From school history lessons, we know him as an ally of Yemelyan Pugachev in the peasant war. According to Soviet tradition, he is depicted as an opponent of tsarism, a fighter against inequality and oppression. The Bashkirs also value him as a national liberator and a heroic warrior. It’s no surprise that Salavat Yulaev’s memory is honored in Bashkortostan. A city, a hockey club, a ship, streets, and many other landmarks are named after him. Moreover, a film, an opera, a ballet, and more have been dedicated to him. The most famous monument to Salavat, which is also the emblem and symbol of Bashkortostan, was erected in 1967 in the center of Ufa on the high bank of the Belaya River. It may seem that Salavat must have been of humble origin, given that he opposed the tsar. However, this is not the case. He came from a family of noble officials who had been granted land for their successes in a Suvorov campaign. However, part of this land was later confiscated by the authorities and transferred to a merchant for a factory. Furthermore, Salavat and his father, joining Pugachev, disobeyed an order to help tsarist troops suppress the peasant uprising. Why? It’s simple: with Pugachev’s support, Salavat first reclaimed the lands confiscated from his father. Salavat did not achieve major military victories and was captured after a year. He died after 25 years of hard labor in an Estonian fortress (yes, I too was surprised he wasn’t executed alongside Pugachev). So why is Salavat a national hero? Where does the Bashkir people's love for him come from? The answer is simple: this 19-year-old boy, through his resistance, gave people hope for a better future, demonstrated the strength of the Bashkirs, their striving for freedom, and strengthened their national pride.