Marya Morevna

Marya Morevna or The Death of Koschei the Deathless is a Russian fairy tale collected by Alexander Afanasyev in Narodnye russkie skazki. It included by Andrew Lang in The Red Fairy Book.  The character Koschei is an evil immortal man who menaces young women with his magic. Marya was a warrior queen who ruled a small kingdom and for some 10 years, kept Koschei the Deathless a captive in her castle's tower. She fell in love with Ivan Tsarevitch, and while she was away on a campaign, he accidentally released Koschei. The evil wizard then abducted the queen and Ivan Tsarevitch was forced to find some way to kill him. Ivan was successful and was reunited with Marya. The two of them were married and their kingdoms became united.   The Russian skazki (skazatz = to tell) are the mass of folk-tales distributed widely throughout all the Russias. Handed down, by constant repetition, from generation to generation, a possession common to peasant's hut and Prince's palace from a time when history did not exist, they are to-day, from Archangel to the Black Sea, and from Siberia to the Baltic, almost as much a part of the life of the people as the language itself. Other famous Russian fairy tales are: Vasilisa The Beautiful, Marya Morevna, Morozko, Finist Clear Falcon 's feather, Sister Alenushka and brother Ivanushka, The Tale of Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf, Princess Frog and many more.