Historic Heroes of Russia
Boris Godunov, Ivan III, and Alexander Nevsky are Immortalized
Aug 28, 2008
Historical heroes of Russia exist in legend, and they have been kept alive in literature, artwork, and music. In many instances, it is impossible to separate fact from these legends, as in the case of three historical heroes from Russia: Alexander Nevsky, Ivan III, and Boris Godunov. In such cases, the immortalization of these figures in multimedia contexts has served to inflate their achievements and failings in the public eye.
This 13th century grand prince is named “Nevsky” after a battle along the banks of Neva, which he and his army won against Swedish invaders. Famous for having warded off Teutonic knights, and popular with the Mongol Horde, Alexander Nevsky's claim to fame has never waned. Nevsky brought peace to Russia, his skill at foreign affairs unmatched by his predecessors.
Alexander Nevsky's story has been further immortalized. Streets in Russia are named “Nevsky.” The 20th century director, Sergei Eisenstein, made a film about this historic hero, the soundtrack of which was composed by Sergei Prokofiev. Cathedrals throughout Eastern Europe are named for Alexander Nevsky.
Ivan III
Ivan III, or Ivan the Great, was a 15th century leader and the first to call himself “tsar.”He gathered Russian lands under his government and, by marrying a Byzantine princess, inherited the responsibilities demanded as a defender of Orthodoxy. Though the Mongol Horde was already weakened by the time Ivan III came to power, Ivan successfully gained independence from the khan.
A painting by the 19th century artist Shustov depicts Ivan III tearing up the deed that allowed the kahn to exact tribute from Russian leaders. The famous belltower inside the Moscow Kremlin is named for Ivan the Great.
Boris Godunov, Russia's first elected tsar, is sometimes depicted as much a villain as a hero. Boris Godunov successfully took over from Ivan the Terrible's mentally disabled son during a time when the whole of Russia needed secure borders. Unfortunately, a pretender to the crown, who had convinced a great number of people that he was, in fact, royal and a claimant to this leadership position, sought to ruin Boris Godunov. It was widely believed that Godunov had attempted to kill the rightful heir to the throne when he was a boy in order to ascend to the position of tsar without opposition.
Godunov's supposed criminal guilt was immortalized by Karamzin and Pushkin in literature, and Mussorgsky in music. A 19th century painting by Nakrasov shows a fatherly Godunov overseeing the education of his son.
