The meaning of the phraseological unit "Kazan orphan" and its history

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

What does the expression "an orphan of Kazan", most likely, everyone knows, because in speech we very often use this phraseological unit. But what is the story, and why is the orphan from Kazan - we will try to find the answer to this question.

The meaning of phraseology "Kazan orphan"

The Russian language is rich in phraseological units. For example, a person who tries to arouse pity for himself, shows himself unfairly offended and destitute, is often called the "Kazan orphan." The meaning of phraseologism is very simple and understandable. It carries both pity and a share of mockery, irony over those who are trying to seem pathetic. Very often, a person who constantly complains about his failures, but is to blame for them himself.

Now this phrase is so firmly entrenched in our speech that sometimes we don't think about the original meaning of this epithet - "Kazan orphan". The meaning and origin of phraseologymeanwhile, they are very interesting and have their 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" - a famous catchphrase from a comedy film. The meaning of the phraseological unit "Kazan orphan" and its history just refer to the valiant time of the capture of Kazan.

The soldiers of Ivan the Terrible tried three times to capture the Kazan Khanate, but the attempts were unsuccessful. There was no order and coherence in the army. And so Ivan the Terrible came up with a cunning move, which consisted in the siege of the city and the gradual narrowing of the "ring", as a result of which the city was left without sources of 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 also played into the hands of the Russian Tsar.

How did Ivan the Terrible deal with the captive Kazan princes? Tried to make them allies. He left them all their possessions, generously endowed them, put them in public service with a good salary - all so that there were loyal subjects in the Kazan Khanate.

Origin of the phrase "Kazan orphan"

So we come to the most important thing: the meaning of the phraseological unit "Kazan orphan" was precisely formed during the capture of Kazan. So they began to call those same Kazan khans, showered with all sorts of favors, but all the time complaining about their bitter fate and begging for themselves more and moregood. In petitions to the tsar, they often called themselves "orphans." Russian boyars, seeing one of these unfortunate khans, would say with a grin: "Here is an orphan from Kazan!"

The expression quickly spread, penetrated all corners of a large country and after 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 explaining the phrase "Kazan orphan". The meaning of phraseology goes back to the same historical era - the capture 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 only small children survived. They were ordered to be given up for education to peasants, boyars and even nobles in various cities and villages of Russia. Such children began to be called Kazan orphans. But the use of the phrase in this sense had no 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.

Phraseologism these days

Although many years have passed since those distant events, the idiom "Kazan orphan" is firmly entrenched in speech and is actively used to this day. It can be heard in everyday communication, seen on the pages of works of fiction. Let not everyone think about the historical meaning of the expression, but use it quite often.

The meaning of the phraseological unit "Kazan orphan" is played up in Vladimir Mashkov's touching New Year's film, but the meaning is more 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 whom could be the one she was looking for. This is how a girl, who until recently was considered an orphan, found three wonderful fathers at once!