The Great Russian Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich the Great was supposedly born in February 1076. At baptism, he was named Theodore, and in Europe he was known as Prince Harald, like his maternal grandfather, Harold II Godwinson, who was the last of the Anglo-Saxon kings and the father of Gita of Wessex. The father of Mstislav Vladimirovich the Great was the same famous Prince Vladimir Monomakh. Subsequently, he was canonized as a saint of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Life story

Mstislav Vladimirovich the Great was the eldest son in the family. This meant, according to the old Russian law of kingship, that it was he who, after the death of his father, was to take the throne and become the great prince of Kiev. And yet, his path to the throne was not easy, moreover, he was full of obstacles and fierce struggle. In the period of recent years, Russia has become a kind of arena for between Russian princes. Before ascending the throne of Kyiv, Mstislav Vladimirovich the Great reigned first in one, then in another of the Russian cities. Novgorod was in his power for a particularly long time. Under him, this city greatly expanded its possessions, was able to achieve political and economic prosperity. But at some point, Prince Mstislav was forced to violate the vow he had given to the Novgorodians to reign for life and, by order of his father, left the city, heading to reign in Belgorod. Vsevolod, his son, takes his place in Novgorod.

Grand Duke of Kyiv

When Mstislav Vladimirovich the Great in 1125, he automatically became the Grand Duke of Kyiv. It seemed that this could become another reason for dissatisfaction with other princes, but everything went smoothly: oddly enough, his candidacy suited everyone. However, other Russian princes were in no hurry to swear allegiance to him, and at first only Kyiv and the principality of Kiev belonged to his possessions. Two years later, he managed to change the situation. Mstislav decided to join the struggle for power in the city of Chernigov. With the assistance of the Polovtsy, he managed to capture some of the Chernihiv lands. After that, the inhabitants of Smolensk knelt before him. However, he does not stay here and puts his son on the princely throne. Soon, almost all of Russia was in his power.

Mstislav Vladimirovich the Great: main events

After he was able to subjugate all the Russian princes, Mstislav decides to improve the foreign policy situation and makes several trips to the Polotsk principality, subjugates a number of foreign cities. Over the next year, he finally conquers the Polovtsian lands and places Izyaslav on the throne. On this, he did not want to stop and with the army went to the Baltic. However, failure awaited him there; during the capture of Lithuania, the Russian troops were defeated.

Children and family

The wife of Mstislav the Great in 1095 was the daughter of the king of Sweden. She bore her husband four sons. The father made sure that each of his sons - Vsevolod, Izyaslav, Rostislav and Svetopolk - became the rulers of different Russian cities. The Norwegian princess was not particularly healthy and died shortly after the birth of her youngest son. The prince married a second time, and in a new marriage he had two more daughters.

The results of the reign of Mstislav the Great

Why was he called the Great? This was the prince who managed to stop internecine wars for some time. The years of the reign of Grand Duke Mstislav Vladimirovich were thus marked by peace on Russian soil. He became the sole ruler of Kievan Rus. In addition, he managed to expand the territory of his country. He also led a very wise tax policy: he took from the people as a tax exactly as much as was necessary, did not rob the people completely and left funds for a normal existence. With him, almost no one went hungry. The years of his reign were also marked by the construction of many Orthodox churches.

For the first time, Mstislav had the opportunity to expand his possessions during the struggle for Chernigov. His daughter was married to Prince Vsevolod Olgovich of Novgorod-Seversky, whose uncle ruled Chernigov at that time. He called the Polovtsy for help and managed to drive his uncle out of his accustomed place. Mstislav and Yaropolk opposed Vsevolod, as they swore allegiance to Yaroslav, but he did not restore the status quo. Then the Grand Duke placed his son Izyaslav on the throne of Kursk, and then managed to separate Murom and Ryazan from Chernigov, in Smolensk, after the death of the Svyatoslavoviches, he placed his son Rostislav on the princely throne, and he, in turn, founded a local dynasty here.

Hike to Plock

1123 was successful for Mstislav the Great. He was not satisfied with the conquest of Russian cities, but decided to go against his neighbors, namely the Polovtsy. Here he was able to conquer and then plunder Strezhev, Izyaslavl, Lagozhsk and others. The lord of Polotsk, Prince Davyd Vseslavich, was replaced, his own brother, Rogvolod, who held out until 1128, ascended the throne. After his death, Davyd again took the throne, but Mstislav could not allow this and took him and his other two brothers prisoner, and Izyaslav Mstislavich was appointed prince of these places. The Polotsk land began to be ruled by the minor prince Vasilko Svyatoslavich, whom Mstislav the Great sent to Constantinople in 1130.

Legends associated with the name of Mstislav the Great

German church leader of the first third of the 12th century. Rupert in his “Eulogy to St. Panteleimon” reports that, during the years of his reign, Mstislav-Harald almost died during a hunt. A bear attacked him and cut open his stomach in such a way that his insides fell out. The wounded prince was brought to his house. His mother, Gita, began to pray to St. Panteleimon. And then Mstislav Vladimirovich the Great had a dream. Briefly, barely breathing, he told his mother about him: a young man came to him and promised to cure him. According to legend, in the morning a young man, very similar to Panteleimon, actually came to him, brought various drugs with him and healed him. When Mstislav's second son was born, he was given the name Panteleimon at baptism. Moreover, the prince founded a wonderful monastery near Novgorod and named it after this saint. And it was not the only temple that he rebuilt. It was on his orders that the Church of the Annunciation and the Nikolo-Dvorishchensky Cathedral were built.

Diploma of the Great Mstislav Vladimirovich

This is the most unique monument of the past of Russia, which has survived to this day. It was written on parchment and attached to it was a hanging silver seal with gilding. This letter dates from the era of the great, that is, the Kiev reign of Mstislav Vladimirovich (1125-1132), for his deeds called the Great by the people. It is not possible to establish the exact date of the drawing up of the Charter of the Grand Duke Mstislav Vladimirovich, therefore it is generally accepted that this happened around 1130. It was then that the son of the Grand Duke, Vsevolod, came to his father in Kyiv, although in some chronicles this event dates back to 1126. Historian S. V. Yushkov calls this document an immunity letter. This means that the right to land ownership and to collect tribute, vira and sales is transferred to its owner in the first place. Later, he also received awards in the form of exemption from financial and administrative subordination to princely power and general jurisdiction. Mstislav's letter was kept in
Buice, in the monastery, founded under Vsevolod. It is located on the shores of the lake of the same name on the border of the Tver and Pskov provinces.

The death of the Grand Duke

According to the chronicle, Mstislav Vladimirovich died on April 14, 1132. He handed over his throne not to one of his sons, as everyone assumed, but to his brother, Yaropolk. However, he set a condition before him that after he rises to the great princely throne, then his Pereyaslavel will give way to the son of Mstislav Vsevolod. However, this plan could not be implemented, as his younger brothers rose up against Vsevolod. While uncles and nephews were at enmity with each other for the throne of Kyiv, the Olgovichi entered the arena of struggle, who also claimed power in Kyiv. It turned out that the death of Mstislav became the reason for the disintegration of Kievan Rus into many separate principalities, which waged internecine wars among themselves.

New data on Mstislav the Great in the light of archeology

In the 20th century, on the territory of the Moscow region, in the Mogutovsky archaeological complex, the seal of Mstislav Vladimirovich was discovered. In the last 10 years, archaeologists have found several more seals belonging to this Grand Duke. They were buried under a thick layer of soil in the Novgorod region. A document was also found, from which it was possible to learn that one of the daughters of Mstislav was called Rogneda. Prior to this, both princesses were called exclusively by their patronymic.

Mstislav the Great
1125-1132

Mstislav Vladimirovich the Great (June 1, 1076 - April 14, 1132), baptized Theodore, was known in Europe as Harald, named after his grandfather - Harold II Godwinson, the last Anglo-Saxon king. Grand Duke of Kyiv (1125-1132), son of the Old Russian prince Vladimir Monomakh and the English princess Gita of Wessex. Holy Russian Orthodox Church, faithful; commemoration: April 15 according to the Julian calendar and in the Cathedral of the Saints of Novgorod.

Reigning in Novgorod and Rostov. The fight against the Svyatoslavichs

After the death of Yaropolk Izyaslavich (1086), his brother Svyatopolk violated the vow given to the Novgorodians of life-long reign in Novgorod and moved to Turov, and his place in Novgorod was taken by the grandson of Vsevolod Yaroslavich of Kiev Mstislav, who gave the Novgorodians a similar vow.

In 1094, the Svyatoslavichs, taking advantage of the temporary weakening of Svyatopolk of Kiev and Vladimir Monomakh, who was then the Chernigov prince, presented their claims to Chernigov, Smolensk, Novgorod. In 1094-1095, Davyd Svyatoslavich was the prince of Novgorod (and Mstislav of Rostov), ​​but after leaving for Smolensk, he was then not accepted back by the Novgorodians. In 1096, Mstislav with the Novgorodians was the main force in the struggle against Oleg Svyatoslavich, expelled from the south, for Rostov, Mur and Ryazan. Having received from the south from his father an auxiliary Russian-Polovtsian army led by his brother Vyacheslav, he defeated Oleg on the Koloksha River.

In 1102, when the prince of Kyiv Svyatopolk Izyaslavich wanted to replace Mstislav in Novgorod with his son, the Novgorodians answered him if your son has two heads, send him to us.

Mstislav contributed to the strengthening (in 1116 there was an expansion of Novgorod Detinets) and decoration (on his instructions, the Church of the Annunciation on Gorodische was founded in 1103, and in 1113 - the Nikolo-Dvorishchensky Cathedral) of the city.

Reign in Belgorod

In 1117, Mstislav was transferred by his father to Belgorod, thereby violating the vow given to the Novgorodians, and in 1118 the Novgorod boyars were summoned to Kyiv, where they were sworn in. The transfer of Mstislav to the south displeased Yaroslav Svyatopolchich, who had been married to Mstislav's daughter since 1112, and he was soon expelled from Volhynia. The chronicle accuses him not so much of going against his uncle Monomakh, but of going against his father-in-law Mstislav. Mstislav's place in Novgorod was taken by his eldest son Vsevolod.

Great reign

Upon the death of Vladimir Monomakh in 1125, Mstislav inherited the great reign, which did not cause discontent and struggle on the part of the Chernigov Svyatoslavichs, as was the case with the reign of Monomakh in 1113. And although the seniority of Mstislav was unconditionally recognized by all his brothers, initially only Kyiv was under his direct control.

At the news of the death of Vladimir Monomakh, the Polovtsy came to the Torks, but Yaropolk and the Pereyaslavtsy defeated them. The “Tale of the Emshan Grass”, cited by the Ipatiev Chronicle, which has parallels with historical events, tells about the return from the Caucasus of one of the two Polovtsian hordes of the sons of Sharukan immediately after the death of Vladimir Monomakh.

The first opportunity to expand possessions opened up before Mstislav because of the struggle for power in Chernigov. Prince Vsevolod Olgovich of Novgorod-Seversky, married to his daughter, expelled his uncle Yaroslav Svyatoslavich from Chernigov in 1127 and called for help from the Polovtsians. Mstislav, although he spoke with Yaropolk against Vsevolod in accordance with his cross kissing Yaroslav, did not restore the status quo. Kursk with the Family went to Mstislav (where he planted his son Izyaslav), and Murom and Ryazan separated from Chernigov under the rule of Yaroslav and his descendants.

In the same year, Vyacheslav Vladimirovich moved from Smolensk to Turov, and Mstislav's son Rostislav, who later founded the local dynasty, settled in Smolensk.

In the same year, 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.

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.

April 14, 1132 Mstislav died, passing the throne to his brother Yaropolk. By agreement between Mstislav and Yaropolk, he had to give Pereyaslavl to Vsevolod Mstislavich. This plan not only failed to be implemented due to the resistance of the younger Vladimirovichs, but also because of the movements of Vsevolod and Izyaslav, Novgorod and Polotsk were lost, and the conflict between the Vladimirovichs and the Mstislavichs was used by the Olgovichs not only to return the Estate, but also to include them in the struggle. for the Kyiv throne. The collapse of the Old Russian state into independent principalities is most often dated to the year of the death of Mstislav the Great.

DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN POLICY

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, 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 sympathies of Novgorodians for Mstislav were 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, Andrey 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 Kiev, 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. "Mstislav Gospel", ordered by the prince.

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 ceded 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.

The description of history in textbooks and multi-million editions of works of art in recent decades has been questioned, to put it mildly. Of great importance in the study of ancient times are the rulers of Russia in chronological order. People who are interested in their native history begin to understand that, in fact, its real, written on paper, does not exist, there are versions from which everyone chooses his own, corresponding to his ideas. History from textbooks is suitable only for the role of a starting point.

Rulers of Russia during the period of the highest rise of the Ancient State

Much of what is known about the history of Russia - Russia, is gleaned from the "lists" of chronicles, the originals of which have not been preserved. In addition, even copies often contradict themselves and the elementary logic of events. Often historians are forced to accept only their own opinion and claim it is the only true one.

The first legendary rulers of Russia, who date back to 2.5 thousand years BC, were brothers Sloven and Rus. They lead their family from the son of Noah Japhet (hence Vandal, Encourage, etc.). The people of Rus are Rusichs, Russ, the people of Slovenia are Slovenes, Slavs. On the lake The Ilmen brothers built the cities of Slovensk and Rusa (nowadays Staraya Rusa). Veliky Novgorod was later built on the site of the burned-out Slovensk.

Known descendants of Slovenia - Burivoi and Gostomysl- the son of Burivogo, either a posadnik, or a foreman of Novgorod, who, having lost all his sons in battles, called his grandson Rurik to Russia from a related tribe of Russia (specifically from the island of Rugen).

Next come the versions written by the German "historiographers" (Bayer, Miller, Schletzer) in the Russian service. In the German historiography of Russia, it is striking that it was written by people who did not know the Russian language, traditions and beliefs. Who collected and rewrote the annals, not preserving, but often deliberately destroying, adjusting the facts to some kind of ready-made version. Interestingly, for several hundred years, Russian historiographers, instead of refuting the German version of history, did their best to fit new facts and research into it.

The rulers of Russia according to historical tradition:

1. Rurik (862 - 879)- called by his grandfather to restore order and stop civil strife between the Slavic and Finno-Ugric tribes in the territory of modern Leningrad and Novgorod regions. He founded or restored the city of Ladoga (Staraya Ladoga). Ruled in Novgorod. After the Novgorod uprising in 864, under the leadership of the governor Vadim the Brave, he united northwestern Russia under his command.

According to legend, he sent (or they themselves left) the combatants Askold and Dir to fight in Constantinople by water. They captured Kyiv along the way.

How the ancestor of the Rurik dynasty died is not exactly known.

2. Oleg the Prophet (879 - 912)- a relative or successor of Rurik, who remained at the head of the Novgorod state, either as the guardian of Rurik's son - Igor, or as a competent prince.

In 882 he goes to Kyiv. On the way, peacefully annexes to the principality many tribal Slavic lands along the Dnieper, including the lands of the Smolensk Krivichi. In Kyiv he kills Askold and Dir, makes Kyiv the capital.

In 907, he wages a victorious war with Byzantium - a trade agreement that is beneficial for Russia is signed. Nails his shield to the gates of Constantinople. He makes many successful and not very military campaigns (including defending the interests of the Khazar Khaganate), becoming the creator of the state of Kievan Rus. According to legend, he dies from a snake bite.

3. Igor (912 - 945)- fights for the unity of the state, constantly pacifying and annexing the surrounding Kiev lands, Slavic tribes. He has been fighting since 920 with the Pechenegs. He makes two trips to Tsargrad: in 941 - unsuccessful, in 944 - with the conclusion of an agreement on more favorable terms for Russia than Oleg's. Dies at the hands of the Drevlyans, having gone for a second tribute.

4. Olga (945 - after 959)- Regent for the three-year-old Svyatoslav. The date of birth and origin have not been precisely established - either an obscure Varangian, or Oleg's daughter. She cruelly and subtly took revenge on the Drevlyans for the murder of her husband. Clearly set the size of the tribute. She divided Russia into parts controlled by the Tiuns. Introduced a system of churchyards - places of trade and exchange. She built fortresses and cities. In 955 she was baptized in Constantinople.

The time of her reign is characterized by peace with the surrounding countries and the development of the state in all respects. The first Russian saint. She died in 969.

5. Svyatoslav Igorevich (959 - March 972)- the date of the beginning of the reign is relative - the mother ruled the country until her death, while Svyatoslav himself preferred to fight and rarely visited Kyiv and not for long. Even the first raid of the Pechenegs and the siege of Kyiv was met by Olga.

As a result of two campaigns, Svyatoslav defeated the Khazar Khaganate, to which Russia paid tribute for a long time with its soldiers. He conquered and imposed tribute on the Volga Bulgaria. Supporting ancient traditions and in agreement with the squad, he despised Christians, Muslims and Jews. He conquered Tmutarakan and made the Vyatichi tributaries. In the period from 967 to 969 he successfully fought in Bulgaria under an agreement with the Byzantine Empire. In 969, he distributed Russia between his sons into destinies: Yaropolk - Kyiv, Oleg - the Drevlyansk lands, Vladimir (the illegitimate son of the housekeeper) - Novgorod. He himself went to the new capital of his state - Pereyaslavets on the Danube. In 970 - 971 he fought with the Byzantine Empire with varying success. He was killed by the Pechenegs, bribed by Constantinople, on the way to Kyiv, as he became too strong an opponent for Byzantium.

6. Yaropolk Svyatoslavich (972 - 11.06.978)- tried to establish a relationship with the Holy Roman Empire and the Pope. Supported Christians in Kyiv. He minted his own coin.

In 978 he defeated the Pechenegs. Since 977, at the instigation of the boyars, he began an internecine war with his brothers. Oleg died trampled by horses during the siege of the fortress, Vladimir fled "over the sea" and returned with a mercenary army. As a result of the war, Yaropolk, invited to the negotiations, was killed, and Vladimir took the place of grand duke.

7. Vladimir Svyatoslavich (06/11/978 - 07/15/1015)- made attempts to reform the Slavic Vedic cult, using human sacrifices. He conquered Cherven Rus and Przemysl from the Poles. He conquered the Yotvingians, which opened the way for Russia to the Baltic Sea. He overlaid tribute to the Vyatichi and Rodimichi, while uniting the Novgorod and Kiev lands. He concluded a favorable peace with the Volga Bulgaria.

In 988, he captured Korsun in the Crimea and threatened to go to Constantinople if he did not get the sister of the emperor of Byzantium as his wife. Having received a wife, he was baptized there in Korsun and began to plant Christianity in Russia with “fire and sword”. During the forced Christianization, the country became depopulated - out of 12 million, only 3 remained. Only Rostov-Suzdal land was able to avoid forced Christianization.

He paid much attention to the recognition of Kievan Rus in the West. He built several fortresses to defend the principality from the Polovtsians. With military campaigns he reached the North Caucasus.

8. Svyatopolk Vladimirovich (1015 - 1016, 1018 - 1019)- using the support of the people and the boyars, he took the throne of Kyiv. Soon three brothers die - Boris, Gleb, Svyatoslav. An open struggle for the grand prince's throne begins to be waged by his own brother, Prince Yaroslav of Novgorod. After being defeated by Yaroslav, Svyatopolk runs to his father-in-law, King Boleslav I of Poland the Brave. In 1018, with the Polish troops, he defeats Yaroslav. The Poles, who began to plunder Kyiv, cause popular indignation, and Svyatopolk is forced to disperse them, left without troops.

Returning with new troops, Yaroslav easily takes Kyiv. Svyatopolk, with the help of the Pechenegs, is trying to regain power, but to no avail. Dies, deciding to go to the Pechenegs.

For the murders of the brothers attributed to him, he was nicknamed the Accursed.

9. Yaroslav the Wise (1016 - 1018, 1019 - 20.02.1054)- first settled in Kyiv during the war with his brother Svyatopolk. He received support from the Novgorodians, and besides them he had a mercenary army.

The beginning of the second period of reign was marked by princely strife with his brother Mstislav, who defeated Yaroslav's troops and captured the left bank of the Dnieper with Chernigov. Peace was concluded between the brothers, they went on joint campaigns against the Yasses and the Poles, but the Grand Duke Yaroslav, until the death of his brother, stayed in Novgorod, and not in capital Kyiv.

In 1030 he defeated the Chud and founded the city of Yuryev. Immediately after Mstislav's death, fearing competition, he imprisons his last brother Sudislav and moves to Kyiv.

In 1036 he defeated the Pechenegs, freeing Russia from raids. In subsequent years, he made trips to the Yotvingians, Lithuania and Mazovia. In 1043 - 1046 he fought with the Byzantine Empire because of the murder of a noble Russian in Constantinople. He breaks the alliance with Poland and gives his daughter Anna to the French king.

Founds monasteries and builds temples, incl. Sophia Cathedral, erects stone walls to Kiev. By order of Yaroslav, many books are translated and rewritten. Opens the first school for the children of priests and village elders in Novgorod. Under him, the first metropolitan of Russian origin appears - Hilarion.

Publishes the Church Charter and the first known code of laws of Russia "Russian Truth".

10. Izyaslav Yaroslavich (02/20/1054 - 09/14/1068, 05/2/1069 - March 1073, 06/15/1077 - 10/3/1078)- not beloved by the people of Kiev, the prince, who was forced to periodically hide outside the principality. Together with the brothers, he creates a set of laws "The Truth of the Yaroslavichs". The first board is characterized by joint decision-making by all brothers Yaroslaviches - Triumvirate.

In 1055, the brothers defeated the Torks near Pereyaslavl and established borders with the Polovtsian Land. Izyaslav assists Byzantium in Armenia, seizes the lands of the Baltic people - golyad. In 1067, as a result of the war with the Principality of Polotsk, he captured Prince Vseslav Charodey by deceit.

In 1068, Izyaslav refuses to arm the people of Kiev against the Polovtsy, for which he was expelled from Kyiv. Returns with Polish troops.

In 1073, as a result of a conspiracy drawn up by his younger brothers, he leaves Kyiv and wanders around Europe for a long time in search of allies. The throne returns after Svyatoslav Yaroslavovich dies.

He died in a battle with his nephews near Chernigov.

11. Vseslav Bryachislavich (09/14/1068 - April 1069)- Polotsk prince, released from arrest by the people of Kiev, who rebelled against Izyaslav and elevated to the throne of the Grand Duke. He left Kyiv when Izyaslav was approaching with the Poles. He reigned in Polotsk for more than 30 years, without stopping the fight against the Yaroslavichs.

12.Svyatoslav Yaroslavich (22.03.1073 - 27.12.1076)- came to power in Kyiv as a result of a conspiracy against his older brother, with the support of the people of Kiev. He devoted much attention and funds to the maintenance of the clergy and the church. Died as a result of surgery.

13.Vsevolod Yaroslavich (01/01/1077 - July 1077, October 1078 - 04/13/1093)- the first period ended with a voluntary transfer of power to his brother Izyaslav. The second time he took the grand duke's place after the death of the latter in an internecine war.

Almost the entire period of reign was marked by a fierce internecine struggle, especially with the Polotsk principality. Vladimir Monomakh, the son of Vsevolod, distinguished himself in this civil strife, who, with the help of the Polovtsy, carried out several devastating campaigns against the Polotsk lands.

Vsevolod and Monomakh carried out campaigns against the Vyatichi and Polovtsy.

Vsevolod gave his daughter Eupraxia to the Emperor of the Roman Empire. The marriage, consecrated by the church, ended in scandal and the accusation of the emperor of conducting satanic rituals.

14. Svyatopolk Izyaslavich (24.04.1093 - 16.04.1113)- first of all, having ascended the throne, he arrested the Polovtsian ambassadors, unleashing a war. As a result, together with V. Monomakh, he was defeated by the Polovtsy at Stugna and Zhelan, Torchesk was burned, and three main Kiev monasteries were plundered.

Princely civil strife was not stopped by the congress of princes held in 1097 in Lyubech, which secured possessions for offshoots of princely dynasties. Svyatopolk Izyaslavich remained the Grand Duke and ruler of Kyiv and Turov. Immediately after the congress, he slandered V. Monomakh and other princes. They responded with a siege of Kyiv, which ended in a truce.

In 1100, at the congress of princes in Uvetchitsy, Svyatopolk received Volhynia.

In 1104, Svyatopolk organized a campaign against the Minsk prince Gleb.

In 1103 - 1111, a coalition of princes led by Svyatopolk and Vladimir Monomakh successfully waged a war against the Polovtsians.

The death of Svyatopolk was accompanied by an uprising in Kyiv against the boyars and usurers closest to him.

15. Vladimir Monomakh (20.04.1113 - 19.05.1125)- invited to reign during the uprising in Kyiv against the administration of Svyatopolk. He created the “Charter on Cuts”, which was included in the Russkaya Pravda, which facilitated the position of debtors while fully preserving feudal relations.

The beginning of the reign was not without civil strife: Yaroslav Svyatopolchich, who claimed the throne of Kyiv, had to be expelled from Volhynia. The period of Monomakh's reign was the last period of strengthening of the grand duke's power in Kyiv. Together with his sons, the Grand Duke owned 75% of the territory of chronicle Russia.

To strengthen the state, Monomakh often used dynastic marriages and his authority as a military leader - the winner of the Polovtsy. During his reign, the sons defeated the Chud, defeated the Volga Bulgars.

In 1116 - 1119 Vladimir Vsevolodovich successfully fought with Byzantium. As a result of the war, as a ransom, he received from the emperor the title "Tsar of All Russia", a scepter, orb, royal crown (Monomakh's hat). As a result of the negotiations, Monomakh married his granddaughter to the emperor.

16. Mstislav the Great (05/20/1125 - 04/15/1132)- originally owned only the Kiev land, but was recognized as the eldest among the princes. Gradually began to control the cities of Novgorod, Chernigov, Kursk, Murom, Ryazan, Smolensk and Turov through dynastic marriages and sons.

In 1129 he plundered the Polotsk lands. In 1131, he deprived and expelled the princes of Polotsk, headed by the son of Vseslav Charodey - Davyd.

In the period from 1130 to 1132 he made several campaigns with varying success against the Baltic tribes, including the Chud and Lithuania.

The state of Mstislav is the last informal association of the principalities of Kievan Rus. He controlled all the major cities, all the way "from the Varangians to the Greeks", the accumulated military force gave him the right to be called the Great in the annals.

The rulers of the Old Russian state during the period of fragmentation and decline of Kyiv

The princes on the throne of Kiev during this period are replaced often and do not rule for long, for the most part they do not show themselves anything remarkable:

1. Yaropolk Vladimirovich (04/17/1132 - 02/18/1139)- the prince of Pereyaslavl was called to rule the people of Kiev, but his very first decision to transfer Pereyaslavl to Izyaslav Mstislavich, who had previously ruled in Polotsk, caused outrage among the people of Kiev and the expulsion of Yaropolk. In the same year, the people of Kiev called Yaropolk again, but Polotsk, to which the dynasty of Vseslav the Enchanter returned, was separated from Kievan Rus.

In the internecine struggle that began between the various branches of the Rurikovich, the Grand Duke could not show firmness and by the time of his death had lost control, except for Polotsk, over Novgorod and Chernigov. Nominally, only Rostov - Suzdal land was subordinate to him.

2. Vyacheslav Vladimirovich (22.02 - 04.03.1139, April 1151 - 02.06.1154)- the first, one and a half week period of reign ended with the overthrow from the throne by Vsevolod Olgovich, the Chernigov prince.

In the second period, it was only an official sign, real power belonged to Izyaslav Mstislavich.

3. Vsevolod Olgovich (5.03.1139 - 1.08.1146)- Prince of Chernigov, forcefully removed Vyacheslav Vladimirovich from the throne, interrupting the reign of the Monomashichs in Kyiv. Was not loved by the people of Kiev. The entire period of his reign skillfully maneuvered between the Mstislavovichs and the Monomashichs. Constantly fought with the latter, tried not to allow his own relatives to the grand ducal power.

4. Igor Olgovich (1 - 13.08.1146)- Kyiv received according to the will of his brother, which outraged the inhabitants of the city. The townspeople called Izyaslav Mstislavich to the throne from Pereslavl. After the battle between the applicants, Igor was planted in a cut, where he fell seriously ill. Released from there, he was tonsured a monk, but in 1147, on suspicion of plotting against Izyaslav, he was executed by the vengeful people of Kiev only because Olgovich.

5. Izyaslav Mstislavich (08/13/1146 - 08/23/1149, 1151 - 11/13/1154)- in the first period, directly except for Kyiv, he ruled Pereyaslavl, Turov, Volyn. In the internecine struggle with Yuri Dolgoruky and his allies, he enjoyed the support of the people of Novgorod, Smolensk and Ryazan. He often attracted allied Polovtsians, Hungarians, Czechs, and Poles into his ranks.

For attempting to elect a Russian metropolitan without the approval of the patriarch from Constantinople, he was excommunicated from the church.

He had the support of the people of Kiev in the fight against the Suzdal princes.

6. Yuri Dolgoruky (08/28/1149 - summer 1150, summer 1150 - early 1151, 03/20/1155 - 05/15/1157)- Prince of Suzdal, son of V. Monomakh. He sat on the throne three times. The first two times he was expelled from Kyiv by Izyaslav and the people of Kiev. In his struggle for the rights of the Monomashichs, he relied on the support of Novgorod - the Seversky prince Svyatoslav (brother of Igor executed in Kyiv), Galicians and Polovtsians. The battle on the Ruta in 1151 became decisive in the fight against Izyaslav. Having lost which, Yuri, one by one, lost all his allies in the south.

The third time he subjugated Kyiv after Izyaslav and his co-ruler Vyacheslav died. In 1157 he made an unsuccessful campaign against Volyn, where the sons of Izyaslav settled.

Presumably poisoned by the people of Kiev.

In the south, only one son of Yuri Dolgoruky, Gleb, was able to gain a foothold in the Pereyaslavl principality, which was isolated from Kyiv.

7. Rostislav Mstislavich (1154 - 1155, 04/12/1159 - 02/08/1161, March 1161 - 03/14/1167)- for 40 years, the Smolensk prince. Founded the Grand Duchy of Smolensk. The first time he took the Kyiv throne at the invitation of Vyacheslav Vladimirovich, who called him to co-rulers, but soon died. Rostislav Mstislavich was forced to meet Yuri Dolgoruky. Having met with his uncle, the Smolensk prince ceded Kyiv to an older relative.

The second and third terms of reign in Kyiv were divided by the attack of Izyaslav Davydovich with the Polovtsy, which forced Rostislav Mstislavovich to hide in Belgorod, waiting for the allies.

The board was distinguished by calmness, insignificance of civil strife and peaceful resolution of conflicts. In every possible way, attempts by the Polovtsy to disturb the peace in Russia were suppressed.

With the help of a dynastic marriage, he annexed Vitebsk to the Smolensk principality.

8. Izyaslav Davydovich (winter 1155, 05/19/1157 - December 1158, 02.12 - 03/06/1161)- the first time he became the Grand Duke, defeating the troops of Rostislav Mstislavich, but was forced to cede the throne to Yuri Dolgoruky.

The second time he took the throne after the death of Dolgoruky, but was defeated near Kiev by the Volyn and Galich princes for refusing to extradite the pretender to the Galician throne.

The third time he captured Kyiv, but was defeated by the allies of Rostislav Mstislavich.

9. Mstislav Izyaslavich (12/22/1158 - spring 1159, 05/19/1167 - 03/12/1169, February - 04/13/1170)- the first time he became the prince of Kiev, having expelled Izyaslav Davydovich, but ceded the great reign to Rostislav Mstislavich, as the eldest in the family.

The second time he was called to rule by the people of Kiev after the death of Rostislav Mstislavich. Could not keep the reign against the army of Andrei Bogolyubsky.

The third time he settled in Kyiv without a fight, using the love of the people of Kiev and expelling Gleb Yurievich, who was imprisoned in Kyiv by Andrei Bogolyubsky. However, abandoned by the allies, he was forced to return to Volhynia.

He became famous for his victory over the Polovtsy at the head of the coalition troops in 1168.

It is considered the last great Kiev prince who had real power over Russia.

With the rise of the Vladimir-Suzdal Principality, Kyiv is increasingly becoming an ordinary appanage, although it retains the name "great". Problems, most likely, should be looked for in what and how the rulers of Russia did, in the chronological order of their succession to power. Decades of civil strife bore fruit - the principality weakened and lost its significance for Russia. Reigning in Kyiv than chief. Often the princes of Kiev were appointed or changed by the Grand Duke from Vladimir.

Mstislav Vladimirovich (Mstislav the Great) - Prince of Kyiv, son of an Old Russian prince.

The years of Mstislav's life - 1076-1132.

Brief biography of Mstislav the Great

Mstislav was the son of Vladimir Monomakh and the English princess Gita of Wes. In Europe, Mstislav was called Harold (in honor of the grandfather of Harold 2nd Godwinson), and at baptism he received the name Theodore.

Mstislav was supposed to inherit the throne and become the Grand Duke of Kiev after his father, but his ascent to power was not easy for him - he encountered among the Svyatoslavichs and changed the place of his reign several times before the death of Vladimir Monomakh.

After the death of Yaropolk Izyaslavich, his brother Svyatopolk was to become a prince in Novgorod for life, but he broke his promise and Mstislav came to reign in Novgorod, who made a similar vow of lifelong reign. In 1094, Vladimir, then reigning in Chernigov, clashed with the Svyatoslavichs, who presented their claims to Chernigov, Smolensk and Novgorod and successfully captured them. Mstislav was sent to reign in Rostov, where he remained from 1094 to 1095, and then went to Smolensk.

In 1096, Mstislav, together with the Novgorodians, organized resistance to Oleg Svyatoslavich, who wanted to capture Rostov, Mur and Ryazan. Mstislav and his brother Vyacheslav became the head of the army, which Vladimir Monomakh sent to help his sons, and together they were able to defeat Oleg on the river. Koloksha.

In 1102, the prince of Kyiv Svyatopolk decided to replace Mstislav as prince of Novgorod with his son, but the people of Novgorod did not accept the new prince. Under Mstislav, this principality was significantly strengthened: the lands were expanded, the city became stronger, could defend itself and defend itself from invasions.

However, Mstislav, like his predecessor, had to break his vow: in 1117, his father transferred him to reign in Belgorod, the place of Mstislav himself in Novgorod was taken by his son Vsevolod.

Great reign

In 1125, Vladimir Monomakh dies, and Mstislav becomes the great prince of Kiev. Despite fears, his appointment is accepted calmly, the Svyatoslavichs do not see anything wrong with Mstislav becoming the next Grand Duke. The brothers of Mstislav also unconditionally recognized the seniority of their brother and his right to the throne. Despite this, at the very beginning of his reign, Mstislav owned only Kiev, but not all of Russia.

The opportunity to subjugate other Russian lands opened up before Mstislav in 1127, when a struggle for power began in Chernigov. Mstislav opposed Vsevolod, who gathered an army and seized power in Chernigov, and defeated him, taking a number of lands. In the same year, Mstislav sent his son to reign in Smolensk.

Later, Mstislav continued his conquests: he made a campaign against the Principality of Polotsk, as a result of which many Polotsk cities were taken and plundered. In 1128, the campaign against the Polovtsy was repeated, this time he managed to subjugate the Polotsk land to the power of Russia, the local princes were captured, and Izyaslav was transferred to reign.

However, Mstislav's foreign policy was not always successful, he often suffered defeats in the Baltic states, reached Lithuania several times, but on the way back his troops were defeated.

Mstislav died on April 14, 1132, passing his throne to his brother Yaropolk. After his death, another large-scale civil strife unfolded in Russia.

Family and Children

Mstislav married in 1095 the daughter of the Swedish king Inge the 1st, Princess Christina, who bore him ten children, among whom were four boys: Vsevolod (became the prince of Novgorod), Izyaslav (prince of Kursk, Volyn and later - the great prince of Kyiv), Rostislav (prince of Smolensk), Svyatopolk (prince of Polotsk, Pskov, Novgorod, Vladimir-Volyn).

After the death of his first wife in 1122, Mstislav married a second time, in this marriage two children were born - Vladimir and Efrosinya.

The results of the reign of Mstislav the Great

In general, the reign of Mstislav was quite successful. He managed, albeit for a short time, but still to unite Russia, again make it a single state and restrain the princes from civil strife (which resumed only after his death). Under him, Russia made a number of victorious military campaigns in neighboring territories, defeated the Polovtsy and conquered new lands. Under Mstislav, cities began to expand, this is especially noticeable in Novgorod and the Novgorod principality. Many new churches were built.

Historians note that Mstislav received his nickname precisely because he managed to pacify the princes, forcing them to reckon with the opinion of the Grand Duke again and not to wage constant wars. Under Mstislav, there was also a fairly honest and moderate tax collection policy: although there were taxes, they were not so high as to ruin the peasants and feudal lords.

Grand Duke Mstislav Vladimirovich (overview)
(1076- 1132)
Reign: 1125-1132

Mstislav Vladimirovich became the Grand Duke, contrary to the will of Yaroslav the Wise: his uncles and children from his father's elder brothers were still alive. But no one dared to object to his great reign.
Mstislav showed himself as a courageous warrior and a generous ruler.
Having become the Grand Duke, he gave his brothers inheritances: Vsevolod-Novgorod, Yaropolk-Pereyaslavl, Yuri-Rostov, Andrei-Vladimir-Volynsky, Vyacheslav-Turov; son Izyaslav received Kursk, and Rostislav received Smolensk.
The Polovtsy, having learned about the death of Monomakh, hoped that now it was possible to resume predatory raids on Russia. Yaropolk Vladimirovich did not allow this, repelling their attack. In 1127, Mstislav declared himself the patron of all offended princes. And Vsevolod Olegovich expelled his uncle Yaroslav from Chernigov, killed his faithful boyars and plundered their houses.
Mstislav vowed to punish the guilty.
Vsevolod, without delay, hired the Polovtsy, and the 7,000-strong army of barbarians was already approaching the Russian lands. Their ambassadors were captured by Yaropolk, and, without waiting for an answer from Vsevolod, the Polovtsy turned back. Vsevolod pretended to repent, asked for forgiveness from the Grand Duke and the boyars.
Mstislav hesitated, but Yaroslav expected revenge.
The Grand Duke forgave Vsevolod and left him in Chernigov, and the offended Yaroslav returned to Murom, he soon fell ill, and died two years later, leaving the Murom and Ryazan regions to his sons. Mstislav repented of this act, which went against the covenant of his father: "Having taken an oath, fulfill it!"
The army of Mstislav opposed the Polovtsy and drove the Polovtsy beyond the Don and beyond the Volga. They no longer dared to violate the borders of the Russian state.
The Principality of Polotsk experienced a period of split and strife. Mstislav took advantage of this situation and in 1129 conquered the Principality of Polotsk, and Mstislav sent all the Vseslavich princes and their nephews along with their families on boats to Constantinople.
To rule in Polotsk, Mstislav planted his son Izyaslav. He also gave the Minsk principality. Under the supervision of the children and grandchildren of Monomakh were all Russian lands.
The Grand Duke himself continued to make campaigns. Fighting in Lithuania, Mstislav brought from there a huge number of captives, who were then handed over to slaves, noble boyars and settled in the villages. Returning from Lithuania, Mstislav died on April 15, 1132 at the age of 56.
With his ability to rule, to keep order within the state, with his military exploits, Mstislav earned the nickname of the Great among the people.

Board milestones
1126 - Yaropolk repulsed the Polovtsian raids.
1127 - the expulsion of Yaroslav Svyatoslavich from Chernigov.
1129 - the conquest of the Polotsk principality.
1131-1132 - military campaigns against Estonians and Lithuanians

Grand Duke Yaropolk II Vladimirovich (review)
(1082-1139)
Reign: 1132-1139

Mstislav bequeathed the throne of Kyiv to his childless brother Yaropolk and asked him to take care of his children. Yaropolk fulfilled his promise and gave Pereyaslavl to Mstislav's eldest son, Vsevolod.
Two other brothers of Mstislav, Yuri and Andrei, considered this decision unfair and sent Vsevolod back to Novgorod, and Yaropolk put another nephew, Izyaslav Mstislavich, in Pereyaslavl.
Vsevolod was accepted back in Novgorod, after he signed a special letter, significantly limiting the powers of the prince. Since then, the prince of Novgorod had to share power with the posadniks elected by the people.
The appointment of another Mstislavich to Pereyaslavl also did not please the brothers of the Grand Duke. They did not want to give one of the main cities of Russia into the hands of their nephews, they were afraid that over time the young princes would be able to seize the supreme power as well.
Yaropolk again went with them, on occasion and in 1133, persuaded Izyaslav to cede Pereyaslavl to his uncle Vyacheslav, and in return the nephew received Pinsk and Turov to his specific Minsk region. Izyaslav was pleased and was engaged in collecting tribute from the Mstislavich destinies, for the grand ducal treasury.
The peace did not last long. Vyacheslav regretted the former Turov given to his nephew. He took Turov from Izyaslav, sat in it, and Pereyaslavl passed to Yuri Dolgoruky, who gave Yaropolk part of the Rostov and Suzdal regions for him.
Izyaslav was offended and turned to his brother Vsevolod for help, so that he would help him conquer the Suzdal region for him. Vsevolod did not keep his word and did not reach Suzdal. In the absence of Vsevolod, unrest began in Novgorod: the inhabitants elected more and more new posadniks, and those who were objectionable were driven away or killed.
Having learned about the unsuccessful campaign, the Novgorodians began to demand the conquest of Suzdal.
Despite the severe frost, on December 31 they moved to Suzdal. On Zhdanova Hill in the Vladimir region, the Novgorodians took to battle. In this battle, both sides lost many soldiers, but the Novgorodians failed to win, they returned home empty-handed.
At this time, the fire of civil strife blazed in the south of Russia. Chernigov princes Olegovichi declared war on Yaropolk and his brothers. They called for the help of the Polovtsy, who rampaged on Russian soil, burning cities and villages.
Peace was concluded in 1135 near Kiev. Yaropolk again took up the redistribution of possessions: he gave Izyaslav Vladimir, Andrei-Pereyaslavl, and returned Rostov and Suzdal to Yuri. Novgorodians took the most active part in the conclusion of peace, sending their posadnik Miroslav and Bishop Nifont to the princes. Only a few months in 1136, Russia lived relatively calmly, and the war broke out again. Again, the Chernigov princes with the Polovtsian allies began to terrify the surroundings
Pereyaslavl.
The battle on the Supa River was especially cruel, where the Grand Duke lost his squad and cowardly fled from the battlefield. The noble boyars Olegovichi were captured. They also had the banner of the Grand Duke. The winners passed through Tripol, Vasiliev, around Belgorod and were already standing on the banks of the Lybid.
Yaropolk, having re-assembled his army, came out to meet the Olegovichs and offered peace, to cede Kursk and part of the Pereyaslav region to them.
There was no peace in 1137 in the Novgorod region either. The self-willed and recalcitrant inhabitants presented a number of claims to their prince Vsevolod and took him into custody. For seven weeks he sat like a criminal in the bishop's house, until Svyatoslav Olegovich, the brother of the Chernigov prince, elected by the people, arrived in Novgorod.
Vsevolod turned to Yaropolk in search of protection. The Grand Duke showed sympathy for the exile and put him to reign in Vyshgorod, but Yaropolk did not take any measures against the rebellious Novgorod, which had already completely escaped from the power of Kyiv. Novgorodians directly declared themselves enemies of the Grand Duke.
Soon they also drove out Svyatoslav, who did not please the people with an illegal marriage. In Smolensk, Svyatoslav was imprisoned in a monastery. Olegovichi, seized with anger, raged in Southern Russia, approaching Kiev.
In the hope of curbing the Olegovichs, Yaropolk gathered a very strong army: all the Russian princes sent their squads; the Hungarians gave their army; besides this, more than 1,000 mounted torcs were waiting for the command to advance. The army of the Grand Duke approached Chernigov.

The inhabitants of the city were frightened and sent Vsevolod Olegovich to Yaropolk, knowing that the Grand Duke "does not rejoice at the bloodshed and death of the Russians." The calculation of the Chernigovites turned out to be correct: Yaropolk, touched by the speeches of Vsevolod, generously agreed to make peace. After that, the Grand Duke returned to Kyiv. February 18, 1139 Yaropolk died.
Since the reign of Yaropolk, a century-old enmity began between the descendants of Oleg Svyatoslavich and Monomakh. Indecision, cowardice, philanthropy Yaropolk contributed to the aggravation of strife in Russia.
During the 7 years of his reign, many principalities came out of the subordination of the Kiev throne: Chernigov, Polotsk, Galicia, Volyn. Again, Polovtsy appeared on Russian lands, called by the Russian princes themselves, again weeping and groans were heard throughout Russia, streams of blood and tears poured down.

Board milestones
1133 - redistribution of the Pereyaslav throne.
1133-1134 - war for Suzdal; battle on Zhdanova Hill.
1135-conclusion of peace near Kiev.
1136 - battle on the Supa River.
1137 - the expulsion of Svyatoslavich from Novgorod.
1139 - the conclusion of peace near Chernigov.

Grand Duke Vsevolod II Olegovich (review)
Novgorod-Seversky
(?-1146)
Reign: 1139-1146

Upon learning of the death of Grand Duke Yaropolk, Prince Vyacheslav hurried to Kyiv from Pereyaslav. But the Olegovichi did not allow Vyacheslav to establish himself in the power of the Grand Duke. Vsevolod gathered an army and surrounded Kyiv. Vyacheslav was frightened and ceded the throne, having retired to Turov. Vsevolod Olegovich solemnly ascended the throne of Kyiv and celebrated this event with a feast.
The Grand Duke informed the people that he no longer wanted to fight and wanted to live in peace with the Monomakh family. But the descendants of Monomakh were not going to come to Vsevolod and plotted to overthrow him from the throne. Not waiting for them to recognize their power, Vsevolod decided to prevent a possible attack by the Monomakhoviches.
He sent an army to Izyaslav Mstislavich, but it returned in disgrace. Then Vsevolod sent the brother of the Chernigov prince Izyaslav Davidovich and the Galician princes to the Turov and Vladimir regions, and he himself opposed Andrei, telling him that Pereyaslavl should be the lot of Svyatoslav Olegovich, and he should sit in Kursk. But Andrei refused to cede Pereyaslavl.
The Grand Duke put Svyatoslav at the head of the army and sent him to tame the obstinate prince. But the squad of Svyatoslav was defeated and fled. A few days later, Vsevolod and Andrei met in Malotino, promised to forget the enmity and entered into an alliance with the Polovtsian khans. The military campaign against Izyaslav Mstislavich also ended with the conclusion of peace. Vsevolod promised not to disturb the Monomakhoviches and their hereditary destinies any more.
Now only Yuri Vladimirovich remained the enemy of the Grand Duke. In 1140, he asked his son, the Prince of Novgorod, for an army to take revenge on Vsevolod, but the Novgorodians did not want to arm themselves and did not obey the order of the young Rostislav. He had to go to his father, and the masterful Novgorodians again called Svyatoslav Olegovich to the throne.
Svyatoslav accepted the invitation and arrived, but there was no peace. The rebellious spirit soared throughout the Novgorod region. Secretly, together with the mayor Yakun, the prince fled from Novgorod, but the rebels caught up with them, put them in chains and put them in prison. Inconsistent in their decisions, the Novgorodians declared that they wanted a prince from the Monomakh family. And at this time the son of the Grand Duke was already riding to them at their previous request. Vsevolod was angry and did not send anyone to reign in Novgorod, so that the inhabitants of the rebellious city would know all the troubles of the region that did not have a ruler. For nine months, Novgorodians endured all the inconveniences of “anarchy.”
Finally, in the second half of 1142, they turned to Yuri Vladimirovich Dolgoruky and invited him to reign. He did not go himself, but again sent his son Rostislav to Novgorod, but he did not have to reign, since the Grand Duke finally fulfilled the long-standing request of the Novgorodians to give them their brother-in-law Svyatopolk to reign.
After the death of Prince Andrei Vladimirovich, in 1141, discord and civil strife intensified in the country. Vsevolod was looking for ways to a peaceful life of various princely families.
In the winter of 1146, Grand Duke Vsevolod Olegovich felt his strength begin to leave him, he was unwell. Vsevolod, anticipating his death, called all the princes, declared his brother Igor the heir to the throne of Kiev, and persuaded everyone to swear allegiance to him. Soon Vsevolod was taken to Vyshgorod, where he died on August 1, 1146.

Board milestones
1140-1142 - the change of Novgorod princes one after another. (review)

1143-1146 - strife between the princes.
1146 - oath to the heir to the throne of Kiev Igor Olegovich.

Grand Duke Igor Olegovich
(?- 1147)
Reign: 1146
After the body of Vsevolod Olegovich was interred, Igor gathered the people of Kiev and demanded that he swear allegiance again, as the Grand Duke. The people began to complain about the tiuns, the boyar servants who ruled them, that they were robbing the townspeople and oppressing the weak. Igor Olegovich swore on the holy cross that he would be the people's defender, that the best nobles would take the place of the "tiuns-predators".
The boyars, who did not want to lose their positions at court, convinced Igor that only force can rule the people. The Grand Duke did not fulfill the promise given to the people, and all the "predators" remained in their places. The people of Kiev called Igor a perjurer-breaker and considered his power illegal. Secretly, they called Izyaslav Mstislavich to the throne of Kyiv. In the hearts of ordinary Russians, love for the Monomakh family still lived, and his grandson showed military prowess.
Izyaslav led an army to Kiev. Igor knew about the danger and demanded help from the Chernigov princes. They began to bargain, to ask for rich destinies, they hesitated to answer. This delay, as well as the betrayal of the boyars loyal to Igor, advisers, killed the Grand Duke.
On August 17, 1146, the Olegovichs put up an army, but Igor saw his like-minded people hurriedly pass under the banner of Izyaslav. Igor's team was driven into the wilds of the forest, where the prince's horse got bogged down in marshy soil. Igor was captured, kept for several days in a monastery, and then put in prison. A year later, Igor, stricken with an incurable disease, was allowed to take the veil as a monk. After being tonsured for 8 days, he lay in his cell as if dead, and on the 9th day he completely recovered. But soon events occurred that fatally affected the fate of Igor.
Another dispute arose between the Olegovichs and the Monomakhoviches. The boyars remembered how once the evil Vseslav was released from the dungeon. Now same could be such with Igor. The crowd roared, and thousands of voices began to repeat: “Let Igor die!” His fate was sealed. The brother of the Grand Duke Vladimir Mstislavich tried to convince the people that Izyaslav did not want bloodshed. He brought Igor to his mother's house: a violent crowd broke into the house, the villains mercilessly killed Igor and dragged his naked body to the market square. The screams subsided, everyone was silent, as if coming to their senses from what they had done.
Igor was dressed in the robe of a schemer and buried in the monastery of St. Simeon. There is a legend that at the moment of burial, a terrible storm broke out with thunder and lightning through the whole sky.
And soon miracles and signs began to happen over Igor's grave. The Great Martyr Igor Olegovich was canonized, and his relics were transferred to Chernigov.

Board milestones
1146-battle between the troops of Igor and Izyaslav; imprisonment of Igor Olegovich.
1147 - massacre of Igor Olegovich.

Grand Duke Izyaslav II Mstislavovich (review)
Vladimir-Volynsky
(1097-1154)
Reign: 1146-1154

Izyaslav marked the beginning of his reign by making peace with the Polovtsy, who offered their alliance to each new ruler of Russia in order to receive rich gifts from him. The Grand Duke also observed the actions of his brother Igor Olegovich.
Svyatoslav went to enlist the friendship of the Chernigov princes and coordinate with them actions for the release of Igor. A bitter disappointment for Svyatoslav was the news of the secret friendship of the Olegovichs with the new Grand Duke. Izyaslav demanded that he give up Novgorod and renounce his brother. But Svyatoslav, pitying Igor, could not betray him. He tried to win Yuri Dolgoruky over to his side and begged him to release his unfortunate brother. Yuri, dissatisfied with the fact that Izyaslav sat on the throne of Kyiv, disregarding his elder uncles, agreed to help and prepared the army. Svyatoslav persuaded the Polovtsian khans, relatives of his mother. There was a lot of power.
The Grand Duke's army, in response to Svyatoslav's preparations, ravaged his possessions and was already approaching Novgorod. Warned of the danger, Svyatoslav fled to the land of the Vyatichi, which was ruled by the Olegovichs. At this time, Igor Olegovich was already a monk. Yuri Dolgoruky remained an ally of Svyatoslav. They were united by hatred for the Grand Duke. Yuri drove the Ryazan prince, an ally of Izyaslav, to the Polovtsy, and Svyatoslav ravaged the lands in the Smolensk region around Protva. Pleased with themselves and their affairs, the princes met and held a "splendid dinner feast." This happened on March 28, 1147 in the small border town of Moscow on Suzdal land. Throughout the reign of Izyaslav, civil strife between the princes did not stop. Ultimately, Izyaslav regained the throne. It happened in 1151, at the same time Izyaslav returned uncle Vyacheslav to Kyiv, called him the second father and offered to share power with him.
Civil strife continued in constant opposition to the Grand Duke Yuri Dolgoruky, Olegovichi and Prince Vladimirko of Galicia until the death of Izyaslav in 1154. He was buried in Kyiv, in the monastery of St. Theodore.
Board milestones
1147 - a feast on the Suzdal land, the union of Svyatoslav Olegovich and Yuri Dolgoruky.
1151 - Vyacheslav's invitation to reign jointly in Kyiv.

Grand Duke Rostislav Mstislavich Smolensky (overview)
(?-1167)
Reigns: 1154-1155; 1159-1161; 1162-1167

As soon as Izyaslav Davidovich, the son of the Chernigov prince David Svyatoslavich, learned of the death of the Grand Duke, he immediately arrived in Kiev, but Vyacheslav and the boyars did not allow him to enter the capital. They decided to entrust the throne to Rostislav Mstislavich, the brother of the late prince. Vyacheslav was already old and did not dare to rule Russia. He called Rostislav a son, gave him his squad and regiment. Yuri Dolgoruky continued to fight for the throne of Kyiv. He teamed up with Izyaslav Davidovich and Svyatoslav Olegovich. Yuri's son Gleb hired the Polovtsy and laid siege to Pereyaslavl. Rostislav won a swift victory over them. Inspired by success, the Grand Duke moved to Chernigov, but on the campaign he learned that Uncle Vechyaslav had died in Kyiv. Rostislav interrupted the campaign and returned to Kyiv to pay his last respects to Prince Vyacheslav. After the burial of the elder in the St. Sophia Cathedral, the Grand Duke returned to the army. Rostislav wanted to make peace with Izyaslav Davidovich and have him as a faithful ally. Izyaslav did not accept the proposal of the Grand Duke, but lined up his entire army to intimidate. Rostislav, not wanting bloodshed, decided to voluntarily cede the throne of Kyiv, if only everything would work out peacefully. The allies of the Grand Duke, despising such a decision, left the battlefield. The army was confused, the Polovtsy caught up with the fleeing and severely dealt with them. Rostislav fled to Smolensk.
The people of Kiev, having learned about the flight of the Grand Duke, called on Izyaslav Davidovich to rule. But Izyaslav did not have to triumph; Dolgoruky approached Kiev with a large army. He sent forward ambassadors with a request to Izyaslav to voluntarily vacate the throne. The newly-appeared Grand Duke did not hesitate long: the arguments of Svyatoslav Olegovich and the powerful army of Dolgorukov under the city walls convinced Izyaslav to leave Kyiv and retire to Chernigov. Yuri Dolgoruky entered Kyiv as a winner and on March 20, 1155, took the title of Grand Duke.
For the second time, Rostislav Mstislavich became Grand Duke after the death of Yuri Dolgorukov and after the flight of Dolgoruky's successor, Izyaslav Davidovich, across the Dnieper in 1159. Rostislav was not power-hungry and did not aspire to the throne of Kiev, and accepted the title of Grand Duke only after much persuasion and assurances of the people in love for him and trust.
Rostislav was worried about the exiled Grand Duke, Izyaslav Davidovich. In the winter of 1161, Izyaslav turned to the Polovtsy, gathered a huge army and crossed the Dnieper. The first battle was near the city of Podil.
Residents of the city fled in fear under the protection of the Kiev walls. Grand Duke Rostislav, together with the boyars, decided to leave Kyiv in order to avoid bloodshed. He again assumed the duties of the ruler of Southern Russia, after the death of Izyaslav Davidovich.
The Grand Duke was aging, and his main concern was now the arrangement of children. He traveled from one to another and tried to strengthen the position of his sons within their borders. The journey soon tired him, and Rostislav, stopping at Velikiye Luki, summoned noble boyars to him. He took an oath from them that only Mstislav Izyaslavich Volynsky would be the heir to the throne of Kiev. Reassured by the general agreement, Rostislav went to Kyiv. On the way to the capital on March 14, 1167, he died.
The Grand Duke was buried in Kyiv, in the Fedorovsky Monastery.

Board milestones
1154 - the death of the old prince Vyacheslav.
1155 - flight to Smolensk; coming to power of Yuri Dolgoruky.
1159 - the flight of Prince Izyaslav; accession to the throne of Rostislav.
1161 - defeat near Kiev.

Grand Duke Yuri Vladimirovich Dolgoruky (review)
(1090-1157)
Reign: 1155-1157

Yuri Dolgoruky gave the richest areas to his sons to manage: Andrei got Vyshgorod, Boris Turov, Gleb got Pereyaslavl, and Vasily got the environs of Russia. Yuri reached the throne at an advanced age, he was tired of fighting, and he decided to reconcile with all enemies. Everyone accepted his assurances of friendly relations, except for Mstislav Izyaslavich Volynsky, the eldest son of Izyaslav the second Mstislavich, he was in Poland, was afraid of deception and did not want to return.
Throughout 1156, Russia enjoyed silence. Yuri, not sure of his safety, made a new peace with the Polovtsians in order to use their help if necessary. The tranquility of the people was interrupted by new strife.
In Novgorod, as a result of the rebellion, instead of the son of Yuri Mstislav, he sat down to reign
Rostislav, who managed to calm the Novgorodians, Yuri was restless in Kyiv.
Both Izyaslav Davidovich and Mstislav Izyaslavich Volynsky eagerly wanted to sit in the place of the Grand Duke. They united to act together against Dolgoruky. But this was not destined to happen, since on May 15, 1157, the Grand Duke died.
In his youth, he intensively spread the Christian faith in his possessions, attracted more and more new spiritual shepherds; laid roads through the forest jungle, founded new villages and cities. Yuri was the founder of the city on the Moscow River. For a long time this town was called Kuchkovo, after the name of the boyar Kuchka, whose village stood in this picturesque place. In Russian history, this ruler left a memory as the founder of Moscow.
Dolgoruky also became famous for the fact that for many years he strove for power. He got his nickname due to the fact that he conquered lands that lay far from its edge, stretched his arms to Kiev. Since 1132, Yuri was the senior prince of North-Eastern Russia.
He never became his own in the South of Russia. The people of Kiev did not like Dolgoruky, he was always a stranger to them, from the northern Suzdal region, who seized the throne by force.
There is an assumption that Dolgoruky was poisoned by the inhabitants of the capital. Upon learning of his death, the townspeople plundered the princely tower and country estate. The Suzdal boyars, whom Yuri appointed to important government positions, were killed, and their houses were ruined.
The people of Kiev did not want Dolgoruky to be buried next to the ashes of the great and beloved Monomakh.
They buried him outside Kyiv, in the Berestovo monastery of the Savior.

Board milestones

1157 rebellion in Novgorod; the unification of Izyaslav Davidovich Chernigov and Mstislav Izyaslavich Volynsky, with the aim of overthrowing Yuri Dolgoruky from the throne of Kiev; poisoning Dolgoruky, residents of Kyiv.

Material for the review, used according to the book: "Encyclopedia of Kings and Emperors." Russia. 9th-20th century.