World history is full of examples of major uprisings aimed at overthrowing the existing political regime. Some of them were successful for their organizers. However, most of these riots ended in failure, and cruel reprisals awaited the leaders of all the rebellious.
Introducing the 10 most famous leaders of popular uprisings in history.
10. Miletus Histia and Aristagoras
These names are inextricably linked with the so-called Ionian rebellion, which occurred in 499–493. BC .. Then the rebellion spread to the cities in Ionia against the power of the Persian Empire.
This confrontation gave rise to the Greek-Persian wars. The organizers of the riot were tyrants Miletus Histia and Aristagoras.
Initially, the rebels were successful - they were able to win a number of brilliant victories. However, in the end, the Persians still managed to crush the rebellion.
The Ionian uprising, which ended so tragically, nevertheless played a significant role in the struggle of the Greeks with the Persians: for six whole years the main forces of Persia were forced to concentrate on Asia Minor.
The stubborn struggle of the Ionians became fertile ground for the subsequent victories of the Greeks.
9. Nikifor Grigoriev
In May 1919, the largest anti-Bolshevik uprising of all time during the Civil War broke out on the territory of modern Ukraine.
Its organizer was Ataman Nikifor Grigorievwho dreamed of the glory of the “winner of the Entente imperialists” and imagined himself as the leader of the Ukrainians.
It is believed that it was he who became the prototype of the famous ataman Gritzian Tauride in the famous musical film “Wedding in the Robin”.
Grigoriev more than once inflicted brutal reprisals against Russians and Jews and was about to kill the legendary Mishka Yaponchik, but he himself was destroyed by the people of Nestor Makhno.
8. Stepan Bandera
Now around the name of this, perhaps, the most famous Ukrainian nationalist, whole battles are unfolding, which many in the literal sense have already cost their lives.
The son of a poor Greek Catholic priest became the ideology of modern Ukrainian ultranationalism, preaching the ideas of a mono-national state and calling for the physical extermination of Jews, Poles, Russians and other nationalities living in Ukraine.
Stepan Bandera For the most part, he is known for organizing terrorist acts and protests against the Polish and Soviet authorities, which he carried out as part of the Ukrainian nationalist organization OUN.
Also, his activities were closely connected with the forces of fascist Germany during the Great Patriotic War.
Bandera was eliminated in Munich in 1953 by a KGB officer by injecting cyanide.
7. Bogdan Khmelnitsky
Bohdan Khmelnytsky was an outstanding hetman of the Zaporizhzhya Army. This talented commander and clever politician became the leader of the first successful Cossack rebellion, as a result of which the Zaporizhzhya Sich, parts of the Left-Bank Ukraine, as well as Kiev were disconnected from the Commonwealth and became part of the Russian kingdom.
6. Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc, also known as the Maid of Orleans, is the national heroine of France, who, in the era of the Hundred Years War, being an uneducated peasant 18-year-old girl, was able to take over the command of the French troops.
After a series of high-profile victories, turning the tide of the war in favor of the French, she was captured by the British, after which she was convicted as a heretic and executed by burning alive.
Subsequently, Joan of Arc was rehabilitated and canonized by the Catholic Church in 1909.
5. Vladimir Lenin
This name, perhaps, is identical with the very concept of revolution, since Vladimir Lenin he became not only the first revolutionary in the world who succeeded (by carrying out a political coup and overthrowing the legitimate emperor from the throne) to create the world's first socialist state.
He was a major theoretician of Marxism, leaving behind a “legacy” in the form of a whole ideology.
In 1917, as a result of the October Socialist Revolution, Lenin became the de facto leader of the state.
The attitude in modern society regarding the assessment of the historical role of Vladimir Ulyanov (Lenin) differs and differs in extreme polarity - from sharply negative to almost deified. But, regardless of this, many authoritative historians and political scientists consider him the most outstanding revolutionary in world history.
4. Ivan Bolotnikov
Ivan Bolotnikov fit into one of the blackest pages of Russian history - in the Time of Troubles, as the leader of the largest uprising 1606-1607.
The rebel began to carry out military operations against the government of Vasily Shuisky, calling himself "governor of Tsarevich Dmitry." He met the strong support of the Cossacks, servicemen Prokop Lyapunov, archers, as well as serfs and the peasant poor.
By the way, during the Soviet era, the uprising led by Bolotnikov was considered as a peasant war and was put on a par with the speeches of Stepan Razin and Emelyan Pugachev.
After the final victory of the troops of Shuisky, in the autumn of 1607, Bolotnikov was sent to Kargopol, blinded and drowned in an ice hole.
3. Spartak
Spartacus - one of the most famous historical figures of the ancient era. This Thracian, who as a result of obscure circumstances fell into slavery, was the leader of the largest slave uprising in Italy in 73-71 BC.
Spartak, together with his comrades, organized an escape from the gladiatorial school in Capua. He hid from his pursuers on Vesuvius, after which he defeated the detachment sent against him.
Later, the former slave managed to create a strong army, consisting of slaves and the local poor, who was able to inflict several serious defeats on the forces of Rome.
Spartak with his army reached the northern borders of Italy, probably hoping to cross the Alps, but then decided to turn back.
Finally, in the spring of 71 BC, when the rebel forces were exhausted and two additional armies of the Romans came to Italy, Spartacus accepted the last battle on the Silar River. The leader of the slave revolt died in this battle, and his associates were killed by Roman soldiers.
The personality of Spartacus has become a symbol of the revolutionary movement. Karl Marx was inspired by this historical figure, urging all “oppressed” to active class struggle.
2. Stepan Razin
There are many legends and folk tales about this historical person. One of the most famous results of folk myth-making was the song “From the island to the rod ...”, which tells about the sad fate of the beloved rebel. In fact, this narrative has nothing to do with historical truth.
Don Cossack Stepan Razin entered the history of the Russian state as the leader of the uprising of 1670-1671, which was the largest in the entire history of the Moscow Kingdom.
The riot led by Stepan Razin was the result of an unstable social situation in the Cossack regions, mainly in the Don.
In the spring of 1671, Razin was handed over to the authorities. And already in the summer, after severe torture, the rebel was quartered on the scaffold in Red Square.
1. Emelyan Pugachev
This is another controversial figure in Russian history, whose biography has repeatedly laid the foundation for musical and literary works.
Emelyan Pugachev He was an indigenous Don Cossack, whose fate was destined to become the leader of the Peasant War of 1773-1775 in the Russian Empire.
The riot came during the reign of Catherine the Second. Using the rumors that the spouse of the empress and the late emperor Peter III is actually alive, Pugachev decided to be called by his name. It should be noted that by that time he was far from the first impostor to impersonate Peter.
Pugachev’s movement was very successful at first. However, as a result of several major defeats, his associates organized a conspiracy and issued the chieftain to the authorities. As a result, the false emperor was quartered on January 21, 1775 on Bolotnaya Square in Moscow.