Luba Balagova. EMPRESS MARIA. Excerpts. London - 2017

The historical poem “Empress Maria“, of the well known Kabardinian (British/Russian) Poet, Luba Balagova opens for the readers a little known history of the relationship between the Muscovy government (Kremlin) of the 16th century and the Kabardinian Princedom (the Warks) of the North Caucasus. The epic historical poem tells the story of love and complicated relationship between Tsar Ivan IV (The Terrible) and his second wife, the Circassian princess Maria Temrokovna Idarova, which is full of drama and passion.