Maria of Chernigov

Maria Mikhailovna (Russian: Мария Михайловна; c. 1212 – 1271) was the princess consort of Rostov from 1228 to 1238 during her marriage to Vasilko Konstantinovich.[1] Following the death of her husband, she was the regent of Rostov during the minority of her son, Boris.[1] She was also a historian.[1]

Life

Her husband, Vasilko Konstantinovich, prince of Rostov, was killed at the Battle of Sit River in 1238 during the Mongol conquest.[1] In the late 1240s, her father, Michael of Chernigov, was executed by order of Batu Khan.[1] Although she was expected, according to custom, to retire to a convent, she decided instead to become regent during the minority of her son Boris.[1]

She is best known for her work as an author and historian. She participated in various literary projects, such as the compilation of a chronicle with the support of the bishop of Rostov.[2][3] Her son witnessed the trial and torture of her father and later recounted these events to her, leading her to write accounts that were incorporated into a hagiography known as the Life of St. Michael of Chernigov and into the chronicles of Rostov.[1] Compared with other Russian writings, her works are far more emotional and personal, depicting the suffering of an entire nation through the prism of a single individual.[4] Her chronicles reflect ideas of patriotism and a desire for the liberation of the country.[5]

Death

Maria founded the Savior-Pesotsky Convent in memory of her husband.[2] Following her death in 1271, she was buried beneath the convent's wooden church.[2] Her youngest son, Gleb, prince of Rostov and Beloozero, was also buried there in 1278.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Pushkareva 2016, p. 19.
  2. ^ a b c d Brumfield 2020.
  3. ^ Riha 2009, p. 189.
  4. ^ Pushkareva 2016, pp. 19–20.
  5. ^ Pushkareva 2016, p. 20.

Sources

  • Brumfield, William (22 May 2020). "Rostov's Church of the Savior-on-the-Sand: beauty abandoned and restored". Russia Beyond.
  • Pushkareva, Natalia (16 September 2016) [1997]. Women in Russian History: From the Tenth to the Twentieth Century. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-315-48043-5.
  • Riha, Thomas (15 February 2009) [1969]. Readings in Russian Civilization Volume I: Russia before Peter the Great, 900-1700. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-71843-9.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.