XI. Andrey Bogolyubsky. Vsevolod the Big Nest and his sons. Vladimir princes Andrei Bogolyubsky and Vsevolod the Big Nest

Culture under Andrei Bogolyubsky.

During his reign, extensive construction began in Vladimir and its suburbs: in 1164 the Golden Gate (like those in Kyiv, Constantinople and Jerusalem), the castle city of Bogolyubovo, as well as a number of churches, including the famous Assumption Cathedral (1158-61) were built. , Intercession on the Nerl (1165), Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Bogolyubovo (1158-65).

According to a number of researchers, Andrei Bogolyubsky sought to free himself from Byzantine influence in Rus'. In particular, he invited Western European architects to build Vladimir churches. The tendency towards greater cultural independence can also be seen in his introduction of new holidays in Rus' that were not accepted in Byzantium. On the initiative of the prince, the holidays of the Savior (August 1) and the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary (October 1) were established.

Relations with the church.

Around 1160, Andrei made the first attempt in the history of Rus' to divide the Russian Church into two metropolitanates. He asked the Patriarch of Constantinople to establish a second metropolis in Vladimir, independent of the Kyiv one, but this request was rejected. In 1168, Andrei sent the Suzdal abbot Theodore to a large council in Kyiv in order to achieve the removal of Metropolitan Constantine. Finding no support from the Russian bishops, Theodore went to Constantinople, hoping to persuade the patriarch to appoint himself metropolitan, but he only achieved appointment as bishop of Rostov. In 1169, Andrei Bogolyubsky had a conflict with the quarrelsome and ambitious Theodore, which ended with the prince extraditing the bishop to the metropolitan in Kyiv, where Theodore was executed on charges of heresy.

Conspiracy against Andrei Bogolyubsky

There are several theories about a conspiracy against Andrei Bogolyubsky, here is one of them, the most common: Once Andrei executed one of his wife’s closest relatives, Kuchkovich. Then the brother of the executed man, Yakim Kuchkovich, together with his son-in-law Peter and some other princely servants, decided to get rid of their master. The prince's household servants soon joined the conspiracy - a certain Yas (Ossetian) named Anbal and another foreigner named Efrem Moizich. In total there were twenty conspirators; they said: “Today he executed Kuchkovich, and tomorrow he will execute us too, so let’s think about this prince!” In addition to anger and fear for their fate, the conspirators were also motivated by envy of Andreev’s favorite, some Procopius. On June 28, 1175, on Friday, at lunchtime, in the village of Bogolyubovo, where Andrei usually lived, they gathered in the house of Kuchkov’s son-in-law Peter and decided to kill the prince the next day, the 29th at night. At the agreed hour, the conspirators armed themselves and went to Andreeva’s bedroom, but horror attacked them, they rushed to flee from the entryway; They went into the cellar, drank wine and, drunk, went back to the entryway. Approaching the bedroom door, one of them began to call the prince: “Mister! Mister!” to find out if Andrey is here. He heard the voice and asked: “Who’s there?” They answered him: “Procopius.” “Boy,” Andrei then said to the servant sleeping in his room, “isn’t this Procopius?” Meanwhile, the murderers, having heard Andrei’s voice, began knocking on the doors and broke them down. Andrei jumped up and wanted to grab the sword that was always with him (that sword had previously belonged to St. Boris), but there was no sword. The housekeeper Anbal stole it from the bedroom during the day. While Andrei was looking for a sword, two murderers jumped into the bedroom and rushed at him, but Andrei was strong and had already managed to knock one down when the others ran in and, not being able to see them in the darkness at first, wounded their own, who was lying on the floor, then rushed to Andrey; he fought back for a long time, despite the fact that from all sides they cut him with swords, sabers, and stabbed him with spears. “Wicked people,” he shouted at them. - Why do you want to do the same as Goryaser (the murderer of St. Gleb. - K.P.)? What harm have I done to you? If you shed my blood on earth, then God will reward you for my bread.” Finally Andrei fell under the blows; the murderers, thinking that the matter was over, took their wounded man and walked out of the bedroom, trembling all over, but as soon as they left, Andrei rose to his feet and went into the hallway, groaning loudly; The killers heard groans and returned back, one of them said: “I myself saw how the prince came down from the entryway.” “Well, let’s go look for him,” answered the others; entering the bedroom and seeing that he was not there, they began to say: “We are now lost! Let’s start looking as soon as possible.” They lit candles and found the prince following the bloody trail: Andrei was sitting behind the staircase pillar; this time the struggle could not be long: Peter cut off the prince’s hand, others finished him off.

Initially, Andrei Bogolyubsky was buried in the Vladimir Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary; Later, the remains were transferred several times. In 1934, the burial of Andrei Bogolyubsky was examined and identified by archaeologists and anthropologists; Based on the skull found in the burial, the sculptor and anthropologist M. M. Gerasimov managed to recreate a unique sculptural portrait of the prince. The day after the murder of Andrei by the Kuchkovichs, a general uprising took place in Bogolyubovo and Vladimir against Andrei's administration and the feudal nobility. A struggle developed between relatives for the throne.

3. Vsevolod III the Big Nest.

1) Brief biography

Vsevolod Yurievich the Big Nest (baptized Dmitry, 1154 - April 15, 1212) - Grand Duke of Vladimir from 1176, for five weeks (from February to March 24, 1173) was the Grand Duke of Kyiv. The tenth son of Yuri Dolgoruky, half-brother of Andrei Bogolyubsky, Byzantine on his mother’s side. He had a large offspring - 12 children (including 8 sons), so he received the nickname “Big Nest”.

In 1162, together with his mother and brother, Andrei Bogolyubsky was expelled and went to Constantinople to live with Emperor Manuel. At the age of fifteen he returned to Rus' and, having made peace with Andrei, in 1169, together with other henchmen, took part in the campaign against Kyiv. In 1173, by order of his elder brother, Mikhail Yuryevich, he sat down with Yaropolk Rostislavich in Kyiv and was soon captured by the Smolensk Rostislavichs who captured the city. Ransomed from captivity by Mikhail. After the murder of Andrei (1174) and the death of his brother Mikhail (1176), the Rostovites sent to Novgorod to tell Prince Mstislav Rostislavich (grandson of Yuri Dolgoruky): “Come, prince, to us: God took Mikhail on the Volga in Gorodets, and we want you, no other we want."

Mstislav quickly gathered a squad and went to Vladimir. However, here the cross was already kissed for Vsevolod Yuryevich and his children. On the Yuryevsky field, across the Gzoya River, a battle took place, in which the Vladimir people won, and Mstislav fled to Novgorod. The reign of Vsevolod was the period of the highest rise of the Vladimir-Suzdal land. The reasons for Vsevolod's success were his 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.

Vsevolod received his nickname due to the large number of offspring. All his children were born in one marriage - with Princess Maria, who, according to some sources, was a “yasynya” (Ossetian), and according to others, a Czech, the daughter of the Czech prince Švarn. (However, the Russian origin of the princess cannot be ruled out.) Maria died on March 19, 1205, having previously been ill for seven years and having taken monastic vows a few days before her death. She also left a noticeable mark on the history of the city of Vladimir, founding a convent in the name of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (the so-called Knyaginin). After the death of his first wife, Vsevolod married twice more: in 1209, to the unknown-named daughter of the Vitebsk prince Vasilko Bryachislavich, and then, in 1211, to a certain princess Sophia (from Southern Rus').

Vsevolod had eight sons: Konstantin, Boris (who died during his father’s lifetime), Yuri, Yaroslav, Gleb, Vladimir, Ivan and Svyatoslav, as well as four daughters: Vseslava, Verkhuslava, Sbyslava and Elena (later sources also name his other children).

Shortly before his death, Vsevolod made a will, according to which the great reign and the city of Vladimir were to pass to his eldest son Konstantin, who reigned in Rostov, while Rostov went to Yuri. Constantine did not agree with this and demanded both cities for himself. The angry Vsevolod changed his will: now Yuri was to receive Vladimir and the great reign, and Rostov remained for Konstantin. This decision of his father suited Konstantin even less, who eventually quarreled with both his father and his brothers and did not even attend his father’s funeral in Vladimir.

Vsevolod died on April 13, 1212 and was buried in the Vladimir Assumption Cathedral. “And his sons cried for him with great lamentation, as well as all the boyars and men and all the land of his volost,” writes the chronicler.

2) Vsevolod's reignIII Big Nest. Principality of Vladimir.

The people of Vladimir, not yet drying their tears over the death of their beloved Sovereign, gathered in front of the Golden Gate and swore allegiance to his brother Vsevolod Yuryevich, thereby fulfilling the will of Dolgoruky, who assigned the Suzdal region to the inheritance of his younger sons. But the Boyars and Rostovites did not want Vsevolod. Even during the life of Mikhail, they secretly called Mstislav, his nephew, from Novagorod, and this Prince, having left his son there, was already in Rostov; gathered a large squad, Boyars, Gridney, the so-called Stepsons, or Boyar Youths, and went with them to Vladimir. The inhabitants of this city were burning with jealousy to fight; but Vsevolod, moderate and prudent, offered peace. “The Rostovites and Boyars are for you,” he said to Mstislav: “God and the Vladimirites are for me. Be the Prince of the first; and let the people of Suzdal obey whomever they want among us.” But the Rostov nobles, arrogant with pride, said to Mstislav: “Make peace alone, if you wish, we will deal with the rabble of Vladimir with weapons.”

Mstislav with a large army opposes Vsevolod to Vladimir. Vsevolod offers his nephew peace so that he reigns in Rostov, “and let Suzdal be ours,” but Mstislav responds with a decisive refusal. June 27, 1176 near the city of Yuryev-Polsky on the river. A battle takes place in which Vsevolod’s troops win a decisive victory. In the autumn of the same year, the Ryazan prince Gleb Rostislavich, son-in-law and ally of Mstislav Rostislavich, opposed Vsevolod; he approaches Moscow and “then the whole city and villages are burned.” For the winter of 1176/77, Vsevolod opposed Gleb and Mstislav Rostislavich and on March 7, 1177 on the river. Kolakshe defeats them at Pruskov Mountain, and Gleb, his son Roman, and Mstislav Rostislavich are captured and brought to Vladimir. At Vsevolod’s request, the Ryazan people also give him his other nephew, Yaropolk Rostislavich. According to the chronicle, the Rostislavich brothers were blinded by the people of Vladimir, and against the will of Vsevolod himself, but then miraculously regained their sight in the Boris and Gleb Monastery in Smyadyn; Gleb Ryazansky died in captivity.

During his thirty-seven-year reign, Vsevolod became by far the strongest prince in all of Rus'; his authority and “eldership” were recognized by all other Russian princes. He reigned supreme in the Vladimir-Suzdal principality, subjugated Novgorod to his influence, and the Ryazan and Murom princes were dependent on him. Vsevolod firmly held Pereyaslavl-Yuzhny in his hands (where his son Yaroslav reigned, forced to leave the city only in 1206), and this gave him the opportunity to influence events in Kyiv and throughout Southern Rus'. Thus, in February 1203, when the warring princes Rurik Rostislavich and Roman Mstislavich were unable to resolve their dispute about Kyiv (which had just been plundered by Rurik, who had united with the Olgovichi and Polovtsians), they decided to resort to the authority of Vsevolod, calling him “father” and “ Mr. Grand Duke." At the request of the princes, Vsevolod gives Kyiv to Rurik and in the same year, as the eldest of the Monomashichs, he makes peace with the Olgovichi.

When in 1206 the head of the Olgovich family, Vsevolod Svyatoslavich Chermny, took the Kiev throne and expelled Vsevolod Yuryevich Yaroslav’s son from Pereyaslavl, Vsevolod began a war with the Chernigov princes. The chronicle quotes his words: “The Russian land alone is our fatherland, but isn’t it our fatherland?” Peace between the princes was concluded only in 1210 through the mediation of the Kyiv Metropolitan Matthew, and Vsevolod Chermny “and all the Olgovichi” sent him to Vladimir to Vsevolod the Big Nest, “asking for peace and repenting for everything,” in other words, recognizing the Suzdal prince as the eldest among the Russians princes. Vsevolod Yuryevich, “seeing their subjugation to himself... kissed the cross to them, and having established the metropolitan, let him go with honor.” Vsevolod the Chermny, in agreement with his namesake, occupied Kyiv, and the following year the peace between the princes was sealed by the marriage of Vsevolod's son Big Nest Yuri and Vsevolod the Chermny's daughter Agafya (April 10, 1211).

The authority of the Vladimir prince was recognized outside of Rus'. So, for example, the German Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, having learned in 1189 that the exiled Galich prince Vladimir Yaroslavich, who had arrived to him, was the “sister” (nephew) of Vsevolod Yuryevich, “received him with love and great honor.”

Vsevolod successfully fought against the Volga Bulgarians. In 1183, he went to them himself together with his nephew Izyaslav Glebovich and other princes; this campaign ended with the conclusion of peace. In 1185, Vsevolod sent his governors against the Volga Bulgarians; They “took a lot of villages and returned with a lot of money.”

The author of “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign” gives a vivid description of Vsevolod’s military power. “Grand Duke Vsevolod! - he mentally turns to him and is amazed at the large number of his troops. “...You can scatter the oars of the Volga (splash it. - A.K.), and pour out the Don helmets (scoop it out. - A.K.).” Enthusiastic praise for the prince is also read in the Laurentian Chronicle: “...having shown a lot of courage and audacity in battle, he was adorned with all good morals, executing evil, and showing mercy to the good... Of this name, the whole country and all the lands trembled in his ear, and all his evil thoughts Yes, God is under his hand, no longer arrogant, nor magnified about himself, but he placed everything on God, all his hope, and God punished all his enemies under his nose...” At the same time, the chronicler also noted the peacefulness of Vsevolod, who “is kind, not even willing to shed blood.”

Honored inside and outside Russia, Vsevolod wanted sincere mutual friendliness of the Princes and tried to confirm it with a new property, marrying his daughter to Svyatoslav’s nephew, another, named Verkhuslav, to Rurikovich, courageous Rostislav, and marrying his son Konstantin, still ten years old, to the grandson of the deceased Roman Smolensky. Youth did not interfere with marriage unions, which were required for the benefit of the state. Verkhuslava also had barely reached the age of a teenager when her parents sent her to her groom in Belgorod. This wedding was one of the most magnificent, which is mentioned in our ancient chronicles. Rurikov's brother-in-law, Gleb Turovsky, and the noblest Boyars and their spouses, generously gifted by Vsevolod, came to Vladimir for the bride. Loving Verkhuslava dearly, her father and mother gave her a lot of gold and silver; They themselves escorted their dear eight-year-old daughter to the third camp and with tears entrusted it to the son of Vsevolod’s sister, who was supposed to carry the bride, together with the first Boyars of Suzdal. In Belogorod, Bishop Maxim performed the wedding ceremony, and more than twenty Princes feasted at the wedding. Rurik, following an ancient custom, gave the city of Bragin to his daughter-in-law as a sign of love. This Prince, father-in-law of Igor’s son, lived in peace with all the Olgovichs and in case of disputes about borders or Destinations, resorted to the mediation of Vsevolodov. Thus, Svyatoslav (in 1190) wanted to appropriate part of the Smolensk possessions for himself; but Rurik and David, together with the Grand Duke, disarmed him, imagining that he had taken Kyiv on the condition not to demand anything more and to forget the disputes that took place under the Grand Duke Rostislav; that he can either fulfill the agreement or start a war. Svyatoslav gave them his word not to violate the peace in the future and kept it, pleased with the honor of primacy among the Princes of southern Russia. Having ceded Chernigov to his brother, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, and Rurik, a noble part of the Kyiv region, having neither Pereyaslavl nor Volyn, he could not equal the strength of the ancient Grand Dukes, but like them he was called Great and restored the independence of Kyiv. Vsevolod Georgievich respected the experienced elder in Svyatoslav (gray hair was then the right to respect from people); foreseeing his imminent death, he restrained his lust for power for the time being and tolerated some dependence of the powerful Suzdal region on Kyiv for church affairs. Together with the people or famous citizens, electing Bishops for Rostov, Suzdal, Vladimir, but sending them to be appointed to Metropolitan Nicephorus, Konstantinov’s successor, he always sent Ambassadors to Svyatoslav, demanding his Princely permission: for the Spiritual power was closely connected with the civil, and the Metropolitan acted in accordance with the wishes of the Sovereign. Nicephorus wanted to violate this charter in Russia by autocratically consecrating one Greek as Bishop of Suzdal; but Vsevolod did not accept him, and the Metropolitan appointed another, appointed by the Grand Duke and approved by Svyatoslav. - Meanwhile, wanting to get closer to the ancient capital, Vsevolod restored the city of Oster, destroyed by Izyaslav Mstislavich: Tiun of Suzdal came there to rule in the name of the Prince. Southern Pereyaslavl also depended on Vsevolod, who gave it, after the death of Vladimir Glebovich, to another nephew, Yaroslav Mstislavich. All of Ukraine, according to the Chronicler, mourned this courageous Vladimir, terrible for the Polovtsians, kind, selfless, who loved the squad and was loved by it.
Having no dangerous partners inside Russia; Vsevolod tried to establish the security of his borders. The Polovtsians served him for money, but at the same time, wandering from the present-day Slobodskaya Ukrainian to the Saratov Province, they disturbed his southern possessions, especially the Ryazan borders: he frightened the barbarians with a strong militia, went with his young son, Konstantin, into the depths of the steppes, burning everywhere The winter huts of the Polovtsians and Khans, having removed their numerous towers, fled in horror from the banks of the Don to the sea.
What Andrei wished in vain, the cunning Vsevolod did: for several years he completely subjugated the rebellious primitive capital of our Princes.

Vsevolod Yuryevich, having reigned for 37 years, calmly and quietly reposed in the fifty-eighth year of his life, mourned not only by his wife, children, Boyars, but also by all the people: for this Sovereign, called the Great in the chronicles, reigned happily, prudently from his youth and strictly observed justice. It was not the poor, not the weak who trembled at him, but the selfish nobles. Without offending the faces of the strong, according to the Chronicler, and without wearing the sword given to him by God, he executed the evil and had mercy on the good. Raised in Greece, Vsevolod could learn cunning there, and not love of humanity: sometimes he took revenge cruelly, but he always wanted to appear fair, respecting ancient customs; demanded obedience from the Princes, but did not take away their thrones without guilt and wanted to rule without violence; commanding the Novgorod residents, he flattered their love for freedom; courageous in battles and victorious in each, did not like useless bloodshed. In a word, he was born to reign (praise not always deserved by tsars!) and although he could not be called the autocratic Sovereign of Russia, however, like Andrei Bogolyubsky, he reminded her of the happy days of autocracy. The newest Chroniclers, glorifying the virtues of this Prince, say that he completed the revenge begun by Mikhail: he executed all the Andreev murderers who were still alive; and he ordered the main villains, the Kuchkovichs, to be sewn into a box and thrown into the water. This news partly agrees with the ancient legend: near the city of Vladimir there is a lake called Plovuchy; they say that the Kuchkovichs were drowned in it, and superstition adds that their bodies are floating there in a box to this day!

3) Culture under VsevolodIII Big Nest.

Prince Vsevolod Yuryevchi did a lot to decorate his capital city of Vladimir and other cities of his land. He rebuilt the main cathedral of Vladimir - the Assumption (consecrated on August 14, 1188); erected the Dmitrov Cathedral and the main church of the Monastery of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Vladimir, and renovated the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Suzdal. In the first half of the 90s. XII century New fortresses were erected in Vladimir, Suzdal, and Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. It is believed that the portrait image of Prince Vsevolod Yuryevich was preserved on the icon of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica from the Assumption Cathedral in the city of Dmitrov (early 13th century). In addition, the supposed image of Prince Vsevolod with his sons is found on one of the reliefs of the Vladimir Dmitrov Cathedral.

Conclusion.

Vsevolod is the successor to the work of his father (Yuri Dolgoruky) and brother, since he followed the path indicated by Andrei Bogolyubsky, they can rightfully be considered the founders of the formation of the monarchical idea, the idea of ​​autocracy in Rus'. They laid the foundation of that reign, as a result of which the new Moscow Principality subsequently grew from the strong Vladimir Principality and the Moscow State arose.

The political situation of Rus' was ultimately to shape new image a ruler, a politician concerned with far-reaching goals, a person who thinks and sees two steps ahead. The transition to a new political phase is characterized by certain transitional periods in which seeds are laid that subsequently sprout. Vsevolod III the Big Nest and Andrei Bogolyubsky were those individuals who were able to sense the new era and give a kind of response to its challenge.

List of used literature:

1. Karamzin N. M. History of the Russian State. St. Petersburg, 1998.

2. Klyuchevsky V. O. Course of Russian history. M., 1996.

3. “Teaching of Vladimir Monomakh.” // Laurentian Chronicle. Ryazan, 2001.

4. http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki.

5. http://www.kremlion.ru/praviteli/vsevolodyurievich/

6. Great Soviet Encyclopedia http://slovari.yandex.ru.

Causes of feudal fragmentation: XII - end of XV

Feudal fragmentation in Rus'. Causes and consequences.

Consequences:

1.strengthening local princes

2.boyars turn into feudal landowners, for whom income received from estates becomes the main means of subsistence

3. weakening of defense capability

In the 9th - 12th centuries, the colonization of North-Eastern Rus' took place - the settlement of the Finno-Ugric lands between the Oka and Volga by the Slavic people. Subsequently, one of the most influential principalities of Appanage Rus' was formed on this territory - the Vladimir-Suzdal lands (12th - 15th centuries). The independent development of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality began in 1154 under Yuri Dolgoruky, who became the great prince of Kyiv. He made the capital of the principality the city of Suzdal. 1157 - the beginning of the reign of the son of Prince Dolgoruky - Andrei Bogolyubsky. Prince Andrey moved the capital from Suzdal to Vladimir. He strengthened his power and extended it to other lands. Prince Bogolyubsky actively rebuilt and elevated his principality, he wanted it to become the religious center of all Rus'.

From 1176 to 1212 the reign of Andrei's brother - Vsevolod Yurievich (Big Nest), who had a large number of heirs. Under him, the principality achieved power. After his death, the principality was divided into numerous heirs, which contributed to the conquest of the Mongol-Tatars and the establishment of the power of the Golden Horde over the lands of Appanage Rus'.

The geographical position of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality was favorable for agriculture, cattle breeding, hunting and fishing.

To the features of political and economic development The Vladimir-Suzdal principality can be attributed to:

The development of feudal relations was slower than in the Kyiv land. (By the time of the collapse Ancient Rus' a strong boyars did not have time to form here, except for the city of Rostov);

The rapid growth of new cities (Vladimir, Yaroslavl, Moscow and others), successfully competing with the old ones (Rostov and Suzdal) and serving as a support for the princely power. Moscow subsequently made the lands of North-Eastern Rus' the basis of a single centralized state;

The main source of income is fees from the population (including for numerous buildings);

The military organization of the land consisted of a princely squad and a feudal militia;

Relations between peasants and feudal lords were based on the norms of Russian Truth. It was used in the Vladimir-Suzdal principality longer than in the others;

The higher clergy played an important role in the life of the state.

From the outside foreign policy there were 3 main directions carried out by the princes of North-Eastern Rus':

Volga Bulgaria;

Novgorod;

13. Novgorod and Pskov feudal republics: features of economic and political development.

Territory and economy

Mister Veliky Novgorod, as his contemporaries called him, occupied a special place among other Russian principalities. The Novgorod lands extended over enormous distances: from the Baltic mountains to the Ural mountains, from the White Sea and the shores Arctic Ocean to the area between the Volga and Oka rivers.

The main occupation of the population was agriculture. However, with the exception of the southwestern outskirts, Novgorod lands or were completely unsuitable for Agriculture, or were infertile. Therefore, Novgorod never had enough of its own grain to provide for the large urban population. In this sense, the Novgorod state was not self-sufficient and was constantly in need of imported grain. In addition, such sectors of the economy as fishing, hunting, beekeeping, and iron and salt mining were developed. Crafts occupied a significant place: pottery, blacksmithing, felt, leather, etc.

Novgorod was located on the famous route from the “Varangians to the Greeks.” From here there were routes to the Southern Baltic States, to the German lands, to Sweden, to Norway, to Denmark, to Volga Bulgaria, Khazaria and the countries of the East, to Byzantium, and to the Balkan Peninsula. Therefore, domestic and foreign trade played a large role in the economy. The main wealth of the Novgorod lands was valuable furs - sable, fox, beaver, etc. - which were exported in huge quantities to Central and Western Europe. In addition to furs, Novgorod supplied leather, whale and walrus oil, wax, resin, scaffolding, products of Novgorod artisans. Cloth and other materials, wines, and metal products were brought.

Already in the 12th century. in Novgorod there was a foreign trading post, the so-called Gothic court, as well as the courts of visiting Russian merchants. Novgorod merchants, for their part, traveled in whole parties to trading operations to various lands of the Russian world.

Trade, both internal and external, was also quite developed in Pskov, but here it did not play an exclusive role. important role, as in Novgorod. In Pskov, with its fertile land, agriculture occupied the main place. An important branch of agriculture was the cultivation of flax and hemp, and gardening developed. Intensified construction of church buildings and military fortifications contributed to the formation of crowded groups construction workers and workers.

Thus, Pskov National economy was a stable combination of various sectors - agriculture, industry and trade.

The confident economic development of Novgorod was largely explained not only by favorable natural and geographical conditions, but also by the fact that it did not know external danger: neither the Pechenegs nor the Polovtsians reached these places; German knights appeared here later. This protected people’s labor and created favorable conditions for the development of the region, in which the main economic factor It was not land, but capital.

2. Development of political freedom and independence of Novgorod and Pskov

In the X - XI centuries. Novgorod was under the rule of the great princes of Kyiv, who kept their governor in it and to whom Novgorod paid tribute until the time of Yaroslav the Wise.

Division of Rus' in the 11th - 12th centuries. several separate principalities weakened the power and influence of the Kyiv prince, and discord and civil strife in the princely family provided the opportunity to invite to reign one of the rival princes who would be “loved” by him. Throughout the XI century. the great princes of Kyiv still continue to consider Novgorod as their possession and consider themselves entitled to send one of their sons there as a prince, but by the end of this century the Novgorodians were already showing a desire for independence. This is evidenced by the fact that by accepting governors - sons - from the Kyiv princes, the local aristocracy sought to “nourish” their prince, who would first of all defend the interests of the lord of Veliky Novgorod. Thus, the Novgorodians considered the son of Monomakh Mstislav Vladimirovich their “foster”. And when Svyatopolk II, having taken the Kiev throne, tried to send his son there, the Novgorodians expressed a sharp protest and declared that the prince was sending him to certain death: “Here, prince, we came to you, and this is what we were ordered to say: we don’t want Svyatopolk, nor his son, if your son has two heads, then send him to Novgorod.”

This “bloodless revolution,” which was limited to a squabble between the Novgorod ambassadors and the Grand Duke of Kyiv, essentially meant the end of the latter’s power over Veliky Novgorod.

The Novgorodians also opposed sending his son Vsevolod here instead of Mstislav: he was not “fed” in Novgorod from an early age.

Later, during the time of Vladimir Monomakh and his son Mstislav, who favored Novgorod, the city's ruling elite behaved more or less loyally.

As the power of the Kyiv princes weakened and political separatism developed, Novgorod became increasingly independent from Kyiv. After death in 1132 Mstislav Vladimirovich, Novgorodians immediately felt like masters in their home. Vsevolod Mstislavovich continued to sit in Novgorod at that time.

In 1136, taking advantage of the uprising of the urban lower classes and peasantry against the prince, who was left without the support of the clergy and merchants, and his expulsion, the boyars of Novgorod seized power and established their political dominance. Novgorod became a feudal boyar oligarchic republic.

So in 1140 Prince Svyatoslav Olgovich was expelled.

In 1212, “the generals showed the way to Prince Vsevolod”

In 1230, “the path was shown” to Prince Rostislav, etc. Novgorod Chronicle.

The development of political freedom in Novgorod has led to the fact that now the positions of mayor, thousand and lord of the archbishop of Novgorod become elective. The right to replace these officials belongs only to the veche, which becomes the sovereign administrator of the destinies of the Novgorod state.

But if Novgorod freed itself from dependence on Kyiv, then Pskov freed itself from dependence on its “elder brother” Novgorod.

The Pskov land was part of the Novgorod Republic until the middle of the 14th century. Initially, Pskov was considered a suburb of Novgorod, but very early on it showed a desire for independence. Already in 1137 The Pskovites called to themselves Vsevolod Mstislavich, expelled from Novgorod, and “set aside” from the Novgorodians.

At the beginning of the 14th century, Pskov did the most important thing on the path to political independence: it refused to accept mayors from Novgorod. The Pskov veche itself began to elect its mayors from among the Pskov boyars. In 1323, the Germans attacked the Pskov land. Pskov turned to Novgorod for help, but received no support. Despite this, the Germans were defeated and expelled. From that time on, Pskov pursued an independent foreign and domestic policy. Neighboring states were forced to recognize the independence of Pskov. Only Novgorod still looked at Pskov as its suburb.

In 1348, due to the Swedish attack on Novgorod, the latter was forced to ask for help from Pskov. Pskov sent his troops to help and the Swedes were defeated. Then the so-called “Bolotov Peace” was concluded between Novgorod and Pskov, according to which Novgorod renounced its claims to Pskov. So Pskov turned into an independent state - the Pskov Republic.

Government system and administration of Novgorod and Pskov

The political system of Novgorod and Pskov is different from political system other Russian lands and can be defined, as already noted, as a feudal (boyar) republic.

The administration of Novgorod and Pskov was structured as follows: the city was divided into “ends”, “hundreds” and “streets”, and all these divisions had their own local councils and elected sotsky, as well as Konchansky and street elders for management and representation.

Veche

Formally the highest authority state power there was a veche - a meeting of all full-fledged citizens of the republic. In Novgorod it took place either in the Yaroslavl courtyard (western bank of the Volkhov River) or near St. Sophia Cathedral (eastern bank), and in Pskov on the square of the Trinity Cathedral. The prince, the mayor, and any group of citizens could convene a veche. The competence of the council was comprehensive. It adopted laws and regulations in 1471. ( approximate date) in the evening the Novgorod Judgment Charter was adopted and approved, the articles of which reflected the features political system Novgorod Republic, as well as legal proceedings, it invited the prince, concluded an agreement with him or expelled him; the veche elected, replaced and judged the mayor and the thousand; elected the Novgorod bishop; it concentrated all military and judicial power in its hands; managed all matters of foreign and domestic policy.

Council of gentlemen

However, the real power in Novgorod belonged to the Council of Gentlemen. Other names: gentlemen (in Pskov), ospoda.. The Council consisted of the mayor, tysyatsky, former (“old”) mayors and tysyatsky, sotsky, Konchansky elders, i.e. the top of the feudal lords. The Council was headed by the Novgorod Archbishop. The Lord was key figure in governing the republic. The state treasury is in his hands. The name of the ruler comes first on all the most important state acts and treaties. The sovereign governor is an obligatory participant in state legal proceedings.

The Council of Gentlemen preliminary considered all the cases that were subject to consideration by the veche, and offered it ready-made solutions. The Council also supervised military affairs, foreign relations, finances, the activities of senior officials, and proposed to the council a candidate for one or another top position.

Based on this, we can say that by the 15th century. The veche turns into the power body of the boyar oligarchy.

Posadnichestvo

The highest official in Novgorod and Pskov was the mayor. He was the head of the republic: he had military, administrative and judicial powers. Unlike Novgorod, there were two mayors in Pskov. Elections for mayor in Novgorod were held annually, and in Pskov they were elected for an indefinite period: as long as they were “loved” by the veche assembly.

The mayor presided over the meeting. On behalf of the veche, he exercised control over the activities of the prince, and also controlled the activities of all officials. During the war, the mayor went on a campaign with the entire army as an assistant and adviser to the prince, in whose absence he commanded the army and judged. In addition, the mayor oversaw the collection of taxes from the population.

From the middle of the 14th century. in Novgorod, 6 mayors are elected at once with lifelong powers, but one of them is elected to the position of the main one - a sedate degree - a platform on the main veche square of Novgorod, from which senior officials addressed the people. - posadnik.

Tysyatsky

The second highest official in Novgorod was the thousand. In the war he commanded people's militia, and in peacetime he dealt with trade issues and carried out court proceedings in trade cases. In addition, he exercised police supervision over order in Novgorod.

For their service, both the mayor and the thousand received a Poralia Poralia - a tax on each plow.

The role of the prince in the administration of Novgorod and Pskov

The most important function of the princes was to protect the Novgorod and Pskov republics from external attack. The prince also supervised the construction of defensive fortifications around cities, performed judicial functions, and participated in the assembly. Sometimes the prince went to neighboring countries.

The prince's most important source of income was court fees.

27. Yuri Dolgoruky and Andrey Bogolyubsky

They were very different from each other, Russian princes. Among them there were many who were ready to do anything for the sake of power, for the sake of new possessions and wealth. However, this was quite normal for both Western and Byzantine rulers. Achieve your goal, and will the confessor, who feeds at your court, not forgive your sin? And if you come across someone who is too obstinate, how long will it take to find another? There were also daring princes who saw the meaning of life in military exploits. With whom and for what to fight is not so important. The main thing is to shine your armor ahead of your squad, rush into heady attacks, and dashingly destroy your enemies. This was also common in European chivalry. But a completely special phenomenon appeared in Rus', holy princes. There were many of them, far more than in any other Christian power, even in Byzantium.

Moreover, it was not origin or upbringing that affected, but personal attitude towards Vera, understanding of one’s life duty. Sometimes the closest relatives went in different directions. Well, who would have thought that the greedy and cowardly Izyaslav Davydovich Chernigovsky had brother Svyatoslav-Svyatosha, a brave knight, participant in many battles. But one fine day he laid down his princely clothes and weapons, became a monk of the Kiev Pechersk Monastery and humbly fulfilled the obedience of the gatekeeper.

In the same way, the brothers of Izyaslav II Mstislavich were strikingly different from him. The eldest, Vsevolod-Gabriel, has already been mentioned. Expelled from Novgorod, he reigned in Pskov until the end of his life, was famous for his military skill and deep piety, and was recognized as a saint. And the third brother Mstislavich, Rostislav Smolensky, received the nickname Pious. He unquestioningly obeyed Izyaslav II, brought an army on his orders - according to the concepts of that time, the elder brother became “in the place of his father.” But at the same time, Rostislav remained impeccably honest, selfless, and sought order and justice for all his subjects in his domains.

The Principality of Polotsk did not benefit from independence. The descendants of Vseslav of Polotsk finally squabbled among themselves, the boyar and merchant parties began to take advantage of this, overthrew unwanted princes, and installed others ready to please them. But here the princess, St., showed herself. Euphrosyne of Polotsk is an ascetic, educator of the Polotsk land, organizer of churches and monasteries.

And separately, apart from the rest of the contemporary princes, the figure of Yuri Dolgoruky rose. He was beyond quarrels, beyond mutual accounts. He lived ideal Rus'. That Rus' as it was under St. Vladimir, Yaroslav the Wise, Monomakh. He entered into the struggle not for the throne, but precisely for the restoration of the ideal. Of course, he remembered his infringed rights to the great reign. After Vyacheslav Turovsky was carelessly thrown aside, Dolgoruky was next in line. But even this he was ready to sacrifice, just to revive the foundations that once brought greatness to the state: strong central power, Orthodoxy, unity of princes, subordination of the younger to the elder, a firm order of inheritance, strict implementation of laws and treaties.

On these principles, Yuri built his own Suzdal land, and he raised his children on them. And the prince was not only a ruler, but also loving husband, his first wife brought him eight sons. And he did not deprive the second, a young Greek woman, of attention; she gave birth to her ninth and tenth. Some of the children were already older than their stepmother; their father trusted them with responsible independent directions. He aimed Rostislav at Novgorod, although he faced a difficult and thankless task - depending on the mood and balance of power in Rus', the Novgorodians either accepted or expelled the prince. Yuri oriented Gleb's son to the south; Gorodets-Ostersky was intended for him.

And Dolgoruky’s favorite was his first-born Andrei - the future holy noble prince Andrei Bogolyubsky. He remained the appanage prince of Vladimir, covering the eastern borders of Zalesye from the Bulgarians. Now it turned out that he, the master of Moscow, had to defend the southern borders from the Ryazan people, and the southwestern borders from the loach. But 36-year-old Andrei also had a mature state mind and became his father’s closest adviser. Yuri entrusted him with administrative, judicial issues, and construction. Although now such problems have faded into the background. The Suzdal prince was preparing for a clash with the Kyiv prince.

The war began disunitedly and chaotically. Izyaslav II acted according to the old scheme. He again thwarted Dolgoruky’s plans, set the Novgorodians and Smolensk people against him. Instead of going to the Dnieper, Yuri was forced to fight off the raids and once again take Torzhok to bring Novgorod to his senses. But his sons Rostislav and Gleb won victories even without their father. Kursk and other cities of the southern borderland opened their gates to them without a fight, they considered Dolgoruky their legitimate prince, they had heard a lot about the fair order in his Zalesskaya land.

But Izyaslav II proved himself to be a far from brilliant commander. He maneuvered back and forth stupidly, and while crossing the Dnieper on melted ice, he drowned his Hungarians. But he succeeded well in something else - burning Chernigov cities and villages to the ground. This had a flawless effect on Izyaslav Davydovich. He, as usual, panicked, and again went over to the side of the Grand Duke. He immediately forgot how he declared Davydovich the main traitor, he also buttered him up, transferred the possessions of the murdered Igor, and they again turned into friends. Together they put pressure on Svyatoslav Olgovich, demanding to make peace - they say, your brother is no longer alive, there is no one to stand up for, and Dolgoruky abandoned the Olgovichs and Davydovichs and did not come to the rescue.

True, Dolgoruky’s squads and his children were with the Olgovichs, but was it worth paying attention to them? His son Gleb Yuryevich was kicked out by the Grand Duke and Izyaslav Davydovich. And the second, Rostislav Yuryevich, unexpectedly also decided to hand himself over to the sovereign. He complained that his father wouldn’t give him cities and asked to join the service. Izyaslav II was incredibly happy. He was used to cheating and perceived it as natural behavior. It was precisely with these methods that he became very good at splitting opponents. And it’s no joke - Dolgoruky’s son! Izyaslav II treated him kindly, gave him Gorodets-Ostersky, and added a hefty chunk of Volyn. For show, encouraging other defectors - that’s what Yuri is like, he hurts his own children, but I’m ready to show mercy. Although in fact the Suzdal prince was not so simple, and Rostislav did not betray him at all. He acted on his father’s instructions: to conduct reconnaissance and prepare the ground for the future.

Well, having an eye in the south was not at all out of place. The Kiev and Chernigov rulers solemnly proclaimed peace, kissed the cross to “leave anger” and “guard the Russian land together with Izyaslav.” But they have accumulated too much anger. It seems that Dolgoruky has not touched them so far. So far it was he who was being annoyed, not him. But the very existence of a strong Suzdal principality seemed to Izyaslav II a threat hanging from the north like a cloud. Grand Duke planned to destroy the Zalessk land once and for all.

At “peaceful” feasts, they agreed on cooperation, and simultaneous attacks from the south and west were aimed at the Suzdal residents. In the fall of 1148, Izyaslav II personally went to Novgorod. He flattered the Novgorodians - the great princes had not visited them for a long time. He threw a grand feast, got the whole city drunk, had fun and raised cups with ordinary townspeople. And the next day I gathered them for a meeting. He described the oppression that they suffer from Dolgoruky - but of course, Torzhok takes over and does not allow them to be willful. Izyaslav stated that he had specially arrived to defend the Novgorodians, and asked what they wanted, peace or war? Naturally, after such curtseys, the hungover heads roared: “Wars!”

They armed the army and marched east along the winter path. On Medveditsa they united with the Smolensk army. However, the Chernigov prince turned out to be not a very reliable ally. He was supposed to attack Rostov from the south, towards Izyaslav II, but he only reached the land of the Vyatichi and stopped. I decided to wait to see how it would turn out, who would defeat whom? If the Grand Duke wins, then he too will arrive in time and snatch the spoils. The Novgorodians and Smolensk residents, in turn, stopped and waited for the Chernigovites. They stood and stood, couldn’t wait, and started without them. They devastated Uglich, several other towns along the Upper Volga and Mologa, and devastated the outskirts of Yaroslavl.

Yuri Dolgoruky did not bring his regiments into the field. He had to look around at the Chernigovites in the rear, and in general he did not want to destroy the soldiers in a fratricidal battle. He correctly calculated that the enemies in his land would still not be able to gain a firm foothold. Besiege big cities They didn’t take the risk - you’ll get stuck somewhere near Yaroslavl, and then they’ll hit you from Rostov, Beloozero, Suzdal. And they lost time waiting for Izyaslav Davydovich; the spring thaw was approaching. They became concerned about how to remove the loot and left. The only result of the campaign was numerous ashes and crowds of hijacked prisoners.

This was common for medieval wars; people were taken away to settle in their possessions, increase the number of subjects, and turn them into captivity. But Izyaslav II surpassed the other princes in this regard. He drove huge columns full of people from Uglich and Yaroslavl especially to Kyiv - to show off to the capital, to witness his “victory”. How many of them didn't arrive? How many suffered along the way and fell, never getting back up? How many got sick and died in the melted snow, in the spring mud, in puddles, spending the night in the open air? History is silent about this. But the chroniclers conscientiously recorded how much it reached - 7 thousand. I suppose the sovereign himself made sure that they noted it and did not forget to write it down.

7 thousand Russian men, women, girls, children, exhausted, dirty, barefoot, in pathetic rags left over from their clothes, were brought to the capital. And the people rejoiced and greeted the triumphant. Oh yes princess! Oh well done! Why not be happy? After all, it’s not you who are being persecuted with ridicule and hooting! And the princess, you see, will be generous for the sake of the holiday, will treat the townspeople so that they will love him and rejoice even more... But in Kyiv, Izyaslav II also had an unpleasant surprise. He was informed that the “defector” Rostislav Yuryevich was not behaving entirely loyally. He probes the waters with conversations, his servants conduct agitation among the people of Kiev, Torques, and Berendeys, persuading them to side with Dolgoruky. The Emperor became furious. Rostislav's warriors were chained and scattered in prisons, all property was confiscated, and the prince himself was kicked out in disgrace, sent on a boat with only three servants. Although these measures were late. Rostislav successfully completed a secret mission and brought important information to his father: people in the Dnieper region are dissatisfied with the dominance of the Izyaslav boyars and will willingly accept the Suzdal ruler. And you can buy Berendeys with torques...

The Grand Duke triumphed too early. He scattered his forces in an aimless campaign, and Dolgoruky preserved them. Prince Yuri also adopted some of the enemy’s methods. He paid the mercenary Ivan Berladnik, who again went into his service, and Yuri sent him to annoy the Smolensk and Novgorodians: attack the outskirts, capture officials and tribute collectors. The neighbors were alarmed, they immediately forgot about the raids on Zalesskaya land - they would have to protect their own. And along the roads to the south, columns of Suzdal residents were already gathering dust. Not at all the same columns that passed here a couple of months ago, not thousands of ragged and humiliated prisoners. Now the regiments were walking firmly, their weapons flashing menacingly, indignant at the devastation of their native land.

Faithful friend Svyatoslav Olgovich joined, the Polovtsians came. And yet Dolgoruky did not want to bring the matter to bloodshed. He hoped to make do with a show of force. He stood near Belaya Vezha and tried to enter into negotiations. Indeed, in Kyiv they started saying that we should make peace. But Izyaslav II brushed aside such advice. Everyone tends to evaluate others by themselves, and the Grand Duke perceived Yuri’s peacefulness as weakness and cowardice. He took full advantage of Dolgoruky’s delay; squads of brothers and sons flocked to him. This time, Izyaslav Davydovich of Chernigov remained faithful to the Grand Duke - he considered that he was stronger, and he really wanted to keep the inheritances received from him.

The rati met near Pereyaslavl. Even now Dolgoruky preferred to part ways on good terms. He put forward conditions that were more lenient than it was difficult to imagine. He forgave all insults, forgave the attack on his principality, the violation of seniority. He agreed that Izyaslav would continue to reign in Kyiv. He demanded only his father’s property, Pereyaslavl, and even then not for himself, but for one of his sons, and for Svyatoslav Olgovich to return Igor’s taken possessions. Not so! The Grand Duke not only did not agree, but arrested the ambassador who came with these proposals. After all, he had already proclaimed himself the winner of the despised Suzdalians, he so easily destroyed their cities!

Well, if so, Yuri ordered... to retreat. He, as an Orthodox man, did not want to take responsibility for the souls of the dead. The armed demonstration failed. Of course, the prince was bitter and offended. But he decided that it was better to sacrifice his father’s inheritance. At sunset on August 23, his warriors began to retreat. But Izyaslav II rejoiced. The enemy is afraid of him and runs! Commanded the attack...

He hit me very hard. An avalanche of his troops rushed forward - to drive, crush, trample into the ground. And the Suzdal residents, seeing such a thing, stopped and bristled with spears. They threw back the enemy and launched a counterattack. The battle began to boil in the darkness of the night, and the Grand Duke’s combined army showed no resistance at all. Izyaslav Davydovich and the Chernigov squad were the first to run away. The Berendeys also turned away. And the Pereyaslavl regiment went over to the side of its rightful prince Yuri. The Kyiv squad was crushed and destroyed. They didn’t want peace, so why stand on ceremony?

Izyaslav II somehow escaped from the cabin, rushed to the capital with his brother and one servant, summoned the boyars, and ordered them to prepare for a siege. But the city elite thought differently. During the siege and assault, their property will suffer, and the common people love Yuri, who will soon rebel. The boyars insisted that the princes leave. They assured: “You know, Yuri and I will not get along.” However, they promised: as soon as a suitable opportunity arises, they will help the sovereign get rid of his opponent. Izyaslav took his relatives, associates, Metropolitan Klim and drove to Volyn, and three days later regiments of Suzdal residents and their allies approached the city.

The people greeted Dolgoruky with jubilation. Of course, Yuri dreamed about this. From a young age, he adopted the views traditional for Rus'. Well, what is the outlying Zalesye compared to the Dnieper region? After all, the throne belonged to him by right! And yet, never in his life did he make any claims to Kyiv. Yuri did not want to win the capital’s throne at the cost of blood and suffering, and until the last he avoided battles. But it turned out that he nevertheless became the Grand Duke. It turned out that he waited a long time, and he waited. Even though he was already 57 years old, he waited. It looked like a triumph of justice.

Dolgoruky began his reign with the restoration of justice. He released Niphon of Novgorod and other prisoners imprisoned by his nephew from prison. He freed his subjects who were kidnapped by the enemy. He returned Igor's inheritance to Svyatoslav Olgovich. It might seem that peace is finally coming to Rus'. Yuri turned to all the princes - to Smolensk, Chernigov, Volyn, he invited them to come to him, and was ready to establish good relations with them. The Kyiv boyars swore allegiance to him. They swore an oath, knowingly agreeing with Izyaslav II to hit Dolgoruky in the back. Such things no longer bothered the capital's nobility. Why not smack the cross with your lips if necessary? And then we'll see...

The boyars knew very well that Izyaslav would not accept this. He didn't resign himself. Western kings were his relatives. They responded unanimously, without delay. It’s a worthwhile, noble thing: to walk around Rus', make good money, and get a couple of cities as a reward. The Hungarian Geiza sent Izyaslav 10 thousand horsemen, the prince recruited German mercenaries, and the Czech Vladislav and the Polish Boleslav Kudryavy personally went to great lengths and brought him to a relative of the army. Kings and princes had fun, feasted, Boleslav, according to Catholic rites, knighted Izyaslav’s warriors. The exiled sovereign, even though he carried the Russian metropolitan with him, did not bother himself with adherence to principles in the Faith; his Western friends brought their bishops and priests to Rus'. And the war was considered a pleasant walk: when the united hordes appear near Kiev, will Dolgoruky really not be afraid and run away?

But Yuri was not afraid, he stepped forward to meet them. The foreign invasion alarmed the Russians, the people of Kiev, Pereyaslavl, and Chernigov rose up. The Grand Duke also had a strong ally - the foreigners suddenly learned that Vladimirko Galitsky, who had repeatedly scratched the sides of the Hungarians and Poles, was leading his regiments to join him. The kings became nervous; the walk turned out to be not so harmless. And Yuri, as usual, preferred to do without extremes. He sent ambassadors and asked why the crowned persons had come. Vladislav and Boleslav hastened to put on a good face at bad game, announced that they were only acting as intermediaries. Well, Dolgoruky gave them the opportunity to get out. He thanked him, sent gifts for his care and “mediation,” but demanded to leave - “don’t burden our land,” we’ll sort it out without you.

However, Izyaslav II, left without Czechs and Poles, still rejected peace proposals. Heavy and disorderly fighting ensued near Lutsk. Dolgoruky's son Andrei proved himself to be a real hero. He skillfully commanded the besieging troops and bravely repelled enemy attacks. Throwing away the attack of the mercenaries, he almost flew into the city on their shoulders, but broke away from his own, he was cut off and surrounded on the bridge with only two warriors. He broke his spear, pulled out a sword, fought with the advancing Germans, stones and arrows flew from the walls. Andrei defeated several knights and still made his way; his wounded horse carried him out of the battle and fell dead. The prince, in gratitude, ordered the construction of a monument to the horse that saved him.

But he, like his father, did not like war. When Vladimirko Galitsky repeated the proposal for negotiations, Andrei was the first to support his ally. Dolgoruky did not object, and Izyaslav II, on reflection, was forced to agree. He clearly had no chance of winning. He pleaded “guilty.” Well, Yuri treated his nephew kindly. He saved Volyn for him, and also added income from Novgorod. Although Izyaslav’s compliance was explained not only by his defeats, the Kyiv boyars remained his secret supporters. Now they were hanging out at the court of Dolgoruky, conscientiously building squads under his banners, and secretly being sent with his enemy. They hinted: don’t get into trouble, save your strength.

And during the negotiations, the boyars began to twist and entangle Yuri. They suddenly remembered the rights of his twice-overthrown older brother, Vyacheslav. Nobody paid any attention to him anymore; he sat quietly in the towns left to him. Now the boyars are concerned - he is the legitimate contender for the throne. The idea was picked up by Chernigov and other southern appanage princes. Izyaslav II, who had recently robbed and humiliated Vyacheslav, also suddenly agreed: well, of course, he is the legitimate one!

Dolgoruky already owned Kiev, already held supreme power in his hands. But the conspirators knew his character and calculated it very accurately. In this situation, the idealistic Suzdal prince did not even think about arguing. Vyacheslav was indeed the eldest, and Yuri resignedly acquiesced. He took only Pereyaslavl for himself, and left Kyiv at his brother’s complete disposal. Please, here is the capital for you, here is your great reign...

And then everything began to play out like clockwork. Touched and surprised, Vyacheslav first ordered the Kievans to roll out the barrels, and he himself sat firmly at the set tables. No longer like in Turov or provincial Peresopnytsia, but on a grand scale, like a grand duke. He left things to their own devices, and the boyars calmly, without interference, began to prepare a coup in favor of Izyaslav II. But Dolgoruky was now nearby. Information reached him about what was being planned in the capital, and he hastened to prevent trouble. He removed the drunkard from the throne and made him reign in the calm and honorable Vyshgorod, and again took over the reign.

But by doing so, he gave Izyaslav II a reason to accuse himself of perjury! Broke the contract! Took power away from the elder! Using the Novgorod money given to him, Izyaslav already took care to put together an army of Volynians, paid the Berendeys extra and suddenly descended on Kyiv. His supporters in the city were waiting for him and rebelled. Dolgoruky, seeing such a turn, fled. Vyacheslav was delighted and drove to the capital - his nephew stood up for him. But he was frankly advised to get out. The prince was offended, drunkenly resisted, even sat down in the vestibule of the palace and refused to leave. They did not stand on ceremony with him; they escorted him out under white hands.

Although the winners got burned too. They moved towards Pereyaslavl, but there were no traitors there; Dolgoruky’s sons Andrei and Rostislav managed to prepare for battle and gave a strong rebuff. And it started rolling! Kyiv passed from hand to hand... Moreover, the common people still honored and supported Yuri. As soon as he brought his army, the peasants and townspeople themselves drove boats to the prince, transported him across the Dnieper, and Izyaslav had to flee. But Dolgoruky was completely out of step with the capital’s nobility and appanage princes. He was betrayed, deceived, not informed about the movements of the enemy, and in his own country he found himself “blind.” And Izyaslav without hesitation sent his brothers and sons to the Hungarians and invited hordes of ten thousand. Completely unexpectedly he appeared at the walls of Kyiv, conspirators immediately appeared in the capital, and Dolgoruky was forced to hide.

Yuri was the last one who tried to revive the past Rus', united and powerful. This is why ordinary people loved him. But such Rus' no longer existed. The boyars and appanage princes were ready to fight only for their own benefits, handouts, and the temptation to plunder. The Kyiv mob has become corrupted and spoiled. Previously, she exterminated the occupiers and rebelled against injustice. Now she was rebelling when the city fathers got her drunk and paid extra. She joyfully welcomed Yuri, and immediately after this she enthusiastically greeted Izyaslav with the foreigners: every time he organized holidays, rolled out barrels of honey, distributed small money, and entertained his subjects with the spectacles of Hungarian knightly tournaments. And if after the tournament the knights have fun and try on someone’s wives and daughters, then this is a trifle, it won’t go away...

Eight decades ago, the whole country was outraged by the treacherous captivity of Vseslav of Polotsk, and half a century ago it was horrified by the blinding of Vasilko Terebovlsky. And only his brother Svyatoslav and the idealist Yuri Dolgoruky responded to Igor’s imprisonment and murder. This idealist was disturbing everyone. It prevented me from being who I am. He prevented Kievan Rus from decaying and dying the way it wanted, for which he earned the hatred of its elite.