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Heroes of Imperial Russia

Platov Matvey Ivanovich

Count Matvey Ivanovich Platov (1751–1818) - ataman of the Great Don Army (since 1801), cavalry general (since 1809), who took part in all wars Russian Empire late XVIII– beginning of the 19th century. Founder of the city of Novocherkassk. According to the metric books of the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in the city of Cherkassk, number 22, it appears that foreman Ivan Fedorov Platov had a son, Matvey, on August 8, 1751. This is the future military chieftain, who has won for himself and the entire Don unfading glory and worldwide fame.

At the beginning of the sixteenth century, bands of free people appeared in the vast expanses of the Don steppes, fleeing the feudal oppression that reigned in the Moscow state. Everyone who valued a minute of freedom more than a year of slave life fled here. They began to be called “Cossacks,” that is, free people, brave warriors.

The Cherkasy town, where Matvey Platov was born, was founded by the Cossacks in 1570, and since 1644 it became the capital of the Don - the “Main Army”. Acted here Cossack Circle- the highest legislative body of the Donets; from here the Cossacks set off on sea and land campaigns; here they remembered the times of holy freedom, when the Cossacks themselves ruled the Don, living according to their own laws and customs. Foreign ambassadors were received here, and Cossack embassies to neighboring nations were sent from here. The first churches on the Don, the first schools, teachers and doctors appeared here; here, for the first time in the history of Russia, a military salute was given in honor of the Azov Victoria over the Turks in 1696.

The Platov family appeared on the Don at the beginning of the eighteenth century. The Platov brothers, one of whom was Ivan Fedorovich, Matvey’s father, came to Cherkassk with rafts of timber rafted along the Don. From here, according to researchers, the surname “Plotov” arose, which later turned into “Platov”. This surname became famous in the Don in the mid-eighteenth century. It was at this time that in the confessional metric books of the Peter and Paul Church in the city of Cherkassk the names of three Platov brothers are found: Ivan, Dmitry and Demyan Fedorovich. The eldest of the brothers was Ivan Fedorovich - Matvey's father.

Ivan Platov, upon arriving on the Don around 1742, entered military service. First, Ivan Fedorovich was with a Cossack regiment on the Crimean line, then in the so-called Baltic provinces, then in Georgia, from where he was transferred with the regiment to Prussia, where battles raged with the troops of the warrior king and philosopher Frederick the Second. As part of a Cossack regiment under the command of the Don military ataman Stepan Efremov, he participated in many battles of this war and especially distinguished himself in the battle of Kyustrin on August 4, 1758.

Ivan Platov’s exemplary service was subsequently highly recognized with two personalized sabers and a silver medal. In the early seventies, he received the rank of military foreman and went with the regiment to the Petrovsky Fortress, which was part of the Dnieper fortified line. A year later he was transferred to Lithuania, where he took part in battles against the Poles in the so-called Confederate War. During the Pugachev uprising, he and the Don Cossack regiment covered the Kolomensky, Kasimovsky and Vladimirsky tracts leading to Moscow. Ivan Fedorovich died after 1778 with the rank of prime major Russian army.

No biographical details have been preserved about Matvey Platov’s mother, Anna Larionovna, who was born in 1733. It is only known that she was buried in the village of Starocherkasskaya in the cemetery of the Transfiguration Church.

Since ancient times, the Don Cossacks had a peculiar ritual of celebrating the birth of the first child in the family, therefore, when Matvey was born to the Platovs, relatives and familiar Cossacks came to visit them. Each of them brought some object for the newborn’s teeth: an arrow, a bullet, a bow, and Ivan Fedorovich’s brothers brought their nephew a gun. The satisfied father laid out these items and hung them in the room where the newborn lay.

As soon as forty days had passed after the birth of Matvey, Anna Larionovna went to the Church of Peter and Paul, where her son was baptized, and underwent a ritual of cleansing prayer. Upon returning home, according to Cossack customs, her husband joyfully greeted her and congratulated her on her first-born son. Ivan Fedorovich carefully took the baby in his arms, carefully put a saber on him and, despite his wife’s protests, put his son on a horse: this was the ancient Cossack custom!

When Matvey cut his first teeth, his father and mother, putting him on a horse, took him to the Peter and Paul Church, of which they were regular parishioners. Here the priest served the required prayer service in front of the icon of Jon the Warrior, whom the father asked to make his son a brave, valiant and successful Cossack warrior and send him for long years life. Ivan Fedorovich directed all his son’s upbringing in those short days when he was at home to ensure that Matvey became a real warrior. It is not surprising that the first words he uttered were “pu” - shoot and “chu” - drive. At the age of three, Matvey, like many of his peers, rode a horse around the yard, and at five he fearlessly rode a horse through the streets and participated in children’s maneuvers.

At that time, the Cossacks held horse races in high esteem, which were held many times in the vicinity of Cherkassk. The winners of the races gained fame and popularity among the Cossacks. Cossack children staged their races through the streets. In every house, from dawn to dusk, continuous shooting from rifles, pistols and small cannons was heard. Those who did not have weapons drilled “seeds” into the empty bones of large animals or loaded reeds.

During hours of rest and entertainment, the Cossacks divided into groups, set up shields with targets, and began shooting at them with bows and rifles. Children also played their games next to the adults. Their indispensable participant was the frisky and smart beyond his years Matveyka Platov.

The Cossacks constantly took care of the combat replenishment of their ranks. For this purpose, by order of the military ataman, young Cossacks gathered annually for a review in the vicinity of the Cherkassy town. They arrived on the best horses, armed with pikes, sabers and guns. In a vast clearing not far from capital city The Don Cossacks set up camp, and here for several weeks, in the presence of the military chieftain Stepan Danilovich Efremov, war games took place. One group of young Cossacks competed in horse racing, testing the speed of the horse and the skill of the rider, his agility. Other youngsters, at full gallop, shot at the target or, throwing a cloak, a whip or large coin, raised them at a gallop. Many Cossacks, standing on horseback, could attack the enemy, shooting from guns and bows.

The Cossack cavalry rushed into the river like a swift avalanche, trying to quickly overcome it and attack the “enemy.” The ataman gave bridles or weapons to the Cossacks who distinguished themselves in marksmanship. These awards were highly valued by the Don people, because they indicated the accuracy, dexterity and courage of their owner - the main qualities that were extremely respected and valued among the Cossacks. With the onset of evening, exciting fights began - fist fights. The winners traditionally received awards.

This is how young Platov prepared for his future combat life. His parents were not rich people, so they could not give their son a good education, and at that time there were no permanent schools on the Don land. But Matvey learned to read and write. Since childhood, he was distinguished by dexterity, ambition, courage and sharpness of mind. The parents tried their best to raise their son in the spirit of love for his native land and the glorious military traditions of the Don Cossacks. And their efforts were not in vain: Matvey grew up as a brave and courageous Cossack, a true patriot Don and Russia.

At the fifteenth year of his life, Matvey was assigned to serve in the military chancellery, and soon he received the rank of constable. All this time he read a lot, improving his knowledge.

The second half of the eighteenth century in the history of the Russian state is characterized primarily by fierce and long wars, which were waged with eternal tenacity by its enemy - the Ottoman Porte, the Sublime Porte, as its statesmen liked to call Turkey. At this time, the Black Sea problem acquired special significance for Russia. Russian population, and with it the Russian landowner colonization, developing fertile lands southern Russia, gradually moved towards the borders of the Crimean Khanate. But this development of the southern Russian steppes was constantly hampered by almost incessant Turkish-Tatar raids and attacks. For the Russian merchants and nobility at this time, access to the Black Sea for the export of agricultural and industrial products, the demand for which remained insufficient due to the weak purchasing power of the Russian population, became increasingly important and necessary. The northern ports of Russia could no longer satisfy the needs of Russian exports. In addition, the main sales markets were not in the north, but in the countries of the Black Sea and Mediterranean basins. But the Turks did not allow Russian merchants into the Black Sea. There remained a trade route by land through Poland, but such trade was extremely unprofitable and therefore did not receive proper development. The key to the Black Sea was Crimea, so all these problems could be solved either by annexing Crimea to Russia, or by providing Crimean Khanate independence from Turkey, which became more and more aggressive, because it enjoyed broad support from France, which feared the strengthening of Russia in Western Europe and in the Middle East.

The Russian-Turkish War of 1735-1739 did not solve the foreign policy problems that faced Russia. New wars with Turkey were inevitable. And one of these wars soon broke out...

In the winter of 1769, the Tatar cavalry made an unexpected and devastating raid on Ukraine and the Lower Don. Active military operations of Russian troops began against the Turks and Tatars. To fight Turkey, the Russian command formed two armies under the command of Chief General P.A. Rumyantsev and A.M. Golitsyn. These armies included up to ten thousand Don Cossacks under the command of the marching atamans Sulin, Pozdeev, Grekov and Martynov.

The war found nineteen-year-old Matvey Platov on the shores of the Sea of ​​Azov, where, on the orders of his father, who was in St. Petersburg, he oversaw his fishing farm. Matvey decided that his duty as a Cossack was to be at war! Leaving the farm in the care of the clerk, he rode on a fast horse to Cherkassk, where he joined the Cossack regiment, which was heading to the place of hostilities, towards battles and glory...

The army where Matvey arrived was by that time commanded by Chief General V.M. Dolgorukov, in whose retinue Platov was at first. Then he transferred to the active regiment and on the night of July 14, 1771, took part in the assault on Perekop. Evpatoria fell under the blows of the Russians on June 22, and Kafa on the twenty-ninth. At the end of the month, Crimea found itself in the hands of Russian troops, and Khan Sahib-Girey was forced to sign an agreement under which he agreed to enter into an alliance with Russia.

For his distinction in battles with the infidels, twenty-two-year-old Platov received the rank of captain. A year later he was promoted to sergeant major, giving command of a Cossack regiment.

And the streak of fighting began again. Together with the regiments of Uvarov, Bukhvostov and Danilov, Platov attacked superior forces enemies concentrated in the area of ​​the city of Kopyl. The stubborn battle ended with the defeat of the Circassians and the capture of Kopyl. In addition to the mass of prisoners, the winners received four serviceable cannons, which, with general consent, Platov sent to Cherkassk to strengthen his native city.

The capture of Kopyl greatly pleased the commander-in-chief of the Second Army, General Dolgorukov, who, in a special order for the army, declared “the most sensitive gratitude” to the troops who participated in this heated matter.

The military campaign of 1771 brought the Russians a number of significant successes, which forced the Turkish command to request a truce, signed on May 19, 1772 in Zhurzh and lasting a year. During this time, Platov's regiment was transferred to Kuban.

In 1774 M.I. For the first time, Platov showed the remarkable abilities of a cold-blooded and skillful military leader, who did not lose his head when his detachment and convoy were ambushed in the Kuban. He quickly built a defensive circle of carts and fought with the Turks of Khan Devlet-Girey, who outnumbered the Cossacks by more than 20 times, until the Cossack regiment called for help arrived. The Turks were defeated, and the khan was soon arrested for the defeat and taken to the Turkish Sultan in Constantinople. In 1775-1776, father and son Platov pursued the scattered detachments of E. Pugachev in the central districts of Russia, capturing one of the leaders, Rumyanchikhin, and up to 500 Pugachevites. For this, father and son Platov were awarded gold medals. This was one of Matvey Platov’s first significant awards. He also distinguished himself on September 13, 1789, when at the Battle of Kousani he managed to defeat a large detachment of Turks and capture the three-bunchu Pasha Zeynal-Hassan Bey of Anatolia. For this feat M.I. Platov was given the rank of brigadier in the Russian army.

The accumulated combat and management experience promoted the young, capable Cossack commander to become the organizer of a new direction for the Cossacks. In January 1788, Prince G. Potemkin instructed Matvey Platov to select 5,000 people in three months to form several new Cossack regiments, the so-called Sloboda Ukraine. Platov summoned 4 military sergeants, 7 lower officers and 507 best Cossacks from the Don to help him as instructors. Already on May 9, he reported to Prince Potemkin about the formed Cossack regiments. The new Cossack army was called Ekaterinoslav, and M.I. Platov, for his skillful leadership, was appointed his Military Ataman (1790) and presented for awarding the Order of St. Vladimir 4th degree.

With the newly formed Cossack regiments M.I. Platov ends up in the army of A.V. Suvorov near Izmail. On December 9, at the Military Council, he was the first to vote for an immediate assault on the heavily fortified Turkish fortress, for which he was appointed head of the 5th assault column. When the neighboring assault column of Orlov began to die, and the Cossacks of his column stopped in indecision, Matvey Platov was the first to climb the assault ladder onto the walls of the fortress and thereby lit the fire of victory for his Donets and rangers.

For the assault and capture of Izmail M.I. Platov awarded the order St. George 3rd degree, and at the end of this military campaign he was promoted to major general. Prince G. Potemkin characterized his actions near Izmail as follows: “Platov was present everywhere and set an example of courage.” All this allowed Potemkin to introduce the young hero to Empress Catherine in St. Petersburg in 1791, where with his intelligence and resourcefulness he received from her the right to stay in her palace during visits to Tsarskoe Selo.

The following year M.I. Platov had already taken part in hostilities on the Caucasian line. In 1796, according to the idea of ​​Prince P.A. Zubov, Russian troops moved to conquer Persia, with the prospect of reaching Tibet. Matvey Ivanovich was appointed head of all irregular (i.e. Cossack) troops of Zubov’s army. For active and skillful military operations near Derbent M.I. Platov was awarded the Order of Vladimir, 2nd degree, and also received from Empress Catherine “a magnificent saber in a velvet sheath, gold frame, with large diamonds and rare emeralds,” which is now exhibited in the Museum of the History of the Don Cossacks.

After the death of Catherine (1796), Emperor Paul I ascended the throne, who was suspicious and disapproving of all the empress’s associates, such as G. Potemkin, Field Marshal A.V. Suvorov and others. He actually expelled P.A. Zubov went abroad, and his army was recalled from the borders of Persia. Therefore, in 1797 M.I. Platov received permission to return to the Don. But envious people in the capital and on the Don, using the unkind attitude of Paul I towards Catherine’s associates, set the emperor up to make a decision on the need to arrest M.I. Platova. Paul I removed M.I. Platov from military service with his rescript dated July 23, 1797, and ordered him to be sent to the Don under the supervision of Military Ataman Orlov. But soon this measure of arrest was replaced by exile to the city of Kostroma.

Since the St. Petersburg court did not find Platov particularly guilty, his personal weapons, including his combat saber, were returned to him. Receiving her, Matvey Ivanovich said: “She will help me justify myself” or “She will justify me.” Naturally, the informers immediately interpreted these words to Paul I as a hidden threat to the emperor, although Platov most likely meant that his fighting “friend” would help him again show his best qualities a skilled commander and regain the trust of Paul I. Only on October 9, 1800, M.I. Platov left Kostroma, but not to be released, but to be sent to St. Petersburg.

After 3 years and 9 months of imprisonment, M.I. Platov is not released, but by order of Paul I is imprisoned in the Alekseevsky ravelin Peter and Paul Fortress. But condensed over M.I. The clouds soon cleared thanks to the same Paul I, who, having concluded a Treaty with Napoleon, decided to fight against the British on the territory of their largest colony, i.e. India. Therefore, on January 12, 1801, the emperor sent a rescript to the Don about the immediate and complete march of the Cossacks, led by Ataman Orlov, on a campaign against India. The Donetsk people were given a loan in the amount of 2.5 million rubles, so that after the campaign and seizure of booty in India, they would return the entire loan to the treasury, down to the penny.

In connection with the emerging campaign, Paul I released M.I. from custody. Platov, had a personal conversation with him about the upcoming campaign, and personally placed on him the commander’s cross of the Order of Malta (St. John of Jerusalem). Caressed by the Emperor M.I. Platov quickly returned to the Don and, having received from Ataman Orlov the first 13 regiments (from the 41st planned for the campaign), as well as 12 cannons, set out on a campaign on February 27, 1801. But on March 23, when the Cossacks had already suffered from many days of exhausting daily marches, suddenly Platov was caught up with a messenger from St. Petersburg, bringing the news of the death of Paul I and the accession of Alexander I, who canceled the order of Paul I to march on India. The Cossacks happily returned to the Don.

By rescript of August 12, 1801, Emperor Alexander I appoints M.I. Platov (“behind the death of Orlov”) by Troop Ataman. Matvey Ivanovich took part in the solemn coronation of Alexander I, where he was awarded the Order of St. Anna 1st degree.

Ataman used his visit to St. Petersburg to solve urgent problems of the city of Cherkassk, the main one of which was the annual flooding of the Cossack capital. Alexander I allowed Platov to carry out large-scale work to protect Cherkassk from spring waters, including clearing the mouth of the Don River, so that more melt water could be discharged into the Sea of ​​Azov and less flood Cherkassk. Engineer de Romano organized water protection work in 1802. But they did little to improve the security of Cherkasy. Therefore, Platov gradually came to the idea of ​​moving the Cossack capital to another place.

With a rescript dated August 23, 1804, Alexander I allowed the transfer of the capital on the condition that a convenient location be chosen and the city plan drawn up by military engineer General F.P. Devolan. And already on December 31 of the same 1804, the emperor approved the chosen M.I. Platov place and city plan developed by F.P. Devolan. On May 18, 1805, grandiose celebrations took place to consecrate the foundation site of New Cherkassk on a hill called Biryuchiy Kut (wolf's lair).

For its construction and arrangement M.I. Platov formed two Cossack worker regiments, invited architect I.I. from St. Petersburg. Russko, engineer-lieutenant colonel I.-Yu. Peyker, obliged many Don villages to supply materials to Novocherkassk - timber, local stone, limestone, etc. The Cossacks were reluctant to leave their established houses and farmsteads in Cherkassk, but the Army Ataman was relentless. And gradually new town, built according to the most modern models of the European type of urban planning, was filled with life.

At the same time, M.I. Platov contributed to the solution of the issue of strengthening civil rule in the army, the opening in Cherkassk in 1805 of the first men's gymnasium on the Don, the creation of the Society of Don Trade Cossacks (September 12, 1804), the beginning of the construction of the stone Ascension Cathedral in Novocherkassk, the resettlement of Kalmyks to the Zadonsk steppes, the organization Kalmyk villages, etc.

But the course of political events did not allow the administrative abilities of Military Ataman M.I. to develop. Platov in full force. In 1805, the war with Napoleon began in Europe. Platov with the Don Cossack regiments was called to the Austrian border, but did not participate in the hostilities; nevertheless, for services to the Fatherland he was awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky. In 1806, during the Prussian military campaign, M.I. Platov showed his extraordinary abilities. Thus, during the attack he was able to capture the well-fortified city of Preussisch-Eylau and capture more than 3 thousand French. Soon, in the Battle of Heiselberg, he was able to put “the entire French cavalry” to flight, destroy the enemy infantry division and by the evening occupy the city, cross the Alle River and burn all the bridges.

Often he had to mislead the enemy by lighting many fires around the cities he besieged. French resistance weakened, and Platov captured one city after another. When peace was concluded, M.I. Platov was awarded diamond insignia for the Order of Alexander Nevsky and a precious snuff-box with the face of Alexander I, and the Prussian king awarded the brave Don the Orders of the Red and Black Eagle, as well as a snuff-box with his image. Characterizes M.I. Platov and the fact that he persistently petitioned and achieved the awarding of a number of distinguished Cossack officers by the Prussian king.

Platov and his Don regiments had to fight a lot for Prussia against Napoleonic troops. The name of the Don Ataman gained even greater fame not only in Russia, but also abroad. But the war is over. A meeting of three monarchs was scheduled for June 25, 1807 in Tilsit to sign peace: Alexander, Napoleon and the Prussian king Frederick William. Matvey Ivanovich Platov was in Alexander’s retinue at that time.

It is also interesting that after the conclusion of peace with Napoleon in 1807 and the meeting of the warring emperors in Tilsit, M.I. Platov refused to accept the order from French Emperor: “I won’t accept him: Why should he reward me? I didn’t serve him and I can never serve him.” And when he was asked if he liked Napoleon, whom M.I. looked intently at. Platov, he replied: “I’m not looking at your emperor at all; there’s nothing unusual in him: I’m looking at a horse like a connoisseur, I want to guess what breed it is.”

At this time a characteristic incident occurred. At Napoleon's request, horse riding was carried out. The Cossacks rode horseback while standing on the saddle, chopped down the canes, and shot from under the belly of a racing horse at the target. The riders took coins scattered on the grass from their saddles; galloping, they pierced the effigies with darts; some were spinning in the saddle at full gallop, deftly and so quickly that it was impossible to tell where their hands were and where their legs were...

The Cossacks also did a lot of things that took the breath away of horse riding enthusiasts and experts. Napoleon was delighted and, turning to Platov, asked: “And you, general, know how to shoot a bow?” Platov grabbed a bow and arrows from the nearest Bashkir and, accelerating his horse, fired several arrows as he galloped. They all hissed into the straw effigies. When Platov returned to his place, Napoleon said to him:

- Thank you, General. You are not only a wonderful military leader, but also an excellent rider and shooter. You brought me a lot of pleasure. I want you to have a good memory of me. And Napoleon handed Platov a golden snuffbox. (Platov later broke out the stones and replaced the portrait of Napoleon). Taking the snuff-box and bowing, Platov said to the translator:

- Convey my Cossack thanks to His Majesty. We, the Don Cossacks, have an ancient custom: to give gifts... Sorry, Your Majesty, I don’t have anything with me that would attract your attention... but I don’t want to remain in debt and I want Your Majesty to she remembered me... Please accept this bow and arrows as a gift from me...

“An original gift,” Napoleon smiled, examining the bow. “Okay, my general, your bow will remind me that it’s difficult for even a small bird to protect itself from the arrow of the Don Ataman.” The ataman's well-aimed arrow will overtake her everywhere.

When the translator translated this, Platov said:

- Yes, I have a trained, keen eye, a steady hand. Not only small, but also large birds need to be wary of my arrow.

The hint was too obvious. By the big bird, Platov clearly meant Napoleon himself and it would not have been possible to avoid big conflict, if not for a resourceful translator.

In 1809 M.I. Platov accompanied Alexander I to a meeting of the Finnish Sejm in Borgo, after which he was released to the Don, but was soon appointed to the Moldavian army. With the beginning of active hostilities against the Turks, M.I. Platov captured the city of Girsovo on August 19, for which he was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 1st degree, and on September 4 he defeated a large detachment of Turks at Rassvevat. On September 23, 1809, he defeated a five-thousand-strong Turkish corps between Silistria and Rushchuk, for which he was promoted to cavalry general, that is, he became a full general.

Severe malaria and some signs of consumption forced M.I. Platov at the beginning of 1810 went to the Don to improve his health, which had been shaken by endless military operations. But the best doctors were in St. Petersburg, and therefore the ataman left for the capital in the summer of the same year, where the physician Villier managed to improve his health. At that time he lived in St. Petersburg, Tsarskoe Selo, Pavlovsk and often hosted the highest metropolitan society. Communication with the Don was carried out mainly through correspondence with Nakazny Ataman Kireev, in which issues of building Novocherkassk, deepening the Aksai River, etc. were discussed.

With the beginning Patriotic War 1812 M.I. Platov joined the Russian army, leaving the Punished Ataman A.K. in charge of himself on the Don. Denisova. On the evening of July 12, 1812, Napoleon began crossing into Russia across the border river Neman. The flying corps of M.I. took part in the very first battles with Napoleon’s troops. Platova. Platov's Don Cossacks often had to deal with French cavalry and Polish lancers. And, as a rule, the Cossacks won brilliant victories, using such purely Cossack military techniques as “lava”, “venter”, ambushes. But the personal hostility of the commander of the Russian army, General Barclay de Tolly, towards Matvey Ivanovich, whom he accused, for example, of alcohol abuse, often became an obstacle to the possible victories of the Cossacks.

After the Battle of Smolensk, Platov was expelled from the active army for “lack of management.” This was achieved by Barclay de Tolly, who reported to the Tsar: “General Platov, as the head of the irregular troops, was placed at too high a level, not having enough nobility in character to correspond to his position. He is an egoist and has become a sybarite until highest degree. His inactivity is such that I must send my adjutants to him, so that one of them will be with him, or at his outposts, in order to be sure that my orders will be carried out.” Denis Davydov clarifies the real reason for the expulsion:

“Prince Bagration, who always had big influence Platov, who loved to indulge in drunkenness, taught him in 1812 to some abstinence from mustard vodka - in the hope of soon receiving the dignity of a count. Ermolov managed to deceive Platov for a long time, but the ataman, having finally lost all hope of being a count, began to drink terribly; He was therefore expelled from the army to Moscow.”

With the arrival of M.I. as Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army. Kutuzova Troop Ataman M.I. Platov was in demand and arrived in the active army. Cossacks M.I. Platov participated in famous battle at Borodino, where for several hours they diverted the reserves of the French army from participating in the attack on Russian fortifications and captured the main convoy of the Napoleonic army. True, this is precisely what served as a new charge against M.I. Platov, since some officers argued that he could not keep the Cossacks from robbing the enemy convoy.

The Russian army was retreating. Napoleon entered Moscow. But everyone believed that M.I. Kutuzov would still win. Platov waited and received 26 additional Cossack regiments from the Don, which caused sparking tears of joy in the eyes of Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov, who highly appreciated the merits of the Cossacks in the fight against Napoleon. In the very first battle of Tarutino, the Donets completely defeated the troops of Marshal Murat. Napoleon realized that this was the beginning of an inglorious end, and left the burning Moscow.

December 2 M.I. Platov overtook the troops of Marshal Ney who had retreated to the border and defeated them. The war on Russian territory was victoriously ended. October 29, 1812 for brilliant military successes in the fight against Napoleon’s troops and, especially, for the battles near the village. Krasnoe Platov was elevated to the dignity of count. And soon, on January 1, 1813, he was awarded the Honorary Rescript of Emperor Alexander I. On the march, the ataman learned that the emperor had granted him the title of count. The title was also accompanied by a coat of arms, the motto of which read: “For loyalty, courage and tireless work.” Kutuzov wrote to Platov about this: “What I wanted, God and the sovereign fulfilled, I see you as the count of the Russian Empire... My friendship with you from the seventy-third year has never changed, and that now and in the future something pleasant will happen to you, I am sure I'm participating."

During a trip abroad, M.I. Platov captured Marienburg on the night of New Year 1813, then occupied the town of Dirsch and besieged the fortress of Danzig, which later surrendered to the mercy of the winner. On April 13, 1813, in Dresden, Emperor Alexander I gave a gracious manifesto to the Don Army, highly appreciating its contribution and services to the liberation of Russia from Napoleon’s troops. September 13 M.I. Platov won a brilliant victory near Altenburg, and on October 4 he participated in the famous “Battle of the Nations” near Leipzig.

Here on October 6 he captured an entire cavalry brigade, 6 infantry battalions and 28 guns, for which he was awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called here on the battlefield. On October 20, Platov occupied Frankfurt on the Main, where the main headquarters and leaders were then located allied states. Here M.I. Platov was granted a monogram diamond feather with laurels to wear on his shako (headdress). In 1814, during battles on French territory, M.I. Platov “distinguished himself with exploits at Laon, Epinal, Charmes and occupied Fontainebleau on February 2,” in which he was supposed to free the Pope from captivity.

But the head of the Catholics was secretly taken out before the approach of the Cossack troops. Later M.I. Platov occupied the heavily fortified city of Namur. On March 19, 1814, the Allies entered Paris. The Cossacks settled on the Champs Elysees. This is where the military exploits of Matvey Ivanovich Platov end, since he did not participate in hostilities.

The British allies warmly welcomed Military Ataman M.I. Platov in London, where he accompanied Emperor Alexander I. Enthusiastic Londoners carried the Don hero from the ship to the shore in their arms, showing him every attention and respect. The delight of the London ladies was so great that they cut off part of the tail of M.I.’s horse. Platov and sorted the hair into souvenirs. The Prince Regent, who immoderately admired the Ataman's horse "Leonid", received it as a gift from M.I. Platova. And the chieftain, in turn, was presented with a portrait of the Prince Regent with diamonds to be worn on his chest on the ribbon of the Order of the Garter.

In London, Count M.I. Platov personally met the writer W. Scott, author of "The History of Napoleon" and many other popular history books. Oxford University presented M.I. Platov doctoral diploma. The city of London gave him a specially made saber. An English ship was named after him. And the portrait of M.I. Platov was placed in royal palace. Porcelain, carpets and jewelry with images of M.I. appeared in many European countries. Platova. The name of Platov is also associated with the legend that he assured Alexander I that Russian craftsmen were no worse than English ones and ordered the Tula Lefty to shoe a flea, which he did, shoeing a flea on both legs.

Returning to the Don after military campaigns, Matvey Ivanovich Platov was solemnly greeted by a deputation of townspeople on the outskirts of Novocherkassk, and then, with bells ringing in front of a large crowd of people, he entered the Cossack capital he founded. Having moved on to the administrative management of the Don Territory, Matvey Ivanovich got acquainted with its economic situation and issued an order in which he noted the enormous merits of the Cossack women, who bore on their shoulders all the hardships of 3 years of managing in war time, when the Don Cossacks almost completely fought Napoleon’s troops.

Platov paid attention not only to the region and its civil rule, further development horse breeding and viticulture, but also the development of the city of Novocherkassk. In particular, under him, in the fall of 1817, two capital stone Triumphal Arches were built in connection with the expected arrival of Emperor Alexander I in Novocherkassk. But on September 16, Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich (the emperor’s brother) arrived, who was solemnly greeted by the Troop Ataman, the Cossacks and the public Arc de Triomphe on the St. Petersburg descent (now the Herzen descent).

Alexander I visited Novocherkassk in 1818, but by that time the famous Donets was no longer there. Platov died on January 3, 1818 in his settlement of Elanchitskaya and on January 10 he was buried under the walls of the stone Ascension Cathedral under construction in Novocherkassk. It would seem that after such a stormy, contradictory, but glorious and brilliant life, the ashes of the great son Don rested under the arches of the Orthodox church. But the waves historical events and the destinies were so high and sometimes treacherous that the remains of the famous chieftain will continue to look for their resting place for about 100 years. Due to the fact that the Ascension Cathedral, which was under construction, near the walls of which Matvey Ivanovich and members of his family were buried, collapsed twice (1846 and 1863), relatives of M.I. Platov obtained the Highest permission (1868) to transfer the ashes of M.I. Platov to the territory of his country estate Myshkinsky, popularly called the Golitsinskaya dacha (after the name of Prince Golitsin’s son-in-law) or the Bishop’s dacha (after the fact of donating the dacha to the Novocherkassk bishop). In 1875, these wishes came true and the remains of M.I. were transported from Novocherkassk to the family crypt under the church on the Mishkino farm. Platov and his family members who had died by this time.

But even this did not rest the ashes of the hero of Don and Russia. In 1911, in connection with preparations for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Patriotic War of 1812, the Cossacks decided to bring from different places and rebury the remains of the greatest people of the Don. On October 4, in the tomb under the stone Ascension Cathedral in Novocherkassk, the remains of generals Platov, Orlov-Denisov, Efremov and Baklanov, as well as Archbishop John, especially beloved by the townspeople, were solemnly reburied. Then followed the February and October Revolution 1917, civil war on the Don, demolition of the monument to M.I. in 1923. Platov in Novocherkassk.

In 1992, city Cossacks, who obtained permission to examine the graves in the cathedral tomb; they were shocked by what they saw. The opened graves turned out to be desecrated and filled with garbage. On May 16, 1993, the grand opening of the finally recreated monument to the Count and Military Ataman, holder of many domestic and foreign orders, Matvey Ivanovich Platov, took place.

Matvey Ivanovich Platov is a unique phenomenon in military history Russia and an exceptional phenomenon in the military history of the Don Cossacks. This is explained not only by Platov’s outstanding personal qualities, they are indisputable, but also by the conditions of that era, especially the era of the Napoleonic wars, in which the activities of the legendary chieftain unfolded.

According to the descriptions of contemporaries who knew Platov well, he was tall, dark and black-haired, “ with an infinitely kind expression on his face and very kind" General Alexey Ermolov, who knew Matvey Ivanovich well, wrote that “ the ataman was one of the very smart and highly perceptive people».

By nature, Platov was very hot-tempered, and all his life he raised himself in the spirit of suppressing these unexpected outbursts of rage and succeeded a lot in this. “He knew how to deal with people very skillfully and could charm anyone,” contemporaries wrote about Platov. He was cunning, resourceful, and an excellent diplomat. He knew how to treat simple Cossacks simply and was always affectionate.” Ataman loved to tell anecdotes from military life, as well as about real military events; his stories made a great impression on his listeners.

His favorite phrase is “ I will tell you"richly enriched his stories and conversations. His speech was very unique, in the Cossack style, and he spoke very convincingly and energetically. Instead of “Warsaw” he said “Arshava”, instead of “quartermaster” he said “planner”, instead of “pursue” he said “stuff”, instead of “search” he said “rummage”.

In relation to his subordinates, the ataman was quite objective, he knew how to encourage and discipline, making it clear to the Cossacks that he was eliminating shortcomings, and was not looking for a reason to humiliate a person just because he had power over him.

Matvey Ivanovich was distinguished by a great love for everything native, Russian, as a result of which he harbored some hostility towards foreigners and their dominance in the high command of the Russian army. He especially disliked the Germans, their pedantry and doctrinaireism. By nature, the ataman was a cheerful person, he loved pleasant company, but a noisy and distracted life was not to his taste.

Being, like most Cossacks, a believer, Platov made rich contributions to churches and monasteries. However, he believed dreams and premonitions.

In the last years of his life, his daily routine was quite rigid. He devoted most of his time to business. He slept from four in the morning until eight in the morning, but after waking up he liked to lie in bed for a while, solving practical matters.

When it came to food, Platov was distinguished by moderation and loved simple dishes, which is not surprising for a man whose life was spent almost entirely in the conditions of campaigns and battles. For drinks, he loved coffee (“coffee”) and tea.

Occupying the high post of Don military ataman, being a member of imperial palace and to the highest statesmen of Russia, he did not patronize his relatives, rightly believing that they themselves, following his example, should make their own careers and on our own. But Matvey Ivanovich constantly bothered his superiors about strangers who were distinguished by their talent, courage and honesty.

In the military history of Russia, Platov is known as a talented and original commander, brave warrior. He participated in almost all the wars waged by the Russian Empire, starting from the second half of the XVIII century until the end of the Napoleonic wars. Platov studied military science on the battlefields, having entered the service at the age of fifteen. He was a born warrior, and from the very beginning his combat activities were distinguished by his originality, his ability to make the only right decisions in the most difficult combat situations, and his courage set an example for his subordinates.

Years have passed, eras have changed, much has been forgotten, but the memory of the heroic, complete incredible adventures Platov’s life, the courage and heroism of his Cossacks remained forever in the memory of people, for the memory of a real feat does not die, it is eternal, just as the human race is eternal...

In different eras, historians described the life and deeds of M.I. in different ways. Platov, either distorting or suppressing controversial facts of his biography, trying to create an idealized or negative image of the Don hero. For example, little is known about the fact that, together with his father, young Platov took part in the suppression of the uprising of E. Pugachev, for which both were awarded gold medals. Or about the fact that during Platov’s atamanship on the Don, the military foreman received a new social status and was legally equal in rights to Russian nobility. Platov himself had large lands and several hundred assigned (serf) peasants. These contradictions are largely explained by the conditions of the era in which he lived.

Not until M.I. Platov, not after him was there an ataman on the Don with such an independent, free character in his behavior and actions. Paradoxically, this is why he was sometimes compared to Stepan Razin. And the tsarist government took all measures to ensure that such wayward atamans would not appear on the Don in the future. Matvey Ivanovich Platov did so much for the glory of the Don Cossacks, Russia, that this more than offset his shortcomings, and for this he earned the noble memory of his descendants.

Matvey Platov proved with his fate that a Cossack can do anything. The “Whirlwind Ataman” became a count and professor at Oxford, the British idolized him, and the Cossacks, who loved their hero with all their souls, wrote songs about his victories.

Indian campaign

1800 Platov is sitting in the Petropavlovsk prison because of a denunciation: he allegedly dreams of overthrowing the new emperor from the throne, because by this time the fame of Matvey Ivanovich was thundering throughout the empire. Gossips It was rumored that Paul I was not fond of the Don Cossack. However, a year later, Paul I, together with the French, opposed England. The plans include a trip to India, where one of the strongest British colonies was based.

The sovereign offers Platov to lead the best Cossack troops. The Emperor knew that thousands of Cossacks would follow Platov to hell.

In a short time, 41 cavalry regiments and two companies of horse artillery were prepared for the campaign, which amounted to 27,500 people and 55,000 horses. The Cossacks and their army set off on a long and difficult journey across all of Asia. However, they failed to reach their cherished goal - on the way, the news reached them about the death of Paul and the accession to the throne of Alexander I. By this time, the Cossack troops had reached Orenburg and were planning a campaign through Bukhara. Already on the Don, Platov received an imperial letter, which said: “Your merits known to me and your long-term blameless service prompted me to elect you to the military atamans of the Don Army...”. This is how the ataman life of Matvey Ivanovich Platov began. And the Indian campaign was remembered as a fantastic plan of Paul I.

City planner

Almost every year, the capital of the Don Army region, Cherkassk, was flooded. The location on the islands created a lot of problems for both residents of the capital and visitors. Ataman Platov had long been nurturing a project to create new capital. A place for it was found on Biryuchy Kutu (“Wolf’s Lair”). In 1804, Emperor Alexander I approved the proposal of Matvey Ivanovich “to found a new city on the Don, which will be called the new Cherkassy.”

The city plan was developed by the famous French engineer Franz Devolan. And in 1805, on the day of the Ascension of the Lord, the ceremonial foundation of the city took place, which received the name Novocherkassk.

Rumor has it that when they laid the foundation for the military cathedral, a golden casket was hidden under it with the inscription “The city of the Don Army, called New Cherkassk, was founded during the reign of the Sovereign Emperor and Autocrat of All-Russia Alexander the First.”

The historical event was marked by 101 gun shots. To this day, Novocherkassk stands, now the capital of the world Cossacks, and in the center, near the Military Cathedral, there is a monument to the founder of the city - Ataman Matvey Ivanovich Platov.

“Be patient, Cossack, you will be a count!”

There is a proverb: “Be patient with the Cossack, you will become an ataman,” it accurately characterizes the life of Matvey Ivanovich. From childhood, he showed big interest to military affairs, Platov quickly earned his first officer rank.

For his heroism, Matvey Ivanovich was repeatedly awarded awards and honors, receiving ranks and titles with amazing speed. Empress Catherine II herself presented him with a magnificent saber...
By 1812, Platov had become one of the oldest generals in the Russian army. The Great War became an opportunity for him to show his strength and skill in spite of all his haters.

It got to the point where senior officials accused him of drunkenness, and some directly expressed their distrust in the leadership abilities of the Cossack chieftain.

In defiance of everyone, Platov distinguished himself with successful military operations that turned Napoleon’s troops to the West. Already on the border of the Russian Empire, Platov reached the troops of Marshal Ney and defeated them. For all this, on October 29, 1812, Platov was elevated to the dignity of count.

Platov and Napoleon

Even before the Great War, Platov met with Napoleon. In 1807, when the Peace of Tilsit was concluded between Alexander I and Napoleon. Matvey Platov was included in the emperor's retinue. During one of the meetings of the emperors, Napoleon decided to honor the Russian generals with the Order of the Legion of Honor. This number included Platov. Having learned about this, the Cossack ataman said: “Why should he reward me? After all, I didn’t serve him, and I can never serve him.” The officers conveyed these words to Napoleon, who did not keep him waiting long for an answer.

When meeting the Russian generals, Napoleon did not honor only Platov with a handshake. The Don Cossack remembered this insult.

At one of the military parades, Platov acted more cunningly. He looked at Napoleon for a long time and intently, which excited his pride. A general from his retinue approached Platov and asked: “Does the Ataman not like the great emperor, why does he look at him so intently?” “I’ll tell you that I’m not looking at your emperor at all, because there’s nothing unusual about him, he’s the same as other people. I’m looking at his horse, and as an expert myself, I really want to know what breed it is,” Platov answered him.

Only diplomacy stopped Napoleon and Platov from conflict. In the end, they even exchanged gifts. Napoleon gave the Cossack a snuff box with own portrait, and Platov presented the emperor with a combat bow. This snuff box became in some way a war trophy for Platov. Only after 1814 and the victory over Napoleon did Platov replace the portrait on the snuff box with a “more decent antique.” So the Don ataman “replaced” Napoleon.

How the British became Cossacks

When Paris was captured by the Allies, the British invited Alexander I, who was again accompanied by Matvey Platov. In Foggy Albion, the news that Platov was traveling with the emperor spread very quickly. Already upon his arrival in London, Platov was enthusiastically greeted by the city's residents. “Hurray for Platov!” - could be heard throughout the city.

The Don Cossack became a living legend for the British. Eyewitnesses of those events said that one day the crowd after the service carried Platov out of the temple in their arms and carried him all the way to the carriage.

The ataman's visit to the theaters suspended the performance. Platov was awarded an honorary doctorate of law from Oxford University. Walter Scott, when meeting with the Don Cossack, was surprised by his knowledge of history; he used much of his conversation with Platov in his future works, and the British government appropriated newest ship name "Count Platov". There was a great interest in the Cossacks in British society; they were so in love with these heroes of the great war that some British began to call themselves Cossacks. Including the famous Lord Byron once declared: “And I am a Cossack!” This is how the British, in love with Platov, became Cossacks.

“Platov” with a face value of 250 rubles

The portrait of Ataman Platov was not only on paintings, engravings and book covers. In 1918, Platov's full face was depicted on Don banknotes in denominations of 250 rubles and on coupons of 50 kopecks. At all times, Ataman Platov remained a hero for the Cossacks. Money printed by the Rostov office of the State Bank was in use until 1920. Banknotes with Platov could be found in restaurants in Sevastopol or at bazaars in Central Asia. About 25 million rubles were produced on the Rostov printing press. It was very difficult to counterfeit them, because the banknotes were printed on special paper with watermarks, a unique number and signed by the bank manager R. E. Gulbin. It was planned that Don money should have begun official circulation throughout the south of Russia, but its use ceased in 1920, when the evacuation of whites began. Now “Platov” 250 rubles are a legend of numismatists and a real historical relic.

Gifts of France on the Don Land

Matvey Ivanovich cared about everything if it concerned the Don region. Platov strongly supported the cultivation of grapes among the Cossacks. The wine that the Cossacks made was famous back in the 18th century. For example, in 1772, after traveling along the Don, the French traveler Pallas was so delighted with the noble drink that he compared it with excellent examples of Italian wine. Platov, having read the Frenchman’s laudatory notes, decided that viticulture should be actively developed on the Don. In 1815, a Cossack general brought the best and famous grape varieties from the French province of Champagne, which produced their first harvest a couple of years later. The Cossacks made wine from it together with famous German winegrowers who came to the Don from the banks of the Rhine at the invitation of Platov. To this day, the same grape bushes brought from France from the military campaign grow in different villages and farmsteads. As the historian E.P. Savelyev noted, “Razdorsky white wines and Tsimlyansky red wines, with skillful invention, can compete with the best foreign ones.”

Bogatyrs are the epic defenders of the Russian Land, “superheroes” of the Russian people for many centuries.

Let's remember the main ones.

1. Ilya Muromets. Holy hero

Ilya Muromets is canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church; he is the main Russian hero.

Ilya Muromets is the main character not only of Russian epics, but also, for example, of German epic poems XIII century.

In them he is also called Ilya, he is also a hero, yearning for his homeland. Ilya Muromets also appears in the Scandinavian sagas, in them he is, no less, the blood brother of Prince Vladimir.

2. Bova Korolevich. Lubok hero

Bova Korolevich was the most popular hero among the people for a long time. Popular folk tales about the “precious hero” were published in hundreds of editions from the 18th to the 20th centuries. Pushkin wrote “The Tale of Tsar Saltan”, partially borrowing the plot and names of the heroes of the fairy tales about the Boy Korolevich, which his nanny read to him. Moreover, he even made sketches of the poem “Bova,” but death would prevent him from finishing the work.

The prototype of this knight was the French knight Bovo de Anton from the famous chronicle poem Reali di Francia, written in the 14th century. In this respect, Bova is a completely unique hero - a visiting hero.

3. Alyosha Popovich. Junior

“The youngest of the younger” heroes, and therefore his set of qualities is not so “Superman”. He is not even a stranger to vice: cunning, selfishness, greed. That is, on the one hand, he is distinguished by courage, but on the other hand, he is proud, arrogant, abusive, perky and rude.

4. Svyatogor. Mega-hero

Mega-hero. But a hero of the “old world.” The giant, the elder hero the size of a mountain, whom even the earth cannot support, lies on the mountain in inaction. The epics tell of his meeting with earthly cravings and death in a magical grave.

Many features of the biblical hero Samson were transferred to Svyatogor. It is difficult to determine exactly its ancient origins. In the legends of the people, the veteran hero transfers his strength to Ilya Muromets, the hero of the Christian century.

5. Dobrynya Nikitich. A well-connected hero

Dobrynya Nikitich is often correlated with the chronicle Dobrynya, the uncle of Prince Vladimir (according to another version, nephew). His name personifies the essence of “heroic kindness.” Dobrynya has the nickname “young”, with enormous physical strength “he wouldn’t hurt a fly”, he is the protector of “widows and orphans, unfortunate wives.” Dobrynya is also “an artist at heart: a master of singing and playing the harp.”

6. Duke Stepanovich. Bogatyr Major

Duke Stepanovich comes to Kyiv from conventional India, which, according to folklorists, is followed by in this case The Galicia-Volyn land hides, and organizes a marathon of boasting in Kyiv, passes tests from the prince, and continues to boast. As a result, Vladimir finds out that Duke is indeed very rich and offers him citizenship. But Duke refuses, because “if you sell Kyiv and Chernigov and buy paper for an inventory of Dyukov’s wealth, there won’t be enough paper.”

7. Mikula Selyaninovich. Bogatyr Plowman

Mikula Selyaninovich is a bogatyr agrarian. Found in two epics: about Svyatogor and about Volga Svyatoslavich. Mikula is the first representative of agricultural life, a powerful peasant plowman.
He is strong and resilient, but homely. He puts all his strength into farming and family.

8. Volga Svyatoslavovich. Bogatyr magician

Supporters " historical school"in the study of epics it is believed that the prototype epic Volga was Prince Vseslav of Polotsk. Volga was also correlated with Prophetic Oleg, and his campaign in India - with Oleg’s campaign against Constantinople. Volga is a difficult hero; he has the ability to become a werewolf and can understand the language of animals and birds.

9. Sukhman Odikhmantievich. Insulted hero

According to Vsevolod Miller, the prototype of the hero was the Pskov prince Dovmont, who ruled from 1266 to 1299.

In the epic of the Kyiv cycle, Sukhman goes to get a white swan for Prince Vladimir, but on the way he comes into conflict with the Tatar horde, who are building Kalinov bridges on the Nepra River. Sukhman defeats the Tatars, but in the battle he receives wounds, which he covers with leaves. Returning to Kyiv without the white swan, he tells the prince about the battle, but the prince does not believe him and imprisons Sukhman in prison until clarification. Dobrynya goes to Nepra and finds out that Sukhman did not lie. But it's' too late. Sukhman feels disgraced, peels off the leaves and bleeds. The Sukhman River begins from his blood.

10. Danube Ivanovich. Tragic hero

According to epics about the Danube, it was from the blood of the hero that the river of the same name began. The Danube is a tragic hero. He loses to his wife Nastasya in an archery competition, accidentally hits her while trying to get even, finds out that Nastasya was pregnant and stumbles upon a saber.

11. Mikhailo Potyk. Faithful husband

Folklorists disagree on who should be associated with Mikhailo Potyk (or Potok). The roots of his image are also found in Bulgarian heroic epic, and in Western European fairy tales, and even in the Mongolian epic “Geser”.
According to one of the epics, Potok and his wife Avdotya Swan Belaya make a vow that whichever of them dies first, the second one will be buried alive next to him in the grave. When Avdotya dies, Potok is buried nearby in full armor and on horseback, fights the dragon and revives his wife with his blood. When he himself dies, Avdotya is buried with him.

12. Khoten Bludovich. Bogatyr-groom

The hero Khoten Bludovich, for the sake of his wedding with the enviable bride Chaina Chasovaya, first beats her nine brothers, then an entire army hired by his future mother-in-law. As a result, the hero receives a rich dowry and appears in the epic as the hero “who married well.”

13. Vasily Buslaev. Zealous hero

The most daring hero of the Novgorod epic cycle. His unbridled temper leads to conflict with the Novgorodians and he desperately rages, bets that he will beat all the Novgorod men on the Volkhov Bridge and almost fulfills his promise - until his mother stops him.

In another epic, he is already mature and goes to Jerusalem to atone for his sins. But Buslaev is incorrigible - he again takes up his old ways and dies absurdly, proving his youth.

14. Anika warrior. Bogatyr in words

Anika warrior is still called today a person who likes to show off his strength far from danger. Unusual for Russian epic hero, the name of the hero is most likely taken from the Byzantine legend about the hero Digenis, who is mentioned there with permanent epithet anikitos.

Anika the warrior in the verse boasts of strength and offends the weak, death itself shames him for this, Anika challenges her and dies.

15. Nikita Kozhemyaka. Wyrm Fighter

Nikita Kozhemyaka in Russian fairy tales is one of the main characters-snake fighters. Before entering into battle with the Serpent, he tears 12 skins, thereby proving his legendary strength. Kozhemyaka not only defeats the Snake, but also harnesses him to a plow and plows the land from Kyiv to the Black Sea. The defensive ramparts near Kiev got their name (Zmievs) precisely because of the actions of Nikita Kozhemyaka.