Being offended is nothing if you don't remember it.
Confucius
After the death of the Kyiv prince Svyatoslav, three sons remained: the eldest Yaropolk, the middle Oleg, and the youngest Vladimir. The first two were of noble origin. Vladimir was the son of Svyatopolk from Olga’s slave, Malusha. Even during Svyatopolk’s life, his children were endowed with power. The Grand Duke divided his lands between his sons, and they ruled the country while Svyatoslav was on campaign. Yaropolk ruled Kyiv. Oleg - the territory of the Drevlyans. The youngest son ruled Novgorod. Moreover, the Novgorodians themselves elected this young man as their prince. This example of the division of power between sons was new for Kievan Rus. Svyatoslav was the first to introduce such an order. But It is precisely this division of inheritance between sons that will be a real disaster for the country in the future.
The first internecine war in Rus'
As a result of the premature death of Prince Svyatoslav, as well as because of his attempt to divide power between his sons, the first internecine war between the princes began. The reason for the war was the following event. While hunting in his domain, Oleg met the son of Sveneld, the governor of Yaropolk. Dissatisfied with this fact, Oleg orders to kill the uninvited guest. Having received the news of the death of the son of his governor, and also under the pressure of the latter, Prince Yaropolk Svyatoslavovich decides to go to war against his brother. This happened in 977.
After the first battle, Oleg could not withstand the onslaught of the army, led by his older brother, and retreated to the city of Ovruch. The essence of this retreat was quite clear: Oleg wanted to get a respite after the defeat and hide his army behind the walls of the city. This is where the saddest thing happened. Hastily retreating into the city, the army created a real stampede on the bridge leading into the city. In this crush, Oleg Svyatoslavovich fell into a deep ditch. The crush continued after that. Many people and horses then fell into this ditch. Prince Oleg died crushed by the bodies of people and horses that fell on top of him. Thus, the Kiev ruler prevailed over his brother. Entering the conquered city, he gives the order to deliver Oleg’s corpse to him. This order was carried out. Seeing the lifeless body of his brother in front of him, the Kiev prince fell into despair. Brotherly feelings triumphed.
At this time, Vladimir, while in Novgorod, received news that his brother had been murdered, and decided to flee overseas, fearing that his older brother might now want to rule alone. Having learned about the flight of his younger brother, Prince Yaropolk Svyatoslavich sent his representatives, governors, who were to rule the city, to Novgorod. As a result of the first Russian internecine war, Oleg was killed, Vladimir fled, and Yaropolk became the sole ruler of Kievan Rus.
End of reign
Until 980, Vladimir was in flight. However, this year, having gathered a powerful army from the Varangians, he returns to Novgorod, removes the governors of Yaropolk and sends them to his brother with a message that Vladimir is gathering an army and going to war against Kyiv. In 980 this military campaign begins. Prince Yaropolk, seeing the numerical strength of his brother, decided to avoid an open battle and with his army took up defense in the city. And then Vladimir resorted to a cunning trick. Secretly, he entered into an alliance with the Kyiv governor, who managed to convince Yaropolk that the people of Kiev were dissatisfied with the siege of the city and demanded Vladimir to reign in Kyiv. Prince Yaropolk succumbed to these persuasion and decided to flee from the capital to the small town of Rotnya. Vladimir’s troops also went there after him. Having besieged the city, they forced Yaropolk to surrender and go to Kyiv to his brother. In Kyiv, he was sent to his brother’s home and the door was closed behind him. There were two Varangians in the room, who killed Yaropolk.
So in 980 Vladimir Svyatoslavovich became the sole prince of Kievan Rus.
Vladimir, before accepting Christianity in 980, tried to reform paganism and was singled out from the entire host of gods, the so-called. Pantheon of Prince Vladimir. It should be said that the new cult was introduced quite aggressively. Because Prince Perun, who was not very popular outside the Kyiv squad, was appointed the main god; the more popular “folk” gods had to be weakened. For this reason it was not included in the pantheon Veles 3 . It is also interesting that in some cases the idol of Perun was installed instead of other idols. According to archaeological excavations, this is exactly the situation that took place in Novgorod. Voivode Dobrynya installed the idol of Perun on a temple that had existed for 200 years, simply removing another revered god from it, which, according to Rybakov, was the highly revered Rod in Novgorod or the locally revered underwater god Lizard. For some reason, Dobrynya did not dare to remove another highly revered idol in this city, namely Veles. As a result, there was competition between two cults - the official princely structures promoted the cult of Perun, and the people traditionally revered Veles.
Reform goals:
1). The sovereignty of Rus' from Byzantium was emphasized.
2). The power of the prince was strengthened, because At the head of the pantheon was the patron of the prince and his squad. In addition, from the entire crowd of gods, one main one stood out, even among other gods - a signal of unity of command among people.
3). The position of the Christian Varangians was weakened, and the new pantheon was also opposed to Scandinavian paganism. Vladimir could not have come to power without the help of the Varangians, and therefore tried to weaken his dependence on them.
4). The cult was unified throughout the country.
Pantheon:
3). Dazhdbog
4). Stribog
5). Semargl
6). Makosh.
According to academician Rybakov, Semargl did not receive his own idol, but was additional to the statue of Mokosh, so we get, as it were, five gods and one assistant.
Of the especially revered ones, they were not included: Rod and women in labor, Veles, Svarog.
Adoption of Christianity in Rus'
The most important feature of statehood is a special ideology, which is declared, as a rule, to be officially supported and protected by the state. In most cases, this or that form of religion becomes such an ideology. However, as a rule, it does not remain unchanged throughout the entire period of the state’s existence: over time, for one reason or another, it ceases to suit it, resulting in a change in state ideology.
A similar development of events characterizes the history of the Old Russian state, where paganism, which was dominant at the time of its formation at the end of the 10th century. was replaced by the Christian (Orthodox) religion. The question naturally arises as to why and under what circumstances this change occurred. The Russian princes had very wide options to choose from from at least four world religions: Islam (Volga Bulgaria), Judaism (Khazar Khaganate), Catholicism (Holy Roman Empire) and Orthodoxy (Byzantium).
Christianity in Rus' before 988
According to the PVL, the Slavs were first baptized by the Apostle Andrew. As for not legendary, but more reliable events, Byzantine sources speak of the baptism of Rus' in the 60s. 9th century After the successful campaign of the Russians against Constantinople in 860, a record of the baptism of Rus' appears - the so-called. "Askold's baptism." Although the pagan reaction and the capture of Kyiv by the pagan Oleg slowed down the spread of Christianity in Rus', it was not possible to completely eradicate this religion. On the contrary, in 957 Princess Olga adopted Christianity. The number of less noble Christians in Rus' is also gradually growing.
Prerequisites.
1). Surroundings of Christian countries and cities: the Black Sea coast (Chersonese, Kerch, Tmutarakan), from 860 Bulgaria, Byzantium.
2). Merchant and military contacts.
3). Byzantine missionaries in Rus'. Ambiguous. Rus' has always been a little afraid of becoming dependent on Byzantium.
4). There were quite a lot of Christians in the country, primarily among such influential groups of the population as warriors and merchants.
5). Raising the status of the state and simplifying diplomatic contacts with other countries.
6). Ideological unity of the country and raising the status of the central government.
7). The inability of paganism to resist Christianity.
8). A convenient moment was internal squabbles in Byzantium and the capture of Korsun.
Baptism of Vladimir.
Cities were baptized first; the transition to Christianity in villages was much slower.
Interesting fact.The first (991 - 1037) residence of the metropolitan was not the capital Kyiv, but Pereyaslavl-Russian.
The situation in Novgorod is interesting. In 980, one of Vladimir’s most trusted people, Dobrynya, came to Novgorod, established the cult of Perun there and installed his idol. In 988, the same Dobrynya arrives to baptize Novgorod and destroys the idol of Perun.
Opposition to baptism.
The Magi became active enemies of Christianity, and, consequently, of the Kyiv authorities. They led the Novgorod people who opposed the baptism of 988, a century later in the same Novgorod, the Magi rebelled against the prince and bishop. The fight against the Magi in Novgorod continued until the 13th century, when in 1227 4 Magi were publicly burned.
Two more uprisings have been well studied: in 1024 in Suzdal and in 1071 in the territory from the Volga and 300 km north to Beloozero. In both cases, sacrifices were made.
Most historians rate the importance of the adoption of Christianity in Rus' extremely highly, primarily in terms of the impact on development of ancient Russian culture: writing, schools, architecture, painting, chronicle writing - everything was influenced by Christianity.
Interesting fact.In the first years after the baptism of Rus', most priests were monks. This is explained by the fact that monks, unencumbered by families, were the most mobile part of the church community. And since the first missionaries arrived from Bulgaria and Byzantium, it becomes clear why the white clergy preferred to stay at home, and the black ones went to distant Rus'.
Yaroslav the Wise (1019-1054).
Yaroslav was born in 984-986, his mother was Rogneda. He died on February 20, 1054 in Vyshgorod near Kyiv, ruled the state for 35 years. The exact date of birth is not known, but recent research (including a study of Yaroslav’s bones) suggests 984-986. He was lame since childhood.
Origin of Yaroslav.
Vladimir married many times and had 12 sons and 10, and possibly more, daughters. At the same time, he lived with some of his wives at the same time, and their children, accordingly, were born intermixed, which complicates the determination of seniority between the Vladimirovichs, and even the determination of the mothers of some of the Grand Duke’s sons. Some of the sons, apparently, died in childhood - for example Stanislav and Pozvizd.
Yaroslav in Novgorod.
Conflict with father. Conflict with the Novgorodians and “Yaroslav’s Charters”.
Power struggle.
According to the chronicle, Svyatopolk killed Boris, Gleb and Svyatoslav.
1016- near Lyubech, the first clash between Svyatopolk, who relied on the people of Kiev, and Yaroslav, who enjoyed the support of the Novgorodians and Varangians. Yaroslav wins the battle. In 1018, Svyatopolk, relying on the troops of his father-in-law Boleslav, defeated Yaroslav and occupied Kyiv. Yaroslav's sister Predslava was captured by Boleslav, who made her his concubine.
1019– Svyatopolk is defeated on the river. Alte. Swedish mercenaries brought victory to Yaroslav. Shortly before the battle, in February 1019, Yaroslav married the daughter of the Swedish king Ingigerd (Irina in Rus').
1024– Yaroslav begins a war with Mstislav the Daring/Brave. In the same year, a battle takes place near the city of Listven in which Mstislav wins. Yaroslav flees to Novgorod. After the victory, he proposed dividing the country - Yaroslav received territories along the right bank of the Dnieper, Mstislav along the left with Chernigov and Pereyaslavl. After the death of Mstislav in 1036, he united Rus'.
This is interesting. Mstislav in 1023 challenged Yaroslav to battle in order to determine the ruler of Rus' without war. Crippled since childhood, Yaroslav wisely refused. This, however, outraged his Scandinavian wife Irina, who was not used to men refusing challenges and herself challenged Mstislav. The latter refused on the grounds that he does not fight women.
Mstislav (baptized Konstantin) Udaloy(983-1036) - Prince of Tmutarakan (990/1010 - 1036) and Prince of Chernigov (1024 - 1036). In 1022 he came into conflict with the Alans and their allied Kasogs (Abkhaz-Adyghe tribe). The Kasozh prince Rededya challenged him to a duel (passage without the use of weapons) in which Mstislav won, which brought him great glory. In 1029 he defeated the Yasovs (Russian name for the Alans, the ancestors of the Ossetians). Killed while hunting in 1036
Boris and Gleb are the first Russian saints.
Gleb is the youngest of the Yaroslavichs.
Nestor in the 80s XI century wrote “Reading about the life and destruction of the blessed passion-bearer Boris and Gleb.” It is quite possible that he relied on earlier materials that have not reached us. In 1115, an unknown author wrote “The Tale of Boris and Gleb.”
Previously, it was believed that Boris and Gleb were canonized somewhere between 1020 and 1072 (the year the relics were transferred to the new temple by the three Yaroslavichs - Izyaslav, Svyatoslav and Vsevolod, in the same year they accepted the “Truth of the Yaroslavichs”). However, A.N. Uzhankov names the period of time as 1086-1093, before which he considers them to be locally revered saints. In the chronicle they are first called saints in an article dedicated to 1093.
After the death of Yaroslav, his children divided the lands as follows: Izyaslav sat in Kiev, the middle Svyatoslav received the Chernigov principality, Vsevolod began to reign in Pereyaslavl, and the Rostov principality, where Boris had previously ruled, went to him - as a result of this, Boris began to be considered the patron of the Vsevoldovics, especially for the formation The cult of Boris was created by Vsevolod’s son Vladimir Monomakh.
The Murom lands of Prince Gleb became part of the lands inherited by Svyatoslav, so Gleb became the patron of the Chernigov princes and in particular the Svyatoslavites. After the transfer of the relics in 1072, reliquary crosses (encolpions) with the image of Gleb appeared in Chernigov.
The relics of Boris and Gleb were transferred several times - to 1072 g. three Vladimirovichs: Izyaslov, Svyatoslav and Vsevolod. That same year they adopted the “Pravda Yaroslavichs”. After this particular event, the cult of brothers begins to develop, it begins with the Chernigov Gleboboris cult. 1115 g. – a new transfer of relics, Vladimir Monomakh carries the shrine with the relics of Boris.
Yaroslav in Kyiv.
1017 and 1036. – brilliant victories of Yaroslav over the Pechenegs.
1031 g. - Porosye, bordering the Pechenegs, settles Polish prisoners of war.
1032 g. - a system of Poros watchtowers is being built.
Defensive lines - to protect against raids of the steppe inhabitants (Pechenegs, then Polovtsians), entire defensive systems were built, which included military-feudal castles, signal towers, earthen ramparts and ditches. At the same time, it would be wrong to assume that the first attempts to isolate themselves from the steppe appeared only in the 11th century. Earthen ramparts began to be built long before the emergence of Kievan Rus; the centralization of the state only accelerated this process. The ramparts, as a rule, were accompanied by a ditch, but did not have additional wooden fortifications (pickets).
1 Sakharov A.N. Diplomacy of Ancient Rus'.
2 Ch.s.kh. Sveneld left Svyatoslav during his return to Kyiv from Byzantium, when the prince was killed. Sveneld went to Kyiv by a different route together with the Varangians.
3 Judging by the agreements with the Greeks at the time of baptism, there were two official cults - Perun and Veles. The fact that Perun was assembled a team of superheroes, and Veles was not even invited there, indicates the radical nature of the reform.
980-1015 - Reign of Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich in Kyiv
In 980, Vladimir returned with a hired Varangian army and went to Yaropolk, capturing the city of Polotsk on the way because the daughter of the Polotsk prince Rogvolod, Rogneda, preferred Yaropolk to him, and forcibly married Rogneda; then, with the assistance of the traitor boyar Blud, Yaropolk’s chief adviser after the death of Sveneld, Vladimir took possession of Kiev. Yaropolk listened to the insidious advice of Blud, fled from Kyiv and secluded himself in the city of Rodna, at the mouth of the Ros River. Besieged by Vladimir, tormented by hunger (from which the proverb was preserved for a long time: “trouble is like in Rodna”), Yaropolk entered into negotiations. Trusting his brother’s peace proposals and the advice of the traitor Blud, he went to Vladimir’s headquarters, but at the entrance to it he was treacherously killed by two Varangians hidden in ambush (980).
The Varangians, with the help of whom Vladimir became a single prince, demanded two hryvnias as tribute from each inhabitant, but soon saw the impossibility of achieving anything from the prince, even by force; they asked to be released to Greece, and Vladimir fulfilled their request, warning the emperor not to allow them to return to Rus' under any circumstances.
Speaking about the first years of Vladimir's reign, the chronicler exposes his jealousy of the pagan religion, his love of women and belligerence. On a hill near the tower palace, he placed a new idol of Perun with a silver head and idols of other deities. His uncle Dobrynya did the same in Novgorod. In addition to several wives, Vladimir, according to the chronicler, had up to 800 concubines.
9th century- Creation of early state associations of the Eastern Slavs in the area of the Dnieper and Lake Ilmen.
860- Joint sea campaign of the Dnieper Slavs and Varangians to Constantinople (Constantinople).
862-879- The reign of Rurik in Novgorod.
862-882- The reign of princes Askold and Dir in Kyiv.
882-912- The reign of Oleg in Kyiv.
907- Prince Oleg's campaign against Constantinople. The first agreement between Rus' and Byzantium about friendly relations, norms of international trade and navigation.
911- Second treaty between Rus' and Byzantium.
912-945- The reign of Igor in Kyiv.
941- Prince Igor’s first campaign against Constantinople, which ended in failure.
944- Prince Igor’s second campaign against Constantinople. Treaty between Rus' and Byzantium ( Rus lost the right to duty-free trade and was obliged to provide assistance in protecting the Byzantine possessions bordering on it).
945-969- The reign of Princess Olga in Kyiv (after the murder of her husband, Prince Igor, by the Drevlyans).
945-972 (973)- The reign of Svyatoslav Igorevich in Kyiv.
Around 957 - Embassy of Princess Olga to Constantinople. Her adoption of Christianity (under the name Elena).
965- The defeat of the Khazar Kaganate by Prince Svyatoslav (on the Lower Volga). Establishing control over the Volga-Caspian Sea trade route.
968-971- Campaigns of Prince Svyatoslav to Danube Bulgaria. Wars with Byzantium and the Pechenegs.
968 (969)- Defeat of the Pechenegs near Kyiv.
971- Treaty of Rus' with Byzantium.
972 (or 973)-980- Civil strife in Kyiv after the murder of Prince Svyatoslav by the Pechenegs.
980-1015- The reign of Vladimir I Svyatoslavich in Kyiv.
980- Creation of a single pantheon of pagan gods in Kyiv.
985- Prince Vladimir's campaign against the Volga Bulgars.
988-989
- Baptism of Rus'.
990s- Construction of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Church of the Tithes) in Kyiv.
1015-1019- Internecine wars of the sons of Vladimir I for the grand-ducal throne.
1016-1018, 1019-1054- The reign of Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise in Kyiv. Compilation of the code of laws "Yaroslav's Truth" - the most ancient part of the "Russian Truth".
1024- Uprising in the Rostov-Suzdal land; suppressed by Prince Yaroslav.
1024- Division of Rus' between Yaroslav the Wise and his brother Mstislav along the Dnieper: the Right Bank (with Kiev) went to Yaroslav, the Left Bank (with Chernigov) - to Mstislav.
1030-1035- Construction of Spaso-Preobrazhensky cathedral in Chernigov.
1036- The victory of Prince Yaroslav the Wise over the Pechenegs, which ensured peace for Rus' for a quarter of a century (until the Polovtsians arrived in the Steppe).
1037-1041- Construction of St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv.
1045-1050- Construction of the St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod.
1051- Prince Yaroslav the Wise appointed the author of the “Sermon on Law and Grace” Hilarion (the first of the Russians) to the metropolitan see in Kyiv. Founding of the Pechersk monastery in Kyiv by the hermit Anthony.
1054- The Great Reign of Izyaslav Yaroslavich in Kyiv. Compilation of “The Truth of the Yaroslavichs” - the second part of “Russian Truth”.
1068- Polovtsian raid on Rus. The campaign of the Russian princes (Yaroslavichs) against the Polovtsians and their defeat on the river. Alta. Uprising of citizens in Kyiv. Izyaslav's flight to Poland.
Around 1071- Uprisings in Novgorod and Rostov-Suzdal land.
1072- Transferring to the new church in Vyshgorod the relics of Princes Boris and Gleb (sons of Prince Vladimir I), killed by supporters of Prince Svyatopolk, who became the first Russian saints.
1073- Expulsion of Prince Izyaslav from Kyiv.
1093- Defeat of princes Svyatopolk and Vladimir Vsevolodovich Monomakh in the battle with the Polovtsians on the river. Stugna.
1096- Victory of Prince Svyatopolk over the Polovtsians in the battle of Pereyaslavl.
1097- Congress of princes in Lyubech.
1103- Dolobsky congress of Russian princes to prepare for the campaign against the Polovtsians.
1103- The campaign of princes Svyatopolk and Vladimir Monomakh against the Polovtsians.
1108- Foundation of the city of Vladimir-on-Klyazma by Prince Vladimir II Vsevolodovich.
1111
1113- Uprising in Kyiv against moneylenders. The calling of Prince Vladimir II Vsevolodovich.
1113-1125- The Great Reign of Vladimir II Vsevolodovich Monomakh in Kyiv. Strengthening the grand ducal power. Publication of the "Charter of Vladimir Monomakh"; limitation of usury.
1116- Victory of Prince Vladimir II Monomakh over the Polovtsians.
1125-1132- The Great Reign in Kyiv of Mstislav Vladimirovich.
1132-1139- The Great Reign of Yaropolk Vladimirovich in Kyiv.
1135-1136- Unrest in Novgorod. Expulsion by decision of the veche of Prince Vsevolod Mstislavich. Strengthening the “boyar republic” and the principle of inviting the prince.
1139-1146- The Great Reign of Vsevolod Olgovich in Kyiv.
1147- First mention in the chronicle.
1149-1151, 1155-1157- The Great Reign in Kyiv of Yuri Vladimirovich Dolgoruky.
1155- The departure of Prince Andrei Yuryevich (Bogolyubsky) from Kyiv to the Rostov-Suzdal land.
1157-1174- The Great Reign of Andrei Bogolyubsky in the Vladimir-Suzdal land.
1168- The campaign of the Russian princes against the Polovtsians.
1169- The capture and plunder of Kyiv by the army of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky.
1174- The murder of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky by conspiratorial boyars.
1174-1176- Strife and uprisings in the Vladimir-Suzdal land.
1176-1212- The Great Reign in the Vladimir-Suzdal land of the brother of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky - Vsevolod Yuryevich (Big Nest).
1185- Unsuccessful campaign against the Polovtsians of Prince Novgorod - Seversky Igor Svyatoslavich, which served as the theme for “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign.”
1190s- Trade agreements of Novgorod with German Hanseatic cities.
1199- Formation of the Galicia-Volyn principality.