Maria Boguslavka

Marusia Bohuslavka was a legendary heroine who lived in Ukraine in the 16th or 17th century. She is primarily known from many Ukrainian epic ballads (dumas), usually referred to as Duma about Marusya Bohuslavka, and other Ukrainian folklore. Her nickname 'Bohuslavka' refers to her origin, the city of Bohuslav. [1]

Legend

Marusya was kidnapped and sold into a Turkish harem. The duma tells how she earned the trust of her husband and gained access to the keys of the palace, including the prison. She used them to free a group of Ukrainian Cossacks who had been imprisoned for 30 years. However, she did not flee with them but remained in the harem since this was now the only life she knew.[1]

In comments to the dumas about Marusya, her high status is compared to that of Roxelana.[1]

References
  1. Историческія пђсни малорусскаго народа съ объясненіями Вл. Антоновича и М. Драгоманова. Томъ первый. Кіевъ. Типографія М.П. Фрица. 1874, item 46, Маруся Богуславка освобождаетъ козаковъ изъ турецкой неволи. (Дума). Б. (Записалъ въ Зеньковск. у. Полт. губ. А. Метлинскій).
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