Prokopy Petrovich Lyapunov (also Prokofy; ) (Isady, Grand Duchy of Moscow; b. ? — July 22, 1611; Tsardom of Russia) was a prominent 17th century Russian nobleman (dvoryanin), voivode (military chieftain) 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 (PLC) 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 (1598) Prokopy Lyapunov and his brother Zakhary Lyapunov sided with False Dmitry I who (upon being uncovered as a false Czar) was killed in a plot by Vasili IV Shuisky (Tsar) and his associates. In 1607 Along with Tsar's forces he where Ivan Bolotnikov was hiding. 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 (not far from Orel, where Lisowczyks were expected) to ward off Polish and Zaporozh Cossack forces.
In October 1606 he and hist strongmen rebelled against ruling Tsar Vasili IV in the Bolotnikov Uprising.; Prokopy sustained leg wound by a musket at hands of Lisowski's Don Cossacks and temporarily handed military duties to his brother Zakhary.
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 [orthodox] faith", started to spread calls to different cities for "uprising" that finally levied the First People's Opolchenie (first authorized by Zemsky Sobor at the time) and became its leader. In March 1611, his ragtag army consisting of Cossacks (previously served under False Dmitry I and his Poland superiors) approached Moscow with 12 thousands-strong army (having no heavy weaponry however) from the south and blocked the invaders from giving a rise to Moscow Uprising of 1611. The disagreement was seriously aggravated when 28 Cossacks caught for looting of Ugresha Monastery were sentenced to death (or, by some other accounts - drowned) 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 (who at the time occupied Moscow Kremlin and was threatened by FPO troops) or Ivan Zarutsky (Cossacks faction of FPO) (delivered by one of captive cossack to the indignant Cossacks headquarters) declared Cossacks as outlaws. Because the decree was closely resembling hand of Prokopy Lyapunov he was invited to Cossacks "circle" (council) on outskirts of Moscow for interrogation; soon after that, however, Cossacks assaulted and stubbed him to death on July 22 (no later August 1), 1611. 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 (e.g. Dmitry Troubetskoy).
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 to the church of the Isady Village where his father Prokopy was born; it's currently kept in Ryazan Kremlin
See also
- Mikhail Skopin-Shuysky
In culture
- «The Death of Lyapunov» (1816 or 1818–1878), a patriotic drama by Stepan Gedeonov.
- «Prince Skopin-Shuisky» (1834-1835, Russian Empire), a drama by Nestor Kukolnik - Prokopy Lyapunov depicted avenging death of his ally Skopin-Shuysky.