Evpaty Kolovrat

Evpaty Kolovrat (Russian: Евпатий Коловрат, tr. Yevpatiy Kolovrat, pronounced [jɪfˈpatʲɪj kəlɐˈvrat]; c.1200 – 1238) is a Russian bogatyr described in The Tale of the Destruction of Ryazan. According to the tale he died while fighting the vastly superior army of the Mongol ruler Batu Khan, trying to avenge the destruction of Ryazan a few weeks earlier.[1]

Evpaty Kolovrat by Ivan Korzhev, 2009
Evpaty Kolovrat by Maximilian Presnyakov, 2009

Appearance in the Tale

Kolovrat was visiting Chernigov at the time of the Siege of Ryazan, which occurred between 16 and 21 December 1237. Learning about the tragedy, he rushed back home, only to find the city destroyed and most its inhabitants killed. He gathered 1700 people from his soldiers and from the survivors of the siege and went after Batu Khan with a sole purpose of avenging the carnage. Kolovrat's forces suddenly attacked the rear-guard of Batu Khan's army and annihilated it in a fierce battle. Perplexed, Batu Khan sent out a much larger force, led by his relative Khostovrul. Khostovrul promised to capture Kolovrat alive, and accordingly challenged Kolovrat to a duel. A man of extraordinary strength, Kolovrat split his opponent in half with his sword and proceeded to kill the surrounding Mongols, splitting many of them down to the saddle. Khostovrul's remaining soldiers retreated and killed Kolovrat from a distance using stone launchers. In a sign of respect for Kolovrat's bravery, Batu Khan returned his body to his soldiers and let them return home.[1]

Legacy

The bravery and strength of Kolovrat were praised in the Russian literature, art and media by

The tale of Kolovrat is depicted in the 1985 Soviet short animated film The Tale of Evpaty Kolovrat and is being produced as a full-length movie.[3]

gollark: Minutes?
gollark: No, you will ruin the ratios!
gollark: Fun fact: the name `Acausal Negotiator` actually means something!
gollark: You'll need to wait or get one from someone else then.
gollark: Oh? Is it on cooldown too?

References
  1. The Tale of the Destruction of Riazan translation into contemporary Russian at pushkinskijdom.ru
  2. Песня про боярина Евпатия Коловрата. lib.ru
  3. В Москве стартовали съемки фильма о Евпатии Коловрате. rzn.info. 29 January 2016
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