Names and years of reign of 1 Kyiv princes. Grand Dukes of Ancient Rus'

Characteristic: the leader of the Varangians, came with a squad to Rus'. He became the very first prince in Rus'.

Years of government: circa 860s - 879

Politics, activities: ruled Novgorod and founded it. Expanded the boundaries of his possessions (after the death of the brothers, he annexed Rostov the Great, Polotsk and Murom)

Military campaigns: unknown. In general, little is known about Rurik at all.

Name: Askold and Dir

Characteristic: Vikings, associates of Rurik. They accepted Christianity.

Years of government: from 860s to 882 (killed by Oleg, who seized power)

Politics, activities: ruled Kiev, were in conflict with Rurik. They spread Christianity, strengthened Kievan Rus as a state.

Military campaigns: the first ever campaign of the Rus against Byzantium, a campaign against the Pechenegs.

Name: Oleg

Characteristic: Varangian, king (companion of Rurik). He ruled as the guardian of Rurik's son Igor.

Years of government: from 879 Novgorod after Rurik, from 882 - also Kiev (he killed the princes of Dir and Askold). Dates are not exactly known

Politics, activities: Expanded the territory of the principality, collected tribute from the tribes

Military campaigns: to Byzantium (907) - “nailed the shield to the gates of Tsaregrad”, to the tribes of the Drevlyans, Northerners, Radimichi

Name: Igor (Inger)

Characteristic: son of Rurik

Years of government: 912 - 945 (dates are very doubtful)

Politics, activities: strengthened power over Kiev, Novgorod and the Slavic tribes. The first Kiev prince, officially recognized by the Byzantine emperor.

Military campaigns: to Byzantium (941-44), to the Pechenegs, conquered the principality of the Drevlyans. He died trying to collect tribute from the Drevlyans twice

Name: Olga

Characteristic: Igor's widow

Years of government: 945 - 960

Politics, activities: adopted and spread Christianity in Rus'. Streamlined the collection and size of taxes, because of which Igor died. For the first time she started stone houses in Rus'.

Military campaigns: cruelly avenged the Drevlyans on the death of her husband, burned the center of the Drevlyan land - the city of Iskorosten. In the absence of her son Svyatoslav, she led the defense of Kyiv from the Pechenegs.

Name: Svyatoslav

Characteristic: son of Igor and Olga. The first prince in Rus', who had not a Varangian, but a Slavic name.

Years of government: 960-972

Politics, activities: Expanding the borders of the state. Warrior Prince

Military campaigns: defeated the Khazar Khaganate - the main rival of Rus' in the international arena. He took the capital of the Khazars - Itil. He fought with the Pechenegs, and very successfully - with Bulgaria and Byzantium. After another campaign against Byzantium, which this time ended in failure, he was killed by the Pechenegs on his way back to Kyiv.

Name: Vladimir

Characteristic: third son of Svyatoslav

Years of government: from 970 - Novgorod, from 978 - Kiev (he killed his older brother Yaropolk, the former prince of Kyiv after the death of his father, Prince Svyatoslav). Died in 1015.

Politics, activities: baptized Rus' in 988, thereby uniting the tribes scattered by various pagan cults. Conducted diplomatic relations with neighboring powers.

Military campaigns: to Kyiv - against Yaropolk (however, it was Yaropolk who started the internecine war between the brothers), provided military assistance to the emperor of Byzantium. Campaigns against Croats, Bulgarians, Poles, tribes of Radimichi, Yatvingians and Vyatichi. Created a powerful system of border defense against the Pechenegs.

Name: Yaroslav the Wise

Characteristic: son of Vladimir

Years of government: Prince of Rostov from 987, Novgorod - from 1010, Grand Duke of Kiev - from 1016.

Politics, activities: Laid the Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv. Under Yaroslav, Kyiv strengthened and grew, the first monasteries in Rus' appeared as the only centers for the dissemination of literacy and book publishing at that time. Founded the city of Yaroslavl (modern Russia)

He strengthened the diplomatic ties of Kievan Rus, including political marriages. For example, Yaroslav married one of his daughters, Anna, to the king of France, another, Anastasia, to the Hungarian king, and the third, Elizabeth, to the king of Norway. Yaroslav himself married a Swedish princess.

Military campaigns: He killed his brother Svyatopolk in the struggle for the throne of Kiev. He helped the Polish king with military actions, conquered the Chud, Yam, Yatving tribes. Trip to Lithuania.

Origin problem

RURIK (862 - 879)

OLEG (879 - 912)

IGOR (912 - 945)

OLGA (945 - 969)

SVYATOSLAV (964 - 972)

Carried out military campaigns:
- to the Baltics;
- to the Polish-Lithuanian lands;
- to Byzantium.

Economy and socio-political system of Kievan Rus

Socio-economic structure

By the end of the 10th century in the territory Eastern Slavs an early or proto-state was formed, headed by the Rurik dynasty. Gradually, the feudalization of this state begins, which comes from two sides. Firstly, the community gives the prince part of their landed estates as a payment for patronage. Secondly, the prince grants his boyars the right to collect tribute from certain conquered territories. Those could distribute to their combatants, and they, in turn, could settle on this land. If the boyars built a house, then the property became a fiefdom and personally belonged to the boyars, and could also be inherited. Part of the land went to land owners as payment for patronage. Thus the feudal hierarchy was formed. The prince was the supreme owner of the land, then came the estates, then the boyars, who received the right to fully inherit their lands. The petty land holders were at the end of the feudal ladder, their holding of land backed by a contract of service.

Social

The first all-Russian law "Russian Truth" stipulated the following categories of the population: free community members and dependent, that is, not full in court and without the right to participate in military service. Free community members, who in turn were divided into smerds and people, necessarily served in the army. The dependent population was divided into several categories: servants (members of the families of smerds), serfs (servants, slaves), ryadovichi, temporarily dependent they were also called purchases (a person received a loan that he had to work off or pay back).

NOVGOROD LAND

The main source of enrichment for the largest landowners of Novgorod - the boyars - was the profit from the sale of craft products - beekeeping, hunting for fur and sea animals.

Of great importance for Novgorod was the annexation of the vast territory of Pomerania from the Kola Peninsula to the Urals. Novgorod sea and forest industries brought enormous wealth.

Novgorod's trade relations with its neighbors, especially with the countries of the Baltic basin, became stronger from the middle of the 12th century. Furs, walrus ivory, lard, flax, etc. were exported to the West from Novgorod. Cloth, weapons, metals, etc. were imported to Rus'.

But despite the size of the territory of the Novgorod land, it was distinguished not high level population density, a relatively small number of cities compared to other Russian lands. All cities, except for the "younger brother" Pskov (separated from 1268), were noticeably inferior in terms of population and importance to the main city of the Russian medieval North - Lord Veliky Novgorod.

The economic growth of Novgorod prepared the necessary conditions for its political separation into an independent feudal boyar republic in 1136. The princes in Novgorod were left with exclusively official functions. The princes acted in Novgorod as military leaders, their actions were under the constant control of the Novgorod authorities. The right of the princes to court was limited, their purchase of land in Novgorod was prohibited, and the income they received from the possessions determined for the service was strictly fixed. From the middle of the XII century. the Novgorod prince was formally considered the Grand Duke of Vladimir, but until the middle of the 15th century. he did not have the opportunity to really influence the state of affairs in Novgorod.

The supreme governing body of Novgorod was veche, real power was concentrated in the hands of the Novgorod boyars.

From the environment and under the control of the boyars, elections were carried out posadnik ( city ​​manager) and thousand ( militia leaders). Under boyar influence, the post of head of the church was replaced - archbishop. The archbishop was in charge of the treasury of the republic, external relations of Novgorod, the right of court, etc. The city was divided into 3 (later 5) parts - "ends", whose trade and craft representatives, along with the boyars, took a significant part in the management of the Novgorod land.

The socio-political history of Novgorod is characterized by private urban uprisings (1136, 1207, 1228-29, 1270). used in their struggle for power by representatives of rival boyar groups, who dealt with their political opponents with the hands of the people.

Novgorod was reluctant to participate in all-Russian affairs, in particular, the payment of tribute to the Mongols. The richest and largest land of the Russian Middle Ages, Novgorod, could not become a potential center for the unification of Russian lands. The boyar nobility ruling in the republic strove to protect the "old times", to prevent any changes in the existing balance of political forces within the Novogorod society. Moscow’s offensive against Novgorod independence, a significant part of Novgorod society, including the agricultural and trading elite not belonging to the boyars, either went over to the side of Moscow, or took a position of passive non-intervention.

5. Invasion of Batu

1237-1238 - a campaign against North-Western Rus' (R-t - the capture of Ryazan, Vldimiro-Suzdal Prince-va. They did not reach Novgorod the Great. March 4, 1238 - the battle on the river Sit (Tatars won)

1239-1241 (campaign to South-Eastern Rus' ( r-t capture and the subordination of the Chernigov Prince, the fall of Kyiv, the capture of Galicia-Volyn. Batu did not dare to go to the Western countries.

1243 - Formation of the Golden Horde (Rus' did not enter the Horde, but became dependent on it)

As a result of the Batu invasion over Russia, the so-called Mongol-Tatar yoke is established - a complex of economic and political methods that ensured the dominance of the Golden Horde over that part of the territory of Rus' that was under its control

The main among these methods was the levying of various tributes and duties - "plough", the trade duty "tamga", feed for the Tatar ambassadors - "honor", etc. -s yrs. XIII century, and since 1257, on the orders of Khan Berke, the Mongols carried out a census of the population of North-Eastern Rus' (“recording in number”), setting fixed fees.

Only the clergy were exempted from paying the “exit” (before the adoption of Islam by the Horde at the beginning of the 14th century, the Mongols were distinguished by religious tolerance). Representatives of the khan, the Baskaks, were sent to Rus' to control the collection of tribute. Tribute was collected by tax-farmers "besermens" (Central Asian merchants). By the end of the XIII - beginning of the XIV centuries. the institution of the Basques was canceled due to the active opposition of the Russian population and mass urban uprisings. Since that time, the princes of the Russian lands themselves began to collect the Horde tribute.

In case of disobedience, punitive campaigns followed. The Russian principalities that became dependent on the Horde lost their sovereignty. Their receipt of the princely table depended on the will of the khan, who gave them labels (letters) for reigning. The measure that consolidated the dominance of the Golden Horde over Russia was the issuance of labels for the great reign of Vladimir.

The one who received such a label added the Vladimir principality to his possessions and became the most powerful among the Russian princes in order to maintain order, stop strife and ensure an uninterrupted flow of tribute. The Horde rulers did not allow any significant strengthening of any of the Russian princes and a long stay on the grand prince's throne.

In addition, having taken away the label from the next Grand Duke, they gave it to the rival prince, which caused princely strife and a struggle for obtaining the right to reign in Vladimir at the Khan's court. A well-thought-out system of measures provided the Horde with firm control over the Russian lands.Rus

TICKET 10 Ivan 4

Vasily III, who died in 1533, was succeeded by his three-year-old son Ivan IV (1533–1584). In fact, the mother, Elena Glinskaya, ruled for the child. The short regency of Elena Glinskaya (1533-1538) was marked not only by the struggle against numerous conspirators and rebels, but also by reformatory activities. The monetary reform carried out unified the system of monetary circulation. Uniform banknotes were introduced - kopecks, a standard for the weight of coins was determined. Measures of weight and length were also unified. Local government reform has begun. In order to limit the power of governors in the country, the institute of labial elders was introduced. This elective position could only be held by a nobleman. Representatives of the upper strata of the urban and rural population were elected to help him. Such people received the right to hold the position of zemstvo headman. The government of Elena Glinskaya paid great attention to strengthening the country's defense. To protect the Moscow Posad, the walls of Kitay-Gorod were built.

After the sudden death of Elena in 1538, the next few years were spent in the struggle for power between the boyar groups of the Shuiskys and Belskys.

In January 1547, when the heir of Vasily III turned 17 years old, Ivan Vasilyevich assumed the royal title. The political meaning of this event was to strengthen the power of the Moscow sovereign, his authority excluded from that moment any claims to the supreme power of the descendants of aristocratic families. The new title equated the head of the Russian state with the khans of the Golden Horde and the emperors of Byzantium.

At the very end of the 1540s. a circle of close associates formed around the young king, called the government of the Chosen Rada (1548/9–1560), which carried out a number of important transformations in the life of the country aimed at strengthening the centralized state.

In 1549, the Zemsky Sobor was convened for the first time. So began to be called meetings periodically collected by the tsar to resolve and discuss the most important issues of the domestic and foreign policy of the state. The Zemsky Sobor included representatives of the boyars, the nobility, the clergy, the tops of the townspeople. It became the highest advisory class-representative body. The Zemsky Sobor of 1549 considered the problems of abolishing "feedings" and suppressing the abuses of the governors, so it was called the Cathedral of Reconciliation. The Boyar Duma continued to play an important role in the government of the country. There were orders - bodies in charge of certain branches of government. Among the first were formed petition, local, zemstvo and other orders, and their employees were called clerks and clerks.

In 1550, a new Sudebnik of the Russian state was adopted. The Code of Laws introduced legal norms that determine the punishment of officials for an unjust trial and bribery. The judicial powers of the royal governors were limited. The Sudebnik contained instructions on the activities of orders. The right of the peasant transition on St. George's Day was confirmed. The Sudebnik of 1550 introduced a significant restriction on the enslavement of the children of serfs. A child born before his parents were in bondage was recognized as free.

The principles of local government were fundamentally changed. In 1556, the “feeding” system was abolished throughout the state. Administrative and judicial functions were transferred to the labial and zemstvo elders.

A significant reorganization of the armed forces began. From service people (nobles and boyar children) a cavalry army was formed. In 1550, a permanent archery army was created. Archers began to be called foot soldiers armed firearms. The artillery was also reinforced. From the total mass of service people, a “chosen thousand” was formed: it included the best nobles endowed with lands near Moscow.

A unified system of land taxation was introduced - the "big Moscow plow". The size of tax payments began to depend on the nature of land ownership and the quality of the land used. Secular feudal lords, landowners and patrimonials received great benefits compared to the clergy and state peasants.

In February 1551, the Council of the Russian Church was convened, which received the name Stoglavy, since its decisions were set out in 100 chapters. The Council discussed a wide range of issues: church discipline and morality of monks, enlightenment and spiritual education, the appearance and norms of behavior of a Christian. Of particular importance was the unification of the rites of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The reforming activity of the Chosen Rada lasted for about ten years. As early as 1553, disagreements between the tsar and his entourage began. The conflict situation intensified after the death in 1560 of Empress Anastasia. Ivan IV accused the Chosen Rada of poisoning his beloved royal wife. At the same time, disagreements between the tsar and members of the Chosen Rada on the implementation of foreign and domestic policy led to the cessation of its existence. The reforms were put on hold.

TICKET 11 Oprichnina…

In December 1564, the tsar, unexpectedly for his subjects, left Moscow and took refuge with his family in Aleksandrovskaya Sloboda, which was located about a hundred kilometers from the capital. Messengers sent from there brought two letters to Moscow. One of them accused the boyars and the higher clergy of treason and conspiracies against the tsar. Another, addressed to the townspeople, announced that the tsar did not hold "anger and disgrace" on them. With this clever maneuver, Ivan hoped to gain allies in the face of the population. A few days later, the tsar received a delegation from the Boyar Duma and the higher clergy. As a condition for returning to the throne, Ivan called the institution oprichnina. The oprichnina, which existed for a very short time (1565–1572), left a deep mark on Russian history.

Oprichnina (from the word "oprich" - except) began to be called a land allotment specially allocated to the king, and the staff of the royal entourage, and a special army. Oprichny possessions included a number of cities and counties in the center of the country (Suzdal, Mozhaisk, Vyazma), rich lands of the Russian North, some counties on the southern borders of the state. The rest of its territory was called "zemshchina". The entire state apparatus was divided into two parts - oprichnina and zemstvo. The feudal lords who entered the oprichnina (initially there were one thousand, and by 1572 - six thousand) wore a special uniform: a black caftan and a black pointed hat. Loyalty to one’s sovereign, readiness to “sweep and gnaw out” traitors was symbolized by brooms and dog heads tied to the necks of horses and quivers for arrows.

Already the first months of the existence of the oprichnina were marked by monstrous in their cruelty executions of people objectionable to the tsar. The victims of the massacres were boyars and statesmen suspected of treason, members of their families and servants. One of the worst crimes of Ivan the Terrible was a punitive expedition to Novgorod in the winter of 1570. The false denunciation of the betrayal of the Novgorod boyars and the clergy served as a pretext for the murder of thousands of innocent residents of the city. The rural and commercial population suffered from the raids of the oprichnina troops. From constant bloody orgies, the royal army was decomposing. In 1571, it demonstrated complete inability in the face of an external enemy. The Crimean Khan Devlet-Girey reached Moscow during his raid, the Tatars set fire to the Moscow settlement and took away more than 100 thousand Russian captives into slavery. The next summer, the raid was repeated. The enemy was stopped and defeated by a small army, which included guardsmen, zemstvo boyars and nobles.

In the autumn of 1572, the oprichnina was officially abolished. Under the threat of punishment, the king forbade his subjects to even pronounce this word. Many former guardsmen turned from executioners into victims. They were accused of state crimes and executed. After the abolition of the oprichnina, the tsar created the so-called "yard" and again divided the country into zemstvo and yard parts. But it no longer played a big role in the political and economic life of the country. With the abandonment of the oprichnina orders, mass terror was reduced.

Oprichnina had far-reaching political consequences. It led to the elimination of vestiges of specific time and the strengthening of the regime of the tsar's personal power. Its socio-economic order proved pernicious. Oprichnina and the protracted Livonian War devastated the country. The deep economic crisis that gripped Russia in the 1570s–1580s was called “poor” by contemporaries. One of the disastrous consequences of Ivan the Terrible's domestic policy was the enslavement of the Russian peasantry. In 1581, "Reserved Years" were established, until the abolition of which peasants were forbidden to leave their owners. In fact, this meant that the peasants were deprived of the ancient right to move on St. George's Day to another owner.

TICKET 13 Time of Troubles

The Time of Troubles at the beginning of the 17th century is one of the most difficult and tragic periods in Russian history, which had a decisive influence on the fate of our state. The name itself - "Trouble", "Time of Troubles" very accurately reflects the atmosphere of that time. The name has, by the way, folk etymology.

Origin problem

The process of property and social stratification among the community members led to the separation of the most prosperous part from their midst. The tribal nobility and the prosperous part of the community, subjugating the mass of ordinary community members, needs to maintain their dominance in state structures.

The embryonic form of statehood was represented by the East Slavic unions of tribes, which united in superunions, however, fragile ones. Eastern historians talk about the existence on the eve of the formation of the Old Russian state of three large associations of Slavic tribes: Kuyaba, Slavia and Artania. Kuyaba, or Kuyava, then called the area around Kyiv. Slavia occupied the territory in the area of ​​Lake Ilmen. Its center was Novgorod. The location of Artania - the third major association of Slavs - has not been precisely established.

According to The Tale of Bygone Years, the Russian princely dynasty originates in Novgorod. In 859, the northern Slavic tribes, who then paid tribute to the Varangians, or Normans (according to most historians, immigrants from Scandinavia), drove them across the sea. However, soon after these events, internecine struggle began in Novgorod. To stop the clashes, the Novgorodians decided to invite the Varangian princes as a force standing above the opposing factions. In 862, Prince Rurik and his two brothers were called to Rus' by the Novgorodians, laying the foundation for the Russian princely dynasty.

The first Russian princes and their activities

RURIK (862 - 879)

The ancestor 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 combatant) - Oleg.

OLEG (879 - 912)

The first real ruler of Ancient Rus', who united the lands of the Slavic tribes along the path "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, Radimichi.
Strengthened the foreign policy position. In 907 he made a successful military campaign against Constantinople, which resulted in two peace treaties beneficial for Rus' (907 and 911).

IGOR (912 - 945)

He expanded the boundaries of the Old Russian state, subjugating the tribe of streets and contributing to the foundation of Russian settlements on the Taman Peninsula.
Repulsed the raids of the nomadic Pechenegs.
Organized military campaigns against Byzantium:
1) 941 - ended in failure;
2) 944 - the conclusion of a mutually beneficial agreement.
Killed by the Drevlyans while collecting tribute in 945.

OLGA (945 - 969)

The wife of Prince Igor, ruled in Rus' during the childhood of his 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 amount of tribute;
2) graveyards - establishing places of tribute collection.
She visited Byzantium in 957 and converted to Christianity under the name Helena.
In 968, she led the defense of Kyiv from cookies

SVYATOSLAV (964 - 972)

Son of Prince Igor and Princess Olga.
Initiator and leader of many military campaigns:
- The defeat of the Khazar Khaganate and its capital Itil (965)
- Campaigns in the 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.

VLADIMIR THE FIRST HOLY (978 (980)) - 1015)

In 972 - 980. there is the first internecine war for power between the sons of Svyatoslav - Vladimir and Yaropolk. Vladimir wins and is confirmed on the throne of Kiev.
980 - Vladimir carries out a pagan reform. A pantheon of pagan gods is being created, headed 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'.
YAROSLAV THE WISE (1019 - 1054)

He established himself on the throne of Kiev after long strife with Svyatopolk the Accursed (he received his nickname after the murder of his brothers Boris and Gleb, later canonized as saints) and Mstislav of Tmutarakansky.
He contributed to the flourishing of the Old Russian state, patronized education and construction.
Contributed to the rise of the international prestige of Rus'. Established broad dynastic ties with European and Byzantine courts.
Carried out military campaigns:
- to the Baltics;
- to the Polish-Lithuanian lands;
- to Byzantium.
He finally defeated the Pechenegs.
Prince Yaroslav the Wise - the founder of written Russian legislation ("Russian Truth", "Truth of Yaroslav").

VLADIMIR THE SECOND MONOMACH (1113 - 1125)

Mary, daughter of the Byzantine emperor Constantine the ninth Monomakh. Prince of Smolensk (since 1067), Chernigov (since 1078), Pereyaslavl (since 1093), Grand Duke of Kiev (since 1113).
Prince Vladimir Monomakh - the organizer of successful campaigns against the Polovtsy (1103, 1109, 1111)
He advocated the unity of Rus'. Member of the congress of ancient Russian princes in Lyubech (1097), which discussed the perniciousness 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 limited by law and it was forbidden to enslave dependent people who work off debt.
He stopped the collapse of the Old Russian state. Wrote "Instruction", in which he condemned the 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 II - Gita.

MSTISLAV THE GREAT (1125 - 1132)

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 Kiev (1117 - 1125). From 1125 to 1132 - sole ruler of Kyiv.
He continued the policy of Vladimir Monomakh and managed to maintain a unified Old Russian state.
He annexed the Principality of Polotsk to Kyiv in 1127.
He organized successful campaigns against the Polovtsy, Lithuania, the Chernigov prince Oleg Svyatoslavovich.
After his death, almost all the principalities are out of obedience to Kyiv. There comes a specific period - feudal fragmentation.

Rurik……………………………………………………………………………..…3

Prince Oleg……………………………………………………………………………..……..5

Prince Igor……………………………………………………………………………..……7

Princess Olga…………………………………………………………………………………….9

Prince Svyatoslav………………………………………………………………………..……13

Prince Yaropolk…………………………………………………………………………………16

Prince Vladimir………………………………………………………………………..…..17

Literature…………………………………………………………………………..19

"History is in a sense the holy book of nations:
main, necessary; a mirror of their being and activity;
the tablet of revelations and rules; the covenant of ancestors to posterity;
addition to the present and an example of the future.

N. M. Karamzin

Rurik

The formation of the Russian state dates back to 862, and this event is associated with the names of Rurik and his brothers Sineus and Truvor. Perhaps these names appeared from legends, but they came down to us from the words of Nestor (XI and the beginning of the XII century), Sylvester (died in 1123) and other chroniclers. Among the "others" most often called the legendary chronicler Joachim. The historian V.N. Tatishchev also refers to him when he writes: “Northern writers of ancient Russian sovereigns recall several names on occasions without any circumstances, or maybe they have some circumstances, but new writers, choosing from them, neglected and left it closed. However, N. M. Karamzin believes that the name Joachim is fictitious. Among the "closed" princes, Tatishchev names Gostomysl, who allegedly had four sons and three daughters. The sons died without leaving children, and from the middle daughter, who was married to the Finnish king, the son Rurik was born. Gostomysl, according to Nestor, died in 860. In this case, Tatishchev used the so-called Joachim Chronicle, which he attributed to the Novgorod Bishop Joachim. Most modern historians believe that this chronicle was compiled much later, in the 17th century. But the legend is stable and it is impossible not to say about it.

So, according to Nestor, three Varangian brothers appeared in Rus' in 862. They were invited to rule by the Novgorodians (Ilmenian Slovenes), as well as the Krivichi, all the Chud. But, as the most prominent connoisseur of Russian chronicle writing, academician A.A. Shakhmatov, the legend about the calling of the Varangian princes is of Novgorod origin and was recorded in the annals only at the beginning of the 12th century. The princes are called brothers, which reflected the union of three tribes - Slovenian (Slavic), Finnish (Vesi) and Krivichi.

Surrounded by numerous Scandinavian retinue, these ambitious Vikings left the fatherland forever. Rurik arrived in Novgorod, Sineus arrived at Beloozero, not far from modern Beloozersk, in the region of the Finnish Vesi people, and Truvor arrived at Izborsk, the city of the Krivichi. Smolensk and Polotsk still remained independent and did not take part in the calling of the Varangians.

Therefore, as N.M. Karamzin, “the power of three rulers, united by ties of kinship and mutual benefit, extended only from Estonia and the Slavic Keys, where we see the remains of Izborsk. That is, we are talking about the former St. Petersburg, Estland, Novgorod and Pskov provinces.

Two years later, after the death of Sineus and Truvor (according to some sources, the brothers were killed in 864), their elder brother Rurik, having annexed the regions to his principality, founded the Russian monarchy. and in the south - to the Western Dvina; already measuring, murom and Polotsk depended on Rurik ”N.M. Karamzin).

By this time the chroniclers attribute the following important event. Two of Rurik's close associates - Askold and Dir - perhaps dissatisfied with him, went with a small squad from Novgorod to Tsargrad (Constantinople) to seek their fortune. On the way there, on the high bank of the Dnieper, they saw a small town and asked whose it was. They were told that its builders, three brothers, had died long ago and that the peace-loving inhabitants were paying tribute to the Khazars. It was Kyiv. Askold and Dir took possession of the town, invited many residents from Novgorod and began to rule in Kyiv.

Therefore, as N.M. Karamzin, "... the Varangians founded two autocratic regions in Rus': Rurik - in the north, Askold and Dir - in the south."

In 866, the Slavs, led by Askold and Dir, attacked the Byzantine Empire. Armed with 200 ships, these knights, experienced in navigation since ancient times, penetrated the navigable Dnieper and the Russian (Black) Sea into the territory of Byzantium. They devastated the environs of Constantinople with fire and sword, then laid siege to the capital from the sea. For the first time, the empire saw its formidable enemies, and for the first time the word “Rusich” (“Russian”) was uttered with horror. Having learned about the attack on the country, its emperor Michael III hastened to the capital (at that time he was out of the country). But it was not so easy to defeat the attackers. However, a miracle helped. A storm began, and the light boats of the Russians scattered across the sea. The Byzantines were saved. Few soldiers returned to Kyiv.

Rurik reigned supreme in Novgorod for 15 years. He died in 879, having handed over the reign of the principality and the infant son Igor to his relative Oleg.

The memory of Rurik as the first ruler of Rus' has remained immortal in our history. The main thing of his reign was the unification of some Finnish tribes and the Slavic people into a single state, as a result, over time, the whole, Muroma, Merya merged with the Slavs, adopting their customs, language and faith. Thus, Rurik is considered the ancestor of the Russian princes.

Prince Oleg

The news of Rurik's success attracted many Varangians to Rus'. Probably, among his entourage was Oleg, who began to rule Northern Russia after the death of Rurik. Oleg went to conquer the Dnieper lands in 882, captured Smolensk, the city of free Krivichi, and ancient city Lyubech (on the Dnieper). Oleg seized Kiev by cunning and killed Askold and Dir, and he showed little Igor to the glades, saying at the same time: "Here is the son of Rurik - your prince."

The navigable Dnieper, the convenience of having relations with various rich countries - with the Greek Kherson (in the Crimea), the Khazar Tauris, Bulgaria, Byzantium captivated Oleg, and he said: “Let Kiev be the mother of Russian cities” (chronicle).

Vast Russian possessions did not yet have stable internal ties. Between Novgorod and Kiev lived peoples independent of Rus'. The Ilmenian Slavs bordered on the whole, the whole - on Merya, Merya - on Muroma and Krivichi. In 883, Oleg conquered the Drevlyans (Pripyat River), in 884 - the Dnieper northerners, in 885 - Radimichi (Sozh River). Thus, having subdued the neighboring peoples and destroyed the dominance of the Khazarian kagan, Oleg united the lands of Novgorod and Kyiv. Then he conquered the lands along the banks of the Sula River (neighboring Chernigov), part of the Polotsk and Volyn lands.

Kyiv was attacked by the Ugrians (Hungarians), who once lived near the Stone Belt (Urals), and in the 9th century. - East of Kyiv. They were looking for new places to live. Oleg missed this people without military clashes. The Hungarians crossed the Dnieper and took possession of the lands between the Dniester and the Danube.

By this time, Igor, the son of Rurik, matured. Accustomed from childhood to obedience, he did not dare to demand his heritage from the power-hungry Oleg, surrounded by the brilliance of victories, the glory of conquests and brave comrades who considered his power legitimate, for he managed to glorify the state.

In 903, Oleg chose a wife for Igor, the legendary Olga, famous at that time only for her feminine charms and good manners. She was brought to Kyiv from Pleskov (now Pskov). So wrote Nestor. According to other sources, Olga was a simple Varangian family and lived in villages, not far from Pskov. She took her name, according to N.M. Karamzin, on behalf of Oleg, as a sign of his friendship for her or as a sign of Igor's love for him.

Oleg decided to attack Byzantium. In 907, he collected two thousand ships with forty warriors on each ship. The cavalry went along the shore. Oleg devastated this country, dealt cruelly with the inhabitants ("sea of ​​blood"), laid siege to Tsargrad (Constantinople). The Byzantines hurried to pay off. The winner demanded twelve hryvnias from them for each fleet soldier. The Byzantines granted Oleg's request, after which peace was concluded (911). Returning from this campaign, the Russians brought home a lot of gold, expensive fabrics, wine and all sorts of other wealth.

This world, beneficial to the Russians, was approved by the sacred rites of faith: the emperor swore by the Gospel, Oleg and his warriors - the weapons and gods of the Slavic people - Perun and Volos. As a sign of victory, Oleg hung his shield on the gates of Constantinople and returned to Kyiv. The people warmly welcomed Oleg and unanimously called him prophetic, that is, wise.

Then Oleg sent his ambassadors to Byzantium (and as the later retellings of the chronicles tell) with a letter from which it is clear that the Russians no longer seemed like wild barbarians. They knew the holiness of honor and had their own laws, which affirmed personal security, property, the right of inheritance, the power of wills, conducted domestic and foreign trade.

Oleg, humble for years, already wanted silence and enjoyment of the universal peace. None of the neighbors dared to interrupt his calm. And in his old age he seemed formidable. The Magi predicted Oleg's death from his horse. Since that time, he has ceased to sit on his pet. Four years have passed. One autumn, the prince remembered the sage's prediction and laughed at him, since the horse had long been dead. Oleg wanted to look at the bones of the horse, stood with his foot on the skull, said: “Should I be afraid of him?” But there was a snake in the skull. She stung the prince, and the hero died. You can believe or not believe that Oleg was actually stung by a snake, but such a legend has come down to our time from the past. The people mourned Oleg. Having attached the richest lands to his state, the prince was the true founder of its greatness.

If Rurik's possessions stretched from Estonia and Volkhov to Beloozero, the mouth of the Oka and the city of Rostov, then Oleg conquered all the lands from Smolensk, the Sula and Dniester rivers to the Carpathians.

Oleg, having reigned for 33 years, died at a ripe old age. The body of the prince was buried on Mount Shchekovitsa, and Kyiv residents, Nestor's contemporaries, called this place Oleg's grave (Oleg's other supposed burial place is Staraya Ladoga).

Some modern domestic historians are trying to reinterpret the famous chronicle of Nestor "The Tale of Bygone Years", speaking, in particular, of "attributing" to Oleg many victories over neighboring tribes and the merit of annexing vast lands to Rus'. They also do not agree with the fact that it was Oleg who made the campaign against Constantinople, giving laurels of primacy to Askold and shifting the date of the event from 907 to 860.

You can, of course, sow doubts, but we must not forget that Nestor described what happened nine centuries earlier than us and looked at these events through the eyes of both a historian and a contemporary of grief, already in adulthood, he assumed power.

Prince Igor

The death of Oleg encouraged the defeated Drevlyans, and in 913 they tried to free themselves from Kyiv. Igor pacified them and added tribute. But soon new enemies, strong in numbers, terrible in audacity and robbery, appeared in Rus'. These were the Pechenegs. They, like other peoples - the Huns, Ugrians, Bulgars, Avars - came from the east. All these peoples, except for the Ugric peoples, no longer exist in Europe.

The Pechenegs led a nomadic life, engaged in robbery. They hoped to devastate Kyiv, but met with a strong army and were forced to retire to Bessarabia. These people terrified the neighbors. The Byzantines used the Pechenegs for gold and money against the Ugrians, Bulgars and especially the Slavs. For almost two centuries, the Pechenegs dominated the lands south of Rus'. Having made peace with Igor, they did not disturb the Russians for five years, but from 920, as Nestor writes, they began to invade the expanses of Rus'.

The reign of Igor was not marked by any great events until 941, before the war between the Russians and the Byzantines. Igor, like Oleg, wanted to glorify his reign with military exploits. According to the chroniclers, in 941 Igor entered the Russian (Black) Sea on ten thousand ships. He devastated the outskirts of Constantinople, turned temples, villages, monasteries to ashes. But soon the Byzantine troops and fleet approached. They inflicted significant damage on Igor and he left the empire with heavy losses.

Igor did not lose heart. He wanted to take revenge on the Byzantines. In 943 - 944. a new campaign against Byzantium took place, but she paid off with rich gifts. Igor returned to Kyiv. In 944 Rus' and Byzantium made peace.

By old age, Igor really wanted peace. But the greed of the squad did not allow him to enjoy peace. “We are barefoot and naked,” the soldiers said to Igor, “come to tribute with us, and we, together with you, will be satisfied.” To go "in tribute" meant to collect taxes.

In the autumn of 945, Igor and his retinue went to the Drevlyans. There they pretty much robbed the local population. Most of the troops were sent to Kyiv, and Igor still wanted to "wander" around the Drevlyansk land and rob the people. But the Drevlyans, driven to the extreme, attacked Igor, tied him to two trees and tore him in two. The army was also destroyed. Prince Mal was at the head of the rebellious Drevlyans.

So ingloriously ended his life Igor. He did not have the successes that Oleg achieved in the war with the Byzantines. Igor did not have the properties of his predecessor, but he retained the integrity of the state founded by Rurik and Oleg, defended the honor and benefits in treaties with Byzantium.

However, the people reproached Igor for allowing the dangerous Pechenegs to establish themselves in the neighborhood of the Russians and for the fact that this prince liked to collect excessive tribute from his people.

Having united the East Slavic lands, having defended them from the onslaught of foreigners, Oleg gave the princely power unprecedented authority and international prestige. He now assumes the title of prince of all princes, or grand duke. The rest of the rulers of individual Russian principalities become his tributaries, vassals, although they still retain the rights to govern in their principalities.

Rus' was born as a united East Slavic state. In terms of its scale, it was not inferior to the empire of Charlemagne or the territory of the Byzantine Empire. However, many of its areas were sparsely populated and poorly suited for life. The difference in the level of development of various parts of the state was also too great. Appearing immediately as a multi-ethnic entity, this state was therefore not distinguished by the strength that characterized states where the population was mostly one-ethnic.

Duchess Olga

Although historians do not single out Olga's reign, she deserved great praise for her wise deeds, as she adequately represented Rus' in all external relations and skillfully ruled the country. Probably, with the help of the boyar Asmud, the tutor of Svyatoslav (the son of Olga and Igor), and Sveneld, the governor, Olga was able to master the helm of the state. First of all, she punished the killers of Igor. Perhaps the chronicler Nestor reports not entirely plausible facts about Olga's revenge, cunning and wisdom, but they entered our history.

The Drevlyans, proud of the murder of Igor as a victory, and despising the young Svyatoslav, decided to rule over Kiev and wanted their prince Mal to marry Olga. Twenty famous Drevlyansk ambassadors sailed in a boat to Kyiv. Olga received them kindly. The next day, ordering a deep grave to be dug, she buried all the Drevlyan ambassadors alive, along with the boat.

Then Olga sent her messenger to Mal, so that he would send more famous husbands to her. The ancients did just that. According to the old custom, a bathhouse was heated for the guests, and then they were all locked up there and burned.

Olga announced her readiness to come to the Drevlyans in order to marry Mal. The ruler approached the city of Iskorosten, where Igor died, watered his grave with tears and performed a feast. After that, a fun feast began among the Drevlyans. Having retired, Olga gave a sign to her soldiers, and five thousand Drevlyans perished at the grave of Igor.

In 946, Olga, returning to Kyiv, gathered a large army and opposed her enemies, punished by cunning, but not yet by force. Little Svyatoslav began the battle. A spear thrown at the enemy by a weak childish hand fell at the feet of his horse, but the commanders Asmud and Sveneld encouraged the soldiers by the example of a young hero with the exclamation “Friends! Let's stand for the prince!" And they rushed into battle.

Frightened residents wanted to flee, but they all fell into the hands of Olga's soldiers. She condemned some elders to death, took others into slavery, and the rest had to pay tribute.

Olga and her son Svyatoslav traveled all over the Drevlyane land, taxing the people in favor of the treasury. But the inhabitants of Iskorosten itself paid a third of the tribute personally to Olga, to her own inheritance, to Vyshgorod, founded, perhaps, by Oleg and given to Olga as the bride or wife of the prince. This city was located seven miles from Kyiv, on the high bank of the Dnieper.

The next year, Olga went to Northern Rus', leaving Svyatoslav in Kyiv. The princess visited the Novgorod lands. She divided Rus' into several volosts, did, no doubt, everything necessary for the public good, and left signs of her guardian wisdom. After 150 years, the people remembered with gratitude this beneficent journey of Olga, and in the time of Nestor, the townspeople of Pskov kept her sleigh as a precious thing. It is likely that the princess, born in Pskov, bestowed privileges on the inhabitants of this city. But in the neighboring city, more ancient, Izborsk, taxed, life somehow died out, and he lost his former glory. Having approved the internal order, Olga returned to Kyiv, to her son Svyatoslav. There she lived for several years in peace and tranquility.

Olga was a pagan, but in 957 she decided to accept the Christian faith, for which she went to Constantinople. Olga herself led a magnificent and crowded embassy, ​​which consisted of more than a hundred people, not counting the servants, shipmen. Olga was accepted at the highest rank. She was invited to the imperial chambers for dinner, and she was received by the empress. During the conversations, Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus and Olga confirmed the validity of the previous agreement, as well as the military alliance of the two states, directed primarily against the Arabs and Khazaria.

Baptism of Princess Olga. An important issue of the negotiations was the baptism of the Russian princess.

By the middle of the IX century. almost all the major states of Western Europe, as well as part of the peoples of the Balkan Peninsula and the Caucasus, adopted Christianity - some according to the Roman, others - according to the Byzantine model. Christianity attached states and peoples to a new civilization, enriched their spiritual culture, and raised the prestige of baptized statesmen to a higher level.

But for the pagan world, this process was difficult and painful. That is why in most countries the adoption of Christianity took place in several stages, had various forms. In the Frankish state, King Clovis adopted Christianity along with his retinue at the turn of the 5th - 6th centuries. The purpose of the baptism was clear: to get help from papal Rome in the fight against strong opponents in still pagan Europe. The main part of Frankish society remained pagan for a long time and only later was Christianized. In England in the seventh century kings accepted personal baptism, but then, under the influence of pagan opposition, they renounced it, and then were baptized again. Bulgaria in the ninth century. the entire population converted to Christianity along with Boris I. There, the roots of Christianity under the influence of neighboring Byzantium were very deep.

Olga chose the baptism of English kings as her model. She, being a very perspicacious ruler, understood that further strengthening of the state prestige of the country and the dynasty was unthinkable without the adoption of Christianity. But she also understood the complexity of this process in Rus' with its powerful pagan tradition, with the great commitment of the people and part of the ruling circles to the old religion. In large cities, among the merchants, townspeople, part of the boyars, there were already quite a few Christians and they had equal rights with the pagans. But the farther from the center of the state, the stronger was the influence of pagan orders, and most importantly, the pagan Magi. Therefore, Olga decided to accept personal baptism, laying the foundation for this process in the princely environment.

Moreover, morally, the princess was already prepared for this act. Having survived the tragic death of her husband, the bloody battles with the Drevlyans, the destruction of their capital in the fire, Olga could turn to the new religion for an answer to the human questions that worried her, which just tuned in to the inner world of a person and tried to answer his eternal questions about the meaning of being and place in the world. If paganism looked for answers to all eternal questions outside of man, in the mighty actions of the forces of nature, Christianity turned to the world of human feelings and human reason.

Olga furnished the baptism with pomp appropriate for a great state. Baptism took place in the church of St. Sophia. Her godfather was the emperor himself, and the patriarch baptized her. Olga was baptized with the name Helen, in honor of the mother of Constantine the Great, the Byzantine emperor, who made in the 4th century. Christianity is the official religion of the empire. After baptism, Olga was received by the patriarch and had a conversation with him about faith.

Upon returning to Kyiv, Olga tried to persuade Svyatoslav to Christianity, saying that the squad would also accept baptism after the prince. But Svyatoslav, being an ardent pagan who worshiped the retinue god Perun, refused her.

A few years after her trip to Constantinople, Olga sent an embassy to the German emperor Otto I. The purpose of the embassy was twofold - to establish permanent political relations with Germany and to strengthen religious ties. A zealous Christian, Otto I sent Christian missionaries to Kyiv. Olga continued her line. However, the Kievan pagans drove the missionaries out of the city and almost killed them.

Dying, the princess bequeathed not to celebrate a pagan feast on her grave, but to bury her according to the Christian rite.

Olga died in 969. The people called her cunning, the church - a saint, history - wise. Russian princes fought before Olga's time, she ruled the state. Confident in his mother's wisdom, Svyatoslav, even in adulthood, left her internal rule, constantly engaging in wars. Under Olga, Rus' became famous in the most remote countries of Europe.

Prince Svyatoslav

Having matured, Svyatoslav began to think about exploits and conquests. He burned with zeal to distinguish himself by deeds and to renew the glory of the Russian weapons, so happy under Oleg. Svyatoslav gathered an army. Among his warriors, he lived, like them, in harsh conditions: he ate horse meat, roasted it himself, neglected the cold and bad weather of the northern climate, did not know a tent, slept under the open sky. Proud Svyatoslav always followed the rules of true knightly honor - he never attacked by surprise. It belongs to him the words: "I'm going to you" (to the enemy).

In 964, Svyatoslav conquered the Vyatichi, who paid tribute to the Khazar Khaganate. The Vyatichi tribe became part of the Slavic peoples of Ancient Rus', freed from the oppression of the Khazars. Having spent the winter on the Itil (Volga) River, in the spring of 965, Svyatoslav swiftly attacked the capital of Khazaria, the city of Itil (Balangiar) and "overcame" him. The inhabitants of the city fled. The capital of the Khazars was empty.

In 965, the soldiers of Svyatoslav entered the lands of the Yases (Ossetians) and Kasogs (Circassians). By storm they conquered the Khazar fortress of Semikara and went to the Surozh (Azov) Sea. Despite the fact that the powerful fortresses of Tmutarakan and Korchev (Kerch) stood here, their defenders did not fight Svyatoslav. They, having driven out the Khazar governors, went over to the side of the Russians. Svyatoslav did not yet bother the Greek Taurida (Crimea), because he did not want to quarrel with Byzantium.

The prince sent his forces to the impregnable fortress Sarkel (Belaya Vezha). Having defeated the fortress by storm, Svyatoslav also conquered this Khazar city, thereby significantly weakening his old enemies - the Khazars and the Pechenegs. The trophies were large, the glory of the ancient Russian commander was great.

In 967, with 60 thousand soldiers, Svyatoslav went to war against Bulgaria. We crossed the Danube. The cities surrendered to the victor. The Bulgarian Tsar Peter died "of grief". The Russian prince began to rule in ancient Mizia. There he lived, not thinking that his own capital was in danger. The Pechenegs attacked Russia in 968. They approached Kiev, where Olga was with children of Svyatoslav. In the besieged city there was not enough water. One soldier managed to get from Kiev to the army of the Russians and report the disaster. Svyatoslav took revenge on the Pechenegs.

Soon Svyatoslav again rushed to the banks of the Danube. Olga asked her son to wait a little, not to leave her, as she felt bad. But he didn't listen to the advice. Olga died four days later. After the death of his mother, Svyatoslav could already freely fulfill his reckless intention - to transfer the capital of the state to the banks of the Danube. He gave Kyiv to his son Yaropolk, another son, Oleg - the Drevlyane land. Svyatoslav also had a third son, Vladimir, who was born from Olga's housekeeper, Malusha's servant. Novgorodians elected him to their princes.

Svyatoslav conquered Bulgaria for the second time, but the Byzantines, who were afraid of their formidable neighbor, intervened. Byzantine emperor John Tzimiskes, an experienced commander and diplomat, began negotiations with Svyatoslav. But the Russian knight rejected the peace terms and was not going to leave Bulgaria. Then Tzimisces began to arm himself. The famous Byzantine commanders Varda Sklir and the patrician Peter came out to meet Svyatoslav. In the spring of 970, without waiting for the arrival of the enemy, Svyatoslav himself entered Thrace, the native Byzantine land. Bulgarians and Pechenegs also fought on the side of the Russians. The riders of Svyatoslav crushed the cavalry of Skleros.

Rusichi and Bulgarian detachments took Adrianople. Master Sklir lost the battle under the walls of the city completely. There was practically no one to defend the road to the capital of Byzantium, Constantinople. The combined forces of the "barbarians", as the Byzantines called them, under the leadership of Svyatoslav crossed Macedonia, defeated the army of master John Kurkuas and ruined the whole country.

Tzimiskes had one chance left - diplomacy. And he used it. The arriving Byzantine ambassadors "ransomed" the world with rich gifts and military expenses. Svyatoslav gave his word not to interfere anymore in Bulgarian affairs.

But Tzimisces was not like that. On April 12, 971, the imperial regiments unexpectedly surrounded the capital of Bulgaria - the city of Preslav, which was defended by a small garrison of the Russians. In fierce battles, they all died. On April 17, Tzimisces marched quickly to Dorostol, where Prince Svyatoslav was. His small army showed examples of courage and stamina. The real military art of defense and attack was demonstrated by Svyatoslav. Incessant battles went on until July 22. Almost the entire army of the Rus was lost - 15 thousand killed, but military happiness was still on the side of Svyatoslav. Tzimiskes himself asked for peace (apparently, a conspiracy was ripening against him, and he was forced to save his throne).

According to legend, Svyatoslav was of medium height, rather slender, but gloomy and wild in appearance, had a wide chest, a thick neck, Blue eyes, thick eyebrows, a flat nose, a long mustache, a sparse beard and one tuft of hair on his head, as a sign of his nobility, a golden earring adorned with two pearls and a ruby ​​hung in his ear.

Svyatoslav was returning to Kyiv with a detachment of exhausted soldiers. According to Nestor, the inhabitants of Pereyaslavets let the Pechenegs know that the Russian prince was returning to Kyiv with great wealth and a small retinue.

Despite the small number of exhausted warriors, the proud Svyatoslav decided to fight the Pechenegs at the rapids of the Dnieper. In this battle he died (972). Prince of the Pechenegs Kurya, having cut off the head of Svyatoslav, made a bowl out of the skull. Only a few Russian soldiers, led by the governor Sveneld, escaped and brought to Kyiv the sad news of the death of the prince.

Thus, the famous warrior died. But he, an example of great commanders, as N.M. Karamzin is not a great sovereign, since he respected the glory of victories more than the public good, and by his character, captivating the imagination of the poet, deserves the reproach of the historian.

Prince Yaropolk

After the death of Svyatoslav, Yaropolk reigned in Kyiv. Oleg - in the Drevlyane land, Vladimir - in Novgorod. Yaropolk had no power over the destinies of his brothers. Soon the pernicious consequences of such a division were revealed, and brother turned against brother. Yaropolk decided to go to the lands of the Drevlyans and annex them to Kyiv. Oleg gathered soldiers and marched towards his brother (977), but his army was defeated, and he himself died. Yaropolk sincerely mourned the death of his brother.

Having gathered a squad, Vladimir returned to Novgorod two years later and replaced Yaropolk's confidants, telling them with pride: “Go to my brother: let him know that I am arming myself against him, and let him prepare to repel me!” (chronicle).

Yaropolk had a lovely bride Rogneda in Polotsk. Vladimir, preparing to take power from his brother, wanted to deprive him of his bride, and through ambassadors demanded her hand. Rogneda, loyal to Yaropolk, replied that she could not marry the son of a slave. Irritated, Vladimir took Polotsk, killed Rogneda's father - Rogvolod, his two sons and married Rogneda. Then he went to Kyiv. Yaropolk closed himself in the city, and then left it, leaving for the city of Rodnya (where the Ros flows into the Dnieper).

After some time, Yaropolk, weak in spirit, with the assistance of his governor Blud, who entered into an agreement with Vladimir, came to him. “The traitor brought his credulous Sovereign into his brother’s dwelling, as if into a den of robbers, and locked the door so that the prince’s squad could not enter after them: there two mercenaries of the Varangian tribe pierced Yaropolkov’s chest with swords ...” N.M. Karamzin).

Thus, the eldest son of the famous Svyatoslav, having been the ruler of Kyiv for four years and the head of all Rus' for three years, “left for history one memory of a good-natured but weak person.”

Yaropolk was still married to his father, but he also wooed Rogneda: polygamy was not considered lawless in pagan Rus'.

Prince Vladimir

Vladimir soon proved that he was born to be a great sovereign. He expressed excellent zeal for the pagan gods, having built a new Perun with a silver head. The newly rebuilt rich city of Perunov was built on the banks of the Volkhov.

Vladimir was not afraid of wars. He took the cities of Cherven, Przemysl and others, in 982-983. conquered Galicia. He subdued the rebellion of the Vyatichi, who did not want to pay tribute, conquered the country of the Yotvingians - the courageous Latvian people. Further, the possessions of Rus' were expanded to the very Varangian (Baltic) Sea. In 984, the Radimichi revolted, Vladimir subdued them. In 985, the Kama Bulgars were defeated, who promised to live with the Russians in peace and friendship.

Vladimir has long rejected his first wife Rogneda. She decided to take revenge - to kill her husband, but she failed to do this: Vladimir sent Rogneda and his son Izyaslav to the city built for them and named Izyaslavl.

Rus' became a prominent state in Europe. Mohammedans, Jews, Catholics, Greeks offered their faith. Vladimir sent ten prudent men to different countries so that they study the various faiths and suggest the best one. In their opinion, the Orthodox faith turned out to be the best.

In 988, having gathered a large army, Vladimir went on ships to the Greek Kherson (on the site of Sevastopol) in order to accept the Christian faith, but in a peculiar way - using the force of arms. They laid siege to the city, - exhausted by thirst (after Vladimir damaged the water supply system that began outside the city walls), the townspeople surrendered. Then Vladimir announced to the Byzantine emperors Basil and Constantine that he wanted to be the husband of their sister, the young princess Anna. In case of refusal, he promised to take Constantinople. The marriage took place.

In the same 988, Christianity was adopted in Rus' - an important milestone in the history of our state. The first church of St. Basil was erected in Kyiv. Schools were opened for children (church books were translated by Cyril and Methodius back in the 9th century), which were the first educational institutions in Rus'.

To protect the country in the south from the Pechenegs, Vladimir built cities along the Desna, Oster, Trubezh, Sula, Stugna rivers and populated them with Novgorod Slavs, Krivichi, Chud, Vyatichi. He fortified Kyiv with a white wall, as he loved this city very much.

In 993, the Russians fought with the white Croats who lived on the borders of Galicia, as well as with the Pechenegs. The war with the Pechenegs ended in single combat between a Russian youth of small stature, but great strength, and a Pecheneg giant. “We chose a place: the combatants grappled. Rusich crushed the Pecheneg with his strong muscles, and hit the dead man on the ground ... ”(from the annals). Joyful Vladimir, in memory of this incident, laid a city on the banks of the Trubezh and named it Pereyaslavl: for the young man “took” the “glory” (perhaps a legend) from the enemies.

For three years (994-996) there was no war in Rus'. The first stone church dedicated to the Mother of God was built in Kyiv.

Fate did not spare Vladimir in his old age: before his death, he had to see with sorrow that the love of power arms not only brother against brother, but also son against father. In 1014, Yaroslav (who ruled in Novgorod) rebelled. To pacify the rebellious Yaroslav, the Grand Duke placed at the head of the army his beloved son Boris, Prince of Rostov.

During these events, Vladimir died in Berestov (near Kiev) in a country palace, without choosing an heir and leaving the helm of the state to the will of fate ... Despite his poor health by nature, he lived to old age.

Prince Vladimir deserved in history the name of the Great, or Saint. His reign was marked by the adoption Orthodox faith, expansion of the state. He introduced enlightenment, built cities, established schools, including art schools.

The glory of Vladimir remained in epics and fairy tales about Dobryn Novgorodsky, Alexander with a golden mane, Ilya Muromets, strong Rakhdai.

Literature

1. Kostomarov N.I. "Russian history in the biographies of its main figures"

2..Soloviev S.M. “Compositions. Book I"

3. Karamzin N.M. “Traditions of the Ages: Tales, Legends, Stories from the “History of the Russian State”, M .: ed. "Pravda", 1989.

4. Klyuchevsky V.O. "A short guide to Russian history", M.: ed. "Dawn", 1992.

On September 21, 862, the inhabitants of the Novgorod principality called for the Varangian brothers Rurik, Sineus and Truvor to rule. It is this date that is considered to be the beginning of the state of Rus. From Rurik originates a dynasty of Russian rulers, nicknamed Rurikovich. This dynasty ruled the state for more than seven and a half centuries. We remembered the most significant representatives of this family.

1. Rurik Varangian. Although the Novgorod prince Rurik Varyazhsky did not become the sole ruler of the united state, he went down in history forever as the founder of the dynasty of the first Russian autocrats. During his reign, Finnish lands began to join Rus', as well as the territories of some scattered Slavic tribes. From here followed the cultural unification of the Eastern Slavs, which contributed to the formation of a new political formation - the state. According to the researcher S. Solovyov, it was from Rurik that the important activity of the Russian princes began - the construction of cities, the concentration of population. The first steps of Rurik in the formation of the ancient Russian state were already completed by Prince Oleg the Prophet.

2. Vladimir Svyatoslavich the Red Sun. The contribution of this Grand Duke to the development of Kievan Rus is difficult to overestimate. It was he who went down in history as the baptizer of Rus'. Preachers of many religions wanted to persuade the prince to their faith, but he sent his ambassadors to different lands, and upon their return he listened to everyone and gave preference to Christianity. Vladimir liked the rites of this faith. Having conquered the Christian city, Kherson Vladimir married the imperial princess Anna and received holy baptism. The idols of the pagan gods were cut down and burned by order of the prince. Ordinary people accepted the new faith by being baptized in the waters of the Dnieper. So, on August 1, 988, the Russian people, following the ruler, adopted Christianity. Only the inhabitants of Novgorod opposed the new faith. Then the Novgorodians were baptized with the help of a squad. However, at the same time, the first special theological schools were created in Rus', where unenlightened boyar monks studied divine books translated from Greek by Cyril and Methodius.

3. Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise. The nickname "Wise" Grand Duke Yaroslav received from the people for his wise rule. He is considered the creator of the first set of laws and civil charters "Russian Truth". Prior to this, in ancient Rus' there were no laws written in a single collection. This is one of the most important steps in building statehood. To this day, ancient lists of these laws have survived, which give an idea of ​​the life of our ancestors. According to the chronicler, Yaroslav was "half-footed, but he had a kind mind and was brave in battle." These words are also proved by the fact that under Yaroslav the Wise, Russian troops put an end to the raids of the nomadic tribe of the Pechenegs. Peace was also concluded with the Byzantine Empire.

The nickname "Wise" Grand Duke Yaroslav received from the people for his wise rule

4. Vladimir Vsevolodovich Monomakh. His reign was the period of the last strengthening of the Old Russian state. Monomakh knew well that for the tranquility of the state, it was necessary to make sure that external enemies would not attack Rus'. During his life, he made 83 military campaigns, concluded 19 peace treaties with the Polovtsians, captured more than a hundred Polovtsian princes and released them all, executed more than 200 princes. The military successes of Grand Duke Vladimir Monomakh and his children glorified his name throughout the world. The Greek Empire trembled on behalf of Monomakh. After the conquest of Thrace by Vladimir's son Mstislav, Emperor Alexis Komnenos even sent great gifts to Kiev - symbols of power: the carnelian cup of Augustus Caesar, the Cross of the Life-Giving Tree, a crown, a golden chain and barm of Vladimir's grandfather Konstantin Monomakh. The gifts were brought by the Metropolitan of Ephesus. He also proclaimed Monomakh the Russian ruler. Since then, Monomakh's cap, chain, scepter and barm have been indispensable attributes on the wedding day of Russian rulers and have been passed from sovereign to sovereign.

5. Vsevolod III Yurievich Big Nest. This is the tenth son of Grand Duke Yuri Dolgoruky, who formed the city of Moscow, and the younger brother of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky. Under him, the Great Northern Principality of Vladimir reached its highest power and finally began to prevail over the southern Principality of Kyiv. The reasons for the success of Vsevolod's policy are reliance on new cities: Vladimir, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Dmitrov, Gorodets, Kostroma, Tver, where the boyars before him were relatively weak, as well as reliance on the nobility. Under him, Kievan Rus ceased to exist, and Vladimir-Suzdal Rus finally took shape. Vsevolod had a large offspring - 12 children (including 8 sons), so he received the nickname "Big Nest". The unknown author of The Tale of Igor's Campaign noted: his army "can splash the Volga with oars, and scoop the Don with helmets."

6. Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky. According to the "canonical" version, Alexander Nevsky played an exceptional role in Russian history. During his reign, Rus' was attacked from two sides: the Catholic West and the Tatars from the East. Nevsky showed an outstanding talent as a commander and diplomat, having entered into an alliance with the most strong enemy- Tatars. Having repelled the German attack, he defended Orthodoxy from Catholic expansion. For the faith of the Grand Duke, for the love of the fatherland, for the preservation of the integrity of Rus', the Orthodox Church canonized Alexander as a saint.

7. Ivan Danilovich Kalita. This Grand Duke became famous for the fact that under him the rise of Muscovite Rus' began. Moscow under Ivan Kalita became the real capital of the Russian state. On the instructions of Metropolitan Peter, Ivan Kalita in 1326 laid the first stone church of the Assumption of Our Lady in Moscow. Since then, the Russian metropolia moved from Vladimir to Moscow, which elevated this city above others in the Vladimir principality. Ivan Kalita became the first prince who received a label for a great reign in the Golden Horde. Thus, he increasingly strengthened the role of the capital of the state for Moscow. Later, for silver, he redeemed from the Horde labels for reigning in other Russian cities, adding them to the Moscow principality.

8. Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy. The Grand Duke of Moscow Dmitry Ivanovich was nicknamed Donskoy after the first serious victory over the Tatars in the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380. After a number of significant military victories over the Golden Horde, she did not dare to fight the Russians in the open field. By this time, the Moscow principality had become one of the main centers for the unification of Russian lands. The white-stone Moscow Kremlin was built in the city.

9. Ivan III Vasilyevich. During the reign of this Grand Duke and Sovereign Sovereign, there were many events that determined the fate of the Russian state. Firstly, a significant part of the scattered Russian lands around Moscow was united. This city finally becomes the center of the all-Russian state. Secondly, the final liberation of the country from the rule of the Horde khans was achieved. After standing on the Ugra River, Rus' finally threw off the Tatar-Mongol yoke. Thirdly, under the reign of Ivan III, the territory of Rus' increased five times and began to amount to about two million square kilometers. The Code of Laws was also adopted - a set of laws of the state, and a number of reforms were carried out that laid the foundations for the local system of land tenure. The sovereign established the first post office in Rus', city councils appeared in the cities, drunkenness was prohibited, and the armament of the troops was significantly increased.

10. Ivan IV Vasilyevich. It was this ruler who was nicknamed the Terrible. He led Russian state longest of all rulers: 50 years and 105 days. The contribution of this king to the history of Rus' is difficult to overestimate. Under him, boyar strife ceased, and the territory of the state grew by almost 100 percent - from 2.8 million square kilometers to 5.4 million. The Russian state has become larger than the rest of Europe. He defeated the slave-trading khanates of Kazan and Astrakhan, annexed these territories to Rus'. Also, under him, Western Siberia, the Region of the Don Host, Bashkiria, and the lands of the Nogai Horde were annexed. Ivan the Terrible entered into diplomatic and military relations with the Don and Tersko-Grebensky Cossacks. John IV Vasilyevich created a regular streltsy army, the first Russian military flotilla in the Baltic. I would especially like to note the creation of the judiciary of 1550. The collection of laws of the period of the estate monarchy in Russia is the first legal act in Russian history proclaimed the only source of law. It contained 100 articles. Under Ivan the Terrible, the first printing house appeared in Russia (Printing Yard). Under him, the election of the local administration was introduced, a network of primary schools was created, a postal service and the first fire brigade in Europe were created.

Grand Dukes of Kyiv rulers of Kievan Rus and the Kievan principality. Askold and Dir, princes of Kyiv (no later than 860 882) did not have the title of Grand Duke. Oleg Veshchy (882 912) Igor Rurikovich (912 945) Olga (945 957) ... ... Wikipedia

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Grand Duke of Kyiv

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Books

• , Antonin Petrovich Ladinsky. The heroes of the historical novel `The Last Way of Vladimir Monomakh` are the legendary rulers of Ancient Rus', the great Kyiv princes, warriors, residents of cities and towns. There was a time when Rus… Buy for 854 UAH (Ukraine only)
• The last journey of Vladimir Monomakh, Antonin Petrovich Ladinsky. The heroes of the historical novel "The Last Way of Vladimir Monomakh" are the legendary rulers of Ancient Rus', the great Kyiv princes, warriors, residents of cities and towns. There was a time when Rus'...