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Dobrynya Nikitich (Russian: Добры́ня Ники́тич) is a bogatyr medieval Knight of Kiev Rus. He is one...

Dobrynya Nikitich (Russian: Добры́ня Ники́тич) is a bogatyr medieval Knight of Kiev Rus. He is one of the three figures represented together in Viktor Vasnetsov's famous painting Bogatyrs, alongside Alyosha Popovich and Ilya Muromets. Dobrynya is depicted in Byliny (oral tradition) as a dragonslayer (killing the dragon Gorynich) who wins by bravery. He seems to be a representative of the noble class of warriors. Dobrynya is a musician, chess player, archer, and wrestler. He is known for his special knowledge and courtesy. Historians believe that this personage evolved from the real Slavic warlord Dobrynya, who led the armies of Svyatoslav the Great and tutored his son Vladimir the Fair Sun. The bylina begins with Dobrynya's mother telling the hero not to go to the Saracen Mountains, not to trample baby dragons, not to rescue Russian captives, and not to bathe in the Puchai River. Dobrynya disobeys his mother and does all of these things. When he is bathing in the Puchai River, the dragon appears. Dobrynya has nothing to defend himself, and thinks he is going to die. Dobrynya then discovers "a hat of the Greek land" and uses it to defeat the dragon. The dragon pleas for Dobrynya not