Vasily Buslayev — Russian fairy tale character

Vasily Buslayev is a Novgorod character of the Bogatyr epics. “Vasily Buslayev and the People of Novgorod”, “Vasily Buslayev's Journey” and “The Death of Vasily Buslayev.”

Vasily Buslayev is a Novgorod hero, representing the ideal youthful and boundless prowess. He is one of the most famous characters of folklore, bearing the name Vasily.

From a young age Vasily showed no constraint; he always did as he pleased, without regard to consequences. Antagonizing the majority of Novgorod, he gathered a group of like minded daredevils to rage more and more. Only his mother had a slight power over him. Finally at a feast Vasily became drunk and belligerent and bets that he and his group could beat up all of the men of Novgorod. As the fight began, it quickly became clear that Vasily's wager was to be seen through. Only his mother's intervention was able to save the men of Novgorod.

Most pre-revolution researchers are in favor that Vasily was intended to represent the might of Novgorod and its people.