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Igor's love, Olga
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The year was 903 B.C. [A very long time ago!] Igor, a handsome, charming prince, was hunting one day along the shores of the Velikaya River. As Prince Igor lifted his weapon to attack his prey, he spotted a beautiful young maiden on the other side of the river. He instantly wanted to find a way to meet this girl, Olga.
But, if you recall, in ancient times there were no bridges to connect one side of a river to another. Frantically, Igor flagged down what he thought was a sailor to carry him over the river to meet Olga. As the boat drew closer Igor noticed a strange girl piloting the boat. The strange girl was Olga!!! Igor immediately fell in love with the sight of her- she was lovely. Igor joined Olga for a romantic cruise down the Velikaya River. He realized from their conversation that Olga was not only beautiful but that she was smart, clever, and wise. Needless to say it was love at first sight.
The couple got married and Igor ruled the land of Pskov. He was a selfish ruler who did not make wise political decisions. The people resented his greedy ways and killed him. Tradition has it that in ancient Russia the closest kin should take revenge for the death of a relative or they would be disgraced. This meant that Olga, Igor’s closest relative, must take revenge! Clever Olga took vengeance by requiring each household in the land to send her one of their homing pigeons.** She attached burning sticks to the legs of the pigeons and sent them to their homes where they landed on thatched roofs. Olga watched as one building after another went up in flames.
Olga’s plot for revenge was a success. Many may think that she was evil for what she did, however, in the coming years Olga traveled the region organizing governments and administering justice.
**Homing Pigeon – a pigeon trained to carry messages and return home.
Another famous person in Pskov's history is Prince Alexander Nevsky. He was Commander-in chief of the Novgorodian troops in 1242 and was famous for leading them to vistory over the Teutonic Kights at Chudskoye lake. This battle was known as the "Battle on the Ice."
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