Martha Boretskaya, wife of the mayor Isaac Andreevich, who after the death of her husband became the head of the Lithuanian pariah in Novgorod and in this connection is better known as Martha the Posadnitsa. She fought for the independence of Novgorod from Moscow and rapprochement with Lithuania. In 1471 Martha and her son, the Novgorod dignified mayor Dmitry Boretsky, headed the party of Novgorod boyars hostile to Moscow and negotiated the transfer to Lithuanian citizenship with the Lithuanian prince Casimir VI on the condition that Novgorod's liberties be preserved.
What do we know about Martha Boretskaya
The Veche Bell (Veche is a popular assembly in ancient and medieval Russia) summoned Novgorodians to the Great Square. There, for many centuries, the townspeople created their history, full of glorious exploits and sorrowful trials. In all of Russia in the 15th century, there were few cities that escaped the yoke of the Tatar-Mongol. The Lord Veliky Novgorod prided himself on his freedom and wealth, and he gave birth to many wonderful, free-spirited people. Only in such a city could a woman appear who was not afraid of the claims of the prince of Moscow Ivan.
Little is known about the true facts of the biography of Martha Boretskaya. As you can see, Novgorod knew many such glorious, strong women, but they did not have a chance to test themselves in the dashing years. For a long time, Martha was only the faithful, caring wife of Isaac Boretsky, the city mayor. They lived happily, richly with him, the family grew and Martha, perhaps, did not want to change anything in her fate - if only everything went the same way. However, the times were troubling, Novgorod attracted invaders from various lands with its riches. At the head of the troops defending the borders of the principality was Martha's husband. Going on a campaign, he took an oath from his wife that in case of his death she would replace her husband in the Council of Elders.
It is difficult to say whether this was actually the case. Martha, of course, was politically more profitable to have a legend about the direct continuation of the case of a famous mayor in the city. And how is it possible to take an oath from a person to accomplish a feat or have an oratorical talent?
Martha was one of the strong natures who, having survived the death of a loved one, not only do not break, but acquire an iron, inhuman will. Nothing else can shake them, worries, doubts of private life give way to social values, lofty ideas. We can say that Martha was lucky, she soon had an opportunity not only to challenge customs duties in the Council, but to do great things.
Martha Posadnitsa. Destruction of the Novgorod Veche
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Confrontation
It is known that the Moscow principality by the 15th century had grown to such an extent that it began to collect all Russian lands under its banners. The time has come for Novgorod. From Prince Ivan, a messenger arrived in the city, announcing the will of the owner - to voluntarily go under the arm of Moscow. Martha did not hesitate for a minute, she assumed the ideological leadership in the fight against Ivan's encroachments.
But she not only knew how to ardently and passionately convince, she had an undeniable organizational talent. Martha warmed up a young orphan in her house, who was distinguished by Isaac Boretsky for military valor. Since the sons of the posadnitsa were not suitable for the role of commanders, and the leaders of the city, for various reasons, could not become the head of the defensive squad, Martha, having carefully weighed everything, decided to entrust the defense of Novgorod to the rootless Miroslav.
Realizing all the weakness and defenselessness of the city before the army of the Moscow prince, she wrote a request for help to the neighbors in Pskov, reminding them how much they enjoyed the favor of the Novgorodians. But the assistants from Pskov came out bad. Frightened by Prince Ivan, they confined themselves to advice and wishes of good luck to the Lord Veliky Novgorod. Martha with contempt tore up the answer of the traitors and scribbled on a small piece: "We do not believe in a good desire, we disdain advice, but we can do without your army."
It is a pity that an uncompromising character does not contribute to a successful political career. The landowner also rejected the help of the unexpected guardian - the Polish king Casimir, well understanding into what trap the insidious foreigner wanted to lure her. “It is better to perish at the hand of John than to be saved from yours,” answered the proud owner.
So, all that remained was to hope for their own strength. Martha, not sparing herself, spends her days in the Great Square. Inspiring the soldiers to a feat in the name of the fatherland, she supported the patriotic spirit of the townspeople, intimidating the Novgorodians with Moscow slavery. Historians will later say that the posadnitsa had something to lose in the event of the conquest of Novgorod. Well, such considerations do not diminish the strength of her personality and the greatness of her deeds. To maintain the confidence of Novgorodians in success, Martha decided to play the wedding of her daughter Xenia with the newly-minted commander Miroslav. The festival was truly nationwide. Marfa Boretskaya did not regret anything to demonstrate the strength and contentment of the "main" Novgorod family.
On the Great Square, tables were laid for all the townspeople, the bell was struck, calling everyone to the celebration. The meals were served sumptuous. Miroslav and Ksenia walked among the guests and asked the citizens to have fun. Martha's main goal was achieved: Novgorodians felt like one family, the unity of which was strength. In the heat of the feast, no enemy seemed to be afraid anymore.
In the end, the weapons were prepared, the tactical moves were calculated, the population was in patriotic delight - it was possible to speak, especially since they said that Prince Ivan was in a hurry to the borders of the earth - to teach the rebellious Novgorodians a lesson. Long days of waiting for news from the battlefield dragged on. The posadnitsa ordered to open all the temples of the city and to continuously serve prayers in the name of the victory of Miroslav's army. Martha Boretskaya herself was an example of optimism and confidence - she was certainly cheerful, energetic, spoke in the Council. Ksenia was not inferior to her mother, who now did not leave Martha for a moment.
At first, modest news came from Miroslav, then he began to convey in words: "We are fighting!" Grief fell on the townspeople suddenly. The army returned defeated. Miroslav and Martha's two sons were killed. They say that when the streets of Novgorod were filled with lamentations of women and the groans of the wounded, Marfa Boretskaya asked the soldiers: "Have my sons been killed?" “Both,” they answered her. - “Praise to heaven! Fathers and mothers of Novgorod! Now I can comfort you!"
Having lost the first battle, the Novgorodians again faced the decision of their fate. Many were at a loss, only there was no turning back for the posadnitsa. She could still influence the spirit of the townspeople. She decided to compromise, realizing that the Moscow prince would hardly agree to him. Novgorod offered the prince of Moscow a ransom - his riches, however, Ivan had far-reaching plans, especially since military luck was leaning on his side. "Submission without condition or death to the rebels!" - Ivan answered and with anger turned away from the ambassadors.
The prince's disagreement played into Martha's hands, this impudent answer only justified her aggressiveness against the invaders, and again the Novgorodians rallied around their leader. To be faithful, Martha turned to the help of her maternal grandfather, the hermit Theodosius, who had long left the city and lived as a hermit on the shore of Lake Ilmen. The elder was to return to Novgorod. The people with a general cry expressed joyful surprise at the appearance of Theodosius. “On your happy days, dear fatherland, I prayed in the desert, but my brothers are dying …” the elder began his speech. The people in a single impulse chose Theodosius as a mayor. Martha once again was not deceived by the reaction of the Novgorodians. People kissed Theodosius' hands, like children who were unhappy in the absence of their father. And again the townspeople doomed themselves to death, and again Martha gave them a general feast,so that the townspeople forget the horror of defeat and take a lift.
However, the ring of the enemy squad was getting closer and closer around Novgorod. Terrible times came, and famine began in the once hospitable city. Martha Boretskaya still held on, inspiring the townspeople with the idea that, they say, a rainy autumn would come and Muscovites would drown in the vast Novgorodian swamps, you just had to be patient a little. However, autumn came warm and dry, nature itself, it seemed, turned against the besieged. Neither the prayers of Theodosius, nor the distribution of a meager ration, nor the long reflections of Martha at her husband's grave helped.
Finally, the horrors of hunger hit the city with all the mercilessness. People, especially women, began to blame Martha for her misfortunes. Boretskaya hurried to the Great Square, but for the first time the exhausted townspeople did not want to listen to her. Then the posadnitsa resorted to a method that for some reason was so beloved by the Russian rulers. She fell to her knees in front of the crowd and humbly began to pray to the Novgorodians for a decisive battle. Once proud, dignified, confident, her humiliation caused confusion in the ranks of the townspeople. She was able to defeat even a hunger riot, she was able to push the Novgorodians for the last time to defend their rights.
Defeat
However, the miracle did not happen. Ivan again won a victory and now it is final. Ivan III completely deprived the Novgorod lands of the privileges of self-government, extending the power of autocracy to them. As a sign of the abolition of the Novgorod veche, the veche bell was taken to Moscow, and sentences were passed on influential citizens. Martha's lands were confiscated, she and her grandson Vasily Fedorovich Isakov were first brought to Moscow, and then sent to Nizhny Novgorod, where they tonsured into monasticism under the name of Mary in the Conception Monastery, where she died in 1503. According to another version, Martha died or was executed on the way to Moscow in the village of Mleve, Bezhetskaya pyatina, Novgorod land.
I. Semashko