Kiev princes. The first Russian princes and their activities

We learn about the life of the first rulers in Russia from the oldest surviving chronicle, The Tale of Bygone Years.

According to the "Tale", the ancient Russian princes originate from the Rurik dynasty, the ancestor of which is Rurik, who was invited to the Russian lands by the Ilmen Slovenes in 862. The dynasty of Russian princes - the descendants of Rurik - dates back to the middle of the ninth century. The materials presented in this work indicate that the first Russian princes were primarily concerned with expanding the boundaries of their state.

The purpose of the presentation: to acquaint students with the reign of the first Russian princes: Rurik, Oleg, Igor, Olga, Svyatoslav; talk about their role in the formation of the Russian state; arouse interest in Russian history among followers; foster a sense of patriotism and selfless service to the Motherland using the example of these historical figures. The presentation can be used in history lessons and in extracurricular activities.

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FIRST RUSSIAN PRINCES Author: Shemetova Kristina, student of the II course, department cook, confectioner BPOU "Trade and Technological College", Elista, Republic of Kalmykia. Leader: Kozaeva Raisa Sandzhievna, history teacher.

RURIK (862 - 879) 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 Ilmenian Slovenes, Chud and all of the Varangian lands. He reigned first in Ladoga, and then in all Novgorod lands. Before his death, he handed over power to his relative (or senior vigilante) - Oleg.

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 Kiev and made it the capital of the Old Russian state, killing Askold and Dir, who had reigned there earlier. He subdued the tribes of Drevlyans, northerners, Radimichs. In 907 he made a successful military campaign against Constantinople, which resulted in two peace treaties that were beneficial for Russia (907 and 911). OLEG (879 - 912)

IGOR (912 - 945) Expanded the boundaries of the Old Russian state, subjugating the tribe of the Ulits and facilitating the founding of Russian settlements on the Taman Peninsula. Repulsed the raids of the Pechenegs nomads. Organized military campaigns against Byzantium: 1) 941 - ended in failure; 2) 944 - the conclusion of a mutually beneficial contract. Killed by the Drevlyans while collecting tribute in 945.

OLGA (945 - 969) The wife of Prince Igor, ruled in Russia during the childhood of his son Svyatoslav and during his military campaigns. She was the first to establish a clear procedure for collecting tribute ("polyudya") by introducing: 1) lessons in determining the exact size of tribute; 2) graveyards - establishing places for collecting tribute. She visited Byzantium in 957 and converted to Christianity under the name Elena. In 968 she led the defense of Kiev from the Pechenegs.

SVYATOSLAV (964 - 972) The son of Prince Igor and Princess Olga. Initiator and leader of many military campaigns: - Defeat of the Khazar Kaganate and its capital Itil (965) - Campaigns 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 while returning 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 is established on the Kiev throne. 980 - Vladimir carries out a pagan reform. A pantheon of pagan gods was 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 Russia. Under Vladimir, there is a further expansion and strengthening of the Old Russian state. Vladimir finally conquered the Radimichs, made successful campaigns against the Poles, Pechenegs, founded new fortresses-cities: Pereyaslavl, Belgorod, etc. VLADIMIR THE FIRST SAINT (978 (980)) - 1015)

He established himself on the Kiev throne after long strife with Svyatopolk the Accursed and Mstislav Tmutarakansky. He contributed to the flourishing of the Old Russian state, patronized education and construction, the rise of the international authority of Russia. Established extensive dynastic ties with European and Byzantine courts. Carried out military campaigns: - to the Baltic States; - to the Polish-Lithuanian lands; - to Byzantium. He finally defeated the Pechenegs. Prince Yaroslav the Wise - the founder of written Russian legislation ("Russian Truth", "Yaroslav's Truth"). YAROSLAV THE WISE (1019 - 1054)

Grandson of Yaroslav the Wise, son of Prince Vsevolod I and Mary, daughter of the Byzantine emperor Constantine the Ninth Monomakh. Prince of Smolensk (from 1067), Chernigov (from 1078), Pereyaslavl (from 1093), Grand Duke of Kiev (from 1113). Prince Vladimir Monomakh - organizer of successful campaigns against the Polovtsians (1103, 1109, 1111). He advocated the unity of Russia. Participant 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 Kiev during the popular uprising of 1113, which followed the death of Svyatopolk II. He reigned until 1125. He put into effect the "Charter of Vladimir Monomakh", where by law interest on loans was limited and it was forbidden to enslave dependent people working out their debt. He stopped the disintegration of the Old Russian state. He wrote "Instructions", in which he condemned strife and called for the unity of the Russian land. He continued the policy of strengthening dynastic ties with Europe. VLADIMIR SECOND MONOMACH (1113 - 1125)

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 - the autocratic Kiev ruler. He continued the policy of Vladimir Monomakh and managed to preserve a single Old Russian state. He joined the Polotsk principality to Kiev in 1127. He organized successful campaigns against the Polovtsy, Lithuania, and the Chernigov prince Oleg Svyatoslavovich. After his death, almost all the principalities come out of obedience to Kiev. A period of feudal fragmentation begins. MSTISLAV THE GREAT (1125 - 1132)

http://www.1salamandra1.ru/publ/pervye_russkie_knjazja_kratko SOURCES History: textbook for grade 10, ed. A.V. Chudinova, A.V. Gladysheva.-M. Publishing Center "Academy", 2008 http://russiahistory.narod.ru/pervkniazs.htm

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"History in a sense is the sacred book of peoples:
main, necessary; a mirror of their being and activity;
a tablet of revelations and rules; the testament of ancestors to posterity;
a complement 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 have come down to us from the words of Nestor (XI and early XII centuries), Sylvester (died in 1123) and other chroniclers. Among the "others" the legendary chronicler Joachim is most often called. The historian V.N. Tatishchev also refers to it when he writes: “Northern writers of the Russian sovereigns of the ancient recollect several names on occasions by outsiders without all the circumstances, or maybe they have any circumstances, but new writers, choosing from them, have neglected and left it closed. " However, N.M. Karamzin believes that the name of 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, a 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 Russia in 862. They were invited to rule by the Novgorodians (Ilmen Slovenes), as well as the Krivichs, all Chudyu. But, as the most prominent connoisseur of Russian chronicles, Academician A.A. Shakhmatov, the legend about the vocation of the Varangian princes is of Novgorod origin and was recorded in the chronicle only at the beginning of the 12th century. The princes are named brothers, which reflected the union of three tribes - Slovenian (Slavic), Finnish (Vesi) and Krivichi.

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

Therefore, as N.M. Karamzin, “the state of three rulers, united by bonds 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, annexing the regions to his principality, founded the Russian monarchy. and in the south - to the Western Dvina; already Merya, Murom and Polotsk residents depended on Rurik ”N.M. Karamzin).

The chroniclers attribute the following important event to this time. Two of Rurik's confidants - Askold and Dir, perhaps dissatisfied with him, went with a small squad from Novgorod to 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 peaceful inhabitants were paying tribute to the Khazars. It was Kiev. Askold and Dir took possession of the town, invited many residents from Novgorod and began to rule in Kiev.

Therefore, according to N.M. Karamzin, "... the Varangians founded two autocratic regions in Russia: Rurik - in the north, Askold and Dir - in the south."

In 866 the Slavs, led by Askold and Dir, attacked the Byzantine Empire. Having armed 200 ships, these knights, who have been experienced in sailing since ancient times, penetrated the navigable Dnieper and the Russian (Black) Sea into the territory of Byzantium. They devastated the outskirts 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. Upon learning of the attack on the country, its emperor Michael III hurried 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 Rus scattered across the sea. The Byzantines were saved. Few warriors returned to Kiev.

Rurik reigned solemnly in Novgorod for 15 years. He died in 879, having entrusted the reign of the principality and his young son Igor to his relative Oleg.

The memory of Rurik as the first ruler of Russia remained immortal in our history. The main business of his reign was the unification of some Finnish tribes and the Slavic people into a single state, as a result, over time, the entire Murom 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 Vikings to Russia. 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 the ancient city of Lyubech (on the Dnieper). Oleg cunningly took possession of Kiev and killed Askold and Dir, and he showed little Igor to the glades, saying: "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 Taurida, Bulgaria, Byzantium, captured Oleg, and he said: "Let Kiev be the mother of Russian cities" (chronicle).

The vast Russian possessions did not yet have stable internal ties. Peoples independent of Russia lived between Novgorod and Kiev. The Ilmen Slavs bordered on all, all - with a measure, a measure - with Muroma and Krivichi. In 883, Oleg conquered the Drevlyans (the Pripyat River), in 884 - the Dnieper northerners, in 885 - the Radimichi (the Sozh River). Thus, having subjugated the neighboring peoples and destroyed the rule of the Khazar Khagan, Oleg united the lands of Novgorod and Kiev. Then he conquered lands along the banks of the Sula River (adjacent to Chernigov), part of the Polotsk and Volyn lands.

Kiev was attacked by the Ugrians (Hungarians), who once lived near the Stone Belt (Urals), and in the 9th century. - east of Kiev. They were looking for new places of residence. Oleg let this people through 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, had matured. Accustomed from childhood to obedience, he did not dare to demand his legacy from the power-hungry Oleg, surrounded by the glory of victories, the glory of conquests and brave comrades who considered his power to be legitimate, for he was able to exalt the state.

In 903, Oleg chose a wife for Igor, the legendary Olga, who was glorious at that time only for her feminine charms and good manners. She was brought to Kiev from Pleskov (now Pskov). So Nestor wrote. According to other sources, Olga was of a Varangian simple family and lived in Vesi, 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 assembled two thousand ships of forty soldiers on each ship. The cavalry went along the coast. Oleg ruined this country, dealt cruelly with the inhabitants ("sea of ​​blood"), laid siege to Constantinople (Constantinople). The Byzantines hastened to buy off. The winner demanded from them twelve hryvnias for each warrior in the fleet. The Byzantines granted Oleg's request, after which peace was concluded (911). Returning from this campaign, the Rusichi brought home a lot of gold, expensive fabrics, wine and any other wealth.

This world, beneficial to the Russians, was approved by the sacred rites of faith: the emperor swore by the Gospel, Oleg with his soldiers - 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 Kiev. The people warmly greeted 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 sacredness of honor and had their own laws that asserted personal safety, property, the right to inheritance, the force of wills, and they were engaged in internal and external trade.

Oleg, humble for years, already wanted silence and enjoyment of universal peace. None of the neighbors dared to interrupt his calm. And in old age he seemed formidable. The Magi predicted Oleg's death from his horse. From that time on, he stopped riding his pet. Four years have passed. One autumn, the prince remembered the prediction of the sage and laughed at him, since the horse had long been dead. Oleg wanted to look at the horse's bones, put 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 may or may not believe that Oleg was actually bitten by a snake, but such a legend has come down to our time from the past. The people mourned Oleg. Having annexed 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, Dniester rivers to the Carpathians.

Oleg, reigning 33 years old, died at a ripe old age. The prince's body was buried on Mount Schekovitsa, and the inhabitants of Kiev, Nestor's contemporaries, called this place Oleg's grave (Staraya Ladoga is considered another supposed burial place for Oleg).

Some modern Russian historians are trying to interpret Nestor's famous chronicle "The Tale of Bygone Years" in a new way, speaking, in particular, about "attributing" to Oleg many victories over neighboring tribes and the merit of the annexation of vast lands to Russia. They also disagree with the fact that it was Oleg who made a campaign against Constantinople, giving the 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 was happening nine centuries earlier than us and looked at these events through the eyes of a historian, and a contemporary of the mountains took power in adulthood.

Prince Igor

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

The Pechenegs led a nomadic life, were engaged in robbery. They hoped to devastate Kiev, but met with a strong army and were forced to retire to Bessarabia. This people terrified the neighbors. For gold and money, the Byzantines used the Pechenegs against the Ugrians, Bulgars, and especially the Slavs. For almost two centuries the Pechenegs dominated the lands south of Russia. 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 Russia.

Igor's reign 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, Igor on ten thousand ships in 941 entered the Russian (Black) Sea. He devastated the outskirts of Constantinople, reduced temples, villages, monasteries to ashes. But soon the Byzantine troops and navy 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 Kiev. In 944 Russia and Byzantium made peace.

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

In the fall of 945, Igor and his retinue went to the Drevlyans. There they pretty much robbed the local population. Most of the army was sent to Kiev, and Igor still wanted to "wander" around the Drevlyansky land and plunder the people. But the Drevlyans, taken to an 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 Igor ended his life ingloriously. He did not have the same successes in the war with the Byzantines that Oleg achieved. Igor did not have the properties of his predecessor, but he preserved the integrity of the state founded by Rurik and Oleg, defended honor and benefits in treaties with Byzantium.

However, the people reproached Igor for giving the dangerous Pechenegs the opportunity to establish themselves in the neighborhood with the Russians and for the fact that this prince loved 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 an 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 princedoms become his tributaries, vassals, although they still retain the right to rule in their principalities.

Russia 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 habitable. The difference in the level of development of different parts of the state was also too great. Having appeared immediately as a multiethnic entity, this state did not differ, therefore, with the strength that characterized states where the population was mainly of one ethnicity.

Duchess Olga

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

The Drevlyans, proud of the murder of Igor as a victory, and despising the young Svyatoslav, conceived to rule over Kiev and wanted their prince Mal to marry Olga. Twenty famous Drevlyan ambassadors sailed to Kiev in a boat. Olga accepted them with affection. The next day, having ordered to dig a deep grave, she buried alive all the Drevlyan ambassadors along with the boat.

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

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

In 946, Olga, returning to Kiev, 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 child's hand fell at the feet of his horse, but the commanders Asmud and Sveneld encouraged the soldiers with the example of a young hero with the exclamation “Friends! Let's stand for the prince! " And they rushed into battle.

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

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

The next year Olga went to Northern Russia, leaving Svyatoslav in Kiev. The princess visited the Novgorod lands. She divided Russia into several volosts, did, no doubt, everything necessary for the state good and left signs of her guardian wisdom. 150 years later, 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, taxed Izborsk, life somehow died out, and he lost its former glory. Having established the internal order, Olga returned to Kiev, 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 headed a magnificent and crowded embassy, ​​consisting of more than a hundred people, not counting the servants, shipbuilders. 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 treaty, as well as the military alliance of the two states, directed primarily against the Arabs and Khazaria.

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

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

But for the pagan world, this process was not easy 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 together with his retinue at the turn of the 5th - 6th centuries. The purpose of 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 VII century. kings were baptized personally, but then, under the influence of pagan opposition, they renounced it, and then were baptized again. In Bulgaria, IX century. the entire population passed to Christianity together with Boris I. There, the roots of Christianity under the influence of neighboring Byzantium were very deep.

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

In addition, morally, the princess was already prepared for this act. Having survived the tragic death of her husband, bloody battles with the Drevlyans, the destruction of their capital in the fire, Olga could turn for an answer to the human questions that worried her to a new religion, which was just attuned to the inner world of a person and tried to answer his eternal questions about the meaning of life and her own place in the world. If paganism was looking 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 her baptism with splendor befitting a great state. The baptism took place in the church of St. Sophia. Her godfather was the emperor himself, and the patriarch baptized her. Olga baptized the name of Helena, in honor of the mother of Constantine the Great, the Byzantine emperor, who made in the 4th century. Christianity was the official religion of the empire. After baptism, Olga was received by the patriarch and had a conversation with him about faith.

Upon her return to Kiev, Olga tried to persuade Svyatoslav to Christianity, saying that the squad would accept baptism for the prince. But Svyatoslav, being an ardent pagan who worshiped the squad god Perun, refused her.

A few years after her trip to Constantinople, Olga sent an embassy to the German emperor Otgon 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 Kiev. Olga continued her line. However, the Kiev 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 it according to the Christian rite.

Olga died in 969. The people called her cunning, the church is holy, history is wise. Until the time of Olga, Russian princes fought, she ruled the state. Confident in the wisdom of his mother, Svyatoslav even in adulthood left her internal rule, incessantly 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 jealousy to distinguish himself by deeds and to renew the glory of Russian weapons, so happy under Oleg. Svyatoslav gathered an army. Among his soldiers, 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 the tent, slept in the open air. The proud Svyatoslav always observed the rules of true knightly honor - he never attacked by surprise. It belongs to him the words: "I go to you" (to the enemy).

In 964 Svyatoslav conquered the Vyatichi, who paid tribute to the Khazar Kaganate. The Vyatichi tribe became part of the Slavic peoples of Ancient Rus, freed from the oppression of the Khazars. Having lived 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 "defeated" it. The inhabitants of the city fled. The capital of the Khazars was empty.

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

The prince sent his forces to the impregnable fortress Sarkel (Belaya Vezha). Having overcome the fortress by storm, Svyatoslav conquered this Khazar city, thereby significantly weakening his old enemies - the Khazars and Pechenegs. The trophies were great, 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 winner. 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. 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 did not listen to the advice. Olga died four days later. After the death of his mother, Svyatoslav could already freely fulfill his reckless intention - to move the capital of the state to the banks of the Danube. He gave Kiev to his son Yaropolk, to another son, Oleg - the Drevlyansky land. Svyatoslav also had a third son, Vladimir, born of Olga's housekeeper, Malusha's servant. The Novgorodians chose him to be their princes.

Svyatoslav conquered Bulgaria for the second time, but the Byzantines, who were afraid of their formidable neighbor, intervened. The Byzantine Emperor John Tzimiskes, an experienced commander and diplomat, began negotiations with Svyatoslav. But the Russian knight rejected the peaceful conditions and was not going to leave Bulgaria. Then Tzimiskes began to arm himself. The famous Byzantine commanders Barda Sklir and the patrician Peter came to meet Svyatoslav. In the spring of 970, not 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 Sklir.

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

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

But Tzimisce 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 Russians. In fierce battles they all perished. On April 17, Tzimiskes with a quick march approached Dorostol, where Prince Svyatoslav was. His small army showed examples of courage and fortitude. Svyatoslav demonstrated the real martial art of defense and attack. The incessant battles continued until July 22nd. 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 matured 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, thick neck, blue eyes, thick eyebrows, a flat nose, long mustaches, a sparse beard and one tuft of hair on his head, as a sign of his nobility in a gold earring, adorned with two pearls and a ruby, hung on his ear.

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

Despite the small number of exhausted soldiers, the proud Svyatoslav decided to fight the Pechenegs at the rapids of the Dnieper. In this battle, he died (972). Prince of the Pechenegs Smoking, chopping off Svyatoslav's head, made a cup from the skull. Only a few Russian soldiers, led by the voivode Sveneld, escaped and brought to Kiev the sad news of the death of the prince.

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

Prince Yaropolk

After the death of Svyatoslav, Yaropolk reigned in Kiev. Oleg is in the Drevlyansky land, Vladimir is in Novgorod. Yaropolk had no power over the inheritance of his brothers. Soon the harmful consequences of such a division were revealed, and the brother went against the brother. Yaropolk decided to go to the lands of the Drevlyans and annex them to Kiev. Oleg gathered soldiers and went to meet his brother (977), but his army was defeated, and he himself died. Yaropolk sincerely mourned the death of his brother.

Gathering his 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 armed against him, and prepare to repel me!" (chronicle).

Yaropolk had a lovely bride, Rogneda, in Polotsk. Vladimir, preparing to take away the power from his brother, wanted to deprive him and his bride, and through the 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 Kiev. Yaropolk closed in the city, and then left it, leaving for the city of Relatives (where Ros flows into the Dnieper).

After a while, Yaropolk, weak in spirit, with the assistance of his voivode Blud, who had entered into an agreement with Vladimir, came to him. “The traitor led his gullible Sovereign into his brother’s dwelling, as 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 Kiev for four years and the head of all Russia for three years, "left for history one memory of a good-natured, but weak man."

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

Prince Vladimir

Vladimir soon proved that he was born to be a great sovereign. He showed excellent zeal for the pagan gods, erecting a new Perun with a silver head. On the banks of the Volkhov, the newly rebuilt rich city of Perunov was erected.

Vladimir was not afraid of wars. He took the cities of Cherven, Przemysl and others, in 982 - 983. conquered Galicia. He subdued the revolt of the Vyatichi, who did not want to pay tribute, and conquered the country of the Yatvingians - the courageous Latvian people. Further, the possessions of Rus were expanded to the Varangian (Baltic) Sea itself. 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 had long ago rejected his first wife, Rogneda. She decided to take revenge - to kill her husband, but she failed: Vladimir sent Rogneda with his son Izyaslav to the city built for them and named Izyaslavl.

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

In 988, having collected a large army, Vladimir went on ships to the Greek Kherson (on the site of Sevastopol) 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's damage to the aqueduct that began outside the city walls), the townspeople surrendered. Then Vladimir announced to the Byzantine emperors Vasily and Constantine that he wanted to be the spouse 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 Russia - an important milestone in the history of our state. The first church of St. Basil was erected in Kiev. 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 Russia.

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, Krivichs, Chudyu, Vyatichi. Fortified Kiev with a white wall, because he loved this city very much.

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

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

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

During these events, Vladimir died in Berestovo (near Kiev) in a country palace, not choosing an heir and leaving the helm of the state to the will of fate ... Despite his naturally weak health, he lived to old age.

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

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

Literature

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

2.Soloviev S.M. “Works. Book I "

3. Karamzin N.M. “Legends of the centuries: legends, legends, stories from the“ History of the Russian state ”, Moscow: ed. Pravda, 1989.

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

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 well-to-do part of the community, subjugating the mass of ordinary members of the community, needs to maintain their domination in state structures.

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

1) 941 - ended in failure;

2) 944 - the conclusion of a mutually beneficial contract.

Killed by the Drevlyans while collecting tribute in 945.

YAROSLAV THE WISE(1019 - 1054)

He established himself on the Kiev throne after lengthy strife with Svyatopolk the Accursed (he received the nickname after the murder of his brothers Boris and Gleb, later canonized) and Mstislav Tmutarakansky.

He contributed to the flourishing of the Old Russian state, patronized education and construction. He contributed to the rise of the international authority of Russia. Established extensive dynastic ties with European and Byzantine courts.

Carried out military campaigns:

To the Baltic States;

To the Polish-Lithuanian lands;

To Byzantium.

He finally defeated the Pechenegs.

Prince Yaroslav the Wise is the founder of written Russian legislation (" Russian Truth"," Pravda Yaroslav ").

VLADIMIR SECOND MONOMACH(1113 - 1125)

Son of Mary, daughter of the Byzantine emperor Constantine the Ninth Monomakh. Prince of Smolensk (from 1067), Chernigov (from 1078), Pereyaslavl (from 1093), Grand Duke of Kiev (from 1113).

Prince Vladimir Monomakh - organizer of successful campaigns against the Polovtsians (1103, 1109, 1111)

He advocated the unity of Russia. Participant 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 Kiev during the popular uprising of 1113, which followed the death of Svyatopolk II. Prince until 1125

He put into effect the "Charter of Vladimir Monomakh", where by law interest on loans was limited and it was forbidden to enslave dependent people working off their debt.

He stopped the disintegration of the Old Russian state. Wrote " 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 II - Geeta.

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 - the autocratic Kiev ruler.

He continued the policy of Vladimir Monomakh and managed to preserve a single Old Russian state. Annexed the Principality of Polotsk to Kiev in 1127.
He organized successful campaigns against the Polovtsy, Lithuania, Prince Oleg Svyatoslavovich of Chernigov. After his death, almost all the principalities come out of obedience to Kiev. A specific period begins - feudal fragmentation.

The reign of Oleg (years of government - 882 -912). The formation of a single East Slavic state Rus is associated with the name of the Novgorod prince Oleg, a relative of the semi-legendary Rurik. In 882, he made a campaign in the lands of the Krivichi and captured Smolensk, then took Lyubech and Kiev, which he made the capital of his state. Later he annexed the lands of the Drevlyans, Northerners, Radimichi, Vyatichi, Croats and Tivertsy. Conquered tribes imposed tribute. He fought successfully with the Khazars. In 907 he laid siege to Constantinople, the capital of Byzantium, and imposed an indemnity on the empire. In 911, Oleg concluded a profitable trade agreement with Byzantium. Thus, under Oleg, the territory of the early Russian state begins to form through the forcible annexation of tribal Slavic unions to Kiev.

The reign of Igor (912-945). After the death of Oleg (according to legend, he died from a snakebite) Igor became the Grand Duke of Kiev, who ruled until 945. Prince Igor is considered the actual ancestor of the Rurik dynasty. Igor continued the activities of his predecessor. Oleg, subordinated to his power the East Slavic tribal associations between the Dniester and the Danube. In 941 he made an unsuccessful campaign against Constantinople. The campaign in 944 was marked by success, Byzantium offered Igor a ransom, an agreement was concluded between the Greeks and the Russians. Igor was the first of the Russian Greeks and Russians to conclude an agreement. Igor was the first of the Russian princes to face the Pechenegs. He was killed by the Drevlyans, while trying to collect tribute from them again.

The reign of Olga (945 - 964). After the murder of Igor, his widow, Princess Olga, brutally suppressed the uprising of the Drevlyans. Then she undertook a detour of some lands, establishing a fixed amount of duties for the Drevlyans and Novgorodians, organizing special administrative centers for collecting tribute - camps and graveyards . So a new form of receiving tribute was established - the so-called "Wagon" ... By a certain date, the tribute was delivered to camps or graveyards, and a peasant agricultural economy was defined as a unit of taxation. (tribute from Rahl) or a home with a hearth (tribute from smoke).

Olga significantly expanded the land holdings of the Kiev Grand Duke House. She visited Constantinople, where she converted to Christianity. Olga ruled during the early childhood of her son Svyatoslav Igorevich and later, during his campaigns.

Princess Olga's campaign against the Drevlyans and Novgorodians meant the beginning of the liquidation of the autonomy of the unions of the Slavic tribes that were part of the Russian early feudal state. This led to the merger of the military nobility of the tribal unions with the military nobility of the Kiev prince. This is how the formation of the association of the Old Russian service army, headed by the Grand Duke of Kiev, took place. Gradually, he becomes the supreme owner of all the lands of the Russian state.

The reign of Svyatoslav (964 - 972). In 964, Svyatoslav Igorevich, who had reached the age of majority, entered the reign of Rus. Under him, until 969, the Kiev state was largely ruled by his mother, Princess Olga, since Svyatoslav Igorevich spent almost his entire life in campaigns. Svyatoslav, first of all, was a warrior prince who strove to bring Russia closer to the largest powers of the then world. Under him, a century-old period of distant campaigns of the prince's squad, which enriched it, ended.

Svyatoslav dramatically changes the policy of the state and begins to systematically strengthen the borders of Russia. In 964-966. Svyatoslav freed the Vyatichi from the power of the Khazars and subordinated them to Kiev. In the 60s of the X century. defeated the Khazar Kaganate and took the capital of the Kaganate, the city of Itil, fought with the Volga-Kama Bulgarians. In 967, using the proposal of Byzantium, which sought to weaken its neighbors, Russia and Bulgaria, by pushing them against each other, Svyatoslav invaded Bulgaria and settled at the mouth of the Danube, in Periaslavets. Around 971, in alliance with the Bulgarians and Hungarians, he began to fight with Byzantium, but unsuccessfully. The prince was forced to make peace with the Byzantine emperor. On the way back to Kiev, Svyatoslav Igorevich died at the Dnieper rapids in a battle with the Pechenegs, warned by the Byzantines about his return. The reign of Svyatoslav Igorevich was a time of a wide entry of the ancient Russian state into the international arena, a period of significant expansion of its territory.

ReignVladimirI. (980 - 1015). The formation of the Old Russian state as a political and cultural center was completed under Vladimir I. The son of Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich, Vladimir, with the help of his uncle Dobrynya, in 969 became a prince in Novgorod. After the death of his father in 977, he took part in a strife and defeated his elder brother Yaropolk. By campaigns against Vyatichi, Lithuanians, Radimichi, Bulgarians, Vladimir strengthened the possessions of Kievan Rus. To organize the defense against the Pechenegs, Vladimir built several defensive lines with a system of fortresses. This was the first notch line in the history of Russia. To protect the south of Russia, Vladimir managed to attract tribes from its northern part. The successful struggle against the Pechenegs led to the idealization of the personality and reign of Vladimir Svyatoslavich. In folk legends, he received the name of Vladimir Krasnoe Solnyshko.

Characteristic: the leader of the Varangians, came with a retinue to Russia. He became the very first prince in Russia.

Years of government: circa 860s - 879

Policy, activity: ruled Novgorod and founded it. Expanding 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: Varangians, Rurik's comrades-in-arms. They adopted Christianity.

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

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

Military campaigns: the first in the history of the Rus campaign against Byzantium, the campaign against the Pechenegs.

Name: Oleg

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

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

Policy, activity: Expanding the territory of the principality, collecting tribute from the tribes

Military campaigns: to Byzantium (907) - "the shield was nailed to the gates of Constantinople", to the tribes of the Drevlyans, northerners, Radimichi

Name: Igor (Inger)

Characteristic: son of Rurik

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

Policy, activity: 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, he conquered the principality of the Drevlyans. Died, trying twice to collect tribute from the Drevlyans

Name: Olga

Characteristic: Igor's widow

Years of government: 945 - 960

Policy, activity: adopted and spread Christianity in Russia. I streamlined the collection and size of taxes, because of which Igor died. For the first time she started stone houses in Russia.

Military campaigns: She cruelly took revenge on the Drevlyans for the death of her husband, burned the center of the Drevlyansky land - the city of Iskorosten. In the absence of her son Svyatoslav, she led the defense of Kiev from the raid of the Pechenegs.

Name: Svyatoslav

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

Years of government: 960-972

Policy, activity: Expanding the boundaries of the state. Warrior prince

Military campaigns: defeated the Khazar Kaganate - the main rival of Russia 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 the way back to Kiev.

Name: Vladimir

Characteristic: third son of Svyatoslav

Years of government: from 970 - Novgorod, from 978 - Kiev (he killed his older brother Yaropolk, who was a Kiev prince after the death of his father, Prince Svyatoslav). He died in 1015.

Policy, activity: baptized Russia in 988, thereby uniting the tribes scattered by different pagan cults. Conducted diplomatic relations with neighboring powers.

Military campaigns: to Kiev - 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. He 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.

Policy, activity: He founded the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev. Under Yaroslav, Kiev strengthened and expanded, the first monasteries appeared in Russia as the only centers for the dissemination of literacy and book publishing at that time. Founded the city of Yaroslavl (modern Russia)

He strengthened diplomatic ties of Kievan Rus, including political marriages. For example, one of his daughters, Anna, Yaroslav gave off to the king of France, the other, 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 Kiev throne. He helped the Polish king with military actions, conquered the tribe of Chud, Yam, Yatvingians. Hike to Lithuania.