Epics and tales in which the heroic deeds of the heroes are glorified have become part of Russian national culture and history. Many heroic epics, as the annals confirm, had a real historical basis, and the very word “hero” came to the Russian language from the East. These brave and courageous warriors performed feats, and each possessed his own special set of mental qualities and physical data. Let's try to find out which of them is the strongest hero in Russia.
1
Svyatogor
© Stepan Gilev
The hero the size of a mountain was the largest and strongest among Russian knights, and epics about him were not part of the cycle of Novgorod and Kiev legends.
Svyatogor is huge, like a mountain, that Mother - Cheese Zemlitsa cannot bear it.
Yes, and he himself bends under the weight of a bag with his native land. But when he rides on horseback, the earth shudders, forests sway, and rivers overflow. He serves on distant approaches, living near the holy Mountains, and not coming to Russia.
Svyatogor is one of the oldest heroes who, before his death, transfers all his heroic strength to Ilya Muromets. The antiquity of the image is confirmed by the fact that he draws strength from his native land, which protects him on campaigns.
2
Volga Svyatoslavovich
© Stepan Gilev
Volga is one of the senior heroes. He is the son of the princess and the Serpent of Gorynych, therefore, he has special abilities. Volga can understand the language of animals, birds and fish, as well as the ability to transform into any living creature.
He is endowed with great power, and with his retinue makes campaigns on the Golden Horde, in India, rich in jewels, in the nomadic steppes of the south of Russia. Archaic features are traced in his image, which gives reason to consider him one of the most ancient epic heroes.
He measured his strength with Mikula Selyaninovich, but turned out to be weaker than his peasant son.
By the way, on our site thebiggest.ru you can find out very interesting facts from the life of a resident of the Golden Horde that may shock you.
3
Mikula Selyaninovich
© Stepan Gilev
In the Novgorod cycle of epics, a plowman-hero stands before us, endowed with great power. Fight him to his death, since Mikul is protected by Mother Earth - Cheese.
His name, derived from the people derivative on behalf of Nicholas. Not only he, but his mare also has great strength, and maple plow is endowed with special properties. With him is constantly a handbag, which Svyatogor himself was unable to lift.
Mikula has two beautiful daughters, who also had special strength and abilities. In Russian epics, they appeared under the names of Nastasya and Vasilisa Mikulishny. If the image of Ilya of Muromets is associated with Ilya the Prophet, then in the Christian tradition Mikula is closely connected with Nicholas the Wonderworker.
4
Ilya Muromets
The most famous Russian hero, and after meeting with Svyatogor and the strongest, Ilya Muromets was from the village of Karacharovo, near Murom.
According to one of the epics, it became the strongest thanks to water. To Ilya, who had been crippled in the furnace for 33 years, the magi came and asked to give water. Under their pressure, he got up and went, discovering a remarkable strength in himself. His exploits and love of the people give an answer to the question why Ilya Muromets was one of the most popular Russian heroes among the people.
Ilya was even canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. The relics of Ilya Muromets are in the nearby caves of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, and thousands of pilgrims come to touch the great power.
5
Nikitich
After Ilya, Dobrynya is the second most popular, but unlike Muromets, he comes from the nobility. He was married to Nastasya, the daughter of Mikula Selyaninovich, and was close to the court of the Kiev prince, whom he served in.
Despite his great strength, he is polite and diplomatic. If it is possible to avoid the battle, it is better to agree, but when you need to fight, he does not spare the enemies. He was educated, and could communicate in 12 languages, and knew the language of birds.
Perhaps the later prototype of the heroic image was voivode Dobrynya, who was under Prince Vladimir, raised the prince and carried out his instructions.
6
Alyosha Popovich
© Stepan Gilev
The youngest of the legendary trinity of Russian heroes. Alyosha Popovich appears in 53 epic heroic stories. Unlike others, he is not endowed with great power, but of the three heroes he is his most assertive, possesses ingenuity, cunning and resourcefulness.
He played great on the harp. But in the epics, the shortcomings of Alyosha are also indicated, and he often listens to censure from other heroes. His boastfulness and cunning are condemned, because by deception he wanted to marry Nastasya Mikulishne, stating that her husband was killed in battle.
The oldest plot is connected with the battle of Alyosha with Tugarin. But at the same time it is noted in epics: his frivolity became the reason that the heroes were transferred in Russia.
7
Sukhman Odikhmantievich
The hero of the Kiev epic cycle faithfully serves the prince of Kiev, fulfilling his instructions and protecting the Russian land from filth.
The prince instructs him to get a white swan, and Sukhman goes to the steppes in search of a wonderful bird. On the way, near the Nepra River, he meets hordes of Tatars, and enters into battle with them. Having defeated the Tatars, he himself receives multiple wounds, but the swallows cover his wounds with leaflets.
Upon returning to Kiev without a swan, the hero falls into disfavor of the prince, who did not believe that he was fighting enemies. Sukhman is thrown into prison, and let Dobrynya prove that he is right, the offended hero removes the leaves and bleeds.
8
Bova Korolevich
The image of the hero came from ancient times, and was popular among the people from the end of the 17th century to the beginning of the 20th century.
Fairy tales and legends about the wonderful hero were published in a large circulation within Russia, and Alexander Pushkin borrowed a story about Bova when writing "Tales of Tsar Saltan." The Russian poet planned to write a separate poem, “Bova,” but premature death did not allow him to finish the work.
It is believed that the image was borrowed from French fairy tales, but in the north of Russia, in the Arkhangelsk land, legends about Beauvais went well before the advent of the French knights.
By the way, look at thebiggest.ru an interesting selection of interesting facts about knights of the Middle Ages.
9
Danube Ivanovich
The tragic character of Russian epics appears in the stories along with other heroes. One of the most famous stories is connected with his campaign in Lithuania, with the aim of the matchmaking of the royal daughter for Prince Vladimir.
The bride and groom for the prince, he meets the second daughter of the Lithuanian ruler, and falls in love with her. In Kiev, a magnificent wedding of the prince with Apraksa and the Danube with Nastasya is played. At the wedding, they began to measure accuracy, and Nastasya hit the ring on the hero’s head three times with an arrow.
Not reconciling with the superiority of his wife, he sets a target on the head of Nastasya’s wife, but pierces her head with the first arrow. Heartbroken, he falls on his sharp sword and dies. According to legend, the great Danube originates from the hero’s blood.
10
Vasily Buslaev
A popular hero of the Novgorod epics Vasily Buslaev is a vivid example of a youthful daring and strength. The most popular hero with the name Vasily.
He always had his own opinions, and therefore in the first story bylina described how he quarreled with the Novgorod community. Having matured and realizing that he had done many troubles, he goes to the city of Jerusalem to atone for his sins. On the way home, trying again to prove his youthful daring, he perishes.
Researchers are inclined that the image of Basil is Novgorod himself with its strength and power. Just like the image of Sadko, this is an example of the wealth of Novgorod.
11
Nikita Kozhemyak
One of the favorite characters of East Slavic tales and epics Nikita fought with the Pecheneg tribes. This circumstance allows us to talk about its ancient origin.
To test his strength, a dozen strong fellows were released against him, whom he laid with one blow. Easily tears bull skins. In the "Tale of Bygone Years" the plot of a young warrior, serving in the service of Prince Vladimir, is displayed.
Many researchers associate this warrior with Nikita Kozhemyaka. It is proved by its ancient origin and the widespread plot of the struggle with the snake, and the salvation of the princess.
Stories about the heroes of the snake-gangsters were common among the peoples of Europe, and in the Russian tradition the hero is associated with the image of St. George the Victorious.
12
Evpatiy Kolovrat
Of all the heroes of the Russian land, Evpatiy is a reliable historical figure, the boyar and governor of Ryazan. The memory of Evpathy and his feat is preserved in the Ryazan folk legend.
Presumably born in 1200 in the Ursovsky town of the Ryazan principality. Reliably about the feat of Evpathy, we learn from the "Tale of the ruin of Ryazan Batu." He was sent by the Prince of Ryazan to other principalities with a request for help.
When he returned, he found Ryazan devastated, and, collecting the survivors, totaling 1,700 people, he caught up with the Mongols in Suzdal. He defeated the rearguard of the Tatar-Mongol and killed many noble Mongol warriors. The squad of Evpatiy Kolovrat died only under the blows of stone-throwing guns, and he himself became a symbol of courage and stamina.
Conclusion
Our list has come to an end, which includes the most famous heroes. It has already become a tradition that the most powerful people on earth are called heroes.
In the history of Russia there were different periods, both joyful and tragic, but always in moments of danger the Russian people stood up to defend their homeland. And so the heroes became a kind of symbol of valor and honor, who stood up to defend the borders of the state and people when they were threatened with death.
Article author: Valery Skiba