None of the prototypes of Ilya Muromets, Dobrynya Nikitich and Alyosha Popovich could call themselves "Ukrainian" even theoretically, since the heroes were acting in the period when the division of one people into three branches had not yet occurred.
"Correction" of the hero on Wikipedia
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has carried out a brilliant special operation to combat the "Russian threat." It took place not in Donbass and not on the border with Crimea, but in … "Wikipedia".
According to the Ukrainian "Vesti", representatives of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine in an article on the Internet encyclopedia dedicated to Ilya Muromets, corrected his place of birth.
Instead of the village of Karacharovo, which is near Murom in the Vladimir region, the Ukrainian military indicated the city of Morovsk near Chernigov, which in ancient times was called Murom.
According to Ukrainian journalists, the special operation was not carried out by chance, but in connection with the release in the fall of 2017 of the first Ukrainian fantasy film "The Watchtower", where well-known heroes will act. At the same time, the film insists that the heroes are not Russian, but Ukrainian.
Otherwise, everything that happens cannot be called insanity. If only because, regardless of whether Ilya Muromets was born near Chernigov or near Murom, he, like his comrades in arms, without a doubt, was a Russian or, if you like, a Russian. None of the prototypes of Ilya Muromets, Dobrynya Nikitich and Alyosha Popovich could call themselves "Ukrainian" even theoretically, since the heroes acted at a time when the division of one ancient Russian people into three branches, which are now called Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians, had not yet happened …
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When they talk about heroes, it is not in vain that they mention that they are "epic": over the centuries of oral legends, their biography has been repeatedly supplemented with new adventures, so it is rather difficult to find out where it all began.
There are many versions about who exactly was the prototype of the heroes, but now we will talk only about those that seem to be the most convincing, and to which most historians are inclined.
A. P. Ryabushkin. Ilya Muromets. Illustration for the book "Russian epic heroes". Reproduction
Ilya Muromets - Ilya Chobotok, Saint Ilya of the Caves
In the Near Caves of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, rest the relics of the monk Elijah of the Caves, canonized in the 17th century. This man lived in the XII century and in his secular life bore the name Ilya Chobotok. He received his nickname for the fact that, possessing extraordinary strength, he once fought off enemies with a chobot, that is, a boot.
Ilya Chobotok was a native of the Vladimir village of Karacharovo, where not only legends about him have been preserved, but people who are considered his descendants still live: the Gushchins family. It is famous for its extraordinary strength: according to legend, until the 19th century, men of this kind were forbidden to participate in such a popular amusement in Russia as fist fights.
Ilya Chobotok joined the squad of the Kiev prince and held a high position among the guards.
The relics of Ilya Pechersky
Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
Examination of the remains in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, carried out in Soviet times, showed that Ilya Pechersky was a physically strong man of tall stature, with traces of numerous wounds. This is typical of a warrior. In addition, traces were found indicating a disease of the spine. As we remember, the epic says that Ilya could not walk until the age of 33.
It is believed that, most likely, Chobotok became a monk after another injury he received made him unsuitable for further service.
At the same time, it is highly probable that the monk Elijah of the Caves died in battle. In 1204, Prince Rurik Rostislavich, together with the Polovtsy, captured Kiev and destroyed the Lavra. An experienced warrior, albeit after a severe wound, the monk Elijah could not help but stand in the way of the invaders.
Andrey Ryabushkin. Nikitich. 1895. Illustration for the book "Russian epic heroes". Reproduction
Dobrynya Nikitich - Dobrynya, governor of Prince Vladimir Krasnoe Solnyshko
In the epics, Dobrynya Nikitich most often appears as a hero in the service of Prince Vladimir, and is extremely close to him. Therefore, the most likely prototype should be considered the voivode of Prince Vladimir Dobrynya, who was the uncle of the Baptist of Russia, was the brother of his mother Malusha.
His exact place of birth is unknown. Some researchers point to the surroundings of modern Vladimir-Volynsky. It is known that Dobrynya was an influential person even during the reign of Father Vladimir, Prince Svyatoslav, and that is why he turned out to be a mentor to young Vladimir, sent by his father to reign in Novgorod.
Dobrynya was very active during the period when Vladimir was fighting for the right to become the Kiev prince. The chronicle claims that it was he who encouraged the prince to take harsh actions against Polotsk, including the rape of the bride of Prince Yaropolk Rogneda. There was nothing extraordinary in the capture of women by force at that time, but Dobrynya, irritated by Rogneda's and her entourage's hints about the "slave" status of his sister Malusha, convinced Vladimir to act, as they say now, with special cynicism.
After Vladimir became the prince of Kiev, Dobrynya was made governor in Novgorod, and, apparently, remained so until his death. The governor in Novgorod was also the son of Dobrynya, Konstantin Dobrynich. As an associate of Yaroslav the Wise, Konstantin Dobrynich fell into disgrace, then transferred to Murom, where he died in 1022.
A. P. Ryabushkin. Alyosha Popovich. Epic hero. Reproduction
Alyosha Popovich - Alexander Popovich, Rostov boyar, associate of Dobrynya of the Golden Belt
Alexander Popovich appears in the chronicles of the early 13th century. “Someone from Rostov, resident Alexander, verb Popovich, and his servant was named Torop; serving Alexander to the Grand Duke Vsevolod Yuryevich … , - reads the historical document.
According to the information that has come down to us, a native of Rostov, Olesha or Alexander Popovich was a noble boyar and at the same time one of the strongest warriors in his homeland. He was in the service of Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest, whose descendants ruled Russia until the extinction of the Rurik dynasty.
Alexander Popovich served Vsevolod's son, Konstantin Vsevolodovich, and was drawn into his confrontation with his brother, Yuri Vsevolodovich. After the death of Constantine in 1218, the boyar feared problems and had a reason: he personally killed several of Yuri's best warriors. Therefore, Alexander Popovich left for Kiev, where he entered the service of Prince Mstislav the Old.
And here his fate unexpectedly intersects with another contender for the role of the prototype of Dobrynya Nikitich: a native of Ryazan, Dobrynya Golden Belt. This warrior received his nickname from his father's profession, who was engaged in trade with foreigners. Famous merchants during this period were called "golden belts".
Dobrynya early mastered the art of war and entered the service of the Rostov prince Konstantin Vsevolodovich, becoming a brother-soldier of Alexander Popovich.
After the death of the prince, he was among those who went to serve in Kiev.
Chronicles claim that Ryazan Dobrynya and Alexander Popovich participated in the first battle of the Russians with the Tatar-Mongols, which took place on the Kalka River in May 1223.
Among those killed at Kalka there were at least nine princes, including Mstislav the Old. Many Russian soldiers were killed there, including Alexander Popovich and Dobrynya Golden Belt.
They died, not even realizing that 800 years later, their descendants will diligently rewrite their biography to please the current political moment.
Andrey Sidorchik
