Big nest. History of Russia. Vsevolod Yurievich Big Nest

The nickname of this Grand Duke of Rus' is not accidental: despite the relatively short (only 58 years) life (1154-1212), this ruler of Rus' rightfully occupies a worthy place in the Russian Book of Records, not to mention the Guinness Book. He was married twice, but he left behind a rich demographic legacy - 12 (!) children. Today, such large families in our country are a huge rarity: a maximum of 1-2, or even 3 children. The population of today's Russia fluctuates around the mark of 147 million people. (taking into account the annexation of Crimea, where the population is about 2.5 million). Demography in Russia is a very slippery and complex issue. With such a territory as our country, this figure is catastrophically low! In the same Russian Empire, the population was about 185 million, and large families were a completely normal and natural phenomenon. The norm was to have from 5 to 10 children in a family. The USSR shortly before its collapse consisted of 290 million people, 160 (about 60%) of which were Russians. But you won’t get far on maternity capital: a fundamentally new approach is needed so that the size of YOUR population (and not imported) begins to grow by leaps and bounds. In China, for example, since the time of Qin Shi Huang, the following practice has been used: the more children you give birth to, the faster you will be exempted from paying taxes and come under the guardianship of the state. This system looked like this: 1 child - 20 years of taxes, 2 - 15, 3 - 10, 4 - 5, 5 or more - lifelong tax exemption. And I must say that this approach not only benefited China, but also played a cruel joke on it: the state was not able to feed such a hefty anthill, numbering almost 1.5 billion (!!!) people. As a result, this led to the fact that the Chinese began to disperse en masse in all directions, and the government of the country decided to reduce its population by adopting the "one child per family" program. During the Second World War, China's losses amounted to 40 million people - more than those of the USSR (27-30 million), and during the years of the Cultural Revolution, the number of victims increased even more - 60 million. Today, the results of the "one child in the family" program have led to the fact that 400 (!!!) million people are rapidly turning into pensioners, in connection with which the authorities of the Celestial Empire have already gone for some mitigation, allowing them to raise no more than 2 children.
So I'm thinking: will the Chinese experience really pull Russia out, or will there still be people who will solve the demographic problem without outside help?
Birth of Prince Vsevolod, son of Yuri Dolgoruky. Front Chronicle
Vsevolod Yurievich the Big Nest (baptized Dmitry, 1154 - April 15, 1212) - Grand Duke of Vladimir from 1176. The tenth son of Yuri Dolgoruky, the younger brother of Andrei Bogolyubsky. Under him, the Grand Duchy of Vladimir reached its highest power. He had a large offspring - 12 children (including 8 sons), so he received the nickname "Big Nest". For five weeks (from February to March 24, 1173) he reigned in Kyiv. In Russian historiography it is sometimes called Vsevolod III.

The reign of Vsevolod is the period of the highest rise of the Vladimir-Suzdal land. The reasons for the success of Vsevolod are reliance on new cities (Vladimir, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Dmitrov, Gorodets, Kostroma, Tver), where the boyars before him were relatively weak, as well as reliance on the nobility.

Princely strife after the death of Andrei Bogolyubsky
The riots that followed the murder of Andrey aroused in the best, most prosperous part of the population a desire to quickly end anarchy, i.e. to call upon the princes, without whom Ancient Rus' could not even imagine the existence of any social order, and especially any external security. Boyars and combatants from Rostov, Suzdal, Pereyaslavl gathered in Vladimir and, together with the Vladimir squad, began to report on which of the descendants of Yuri Dolgoruky should be called to reign. Many voices pointed to the need to hasten this matter, because the neighboring princes, Murom and Ryazan, perhaps, would take it into their heads to avenge the previous oppression from Suzdal and come with an army, taking advantage of the fact that there is no prince in Suzdal. This fear was justified; for at that time the stern, enterprising prince Gleb Rostislavich was sitting on the Ryazan table. There is even reason to believe that the aforementioned unrest in the Suzdal land and the very murder of Andrei Bogolyubsky did not take place without some participation of Gleb Ryazansky, with the help of his supporters and minions. At the Vladimir Congress we find his ambassadors, two Ryazan boyars, Dedilts and Boris.

In addition to the young son of Yuri Novgorodsky, after Andrey there were two of his younger brothers, Mikhail and Vsevolod, who were his brothers by father, and not by mother, being born from Dolgoruky's second wife. He also had two nephews, Mstislav and Yaropolk Rostislavich. Under the influence of the Ryazan ambassadors, the majority of the congress leaned over to the side of the nephews, who were the shuryas of Gleb Ryazansky; since he was married to their sister. The congress sent several men to the Ryazan prince with a request to add their ambassadors to them and send them all together for their shuryas. Both brothers and nephews of Andrei at that time lived with the Chernigov prince Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich. Obviously, not all Suzdalians wanted nephews; some still remembered the oath given by Dolgoruky to seat his younger sons on their table. In addition, the Chernigov prince patronized the Yurievichs more than the Rostislavichs. Therefore, things arranged in such a way that all four princes went to the Rostov-Suzdal land to reign in it together; seniority was recognized for Mikhalk Yurievich; on which they swore an oath before the Bishop of Chernigov. Mikhalko and one of the Rostislavichs, Yaropolk, went ahead. But when they reached Moscow, they were met here by a new embassy, ​​actually from the Rostovites, who announced Mikhalka to wait in Moscow, and Yaropolk was invited to go further. Obviously, the Rostovites did not like the Chernigov treaty on the joint reign of the Yurievichs with the Rostislavichs and on the seniority of Mikhalok. But the people of Vladimir accepted the latter and put him on their table.

Then a struggle or internecine strife began between uncles and nephews - a struggle, especially curious in terms of the different attitudes towards it of the Suzdal cities. The eldest of them, Rostov, of course, looked with displeasure at the preference that Andrei gave to the younger Vladimir before him. Now it seemed to be a convenient time for the Rostovites to regain their former paramount importance and humble Vladimir. Calling it their "suburb", the Rostovites demanded that he obey their decisions, following the example of other Russian lands: "For from the beginning, the Novgorodians, Smolnians, Kievans, Polochans and all the authorities, as if at a thought in the veche, converge, and on what the elders put, the suburbs will become." Irritated by the pride of the Vladimir people, the Rostovites said: "After all, these are our serfs and masons; let's burn Vladimir or put our posadnik in it again." In this struggle, another older city, Suzdal, stood on the side of Rostov; and Pereyaslavl-Zalessky discovered hesitation between opponents. Rostov and Suzdal gathered a large army, received more help from Murom and Ryazan, laid siege to Vladimir, and after a stubborn defense forced him to submit to his decision for a while. Mikhalko retired again to Chernigov; in Rostov sat the elder Rostislavich Mstislav, and in Vladimir the younger Yaropolk. These young, inexperienced princes completely submitted to the influence of the Rostov boyars, who hurried to enrich themselves at the expense of the people by all sorts of falsehoods and oppressions. In addition, Rostislav brought with him the South Russian combatants, who also received the positions of posadniks and tiuns and also began to oppress the people with sales (penalties) and virs. Yaropolk's advisers even seized the keys to the storerooms of the Assumption Cathedral, began to plunder its treasures, take away from him the villages and tributes approved for him by Andrei. Yaropolk allowed his ally and brother-in-law Gleb Ryazansky to take possession of some church treasures, such as books, vessels, and even the most miraculous icon of the Mother of God.

When in this way not only the political pride of the Vladimirites was offended, but also their religious feeling was touched, then they stepped in with even greater energy and again called the Yuryeviches from Chernigov. Mikhalko appeared with the Chernigov auxiliary squad and expelled the Rostislavichs from the Suzdal land. Grateful to Vladimir, he again approved the main princely table in him; and planted his brother Vsevolod in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. Rostov and Suzdal were again humiliated, not having received a special prince for themselves. Mikhalko lived for a long time in Southern Rus' and was distinguished there by feats of arms, especially against the Polovtsians. Having established himself in Vladimir, he immediately forced Gleb of Ryazan to turn back the main shrine of Vladimir, i.e. the icon of the Mother of God, and everything that was stolen by him from the Assumption Church.

But already in the next 1177, Mikhalko died, and the younger Yuryevich Vsevolod settled in Vladimir. The Rostov boyars tried again to challenge the primacy of Vladimir and again called on the Rostislavichs to reign. The same Gleb Ryazansky again acted as their zealous ally. He entered the Suzdal land with hired crowds of Polovtsy, burned Moscow, rushed straight through the forests to Vladimir and plundered Bogolyubov with his Nativity Church. Meanwhile, Vsevolod, having received help from the Novgorodians and Svyatoslav of Chernigov, went to the Ryazan land; but, having heard that Gleb was already ruining the environs of his capital, he hurried back and met the enemy on the banks of the Koloksha River, which flows into the Klyazma on the left. Gleb suffered a complete defeat here, was taken prisoner and soon died in custody. Both Rostislavichs were also captured by Vsevolod; but then, at the request of the Chernigov prince, they were released to relatives in Smolensk.

The reign of Vsevolod the Big Nest
With such a brilliant victory, Vsevolod III, nicknamed the Big Nest, began his reign, who again united the entire Rostov-Suzdal land in his hands.
Vsevolod spent his youth in different places, in the midst of various circumstances and changes in his destiny, which greatly contributed to the development of his practical, flexible mind and government abilities. By the way, while still a child, he, with his mother and brothers (expelled by Andrei from Suzdal), spent some time in Byzantium, from where he could take away many instructive impressions; then he lived for a long time in Southern Rus', where he was skilled in military affairs. By pacifying the seditious Rostovites by defeating a hostile neighbor, the Prince of Ryazan, and by the final rise of the Vladimirites, Vsevolod from the very beginning became their favorite; they attributed its successes to the special patronage of their shrine, the miraculous icon of the Virgin. The very behavior of Vsevolod at the beginning of his reign is tinged with some gentleness and good nature. After the victory at Koloksha, the Vladimir boyars and merchants almost rebelled because the prince left the captive Rostov, Suzdal and Ryazan residents free; to calm the excitement, he was forced to seat them in prisons. Something similar happened a few years later, during the siege of the Novgorod suburb of Torzhok: when the prince hesitated to attack, as if sparing the city, his squad began to grumble, saying: “We didn’t come to kiss them,” and the prince was forced to take the city on a shield. From the same data of historians, we have every right to conclude that some prominent features in the activities of the famous North Russian prince, in addition to his personal character, were determined by the environment, the nature of the North Russian population.

Obviously, the unfortunate end that befell Andrei's attempt to introduce complete autocracy, according to a natural historical law, led the so-called. a reaction in favor of those whom he tried to completely subjugate to his will, that is, in favor of the boyars and the squad. During the internecine strife that occurred after his death, the Rostov and Suzdal boyars were defeated and humiliated, but only in order to join their winners, the boyars and Vladimir warriors, and have common interests with them. As in other regions of Rus', the northeastern cities during these troubles show devotion to their princely family (the offspring of Dolgoruky) and do not call princes from any other branch. But they also do not put them on their table unconditionally, but only according to a certain row, or agreement. So, in connection with the aforementioned oppression of the people from the alien warriors of Yaropolk Rostislavich, the Vladimirians began to create vechas at which they said in the following sense: "We of our own free will accepted the prince and established ourselves with him by kissing the cross; and these (South Russians) are not at all befitting to sit with us and rob someone else's volost. Trade, brothers!" In the same way, not without a row, the Vladimirians planted Mikhalok, and then Vsevolod. This series, of course, consisted in confirming the old customs, which ensured the advantages of the military class or boyars and squads, as well as some rights of the zemstvo people in relation to the court and administration. Consequently, in North-Eastern Rus', we still see the same customs and attitudes of the squad towards their princes, as in South, the same city councils. However, all the northern princes, up to and including Vsevolod, spent part of their lives in South Rus', had possessions there and brought with them to the north many South Russians, including Kyivans. Northern Rus' was still nourished by Kievan customs and traditions, so to speak, by Kievan citizenship.

At the same time, however, those distinguishing features that subsequently developed and gave North-Eastern Rus' a different shade in comparison with Kievan Rus begin to come out. The boyars and the retinue in the north take on a more zemstvo tone than in the south, more sedentary and landowning; they stand closer to other estates and do not represent such a predominance in military strength as in the south. Like Novgorod, the Suzdal militia is primarily a zemstvo army, with boyars and a retinue at the head. The North-Eastern squad less separates its benefits from the interests of the land; it unites more with the rest of the population and more assists the princes in their political and economic concerns. In a word, in North-Eastern Rus' we see the beginnings of more state relations. Some features of the Suzdal boyars seemed to recall the ambitious aspirations of the contemporary Galician boyars. But in the north it could not find the same favorable ground for its claims. The population here was distinguished by a less impressionable and mobile, more reasonable character; in the neighborhood there were no Ugrians and Poles, ties with which nourished and supported internal seditions. On the contrary, as soon as the Suzdal land calmed down under the firm, intelligent rule of Vsevolod III, the northern boyars became his zealous assistant. Being more cold-blooded and more cautious than his older brother, Vsevolod not only did not enter into an open struggle with the boyars, but caressed him, observed the old customs and relations in appearance, and used his advice in zemstvo affairs. In the person of Vsevolod III, in general, we see a prince who presented a wonderful example of a northern, or Great Russian, character, active, prudent, thrifty, capable of steadily pursuing his goal, of a cruel or gentle course of action, depending on the circumstances, in a word, those very features on which the state building of great Russia was built.

Vsevolod's struggle with neighboring principalities
When the troubles caused by the murder of Andrei ended, and Vsevolod restored autocracy in the Rostov-Suzdal principality, then it turned out to be possible to restore its predominance over the neighboring Russian regions, Novgorod, on the one hand, and Muromo-Ryazan, on the other. The desire for this predominance was not only a personal matter of the Prince of Vladimir, but also of his boyars, squads and people, who were aware of their superiority in strength and had already become accustomed to such predominance under Yuri Dolgoruky and Andrei Bogolyubsky. In the review of Novgorod history, we saw how Vsevolod succeeded in re-establishing Suzdal influence in Veliky Novgorod and giving him princes from his own hands. He achieved even more decisive predominance in the Ryazan region. This area after Gleb, who died in captivity in Vladimir, was divided by his sons, who recognized themselves as dependent on Vsevolod and sometimes turned to him to resolve their disputes. But here the Suzdal influence clashed with the influence of Chernigov, since the Ryazan princes were the younger branch of the Chernigov ones. Vsevolod had to quarrel with his benefactor Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich, who considered himself the head of not only the Chernigov-Seversky princes, but also Ryazan, intervened in their feuds, and also supported Novgorod the Great in his struggle with Suzdal and planted his son there. It came to an open rupture.

The Chernigov prince, together with the Seversk squads and hired Polovtsy, undertook a campaign in the Suzdal land. Near the mouth of the Tvertsa, they were joined by the Novgorodians, who were brought by his son (Vladimir). Having devastated the banks of the Volga, Svyatoslav, not reaching Pereyaslavl-Zalessky forty miles, met Vsevolod III, who, in addition to the Suzdal regiments, had with him auxiliary squads from Ryazan and Murom. Despite the impatience of those around him, cautious and prudent as a true northern prince, Vsevolod did not want to risk a decisive battle with the southern Russian regiments, known for their military prowess; and began to expect the enemy beyond the Vlena River (the left tributary of the Dubna, which flows into the Volga). He pitched his camp on its steep banks, in a country cut by ravines and hills. For two weeks both troops stood, looking at each other from the opposite bank. Vsevolod ordered the Ryazan princes to make an unexpected night attack. The Ryazans broke into the camp of Svyatoslav and caused confusion there. But when Vsevolod Trubchevsky ("buoy-tour" of "The Tale of Igor's Campaign") arrived in time to help the Chernigovites, the people of Ryazan fled, having lost many killed and captured. In vain Svyatoslav sent to Vsevolod with a proposal to resolve the matter by the Court of God and asked for this to retreat from the coast so that he could cross. Vsevolod detained the ambassadors and did not answer. Meanwhile, spring was approaching: fearing the flood of waters, Svyatoslav abandoned the convoy and hurried to leave (1181). The following year, the rivals restored their old friendship and became related by the marriage of one of Svyatoslav's sons to Vsevolod's sister-in-law, Princess Yasskaya. And soon after (in 1183), when Vsevolod planned a campaign against the Kama Bolgars and asked Svyatoslav for help, he sent him a detachment with his son Vladimir.

Vsevolod's campaign against the Kama Bulgarians
This last war arose as a result of robberies to which the Bulgarian ships on the Oka and Volga were subjected from the Ryazan and Murom freemen. Not having received satisfaction for insults, the Bulgarians armed the ship's army, in turn devastated the environs of Murom and reached Ryazan itself. The campaign of Vsevolod III therefore had the value of the general defense of Russian lands from foreigners. In addition to the Suzdal, Ryazan and Murom regiments, Chernigov and Smolny residents took part in it. Up to eight princes gathered in Vladimir-on-Klyazma. The Grand Duke feasted merrily with his guests for several days, and then on May 20 went on a campaign with them. Suzdal Klyazma descended into the Oka and then joined with the allied regiments. The cavalry went across the field past the Mordovian villages, and the ship's army sailed along the Volga. Having reached one Volga island, called Isady, the princes stopped the ships here under the cover of a predominantly Belozersky squad with the governor Foma Laskovich; and with the rest of the army and with the cavalry they entered the land of the Silver Bolgars. The Grand Duke made peace with the neighboring Mordovian tribes, and they willingly sold food supplies to the Russian army. On the way, the Russians were suddenly joined by a Polovtsian detachment, which was brought by one of the Bulgarian princes against their fellow tribesmen. Obviously, in Kama Bulgaria there were the same civil strife as in Rus', and the Bulgarian rulers also brought steppe barbarians to their land. The Russian army approached the "Great City", that is, the main capital. The young princes galloped up to the very gates and fought with the enemy infantry that had strengthened around them. Vsevolod's nephew Izyaslav Glebovich was especially distinguished by his courage; but an enemy arrow pierced him through the armor under the heart, so that he was carried dead to the Russian camp. The mortal wound of his beloved nephew greatly saddened Vsevolod; he stood ten days under the city; and without taking it, he went back. Meanwhile, the Belozersk, who remained at the courts, were attacked by roundabout Bulgarians, who sailed along the Volga from the cities of Sobekul and Chelmat; Bulgarians, called Temtuzes, and cavalry from Torchesk also joined them; the number of attackers reached 5000. The enemies were defeated. They were in a hurry to leave on their trains; but the Russian boats pursued them and drowned more than 1000 people. The Russian infantry returned home in the same order; on the courts; and the cavalry also went through the lands of Mordva, with which this time it was not without hostile clashes.

The body of Izyaslav Glebovich, who died dearly, was brought to Vladimir and buried in the golden-domed church of the Virgin. His brother, Vladimir Glebovich, as we have seen, reigned in Southern Pereyaslavl and distinguished himself by his heroism during the invasion of Konchak of Polovtsy. If not about these Glebovichi, then about the Ryazan ones, “The Tale of Igor's Campaign” recalls when it refers to the power of the Suzdal prince: “Grand Duke Vsevolod! You can scatter the oars on the Volga, and pour out the helmets on the Don. Even if you were (here), then there would be a chaga (captive) in the legs, and koshchei in cuts. You can, on dry land, shoot live shereshirs (throwing weapons), the daring sons of Glebov. That such an appeal was not just rhetoric and that Vsevolod took to heart the insults of the Russian land from the barbarians, this is shown by his big campaign against the Polovtsians, undertaken in the spring of 1199 with the Suzdal and Ryazan regiments. He reached the Polovtsian winter quarters on the banks of the Don and ruined them; The Polovtsy did not dare to fight him; with their wagons and herds they went to the very sea.

Domestic policy of Vsevolod the Big Nest
The restless Ryazan princes, with their strife and indignation, brought a lot of trouble to Vsevolod. He several times undertook campaigns in their land and completely subjugated it. The princes of the neighboring Smolensk region also revered his seniority. As for Southern Rus', even during the life of the energetic Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich, the influence of the Suzdal prince was restored there. The latter could more conveniently intervene in the affairs of the Dnieper region, since he himself had a hereditary volost Pereyaslavskaya in it, which he held first with his nephews, and then with his own sons. We have seen that after the death of Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich, his successors occupied the Kiev throne only with the consent of Vsevolod III. He achieved such predominance not by sending troops there, like Andrei Bogolyubsky, but by the only skillful policy, albeit combined with some deceit. It is known how he deftly quarreled Rurik of Kyiv with Roman Volynsky and prevented the close alliance of these strongest rulers of Southwestern Rus', which could rebuff the claims of Northeastern Rus'.

With the help of a clever and cautious policy, Vsevolod gradually established order and tranquility in his land, established his power and was successful in almost all important enterprises. It is also imperceptible that he diligently followed the autocratic aspirations of Bogolyubsky. Taught by his fate, he, on the contrary, is the keeper of the old warrior customs and honors the great boyars. The annals do not mention any displeasure on their part; although in praise of Vsevolod they add that he did impartial judgment to the people and did not pander to strong people who offended the lesser ones. Of the great boyars of Vsevolod, who distinguished themselves as governors, the chronicle names Foma Laskovich and the old Dorozhay, who also served Yuri Dolgoruky: they were governors in the Bulgarian campaign of 1183. The following are mentioned: Yakov, the "sister" of the Grand Duke (nephew from his sister), who accompanied Verkhuslav Vsevolodovna, the bride of Rostislav Rurikovich, to South Rus' with the boyars and boyars; tiun Gyurya, who was sent to restore the Oster Gorodok; Kuzma Ratshich, the "sword" of the Grand Duke, who in 1210 went with the army to the Ryazan land, and others.

The actions of Vsevolod on the issue of the appointment of Rostov bishops are curious. Like Bogolyubsky, he tried to choose them himself, and exclusively from the Russian people, and not from the Greeks, by which, undoubtedly, he fulfilled the people's desire. One day, the Metropolitan of Kiev Niknfor appointed Nikola Grechin to the Rostov cathedra, whom, according to the chronicle, he put "on a bribe", that is, he took money from him. But the prince and "people" did not accept him and sent him back (about 1184). Vsevolod sent an ambassador to Kiev to Svyatoslav and the Metropolitan with a request to appoint Luka, hegumen at the Savior on Berestovo, to the Rostov bishopric, a man of humble spirit and meek, therefore, one who could not enter into any dispute with princely power. The Metropolitan resisted, but Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich supported the request, and Luka was sent to Rostov, and Nikola Grechin to Polotsk. When the humble Luke died four years later, the Grand Duke chose his own confessor John as his successor, whom he sent to be ordained to the Metropolitan of Kyiv. John, apparently, was also a quiet bishop, obedient to the Grand Duke and, in addition, his active assistant in church building.

Buildings of Vsevolod
Quite frequent wars and campaigns did not prevent Vsevolod from diligently engaging in economic, construction, judicial, family, etc. affairs. In peacetime, he did not live in his capital Vladimir, but conscientiously fulfilled the ancient custom of polyudya, i.e. he himself traveled to the regions, collected tribute, judged criminals, sorted out lawsuits. From the annals, we learn that various events find him in Suzdal, then in Rostov, then in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, in the polyudye. At the same time, he oversaw the health of the fortifications, built citadels or corrected dilapidated city walls. Deserted cities were restored (for example, Gorodok Ostersky). Fire in particular provided food for building activities. So in 1185, on April 18, a terrible fire devastated Vladimir-on-Klyazma; Almost the entire city burned down. The prince's court and up to 32 churches fell victim to the fire; including the cathedral Cathedral of the Assumption, created by Andrei Bogolyubsky. At the same time, his jewelry, expensive vessels, silver chandeliers, icons in gold frames with pearls, liturgical books, expensive princely clothes and various “patterns”, or fabrics embroidered with gold (oxamites), which were hung in the church during major holidays, perished. Many of these treasures were kept in the church chamber, or pantry, in the choirs; confused ministers threw them out of the tower into the churchyard, where they also became prey to the flames.

The Grand Duke immediately began to destroy the traces of the fire; by the way, he rebuilt the citadel, the prince's tower, and renovated the golden-domed temple of the Assumption; moreover, he expanded it by adding new walls on three sides; and around the middle dome he erected four smaller ones, which he also gilded. When the renovation was completed, in 1189 the cathedral church was again and solemnly consecrated by Bishop Lukoy. Three or four years later, almost half of Vladimir again became a prey to the flames: up to 14 churches burned down; but the prince's court and the cathedral church survived this time. In 1199, on July 25, we read the news of the third great fire in Vladimir: it began during the liturgy and lasted until vespers; moreover, almost half of the city and up to 16 churches burned down again. Renovating old churches, Vsevolod decorated his capital city with new ones; among other things, he erected the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin, in which he built a monastery, and also the Church of the Assumption, in which his wife Mary founded a convent. But the most famous building of the Grand Duke is the court temple in honor of his saint, Demetrius of Thessalonica; since the Christian name of Vsevolod III was Demetrius. This temple to this day represents the most elegant monument of ancient Russian art.

Bishop John, his former confessor, helped Vsevolod a lot in his building work. By the way, they renovated the cathedral church of the Theotokos in the city of Suzdal, which had fallen into disrepair from time and neglect. Its tops were again covered with tin, and the walls were again plastered. Curious about this is the following news from the chronicler: this time the bishop did not address the German masters; but he found his own, of which some poured tin, others winged, others prepared lime and whitewashed the walls. Consequently, the construction activities of Yuri, Andrei and Vsevolod did not remain without influence on the education of purely Russian master technicians; Vsevolod III is a model of the northern family prince. God blessed him with numerous offspring; as indicated by the very name of his Big Nest. We know the names of eight of his sons and several of his daughters. His attachment to old family customs is indicated, among other things, by the news of the chronicle about the tonsure of the prince's sons. This ancient all-Slavic rite consisted in cutting off the hair of a three- or four-year-old prince and putting him on a horse for the first time; and arranged a feast. In Christian times, of course, prayers and the blessing of the church were added to such a rite. Vsevolod celebrated the tonsure with special solemnity and set merry feasts. With even greater feasts and generous gifts, he accompanied the marriage of his son and the marriage of his daughter. We saw how he passed off his beloved daughter Verkhuslav-Anastasia for Ryurikov's son Rostislav.

Family of Vsevolod the Big Nest
Vsevolod was married to a Yassian, or Alanian, princess. Among the Russian princes of that time we meet more than one example of a marriage union with individual Caucasian rulers, partly Christian, partly semi-pagan. It may very well be that the beauty of the Circassian women, different from Russian women, captivated our princes. However, by all indications, in the XII century, ancient relations with the Caucasian peoples, established during the time of Russian rule on the shores of the Azov and Black Seas, still continued, i.e. in the Tmutarakan land. People from the Caucasus often entered the Russian service and were even among the close princely servants, such as, for example, the famous Anbal, the housekeeper of Andrei Bogolyubsky. The wife of Vsevolod Maria, although she grew up in a semi-pagan country, like many Russian princesses, was distinguished by her special piety, zeal for the church and charity. A monument to her piety is the aforementioned Dormition Convent in Vladimir, which she built. For the last seven or eight years of her life, the Grand Duchess was dejected by some kind of serious illness. In 1206, she took the vows in her Assumption monastery, where a few days later she died and was solemnly buried, mourned by the Grand Duke, children, clergy and people. Maria, apparently, arrived in Russia not alone, but with her whole family, or later summoned her loved ones to her, perhaps after some unfortunate upheaval for her family in her homeland. At least the chronicle mentions two of her sisters: one of. Vsevolod gave them to the son of Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich of Kyiv, and the other to Yaroslav Vladimirovich, whom he kept on the table of Veliky Novgorod as a brother-in-law and assistant. Yaroslav's wife also died in Vladimir, even before the Grand Duchess, and was buried in her own Dormition Convent. In general, more than one orphaned or persecuted relative found shelter and affection with this hospitable Vladimir couple. So, under her wing, the sister of the Grand Duke, the unloved wife of Osmomysl of Galitsky, Olga Yuryevna, spent the rest of her life in the black houses Euphrosyne (she died in 1183 and was buried in the Vladimir Assumption Cathedral), and the widow of brother Mikhalk Yuryevich, Fevronia, who survived her husband twenty-five years (buried in the Suzdal Cathedral). Loving a full family life, the Grand Duke, after the death of his first wife, obviously missed his widowhood, and, being almost a sixty-year-old old man, already having many grandchildren, he entered into a second marriage with the daughter of the Vitebsk prince Vasilko, in 1209. A child-loving family man, Vsevolod III was not always a benevolent prince in relation to his nephews and, like Andrei, did not give them inheritances in the Suzdal region, including Bogolyubsky's son Yuri. However, the latter, perhaps, by his behavior armed his uncle against himself. Russian chronicles do not tell us anything about the fate of Yuri Andreevich. Only from foreign sources do we learn that, persecuted by his uncle, he retired to one of the Polovtsian khans. Then an embassy from Georgia came to him with a marriage proposal. At that time, the famous Tamara sat on the throne of Georgia, after her father George III. When the Georgian clergy and nobles were looking for a worthy groom for her, then one noble man, named Abulasan, pointed out to them the name of Yuri, as a young man who, by his origin, handsome appearance, intelligence and courage, was quite worthy of Tamara's hand. The nobles approved this choice and sent one merchant as an ambassador to Yuri. This latter arrived in Georgia, married Tamara and at first marked himself with feats of arms in wars with hostile neighbors. But then he changed his behavior, indulged in wine and every revelry; so that Tamara, after vain admonitions, divorced him and sent him into the Greek dominions. He returned to Georgia and tried to make a rebellion against the Queen; but was defeated and expelled again. His further fate is unknown.

Denying inheritances to his nephews, Vsevolod, however, in relation to his sons did not show any concern for the subsequent successes of autocracy. According to the custom of the old Russian princes, he divided his lands between them and even revealed a lack of state foresight, in which, undoubtedly, he was inferior to his brother Andrei. Vsevolod had six sons alive: Konstantin, Yuri, Yaroslav, Svyatoslav, Vladimir, Ivan. He planted the elder Konstantin in Rostov, where this clever prince acquired popular favor. He was especially brought closer to the Rostovites by a terrible fire, which in 1211 destroyed most of their city, including 15 churches. Constantine at that time was feasting in Vladimir at the wedding of his brother Yuri with the daughter of the Kyiv prince Vsevolod Chermny. Hearing about the misfortune of the Rostovites, Konstantin hurried to his lot and put a lot of care into relieving the victims. In the following year, 1212, the Grand Duke, sensing the approach of death, sent again for Konstantin, to whom he appointed the senior Vladimir table, and Rostov ordered to pass it on to his second son Yuri. But here Konstantin, who had hitherto been distinguished by modesty and obedience, suddenly showed a decisive disobedience to his father: he did not go to the double conscription and demanded for himself both cities, Rostov and Vladimir. In all likelihood, in this case, the claims of the Rostovites to seniority were renewed, and the suggestions of the Rostov boyars were in effect. On the other hand, Constantine, perhaps, understood that in order to eliminate such a dispute between the two cities and in the form of strong government power, the Grand Duke must have both of these cities in his hands. Vsevolod was greatly upset by such disobedience and punished Konstantin by depriving him of seniority, and gave the Great Table of Vladimir to his second son Yuri. But, realizing the fragility of such an innovation, he wished to strengthen it with a common oath of the best people of his land; consequently, he repeated almost the same thing that his brother-in-law Yaroslav Osmomysl Galitsky did 25 years ago. Vsevolod summoned the boyars in Vladimir from all his towns and volosts; He also gathered nobles, merchants and clergy with Bishop John at the head and forced this Zemsky Sobor to swear allegiance to Yuri as the Grand Duke, to whom he entrusted his other sons. Soon afterwards, on April 14, Vsevolod the Big Nest died, was mourned by his sons and the people, and solemnly buried in the golden-domed Assumption Cathedral.

Vsevolod the Big Nest and his descendants

The tenth son of Yuri Dolgoruky, Vsevolod (baptized Dmitry; 1154-1212), was nicknamed the Big Nest because he had eight sons and four daughters. A strange nickname - after all, his father had even more children, and no one called Yuri Dolgoruky the Big Nest. Sometimes he is called Vsevolod III.

In 1162, Vsevolod-Dmitry was expelled along with his brother and mother and left for Constantinople to the court of Emperor Manuel. Only three years later, the fifteen-year-old prince returned to Rus', participated in the campaign against Kyiv.

Andrei Bogolyubsky quarreled with the Smolensk Rostislavichs because of the news that their boyars had poisoned his brother Gleb, and ordered Roman to leave the grand prince's table, and Mikhail Yurievich to take Kiev. However, Mikhail Yuryevich did not go to Kyiv, but sent Vsevolod there together with his nephew Yaropolk Rostislavich. Smolensk Rostislavichi soon captured them both. They proclaimed Rurik Rostislavich Prince of Kyiv.

Vsevolod-Dmitry was captured, but Mikhail Yuryevich left to reign in Torchesk. Rurik besieged Torchesk for 6 days, and on the seventh the princes made peace. Mikhail Yuryevich recognized himself as a vassal of Rurik, for which, in addition to Torchesk, he received Pereyaslavl South. Soon he ransomed his brother Vsevolod from captivity.

In 1173, the troops of Andrei Bogolyubsky invaded the Kyiv land, and Mikhail Yuryevich immediately went over to the side of his older brother.

After the death of Andrei Bogolyubsky, Mikhail Yuryevich went to North-Eastern Rus' and occupied Vladimir, but could not hold him and went to Pereyaslavl South. In 1175, together with his brother Vsevolod, he undertook a second campaign in North-Eastern Rus'. They managed to defeat their nephews, the Rostislavichs, and Mikhail Yuryevich became the great prince of Vladimir-Suzdal, and Rostov handed over to Vsevolod.

After his establishment in the Rostov land, Mikhail went to war against the Ryazan prince Gleb, in whose hands there were also many treasures looted in Vladimir and the Vladimir Church of the Holy Mother of God, even the image of the Mother of God brought by Andrei from Vyshgorod, and many books. Mikhail went with regiments to Ryazan, but on the road he met the ambassadors of Prince Gleb. Gleb undertook not to support the Rostislavichs and to return everything captured in Vladimir. At this, the princes reconciled, Mikhail returned to Vladimir, according to probable news, he executed Andrei's killers and then went to Gorodets on the Volga, fell ill there and died on June 20. He was buried in Vladimir in the Church of the Holy Virgin.

Vsevolod Yurievich ruled for a long time, almost half a century - from 1174 to 1212. Prior to that, he reigned in Kyiv for "whole" five weeks (from February to March 24, 1173).

After his death, Vsevolod the Big Nest barely managed to become the prince of the North-East: immediately after the death of Mikhail, the Rostov veche sent to Novgorod to the grandson of Yuri Dolgoruky, Mstislav Mstislavovich of Smolensk, Tripoli, Galich and the merchant prince. The Rostovites ordered me to tell him: “God took Mikhail on the Volga in Gorodets, and we want you, we don’t want another.” According to another chronicle version, it was said in almost the same way: "Come to the prince to us: we want you, we don't want another."

But Mstislav was late: when he came to the North-East, in Vladimir and Suzdal they were already kissing the cross of allegiance to Vsevolod. In the battle on the Gza River, Mstislav lost and went to Novgorod.

Since then, there has been a strong enmity between Vsevolod the Big Nest and his descendants with Mstislav (in baptism Fedor) Udatny (Lucky) and his descendants.

Mstislav-Fyodor Mstislavovich Udatny-Lucky (died in 1228), maternal grandfather of Alexander Nevsky and Lev Galitsky, his male descendants became leaders of the rest of Rus', except for the North-East.

Many historians believe that the reign of Vsevolod was the period of the highest rise of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality. Vsevolod the Big Nest continued the policy of his father and especially his brother: he ruled in Vladimir, completely cracked down on the boyars of Rostov, who opposed the strengthening of princely power, relied on new cities where there was no veche and where the boyars were weak. Raised and supported the nobility.

Vsevolod was married twice: to the Yassian princess Maria Shvarnovna, the sister of the wife of Mstislav of Chernigov. And on Lyubava Vasilievna, daughter of Vasilko Bryachislavovich Polotsky, from the Vitebsk branch.

Two sons of Vsevolod died as children: Boris in 1188 and Gleb in 1189. Constantine also died young (1186-1218). He was the Grand Duke of Vladimir, Prince of Novgorod and Rostov. Vladimir (1192–1227) became the prince of Starodub.

Prince Yuri Vsevolodovich (1188–1238), Grand Duke of Vladimir, fell at the hands of the Mongols. His brothers, Yaroslav (1191–1246) and Svyatoslav (1192–1252), were also Grand Dukes of Vladimir. Ivan (1197–1247), the prince of Starodub, also survived before the Mongol invasion.

There were also four daughters.

Before his death, Vsevolod wanted to give Vladimir to his eldest son Konstantin, and put Yuri in Rostov. But Konstantin wanted to take both Vladimir and Rostov. Then Vsevolod “summoned all his boyars from cities and volosts and Bishop John, and abbots, and priests, and merchants, and nobles, and all people,” and in front of the representatives of the Russian Land transferred the principality to his youngest son, Yuri.

Here is another manifestation of autocracy: the prince voluntarily violated all existing customs. This caused new disagreements and civil strife.

In 1212, the sons of Vsevolod the Big Nest divided the Vladimir-Suzdal principality: already without any ladder. The principalities of Rostov (with Beloozero), Pereyaslavl, Yaroslavl, Suzdal were formed. Ladder law was no longer in effect, another civil strife immediately began. In addition to the strife between the descendants of Vsevolod, numerous impoverished princes of the North-East sought to subjugate all of Rus'. They wanted to dictate their will to Novgorod, blocking the supply of grain. They tried to seize Kyiv, but they could not stay on the throne, because they ruled without a veche, "autocratically."

In February 1216, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich captured Torzhok and blocked the supply of food to Novgorod. Mstislav Udatny opposed the Vsevolozhichs with his retinue and the Novgorodians, and also called the retinues of the Rostislavichs, who ruled in Kyiv, Smolensk and Pskov. The eldest son of Vsevolod the Big Nest, Konstantin, also joined this coalition. After all the civil strife, he fiercely hated the other brothers.

The second coalition united the rest of the sons of Vsevolod, the princes of the North-East. In fact, North-Eastern Rus' was at war with the rest of Russia.

In 1216, on the Lipitsa River, near Yuryev-Polsky, the coalition of North-Eastern Rus' was utterly defeated. Soon, Novgorodians and Smolensk besieged Vladimir and forced the head of the coalition, Yuri, to surrender completely. The throne of Vladimir was occupied by an ally of Mstislav, the elder Vsevolodovich - Konstantin. He died in 1218, and immediately civil strife began again. This continued until the Mongol invasion.