It is not for nothing that our people use the expression “there are women in Russian villages”. It seems that they were, are and will be - this is evidenced by the entire history of the Russian state. One of these heroic personalities was Princess Rostov, nee Maria Mikhailovna Chernigovskaya.
This woman lived in an anxious and tragic thirteenth century for our country. And all the difficulties that fell to the lot of the people in those days, she experienced in full.
Biography
Maria was born in 1212 in the family of the Chernigov prince Mikhail Vsevolodovich. He was an authoritative and powerful person: in addition to the city of Chernigov, he also ruled Kiev. At that time, the hordes of Batu attacked the Russian lands, and each prince was under the gun of the Tatar arrow, each walked on the edge of a knife and depended on the khan's favor or disfavor.
The family of the princes of Chernigov was noble: Maria's maternal grandmother was the daughter of the Polish king, and the names of her father's ancestors are still known and honored in Russia: Dolgorukovs, Volkonsky, Obolensky, Repnins, Gorchakovs and others.
The family of Mikhail Vsevolodovich had six children: five sons and a daughter, Maria. All the offspring of a noble family received the best education, loved to read and were known to be literate. Including Maria, although women at that time should not be on a par with men. However, apparently, the princely blood does not distinguish people by gender, so Maria was one of the most literate in the family.
At that time, people were growing up faster than today, and already at the age of fifteen they married Maria - Prince Vasilko Konstantinovich Rostovsky became her fiancé. He also came from a noble family of Vladimir Prince Konstantin Vsevolodovich, and his grandfather was Vladimir Monomakh himself.
The family and personal life of Mary in marriage with the wise and honest Prince of Rostov developed as well as possible: the husband loved and respected his young wife, always took her opinion into account in his princely affairs. This is where the reading and wisdom of the young princess came in handy.
Two sons were born in their family, they were named Boris and Gleb. The plans of the spouses were further life together, an increase in the family and a joint reign, but trouble came to the doorstep of their house along with the Tatar yoke.
Misfortune never comes alone
Russian princes rose to defend Russia, but were still disunited, so Russian cities were occupied by Tatar troops one after another. They went to the Ryazan lands, Moscow and Kolomna, Vladimir was next in line. And the appetites of the invaders did not diminish - they walked along the Russian land, like locusts in a crop field, sweeping away everything in their path.
Prince Vladimir Yuri Vsevolodovich decided to repulse the enemy and summoned Vasilko of Rostovsky to him. He was a brave and desperate warrior and could inspire people to fight. However, neither courage nor strength helped: in the battle on the Sit River, Vasilko was captured by the Tatars.
The leader of the army ordered the prince to abandon the Orthodox faith and become a Muslim, but the proud Vasilko refused. The Horde executed him in the Sherensky forest in 1238.
Later he was canonized according to Orthodox law and was honored as a martyr for the faith. And Maria at the age of twenty-five was left a widow with two small children in her arms at the head of the Rostov principality.
She ruled with a firm hand, but wisely and justly. The princely power gave many rights, but also obliged many. And again, Mary was helped by her literacy and wisdom, which she drew from books. And also the strength of will and faith, which was instilled in her in the family.
It was her merit that in the year of her husband's death, the Knyagin's monastery appeared on the Rostov land, where the chronicle of those times was kept. Therefore, Maria of Rostov is often called "the chronicler of the Russian land." Until now, these handwritten sources are considered the most valuable historical information, because at that time there were no chronicles in many cities. The cities were devastated by the Tatars, the scribes were killed or fled to other lands. In those bitter times, only in the monastery there were more or less literate people who could clearly describe what was happening in Russia. The Knyagin's monastery, built by order of Maria Rostovskaya, became the place where the chronicles were kept continuously.
One thing in the life of Mary was unshakable - the help of her father, Prince of Chernigov. But once it was his turn to go to bow to the Horde. These were the rules, and it was impossible to disobey. But in addition to taxes and submission, the local Tatar prince demanded that Mikhail Vsevolodovich worship the Horde idols, which meant renouncing the Orthodox faith. The proud prince refused this insulting order. He stood in front of burning bonfires and prayed to a god - his own god, not an alien one.
For such impudent behavior and disobedience, Mikhail Vsevolodovich was executed right in the Tatar residence. Maria Mikhailovna became an orphan for the second time, having lost her father. He was also elevated to the rank of holy great martyrs, and the princess believed that now in heaven she had two intercessors - Vasilko and her father. It helped to be firm and courageous.
Reign
Maria turned out to be a strong ruler of the Rostov lands. She managed to manage her lands and raise her sons. The princess raised them brave, proud and gave them a good upbringing and education. She did not indulge them, but, on the contrary, demanded to be ready for any difficulties and for future concerns about their land, about people who largely depended on the prince's will.
Maria Mikhailovna collected books, and through her efforts a rich library appeared in Rostov. She welcomed educated people of that time in her palace, and princes from other lands often listened to her opinion.
For her reign, many churches were erected on the Rostov land, which were also known as the cultural centers of Russia.
