N. Karamzin. Historical short story: "Marfa-posadnitsa, or Conquest of Novagorod"

These were difficult and difficult times for Russia, which struggled with the invasion of the Mongol-Tatar yoke. It is about this period and will describe the short content for this work. "Marfa Posadnitsa, or Conquest of Novagorod" is a historical story that describes how much innocent human blood was spilled 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 bear the brutal oppression of the Golden Horde. However, the proud Novgorod state declined its obedience, declaring its independence.

This will be described in more detail in a short summary. "Martha-posadnitsa" in her story contains interesting facts about the fact that Novgorodians once fought for their ancient statutes and rights, which in part were given to them by the Grand Dukes. For example, it was Prince Yaroslav who was the author of their liberty.

Karamzin: "Marfa Posadnitsa", a brief summary of the plot

The Novgorodians foresaw that such a confrontation would bring them much grief, but could not sacrifice their pride. And now, in the evening, the city bell calls all the citizens to immediately gather in the Great Square.

People from all corners rushed there, alarmed by the rumble it drowned out the bell ringing. The people gathered and began to demand the beginning of the veche.

On the contrary, the white-stone house of Yaroslavov gathered posadniki with medals on their chests, boyars with banners, elder with silver axes and many other people.

Suddenly a messenger appeared on the frontal, or, on the other hand, Vadim's, where the marble image of Vityaz Vadim towered - the prince entrusted to Tsar John.

Ambassador

It was Prince Kholmsky, who was supposed to announce to Novgorod residents that they should peacefully obey the demands of the Grand Prince of Moscow and not bring the conflict to the bloodshed. He told them that only the wild people love independence, and the wise - an order that can not be achieved without autocracy in the state.

He continued that in the walls of Novgorod the autocracy of the Russian land was born and established itself. Generous Rurik here began to create a court and the truth, thanks to this Varangian hero, other people began to fear Novgorod.

The Ambassador's speech was very ardent and violent, he appealed to people to conscience and reproached them for abandoning the Russian brothers to the destruction of the Horde, while they themselves prosper and are buried in luxury. Moscow, Kiev, Vladimir shed the blood of their defenders. The Russians, armed with a sword, meet the strangers, while the greedy Novgoroders take them into their arms, after having gazed at their exquisite goods, gold and silver.

The protagonists of the work "Martha-posadnitsa, or Conquest of Novgorod" are very active on the people with their speeches. The brief continues with the fact that Prince John also learned about the secret collusion of the Novgorod rulers with the enemy principality of Lithuania and Poland and warned that these foreigners would enslave them, because this always happens to those who foolishly demand independence from their own brothers. He believes that it is no longer possible to allow the fragmentation of the Russian state, since all its troubles come from here. Having finished his speech, Kholmsky stepped down from the frontal and demanded an answer, so that people would rather choose between peace or war.

Speech by Martha

Then it's even more interesting to twist your story short. Marfa-posadnitsa for exclamations sounds quietly and majestically entered the iron steps of the frontal place. Grief and majesty were read 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 her husband who laid their heads 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 reproached for not participating in internecine wars and having fought off the Mongol-Tatar conquerors when the ferocious Baty wanted to tear down their city. She also remembered the fathers who knew that they would die in battle, but they would not become slaves, and without shyness they would sharpen their swords. Now Veliky Novgorod flourishes, and many foreign merchants, coming to their homes, say that they have never seen such a beauty in the city anywhere else. And it is not surprising that now John, seeing all the greatness and beauty of Novgorod, wants to rule them.

And now, to the limit, the plot is heated even with a brief content. Martha posadnitsa further says that the Heavens are right, and if avarice moves them, and not virtues and glory, their freemen will soon be stricken in the last hour, and with the loss of freedom the source of well-being will wither, the glory of the city will fade, and it will turn into sad ruins. The people trembled in indignation and shouted: "War to John! We will die for our Fatherland and freedom! "

The ambassador of Moscow wanted to say something else, but in vain - the crowd did not want to listen and almost tore it up. Then he uttered his last decisive words with great spiritual sorrow: "Let there be war!" - and quickly retired from the city with his druzhina.

War

Interestingly describes the preparation for war of the story "Marfa Posadnitsa", the brief content of the story further tells that when the bell rang, the people began to prepare to take the last battle. And Martha immediately hurried to the pious righteous old man Theodosius, who after 70 years of service to his fatherland retired from the bustling world into a dense forest. It was he who told her about the imminent disaster, but Martha was adamant. She brought with her a young boy, Miroslava, and wanted to receive the blessing from the elder for war. After this, Martha was in a hurry to marry him to her daughter Xenia. Before the battle, they played a wedding, and the bishop himself crowned the young in the St. Sophia Cathedral. So Miroslav became the leader of the Novgorod heroes.

Martha hoped that Pskov would not remain aloof, become an ally and give his army, but they refused to support the mutiny of the Novgorodians. Soon came the news that John with the best army advanced to the great degree. The shelves of Miroslava moved forward to meet them.

Expectation

Terrible silence settled in the city in anticipation, only the temples did not shut their doors, the remaining people knelt down, there was a prayer read. For a long time there was no news. On the day of the decisive battle, Martha saw from a high frontal place a cloud of dust. Closing her eyes, she said: "Miroslav died, John became the winner!"

On the chariot in the city brought the body of Miroslav, the wounded warriors tell of the terrible battles. The Russians were against the Russians, the soldiers of both sides wanted to prove that they were Slavs. Their mutual malice is the most terrible! Two of Martha's sons also died.

But the battle continued, John in direct confrontation could not defeat the Novgorod heroes, then he went on a long siege. The city began to starve, defenders of liberty began to perish.

Elder Theodosius, having left his bolt, came to the city and again became a posadnik, but after the victory he himself handed the keys to the city to Tsar John and asked him for mercy for the people, in exchange promising that these people would serve him faithfully.

Pardon

Prince of Moscow decides to pardon the Novgorodians, but this does not end with a brief summary. Marfa-posadnitsa and her daughter Xenia still do not pass their terrible punishment. For them, soon they build a scaffold on which Martha proudly rises and announces to the people that she is dying as a citizen of Novgorod, while they have become the subjects of John.

At the same time, the bell is removed from the ancient tower and taken to Moscow.

In its own unique work "Martha-posadnitsa, or Conquest of Novgorod." The summary, unfortunately, can not convey that bright ancient syllable and unusual coloring, so it is better to read this work completely.