Kyiv princes briefly. The first Russian princes
The question of who is the first prince in history Ancient Rus', is still relevant. This is because historians have different attitudes to this topic. Some believe that the answers should be sought in the Tale of Bygone Years, which was written by a famous chronicler. Others say that the information described in this manuscript cannot be considered 100% reliable and needs to be double-checked and research should not be stopped. In this article we will present many different facts and assumptions regarding this issue.
Background
The first evidence about the country of the Rus appeared in the first third of the 9th century. For example, in the chronicles of 839 one can find information about the ambassadors of the Kagan of the people of Ros, who first arrived in Byzantium, the city of Constantinople, and from there went to the Frankish emperor Louis the Pious. It was this year that the ethnonym “Rus” appeared for the first time in historical writings. However, in the Tale of Bygone Years the first campaign of the Russians to the shores of the Bosphorus is dated 866, which, according to some scientists, is an erroneous date.
Civil strife
There is information that already in 862, Slavic and Finno-Ugric tribes began to wage internecine wars among themselves. It is written about this in the “Tale”: “Generation after generation rose.” However, none of them could prevail over the others. But ordinary people suffered, innocent women and children died, and, naturally, the question arose of how to stop this senseless war. And it was then that the Slovenes, or Slavs, thought that only a foreign ruler could resolve this issue. They gathered an embassy and sent it to the Varangians, who lived on the shores of the Baltic Sea, which in those days was called the Varangian Sea. They came to these lands and addressed the local princes with the following speech: “Our land is huge and abundant, but there is no order in it. We ask you to come to our land, establish order and rule over us.” Three of the Varangians - the brothers Rurik, Sineus and Truvor, who were called Russians, or Ros - took advantage of the invitation of the Slavic delegates and went to their land. Among them was the future first prince of Rus'. For about two years, the brothers tried to adapt to new conditions; they either had to fight, or be punished for disobedience, or sit at a friendly table and share bread. Rurik reigned in Novgorod, Sineus ruled Beloozero, and Truvor ruled in Izborsk. Some of the locals were happy about their arrival, while others were against it. Two years later, two of the brothers - Truvor and Sineus - died. Thus, the first Varangian prince in Rus' was Rurik. He began to reign alone over the entire vast land inhabited by Slavic tribes. And since he and his brothers were called Rus, the land soon began to be called Russia.
Khazars and Varangians - enemies and rescuers
According to another version, the call of the Varangians to the land of the Eastern Slavs was not due to civil strife, but to the onslaught of the Khazars. Their raids became unbearable for the local residents, and they decided to find their salvation among the Varangians. Rurik, the first prince in Rus', arrived with his brothers, beat the Khazars, and began to reign. The capital of the newly formed state was the city of Novgorod. There is also a version that these three brothers are the younger sons of a noble family. According to European custom, only the eldest brother received the inheritance, and the rest were left with nothing. That is why Rurik and his brothers decided to take advantage of the invitation of the Slavs.
March on Constantinople
In the same 862, the Varangians who came with their brothers were eager to move to the Mediterranean Sea, and they were joined by the warriors of Rurik, who is the first Varangian prince in Rus'. Among them were Dir, as well as his friend and comrade-in-arms Askold. They decided to head to Constantinople and establish a trade route from the “Varangians to the Greeks.” For this, the prince subjugated Kyiv. This is what it says in the Tale. But according to the Nikon and Novgorod Chronicles, Askold and Dir had nothing to do with Rurik. There is even a version that these two warriors are descendants of Kiy, the legendary prince Dnieper glades. He is also the founder of Kyiv.
Igor and Oleg
In Novgorod, Prince Rurik had a son, Igor. When he passed away in 879, his boy was still just a child, and therefore the reign was transferred to Oleg, who also became Igor’s regent. Some historians believe that this issue was not so simple, and power in Novgorod was usurped by Oleg. Even when Igor grew up, he did not want to hand over the reins of power to him. In a word, when the first prince in Rus' Rurik died, Oleg took his place.
Pseudo-roots of Rurik
Some scientists believe that the Varangians are German, Danish, Swedish, Finnish or even Norwegian tribes. And the author of “The Tale of Bygone Years” meant that Rurik and his people lived on lands located in the south of the Varangian, that is, the Baltic Sea, in an area that is located closer to Angeln and Holstein. On the modern map, these lands are located in the northern part of Germany. Is it possible to conclude from this that the first prince in Rus', Rurik, is of German origin? We think not, and the peoples who lived here are much closer to the Russians than to the Germans. By the way, among them there are such names as Russes, or Varins, etc. Some European researchers believe that Rurik may have Swedish roots. However, Russian scientists see behind this version political meaning and completely deny it. During the Livonian War between Sweden and Russia, Ivan the Terrible suggested that there was no blue blood flowing in the veins of the Swedish king Johan the Third, and he reminded the Russian Tsar that Rurik, the first Grand Duke of Rus', was a Varangian and had Swedish roots. But in the 1st half of the 18th century, St. Petersburg academicians with German roots spoke out for the version German origin Rurik and his brothers. This theory began to be called Norman, but Lomonosov, having studied this issue, came to the conclusion that it does not correspond to the truth and has no historical realities. And according to the “Tale” it is clearly visible that the Varangians and the Swedes, the Varangians and the Normans are different tribes.
Oleg - the first Russian prince in Rus'
In 882, well known to us from the poem Prophetic Oleg- the regent of Prince Igor, the son of Rurik, gathered a squad and headed from Novgorod to the south. Along the way, he captured Lyubech and Smolensk and established his power in these cities. Oleg's squad consisted of Varangians and the Chud, Meri, Slovenian and Krivichi tribes. They headed towards Kyiv and captured it, killing Rurik's former warriors - Askold and Dir, who ruled this city. After this, Kyiv was declared the capital of Olegov’s state, and the subjects Novgorod land the tribes had to pay him tribute. Oleg began building fortresses around his capital. There is a chronicler's testimony about this event, according to which Oleg, the first prince of Kievan Rus, spread his power through force and weapons in the lands of the northerners and Drevlyans, and the Radimichi tribe accepted his conditions without a fight, preferring to pay tribute to Oleg rather than to the Khazars. And they, in turn, began an economic blockade against them, blocking the path of Russian merchants through their lands.
March on Byzantium
At the beginning of the 10th century, Russian squads led by Prince Oleg made a victorious campaign against Byzantium. As a result of this, written agreements were concluded on preferential terms of trade for merchants from Kievan Rus. Historians believe that the success of Oleg’s army can be explained by the fact that he managed to rally the forces of all the tribes inhabiting the young Old Russian state, thereby strengthening its statehood. Oleg, who had the title of Grand Duke, ruled Russia for more than 30 years. After him, Rurik’s son, Prince Igor, ascended the throne. This happened in 912 (the year of Oleg's death). Historians argue which of them - Oleg or Igor - was the first Grand Duke of All Rus'. The first can be called such by merit, and the second by origin, since he is the son of the founder of the Russian state.
Prince Igor
Rurik's son, after heading the state, made 2 military campaigns against Byzantium. Initially, he launched a military campaign against Khazaria, where Byzantium involved him. However, he was defeated there, after which Igor’s army turned its arms against Byzantium. However, the Bulgarians managed to warn their Greek allies that the ten thousandth army of Prince Igor was approaching Constantinople. Nevertheless, the Russian fleet managed to plunder Bithynia, Heraclea, Paphlagonia, Nicomedia and Pontus, but was defeated. After that Grand Duke, abandoning those who survived in Thrace, he and his entourage fled to his capital on several boats. Later, news reached him that the soldiers he had left in Thrace were taken to Constantinople and executed. From Kyiv, he sent an invitation to his allies, the Varangians, to join him and make a new campaign against Byzantium, which he carried out in 944. Igor’s army included the Polyans, Krivichi, Slovenes, Tivertsy, Varangians and Pechenegs. They reached the Danube, and from here Igor sent envoys to Constantinople, who managed to conclude a treaty on duty-free trade. Rus' pledged to defend Byzantium's possessions in Crimea. In 943-944. The army of the Grand Duke made a campaign against Berdaa, and a year later Igor was killed by the Drevlyans, although there is a version that he was killed by his own governor Sveneld due to disagreements in the division of tribute.
Olga
The widow of Igor and the mother of the future Grand Duke Svyatoslav, after the death of her husband, took the reins of government into her own hands, and then the prince of the Drevlians Mal sent matchmakers to her. Olga considered this an insult and ordered the ambassadors to be executed. However, this did not seem enough to her, and she, having gathered an army, in 946 besieged the Drevlyan fortress Iskorosten, which was eventually burned, and the Drevlyans were conquered by the Kyivians. Olga imposed a terrible tribute on them. This was her revenge. She did not forgive them for the fact that her husband, the first Prince of All Rus', died at their hands. In 947, Olga went to Novgorod, where she introduced a system of tributes and quitrents, according to which local residents they themselves had to take them and give them to the tiuns (tax inspectors). It was thanks to her that from then on the policy of the first princes of Rus' was peaceful towards Byzantium. Olga was the first of the rulers of the Old Russian state to officially accept Christianity of the Byzantine rite in 957. He went to Constantinople. Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus called Olga the Archon of Rus'. The purpose of her trip was to achieve the baptism and recognition of Rus' by Byzantium as an equal Christian empire. After baptism she was given christian name Elena. Nevertheless, historians claim that she then failed to agree on an alliance, and then she sent ambassadors to Emperor Otto I in Germany with a request to establish a church in Rus'. After this, Constantinople made concessions, and the German embassy had to return. After this, the Russian army, sent by Olga-Elena, supported the Greeks in the war with the Arabs in Crete. Olga died in 969.
Princes of all Rus'
This was the name of the Russian rulers who had a claim to supreme power over all Russian lands, and the Kyiv princes were called by this title. However, at some period of time Kyiv was in decline, and then Vladimir became the main political and church center of Rus'. After this, the princes of Vladimir were called the princes of “all Rus'”. In the Moscow period, this title did not imply power over everyone former lands The Old Russian state, but only an elevation above other princes.
First Moscow Prince of All Rus'
Daniil Alexandrovich is the ancestor of the Moscow princes belonging to the Rurik dynasty. He is the son of Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky. Daniil Alexandrovich inherited the princely title from his father in his early childhood. He ruled Muscovite Russia from 1263 to 1303. However, while he was too young to rule the state, his uncle Yaroslav Yaroslavovich did it for him. He also raised little Danila after the death of his heroic father. From the age of 15, he began to actively operate within his principality. He was called a builder, and the fortifications he built greatly helped in the defense of Moscow.
Victory over the Golden Horde
Having matured a little, he began to pursue his own policy, the main focus of which was to expand the possessions of the principality. He actively took part in princely feuds, with his brothers Andrei and Dmitry for reigning over the Great Vladimir, and for Novgorod. In 1285, he, united with his uncle, defeated the Horde army, and this battle went down in history as the first victory of the Russian army over the Golden Horde. After 15 years, he managed to unite Kolomna, Lopasnya and other lands along the Moscow River to the Moscow principality, and when confronted with the Ryazan prince Konstantin Romanovich, he took him prisoner. But Pereslavl-Zalessky was bequeathed to him by the prince of those lands. The first prince of all Rus', Danila, son of the legendary Alexander Nevsky, died in 1303.
We know who the first princes in Rus' were from the works of chroniclers - Nestor, who lived at the turn of the 11th-12th centuries, his contemporary Sylvester and the semi-legendary Joachim, about the reality of whose existence historians cannot say with complete certainty. It is from their pages that “deeds of bygone years” come to life before us, the memory of which is kept only in the depths of silent steppe mounds and in folk legends.
The first prince of Ancient Rus'
The chronicler Nestor was canonized, therefore, during his lifetime he did not lie, and therefore we will believe everything that he wrote, especially since we, admittedly, have no choice. So, in the middle of the 9th century, the Novgorodians, together with the Krivichi, Chud and the whole, invited three Varangian brothers to rule - Rurik, Sineus and Truvor. The chronicler explains such a strange desire - to voluntarily surrender oneself to the power of foreigners - by the fact that our ancestors lost hope of independently establishing order in their vast lands, and therefore decided to turn to the Varangians for help.
By the way, at all times there have been skeptics among historians. In their opinion, the warlike Scandinavians simply seized the Russian lands and began to rule them, and the legend of voluntary calling was composed only for the sake of trampled national pride. However, this version has also not been proven and is based only on idle reasoning and speculation, and therefore, it is not worth talking about. In the generally accepted view, the first prince of Kievan Rus was an invited guest here.
Reign on the banks of the Volkhov
The first Varangian prince in Rus' was Rurik. He settled in Novgorod in 862. Then he younger brothers began to rule in the estates allotted to them - Sineus on Beloozero, and Truvor in Izborsk. It is curious that Smolensk and Polotsk did not allow foreigners in - either without them the order in the cities was exemplary, or the Varangians simply did not have enough strength to break their resistance. Two years later, Sineus and Truvor simultaneously die, as they say now, “under unclear circumstances,” and their lands are annexed to the possessions of their elder brother Rurik. This became the basis for the subsequent creation of the Russian monarchy.
The chroniclers mentioned above attribute another important event. Two Varangian princes, Askold and Dir, accompanied by a squad, set off on a campaign against Constantinople, but before reaching the Byzantine capital, they captured the small Dnieper city of Kiev, which later became the capital of Ancient Rus'. The campaign they planned to Byzantium did not bring glory, but as the first Kyiv princes Askold and Dir entered our history forever. And although the first Varangian prince in Rus' was Rurik, they also played an important role in the formation of the state.
The treacherous capture of Kyiv
When in 879, after fifteen years of sole reign, Rurik died, he left his young son Igor as heir to the princely throne, and until he came of age appointed his relative Oleg as ruler, the same one whom descendants would call the Prophetic. From the first days, the new ruler showed himself to be a powerful, warlike man and devoid of excessive morality. Oleg conquers Smolensk and Lyubech, everywhere covering his actions with the name of the young prince Igor, in whose interests he allegedly acts. Having begun the conquest of the Dnieper lands, he captured Kyiv by cunning and, having killed Askold and Dir, became its ruler. It is to him that the chroniclers attribute the words that Kyiv is the mother of Russian cities.
Conqueror and conqueror of lands
At the end of the 9th century, the Russian lands were still very scattered, and between Novgorod and Kiev there were significant territories inhabited by foreigners. Oleg and his large retinue conquered many peoples who had maintained their independence until then. These were the Ilmen Slavs, the Chud, Vesi, Drevlyan tribes and many other inhabitants of forests and steppes. Having united them under his rule, he gathered the lands of Novgorod and Kyiv into a single powerful state.
His campaigns put an end to the dominance of the Khazar Kaganate, for many years controlled the southern territories. Oleg also became famous for his successful campaign against Byzantium, during which, as a sign of victory, he nailed his famous shield, praised by both Pushkin and Vysotsky, to the gates of Constantinople. He returned home with rich booty. The prince died at a ripe old age, satiated with life and glory. Whether the cause of death was the snake that bit him and crawled out of the horse’s skull, or whether it was just a work of fiction is unknown, but the prince’s life itself was brighter and more amazing than any legend.
Massive influx of Scandinavians to Rus'
As can be seen from the above, the first princes in Rus', immigrants from the Scandinavian peoples, saw their main task in the conquest of new lands and the creation of a single state capable of resisting those numerous enemies who continuously encroached on its integrity.
During these years, seeing the success of their fellow tribesmen in Rus', in Novgorod and Kyiv lands Scandinavians rushed in in large numbers, wanting to grab their piece, but, finding themselves among a large and resilient people, they inevitably assimilated into it and soon became part of it. The activities of the first princes of Rus', of course, relied on their support, but over time the foreigners gave way to the indigenous inhabitants.
Period of Igor's reign
With the death of Oleg, his successor appeared on the historical stage, the son of Rurik, who had matured by that time, the young Prince Igor. All his life he tried to achieve the same fame that Oleg got, but fate was not kind to him. Having undertaken two campaigns against Byzantium, Igor became famous not so much for his military success as for his incredible cruelty towards civilians in the countries through which his army moved.
However, he did not return home empty-handed, bringing back abundant booty from his campaigns. His actions against the steppe Pecheneg robbers, whom he managed to drive away to Bessarabia, were also successful. Naturally ambitious and ambitious, the prince ended his life very ingloriously. Once again collecting tribute from the Drevlyans under his control, with his irrepressible greed he drove them to the extreme, and they, revolting and killing their squad, betrayed him to a brutal death. His actions expressed the entire policy of the first princes of Rus' - the search for fame and wealth at any cost. Unencumbered by any moral standards, they considered all paths leading to achieving the goal acceptable.
Princess, canonized
After Igor's death, power passed to his widow, Princess Olga, whom the prince married in 903. Beginning her reign, she brutally dealt with the Drevlyans, her husband’s killers, sparing neither the elderly nor children. The princess set out on the campaign with her young son Svyatoslav, wanting to early years accustom him to swearing.
According to most historians, Olga, as a ruler, deserves praise, and this is due primarily to her wise decisions and good deeds. This woman managed to adequately represent Rus' in the world. Her special merit is that she was the first to bring the light of Orthodoxy to Russian soil. For this, the church canonized her as a saint. While still a pagan, in 957 she headed an embassy heading to Byzantium. Olga understood that without Christianity it was impossible to strengthen the prestige of the state and the ruling dynasty.
Newly baptized servant of God Elena
The sacrament of Baptism was performed on her in the Church of St. Sophia personally by the patriarch, and as godfather The emperor himself spoke. The princess emerged from the holy font with the new name Elena. Unfortunately, having returned to Kyiv, she could not persuade her son Svyatoslav, like all the first princes in Rus', who worshiped Perun, to accept the faith of Christ. All of boundless Rus' remained in the darkness of paganism, which was to be illuminated by her grandson, the future Prince of Kyiv Vladimir, with the rays of true faith.
Prince-conqueror Svyatoslav
Princess Olga died in 969 and was buried according to Christian custom. Characteristic feature her rule was that she limited her activities only to concerns government, leaving the male princes to wage war and assert her power with the sword. Even Svyatoslav, having matured and received all the princely powers, was busy with campaigns, boldly left the state in the care of his mother.
Having inherited power from his mother, Prince Svyatoslav devoted himself entirely to military campaigns, wanting to revive the glory of Rus', which shone so brightly during the time of Prince Oleg. By the way, he was perhaps the first to begin to follow the laws of knightly honor. The prince, for example, considered it unworthy to attack the enemy by surprise, and it was to him that the famous phrase “I’m coming at you!”
Possessing an iron will, a clear mind and military leadership talent, Svyatoslav managed to annex many lands to Rus' over the years of his reign, significantly expanding its territory. Like all the first princes in Rus', he was a conqueror, one of those who, with his sword, conquered a sixth of the land for the future Russian state.
The struggle for power and the victory of Prince Vladimir
The death of Svyatoslav became the beginning of a struggle for power between his three sons - Yaropolk, Oleg and Vladimir, each of whom, having his own legal inheritance, sought to seize the territories of his brothers by treachery and force. After several years of mutual hostility and intrigue, Vladimir won, becoming the sole and rightful ruler.
He, like his father, showed extraordinary leadership abilities, pacifying the revolts of the peoples under his control and conquering new ones. However, the main merit that truly immortalized his name was the Baptism of Rus', which took place in 988 and put the young state on a par with European countries, which had long before received the light of the Christian faith.
The end of the life of the holy prince
But at the end of his life, the Baptist of Rus' was destined to experience many bitter moments. The passion for power consumed the soul of his son Yaroslav, who ruled in Novgorod, and he rebelled against his own father. To pacify him, Vladimir was forced to send a squad under the command of his other son Boris to the rebellious city. This caused the prince severe psychological trauma, from which he was unable to recover and died on July 15, 1015.
For his services to the state and the Russian Orthodox Church Prince Vladimir entered the history of our homeland with the addition of the epithet Great or Holy to his name. A special proof of the nation's love for this to an outstanding person is the trace that he left in the folk epic, which mentioned him in the epics about Ilya Muromets, Dobrynya of Novgorod and many other Russian heroes.
Ancient Rus': the first princes
This is how the formation of Russia took place, rising from the darkness of paganism and becoming over time a powerful power, one of the legislators of European politics. But since Rus', during the reign of the first princes, stood out from among other peoples, establishing its superiority over them, it had a long and difficult path ahead of it, which included the process of evolution state power. It continued throughout the entire period of Russian autocracy.
The concept of “the first Russian prince in Rus'” can be considered very conditional. The entire family of the Rurik princes, which originated from the legendary Varangian who came to the banks of the Volkhov in 862 and ended with the death of Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich, carries Scandinavian blood, and it is hardly fair to call its members purely Russian. Numerous appanage princes who were not directly related to this dynasty also mostly had either Tatar or Western European roots.
But who the first prince of all Rus' is can be said with some accuracy. It is known from the chronicles that for the first time the title, which emphasized that its owner was not just the Grand Duke, but the ruler of “all Rus',” was awarded to Mikhail Yaroslavovich Tverskoy, who ruled at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries. The first Moscow prince of all Rus' is also reliably known. It was Ivan Kalita. His followers also bore the same title, right up to the first Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible. The main line of their foreign policy was the expansion of borders Russian state and the annexation of new lands to it. Domestic policy boiled down to the comprehensive strengthening of centralized princely power.
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 and establish trade and allied relations with Byzantium and other countries.
Pre-Norman princes | Polyudye was not introduced, but developed historically |
The first mention of Rus' | Mentions of Rus' 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 of Novgorod, Beloozero, Izborsk |
Oleg (879-912) | According to the chronicle, in 882 the unification of two East Slavic centers took place: Novgorod and Kiev. Prince Oleg's troops took Constantinople |
Igor (912-945) |
|
Olga (945 - 964) | “Lessons” and “cemeteries” 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 nature during the reign of Olga. |
Svyatoslav (962-972) | |
Vladimir Svyatoslavich (980-1015) | Consequences of baptism: 1) the culture of Rus' turned into “axial” 2) statehood strengthened Rus' 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 Yaroslavichs. (1060)
| Articles on blood feud were excluded from the Russian Truth of the Yaroslavichs. |
Vladimir Monomakh (1113-1125) | The congress of ancient Russian princes in 1097, where the question was posed “why are we destroying the Russian land, starting strife among ourselves,” 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
Policy |
||
|---|---|---|
|
||
|
||
By the beginning of the 10th century, the power of the Kyiv prince extended to most of the East Slavic lands. This is how the Old Russian state was formed. |
||
|
||
Svyatoslav |
|
|
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. |
||
Vladimir Krasno Solnyshko |
|
|
Yaroslav the Wise |
|
|
Vladimir Monomakh |
|
|
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 Kyiv princes 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 some of the Russian principalities were captured by Lithuanians and Poles (Polotsk, Minsk, etc.).
Over the course of 3 centuries, not only the territory changed, but also regional administration, as they would say now. Initially, the tribes governed themselves. In the 9th century, Oleg, regent for the Novgorod prince, conquered Kyiv, thereby establishing centralized power. Subsequently, he and his followers on the Kiev princely throne imposed tribute on several neighboring tribes. Management of territories in the 9th-10th centuries consisted of collecting tribute and was carried out in the form of polyudya - the prince and his retinue traveled to 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 have been difficult for one prince to lead such a vast territory, the great princes practiced distributing inheritances to their warriors. First, with a return as payment for military affairs, and then into hereditary possession. In addition, the great princes had many children. As a result, in the 11th-12th centuries, the Kiev 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 the monasteries. The exception was the Pskov-Novgorod land, which at that time still had a feudal republic.
To manage their plots, princes and boyars - large landowners - divided the territory into hundreds, fives, ryads, and districts. However, there was no clear definition of these territorial units.
Often there were no clearly defined boundaries of these units. The management of the city was carried out by mayors and thousanders, at a lower level they were centurions, tens, 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.”
People's Assembly Eastern Slavs was called a veche.
- Olesya
A very detailed and historically accurate table. This period ancient Russian history Usually it is best remembered by both schoolchildren and students. The thing is that the reign of 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 uprisings.
- Irina
Olesya, I completely agree with you about Yaroslav the Wise. By the way, it is interesting that initially he had no desire to become the head of state: circumstances pushed him to do so. However, the period of his reign became a time of stability and prosperity for Rus'. So after this you say that personality does not make history: it does, and how! If it were not for Yaroslav, Rus' would not have received rest from strife and would not have had in the 11th century. "Russian Truth". He managed to improve the international situation. Talented statesman! We wish there were more of these in our time.
- Lana
The table shows only individual Russian princes, therefore it cannot be considered complete; if we look at everything in detail, we can count more than 20 princes who were related and controlled their own destinies.
- Irina
The table is useful, but incomplete. In my opinion, it would be better to highlight the features of the foreign and domestic policies of the princes. Attention is paid more to changes and innovations, rather than characteristic features reign period.
- Angelina
Information about internal and foreign policy There are very few 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. I don’t see the point in the first table at all. There is little information at all about some rulers. For example, Vladimir the Great carried out a number of important reforms that are not mentioned in the tables at all.
- Igor
For a short period of his reign, Vladimir Monomakh managed to unite more than half of the lands of Rus', which disintegrated after the Yaroslavich triumvirate. 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 Vladimir the Great. In addition to the baptism of Rus', 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 heyday of Rus'. If at the stage of formation these were strong warriors, an example of courage, then at the stage of prosperity 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 claim that Yaroslav saved Rus' from strife and strife. I completely disagree with this position of commentators in relation to the personality of Yaroslav the Wise. There is a Scandinavian saga about Edmund. This saga tells that a squad of Scandinavians was hired by Yaroslav to fight his brother Boris. By order of Yaroslav, the Scandinavians send assassins to his brother Boris and kill him (Prince Boris, who was, was later recognized as a saint with his brother Gleb). Also, according to the Tale of Bygone Years, in 1014 Yaroslav rebelled against his father Vladimir Krasno Solnyshko (the baptist of Rus') and hired the Varangians to fight him, wanting to rule 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 Kiev throne and fought with his brother Mstislav of Tmutorokansky, nicknamed the Brave. Until 1036 (the year of Mstislav's death), the Russian state was divided between Yaroslav and Mstislav into two political associations independent of each other. Until Mstislav's death, Yaroslav preferred to live in Novgorod rather than in the capital Kyiv. Yaroslav also began paying tribute to the Varangians in the amount of 300 hryvnia. He introduced a rather heavy fine in favor of the bishop for non-compliance with Christian rules. This is despite the fact that 90% of the population were pagans or dual-religionists. He sent his son Vladimir along with the Varangian Harold on a predatory campaign against Orthodox Byzantium. The army was defeated and most of the soldiers died in battle from the use of Greek fire. During his reign, nomadic tribes cut off the Tmutarakan principality from Kyiv and as a result, it came under the influence of neighboring states. He transferred the original Russian lands around Ladoga to the relatives of the Swedish king Olaf Shetkonung for hereditary possession. Then these lands became known as Ingria. The Russian Pravda code of laws reflects the enslavement of the population, which actively occurred during the reign of Yaroslav, as well as 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 are a large number of changes and insertions into the original text of the chronicle made, most likely at his direction. Yaroslav distorted the chronicles, killed his brothers, started civil strife with his brothers and declared war on his father, being essentially a separatist, but he is praised in the chronicles and the church recognized him as a believer. Maybe that's why Yaroslav was nicknamed the Wise?
The first rulers of Ancient Rus' (from the formation of the state to the period of feudal fragmentation).
The founder of the Rurik dynasty, the first ancient Russian prince.
According to the Tale of Bygone Years, he was called to reign in 862 by the Ilmen Slovenes, Chud and all of the Varangian lands.
He reigned first in Ladoga, and then in all Novgorod lands.
Before his death, he transferred power to his relative (or senior warrior) - Oleg.
The first real ruler of Ancient Rus', who united the lands of the Slavic tribes along the route “from the Varangians to the Greeks.”
In 882 he captured Kyiv and made it the capital of the ancient Russian state, killing Askold and Dir, who had previously reigned there.
He subjugated the tribes of the Drevlyans, Northerners, and Radimichi.
Strengthened the foreign policy situation. In 907 he made a successful military campaign against Constantinople, which resulted in two peace treaties beneficial for Rus' (907 and 911).
He expanded the borders of the Old Russian state, subjugating the Ulich tribe and contributing to the founding of Russian settlements on the Taman Peninsula.
He repelled the raids of the Pecheneg nomads.
Organized military campaigns against Byzantium:
1) 941 - ended in failure;
2) 944 - conclusion of a mutually beneficial agreement.
Killed by the Drevlyans while collecting tribute in 945.
The wife of Prince Igor, she ruled in Rus' during the childhood of her son Svyatoslav and during his military campaigns.
For the first time, she established a clear procedure for collecting tribute (“polyudya”) by introducing:
1) lessons in determining the exact amounts of tribute;
2) graveyards - establishing places for collecting tribute.
She visited Byzantium in 957 and converted to Christianity under the name Helen.
In 968 she led the defense of Kyiv from the Pechenegs.
Son of Prince Igor and Princess Olga.
Initiator and leader of many military campaigns:
- Defeat of the Khazar Kaganate and its capital Itil (965)
- Hiking to Danube Bulgaria. Wars with Byzantium (968 - 971)
- Military clashes with the Pechenegs (969 - 972)
- Treaty between Russia and Byzantium (971)
Killed by the Pechenegs during their return from Bulgaria in 972 on the Dnieper rapids.
In 972 - 980 The first internecine war for power takes place between the sons of Svyatoslav - Vladimir and Yaropolk. Vladimir wins and establishes himself on the Kiev throne.
980 - Vladimir carries out pagan reform. A pantheon of pagan gods is created, led by Perun. An attempt to adapt paganism to the needs of the Old Russian state and society ended in failure.
988 - adoption of Christianity in Rus'.
(Reasons for accepting Christianity:
- the need to strengthen the power of the Kyiv prince and the need for state unification on a new spiritual basis;
- justification of social inequality;
- the need to introduce Rus' to pan-European political realities, spiritual and cultural values.
The meaning of accepting Christianity:
- strengthened the state and the power of the prince;
- increased the international authority of Rus';
- contributed to the introduction of Rus' to Byzantine culture.)
Under Vladimir, the Old Russian state was further expanded and strengthened. Vladimir finally conquered the Radimichi, made successful campaigns against the Poles and Pechenegs, and founded new fortress-cities: Pereyaslavl, Belgorod, etc.
He established himself on the Kiev throne after long strife with Svyatopolk the Accursed (he received his nickname after the murder of his brothers Boris and Gleb, who were later canonized) and Mstislav of Tmutarakan.
He contributed to the flourishing of the Old Russian state, patronized education and construction.
Contributed to the rise of the international authority of Rus'. Established broad dynastic ties with European and Byzantine courts.
Conducted military campaigns:
- to the Baltic states;
- to the Polish-Lithuanian lands;
- to Byzantium.
Finally defeated the Pechenegs.
Prince Yaroslav the Wise is the founder of written Russian legislation ("Russian Truth", "Yaroslav's Truth").
Grandson of Yaroslav the Wise, son of Prince Vsevolod the First and Maria, daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine the Ninth Monomakh. Prince of Smolensk (from 1067), Chernigov (from 1078), Pereyaslavl (from 1093), great Kyiv prince(since 1113).
Prince Vladimir Monomakh - organizer of successful campaigns against the Polovtsians (1103, 1109, 1111)
He advocated the unity of Rus'. Participant in the congress of ancient Russian princes in Lyubech (1097), which discussed the harmfulness of civil strife, the principles of ownership and inheritance of princely lands.
He was called to reign in Kyiv during the popular uprising of 1113, which followed the death of Svyatopolk II. Reigned until 1125
He put into effect the “Charter of Vladimir Monomakh”, where interest on loans was legally limited and it was forbidden to enslave dependent people who worked off the debt.
Stopped the collapse of the Old Russian state. He wrote a “Teaching,” in which he condemned strife and called for the unity of the Russian land.
He continued the policy of strengthening dynastic ties with Europe. He was married to the daughter of the English king Harold the Second - Gita.
Son of Vladimir Monomakh. Prince of Novgorod (1088 - 1093 and 1095 - 1117), Rostov and Smolensk (1093 - 1095), Belgorod and co-ruler of Vladimir Monomakh in Kyiv (1117 - 1125). From 1125 to 1132 - autocratic ruler of Kyiv.
He continued the policy of Vladimir Monomakh and managed to preserve a unified Old Russian state.
Annexed the Principality of Polotsk to Kyiv in 1127.
Organized successful campaigns against the Polovtsians, Lithuania, and the Chernigov prince Oleg Svyatoslavovich.
After his death, almost all the principalities came out of obedience to Kyiv. A specific period begins - feudal fragmentation.
Prince Rurik. (reign dates 862-879). The chronicle founder of the statehood of Rus', the Varangian, Novgorod prince and the founder of the princely, which later became the royal, Rurik dynasty.
Rurik is sometimes identified with King Rorik from Jutland's Hedeby (Denmark). According to another version, Rurik is a representative of the princely family of the Obodrites, and his name is a Slavic family nickname associated with the falcon, which Slavic languages also called rarog. There are also attempts to prove the legendary status of Rurik.
It was under this prince that tribal formations became part of Ancient Rus'. The Ilmen Slovenes, the Pskov Krivichi, the Chud and all retained relations under the treaty with Rurik. The Smolensk Krivichi and Merya were annexed by Rurik, who established his “husbands” - governors - in their lands. The chronicle reports the annexation of the tribes of the Northerners, who had previously paid tribute to the Khazars, in 884, the Radimichi in 885, and the subjugation of the Drevlyans in 883. The Croats, Dulebs (Buzhans) and Tivertsy probably took part in the campaign against Byzantium in 906 as allies.
At the same time - in 862 (the date is approximate, according to the early chronology of the Chronicle) the Varangians, Rurik’s warriors Askold and Dir, sailing to Constantinople, seeking to establish full control over the most important trade route “from the Varangians to the Greeks”, established their power over Kiev. In the future, the center of the future Kievan Rus is formed.
In 879 Rurik died in Novgorod. The reign was transferred to Oleg, regent for Rurik’s young son Igor.
Oleg (Prophetic Oleg) (reign: 879-912) - Prince of Novgorod (from 879) and Grand Duke of Kiev (from 882). Often considered as the founder of the Old Russian state. The chronicle gives his nickname Prophetic, that is, one who knows the future, who sees the future.
In 882, according to chronicle chronology, Prince Oleg, a relative of Rurik, set off on a campaign from Novgorod to the south. Actually, the beginning of the formation of a single state for all Eastern Slavs was the unification by Prince Oleg in 882 of two centers of nascent statehood - northern and southern, with a common center of state power in Kyiv, the capture of Smolensk and Lyubech. It was not for nothing that the Old Russian chronicler described Prince Oleg as “prophetic.” He united in his hands the priestly functions of the most revered pagan cults of the Ilmen Slovenes and the Dnieper Rus. The names of Perun and Veles were sworn by Oleg's ambassadors when concluding a treaty with the Greeks in 911. Having seized power in Kyiv, Oleg declared himself a prince from the Russian family, thereby confirming his continuity from the power that preceded him and establishing the legitimacy of his reign as a Russian and not a foreign prince .
Another important political step of Oleg was the campaign against Constantinople. According to the chronicle source, in 907, having equipped 2000 rooks with 40 warriors each, Oleg set out on a campaign against Constantinople. The Byzantine Emperor Leo VI the Philosopher ordered the gates of the city to be closed and the harbor blocked with chains, thus giving the Varangians the opportunity to plunder and plunder the suburbs of Constantinople. However, Oleg launched an unusual assault: “And Oleg ordered his soldiers to make wheels and put ships on wheels. And when a fair wind blew, they raised sails in the field and went to the city.” The frightened Greeks offered Oleg peace and tribute. According to the agreement, Oleg received 12 hryvnia for each rowlock, and Byzantium promised to pay tribute to Russian cities. As a sign of victory, Oleg nailed his shield on the gates of Constantinople. The main result of the campaign was a trade agreement on duty-free trade between Rus' and Byzantium.
In 911, Oleg sent an embassy to Constantinople, which confirmed the “many years” of peace and concluded a new treaty. Compared to the “treaty” of 907, the mention of duty-free trade disappears from it. Oleg is referred to in the treaty as the “Grand Duke of Russia.”
As a result of the victorious campaign against Byzantium, the first written agreements were concluded in 907 and 911, which provided for preferential terms of trade for Russian merchants (trade duties were abolished, ship repairs and overnight accommodation were provided), and resolution of legal and military issues. The tribes of the Radimichi, Northerners, Drevlyans, and Krivichi were subject to tribute. According to the chronicle version, Oleg, who bore the title of Grand Duke, reigned for more than 30 years. Rurik's own son Igor took the throne after the death of Oleg (according to legend, Oleg died from a snake bite) around 912 and ruled until 945.