Dobrynya Nikitich (Russian:Добрыня Никитич) is one of the most popularbogatyrs (epic knights) from the "Kievan" series ofRussian folklore based onbylina (epic songs) originating from the area around the capital of theKievan Rus,Kiev.[1][2] According to the bylinas, Dobrynya Nikitich is the son of theRyazanvoivode Nikita. Albeit fictional, this character is based on a real warlordDobrynya, who led the armies ofSvyatoslav the Great and tutored his sonVladimir the Great.
Manybyliny center on Dobrynya completing tasks set him by prince Vladimir. Dobrynya is often portrayed as being close to the royal family, undertaking sensitive and diplomatic missions. As a courtier, Dobrynya seems to be a representative of the noble class of warriors. He is a professional archer, swimmer, and wrestler. He plays thegusli, playstafl, and is known for his courtesy and cunning.[3]
.jpg)
The following summary is after the version localized in thePovenets District ofOlonets Province, collected byA. F. Gilferding in 1871, from the singer P. L. Kalinin:[4]
The bylina starts with Dobrynya's mother telling Dobrynya to avoid theSaracen Mountains, not to trample on babydragons, not to rescue Russian captives, and not to bathe in the Puchai River. Dobrynya disobeyed his mother and did all four things.
When he bathed in the Puchai River, he encountered a dragon with twelve trunks (in some variants identified as theZmey Gorynych[3]). Unarmed and desperate, Dobrynya discovered "a hat of the Greek land" and used it to defeat the dragon.[a]
The dragon, apparently a female,[b] pleaded for Dobrynya not to kill her, and the two made anonaggression pact. The dragon broke the promise immediately and flew off to Kiev, abducting Zabava Putyatishna, the niece ofPrince Vladimir.
When Dobrynya arrived atKiev, Prince Vladimir commanded him to rescue his niece, on pain of death. Dobrynya complained to his mother he had neither steed nor spear for the task, and is given the heirloom horse Burko and a magicShemakhan whip of braided silk. (He carried a spear too, as revealed later).
Dobrynya rescued some captives and trampled on the dragon pups, but one of them bit into the horse's leg and immobilized it. Dobrynya remembered the magic whip, whose lashes restored vigor in the horse and he was freed. The dragon emerged angry for the death of her pups and refused to surrender Zabava without a fight.
Dobrynya fought the dragon at the Saracen Mountains for three days. On the third day he wanted to give up and leave, but a voice from Heaven told to fight for three more hours. Dobrynya eventually killed the dragon in three hours.
The dragon's blood did not seep into the ground, and Dobrynya wallowed in the pool for three days. A voice from Heaven eventually told him to stick his spear in the ground and say an incantation. The blood was then swallowed by the earth, and Zabava was rescued.
Since Dobrynya was a peasant, he could not marry Zabava and gave her toAlyosha Popovich. Dobrynya encountered apolyanitsa, Nastasia, and married her instead.[4]
On November 2, 2024, A seal belonging to a descendant of the Russian hero Dobrynya Nikitich was found during excavations in the center of Oryol, Russia, reported archaeologist and historian Oleg Radyush. According to Oleg, this seal probably belonged to theKiev governor, the voyevode (general)Putyata Vyshatich (son ofVyshata Dobrynych, grandson of Dobrynya Nikitich). Putyata Vyshatich servedPrince Svyatoslav II Izyaslavich, who ruledKiev in 1093–1113. This allowed scientists to determine the age of the find. Ref:https://news.ru/regions/arheologi-nashli-artefakt-svyazannyj-s-russkim-bogatyrem/
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: "Добрыня Никитич" .Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary (in Russian). 1906.
