Yermak as a hero in Velimir Khlebnikovʼs poetry and philosophy of history

The article explores the dynamics of Yermak's image in chronological order based on Velimir Khlebnikov's poems, articles, and notes. In Khlebnikov's view, Yermak is the ideal Russian epic hero who represents the Russian nation at the stage of its self-assertion in history. Despite his exceptional status as a hero, the poet often places Yermak among other legendary heroes of the Russian world and pioneers of Siberia. Furthermore, he is often depicted with the same characteristics as his companions and the imagined community of Russian heroes. As a true epic hero, Yermak kills his antagonist Kuchum, despite the historical fact. Yermak's verbal portrait includes an ekphrasis of Vasily Surikov's painting Yermak's Conquest of Siberia and cliches from Russian historical prose and poetry, particularly those by Pyotr Svinin and Konstantin Ryleev. Yermak's image in Khlebnikov's work is incorporated with the dynamic Siberian landscape of wind and river movement. The metaphor of the water mirror is particularly significant, as it brings Yermak closer to the role of a poet. As an addition to his epic heroism, Yermak becomes a model of victory for the militant avant-garde poet. In Khlebnikov's texts, Yermak variously appears as a symbol of a warrior besieging the castle of truth, the pinnacle of personal self-actualization, the ultimate embodiment of life, and finally a "god of death." Khlebnikov's Yermak is mythocentric, and he is not interested in the authentic historical image of the ataman or his tragic fate. The poet identifies himself with Yermak in the poem "My Campaigns" and the novel Zangezi, but he maintains a distance between himself and the hero. In turn, the poet's identification with Kuchum during a quarrel with his friends suggests that the conflict between Yermak and Kuchum is constantly present in his imagination. Yermak is one of the historical figures that Khlebnikov constantly returns to in his calculations of the laws of time. His role in history is also symbolic, as his campaign marks the beginning of a new historical cycle. The poet repeatedly contrasts Yermak with the anti-heroes of the Russo-Japanese War, such as Stessel and Kuropatkin. In Khlebnikov's historical calculations, the capture of the Siberian Khanate's capital, Isker, and the centuries-long exploration of Siberia by Russian pioneers are juxtaposed with the Russian army's retreat from Mukden and the surrender of Port Arthur. In these events, the author sees a meta-historical conflict between the continent and the sea, in which Yermak is portrayed as an actor of the land who subjugates the water. The author declares no conflicts of interests.

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