Crimean Legend - Alexander, the prince of Mangup

The mountains, not far from Bahchisaray, are wonderously beautiful. They fascinate the human's gaze with their dizzy precipices and magnificent forests.In old times on the flat top of mountain Mangup there was a city - the capital of principality Feodoro.

Once, the prince of feodorites, feeling that the evening of his life was not far off, ordered to call his heir - his son Alexander. And the prince met his son with such 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 the life will throw you, whatever trouble you will be in - remember your people. Let his will be your will, let his fate be your fate. Do you promise to fulfil my last will, Alexander?

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

The old prince soon died. Distressed by the grief, Alexander went to see his brother-in-law, a Moldavian landowner, to dispel his sorrow.

Some time later, terrible news came to Moldova: Turks had attacked principality Feodoro. Villages had been already in fire, and the wails of miserable people were responding with disturbing echo in mountains. Alexander, together with the detachment of 300 warriors, hurried to Mangup.

Like falcons on carrion-crows feodorites ran into Turks. Turks had not sustained the onset and retreated in pertrubation. And feodorites took cover in the fortress.

Again and again Turks stormed Mangup, again and again brave feodorites repulsed their onset. Inhabitants of Mangup, all to a man, rose to the defence of their city.

For five months the siege had been going on, but vainly. And Turks would not have succeed in seizing Mangup, if the boyards had not helped them. The boyards came secretly to an agreement with Turks that they would do their best to open the gates, if they preserved their lives and wealth.

...As soon as the fortress' gates were opened, Turks, like beasts, pounced on civilians and began to kill and rob them, they set the dwellings on fire. Alexander and his favourites were chained and sent to Istanbul.

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

- You and your people are brave warriors. I will give you lives if you serve me. You, Alexander, will become my vicegerent in Crimea, and Crimean khan Mengli-Girey will not dare disobey you.

And answered Alexander:

- I will never betray my people. I'd better share his 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, the freedom will come from the north.

Sultan flew into a rage and ordered to execute the prisoners.

Centuries had passed. The words, said by Alexander turned out to be prophetic. Russian miraculous warriors came from the north and emancipated the Crimean land from enslavers.

Not far from Bahchisaray, like a huge monument, rises high Mangup, like symbol of fortitude of ancient feodorites.

Mangup - the capital of ancient principality Feodoro, was situated on the top of the mountain. Till nowadays the remains of the fortress walls, of the castle and other structures were preserved.