The story of the victories of the Moscow state

“The Tale of the Victories of the Moscow State” was written in the literary language of the 17th century, which differs from colloquial speech and office language of the same time and reproduces the norms of the Old Russian language . The full title of the monument: “The story is known about the victories of the Moscow state, the colic of misfortune for the multiplication of our sin from internecine warfare, from filthy Poles and from Lithuania and from Russian thieves, and the merciful Lord God our God has saved us from our philanthropy and prayers Pure to His Mother and all for the sake of saints, turning us into the first possession of their philanthropy. "

The only late list of "The Tale of Victories ..." has been preserved, which is located in the NLR Manuscript Division as part of the 18th-century manuscript from the collection of Pogodin under number 1501. This manuscript (of a code type, approximately in A5 format) contains two independent works: The Legend of Boris Godunov and False Dmitry I (f. 1-17ob., covers the events from 1584 to 1606) and actually the "Tale of the victories of the Moscow state" (f. 17ob-62ob. covers the events from 1606 to 1626). Some names of historical figures and geographical names were distorted by the census taker and are being restored from other sources. ^[2]

In 1979, the text "The Tale of Victories ..." was discovered and subsequently published by historian G.P. Enin.

“The Tale of the Victories of the Moscow State” was published in 1982 as a separate edition in the series “ Literary Monuments ” with a circulation of 40,000 copies. The publication contains the original and translation into modern Russian, as well as a research article, comments, personal and geographical indications. Translation and comments made by G.P. Enin.

The story begins with the uprising of Bolotnikov in 1606 and ends with the solemn arrival in Moscow of an Orthodox shrine from Persia - the robes of Christ in 1626. In addition, the text contains references in 1514 and 1598.

The Tale describes in detail the campaign of the Smolensk noble militia to help besieged Moscow’s troops by Bolotnikov in the fall of 1606, the campaign of the tsar’s army against Kaluga and Tula in 1607, the war of Tsar Vasily Shuisky with False Dmitry II (“Tushinsky thief”) in 1608, and the campaign of Prince M. AT. Skopin-Shuisky against supporters of the impostor of 1609-1610. During this campaign, a certain Afanasy Loginovich Varishkin was able to deliver a convoy with food from the Alexander Sloboda to besieged Moscow and personally met with Tsar Vasily Shuisky. The Story further describes the defense of Smolensk in 1609-1611, the capture of Tsar Vasily Shuisky and the events of the Interregnum, the liberation campaign of Minin and Pozharsky to Moscow in 1612, the election of Tsar Mikhail Romanov in 1613, unsuccessful campaigns near Smolensk in 1613-1617, the siege of Moscow by the Poles in 1618, the exchange of prisoners and the return to the homeland of Filaret Romanov in 1619, the arrival of Christ's Robe in 1626.

A distinctive feature of the story is the high appreciation of Tsar Vasily Shuisky as a righteous sovereign, as well as the exaltation of the role of the Smolensk nobility in the events of the Time of Troubles.

A possible author of The Tale of the Victories of the Moscow State is one of her characters, Afanasy Loginovich Varaksin, who, by his non-baptismal name and patronymic, is Lonsky Village, son of Varaksin. In the genealogy of the Varaksins, it is said that Afanasy Loginovich, on behalf of Skopin-Shuisky, delivered a convoy with food to Moscow besieged by the Tushins . In the "Tale" this episode and the meeting of Athanasius Loginovich with Tsar Vasily are described in detail .. ^[3]

Athanasius, nicknamed the Village, Varaksin, was a Smolensk nobleman, in 1605/06 had a local salary of 400 quarters of the earth. ^[4] In May 1608 he was wounded near Bolkhov , was captured and taken to the Commonwealth. By 1609, he returned from captivity and took part in the campaign of Skopin-Shuisky against False Dmitry . After the liberation of the Alexandrov settlement, Athanasius was sent to starving Moscow with grain reserves. In the capital, Tsar Vasily Shuisky himself granted him service, the meeting with which became Athanasius the pinnacle of his career. The activity of Athanasius during the years of the interregnum is unknown, probably, like other Smolensk nobles, he participated in the militia of Minin and Pozharsky from 1611-12 and in the liberation of Moscow from the Poles. In July 1618 he was secondly wounded and taken prisoner in the battle of Borovsky . In 1619 he participated in the exchange of prisoners in Vyazma. In 1621/22, he had a local salary of 750 quarters of land and a monetary salary of 34 rubles. He died from his wounds until 1630. He left three sons: Ivan, Fedor and Vasily.

If we recognize Athanasius Varaksin as the author of the "Tale of Victories", then the years 1626-29 should be considered the time of the creation of the monument. ^[5] .

Interesting Facts.

In the Tale, the bravery of the Smolensk is glorified, but one of the most important events of the Time of Troubles - the defense of Smolensk in 1609-1611 - is described quite briefly, since the Smolensk noble army during the siege of the city by the Poles was marching under the leadership of Prince Skopin-Shuisky, and the defenders of Smolensk were simple townspeople (posad people).

1. ↑ Tale of the victories of the Moscow state. Publ. G.P. Enin. L. Science. Series "Literary Monuments". 1982.p. 93‒134
2. ↑ Enin. G. P. "The Tale of the Victories of the Moscow State" - a newly found monument of Old Russian literature // The Tale of the Victories of the Moscow State. L. Science. 1982.p. 93‒134
3. ↑ Molochnikov A. M. The Varaksins family tree and “The Tale of the Victories of the Moscow State” // Time of Troubles in Russia at the Beginning of the 17th Century: Search for a Way Out. To the 400th anniversary of the “Council of the whole Earth” in Yaroslavl. Materials of the International Scientific Conference. Yaroslavl, June 6‒9, 2012. M., 2012. P.327‒328.
4. ↑ TEN 7114 BY SMOLENSK // Maltsev V.P. The Struggle for Smolensk (XVI ‒ XVII centuries). Smallgiz. 1940.S. 374.
5. ↑ Molochnikov A. M. The Varaksins family tree and “The Tale of the Victories of the Moscow State” // Time of Troubles in Russia at the Beginning of the 17th Century: Search for a Way Out. To the 400th anniversary of the “Council of the whole Earth” in Yaroslavl. Materials of the International Scientific Conference. Yaroslavl, June 6‒9, 2012. M., 2012. S. 328-329.

• The story of the victories of the Moscow state. Publication by G.P. Enin. Original text and translation with comments
• "TEN 7114 BY SMOLENSK // Maltsev V.P. The Struggle for Smolensk (XVI ‒ XVII centuries). Smallgiz. 1940. P. 362‒393.
• Yenin. G. P. "The Tale of the Victories of the Moscow State" is a newly found monument of Old Russian literature.
• Molochnikov A. M. The genealogy of the Varaksins and “The Tale of the Victories of the Moscow State” // The Time of Troubles in Russia at the Beginning of the 17th Century: Search for a Way Out. To the 400th anniversary of the “Council of the whole Earth” in Yaroslavl. Materials of the International Scientific Conference. Yaroslavl, June 6‒9, 2012. M., 2012. P.326-330.
• Monuments of the defense of Smolensk. (1609-1611) / Ed. and since valid tsp Yu. V. Gauthier. - 1912.
• The genealogy of the Oryol nobles of the Maslovs // Chronicle of the historical and pedigree Society in Moscow. Issue 4. M., 1907. The Maslov family at the IOP genealogical forum