The death of Mari Prince Boltush by unknown artist

"In the history of every nation there are milestones and periods that live in the memory of generations for many centuries. In the life of the Mari, abrupt changes took place more than once, but the heroic struggle of our people for their land, the opportunity to live according to their own laws, customs, which went on throughout the 16th century, amazed contemporaries, and later historians.

Already in the middle of the 13th century, an alliance of the Mari was formed - a state entity with noticeable social and religious structures. Only with such a state administration, it was possible to gather tens of thousands of warriors for the defense of independence, to convene national prayers. The Mari princes - the Lushavui - organized strong military organizations opposing the Mongol-Tatar invasion. From those distant years, legends have come down to us about the exploits of the Mari patyrs: Yilandy, Aturaya, Yaktevuya. The popular movement against the rapists was powerful and, unfortunately, the losses of the Mari were the most bitter.

The 16th century brought new trials to the people, who did not manage to fully form a strong state. The violent seizure of the Mari lands, forced Christianization stirred up the proud Onar tribe. Under the banners of Mamich Berdey, Boltush, Toktaush, tens of thousands of Mari warriors - brave, strong young warriors - rose. The Pagan leaders were painfully looking for a way out in a difficult situation - how to preserve their union, faith, land. In the beginning, their actions were well-organized and successful. But the unheard-of cruelty with which the tsarist squads dealt with civilians - children, women, old people, prisoners - horrified the Mari tribe. In the course of a long thirty-year war against colonization, feuds arose between the Mari princes, the tsar managed by bribery and deception to actually split the national forces.

Almost all the Mari military leaders accepted a martyrdom; thousands of young soldiers were taken prisoner or taken hostage. In 1556, on April 26, defending the last residence of the Mari princes on the site of modern Malmyzh, Boltush was killed. His warriors buried their leader on a high mountain. Since then, this elevation is popularly called the Boltushin Mountain."

-taken from vkm.mari-el link below

The death of Mari Prince Boltush by unknown artist.

Source/Quote:

https://vkm.mari-el.muzkult.ru/bogatyry_zemli_mariiskoi/?two=