130th anniversary of the birth of Fyodor Mahnova (13 photos) Bashny.Net

Today marks 130 years since the birth of the world's tallest man and fellow countryman Fedor Andreevich Mahnova Vitebsk residents. Although, in the Guinness Book of Records tallest man earth is Robert Pershing Wadlow American growth of 272 centimeters, Vitebsk giant Makhno up to 2 meters 85 centimeters. This index recorded an Austrian anthropologist Felix Lusha. In the Russian Book of Records the world's tallest man recorded Fedor Makhno.

Fedor Makhno anthropologist Lushan



I learned about Mahnove recently. In conversation, my mother mentioned. And remember long stories about his grandfather a very tall man who once lived three kilometers from his native village. Then I did not attach much importance, thinking that a person is high by local standards. But it turned out the scale of the planet :)

After gathering information in the internet were made two tours of places where Fedor was born, lived, died and was buried.

Safely late for morning diesel bus, we drove to the Old Village, the village is 20 kilometers from the city. According to information from the Internet, there existed a school folk museum with an exhibition about Fedor Mahnove. There we go. In the museum we were met by its creator and local historian Margaret D. Staroselschiny Yushkevich. Despite the employment (writing a letter to France, relatives of local war heroes about whom she wrote a book), she told some details of the life of Fyodor showed further road map.

The museum contains a lot of written information about Fedor, photos, and the main exhibit - the skeleton of his bed.



The axis of the route of our hike was Zaronovka river. First passed along the river to the east, to see (on the advice of Margarita Dmitrievna) the picturesque ruins of a water mill near the village Pobedinschina.



Next Zaronovku passed over the bridge and went back to the west, to the place where the village Kostyuk, was born into a giant. In war Kostyuk were destroyed and rebuilt after.

Biography giant

Fyodor Makhno was born on 6 (18th on the Gregorian calendar) in June 1878 in the village of Kostyuk Staroselskaya parish Vitebsk district.

Fedor was born so close to the child that his mother died in childbirth. Basically raised his grandparents. From 8 years old boy became a very fast growing, with a lot of sleep. In 12 years, the growth of Fyodor reached two meters. The other children laughed at him because of the growth. For this, he took off their hats and hung them on the roof ridge bath or barn. Due to the growth of the son to his father Fyodor had to rebuild the house, raising ceilings. With the increase in the growth and strength of the boy grew up. He could pick up an adult, alone pull a cart with hay, helped in the construction of houses, lifting heavy logs. Korzeniowski local landowner hired a boy to clean the track Zaronovki stones near his water mill. The water in the river has always been very cold and Fedor lifelong chilled feet.

Windmill and place on the river where Fedor worked and got legs disease



In the 14 years boy with his father went to Vitebsk Polotsk on the market. There he saw Otto Bilinder, owner of the German circus on tour in Vitebsk. An enterprising German quickly realized what benefits can be derived from the growth of the boy and offered Fedina father let his son in Germany - to act in the circus. Father agreed and Fedor went to Europe. Up to 16 years Otto Billinder Fyodor taught circus arts and German. And do good to the teenager. In 16 years, Fedor Makhno signed a contract with Otto and began performing in the circus. In the circus Fedor showed his strength and growth: raised platform with a game on it, Orchestra of 3 people, bent and straightened horseshoes and iron rods, bricks blow broke his hand. Also participated in wrestling tournaments. The performance lasted 8 years and returned to his homeland Fedor wealthy person.

Arriving in homes Fedor Makhno bought went to France landlord Korzeniowski estate (farm) land and water mill, near where he worked as a child. House landowner Fyodor rebuilt by its size and taste. German Otto sent him Bilinder furniture. Farm, where he lived Makhno, popularly nicknamed Velikanov.
Currently, the estate was only part of a stone foundation and a few fruit trees.

Plan of the house and manor Fyodor



Fedor also decided to marry. Suitable for the growth of the bride was not easy to find. Eventually quest to succeed, and became the wife of Theodore village teacher Yefrosinya Lebedev. It was the growth of 185 cm, a full meter below husband.

Wife of Feodor Mahnova - Yefrosinya



Fedor and his wife



In 1905, after the birth of two children, Fyodor and his family went to travel the world. He traveled to Europe, visited America. Makhno honored audience with the Pope, German Chancellor and President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt. Pope was so pleased with a little daughter Maria Fedor, he took off his gold cross on a chain and gave the girl.

Fedor Makhno in London





Fedor and his wife on the boat sailing to America



In the journey, Theodore often offered to sign a contract on that after the death of his skeleton has got scientists for scientific purposes. Fedor refused, fearing that he could be killed because of the skeleton, and returned to his farm.

In 1911-12 years in Mahnovyh born three more children. Thus, Mahnovyh just had five children. None of them did not grow up to two meters.

In August 1912 Fedor died of lung disease. He was only in '34.

The highest person on the planet buried in the cemetery of the village Kostyuk. Put a metal fence and granite monument, which has been preserved to this day.

Monument at the grave of Fedor. Hit by bullets in 1943-44, when there were heated battles. On the monument incorrectly specified height and age Fedor. The wife of the giant wanted to fix it, but did not fix it - prevented the First World War, and then the revolution



General view of the tomb. Cross fell off and lay on the grave



But this is not the end of history Fedor. In the 30 years wife of Feodor offered to sell the giant skeleton for 5000 rubles. It was big money in those days, and she agreed. Scientists have dug up the coffin, took out the skeleton, clothes put back in a coffin and buried. The skeleton was taken to Minsk, in one of the institutions. During the war, the Institute building was destroyed, and the skeleton of a giant lost.

In his first campaign we have not found a place where the Giants farm. But a week later I went back the other way, went wading Zaronovku (water is really cold) and found the same place the farm. It was covered with tall grass, and fly in the sky five storks. Land under white wings ...

In a few more days to learn that the same cemetery where buried Fedor, and my great-grandfather rests. Will be an occasion to go there again.

River Zaronovka



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