Prokopy Petrovich Lyapunov


Prokopy Petrovich Lyapunov was a prominent 17th century Russian nobleman, voivode of, allegedly, a Rurikid origin who practically became a head of Pereyaslavl-Ryazansky lands nobility in the end of 1590s; he took part in wars during power vacuum in succession crisis that happened in early 1598 in Tsardom as result of confusion about legitimate heir apparent following death of Feodor I, nobility infighting, war declared by Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1605, and exhaustive Tatar raids; most famously he is remembered for organizing and leading the first unsuccessful uprising against occupation of Moscow of 1610 by PLC in April of 1611.
In 1583-1584 he successfully participated in exiling of Bogdan Belsky, a close associate of Ivan the Terrible who was blamed for treason. During Time of Troubles Prokopy Lyapunov and his brother Zakhary Lyapunov sided with False Dmitry I who was killed in a plot by Vasili IV Shuisky and his associates. Prokopy Petrovich along with his ally Pashkov Fillip Ivanovich initially revolted against Vasilii IV in controversial Peasants' Uprising of 1606 which failed to topple Vasili IV but which, however, drew both parties on the latter's side by the end of 1606. In 1607 Along with Tsar's forces he where Ivan Bolotnikov was hiding. In 1610 plot he helped Moscovite's nobility, known as Seven Boyars, and his brother Zakhary Lyapunov to depose Vasili IV for a latter brother's failure at Battle of Klushino, a battle with Polish hussars and mercenaries.
In April of 1611 Prokopy along with his strong men, Duke Dmitry Troubetskoy, and Cossacks Ataman Ivan Zarutsky led the in an attempt to expel Polish forces from occupied Moscow dying not long after that.

Biography

He was born on unknown date in a village of Isady located to the East of. Little is known about his life before 1584.

Time of Troubles

During Feodor I of Russia

Until 1590 Prokopy served as voivode under viceroy of Pereyaslavl-Ryazansky until latter's death in 1590. In 1598 he was allegedly a head of Ryazan Zemsky Sobor embassy sent to Moscow to elect new Czar when Feodor I of Russia died with no heirs left. His signature is found on the final decision made by Moscow Zemsky Sobor in favor of Boris Godunov.

Servant of Boris Godunov

In 1603-1603 Prokopy served as Mayor of now lost city. In 1603 along with Ivan Andreyevich Khovansky, Prokopy attempted to retake Zaraysk occupied at the time by mercenaries of Aleksander Józef Lisowski. After Battle of Dobrynichi in 1605 under leadership of Fedor Sheremetev, Prokopy with his son Vladimir were sent to Kromy as voivide to ward off Polish and Zaporozh Cossack forces.

Servant of False Dmitry I

After the death of Boris Godunov in 1605, Prokopy along with his brother Zakhary Lyapunov,, and Vasily Golitsyn switched their side to the False Dmitriy I after falsely believing that the latter was son of Ivan IV, Dmitry of Uglich who "managed to flee to Poland instead of dying".
In October 1606 he and hist strongmen rebelled against ruling Tsar Vasili IV in the Bolotnikov Uprising. In November 1606, however Lyapunov came to Moscow and gave himself up to Vasili IV for which the latter granted him with a Dvoryanin of Boyar Duma title. In 1607 supported Tsar's troops in where leaders of uprising, including Ivan Bolotnikov, took a refugee, and confronted rebels in neighboring towns.

Occupation of Moscow of 1611

During February-March, 1608, Lyapunov led an army of Ryazan, Arzamas, and Muscow voivodes against peasants who rose in revolt in Pronsk against Vasili IV Shuisky
In late spring Prokopy L., with his brother Zakhary P. L., and Viceroy of Ryazan Ivan Andreyevich Khovansky unsuccessfully besieged Pronsk in the.; Prokopy sustained leg wound by a musket at hands of Lisowski's Don Cossacks and temporarily handed military duties to his brother Zakhary.
In May 1609 Prokopy was sent by Czar Vasilii IV to Kolomna to relieve siege imposed by troops loyal to False Dmitry II and Lisowski.
In July 1610, Lyapunov along with his brother Zakhary P. L. overthrew and exiled Vasili IV after sudden and suspicious death of Mikhail Skopin-Shuisky reportedly blamed on Vasili IV. In September 1610 Moscow Boyars, invited Władysław IV Vasa, son of Sigismund III Vasa to "on the rule" i.e. to become a Czar of all Russia. Under pressure of Patriarch Germogen they conditioned that he accepts Orthodox faith but he ultimately refused to appear.
In late 1610 Prokopy set off to retake Pronsk in the name of Władysław IV to whom he just pledged his allegiance; Dmitry Pozharsky came to a help from Zaraisk and they together left for Pereyaslavl Ryazansky. At the same time news came from Moscow: poles and Seven Boyars jailed Patriarch Germogen for refusing to recognize Władysław IV; in response, by the end of 1610, Prokopy demanded to free Patriarch but was ignored; as result of failure by Sigismund III to deliver his son, poles occupation of Moscow and another succession crisis he pushed hard on summoning new Zemsky Sobor to create FPO to put an end to the Polish occupation, power- and lawlessness.

First people's Opolchenie

When the Polish army occupied Moscow in 1611, Lyapunov, responding to Patriarch Germogen's proclamations to stand up for "Holy Rus' and Holy faith", started to spread calls to different cities for "uprising" that finally levied the First People's Opolchenie and became its leader. In March 1611, his ragtag army consisting of Cossacks approached Moscow with 12 thousands-strong army from the south and blocked the invaders from giving a rise to Moscow Uprising of 1611. In June his peace talks with Jan Piotr Sapieha, who threatened his south flanks at the Moscow's south border, have failed.
In the summer of 1611, Prokopy Lyapunov practically became the head of so called «Council of all lands», an interim government, called to establish an order and as result of which, on June 30, he issued a decree that reinstated certain serf regulations and violated his own promises to Cossacks of "freedom and salary" ; by another one Prokopy L. also imposed harsh punishment on looters to prevent unauthorized collection of taxes and duties; this contributed to further disintegration of his movement.
At this point, however, brief success didn't last long as internal and deeply irreconcilable differences between Russian nobles, bureaucracy, and Cossacks started to brew. The disagreement was seriously aggravated when 28 Cossacks caught for looting of Ugresha Monastery were sentenced to death by one of loyal to Prokopy voivode, becoming the last straw that broke FPO ranks and sealed Prokopy's fate.

Death

A decree made up either by Aleksander K. Gosiewski or Ivan Zarutsky declared Cossacks as outlaws. Because the decree was closely resembling hand of Prokopy Lyapunov he was invited to Cossacks "circle" on outskirts of Moscow for interrogation; soon after that, however, Cossacks assaulted and stubbed him to death on July 22, 1611.

Burial

Body of Prokopy Lyapunov was reportedly buried at, but at some point later reburied at Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius by his son Vladimir, along with many other prominent figures who lived at the Time of Troubles.

Aftermath

Some remains of FPO, primarily Cosscaks loyal to ataman Ivan Zarutsky continued to fight with Poles, but some have joined Dmitry Pozharsky troops at Yaroslavl to form preparing for the Battle of Moscow (1612).

Personal life

Family

Prokopy belonged to a noble family dynasty called Lyapunov.

Children

  • Vladimir Prokopievich Lyapunov, it's known that he has donated a cross (Russian)|cross] to the church of the Isady Village where his father Prokopy was born; it's currently kept in Ryazan Kremlin

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