Here is one of the most important cases Russian history! - says the publisher of this story. – Wise John had to annex the Novogorod region to his empire for the glory and strength of his fatherland: praise be to him! However, the resistance of the Novgorod residents is not a rebellion of some Jacobins: they fought for their ancient charters and rights, given to them in part by the great princes themselves, for example Yaroslav, who affirmed their liberties. They acted only recklessly: they should have foreseen that resistance would lead to the death of Novugorod, and prudence required them to make a voluntary sacrifice.
Our chronicles contain few details of this great incident, but chance brought into my hands an old manuscript, which I report here to lovers of history and fairy tales, correcting only its syllable, which is dark and unintelligible. I think that it was written by one of the noble Novgorod residents resettled by Grand Duke Ivan Vasilyevich to other cities. All major incidents agree with history. Both chronicles and ancient songs do justice to the great mind of Martha Boretskaya, this wonderful woman who knew how to master the people and wanted (very inappropriately!) to be the Cato of her republic.
It seems that the ancient author of this story did not even blame John in his soul. This does honor to his justice, although when describing some cases, Novgorod blood clearly plays in him. The secret motive he gave to Martha's fanaticism proves that he saw in her only passionate, an ardent, intelligent, and not a great and not a virtuous woman.
Book one
There was a sound veche bell, and the hearts in Novgorod trembled. Fathers of families break away from the embraces of their spouses and children in order to rush where their fatherland is calling them. Bewilderment, curiosity, fear and hope attract citizens in noisy crowds to the Great Square. Everyone asks; no one is responsible... There, in front of the ancient house of Yaroslav, mayors with gold medals on their chests, thousands with high staffs, boyars, people with banners and elders of all five ends of Novgorod with silver axes have already gathered. But no one is yet visible in the place of the forehead, or Vadimov (where the marble image of this knight stood). The people drown out the ringing of the bell with their crooked voices and demand the opening of the evening. Joseph Delinsky, an eminent citizen, who was a dignified mayor seven times - and each time with new services to the fatherland, with new honor for his name - ascends the iron steps, opens his gray, venerable head, humbly bows to the people and tells them that The prince of Moscow sent his boyar to Veliky Novgorod, who wants to publicly announce his demands... The mayor descends - and boyar Ioannov appears on Vadimov’s place, looking proud, girded with a sword and in armor. It was the governor, Prince Kholmsky, a prudent and firm husband - right hand Ioannov in military enterprises, his eye in state affairs - brave in battle, eloquent in advice. Everyone is silent, the boyar wants to speak... But the young arrogant Novgorod residents exclaim: “Humble yourself before the great people!” He hesitates - thousands of voices repeat: “Humble yourself before the great people!” The boyar takes off his helmet from his head - and the noise stops.
“Citizens of Novgorod! - he says. - The Prince of Moscow and All Russia is speaking to you - take it out!
Wild peoples love independence, wise peoples love order, and there is no order without autocratic power. Your ancestors wanted to rule themselves and were victims of cruel neighbors or even crueler internal strife. The virtuous elder, standing on the throne of eternity, conjured them to elect a ruler. They believed him, for a man at the door of the tomb can only speak the truth.
Citizens of Novgorod! Within your walls the autocracy of the Russian land was born, established, and glorified. Here the magnanimous Rurik created justice and truth; in this place the ancient Novgorod residents of their father and prince, who reconciled internal discord, calmed and exalted their city. In this place they cursed the disastrous freedom and blessed the saving power of the One. Previously terrible only for themselves and unhappy in the eyes of their neighbors, the Novgorodians, under the sovereign hand of the Varangian hero, became the horror and envy of other peoples; and when Oleg the brave moved with his army to the borders of the south, all the Slavic tribes submitted to him with joy, and your ancestors, the comrades of his glory, could hardly believe their greatness.
Oleg, following the flow of the Dnieper, fell in love with its red banks and in the blessed country of Kyiv founded the capital of his vast state; but Veliky Novgorod was always the right hand of the great princes when they glorified the Russian name with deeds. Oleg, under the shield of the Novgorodians, nailed his shield to the gates of Constantinople. Svyatoslav and the Novgorod army scattered the army of Tzimiskes like dust, and the grandson Holgin was nicknamed the Ruler of the World by your ancestors.
Citizens of Novgorod! Not only military glory you owe it to the Russian sovereigns: if my eyes, turning to all ends of your city, see everywhere the golden crosses of the magnificent churches of the holy faith, if the noise of the Volkhov reminds you of that great day on which the signs of idolatry perished with a noise in its fast waves, then remember that Vladimir built here the first temple to the true god, Vladimir overthrew Perun into the abyss of the Volkhov!.. If life and property are sacred in Novgorod, then tell me, whose hand protected them with safety?... Here (pointing to Yaroslav’s house) - here lived the wise legislator, the benefactor of your ancestors, a generous prince, their friend, whom they called the second Rurik!.. Ungrateful posterity! Listen to fair reproaches!
The Novgorodians, having always been the eldest sons of Russia, suddenly separated from their brethren; Having been loyal subjects of the princes, they now laugh at their power... and at what times? O shame on the Russian name! Kinship and friendship are known in adversity, love for the fatherland is also... God, in his inscrutable advice, decided to punish the Russian land. Countless barbarians appeared, strangers from countries unknown to anyone, like these clouds of insects that the sky in its anger drives like a storm into the sinner’s harvest. The brave Slavs, amazed by their appearance, fight and die, the Russian land is stained with the blood of Russians, cities and villages are on fire, the chains rattle on the maidens and elders... What are the Novgorod residents doing? Are they rushing to help their brothers?... No! Taking advantage of their distance from the places of bloodshed, taking advantage of the general misfortune of the princes, they take away their legitimate power, keep them within their walls, as in a prison, expel them, call on others and expel them again. The Novgorod sovereigns, descendants of Rurik and Yaroslav, had to obey the mayors and tremble veche bell, like the trumpets of the Last Judgment! Finally, no one wanted to be your prince, a slave to the rebellious veche... Finally, Russians and Novgorod residents will not recognize each other!
Why is there such a change in your hearts? How ancient tribe could the Slavic forget its blood?... Selfishness, selfishness has blinded you! Russians are dying, Novgorod residents are getting rich. The corpses of Christian knights killed by infidels are brought to Moscow, Kyiv, and Vladimir, and the people, showering ashes on their heads, greet them with a cry; Foreign goods are brought to Novgorod, and the people greet foreign guests with joyful exclamations! Russians count their ulcers, Novgorod residents count gold coins. Russians in bonds, Novgorod residents glorify their freedom!
Liberty!.. But you are also a slave. People! I'm talking to you. The ambitious boyars, having destroyed the power of the sovereigns, took possession of it themselves. You obey - for the people must always obey - but not to the sacred blood of Rurik, but to rich merchants. Oh shame! The descendants of the Slavs value the rights of rulers with gold! The princely families, renowned since ancient times, rose to prominence through deeds of courage and glory; your mayors, thousands, living people owe their dignity to a favorable wind and the cunning of self-interest. Accustomed to the benefits of trade, they also trade in the good of the people; whoever promises them gold, they promise you. So, the Prince of Moscow knows their friendly, secret connections with Lithuania and Casimir. Soon, soon you will gather for the sound veche bell, and the arrogant Pole will tell you at the execution place: “You are my slaves!” But God and the great John still care about you.
Novgorodians! The Russian land is being resurrected. John aroused the ancient courage of the Slavs from sleep, encouraged the sad army, and the banks of the Kama witnessed our victories. The arc of peace and covenant shone over the graves of princes George, Andrei, and Mikhail. The sky made peace with us, and the Tatar swords gave way. The time has come for revenge, the time for glory and Christian triumph. The final blow has not yet been struck, but John, chosen by God, will not lower his sovereign hand until he crushes his enemies and mixes their ashes with the earthly ring. Dimitri, having struck Mamai, did not liberate Russia; John foresees everything, and, knowing that the division of the state was the cause of its disasters, he has already united all the principalities under his power and is recognized as the ruler of the Russian land. The children of the fatherland, after a sad long-term separation, are embraced with joy in the eyes of the sovereign and their wise father.
But his joy will not be complete until Novgorod, ancient, Veliky Novgorod, returns to the shadow of the fatherland. You insulted his ancestors, he will forget everything if you obey him. John, worthy to rule the world, wants only to be the sovereign of Novgorod!.. Remember when he was a peaceful guest among you; remember how you were amazed at his greatness when, surrounded by his nobles, he walked along the hills of Novagrad to the house of the Yaroslavs; remember with what kindness, with what wisdom he talked with your boyars about the antiquities of Novgorod, sitting on the throne set for him near the place of Rurik, from where his gaze embraced all the ends of the city and the joy of the surrounding area; remember how you unanimously exclaimed: “Long live the Prince of Moscow, great and wise!” Isn’t it nice to obey such a sovereign, and for the sole purpose of completely freeing Russia from the yoke of the barbarians? Then Novgorod will be even more decorated and exalted in the world. You will first sons of Russia; here John will set up his throne and resurrect happy times when there is no noisy evening, but Rurik and Yaroslav judged you like fathers of children, walked through the haystacks and asked the poor whether the rich were oppressing them? Then the poor and the rich will be equally happy, for all subjects are equal in the face of the autocratic ruler.
People and citizens! May John reign in Novgorod, as he rules in Moscow! Or - listen to him last word- or a brave army, ready to crush the Tatars, in a formidable militia will first appear before your eyes, and pacify the rebels!.. Peace or war? Answer!”
With this word, Boyar Ioannov put on his helmet and left the place of execution.
The silence still continues. Officials and citizens are in amazement. Suddenly the crowds waver, and loud exclamations are heard: “Martha! Marfa! She ascends the iron steps, quietly and majestically; looks at the countless assembly of citizens and is silent... Importance and sorrow are visible on her pale face... But soon her gaze, overshadowed by grief, flashed with the fire of inspiration, her pale face was covered with blush, and Martha said:
“Vadim! Vadim! Here your sacred blood flowed, here I call heaven and you as witnesses that my heart loves the glory of the fatherland and the good of my fellow citizens, that I will tell the truth to the people of Novgorod and am ready to seal it with my blood. My wife dares to speak at the meeting, but my ancestors were friends of the Vadimovs, I was born in a military camp under the sound of weapons, my father and husband died fighting for Novgorod. This is my right to be a defender of liberty! It was bought at the price of my happiness..."
“Speak, glorious daughter of Novagrad!” - the people exclaimed unanimously - and deep silence again expressed their attention.
“Descendants of the generous Slavs! They call you rebels!.. Is it because you raised their glory from the grave? They were free when they flowed from east to west to choose their home in the universe, free like the eagles that soared above their heads in the vast deserts ancient world... They established themselves on the red banks of Ilmen and still served one god. When the Great Empire, like a dilapidated building, was crushed under strong blows wild heroes north, when the Goths, Vandals, Eruls and other Scythian tribes were looking for booty everywhere, living by murder and robbery, then the Slavs already had villages and cities, cultivated the land, enjoyed the pleasant arts of a peaceful life, but still loved independence. Under the shade of a tree, a sensitive Slav played the strings of a Musikian instrument he had invented, but his sword hung on the branches, ready to punish the predator and tyrant. When Bayan, the Avar prince, terrible for the emperors of Greece, demanded that the Slavs succumb to him, they proudly and calmly responded: “No one in the universe can enslave us until swords and arrows are worn out!..” O great memories of antiquity! Should you incline us to slavery and bonds?
True, with the passage of time, new passions were born in souls, ancient, saving customs were forgotten, and inexperienced youth despised the wise advice of the elders; Then the Slavs called to themselves, famous for their bravery, the Varangian princes, and commanded the young, rebellious army. But when Rurik wanted to rule without permission, Slavic pride was horrified by his carelessness, and Vadim Brave called him before the court of the people. “Let the sword and the gods be our judges!” - Rurik answered, - and Vadim fell from his hand, saying: “Novogorodians! To the place stained with my blood, come to mourn your foolishness - and glorify freedom when it appears again in triumph within your walls...” The desire of the great man was fulfilled: the people gather at his sacred grave to freely and independently decide their fate.
So, the death of Rurik - let us give justice to this famous knight! – the wise and brave Rurik was resurrected by Novgorod freedom. The people, amazed by his greatness, involuntarily and humbly obeyed, but soon, no longer seeing the hero, they awakened from deep sleep, and Oleg, having experienced his stubborn inflexibility many times, withdrew from Novagorod with an army of brave Varangians and Slavic youths, to seek victory, tributaries and slaves among other Scythian, less brave and proud tribes. From that time on, Novgorod recognized its princes as its only generals and military commanders; the people elected civil authorities and, obeying them, obeyed the charter of their will. Our fathers loved the Slavic blood among the people of Kyivians and other Russians, served them as friends and brothers, defeated their enemies and instead were famous for their victories. Here Vladimir spent his youth, here, among the examples of a generous people, his great spirit was formed, here the wise conversation of our elders aroused in him the desire to ask all the peoples of the earth about the mysteries of their faith, so that the truth would be revealed for the good of people; and when, convinced of the holiness of Christianity, he accepted it from the Greeks, the Novgorodians, more intelligent than other Slavic tribes, expressed more zeal for the new true faith. The name of Vladimir is sacred in Novgorod; The memory of Yaroslav is sacred and dear, for he was the first of the Russian princes to establish the laws and freedom of the great city. Let insolence call our fathers ungrateful for repelling the power-hungry enterprises of his descendants! The spirit of Yaroslav would have been offended in the heavenly villages if we had not been able to preserve the ancient morals sanctified by his name. He loved the people of Novgorod because they were free; their gratitude gladdened his heart, for only free souls can be grateful: slaves obey and hate! No, our gratitude triumphs as long as the people, in the name of the fatherland, gather in front of Yaroslav’s house and, looking at these ancient walls, say with love: “Our friend lived there!”
The Prince of Moscow reproaches you, Novgorod, with your very prosperity - and he cannot justify himself in this guilt! So, of course: the Novgorod regions are blooming, the fields are turning golden, the granaries are full, wealth is flowing to us like a river; The Great Hansa is proud of our union; foreign guests seek our friendship, are amazed at the glory of the great city, the beauty of its buildings, the general abundance of citizens and, returning to their country, say: “We saw Novgorod, and we have not seen anything like it!” So, of course: Russia is in poverty - its land is stained with blood, villages and towns are deserted, people are hiding in the forests like animals, a father is looking for children and does not find them, widows and orphans beg for alms at crossroads. So, we are happy - and guilty, because we dared to obey the laws of our own good, we dared not to participate in the civil strife of the princes, we dared to save the Russian name from shame and reproach, not to accept the Tatar shackles and preserve the precious dignity of the people!
Not us, oh unfortunate Russians, but always dear brothers to us! not we, but you left us when you fell on your knees before the proud khan and demanded chains to save your blasphemous life, when the fierce Batu, seeing the freedom of the united Novagrad, like a furious lion, rushed to tear its brave citizens to pieces, when our fathers, preparing for a glorious battle , sharpened their swords on their walls - without timidity: for they knew that they would die and not be slaves! last time and in the last fence of Russian freedom to fight the infidels! Only timid crowds of fugitives appeared on the roads of Novagrad; not the sound of weapons, but the cry of cowardly despair was the herald of their approach; they demanded not arrows and swords, but bread and shelter!.. But Batu, seeing the courage free people, preferred his safety to the evil pleasure of revenge. He was in a hurry to leave!.. In vain the citizens of Novgorod begged the princes to take advantage of such an example and with common forces, in the name of the Russian God, strike at the barbarians: the princes paid tribute and went to the Tatar camp to accuse each other of plans against Batu; generosity became the subject of denunciations, unfortunately false!.. And if the name of victory was still preserved in the Slavic language for two centuries, then was it not the thunder of the Novgorod weapon that reminded it of the Russian land? Didn't our fathers defeat enemies on the banks of the Neva?
See the Byzantine historians Theophylact and Theophanes. (Author's note) Musikian tools are musical instruments.
These were difficult and difficult times for Rus', which struggled with the invasion of the Mongol-Tatar yoke. It is about this period that the book compiled for of this work summary. “Martha the Posadnitsa, or the Conquest of Novagorod” is a historical story that describes how much innocent human blood was shed throughout the Russian land. To prevent this, the Great Moscow Prince John III began to unite the Russian principalities and gather under his banner all those who could no longer tolerate the cruel oppression of the Golden Horde. However, the proud Novgorod state, which declared its independence, refused to obey him.
A brief summary will describe this in more detail below. “Martha the Posadnitsa” contains in its plot Interesting Facts that at one time the Novgorodians fought for their ancient charters and rights, which were partly given to them by the great princes. For example, it was Prince Yaroslav who asserted their freedom.
Karamzin: “Martha the Posadnitsa”, summary of the plot
The Novgorodians foresaw that such a confrontation would bring them a lot of grief, but they could not give up their pride. And now the city veche bell calls all the townspeople to immediately gather on the Great Square.
People rushed there from all over, their alarmed roar drowned out by the ringing of bells. People gathered and began to demand that the meeting begin.
Opposite the white stone house of Yaroslavov, posadniks with medals on their chests, boyars with banners, elders with silver axes and many other people gathered.
Suddenly, on the forehead, or, otherwise, on Vadimov, the place where the marble image of the knight Vadim towered, a messenger appeared - a trusted prince of Tsar John.
Ambassador
It was Prince Kholmsky, who was supposed to announce to the Novgorod residents that they must peacefully submit to the demands of the Grand Duke of Moscow and not lead the conflict to bloodshed. He told them that only wild people loves independence, and the wise man loves order, which is impossible to achieve in the state without autocracy.
He continued that within the walls of Novgorod the autocracy of the Russian land was born and established. The magnanimous Rurik began to create justice and truth here, thanks to this Varangian hero, other peoples began to fear the Novgorodians.
The ambassador’s speech was very passionate and furious, he appealed to people’s conscience and reproached them for abandoning their Russian brothers to be torn to pieces by the Horde, while they themselves were prospering and drowning in luxury. Moscow, Kyiv, Vladimir are shedding the blood of their defenders. The Russians, armed with a sword, greet the foreigners, and the selfish Novgorodians accept them into their arms, coveting their exquisite goods, gold and silver.
The main characters of the work “Martha the Posadnitsa, or the Conquest of Novgorod” have a very strong effect on the people with their speeches. Summary further continues with the fact that Prince John learned about the secret agreement of the Novgorod rulers with the enemy principalities of Lithuania and Poland and warned that these foreigners would enslave them, because this always happens to those who recklessly demand independence from their brothers. He believes that fragmentation of the Russian state can no longer be allowed, because all its troubles come from here. Having finished his speech, Kholmsky left the front and demanded an answer so that people would quickly choose between peace or war.
Martha's speech
Then the summary twists its plot even more interestingly. Martha the Posadnitsa quietly and majestically entered the iron steps to the sound of exclamations. Sorrow and grandeur were visible on her face. She calmly began her inspired speech and said that she could rightfully be a defender of liberty, since it was her father and husband who laid down their lives fighting for this glorious city.
The people listened to her with bated breath. And she continued her speech by saying that her people should not be blamed for the fact that they did not participate in and themselves fought off the Mongol-Tatar conquerors when the ferocious Batu wanted to tear their city to pieces. She also remembered the fathers who knew that they would die in battle, but would not become slaves, and sharpened their swords without timidity. Now it is thriving, and many foreign merchants, coming to their homes, say that they have never seen a city of such beauty anywhere else. And it is not surprising that now John, seeing all the greatness and beauty of Novgorod, wants to rule it.
And even a brief summary of the plot heats up the plot to the limit. Martha the Posadnitsa further says that Heaven is just, and if selfishness drives them, and not virtues and glory, then the last hour will soon strike their freemen, and with the loss of freedom, the source of prosperity will dry up, the glory of the city will fade, and it will turn into sad ruins. The people trembled in indignation and shouted: “War on John! We will die for our Fatherland and freedom!”
The Moscow ambassador wanted to say something else, but in vain - the crowd did not want to listen and almost tore him apart. Then, with great emotional sorrow, he uttered his last decisive words: “Let there be war!” - and quickly left the city with his squad.
War
The story “Martha the Posadnitsa” describes the preparations for war in an unusually interesting way; a brief summary of the plot goes on to say that when the alarm bell rang, the people began to prepare to take on the last battle. And Martha immediately hurried to the pious righteous elder Theodosius, who, after 70 years of service to his fatherland, retired from the vain world. It was he who told her about the imminent trouble, but Martha was adamant. She brought with her the young lad Miroslav and wanted to receive the elder’s blessing for the battle. After this, Martha was in a hurry to marry him to her daughter Ksenia. Before the battle, they played a wedding, and the bishop himself married the newlyweds in the St. Sophia Cathedral. So Miroslav became the leader of the Novgorod knights.
Martha hoped that Pskov would not stand aside, would become their ally and give them its army, but they refused to support the rebellion of the Novgorodians. Soon news came that John with the best army advanced to the great city. Miroslav's regiments advanced to meet them.
Expectation
A formidable silence settled in the city in anticipation, only the churches did not close their doors, the remaining people knelt down, prayer readings sounded. There was no news for a long time. On the day of the decisive battle, Martha saw a cloud of dust from a high place on the forehead. Closing her eyes, she said: “Miroslav died, John became the winner!”
Miroslav's body is brought to the city on a chariot, and wounded soldiers talk about terrible battles. Russians were against Russians, warriors on both sides wanted to prove that they were Slavs. Their mutual malice is the most terrible thing! Martha's two sons also died.
But the battle continued, John was unable to defeat the Novgorod knights in a direct clash, so he went on a long siege. The city began to starve, the defenders of freedom began to die.
Elder Theodosius, leaving his retreat, came to the city and again became a mayor, but after the victory he himself handed the keys to the city to King John and asked him for mercy for the people, in return promising that these people would serve him faithfully.
Pardon
The Prince of Moscow decides to pardon the Novgorodians, but the summary does not end there. Martha the Posadnitsa and her daughter Ksenia will not escape their terrible punishment. A scaffold is soon built for them, onto which Martha proudly ascends and announces to the people that she is dying as a citizen of Novgorod, while they have become subjects of John.
At the same time, the bell is removed from the ancient tower and taken to Moscow.
The work “Martha the Posadnitsa, or the Conquest of Novgorod” is unique in its own way. The summary, unfortunately, cannot convey that bright ancient style and extraordinary flavor, so it is better to read this work in full.
682
speak... But the young arrogant Novgorod residents exclaim: “Humble yourself before the great people!” He hesitates - thousands of voices repeat: “Humble yourself before the great people!” The boyar takes off his helmet from his head - and the noise stops.
“Citizens of Novgorod! - he says. - The Prince of Moscow and All Russia is speaking to you - take it out!
Wild peoples love independence, wise peoples love order, and there is no order without autocratic power. Your ancestors wanted to rule themselves and were victims of cruel neighbors or even crueler internal strife. The virtuous elder, standing on the throne of eternity, conjured them to elect a ruler. They believed him, for a man at the door of the tomb can only speak the truth.
Citizens of Novgorod! Within your walls the autocracy of the Russian land was born, established, and glorified. Here the magnanimous Rurik created justice and truth; in this place the ancient Novgorodians
their father and prince, who reconciled internal discord, calmed and exalted their city. In this place they cursed the disastrous freedom and blessed the saving power of the One. Previously terrible only for themselves and unhappy in the eyes of their neighbors, the Novgorodians, under the sovereign hand of the Varangian hero, became the horror and envy of other peoples; and when Oleg the brave moved with his army to the borders of the south, all the Slavic tribes submitted to him with joy, and your ancestors, the comrades of his glory, could hardly believe their greatness.
Oleg, following the flow of the Dnieper, fell in love with its red banks and in the blessed country of Kyiv founded the capital of his vast state; but Veliky Novgorod was always the right hand of the great princes when they glorified the Russian name with deeds. Oleg, under the shield of the Novgorodians, nailed his shield to the gates of Constantinople. Svyatoslav and the Novgorod army scattered the army of Tzimiskes like dust, and the grandson Holgin was nicknamed the Ruler of the World by your ancestors.
Citizens of Novgorod! You owe not only military glory to the Russian sovereigns: if my eyes,
683turning to all ends of your city, they see everywhere the golden crosses of the magnificent temples of the holy faith, if the noise of the Volkhov reminds you of that great day on which the signs of idolatry died with noise in its fast waves, then remember that Vladimir built here the first temple to the true God, Vladimir cast Perun into the abyss of Volkhov!.. If life and property are sacred in Novgorod, then tell me, whose hand protected them with safety?.. Here (pointing to Yaroslav’s house) - here lived a wise legislator, the benefactor of your ancestors, a generous prince, their friend, whom they called the second Rurik!.. Ungrateful offspring! Listen to fair reproaches!
The Novgorodians, having always been the eldest sons of Russia, suddenly separated from their brethren; Having been loyal subjects of the princes, they now laugh at their power... and at what times? O shame on the Russian name! Kinship and friendship are known in adversity, love for the fatherland is also... God, in his inscrutable advice, decided to punish the Russian land. Countless barbarians appeared, strangers from countries unknown to anyone, like these clouds of insects that the sky in its anger drives like a storm into the sinner’s harvest. The brave Slavs, amazed by their appearance, fight and die, the Russian land is stained with the blood of Russians, cities and villages are on fire, chains rattle on the maidens and elders... What are the Novgorodians doing? Do they rush to help their brothers?.. No! Taking advantage of their distance from the places of bloodshed, taking advantage of the general misfortune of the princes, they take away their legitimate power, keep them within their walls, as in a prison, expel them, call on others and expel them again. The Novgorod sovereigns, descendants of Rurik and Yaroslav, had to obey the mayors and tremble veche bell like the trumpets of the Last Judgment! Finally, no one wanted to be your prince, a slave to the rebellious veche... Finally, the Russians and Novgorod residents will not recognize each other!
Why is there such a change in your hearts? How could an ancient Slavic tribe forget its blood?..
684Selfishness, selfishness has blinded you! Russians are dying, Novgorod residents are getting rich. The corpses of Christian knights killed by infidels are brought to Moscow, Kyiv, and Vladimir, and the people, showering ashes on their heads, greet them with a cry; Foreign goods are brought to Novgorod, and the people greet foreign guests with joyful exclamations! Russians count their ulcers, Novgorod residents count gold coins. Russians in bonds, Novgorod residents glorify their freedom!
Liberty!.. But you are also a slave. People! I'm talking to you. The ambitious boyars, having destroyed the power of the sovereigns, took possession of it themselves. You obey - for the people must always obey - but not to the sacred blood of Rurik, but to rich merchants. Oh shame! The descendants of the Slavs value the rights of rulers with gold! The princely families, renowned since ancient times, rose to prominence through deeds of courage and glory; your mayors, thousands, living people owe their dignity to a favorable wind and the cunning of self-interest. Accustomed to the benefits of trade, they also trade in the good of the people; whoever promises them gold, they promise you. Thus, the Prince of Moscow is aware of their friendly, secret connections with Lithuania and Casimir. Soon, soon you will gather for the sound veche bell, and the arrogant Pole will tell you at the execution place: “You are my slaves!” But God and the great John still care about you.
Novgorodians! The Russian land is being resurrected. John aroused the ancient courage of the Slavs from sleep, encouraged the sad army, and the banks of the Kama witnessed our victories. The arc of peace and covenant shone over the graves of princes George, Andrei, and Mikhail. The sky made peace with us, and the Tatar swords gave way. The time has come for revenge, the time for glory and Christian triumph. The final blow has not yet been struck, but John, chosen by God, will not lower his sovereign hand until he crushes his enemies and mixes their ashes with the earthly ring. Dimitri, having struck Mamai, did not liberate Russia; John foresees everything, and, knowing that the division of the state was the cause of its disasters, he has already united
685all the principalities under his rule and recognized as the ruler of the Russian land. The children of the fatherland, after a sad long-term separation, are embraced with joy in the eyes of the sovereign and their wise father.
But his joy will not be complete until Novgorod, ancient, Veliky Novgorod, returns to the shadow of the fatherland. You insulted his ancestors, he will forget everything if you obey him. John, worthy to rule the world, wants only to be the sovereign of Novgorod!.. Remember when he was a peaceful guest among you; remember how you were amazed at his greatness when, surrounded by his nobles, he walked along the hills of Novagrad to the house of the Yaroslavs; remember with what kindness, with what wisdom he talked with your boyars about the antiquities of Novgorod, sitting on the throne set for him near the place of Rurik, from where his gaze embraced all the ends of the city and the joy of the surrounding area; remember how you unanimously exclaimed: “Long live the Prince of Moscow, great and wise!” Isn’t it nice to obey such a sovereign, and for the sole purpose of completely freeing Russia from the yoke of the barbarians? Then Novgorod will be even more decorated and exalted in the world. You will first sons of Russia; here John will set up his throne and resurrect happy times when there is no noisy veche, but Rurik and Yaroslav judged you like fathers of children, walked through the haystacks and asked the poor whether the rich were oppressing them? Then the poor and the rich will be equally happy, for all subjects are equal in the face of the autocratic ruler.
People and citizens! May John reign in Novgorod, as he rules in Moscow! Or - listen to his last word - or a brave army, ready to crush the Tatars, in a formidable militia will first appear before your eyes, and pacify the rebels!.. Peace or war? Answer!”
With this word, Boyar Ioannov put on his helmet and left the place of execution.
The silence still continues. Officials and citizens are in amazement. Suddenly the crowds waver, and loud exclamations are heard: “Martha! Marfa! She
686ascends the iron steps, quietly and majestically; looks at the countless gathering of citizens and is silent... Importance and sorrow are visible on her pale face... But soon her gaze, overshadowed by grief, flashed with the fire of inspiration, her pale face was covered with blush, and Martha said:
“Vadim! Vadim! Here your sacred blood flowed, here I call heaven and you as witnesses that my heart loves the glory of the fatherland and the good of my fellow citizens, that I will tell the truth to the people of Novgorod and am ready to seal it with my blood. My wife dares to speak at the veche, but my ancestors were friends of the Vadimovs, I was born in a military camp under the sound of weapons, my father and husband died fighting for Novgorod. This is my right to be a defender of liberty! It was bought at the price of my happiness...”
“Speak, glorious daughter of Novagrad!” - the people exclaimed unanimously - and deep silence again expressed their attention.
“Descendants of the generous Slavs! They call you rebels!.. Is it because you raised their glory from the grave? They were free when they flowed from east to west to choose their home in the universe, free, like the eagles that soared above their heads in the vast deserts of the ancient world... They established themselves on the red banks of Ilmen and still served one god. When the Great Empire, like a dilapidated building, was crushed under the strong blows of the wild heroes of the north, when the Goths, Vandals, Eruls and other Scythian tribes were looking for prey everywhere, living by murder and robbery, then the Slavs already had villages and cities, cultivated the land, enjoyed the pleasant arts of peaceful life, but still loved independence. Under the shade of a tree, a sensitive Slav played the strings of a Musikian instrument he had invented, but his sword hung on the branches, ready to punish the predator and tyrant. When Bayan, the Avar prince, terrible for the emperors of Greece, demanded
687In order for the Slavs to succumb to him, they proudly and calmly responded: “No one in the universe can enslave us until swords and arrows are worn out!..” O great memories of antiquity! Should you incline us to slavery and bonds?
True, with the passage of time, new passions were born in souls, ancient, saving customs were forgotten, and inexperienced youth despised the wise advice of the elders; Then the Slavs called to themselves, famous for their bravery, the Varangian princes, and commanded the young, rebellious army. But when Rurik wanted to rule without permission, Slavic pride was horrified by his carelessness, and Vadim Brave called him before the court of the people. “Let the sword and the gods be our judges!” - Rurik answered, - and Vadim fell from his hand, saying: “Novogorodians! To the place stained with my blood, come to mourn your foolishness - and glorify freedom when it appears again in triumph within your walls...” The desire of the great man was fulfilled: the people gather at his sacred grave to freely and independently decide their fate.
So, the death of Rurik - let us give justice to this famous knight! - the wise and brave Rurik was resurrected by Novgorod freedom. The people, amazed by his greatness, involuntarily and humbly obeyed, but soon, no longer seeing the hero, they woke up from a deep sleep, and Oleg, having experienced his stubborn inflexibility many times, withdrew from Novagorod with an army of brave Varangians and Slavic youths, to seek victory, tributaries and slaves between other Scythian, less brave and proud tribes. From that time on, Novgorod recognized its princes as its only generals and military commanders; the people elected civil authorities and, obeying them, obeyed the charter of their will. Our fathers loved the Slavic blood among the people of Kyivians and other Russians, served them as friends and brothers, defeated their enemies and instead were famous for their victories. Here Vladimir spent his youth, here, among the examples of the people
688magnanimous, his great spirit was formed, here the wise conversation of our elders aroused in him the desire to ask all the peoples of the earth about the mysteries of their faith, so that the truth would be revealed for the good of people; and when, convinced of the holiness of Christianity, he accepted it from the Greeks, the Novgorodians, more intelligent than other Slavic tribes, expressed more zeal for the new true faith. The name of Vladimir is sacred in Novgorod; The memory of Yaroslav is sacred and dear, for he was the first of the Russian princes to establish the laws and freedom of the great city. Let insolence call our fathers ungrateful for repelling the power-hungry enterprises of his descendants! The spirit of Yaroslav would have been offended in the heavenly villages if we had not been able to preserve the ancient morals sanctified by his name. He loved the people of Novgorod because they were free; their gratitude gladdened his heart, for only free souls can be grateful: slaves obey and hate! No, our gratitude triumphs as long as the people, in the name of the fatherland, gather in front of Yaroslav’s house and, looking at these ancient walls, say with love: “Our friend lived there!”
The Prince of Moscow reproaches you, Novgorod, with your very prosperity - and cannot justify himself in this guilt! So, of course: the Novgorod regions are blooming, the fields are turning golden, the granaries are full, wealth is flowing to us like a river; The Great Hansa is proud of our union; foreign guests seek our friendship, are amazed at the glory of the great city, the beauty of its buildings, the general abundance of citizens and, returning to their country, say: “We saw Novgorod, and we have not seen anything like it!” So, of course: Russia is in poverty - its land is stained with blood, villages and towns are deserted, people are hiding in the forests like animals, a father is looking for children and does not find them, widows and orphans beg for alms at crossroads. So, we are happy - and guilty, because we dared to obey the laws of our own good, we dared not to participate in the civil strife of princes, we dared to save
689the Russian name from shame and reproach, do not accept the Tatar shackles and preserve the precious dignity of the people!
Not us, oh unfortunate Russians, but always dear brothers to us! not we, but you left us when you fell on your knees before the proud khan and demanded chains to save your blasphemous life, when the fierce Batu, seeing the freedom of the united Novagrad, like a furious lion, rushed to tear its brave citizens to pieces, when our fathers, preparing for a glorious battle , sharpened their swords on their walls - without timidity: for they knew that they would die and not become slaves! fight the infidels! Only timid crowds of fugitives appeared on the roads of Novagrad; not the sound of weapons, but the cry of cowardly despair was the herald of their approach; they demanded not arrows and swords, but bread and shelter!.. But Batu, seeing the courage of free people, preferred his safety to the evil pleasure of revenge. He was in a hurry to leave!.. In vain the citizens of Novgorod begged the princes to take advantage of such an example and with common forces, in the name of the Russian God, strike at the barbarians: the princes paid tribute and went to the Tatar camp to accuse each other of plans against Batu; generosity became the subject of denunciations, unfortunately false!.. And if the name of victory was still preserved in the Slavic language for two centuries, then was it not the thunder of the Novgorod weapon that reminded it of the Russian land? Didn't our fathers defeat enemies on the banks of the Neva? A sad memory! This virtuous knight, the precious remnant of the ancient heroism of the Varangian princes, having earned an immortal name with the faithful Novgorod squad, brave and happy among us, left here both glory and happiness when he preferred the name of the Grand Duke of Russia to the name of the Novgorod commander: not greatness, but humiliation and sorrow awaited Alexandra in Vladimir - and the one who gave laws to the brave Livonian knights on the banks of the Neva had to fall at the feet of Sartak.
690John wants to command a great city: no wonder! he saw its glory and wealth with his own eyes. But all the peoples of earth and future centuries would not cease to marvel if we wanted to obey him. With what hopes can he deceive us? Some unfortunate people are gullible; Only the unfortunate ones want change - but we are prosperous and free! We prosper because we are free! May John pray to heaven that in its anger it will blind us: then Novgorod may hate happiness and wish for destruction, but as long as we see our glory and the misfortunes of the Russian principalities, as long as we are proud of it and regret them, until then the rights of Novgorod are most holy to us according to God.
I do not dare to justify you, men chosen by general power of attorney to rule! Slander in the mouth of lust for power and envy is unworthy of refutation. Where the country blooms and the people rejoice, there the rulers are wise and virtuous. How! Are you selling the people's good? But can all the treasures of the world replace the love of your fellow free citizens? Whoever knows her sweetness, what does he want in the world? Is it the last happiness to die for the fatherland?
John's injustice and lust for power do not overshadow his commendable qualities and virtues in our eyes. For a long time already, popular rumor informed us about his greatness, and free people wanted to have the autocrat as a guest; their sincere hearts poured out freely in joyful exclamations at his triumphal entry. But the signs of our zeal, of course, deceived the Prince of Moscow; we wanted to express to him the pleasant hope that his hand would overthrow the Tatar yoke from Russia: he took it into his head that we demand from him the destruction of our own freedom! No! No! May John be great, but may Novgorod be great too! May the Prince of Moscow be famous for the extermination of the enemies of Christianity, and not for the friends and brethren of the Russian land, for which it is still famous in the world! May he break her chains without placing them on the good and free Novgorodians! Akhmat also dares to call him his tributary: let John go against the Mongol barbarians, and the faithful
691our squad will open the way for him to Akhmatov’s camp! When the enemy is crushed, then we will say to him: “John! You returned to the Russian land the honor and freedom that we never lost. Possess the treasures you found in the Tatar camp: they were collected from your land; there is no Novgorod stamp on them: we did not pay tribute to Batu or his descendants! Reign with wisdom and glory, heal the deep wounds of Russia, make your subjects and our brothers happy - and if someday your united principalities surpass Novgorod in glory, if we envy the prosperity of your people, if the Almighty punishes us with strife, disasters, humiliation, then - We swear in the name of the fatherland and freedom! - then we will come not to the Polish capital, but to the royal city of Moscow, as the ancient Novgorodians once came to the brave Rurik; and we will say - not to Casimir, but to you: “Own us! We no longer know how to rule ourselves!”
You shudder, O generous people!.. May this sad lot pass us by! Always be worthy of freedom, and you will always be free! Heaven is just and plunges only vicious peoples into slavery. Do not be afraid of John’s threats, when your heart burns with love for the fatherland and its holy statutes, when you can die for the honor of your ancestors and for the good of your descendants!
But if John speaks the truth, if, in fact, vile greed has taken possession of the souls of the Novgorod residents, if we love treasures and love more than virtue and glory, then the last hour of our freedom will soon strike, and veche bell, her ancient voice will fall from the tower of Yaroslav and be silent forever!.. Then, then we will envy the happiness of peoples who have never known freedom. Her menacing shadow will appear to us like a pale corpse and torment our hearts with useless repentance!
But know this, O Novgorod! that with the loss of freedom, the very source of your wealth will dry up: it revives diligence, sharpens sickles and goldens fields, it attracts foreigners to our walls with treasures
692trade, it also hails the Novgorod ships when they rush along the waves with a rich cargo... Poverty, poverty will punish unworthy citizens who did not know how to preserve the heritage of their fathers! Your glory, O great city, will fade; the populous cities will be desolate. ends your wide streets will be overgrown with grass, and your splendor, disappearing forever, will be a legend of the nations. In vain would a curious wanderer, among the sad ruins, want to look for the place where the veche gathered, where the house of the Yaroslavs stood and the marble image of Vadim: no one will show them to him. He will think sadly and say only: “Here was Novgorod!..”
Here the terrible cry of the people did not allow the mayor to speak. "No no! We will all die for the fatherland! - countless voices exclaim. - Novgorod is our sovereign! May John appear with an army!” Martha, standing in Vadimov's place, is amused by the effect of her speech. To further inflame the minds, she shows a chain, rattles it in her hand and throws it to the ground: the people, in a frenzy of anger, trample on the shackles with their feet, crying out: “Novgorod is our sovereign! War, war to John!” It is in vain that the Moscow ambassador still wants to speak in the name of the Grand Duke and demands attention, the daring raise their hand against him, and Martha must protect the boyar. Then he draws his sword, strikes it at the foot of Vadimov’s image and, raising his voice, says with emotional sorrow: “So, let there be war between Grand Duke John and the citizens of Novgorod! May they return oaths! May God judge the treacherous!..” Martha hands the ambassador the letter of Ioannov and accepts the Novgorod one. She gives him guards and peace banner. The crowds make way for him. The boyar leaves the city. The Moscow squad was waiting for him there... Martha follows him with her gaze, leaning on the image of Vadimov. Ambassador Ioannov mounts his horse and still looks at Novgorod with sorrow. The iron bars are knocking on the city gates,
Kholmsky put on his helmet. The princely legions cried out: “Glory and longevity to John!” The people were still silent. They started playing the trumpets - and in a single moment
727the high scaffold collapsed. In its place the white banner of Ioannovo waved, and the citizens finally exclaimed: “Glory to the Russian sovereign!”
Elder Theodosius again withdrew into the desert and there, on the shore of the great Lake Ilmena, buried the bodies of Martha and Xenia. The foreign guests dug a grave for them and painted letters on the coffin, the meaning of which remains a mystery to this day. Of the seven hundred German citizens, only fifty people survived the siege of Novgorod: they immediately retired to their lands. Veche bell was removed from the ancient tower and taken to Moscow: the people and some famous citizens accompanied him far away. They followed him with silent sorrow and tears, like tender children following their father's grave.
N.M. Karamzin. Martha the Posadnitsa, or the conquest of Novagorod. // Karamzin N.M. Selected works in two volumes. M.; L.: Fiction, 1964. T. 1, p. 680–728.
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Typology of stories by N.M. Karamzina: sentimental, pre-romantic, secular.
The history of the creation of the story “Martha the Posadnitsa”
In 1803, in the magazine "Bulletin of Europe", the thirty-seven-year-old poet, prose writer and publisher Nikolai Karamzin published his second historical story - "Martha the Posadnitsa, or the Conquest of Novgorod." His first story, “Natalia, the Boyar’s Daughter,” published nine years earlier, was a stunning success. Almost simultaneously with the story about Marfa, Karamzin published an article "On incidents and characters in Russian history that can be the subject of art"- it can be considered as a program for the future great historian: “The idea of giving artists objects from national history... There is The best way to revive for us its great characters and events... It should accustom Russians to respect their own history." The "great event" in Russian history for Karamzin was the conquest of Novgorod by Moscow at the end of the 15th century, and the "great character" was Martha the Posadnitsa. The image of the conquest Novgorod and the character of Martha the Posadnitsa Karamzin would later devote a lot of space in his famous "History of the Russian State." However, these two images - the historiographer and the writer - do not completely coincide. Almost two and a half centuries of the Tatar-Mongol yoke in Rus' had passed. But everyone remembered the terrible invasion of Batu Khan’s horde in 1237-1238. Tales, chronicles, folk songs passed on the names of Russian heroes. One after another, the Russian principalities, the “Slavic republics,” as Karamzin called them, fell under the pressure of the invading army. Ryazan fell, then Kolomna, Moscow, followed by Vladimir and Suzdal. On February 22, 1238, after a two-week siege, Torzhok surrendered. Mister Veliky Novgorod remained ahead. There were legends about the wealth of Novgorod, which traded with all of Europe. Exhausted by the siege of Torzhok, worried about the coming spring with its gigantic flood in these places, abundant in water, the detachments of Batu Khan, not reaching a hundred miles to Novgorod, turned south. Novgorod and Pskov escaped Tatar-Mongol invasion. At this time, Alexander Yaroslavich reigned in Novgorod - two years later he would receive the popular nickname Nevsky. Novgorodians called to reign the prince who was chosen by the veche - the people's assembly of all representatives of the city's population. This veche system was the main asset of the Novgorod Republic. Subsequently, Alexander Radishchev will write in the book “Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow” that this veche republican structure of Novgorod - “a special civil structure” - was the original Slavic form of government. Radishchev argued that the veche system had been inherent in Rus' since ancient times. And even peasant gatherings, the peasant community (which, by the way, survived until the beginning of the twentieth century) Radishchev considered to go back to the veche of ancient Russian cities, and the republic was a better structure than the monarchy. While Tatar-Mongol power hung over the southern, central and northeastern parts of Rus', Novgorod and Pskov traded freely with the West, Novgorod merchants traveled all over the world. And here is the paradox of history: it was reset Tatar-Mongol yoke, and almost simultaneously the freedom of Novgorod perished.
In 1471, Marfa Boretskaya, the widow of the mayor of Novgorod Isak Boretsky, known in history as Marfa the mayor, spoke at a meeting against the aggressive policy of the Moscow prince in relation to the Novgorod Republic. The veche agreed with her. An embassy was sent to Lithuania, headed by Boretskaya’s son Dmitry and rich gifts. The people hesitated: some took the side of the Boretskys, others persuaded them not to betray Orthodoxy and not to give in to Prince Casimir of Lithuania. Ivan III set off with an army from Moscow to Novgorod on June 20, 1471. “The Muscovites expressed indescribable frenzy: the traitorous Novgorodians seemed worse to them than the Tatars,” writes Karamzin. In the battle on the Shelon River, the Novgorodians were defeated, several thousand of them were taken prisoner, and among them was the mayor of Novgorod, Dmitry Boretsky, the son of Martha. Ivan III arrived in Rusa and ordered the execution of Dmitry along with other noble Novgorod boyars: their heads were cut off in the city square. The rest were put in chains and sent to Moscow (they were settled in Lubyanka).
In the story “Martha the Posadnitsa, or the Conquest of Novgorod,” Karamzin pretended to be only the publisher of a manuscript (manuscript) of some noble Novgorodian that he allegedly found, thereby separating his position from that of the imaginary author. However, this does not save the situation. Karamzin's sympathies are clearly on the side of Marfa and the Novgorodians; this is expressed not only in the magnificent, although not without contradictions, image of Martha the planter. Already in the preface, Karamzin expresses his attitude towards the annexation of Novgorod to Moscow: “The resistance of the Novgorodians is not a rebellion of some Jacobins: they fought for their ancient foundations and rights, given to them in part by the great princes themselves, for example Yaroslav.” A main character- He calls Martha the Posadnitsa nothing less than “Cato of his republic.” “Both chronicles and ancient songs do justice to the great mind of Martha Boretskaya, this wonderful woman who knew how to master the people,” writes prose writer Karamzin.
Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin
Martha the Posadnitsa, or the Conquest of Novagorod
Here is one of the most important cases in Russian history! - says the publisher of this story. - Wise John had to annex the Novogorod region to his State for the glory and strength of his fatherland: praise be to him! However, the resistance of the Novgorod residents is not a rebellion of some Jacobins: they fought for their ancient charters and rights, given to them in part by the great princes themselves, for example Yaroslav, the asserter of their liberties. They acted only recklessly: they should have foreseen that resistance would lead to the death of Novugorod, and prudence required them to make a voluntary sacrifice.
Our chronicles contain few details of this great incident, but chance brought me into my hands an old manuscript, which I report here to lovers of history and fairy tales, correcting only its syllable, which is dark and unintelligible. I think that this was written by one of the noble Novgorod residents resettled by Grand Duke Ivan Vasilyevich to other cities. All major incidents agree with history. Both chronicles and ancient songs do justice to the great mind of Martha Boretskaya, this wonderful woman who knew how to master the people and wanted (very inappropriately!) to be the Cato of her republic.
It seems that the ancient author of this story did not even blame John in his soul. This does honor to his justice, although when describing some cases, Novgorod blood clearly plays in him. The secret motivation he gave to Martha's fanaticism proves that he saw in her only a passionate, ardent, intelligent woman, and not a great or virtuous woman.
Book one
The sound of the veche bell rang out, and hearts in Novgorod trembled. Fathers of families break away from the embraces of their spouses and children in order to rush where their fatherland is calling them.
Bewilderment, curiosity, fear and hope attract citizens in noisy crowds to the great square. Everyone asks; no one is responsible... There, against the ancient house of Yaroslav, posadniks with gold medals on their chests, thousands with high staffs, boyars, living people with banners and elders of all five ends of Novgorod had already gathered [These were the names of the parts of the city: Konets, Neroesky, Goncharsky, Slavyansky , Zagorodsky and Plotninsky. (Author's note.)] with silver axes. But no one is yet visible in the place of the forehead, or Vadimov (where the marble image of this knight stood). The people drown out the ringing of the bell with their cry and demand the opening of the veche. Joseph Delinsky, an eminent citizen, who was a dignified mayor seven times - and each time with new services to the fatherland, with new honor for his name - ascends the iron steps, opens his gray, venerable head , humbly bows to the people and tells them that the Prince of Moscow has sent his boyar to Veliky Novgorod, who wants to publicly announce his demands... The mayor descends - and the boyar Ioannov appears on Vadimov’s place, looking proud, girded with a sword and in armor. It was the governor, Prince Kholmsky, a prudent and firm man - Ioannov’s right hand in military enterprises, his eye in state affairs - brave in battle, eloquent in advice. Everyone is silent, the boyar wants to speak... But the young arrogant Novgorod residents exclaim: “Humble yourself before the great people!” He hesitates - thousands of voices repeat: “Humble yourself before the great people!” The boyar takes off his helmet from his head - and the noise stops.
“Citizens of Novgorod!” he broadcasts. “The Prince of Moscow and all Russia speaks to you - listen!”
Wild peoples love independence, wise peoples love order, and there is no order without autocratic power. Your ancestors wanted to rule themselves and were victims of cruel neighbors or even crueler internal strife. The virtuous elder, standing in Prague for eternity, conjured them to elect a ruler. They believed him, for a man at the door of the tomb can only speak the truth.
Citizens of Novgorod! Within your walls the autocracy of the Russian land was born, established, and glorified. Here the magnanimous Rurik created justice and truth; In this place, the ancient Novgorod residents kissed the feet of their father and the prince, who reconciled internal discord, calmed and exalted their city. In this place they cursed the disastrous freedom and blessed the saving power of the One. Previously terrible only for themselves and unhappy in the eyes of their neighbors, the Novgorodians, under the sovereign hand of the Varangian hero, became the horror and envy of other peoples; and when Oleg the brave moved with his army to the borders of the south, all the Slavic tribes submitted to him with joy, and your ancestors, the comrades of his glory, could hardly believe their greatness.
Oleg, following the flow of the Dnieper, fell in love with its red banks and in the blessed country of Kyiv founded the capital of his vast state; but Veliky Novgorod was always the right hand of the great princes when they glorified the Russian name with deeds. Oleg, under the shield of the Novgorodians, nailed his shield to the gates of Constantinople. Svyatoslav and the Novgorod army scattered the army of Tzimiskes like dust, and the grandson Holgin was nicknamed the Ruler of the World by your ancestors.
Citizens of Novgorod! Not only do you owe military glory to the Russian sovereigns: if my eyes, turning to all the ends of your city, see everywhere the golden crosses of the magnificent churches of the holy faith, if the noise of the Volkhov reminds you of that great day on which the signs of idolatry perished with the noise in its fast waves, then remember that Vladimir built the first temple to the true god here, Vladimir overthrew Perun into the abyss of Volkhov!.. If life and property are sacred in Novgorod, then tell me, whose hand protected them with safety?.. Here (pointing to Yaroslav’s house) - he lived here a wise legislator, a benefactor of your ancestors, a generous prince, their friend, whom they called the second Rurik!.. Ungrateful posterity! Listen to fair reproaches!
The Novgorodians, having always been the eldest sons of Russia, suddenly separated from their brethren; Having been loyal subjects of the princes, they now laugh at their power... and at what times? O shame on the Russian name! Kinship and friendship are known in adversity, love for the fatherland is also... God, in his inscrutable advice, decided to punish the Russian land. Countless barbarians appeared, aliens from countries unknown to anyone [This is how they thought about the Tatars in Russia (Author’s note..)], like these clouds of insects that the sky in its anger drives in a storm to the sinner’s harvest. The brave Slavs, amazed by their appearance, fight and die, the Russian land is stained with the blood of Russians, cities and villages are on fire, chains rattle on maidens and elders... What are the Novgorodians doing? Are they rushing to help their brothers... No! Taking advantage of their distance from the places of bloodshed, taking advantage of the general misfortune of the princes, they take away their legitimate power, keep them within their walls, as in a prison, expel them, call on others and expel them again, the Novgorod Sovereigns, descendants of Rurik and Yaroslav, had to obey the mayors and tremble the veche bell, like the trumpets of the Last Judgment! Finally, no one wanted to be your prince, a slave to the rebellious veche... Finally, Russians and Novgorod residents will not recognize each other!
