One of the most revered ancient Russian princes is Prince Yaroslav the Wise, the son of the great (Baptist). He received the nickname Wise for his love of enlightenment and the creation of the first code of laws known in Russia, later called the Russian Truth.

And he is also the father, uncle and grandfather of many European rulers. At baptism, Yaroslav received the name George (or Yuri). The Russian Orthodox Church venerates him as a faithful one and even included the day of his memory in the calendar. In a leap year it is March 4th, and in a normal year it is March 5th.

Childhood and youth

The date of birth of Yaroslav Vladimirovich is still being debated today. But most historians and scientists are inclined to believe that the prince was born in 978, although no one is completely sure of this. His birthday is even more unknown.

His parents were Vladimir Svyatoslavovich, who belonged to the Rurik family, and the Polotsk princess. Even here, however, there is no agreement. For example, the famous historian Nikolai Kostomarov doubted that it was Rogneda who was the mother of Yaroslav. And his French colleague Arrignon even believed that the Byzantine princess Anna gave birth to the prince. Allegedly, this circumstance explains his intervention in intra-Byzantine affairs in 1043.

But for the sake of justice, it is worth noting that the rest of the mass of historians tends to consider Rogneda the woman who gave birth to the most famous of the ancient Russian princes.

All four offspring born in a marriage with Rogneda, Izyaslav, Mstislav, Yaroslav and Vsevolod, Grand Duke Vladimir sent to reign in different cities. Yaroslav got Rostov. But since the boy was barely 9 years old, a breadwinner and governor Budy was assigned to him (in other sources of Budy). Later, when the matured prince Yaroslav the Wise began to rule Novgorod, the breadwinner and mentor turned into a close ally.

Governing body

This period is in the nature of traditions and legends. The time of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, as well as the personality itself, some historians tend to idealize, others to demonize. The truth, as usual, is somewhere in the middle.

The reign of Novgorod had a higher status than the administration of Rostov. And yet, the ruler of Novgorod had a subordinate status in relation to the Kyiv, that is, Vladimir. Therefore, Prince Yaroslav the Wise paid his father every year 2/3 of the tribute collected from the Novgorod lands without fail. It was the amount of 2 thousand hryvnia. 1 thousand remained for the maintenance of the nobleman and his squad. I must say that its size was only slightly inferior to Vladimir's squad.

Probably, it was this circumstance that prompted the son to rebel and in 1014 refuse to pay a huge tribute to his father. Novgorodians supported their mayor, as there is information in the surviving annals. Vladimir became angry and began to prepare a campaign to pacify the rebels. But at that time he was in advanced years. Soon he fell ill and died suddenly, without punishing his son.

The father's place was taken by the eldest son - Svyatopolk the Accursed. To protect himself and keep power in his hands, he destroyed three brothers: Boris, who was especially loved by the people of Kiev, Gleb and Svyatoslav. The same fate awaited the Novgorod mayor. But he managed to defeat Svyatopolk in a bloody battle near Lyubech and in 1016 entered Kyiv.

The fragile truce between the brothers, who divided Kyiv along the Dnieper, from time to time turned into a "hot" stage. But in 1019, Svyatopolk died, and Yaroslav the Wise began the undivided rule of the Kyiv throne.

The great merit of Prince Yaroslav the Wise was the victory over the Pechenegs. This happened in 1036. As the chronicles say, the city was besieged by nomads at the time when the ruler left for Novgorod, where he took part in the laying of the temple. But having received news of the danger, he quickly returned and defeated the Pechenegs. From that moment on, their devastating and bloody raids on Russia stopped for a while.

The "golden" time of Yaroslav the Wise began. After the victories won, the nobleman took up the grandiose construction. Sophia Cathedral was founded on the site of the brilliant victory over the nomads. In many ways, it was a copy of the cathedral in Tsargrad. Decorated with magnificent frescoes and mosaics, the temple struck the beauty of its contemporaries and pleases the eye today.

The nobleman did not spare money for church splendor and invited the best Greek masters to decorate the cathedral. And the famous Golden Gate appeared in the city, repeated the same in Constantinople. Above them grew the Church of the Annunciation.

Domestic and foreign policy

The ruler made considerable efforts to break the dependence of the Russian Orthodox Church on Byzantium, which dominated it. Therefore, in 1054, for the first time in the history of Russia, its church was headed by a Russian, and not a Greek, metropolitan. His name was Illarion.

The internal policy of Yaroslav the Wise was aimed at increasing the education of the people and eradicating the remnants of the pagan faith. The Christian faith was inculcated with renewed vigor. In this, the son continued the work of his great father, Vladimir the Baptist.

The son ordered to translate Greek handwritten books into Slavonic. He himself loved to read and tried to instill a love of reading and enlightenment in his subordinates. The clergy began to teach children to read and write. A school for boys appeared in Novgorod, which accepted the first 300 students.

The number of books grew rapidly and bookish wisdom was elevated into a kind of fashion of that time. Being enlightened became prestigious.

The Tale of Bygone Years speaks of a certain collection of books and documents, which is commonly called the Library of Yaroslav the Wise. Scholars speak of different numbers: from 500 to 950 volumes. According to some reports, the library was transferred by the prince (according to other sources, his great-grandson) to St. Sophia Cathedral.

Since the ancient books, which are a thousand years old, have not been found, there are many hypotheses where they can be stored. Some argue that these may be the dungeons of the St. Sophia Cathedral, others talk about the catacombs of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, and others - about the Vydubitsky Monastery. But there are also skeptics who believe that priceless tomes could not survive after the devastating Polovtsian raids and fires.

Another version that has the right to exist - the Library of Yaroslav the Wise has become part of the no less legendary Library.

Prince Yaroslav the Wise stood at the origins of the appearance of the first Russian monasteries, among which the main one is the Kiev-Pechersk. The monastery not only made a huge contribution to the promotion and popularization of Christianity and Orthodoxy, but also played a huge role in education. After all, chronicles were compiled and books were translated here.

And also at this wonderful time, Russkaya Pravda by Yaroslav the Wise appeared. This is the first set of laws of Russia, which the followers added and increased.

Historians also highly appreciate the foreign policy of the nobleman, in which he also achieved great success. It seems that he was the first of the Russian princes to emphasize diplomacy, and not force of arms.

At that time, dynastic marriages were considered the main way to establish relations with other states. And since Kievan Rus during the reign of the Wise turned into an enlightened and strong state, many rulers of European countries expressed a desire to “marry” with it.

The wife of Yaroslav the Wise was the daughter of King Olaf of Sweden - Ingigerda, who received the name Irina after baptism. From her father she inherited a rich dowry - the city of Aldeigaborg (later Ladoga). The lands adjacent to it were called Ingermanlandia (which translates as the lands of Ingigerda).

The son of the prince - Vsevolod - married a Greek princess. Two more offspring - on the German princesses. Son Izyaslav married the sister of the Polish prince Casimir, and Casimir himself married the sister of the Wise - Dobrogneva.

The daughters of a Kyiv nobleman had the same dynastic marriages. Elizabeth was married to the Norwegian king Harald, Anastasia - to the Hungarian ruler Andrew. But the most famous and revered was the daughter Anna Yaroslavna, who became the wife of the French King Henry I. As a result of such a foreign policy, Prince Yaroslav the Wise found himself connected by ties of kinship with many strong neighbors, near and far.

Founding of cities

Prince Yaroslav the Wise founded Yuriev. This happened in 1030, when he went on a campaign against Chud. A new city, named after its angel, appeared on the shores of Lake Peipus. Now it is called Tartu and is the second largest Estonian city after Tallinn.

Another city of Yaroslav the Wise is Yaroslavl, although some historians consider the fact of its foundation by the prince not indisputable.

There is another Yuryev, which was founded by the prince. This city turned out to be at the same time a fortress, which was part of the Poros defensive line. It was erected to protect Kyiv from nomads. In 1240, the Tatar-Mongols destroyed it, leaving only the ruins of the church. Around it, the city was revived, having received the name of the White Church. It is still called that today.

Personal life

Many historians agree that Ingigerd's wife, who became Irina after baptism, had a huge influence on her husband and left a noticeable mark on the history of Russia. In 1703, St. Petersburg was built on the lands she inherited from her father.

In Kyiv, thanks to Princess Irina, the first convent appeared. It was built at the church of St. Irene. One of its columns "survived" until the middle of the twentieth century. Now only the quiet Irininskaya Street reminds of the existence of the temple.

It is difficult to say today how the personal life of Yaroslav the Wise and Ingigerda-Irina developed. It is only known that 6 sons and 3 daughters were born in marriage with her. The wife shared the views of her husband and converted to his faith, doing a lot to advance it.

The great nobleman, it seems, was not handsome. A strongly protruding nose and the same chin, a sharply defined mouth and large eyes did not add to the attractiveness. He was also lame because of the different lengths of his legs. According to one version - because of the hip and knee joints damaged in battle, and according to another - because of Perthes' hereditary disease.

There is a historical puzzle-puzzle on which different historians have their own opinion. Some of them claim that Prince Yaroslav the Wise was married twice.

His first wife was allegedly Norwegian Anna. In this marriage, a son, Ilya, was even born. But in 1018, together with his mother, he was captured by the Polish king Boleslav the Brave and forever taken to Poland. This version is allegedly confirmed by the fact that the name of Anna is found in some annals.

But there are opponents of this controversial version. They claim that everything is much simpler. Anna is the monastic name of Ingigerdy-Irina. Allegedly, at the end of her life, she took the veil as a nun, taking this name for herself. In 1439, Archbishop Evfimy canonized Anna as a saint. She is considered the heavenly patroness of Novgorod.

It is noteworthy that Prince Yaroslav the Wise himself was ranked among the saints only in the 21st century.

Death

Prince Yaroslav the Wise spent the last years of his life in Vyshgorod. He died on the feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy in the arms of one of his sons, Vsevolod, having outlived his wife by 4 years and by 2 of the eldest of his sons, Vladimir.

February 20, 1054 is considered the date of the prince's death. He was buried in the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, in a 6-ton marble sarcophagus. Unfortunately, the remains of the great ruler have disappeared. It is known that the sarcophagus was opened three times in the 20th century: in 1936, 1939 and 1964. And they did it not always in a qualified and conscientious manner.

After the autopsy in 1939, the remains of Yaroslav the Wise were sent to Leningrad, where scientists from the Institute of Anthropology for the first time confirmed that one of the 3 skeletons (male, female and children) from the opened burial really belonged to the prince. According to the found skull, anthropologist Mikhail Gerasimov managed to restore the appearance of the ruler.

The remains were returned to Kyiv. But in 2009, the tomb was again opened and found that there were no remains of the oldest of the Ruriks. Two female skeletons were found at the site - one from the times of Kievan Rus, the second even more ancient - from the Scythian period. And the newspapers Izvestia and Pravda of 1964 were also found in the tomb.

Many historians and researchers are inclined to the version that the remains should be sought in the United States. Allegedly, they were taken there in 1943, when the German troops retreated.

Kyiv Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich went down in history as a glorious educator, wise ruler and diplomat. One of the most famous princes of Kievan Rus, whose memory has been preserved.

Kievan Rus under his rule became a European state.

Yaroslav the Wise son of Holy Prince Vladimir I Svyatoslavovich and Princess Rogneda was born in 978. Descendant of the Rurik family.

Path to the throne

The first years of maturity were marked by the board in Rostov, then in Novgorod. Being a prince of Novgorod, Yaroslav refused to pay tribute to his father in Kyiv, thereby incurring anger and the threat of a military campaign. But the father died, and the brothers started a war for the throne. Svyatopolk, nicknamed the Accursed, seized power in Kyiv and set about eliminating rival brothers. There were several battles between Yaroslav and Svyatopolk, ending with the victory of one or the other side. Only after the signing of a peace agreement and the death of his brother Mstislav, Prince Yaroslav the Wise in 1019. becomes the ruler in Russia and begins a period of strengthening statehood.

The victories won over the Pechenegs saved the western and southern borders of Russia from raids. To protect the borders, the prince builds protective earthen ramparts and fortifications.

Development of the state and education

During the years of the reign of Yaroslav the Wise in Kievan Rus, construction was actively developed, new cities appeared on the map and monasteries were built. Libraries were created at the monasteries, they began to copy and translate books from Greek into Old Russian, as well as Church Slavonic. The prince allocated a lot of money for education. Educational schools appeared.

For the first time a large school was opened in Novgorod (1028), where 300 children of church priests and elders were gathered for training.

Yaroslav the Wise was distinguished by his erudition and education, he collected a large library, located in St. Sophia's Cathedral.

He founded new cities: Yaroslavl (1010), Novgorod-Seversky (now the Estonian city of Tartu - Yuryev (1040) and Yuryev on the Ros River (now Belaya Tserkov (1240).).

In The Tale of Bygone Years, Prince Yaroslav is mentioned as a prudent and insightful, intelligent and brave ruler.

Prince Yaroslav wrote a set of laws of feudal law "Russian Truth" and published the Church Charter.

The prince preferred to resolve political issues through diplomacy rather than military. To do this, he used the dynastic marriages of his children with European rulers. He intermarried with the rulers of Denmark, Hungary, Norway, Greece, Poland and Byzantium. The most famous marriage was with King Henry I of France, for whom they gave Anna Yaroslavna.

Strengthening and expansion of Orthodoxy

Yaroslav the Wise actively continued his father's work of spreading Christianity and combating paganism.

The prince initiated the construction of churches in Russia. Under him, the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery was founded (1051), which received the status of a Lavra in 1598, the St. Sophia Cathedral and the Golden Gate with the Church of the Annunciation, the monastery of St. George and Irina were built.

Sophia of Kyiv with 13 domes was founded by the prince in honor of the victory over the Pechenegs in 1036. The architecture of the cathedral is made in the likeness of the temple in Constantinople, and the painting was done by Constantinople masters.

The cathedrals and churches looked like the temples of Jerusalem and Constantinople, which symbolized the displacement of the Orthodox center.

For the first time, the prince personally, without the consent of the Patriarch of Constantinople, appointed Metropolitan Hilarion at a meeting of bishops (1051).

The Church became independent, and it was Hilarion who opened the list of Russian metropolitans.

Personal data

Yaroslav the Wise himself was married to the daughter of the Swedish king, Ingigerda, who took the name Irina at baptism. In marriage, they had 9 children, of which 3 were daughters.

The external portrait of Yaroslav the Wise is not attractive. Large eyes, a large nose and chin stood out on the face,

He limped, either from birth, or after an injury received in battles.

Grand Duke Yaroslav the Wise died in February 1054. in Vyshgorod near Kyiv. He was buried in a marble sarcophagus under the vaults of St. Sophia Cathedral.

After himself, he appointed his eldest son Izyaslav to rule.

An interesting fact: historians began to call Yaroslav “Wise” only from the second half of the 19th century.

Each historical milestone corresponds to some outstanding personality. So, at the dawn of the formation of Russia, princes are known who united the people and territories, baptized the Russian people and strengthened the Christian faith. The name of Yaroslav Vladimirovich, Prince of Kyiv, is associated with the appearance of Russkaya Pravda, a document that determines according to what laws the Russian state should exist, the foundations of the future legislation of the state. It is known that he was born around 972 and died on February 2, 1054.

Son of Vladimir Red Sun

Grand Duke Vladimir is popularly called the Baptist for his deeds connected with the emergence of Christianity in Russia. The people called him the red sun because, according to N.I. Karamzin, he was a father for the poor people.
George, and that was the name of Yaroslav I at birth, was born a concubine, and then the wife of Vladimir Svyatoslavovich Rogneda. The son of the Polotsk princess, Yaroslav was one of the many children of the Grand Duke of Kyiv. And just like other sons, he received a fiefdom in which he could reign - the city of Rostov, later called Yaroslavl. Yaroslav also reigned in Novgorod as a recalcitrant prince. Being the unloved son of Vladimir, he did not obey his will, refusing to pay tribute. The father's plans were to punish the disobedient son, but this was prevented by the death of Vladimir.

Yaroslav - Grand Duke

The main throne of Russia, Kyiv, was to go to the beloved sons of Prince Vladimir, Boris and Gleb. But the nephew of Vladimir the Red Sun - Svyatopolk Yaropolkovich, called the Accursed by the people, became the prince of Kyiv. By cunning, having risen to the throne, he treacherously killed the beloved sons of Vladimir, after which they were canonized by the church as saints - the first saints in Russia.
The same fate awaited Yaroslav, but he, having united with his brother Mstislav, called the Udaly by the people, conquered Kyiv. In this he was helped by the inhabitants of Novgorod, outraged by the actions of Svyatopolk. Interestingly, the Novgorodians did not always treat Yaroslav with respect, resenting his preference for warriors - the Varangians. This was due to the fact that the prince's wife, baptized by Irina, was the daughter of the king of Norway. Novgorodians changed and began to support Yaroslav after he changed his attitude towards the inhabitants of free Novgorod.
With the funds collected by the townspeople, Yaroslav hired the Varangians, which decided the fate of the Kyiv throne after the battle with Svyatopolk. A few years later, after the death of the nephew of Vladimir the Baptist, Yaroslav became a full-fledged sovereign of Kyiv. Yaroslav's brother Mstislav remained in Novgorod, he did not interfere with the sole power of the Kyiv prince.
Changes in domestic and foreign policy during the reign of Yaroslav the Wise
The first achievements of Yaroslav are considered to be his complete victory over the Pechenegs. In honor of this event, a cathedral was erected in Kyiv, called Sophia. This was followed by the conquest of the Chud tribes and the erection of the city of Yuryev. Not only by the sword was the return of the former lands and the annexation of new ones. The prince wisely conducted foreign policy, without unnecessary bloodshed, using his family ties. Yaroslav was a relative of many rulers of Western countries thanks to his wife Ingegerda and his second wife, Anna, a Byzantine princess. But he also strengthened family ties through marriages between his children and the children of the Swedish, Norwegian and Polish rulers.

Prince Achievements

The reign of Yaroslav Vladimirovich led to the flourishing of Kievan Rus, a time when Rus became the strongest European state. Powerful states sought an alliance with Kievan Rus, and Rus itself was catching up with other states in the development of social, political and cultural relations.
Under Yaroslav, the first Christian monasteries of Russia appeared: Kiev-Pechersky and Yuryev Novgorod. By order of the prince, a stone wall was erected around Kyiv, and the Golden Gate was erected near it.
The prince appointed Hilarion, the creator of the Sermon on Grace and Law, as metropolitan.
The acts of Yaroslav the Wise contributed to the growth of the literacy of the people in Russia, thanks to the opening of the first monastic schools.
The prince was married twice and had nine children. Having lived for 73 years, having ruled for 37 years, Yaroslav was buried in the Kiev St. Sophia Cathedral, but it is currently unknown where his remains are.
In the annals, the prince is characterized as a man with a good mind and brave in the army. A man who loved to read, did a lot for the appearance of books for Russians, copied from the Greek language by monks.
The people nicknamed the commander and prince of Kyiv the Wise, that is how all his deeds can be called, including the structure of the Russian state and the place of honor of Kievan Rus among other countries.

Father, grandfather, uncle of some rulers of Europe. During his reign in Kyiv, the first code of laws in Russia was published, which entered the history of the state as "Russian Truth". Ranked among the saints and revered by the Russian Orthodox Church as "pious".

Birth

Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich, known in history as Yaroslav the Wise, was born in the family of the Baptist of Russia, Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich of Novgorod and Kyiv, and presumably Princess Rogneda of Polotsk in 979. He is from the Rurik family. The year of birth, like the mother of the prince, has not been reliably established. The well-known historian N. Kostomarov expressed doubts about Rogneda as the mother of Yaroslav.

The French historian Arrignon was sure that Yaroslav's mother was the Byzantine princess Anna. His confidence is confirmed by the intervention of Yaroslav Vladimirovich in the internal political affairs of Byzantium in 1043. The version according to which Rogneda was the mother of Vladimir is considered official, as most sources indicate this. This is what the majority of Russian and world historians adhere to.

If doubts about the mother can be explained by the lack of proper information, a series of certain events that researchers need to somehow explain, then the dispute over the date of birth confirms the assumption of historians that the struggle for the great reign of Kiev was not easy and fratricidal.

It should be recalled that the reign of Kyiv gave the title of Grand Duke. In the ladder form, this title was considered the main one, and it was passed on to the eldest sons. It was Kyiv that was paid tribute by all other cities. Therefore, all sorts of tricks were often used in the struggle for seniority, including changing the date of birth.

Year of birth

Historians, based on chronicles, found that Yaroslav Vladimirovich was the third son of Rogneda, after Izyaslav, Mstislav. After him came Vsevolod. This is confirmed in the chronicle "The Tale of Bygone Years". The eldest son, it is assumed, was Vysheslav, whose mother is considered to be the first wife of Vladimir, the Varangian Olov.

Between Mstislav and Yaroslav was another son of Prince Vladimir, Svyatopolk, born of a Greek woman, the widow of his brother, Prince Yaropolk Svyatoslavovich of Kyiv. He died in the struggle with Prince Vladimir for the throne of Kyiv, and his wife was taken by the latter as a concubine. Paternity was controversial, but Prince Vladimir considered him to be his own son.

Today it is precisely established that Svyatopolk was older than Yaroslav Vladimirovich, his year of birth fell on 979. This is confirmed by a number of chronicles. It was found that the marriage of Prince Vladimir and Rogneda was in 979. Taking into account that he is the third son of Rogneda, it can be assumed that the date of birth is set incorrectly.

Many scientists, including S. Solovyov, believe that Yaroslav Vladimirovich could not have been born in 979 or 978. This is confirmed by studies of bone remains in the 20th century, they indicate that the remains presumably belonged to a person aged 50 to 60 years.

Even the historian Solovyov expressed doubts about the life expectancy of Yaroslav - 76 years. Based on this, we can conclude that the date of birth was incorrectly set. This was done in order to show that Yaroslav was older than Svyatopolk, and to justify his right to rule in Kiev. According to some sources, the date of birth of Yaroslav should correspond to 988 or 989 years.

Childhood and youth

Prince Vladimir granted various cities to his sons to rule. Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich got Rostov. At this time, he was only 9 years old, so the so-called breadwinner was attached to him, who was the governor and was called Budy or Buda. Almost nothing is known about the Rostov period, since the prince was young enough to rule. After the death of Prince Vysheslav of Novgorod in 1010, Prince Yaroslav of Rostov, who at that time was 18-22 years old, was appointed ruler of Novgorod. This once again confirms that the time of his birth in the annals of temporary years is indicated incorrectly.

Foundation of Yaroslavl

A legend is connected with the history of the emergence of Yaroslavl, according to which Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise founded the city during his journey from Rostov to Novgorod along the Volga River. During the stay, the prince with his retinue went to a large cliff, suddenly a bear jumped out of the thicket of the forest. Yaroslav, with the help of an ax and run up servants, killed him. A small fortress was built on this site, from which the city, called Yaroslavl, later grew. Maybe this is just a beautiful legend, but, nevertheless, Yaroslavl considers the date of his birth from 1010.

Prince of Novgorod

After the death of Vysheslav, the question arose of ruling in the Novgorod principality. Since Novgorod was the second most important city after Kyiv, where Vladimir reigned, the administration was to be inherited by the eldest son, Izyaslav, who was in disgrace with his father, and died by the time the ruler of Novgorod was appointed.

After Izyaslav came Svyatopolk, but he was imprisoned on charges of treason against his father. The next son in seniority was Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise, whom Prince Vladimir appointed to reign in Novgorod. This city had to pay tribute to Kyiv, which amounted to a size equal to 2/3 of all taxes collected, the rest of the money was only enough to support the squad and the prince. This caused discontent among the Novgorodians, who were waiting for a pretext to revolt against Kyiv.

In a brief biography of Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise, the period of Novgorod rule is not sufficiently known. All generations of Ruriks ruling in Novgorod lived in Gorodische, located not far from the settlement. But Yaroslav settled in the city itself in the trading place "Yaroslav's Court". Historians also refer to this period the marriage of Yaroslav. His first wife, according to some sources, was called Anna (not literally established). She was of Norwegian origin.

Revolt against Kyiv

At the end of his life, Grand Duke Vladimir brought his youngest son Boris closer to him, to whom he transferred control of the army and was going to leave him the throne of Kyiv, contrary to the rules of inheritance by his eldest sons. Svyatopolk, at that time the elder brother, whom Vladimir threw into prison, spoke out against him.

Yaroslav decides to go to war against his father for the abolition of tribute to Kyiv. Not having sufficient troops, he hires the Varangians, who arrived in Novgorod. Having learned this, Vladimir was about to go on a campaign against the rebellious Novgorod, but became very ill. In addition, in the middle of the summer of 1015, the Pechenegs invaded Kievan Rus. Instead of going against Novgorod, Boris was forced to fight against the steppe nomads, who fled under the onslaught of the Russian army.

At this time, in Novgorod, the Varangians, languishing from idleness, engaged in robbery and violence, which raised the local residents against them, who killed them. Yaroslav was in his suburban village Rakoma. Upon learning of what had happened, Yaroslav ordered the instigators of the massacre to be brought to him, promising to forgive them. But as soon as they appeared, he ordered to seize them and execute them. What brought the wrath of most of Novgorod.

By this point, he receives a letter from his sister, who informed him of Vladimir's death. Understanding that it is impossible to leave unresolved problems, Yaroslav asks for peace from the Novgorodians, promising to give out a certain amount of money for each killed person.

Fight with Svyatopolk for the throne in Kyiv

Prince Vladimir dies in the city of Berestov on June 15, 1015. The board was taken over by the eldest of the brothers Svyatopolk, whom the people called the Accursed. To protect himself, he kills his younger brothers: Boris, Gleb and Svyatoslav, beloved by the people of Kiev. The same fate awaited Yaroslav Vladimirovich, the reign of Novgorod strengthened him as a politician, and he was a danger to Svyatopolk.

Therefore, Yaroslav, with the support of the Novgorodians and the called-up Varangians, in 1016 defeated the army of Svyatopolk near Lyubich and entered Kyiv. The accursed several times approached the city in alliance with the Pechenegs. In 1018, the king of Poland, Boleslav the Brave, came to his aid - Svyatopolk's father-in-law, who entered Kyiv, captured Yaroslav's wife Anna, his sisters and stepmother. But instead of handing over the throne to Svyatopolk, he decided to seize it himself.

Saddened, Yaroslav returned to Novgorod and decided to flee abroad, but the townspeople did not let him go, declaring that they themselves would go against the Poles. The Varangians were also called up again. In 1019, the troops moved to Kyiv, where the locals rose to fight the Poles. On the Alta River, Svyatopolk was defeated, wounded, but managed to escape. Yaroslav Vladimirovich - the Grand Duke of Kyiv reigned on the throne.

Yaroslav's personal life

Historians also disagree on how many wives Yaroslav had. Most tend to believe that the prince had one wife, Ingigerda, the daughter of the king of Sweden, Olaf Shetkonung, whom he married in 1019. But some historians suggest that he had two wives. The first is the Norwegian Anna, from whom he had a son, Ilya. They, allegedly, with the sisters and stepmother of the Great Yaroslav Vladimirovich, were taken by King Boleslav in full, and taken to the Polish lands, where they disappeared without a trace.

There is a third version, according to which, Anna is the name of Ingigerda in monasticism. In 1439, nun Anna was canonized as a saint and is the patroness of Novgorod. Ingigerda was given as a gift by his father the lands that were adjacent to the city of Ladoga. They were later called Ingria, where St. Petersburg was built by Peter I. Ingigerda and Prince Yaroslav had 9 children: 3 daughters and 6 sons.

Kievan rule

The years of Yaroslav Vladimirovich's reign were full of military confrontations. In 1020, the prince's own nephew Bryachislav invaded Novgorod, taking many prisoners and booty from it. Yaroslav's squad overtook him on the Sudoma River near Pskov, where he was defeated by the prince, leaving his prisoners and booty, and fled. In 1021, Yaroslav gives him the cities of Vitebsk and Usvyat.

In 1023, the Tmutarakan prince Mstislav, the younger brother of Yaroslav, invaded the lands of Kievan Rus. He defeated the army of Yaroslav near Deciduous, capturing the entire left bank. In 1026, having gathered an army, Yaroslav returns to Kyiv, where he concludes an agreement with his brother that he will rule on the right bank, and the left bank will belong to Mstislav.

In 1029, together with Mstislav, they made a trip to Tmutarakan, where they defeated and expelled the Yases. In 1030, he conquered the Chud in the Baltic and founded the city of Yuryev (Tartu). In the same year, he went to the city of Belz in Galicia and conquered it.

In 1031, the king of Norway, Harald III the Severe, fled to Yaroslav, who later became his son-in-law, marrying his daughter Elizabeth.

In 1034, Yaroslav made his beloved son Vladimir prince of Novgorod. In 1036 he brought sad news to him - Mstislav died suddenly. Worried about the possibility of challenging the Kievan possessions by the last of the brothers - Sudislav, he imprisons the prince of Pskov in a dungeon.

The meaning of the reign of Yaroslav

Grand Duke Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise ruled over the data in the management of the lands as a zealous master. He constantly multiplied territories; strengthened the borders, settling across the steppe expanses of the southern limits of the captured Poles, who defended Russia from the steppe nomads; strengthened the western borders; stopped forever the raids of the Pechenegs; built fortresses and cities. During his reign, military campaigns did not stop, which made it possible to save the state from enemies and expand its territories.

But the meaning of government was not only this. The time of his reign is the highest flowering of the state, the era of prosperity of Kievan Rus. First of all, he helped spread Orthodoxy in Russia. He built churches, promoted education in this area and the training of priests. Under him, the first monasteries were opened. His merit is also in the liberation of the Russian Church from Greek and Byzantine dependence.

In the place of the final victory over the Pechenegs, he built the Cathedral of St. Sophia, decorated with frescoes and mosaics. Two monasteries were also built there: St. George, in honor of his patron George the Victorious and St. Irene, in the name of the angel of his wife. The Kyiv church of St. Sophia was built in the likeness of Constantinople, this can be seen in the photo. Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise contributed to the construction of the cathedrals of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and the construction of the monastery.

The whole of Kyiv was surrounded by a stone wall, in which the Golden Gates were built. Yaroslav, being an enlightened man, ordered to purchase books and translate them from Greek and other languages. He bought a lot himself. All of them were gathered at the St. Sophia Cathedral and were available for general use. He ordered priests to teach people, and schools were formed in Novgorod and Kyiv under him.

Why was Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich nicknamed Yaroslav the Wise?

Historians attach particular importance to the collections of laws compiled under Yaroslavl that were in force in Kievan Rus. The Code of Laws "Russkaya Pravda" was the first legal document that laid the foundation for the legislation of the Russian state. In addition, it was supplemented and developed at a later time. This suggests that the laws were used in everyday life.

A church charter was drawn up, it was translated from the Byzantine language. Yaroslav took care of the spread of Christianity, did everything to make the churches shine with splendor, and ordinary Christians were taught the basic Orthodox laws. He took care of the prosperity of the cities and the tranquility of the people inhabiting the lands of Kievan Rus. It was for these deeds that Yaroslav Vladimirovich was given the nickname the Wise.

During the times of Kievan Rus, dynastic marriages played an important role. It was they who helped to establish foreign policy ties. He intermarried with many noble families of Europe, which allowed him to solve many cases without bloodshed. His policy allowed him to establish good relations with his brother Mstislav and take part in new campaigns with him.

Prince Yaroslav the Wise died, as is commonly believed, on February 20, 1054, in the arms of Vsevolod, his son. They were given a covenant to their children: to live in peace, never to fight with each other. Many famous historians disagree on the date of death, but it is the generally accepted date nonetheless. He was buried in the Hagia Sophia in Kyiv. In the 20th century, the crypt was opened three times; in 1964, during the opening, its remains were not found. It is believed that they were taken out in 1943 by Ukrainian henchmen of the Nazis. The remains are believed to be in the United States.

Yaroslav the Wise (Yaroslav Vladimirovich) - prince of Rostov, Prince of Novgorod, Grand Duke of Kyiv, son Vladimir Svyatoslavovich and Princess Rogneda: he was born in 978 (according to other sources in 979) and was baptized under the name George.

In 1017, Svyatopolk returned with support in the form of the Pechenegs. The Pechenegs were not as useful as we would like, and in 1018 Svyatopolk appeared again with the help of the Polish king Boleslav I and his troops. This time, Svyatopolk was lucky, and he took Kyiv, having defeated Yaroslav the day before. But then Boleslav showed himself, who suddenly decided to rule in Kyiv. With the help of the people of Kiev, Svyatopolk expelled Boleslav, who by the way managed to kidnap Yaroslav's sisters and wife Anna. Anna then disappeared without a trace. When in 1043 (25 years later) Casimir I the Restorer returned 800 Russian prisoners to Prince Yaroslav, who had been captured by Boleslav in 1018, Anna was not among them.

In the battle on the Alta River, Svyatopolk was nevertheless defeated. Yaroslav spared him, but a little later he still died during his flight.

In 1019, Yaroslav married the daughter of the Swedish king Olaf - Ingigerda, who was given the name Irina at baptism.

The main events of the Kyiv period of the reign of Yaroslav the Wise.

1036 - victory over the Pechenegs and the foundation in honor of this event Hagia Sophia in Kyiv.

1038 - campaign in East Prussia.

1040 - campaign against Lithuania.

1041 - a campaign in Mazovia (area of ​​​​modern Warsaw).

1042 - assistance to Casimir I in the struggle for the Polish throne.

1043-1044 - two campaigns against Byzantium (with varying success), culminating in the signing of a peace treaty.

1045 - Prince Yaroslav and Princess Irina went to Novgorod, where they laid the stone Cathedral of St. Sophia.

1047 - break of the treaty with Poland.

Yaroslav the Wise ruled for 37 years and died on February 20, 1054 in Vyshgorod. He was buried in the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv. The remains of the prince, possibly in 1943, were taken out by the Germans during the retreat from Kyiv, or maybe at another time, in any case, the genetic examination of 2009 showed that in the sarcophagus the remains of two skeletons (female) are from different eras, and the location of the ashes of Yaroslav not known.

After his death, Yaroslav the Wise left 6 sons and 3 daughters. And also - the first set of Russian laws (regulatory legal act) called " Russian truth».

The Russian truth of Yaroslav the Wise was the basis of the legal system from criminal law (with a description of fines, punishments and types of " virus”- payments to the victims), private law (where usurious operations and rules of inheritance law were described in detail) and procedural law (where the concepts of pre-trial investigation, statements, material evidence, witnesses, princely court, debt collection, etc.) were first described), commercial law.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate in 2008 canonized Yaroslav Vladimirovich as a saint.