knights really and did they meet each other?

Ilya Muromets

In 1188, in the Kiev-Pechersk monastery, the venerable Elder Elijah, whose memory is celebrated by Orthodox Christians on January 1. The national hero, crowned with glory and wounded in battle, took monastic vows in old age. According to another version, the monk Ilya Pechersky died in battle when, in 1204, Prince Rurik led the Polovtsians to Kyiv and destroyed the Lavra.

His relics rest in the Near Caves of the Lavra. In 1988, an interdepartmental commission of the Ministry of Health of the Ukrainian SSR conducted an examination of the remains.

The study showed that in the tomb lies a man of advanced age by the standards of the 12th century, who suffered many injuries and wounds and died from a striking blow to the heart. A round weapon, possibly a spear, pierced his left arm and entered his chest. His right hand remained forever folded for the sign of the cross. Doctors also identified spinal defects, which suggest that he suffered paralysis of the limbs in his youth.

Thus, it became clear that the Church preserves the memory of the epic hero, whose image in numerous retellings over many centuries has become vague and indefinite.

Historians know several options for the origin of Ilya. So, for example, this same hero could be Ilya Chobotok. He earned this nickname when, lacking a weapon, he fought off enemies with a chobot, that is, a boot. In the Vladimir village of Karacharovo they not only consider Ilya Muromets their fellow countryman, but also a relative. To the men of the family Gushchinykh, who possessed extraordinary strength, were forbidden to participate in amusing fist fights right up to the 19th century.

According to another version, Ilya came to serve the Kyiv Prince Vladimir from the village of Karachev near the city of Moroviysk in the Chernihiv region. And German epic poems, without going into details, simply call it - Ilya Russian.

This hero is the main character in 15 plots of heroic epics, through which his biography can be traced. If we proceed from them, then in his youth Ilya was paralyzed, and subsequently healed by walking Kaliki (according to some versions - by Christ and the two apostles). He studied martial arts from Svyatogor, and having entered the service of the Kyiv prince, he established himself with a victory over Nightingale the Robber. It is also known that Ilya Muromets had a difficult relationship with Prince Vladimir, and his son Sokolnichka suffered a tragic fate.

Nikitich

The place of birth of this hero is not known exactly. Some researchers believe that he was born in the second half of the 10th century somewhere in the region of Vladimir-Volynsky. It is quite possible that Nikitich is not his patronymic name at all, but a distorted nickname given after the name of the village of Nizkinichi.

It was Voivode Dobrynya, historians believe, who helped Vladimir ascend to the princely throne, bypassing his older brother Yaropolk. By the way, Dobrynya could well have taught Vladimir to achieve by force Rogneda, daughter of the Polovtsian ruler, who became the bride of Yaropolk.

Vladimir came to Polotsk with an army, captured Rogneda and publicly raped it. The prince himself, as legends describe, was very woman-loving and kept a whole harem in Kyiv. Hunting for the only woman (even though she refused to marry him, calling him the son of a slave) and then humiliating her is not in his character. And Dobrynya was very irritated by reminders that his sister Malusha was with the prince Svyatoslav was a slave, housekeeper.

In the epics, Dobrynya Nikitich fights the Serpent and rescues a whole series of beauties from trouble, including his own wife, Nastasya Mikulishna. In reality, having been appointed governor of Novgorod by Prince Vladimir, he first installs pagan idols in the city, and then, after the baptism of his nephew, converts his lot to Christianity.

Despite religious vacillations, the hero was a competent and skillful ruler, and under him Novgorod flourished. Prince Vladimir also owes many strategic government decisions to his uncle and mentor. Son of Dobrynya Nikitich, Konstantin, became one of the prominent associates Yaroslav the Wise. A direct descendant of the hero was a saint Varlaam Pechersky, first abbot of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra.

Alesha Popovich

In the epics, Dobrynya Nikitich fought with Ilya Muromets before they became friends. A Alesha Popovich wooed Dobrynya's wife when he was on a campaign. In fact, Dobrynya Nikitich lived in the 10th century and served Vladimir Krasno Solnyshko; Ilya Muromets labored in the service of Vladimir Monomakh.

And the Rostov brave man Alexander (Olesha) Popovich, who became the prototype of the epic Alyosha Popovich, fought for Vsevolod's Big Nest, and died in the battle of Kalka in 1223 in the squad Mstislav the Old, that is, in the 13th century. And the inseparable trinity of heroes, obviously, never existed.

"Someone from Rostov, a resident Alexander, the verb Popovich, and his servant by his name Torop; Alexander served the Grand Duke Vsevolod Yuryevich,” says the chronicles of the early 13th century.

The hero found himself drawn into a political confrontation between the two sons of Prince Vsevolod, Constantine And Yuri, and personally killed several of the latter's best warriors. To avoid revenge, he went to Kyiv to join the squad of Prince Mstislav the Old.

A warrior from a boyar family, whose father was a priest, is portrayed in epics not as a strong man, but as a cunning man. He is boastful, cunning and dexterous. The chronicles list numerous battles in which Alexander Popovich took part and defeated many enemies. One of them, the Polovtsian Khan Tugorkan, entered the epics under the name Tugarin.

Prince Mstislav was happy when such a famous warrior entered his service, who, moreover, brought with him several experienced comrades. The Kiev ruler believed that he could now cope with any enemy. However, in the Battle of Kalka, where the Russian regiments, together with the Polovtsy, opposed the Tatars, Mstislav faced defeat and death.

According to some sources, Alyosha Popovich was the son of the saint Leontia, Bishop of Rostov and Suzdal.

He combined general education and military special courses in his curriculum, and graduated those who completed the course directly as officers. As a result, the cadets had to not only master the curriculum, but also become so familiar with combat service that, immediately after entering the regiment, they would be able to command the units of ordinary soldiers entrusted to them.

Sea Guard

It was formed according to the staff of a guards battalion (4 combat companies, a non-combat team, a musical choir and an artillery team with a total number of 434 people). Intended for manning crews and servicing court yachts and rowing ships, as well as court and garrison guard service. However, he took an active part in military campaigns: in 1813-1814, as part of six companies and an artillery team, he was part of the Active Army and performed the functions of a pontoon battalion (built, repaired and destroyed bridges), at the same time, as an infantry unit, he took part in affairs near Bautzen and Kulm, and in 1814 he joined Paris; in 1828 he was sent to the active army, took part in the storming of Varna, and was used as a marine; in 1831, the 6th company took part in the suppression of the Polish rebellion of 1831 as a pontoon unit (ensuring crossings); in the campaign of 1854-56, crew ranks participated in hostilities as a naval unit, composing the crews of naval ships of the Baltic Fleet; in 1905, part of the crew took part in the Battle of Tsushima.

Chief artilleryman of the USSR

On February 28, 1968, Nikolai Nikolaevich VORONOV, chief marshal of artillery, died.

In 1937, he was appointed chief of artillery of the Red Army, replacing division commander N.M. Rogovsky, who was executed in the Tukhachevsky case on September 10, 1937.

After assuming the post of chief of artillery of the Red Army, Nikolai Voronov began work on modernizing the artillery of the Red Army and already in November 1937, on the table of the People's Commissar of Defense Kliment Efremovich Voroshilov, there was a memorandum containing a broad program for equipping the artillery with reconnaissance equipment, creating a new sound-metric detection station, improving and developing new types of heavy and high-power artillery, the development of anti-aircraft and self-propelled artillery and the development of mechanical traction. The solution to these problems contributed to the fact that the artillery was well prepared for the Great Patriotic War.

Submariner Lev Stolyarov

On February 28, 1992, Rear Admiral, submariner, Hero of the Soviet Union Lev Nikolaevich Stolyarov died.

Submariner Lev Stolyarov

On February 28, 1992, Rear Admiral, submariner, Hero of the Soviet Union Lev Nikolaevich Stolyarov died.

He was born on January 2, 1930 in the Kaluga region into a working-class family. After school, he worked as a repairman at the Kaluga railway station. In 1953, he graduated from the Pacific Higher Naval School and served in the Northern and Pacific fleets. Stolyarov commanded the nuclear submarine K-133 of the Northern Fleet. The crew of the nuclear-powered ship took part in the famous group circumnavigation, which paved the way for nuclear submarines of the USSR Navy from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean through the Drake Passage. For the successful completion of command assignments and the courage and heroism displayed, Captain 2nd Rank L.N. Stolyarov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union in 1966. In 1970, Lev Nikolaevich graduated from the command department of the Naval Academy. In 1979-1990 Stolyarov was the head of the Leningrad Nakhimov Naval School. He was awarded the Order of Lenin, the Red Star, and medals. Died in St. Petersburg.

We have known them since childhood, we want to be like them, because they are real superheroes - epic knights. They perform inhuman feats, but they, Russian heroes, also had their own real prototypes.

Alesha Popovich

However, just as you cannot remove words from a song, you cannot remove a feat from an epic. Alyosha Popovich became famous for two main feats - his victory over Tugarin's snake and over the filthy Idolishch. The version of the comparison of the epic hero with Alexander Popovich does not explain any of these achievements, since victories over the filthy Idolishch and over Tugarnin the serpent were won two centuries before the Battle of Kalka.

Another version of who was the prototype of Alyosha Popovich was told by art critic Anatoly Markovich Chlenov. He believes that it is more correct to compare Alyosha Popovich with the boyar’s son and comrade-in-arms of Vladimir Monomakh, Olberg Ratiborovich.

According to the Tale of Bygone Years, it was he who killed the Polovtsian Khan Itlar, who came to negotiate in Pereyaslavl in 1095, by order of the prince, shooting him with a bow through a hole in the roof. Boris Rybakov, in particular, wrote that the name Idolishche, in all likelihood, is a distortion of Itlar through the form “Itlarishche the filthy.” It is characteristic that in the entire epic tradition it is the murder of the filthy Idol that is the only example of the murder of an enemy in the palace, and not in the “open field”.

The second feat of Alyosha Popovich is the victory over Tugarin's snake. Philologists found the prototype of the “snake” back in the 19th century; at the beginning of the 20th century, the version was voiced by Vsevolod Fedorovich Miller. “Tugaryn serpent” is the Polovtsian khan Tugorkan from the Shurakanid dynasty. Sharukan among the Polovtsians meant “snake”.
So everything comes together. According to Boris Rybakov, the name Olberg over time was transformed into the Christian Olesha, and the comparison of Alyosha Popovich with the historical governor Alexander Popovich, according to Dmitry Likhachev, is later.

Nikitich

In Vasnetsov’s painting, Dobrynya is depicted as a mature warrior with a thick beard, while in all the epics Dobrynya is a good fellow. There is an opinion that Vasnetsov painted partly himself in Dobrynya’s appearance. The thick beard seems to hint.
The name “Dobrynya” means “heroic kindness.” The epic Dobrynya also has the nickname “young”, he is strong, and is the protector of “unfortunate wives, widows and orphans.” In addition, he is creative - he plays the harp and sings, he is passionate - he does not avoid playing tavlei. Dobrynya is intelligent in his speeches and knows the subtleties of etiquette. It is clear that he is not a commoner. At the very least - a prince-commander.
The epic Dobrynya is compared by philologists (Khoroshev, Kireevsky) with the chronicle Dobrynya, the uncle of Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich. Historically, Nikitich is not a middle name; the real Dobrynya’s middle name is quite Hollywood - Malkovich. And there were Malkovichs from the village of Nizkinichi. It is believed that “Nikitich” is precisely the “Nizkinich” transformed by the people.
The chronicle Dobrynya played a big role in the history of Rus'. According to the Tale of Bygone Years, it was he who advised the Novgorod ambassadors to invite Prince Vladimir to their place, and he also facilitated the marriage of his nephew to the Polovtsian Rogneda. For his deeds, Dobrynya, after the death of his brother Vladimir Yaropolk, became a Novgorod mayor and participated in the baptism of Novgorod.

If you believe the Joachim Chronicle, baptism was painful, “They baptized with the sword, and Dobrynya with fire,” the houses of the obstinate pagans had to be burned. Excavations, by the way, confirm the great fire of Novgorod in 989.

Ilya Muromets

The fact that Ilya Pechersky is Ilya Muromets is confirmed by the book “Teraturgima” published in 1638. In it, the monk from the monastery Afanasy Kalnofoisky says that Saint Elijah, who is also called Chibitko, rests in the caves. The earthly life of the hero "Teraturgimus" dates back to the 12th century.

New evidence of the identity of the historical Elijah of Pechersk and Ilya of Muromets appeared in 1988, when the Interdepartmental Commission of the Ministry of Health of the Ukrainian SSR was sent to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. The height of Elijah of Pechersk during his lifetime was 177 cm, which was impressive for Ancient Rus'. The epic's indication of the immobility of St. Elijah, up to 30 years of age, corresponds to data on a long-term spinal disease. According to scientists, the ascetic was a warrior, this was evidenced by calluses on the ribs that had healed after fractures. In addition, many other battle wounds were found on the body, one of which was apparently fatal.

Alesha Popovich

Alyosha Popovich is the youngest of the trio of epic heroes. He looks the least warlike, his appearance is not menacing, rather bored. This is understandable - he is bored without fighting, without the adventures to which he was prone, since he defeated his enemies not by force, but by ingenuity and cunning. He is the most atypical of all the heroes, not very virtuous, boastful, greedy for the weaker sex. Traditionally, Alyosha Popovich is correlated with the Rostov boyar Alexander Popovich, about whom there is more than one mention in the Nikon Chronicle. He took part in the Battle of Lipetsk and died in 1223 in the Battle of the Kalka River. However, just as you cannot remove words from a song, you cannot remove a feat from an epic. Alyosha Popovich became famous for two main feats - his victory over Tugarin the serpent and over the filthy Idolishch. The version of the comparison of the epic hero with Alexander Popovich does not explain any of these achievements, since victories over the filthy Idolishch and over Tugarnin the serpent were won two centuries before the Battle of Kalka. Another version of who was the prototype of Alyosha Popovich was told by art critic Anatoly Markovich Chlenov. He believes that it is more correct to compare Alyosha Popovich with the boyar’s son and comrade-in-arms of Vladimir Monomakh, Olberg Ratiborovich. According to the Tale of Bygone Years, it was he who killed the Polovtsian Khan Itlar, who came to negotiate in Pereyaslavl in 1095, by order of the prince, shooting him with a bow through a hole in the roof. Boris Rybakov, in particular, wrote that the name Idolishche, in all likelihood, is a distortion of Itlar through the form “Itlarishche the filthy.” It is characteristic that in the entire epic tradition it is the murder of the filthy Idol that is the only example of the murder of an enemy in the palace, and not in the “open field”. The second feat of Alyosha Popovich is the victory over Tugarin the Serpent. Philologists found the prototype of the “snake” back in the 19th century; at the beginning of the 20th century, the version was voiced by Vsevolod Fedorovich Miller. "Tugarin the serpent" is the Polovtsian khan Tugorkan from the Shurakanid dynasty. Sharukan among the Polovtsians meant “snake”. So everything comes together. According to Boris Rybakov, the name Olberg over time was transformed into the Christian Olesha, and the comparison of Alyosha Popovich with the historical governor Alexander Popovich, according to Dmitry Likhachev, is later.

Nikitich

In Vasnetsov’s painting, Dobrynya is depicted as a mature warrior with a thick beard, while in all the epics Dobrynya is a good fellow. There is an opinion that Vasnetsov painted partly himself in Dobrynya’s appearance. The thick beard seems to hint. The name "Dobrynya" means "heroic kindness." The epic Dobrynya also has the nickname “young”, he is strong, and is the protector of “unfortunate wives, widows and orphans.” In addition, he is creative - he plays the harp and sings, he is passionate - he does not avoid playing tavlei. Dobrynya is intelligent in his speeches and knows the subtleties of etiquette. It is clear that he is not a commoner. At the very least - a prince-commander. The epic Dobrynya is compared by philologists (Khoroshev, Kireevsky) with the chronicle Dobrynya, the uncle of Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich. Historically, Nikitich is not a middle name; the real Dobrynya’s middle name is quite Hollywood - Malkovich. And there were Malkovichs from the village of Nizkinichi. It is believed that “Nikitich” is precisely the “Nizkinich” transformed by the people. The chronicle Dobrynya played a big role in the history of Rus'. According to the Tale of Bygone Years, it was he who advised the Novgorod ambassadors to invite Prince Vladimir to their place, and he also facilitated the marriage of his nephew to the Polovtsian Rogneda. For his deeds, Dobrynya, after the death of his brother Vladimir Yaropolk, became a Novgorod mayor and participated in the baptism of Novgorod. If you believe the Joachim Chronicle, baptism was painful, “Putyata baptized with the sword, and Dobrynya with fire,” the houses of the obstinate pagans had to be burned. Excavations, by the way, confirm the great fire of Novgorod in 989.

Ilya Muromets

Ilya Muromets is the eldest of the “younger heroes”. Everything in it is ours. At first he sat on the stove, then he was miraculously healed, then he served for the prince, quarreled with him from time to time, and after military affairs he became a monk. The prototype of our main knight is Saint Elijah of the Pechersk, whose relics rest in the nearby caves of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. Ilya Muromets had a nickname; he was also called “Chobotok”. Chobotok is a boot. How Ilya Muromets received this nickname can be read in the surviving document of the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery: “There is also one giant or hero, called Chobotka, they say that he was once attacked by many enemies while he was putting on his boot, and so In his haste, he was unable to grab any other weapon, so he began to defend himself with another boot, which he had not yet put on, and with it he defeated everyone, which is why he received such a nickname.” The fact that Ilya Pechersky is Ilya Muromets is confirmed by the book “Teraturgima” published in 1638. In it, the monk from the monastery Afanasy Kalnofoisky says that Saint Elijah, who is also called Chibitko, rests in the caves. The earthly life of the hero "Teraturgimus" dates back to the 12th century. New evidence of the identity of the historical Elijah of Pechersk and Ilya of Muromets appeared in 1988, when the Interdepartmental Commission of the Ministry of Health of the Ukrainian SSR was sent to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. The height of Elijah of Pechersk during his lifetime was 177 cm, which was impressive for Ancient Rus'. The epic's indication of the immobility of St. Elijah, up to 30 years of age, corresponds to data on a long-term spinal disease. According to scientists, the ascetic was a warrior, this was evidenced by calluses on the ribs that had healed after fractures. In addition, many other battle wounds were found on the body, one of which was apparently fatal.