Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky: Heroes of the Time of Troubles

At the beginning of the 17th century, during the Time of Troubles, Russia was almost on the verge of extinction. Polish invaders occupied Moscow, the interventionists tormented the country, and the state government collapsed. At this critical moment, it was the national unity, led by Nizhny Novgorod merchant Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky, that saved the Fatherland. All the details are in the Izvestia article.

The Time of Troubles in Russia: the background of the people's militia

The Time of Troubles became one of the most difficult periods in the history of the Russian state. After the death of Tsar Boris Godunov in 1605, the country plunged into chaos — impostors claimed the throne, boyar groups fought among themselves, and Polish-Lithuanian interventionists took advantage of the weakness of the state.

In 1610, the Seven Boyars seized power, which invited Polish Prince Vladislav to the Russian throne and let the Polish garrison into the Kremlin. Patriarch Hermogenes, while in prison, called on the Russian people to resist the invaders. The first people's militia led by Prokopiy Lyapunov failed in 1611 due to internal disagreements between the nobles and the Cossacks.

In the summer of 1611, Nizhny Novgorod became the center of a new liberation movement. The main reason for the convening of the Second Militia was dissatisfaction with the current situation — the city with a population of about 3.5 thousand men was the most important administrative and economic center in the south-east of Russia. The letter of Patriarch Hermogenes, which called for standing up for the Orthodox faith and the liberation of Russia from invaders, served as a powerful impetus to the popular movement.

Who are Minin and Pozharsky: biographies of the Saviors of the Fatherland

It is not known exactly when Kuzma Minin was born. Historians agree that this happened between 1560 and 1585, according to the most common version — in the city of Balakhna, Nizhny Novgorod region. His father, Mina, was engaged in trade, and Kuzma himself ran a butcher shop in Nizhny Novgorod and was a middle-class man. In September 1611, he was elected a village elder. After receiving the letter of Patriarch Hermogenes, Minin spoke at a city meeting with an appeal: "If we want to help the Moscow state, then do not spare our estates, do not spare anything, sell our yards, mortgage our wives and children."

Dmitry Mikhailovich Pozharsky was born on November 1, 1577 in the family of a prince from the family of Starodubsky Rurikovich. His father Mikhail Fedorovich Pozharsky-Glukhoy belonged to an ancient princely family, whose lands were confiscated during the Oprichnina. His mother, Maria Feodorovna Beklemisheva, gave her son a brilliant education. Pozharsky began serving the state under Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich, quickly advancing through the ranks. During the Time of Troubles, he was the governor of Zaraysk and participated in the fight against impostor detachments.

In March 1611, during the Moscow uprising against the Poles, Pozharsky was seriously wounded in the Lubyanka while defending the city from invaders. After treatment at the Trinity Sergius Monastery, he moved to his estate in Yurino, Nizhny Novgorod district. It was there that, in the autumn of 1611, a delegation from Nizhny Novgorod led by Archimandrite Theodosius arrived with a request to lead a new militia. Pozharsky agreed on the condition that Kuzma Minin would lead the economic part of the militia.

Minin organized a fundraiser for the militia, setting up a "third dengu" — a third of the property of each resident. Those who refused to pay were given into servitude with confiscation of property. Thanks to Minin's efforts, it was possible to raise huge funds and pay the warriors a high salary — from 30 to 50 rubles a year. Not only Russian servicemen joined the militia, but also many mercenaries from other countries.

The historical significance of the feat of Minin and Pozharsky for Russia

In March 1612, the Second People's Militia marched from Nizhny Novgorod through Balakhna, Kostroma and other cities to Yaroslavl. In Yaroslavl, the "Council of All the Earth" was created, a temporary government body headed by Minin and Pozharsky. In the spring and summer of 1612, the militia strengthened, sent letters to the cities calling for them to join, and sent military detachments to liberate Yaroslavl, Suzdal and other cities.

On August 20, 1612, the militia approached Moscow. In the battle of August 22-24 against the troops of Hetman Jan Chodkiewicz, who came to the aid of the besieged Poles, Minin's detachment played a decisive role. He crossed the Moskva River and struck the flank of the Polish-Lithuanian army, which provided a turning point during the battle — the enemy lost up to 500 men and was forced to retreat. Khodkevich and the remnants of the army left for Poland on August 25.

On October 22 (November 1, New style), 1612, the militia stormed Kitay Gorod, and then the Kremlin. Moscow was liberated from the Polish invaders. Before the convocation of the Zemsky Sobor, Minin, along with Pozharsky and Prince Dmitry Trubetskoy, ruled the Russian state.

In February 1613, the Zemsky Sobor elected Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov tsar. Pozharsky received the rank of boyar and patrimony for "service and purification of Moscow," and Minin was awarded the rank of Duma nobleman — the only case in the history of Russia when a person of non-noble origin received one of the highest ranks. Minin died in May 1616 during the suppression of an uprising in the Kazan district. Pozharsky died on April 20 (30), 1642 and was buried in the ancestral tomb at the Spaso-Evfimiev Monastery in Suzdal.

The feat of Minin and Pozharsky became a symbol of national unity and patriotism. Thanks to their efforts, Russia preserved its independence and statehood at a critical moment in its history. In 1818, a monument to Minin and Pozharsky by sculptor Ivan Martos was erected in Moscow on Red Square. Since 2005, National Unity Day has been celebrated on November 4 in memory of the liberation of Moscow.