Table "Activities of the first Russian princes"
862-879 - Rurik1. Unification of tribes, formation of a state under the rule of a single prince.
1. Moved the capital from Ladoga to Novgorod, united the Ilmen tribes, Chud and all.
2.Building new cities, including Settlement.
3. 864 - suppression of the uprising of Vadim the Brave against the Varangians, the execution of Vadim and his associates.
4. Founder of the Rurik dynasty.
5. Annalistic founder of statehood in Russia.
6. Termination of civil strife in Novgorod.
Rurik initiated the formation of the state according to the Norman theory.
He laid the foundation for the Rurik dynasty.
united the tribes Eastern Slavs into a single state.
2. Strengthening the borders of the state.
Strengthened the borders of the state.
Expanding the borders of the principality.
He sent his vigilantes Askold and Dir to Kyiv, the second major center of Russia at that time, as governors. The borders of the state under Rurik extended in the north from Novgorod, in the west - to the Krivichi (Polotsk), in the east to Mary (Rostov) and Murom (Murom).
4. Protection from the claims of the Khazars for the payment of tribute.
The governors of Rurik, Askold and Dir, temporarily freed the people of Kiev from paying tribute to the Khazars.
Raids on Western Europe.
879-912 - Prophetic Oleg
1. Strengthening the position of the prince.
He imposed tribute on the tribes. Polyudie. Established general taxes throughout the territory.
He planted his posadniks in the cities.
He took the title of Grand Duke, all the rest are his tributaries.
Formation of the state - 882g. The first ruler of Russia, who united the Slavic tribes along the path "from the Varangians to the Greeks."
2.gave authority and international prestige to princely power
3. accepted the title of Grand Duke, all other princes are his tributaries, vassals.
3. strengthened the foreign policy position of Russia.
The significance of Prince Oleg in the history of Russia is enormous. He is remembered and honored as the founder of the state, who strengthened it, and also strengthened his power, raised the international prestige of Russia. However, unfortunately, on the pedestal of the monument to Mikeshin "The Millennium of Russia" in 1862, there was no place for Prince Oleg Veshchy.
2. Formation of a single state.
* Was the guardian of Igor - the infant son of Rurik.
* 882 - Campaign against Kyiv, killed Askold and Dir, captured Kyiv, declared "the mother of Russian cities", the capital of their lands.
* Unification of Novgorod with Kyiv.
* The desire to unite all East Slavic tribes.
* The emergence of a single Old Russian state with a center in Kyiv (Kievan Rus).
* Adoption of the title of Grand Duke by Oleg.
* 882 - captured Smolensk and Lyubech and left his governors there.
* Subdued Krivichi, Vyatichi, Croats, Dulebs
* The implementation of campaigns against the Drevlyans (883), northerners (884), Radimichi (885), who paid tribute to the Khazars. Now they have submitted to Kyiv
* Attached the lands of the streets and Tivertsy
3. Protection of Kiev - the capital of Russia.
New fortifications were built around the city.
4. Ensuring the security of the state
Builds outlying cities. "Begin to build cities."
SOUTH direction: relations with Byzantium. Establishment of trade relations.
* The desire to strengthen the foreign policy positions of the state.
* Military campaign against Byzantium in 907.
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He nailed the shield to the gates of Constantinople.
A peace treaty between Russia and Byzantium was concluded according to which:
Byzantium undertook to pay monetary indemnity to Russia;
Byzantium annually paid tribute to Russia;
wide open the market for Russian merchants;
obtaining by Russian merchants the right to duty-free trade in Byzantine markets;
creation of trading colonies of Russian merchants;
could live for a month at the expense of the Greeks, received a month-monthly maintenance for 6 months.
* Military campaign against Byzantium in 911.
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The first written treaty between Russia and Byzantium in the history of Eastern Europe was concluded:
Confirmed the terms of the contract 907+
Establishment of a military alliance between Russia and Byzantium.
2. Eastern direction: relations with Khazaria and nomads (steppe). Ensuring the security of borders.
He freed the Drevlyans, northerners, Radimichi from the tribute of Khazaria.("Don't give to the Khazars, but give to me") He stopped the dependence of the Slavs on the Khazars.
912-945 – Igor Stary
1.Unification of Slavic tribes
914 - returned the Drevlyans to the rule of Kyiv (after the death of Oleg they strove for separatism)
914-917 - war with the convicts, joining the tribes to Kyiv
938 - the conquest of the Drevlyans, Radimichi and Tivertsy.
941 - the refusal of the Drevlyans to pay tribute to Kyiv, Igor forced him to resume the payment of tribute by force, increasing its size.
945 - when collecting tribute again, the Drevlyans killed Igor (“As a wolf gets into a herd of sheep, he will drag everyone one at a time, if he is not killed”)
Completion of the initial stage of the formation of Kievan Rus.
Continuation of the successful unification of the Slavic tribes around Kyiv.
Further expansion of the country's borders.
Repelling the raids of the Pechenegs, securing the eastern borders of Russia.
Establishment of trade relations with Byzantium.
Strengthening the power of the prince.
Further strengthening of the power of the prince by joining the tribes and subordinating them to the power of the Kyiv prince, which was expressed, first of all, in the payment of tribute.
Strengthening the economic power of the state
Collection of taxes, fortification of cities, strengthening of the economic sphere of the country.
4. Expanding the borders of the state
He founded the city of Tmutarakan on the Taman Peninsula.
1. Protection of the borders of the state in the east.
915 - the first attack of the Pechenegs on Russia, repelled the raids.
920 - concluded a peace treaty with the Pechenegs, but fragile.
Relations with Byzantium.
The foundation of Russian settlements near the Byzantine colonies in the Crimea and the Northern Black Sea region.
Russo-Byzantine War
(941-944).
941 - an unsuccessful campaign against Byzantium.
Igor's boats are burned by "Greek fire"
944 - a new campaign, but the Byzantines paid off with tribute.
Appeal of Byzantium to Igor with a request for peace, since Byzantium was unable to wage a protracted war.
Conclusion of mutually beneficial agreements.
1. Both countries restored peaceful and allied relations.
2. Byzantium still pledged to pay tribute to Russia 3. Byzantium recognized the Russian advance to the mouth of the Dnieper and on the Taman Peninsula.
4. Russian merchants lost the right to free trade in Byzantium
5. Trade relations have been restored.
In this agreementthe expression is first encountered
" Russian land".
3. Continuation of campaigns in Transcaucasia.
944 - successful campaigns in Transcaucasia.
945-962 - Saint Olga
1. Improving the taxation system.
Carried out tax reform
lessons - fixed amount of tribute
Strengthening of princely power
Strengthening and flourishing of the state, its power
The beginning of stone construction in Russia was laid.
Attempts were made to adopt a single religion - Christianity
Significant strengthening of the international authority of Russia
Expansion of diplomatic relations with the West and Byzantium.
2. Improvement of the system of administrative division of Russia.
Carried out an administrative reform: introduced administrative units -camps and graveyards - places of collection of tribute.
3. Further submission of the tribes to the power of Kyiv.
She brutally suppressed the uprising of the Drevlyans, set fire to Iskorosten (she avenged the death of her husband according to custom).
It was under her that the Drevlyans were finally subordinated.
4. Strengthening of Russia, active construction.
During the reign of Olga, the first stone buildings began to be built, stone construction began.
Continued to strengthen the capital - Kyiv.
Under her, cities were actively improved, the city of Pskov was founded.
1. The desire to strengthen the prestige of the country on the world stage through the adoption of Christianity.
Establishing order within the state.
Olga's desire to make Christianity the state religion. Resistance of the ruling circles and Olga's son Svyatoslav.
Paganism remains the official religion
Attempts to raise the international prestige of Russia and the princely dynasty.
957 - Olga's embassy in Constantinople.
In 955 (957) -Accepted the Christian faith
under the name of Elena. But her son, Svyatoslav, did not support his mother.959 - embassy to Germany to Otto I. The German Bishop Adelbert was expelled by pagans from Kyiv in the same year.
2. Protection of Kyiv from raids.
968 - led the defense of Kyiv from the Pechenegs.
3. Strengthening ties with the West and Byzantium
Carried out a skillful diplomatic policy with neighboring countries, especially with Germany. They exchanged embassies with her.
962-972 - Svyatoslav Igorevich
1. Completion of the process of unification of the East Slavic tribes under the rule of the Kyiv prince
Completion of the process of unification of the East Slavic tribes after the subjugation of the Vyatichi
In 964-966, he freed them from tribute to the Khazars, subordinating them to Kyiv.
The international prestige of Russia has significantly increased.
The territory expanded as a result of successful campaigns and the subjugation of the Vyatichi. The territory of Russia increased from the Volga region to the Caspian Sea, from the North Caucasus to the Black Sea, from the Balkan Mountains to Byzantium.
The princely power was strengthened both as a result of the reforms and as a result of the introduction of the governorship system. However, attention to domestic political issues on his part was insufficient. Basically, Olga conducted politics within the country.
Numerous campaigns led to exhaustion, a weakening of the economy, which indicates that Svyatoslav did not always show political foresight.
Diplomatic ties with the leading Christian states, the ties established by Olga, were lost.
With the death of Svyatoslav, the era of distant military campaigns ended in the history of Kievan Rus. The successors of the prince focused on the development of the conquered lands and the development of the state.
2. Preservation of paganism.
He was a pagan, did not accept Christianity, like Olga.
3. Further strengthening of the princely power and management system.
He spent most of his time hiking.
His mother, Princess Olga, was the regent.
He supported Olga's tax and administrative reforms.
He appointed his sons governors of the cities, that is,was the first to establish the vicegerency system.
* The desire to expand the territory of Russia and ensure the safety of the eastern trade routes.
Active foreign policy of Kievan Rus.
The desire to expand the territory of Russia and ensure the safety of the eastern trade routes for Russian merchants.
1. The defeat of the Volga Bulgaria (966)
2. The defeat of the Khazar Khaganate (964-966)
3. War and defeat of Danube Bulgaria (968 - first campaign, victory near Dorostol,
969-971 - second campaign, less successful).
As a result, the lands located along the lower reaches of the Danube passed to Russia.
965 - established allied relations with the yases and kagos
* Ensuring security on the part of Byzantium, the desire for free trade with it.
970-971-Russian-Byzantine war. Defeat of Russia. According to the peace treaty, Russia did not attack Byzantium and Bulgaria. And Byzantium recognized the conquests in the Volga and Black Sea regions for Russia.
Expansion and strengthening of the borders of Kievan Rus
He dreamed of making Peryaslavets the capital. The city was on the border with Byzantium. This caused concern to the Byzantines.
* Fight against nomads.
968 - Pecheneg attack on Kyiv, Svyatoslav, together with Olga, repelled the raid. He was killed by the Pechenegs, bribed by Byzantium, in an ambush. It was arranged by the Pecheneg Khan Kurei, who later made a bowl from the skull of Svyatoslav, writing on it: “Wanting someone else, he lost his own.
Vladimir
Kyiv Drevlyansk land Novgorod
972-980s - Internecine wars between the children of Svyatoslav (The first strife in Russia)
980-1015 - Vladimir Svyatoslavich the Holy Red Sun
Domestic politics
Foreign policy
Results of activities
Further strengthening of the Old Russian state
Strengthening the country's governance system
980 - carried out the first religious reform, pagan reform: new statues of pagan gods next to the Grand Duke's Palace. Proclamation of Perun as the supreme deity.
988 - Christianity adopted. Strengthened the power of the prince under the name of one God
The adoption of Christianity led to the acquisition of a spiritual core, the church became a huge force uniting the people.
988 - the administrative reform was completed: Vladimir appointed his numerous sons as governors in cities, principalities.
A judicial reform was carried out, the "Charter of the earthen" was adopted, a set of norms of oral customary law.
Military reform: instead of Varangian mercenaries, the prince is served by "the best men" from the Slavs,
Vladimirfortified the southern borders the Zmievy Shafts system is a solid wall of earthen embankment, earthen trenches, outposts;
construction of fortresses on the left bank of the river. Dnieper (4 lines of defense, fortresses 15-20 km apart at the fords on the banks of the rivers flowing into the Dnieper River to prevent the Pecheneg cavalry from crossing);
Belgorod - a city-fortress - a gathering place for all Russian forces during the invasion of the Pechenegs .;
signal towers - light warning system;
to protect the borders, he attracted heroes, experienced warriors from all over Russia;
silver spoons for the whole squad
Significantly strengthened the power of the prince with the adoption of a single religion
There was a formation of a single ideology, national identity.
The process of forming the state territory of Russia was completed - all the East Slavic lands were annexed.
There has been a significant development of culture.
The international prestige of Russia has increased.
Expansion of the territory of Russia
the accession of new East Slavic tribes: the Vyatichi were tamed in 981-982, the Radimichi and Croats were subordinated in 984.
then. restored the unity of the Russian land
Construction of new cities, strengthening and decoration of the capital
In Kyiv, they built a new fortress, fortified the city with earthen ramparts, and decorated it with architectural structures.
Cities were built: Belgorod, Pereyaslavl, 1010 - Vladimir - on - Klyazma and others.
Cultural development
Enlighteners Cyril and Methodius created Slavic alphabet
Books translated from Greek began the spread of literacy
A special tax on the development of culture and architecture has been introduced -tithe .
In 986-996 the first church was built -Tithe (Assumption of the Mother of God) 996
The development of icon painting, as well as fresco painting - images on wet plaster.
Christianity united the Eastern Slavs into one people - Russian.
Large-scale stone construction began.
Strengthening the international authority of Russia
With the adoption of Christianity, the country was no longer considered barbaric, they began to be perceived as a civilized state
Vladimir introduced dynastic marriages, he is married to the sister of the Byzantine emperor, Anna.
Military clashes and peace negotiations with foreign countries
There was a struggle with the Pechenegs
Polotsk principality conquered
Conducted a trip to the Volga Bulgaria
- (new direction of Western foreign policy) - there were first clashes with Poland - Cherven, Przemysl were captured
985 - a campaign against the Danube Bulgaria and a peace treaty with it.
Diplomatic contacts with countries: the ambassadors of the Pope came to Kyiv, the embassy of Russia traveled to Germany, Rome. Peace Treaties with the Czech Republic, Byzantium, Hungary, Poland.
988 - the siege of Chersonese - a Byzantine city
The international prestige of Russia has increased.Expansion of international relations with Byzantium and other countries
Paganism prevented the strengthening of statehood
Strengthened the power of the prince.
Vladimir himself has changed.
A religion with one god was needed to rally the people, to strengthen the power of the prince
The church began to play an important role in the country, uniting the people and strengthening the princely power.
Social inequality also required the emergence of a new ideology in order to justify the rich and somehow console the poor with the hope of happy life in Paradise. those. justification for social inequality
However, Christianity contributed to increased exploitation by condemning protests and persecuting dissidents.
The need to unite all tribes
Strengthening the unity of the country, development of the country's economy
Introduction to Byzantine culture
Development of culture, literacy, book business, painting, writing architecture, education.
Christian laws appeared - do not kill, do not steal, and many others that contributed to the formation of moral principles. The Church called people to philanthropy, tolerance, respect for parents and children, for the personality of a woman-mother => strengthening morality
The beginning of the 11th century - Svyatopolk openly opposes his father, Vladimir, for which he was even imprisoned, from which his father released him shortly before his death. Immediately after the death of Vladimir, he seeks to seize the throne of Kyiv, bribing the people of Kiev with gifts. brothers Boris and Gleb. In 1016, on the Listven River, his brother Yaroslav won a victory over Svyatopolk. Sviatopolk fled to Poland.1019- in the battle on the river Alta C Vyatopolk was defeated and soon died. Power passed to Yaroslav the Wise.
Prince Svyatopolk the Accursed, being a total of about 4 years on the throne of Kiev, pursued only one goal - to gain a foothold on it, he was the Grand Duke.
There are no descriptions of any significant deeds of the prince in the annals, which would be aimed at strengthening the state, its power. Some battles for power, conspiracies, murders.
To achieve his goal, Svyatopolk did not disdain any means: he opposed Father Vladimir the Holy, he killed three of his brothers. Svyatopolk remained in the memory of the people only as the Accursed, despised by the people, sinful, outcast.
Using dynastic marriage to consolidate power
He was married to the daughter of the Polish king Boleslav 1 the Brave. More than once he used the help of his father-in-law to strengthen himself on the throne of Kiev, with the support of the Polish army.
1019-1054 - Yaroslav the Wise
Main activities
Domestic politics
Foreign policy
Results of activities
Strengthening of princely power
The final establishment of Christianity
Strengthening of the princely power. 1036 Death of Mstislav. Yaroslav is the ruler of all Russia.
Churches and monasteries were built - including Kiev-Pechersk,
1037 - the beginning of the construction of St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv (until 1041),
1045 - Start of construction of St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod (until 1050);
the church withdrew from the subordination of Constantinople, the first Russian metropolitan, Hilarion, was appointed1051
1036 Creation of the Kyiv metropolis, headed by FEOPEMT (Greek).
Creation of a system of legislation:1016- code of laws« Russian truth "- blood feud was limited in it (allowed only for close relatives),vira - system of penalties.
The fight against separatism, that is, separation: he introduced a new procedure for the transfer of power - to the eldest in the family, that isstaircase system.
The development of writing and education: elementary schools were created at monasteries, a library, under Yaroslav many books were translated and copied from Greek.
He paid great attention to the upbringing of children. He wrote the famous "Testament" to children in 1054.
1024 The defeat of the Varangians at Listven
1030 Hike to the Chud (the city of Yuryev was founded on these lands in 1036)
Fight against nomads - Pechenegs, under him their raids in1036 Sophia Cathedral and the Golden Gate in Kyiv were founded in honor of this victory.
Strengthening ties with Western states. Dynastic marriages of daughters. After the war with Byzantium in 1043 he married the Byzantine princess Anna Monomakh.
Expanding the borders of Russia.
1030 - a campaign against Novgorod, subjugation of the Estonians. Founded the city of Yuryev.
1. Contributed to the flourishing of Russia.
2. Strengthened the princely power.
3. He finally approved Christianity, began the process of separating the church from the power of the Byzantine patriarch.
4. He laid the foundation for the written legislation of the state
5. Contributed to the development of education and enlightenment
6. Significantly strengthened the international authority of Russia.
Further development of culture
1021 The first saints in Russia - Boris and Gleb, brothers of J. the Wise, killed by Svyatopolk the Accursed. Canonized by the Church.
1026 Partition of the Principality of Kyiv between Yaroslav and Mstislav Udaly (Tmutarakansky)
1043 Illarion's "Sermon on Law and Grace"
Ser.11c The appearance of the FIRST monasteries - Kiev-Pechersk (monk Nestor) - 1051
1113-1125 - Vladimir Monomakh
Main activities
Domestic politics
Foreign policy
Results of activities
Preserving the unity and stability of the state, strengthening its economic power
Three quarters of the country was subordinated to the Grand Duke and his relatives
An end has been put to internecine wars (Lubech congress in 1097 )
There was a further development of trade, the beginning of coinage was laid, which significantly increased the trade turnover in the country.
The centralization of power increased, control was maintained over the most important cities of Russia, over the route "from the Varangians to the Greeks."
Under Monomakh, Russia was the strongest power
Temporary cessation of strife
There was an increase in the economic and military power of the country
There was a development of culture and education.
The cessation of the Polovtsian raids, which significantly increased the international prestige of Russia, gave the people self-confidence.
Further peaceful cooperation with the countries of the West, the use of diplomatic methods and dynastic marriages for these purposes.
In 1125 Vladimir Monomakh died.
None of the previous and subsequent rulers received such praise in the annals and folk tales.
He became famous as a wise and just prince, a talented and successful commander, educated, intelligent and a kind person. His activities to unite the Russian lands and suppress internecine wars are the basis for the formation of a strong and unified state, which for the first time entered the international level as a reliable partner and formidable enemy.
Further development of literature and art, education
There was a version
"The Tale of Bygone Years", written by the monk of the Kiev-Pechersk monastery Nestor.
In 1117 the monk Sylvester created the second version
"Tale ...", which has come down to us
"Journey" of Abbot Daniel - a story about a journey to Palestine
"Instruction" of Monomakh addressed to his children
many books from Byzantine literature were translated
schools were created, they began to “collect children from the best people and send them to book education”
churches were actively built.
1113 "Charter of Vladimir Monomakh"
Protecting the country together with sons from external enemies
In the northwest, Mstislav built stone fortresses in Novgorod and Ladoga,
in the northeast, Yuri repelled the raids of the Volga Bulgars, Prince Yaropolk, who ruled in Pereyaslavl, fought with the Polovtsy in 1116 and 1120, after which they fled to the Caucasus and Hungary, annexed the Danube cities, completely subjugated the Polotsk land.
(1103 defeat of the Polovtsy on the river Suten (with Svyatopolk)
1107 defeat of the Polovtsians
(with Svyatoslav)
1111 victory over the Polovtsy on the river. omentum)
Establishing friendly relations with other countries
Since 1122 - restored friendly relations with Byzantium
the policy of strengthening dynastic ties with Europe continued, Monomakh himself was married to the daughter of the king of England - Gita.
According to the preamble to the chronicle, he reigned for 37 years (PSRL, vol. I, st. 18). According to all the annals, he entered Kyiv in 6488 (980) (PSRL, vol. I, st. 77), according to “Memory and praise to the Russian prince Vladimir” - June 11th 6486 (978 ) of the year (Library of Literature of Ancient Russia. Vol. 1. P. 326). The dating of 978 was especially actively defended by A. A. Shakhmatov, but there is still no consensus in science. He died on July 15, 6523 (1015) (PSRL, vol. I, st. 130).
Description of history in textbooks and multi-million copies works of art in recent decades has been, to put it mildly, questioned. Of great importance in the study of ancient times are the rulers of Russia in chronological order. People who are interested in their native history begin to understand that, in fact, its real, written on paper does not exist, there are versions from which everyone chooses his own, corresponding to his ideas. History from textbooks is suitable only for the role of a starting point.
Rulers of Russia during the period of the highest rise of the Ancient State
Much of what is known about the history of Russia - Russia, is gleaned from the "lists" of chronicles, the originals of which have not been preserved. In addition, even copies often contradict themselves and the elementary logic of events. Often historians are forced to accept only their own opinion and claim it is the only true one.
The first legendary rulers of Russia, who date back to 2.5 thousand years BC, were brothers Sloven and Rus. They lead their family from the son of Noah Japhet (hence Vandal, Encourage, etc.). The people of Rus are Rusichs, Russ, the people of Slovenia are Slovenes, Slavs. On the lake The Ilmen brothers built the cities of Slovensk and Rusa (nowadays Staraya Rusa). Veliky Novgorod was later built on the site of the burned-out Slovensk.
Known descendants of Slovenia - Burivoi and Gostomysl- the son of Burivogo, either a posadnik, or a foreman of Novgorod, who, having lost all his sons in battles, called his grandson Rurik to Russia from a related tribe of Russia (specifically from the island of Rugen).
Next come the versions written by the German "historiographers" (Bayer, Miller, Schletzer) in the Russian service. In the German historiography of Russia, it is striking that it was written by people who did not know the Russian language, traditions and beliefs. Who collected and rewrote the chronicles, not preserving, but often deliberately destroying them, fitting the facts to some ready-made version. Interestingly, for several hundred years, Russian historiographers, instead of refuting the German version of history, did their best to fit new facts and research into it.
The rulers of Russia according to historical tradition:
1. Rurik (862 - 879)- called by his grandfather to restore order and stop civil strife between the Slavic and Finno-Ugric tribes in the territory of modern Leningrad and Novgorod regions. He founded or restored the city of Ladoga (Staraya Ladoga). Ruled in Novgorod. After the Novgorod uprising in 864, under the leadership of the governor Vadim the Brave, he united northwestern Russia under his command.
According to legend, he sent (or they themselves left) the combatants Askold and Dir to fight in Constantinople by water. They captured Kyiv along the way.
How the ancestor of the Rurik dynasty died is not exactly known.
2. Oleg the Prophet (879 - 912)- a relative or successor of Rurik, who remained at the head of the Novgorod state, either as the guardian of Rurik's son - Igor, or as a competent prince.
In 882 he goes to Kyiv. On the way, he peacefully joins the principality with many tribal Slavic lands along the Dnieper, including the lands of the Smolensk Krivichi. In Kyiv he kills Askold and Dir, makes Kyiv the capital.
In 907, he wages a victorious war with Byzantium - a trade agreement beneficial for Russia was signed. Nails his shield to the gates of Constantinople. He makes many successful and not very military campaigns (including defending the interests of the Khazar Khaganate), becoming the creator of the state of Kievan Rus. According to legend, he dies from a snake bite.
3. Igor (912 - 945)- fights for the unity of the state, constantly pacifying and annexing the surrounding Kyiv lands, Slavic tribes. He has been fighting since 920 with the Pechenegs. He makes two trips to Constantinople: in 941 - unsuccessful, in 944 - with the conclusion of an agreement on more favorable terms for Russia than Oleg's. Dies at the hands of the Drevlyans, having gone for a second tribute.
4. Olga (945 - after 959)- Regent for the three-year-old Svyatoslav. The date of birth and origin have not been precisely established - either an obscure Varangian, or Oleg's daughter. She cruelly and subtly took revenge on the Drevlyans for the murder of her husband. Clearly set the size of the tribute. She divided Russia into parts controlled by the Tiuns. Introduced a system of churchyards - places of trade and exchange. She built fortresses and cities. In 955 she was baptized in Constantinople.
The time of her reign is characterized by peace with the surrounding countries and the development of the state in all respects. The first Russian saint. She died in 969.
5. Svyatoslav Igorevich (959 - March 972)- the date of the beginning of the reign is relative - the country was ruled by the mother until her death, while Svyatoslav himself preferred to fight and rarely visited Kyiv and not for long. Even the first raid of the Pechenegs and the siege of Kyiv was met by Olga.
As a result of two campaigns, Svyatoslav defeated the Khazar Khaganate, to which Russia paid tribute for a long time with its soldiers. He conquered and imposed tribute on the Volga Bulgaria. Supporting ancient traditions and in agreement with the squad, he despised Christians, Muslims and Jews. He conquered Tmutarakan and made the Vyatichi tributaries. In the period from 967 to 969 he successfully fought in Bulgaria under an agreement with the Byzantine Empire. In 969, he distributed Russia between his sons into destinies: Yaropolk - Kyiv, Oleg - the Drevlyansk lands, Vladimir (the bastard son from the housekeeper) - Novgorod. He himself went to the new capital of his state - Pereyaslavets on the Danube. In 970 - 971 he fought with the Byzantine Empire with varying success. He was killed by the Pechenegs, bribed by Constantinople, on the way to Kyiv, as he became too strong an opponent for Byzantium.
6. Yaropolk Svyatoslavich (972 - 11.06.978)- tried to establish a relationship with the Holy Roman Empire and the Pope. Supported Christians in Kyiv. He minted his own coin.
In 978 he defeated the Pechenegs. Since 977, at the instigation of the boyars, began internecine war with brothers. Oleg died trampled by horses during the siege of the fortress, Vladimir fled "over the sea" and returned with a mercenary army. As a result of the war, Yaropolk, invited to the negotiations, was killed, and Vladimir took the place of grand duke.
7. Vladimir Svyatoslavich (06/11/978 - 07/15/1015)- made attempts to reform the Slavic Vedic cult, using human sacrifices. He conquered Cherven Rus and Przemysl from the Poles. He conquered the Yotvingians, which opened the way for Russia to the Baltic Sea. He overlaid tribute to the Vyatichi and Rodimichi, while uniting the Novgorod and Kyiv lands. He concluded a favorable peace with the Volga Bulgaria.
In 988, he captured Korsun in the Crimea and threatened to go to Constantinople if he did not get the sister of the emperor of Byzantium as his wife. Having received a wife, he was baptized there in Korsun and began to plant Christianity in Russia with “fire and sword”. During the forced Christianization, the country became depopulated - out of 12 million, only 3 remained. Only Rostov-Suzdal land was able to avoid forced Christianization.
He paid much attention to the recognition of Kievan Rus in the West. He built several fortresses to defend the principality from the Polovtsians. With military campaigns he reached the North Caucasus.
8. Svyatopolk Vladimirovich (1015 - 1016, 1018 - 1019)- using the support of the people and the boyars, he took the throne of Kyiv. Soon three brothers die - Boris, Gleb, Svyatoslav. An open struggle for the grand prince's throne begins to be waged by his own brother, Prince Yaroslav of Novgorod. After being defeated by Yaroslav, Svyatopolk runs to his father-in-law, King Boleslav I of Poland the Brave. In 1018, with the Polish troops, he defeats Yaroslav. The Poles, who began to plunder Kyiv, cause popular indignation, and Svyatopolk is forced to disperse them, left without troops.
Returning with new troops, Yaroslav easily takes Kyiv. Svyatopolk, with the help of the Pechenegs, is trying to regain power, but to no avail. Dies, deciding to go to the Pechenegs.
For the murders of the brothers attributed to him, he was nicknamed the Accursed.
9. Yaroslav the Wise (1016 - 1018, 1019 - 20.02.1054)- first settled in Kyiv during the war with his brother Svyatopolk. He received support from the Novgorodians, and besides them he had a mercenary army.
The beginning of the second period of reign was marked by princely strife with his brother Mstislav, who defeated Yaroslav's troops and captured the left bank of the Dnieper with Chernigov. Peace was concluded between the brothers, they went on joint campaigns against the Yasses and the Poles, but the Grand Duke Yaroslav, until the death of his brother, stayed in Novgorod, and not in capital Kyiv.
In 1030 he defeated the Chud and founded the city of Yuryev. Immediately after Mstislav's death, fearing competition, he imprisons his last brother Sudislav and moves to Kyiv.
In 1036 he defeated the Pechenegs, freeing Russia from raids. In subsequent years, he made trips to the Yotvingians, Lithuania and Mazovia. In 1043 - 1046 he fought with the Byzantine Empire because of the murder of a noble Russian in Constantinople. He breaks the alliance with Poland and gives his daughter Anna to the French king.
Founds monasteries and builds temples, incl. Sophia Cathedral, erects stone walls to Kyiv. By order of Yaroslav, many books are translated and rewritten. Opens the first school for the children of priests and village elders in Novgorod. Under him, the first metropolitan of Russian origin appears - Hilarion.
Publishes the Church Charter and the first known code of laws of Russia "Russian Truth".
10. Izyaslav Yaroslavich (02/20/1054 - 09/14/1068, 05/2/1069 - March 1073, 06/15/1077 - 10/3/1078)- not beloved by the people of Kiev, the prince, who was forced to periodically hide outside the principality. Together with the brothers, he creates a set of laws "The Truth of the Yaroslavichs". The first board is characterized by joint decision-making by all brothers Yaroslaviches - Triumvirate.
In 1055, the brothers defeated the Torks near Pereyaslavl and established borders with the Polovtsian Land. Izyaslav assists Byzantium in Armenia, seizes the lands of the Baltic people - golyad. In 1067, as a result of the war with the Principality of Polotsk, he captured Prince Vseslav Charodey by deceit.
In 1068, Izyaslav refuses to arm the people of Kiev against the Polovtsy, for which he was expelled from Kyiv. Returns with Polish troops.
In 1073, as a result of a conspiracy drawn up by his younger brothers, he leaves Kyiv and wanders around Europe for a long time in search of allies. The throne returns after Svyatoslav Yaroslavovich dies.
He died in a battle with his nephews near Chernigov.
11. Vseslav Bryachislavich (09/14/1068 - April 1069)- Polotsk prince, released from arrest by the people of Kiev, who rebelled against Izyaslav and elevated to the throne of the Grand Duke. He left Kyiv when Izyaslav was approaching with the Poles. He reigned in Polotsk for more than 30 years, without stopping the fight against the Yaroslavichs.
12.Svyatoslav Yaroslavich (22.03.1073 - 27.12.1076)- came to power in Kyiv as a result of a conspiracy against his older brother, with the support of the people of Kiev. He devoted much attention and funds to the maintenance of the clergy and the church. Died as a result of surgery.
13.Vsevolod Yaroslavich (01/01/1077 - July 1077, October 1078 - 04/13/1093)- the first period ended with a voluntary transfer of power to his brother Izyaslav. The second time he took the grand duke's place after the death of the latter in an internecine war.
Almost the entire period of reign was marked by a fierce internecine struggle, especially with the Polotsk principality. Vladimir Monomakh, the son of Vsevolod, distinguished himself in this civil strife, who, with the help of the Polovtsy, carried out several devastating campaigns against the Polotsk lands.
Vsevolod and Monomakh carried out campaigns against the Vyatichi and Polovtsy.
Vsevolod gave his daughter Eupraxia to the Emperor of the Roman Empire. The marriage, consecrated by the church, ended in scandal and the accusation of the emperor of conducting satanic rituals.
14. Svyatopolk Izyaslavich (24.04.1093 - 16.04.1113)- first of all, having ascended the throne, he arrested the Polovtsian ambassadors, unleashing a war. As a result, together with V. Monomakh, he was defeated by the Polovtsy at Stugna and Zhelan, Torchesk was burned, and three main Kyiv monasteries were plundered.
Princely civil strife was not stopped by the congress of princes held in 1097 in Lyubech, which secured possessions for offshoots of princely dynasties. Svyatopolk Izyaslavich remained the Grand Duke and ruler of Kyiv and Turov. Immediately after the congress, he slandered V. Monomakh and other princes. They responded with a siege of Kyiv, which ended in a truce.
In 1100, at the congress of princes in Uvetchitsy, Svyatopolk received Volhynia.
In 1104, Svyatopolk organized a campaign against the Minsk prince Gleb.
In 1103 - 1111, a coalition of princes led by Svyatopolk and Vladimir Monomakh successfully waged a war against the Polovtsians.
The death of Svyatopolk was accompanied by an uprising in Kyiv against the boyars and usurers closest to him.
15. Vladimir Monomakh (20.04.1113 - 19.05.1125)- invited to reign during the uprising in Kyiv against the administration of Svyatopolk. He created the “Charter on Cuts”, which was included in the Russkaya Pravda, which facilitated the position of debtors while fully preserving feudal relations.
The beginning of the reign was not without civil strife: Yaroslav Svyatopolchich, who claimed the throne of Kyiv, had to be expelled from Volhynia. The period of Monomakh's reign was the last period of strengthening of the grand duke's power in Kyiv. Together with his sons, the Grand Duke owned 75% of the territory of chronicle Russia.
To strengthen the state, Monomakh often used dynastic marriages and his authority as a military leader - the winner of the Polovtsy. During his reign, the sons defeated the Chud, defeated the Volga Bulgars.
In 1116 - 1119 Vladimir Vsevolodovich successfully fought with Byzantium. As a result of the war, as a ransom, he received from the emperor the title "Tsar of All Russia", a scepter, orb, royal crown (Monomakh's hat). As a result of the negotiations, Monomakh married his granddaughter to the emperor.
16. Mstislav the Great (05/20/1125 - 04/15/1132)- originally owned only the Kyiv land, but was recognized as the eldest among the princes. Gradually began to control the cities of Novgorod, Chernigov, Kursk, Murom, Ryazan, Smolensk and Turov through dynastic marriages and sons.
In 1129 he plundered the Polotsk lands. In 1131, he deprived and expelled the princes of Polotsk, headed by the son of Vseslav Charodey - Davyd.
In the period from 1130 to 1132 he made several campaigns with varying success against the Baltic tribes, including the Chud and Lithuania.
The state of Mstislav is the last informal association of the principalities of Kievan Rus. He controlled everything big cities, all the way "from the Varangians to the Greeks", the accumulated military force gave him the right to be called the Great in the annals.
The rulers of the Old Russian state during the period of fragmentation and decline of Kyiv
The princes on the throne of Kiev during this period are replaced often and do not rule for long, for the most part they do not show themselves anything remarkable:
1. Yaropolk Vladimirovich (04/17/1132 - 02/18/1139)- the prince of Pereyaslavl was called to rule the people of Kiev, but his very first decision to transfer Pereyaslavl to Izyaslav Mstislavich, who had previously ruled in Polotsk, caused outrage among the people of Kiev and the expulsion of Yaropolk. In the same year, the people of Kiev called Yaropolk again, but Polotsk, to which the dynasty of Vseslav the Enchanter returned, was separated from Kievan Rus.
In the internecine struggle that began between the various branches of the Rurikovich, the Grand Duke could not show firmness and by the time of his death had lost control, except for Polotsk, over Novgorod and Chernigov. Nominally, only Rostov - Suzdal land was subordinate to him.
2. Vyacheslav Vladimirovich (22.02 - 04.03.1139, April 1151 - 02.06.1154)- the first, one and a half week period of reign ended with the overthrow from the throne by Vsevolod Olgovich, the Chernigov prince.
In the second period, it was only an official sign, real power belonged to Izyaslav Mstislavich.
3. Vsevolod Olgovich (5.03.1139 - 1.08.1146)- Prince of Chernigov, forcefully removed Vyacheslav Vladimirovich from the throne, interrupting the reign of the Monomashichs in Kyiv. Was not loved by the people of Kiev. The entire period of his reign skillfully maneuvered between the Mstislavovichs and the Monomashichs. Constantly fought with the latter, tried not to allow his own relatives to the grand ducal power.
4. Igor Olgovich (1 - 13.08.1146)- Kyiv received according to the will of his brother, which outraged the inhabitants of the city. The townspeople called Izyaslav Mstislavich to the throne from Pereslavl. After the battle between the applicants, Igor was planted in a cut, where he fell seriously ill. Released from there, he was tonsured a monk, but in 1147, on suspicion of plotting against Izyaslav, he was executed by the vengeful people of Kiev only because Olgovich.
5. Izyaslav Mstislavich (08/13/1146 - 08/23/1149, 1151 - 11/13/1154)- in the first period, directly except for Kyiv, he ruled Pereyaslavl, Turov, Volyn. In the internecine struggle with Yuri Dolgoruky and his allies, he enjoyed the support of the people of Novgorod, Smolensk and Ryazan. He often attracted allied Polovtsians, Hungarians, Czechs, and Poles into his ranks.
For attempting to elect a Russian metropolitan without the approval of the patriarch from Constantinople, he was excommunicated from the church.
He had the support of the people of Kiev in the fight against the Suzdal princes.
6. Yuri Dolgoruky (08/28/1149 - summer 1150, summer 1150 - early 1151, 03/20/1155 - 05/15/1157)- Prince of Suzdal, son of V. Monomakh. He sat on the throne three times. The first two times he was expelled from Kyiv by Izyaslav and the people of Kiev. In his struggle for the rights of the Monomashichs, he relied on the support of Novgorod - the Seversky prince Svyatoslav (brother of Igor executed in Kyiv), Galicians and Polovtsians. The battle on the Ruta in 1151 became decisive in the fight against Izyaslav. Having lost which, Yuri, one by one, lost all his allies in the south.
The third time he subjugated Kyiv after Izyaslav and his co-ruler Vyacheslav died. In 1157 he made an unsuccessful campaign against Volyn, where the sons of Izyaslav settled.
Presumably poisoned by the people of Kiev.
In the south, only one son of Yuri Dolgoruky, Gleb, was able to gain a foothold in the Pereyaslavl principality, which was isolated from Kyiv.
7. Rostislav Mstislavich (1154 - 1155, 04/12/1159 - 02/08/1161, March 1161 - 03/14/1167)- for 40 years, the Smolensk prince. Founded the Grand Duchy of Smolensk. The first time he took the Kyiv throne at the invitation of Vyacheslav Vladimirovich, who called him to co-rulers, but soon died. Rostislav Mstislavich was forced to meet Yuri Dolgoruky. Having met with his uncle, the Smolensk prince ceded Kyiv to an older relative.
The second and third terms of reign in Kyiv were divided by the attack of Izyaslav Davydovich with the Polovtsy, which forced Rostislav Mstislavovich to hide in Belgorod, waiting for the allies.
The board was distinguished by calmness, insignificance of civil strife and peaceful resolution of conflicts. In every possible way, attempts by the Polovtsy to disturb the peace in Russia were suppressed.
With the help of a dynastic marriage, he annexed Vitebsk to the Smolensk principality.
8. Izyaslav Davydovich (winter 1155, 05/19/1157 - December 1158, 02.12 - 03/06/1161)- the first time he became the Grand Duke, defeating the troops of Rostislav Mstislavich, but was forced to cede the throne to Yuri Dolgoruky.
The second time he took the throne after the death of Dolgoruky, but was defeated near Kyiv by the Volyn and Galich princes for refusing to extradite the pretender to the Galician throne.
The third time he captured Kyiv, but was defeated by the allies of Rostislav Mstislavich.
9. Mstislav Izyaslavich (12/22/1158 - spring 1159, 05/19/1167 - 03/12/1169, February - 04/13/1170)- the first time he became the prince of Kyiv, having expelled Izyaslav Davydovich, but ceded the great reign to Rostislav Mstislavich, as the eldest in the family.
The second time he was called to rule by the people of Kiev after the death of Rostislav Mstislavich. Could not keep the reign against the army of Andrei Bogolyubsky.
The third time he settled in Kyiv without a fight, using the love of the people of Kiev and expelling Gleb Yurievich, who was imprisoned in Kyiv by Andrei Bogolyubsky. However, abandoned by the allies, he was forced to return to Volhynia.
He became famous for his victory over the Polovtsy at the head of the coalition troops in 1168.
It is considered the last great Kyiv prince who had real power over Russia.
With the rise of the Vladimir-Suzdal Principality, Kyiv is increasingly becoming an ordinary appanage, although it retains the name "great". Problems, most likely, should be looked for in what and how the rulers of Russia did, in the chronological order of their succession to power. Decades of civil strife bore fruit - the principality weakened and lost its significance for Russia. Reigning in Kyiv than chief. Often the princes of Kyiv were appointed or changed by the Grand Duke from Vladimir.
"Kievan Rus" is a concept that is subject to numerous speculations today. Historians argue not only whether there was a state with that name, but also who inhabited it.
Where did Kievan Rus come from?
If today in Russia the phrase “Kievan Rus” is gradually leaving scientific use, being replaced by the concept of “Old Russian state”, then Ukrainian historians use it everywhere, and in the context of “Kievan Rus – Ukraine”, emphasizing the historical continuity of the two states.
However, until the beginning of the 19th century, the term "Kyiv Rus" did not exist, the ancient inhabitants of the Kyiv lands did not even suspect that they lived in a state with such a name. The first to use the phrase "Kievan Rus" was the historian Mikhail Maksimovich in his work "Where does the Russian land come from", which was completed in the year of Pushkin's death.
It is important to note that Maksimovich used this expression not in the sense of the state, but in a number of other names of Russia - Chervonnaya, White, Suzdal, that is, in the sense of geographical location. Historians Sergei Solovyov and Nikolai Kostomarov used it in the same sense.
Some authors of the beginning of the 20th century, including Sergei Platonov and Alexander Presnyakov, began to use the term "Kievan Rus" already in the sovereign-political sense, as the name of the state of the Eastern Slavs with a single political center in Kyiv.
However, Kievan Rus became a full-fledged state in the Stalin era. There is a curious story about how Academician Boris Grekov, while working on the books "Kyiv Rus" and "Culture of Kievan Rus", asked his colleague: "You are a party member, advise, you should know what concept He (Stalin) will like."
Using the term “Kievan Rus”, Grekov considered it necessary to explain its meaning: “In my work, I deal with Kievan Rus not in the narrow territorial sense of this term (Ukraine), but precisely in that broad sense of the “Rurikovich empire”, corresponding to the Western European empire Charlemagne - which includes a vast territory, on which several independent state units were subsequently formed.
State before Rurik
The official domestic historiography says that statehood in Russia arose in 862 after the Rurik dynasty came to power. However, for example, political scientist Sergei Chernyakhovsky argues that the beginning of Russian statehood should be pushed back at least 200 years into history.
He draws attention to the fact that the Byzantine sources, when describing the life of the Rus, reflected clear signs of their state structure: the presence of writing, the hierarchy of the nobility, Administrative division lands, petty princes are also mentioned, over which "kings" stood.
And yet, despite the fact that Kievan Rus united vast territories inhabited by East Slavic, Finno-Ugric and Baltic tribes under its rule, many historians are inclined to believe that in the pre-Christian period it cannot be called a full-fledged state, since there were no class structures there. and there was no centralized authority. On the other hand, it was not a monarchy, not a despotism, not a republic, most of all, according to historians, it looked like some kind of corporate governance.
It is known that the ancient Russians lived in tribal settlements, were engaged in crafts, hunting, fishing, trade, agriculture, and cattle breeding. The Arab traveler Ibn Fadlan in 928 described that the Russians built large houses in which 30-50 people lived.
“Archaeological monuments of the Eastern Slavs recreate a society without any clear traces of property stratification. In the most diverse regions of the forest-steppe belt, it is not possible to indicate those that, in terms of their architectural appearance and the content of the household and household equipment found in them, would be distinguished by wealth, ”stressed the historian Ivan Lyapushkin.
Russian archaeologist Valentin Sedov notes that the emergence of economic inequality on the basis of existing archaeological data cannot yet be established. “It seems that there are no distinct traces of the property differentiation of the Slavic society in the grave monuments of the 6th-8th centuries,” the scientist concludes.
Historians conclude that the accumulation of wealth and their transmission by inheritance in ancient Russian society was not an end in itself, it apparently was neither a moral value nor a vital necessity. Moreover, hoarding was clearly not welcomed and even condemned.
For example, in one of the treaties between the Russians and the Byzantine emperor there is a fragment of the oath of the Kyiv prince Svyatoslav, telling what will happen in case of violation of obligations: “let us be golden, like this gold” (meaning the golden plate-stand of the Byzantine scribe) . This once again shows the despicable attitude of the Rus to the golden calf.
A more correct definition of the political structure of pre-dynastic Kievan Rus is a veche society, where the prince was completely dependent on the people's assembly. Veche could approve the transfer of power of the prince by inheritance, or could re-elect him. The historian Igor Froyanov noted that “an ancient Russian prince is not an emperor or even a monarch, because a veche, or a people’s assembly, to which he was accountable, stood above him.”
The first Kyiv princes
The Tale of Bygone Years tells how Kiy, who lived on the Dnieper "mountains", together with the brothers Shchek, Khoriv and sister Lybid, built a city on the right bank of the Dnieper, later named Kyiv in honor of the founder. Kiy, according to the annals, he was the first prince of Kyiv. However, modern authors are more inclined to believe that the story of the founding of the city is an etymological myth designed to explain the names of Kievan areas.
Thus, the hypothesis of the American-Ukrainian orientalist Omelyan Pritsak, who believed that the emergence of Kyiv is associated with the Khazars, and Kiy as a person is identical to the hypothetical Khazar vizier Kuya, became widely known.
At the end of the 9th century, no less legendary princes, Askold and Dir, appeared on the historical stage of Kyiv. It is believed that they were members of the Varangian squad of Rurik, who later became the rulers of the capital city, converted to Christianity and laid the foundations of ancient Russian statehood. But even here there are many questions.
In the Ustyug annals it is said that Askold and Dir were "neither the tribe of the prince, nor the boyars, and Rurik will not give them either a city or a village." Historians believe that their desire to go to Kyiv was stimulated by the desire to obtain land and a princely title. According to the historian Yuri Begunov, Askold and Dir, having betrayed Rurik, turned into Khazar vassals.
The chronicler Nestor writes that the troops of Askold and Dir in 866 made a campaign against Byzantium and plundered the environs of Constantinople. However, Academician Aleksey Shakhmatov argued that in the older chronicles telling about the campaign against Constantinople there is no mention of Askold and Dir, nothing is said about them either in Byzantine or Arabic sources. “Their names were inserted later,” the scientist believed.
Some researchers suggest that Askold and Dir ruled in Kyiv at different times. Others put forward the version that Askold and Dir are one and the same person. According to this assumption, in the Old Norse spelling of the name "Haskuldr", the last two letters "d" and "r" could be separated into a separate word, and eventually become an independent person.
If you look at the Byzantine sources, you can see that during the siege of Constantinople, the chronicler speaks of only one commander, though without naming him.
Historian Boris Rybakov explained: “The personality of Prince Dir is not clear to us. It is felt that his name is artificially attached to Askold, because when describing their joint actions, the grammatical form gives us a single, not a double number, as it should be when describing the joint actions of two persons.
Kievan Rus and Khazaria
The Khazar Khaganate is considered a powerful state, under whose control the most important trade routes from Europe to Asia turned out to be. + During its heyday (at the beginning of the 8th century), the territory of the Khazar Khaganate extended from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea, including the lower Dnieper region.
The Khazars made regular raids on the Slavic lands, plundering them. According to the testimony of the medieval traveler Ibrahim ibn Yakub, they mined not only wax, furs and horses, but mainly prisoners of war for sale into slavery, as well as young men, girls and children. In other words, the lands of Southern Russia actually fell into the Khazar bondage.
Maybe the state of the Khazars was looking in the wrong place? Publicist Alexander Polyukh is trying to sort out this issue. In his research, he focuses on genetics, in particular, on the position according to which the blood type corresponds to the way of life of the people and determines the ethnos.
He notes that according to genetic data, Russians and Belarusians, like most Europeans, have more than 90% of blood type I (O), and ethnic Ukrainians are 40% carriers of group III (B). This is a sign of peoples who led a nomadic lifestyle (here he also includes the Khazars), whose blood group III (B) approaches 100% of the population.
These conclusions are largely supported by the archaeological finds of Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Valentin Yanin, who confirmed that Kyiv at the time of its capture by the Novgorodians (IX century) was not a Slavic city, this is also evidenced by "birch bark letters".
According to Polyukh, the conquest of Kyiv by the Novgorodians and the revenge on the Khazars, carried out by Prophetic Oleg, suspiciously coincide in time. Perhaps it was the same event? Here he makes a loud conclusion: "Kyiv is a possible capital of the Khazar Khaganate, and ethnic Ukrainians are the direct descendants of the Khazars."
Despite all the paradoxical conclusions, perhaps they are not so divorced from reality. Indeed, in a number of sources of the 9th century, the ruler of the Rus was called not a prince, but a kagan (khakan). The earliest message about this refers to the year 839, when, according to the ancient Russian chronicles, Rurik's warriors had not yet arrived in Kyiv.
The period of formation of the Old Russian state begins with the reign of the Norman prince Rurik. His descendants sought to annex new territories to their principalities, to establish trade and allied relations with Byzantium and other countries.
Donorman princes | Polyudye was not introduced, but developed historically |
The first mention of Russia | References to Russia are contained in contemporary Western European, Byzantine and Eastern sources. |
Rurik (862-879) | The Varangians, who invaded the East Slavic lands, took thrones in the cities: Novgorod, Beloozero, Izborsk |
Oleg (879-912) | According to the chronicle, in 882 two East Slavic centers united: Novgorod and Kiev. The troops of Prince Oleg took Constantinople |
Igor (912-945) |
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Olga (945 - 964) | "Lessons" and "graveyards" were established in Kievan Rus:
During the reign of Princess Olga, most of the population of Kievan Rus professed paganism. The collection of tribute from the tribes subject to the Kyiv ruler acquired a regular and orderly character during the reign of Olga. |
Svyatoslav (962-972) | |
Vladimir Svyatoslavich (980-1015) | Consequences of Baptism: 1) the culture of Russia has become "axial" 2) strengthened statehood Russia entered the circle of Christian countries, focusing not on Asia, but on Europe. |
Yaroslav the Wise (1019-1054) | The conclusion of dynastic marriages became the main means of foreign policy of Kievan Rus during the reign of Yaroslav the Wise |
Triumvirate of the Yaroslavichs. (1060)
| Articles on blood feuds were excluded from the Russkaya Pravda of the Yaroslavichs. |
Vladimir Monomakh (1113-1125) | The congress of ancient Russian princes in 1097, where the question “why are we destroying the Russian land, causing strife among ourselves” was raised, took place in Lyubech 1093-1096. All-Russian campaign against the Polovtsians, organized by Vladimir Monomakh. |
Domestic and foreign policy of the ancient Kyiv princes
Politics |
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By the beginning of the 10th century, the power of the Kyiv prince had spread to most of the East Slavic lands. This is how the Old Russian state was formed. |
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Svyatoslav |
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Svyatoslav, being away from home for a long time, appointed his eldest son Yaropolk as governor in Kyiv, planted his second son, Oleg, in the land of the Drevlyans, and the Novgorodians took the youngest, Vladimir. It was Vladimir who was destined to win the bloody civil strife that flared up after the death of Svyatoslav. Yaropolk started a war with Oleg, in which the latter died. However, Vladimir, who came from Novgorod, defeated Yaropolk and after his death began to reign in Kyiv. |
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Vladimir Krasno Solnyshko |
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Yaroslav the Wise |
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Vladimir Monomakh |
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Management system of ancient Russian lands
The territory of Kievan Rus has undergone repeated changes over the more than 3-century history of the existence of the state. According to Nestor, the Eastern Slavs numbered 10-15 tribes (Polyans, Drevlyans, Ilmen Slovenes, etc.), settled over a large area. However, it is unlikely that the land of the Vyatichi, with whom the princes of Kyiv regularly fought until the end of the 11th century, can be attributed to Kievan Rus. And in the XII-XIII centuries, feudal fragmentation led to the fact that part of the Russian principalities were captured by Lithuanians and Poles (Polotsk, Minsk, etc.).
During the 3 centuries, not only the territory changed, but also the regional administration, as they would say now. Initially, the tribes ruled themselves. In the 9th century, Oleg, regent under the prince of Novgorod, conquered Kyiv, thus establishing a centralized power. Subsequently, he and his followers on the Kiev princely throne imposed tribute on several neighboring tribes. The management of territories in the 9th-10th centuries consisted in the collection of tribute and was carried out in the form - the prince and his retinue traveled around the cities and villages and collected tribute. In addition, the prince led the defense of the land from common external enemies, and could also organize a military campaign (most often in the direction of Byzantium).
Since there was enough land in Kievan Rus, and it would be difficult for one prince to lead such a vast territory, the grand dukes practiced distributing appanages to their combatants. First with a return as payment for military affairs, and then in hereditary possession. In addition, the grand dukes had many children. As a result, in the XI-XII centuries, the Kyiv dynasty ousted the tribal princes from their ancestral principalities.
At the same time, the land in the principalities began to belong to the prince himself, the boyars, and monasteries. The exception was the Pskov-Novgorod land, in which at that time there was still a feudal republic.
To manage their allotments, the princes and boyars - large landowners divided the territory into hundreds, fifths, rows, counties. However, there was no unambiguous definition of these territorial units.
Often there were no unambiguously defined boundaries of these units. City management was carried out by posadniks and thousandths, at a lower level they were centurions, tenths, governors, elders, depending on the traditions of a particular land. At the same time, if candidates for higher positions were more often appointed, then for lower positions they were elected. Even to collect tribute, the peasants chose "good people."
The people's assembly among the Eastern Slavs was called veche.
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out of 5)
- Olesya
Very detailed and historically correct table. This period of ancient Russian history is usually best remembered by both schoolchildren and students. The thing is that the reign of the ancient Russian princes is certainly associated with various myths, chronicle fables and unusual stories. My favorite stage in the development of the ancient Russian state remains the period of the reign of Yaroslav the Wise. If there were more such rulers in Russia, the country would not have to regularly experience dynastic crises and popular riots.
- Irina
Olesya, I completely agree with you about Yaroslav the Wise. By the way, it is interesting that, after all, initially he had no desire to become the head of state: circumstances prompted him to do so. However, the period of his personal reign became for Russia a time of stability and prosperity. So you say after that that a person does not make history: he does, and how! If it were not for Yaroslav, Russia would not have received rest from strife and would not have had in the XI century. "Russian Truth". He managed to improve the international situation. Talented statesman! There would be more of these in our time.
- Lana
The table shows only individual Russian princes, therefore it cannot be considered complete, if we consider everything in detail, then we can count more than 20 princes who were in family ties and ruled their own destinies.
- Irina
The table is useful but incomplete. In my opinion, it would be better to highlight the features of the external and domestic policy princes. Attention is paid more to changes and innovations, and not to the characteristic features of the period of government.
- Angelina
There is very little information about the domestic and foreign policy of the rulers! It would be much more informative to present the main achievements of the princes in the form of a single table - the information is a little scattered - you can get confused. Sense in the first table I do not see at all. For some rulers, there is little information at all. For example, Vladimir the Great carried out a number of important reforms that are not mentioned at all in the tables.
- Igor
Vladimir Monomakh managed for a short time of his reign to unite more than half of the lands of Russia, which fell apart after the triumvirate of the Yaroslavichs. Vladimir Monomakh improved the legislative system. For a short time, his son Mstislav managed to maintain the unity of the country.
- Olga
Nothing is said about the important reforms of Volodymyr the Great. In addition to the baptism of Russia, he carried out administrative and military reforms - this helped strengthen the borders and strengthen the unity of the state's territories.
- Anna
It is worth noting the features of the rulers of the period of formation and the heyday of Russia. If at the formation stage they were strong warriors, an example of courage, then at the heyday stage they were politicians and diplomats who practically did not even participate in campaigns. This concerns, first of all, Yaroslav the Wise.
- Vyacheslav
In the comments, many approve and admire the personality of Yaroslav the Wise and argue that Yaroslav saved Russia from strife and strife. I completely disagree with such a position of commentators in relation to the personality of Yaroslav the Wise. There is a Scandinavian saga about Edmund. This saga tells that the squad of Scandinavians was hired by Yaroslav for the war with his brother Boris. By order of Yaroslav, the Scandinavians send assassins to his brother Boris and kill him (Prince Boris, who was later recognized as a saint with his brother Gleb). Also, according to the Tale of Bygone Years, in 1014 Yaroslav raised an uprising against his father Vladimir Krasno Solnyshko (the baptist of Russia) and hired the Varangians to fight him, wanting to rule in Veliky Novgorod on his own. The Varangians, while in Novgorod, robbed the population and committed violence against the inhabitants, which led to an uprising against Yaroslav. After the death of his brothers Boris, Gleb and Svyatopolk, Yaroslav took the throne of Kyiv and fought with his brother Mstislav Tmutorokan, nicknamed the Brave. Until 1036 (year of Mstislav's death) Russian state was divided between Yaroslav and Mstislav into two independent political associations. Until the death of Mstislav, Yaroslav preferred to live in Novgorod, and not in the capital Kyiv. Yaroslav also began to pay tribute to the Varangians in the amount of 300 hryvnias. Introduced a rather heavy fine in favor of the bishop for non-compliance with Christian rules. This despite the fact that 90% of the population were pagans or dual faith. He sent his son Vladimir, together with the Varangian Harold, on a predatory campaign against Orthodox Byzantium. The army was defeated and most of the soldiers died in battles from the use of Greek fire. During his reign, nomadic tribes cut off the Tmutarakan principality from Kyiv, and as a result, it fell under the influence of neighboring states. The relatives of the Swedish king Olaf Shetkonung handed over the native Russian lands around Ladoga to hereditary possession. Then these lands became known as Ingria. The Code of Laws Russian Truth reflects the enslavement of the population, which actively took place during the reign of Yaroslav, as well as the uprisings and resistance to his power. In the course of recent studies of the Russian Chronicles, in the description of the reign of Yaroslav the Wise, there is a large number of changes and insertions in the original text of the annals made, most likely at his direction. Yaroslav distorted the annals, killed the brothers, started civil strife with the brothers and declared war on his father, being essentially a separatist, and he is praised in the annals and the church recognized him as faithful. Maybe that's why Yaroslav was nicknamed the Wise?