Crimean Legend - Alexander, the prince of Mangup

The mountains not far from Bakhchysarai are wondrously beautiful. They captivate the human gaze with their dizzying precipices and magnificent forests. In ancient times, on the flat top of Mount Mangup, there was a city, the capital of the principality of Theodoro.

Once, the prince of the Theodorites, feeling that the evening of his life was not far off, ordered his heir, his son Alexander, to be summoned. And the prince met his son with these words:...

- My gaze is dying away, my hearing is growing dull, my hands are growing weaker. Listen to my last request: wherever the course of life may throw you, whatever trouble you may be in, remember your people. Let their will be your will, let their fate be your fate. Do you promise to fulfill my last will, Alexander?

- I promise, - said Alexander, - and let my words be my oath.

The old prince soon died. Grief-stricken, Alexander went to visit his brother-in-law, the Moldavian hospodar, to dispel his sorrow.

Some time later, terrible news came to Moldova: the Turks had attacked the principality of Theodoro. Villages were already on fire, and the wails of wretched people echoed ominously in the mountains. Alexander, together with a detachment of 300 warriors, hurried to Mangup.

Like falcons on carrion crows, the Theodorites swooped down on the Turks. The Turks could not withstand the onset and retreated in confusion. And the Theodorites took cover in the fortress.

Again and again the Turks stormed Mangup, and again and again the brave Theodorites repulsed them. The inhabitants of Mangup, to a man, rose to the defense of their city.

For five months the siege went on, but in vain. And the Turks would not have succeeded in seizing Mangup if the boyars had not helped them. The boyars secretly agreed with the Turks that they would do their best to open the gates, if the Turks spared their lives and wealth.

...As soon as the fortress gates were opened, the Turks, like beasts, pounced on civilians, killing and robbing them and setting their dwellings on fire. Alexander and his close companions were chained and sent to Istanbul.

As soon as the prisoners were delivered to the sultan's palace, the sultan addressed Alexander:

- You and your people are brave warriors. I will grant you your lives if you enter my service. You, Alexander, will become my viceroy in Crimea, and the Crimean khan Mengli Giray will not dare to disobey you.

And Alexander answered:

- I will never betray my people. I would rather share their lot than serve you. Some time will pass, and the wrath of the oppressed peoples will defeat your empire utterly. And if the oppression came from the south, freedom will come from the north.

The sultan flew into a rage and ordered the prisoners to be executed.

Centuries passed. The words spoken by Alexander turned out to be prophetic. Russian wonder-heroes came from the north and liberated the Crimean land from its enslavers.

Not far from Bakhchysarai, like a huge monument, rises Mangup, a symbol of the fortitude of the ancient Theodorites.

Mangup, the capital of the ancient principality of Theodoro, was situated on the top of the mountain. To this day the remains of the fortress walls, the castle and other structures of the medieval city have been preserved.

Crimea is temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation. For now it is not a place for tourism.