In 862, Prince Rurik was invited to reign in northwestern Rus', who became the founder of the new state. What were the activities of the first Kyiv princes– we learn from an article on history for grade 10.
Domestic and foreign policy of the first Russian princes
Let's create a table of the First Kyiv Princes.
Starting in order, we should mention not Rurik as the first Russian prince, but his boyars Askold and Dir as the first princes of Kyiv. Having not received cities in Northern Rus' to govern, they went south to Constantinople, but, moving along the Dnieper, they landed at a small town that had a convenient geographical and strategic position.
In 879, Rurik died and Oleg became his successor until his son Igor came of age. In 882 Oleg commits conquest to Kyiv. Fearing a major battle with a large army of co-rulers. Oleg lured them out of the city by cunning, and then killed them.
Rice. 1. Borders of Rus' in the 9th century.
The names Askold and Dir are familiar to every resident of Kyiv. These are the first martyrs of the Russian land. In 2013, Ukrainian Orthodox Church The Kyiv Patriarchate canonized them as saints.
Having also captured Smolensk and Lyubech, Oleg established control over the trade route “From the Varangians to the Greeks”, moved the capital of Rus' from Novgorod to Kyiv, creating Kievan Rus - a single principality Eastern Slavs. He built cities, determined the amount of taxes from the subordinate southern tribes, and successfully fought with the Khazars.
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Rice. 2. Map of the route from the Varangians to the Greeks.
In 907, Oleg made a campaign against Constantinople, according to which he was able to conclude a trade agreement beneficial for Rus' with the Romans.
Igor's reign
After Oleg's death, Igor took over the reins. He made two campaigns against Byzantium - in 941 and 944, but neither was crowned with great success. The Russian fleet was completely burned by Greek fire. In 913 and 943, he made two trips to the Caspian lands.
In 945, while collecting tribute from subordinate tribes, Igor succumbed to pressure from his squad and decided to collect a larger tribute. Returning to the lands of the Drevlyans for the second time, but with a small detachment, Igor was killed in the capital of the Drevlyan land, the city of Iskorosten.
Olga and Svyatoslav
The regent for Igor's two-year-old son Svyatoslav was his mother, Olga. The princess avenged the murder of Igor by plundering the Drevlyan land and burning Iskorosten.
Olga owns the first one in Rus' economic reform. She established lessons and graveyards - the size of the tribute and the places where they were collected. In 955 she converted to Christianity, becoming the first Russian princess of the Orthodox faith.
Svyatoslav, having matured, spent all his time on campaigns, dreaming of military glory. In 965, he destroyed the Khazar Khaganate, and two years later, at the request of the Byzantines, he invaded Bulgaria. He did not fulfill the terms of the agreement with the Romans, capturing 80 Bulgarian cities and beginning to reign in the occupied lands. This gave rise to the Byzantine-Russian war of 970-971, as a result of which Svyatoslav was forced to leave Bulgaria, but was killed by the Pechenegs on the way home.
Vladimir Red Sun
An internecine war broke out between the three sons of Svyatoslav, in which Vladimir emerged victorious. Under him, extensive urban planning began in Rus', but his most important achievement lay elsewhere. In 988, Vladimir baptized Rus', moving from paganism to Orthodox Christianity, declaring that Rus' was now the younger sister of the great Byzantium.
ABSTRACT
The first Kyiv princes (IX - early 12th centuries)
Introduction
Power - the main objective in life for many people, as in modern society, and the ancient times. To achieve it, some resorted to various tricks and even crimes, others won it honestly, achieved the respect of their subjects and even enemies, and some received power by inheritance.
In this essay we will look at how power passed from prince to prince in Kyiv in the 9th-12th centuries. How each ruler disposed of this power and how long he held it. We will also try to trace what most often marked the end of the reign of one prince and the beginning of the reign of another.
Also, the importance of this topic is manifested in the establishment of a clear sequence of changes in rulers during this Time of Troubles in Rus'. To make it even clearer, you can refer to Appendix 1 of this abstract, where the genealogical table is given.
reign prince russian historical
1. Askold and Dir
Their reign began in the second half of the 9th century. Askold and Dir, the boyars of the Russian prince Rurik, not having received control of the cities, they asked Prince Rurik to go with their relatives to Constantinople. Askold and Dir sailed along the Dnieper past Smolensk and Lyubech and reached a town unknown to them on the banks of the Dnieper. This city was called Kiev, in honor of Kiy, who once founded the first settlements here with his brothers Shchek and Khoriv and his sister Lybid. Askold and Dir also learned that the people of Kiev were paying tribute to the Khazars and helped them free themselves from this oppression. Gradually, Askold and Dir themselves began to rule in Kyiv, they recruited a strong squad from their fellow countrymen and established themselves in this country as the Polyan tribe. Thus a new thing appeared Russian state on the middle reaches of the Dnieper.
Askold and Dir got used to the alarms of combat and they were soon tired of peaceful life, they decided to go to the capital of Byzantium. In 866, Askold and Dir gathered soldiers and set off on two hundred ships to conquer the riches of Constantinople.
The army approached Constantinople from the sea, landed on the shore, dispersed in detachments throughout the surrounding villages and defenseless outskirts of the capital and carried out a terrible massacre. But Askold and Dir never managed to take Constantinople itself, they got close to its very walls, but for some reason they retreated, perhaps the reason for the retreat was a storm, perhaps the news of the approach of the emperor (who was not in the capital at the time of the attack) with a large army, unknown.
According to Russian chronicles, Askold and Dir continued to reign in Kyiv after that. But when Rurik, who ruled in Novgorod, died in 879, his successor Oleg (guardian of Rurik’s young son, Igor) moved with a large squad to make conquests in the south. Having taken Smolensk and Lyubech, Oleg approached Kyiv (882). He feared an open battle with Askold and Dir, since they had a large and strong army, then Oleg left his squad behind and approached Kiev with several boats, posing as merchants who were going to trade in Constantinople. Without suspecting any malicious intent, Askold and Dir went out to the Kiev suburb of Ugorskoe without strong guards, where Oleg was waiting for them. Then, following a conventional sign, Oleg’s fighters hidden in the boats rushed at them.
They killed Askold and Dir. They were buried near the bank of the Dnieper on Ugorskaya Mountain. And the people of Kiev submitted to the authority of Oleg, who united all of Rus' into one state, except for the land of the Vyatichi tribe subordinate to the Khazars. 2
2. Prince Oleg (Prophetic)
Brother-in-law of Prince Igor Rurikovich and later guardian of the young Igor Rurikovich. Three years after the death of Rurik, Oleg remained in Novgorod and, having strengthened his position here, headed at the head of a team of Varangians and northern tribes to the south, along the Volkhov-Dnieper river line. He conquers the cities he meets along the way and, having captured Kyiv by cunning, is founded here and transfers the center of the united state to Kyiv. This event, dated by the chronicle to 882, is traditionally considered the date of the formation of the Old Russian state. Oleg built cities, determined the amount of taxes from the Slovenes, Krivichi and Meri, and ordered Novgorod to pay an annual tribute to the Varangians of 300 hryvnia to preserve peace. In 883 he drove out the Drevlyans, in 884 he defeated the northerners, in 885 he subjugated the Radimichi, imposing tribute on all these peoples. He tried to conquer the streets and Tiverts. The Joachim Chronicle reports that Oleg successfully fought with the Khazars, Bulgarians and other peoples living in the Danube region. In 907, Oleg set out on a campaign against Constantinople. His army consisted of 2,000 rooks of 40 warriors each, that is, 80,000 warriors fought on his side. The Emperor of Byzantium, Leo VI the Philosopher, ordered the gates of the city to be closed and the harbor blocked with chains, thus giving Oleg's troops the opportunity to plunder and plunder the suburbs of Constantinople. Despite this, Oleg began to storm the fortress. The frightened Romans offered Oleg peace and tribute. According to the agreement, Oleg received 12 hryvnia for each rowlock, and Byzantium promised to pay tribute to Russian cities. As a sign of victory, Oleg nailed his shield to the gates of Constantinople. The main result of the campaign was a trade agreement on duty-free trade between Kievan Rus and the Byzantine Empire. In 911 (according to the chronicle - in 912) Oleg concluded a second agreement with Byzantium, also very beneficial for the Kyiv state. Russian chronicles date Oleg’s death from a snake bite in different ways: “The Tale of Bygone Years” - 912, and the Novgorod First Chronicle of the younger edition - 922. Oleg was buried, according to some sources, in Kiev on Mount Shchekovitsa, according to others - in Ladoga, according to the third - somewhere overseas. These differences among the chroniclers gave grounds for scientists to assert that in Rus' at the end of the 9th and beginning of the 10th centuries. there were two (and perhaps more) major commanders and statesmen who bore the name Oleg. 1
3. Prince Igor Rurikovich
The son of the Novgorod prince Rurik and Efanda, the daughter of the prince of Urman. In 903, Igor was brought a wife from Pskov, Olga, who was 13 years old, and Igor was 25. According to the Tale of Bygone Years, Igor took the throne in 913 after the death of Oleg the Prophet. In 914 he suppressed the uprising of the Drevlyans who did not want to obey him. In 915 he made peace with the Pechenegs. In 920 he again fought with the Pechenegs. The results of this war are not known. During his reign (in 913 and 943), two Russian military campaigns were carried out against the Caspian countries. In 940, Kyiv submitted to the streets, on which tribute was imposed. In 941, Igor struck a blow at the Black Sea possessions of Byzantium due to the fact that they stopped paying tribute, but the campaign did not bring results Around 942/943 (according to the chronicle - in 944), Igor with a huge army made a new sea and land campaign against Byzantium. His army did not reach the borders of the empire, as the frightened Greeks asked for peace. A Russian-Byzantine treaty was signed (944), beneficial to the Kyiv state. The Byzantines again began to pay tribute to Rus'. In the fall of 945, Igor, at the request of his squad, dissatisfied with his content, went to the Drevlyans for tribute. The Drevlyans were not included in the army that was defeated in Byzantium. Perhaps that is why Igor decided to improve the situation at their expense. Igor arbitrarily increased the amount of tribute from previous years; when collecting it, the vigilantes committed violence against the residents. On the way home, Igor made an unexpected decision: to return back with no big amount vigilantes and collect more tribute. The Drevlyans decided to kill the prince so that he would no longer rob them. They killed Igor and all his warriors. The execution of the ruler was very cruel: he was tied to tree trunks and torn in two. He was buried near Iskorosten under a high mound. 1
4. Olga (Princess of Kyiv)
Olga was born in the village of Vybuty, 12 km from Pskov approximately in 890. The names of Olga’s parents have not been preserved; some sources say that they were not of a noble family, others that Olga was the daughter of Prince Oleg, and still others that Olga was from Bulgarians According to the chronicle, in 945, Prince Igor died at the hands of the Drevlyans after repeatedly collecting tribute from them. The heir to the throne, Svyatoslav, was only 3 years old at the time, so Olga became the de facto ruler of Kievan Rus in 945. Igor's squad obeyed her, recognizing Olga as the representative of the legitimate heir to the throne. After the murder of Igor, the Drevlyans sent matchmakers to his widow Olga to invite her to marry their prince Mal. The princess successively dealt with the elders of the Drevlyans, and then brought their people into submission. Revenge on the Drevlyans for the death of her husband was as follows: for the first time, the princess buried alive the matchmakers-ambassadors who came to woo her in their own boat; For the second time, Olga asked, out of respect, to send new ambassadors from the best men to her, which the Drevlyans willingly did. An embassy of noble Drevlyans was burned in a bathhouse while they were washing themselves in preparation for a meeting with the princess; For the third time, Olga and a small retinue came to the lands of the Drevlyans to, according to custom, celebrate a funeral feast at her husband’s grave. Having drunk the Drevlyans during the funeral feast, Olga ordered them to be killed. The chronicle reports 5 thousand Drevlyans killed; For the fourth time in 946, Olga went out with an army on a campaign against the Drevlyans. According to the First Novgorod Chronicle, the Kiev squad defeated the Drevlyans in battle. Having conquered the Drevlyans, Olga in 947 went to the Novgorod and Pskov lands and Volyn, assigning lessons there, after which she returned to her son Svyatoslav in Kyiv. Olga established a system of “cemeteries” - centers of trade and exchange, in which taxes were collected in a more orderly manner; Then they began to build churches in graveyards. The conquest of the Drevlyansky land and Volyn opened up prospects for Kiev to control two important international trade routes. One of them, a land route, called “from Germans to Khazars,” connected Volga Bulgaria through Kyiv, Krakow and Prague with Regensburg and markets for Russian goods in the Bavarian Danube. In addition, ownership of the Drevlyan and Volyn sections of this route, which passed through Ustilug, located at the confluence of the Luga with the Western Bug, gave Kyiv the opportunity to control the water route along the Bug, which opened up the benefits of direct trade with the Baltic. Princess Olga laid the foundation for stone urban planning in Rus' and was attentive to the improvement of the lands subject to Kyiv. In 945, Olga established the size of the “polyudya” - taxes in favor of Kyiv, the timing and frequency of their payment - “rents” and “charters”. The lands subject to Kyiv were divided into administrative units, in each of which a princely administrator was appointed - “tiun”. In 955, Olga was baptized in Constantinople. She was personally baptized by Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus and the Patriarch. July 969 Olga died of old age, surrounded by her son and his children. 1
5. Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich
Svyatoslav Igorevich (? - 972) - son of Prince Igor Rurikovich and Olga the Wise. Left as a child after the death of his father (945), he grew up among vigilantes. He was declared Grand Duke immediately after Igor’s death, but his mother was his ruler all the time, even after he reached adulthood she continued to rule the state, since Svyatoslav Igorevich spent almost his entire life on military campaigns. Having reached adolescence, Svyatoslav Igorevich began an uninterrupted chain of his military enterprises. Svyatoslav Igorevich's actions were offensive in nature, which allowed him to seize the initiative and achieve success. He did not carry a lot of rich food with him, he slept with a sweatcloth with a saddle under his head, and he taught all his warriors to do this. Before attacking the enemy, he sent a messenger to them with a warning. Svyatoslav's appearance corresponded to his character, he was wild and harsh. The prince shaved his thick eyebrows, blue eyes, hair and beard, but had a long hanging mustache and a tuft of hair on one side of his head. He was short, but strong and muscular with a broad back. The prince wore the simplest clothes and did not like luxury, but in his ear he had a gold earring with two pearls. In 965, at about 25 years old, Svyatoslav went against the Khazars. The enemies, in turn, came out to meet the prince and a battle began, in which Svyatoslav won and took the cities of Sarkel and Belaya Vezha. Subsequently, he defeated the Yases and Kasogs, and a year later also the Vyatichi, on whom he imposed tribute. In 967, Svyatoslav went to the Danube in Bulgaria. Svyatoslav defeated the Bulgarians in battle and, having taken 80 of their cities along the Danube, sat down to reign in Pereyaslavets, taking tribute from the Greeks. In 968, in the absence of Svyatoslav, the Pechenegs came to Russian land. They captured the city and killed local residents. The people were starving, then a messenger was sent to Svyatoslav with a call for help. Princess Olga locked herself in Kyiv with her grandchildren - Yaropolk, Oleg and Vladimir. As soon as Svyatoslav received the message, he immediately went to save his people and drove out the Pechenegs. After some time, Svyatoslav wanted to move to Pereyaslavts on the Danube, but his mother did not let him in, as she was very sick and weak. Three days after this, Olga died. In 969, Svyatoslav placed Yaropolk in Kyiv, Oleg with the Drevlyans, sent Vladimir to reign in Novgorod, and he himself sailed to Bulgaria to Pereyaslavets. But by this time Pereyaslavets already belonged to the Bulgarians, who, having learned about the approach of Svyatoslav, went out of town to fight with him. From the beginning, the Bulgarians were victorious, but after Svyatoslav’s inspiring speech, in the evening, the Russians took the city by storm. After this, Svyatoslav sent a messenger with news of the attack to the Greek capital. The Greeks deceived the prince, saying that they would give a ransom, but they needed to know the number of warriors in order to collect enough wealth. When the prince told them the size of the army, adding the same number to the real number (ten thousand soldiers), the Greeks attacked them with an even larger number of soldiers (thirty thousand). In 970 the war moved to Thrace. In the first battle, Svyatoslav won and went to Constantinople, capturing the cities. In Plovdiv, he ordered 20,000 prisoners to be impaled, horrifying the Bulgarians and forcing them to obey him. However, near Andrianople, the Russians met the army of Bardas Sklir and were defeated by him. Despite the victory, Tzimiskes, due to the rebellion of Bardas Phocas that began in Asia, had to make peace. He gave Svyatoslav a huge tribute, and he, in turn, returned to Pereyaslavets. In the Easter days of 971, having suppressed the uprising in Asia, Tzimiskes unexpectedly crossed the Balkans for the Russians and invaded Bulgaria. After a two-day siege, the Greeks took Preslava and drove out the Russian garrison, commanded by Sveneld. After this, Pliska and many other Bulgarian cities fell away from Svyatoslav and went over to the side of Tzimiskes. Svyatoslav himself was at that time on the Danube in Dorostol. Having learned about the defeat at Preslava, he experienced grief and annoyance, but still hoped for victory. When Emperor Tzimiskes approached Dorostol, he saw the Russians standing in front of the walls, awaiting battle. For a long time the fighters fought hand-to-hand and were on equal terms, but then Tzimiskes brought in his cavalry and the Russians lost. After this, stubborn battles took place in front of the walls for several days, from which the Greeks usually emerged victorious. But after Svyatoslav conferred with his warriors, they began to win victory in one of the battles, but a hurricane began and a headwind made the eyes of Svyatoslav’s fighters dusty. The enemies took advantage of this and attacked the army coldly; the Russians could not withstand the onslaught and went into retreat. After this, Svyatoslav decided to make peace with the emperor and sent him a messenger with the following conditions: the Russians will cede Dorostol to the Greeks, release the prisoners, leave Bulgaria and return to their homeland, and the Greeks will give them the opportunity to sail, will not attack them on the road with fire-bearing ships, and in addition, they will supply them with food and will receive Russian merchants on the conditions that were established before. The Emperor agrees to the terms. Of the 60,000-strong army that Svyatoslav led to Bulgaria, 22,000 remained alive at that time. After the conclusion of peace, Svyatoslav safely reached the mouth of the Dnieper and set off on boats to the rapids; his governor warned that there might be Pechenegs there, but the prince did not listen and so he had to stop with his squad in Beloberezhye for the winter. Soon the Russians ran out of all food and the warriors began to starve. In the spring of 972, Svyatoslav decided to continue his journey. As soon as he reached the rapids, the Pecheneg prince Kurya attacked him and killed the entire Russian squad. Svyatoslav also died in battle. And the Pechenegs made a cup from his skull, bound it, and from then on the Pecheneg khans drank from it. reign prince russian historical 6. Yaropolk Svyatoslavovich
From the Rurik family. Son of Svyatoslav Igorevich. Grand Duke Kyiv in 972 - 980. After the death of Svyatoslav in 972, his sons ruled Russia, each in his own city: Yaropolk - in Kyiv, Oleg - in Ovruch, Vladimir - in Novgorod. The main adviser to the young Yaropolk was Voivode Sveneld. In 975, Oleg Svyatoslavich killed Sveneldov’s son, Lyut, while hunting. Because of this, the governor constantly turned Yaropolk against his brother and persuaded him to conquer his lands. In 977, Yaropolk went against Oleg in the Drevlyansky land and defeated his army in battle, and Oleg himself was killed while fleeing. When Oleg was buried, Yaropolk inherited his volost. Vladimir in Novgorod, having heard that Yaropolk had killed Oleg, got scared and fled overseas. And Yaropolk planted his mayors in Novgorod and alone owned the Russian land. In 980, Vladimir returned to Rus' with the Varangians and went to war against Yaropolk. Having reached Kyiv with a large army, Vladimir besieged it, and Yaropolk locked himself in the city along with the governor Blud. Vladimir soon came to an agreement with Blud. They came up with a cunning plan with which they could quickly get rid of Yaropolk. Blud told Yaropolk that they wanted to betray him and therefore he must hide in the city of Rodna. The prince did so, but soon Vladimir besieged this city and famine occurred there, which forced Yaropolk to make peace with his brother. When Yaropolk came with Vladimir, he was killed. 1
7. Vladimir Svyatoslavich the Great
From the Rurik family. Son of Svyatoslav Igorevich. Prince of Novgorod in 969 - 977. and Grand Duke of Kiev in 980 - 1015. According to the chronicler, Vladimir was the illegitimate son of Svyatoslav, adopted by him from his slave-housekeeper Olgina Malusha. Vladimir's uncle was Malushi's brother, Dobrynya. In 969, Svyatoslav installed the eldest son of Yaropolk as prince in Kyiv, and his other son, Oleg, as prince of the Drevlyans. Having learned about this, the Novgorodians began to ask for a prince for themselves, and Vladimir became him, since no one else agreed. After the death of Svyatoslav, his sons began to rule Russia, each sitting in his own city. Vladimir was still too young and Dobrynya managed all his affairs for him. Rogvolod, a Varangian who came from across the sea and established his power among the Polotsk people, reigned in Polotsk at that time. Dobrynya began to woo Vladimir Rogneda, the daughter of Rogvolod. But when they wooed her, the bride refused them, which offended Vladimir and Dobrynya. They decided to take revenge and went to war against Rogvolod. The future prince and his uncle won and brutally dealt with the offenders, and Vladimir dishonored Rogneda in front of her parents, whom he then killed, and she later bore him a son, Izyaslav. In 975, when Yaropolk killed his brother Oleg and subjugated his land, Vladimir decided to go overseas so that Yaropolk would not get to him. But already in 980 Vladimir returned to Novgorod with the Varangians and went against Yaropolk. Further events were described earlier in the chapter “Yaropolk Svyatoslavovich”, chapter 6, page 9. After the murder of Yaropolk, Vladimir began to reign alone in Kyiv. Vladimir worshiped pagan gods and forced everyone else to do the same. He erected monuments to the gods where people could make sacrifices and brought gifts to the gods. Vladimir put his uncle Dobrynya in Novgorod, and he himself lived in Kyiv and was obsessed with carnal lust. Vladimir had several wives and, among others, the widow of Yaropolk, a certain Greek woman who had previously been a nun. At one time, Svyatoslav brought her to Rus' as a captive and married her to Yaropolk for the sake of her beauty. When Vladimir met her, she was already pregnant by Yaropolk and soon gave birth to a son, Svyatopolk. In addition to Rogneda and the Greek woman, Vladimir had three more legal wives and 800 concubines: 300 in Vyshgorod, 300 in Belgorod and 200 in the village of Berestovo. In addition, he had relationships with many married women and girls. Vladimir's passion for pagan religion did not last long. In 986, embassies came to Kyiv from different nations, calling on Rus' to convert to their faith. The preacher who arrived from Byzantium, telling the prince about Christianity, made a strong impression on him, but Vladimir was in no hurry to make a decision about baptism. In 987, the prince sent envoys to foreign shores to take an inside look at the religions he had heard about and then tell him which one was better. When the ambassadors returned and told him about everything they had seen, Vladimir decided to convert to Christianity. Vladimir was just about to be baptized, but then a war began between him and the Greeks. In 988, Vladimir went with an army to Korsun and took the city under siege, but the residents held strong and were not going to give up, then a traitor was found among them who helped Vladimir take the city. The prince asked Tsars Vasily and Constantine to marry him to his beautiful sister, threatening violence if they did not agree. But they decided to do this only on the condition that Vladimir be baptized. The prince agreed. Vasily and Konstantin, with great difficulty, persuaded their sister Anna to marry him, and when she agreed, Vladimir began to have problems with his eyes, he could not see anything, then Anna advised him to be baptized quickly and then he would get better. Vladimir listened to him and after baptism he received his sight. Seeing this miracle, many of his warriors were also baptized. After this, Vladimir returned to Kyiv and ordered all residents to come to the river to be baptized, and those who did not do this would become the enemy of the prince. A huge number of people came, everyone was baptized. Then Vladimir ordered to destroy all the attributes of the pagan religion and build churches throughout Rus', to which priests would be distributed and people would be led. children were sent to church schools Having been baptized, Vladimir turned to state affairs. From six wives he had 12 sons, and he seated them all in cities, giving each his own inheritance. He began to build cities along the Desna, along Ostro, along Trubezh, along Sula and along Stugna. Having recruited the best men from the Slavs, Krivichi, Chud, Vyatichi, Vladimir populated the cities with them, since there was a war with the Pechenegs. In Kyiv, calling on Greek craftsmen, Vladimir built the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 996, the church was consecrated, and Vladimir gave it a tenth of all his wealth. Soon after, Vladimir had to fight the Pechenegs. He was defeated. Fleeing from pursuit, Vladimir hid under a bridge near Vasiliev and thus escaped. In memory of this, Vladimir built the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Vasiliev and arranged a great feast for this occasion. He invited many guests to it, and he enjoyed the feast so much that now he celebrated every holiday on a grand scale. He convened both rich and poor, and for those who could not come, he sent carts with food to the city. In addition, every Sunday the prince organized a feast in the palace and in the gridnitsa, allowing all the boyars, gridnyas, sotskys and tenths, and the best men to come to it; and at these feasts there were all sorts of dishes in abundance. The following is known about his death. In 1015, the Pechenegs went to war against Rus'. Vladimir, already sick, sent his beloved son Boris and his squad against them, and he himself became even more ill. He died from this disease on July 15 in his village of Berestovo. His death, by order of Svyatopolk, his stepson, was hidden from the people. At night, they dismantled the platform between the two cages, wrapped Vladimir’s body in a carpet and lowered it to the ground. Then, placing him on a sleigh, they took him to Kyiv and placed him in the Church of the Holy Mother of God. However, the people still found out about his death and grieved for a very long time. 1
8. Svyatopolk I Yaropolkovich the Accursed
From the Rurik family. Son of Yaropolk Svyatoslavich, stepson of Vladimir Svyatoslavich. Born in 980. Was Prince of Turov from 988 to 1015. Grand Duke of Kiev from 1015 to 1016, 1018-1019. His wife: daughter of Prince Boleslan I the Brave of Poland. As we already know, Vladimir, after the murder of his brother Yaropolk, took his pregnant wife as his wife. Vladimir did not like Yaropolk’s son, Svyatopolk, in 988 he allocated Turov as his inheritance and kept him at a distance. After the conclusion of peace between Russia and Poland, the Polish prince Boleslav the Brave gave his daughter in marriage to Svyatopolk. But this first kinship alliance between the Polish princes and the Russians led to even greater discord between them. Boleslav, apparently, considered internal unrest among his neighbors to be the best way to strengthen himself. Together with Boleslav's daughter, Reinburn, the bishop of Kolobrezh, arrived at the court of the Turov prince, who became close to Svyatopolk and began, with Boleslav's knowledge, to incite him to rebel against Vladimir. But Vladimir learned of the hostile plans and imprisoned Svyatopolk along with his wife and Rainburn. In 1013, Boleslav achieved the release of his son-in-law, who had since lived in exile in Vyshgorod. Svyatopolk did not worry about him, since he was under constant surveillance, but in June 1015 everything changed dramatically. Vladimir died and Svyatopolk reached Kiev faster than all his other brothers and began to appease the people of Kiev with gifts, but this did not help establish his position in the place of the prince. Then he decided to kill all his brothers so that there would be no competition. Svyatopolk killed Boris, the beloved son of Vladimir, to whom the entire squad was subordinate, also killed Gleb and sent assassins to Svyatoslav. Closer to autumn, he heard that his other brother, Yaroslav the Wise, was going to war against him from Novgorod. Then Svyatopolk gathered many soldiers, Russians and Pechenegs, and went against him to Lyubech. Svyatopolk was defeated in this battle due to his carelessness and excessive self-confidence. Having suffered defeat, he went to Poland to his father-in-law Boleslav the Brave. In 1018, together with Svyatopolk, Boleslav the Brave himself came out against Yaroslav. Yaroslav, having gathered Rus' and the Varangians, went to meet Boleslav and Svyatopolk and met them in Volyn on the banks of the Bug. The Poles suddenly rushed into the river, and their onslaught was so unexpected that Yaroslav did not even have time to gather his soldiers. The victory remained with Boleslav and Svyatopolk, and Yaroslav fled to Novgorod with only four men. After the expulsion of Yaroslav, Boleslav himself began to rule in Kyiv, and Svyatopolk, offended by his father-in-law for not giving him any power, began to persuade everyone to revolt. When the Poles began to be killed, Boreslav fled from Kyiv, taking with him all of Yaroslav’s sisters, the entire princely intrigue and many ordinary people. Svyatopolk began to reign in Kyiv. But Yaroslav, having recruited the Varangians, went against him a second time. Without the Poles, Svyatopolk could no longer resist his brother and fled to the steppe to the Pechenegs. There, having gathered a large army, he marched against Yaroslav in 1019, and both armies met on Alta. . Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise
Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise. From the Rurik family, son of Vladimir Svyatoslavich and the Polotsk princess Rogneda Rogvolodovna. Born in 978, died on February 20, 1054. Was Prince of Rostov in 987 - 1010. Prince of Novgorod in 1010-1036. Grand Duke of Kiev in 1016-1018, 1019-1054. Wife: daughter of King Olaf of Sweden, Princess Ingigerda (Irina). In 1014, having established himself in Novgorod, Yaroslav stopped paying tribute to Kyiv, as all the Novgorod mayors had done before him. Vladimir, seeing his son’s disobedience, wanted to go to war against Novgorod. Yaroslav, having learned about this, sent overseas and hired the Varangians. With their help, he wanted to fight his father. Meanwhile, in 1015 the Pechenegs went to war against Rus'. Vladimir sent his beloved son Boris and his entire squad against them, and he himself became very ill. He died from this disease on July 15. Power in Kyiv was immediately seized by Vladimir’s stepson, Svyatopolk the Accursed. Fearing rivalry, he began to send assassins to his brothers. First they killed Boris, then Gleb and finally Svyatoslav. Yaroslav still knew nothing about his father’s death and was preparing for war with Kiev. The Varangians he gathered went on a rampage in Novgorod, committing violence against the townspeople and their wives. And so, when Yaroslav was in the village of Rakome, the Novgorodians rebelled at night against the Varangians and killed them in the courtyard of Paramoni. Yaroslav, having learned about this, invited the Novgorodians to visit him, under the pretext of a truce, but in fact he killed them when they entered the city. That same night he receives news from his sister that his father has died and his brothers were killed by Svyatopolk. Yaroslav gathered soldiers and went to Kyiv. The brothers met near Lyubich. Svyatopolk was defeated in this battle and fled to Poland to his father-in-law Boleslav, and Yaroslav entered Kyiv. In 1018, King Boleslav, together with Svyatopolk, marched against Yaroslav. Yaroslav was waiting for them on the banks of the Bug, in Volyn. Boleslav was the first to ford the Bug, and the Poles followed him. Yaroslav could not withstand the pressure and fled to Novgorod with only four men, and Boleslav captured Kiev. Meanwhile, Svyatopolk had already quarreled with his father-in-law, who had left for Poland. Therefore, he could not resist Yaroslav and fled to the Pechenegs. With their help, in 1019 he last time tried to take possession of Kiev, but was defeated in a fierce battle on Alta and fled abroad. Yaroslav, having sat down on the Kiev table, had to withstand the struggle with other relatives. In 1021 he defeated his nephew Bryachislav Izyaslavich of Polotsk, and in 1024 he fought with his younger brother Mstislav Vladimirovich, who conquered Chernigov from Tmutarakan. Despite the help of the Varangian squad of Yakun, Yaroslav was defeated in the battle of Listven. After this, the brothers made peace. Mstislav remained in Chernigov and ruled the lands along the eastern bank of the Dnieper. Only in 1036, when Mstislav died without leaving heirs, Yaroslav took possession of his volost and began to rule the Russian land autocratically. In the same year, he went to Novgorod and installed his eldest son Vladimir as prince here. Then he received news that the Pechenegs had besieged Kyiv. Yaroslav hastily gathered soldiers - Varangians and Slovenes - and came to Kyiv. Having made their way inside the city and prepared for battle, the Russians entered the field. Yaroslav placed Varyagov in the middle, Kyivans - on right side, and Novgorodians - on the left. The battle was fierce, so Yaroslav only with great difficulty defeated the Pechenegs in the evening. From this year, having defeated all enemies - external and internal - Yaroslav took up state affairs and gained fame in this field no less than in military affairs. At the site of his victory, he founded the temple of St. Sophia, and nearby the monasteries of St. George and St. Irene. To protect Kyiv from the south, Yaroslav ordered new fortresses to be built along the Ros River - Yuryev, Torchesk, Korsun, Trepol and others. Yaroslav loved books very much and read them often. Gathering many book writers and translators, he increased the number of books in Rus' and gradually introduced them into use. From that time on, book wisdom was firmly established among Russians. Under Yaroslav, children were gathered all over the land and taught to read and write. In 1054, feeling the approach of death, Yaroslav divided the land between his sons and commanded them to live in peace. He died on February 20, 1054 and was buried in a marble coffin in the Church of St. Sophia. 10. Izyaslav I Yaroslavich
From the Rurik family. Son of Yaroslav the First Vladimirovich the Wise and the Swedish princess Ingigerda. Born in 1024. Prince of Turov until 1052. Prince of Novgorod in 1052-1054. Grand Duke of Kyiv in 1054-1067. 1069-1073, 1077-1078 Wife: sister of King Casimir III of Poland, Princess Gertrude. In 1067, the Polotsk prince Vseslav Bryachislavich went to Novgorod and expelled Izyaslav’s son Mstislav from it. Then Izyaslav, together with his brothers Svyatoslav and Vsevolod, went to war against him, taking Minsk by storm along the way, where they killed all the men, and took the women and children as booty of war. On March 3, both armies met on the Nemiza River, Izyaslav won. In June, Izyaslav lured Vseslav to Smolensk by deception and ordered him to be captured and imprisoned in a dungeon in Kyiv. In 1068, the Polovtsians came to Rus'. Izyaslav and his brothers met them on the Alta River. At night a battle began, in which the Polovtsians won a complete victory, and the Russian princes fled. Svyatoslav took refuge in Chernigov, and Izyasliv and Vsevolod took refuge in Kyiv. But the Kyivians themselves caused more damage. Offended by the princes because they did not want to defend them further, after the defeat, the residents rebelled and plundered the princely houses. They also released Vseslav from prison and proclaimed him their prince. And Izyaslav and Vsevolod fled from Kyiv. From Kyiv Izyaslav went to the Polish king Boleslav II. The king received him with all honors and in 1069 set out with him on a campaign against Kyiv. Vseslav and the Kyivians moved to meet them, but abandoned his army near Belgorod and fled to Polotsk. The Kievans returned to Kyiv, held a meeting and decided to ask for the intercession of the two younger Yaroslavichs. Svyatoslav and Vsevolod sent to Izyaslav, saying that Vseslav had fled and had no enemies in Kyiv. Izyaslav left the army and with one small squad and Boleslav entered Kyiv. The townspeople greeted him with an expression of complete submission. In 1073, a dispute broke out between the Yaroslavichs. Svyatoslav began to persuade Vsevolod against Izyaslav, who, seeing this, took his entire treasury and left Kyiv again for Poland. Svyatoslav sat down on the Kiev table. In Poland, Izyaslav tried to make friends with the Poles, but they did not accept him and kicked him out of their country. Then Izyaslav went to Mainz to ask for intercession from Boleslav’s enemy, Emperor Henry IV. Having accepted rich gifts from Izyaslav, Henry in 1075 sent an embassy led by Bishop Burchard to Kyiv to Svyatoslav. But Svyatoslav was able to lure the emperor to his side and Henry IV stopped supporting Izyaslav. Having failed for the second time, Izyaslav decided to turn to the pope himself for help. Gregory VII and sent his son Yaro-regiment to Rome with a letter. He asked for the protection of Rome. Gregory agreed and forced Boleslav to provide support to Izyaslav. Svyatoslav died in 1076. Vsevolod sat in his place. Having learned about this, Izyaslav recruited several Polish regiments and marched with them against Vsevolod. The princes met in Volhynia and after negotiations made peace. Vsevolod ceded Klev to Izyaslav, and he himself remained in Chernigov. In 1078, Vsevolod was expelled from Chernigov by his nephews Oleg Svyatoslavich and Boris Vyacheslavich, then he came to Kyiv and began to ask for protection from Izyaslav. Izyaslav ordered to gather an army and go to Chernigov, a battle took place there, in which first Boris Vyacheslavovich died, and then Izyaslav himself. Vsevolod won the battle. Izyaslav's body was buried in the Church of the Holy Mother of God. 1
11. Vseslav Bryachislavich
Vseslav Bryachislavich (1030-1101). From the family of Polotsk princes, son of Bryachislav Izyaslavich. Prince of Polotsk in 1044-1068, 1071-1101. Grand Duke of Kiev in 1068-1069. In 1065, Vseslav besieged Pskov, but achieved nothing. In 1067, on the banks of the Cherekha, he defeated the Prince of Novgorod Mstislav Izyaslavich and occupied Novgorod. Not hoping to hold the cities, Vseslav began to commit outrages. Izyaslav, Svyatoslav and Vsevolod united and went against Vseslav. They defeated him, and Vseslav fled. In July, the Yaroslavichs lured Vseslav to Smolensk by cunning and when he appeared, they imprisoned him in prison. Vseslav sat there for almost a whole year. The following year, the Polovtsians defeated the Russian princes on Alta. After this, the people of Kiev held a meeting and decided to rescue Vseslav in order to make them their prince. Izyaslav fled to Poland. Meanwhile, Svyatoslav and the Chernigovites defeated the Polovtsians at Snovsk; Vseslav never had to meet them. For seven months he sat in Kyiv and ruled as a Grand Duke. In 1069, Izyaslav with the Poles and King Boleslav II moved to Kyiv. Vseslav and the people of Kiev came out to meet him, but near Belgorod the prince secretly left his army and fled to Polotsk. Having barely established himself in power, Izyaslav hastened to take revenge on Vseslav and expelled him from Polotsk. Vseslav fled north to the leaders, and in October 1069 he suddenly appeared with them to Novgorod. Gleb Svyatoslavich with the Novgorod regiment fought with the leaders and defeated them at the very walls of the City. Many Volga residents fell in the battle, and the Novgorodians released Vseslav himself. Soon Vseslav and his new squad were once again defeated at Golotchsk, this time by Yaropolk Izyaslavich, but then still captured his native Polotsk. The subsequent quarrel between the Yaroslavichs and the expulsion of Izyaslav from Kyiv brought Vseslav several years of peace. But having returned to power in 1077, Izyaslav immediately sent his brother Vsevolod to Polotsk, and in 1078 Vladimir Monomakh burned out the Polotsk settlement. But both campaigns remained without any special consequences. In the same year, Izyaslav died in the battle of Nezhatina Niva, and Vseslav burned the settlements around Smolensk. Vladimir Monomakh went in pursuit of Vseslav, followed in his footsteps into the Polotsk volost, fought and burned the whole land. 1
12. Svyatoslav Yaroslavich
From the Rurik family. The ancestor of the Chernigov princes. Son of Yaroslav I Vladimirovich the Wise and the Swedish princess Ingigerda. Born in 1027. Prince of Vladimir-Volyn until 1054. Prince of Chernigov in 1054-1073. Grand Duke of Kiev in 1073-1076. In 1067, together with Izyaslav, Svyatoslav went on a campaign against Vseslav Bryachislavich of Polotsk, and in 1068, all three Yaroslavichs were defeated by the Polovtsy on Alta. While Izyaslav and Vsevolod fled to Kyiv, Svyatoslav took refuge in Chernigov. The Polovtsians, ravaging the Russian land, soon reached Chernigov. Svyatoslav, having gathered a squad of only 3,000 people, went against the steppe inhabitants (12,000 people) to Snovsk. And he won, because his warriors fought unitedly and bravely. The next year, Svyatoslav reconciled the people of Kiev with Izyaslav and helped the latter return to the city engulfed in the uprising. At the same time, he apparently acquired many supporters among the residents of the capital, which he was not slow to take advantage of. In 1073, Svyatoslav began to turn Vsevolod against his older brother. Izyaslav, not expecting war, fled from Kyiv to Poland, taking with him the entire treasury, and Svyatoslav entered Kiev in March and sat down on the grand ducal table. Until his death, he successfully ruled Russia, despite all the attempts of Izyaslav through foreign sovereigns and the pope to regain power. In December 1076, Svyatoslav developed a tumor. An unsuccessful operation was performed, after which he died. He was buried in Chernigov, in the Church of St. Savior. . Vsevolod I Yaroslavich
Vsevolod I Yaroslavich. From the Rurik family. Son of Yaroslav I the Wise and the Swedish princess Ingigerda. Born in 1030. Prince of Pereyaslavl in 1054-1073. Prince of Chernigov in 1073-1078. Grand Duke of Kiev in 1077, 1078-1093. Wives: 1) from 1046, the Greek princess Lipa (according to other sources - Maria) (+ November 1067); 2) Polovtsian princess Anna (+ Oct. 7, 1111). Daughter Eupraxia Vsevolodovna was the German Empress. In 1060, Vsevolod, together with his older brothers Izyaslav and Svyatoslav, went to the Torks. In 1061, the Polovtsian Khan Iskal defeated Vsevolod and devastated the Pereyaslav region. In 1067, together with Izyaslav, Vsevolod went against Vseslav Bryachislavich of Polotsk, and in 1068, all three Yaroslavichs were defeated by the Polovtsy on Alta. Vsevolod took refuge in Kyiv, and then, after the uprising of the Kievites, fled to his Pereyaslavl. In 1073, succumbing to the persuasion of Svyatoslav, Vsevolod together with him opposed his elder brother Izyaslav and drove him out of Kyiv. Svyatoslav began to reign in Kyiv, and gave Chernigov to Vsevolod. In 1076, after the death of Svyatoslav, Vsevolod sat on the Kiev throne. Hearing about this, Izyaslav came to Rus' with the Poles in 1077. Vsevolod came out to meet him, and they made peace in Volyn. Izyaslav, returning, sat down in Kyiv, and again gave Chernigov to Vsevolod. In the same year, at the behest of his older brother, Vsevolod went to Polotsk, but was not successful. In 1078, Vsevolod began to quarrel with his nephew Oleg Svyatoslavich, who, demanding Chernigov for himself, but not receiving it, harbored a grudge against his uncle and fled to Tmutarakan. In the same year with cousin Boris Vyacheslavich and the Polovtsy moved against Vsevolod to Chernigov. Vsevolod came out to meet them on Sozhitsa and on August 26 fought with the Polovtsians on the river bank. The Polovtsians defeated the Russians and began to ravage the Russian land everywhere. Oleg and Boris entered Chernigov. Vsevolod ran to his brother Izyaslav in Kyiv. Izyaslav promised to help. Both princes set out on a campaign together with their sons. When they approached Chernigov, the townspeople closed themselves off from them in the city, and Boris and Oleg went to gather an army to fight against their uncles. Izyaslav and Vsevolod besieged Chernigov. Vsevolod's son, Vladimir Monomakh, made his way through the eastern gates into the city and locked the Chernigovites in the Kremlin. Soon Oleg and Boris approached. A decisive battle took place near the village of Nezhataya Niva. With considerable difficulty, the uncles defeated their nephews. Boris Vyacheslavich fell at the beginning of the battle, and at the end Grand Duke Izyaslav died. Having buried his brother, Vsevolod began to reign in Kyiv, and gave Chernigov to his son Vladimir and entrusted him with all military affairs. For fifteen years he ruled the entire Russian land. Towards the end of his life, the prince became very ill and sent for his son Vladimir. When he arrived, his father died, his body was buried in the Church of St. Sophia.1 14. Svyatopolk II Izyaslavich
From the Rurik family. Son of Izyaslav I Yaroslavich and the Polish princess. Genus. ~ 1050 Prince of Polotsk in 1069-1071 Prince of Novgorod in 1078-1088. Prince of Turov in 1088-1093. Grand Duke of Kiev in 1093-1113. Wives: 1) daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Alexei I Komnena, Princess Varvara; 2) from 1094, Polovtsian princess Elena Tugorkanovna. In 1069, his father sent Svyatopolk to Polotsk in place of the deceased Mstislav. In 1071, Vseslav Bryachislavich, the former prince of Polotsk, regained the parish. Svyatopolk spent the next two years with Izyaslav Yaroslavich in Kyiv, and then shared his exile. After Izyaslav returned to Kyiv, Svyatopolk received Novgorod in 1078 and in the winter of that year he went with Vladimir Monomakh to Polotsk and burned its settlements. After the death of Vsevolod Yaroslavich in 1093, his son Vladimir Monomakh invited Svyatopolk to Kyiv; he arrived in Kyiv on April 24 and began to reign there. Immediately after this, the Polovtsy came to Kyiv and began to offer peace. Svyatopolk renounced peace and decided to put the Polovtsy in prison, on the advice of his Turov boyars. Having learned about this, the Polovtsians went to war against Rus' and besieged Torchesk. Svyatopolk changed his mind and himself offered peace, but the Polovtsians were now only inclined to war, then he asked Monomakh for help. The assembled princes went to Trepol, and the entire army crossed the Stugna. On May 26, the Polovtsy attacked Svyatopolk’s army, but it could not stand it and fled, followed by Svyatopolk himself, and then everyone else. That same night Svyatopolk reached Kyiv. And the Polovtsians besieged Torchesk for nine weeks, then split in two: some remained near the city, while others went to Kyiv. Svyatopolk went out to meet the enemies and on July 23 fought with them on Zhelan. The next day the Russians surrendered, and the Polovtsians took the city, burned it, and divided the people and took them to the steppe. Svyatopolk, no longer having the strength to wage war, made peace with the Polovtsians in 1094 and married the daughter of Tugorkan, Khan of the Polovtsians. In 1096, Svyatopolk, together with Vladimir Monomakh, expelled Oleg Svyatoslavich from the Chernigov land. Before they had time to finish this matter, immediately after this the princes learned that Khan Bonyak with many Polovtsians was plundering the lands around Kyiv and had burned the princely court in Berestov. Then Svyatopolk’s father-in-law, Tugorkan, came and stood near Pereyaslavl. Svyatopolk and Vladimir went from Starodub to the Dnieper and, secretly from the Polovtsians, crossed the Dnieper. They attacked almost suddenly and defeated the Polovtsians. Tugorkan, his son and many other khans were killed that day. Svyatopolk buried his father-in-law in Berestov. June Khan Bonyak came to Kyiv for the second time and burned the entire lowland and foothills. Afterwards, the Polovtsy rushed to the Kyiv monasteries - Stefanov, Germanov and Pechora - and, having plundered them, went back to the steppe. In 1097, Svyatopolk and Vladimir Monomakh gathered all the Russian princes in Lyubech to establish peace. The princes agreed to protect and not attack each other and to help in case of attack from outside. After the congress, Svyatopolk and Davyda Igorevich were convinced that Vladimir Monomakh and Vasilyek Rostislavovich were conspiring against them, then they decided to put Vasilek in prison, lured him and carried out their plan. That same night Svyatopolk gave Vasilko to Davyd. The prisoner was taken to Belgorod and blinded there, after which Davyd took him to his place in Volyn. Having learned about what had happened, Vladimir Monomakh, Davyd and Oleg Svyatoslavich sent their husbands to Svyatopolk with accusations against him and, not accepting excuses, decided to go to war against him. The next morning, the princes began to cross the Dnieper, and Svyatopolk already wanted to flee from Kiev, but the people of Kiev detained him and sent his stepmother, the widow of Vsevolod, to Vladimir, and with her Metropolitan Nikola, so that they begged Vladimir not to start strife again and not to ruin the Russian land. Vladimir heeded the princess’s pleas. After this, the princes began to communicate among themselves and agreed that Svyatopolk should go to war against David and either capture or drive him away. In 1099, Svyatopolk with his entire army approached Vladimir Volynsky (Vasilka had already been liberated by his brother Volodar by this time) and stood near the city for seven weeks. Finally, Davyd began to ask to be released from the city, Svyatopolk agreed and Davyd fled to Poland, and Svyatopolk was occupied by Vladimir. Then Svyatopolk went to war against Volodar and Vasilko Rostislavich, because he wanted to take away his brother’s parish from them. The regiments converged on the field at Rozhny, seeing that the Rostislavichs were prevailing, Svyatopolk fled to Vladimir, and from there to Kyiv. The war was ended by the Vitichevo peace, concluded by the princes in 1110. In the spring of 1103, Svyatopolk and Vladimir gathered for a council in Dolobsk. The princes talked about going to the steppe and they sent and invited Oleg and Davyd Svyatoslavovich with them. Davyd joined, but Oleg did not. On April 1103, a great battle took place on Suteni, in which Russians and Polovtsians fought. At the end of the battle, where Rus' gained the upper hand, 20 Polovtsian princes were killed and rich booty was captured. A few years later, at the end of winter 1111, Vladimir Monomakh, Svyatopolk and Davyd Svyatoslavovich staged a large campaign against the Polovtsians. At the end of March there was a battle between the Russians and the Polovtsians, Rus' won again and returned again with great booty. This campaign was the last significant action in which Svyatopolk took part. After Easter 1113, he fell ill and died on April 16. The squad and boyars mourned him and buried him in the Church of St. Michael in Kyiv. Conclusion
So, we have studied the reign of the Kyiv princes from the 9th to the 12th centuries and now we can answer the questions we posed at the beginning. Since at that time power was passed on by inheritance, the rulers were the descendants of Rurik, but the peculiarity of the transfer of power is that its cause most often was the murder of the heirs by their rivals, and there was a constant struggle for the throne. Because of this, there were many civil strifes that weakened the state. In addition, not everyone ruled wisely; some rulers treated their power very frivolously, spent the treasury on personal needs and abused their subjects. The main tasks of the Kyiv rulers were: the conquest of new territories; enriching the state treasury through taxes, trade, tribute and the wealth of conquered peoples; protection from foreign rulers and maintaining order within the state. What would be successful ruler at that time, you had to have a sharp enterprising mind, resourcefulness, courage, cunning, to be good warrior, strategist and hunter. Those princes who possessed these qualities ruled longer and wiser than others. List of used literature
1 - Konstantin Ryzhov. All the monarchs of the world. Russia. 600 short biographies. Moscow, 1999 Russian Historical Library. Princes Askold and Dir - briefly. http://rushist.com/index.php/russia-children/2542-knyazya-askold-i-dir-kratko
First of all, it should be noted that during the reign of the first Kyiv princes. Rus' developed, gained strength, fought for the unification of the Slavic tribes and their lands. It should be noted that the strengthening of ancient Russian statehood was inextricably linked with the struggle that Kyiv waged with the Khazars and others
nomadic tribes. Kievan Rus pursued an active foreign policy. Its rulers established diplomatic relations with neighboring countries. This was the time when the foundations of ancient Russian statehood were laid, cities and culture developed. ancient Rus'. It is no coincidence that even in ancient times Kyiv was called “the mother of Russian cities.” The first ancient Russian ruler was Oleg (882-912?). With him
The custom of regular collection of tribute - polyudya - was established. At the same time, a clearly organized preparation of the entire infrastructure for the collection, storage and transportation of collected goods was created for sending them
to the markets of Byzantium. Oleg, defending the interests of Russian merchants, made trips to Constantinople and concluded a peace treaty with Byzantium. In people's memory he remained under the name of “the prophetic Oleg”. Prince Igor (912-945), is considered the son of Rurik, it is from him (according to tradition) that the Rurik family descends. He made several trips to the Slavic lands and launched military raids on Byzantium and Asia Minor. This Kiev prince ended his days very tragically. An attempt by Igor and his squad to collect tribute from the Drevlyan tribe a second time ended in an uprising, during which Igor was caught and executed. After Igor's death, his widow, Princess Olga (945-964), ascended the Kiev throne. She introduced customary norms for collecting tribute, lessons and regulations, and under her the system of graveyards was restored, i.e. places for collecting and storing goods.
Olga was one of the first in Rus' to convert to Christianity. She was subsequently canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. Her son Svyatoslav (964-972) is known primarily as a warrior prince. Most of my short life he spent in campaigns and battles. He defeated the Khazar Khaganate and destroyed Khazar cities. Svyatoslav sought to gain a foothold on the Danube and move his capital there. However, in the spring of 972, returning from Bulgaria after a difficult war with Byzantium, he was killed by the Pechenegs on the Dnieper rapids.
After a long internecine war in 980, Svyatoslav’s son Vladimir (980-1015) ascended the Kiev throne. Under him, Kievan Rus expanded its borders even more. Vladimir undertook a series of campaigns between the Oka and Volga rivers. During this period, an attempt was made to gain a foothold on the shores of the Baltic. Vladimir
sought to strengthen his state. Under him, instead of tribal princes, his proteges were appointed as local managers. He stubbornly fought the Pechenegs and continued to strengthen the southern borders
states. In order to culturally integrate the lands, Vladimir first attempted to create a single pantheon of pagan gods in Kyiv. However, this attempt was unsuccessful. After that at 988
Vladimir converted to Christianity. The history of the adoption of Christianity shows that this process was lengthy and bears little resemblance to the “triumphant march” of the new faith across Rus'. It was difficult and
lasted for many decades, and even centuries. With the adoption of Christianity, Rus' became one of the states of the then cultural ecumene. It was from this time that literacy spread in Rus' and schools appeared. In the monasteries that emerged, the tradition of chronicle writing began to develop. There is an active process of temple construction. It can be said that the adoption of Christianity in decisive degree contributed to the flourishing of Kievan Rus, and largely determined the further trajectory of the Russian historical path.
Since 862 Rurik, according to the Tale of Bygone Years, established himself in Novgorod. According to tradition, the beginning of Russian statehood dates back to this time. (In 1862, the monument “Millennium of Russia” was erected in the Novgorod Kremlin, sculptor M. O. Mikeshin.) Some historians believe that Rurik was real historical figure, identifying him with Rurik of Friesland, who, at the head of his squad, repeatedly made campaigns against Western Europe. Rurik settled in Novgorod, one of his brothers - Sineus - on White Lake (now Belozersk, Vologda region), the other - Truvor - in Izborsk (near Pskov). Historians consider the names of the “brothers” to be a distortion of ancient Swedish words: “sineus” - “with their clans”, “truvor” - faithful squad. This usually serves as one of the arguments against the reliability of the Varangian legend. Two years later, according to chronicles, the brothers died, and Rurik handed over the management of the most important cities to his husbands. Two of them, Askold and Dir, who made an unsuccessful campaign against Byzantium, occupied Kyiv and freed the Kyivans from Khazar tribute.
After death in 879 Rurik, who did not leave behind an heir (according to another version, he was Igor, which later gave rise to historical literature to call the dynasty of Kyiv princes “Rurikovichs”, and Kievan Rus - “the power of Rurikovichs”), power in Novgorod was seized by the leader of one of the Varangian detachments Oleg (879-912).
Unification of Kyiv and Novgorod
Treaty between Rus' and the Greeks. In 882 Oleg undertook a campaign against Kyiv, where at that time Askold and Dir reigned (some historians consider these princes to be the last representatives of the Kiya family). Posing themselves as merchants, Oleg's warriors, using deception, killed Askold and Dir and captured the city. Kyiv became the center of the united state.
Rus''s trading partner was the powerful Byzantine Empire. The Kyiv princes repeatedly made campaigns against their southern neighbor. So, back in 860, Askold and Dir this time undertook a successful campaign against Byzantium. The agreement between Rus' and Byzantium, concluded by Oleg, became even more famous.
In 907 and 911 Oleg and his army successfully fought twice under the walls of Constantinople (Constantinople). As a result of these campaigns, treaties were concluded with the Greeks, drawn up, as the chronicler wrote, “in two harathys,” that is, in two copies - in Russian and Greek. This confirms that Russian writing appeared long before the adoption of Christianity. Before the advent of “Russian Pravda,” legislation was also being developed (in the agreement with the Greeks, the “Russian Law” was mentioned, according to which the inhabitants of Kievan Rus were judged).
According to the agreements, Russian merchants had the right to live for a month at the expense of the Greeks in Constantinople, but were obliged to walk around the city with weapons. At the same time, merchants had to have written documents with them and warn the Byzantine emperor about their arrival in advance. Oleg's agreement with the Greeks provided the possibility of exporting the tribute collected in Rus' and selling it in the markets of Byzantium.
Under Oleg, the Drevlyans, northerners, and Radimichi were included in his state and began to pay tribute to Kyiv. However, the process of incorporating various tribal unions into Kievan Rus was not a one-time event.
Prince Igor. Revolt of the Drevlyans
After the death of Oleg, Igor began to reign in Kyiv (912-945). During his reign in 944, an agreement with Byzantium was confirmed on less favorable terms. Under Igor, the first popular disturbance described in the chronicles occurred - the uprising of the Drevlyans in 945. The collection of tribute in the Drevlyan lands was carried out by the Varangian Sveneld with his detachment, whose enrichment caused a murmur in Igor’s squad. Igor’s warriors said: “Sveneld’s youths are decked out with weapons and ports, and we are naked. Come with us, prince, for tribute, and you will get it for yourself and for us.”
Having collected tribute and sent carts to Kyiv, Igor returned with a small detachment, “wanting more estates.” The Drevlyans gathered at the veche (the presence of their own principalities in individual Slavic lands, as well as veche gatherings, indicates that the formation of statehood continued in Kievan Rus). The Veche decided: “If a wolf gets into the habit of getting close to the sheep, he will drag everything around if you don’t kill him.” Igor's squad was killed, and the prince was executed.
Lessons and churchyards
After Igor's death, his wife Olga (945-957) brutally took revenge on the Drevlyans for the murder of her husband. The first embassy of the Drevlyans, offering Olga in return for Igor as the husband of their prince Mal, was buried alive in the ground, the second was burned. At the funeral feast (funeral), on Olga’s orders, the tipsy Drevlyans were killed. As the chronicle reports, Olga suggested that the Drevlyans give three doves and three sparrows from each yard as tribute. Lighted tow with sulfur was tied to the pigeons' feet; when they flew to their old nests, a fire broke out in the Drevlyan capital. As a result, the capital of the Drevlyans, Iskorosten (now the city of Korosten), burned down. According to the chronicles, about 5 thousand people died in the fire.
Having cruelly taken revenge on the Drevlyans, Olga was forced to streamline the collection of tribute. She established “lessons” - the amount of tribute and “cemeteries” - places for collecting tribute. Along with the camps (places where there was shelter, the necessary food supplies were stored, and the princely squad stayed while collecting tribute), graveyards appeared - apparently, the fortified courtyards of the princely rulers, where the tribute was brought. These graveyards then became strongholds of princely power.
During the reign of Igor and Olga, the lands of the Tivertsy, Ulichs and finally the Drevlyans were annexed to Kyiv.
Campaigns of Svyatoslav
Some historians consider Svyatoslav (957-972), the son of Olga and Igor, a talented commander and statesman, others argue that he was an adventurer prince who saw the goal of his life in war.
Svyatoslav was faced with the task of protecting Rus' from raids by nomads and clearing trade routes to other countries. Svyatoslav coped with this task successfully, which confirms the validity of the first point of view.
Svyatoslav, in the course of his numerous campaigns, began annexing the lands of the Vyatichi, defeated Volga Bulgaria, conquered the Mordovian tribes, defeated the Khazar Khaganate, successfully fought in the North Caucasus and the Azov coast, captured Tmutarakan on the Taman Peninsula, and repelled the onslaught of the Pechenegs. He tried to bring the borders of Rus' closer to Byzantium and became involved in the Bulgarian-Byzantine conflict, and then waged a stubborn struggle with the Emperor of Constantinople for the Balkan Peninsula. During the period of successful military operations, Svyatoslav even thought about moving the capital of his state to the Danube, to the city of Pereyaslavets, where, as he believed, the benefits from different countries": silk, gold, Byzantine utensils, silver and horses from Hungary and the Czech Republic, wax, honey, furs and captive slaves from Rus'. However, the fight with Byzantium ended unsuccessfully, Svyatoslav was surrounded by a hundred thousand Greek army. With great difficulty he managed to leave for Rus'. A non-aggression treaty was concluded with Byzantium, but the Danube lands had to be returned.
On the way to Kyiv, Svyatoslav in 972 was ambushed by the Pechenegs at the Dnieper rapids and was killed. The Pechenezh Khan ordered a cup bound in gold to be made from Svyatoslav’s skull and drank from it at feasts, believing that the glory of the murdered man would pass to him. (In the 30s of the 20th century, during the construction of the Dnieper Hydroelectric Station, steel swords were discovered at the bottom of the Dnieper, which are believed to have belonged to Svyatoslav and his warriors.)
The first prince of Kievan Rus - who is he?
Ancient tribes that settled throughout the great waterway, which connected the entire East European Plain, were united into one ethnic group called the Slavs. Tribes such as the Polyans, Drevlyans, Krivichi, Ilmen Slovenes, Northerners, Polochans, Vyatichi, Radimichi and Dregovichi were considered Slavs. Our ancestors built two greatest cities - the Dnieper and Novgorod - which at the time of the establishment of the state already existed, but did not have any ruler. The ancestors of the tribes constantly quarreled and fought with each other, having no way to find " mutual language"and come to a single decision. It was decided to call upon the Baltic princes, brothers named Rurik, Sineus and Truvor, to reign over their lands and people. These were the first names of the princes who were included in the chronicle. In 862, the prince brothers settled in three big cities- in Beloozero, Novgorod and Izborsk. The people from the Slavs turned into Russians, since the name of the tribe of the Varangian princes (and the brothers were Varangians) was called Rus.
The story of Prince Rurik - another version of events
Few people know, but there is another old legend about the emergence of Kievan Rus and the appearance of its first princes. Some historians suggest that the chronicle was incorrectly translated in some places, and if you look at a different translation, it turns out that only Prince Rurik sailed to the Slavs. “Sine-hus” in Old Norse means “clan”, “house”, and “tru-thief” means “squad”. The chronicle says that the brothers Sineus and Truvor allegedly died due to unclear circumstances, since mention of them in the chronicles disappears. Perhaps it’s just that now “tru-vor” was indicated as a “squad”, and “sine-hus” was already mentioned as a “clan”. This is how the non-existent brothers died in the chronicle and a squad with the family of Rurik appeared.
By the way, some scientists claim that Prince Rurik was none other than the Danish king Rurik of Friesland himself, who carried out a huge number of successful raids on his warlike neighbors. It was for this reason that the Slavic tribes called on him to rule their people, because Rorik was brave, strong, fearless and smart.
The reign of Prince Rurik in Rus' (862 – 879)
The first prince of Kievan Rus, Rurik, was not just an intelligent ruler for 17 years, but the founder of the princely dynasty (which became the royal dynasty years later) and the founder political system, thanks to which Kievan Rus became a great and powerful state despite the fact that it was founded quite recently. Since the newly formed state had not yet been fully formed, Rurik devoted most of his reign to the seizure of lands by uniting all the Slavic tribes: the Northerners, the Drevlyans, the Smolensk Krivichi, the Chud and Ves tribe, the Psovsky Krivichi, the Merya tribe and the Radimichi. One of his greatest achievements, thanks to which Rurik strengthened his authority in Rus', was the suppression of the uprising of Vadim the Brave, which took place in Novgorod.
In addition to Prince Rurik, there were two more brothers, relatives of the prince, who ruled in Kyiv. The brothers' names were Askold and Dir, but if you believe the legends, Kyiv existed long before their reign and was founded by three brothers Kiy Shchek and Khoriv, as well as their sister Lybid. At that time, Kyiv did not yet have a dominant significance in Rus', and Novgorod was the residence of the prince.
Princes of Kyiv – Askold and Dir (864 – 882)
The first Kyiv princes entered history only partially, since very little was written about them in the Tale of Past Years. It is known that they were warriors of Prince Rurik, but then they left him down the Dnieper to Constantinople, but, having captured Kiev along the way, they decided to stay here to reign. Details of their reign are not known, but there are records of their deaths. Prince Rurik left the reign to his young son Igor, and until he grew up, Oleg was the prince. Having received power into their own hands, Oleg and Igor went to Kyiv and in a conspiracy killed the Kyiv princes, justifying themselves by the fact that they did not belong to the princely family and did not have the right to reign. They ruled from 866 to 882. Such were the first Kyiv princes - Askold and Dir.
Prince of Ancient Rus' – reign of Prince Oleg the Prophet (879 – 912)
After the death of Rurik, power passed to his warrior Oleg, who was soon nicknamed the Prophetic. Oleg the Prophet ruled Russia until Rurik's son, Igor, came of age and could become a prince. It was during the reign of Prince Oleg that Rus' gained such power that such great states as Byzantium and even Constantinople could envy it. The regent of Prince Igor multiplied all the achievements that Prince Rurik achieved and enriched Rus' even more. Gathering a huge army under his command, he went down the Dnieper River and conquered Smolensk, Lyubech and Kyiv.
After the murder of Askold and Dir, the Drevlyans who inhabited Kyiv recognized Igor as their legitimate ruler, and Kyiv became the capital of Kievan Rus. Oleg recognized himself as a Russian, and not a foreign ruler, thus becoming the first truly Russian prince. Prophetic Oleg's campaign against Byzantium ended in his victory, thanks to which the Rus received favorable benefits for trade with Constantinople.
During his campaign against Constantinople, Oleg showed unprecedented “Russian ingenuity” by ordering the warriors to nail wheels to the ships, due to which they were able to “ride” across the plain with the help of the wind right to the gate. The formidable and powerful ruler of Byzantium, named Leo VI, surrendered, and Oleg, as a sign of his impeccable victory, nailed his shield to the very gates of Constantinople. This was a very inspiring symbol of victory for the entire squad, after which his army followed their leader with even greater devotion.
Prophecy of the death of Oleg the Prophet
Oleg the Prophet died in 912, having ruled the country for 30 years. There are very interesting legends about his death, and even ballads were written. Before his campaign with his squad against the Khazars, Oleg met a magician on the road who prophesied the prince’s death from his own horse. The Magi were held in high esteem in Rus', and their words were considered the true truth. Prince Oleg the Prophet was no exception, and after such a prophecy he ordered a new horse to be brought to him. But he loved his old “comrade in arms”, who had gone through more than one battle with him, and could not easily forget about him.
Many years later, Oleg learns that his horse has long gone into oblivion, and the prince decides to go to his bones to make sure that the prophecy did not come true. Stepping on the bones, Prince Oleg says goodbye to his “lonely friend,” and almost convinced that death has passed, he does not notice how a poisonous snake crawls out of his skull and bites him. This is how Oleg the Prophet met his death.
Reign of Prince Igor (912 – 945)
After the death of Prince Oleg, Igor Rurikovich took over the rule of Russia, although in fact he was considered the ruler since 879. Remembering the enormous achievements of the first princes, Prince Igor did not want to lag behind them, and therefore also often went on campaigns. During his reign, Rus' was subjected to many attacks by the Pechenegs, so the prince decided to conquer neighboring tribes and force them to pay tribute. He dealt with this problem quite well, but he was never able to fulfill his old dream and complete the conquest of Constantinople, since everything inside the state gradually plunged into chaos. The powerful princely hand weakened in comparison with Oleg and Rurik, and many obstinate tribes noticed this. For example, the Drevlyans refused to pay tribute to the prince, after which a riot arose, which had to be pacified with blood and sword. It would seem that everything had already been decided, but the Drevlyans spent a long time building a plan for revenge on Prince Igor, and a few years later it overtook him. We'll talk about this a little later.
Prince Igor was unable to keep his neighbors under control, with whom he signed peaceful agreement. Having agreed with the Khazars that on the way to the Caspian Sea they would allow his army to go to the sea, and in return he would give up half of the booty received, the prince and his squad were practically destroyed on the way home. The Khazars realized that they outnumbered the army of the Russian prince, and staged a brutal massacre, after which only Igor and several dozen of his warriors managed to escape.
Victory over Constantinople
This was not his last shameful defeat. He felt another thing in the battle with Constantinople, which also destroyed almost the entire princely squad in battle. Prince Igor was so angry that in order to wash away the shame of his name, he gathered his entire squad, the Khazars and even the Pechenegs, under his command. In this formation they moved to Constantinople. Byzantine Emperor learned from the Bulgarians about the approaching disaster, and upon the arrival of the prince, he began to ask for mercy, offering very favorable conditions for cooperation.
Prince Igor did not enjoy his brilliant victory for long. The revenge of the Drevlyans overtook him. A year after the campaign against Constantinople, as part of a small detachment of tribute collectors, Igor went to the Drevlyans to collect tribute. But they again refused to pay and destroyed all the tax collectors, and with them the prince himself. Thus ended the reign of Prince Igor Rurikovich.
Reign of Princess Olga (945 – 957)
Princess Olga was the wife of Prince Igor, and for the betrayal and murder of the prince she cruelly took revenge on the Drevlyans. The Drevlyans were almost completely destroyed, without any damage to the Russians. Olga's ruthless strategy exceeded all expectations. Having gone on a campaign to Iskorosten (Korosten), the princess and her friend spent almost a year under siege near the city. Then the great ruler ordered a tribute to be collected from each household: three doves or sparrows. The Drevlyans were very happy with such a low tribute, and therefore almost immediately hastened to carry out the order, wanting to appease the princess. But the woman was distinguished by a very sharp mind, and therefore she ordered that smoldering tow be tied to the legs of the birds, and they were released into freedom. The birds, carrying fire with them, returned to their nests, and since houses had previously been built from straw and wood, the city quickly began to burn and was completely burned to the ground.
After my great victory, the princess went to Constantinople and received holy baptism there. Being pagans, the Rus could not accept such an outburst from their princess. But the fact remains a fact, and Princess Olga is considered the first who brought Christianity to Rus' and remained faithful to her faith until the end of her days. At baptism, the princess took the name Elena, and for such courage she was elevated to the rank of saints.
Such were the princes of ancient Rus'. Strong, brave, merciless and smart. They managed to unite eternally warring tribes into one people, form a powerful and rich state and glorify their names for centuries.
