Mikola Yermalovich

Mikola Yermalovich (Ермало́віч Міко́ла Іва́навіч, Mikoła Jermałovič) (April 29, 1921 in Dzyarzhynsk Raion, Minsk Voblast – March 5, 2000) was a Belarusian writer, historian and teacher.

Biography
Ermalovich was born in the village of Maly Novoselki (modern Dzerzhinsky district). He finished a local school and graduated from Minsk Pedagogical Institute in 1947. On graduation he worked as a teacher, school inspector and headmaster. Ermalovich was visually impaired and had to retire at the age of 35. He devoted decades to studying ancient Belarusian chronicles and other primary sources.

Work
Some commentators believe that Yermalovich presented the pseudo-historic conception of Litvinism, which asserts that the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was Belarusian, not Lithuanian. Other professional historians criticized Ermalovich's books as non-scientific, however it is acknowledged that "it was Ermalovich's books that contributed a great deal to the expansion of research in the field of ancient history of Belarus" and "encouraged [Belarusian] academic historians to pursue further studies of the history of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania".

Resting place
Ermalovich is buried in the Old Cemetery of Maladzechna. On his grave on the back of the monument is written: "He loved Belarus…".

Awards

 * State award of Belarus for his book Ancient Belarus (1992)
 * Award of Uladzimir Karatkevich
 * Medal of Francysk Skaryna (1993)