These were difficult and difficult times for Russia, which struggled with all its might with the invasion of the Mongol-Tatar yoke. It is about this period that the summary compiled for this work will tell. “Martha the Posadnitsa, or the Conquest of Novgorod” is a historical story that describes how much innocent human blood was shed throughout Russian land. To prevent this, the Grand Prince of Moscow, John III, began to unite the Russian principalities and gather under his banners all those who could no longer endure the cruel oppression of the Golden Horde. However, the proud Novgorod state, declaring its independence, refused to obey him.
This will be described in more detail below in more detail. The “Martha the Posadnitsa” in its plot contains interesting facts that in their time the Novgorodians fought for their ancient charters and rights, which were partially given to them by the great princes. For example, it was Prince Yaroslav who was the affirmative of their liberties.
Karamzin: "Martha the Posadnitsa", a brief summary of the plot
The Novgorodians foresaw that such a confrontation would bring them much grief, but could not give up their pride. And the veche city bell calls all the townspeople to immediately gather in the Great Square.
The people rushed from all over there, his alarmed rumble drowned out the bell ringing. People gathered and began to demand the beginning of the veche.
Opposite the white-stone house of Yaroslavov, posadniks gathered with medals on their chests, boyars with banners, elders with silver axes, and many other people.
Suddenly, on the frontal, or, otherwise, on Vadimov, the place where the marble image of the hero of Vadim towered, a messenger appeared - a prince entrusted to Tsar John.
Ambassador
It was Prince Kholmsky, who was supposed to announce to the Novgorod inhabitants that they should peacefully submit to the requirements of the Great Moscow Prince and not bring the conflict to bloodshed. He told them that only the wild people love independence, and the wise people love order, which cannot be achieved without autocracy in the state.
He continued that the autocracy of the Russian land was born and established within the walls of Novgorod. Generous Rurik began to create court and truth, thanks to this hero of the Varangian, other peoples began to fear Novgorod.
The ambassador’s speech was very ardent and furious, he appealed to people and reproached them for throwing the Russian brothers to the mercy of the Horde, while at the same time they prosper and drown in luxury. Moscow, Kiev, Vladimir shed the blood of their defenders. The Russians, armed with a sword, meet the strangers, while the greedy Novgorodians, however, take them into their arms, staring at their exquisite goods, gold and silver.
The main characters of the work “Martha the Posadnitsa, or the Conquest of Novgorod” act very strongly on the people with their performances. The summary continues further with the fact that Prince John also learned about the secret conspiracy of the Novgorod rulers with the enemy princedom of Lithuania and Poland and warned that these strangers would enslave them, because this is always the case with those who recklessly demand independence from their brothers. He believes that the fragmentation of the Russian state can no longer be allowed, because all its troubles come from here. Having finished his speech, Kholmsky left the frontal and demanded an answer so that people would rather choose between peace or war.
Martha's Speech
Further, even more interestingly, a brief summary twists its plot. Martha the posadnitsa, with exclamatory sounds, quietly and majestically entered the iron steps of the frontal place. Sorrow and greatness were read on her face. She calmly began her inspired speech and said that she could rightfully be a defender of liberties, since it was her father and husband who laid their heads, fighting for this glorious city.
The people listened with bated breath. And she continued her speech with the fact that her people should not be reproached for not participating in internecine wars and that he himself fought off the Mongol-Tatar invaders when the fierce Batu wanted to tear their city apart. She also remembered the fathers who knew that they would die in battles, but did not become slaves, and without timidity they sharpened their swords. Now Veliky Novgorod is thriving, and many foreign merchants, coming to their homes, say that they have not seen such a beautiful city anywhere else. And it is not surprising that now John, seeing the greatness and beauty of Novgorod, wants to rule him.
And to the limit the plot is heating up even a brief summary. Martha the posadnik further says that Heaven is fair, and if self-interest drives them, and not virtue and glory, their freemen will soon strike the last hour, and if their freedom is lost, the source of wealth 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 Moscow ambassador wanted to say something else, but in vain - the crowd did not want to listen and almost tore it up. Then, with great spiritual sorrow, he uttered his last decisive words: “Let there be a war!” - and quickly retired from the city with his retinue.
War
It is extremely interesting to describe the story "Martha the Posadnitsa" preparing for war, the brief outline of the plot further tells that when the bell rang, the people began to prepare to accept the last battle. And Martha immediately hastened to the pious righteous elder Theodosius, who, after 70 years of service to his own country, retired from the bustling world into a dense forest. It was he who informed her about the emergency, but Martha was adamant. She brought a young lad Miroslav with her and wanted to receive a blessing from the old man for abuse. After that, Martha was in a hurry to marry her daughter Xenia. Before the battle, they played a wedding, and the bishop himself married the young in St. Sophia Cathedral. So Miroslav became the leader of the Novgorod knights.
Martha hoped that Pskov would not stand aside, become his ally and give his army, but they refused to support the rebellion of Novgorod. Soon news came that John with the best army advanced to the great hail. The regiments of Miroslav 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, a prayer reading sounded. For a long time there was no news. On the day of the decisive battle, Martha saw a cloud of dust from a high frontal place. Closing her eyes, she said: “Miroslav died, John became a winner!”
On a chariot, the body of Miroslav is brought to the city, wounded soldiers talk about terrible battles. The Russians were against the Russians, the warriors on both sides wanted to prove that they were Slavs. Their mutual anger is the worst! Two sons of Martha also died.
But the battle continued, John in a direct collision could not defeat the knights of Novgorod, then he went on a long siege. The city began to starve, liberty advocates began to die.
Elder Theodosius, having left his gate, 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 return having promised that these people would serve him faithfully.
Pardon
The Prince of Moscow decides to pardon the Novgorodians, but this does not end with a brief summary. Martha the posadnitsa and her daughter Ksenia still do not escape their terrible punishment. A scaffold will soon be built for them, on which Martha proudly ascends and announces to the people that she is dying as a citizen of Novgorod, while they became servants of John.
At the same time, the bell is removed from the ancient tower and taken to Moscow.
In its own way, the work “Martha the Posadnitsa, or the Conquest of Novgorod” is unique. The summary, unfortunately, cannot convey that vivid ancient syllable and unusual color, so it is better to read this work in full.