Sea robbers, "trying their luck." These are them, desperate lovers of adventure and sea battles, with an indomitable will in character and a bottle of rum in their hands, everyone imagines at the mere mention of the word "pirates". The best writers of the world wrote about them, the world's most talented directors and actors created bright masterpieces of cinematography about the difficult and, at the same time, enchanting life of recalcitrant pirates. Seas and oceans, ships and captains, treasure maps and treasure chests - that's it, their life. But each of them had their own special life path, its colorful and complex fate.
"Cruel" Henry Morgan
Living in the seventeenth century, Henry became the most famous pirate in world history. The Englishman, who was born into a wealthy family of landowners, was a restless child from childhood, had no interest in continuing his parental work, and in his early youth he was hired to serve on a ship as a cabin boy. When the ship landed on the island of Barbados, Henry was successfully sold into slavery. After working there for several years and paying the owner a ransom, Henry moved to the island of Jamaica, where he made a gang of thugs and a small capital, bought his first ship, on which he was unanimously chosen as the captain. First, the pirates robbed the ships of Spain, the enemy state. Then a brilliant idea comes to Morgan's head - to attack coastal cities. The very first such attack brought him unprecedented fame as a leader, other pirate ships began to join his team. Having such a flotilla with several hundred pirates, Morgan no longer enjoyed plundering single ships at sea.
The capture of cities began, which gave a significant profit to the treasury of the extracted treasures. However, this treasury both replenished and descended instantly. Returning from raids on Jamaica, the pirates spent days and nights, staggering from tavern to tavern, drinking and eating from golden dishes, having fun with the most expensive courtesans. And then they again went to sea, in new raids.
Pirate Admiral Henry Morgan managed to combine not only success in the corsair craft, but also the talent of a military leader, commander-in-chief of the Jamaican navy, and the wisdom of a politician, lieutenant governor of Jamaica. With his help, England gained control of the entire Caribbean. Morgan's whole life was filled with bright victories, no one could defeat him, except for his beloved rum and, as a result, cirrhosis of the liver, from which Henry died. Henry Morgan was buried as a nobleman. However, the sea soon reminded the world that he was, is and remains a gentleman of the sea. After the earthquake, the grave of the Cruel Admiral plunged into the depths of the sea.
Spooky Fiend Edward Teach
Another Englishman who did not know the joys of childhood. Very early Edward had to become an adult and start serving as a cabin boy on a warship. Life in the Navy gave him intelligence and insight, the talent of a navigator, but at the same time an unbridled character, a terrible temper and a love of alcohol. Edward Teach more and more repulsed from himself, people did not want to sail with him on the same ship. Thus ended the naval career of Edward Teach and began independent life formidable robber Blackbeard. His beard grew from the very eyes and was an eerie blue-black color. He liked to inspire horror from his appearance, for this he braided ignition wicks into his beard, set them on fire and appeared in front of his enemies in clouds of smoke, like Satan from the underworld.
The robbers, led by Blackbeard, robbed every ship they came across, they were extremely cruel, for which they were soon hunted down and very big money was promised for the head of Edward Tich. The lieutenant of the English fleet sent Tich to the other world during a boarding battle, firing five bullets at him and inflicting twenty stab wounds. Blackbeard's head was cut off, his body hung on a yardarm, and so ended the short career of the pirate Edward Teach.
Fortune's Favorite Francis Drake
Francis was born into a family of a priest, but instead of becoming an exemplary Christian, at the young age of eighteen he became a captain pirate ship. His crew ruthlessly plundered Spanish ships, the most famous capture of the Silver Caravan, which brought 30,000 kilograms of silver, he was in charge. But Francis was more interested in robberies in those places in the world where no human foot had ever set foot.
Drake was always attracted to unknown countries and it is not surprising that he went on a secret journey to South America, thanks to which the British recognized and tasted an exotic potato vegetable. After such a voyage, England received for its treasury an income that was three times the annual budget. For this, Drake was knighted and given the rank of admiral right on board the ship. History has no analogues of such a case. All his life, fortune was next to Drake and only once turned away. During the next trip to the shores of America, he so absurdly picked up a tropical fever, which is why he died.
Pirate Woman Mary Reed
And even sea corsairs cannot boast that there have never been women among them. Despite the fact that a woman on a ship is a bad omen, among the fair sex there were desperate pirates who, along with men, are rightfully included in the most famous in the world.
The girl Mary was born later than her deceased brother. The mother was never able to come to terms with the loss of her son, so she saw only him in her daughter, since childhood, Mary did not know dresses and bows, she was always dressed in boyish clothes. Therefore, it is not surprising that from the age of fifteen the young girl served in the army, took part in the fighting in the cavalry regiment, and then, dressed in men's clothes, went on board to serve as a sailor. This ship fell into the hands of the pirates and Mary went over to their side, becoming the captain's traveling wife. But this did not give her absolutely any indulgences and privileges, she participated in battles on an equal basis with men, always wore men's attire and weapons. Once in the life of a girl there was a stormy romance with an artisan who helped the pirates. She even thought for a moment about women's happiness, family and a child, she wanted to formalize the marriage with her beloved and break with piracy forever. But the pregnant Mary Read was caught by the authorities. They did not hang a woman in this position, and she was waiting for her shameful death in a prison in Jamaica. But a strong fever dealt with the beauty earlier, not giving her a chance to be hanged and become a mother even for a moment.
The peasantry throughout the entire pre-revolutionary history of Russia experienced oppression by the landlords, and therefore treated with sympathy those who fought the oppressors. Therefore, robbers, even very far from the ideals of justice, were made by popular rumor almost as heroes opposing the unjust royal order. After all, they, as a rule, robbed landowners and merchants, and not those from whom there was nothing to take. But some robbers managed to go down in history, and their names are remembered even after centuries.
Mythical Kudeyar
One of the legendary characters is Kudeyar - ataman, whose name is given to numerous villages, caves and burial mounds in Russia. There are many stories and legends about him, but it is still not known for certain whether they are true.Information about its origin appears in many sources of the 16th century and diverge. The most common version is that the ataman was the son Basil III and his wife, Solomiya. She gave birth to him in a monastery, to which she was exiled for being barren, after which Kudeyar was taken to the forests, where he was secretly brought up. In addition, according to this information, it follows that the ataman was the brother of Ivan the Terrible and could well claim the royal throne.
Other sources indicate that Kudeyar was the son of the prince of Transylvania - Zsigmond Bathory. After a quarrel with his father, he ran away and joined the Cossacks, and also served as guardsman for the king. After the royal disfavor, he began to trade in robbery.
According to legend, Kudeyar put together his own army of robbers and robbed the carts of the rich.
Due to numerous raids and robberies, the inhabitants of many Russian provinces associated him with a symbol of terrifying power. Legends say that he left behind untold riches that no one has been able to find so far.
Stenka Razin: violent robber or hero?
The main rebel of the 17th century was Stepan Timofeevich Razin, nicknamed Stenka. He was not just a daring Don Cossack and ataman, but also a good organizer, leader and military man.In connection with the tightened serf rights, peasants who fled from the inner provinces of Russia began to flock to the Cossack regions. They did not have roots and property, so they were called "smut". Stephen was one of them. Supplying the "golytba" with the necessary provisions, local Cossacks helped them in thieves' campaigns. Those, in turn, shared the booty. For the people, Razin was a "noble robber" and a hero who hated serfdom and the king.
Under his leadership, in 1670 a campaign against the Volga was organized, accompanied by many peasant uprisings. The Cossack order was introduced in every captured city, merchants were robbed, and government officials were killed. In the autumn of the same year, the chieftain was badly wounded and taken to the Don. Strengthened, Stepan again wanted to gather supporters, but the local Cossacks did not agree with this. In the spring of 1671, they stormed the Kagalitsky town, where Razin was hiding. After that, he was captured (together with his brother Frol) and handed over to the royal governors. After the verdict, Stepan was quartered.
Vanka-Cain
Vanka-Cain - the famous robber and thief of the 18th century. Ivan Osipov was born in the village of Ivanovo, Yaroslavl province, in a peasant family. At the age of 13, he was transported to the master's court, to Moscow, and at 16, having met a thief nicknamed "Kamchatka", he decided to join his gang, robbing his master along the way and scribbled on the lord's gates. With the words “work the devil, not me,” Osipov clearly described his position in life.It was soon returned to its former owner. While Vanka was in the shackled deck, he found out that the owner had a "sin". When guests came to the master, he told everyone that, due to the owner’s omission, a garrison soldier died, whose body was thrown into the well. For this denunciation, Vanka-Cain received freedom, and returning to his gang became their leader.
In 1741, Osipov wrote a "repentant petition", where he said that he himself was a thief and was ready to help in the capture of accomplices. With his help, many deserters, thieves and bandits were caught. For the betrayal of "his" he received the nickname "Cain".
But he didn't stop there. He was arrested in 1749 for kidnapping the 15-year-old daughter of a retired serviceman. And only in 1755 the court decided to execute Vanka-Cain by wheeling and decapitation, but the sentence was commuted by the Senate. In 1756 he was flogged and his nostrils torn out. Cain was labeled "V.O.R." and sent into exile, where he died.
Vasily Churkin: Guslitsky Robin Hood.
Vasily Vasilyevich Churkin became a prominent character in the underworld in the 19th century. The exact date of birth is unknown. It is assumed that he was born between 1844-1846, in the village of Barskaya, Guslitskaya volost.Young Churkin began his "career" in a gang of Guslitsky robbers who operated in 1870 on the main roads: from Moscow to Vladimir. Later, due to the serious illness of the leader, the pack broke up. Here Vasily did not lose his head and in 1873 created his own gang. He was soon caught, but did not remain under arrest for long, because he escaped.
In addition to robberies, Vasily and his gang helped the poor, thereby winning national fame and recognition. He robbed only rich barns, and several times a year he collected a small tribute of 25 rubles from the owners of factories. The manufacturers did not mention his name, so as not to bring trouble on their heads. Thus, Churkin created a reliable rear for himself, which covered him from the police. He never raised his tax and severely punished those who violated this custom.
When it became unsafe to stay in Guslitsy, Vasily hid in other places. There are many versions of the death of the Guslitsky Robin Hood, but the exact cause remains unknown.
Trishka Siberian
Another folk hero The 19th century was Trishka-Siberian. Little information about the criminal authority has been preserved, however, according to legends, he terrified the landowners and nobles. The people composed legends and fairy tales about him, presenting the robber as a defender of the destitute. He was unusually cautious and cunning. Making raids on the farms of the landowners, Trishka the Siberian gave part of the loot to the serfs. People said that he didn’t offend anyone much, but he could punish the gentleman “dashing to the peasants”, for example, cut the veins under his knees so that he wouldn’t run fast. So he taught them "mind-reason."
Even after his arrest, rumors about him did not allow the nobles to live in peace for a long time. Yes, and they caught him only because the search for Trishka was in the strictest confidence, because the authorities were wary of his ingenuity and cunning. The further fate of Trishka-Sibiryak is unknown.
Piracy appeared as soon as a person began to use watercraft to transport goods. AT different countries and in different eras, pirates were called filibusters, ushkuiniki, corsairs, privateers.
The most famous pirates in history have left a significant mark: in life they inspired fear, after death their adventures continue to arouse unflagging interest. Piracy has had a great impact on culture: sea robbers have become the central figures of many famous literary works, modern films and TV series.
10 Jack Rackham
To the most famous pirates history includes Jack Rackham, who lived in the 18th century. He is interesting because there were two women in his team. For his love of Indian chintz (calico) shirts of bright colors, he received the nickname Calico Jack. He was in the Navy at an early age due to need. For a long time he served as a senior helmsman under the command of the famous pirate Charles Vane. After the latter tried to refuse to fight a French warship pursuing a pirate ship, Rackham rebelled and was elected the new captain in accordance with the order of the pirate code. Calico Jack differed from other sea robbers in his gentle treatment of his victims, which, however, did not save him from the gallows. The pirate was executed on November 17, 1720 in Port Royal, and his body was hung out as a warning to the rest of the robbers at the entrance to the harbor.
9 William Kidd
The story of one of the most famous pirates in history, William Kidd, is still controversial among researchers of his life. Some historians are sure that he was not a pirate and acted strictly within the framework of a letter of marque. Nevertheless, he was found guilty of attacking 5 ships and murder. Despite trying to get his release in exchange for information about the location of the valuables, Kidd was sentenced to be hanged. After the execution, the body of the pirate and his accomplices was hung out for public viewing over the Thames, where it hung for 3 years.
The legend of Kidd's hidden treasures has long haunted the minds. The belief that the treasure really exists was supported literary works, which mentioned a pirate treasure. The hidden riches of Kidd were searched on many islands, but without success. The fact that the treasure is still not a myth is evidenced by the fact that in 2015, British divers found the wreckage of a pirate ship off the coast of Madagascar and under it a 50-kilogram ingot, which, according to experts, belonged to Captain Kidd.
8 Madame Shi
Madame Shi or Lady Zheng is one of the most famous female pirates in the world. After the death of her husband, she inherited his pirate flotilla and put sea robbery on a grand scale. Under her command were two thousand ships and seventy thousand people. The most severe discipline helped her to command the whole army. For example, for unauthorized absence from the ship, the offender lost his ear. Not all of Madame Shi's subordinates were happy with this state of affairs, and one of the captains once rebelled and went over to the side of the authorities. After the power of Madame Shi was weakened, she agreed to a truce with the emperor and subsequently lived to a ripe old age in freedom, managing a brothel.
7 Francis Drake
Francis Drake is one of the most famous pirates in the world. Actually, he was not a pirate, but a corsair who operated on the seas and oceans against enemy ships by special permission of Queen Elizabeth. Devastating the coasts of Central and South America he became immensely wealthy. Drake accomplished many great deeds: he opened the strait, which he named after himself, under his command the British fleet defeated the Great Armada. Since then, one of the ships of the English navy It bears the name of the famous navigator and corsair Francis Drake.
6 Henry Morgan
List of the most famous pirates would be incomplete without the name of Henry Morgan. Despite the fact that he was born into a wealthy family of an English landowner, from his youth Morgan connected his life with the sea. He was hired on one of the ships as a cabin boy and was soon sold into slavery in Barbados. He managed to get to Jamaica, where Morgan joined a gang of pirates. Several successful campaigns allowed him and his comrades to acquire a ship. Morgan was chosen as captain, and it was a good decision. A few years later, under his command there were 35 ships. With such a fleet, he managed to capture Panama in a day and burn the entire city. Since Morgan acted mainly against Spanish ships and pursued an active English colonial policy, after his arrest, the pirate was not executed. On the contrary, for the services rendered to Britain in the struggle against Spain, Henry Morgan received the post of Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica. The famous corsair died at the age of 53 from cirrhosis of the liver.
5 Bartholomew Roberts
Bartholomew Roberts, aka Black Bart, is one of the most colorful pirates in history, although he is not as famous as Blackbeard or Henry Morgan. Black Bart became the most successful filibuster in the history of piracy. During his short pirate career (3 years), he captured 456 ships. Its production is estimated at 50 million pounds. It is believed that he created the famous "Pirate Code". He was killed in action with a British warship. The body of the pirate, according to his will, was thrown into the water, and the remains of one of the greatest pirates were never found.
4 Edward Teach
Edward Teach, or Blackbeard, is one of the most famous pirates in the world. Almost everyone heard his name. Lived and engaged in sea robbery Tich in the heyday of the golden age of piracy. Entering the service at the age of 12, he gained valuable experience, which was then useful to him in the future. According to historians, Tich participated in the war for Spanish inheritance, and after its completion consciously decided to become a pirate. The glory of the ruthless filibuster helped Blackbeard capture ships without the use of weapons - when he saw his flag, the victim surrendered without a fight. The cheerful life of a pirate did not last long - Tich died during a boarding battle with a British warship pursuing him.
3 Henry Avery
The most famous pirate in history is Henry Avery, nicknamed Lanky Ben. The father of the future famous buccaneer was a captain in the British Navy. From childhood, Avery dreamed of sea voyages. He began his career in the Navy as a cabin boy. Then Avery was appointed first mate on a corsair frigate. The ship's crew soon rebelled, and the first mate was proclaimed captain of the pirate ship. So Avery took the path of piracy. He became famous for capturing the ships of Indian pilgrims heading to Mecca. The booty of pirates was unheard of at that time: 600 thousand pounds and the daughter of the Great Mogul, whom Avery later officially married. How the life of the famous filibuster ended is unknown.
2 Amaro Pargo
Amaro Pargo is one of the most famous filibusters of the golden age of piracy. Pargo was engaged in the transportation of slaves and made a fortune on this. Wealth allowed him to do charity work. Lived to a respectable age.
1 Samuel Bellamy
Among the most famous sea robbers is Samuel Bellamy, known as Black Sam. Became a pirate in order to marry Maria Hallet. Bellamy was desperately short of funds to provide future family, and he joined Benjamin Hornigold's crew of pirates. A year later, he became the captain of the robbers, allowing Hornigold to leave peacefully. Thanks to a network of informers and spies, Bellamy was able to capture one of the fastest ships of the time, the frigate Vaida. Bellamy died while sailing to his lover. The Vaida was caught in a storm, the ship was stranded and the crew, including Black Sam, perished. Bellamy's career as a pirate only lasted a year.
One of the legendary characters is Kudeyar - ataman, whose name is given to numerous villages, caves and burial mounds in Russia. There are many stories and legends about him, but it is still not known for certain whether they are true.
Information about its origin appears in many sources of the 16th century and diverge. The most common version is that the ataman was the son of Vasily III and his wife, Solomiya. She gave birth to him in a monastery, to which she was exiled for being barren, after which Kudeyar was taken to the forests, where he was secretly brought up. In addition, according to this information, it follows that the ataman was the brother of Ivan the Terrible and could well claim the royal throne.
Illustration Ataman Kudeyar.Other sources indicate that Kudeyar was the son of the prince of Transylvania - Zsigmond Bathory. After a quarrel with his father, he ran away and joined the Cossacks, and also served as guardsman for the king. After the royal disfavor, he began to trade in robbery.
According to legend, Kudeyar put together his own army of robbers and robbed the carts of the rich.
Due to numerous raids and robberies, the inhabitants of many Russian provinces associated him with a symbol of terrifying power. Legends say that he left behind untold riches that no one has been able to find so far.
Stenka Razin: violent robber or hero?
The main rebel of the 17th century was Stepan Timofeevich Razin, nicknamed Stenka. He was not just a daring Don Cossack and ataman, but also a good organizer, leader and military man.
In connection with the tightened serf rights, peasants who fled from the inner provinces of Russia began to flock to the Cossack regions. They did not have roots and property, so they were called "smut". Stephen was one of them. Supplying the "golytba" with the necessary provisions, local Cossacks helped them in thieves' campaigns. Those, in turn, shared the booty. For the people, Razin was a "noble robber" and a hero who hated serfdom and the king.
Stepan Timofeevich Razin. Under his leadership, in 1670 a campaign against the Volga was organized, accompanied by many peasant uprisings. The Cossack order was introduced in every captured city, merchants were robbed, and government officials were killed. In the autumn of the same year, the chieftain was badly wounded and taken to the Don. Strengthened, Stepan again wanted to gather supporters, but the local Cossacks did not agree with this. In the spring of 1671, they stormed the Kagalitsky town, where Razin was hiding. After that, he was captured (together with his brother Frol) and handed over to the royal governors. After the verdict, Stepan was quartered.
Vanka-Cain
Vanka-Cain - the famous robber and thief of the 18th century. Ivan Osipov was born in the village of Ivanovo, Yaroslavl province, in a peasant family. At the age of 13, he was transported to the master's court, to Moscow, and at 16, having met a thief nicknamed "Kamchatka", he decided to join his gang, robbing his master along the way and scribbled on the lord's gates. With the words “work the devil, not me,” Osipov clearly described his position in life.
It was soon returned to its former owner. While Vanka was in the shackled deck, he found out that the owner had a "sin". When guests came to the master, he told everyone that, due to the owner’s omission, a garrison soldier died, whose body was thrown into the well. For this denunciation, Vanka-Cain received freedom, and returning to his gang became their leader.
The execution of Vanka-Cain. In 1741, Osipov wrote a "repentant petition", where he said that he himself was a thief and was ready to help in the capture of accomplices. With his help, many deserters, thieves and bandits were caught. For the betrayal of "his" he received the nickname "Cain".
But he didn't stop there. He was arrested in 1749 for kidnapping the 15-year-old daughter of a retired serviceman. And only in 1755 the court decided to execute Vanka-Cain by wheeling and decapitation, but the sentence was commuted by the Senate. In 1756 he was flogged and his nostrils torn out. Cain was labeled "V.O.R." and sent into exile, where he died.
Vasily Churkin: Guslitsky Robin Hood.
Vasily Vasilyevich Churkin became a prominent character in the underworld in the 19th century. The exact date of birth is unknown. It is assumed that he was born between 1844-1846, in the village of Barskaya, Guslitskaya volost.
Young Churkin began his "career" in a gang of Guslitsky robbers who operated in 1870 on the main roads: from Moscow to Vladimir. Later, due to the serious illness of the leader, the pack broke up. Here Vasily did not lose his head and in 1873 created his own gang. He was soon caught, but did not remain under arrest for long, because he escaped.
In addition to robberies, Vasily and his gang helped the poor, thereby winning national fame and recognition. He robbed only rich barns, and several times a year he collected a small tribute of 25 rubles from the owners of factories. The manufacturers did not mention his name, so as not to bring trouble on their heads. Thus, Churkin created a reliable rear for himself, which covered him from the police. He never raised his tax and severely punished those who violated this custom.
No reliable photos of Vasily Churkin have been preserved, however, many legends and stories were composed about him. When it became unsafe to stay in Guslitsy, Vasily hid in other places. There are many versions of the death of the Guslitsky Robin Hood, but the exact cause remains unknown.
Trishka Siberian
Another folk hero of the 19th century was Trishka the Siberian. Little information about the criminal authority has been preserved, however, according to legends, he terrified the landowners and nobles. The people composed legends and fairy tales about him, presenting the robber as a defender of the destitute. He was unusually cautious and cunning. Making raids on the farms of the landowners, Trishka the Siberian gave part of the loot to the serfs. People said that he didn’t offend anyone much, but he could punish the gentleman “dashing to the peasants”, for example, cut the veins under his knees so that he wouldn’t run fast. So he taught them "mind-reason."
The robbers stopped the rider. Even after his arrest, rumors about him did not allow the nobles to live in peace for a long time. Yes, and they caught him only because the search for Trishka was in the strictest confidence, because the authorities were wary of his ingenuity and cunning. The further fate of Trishka-Sibiryak is unknown.
Robbers have always existed in Russia. Among them were those who were known among the people as bloodthirsty villains, others became famous as noble fighters for freedom. Some have become heroes of legends, and now it is already difficult to find out where the truth is in their biography and where is fiction.
Ermak
Before joining the Siberian Khanate to the Russian state and glorifying his name in songs and folk tales, Yermak hunted robbery on the Volga, plundering merchant caravans and Tatar khans. Exact date and place of birth Cossack ataman not established - presumably, he was born in 1540. According to one version, Yermak's grandfather, a Suzdal townsman, went in search of a better life to the Ural merchants Stroganovs and settled on the Chusovaya River. There his grandson Vasily was born, later nicknamed Yermak. Having headed the Cossack squad, Yermak led a free life for 20 years in the region of the Dniester and the Volga, and then, according to some reports, took part in the Livonian War, restrained the onslaught of the Crimean Khan Davlet-Girey on Moscow. In 1577, the merchants Stroganovs offered Yermak to return with his Cossack squad to Siberia to protect their patrimony from the raids of Khan Kuchum, who changed his friendly policy, refused to pay tribute and tried to oust the Stroganovs from Siberia. Having successfully defended the Stroganov possessions from Kuchum, Yermak went beyond the Urals, conquering small settlements of local peoples, imposing tribute on them in exchange for protection from the raids of Khan Kuchum. By 1583, Yermak annexed the entire territory of the Lower Ob region to the Russian state, for which Ivan the Terrible granted the ataman the title of Prince of Siberia. According to some reports, Yermak was distinguished by a stern disposition, cruelly dealt with the conquered peoples and established the strictest discipline in his squad. He is credited with iron willpower, courage and exceptional leadership talent.
Yermak died on the night of August 6, 1585 during a sudden attack by Kuchum. The wounded ataman drowned trying to cross the Irtysh in heavy chain mail, which he got as a gift from Ivan the Terrible. According to legend, the body of Yermak was found by the Tatars, who shot arrows at him for six weeks. His armor, which was attributed to mystical properties due to the unprecedented military successes of Yermak, went to the noble murza Kaydaul. Now Yermak's chain mail is stored in the Armory in Moscow.
KUDEYAR
In Russian folklore, there are legends about ataman Kudeyar, the leader of a band of robbers who hunted during the time of Ivan the Terrible. Nekrasov presents him as a people's avenger, legends as a model of prowess, Saratov, Rostov, Lipetsk, Belgorod and Tambov regions are fighting for the right to consider Kudeyar their hero. According to one version, Kudeyar was the brother of Ivan the Terrible, born to the exiled wife of Vasily III, who intended to marry Elena Glinskaya, the mother of Ivan the Terrible. According to this version, Kudeyar is Prince Georgy Vasilyevich. According to another legend, Kudeyar was called Prince Gabor-George, son of Zsigmond Bathory, prince of Transylvania, nephew of the Polish king. Kudeyar, having quarreled with his father, fled to the Dnieper, joined the Cossacks and later became the royal guardsman. Finally, the third version considers Kudeyar Tishenkov, the son of a boyar from Belev, who committed treason, to be a robber: he showed the troops of the Crimean Khan Davlet-Giray the approaches to Moscow. Many researchers believe that Kudeyar could be used as a common noun to refer to several especially dashing robbers.
There are numerous legends about the stolen treasures of Kudeyar. According to them, more than a hundred robber treasures have been preserved in southern Russia, especially in the Voronezh region. The Kudeyarovsky treasures are distinguished by special signs: lights flash above the stones under which the treasures are hidden, and twice a week, at midnight, you can hear the cry of a child.
VANKA-KAIN
Russian thief number one Ivan Osipov, nicknamed Vanka-Cain, was born in 1718 in the Yaroslavl province and at the age of 13 was brought to Moscow to serve the merchant Filatiev. Four years later, tired of starvation and beatings, Ivan fled from Filatyev, having previously robbed the merchant, for which he nicknamed him Cain. After several years spent with a gang of robbers on the Volga, Vanka-Kain returned to the capital and began to win the glory of the Russian Kartush. Starting with a pickpocket, he continued his “career” by raiding rich houses, fairs and entire factories. Later, Ivan became an informer to the police, for which all charges were dropped from him. According to his instructions, 32 people were arrested in just one day, and in total 300-500 thieves went to prison. Basically, he caught petty thieves, sheltering big businessmen and extorting money from them. Having given bribes to officials, Vanka-Cain opened a gambling house, which brought huge profits. He kept under his control the entire Moscow police and the entire thieves' world: under his leadership, the number of thieves, robbers and other criminals in Moscow increased several times, which led to robberies and fires throughout the Mother See. In this regard, General Tatishchev was sent to Moscow, who headed the commission of inquiry into the Vanka-Cain case. From 1749 to 1755, an investigation was conducted, as a result of which Vanka-Kain was sentenced to death penalty, but then the sentence was mitigated, replacing the execution with hard labor in Siberia, where he died, leaving a memory of himself not only as a malicious thief, but also as a daring, dashing, resilient person.
KARMELUK
Nicknamed the Ukrainian Robin Hood, Ustim Yakimovich Karmelyuk was born into a peasant family in the Vinnitsa region and at the age of 17 was sent to a 25-year military service. tsarist army. After an unsuccessful attempt to desert, Karmelyuk was sent to a penal battalion, from where he successfully escaped. A year later he took over peasant uprising against the Russian nobility, for which he was sentenced to death, which was replaced by 25 lashes and 10 years of hard labor in Siberia, to which Karmelyuk did not reach, having escaped from the Vyatka transit camp. He rejoined the rebellion and was again captured. This time Karmelyuk went to Siberia: he spent two years on his way to Tobolsk. In 1825, the Ukrainian Robin Hood made his most famous escape: at night, during a strong storm, he gathered the shirts of all the convicts, tied them into a long rope and, tying a heavy stone to one end, threw it over the prison fence. On such a suspension bridge, Karmelyuk and his cellmates escaped from prison. A few more times the robber was arrested, but in the end he managed to escape. From 1830 to 1835, Karmelyuk led an uprising, which was joined by more than 20 thousand people, mostly Ukrainians, Poles and Jews. Karmelyuk and his associates plundered the rich landowners' houses, distributing money to the poor. According to the remaining testimonies, the head of the uprising was distinguished by great physical strength, a sharp mind, and was fluent in Polish and Russian without any accent. In 1835, the Ukrainian Robin Hood was killed; to intimidate the rebels, his body was taken to many villages.
VASILY CHURKIN
The famous robber, Guslitsky Robin Hood Vasily Churkin was born in the village of Barskoy near Orekhovo-Zuyevo. This area was known in Russia as Guslitsy - Old Believers hiding from persecution settled there. In the Guslitsky region, they managed to preserve their original culture and Old Slavic writing However, at the same time, horse theft, forgery of icons and theft flourished there. In addition, Guslitsy was one of the centers of counterfeiting in Russia, and the Guslyaks had a reputation for people without conscience and honor. Vasily Churkin became the most famous criminal in this area. There is not much reliable information about his personality. Folklore has preserved legends that Churkin's gang operated over a large territory - from Moscow to Vladimir: they robbed rich merchants and raided factories. Pretty soon, Churkin was caught, but was able to make an escape that became a legend in the Russian underworld. The staff of the prison where the robber was kept was in a state of drunkenness when his wife and girlfriend came to visit Churkin. They brought him women's clothes in which he was able to escape. It was extremely difficult for the police to catch him again: the whole area was covered with a “just criminal”, who always shared the loot with the poor. Until now, there are legends in Guslitsy about the existence of caches and treasures hidden by Churkin's gang. Despite the fact that Vasily Churkin, according to many historians, is just an ordinary robber, a former factory worker, in folk legends he appears as a noble fighter for justice who helped the poor. According to legend, the dying Churkin admitted that he decided to kill only once - he took the life of the village headman Peter Kirov.
