1 prince of Kievan Rus. The first Kiev princes (IX - Mid X century)

The birth of Kievan Rus' The only logical explanation for the success of the coup accomplished by Oleg is Russia's dissatisfaction with Askold's religious reforms. Oleg was a pagan and led a pagan reaction. Above, in the chapter "Riddles Prophetic Oleg", already

From Kievan Rus to Malaya Mongol invasion 1237-1241, as a result of which there was a total redrawing political map Eastern Europe. The immediate political consequences of this event are very

Since 862. Rurik, according to The Tale of Bygone Years, established himself in Novgorod. Traditionally, the beginning of Russian statehood dates back to this time. (In 1862, a monument to the 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 Friesland, who, at the head of his squad, repeatedly made campaigns to Western Europe... Rurik settled in Novgorod, one of his brothers - Sineus - on the White Lake (now Belozersk, Vologda region), the other - Truvor - in Izborsk (not far from Pskov). Historians consider the names of the "brothers" to be a distortion of the ancient Swedish words: "sineus" - "with one's own kind", "truvor" - a 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 to management the most important cities to their husbands. Two of them, Askold and Dir, who committed unsuccessful trip to Byzantium, occupied Kiev and liberated the Kievites from the Khazar tribute.

After his death in 879. Rurik, who did not leave behind an heir (according to another version, he was Igor, which later gave reason in historical literature to call the dynasty of the Kiev princes "Rurikovich", and Kievan Rus - "the Rurik power"), power in Novgorod was seized by the leader of one of the Varangian detachments Oleg (879-912).

Unification of Kiev and Novgorod

Treaty between Russia and the Greeks. In 882. Oleg undertook a campaign against Kiev, where Askold and Dir reigned at that time (some historians consider these princes to be the last representatives of the Kiya clan). Posing as merchants, Oleg's warriors, using deception, killed Askold and Dir and captured the city. Kiev became the center of the united state.

The trading partner of Russia was the powerful Byzantine empire... The princes of Kiev repeatedly made campaigns against their southern neighbor. So, back in 860, Askold and Dir undertook this time a successful campaign against Byzantium. The treaty between Russia and Byzantium, concluded by Oleg, was even more famous.

In 907 and 911 Oleg and his army twice successfully fought 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 haratyas", that is, in two copies - in Russian and Greek... This confirms that Russian writing appeared long before the adoption of Christianity. Before the appearance of "Russkaya Pravda", legislation was also taking shape (the agreement with the Greeks mentioned the "Russian Law", by which the inhabitants of Kievan Rus were judged).

According to the treaties, 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 of Rez arms. At the same time, merchants had to have written documents with them and warn the Byzantine emperor in advance about their arrival. Oleg's agreement with the Greeks made it possible to export the tribute collected in Russia and sell it in the markets of Byzantium.

Under Oleg, the Drevlyans, northerners, and Radimichi were included in his power and began to pay tribute to Kiev. However, the process of incorporating various tribal unions into Kievan Rus was not a one-time action.

Prince Igor. Drevlyan uprising

After the death of Oleg, Igor (912-945) began to reign in Kiev. During his reign in 944, a treaty with Byzantium was confirmed on less favorable terms. Under Igor, the first popular indignation, described in the chronicle, 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 militiamen said: “Sveneld's youths have been made up of weapons and ports, and we are naked. Come, prince, with us for a tribute, and you will get yourself for us too. "

After collecting tribute and sending the carts to Kiev, Igor returned with a small detachment, "wanting more property." The Drevlyans gathered at the veche (the presence of their own reigns in separate Slavic lands, as well as veche gatherings suggests that the formation of statehood continued in Kievan Rus). Veche decided: "If the wolf gets into the habit of the sheep, then he will drag everything, if you do not 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 avenged the Drevlyans for the murder of her husband. The first embassy of the Drevlyans, which offered Olga to replace Igor as the husband of their prince Mal, was buried alive in the ground, the second was burned. At the funeral feast (funeral feast), by order of Olga, drunken Drevlyans were killed. According to the chronicle, Olga suggested that the Drevlyans give three pigeons and three sparrows from each yard as a tribute. A lighted tow with sulfur was tied to the feet of the pigeons; when they flew to their old nests, a fire broke out in the Drevlyansky capital. As a result, the capital of the Drevlyans, Iskorosten (now the city of Korosten), was burned out. According to the chronicle, about 5 thousand people died in the fire.

Having cruelly avenged the Drevlyans, Olga was forced to organize the collection of tribute. She established "lessons" - the amount of tribute and "churchyards" - places for collecting tribute. Along with the encampments (places where there was shelter, the necessary food supplies were stored, and the prince's squad stopped during the collection of tribute), graveyards appeared - apparently, fortified courtyards of the prince's rulers, where the tribute was delivered. These graveyards then became the support centers of the princely power.

In the reign of Igor and Olga, the lands of the Tivertsy, ulcers and finally - the Drevlyans were annexed to Kiev.

Hiking Svyatoslav

Some historians consider Svyatoslav (957-972), the son of Olga and Igor, to be a talented commander and statesman, others argue that he was an adventurer prince who saw the purpose of his life in war.

Svyatoslav was faced with the task of protecting Russia from the raids of 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 the Volga Bulgaria, conquered the Mordovian tribes, defeated the Khazar Kaganate, successfully fought in the North Caucasus and the Azov coast, seizing Tmutarakan on the Taman Peninsula, and repelled the onslaught of the Pechenegs. He tried to bring the borders of Russia closer to Byzantium and became involved in the Bulgarian-Byzantine conflict, and then led a stubborn struggle with Emperor of Constantinople beyond the Balkan Peninsula. During the period of successful hostilities, Svyatoslav even thought about transferring the capital of his state to the Danube, to the city of Pereyaslavets, where, as he believed, “the benefits of different countries»: Silk, gold, Byzantine utensils, silver and horses from Hungary and the Czech Republic, wax, honey, furs and captive slaves from Russia. However, the struggle with Byzantium ended unsuccessfully, Svyatoslav was surrounded by a hundred thousandth Greek army. With great difficulty, he managed to leave for Russia. A non-aggression treaty was concluded with Byzantium, but the Danube lands had to be returned.

On the way to Kiev, Svyatoslav in 972 was ambushed by the Pechenegs at the Dnieper rapids, and was killed. The Pechenezh Khan ordered to make a cup from Svyatoslav's skull, bound with gold, and drank from it at feasts, believing that the glory of the slain would pass to him. (In the 30s of the XX century, during the construction of the Dnieper hydroelectric power station, steel swords were discovered at the bottom of the Dnieper, which, as it is assumed, belonged to Svyatoslav and his warriors.)

ESSAY

The first Kiev princes (IX - early XII centuries)

Introduction

Power is the main goal in life for many people, as in modern society and ancient times. In order to achieve it, some went to various tricks and even crimes, others won it honestly, sought the respect of the subjects and even enemies, and some inherited power.

In this essay, we will consider how the power passed from prince to prince in Kiev in the 9th-12th centuries. How each ruler disposed of this power and how long he kept it. We will also try to trace what was most often 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 for the change of rulers in this troubled time in Russia. To make it even more clear, 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 boyars of the Russian prince Rurik, not having received control over 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 an unknown town on the banks of the Dnieper. This city was called Kiev, in honor of Kiy, who once founded here the first settlements with brothers Shchek and Khoriv and sister Lybid. Askold and Dir also learned that the Kievites pay tribute to the Khazars and helped them free themselves from this oppression. Gradually, Askold and Dir themselves began to rule in Kiev, they recruited a strong squad from their fellow countrymen and established themselves in this country of the Polyan tribe. So the new appeared Russian state on the middle reaches of the Dnieper.

Askold and Dir got used to combat alarms and soon got tired of a peaceful life, they decided to go to the capital of Byzantium. In 866, Askold and Dir gathered warriors and set out on two hundred ships to conquer the riches of Constantinople.

The army approached Constantinople from the sea, landed on the coast, scattered in detachments across the surrounding villages and defenseless suburbs of the capital and arranged a terrible carving. But Askold and Diru themselves did not manage to take Constantinople, they got close to its very walls, but for some reason retreated, perhaps the reason for the retreat was a storm, perhaps the news of the approach of the emperor (which was not in the capital at the time of the attack) with a large army is unknown.

According to Russian chronicles, Askold and Dir continued to reign in Kiev after that. But when Rurik, who ruled in Novgorod, died in 879, his successor Oleg (guardian of Rurik's young son, Igor) set out with a large squad to make conquests in the south. Taking Smolensk and Lyubech, Oleg approached Kiev (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. Unaware of malicious intent, Askold and Dir went to the Kiev suburb of Ugorskoye without strong guards, where Oleg was waiting for them. Then, according to a conventional sign, Oleg's fighters hidden in the boats rushed at them.

They killed Askold and Dir. They were buried near the banks of the Dnieper on the Ugorskaya mountain. And the Kievites submitted to the power of Oleg, who united all of Russia into one state, except for the land of the Vyatichi tribe subordinate to the Khazars. 2

2. Prince Oleg (Prophetic)

The brother-in-law of Prince Igor Rurikovich and later the guardian of the minor Igor Rurikovich.

Three years after the death of Rurik, Oleg remains in Novgorod and, having consolidated his position here, is sent at the head of a combined squad from the Varangians and northern tribes to the south, along the Volkhov-Dnepr river line. He conquers the cities encountered along the way and, having seized Kiev by cunning, founded here and transferred the center of the united state to Kiev. This event, attributed by the chronicle to 882, is traditionally considered the date of the formation of the Old Russian state.

Oleg built cities, determined the size of taxes from Slovenes, Krivichi and Mary, ordered Novgorod to pay an annual tribute to the Vikings of 300 hryvnia to preserve peace. In 883 he wiped out the Drevlyans, in 884 he defeated the northerners, in 885 he subdued the Radimichi, imposing tributes on all these peoples. He tried to conquer the Uliches and Tivertsy. The Joachim Chronicle reports that Oleg successfully fought with the Khazars, Bulgarians and other peoples who lived in the Danube.

In 907, Oleg set out on a campaign against Constantinople. His army consisted of 2,000 boats of 40 soldiers each, that is, 80,000 warriors fought on his side. The emperor of Byzantium Leo VI the Philosopher ordered to close the gates of the city and block the harbor with chains, thus giving Oleg's troops the opportunity to plunder and ravage 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 hryvnias for each oarlock, 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, also very beneficial for the Kiev state, an agreement with Byzantium.

Russian chronicles date Oleg's death from a snakebite in different ways: "The Tale of Bygone Years" - 912, and the Novgorod first chronicle of the younger version - 922. Oleg was buried, according to some sources, in Kiev on Mount Schekovitsa, according to others - in Ladoga, according to the third - somewhere over the sea. These disagreements between the chroniclers gave reason to scientists to assert that in Russia at the end of the 9th and beginning of the 10th centuries. there were two (and maybe more) major commanders and statesmen named 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 in his wife from Pskov, Olga, who was 13 years old, and Igor - 25.

According to The Tale of Bygone Years, Igor took the grand ducal table 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 made against the Caspian countries. In 940 Kiev obeyed the ulcers, on which a tribute was imposed. In 941, Igor struck a blow to the Byzantine Black Sea possessions due to the fact that they stopped paying tribute, but the campaign did not bring any result.

About 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 limits of the empire, since the frightened Greeks asked for peace. The Russian-Byzantine treaty (944) was signed, beneficial to the Kiev state. The Byzantines began to pay tribute to Russia again.

In the fall of 945, Igor, at the request of the squad, dissatisfied with their 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 inhabitants. On the way home, Igor made an unexpected decision: to go back with a small number of 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 of 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 Kiev)

Olga was born in the village of Vybuty, 12 km from Pskov in about 890. The names of Olga's parents have not survived, some sources say that they were not of a noble family, in others that Olga was the daughter of Prince Oleg, thirdly 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 then only 3 years old, so Olga became the actual 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 call her to marry their prince Mal. The princess consistently dealt with the elders of the Drevlyans, and then led their people to obedience. The revenge of the Drevlyans for the death of her husband was as follows: for the first time, the princess buried the matchmakers, ambassadors, who had come to woo her, in their own boat; For the second time, Olga asked for respect to send new ambassadors from the best husbands to her, which was eagerly performed by the Drevlyans. The embassy of the noble Drevlyans was burned in the bathhouse, while they washed, preparing for a meeting with the princess; For the third time, Olga with a small retinue arrived in the lands of the Drevlyans to celebrate a funeral feast at her husband's grave, according to custom. Having drunk the Drevlyans during the funeral feast, Olga ordered to kill them. The chronicle reports about 5 thousand killed Drevlyans; For the fourth time, in 946, Olga went out with an army on a campaign against the Drevlyans. According to the Novgorod First 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, appointing lessons there, after which she returned to her son Svyatoslav in Kiev. Olga established a system of "graveyards" - centers of trade and exchange, in which the collection of taxes took place in a more orderly manner; then temples began to be built along the churchyards. The conquest of the Drevlyanskaya land and Volhynia opened up prospects for Kiev to control two important international trade routes. One of them - land, called "from the German to the Khazars", connected the Volga Bulgaria through Kiev, Krakow and Prague with Regensburg and the markets for Russian goods in the Bavarian Danube. In addition, the ownership of the Drevlyan and Volyn sections of this route, which passed through Ustylug, located at the confluence of the Luga into the Western Bug, gave Kiev 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 Russia, was attentive to the improvement of the lands subject to Kiev.

In 945, Olga established the size of the "polyudya" - taxes in favor of Kiev, the timing and frequency of their payment - "dues" and "statutes". The lands subject to Kiev were divided into administrative units, in each of which a princely administrator, "tiun", was appointed.

In 955 Olga was baptized in Constantinople. She was personally baptized by Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus with the patriarch.

July 969 Olga died of old age, surrounded by her son and his children. 1

5. Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich

Svyatoslav Igorevich (? - 972) - the son of Prince Igor Rurikovich and Olga the Wise. Having remained a child after the death of his father (945), he grew up among vigilantes. He was declared the Grand Duke immediately after Igor's death, but his mother was always with him the ruler, even after reaching adulthood she continued to rule the state, since Svyatoslav Igorevich spent almost his entire life in military campaigns.

Having reached adolescence, Svyatoslav Igorevich began an uninterrupted chain of his military enterprises. Svyatoslav Igorevich's actions were offensive, 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 saddle-cloth under his head and taught all his soldiers to this. Before attacking the enemy, he sent a messenger to them with a warning. Svyatoslav's appearance corresponded to his character, was wild and harsh. The prince shaved off his thick eyebrows, blue eyes, hair and beard, but had a long drooping mustache and a bun 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, 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 to the Khazars. The enemies, in turn, went out to meet the prince and the battle began, in which Svyatoslav won a victory and took the cities of Sarkel and Belaya Vezha. In the future, 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 to Bulgaria. Svyatoslav defeated the Bulgarians in battle and, taking 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 the Russian land. They took over the city and killed the locals. The people were starving, then a messenger was sent to Svyatoslav with an appeal for help. Princess Olga locked herself in Kiev with her grandchildren - Yaropolk, Oleg and Vladimir. As soon as Svyatoslav received the message, he immediately went to save his people and drove the Pechenegs away.

After a while, Svyatoslav wanted to move to Pereyaslavts on the Danube, but his mother would not let him, as she was very sick and weak. Olga died three days later.

In 969 Svyatoslav put Yaropolk in Kiev, Oleg - with the Drevlyans, Vladimir sent to reign in Novgorod, and he sailed to Bulgaria in Pereyaslavets. But by this time Pereyaslavets already belonged to the Bulgarians, who, having learned about the approach of Svyatoslav, went out of town with him beating him. From the beginning, the Bulgarians won, but after the inspiring speech of Svyatoslav, in the evening, the Russians took the city by storm.

After that Svyatoslav sent a messenger with the news of the attack in the capital of the Greeks. The Greeks, however, deceived the prince, saying that they would give a ransom, but they need to know the number of vigilantes 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 greater 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, terrified the Bulgarians and made them obey. However, at Adrianople, the Russians met with the army of Varda Sklir and were defeated by him. Despite the victory, Tzimiskes, due to the rebellion of Barda, Phocas had to make peace in Asia. He gave Svyatoslav a huge tribute, and he, in turn, returned to Pereyaslavets.

On Easter 971, after suppressing the uprising in Asia, Tzimiskes, unexpectedly for the Russians, crossed the Balkans and invaded Bulgaria. After a two-day siege, the Greeks took Preslava and drove out the Russian garrison, which was commanded by Sveneld. After that, 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 Preslav, he experienced grief and vexation, but still hoped for victory. When the emperor Tzimiskes approached Dorostol, he saw the Russians standing in front of the walls in anticipation of the battle. For a long time, the fighters fought hand-to-hand and held on equal terms, but then Tzimiskes brought in his cavalry and the Russians lost. After that, for several days, stubborn battles took place in front of the walls, from which the Greeks usually emerged victorious. But after Svyatoslav conferred with his warriors, they began to gain victory in one of the battles, but a hurricane began and the headwind dusted the eyes of Svyatoslav's fighters. Enemies took advantage of this and attacked the army of the cold, the Rus could not stand the challenge and went into retreat. after that Svyatoslav decided to make peace with the emperor and sent him a messenger with the following conditions: the Russians would yield Dorostol to the Greeks, free the prisoners, leave Bulgaria and return to their homeland, and the Greeks would give them the opportunity to sail, would not attack them along the road with fire-carrying ships, and in addition, they will supply them with food and will receive Russian merchants on the terms that were established earlier. The Emperor agrees to the terms. Of the 60,000-strong army that Svyatoslav brought with him to Bulgaria, 22,000 survived 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 voivode warned that there might be Pechenegs, but the prince did not listen and, therefore, he had to stay with his retinue in Beloberezhye for the winter. Soon the Russians ran out of food and the guards began to starve. In the spring of 972 Svyatoslav decided to continue his journey. As soon as he reached the rapids, the Pechenezh prince Kurya attacked him and killed the entire Russian squad. Svyatoslav also died in battle. And from his skull, the Pechenegs made a cup, shackling him, and since then the Pechenezh khans have been drinking from it.

reign prince russian historical

6. Yaropolk Svyatoslavovich

From the Rurik family. Son of Svyatoslav Igorevich. Grand Duke Kievsky in 972 - 980

After the death of Svyatoslav in 972, his sons ruled Russia each in his own city: Yaropolk in Kiev, Oleg in Ovruch, Vladimir in Novgorod. The chief adviser to the young Yaropolk was the governor Sveneld. In 975, Oleg Svyatoslavich killed Sveneldov's son, Lyut, while hunting. Because of this, the voivode constantly turned Yaropolk against his brother and persuaded him to conquer his lands. In 977, Yaropolk went to 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, hearing that Yaropolk had killed Oleg, got scared and fled across the sea. And Yaropolk planted his mayors in Novgorod and owned the Russian land alone. In 980, Vladimir returned to Russia with the Varangians and went to war against Yaropolk. Having reached Kiev with a large army, Vladimir besieged him, and Yaropolk locked himself in the city together with the voivode Fornication. Vladimir soon conspired with Fornication. They came up with a cunning plan with which they could quickly get rid of Yaropolk. Fornication told Yaropolk that they wanted to betray him and therefore he should hide in the city of Rodna. The prince did so, but soon Vladimir laid siege to this city and there came a famine, 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 the Grand Duke of Kiev in 980 - 1015.

According to the chronicler, Vladimir was the illegitimate son of Svyatoslav, taken from the housekeeper Olga Malusha. Uncle Vladimir was Malusha's brother, Dobrynya.

In 969, Svyatoslav made the eldest son of Yaropolk a prince in Kiev, and the other son, Oleg, a prince of the Drevlyans. Upon learning of this, the Novgorodians began to ask for a prince for themselves, 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 was in charge of all the affairs for him. At that time, Rogvolod reigned in Polotsk, a Varangian who came from across the sea and established his power among the Polotsk people. Dobrynya began to woo Vladimir Rogned, the daughter of Rogvolod. But when they wooed her, the bride refused them, thereby insulting Vladimir and Dobrynya. They decided to take revenge and went to war against Rogvolod. The future prince and his uncle won a victory and brutally dealt with the offenders, and Rogneda, Vladimir dishonored in front of her parents, whom he later killed, and she later gave birth to his son Izyaslav.

In 975, when Yaropolk killed his brother Oleg and subjugated him to the land, Vladimir decided to leave the seas so that Yaropolk would not get to him. But already in 980, Vladimir returned to Novgorod with the Varangians and went to Yaropolk. Further events are described earlier in the chapter "Yaropolk Svyatoslavovich" Chapter 6, page 9. After the assassination of Yaropolk, Vladimir began to reign in Kiev alone.

Vladimir worshiped pagan gods and made everyone else do the same. He erected monuments to the gods where people could make sacrifices and bring gifts to the gods.

Vladimir put his uncle Dobrynya in Novgorod, while he himself lived in Kiev and was possessed by carnal lust. Vladimir had several wives and, among others, the widow of Yaropolk, a certain Greek woman who was formerly a nun. At one time, Svyatoslav brought her to Russia as a captive and gave her off to Yaropolk for the sake of her beauty. When Vladimir became friends with her, she was already pregnant by Yaropolk and soon gave birth to a son - Svyatopolk. In addition to Rogneda and a 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 connections with many married women and girls.

Vladimir's passion for pagan religion did not last long. In 986, embassies from different peoples came to Kiev, calling on Russia to convert to their faith. A 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 on baptism.

In 987, the prince sent ambassadors to foreign shores, so that they would look from the inside at the religions that he had heard about, and then told him which one was better. When the ambassadors returned and told him about everything they had seen, Vladimir decided to accept Christianity.

Vladimir was about to be baptized, but then a war broke out between him and the Greeks. In 988, Vladimir went with an army to Korsun and took the city under siege, but the inhabitants held on tight and were not going to surrender, then among them there was a traitor who helped Vladimir take the city. The prince asked the tsars Vasily and Constantine to marry him out of a beautiful sister, threatening reprisals if they did not agree. But they decided on this only on 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 so, Vladimir started having problems with his eyes, he did not see anything, then Anna advised him to be baptized faster and then he would get better. Vladimir listened to him and after baptism received his sight. Seeing this miracle, many of his warriors also baptized.

After that, Vladimir returned to Kiev 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, they were all baptized. Then Vladimir ordered to destroy all the attributes of the pagan religion and build churches throughout Russia, in which the priests would be distributed and people would be led. children were sent to church schools

After being 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 the Ostr, along the Trubezh, along the Sule and along the Stugna. Having recruited the best husbands from the Slavs, Krivichi, Chudi, Vyatichi, Vladimir populated the cities with them, since there was a war with the Pechenegs. In Kiev, calling on the Greek masters, Vladimir erected a church Holy Mother of God... In 996, the church was consecrated, and Vladimir gave it a tenth of all his riches. Soon then Vladimir had to fight the Pechenegs. He was defeated. Fleeing from the pursuit, Vladimir hid under a bridge near Vasiliev and thus escaped. In memory of this, Vladimir erected the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Vasiliev and arranged a great feast on this occasion. He invited many guests to it, and he liked the feast so much that now he celebrated each holiday on a grand scale. He called both the rich and the poor, and for those who could not come, he sent carts with food to the city. In addition, every Sunday the prince arranged a feast in the palace and in the gridnitsa, allowing all the boyars, gridnyas, and sotsky and tenths, and the best men to come to it; and at these feasts there was an abundance of food.

The following is known about his death. In 1015, the Pechenegs went to Russia in war. Vladimir, already ill, sent against them his beloved son Boris with his squad, and he himself became even more ill. He died of 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, the platform between the two cages was dismantled, Vladimir's body was wrapped in a carpet and lowered to the ground. Then, putting him on a sleigh, they took him to Kiev and put him in the church of the Holy Mother of God. However, the people nevertheless learned about his death and grieved for a very long time. 1

8. Svyatopolk I Yaropolkovich the Damned

From the Rurik family. Son of Yaropolk Svyatoslavich, stepson of Vladimir Svyatoslavich. Born in 980, he was the prince of Turov from 988 to 1015. Grand Duke of Kiev from 1015 to 1016, 1018-1019 His wife: daughter of the Polish prince Boleslan I the Brave.

As we already know, Vladimir, after the murder of his brother Yaropolk, took his pregnant wife as his wife. Vladimir did not like the son of Yaropolk, 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 to Svyatopolk. But this first kindred alliance of the Polish princes with the Russians led to an even greater discord between them. Boleslav, as you can see, considered the inner turmoil among his neighbors to be the best means for his own strengthening. Together with Boleslav's daughter, Bishop of Kolobrezh arrived at the court of the Prince of Turov, Reinbern, who became close to Svyatopolk and, with Boleslav's knowledge, began to teach him to revolt against Vladimir. But Vladimir learned about the hostile plans and imprisoned Svyatopolk with his wife and Rainburn.

In 1013 Boleslav achieved the release of his son-in-law, who has since lived in exile in Vyshgorod. Svyatopolk did not get around him, since he was under constant supervision, but in June 1015 everything changed dramatically.

Vladimir died and Svyatopolk faster than all his other brothers reached Kiev and began to placate the Kievites with gifts, but this did not help to establish his position in the place of the prince. Then he decided to kill all his brothers so that there was no competition. Svyatopolk killed Boris, the beloved son of Vladimir, to whom the entire squad obeyed, also killed Gleb and sent the killers to Svyatoslav.

Towards 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 because of his carelessness and excessive self-confidence. Defeated, he went to Poland to see his father-in-law Boleslav the Brave.

In 1018, together with Svyatopolk, Boleslav the Brave himself spoke out against Yaroslav. Yaroslav, having gathered Rus and the Varangians, went to meet Boleslav and Svyatopolk and met them in Volhynia 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 husbands.

After the expulsion of Yaroslav, Boleslav himself began to rule in Kiev, and Svyatopolk, offended by his father-in-law for not giving him any power, began to persuade everyone to revolt. When they began to kill the Poles, Boreslav fled from Kiev, taking with him all Yaroslav's sisters, all the princely intrigue and many ordinary people. Svyatopolk began to reign in Kiev. But Yaroslav, having recruited the Vikings, went against him for the second time. Without the Poles, Svyatopolk could no longer resist his brother and fled to the steppe to the Pechenegs. There, having collected a large army, in 1019 he marched against Yaroslav, and both troops met at Alta.

... Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise

Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise. From the Rurik family, the 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 Ingigerd (Irina).

In 1014, having established himself in Novgorod, Yaroslav stopped paying tribute to Kiev, as all Novgorod mayor had done before him. Vladimir, seeing his son's disobedience, wanted to go to war against Novgorod. Yaroslav, learning about this, sent across the sea and hired the Varangians. With their help, he wanted to fight his father.

Meanwhile, in 1015, the Pechenegs went to war against Russia. Vladimir sent against them his beloved son Boris with all his squad, and he himself became very ill. He died of this disease on July 15. Power in Kiev was immediately seized by Vladimir's stepson, Svyatopolk the Damned. Fearing rivalry, he began to send murderers to the brothers. First they killed Boris, then Gleb and, finally, Svyatoslav.

Yaroslav did not yet know anything about his father's death and was preparing for a war with Kiev. The Varangians gathered by him rampaged in Novgorod, committing violence against the townspeople and their wives. And so, when Yaroslav was in the village of Rakome, the Novgorodians revolted at night against the Vikings 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.

On the same night, he received news from his sister that his father had died, and that his brothers had been killed by Svyatopolk. Yaroslav gathered his soldiers and went to Kiev.

The brothers met at Lubich. Svyatopolk was defeated in this battle and fled to Poland to his father-in-law Boleslav, and Yaroslav entered Kiev.

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 wade across the Bug, the Poles struck after him. Yaroslav could not stand the pressure and fled to Novgorod with only four husbands, 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 capture 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 as well. 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 Yakun's Varangian squad, Yaroslav was defeated at the Battle of Listven. After that, the brothers made up. Mstislav remained in Chernigov and ruled the lands along the eastern bank of the Dnieper.

Only in 1036, when Mstislav died, leaving no heirs, Yaroslav took possession of his volost and began to arbitrarily rule the Russian land. In the same year he went to Novgorod and made his eldest son Vladimir reign here. Then he received news that the Pechenegs had besieged Kiev. Yaroslav hastily gathered soldiers - Varangians and Slovenians - and came to Kiev. Having made their way into the city and prepared for battle, the Russians went out into the field. Yaroslav Varyagov put in the middle, Kievites - on the right side, and Novgorodians - on the left. The battle was fierce, so Yaroslav only with great difficulty defeated the Pechenegs in the evening.

Since that year, having defeated all enemies - external and internal - Yaroslav took up state affairs and gained for himself in this field no less glory than in military affairs. At the site of his victory, he founded the church of St. Sophia, and nearby - the monasteries of St. George and St. Irene. To protect Kiev from the south, Yaroslav ordered to cut new fortresses along the Ros River - Yuryev, Torchesk, Korsun, Trepol and others. Yaroslav was very fond of books and often read them. Gathering many book writers and translators, he multiplied the number of books in Russia and gradually introduced them into use. Since that time, book wisdom has become firmly established among Russians. All over the land, children were gathered under Yaroslav 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. The son of Yaroslav the First Vladimirovich the Wise and the Swedish princess Ingigerda. Born in 1024. Prince Turovsky until 1052. Prince Novgorodsky in 1052-1054. Grand Duke of Kiev in 1054-1067. 1069-1073, 1077-1078 Wife: sister of the King of Poland Casimir III, 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 on the way by storm, where they killed all the men, and took the women and children as spoils of war. On March 3, both rats met on the Nemiza River, Izyaslav won. In June Izyaslav deceived Vseslav to Smolensk and ordered him to be seized and imprisoned in Kiev.

In 1068 the Polovtsy came to Russia. 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 in Kiev. But the greater damage was brought by the people of Kiev themselves. Taking offense at the princes, because they did not want to protect them further, after the defeat, the inhabitants revolted and plundered the princely houses. They also detached Vseslav from prison and proclaimed him their prince. And Izyaslav and Vsevolod fled from Kiev.

From Kiev Izyaslav went to Polish king Boleslav II. The king received him with all the honors and in 1069 marched with him to Kiev. Vseslav with the people of Kiev moved to meet them, but near Belgorod he abandoned his army and fled to Polotsk. The people of Kiev returned to Kiev, held a meeting and decided to ask for the intercession of the two younger Yaroslavichs. Svyatoslav and Vsevolod were sent to Izyaslav, saying that Vseslav had fled and he had no enemies in Kiev. Izyaslav left the army and with one small squad and Boleslav entered Kiev. The townspeople greeted him with an expression of complete submission.

In 1073, a strife broke out between the Yaroslavichs. Svyatoslav began to persuade Vsevolod against Izyaslav, who, seeing this, took his entire treasury and left Kiev 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 expelled him from their country. Then Izyaslav went to Mainz to ask for the intercession of the enemy of Boleslav, Emperor Henry IV. Having accepted rich gifts from Izyaslav, Henry in 1075 sent an embassy to Kiev to Svyatoslav headed by Bishop Burkhard. But Svyatoslav was able to lure the emperor to his side and Henry IV stopped supporting Izyaslav.

Having failed a second time, Izyaslav decided to turn to Pope Gregory VII himself for help and sent his son Yaro-regiment to Rome with a letter. He asked for the protection of Rome. Gregory agreed and forced Boleslav to support Izyaslav.

Svyatoslav died in 1076. Vsevolod sat in his place. Upon learning of this, Izyaslav recruited several Polish regiments and marched with them against Vsevolod. The princes met in Volhynia and, after negotiations, concluded peace. Vsevolod lost to Izyaslav Klev, 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 Kiev and began to ask for protection from Izyaslav. Izyaslav ordered to collect an army and go to Chernigov, a battle took place there, in which Boris Vyacheslavovich died first, 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 clan 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 River, he defeated the prince of Novgorod Mstislav Izyaslavich and occupied Novgorod. Not hoping to keep the city, Vseslav began to rampage. Izyaslav, Svyatoslav and Vsevolod, united and went to Vseslav. They overpowered him, and Vseslav fled. In July, the Yaroslavichs lured Vseslav to Smolensk by cunning, and when he appeared, they imprisoned him. Vseslav spent almost a year there.

The following year, the Polovtsians defeated the Russian princes at Alta. After that, 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 with the Chernigovites defeated the Polovtsy at Snovsk, Vseslav did not have to meet with them. For seven months he sat in Kiev and ruled as a grand duke.

In 1069 Izyaslav with the Poles and King Boleslav II moved to Kiev. Vseslav with the Kievites went out to meet him, but at 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. In the battle, many Volzhans fell, and Vseslav himself was released by the Novgorodians. Soon Vseslav with a new squad was once again defeated near Golotchsk, this time by Yaropolk Izyaslavich, but then he still captured his native Polotsk.

The subsequent quarrel of the Yaroslavichs and the expulsion of Izyaslav from Kiev brought Vseslav several years of peace. But returning to power in 1077, Izyaslav immediately sent his brother Vsevolod to Polotsk, and in 1078 Vladimir Monomakh burned down the Polotsk posad. But both campaigns remained without any particular consequences. In the same year, Izyaslav died in the battle at Nezhatina Niva, and Vseslav burned the villages around Smolensk. Vladimir Monomakh set off after Vseslav in pursuit, followed 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. The son of Yaroslav I Vladimirovich the Wise and the Swedish princess Ingigerda. Born in 1027, Prince Vladimir-Volynsky 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 at Alta. While Izyaslav and Vsevolod fled to Kiev, Svyatoslav took refuge in Chernigov. The Polovtsi, destroying the Russian land, soon reached Chernigov. Svyatoslav, having gathered a squad of only 3,000 people, went out against the steppe inhabitants (12,000 people) to Snovsk. And he won, as his warriors fought together and bravely.

The next year Svyatoslav reconciled the people of Kiev with Izyaslav and helped the latter to return to the city engulfed in the uprising. At the same time, he apparently gained many supporters among the residents of the capital, which he was quick to take advantage of. In 1073 Svyatoslav began to turn Vsevolod against his older brother. Izyaslav, not expecting a war, fled from Kiev to Poland, taking with him the entire treasury, and in March Svyatoslav entered Kiev and sat down at the grand ducal table.

Until his death, he safely ruled Russia, despite all attempts by Izyaslav to regain power through foreign sovereigns and the pope. In December 1076, Svyatoslav developed a tumor. An unsuccessful operation was performed, after which he died. Buried in Chernigov, in the Church of the Holy Savior.

... Vsevolod I Yaroslavich

Vsevolod I Yaroslavich. From the Rurikovnch family. Son of Yaroslav I the Wise and the Swedish princess Ingigerda. Born in 1030, Prince Pereyaslavsky in 1054-1073. Prince of Chernigov in 1073-1078 Grand Duke of Kiev in 1077, 1078-1093 Wives: 1) since 1046 the Greek princess Lipa (according to other sources - Mary) (+ November 1067); 2) Polovtsian princess Anna (+ 7 October 1111). The daughter of Eupraxia Vsevolodovna was a 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 to Vseslav Bryachislavich of Polotsk, and in 1068 all three Yaroslavichs were defeated by the Polovtsy at Alta. Vsevolod took refuge in Kiev, and then, after the uprising of the Kievites, fled to his Pereyaslavl.

In 1073, yielding to the persuasion of Svyatoslav, Vsevolod together with him opposed his older brother Izyaslav and drove him out of Kiev. Svyatoslav began to reign in Kiev, and gave Chernigov to Vsevolod. In 1076, after the death of Svyatoslav, Vsevolod sat on the Kiev throne. Hearing about this, Izyaslav in 1077 came to Russia with the Poles. Vsevolod went out to meet him, and in Volhynia they made peace. Izyaslav, having returned, sat down in Kiev, and again gave Vsevolod Chernigov. In the same year, at the behest of his older brother, Vsevolod went to Polotsk, but did not achieve success.

In 1078, Vsevolod began quarrels with his nephew Oleg Svyatoslavich, who, demanded Chernigov for himself, but did not receive it, harbored anger at his uncle and fled to Tmutarakan. In the same year, together with his cousin Boris Vyacheslavich and the Polovtsy, they moved against Vsevolod to Chernigov. Vsevolod went out to meet them on Sozhitsa and on August 26 fought with the Polovtsy on the river bank. The Polovtsi overpowered the Russians and began to ravage the Russian land everywhere. Oleg and Boris entered Chernigov. Vsevolod ran to his brother Izyaslav in Kiev. Izyaslav promised to help. Both princes set out on a campaign with their sons. When they approached Chernigov, the townspeople shut themselves away 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 gate into the city and locked the Chernigovites in the Kremlin. Soon Oleg and Boris came up. A decisive battle took place near the village of Nezhataya Niva. With great difficulty, the uncles overcame the 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 Kiev, and gave Chernigov to his son Vladimir and instructed him to conduct all military affairs. For fifteen years he ruled over 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.

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 Turovsky in 1088-1093 Grand Duke of Kiev in 1093-1113 Wives: 1) daughter of the Byzantine emperor Alexei I Komnenos, princess Barbara; 2) since 1094 the Polovtsian princess Elena Tugorkanovna.

In 1069, his father put Svyatopolk in Polotsk in the place of the deceased Mstislav. In 1071 Vseslav Bryachislavich, the former prince of Polotsk, regained the volost. The next two years Svyatopolk spent with Izyaslav Yaroslavich in Kiev, and then shared his exile. After the return of Izyaslav to Kiev, Svyatopolk received Novgorod in 1078 and in the winter of the same year he went with Vladimir Monomakh to Polotsk and burned its villages.

After the death of Vsevolod Yaroslavich in 1093, his son Vladimir Monomakh invited Svyatopolk to Kiev, he arrived in Kiev on April 24 and began to reign there. Immediately after that, the Polovtsy came to Kiev and began to offer peace. Svyatopolk renounced the peace and decided to put the Polovtsians in prison, on the advice of his Turov boyars. Having learned about this, the Polovtsians went to war against Russia and laid siege to Torchesk. Svyatopolk changed his mind and offered peace himself, but the Polovtsians were now determined only for war, then he asked for help from Monomakh. The assembled princes went to Trepol, and all the army crossed the Stugna. On May 26, the Polovtsy struck at the army of Svyatopolk, but it could not stand it and fled, followed by Svyatopolk himself, and then all the others. That same night Svyatopolk reached Kiev. And the Polovtsians besieged Torchesk for nine weeks, then split in two: some remained at the city, while others went to Kiev. 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 down, and divided the people and took them to the steppe. Svyatopolk, no longer having the strength to wage a war, in 1094 made peace with the Polovtsy and married the daughter of Tugorkan, the Polovtsian Khan.

In 1096 Svyatopolk together with Vladimir Monomakh expelled Oleg Svyatoslavich from the Chernigov land. Not having time to finish this matter, immediately after this the princes learn that Khan Bonyak with many Polovtsians is robbing the land around Kiev and burned the prince's court in Berestovo. 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 Polovtsi, 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 Berestovo.

June, Khan Bonyak came to Kiev for the second time and burned down the entire lowland and foothills. After that, the Polovtsy rushed to the Kiev monasteries - Stefanov, Germanov and Pechorsky - and, having plundered them, went back to the steppe.

In 1097 Svyatopolk and Vladimir Monomakh gathered all Russian princes in Lyubech to establish peace. The princes agreed to defend not to attack each other and to help in the event of an attack from outside. After the congress, Svyatopolka and Davyda Igorevich were convinced that Vladimir Monomakh and Vasilyek Rostislavovich had conspired against them, then they decided to put Vasilko in prison, lured him and accomplished their plans. On the same night Svyatopolk gave Vasilko to David. The prisoner was taken to Belgorod and blinded there, after which Davyd took him to his Volyn.

Upon learning of 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 with him. The next morning, the princes began to cross the Dnieper, and Svyatopolk was about to flee from Kiev, but the Kievites detained him and sent to Vladimir his stepmother, the widow of Vsevolod, and with her Metropolitan Nikolas, so that they implored Vladimir not to start again strife and not to ruin the Russian land. Vladimir heeded the princess's pleas. After that, the princes began to be sent among themselves and agreed that Svyatopolk should go to war against David and either capture or drive him out.

In 1099 Svyatopolk with all his army approached Volodymyr Volynsky (Vasilka had already been liberated by his brother Volodar) 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 occupied Vladimir. Then Svyatopolk went to war against Volodar and Vasilko Rostislavichi, as he wanted to take away his brother's volost from them. The regiments met in the field on Rozhni, seeing that the Rostislavichs were overpowering, Svyatopolk fled to Vladimir, and from there to Kiev. The end of the war was put by the Vitichevsky 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 a campaign in the steppe and they sent to invite Oleg and Davyd Svyatoslavovich with them. Davyd joined, but Oleg did not.

On April 1103, the great battle of Suteni took place, in which the Russians and the Polovtsians fought. At the end of the battle, where Russia gained the upper hand, 20 Polovtsian princes were killed and rich booty was captured.

Several years later, at the end of the winter of 1111, Vladimir Monomakh, Svyatopolk and Davyd Svyatoslavovich arranged big hike against the Polovtsians. At the end of March, a battle between the Russians and the Polovtsians took place, Russia won again and again returned with great booty. This campaign was the last significant act in which Svyatopolk participated. 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 Kiev.

Output

So, we have studied the reign of the Kiev princes from the 9th to the 12th century and now we can answer the questions we posed at the beginning. Since at that time power passed by inheritance, the rulers were the descendants of Rurik, but the peculiarity of the transfer of power lies in the fact that it was most often caused by the murder of the heirs by their rivals, there was a constant struggle for the throne. Because of this, there were many feuds that weakened the state. In addition, not everyone ruled wisely, some rulers were very frivolous about their power, spent the treasury on personal needs and mocked their subjects.

The main tasks of the Kiev rulers were: the conquest of new territories; enrichment of the state treasury at the expense of taxes, trade, tribute and the wealth of the conquered peoples; protection from foreign rulers and maintenance of order within the state. To be a successful ruler at that time, one had to have a sharp, enterprising mind, resourcefulness, courage, cunning, to be a good warrior, strategist and hunter. Those of the 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