Prince Dmitry Pozharsky - the leader of the national militia, who expelled from Moscow from Polish and Lithuanian invaders in 1612. This man became one of those who managed to defend the sovereignty of the country in a difficult period for her.
Life of Pozharsky under Godunov and Vasily Shuisky
Dmitry Mikhailovich Pozharsky was born on November 1, 1578. His father came from the princely family of Starodubsky and was a descendant of the famous Yuri Dolgoruky, and therefore Rurik.
In 1593, the fifteen-year-old prince Pozharsky (who, incidentally, received a fairly good education for the seventeenth century), entered the court service. In 1598, when Boris Godunov officially entered the throne, Pozharsky had the honorary rank of solicitor. And in 1602 he was promoted to stolniki - that was the name of the people whose job included serving the meal of the master.
After the mysterious death of Tsar Godunov in April 1605, the Polish protege False Dmitry I, who portrayed Ivan the Terrible as a “miracle of rescue”, seized power. This, however, did not greatly affect Pozharsky's position - he, as before, remained at court.
At the end of spring 1606, the impostor was killed, Vasily Shuisky became king, and Dmitry Pozharsky swore allegiance to him without hesitation.
In December 1606, Prince Dmitry participated as a hundredth head in battles with the peasant army of Bolotnikov near the village of Kotly near Moscow. Pozharsky, apparently, showed himself brilliantly in these battles, and as a reward he increased the local salary. In addition, the autocrat made Pozharsky governor of Zaraysk.
Participation in two militias
In July 1610, Vasily IV Shuisky was removed from the throne during a conspiracy. The real power was seized by seven boyars, who constituted the backbone of the boyar’s Duma.
In January 1611, the citizens of Zaraysk, inspired by the example of neighbors from Kolomna, wished that Pozharsky would go over to the side of False Dmitry II, very influential at that time. The voivode courageously refused, stating that he has only one king - Vasily Shuisky. He did not welcome the decision of the capital’s boyars to give the empty throne to the Pole - the young prince Vladislav.
In early 1611, Nizhny Novgorod sent letters to many cities in order to create an army to fight the invaders. In the second decade of March, some very impressive militia units, responding to the call, were at the Moscow walls. Pozharsky also arrived here - as part of the Ryazan detachment. Interestingly, many Muscovites, learning about the nearby militias, also began preparations for the battle with the Polish interventionists.
On March 19, a riot broke out in the capital. Pozharsky bravely fought with enemies, but at some point he was wounded and he was taken to the rear. To improve his health, the prince spent some time in his family estate.
The first militia almost succeeded, but ultimately lost. One of the key reasons for this defeat today is internal strife.
In the fall of 1611, a delegation led by the Orthodox archimandrite Theodosius arrived at the estate to Pozharsky. His task was to persuade Dmitry Mikhailovich to head a new militia. At first, the prince was not sure that he would cope with such a mission, but then he nevertheless agreed to the offer of the guests.
In August 1612, troops led by Pozharsky and Minin reached Moscow. For three days, from August 21 to 24, there was a bloody battle of militias with the Poles and the forces of the Hetman from Lithuania, Khodkevich. By sunset on the third day, the invaders were completely defeated. However, then after another about seventy days the struggle of the militias with the invaders hiding in Kitai Gorod lasted. But in the end they were driven away. This victory made it possible to organize the Zemsky Cathedral, at which in 1613 a new autocrat was chosen.
