Before leaving Kyiv for the Danube, Svyatoslav decided on the fate of his three sons. He left the eldest, Yaropolk, in Kyiv; the middle one, Oleg, was sent to reign in the land of the Drevlyans, and the youngest, Vladimir (Voldemar), was planted in Novgorod. So, Yaropolk Svyatoslavich came to power in Kyiv. But soon strife began between the brothers. In 977, Yaropolk, on the advice of Sveneld, attacked Oleg Drevlyansky, and in a battle near the city of Ovruch he died - he was thrown from a bridge into a ditch and there crushed by his mounted warriors falling from above. The younger, young brother Vladimir, having learned about Yaropolk’s speech against Oleg and fearing for his life, fled to Scandinavia.

This was a time of still close ties between the Varangian kings who ruled Russia and the homeland of their ancestors. In the scientific literature of the 20th century. they sought to “slavify” the Vikings as early as possible, to unite them with the local Slavic nobility. This process, of course, went on, but much more slowly than some historians would like. For a long time, the Russian elite was bilingual - hence the double Slavic-Scandinavian names: Oleg - Helg, Igor - Ingvar, Svyatoslav - Sfendisleif, Malusha - Malfred. For a long time, the Varangians who came from Scandinavia found refuge in Kyiv before their raids on Byzantium and other southern countries. More than once or twice, Russian princes, who abandoned the Scandinavian name "Hakan", fled to the homeland of their ancestors - to Scandinavia, where they found help and support among relatives and friends.

980 – Seizure of power by Vladimir Svyatoslavich

The fugitive Vladimir did not stay long in Scandinavia. With the Varangian squad hired there in 980, he moved to Kyiv, sending ahead a messenger who conveyed to Yaropolk: “Vladimir is coming at you, get ready to fight him!” This was the noble custom of declaring war at that time. Previously, Vladimir wanted to get Polotsk, where the Varangian Rogvolod then ruled, as an ally. For this, Vladimir decided to become related to him by marrying Rogvolod’s daughter Rogneda, who, however, was already considered the bride of Prince Yaropolk. Rogneda proudly answered Vladimir's ambassadors that she would never marry the son of a slave (Vladimir was indeed born from the slave Princess Olga, housekeeper Malusha). Taking revenge for this humiliation, Vladimir attacked Polotsk, killed Rogvolod and his two sons and took Rogneda as his wife by force. She became one of the many wives of Vladimir, who had a large harem. The chronicler claims that there were 800 women in Vladimir’s harem, and the prince was distinguished by immeasurable lasciviousness: he grabbed other people’s wives and corrupted girls. But he married Rogneda for political reasons. According to legend, subsequently Rogneda, offended by Vladimir’s many years of inattention to her, wanted to kill the prince, but he managed to grab the knife raised above him.

Soon Vladimir, at the head of a powerful Varangian squad, easily captured Kyiv. Yaropolk turned out to be inexperienced in business, becoming a toy in the hands of his advisers. One of them, named Blud, treacherously advised the prince to flee from fortified Kyiv, and then surrender to the mercy of the winner, which he did. Another adviser to the prince, named Varyazhko, persuaded him not to believe Vladimir and run to the Pechenegs. But the prince did not listen to Varyazhko’s advice, for which he paid: “And Yaropolk came to Vladimir, and when he entered the door, two Varangians lifted him with swords under their bosoms,” as the chronicler notes. And at that time the insidious Blud held the door so that Yaropolk’s retinue would not interfere with the fratricide. With the campaign of Yaropolk against Oleg Drevlyansky and Vladimir against Yaropolk, a long history of fratricides in Rus' begins, when the thirst for power and immense ambition drowned out the call of native blood and the voice of mercy.

Civil strife between the sons and grandsons of Yaroslav the Wise. The order of succession to the throne, established by Yaroslav the Wise, was maintained for 19 years. His eldest son stood at the head of Rus'. ruled in Chernigov, and Vsevolod ruled in Pereyaslavl, bordering the steppe. The younger sons sat in other distant cities. All of them, as the father established, obeyed their elder brother. But in 1073 everything changed.

There was a rumor in Kyiv that Izyaslav wants to rule just like his father, to be "autocratic". This alarmed the brothers, who did not want to obey their elder brother as they obeyed their father. Svyatoslav and Vsevolod moved their squads to Kyiv. Izyaslav fled to Poland, then to Germany. The Grand Duke's throne was captured by Svyatoslav, the second most important city in Rus' - Vsevolod took Chernigov into his own hands. But in 1076 Svyatoslav died. Not wanting to shed blood, Vsevolod voluntarily gave Kyiv to Izyaslav, and he himself retired to Chernigov. The brothers divided Rus' among themselves, pushing aside the sons of the late Svyatoslav. Vsevolod gave Pereyaslavl to his eldest son Vladimir, who was born in 1053 from the daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine Monomakh. From birth, Vladimir was assigned the family name of his Byzantine grandfather Monomakh. He entered Russian history as Vladimir Monomakh.

It was here that the beginning of another great and long unrest in Rus' was born. Svyatoslav's eldest son Oleg fled to Tmutarakan. In 1078, he gathered a large army, attracted the Polovtsians to his service and went to war against his uncles. This was not the first time that a Russian prince involved nomads in internecine wars in Rus', but Oleg made the Polovtsians his constant allies in the fight against other princes. For their help, he provided them with the opportunity to plunder and burn Russian cities and take people captive. No wonder he was nicknamed Oleg Gorislavich in Rus'.

A. Kalugin. Civil strife of princes

In the battle on Nezhatina Niva, Oleg was defeated and again took refuge in Tmutarakan. But in the same battle, Grand Duke Izyaslav was also killed. Vsevolod Yaroslavich settled in Kyiv, Chernigov passed to his son Vladimir.

Since the time of this internecine struggle, the Polovtsy began to constantly interfere in the struggle of the Russian princes with each other.

For the first time, hordes of Turkic Polovtsians appeared at the borders of Rus' in 1061. This was a new, numerous, merciless and insidious enemy. In the autumn, when the horses of the Polovtsians were well-fed after the free summer pastures, the time for raids began, and woe was to those who stood in the way of the nomads.

All adult Polovtsians went on a hike. Their horse avalanches suddenly appeared in front of the enemy. Armed with bows and arrows, sabers, lassos, and short spears, the Polovtsian warriors rushed into battle with a piercing cry, shooting while galloping, showering the enemy with a cloud of arrows. They raided cities, robbing and killing people, taking them captive.

The nomads did not like to fight with a large and well-organized army. To attack by surprise, to crush a numerically weak enemy, to suppress him, to separate enemy forces, to lure him into ambush, to destroy him - this is how they fought their wars. If the Polovtsy faced a strong enemy, they knew how to defend themselves: they quickly formed the carts in several circles, covered them with bull skins so that they could not be set on fire, and desperately fought back.

Illustration. Polovtsy in a devastated Russian city.

In former times, an invasion of such nomads would have brought Rus' to the brink of disaster. But now Rus' was a single state with large, well-fortified cities, a strong army, and a good security system. Therefore, nomads and Rus' began to coexist. Their relationship was sometimes peaceful, sometimes hostile. There was brisk trade between them, and the population communicated widely in the border areas. Russian princes and Polovtsian khans began to enter into dynastic marriages among themselves.

But as soon as the central government in Rus' weakened or strife began between the princes, the Polovtsians began their raids. They took part in the internecine struggle on the side of one prince or another, and at the same time robbed everyone. During their strife, the princes increasingly began to invite the Polovtsians to Rus'.

In the absence of a leader. In 1093, the last of the sons of Yaroslav the Wise, Vsevolod, died. The time has come for Yaroslav's grandchildren. There were no big state affairs behind them, no deep reforms, no major military campaigns. But there was a lot of ambition, pride, envy, and scores against each other. And there was no leader among them who could calm this chaos.

Formally, Izyaslav’s son Svyatopolk became the eldest in the family. He laid claim to the grand-ducal throne. But he was an indecisive, lightweight person, distinguished by petty intrigue and a feeling of envy of his capable and bright cousins ​​Vladimir and Oleg. However, the Kiev veche proclaimed him Grand Duke. The second most important prince in Rus' remained, who continued to own Chernigov. And the third cousin Oleg Svyatoslavich was in Tmutarakan. Oleg, quite rightly, due to his seniority, now laid claim to the second table in Rus' - the Principality of Chernigov.

Oleg was a brave knight, but an extremely ambitious and touchy person. In anger, he destroyed everything left and right. If his honor, his right to primacy were hurt, he stopped at nothing. Wisdom, prudence, and the interests of the homeland receded into the background.

In Rus', with external unity and in the presence of the great Kyiv prince Svyatopolk, three groups of rival princes emerged: one - Kiev, led by Svyatopolk; the second - Chernigov-Pereyaslav, led by Vladimir Monomakh; the third is Tmutarakan, led by Oleg. And behind each prince there was a squad, there were strengthened, rich, populous cities, supporters throughout Rus'. This situation threatened new strife, new civil strife.

The beginning of the military activities of Vladimir Monomakh. From a young age, Vladimir Vsevolodovich Monomakh showed himself to be a brave warrior, a talented commander and a skilled diplomat. For many years he reigned in different cities of Rus' - Rostov, Vladimir-Volynsky, Smolensk, but most of all in Pereyaslavl, next to the Polovtsian steppe. Already in those years he acquired extensive military experience.

Back in 1076, Svyatoslav Yaroslavich placed Monomakh, together with his son Oleg, at the head of his army, sent to help the Poles in their war with the Czechs and Germans. The army under his command fought through the Czech Republic, won a number of victories over the united Czech-German forces and returned to their homeland with glory and great booty.

Vladimir Monomakh became especially famous in the 80s. 9th century in the fight against the Polovtsians. Vsevolod, who sat on the Kiev throne, essentially entrusted his son with the defense of the entire steppe border of Rus'. At that time, Monomakh, fighting with the nomads, did not hesitate for an hour. He acted boldly and decisively. Monomakh himself more than once went deep into the Polovtsian steppe and crushed the Polovtsian hordes there. Essentially, he became the first Russian prince who sought to beat the nomads on their territory. This was a new military tactic for Rus'. Already at that time, in Polovtsian tents and wagons, mothers frightened children with the name of Vladimir Monomakh.

By the beginning of the 90s. XI century he became the strongest and most influential prince in Rus', who did not know defeat on the battlefield. He was known among the people as a patriotic prince who spared neither strength nor life for the defense of Russian lands.

The Battle of Trepol and Oleg's campaign. In 1093 the Polovtsy undertook a great campaign. Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, who had just ascended the throne, was eager to fight. He turned to Vladimir Monomakh for help, but the cautious prince advised this time to pay off his enemies, because Rus' was not ready for a big war. However, Svyatopolk insisted on the campaign. The united Kiev, Chernigov and Pereyaslav army set out on a campaign. The Pereyaslavl team was commanded by Vladimir's young brother Rostislav.

The troops converged near the city of Trepol, on the banks of the Stugna River, a tributary of the Dnieper. A thunderstorm was approaching. Monomakh persuaded them to wait out the bad weather. He did not want the river to remain in the rear of the Russian army during a thunderstorm. But Svyatopolk and his warriors were eager to fight.

The Russian army barely crossed the river, swollen from the flood, and prepared for battle. At this time a thunderstorm broke out. The water in Stugna was rising before our eyes. The Polovtsy struck the first blow against Svyatopolk’s squad. The Kievans could not withstand the onslaught and fled. Then the entire mass of the Polovtsy swept away the left wing of Monomakh. The Russian army disintegrated. The warriors rushed back to the river. During the crossing, Rostislav was blown off his horse and drowned. Only a small part of the Russian army made it to the opposite bank of the river and escaped. This was Monomakh's first and last defeat.

That year the Polovtsians inflicted enormous damage on Rus'. They plundered many cities and villages, took large booty, and took away hundreds of captives. Oleg Svyatoslavich chose this time to regain Chernigov.
Oleg and his allied Polovtsians approached this city, behind whose walls Monomakh took refuge with a small number of warriors. The Polovtsians carried out robbery of the area. Monomakh's warriors repulsed all the assaults, but the situation was hopeless. And then Vladimir Monomakh agreed to give Oleg his family nest - Chernigov. He himself was returning to Pereyaslavl, orphaned after the death of his brother. And so a bunch of people leave the city and move through the ranks of the enemy army. Monomakh later recalled that the Polovtsy, like wolves, licked their lips at the prince and his family, but Oleg kept his word and did not allow them to attack their sworn enemy.

Invasion of the Cumans

The fight against the Polovtsians and the strife of the princes. In 1095, the Polovtsians again came to Rus' and besieged Pereyaslavl, knowing that Vladimir had not yet managed to gather a new army and could not fight them in an open field. Having entered into negotiations with the enemy, Monomakh then managed to strike them. After this, he sent messengers to Kyiv and Chernigov, calling on his brothers to send squads and finish off the Polovtsians. Svyatopolk sent soldiers, but Oleg, an old friend of the steppes, refused. The Kiev-Pereyaslav army went deep into the steppe and destroyed several Polovtsian camps, capturing rich booty.

In 1096, the Russian princes decided with united forces to again strike at the Polovtsians in the depths of the steppes. But Oleg again refused to join his brothers, and then the Kiev-Pereyaslav army, instead of marching to the steppe, moved to Chernigov. The princes took this city from Oleg and assigned him to live in the forest Murom, away from the Polovtsian steppe. But while Vladimir Monomakh’s son Izyaslav reigned in Murom, this meant that Oleg was left without any possessions at all. This was unbearable for the ambitious prince, and he was only waiting for an opportunity to achieve his rights by force.

And such an opportunity presented itself in the same year: two large Polovtsian hordes moved towards Rus'. While Vladimir and Svyatopolk were repelling one horde from Pereyaslavl, the other besieged Kyiv, took and plundered the Kiev Pechersky Monastery. The princes rushed to the rescue of Kyiv, but the Polovtsy, loaded with booty, left before the Russian squads appeared here.

At this time, Oleg headed towards Murom. The young and inexperienced prince Izyaslav Vladimirovich came out to meet him. Oleg defeated his squad, and the Murom prince himself fell in battle. The news of his son's death shocked Vladimir, but instead of taking up the sword and taking revenge on the offender, he took up the pen.

Monomakh wrote a letter to Oleg. He proposed not to destroy the Russian land, but he himself promised not to avenge his son, noting that the death of a warrior in battle is a natural thing. Monomakh called on Oleg to put an end to the bloodshed and reach a peace agreement. He admitted that he was wrong in many ways, but at the same time wrote about Oleg’s injustices and cruelties. But this time the cousin refused. And then the entire Monomakh tribe set out to attack him. He himself did not take part in the campaign, but instructed his sons to crush Oleg. In the decisive battle, they defeated Oleg's squad, who soon asked for peace, swearing on the cross that he would carry out any order of the other princes.

Lyubech Congress

Lyubech Congress. In 1097 The Russian princes decided to put an end to civil strife and rally their forces in the fight against the Polovtsians. The meeting place was chosen as the ancestral castle of Monomakh in the city of Lyubech. This fact alone can tell who initiated the congress.

Illustration. Lyubechsky Congress of Princes.

Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, brothers Oleg and David Svyatoslavich, Vladimir Monomakh, David Igorevich from Vladimir-Volynsky and his opponent Vasilko Rostislavich from the neighboring city of Terebovlya, the great-grandson of Yaroslav the Wise, a brave and enterprising young prince, gathered in Lyubech. They all came with their boyars and squads. The princes and their closest associates sat down at a common table in the huge castle hall.

As the chronicle tells, the princes said at the congress: “Why are we destroying the Russian land, bringing quarrels upon ourselves? And the Polovtsians are plundering our land and rejoicing that we are torn apart by internecine wars. From now on, let us unite wholeheartedly and preserve the Russian land, and let everyone own his homeland.”. So, the princes agreed that each of them would retain the lands of their fathers. And for violating this order, the renegade princes were threatened with punishment from other princes. Thus, the congress once again confirmed the covenant of Yaroslav the Wise to preserve for the princes their "father". This indicated that the united state began to disintegrate, because even the Kiev prince could not enter into other people's possessions. At the same time, the congress confirmed that the Kiev prince is still the main prince of Rus'. The princes also agreed on joint actions against the Polovtsians.

The reason for this increased independence of individual lands of Rus' was the strengthening of their economic and military power, the growth of cities, and the increase in their population. And Chernigov, and Pereyaslavl, and Smolensk, and Novgorod, and Rostov, and Vladimir-Volynsky, and other cities did not need protection from the central government to the same extent as before: they had their own numerous boyars, squads, fortresses, temples, bishops, monasteries, strong merchants, artisans. And most importantly, at that time, at the head of Rus' there was a weak ruler who did not have the will and strength to subjugate the entire country. The only thing that still united all the lands was their fear of Polovtsian invasions. The church also spoke out for the unity of Rus'.

Several days passed after the Lyubech Congress, and it became clear that no amount of oaths could appease the princes fighting for power and wealth.

The meeting participants had not yet reached their cities, and terrible news came from Kyiv: Svyatopolk of Kiev and Davyd of Vladimir-Volynsky captured Prince Vasilko of Terebovlsky, who stopped by the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery to pray. Davyd ordered the prisoner's eyes to be gouged out and thrown into prison.

This angered the rest of the princes, and first of all Monomakh, who had done so much to gather the princes in Lyubech. The united army of many princes approached Kyiv. This time Oleg Chernigovsky also brought his squad. The princes forced Svyatopolk to obey and join them in the campaign against David. Davyd, frightened, asked for mercy, released the blinded Vasilko and returned his possessions to him.

The fragile peace in Rus' was restored, which made it possible to intensify the fight against the Polovtsians.

Between Svyatopolk Vladimirovich (or Yaropolchich) and Yaroslav Vladimirovich, which ended in favor of the latter.

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✪ History of Russia “From A to Z” | Issue 8 | Civil strife (1015-1019)

✪ History of Russia “From A to Z” | Issue 6 | First feud

✪ History of Russia “From A to Z” | Issue 7 | Vladimir Svyatoslavovich

Subtitles

Background

In 1013, Svyatopolk Vladimirovich of Turov, taking advantage of the proximity of his possessions to Poland, formed a conspiracy with his father-in-law, Polish Prince Boleslav I, against Vladimir Svyatoslavich, but the conspiracy was discovered, Svyatopolk was imprisoned in Kyiv.

In 1014, Yaroslav refused the annual transfer of 2,000 hryvnia (2/3 of the Novgorod tribute) to Kyiv and hired two detachments of Varangians led by Eymund and Ragnar, in response to which Vladimir the Holy began preparations for a large punitive campaign against Novgorod.

After the death of Vladimir in 1015, Boris Vladimirovich, returning with an army from a campaign against the Pechenegs, abandoned the fight against Svyatopolk, recognized him as the prince of Kyiv and soon died (according to various versions, he was killed by Svyatopolk’s people or Yaroslav’s Varangian mercenaries). Gleb Vladimirovich was also killed, and Svyatoslav Vladimirovich fled to the Czech Republic, to his mother’s homeland, but was also overtaken by the killers.

Main episodes

Battle of Lyubech

In 1016, Yaroslav, at the head of a 3,000-strong Novgorod army and mercenary Varangian troops, moved against Svyatopolk, who called the Pechenegs for help. The two troops met on the Dnieper near Lyubech and for three months, until late autumn, neither side risked crossing the river. Finally, the Novgorodians did it, and they got the victory. The Pechenegs were cut off from Svyatopolk's troops by the lake and were unable to come to his aid. Yaroslav became the Grand Duke of Kyiv, awarded the Novgorodians (one hryvnia for smerds, 10 hryvnia for elders and townspeople). However, Svyatopolk did not give up the fight.

Siege of Kyiv by the Pechenegs

Already in 1017, Kyiv experienced a Pecheneg siege. It is mentioned by academician B.A. Rybakov. and is described in detail in Eymund's Saga. Svyatopolk and the Pechenegs approached Kyiv, on the walls of which the crowns of trees were fortified to protect against arrows, and around the city a ditch with water was dug, covered on top with logs and earth. Some of the besiegers fell into a trap. The two gates of Kyiv were left open, and the warriors of Yaroslav and the Varangians of Eymund were stationed in them, respectively. During the battle, the Pechenegs even managed to penetrate inside the city, but then they were driven out. The besieged undertook a sortie and during the pursuit captured the banner of Svyatopolk.

Battle of the Bug

In 1018, his father-in-law, the Polish king Boleslav I the Brave, moved to help Svyatopolk. Yaroslav led his troops towards the Bug River, where a new battle took place. The two troops met on the Western Bug and for some time did not dare to cross the river. Boleslav unexpectedly did this, dragging his warriors along with him. Yaroslav suffered a crushing defeat.

Svyatopolk entered Kyiv and stationed Polish troops in cities where discontent began to brew, and then, on the orders of Svyatopolk himself, the murders of Poles began to be organized. As a reward for his help in recapturing the Kyiv throne, Svyatopolk gave Boleslav the Cherven towns conquered by Vladimir the Saint on the left bank of the Western Bug, and Polish troops left Rus'.

After the defeat, Yaroslav fled to Novgorod and wanted to flee to Sweden, but was held back by the Novgorodians, fearing Svyatopolk's revenge. In 1019, a new army was assembled, and funds were collected for its equipment in the amount of 4 kunas from husbands, 10 hryvnias from elders and 18 hryvnias from boyars. Svyatopolk was not ready for confrontation and immediately fled to the Pechenegs, losing the Kiev throne to Yaroslav.

Consequences and assessments

History of Russia from ancient times to the end of the 17th century Andrey Nikolaevich Sakharov

§ 2. Second civil strife in Rus'. Boris and Gleb - prince-martyrs

As mentioned earlier, during the time of Vladimir’s illness, certain dynastic contradictions emerged, behind which stood big politics, religious, princely, boyar and druzhina clans.

Yaroslav Vladimirovich rebelled.

It is difficult to say exactly when this happened, before the illness or already while the Grand Duke fell ill; “The Tale of Bygone Years” laconically reports that “I wanted Volodymyr against Yaroslav, but Yaroslav, having sent overseas, brought the Varangians, fearing his father...”. But Vladimir fell ill, “at the same time Boris was with him,” the chronicle further reports. V.N. Tatishchev in his “Russian History”, relying on unknown chronicle news, deciphers the last silent mention of Nestor in this way: “Boris, named by his father for the great reign,” which, in principle, does not contradict the data of the “Tale of Bygone Years,” which reported that at that time Vladimir brought Boris, who had previously been sent to reign in Rostov, closer to him. And one more event is happening these days: the next Pecheneg raid begins, and Vladimir sends Boris against the nomads, providing him with his squad and “warriors”, i.e. civil uprising. Then the chronicler reports that at the time of Vladimir’s death, his eldest adopted son Svyatopolk ended up in Kyiv.

Thus, it becomes obvious that in the last weeks of Vladimir’s life, perhaps already during his serious illness, another political crisis began to grow in Rus'. It was connected primarily with the fact that Vladimir tried to transfer the throne, contrary to established tradition, to one of his youngest and favorite sons, born in a Christian marriage - Boris, which neither Svyatopolk nor Yaroslav could come to terms with. In addition, both had every reason to hate Vladimir. Svyatopolk could not help but know that his true father, the God-loving and gentle Yaropolk, died at the hands of his stepfather. Yaroslav, like other sons from the Polotsk princess Rogneda, could not help but know about Vladimir’s bloody reprisal against the entire family of the Polotsk prince during the capture of Polotsk in 980, about the forcible coercion of their mother into marriage, as well as about her subsequent disgrace and exile after the appearance of the Byzantine princess in the grand-ducal palace. There is a legend about an attempt by one of Rogneda’s sons to stand up for his mother at a young age.

By 1015, both of Rogneda’s eldest sons, Vysheslav and Ieyaslav, had died and now Yaroslav, who had previously reigned in Rostov and then transferred to Novgorod, remained the eldest among all the grand ducal sons.

But one can hardly think that only personal motives prompted Yaroslav to oppose his father. The point, apparently, was that the Novgorod elite, who stood in traditionally separatist positions in relation to Kyiv, were seen behind Yaroslav. It is no coincidence that the sources preserve evidence that Yaroslav refused to pay Kyiv the required annual tribute of 2,000 hryvnia, and collect another thousand from the Novgorodians for distribution to the princely people. Essentially, Novgorod refused to bear its previous financial obligations to Kiev. In practice, Yaroslav repeated the fate of his father, who was supported by the Novgorodians and Varangians against Kyiv. His personal dynastic ambitions coincided with the desire of Novgorod to reaffirm its special position within the Russian lands and, relying on Varangian help, to once again crush Kyiv. Now Yaroslav, who during the life of his older brothers had no chance of winning the throne, had a real opportunity to reign in Kyiv. In this sense, he also repeated the fate of Vladimir, who was the youngest and “unpromising” son of Svyatoslav Igorevich.

So, at the time of the death of the great Kyiv prince, his official heir was on a campaign against the Pechenegs, the eldest of his sons Svyatopolk, relying on his boyars and part of the Kievites, was waiting in Kyiv for the development of events, and indeed the eldest of his own sons Yaroslav had already gathered an army in Novgorod to speak out against his ill father.

By this day, Svyatopolk was 35 years old, Yaroslav, born somewhere in the mid-80s of the 10th century, was about 27 years old. It is difficult to establish the age of Boris, but, according to all data, he was much younger than his brothers, since Vladimir’s Christian marriage took place only in 988. Grand Duchess Anna died in 1011. If we accept the version that Boris and Gleb were born from the Byzantine princess, which can indirectly be confirmed by Vladimir’s desire to make Boris his heir, then we can admit that in 1015 he was at the age of 20 - You're a little over a year old. In addition, a number of sources speak of him and Gleb as very young people.

If Boris was, as we would say today, “a completely prosperous child,” then Svyatopolk and Yaroslav carried colossal personal complexes in their souls.

Svyatopolk was not only the adopted son of Vladimir, i.e. a man who did not even have formal rights to the throne. His mother, the long-suffering beauty “Greek”, was Svyatoslav’s concubine, and then went to his eldest son Yaropolk as a trophy of war. Judging by the fact that she was the only wife of Yaropolk at that pagan time, it can be assumed that she was loved by Yaropolk and had a great spiritual influence on him. It is not without reason that a number of sources say that Yaropolk did not resist Christians, and some historians suggest that Yaropolk himself, under the influence of his wife, became a hidden Christian, which doomed him among the Kyiv pagan elements to defeat in the fight against the ardent pagan Vladimir. Then the “Greek woman” went to the woman-loving Vladimir. One can only guess what passions were boiling in Svyatopolk’s childhood and youthful soul, how he treated his half-brothers and his father. It was no coincidence that he ended up in prison with his Polish wife. Now his hour was coming and it was not difficult to predict that he had to invest all his energy, all the fervor of his soul, all his obvious and imaginary grievances into the struggle that had begun.

Yaroslav was a match for him, possessing the iron character of his father and the furious indomitability of Rogneda, who lost both her Polotsk relatives and honor because of Vladimir. It is no coincidence that the further branch of the Polotsk princes - Izyaslav Vladimirovich, Bryachislav Izyaslavich, Vseslav Bryachislavnch - became an enemy of Kyiv for a whole hundred years. “Rogvold’s grandchildren” (Rogneda Rogvold’s father, who was killed by Vladimir) for a long time expressed their ancestral grievances to Kyiv, which, of course, were reinforced by the separatist tendencies of the Polotsk land itself, which, like Novgorod, remained somewhat isolated within Rus'.

Svyatopolk, who was either in Kyiv or Vyshgorod at the hour of Vladimir’s death, remained closest to Berestov. However, people close to Vladimir, apparently supporters of Boris, initially decided to hide the death of the Grand Duke, gain time and send messengers to Boris. The messengers were still on the way, and Svyatopolk had already seized the initiative. He ordered Vladimir's body to be taken to Kyiv and essentially took the reins of power into his own hands. Yaroslav, as you know, was in the north, and Boris rode across the steppe at the head of the princely squad in search of the Pechenegs. All the evidence suggests that Svyatopolk skillfully managed the benefits of his position. The body of the Grand Duke was delivered according to ancient custom on a sleigh to the capital. His death left the people in grief and confusion. Immediately Svyatopolk began to distribute “estate” to the townspeople, i.e. essentially bribe them to your side. But the messengers of Vladimir’s daughter and Yaroslav’s sister Predslava were already driving the horses to Novgorod. Predslava, who was Yaroslav's hidden ally, hurried to tell him the news of her father's death and Svyatopolk's seizure of power in Kyiv. Messengers from Kyiv found the squad of Boris in the steppe, on the Alta River, who, having not found the Pechenegs, was preparing to return back to Kyiv. People close to Boris persuaded the young prince to lead his squad to Kyiv and take the power bequeathed to him by his father. However, Boris refused to do this, either guided by moral motives and not wanting to violate the order of succession to the throne established earlier (this is what ancient sources insist on, emphasizing the impeccable, truly Christian appearance of Boris), or for fear of storming Kyiv, where Svyatopolk had already managed to gather enough forces and rally their supporters.

Speaking about the character of Boris, it should be noted that he was not such a non-resistance as later sources portray him, created after the canonization of Boris and Gleb by the Russian Orthodox Church. His father entrusted him with command of the army, trusted him with his squad, and this fact itself speaks volumes; in any case, it can present to us Boris, who also reigned in Rostov for a long time, as a decisive and experienced prince.

Having received a negative answer from Boris, the squad went home: for experienced warriors and politicians it was clear that from now on all people close to Boris, and he himself, would be doomed.

Svyatopolk did not immediately organize a conspiracy against Boris, but only after information reached him that the squad and the “howl” had left Boris and he remained on Alta with only a small detachment of bodyguards, “with his youths.” Svyatopolk gathered his supporters in the Vyshgorod palace; It was there that a squad of killers was formed, led by with the boyar Putsha, who promised the prince to lay down his head for him.

When Putsha's detachment appeared on Alta late in the evening, Boris had already been informed of Svyatopolk's intention to kill him. However, he either could not or did not resist. The killers found him in a tent, praying before the image of Christ.

Boris was killed when he went to bed: the attackers rushed to the tent and pierced it with spears in the place where the prince’s bed was located. Then they scattered the small guard, wrapped Boris’s body in a tent and took it to Svyatopolk. In Vyshgorod, the killers discovered that Boris was still breathing. By order of Svyatopolk, the Varangians loyal to him finished off Boris. So Svyatopolk removed the most dangerous rival from his path, acting decisively, quickly and cruelly.

But there still remained the Murom prince Gleb, who, like Boris, was born in a Christian marriage of Vladimir from a Byzantine princess and was now the only legal heir to the throne. Svyatopolk sent messengers to Gleb with a request to come to Kyiv, since his father was seriously ill. Unsuspecting Gleb and a small retinue set off on a journey - first to the Volga, and from there to Smolensk and then in a boat to Kyiv. Already on the way, he received news of the death of his father and the murder of Boris. Gleb stopped and landed on the shore. Here, halfway to Kyiv, on the Dnieper, Svyatopolk’s people found him. They burst onto the ship, killed the squad, and then, on their orders, Gleb’s cook stabbed him to death with a knife.

The death of the young brothers struck ancient Russian society. Boris and Gleb over time became symbols of non-resistance to evil, righteousness, goodness and martyrdom for the glory of the bright ideas of Christianity. Both princes were in the 11th century. declared by the Orthodox Church to be the first Russian saints, much earlier than Princess Olga and Prince Vladimir.

Svyatopolk also destroyed another of the brothers - Svyatoslav, who ruled in the Drevlyansky land and, fleeing from the merciless Svyatopolk, fled to Hungary. The killers overtook him on the way.

Now Kyiv, where Svyatopolk, who received the popular nickname “The Damned,” and Novgorod, where Yaroslav Vladimirovich remained, stood against each other again. Now he led an army of forty thousand to Kyiv. Before setting out on a campaign to the south, Yaroslav, according to the chronicle, quarreled with the Novgorodians. The Varangians, who appeared at his call even before Vladimir’s death, began to inflict violence and oppression on the Novgorodians, and they “cut out” part of the Varangians. In response, Yaroslav dealt with the “deliberate men”, i.e. prominent Novgorodians. What was the feeling of Novgorod’s rivalry in relation to Kyiv, if even after this, having received news of the death of Vladimir and learning about the reign in Kyiv after the murder of Svyatopolk’s other brothers, the Novgorodians responded to Yaroslav’s call and gathered a significant army. Truly, the North has again risen against the South, as has happened more than once in the history of Rus'. Svyatopolk set out to meet Yaroslav with the Kyiv squad and hired Pecheneg cavalry.

The opponents met on the Dnieper in the early winter of 1016 near the city of Lyubech and stood on opposite banks of the river.

Yaroslav attacked first. Early in the morning, on numerous boats, his army crossed to the opposite bank. Sandwiched between two already frozen lakes, Svyatopolk’s warriors became confused and stepped on thin ice, which began to break under their weight. The Pechenegs, limited in their maneuvers by the river and lakes, could not deploy their cavalry. The defeat of Svyatopolk's army was complete. The Grand Duke himself fled to Poland.

Yaroslav occupied Kyiv in 1017. In the same year, he entered into an alliance with the German Emperor Henry II against Poland. However, the struggle did not end there. Svyatopolk the Accursed returned to Rus' together with Boleslav I and the Polish army. The decisive battle took place on the banks of the Bug. Yaroslav was defeated and fled to Novgorod with four warriors. And Svyatopolk and the Poles occupied Kyiv.

Polish garrisons were placed in Russian cities. The Poles began to “inflict violence” on people. In response, the population began to take up arms. Under these conditions, Svyatopolk himself called on the people of Kiev to oppose their allies. Thus, the prince tried to save his own authority and maintain power.

Soon a revolt of the townspeople broke out against the Poles. Every house, every yard rose up, the Poles were beaten everywhere they came across the armed Kyivians. Besieged in his palace, Boleslaw 1 decided to leave the capital of Rus'. But leaving Kyiv, the Poles robbed the city, took a lot of people with them into captivity, and subsequently the issue of these prisoners would become a stumbling block in relations between the two states for many years. Among those whom Boleslav took with him was Predelava, the sister of Yaroslav Vladimirovich. She became the concubine of the Polish king. The supreme hierarch of the Russian Church, the famous associate of Vladimir, the Greek Anastas, who remained faithful to the legitimate ruler, also left with the Poles. He left, taking with him all the valuables and the entire treasury of the Tithe Church. In the past, he was a Chersonese church hierarch, who, during the siege of Chersonese by Vladimir, went over to his side and helped the Russians take possession of the city. As you know, after the capture of Chersonese, Anastas moved to Kyiv and became the hierarch of the main cathedral of Rus' - the Tithe Church, the Church of the Holy Mother of God (“and entrusted Nastas Korsunyann and the priests of Korsun to serve in it”).

It is amazing that the Russian chronicles, having reported, albeit contradictorily, about the baptism of Rus', except for this unclear phrase, did not say a word about what was the organizational basis of the Russian church, its relationship with the Greek Patriarchate, who was the first Russian metropolitan after the baptism of Rus'. All we have is a hollow phrase about Anastas as the main priest of the Tithe Church.

This gave rise to two centuries of controversy in world historical literature regarding the status of the Russian Church in the first years after its formation. Attention was drawn to the lack of news about the installation of a metropolitan in Rus' in these years and to the fact that only in 1039 the first Russian metropolitan, the Greek Theopemtus, was mentioned in the chronicle, who consecrated the Church of the Tithes. It was noted in the discussion that later Russian sources named various Greek church figures as the first Russian metropolitans installed after the baptism of Rus'. These were all just hypotheses. But none of the historians of the past paid attention to the entry in the “Tale of Bygone Years” about Anastas’s flight from Kyiv with the Poles and, in essence, about his robbery of the main Russian Orthodox shrine. And in this fact lies, perhaps, the key to the solution to the status of the Russian Church in the first years of its existence.

During the period of the establishment of Christianity in Rus', as we have seen, Vladimir was largely concerned that Byzantine political influence would not come to Rus' along with the new religion. In many ways, this is why he undertook a military action against Byzantium on the Crimean peninsula, this is why he was widely baptized in the defeated Chersonese (which did not exclude his initial individual baptism earlier), this is why the Russians linked together the baptism and marriage of Vladimir to the Byzantine princess Anna, who arrived in captured Chersonese . In the same connection, the question of the first highest Russian church hierarch should be considered. He could not be a metropolitan appointed from Byzantium on Byzantine terms. And it is no coincidence that Anastaya appears on the scene, who throughout Vladimir’s life was probably the head of the newly organized Russian church. In any case, it is known that he was the head of the Tithe Church from the moment of its appearance in its wooden form in 989 and before fleeing to Poland in 1017. This is almost 28 years.

However, his flight abroad, to the enemies of Rus', and even to the “Latins”, as the Poles were perceived after the split in the churches and, of course, at the time of the creation of the “Tale of Bygone Years” at the beginning of the 12th century, was a grave accusation against the first Russian prelate. It is quite possible that this is why his name, as the first Russian metropolitan, or at least a bishop, installed by Vladimir in Kyiv and having the status of a hierarch independent from Byzantium, turned out to be hidden by later chroniclers. The metropolitan is a traitor and a thief - this was unbearable for the Russian Orthodox heart. This is how a vacuum of information about the first Russian metropolitan arose in Russian chronicles at the end of the 10th and early 11th centuries.

Having left Rus', leaving Svyatopolk in Kyiv without support, the Poles simultaneously captured the “Cherven cities”. Thus, a new knot of acute contradictions emerged in relations between the two countries. At this time, Yaroslav was recruiting a new army in Novgorod. Rich townspeople supported him by donating large sums of money to hire troops. Having gathered enough strength, Yaroslav moved south again. Svyatopolk did not tempt fate. The indignation of the Kievites against him was too great, they did not forgive him for bringing the Poles to Kyiv. He fled to the steppe to the friendly Pechenegs.

The rivals met again in open battle in 1018. The battle took place on the Alta River, not far from the place where Boris was villainously killed. This gave Yaroslav's army additional strength. The battle ended with the victory of Yaroslav. Svyatopolk fled to Poland, and then moved further to the land of the Czechs, but died on the way.

A curious touch is given by the chronicle about the last days of Svyatopolk already during his flight abroad. When the fugitives reached Berestye, bordering Poland, and stopped to rest, Svyatopolk began to urge them on:

“Will you run with me, marry (i.e. they are chasing) us.” When the warriors who were with him objected that there was no pursuit, the prince insisted on his own, and the travelers set off on the road again. In the end, Svyatopolk was completely exhausted and was taken on a stretcher, but even in this position, he, getting up, continued to repeat: “Ose to marry, oh to marry, run away” (i.e. “They are chasing, oh they are chasing, run”) . So the fugitives “ran” all over Poland, the Czech Republic, and only the death of the seriously ill, mentally broken prince stopped this crazy run.

In later Russian sources, as well as in the famous “Tale of Igor’s Campaign,” Oleg Svyatoslavich, the grandson of Yaroslav the Wise, received a lot of curses, who more than once during the internecine wars of the late 11th - early 12th centuries. brought loyal Polovtsians to Rus'. However, Oleg “Gorislavich”, as Slovo calls him, received these sad laurels in history undeservedly. The first in this sense was, of course, Svyatopolk, who more than once led the Pechenegs to Rus' in the fight against Yaroslav Vladimirovich. And later, long before Oleg, this dubious means in internecine wars was used by the children and grandchildren of Yaroslav the Wise, and Oleg Svyatoslavich was only one of them.

This odious tradition survived in Rus' even later, when in the 12th century. Russian princes fought with each other, relying on Polovtsian strength, even in the 13th – 14th centuries, when the Polovtsians were replaced by the Tatars, who were often led against each other by the princes of North-Eastern Rus'.

This text is an introductory fragment.

Lecture text.

On July 15, 1015, Grand Duke Vladimir Svyatoslavich died. Novgorod separated, the Tmutarakan principality, where Vladimir's son Mstislav ruled, ceased to obey Kyiv, Polotsk tried to overthrow the power of Kyiv. The Pechenegs, having learned about the death of Vladimir, intensified their attack on Russian lands. Boleslaw I intended to return Transcarpathia to Poland, which had been taken away by Vladimir in his time. Power in Kyiv, against the will of his father, was seized by Svyatopolk, the eldest, adopted son of Vladimir, married to a Polish princess. Vladimir was going to bequeath the throne to his son Boris. Like the younger Gleb, he was born in a Christian marriage from the Byzantine princess Anna, and therefore was probably the only legitimate heir to the throne. On the morning of July 24, 1015, the conspirators surrounded the tent

Prince Boris and killed him. Svyatopolk urgently sent messengers to the Murom prince Gleb, Boris’s brother, with a request to come to Kyiv, because father is seriously ill. Gleb, who did not suspect treachery, set off on the road with a small guard. On the way, he received news from Yaroslav about the death of his father and the murder of his brother. And he was overtaken by the conspirators and killed. The death of the young brothers shocked Russian society. Boris and Gleb became symbols of righteousness and martyrdom for the glory of Rus'. Both princes already in the 11th century. were canonized as holy martyrs.

After the massacre of Boris and Gleb, Svyatopolk, who was popularly nicknamed the Accursed, sent assassins to another brother - Svyatoslav, who ruled the Drevlyansky land. Mstislav took refuge in Tmutarakan, and Yaroslav led a 40,000-strong army led by the Varangians to Kyiv. Svyatopolk opposed him with his squad and hired Pechenegs. This was the first time that a Russian prince took advantage of the help of the steppe inhabitants in an internecine struggle. The opponents met on the Dnieper near Lyubech in the winter of 1016. Svyatopolk was defeated. Yaroslav occupied Kyiv in 1019. The first great unrest in Rus' led to the collapse of the state, loss of territories, and invasion of foreigners. A new meeting of opponents took place on the Alta River, where Yaroslav finally defeated Svyatopolk, who fled to Poland and died along the way. The reign of Yaroslav begins in 1019. And in 1036, after the death of another rival - his brother Mstislav, Yaroslav united all of Rus'.

1) The Grand Duke strengthened the system of government of the country. Continuing the line of his grandfather and father, Yaroslav sent his sons to large cities and lands and demanded unquestioning obedience from them.

2) In an effort to establish order and legality in the Russian lands, Yaroslav, at the beginning of his reign, introduced the first written set of laws in Rus' - “Russian Truth”. It concerned primarily issues of public order, protecting people from violence, outrages, and fights. Russkaya Pravda strictly punished premeditated murder. She allowed blood feud, but only close relatives (father, son, brother, uncle) had the right to take revenge on the killer.

3) The Grand Duke proved himself to be an exceptionally versatile person. On his initiative, in 1037, the new main temple of Kyiv was founded - the thirteen-domed Hagia Sophia Cathedral, which competed in beauty and size with the shrine of Constantinople - the St. Sophia Cathedral.

4) Yaroslav founded a number of new cities. Yaroslavl was founded on the Volga, and Yuryev (the current Estonian city of Tartu) was founded in the conquered land of the Chuds (Estonians). The city was named after Yuri, the patron saint of Yaroslav.

5) Under him, schools were opened, the first libraries were created, many translated Greek books appeared in Rus', and chronicle writing began. He supported the book business. Yaroslav loved books, especially church works, and spent long hours reading them. Legends were made about his piety and Christian virtues.

Yaroslav also pursued a broad foreign policy.

1) Under him, power was established on the western shore of Lake Peipsi. campaigns were undertaken against the militant Baltic tribes of Lithuanians and Yatvingians.

2) Yaroslav defeated the Pechenegs in 1036, under the walls of Kyiv.

3) Waged wars with the Byzantine Empire; in 1046, Byzantium and Rus' entered into an agreement and resumed friendly relations.

Under Yaroslav the Wise, Rus' became a great power. Yaroslav died in 1054 at the age of 76, in an aura of glory. revered by Russian society, loved by numerous children. Before his death, he handed over the throne to his son Izyaslav. Yaroslav henceforth bequeathed that the eldest in the family could be the Grand Duke in Rus'.

In 1068, the brothers were defeated by a new formidable enemy - the Polovtsians, who migrated in the middle of the 11th century. in the steppe south of Rus'. Having learned about the defeat of the princes, the people of Kiev rebelled and expelled Izyaslav. True, Svyatoslav soon defeated the Polovtsians, and Izyaslav returned to Kyiv.

Under the Yaroslavich brothers in 1072, the main part of the Russian Truth was compiled. The law regulated in detail the position of various segments of the population, as well as punishments for crimes.

In 1073, strife began between the brothers. Svyatoslav, with the support of Vsevolod, caught up with Izyaslav and himself sat down in Kiev. However, he soon died. Svyatoslav's son Oleg, with the help of the Polovtsians, began to fight other princes. From this time on, the internecine wars of the princes became almost continuous. They were accompanied by Polovtsian raids. The result was the ruin of southern Rus', the outflow of its population to the north and west.