Prince Yaroslav the Wise

It's better to be offended than to inflict it.

Plato

Prince Yaroslav the Wise was born in 978. His father was Prince Vladimir, who placed his young son on the princely throne of the city of Novgorod, which he ruled until 1019. After the death of Prince Vladimir, the throne of Kyiv was seized by Svyatopolk, who, blinded by the lust for power, killed his three brothers: Boris, Gleb and Svyatoslav. Wanting to punish his brother, Yaroslav gathers an army to march on Kyiv. In total, the army consisted of forty thousand Slavs and a thousand hired Varangians. This campaign began in 1016. The confrontation with Svyatopolk continued until 1019, and ended with the murder of the latter.

Beginning of the reign

So Prince Yaroslav the Wise began his reign, which lasted 35 years. This time can no doubt be called the golden time in the history of Kievan Rus. But initially, things were not so smooth. The reign of Yaroslav, even after the death of Svyatopolk, was not unconditional. Mstislav Udaloy, who at that time held a princely post in the city of Tmutarakan, refused to recognize his brother as the sole ruler of Kievan Rus. Mstislav gathered an army and went to war against Kyiv. The key battle of this confrontation took place on river Ruda in 1023. In this battle, Yaroslav was defeated and went to Novgorod to collect a new army. It should be noted that Mstislav showed rare generosity and decided not to challenge the reign of his brother. He invited Yaroslav to rule all the lands on the right side of the Don, leaving behind the left side. Yaroslav refused.

Partition and unification of the country

However, after returning to Novgorod, Prince Yaroslav the Wise gathered a new army and went to meet his brother, which took place near Kyiv. The brothers agreed to conclude an alliance and divided the lands of Kievan Rus among themselves. Mstislav took control of all the eastern lands, Yaroslav - the western. The only border between the possessions of the brothers was the Dnieper. This event was truly a key one for Russia. For the first time, the country, until then constantly tormented by internal and external enemies, found peace. The consent of the princes was complete and they did not dare to violate the terms of the signed peace. This continued until 1036, when Mstislav died. After the death of his brother, Prince Yaroslav the Wise became a full ruler. Now under his control was the whole of Kievan Rus: its western and eastern parts.

The year 1036 is marked not only by the reunification of the western and eastern lands of Russia. It was in this year that a battle with the Polovtsy took place near Kyiv. The Russian army won a magnificent victory, utterly defeating the enemy. From now on, they did not represent such a formidable force. Now the prince could concentrate on solving other pressing problems.

Completion of the board

Prince Yaroslav entered history under the name of the Wise. So he was called by the people of Kyiv, because it was under him that the first educational institutions were opened in the country, and the first written code of laws, “Russian Truth”, was compiled.

This ruler directed the last years of his life to fight against a possible internecine war after his death. To do this, he himself decided to divide the country between his sons. So, Izyaslav, the eldest son, was bequeathed to the management of the city of Kyiv, Svyatoslav became the ruler of Chernigov, Vsevolod inherited Pereyaslav, Igor became a prince in the Vladimir-Volyn land, Vyacheslav became the ruler of Smolensk.

Yaroslav the Wise died in 1054, leaving his sons a great country, which, after a long period of calm, declared itself as a strong power.

After the death of Prince Vladimir, internecine wars for power began between his 12 sons. First, the throne was seized by Svyatopolk, treacherously killing his two Boris and Gleb.

Yaroslav, who ruled in Novgorod during the life of his father, emerged victorious from a comfortable fight. Ruled by Yaroslav the Wise from 1019 to 1054.

Under the reign of Yaroslav the Wise, it reached its peak. During the years of his reign, Kievan Rus became one of the strongest states in Europe, quickly catching up and bypassing the advanced states in all respects.

The foreign policy of the king was productive. Russian princes enter into dynastic marriages with the largest European royal courts.

Foreign policy of Yaroslav the Wise

In foreign policy, Yaroslav the Wise not only developed trade and cultural ties, but also fought very successfully and repelled the raids of the Pechenegs. It was Yaroslav the Wise who defeated the Pechenegs, and they, in turn, ceased to represent a formidable force and disturb Russia with their raids.

He fought with the Finns, Yatvingians, Lithuanians. He went to the Chud, and established his power on the Chud lands, built the city of Yuryev on the shores of Lake Peipus. During his reign, the last clash between Russia and Byzantium took place, it was in 1043 - 1046. The conflict broke out over the murder of a Russian merchant. It all ended with peace treaties, sealed by the bonds of dynastic marriage.

Domestic policy of Yaroslav the Wise

The domestic policy of Yaroslav the Wise was of high quality and productive. He cared about the Russian people. Kyiv, under Yaroslav, became one of the largest European cities. The Golden Gates and St. Sophia Cathedral were built in the city. Also, during his reign, the Metropolitan of Kyiv was appointed for the first time, a figure of Russian origin - the name of Metropolitan Hilarion.

Yaroslav the Wise in domestic politics paid great attention to enlightenment in Russia and its Christianization. He was one of the compilers of the first set of laws of Russia -. The source for the creation of "Russian Truth" was the norms of customary law, judicial local customs legalized by the state, as well as the judicial practice of local princes.

Yaroslav the Wise died in February 1054. He was buried in Kyiv in St. Sophia Cathedral.

Brief biography of Yaroslav the Wise

Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise (born c. 978 - death February 20, 1054) is one of the most famous ancient Russian princes. Prince of Rostov (987 -1010) then he founded the city of Yaroslavl; prince of Novgorod (1010 -1034); Grand Duke of Kyiv (1016-1018, 1019-1054)

Origin. early years

The son of the baptizer of Russia, the great Russian prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich the Holy (rurik family) and the Polotsk princess Rogneda (Anastasia) Rogvolodovna. In baptism he received the name George, Yuri. The early years of the life of Yaroslav the Wise are associated with the struggle for the throne of Kyiv. With Yaroslav reaching a mature age, Father Vladimir endowed his son with the Rostov land, and after the death of Vysheslav, Yaroslav becomes the Prince of Novgorod. 1014 - Yaroslav ceases to obey his father and pay the established tribute to Kyiv.

The struggle for the throne of Kyiv

1015-1019 - Yaroslav waged a fierce struggle with his cousin Svyatopolk the Accursed for supreme power. For the first time, he was able to occupy Kyiv in 1016, but he finally managed to establish himself in it only in 1019. 1021 - Yaroslav defeated his nephew - Polotsk prince Bryachislav Izyaslavich, who captured Novgorod.

1023-1026 - fought with his brother Mstislav Vladimirovich Brave. Having lost in the Battle of Listven in 1025, Yaroslav had to abandon the Dnieper left bank in favor of Mstislav. 1036 - after Mstislav died, he again subjugated the departed lands.

Foreign policy

Like his father, Yaroslav actively pursued a foreign policy: he successfully fought with Poland and was able to return the Cherven cities lost by Russia in 1018; conducted a victorious campaign against the Chud and built the city-fortress Yuryev (now Tartu) in the Chud land. 1036 - defeated the Pechenegs near Kyiv, putting an end to their raids on Russia; he made successful campaigns against the Yasses, Yotvingians, Lithuanians, Mozovshans, and Yams. 1043 - but the campaign against Byzantium, which was organized by him, and commanded by his son Vladimir, was unsuccessful. Yaroslav created a defensive line along the river. Rosy.

Wife. Children

Yaroslav was married to Ingigerda (daughter of the Swedish king Olaf). He married his daughters Anastasia, Elizabeth and Anna (respectively) to the Hungarian, Norwegian and French kings, and his sons Izyaslav and Vsevolod married the Polish and Byzantine princesses.

The results of the reign of Yaroslav the Wise

Yaroslav was engaged in the improvement of Russian Truth and the church charter. During his reign, the territory of Kyiv greatly increased. In Kyiv, the grandiose St. Sophia Cathedral, decorated with amazing frescoes and mosaics, the stone Golden Gates, the monasteries of St. George and St. Irina were erected. Near Kyiv, the Pechersky Monastery, which became famous over time, was built.

The chronicler Nestor notes that during the reign of Yaroslav the Wise, the Christian faith began to "be fruitful and expand, and the Chernorizians began to multiply and monasteries to appear." He compared the prince to a sower who "sowed the hearts of believers with bookish words." At the court of Yaroslav, many "book writers" were gathered, who translated books from Greek into Slavonic. An extensive library appeared at the Cathedral of St. Sophia.

1051 - at the princely decree, the Council of Russian Bishops elected the monk Hilarion as Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Russia, thereby emphasizing the independence of the Kyiv Metropolis from the Patriarchate of Constantinople. For all these deeds, Yaroslav was nicknamed the Wise.

Death

Yaroslav the Wise died on February 20, 1054 in Vyshgorod. Vsevolod Yaroslavich, who was with his father, brought his body to Kyiv. He was buried in a marble tomb in Kiev's St. Sophia Cathedral. In the inscription on the wall of this temple, he is referred to as "caesar" (king). Metropolitan Hilarion called Yaroslav "the Russian kagan".

Opening of the sarcophagus of Yaroslav the Wise

The sarcophagus of Yaroslav the Wise was opened three times in the 20th century: in 1936, in 1939 and in 1964. In 2009, the sarcophagus of the prince in St. Sophia Cathedral was again opened, and the remains were sent for examination. 2011, March - the results of a genetic examination were published, the conclusion is as follows: in the tomb there are not male, but only female remains, while consisting of two skeletons that date from completely different times: one skeleton from the times of Kievan Rus, and the second is 1000 years older , that is, the time of the Scythian settlements. The female remains of the Kyiv period, according to anthropologists, belong to a woman who, during her lifetime, did a lot of hard physical labor - clearly not of a princely family.

Ruler Yaroslav is one of the most revered princes of Kievan Rus. This is a rather bright personality, memories of which have been preserved in the annals.

During the reign of the prince, Kievan Rus strengthened its position on the political map of the world, entered a period of prosperity. The characteristics of Yaroslav the Wise include such features as decisiveness, justice, courage, love of science, deep religiosity and strong will.

Biography

Prince Yaroslav was born in 978 (this date is indicated in many sources) in the family of Vladimir, who belongs to the Rurik family, and Rogneda, the Polotsk princess. Prince Vladimir appointed the four brothers of Yaroslav as rulers of various cities of Russia. At the age of nine, Yaroslav became the prince of Rostov., in the board he was assisted by the voivode Budy. When the prince began to govern Novgorod, the governor became his closest associate. The prince sent two-thirds of the tribute collected from Novgorod to his father in Kyiv. This is what led to the rebellion of the son, who was supported by the inhabitants of Novgorod. Prince Vladimir did not have time to punish him for the uprising, as he died while preparing a squad to pacify the rebels.

The reign of the heir began with a war for the throne. The first to take it was the son of Vladimir - Svyatopolk, who destroyed three younger brothers. The ruler of Novgorod managed to defeat his elder brother in the Battle of Lyubech, after which the brothers divided Kyiv along the Dnieper. Yaroslav received full power over the throne of Kyiv in 1019 after the death of Svyatopolk.

The beginning of the "golden" time of Kievan Rus

A description of the reign of Yaroslav the Wise can be briefly found in chronicles. It began with a victory over the Pechenegs. They attacked Kyiv at the time when the prince left for Novgorod to build a new church. But the danger forced the ruler to return and recapture Kyiv from the attackers. Since that time, the Pecheneg raids on the capital stopped for some time.

After the battle, the prince began to consolidate his power and set about building up the city. He erected the St. Sophia Cathedral, the frescoes and mosaics of which amaze art connoisseurs to this day. The Golden Gate appeared in Kyiv, over which the Church of the Annunciation rose. Stone gates were erected around the city, Kievan Rus itself became one of the most powerful European states.

Foreign policy

In foreign policy, the prince was guided by strengthening the international position of the state. The list of his military campaigns includes victories over the Finnish people, the Principality of Lithuania, and Poland. It was Yaroslav who ended the enmity between Kievan Rus and Byzantium, signed a peace treaty. The marriage between the prince's son Vsevolod and Princess Anna sealed the truce.

The authority of the principality was reinforced by dynastic marriages. The prince married three of his daughters to the rulers of other states: Anna became the wife of the king of France, Anastasia took the Hungarian throne next to King Andrew, Prince Harald of Norway married Anastasia. Three of Yaroslav's six sons became husbands of German princesses.

Domestic politics

During the reign of Yaroslav the Wise actively enlightened the people. The prince built a church school for boys, took care of the census and translation of Greek books. He interrupted the dependence of the Russian Orthodox Church on Byzantium by appointing the Russian Metropolitan Hilarion.

New churches were actively built, the art of architecture, painting, and painting of temples developed. Many Russian monasteries appeared precisely thanks to Prince Yaroslav. He restored the payment of tithing - the subjects gave a tenth of their income for the development of the church and the construction of new temples.

The ruler was very fond of reading and tried to instill a love of reading in his subjects. During his reign, a library was collected, consisting of books and documents. It was for his love of books and religion that the prince was nicknamed the Wise. The prince issued the first set of laws in Kievan Rus - "Russian Truth", as well as a set of church canons "Nomocanon". In these documents, the prince rightly determined the punishment for crimes committed in the principality. He abolished the death penalty, replacing it with fines.

Prince's personal life

His wife, Ingigerda, who after baptism received the name Irina, had a great influence on the owner of the Kyiv throne. The city of Saint Petersburg was built on the lands she had inherited from her father. Irina built the first monastery for women in Kyiv. The wife fully accepted the faith of her husband, shared his political views and did a lot for the already existing and under construction temples.

Little is known about the relationship between the spouses, but the marriage produced three daughters and six sons. According to the historical portrait of Yaroslav the Wise, it is difficult to call him handsome: large eyes, a sharp feature of the mouth and a protruding nose did not add attractiveness, but Irina was devoted to her husband. The prince was lame, but in Kievan Rus, physical defects were a sign of an extraordinary mind. The wise prince began to be called after his death, and during his lifetime he received the nickname "Lame".

The sources indicate different names of the wife of the ruler - Irina and Anna. Some scientists explain this by the fact that at an advanced age Irina took the veil as a nun and took the name Anna. In the fifteenth century, Anna was canonized as a saint, today she is the patroness of modern Novgorod.

Outcomes of government and reform

The results of the reign of Yaroslav the Wise include such results of domestic and foreign policy:

• full approval of Christianity as the state religion;
• creation of a legislative system;
• the introduction of enlightenment among the common people;
• strengthening the power of princes;
• creation of new and strengthening of existing ties of Kievan Rus with the states of the West;
• strengthening the international prestige of the principality.

The activities of Yaroslav the Wise brought many positive results for the Grand Duchy. The main reforms of Yaroslav the Wise include:

The ruler spent his last years in Vyshgorod. Death occurred during the feast of Orthodoxy, the ruler died in the arms of his son Vsevolod at the age of seventy-six.

In the twentieth century, the sarcophagus with the remains of the prince was opened three times, as a result of which the real place of their stay is now unknown. It is believed that the tomb with his skeleton was transported to the United States during the offensive of the Nazi troops. In the twenty-first century, Prince Yaroslav was canonized as a saint.

Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise
Years of life: 980-1054
Years of reign: 1019-1054

The son of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Vladimir I Svyatoslavovich (from the Rurik dynasty) and the Polotsk princess Rogneda Rogvolodovna.

Upon reaching adulthood, the father planted Yaroslav the prince of Rostov (987-1010), and after the death of the eldest son of Vladimir Svyatoslavovich, Yaroslav became the prince of Novgorod (1010-1034). Yaroslav's residence was the Prince's Court, later called Yaroslav's Court.

Prince Yaroslav the Wise

In 1014 Yaroslav refused to pay tribute to Kyiv, which caused the anger of his father. Vladimir ordered to prepare for a campaign against Novgorod, but did not have time carry out your plan. July 15, 1015 Vladimir Svyatoslavovich died suddenly. Yaroslav began the struggle for the throne of Kyiv with his brother Svyatopolk. The rebellious Kievans freed Svyatopolk from prison and declared them their prince, but Yaroslav, having enlisted the support of the Novgorodians, continues the struggle, which lasts 4 years. In December 1015, near Lyubech, Yaroslav defeated Svyatopolk and captured Kyiv.