Today Russia celebrates day when Moscow was liberated from Belarusians, Polish, Lithuanians and Ukrainians
- 4.11.2008, 14:56
November 4 Russia marks official holiday, Day of People’s Unity. But the historical events of this day are closely connected with Belarus.
The Day of People’s Unity in Russia is connected with “the popular uprising which expelled the Polish-Lithuanian occupation force from Moscow in November 1612”. Belarusian historians confirm that in reality it were the troops of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The army mostly consisted of Belarusians, Ukrainians, Poles and Lithuanians.
“In order not to celebrate the anniversary of the October revolution on November 7 in Russia, it was called the Day of memory and reconciliation, which was a mourning day. Then the date of November 4 emerged, when in 1612 “Poles were expelled from Russia”. But I wouldn’t call it anti-Polish sentiment; it is just a historical date. Similarly, celebration of the victory in the battle near Vorsha is not a manifestation of anti-Russian sentiments,” says the well-known Belarusian historian Ihar Kuznyatsou.
He says that there were many ethnic Belarusians in the troops driven out which were from Moscow in 1612 (which were called Litvins then – note by the Charter’97).
“In fact, they were troops of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Very often incorrect generalization is made: either “Poles” or “Russians”. It would be a mistake in this case to call this army a Polish army. A parallel could be drawn with the executed officers of the Polish army in Katyn and in other places. They say in Poland: “Poles were executed”. But in reality we know that there were lots of Belarusians among them,” Ihar Kuznyatsou said.
A civil war was going on in Russia then, and different politicians of the neighbouring countries were involved in this war. “Filaret Romanov and Prince Golitsin visited Krakow and asked King Sigismund to become the head of the Russian state. And he refused! He said: if you want, let my son come to you. And his son, Uladzislau (Władysław) IV, took the throne. After Uladzislau was expelled from Moscow, Romanov dynasty started to rule. So Romanovs are no more than impostors,” noted another Belarusian historian Ihar Litvin.
“And in the 18th century the greatest part of the army of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania consisted of Belarusians. For instance, Jan Karal Hkadkevich (Jan Karol Chodkiewicz ), who hurried to offer support to our troops in Moscow, but failed,” Ihar Litvin said.
November 4 is undoubtedly a great holiday for Russia, but we should remember the power of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania at that time, and should understand that it was a part of the Belarusian history. For many centuries, Litva (presently Belarus) was a rival of Muscovy, or the Grand Duchy of Moscow. Part of Belarusians is used to see the history through the eyes of Moscow, while we should look at the past from our own, Belarusian point of view.