The monument to Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky, erected on Red Square in Moscow, is known to everyone. But do we know well the biographies of these national heroes, the historical context in which they acted, the ideas that inspired them? At the beginning of the 17th century, Russia choked on the fratricidal Troubles. The question was about the existence of Russia as a state. The intrigues of the upper classes and the riots of the lower classes, impostor, foreign intervention, the short reign of Vasily Shuisky, the first and second militias, the election of Mikhail Romanov to the kingdom - all this is described in the book on a large factual material. Nizhny Novgorod played a huge role in preserving the country's sovereignty. The city not only repelled the troops of the interventionists and usurpers, but also by the feat of Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky raised the people to defend the country in 1612. Yes, Russia was eventually saved by the whole country. But without Nizhny could not save.