The meaning of phraseology "Kazan Orphan" and its history

What does the expression "orphaned Kazan" mean, everyone probably knows, because in the speech we very often use this phraseology. But what is the story, and why is the orphan exactly Kazan - this question we will try to find the answer.

The meaning of phraseology "the Kazan orphan"

The Russian language is rich in phraseology. For example, a person who tries to cause self-pity, shows himself unfairly offended and disadvantaged, often called "the Kazan orphan". The meaning of phraseology is very simple and straightforward. It carries in itself both pity and a share of ridicule, irony over those who try to seem pathetic. Very often, the "orphan of Kazan" is also called a person who constantly complains about his failures, but he himself is to blame for them.

Now this phrase is so firmly entrenched in our speech that sometimes we do not think what the original meaning of this epithet is - "the Kazan orphan". The meaning and origin of phraseology is meanwhile very interesting and has its roots in the distant past.

A bit of history

We all remember the numerous conquests of Ivan the Terrible. "Kazan took, Astrakhan took, Rhubarb took" - the famous winged phrase from the comedy film. The meaning of phraseology "the Kazan orphan" and its history just refer to the valorous time of taking Kazan.

Capture the Kazan Khanate warriors of Ivan the Terrible tried three times, but the attempts were unsuccessful. In the army there was no order and coherence. And Ivan the Terrible came up with a cunning move, which consisted of the precipitation of the city and the gradual narrowing of the "ring", leaving the city without food and assistance. The idea was a success, and Kazan was taken even faster than the most experienced warriors expected. The Crimean Khan did not have time to help, which was also in the hands of the Russian Tsar.

How did Ivan the Terrible acted with captive Kazan princes? I tried to make them allies. He left all their possessions to them, generously endowed them, placed them in the public service with good salaries, all in order that the Kazan Khanate had loyal subjects.

The origin of the phrase "the Kazan orphan"

So we came to the most important thing: the meaning of the phraseology "the Kazan orphan" was formed at the time of the capture of Kazan. So they began to call those most Kazan khans, showered with all sorts of favors, but all the time complaining about their bitter fate and begging for themselves more and more good things. In petitions to the tsar, they often called themselves "orphans." Russian boyars, seeing one of these mountain-khans, with a grin, said: "Here is an orphan of Kazan!"

The expression quickly spread, penetrated into all corners of a large country and in a short time acquired a figurative meaning - exactly the one in which we use this phrase to this day.

Another version

There is another point of view that explains the phrase "the Kazan orphan". The meaning of phraseology goes back to the same historical era - the taking of the Kazan Khanate by Ivan the Terrible. The fact is that after the conquest of Kazan, many families were completely killed, and in some cases only small children survived. They were ordered to give to the peasants, boyars and even noblemen for education in various cities and villages of Rus. Such children were also called orphans of Kazan. But the use of the phrase in this sense did not have an ironic meaning. Rather, it was sympathetic: the phrase was used in relation to a child left without parents and placed in the care of strangers, in a culture alien to him.

Phraseology Today

Although many years have passed since those distant events, the phraseology "the orphan of Kazan" firmly established itself in the speech and is actively used to this day. You can hear it in everyday communication, see on the pages of works of fiction. Let not everyone think about the historical meaning of the expression, but use it often enough.

The meaning of phraseology "the Kazan orphan" is played out in the touching New Year's film of Vladimir Mashkov, but the meaning in it is invested, more likely, sympathetic than mocking. A film about a Russian girl, a teacher trying to find her father, who did not even know about her birth. Three men immediately responded to her letter, each of which could turn out to be the one she was looking for. That's how a girl, who was recently considered an orphan, had three wonderful fathers at once!