Mikola Yermalovich () (April 29, 1921 in Dzyarzhynsk Raion, Minsk Voblast – March 5, 2000) was a

Belarus Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus spans an a ...

ian writer, historian and teacher.

Biography

Ermalovich was born in the village of Maly Novoselki (modern Dzerzhinsky district). He finished a local school and graduated from Minsk Pedagogical Institute in 1947. On graduation he worked as a teacher, school inspector and headmaster. Ermalovich was visually impaired and had to retire at the age of 35. He devoted decades to studying ancient Belarusian chronicles and other primary sources.

Work

Some commentators believe that Yermalovich presented the pseudo-historic conception of

Litvinism Litvinism (; ) is a pseudohistory, pseudohistorical branch of Belarusian nationalism, nationalism, philosophy and Political capital, political current in Belarus, which bases the history of its state on the heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuan ...

, which asserts that the

Grand Duchy of Lithuania The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a sovereign state in northeastern Europe that existed from the 13th century, succeeding the Kingdom of Lithuania, to the late 18th century, when the territory was suppressed during the 1795 Partitions of Poland, ...

was

Belarusian Belarusian may refer to: * Something of, or related to Belarus * Belarusians, people from Belarus, or of Belarusian descent * A citizen of Belarus, see Demographics of Belarus * Belarusian language * Belarusian culture * Belarusian cuisine * Byelor ...

, not

Lithuanian Lithuanian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Lithuania, a country in the Baltic region in northern Europe ** Lithuanian language ** Lithuanians, a Baltic ethnic group, native to Lithuania and the immediate geographical region ** L ...

. Other professional historians criticized Ermalovich's books as non-scientific, however it is acknowledged that "it was Ermalovich's books that contributed a great deal to the expansion of research in the field of ancient history of Belarus" and "encouraged elarusianacademic historians to pursue further studies of the history of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania".

Resting place

Ermalovich is buried in the Old Cemetery of Maladzechna. On his grave on the back of the monument is written: "He loved Belarus…".

Bibliography

* Dear to Belarusians name (Дарагое беларусам імя, 1970) * Following in the tracks of one myth (Па слядах аднаго міфа, 1989) (1st edition: ; 2nd edition: ) * Ancient Belarus: Polatsk and Navahrudak periods (Старажытная Беларусь: Полацкі і Новагародскі перыяды, 1990) (2nd edition: ) * Ancient Belarus: Vilna period (Старажытная Беларусь: Віленскі перыяд, 1994) * Belarusian state Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Беларуская дзяржава Вялікае Княства Літоўскае, 2000)

Awards

* State award of Belarus for his book ''Ancient Belarus'' (1992) * Award of

Uladzimir Karatkevich Uladzimir Karatkievich (; ; 26 November 1930 – 25 July 1984) was a Belarusian Soviet writer, publicist, poet, translator, dramatist, and screenwriter, recognized as a classic of Belarusian literature. He is considered one of the most prom ...

* Medal of

Francysk Skaryna Francysk Skaryna (alternative transcriptions of his name: ''Francišak Skaryna'' or ''Francisk Skaryna''; , ; , ; 1470 – 1551/29 January 1552) was a Belarusian humanist, physician, and translator. He is known to be one of the first book ...

(1993)

External links

Biography at Slounik.orgBooks at Knihi.com («Беларуская Палічка»)

References

1921 births 2000 deaths People from Dzyarzhynsk district 20th-century Belarusian historians Soviet historians Maxim Tank Belarusian State Pedagogical University alumni Recipients of the Francysk Skaryna Medal Belarusian male non-fiction writers {{Belarus-historian-stub