Rodion Oslyabya

"Oslyabya" redirects here. For ships named after this person, see Russian ship Oslyabya.

Rodion Oslyabya^[a] (Russian: Родион Ослябя; monastic name: Andrey or Rodion;^[1][2] secular name: Roman;^[2] died 1380 or after 1398)^[3] was a Russian monk from the Trinity Lavra of Sergius of Radonezh who became famous for his part in the Battle of Kulikovo.^[4][5]

Blessing of Peresvet and Oslyabya in 1380, miniature from the Illustrated Chronicle of Ivan the Terrible

Life

Most details of his life are legendary. According to a 15th-century source, he was a nobleman (boyar) rather than a monk.^[6] He fought in the Battle on Pyana River, in a rank of tysyachnik (leader of a thousand knights), and survived the defeat. According to hagiography, he accepted vows just prior to the battle of Kulikovo. His relative (some say brother) was Alexander Peresvet, although it is likely that this relationship is merely the product of later hagiographic tradition.

Oslyabya reportedly fought and survived the battle of Kulikovo, along with his son Yakov. There is no certainty if he survived the battle. According to some accounts, he did, and later participated in a diplomatic mission to the Byzantine emperor in 1398. According to other accounts, he was killed in that battle.^[2]

Oslyabya lies buried at the Theotokos Church in Simonovo, Moscow together with Peresvet. The 1860 sailing frigate Oslyabya [ru], the 1898 battleship Oslyabya, and the 1981 landing ship Oslyabya have been named after him.

Notes

1. Alternatively transliterated as Osliabia