Ivan Apalkov

Ivan Apalkov
File:IvanApalkov.jpg Ivan Apalkov by Kirill Kuklin, 1822
Born	Ivan Ivanovich Apalkov c 1698 Venadia
Died	14th of February, 1749 Venagorod
Known for	Leading the Apalkov Rebellion

Ivan Ivanovich Apalkov (Venadian: Иван Иванович Апалков) was a Venadian military officer and the leader of the largest peasant revolt in Venadian history, the Apalkov Rebellion. Ivan Apalkov was an extraordinarily charismatic figure of Venadian history, who managed to rally large numbers of disparate people to his cause.

Early life

Ivan Apalkov was born in a small village in either Proylopol Volost, Reloslav or Tonovsk, to a free unlanded peasantry family. The exact place of birth is disputed, with the villages of Batanaksk (Proylopol), Ivamas (Proylopol), Chaykovo (Reloslav) and Guratov (Tonovsk) all claiming to be his birthplace with some amount of legitimacy. Contemporary records merely state the "southern military district" (which included Proylopol, Tonovsk, Reloslav, Liskovsk and Svokin) as Apalkov's place of birth. Records of Apalkov's life before he joined the military in 1719 are fairly meagre, and folk stories have become the primary sourcing. Apalkov's exact date of birth is estimated to be either 1698 or 1697.

While it is of dubious historicity, it is claimed that Apalkov as a young child rallied his village against Vesan raiders and defeated them. There is no official record of a skirmish where Venadian villagers defeated a contingent of Vesans while led by a child. A number of legends of Apalkov's exploits in his teens proliferate in southern Venadia, where he has become a folk hero.

Military career

Ivan Apalkov joined the Venadian Army in 1719, signing on in Khasabodny as a musketman. Apalkov fought in the extended Second Boldirian-Venadian War where he was commended for 'displays of great valour in the field of battle', and during the war attained the rank of lieutenant (the highest military rank non-Boyars could reach at the time). Apalkov was then transferred to the southern military district, and in 1738 married Svetlana, a peasant from Reloslav. Svetlana was however arrested in 1740, as she was an escaped serf, and the marriage annulled by the Bishop of Armasnoy.

Lieutenant Apalkov made gains against the bandits of Proylopol, but grew increasingly disillusioned with his work. It is noted he achieved a great deal of popularity during this time period, and received duties far beyond what a lieutenant would normally do, including command of entire regiments. In either 1743 or 1744 Apalkov began plans for the rebellion, allying himself with sympathetic groups in southern Venadia.

Rebellion

Ivan Apalkov dispensing justice by Mstislav Bagadin, 1855

In March of 1745, the rebellion began with Apalkov and his soldiers seized the Arsenal of Proylopol, and declared the Popular Republic. Ivan Apalkov issued a number of decrees, including the abolition of serfdom, Boyar privileges, the institution of 'popular democracy' through local councils and religious tolerance. After a brief struggle, the city was under the control of Apalkov and his forces, and the local government and boyars publically executed after a short trial. Apalkov's forces and messengers quickly gained control of the Proylopol area, gathering a large army of liberated serfs, defected soldiers and other groups.

Apalkov's forces moved into Reloslav, implementing similar measures on villages, and initiated a large program of land redistribution. In the Battle of Slazny, Apalkov defeated his former commander Boyar Vladislav of Tonovsk handily. By the end of 1745, Apalkov effectively controlled all of Proylopol, Reloslav and Liskovsk, as well as parts of Tonovsk. The Great Veche realized in December that the Southern Military District couldn't contain the rebellion on their own, and dispatched a large force south under the command of Graf Rodimir Vyateslav in December, who were lured into an ambush and massacred by Apalkov's forces in February, however the count would escape and continue to lead the Republic's armed forces.

Apalkov allied himself with Ilverian, White Venadian and even Boldirian groups, with revolts springing up throughout 1746. In July of 1746, rebel territories and strength reached its peak, with Apalkov commanding an army of at least 100,000, consisting largely of liberated serfs, and controlling the majority of South Venadia. Apalkov initiated extensive land re-distribution, particularly from Boyars to liberated serfs and tenant farmers, and implemented a series of decrees guaranteeing the freedoms of the population. The majority of justice and decision-making was left to local councils, however, with Ivan Apalkov acting as 'first among equals and first-lieutenant of the army'.

Throughout 1747 and 1748 the Popular Republic waged war on the Great Veche, but despite its massive success in the first year of the rebellion, suffered large losses. By winter of 1748, the territories of the Popular Republic was reduced to just Proylopol and parts of Reloslav, while the revolts in Ilveria, Boldiria and White Venadia had been crushed. In January of 1749, Apalkov was captured in battle by government forces and taken to Venagorod. The rebellion would collapse soon afterward, although so-called Apalkovist bands would continue to operate until 1769.

Trial and Execution

Apalkov was taken to Venagorod, and put on trial by Grand Prince Mstislav for high treason. Apalkov refused to plead, or accept legal representation, instead spending his defence holding a speech about liberty and the rights of the people. Apalkov was found guilty and executed by hanging in February.

Legacy

The Apalkov Rebellion had a long-lasting legacy in Venadia. The Great Veche abolished serfdom and slavery throughout Venadia in 1756, and granted a higher degree of tolerance to religious minorities. Apalkov would feature in art and literature for centuries, especially South Venadian, most prominently by authors such as Matvey Kirigin and David Makarov.

In south Venadia, Apalkov has become a widely-respected figure among very disparate groups and political traditions. He is considered a proto-anarchist, proto-communist, radical democrat or simply an opponent of tyranny. The anarchist Apalkovist Union is named in his honour.

Apalkov has several streets named after him, among others in Armasnoy, Proylopol, Khasabodny, Liga and Al-Undresh. Monuments to Apalkov have been erected in numerous towns throughout Venadia.

Apalkov has been depicted numerous times in film and television, most prominently in Death to Tyranny, a 2003 military drama depicting the Apalkov Rebellion.

In southern Venadia, Ivan Apalkov has become a folk hero with near-mythological feats attributed to him. These include defeating a Vesan contingent as a child, surviving a Boldirian ambush single-handedly, personally infiltrating the garrison at Khasabodny and opening the city's gates for his army and so on, including the accounts with more historical legitimacy.