In honor of what event Mstislav founded the church. Birth of Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich and reign in Novgorod


Short form of the name Mstislav. Revenge, Mstisha, Mstishenka, Stiva, Mstislavchik, Slava, Slavik.
Synonyms of the name Mstislav. Mscislav.
origin of the name Mstislav The name Mstislav is Slavic, Orthodox.

The name Mstislav is a male name of Slavic origin. It is formed from two semantic words “revenge” (translated from Slavic as “protect”) and “glory”, therefore the name Mstislav is translated as “glorious defender”. Diminutive forms: Revenge, Mstisha, Mstishenka, Stiva, Mstislavchik, Slava, Slavik.

The diminutive address Slava is also a short form for many males (Beloslav, Borislav, Radoslav, Bratislav, Yaroslav, Svyatoslav, Bronislav, Vyacheslav, Radoslav, Stanislav, Vysheslav, Miloslav, Istislav, Rostislav, Ladislav, Gorislav, Vladislav, Danislav, etc. .p.) and female (Beloslav, Yaroslav, Miloslav, Voislav, Ventseslav, Bronislav, Dobroslav, Zlatoslav, Cheslav, Svyatoslav, Svetislav, Miroslav, Gorislav, Vaclav, Vladislav, etc.) names.

The name Mstislav is one of the few Slavic names accepted by the Russian Orthodox Church.

Since childhood, this boy has been distinguished by his ambitiousness. He always strives to be ahead of everyone in everything and to be unlike anyone else. Mstislav is very reasonable and very early begins to understand what qualities will help him succeed in life. In order to become the first, he needs luck, kindness and patience. Mstislav shows interest in everything, we can say that he is ready to embrace the immensity.

Mstislav is constantly striving for the top, so each time he increases the demands on himself. His self-esteem may be a little high, but this boy has a gentle character and loves when others notice his successes. Mstislav is very persistent in achieving his goal and seeks to understand everything to the smallest detail. He tries to avoid conflicts because of his temper. This is not an envious boy at all, very generous and not offended for long.

Mstislav is a creative person and is not inclined to physical work that requires endurance. He does not like monotony in work, he needs constant growth above himself. He is rather inclined towards teaching, as he likes to share his knowledge and give advice to everyone. He will suit work in the service sector as a manager, consultant or seller of any equipment. Mstislav can show his talents by becoming an actor, writer, designer, artist, musician, conductor or writer. He is waiting for success in any humanitarian profession. He loves to expand his knowledge and will become an excellent archive worker, historian.

It is very important for Mstislav to find his calling, to which he can devote his whole life and constantly improve his knowledge and experience. He stubbornly strives to master his profession completely. If Mstislav does not retreat and follows his goal, then at the end of his difficult path he will gain fame and worldwide recognition of his merits.

In his personal life, Mstislav seeks to find himself a smart woman who will share his views. His wife must have a strong character and very attractive, she will have to take care of the life and care of the family. Such men need a woman who will take care of them. He is rather poorly versed in women, so he may not immediately find a suitable spouse for himself. He needs a caring woman, next to whom he will feel like a man. The wife must support him with approval, then his self-esteem will be high enough. But the spouse will feel completely safe, Mstislav is very faithful and attached to his family. Life, work and money - for him they do not really matter, it is rather an inevitability that one has to put up with.

Only in communication with his friends Mstislav behaves openly and calmly. In any company, he shows sociability, a good sense of humor and erudition. He seems to know everything in the world. Mstislav does not know how to hide his thoughts and can often offend someone by showing his straightforwardness.

Name day of Mstislav

Notable people named Mstislav

  • Mstislav Zapashny ((born 1938) Soviet and Russian circus artist-tamer of predatory animals)
  • Mstislav Rostropovich ((1927 - 2007) Soviet and Russian cellist, conductor, People's Artist of the USSR (1966), laureate of the Stalin (1951) and Lenin (1964) Prizes of the USSR, the State Prize of the RSFSR (1991), the State Prize of the Russian Federation (1995). Known not only as a musician, but also as a public figure, defender of human rights and spiritual freedom.)
  • Mstislav Izyaslavich ((d.1069) Prince of Novgorod (1054-1067), Polotsk (1069), son of Izyaslav Yaroslavich)
  • Mstislav Vladimirovich (nicknamed the Brave or Daring) ((c. 983 - 1036) in baptism Konstantin, Prince Tmutarakansky (990/1010 - 1036), Prince of Chernigov (1024 - 1036), son of St. Vladimir and (presumably) Adele)
  • Mstislav Rostislavich ((d.1180) Prince of Novgorod, son of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Rostislav Mstislavich, the name of the prince in baptism is George)
  • Mstislav Vladimirovich the Great ((1076 - 1132) baptized Fedor, also Harald, in honor of his grandfather, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, Grand Duke of Kyiv (1125 - 1132), son of Vladimir Monomakh and Gita of Wessex)
  • Mstislav Keldysh ((1911 - 1978) Soviet scientist in the field of mathematics and mechanics, three times Hero of Socialist Labor (1956, 1961, 1971))
  • Mstislav Dobuzhinsky ((1875 - 1957) Russian artist, master of the urban landscape, member of the creative association "World of Art", art critic, memoirist)
  • Mstislav Tsyavlovsky ((1883 - 1947) Russian and Soviet literary critic, outstanding Pushkinist, Doctor of Philology (1940). He studied the life and work of A.S. Pushkin, devoting his main works to them; editor and commentator of many collected works of the poet (including academic edition 1937 - 1959. He was also the editor and commentator of the collected works of Leo Tolstoy.)
  • Mstislav Gnevyshev ((1914 - 1992) Soviet astronomer)
  • Mstislav Afanasiev (Rector of the Academy of Budget and Treasury of the Ministry of Finance of Russia, Professor, Doctor of Economics)

And Princess Gita (daughter of the English King Harald). At baptism he received the name Fedor. Born in 1076. Major military leader and statesman.

Mstislav I Vladimirovich the Great - biography

In 1088-93. he owned Novgorod the Great; in 1093-95 was the holder of the Smolensk and Rostov lands; in 1095-1117 again reigned in Novgorod the Great; in 1117-25 - in Belgorod-Kiev and, apparently, was the co-ruler of his father in Kyiv; in 1125-32. was the Grand Duke of Kyiv. After the death of Vladimir Monomakh in 1125, he inherited the Great Kievan principality, having already managed to earn military glory and respect by that time.

By the will of his father, at the age of 13, he became the ruler of Novgorod. During the years of his reign in Novgorod (1088-93, 1095-1117), he acted in agreement with the Novgorodians and contributed to the strengthening and decoration of the city (it was on his instructions that the Church of the Annunciation on Gorodische was founded in 1103, in 1113 - Nikolo- Dvorishchensky Cathedral).

Years of reign of Mstislav the Great

In 1093-1095 he ruled in the Rostov land and played a significant role in the struggle between his father Monomakh and Oleg Svyatoslavich. In 1096, in the battle on the Medveditsa River, he defeated Oleg's brother, Yaroslav Svyatoslavich, and then Oleg, who tried to treacherously attack him. Mstislav forced Oleg to leave Ryazan and Murom and flee, and then, in accordance with the decisions of the Lyubech Congress of 1097, agree to the distribution of appanages.

He was a participant in military campaigns against the Polovtsy in 1093, 1107, 1111. He managed to pacify the specific princes, showing the ability of a talented politician and strategist. In 1129, he conquered the city of Polotsk along with the entire Polotsk principality. And he drove the Polovtsian hordes beyond the Volga and Don. By defeating the Polovtsy and campaigning against Chud and Lithuania, he secured the Russian borders.

In 1096 he defeated on the river. Koloksha troops of Chernigov Oleg Svyatoslavich, thereby stopping his predatory activities.

Owning the cities of Kyiv, Novgorod (son of Vsevolod), Posemye (son of Izyaslav), Smolensk (son of Rostislav) and Polotsk (translated by Izyaslav), Mstislav created the strongest power in the Russian principalities, maintaining control over the most important cities of Russia and the main trade route "from the Varangians to the Greeks."

During his reign, not only Novgorod became “bigger than the first”, but a stone fortress was erected in Ladoga, which was subject to him. In Kyiv, he built the churches of St. Theodore and the Mother of God Pirogoshcha, and also founded the Fedorovsky Monastery. Many scholars believe that Mstislav is the last editor of The Tale of Bygone Years.

Mstislav the Great - domestic and foreign policy

In foreign policy, Mstislav I continued the line of his father: protection countries from enemies. The military power of Mstislav was so undeniable that it was he, the only one of all the princes of Kievan Rus, who earned the nickname "Great" in the annals. Using marriage alliances with the Scandinavian states and with Byzantium, he thereby strengthened the position of the state in the international arena.

The chroniclers noted that Mstislav “was a great justice, in the army he was brave and orderly, he was terrible to all his neighbors, merciful and considerate to his subjects. During it, all the Russian princes lived in perfect silence and did not dare to offend one another. That's why everyone named him Prince Mstislav the Great. The tributes under him, although they were great, were equal to everyone, and for this they all brought without burden.

It was also written that Mstislav “revealed the virtues of his father on the throne of Russia: he had the same zealous love for the common good, the same firmness, combined in him, like in Monomakh, with the tender sensitivity of the soul.

In 1095, Mstislav married Princess Christina, daughter of the Swedish king Inge I. Many children were born from this marriage:
Ingeborg of Kyiv (married Knud Lavard, Prince of Denmark).
Malmfrida Mstislavna (married the King of Norway, and after the King of Denmark).
Eupraxia Mstislavna (married Alexius Komnenos, son of the Byzantine Emperor John II Komnenos)
Vsevolod Mstislavich, Prince of Novgorod
Maria Mstislavna (married Vsevolod the Second Olgovich, Grand Duke of Kyiv).
Izyaslav II Mstislavich, Grand Duke of Kyiv
Rostislav Mstislavich, Grand Duke of Kyiv
Svyatopolk Mstislavich, Prince of Pskov, Novgorod, Polotsk, Berestey and Vladimir-Volyn
Rogneda Mstislavna (married Yaroslav, Prince of Volyn).
Xenia (married Bryachislav Glebovich, Prince of Izyaslavsky).

Princess Christina died on 18 January 1122.
In the same year, the prince married a second time to the daughter of the Novgorod posadnik Dmitry Davidovich. In this marriage were born:
Vladimir II Mstislavich
Euphrosyne (married King Geza of Hungary).

On April 14, 1132, Mstislav I died, yielding the throne to his brother Yaropolk II.
The Grand Duke of Kyiv is buried in Kyiv, in the Church of St. Sophia.

The results of the reign of Mstislav the Great

1132 is considered by many historians to be the year of the final collapse of Kievan Rus. On the one hand, thanks to their father, the sons of the Great (Vsevolod, Izyaslav and Rostislav) became the rulers of separate independent principalities, on the other hand, none of the immediate successors of the prince possessed his political and military abilities and could not stop the disintegration of the state.

Biography

Heirs

Mstislav Vladimirovich the Great, in baptism Fedor, also Harald, after his grandfather, the last Ango-Saxon king of England(June 1, 1076 - April 14, 1132) - Grand Duke of Kyiv (1125-1132), son of Vladimir Monomakh.

Biography

By the will of his father, at the age of thirteen, he became the Prince of Novgorod, where he ruled in 1088-1093 and 1095-1117, acting in agreement with the Novgorodians and contributing to the strengthening (in 1116, the expansion of Novgorod Detinets took place) and decoration (on his instructions, the Church of the Annunciation on Gorodische was laid in 1103, and in 1113 - St. Nicholas Cathedral) of the city.

In 1093-1095, Mstislav ruled in the Rostov land and played a major role in the struggle of his father Monomakh and Oleg Svyatoslavich: in 1096, in the battle on the river. He defeated Oleg's brother, Yaroslav Svyatoslavich, and then Oleg himself, who had to leave Murom and Ryazan and flee to the steppe.

In 1097, at the Lyubech Congress of Princes, Novgorod "was assigned" to Mstislav. The sympathy of the Novgorodians for Mstislav was great, it is known that in 1102, when the Kyiv prince Svyatopolk Izyaslavich wanted to transfer Mstislav from Novgorod, they did not allow this.

In 1117-1125 he ruled in Pereyaslavl. When Vladimir Monomakh died in 1125, Mstislav became the Grand Duke. He no longer owned the lion's share of the Russian lands, since the younger sons of Monomakh inherited independent principalities: Yaropolk received Pereyaslavl, Vyacheslav - Smolensk, Yuri Dolgoruky - the Rostov-Suzdal appanage, Andrei Dobry - Volyn.

In 1127, Vyacheslav became the prince of Turov, and Smolensk ceded to Mstislav's son, Rostislav. In the same year, in Chernigov, Prince Yaroslav Svyatoslavich was overthrown by his nephew, Vsevolod Olgovich. Mstislav and his brother Yaropolk opposed Vsevolod; during this war, they captured Kursk and Posemye, where Mstislav's eldest son, Izyaslav, began to rule. It was not possible to return the overthrown Yaroslav to the throne of Chernigov: Vsevolod became the prince of Chernigov in peace, and Yaroslav received the Muromo-Ryazan inheritance.

Thus, from 1127, Mstislav owned Kyiv, Novgorod (son of Vsevolod), Smolensk (son of Rostislav), Posem (son of Izyaslav), while maintaining control over the most important cities of Russia and the main trade route "from the Varangians to the Greeks."

In 1127, Mstislav made the first campaign against the Principality of Polotsk: the cities of Strezhev, Lagozhsk, Izyaslavl were taken and plundered, and in Polotsk, Prince Davyd Vseslavich was replaced by his brother, Rogvolod. In 1128 Rogvolod died, and Davyd again settled in Polotsk, renouncing the world. During a new campaign in 1129, Mstislav captured the three remaining Vseslavichs (Davyd, Svyatoslav and Rostislav) and all their relatives, annexed the Principality of Polotsk: Izyaslav Mstislavich was transferred here to reign. Only the minor prince Vasilko Svyatoslavich (in Izyaslavl) remained in the Polotsk land. In 1130 Mstislav sent the captive princes of Polotsk to Constantinople. During his reign, there were also constant strife in the Galician principality due to the redistribution of the inheritance of the princes Volodar and Vasilko Rostislavich, who died in 1124; the Grand Duke, apparently, did not interfere in these strife.

In foreign policy, Mstislav continued his father's line: the details of his campaigns against the Polovtsy are unknown, but it is reported that in the end the Polovtsy were driven beyond the Don, beyond the Volga and beyond the Yaik (modern Ural River). Apparently, fleeing from the Russian squads, Khan Artyk (Otrok) left for the Caucasus from the Black Sea region with part of the Polovtsy, who then appeared in Georgia as mercenaries. The military power of Mstislav was so undeniable that it was he - the only one of all the princes of Kievan Rus - who deserved the nickname "Great" in the annals. By marriage alliances with the Scandinavian states and with Byzantium, he strengthened the position of the state in the international arena. Secondary campaigns in the Baltic states were not always successful: in 1130, the Chud was subject to tribute, but the new campaign of 1131 ended in defeat at Yuryev. The campaign against Lithuania (1132) was successful, but the people of Kiev were defeated on the way back.

On April 14, 1132, Mstislav died, having transferred the throne, according to the appanage system, to his brother Yaropolk. 1132 is considered the year of the final collapse of Kievan Rus: on the one hand, the sons of Mstislav (Izyaslav, Rostislav, Vsevolod) became the rulers of independent principalities and later opposed their uncles Monomakhovichi; on the other hand, none of Mstislav's closest successors possessed his military and political talents and could not stop the disintegration of the state.

New data on Mstislav the Great in the light of archeology

  • In the Moscow region, on the territory of the Mogutovsky archaeological complex, one of the seals of Mstislav Vladimirovich was discovered.
  • In the last decade, archaeologists have found many seals of Mstislav Vladimirovich and his descendants on the territory of the archaeological complexes of Veliky Novgorod.

Heirs

In 1095, Mstislav married his fourth cousin, the daughter of the Swedish king Inga I, Princess Christina, who bore him many children:

  • Ingeborg of Kyiv - married the Danish prince Knud Lavard.
  • Malmfrida Mstislavna - married Sigurd I of Norway, then Eric II of Denmark.
  • Eupraxia Mstislavna - married Alexei Komnenos, son of the Byzantine Emperor John II Komnenos
  • Vsevolod Mstislavich - Prince of Novgorod (1117-1136)
  • Maria Mstislavna - married Vsevolod Olgovich, Grand Duke of Kyiv
  • Izyaslav Mstislavich - Grand Duke of Kyiv
  • Rostislav Mstislavich - Grand Duke of Kyiv
  • Svyatopolk Mstislavich - Prince of Polotsk, Pskov, Beresteisky, Novgorod, Lutsk and Vladimir-Volyn
  • Rogneda Mstislavna, married Yaroslav Svyatopolchich, Prince of Volhynia
  • Ksenia Mstislavna, married Bryachislav Glebovich, Prince of Izyaslav

In the same year, Mstislav remarried:

His wife was Lyubava Dmitrievna, the daughter of the Novgorod mayor Dmitry Zavidich.

Children from second marriage:

  • Vladimir Mstislavich
  • Efrosinya Mstislavna, married King Geza II of Hungary

Mstislav

Vladimirovich Tmutarakansky

OK. 983–1036

Battles and victories

The legendary ancient Russian commander of the X-XI centuries, awarded the nicknames "Brave" and "Remote".

Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich Tmutarakansky resembled his grandfather Svyatoslav Igorevich, the military leader of the times of military democracy and the great migration of peoples. Always in the saddle, always in pursuit of military victories, glory and booty.

On the X - the first half of the XI century. came the heroic period of ancient Russian history. It was the time of the formation and flourishing of Kievan Rus. Under Vladimir I (980-1015), nicknamed in the epics "Red Sun" and "Tender Prince", all the lands inhabited by East Slavic tribes came under the control of the Grand Duke of Kyiv. At the same time, there was a process of merging of a conglomerate of East Slavic tribes and the Finno-Ugric, Letto-Lithuanian, North Iranian and other populations of the East European Plain and the Middle Dnieper region assimilated by the Slavs. The adoption of Christianity under Vladimir in 988 greatly contributed to the rallying of the people around the new faith and the formation of a special ancient Russian spiritual culture. The son of Vladimir Yaroslav, called by the chroniclers "Wise", during the years of his great reign (1016-1054) expanded the borders of Russia, patronized the spread of literacy and bookishness, laid the foundation for written legislation.


Vladimir and Yaroslav were such bright rulers that other ancient Russian princes - their contemporaries - are lost against their background. Meanwhile, among the latter there were also many talented people, brave and successful generals, endowed with personal charisma. One of these princes was Mstislav Tmutarakansky. There are fragmentary reports of Russian chronicles and other sources about the life and work of Mstislav. This material does not allow us to fully reconstruct the biography of the prince, but we can talk about the most notable, and therefore remembered by the chroniclers, deeds of the prince.

Origin of Mstislav

Mstislav was the son of Vladimir I from the Polotsk princess Rogneda. (According to another version, his mother was a "Czechine"). The year of his birth is unknown. Historians most often assume the 983rd and consider Mstislav the third son of Rogneda. His older siblings were Izyaslav (later the prince of Polotsk, the ancestor of the local dynasty of Rurikovich - the "Rogvolozh grandchildren") and Yaroslav (at the end of his father's life - the prince of Novgorod). However, there is an opinion in the historical literature that Mstislav was older than Yaroslav.

Mstislav's paternal grandfather was the famous warrior prince Svyatoslav (the years of the great reign in Kyiv 945-972). Her paternal great-grandmother was Princess Olga, known for her wisdom. Maternal grandfather Mstislav had an independent ruler of Polotsk Rogvolod, who, obviously, came from those husbands of Rurik, whom, according to the "Tale of Bygone Years", he "planted" in the Slavic cities. Rogvolod and his daughter Rogneda were most likely of the Varangian (Scandinavian) family.

In addition to his brothers, Mstislav also had 9 half-brothers, because before his baptism, Vladimir had 8 wives and countless "staff" of concubines. Most of the East Slavic tribes preferred polygamy before the adoption of Christianity, and an extensive harem was a status thing that emphasized the greatness and wealth of the monarch.

Under Vladimir, local princes, henchmen of the Grand Duke of Kyiv, gradually became a thing of the past. In various volosts, instead of them, governors began to rule on behalf of the Grand Duke. Initially, these were "husbands" (boyars), representatives of the senior princely squad. However, Vladimir early began to plant his numerous sons as governors. Most of them became princes-governors in childhood. Of course, they were helped to rule by the “breadwinners”, boyars, educators and advisers. So from a young age, the Rurikovichs were accustomed to carry their princely burden.

Mstislav and the Tmutarakan Principality

It is not known when Mstislav became the prince-viceroy of the Tmutarakan principality on the Taman Peninsula between the Sea of ​​Azov and the Black Sea. Some historians believe that this happened around 987-988, when the prince was 4-5 years old. In the annals, the name of Mstislav is strongly associated with Tmutarakan, which indicates the long stay of the prince in this autonomous possession of Russia. Other researchers begin the Tmutarakan period of the prince's life from 990-1010.


Here, in Tmutarakan, the prince started a family. The name of his wife is known - Maria, most likely she was from a local noble Alanian family. In addition to the prefix "Tmutarakansky", Mstislav acquired other nicknames recorded in the sources - "Brave" and "Remote". In general, he was in many ways similar to his grandfather Svyatoslav Igorevich. Military campaigns, battles and personal fights were the passion of the prince. Like Svyatoslav, Mstislav Tmutarakansky often resembled not so much the prince of the era of the development of ancient Russian statehood, as the fighting leader of the times of military democracy and the great migration of peoples, who is always in the saddle in pursuit of military victories, glory and booty. Legends about those gray times painted the ideal prince-leader also generous. Mstislav, brought up in their atmosphere, clearly aspired to be like that. The latter was already rare among the monarchs of the 11th century. although, in part, generosity was not alien to Mstislav's father, the "affectionate prince" Vladimir.

Mstislav Tmutarakansky went down in history not with state achievements, but with military exploits.

However, before telling about them, we will explain what the Tmutarakan principality was like at the beginning of the reign of Mstislav Vladimirovich there.

It was located on the Taman Peninsula near the two seas of the Black and Azov and the Kerch Strait connecting them. In ancient times, the Scythians lived here. In ancient times, Taman was part of the Bosporus kingdom, the population of which, in addition to the Scythians, was their relatives from the northern Iranian family of peoples - the Sarmatians, as well as Greeks, Jews and some other ethnic groups. The city of Tamatarkha on Taman, which the Russians later called Tmutarakan, was founded as a Greek colony. During the great migration of peoples in the IV century. AD here appeared the Turkic-Huns.

A little later, they were replaced by the Bulgar Turks. Taman was even the center of Great Bulgaria. But this state collapsed under the blows of the Khazar Turks, and from the 7th century. power over Tamanya passed to them. The Khazars created their own state in the Caspian and Black Sea steppes - the Khazar Khaganate. Although the Khazars were nomads, the Kaganate prospered thanks to the service of international transit trade that went through its possession. Therefore, Jewish merchants, experts in trade, gained great influence in it. From them, the kagan and the entire Khazar elite adopted Judaism, ordinary Khazars remained pagans. The Khaganate was a trade competitor of the Roman Empire (Byzantium) and the Arabs, waged wars with them. From the east, the primitive Turkic nomads of the Pechenegs pressed on Khazaria. From the 7th century Bulgaria, located on the Middle Volga, also made attempts to free itself from Khazar dependence. All this undermined the forces of the Kaganate, and the Kyiv prince Svyatoslav Igorevich dealt the last blow to him.

After the defeat of Khazaria by Svyatoslav, a strong Russian influence was established in its two former possessions Sarkel (Belaya Vezha) on the Don and in Tmutarakan. Although an autonomous Jewish state headed by David Tamansky existed on Taman for about 20 years, there was obviously a Russian garrison in Tmutarakan itself from the time of Svyatoslav. Under Vladimir I in the 980s, Kiev's influence increased, and the grand duke's son Mstislav was appointed governor in Tmutarakan. Thus, the Tmutarakan principality was finally formed, dependent on Russia, but very autonomous in all internal and external affairs. Tmutarakan was still inhabited by multinational people. In addition to Russians, Greeks, Khazars, Jews, Armenians, Kasogs and Yases lived here.

Kasogs (kosogs) were of Abkhaz-Adyghe origin. In addition to the Taman Peninsula, they mostly lived in the steppes of the Kuban and in the North Caucasus. Yasy (ancestors of modern Ossetians) belonged to the North Iranian language family. They were part of the tribal unions of the Alans. The Yases were also often allies of the Kasogs. Outside of Taman, the Yas and Kasog tribes were going through a period of disintegration of the tribal system, the process of the birth of their statehood was underway, accompanied by the rise of individual tribal leaders, surrounded by loyal combatants.

Tmutarakan by the end of the tenth century. conducted an active foreign trade, which competed with the Byzantine cities in the Crimea. In addition, the principality tried to extend its political and administrative influence to various regions of the North Caucasus. The military campaigns of Mstislav Tmutarakan became the main form of realization of these ambitions of the Tmutarakan land.

Mstislav and Rededya

The Laurentian edition of The Tale of Bygone Years and the Nikon Chronicle contain a detailed account of Mstislav's war with the tribal union of Yases and Kasogs, led by Rededey, in 1022.

The chroniclers focused on the personal duel of the leaders of the parties, which is also reflected in the Tale of Igor's Campaign:


Belt the song ... to the brave Mstislav, even the slaughter of Rededy in front of the kasozhskys.

The possibility of deciding the outcome of the war in this way speaks of the transitional era in which Prince Mstislav and his contemporaries lived. It is difficult to imagine the outcome of the Battle of Kulikovo as a duel between the Moscow prince Dmitry and the Horde temnik Mamai! And it's not a lack of personal courage. Statesmen of the 14th century and their subjects could no longer afford to entrust the fate of their countries to the vicissitudes of personal competition. And in those good old days, when Mstislav and the Kasozhsky prince Rededya lived, apparently, a similar old custom was still in use in Taman and the North Caucasus. He ordered to fight without weapons, although, obviously, he assumed the possibility of finishing off the loser with a dagger, as Mstislav did at the end of the battle. Apparently, this was part of the rules, because the squad of the slaughtered Rededi did not rush into battle, to avenge their treacherously killed leader, but recognized the victory of the Russian prince. The same applied to the family of the defeated Rededi. A worthy feat, and not a treacherous trick, is the outcome of the duel between Mstislav and Rededi in The Tale of Igor's Campaign.

Chronicles report that in 1022 the troops of the Yases and Kasogs met in the field with the squad of Mstislav Tmutarakansky. The Yasko-Kasozh leader Rededya suggested to Mstislav not to destroy the soldiers, but to resolve the dispute in a personal duel. Rededya was known as a powerful hero, was a fighter famous among his people. However, Mstislav was not inferior to him in personal courage. Russian chronicles emphasize the youth of the Russian prince and his lack of the experience that the mature Rededya had. Because of this remark, many historians do not recognize the date of birth of Mstislav in 983. By 1022, Mstislav would have been under 40 years old, which in that time and in our time can in no way be considered youth. Prince Mstislav was quite an adult. He had children of his own - a son, Eustathius, and a daughter, Tatyana. As a politician, by 1016 he managed to subdue Tmutarakan all the Khazars around her.

The duel did not start in favor of Mstislav. Mighty Rededya began to crush him to the ground. Mstislav was already a Christian. His baptismal name is Konstantin. The Russian prince began to pray to the Mother of God to grant him victory. He promised to erect a temple in her honor in Tmutarakan. In the end, he won, managing to stab his opponent with a knife "in front of the Kasogian regiments."

Mstislav fulfilled his promise. Archaeologists have found in the place where Tmutarakan once stood, the remains of the foundation of the Mother of God Church.


And Mstislav began to grow weak, for Rededya was great and strong, and Mstislav said - “O Holy Mother of God, help me, if I overcome this, I will build a church in your name.” And lo and behold, strike the ground with it, and take out the knife and stab Rededya.

Tale of Bygone Years

The victory over Rededey put an end to the war of 1022. As the ancient custom required, the winner received power over the land and subjects of the loser Rededy. Mstislav also inherited the family of the Yasko-Kasozh leader, but he treated her like a knight. Rededi's wife and two sons lived under the prince and were part of the Tmutarakan elite. Mstislav became the godfather of Rededi's sons. In baptism, they took the names Yuri and Roman. The latter became Mstislav's son-in-law by marrying his daughter Tatyana. Several Moscow aristocratic families - Beleutovs, Dobrynskys, Sorokoumovs-Glebovs - originated from this couple (most likely mythical).

Mstislav's power over the yases and kasogs significantly increased the military capabilities of the Tmutarakan ruler, and he decided to intervene in the struggle for his father's grand ducal inheritance. Grand Duke Vladimir died in 1015. No clear order of succession to the throne in Russia has yet been developed; from the moment of the death of Vladimir and until 1019, there was a strife between his sons in Russia. Chronicles attribute to Svyatopolk, the eldest son or nephew of Vladimir, the murder of the brothers - Boris and Gleb, as well as the intention to exterminate all their rival brothers. However, Yaroslav, Prince of Novgorod, turned out to be more successful and stronger than Svyatopolk. In 1016 and in 1019 with the help of Novgorodians and Varangians, he defeated Svyatopolk, and he, having fled to the West, perished there.

Mstislav the Brave vs. Yaroslav the Wise

Until 1022, no one disputed the Kyiv table with Yaroslav, and he was considered the Grand Duke, although in 1021 he had to make war with his nephew Bryachislav Izyaslavich of Polotsk, who attacked the Novgorod lands. Perhaps this trick of the “Rogvolozhy grandson” prompted Mstislav Tmutarakansky to recall his rights as an heir. In 1023, Mstislav, at the head of the Tmutarakan squad and the Yasko-Kasozh army, appeared on the left Seversk side of the Dnieper. He captured Chernigov. Here his army was replenished with Chernigov regiments.

In 1023, Yaroslav did not resist Mstislav. He was distracted by the events that were unfolding in the North-East of Russia. In the Suzdal land, against the background of the famine, there were unrest and local uprisings, where the pagan sorcerers were in charge. In Kyiv, the Grand Duke was absent, and Mstislav considered this convenient for capturing the capital of Russia. However, the people of Kiev did not want to see the Tmutarakan prince as their ruler. They locked themselves in the city and did not let Mstislav in. He returned to Chernigov.

Yaroslav the Wise
Reconstruction by M.M. Gerasimov based on the real skull of the prince

The fate of the grand princely Kyiv table was to be decided in the brothers' war. Yaroslav was already in a hurry to the Dnieper. Taking advantage of the help of the Novgorodians once again, Yaroslav hired a Varangian squad from overseas, led by Yakun. This Yakun in Russian sources is called the brother of the Varangian king Afrikan. The chronicle report and the testimony of the Kiev-Pechersk patericon state that Yakun was "blind" and wore "gold-woven lud". The image of a blind man does not fit well with the role of Yakun, who in 1024 became the chief governor of the Kiev-Varangian forces. V.N. Tatishchev and N.M. Karamzin assumed that Yakun's eyes were somehow damaged, which is why he wore a bandage (“lud”) on them. But from the context of the sources, "lud" is rather mentioned as clothing, it can be assumed that it was a cloak. Historian N.P. Lambin suggested that the word "blind" is a scribal error, which later authors began to replicate. The Varangian Yakun was not “blind”, but “with a lep” (i.e. handsome) and wore a gold-woven “lud” (cloak). I.N. Danilevsky suggested that the chronicler, who wrote about Yakun that he was not just "stucco", but "with stucco", used a play on words, hinting at the shortcomings of the leadership of the Kiev-Varangian rati. Yaroslav was lame (he fell off his horse unsuccessfully as a child), and Yakun was “with lep”.

One way or another, but led by Yakun, the people of Kiev and the Varangians came out to protect the rights of Yaroslav to the Grand Duke's table. Yaroslav's troops went to Chernigov. Upon learning of this, Mstislav the Brave rushed to meet them. Near the town of Listven, not far from Chernigov, the opponents saw each other. It was getting dark, the weather was terrible. It rained like a wall, lightning flashed, thunder rumbled, and sharp gusts of wind carried its sounds away.

Despite the storm and the falling night, Mstislav decided to attack. For the first time in Russian history recorded in the sources, he applied a military innovation, breaking up a single system of his soldiers into a central regiment, regiments of the right and left hands, and also allocating his Tmutarakan squad to the reserve (“ambush”). Later, all Russian princes used this formation, including Yaroslav in the battle with the Pechenegs near Kyiv in 1036.

Yakun built the forces of Grand Duke Yaroslav in one regiment, in the center of which were his Varangians. Mstislav dealt a powerful blow to the center with the forces of Chernigov, while his regiments of the left and right hands from jars and kasogs crushed the enemy from the flanks. And here stood the Kievans, who faltered, and soon the Chernigovites broke through the Varangian center. Kievans and Scandinavians began to retreat in a panic. The squad of Mstislav pursued and flogged them. During the battle, Yakun lost his "golden loot". Together with Yaroslav, the Varangian ran to Novgorod, and there he boarded a ship and sailed away to his homeland.

The battlefield was left to Mstislav. He, according to the chronicler, walked on it, saying:


Who wouldn't rejoice at this? Here lies a northerner (Chernigovets), here is a Varangian, and my squad is intact!

This phrase very clearly conveys the worldview of the Tmutarakan brave man, who clearly lacked the breadth of state thoughts, so characteristic of his brother "lame" Yaroslav the Wise. One can understand the inhabitants of Kyiv, who at one time preferred Yaroslav.

Duumvirate of Yaroslav and Mstislav

However, Mstislav was not a vicious and vindictive adversary. After the battle of Listven, he sent to Novgorod to Yaroslav to say:


Sit in your Kyiv: you are the elder brother, and let this side of the Dnieper be for me.

After a personal meeting between Yaroslav and Mstislav, a kind of duumvirate of brothers was established. Yaroslav the Wise was the Grand Duke of Kyiv, he ruled, as the supreme ruler, the Dnieper Right Bank, Novgorod and all other Russian lands, with the exception of the Chernigov-Seversk side and the Tmutarakan principality. Mstislav still obeyed yasy and kasogi. By the way, under Listven, the son of Rededi, the childless Roman, fell in battle. The son-in-law of Mstislav, Yuri, and his children, who are Mstislav's grandchildren, remained the heirs of the Kasogian "throne".

After 1024, the brothers Yaroslav the Wise and Mstislav the Brave no longer quarreled. Sometimes they went on campaigns together, and here the talent of Mstislav, as a brilliant governor, greatly helped the "lame" Yaroslav. So the brothers-co-rulers managed to win back the cities of Cherven from Poland.

These cities have long been a bone of contention between Russians and Poles. The historical region - Chervonnaya Rus, where they were located, was located in the west of modern Ukraine and the east, southeast of Poland. It bordered in the east on the ancient Russian Podolia, in the northeast it rested on Volyn, in the west and southwest it neighbored on Transcarpathia, in the south and southeast - on Bukovina, in the north - on Lithuania.

In 891-892. the Moravian king Svyatopolk I annexed the Cherven lands to the Great Moravian kingdom, and after civil strife weakened this power, the Hungarians captured the Cherven territories. In 979, Prince Mieszko, from the West Slavic (Polish) tribe of Polyans, conquered the Cherven cities, but did not keep them for the Piast state. The Grand Duke of Kyiv Vladimir I, the father of Yaroslav and Mstislav, together with his uncle, the Novgorod mayor Dobrynya Malkovich, conquered the Cherven cities. During the civil strife of the Vladimirovichs, the Polish prince Boleslav the Brave, who helped his son-in-law Svyatopolk Vladimirovich, occupied the Cherven cities (1018).

In the early 1030s, Yaroslav the Wise and Mstislav Tmutorakansky decided to correct this matter. Their campaign against Poland 1030-1031. turned out to be victorious, and Red Rus joined Kievan Rus. Yaroslav founded a new city in Chervonnaya Rus between the San and the Bug - Yaroslav.

Of the “Russian affairs” of Prince Mstislav Tmutarakansky, it is also worth noting the construction of a large stone Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Savior in Chernigov, where Prince Mstislav himself would later be buried.


In the late 1020s and early 1030s. Mstislav's activity continued in the North Caucasian and even Transcaucasian regions. In 1031, Mstislav, along with the Alans on boats, appeared near Baku. The Russian-Alanian army defeated the forces of the Shirvanshah. Mstislav undertook this expedition to help his ally, the emir of Arran, Musa. Musa's throne was disputed by his brother, who enjoyed the support of the Shirvanshah. Later, the regiments of Mstislav, having passed through Armenia, fought on the territory of Byzantium. Probably, Mstislav hoped that Musa would give Mstislav some territory near the Kura River for his support. This, however, did not happen.

And soon the political situation in the North Caucasus and Transcaucasia generally changed not in favor of Mstislav. Musa and some other allies of Mstislav found a compromise with the Shirvanshah. Musa married the daughter of the Shirvanshah. The ruler of Derbent, Emir Mansur, also took the side of the Shirvanshah. In 1032, the Derbents defeated the Russian-Alanian detachment sent by Mstislav to the mountains. Mstislav's attempt to counterattack Derbent in 1033 failed.

Mstislav Tmutarakansky met the last year of his life (1036) in his Chernigov possessions. Here he died, once going hunting. Some historians have suggested that Yaroslav the Wise could have been involved in the death of Mstislav, but this cannot be proven. In addition, Mstislav was under 60 years old, and for a man of that time, and besides, he spent most of his life in military campaigns and martial arts, this was not enough. Mstislav's son Evstafiy died three years earlier than his father. As a result, the warrior prince did not have direct heirs. The Chernigov-Seversk land and the Principality of Tmutarakan fell under the supreme authority of the great Kyiv prince Yaroslav the Wise. From 1036 until his death in 1054, Yaroslav single-handedly ruled the ancient Russian state.

CHERNIKOVA T.V., Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor, MGIMO (U)

Literature

PSRL. Ed. 2. L., 1926. T. 1

The Tale of Bygone Years. Preparation text, translation, articles and comments. D.S. Likhachev, ed. V.P. Adrianova-Peretz. SPb., 1996

Boguslavsky V.V. Slavic encyclopedia. Kievan Rus - Muscovy. M., 2001

Voitovich L. Genealogy of the Rurikovich and Gediminovich dynasties. Kiev, 1992

Grushevsky M.S. History of Ukraine-Rus. Kiev, 1992. Vol. 2

Danilevsky I.N. The Bible and the Tale of Bygone Years (On the problem of interpreting chronicle texts). National history. 1993. No. 1

Karamzin N.M. History of Russian Goverment. SPb., 1818. Vol. II

Lambin N.P. About the blindness of Yakun and his golden-woven lude: Historical and philological research. Journal of the Ministry of Public Education. 1858. Ch. 98

Likhachev D.S., with the participation of A.A. Alekseeva and A.G. Bobrov. Textology (on the material of Russian literature of the X-XVII centuries). SPb., 2001

Lopatinsky L.G. Mstislav Tmutarakansky and Rededya according to the legends of the Circassians. Proceedings of the Baku state. university 1-2. 1921

Tatishchev V.N. History of Russia since the most ancient times. M., 1773. Book. II

Internet

Prophetic Oleg

Your shield is on the gates of Tsaregrad.
A.S. Pushkin.

Rurikovich (Grozny) Ivan Vasilyevich

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Because it inspires many by personal example.

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Minikh Khristofor Antonovich

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Commander of the Russian troops during the War of the Polish Succession and architect of the victory of Russian arms in the Russo-Turkish War of 1735-1739.

Suvorov Alexander Vasilievich

If someone has not heard, write to no avail

Suvorov, Count Rymniksky, Prince of Italy Alexander Vasilyevich

The greatest commander, a genius strategist, tactician and military theorist. Author of the book "The Science of Victory", Generalissimo of the Russian Army. The only one in the history of Russia that did not suffer a single defeat.

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General Pavel Fedoseevich Pavlenko:
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Colonel Nikolai Fedorovich Ivanov:
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Soviet military commander, Marshal of the Soviet Union (1955). Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (1944, 1945).
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Vadim Zavyalov

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Certainly worthy, explanations and proofs, in my opinion, are not required. It's amazing that his name isn't on the list. was the list prepared by representatives of the USE generation?

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Rokossovsky Konstantin Konstantinovich

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Vasilevsky Alexander Mikhailovich

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John 4 Vasilyevich

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General Ermolov

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Kovpak Sidor Artemevich

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During the Civil War, he led a local partisan detachment that fought in Ukraine against the German invaders together with the detachments of A. Ya. .Denikin and Wrangel on the Southern Front.

In 1941-1942, Kovpak's formation carried out raids behind enemy lines in the Sumy, Kursk, Oryol and Bryansk regions, in 1942-1943 - a raid from the Bryansk forests on the Right-Bank Ukraine in the Gomel, Pinsk, Volyn, Rivne, Zhytomyr and Kyiv regions; in 1943 - the Carpathian raid. The Sumy partisan formation under the command of Kovpak fought over 10 thousand kilometers in the rear of the Nazi troops, defeated the enemy garrisons in 39 settlements. Kovpak's raids played a big role in the deployment of the partisan movement against the German occupiers.

Twice Hero of the Soviet Union:
By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 18, 1942, for the exemplary performance of combat missions behind enemy lines, the courage and heroism shown in their performance, Kovpak Sidor Artemyevich was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal (No. 708)
The second medal "Gold Star" (No.) Major General Kovpak Sidor Artemyevich was awarded by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of January 4, 1944 for the successful conduct of the Carpathian raid

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Gurko Joseph Vladimirovich

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He was a consistent champion of strict discipline, but an enemy of shouting. Rudeness in general was organically alien to him. True military intellectual, b. colonel in the imperial army.

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The personal contribution of A. A. Brusilov manifested itself in many successful operations of the Russian army during the First World War - the Battle of Galicia in 1914, the Battle of the Carpathians in 1914/15, the Lutsk and Czartoryi operations in 1915 and, of course, in the Offensive of the South-Western Front in 1916 city ​​(the famous Brusilovsky breakthrough).

Birth of Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich and reign in Novgorod

“He knew how to rule, kept order within the state, and if he had lived to the age of his father, he could have established the calmness of Russia for a long time,” Nikolai Karamzin wrote about the Grand Duke of Kiev Mstislav Vladimirovich in the History of the Russian State. Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich the Great canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in the guise of holy noble princes, this is another from a long list.

Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich, who laid the foundation, was born in 1076. The great-grandson of Yaroslav the Wise, he was the eldest son and his wife Gita, daughter of the last Anglo-Saxon king Harold II, who died in 1066 in a battle with the Normans of Duke William at Hastings.

Already at the age of 12, Mstislav's grandfather, the Grand Duke of Kyiv Vsevolod Yaroslavich, sent him to reign in Novgorod. Young Mstislav Vladimirovich liked the people of Novgorod, and in subsequent years they twice insisted on his presence in the city. In 1095, the townspeople "did not want" David Svyatoslavich, "officially" appointed by Kyiv, asking them to return Mstislav, who reigned at that moment in Rostov. The second case is even more revealing.

In 1102, the Grand Duke of Kyiv Svyatopolk Izyaslavich conceived, by the right of the eldest, to take Novgorod for himself and plant his son there. The Novgorod ambassadors who arrived in Kyiv behaved very independently - they said to Svyatopolk:

“We do not want either Svyatopolk or his son. But if your son has two heads, send him; and this was given to us by Vsevolod, they themselves brought up the prince ... "

Of course, the candidate for the reign of Novgorod did not have two heads, and Svyatopolk, after fierce disputes, resigned himself to the will of the Novgorodians: Mstislav remained in Novgorod for another fifteen years.

Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich in the struggle for the unity of Russia

Not limited solely to Novgorod affairs, Prince Mstislav actively participated in all-Russian politics.

It is indicative of his behavior in the conflict between Vladimir Monomakh and his cousin, Prince Oleg Svyatoslavich, for the restless temper and troubles brought to the Russian land, nicknamed by the people "Gorislavich". In 1094, Oleg, who always felt that his “seniority” was being infringed upon, took Chernigov from Vladimir Monomakh, and two years later he captured Rostov and Suzdal, while Vladimirov’s son Izyaslav died in the battle near Murom. Prince Mstislav persuaded Oleg, his godfather, to end the matter with a just peace, but when he tried to treacherously attack him, he defeated Oleg's army and forced his uncle to flee. At the same time, he was against revenge and asked his father, Vladimir Monomakh, to forgive Oleg Svyatoslavich. The famous "Instruction of Vladimir Monomakh" includes a letter from Vladimir to Oleg with the following confession:

“I wrote this to you because my son, who was baptized by you, who sits close to you, compelled me. He sent me his husband and a letter, with the words: “We will agree and make peace, and God’s judgment has come to my brother. And we will not be avengers for him, but we will put it on God when they stand before God; but we will not destroy the Russian land.” And when I saw the humility of my son, I took pity, and being afraid of God, I said: “Because of his youth and foolishness, he humbles himself so much, he puts it on God; but I am a man, more sinful than all men.” I listened to my son, wrote you a letter ... "

The consequence of all this was the congress of princes in Lyubech in 1097, which established, in order to avoid civil strife, the principle of inheritance: "Let everyone keep his fatherland." Three years later, another congress of princes took place - in Uvetichi - condemning Davyd Igorevich, who violated the Lyubech decision.

In the conditions of constant Polovtsian raids, the princely peace was most welcome - it allowed us to jointly avert the Polovtsian threat. Mstislav Vladimirovich participated in almost all campaigns against the Polovtsy, earning the fame of a skilled and brave military leader. In 1129, already being the Grand Duke of Kyiv, he "driven" the Polovtsy as far as the Don and the Volga - since then, the steppes were careful not to disturb and irritate their Russian neighbors too much.

Mstislav "went" to the Chud and to Lithuania. These invasions were largely forced in nature - they were required to ensure the security of Russian borders.

Mstislav Vladimirovich Prince of Kyiv

In 1117, Mstislav Vladimirovich left Novgorod, leaving his son Vsevolod in his place. He himself, called by his father, who then occupied the grand prince's table, sat down in Belgorod-Kiev, a town not far from Kyiv, and became co-ruler of Vladimir Monomakh. And eight years later, after the death of Vladimir Monomakh, Mstislav received the grand ducal title. It was, it seems, the only transfer of the great reign in the history of Ancient Russia, which did without disputes and bloodshed. Solovyov in "History of Russia since ancient times" wrote:

“Rivals could not be terrible for Mstislav with the popular disposition towards the Monomakhov family, especially since Mstislav was like his famous father in everything.”

Grand Duke Mstislav Vladimirovich gained even greater popular love during the events of 1027, when the son of "Gorislavich" Vsevolod expelled his uncle from Chernigov, the legitimate Chernigov prince Yaroslav. The clergy begged Mstislav not to shed Christian blood in vain, and Mstislav left Vsevolod in Chernigov, although later he cried until his death that he had violated the kiss of the cross for fidelity to the principle of inheritance of destinies.

How Mstislav Vladimirovich became the Great

Even during his lifetime, Mstislav Vladimirovich was called the Great - not by the title of the Grand Duke of Kyiv, but by his glorious deeds. After his death, which followed in 1132, the idea of ​​Russian unity, unfortunately, collapsed, falling in the struggle of princely pride and civil strife that destroyed Russia.

Prince Mstislav always fulfilled the behest of his father, preserved in the Teachings of Vladimir Monomakh:

“Honor bishops, priests and abbots, and lovingly accept blessings from them, and do not move away from them, and love and care for them according to your strength, so that you receive from God through their prayer ... And here is the basis for everything: the fear of God have above all."

Mstislav tirelessly built temples: in 1103 he erected the Church of the Annunciation on Gorodishche in Novgorod, for which the famous Mstislav Gospel was created; in 1113 he founded the St. Nicholas Cathedral; in 1116, during the reconstruction of the Novgorod citadel, he equipped the bishops' chambers; at the same time, on his orders, a fortress was laid in Ladoga (from 1703 - Staraya Ladoga) with St. George's Church; he continued church construction in Kyiv, having already become the Grand Duke of Kyiv.

Like his father, the prince also had obvious literary abilities: it was on his order and under his “watch” that the last, third, edition of the Tale of Bygone Years was created in 1118.

Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich the Great canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in the guise of holy noble princes, Mstislav is significant.


Sasha Mitrahovich 09.02.2017 11:02


For the Church of the Annunciation on Gorodishche, built in 1103, Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich ordered the Gospel no later than 1117, which was prepared by the scribe Alexa, the son of Presbyter Lazar, and the gold painter, the author of miniatures, Zhaden.

The Ostromir Gospel of the middle of the 11th century, from which the miniatures were copied, served as a model for this Gospel (it is called Mstislavovo). However, “copied” is not quite the right word, because “copies” came out quite “free”, stylistically original, clearly deviating from the Byzantine “canon”.

Having become the Grand Duke of Kyiv in 1125, Mstislav Vladimirovich sent his tyun Naslav with a priceless Gospel to Tsargrad, where the local craftsmen richly decorated the binding. The names of Aleksa, Zhaden and Naslav were preserved for us by the book itself - according to the customs of that time, each of them left evidence of their labors in it.