Hello friends!

In this post we will focus on such a difficult topic as the first Kyiv princes. Today we will present 7 original historical portraits from Oleg the Prophet to Vladimir II Monomakh, all of these historical portraits were painted with the maximum score and meet all criteria for assessing work on the Unified State Exam.

You see a map in front of you Ancient Rus', or rather the tribes that lived on their territory. You see that this is the territory of present-day Ukraine and Belarus. Ancient Rus' extended from the Carpathians in the West, to the Oka and Volga in the East and from the Baltic in the North, to the steppes of the Black Sea region in the South. Of course, Kyiv was the capital of this Old Russian state and it was there that the princes of Kyiv sat. We will begin our study of Ancient Rus' with Prince Oleg. Unfortunately, no information about this prince has been preserved, but only the legend “The Legend of the Prophetic Oleg” has been preserved, which you all know very well. And so in 882, Oleg headed to Kyiv from Novgorod. He was a warrior of Rurik (862-882) and while Rurik’s son, Igor, was small, Oleg was his regent. And in 882, Oleg captured Kyiv, killing Askold and Dir, and from that moment his reign began.

Oleg the Prophet – Historical Portrait

Life time:9th century – beginningX century

Reign: 882-912

1. Domestic policy:

1.1. He made Kyiv the capital of Ancient Rus', so some historians consider Oleg the founder of the Old Russian state. “Let Kyiv be the mother of Russian cities”

1.2. United the northern and southern centers Eastern Slavs, by conquering the lands of the Ulichs, Tivertsi, Radimichi, Northerners, Drevlyans, and the subjugation of cities such as Smolensk, Lyubech, Kyiv.

2. Foreign policy:

2.1. He made a successful campaign against Constantinople in 907.

2.2. He concluded peace and trade agreements with Byzantium that were beneficial for the country.

Results of activities:

During the years of his reign, Prince Oleg significantly increased the territory of Rus' and concluded the first trade agreement with Byzantium (Constantinople)

The second ruler after Oleg was Igor the Old and much is unknown about his reign in modern history and we only know about the last four years of his reign in Kyiv.

Historical portrait of Igor Stary

Lifetime: end9th century –II quarterX century

Reign: 912-945

Main activities:

1. Domestic policy:

1.1. Continued the unification of East Slavic tribes

1.2. Was governor in Kyiv during the reign of Oleg

2. Foreign policy:

2.1. Russian-Byzantine War 941-944.

2.2. War with the Pechenegs

2.3. War with the Drevlyans

2.4. Military campaign against Byzantium

Results of activities:

He extended his power to the Slavic tribes between the Dniester and Danube, concluded a military-trade agreement with Byzantium, and conquered the Drevlyans.

After the murder of Igor by the Drevlyans for excessive collection of tribute, his wife, Olga, ascended the throne.

Princess Olga

Life time:II-III quarterX century.

Reign: 945-962

Main activities:

1. Domestic policy:

1.1. Strengthening the central government through reprisals against the Drevlyan tribe

1.2. She carried out the first tax reform in Rus': she introduced lessons - a fixed amount of tribute collection and graveyards - places where tribute was collected.

2. Foreign policy:

2.1. She was the first Russian princess and ruler in general to convert to Christianity.

2.2. She was able to prevent the Drevlyan dynasty of princes from reigning in Kyiv.

Results of activities:

Olga strengthened the internal position of the young Russian state, improved relations with Byzantium, increased the authority of Rus', and was able to preserve the Russian throne for her son Svyatoslav.

After Olga's death, the reign of Svyatoslav Igorevich, known for his rich foreign policy, began in Kyiv

Svyatoslav Igorevich

Life time: second half of the 10th century.

Reigned 945 - 972

Main activities:

1. Domestic policy:

1.1. He led the further strengthening of the ancient Russian state, like his predecessors.

1.2. Tried to create an empire.

2. Foreign policy:

2.1. Conducted a military campaign against Bulgaria in 967.

2.2. Defeated the Khazar Khaganate in 965.

2.3. Conducted a military campaign against Byzantium.

Results of activities:

He established diplomatic relations with many peoples of the world, strengthened the position of Rus' on the world stage, removed the threat from the Volga Bulgaria and the Khazar Khaganate, expanded the possessions of the Kyiv prince, wanted to create an empire, but his plans were not destined to come true.

After the death of Svyatoslav, Prince Yaropolk (972-980) ascended the Kiev throne, who during the 8 years of his reign made a very small contribution to the history of Ancient Rus'. After his reign, Vladimir I, popularly nicknamed the Red Sun, ascended the Kyiv throne.

Vladimir I Svyatoslavovich (Saint, Red Sun) – Historical portrait

Life time: 3rd quarter of the 10th century - first half of the 11th century (~ 960-1015);
Reign: 980-1015

Main activities:
1. Domestic policy:
1.1. The final annexation of the lands of the Vyatichi, Cherven cities, as well as the lands on both sides of the Carpathians.
1.2. Pagan reform. In order to strengthen the grand-ducal power and introduce Rus' to the rest of the world, in 980 Vladimir carried out the Pagan Reform, according to which Perun was placed at the head of the pantheon of Slavic gods. After the failure of the reform, Vladimir I decided to baptize Rus' according to the Byzantine rite.
1.3. Acceptance of Christianity. After the failure of the pagan reform, under Vladimir in 988, Christianity was adopted as the state religion. The baptism of Vladimir and his entourage took place in the city of Korsun. The reason for choosing Christianity as the main religion was the marriage of Vladimir to the Byzantine princess Anna and the prevalence of this faith in Rus'.
2. Foreign policy:
2.1. Protection of the borders of Rus'. Under Vladimir, for the purpose of protection, a Unified Defense System against nomads and an Alert System were created.
2.2. The defeat of the Radimichi militia, the campaign in Volga Bulgaria, the first clash between Rus' and Poland, as well as the conquest of the Principality of Polotsk.

Activity results:
1. Domestic policy:
1.1. The unification of all the lands of the Eastern Slavs as part of Kievan Rus.
1.2. The reform streamlined the pagan pantheon. Encouraged Prince Vladimir to turn to a fundamentally new religion.
1.3. Strengthening princely power, raising the country's authority on the world stage, borrowing Byzantine culture: frescoes, architecture, icon painting, the Bible was translated into Slavic language...
2. Foreign policy:
2.1. The Unified Defense System against nomads and the Alert System helped to quickly notify the center of a border crossing, and, accordingly, of an attack, which gave Rus' an advantage.
2.2. Expansion of the borders of Rus' through the active foreign policy of Prince Vladimir the Saint.

After Vladimir, Yaroslav, nicknamed the Wise, turned out to be a very noticeable ruler.

Yaroslav the Wise

Lifetime: endX – middle11th century

Reign: 1019–1054

Main activities:

1. Domestic policy:

1.1. Establishing dynastic ties with Europe and Byzantium through dynastic marriages.

1.2. Founder of written Russian legislation - “Russian Truth”

1.3. Built St. Sophia Cathedral and Golden Gate

2. Foreign policy:

2.1. Military campaigns in the Baltic states

2.2. The final defeat of the Pechenegs

2.3. Military campaign against Byzantium and Polish-Lithuanian lands

Results of activities:

During the reign of Yaroslav, Rus' reached its peak. Kyiv became one of the largest cities in Europe, the authority of Rus' increased on the world stage, and the active construction of temples and cathedrals began.

And the last prince, whose characteristics we will give in this post, will be Vladimir II.

Vladimir Monomakh

INTime of life: second half of the 11th century - first quarter of the 12th century.

Reign: 1113-1125

Main activities:

1. Domestic policy:

1.1. Stopped the collapse of the Old Russian state. “Let everyone keep his homeland”

1.2. Nestor compiled “The Tale of Bygone Years”

1.3. Introduced the “Charter of Vladimir Monomakh”

2. Foreign policy:

2.1. Organized successful campaigns of princes against the Polovtsians

2.2. Continued the policy of strengthening dynastic ties with Europe

Results of activities:

He was able to unite the Russian lands for a short time, became the author of “Instructions for Children”, and managed to stop the Polovtsian raids on Rus'.

© Ivan Nekrasov 2014

Here is a post, dear readers of the site! I hope he helped you find your way around the first princes of Ancient Rus'. The best thanks for this post are your recommendations in social networks! You may not care, but I’m pleased))

Similar materials

Prince Oleg - biography

How do we know about Prince Oleg, nicknamed the Prophetic?

From two chronicles:

• The Tale of Bygone Years,
• Novgorod First Chronicle.

Having received power over the Novgorod lands after the death of Rurik, as regent for his young son Igor, Oleg captured Kyiv and moved the capital there, thereby uniting the two main centers of the Eastern Slavs. Died in 912.

The exact origin of Oleg is not indicated in The Tale of Bygone Years. It only says that he was a relative (tribesman) of Rurik.

What does the Novgorod First Chronicle say about Oleg?

In the Novgorod First Chronicle, Oleg is depicted not as a prince, but as a governor under Igor. It is Igor who kills Askold, captures Kyiv and goes to war against Byzantium. And Oleg returned back to the north, to Ladoga, where he died not in 912, but in 922. The Novgorod Chronicle reports another version of Oleg’s death: some say that Oleg went “overseas” and died there.

The two chronicles depict events in completely different ways.

Which chronicle should we believe?

Let's start with the fact that the Tale of Bygone Years is recognized by everyone as the main historical source for reconstructing the past of the Old Russian state. But this does not mean that all the information she presents is considered absolutely reliable. The credibility of the information about Oleg from this chronicle is evidenced by the Russian-Byzantine treaty of 911, where Oleg is named the Grand Duke of Russia, who concludes the treaty on his own behalf.

What about the Novgorod Chronicle? The Novgorod Chronicle preserved fragments of an earlier chronicle code, on which The Tale of Bygone Years is based, therefore also deserves a certain amount of trust. According to a number of researchers, this chronicle is even older than PVL. Her information is in better agreement with eastern news about Rus' of this period.

So what should historians do? So far, historians usually use information taken from the Tale of Bygone Years in scientific, popular science and educational texts.

The reign of Prince Oleg

According to the Tale of Bygone Years, Prince Oleg appears to be a skilled commander and prudent politician. For the first time in this chronicle it is reported in 879 in connection with the death of Rurik. The reign passed to him as Rurik’s “relative” and guardian of Igor, his young son. Thus, Oleg reigned in 879-882. in the East Slavic North among the Ilmen Slovenes, Krivichi and surrounding Finno-Ugrians (tribes Vesi, Meri, Chud).

In 882, having gathered warriors from many peoples living in the north of Rus', Oleg set out on a campaign to the south. He captured Smolensk, Lyubech, and then the path lay to Kyiv. In Kyiv, former warriors of Rurik Askold and Dir ruled. In 866, they were released by Rurik on a campaign against Byzantium. After returning from the campaign, Askold and Dir settled in Kyiv.

Having reached Kyiv, Oleg sent an ambassador to them with the words: “We are merchants, we are going to the Greeks from Oleg and from Prince Igor, and come to your family and to us.” Askold and Dir came... Oleg hid some warriors in the boats, and left others behind him, and he himself went forward, and carried the young prince Igor in his arms, and announced to them: “You are not princes and not of the princely family, but I am of the princely family "

Presenting them with Rurik’s heir, young Igor, Oleg said: “And he is Rurik’s son.” And they killed Askold and Dir.

The location of Kyiv seemed very convenient to Prince Oleg. The city was located approximately in the middle of the most important trade route “from the Varangians to the Greeks.” He settled there with his squad, declaring: “Let this be the mother of Russian cities.”

Thus, in 882, the Kiev prince Oleg united under his rule the two main centers of statehood among the East Slavic tribes: the Kiev region (“Cuiaba” - in foreign sources) and “Novgorod” (“Slavia”). The lands of Northern and Southern Rus' became a single state - Kievan Rus. Many modern historians take the date 882 as the conditional date of birth of the Old Russian state, and Prince Oleg is considered its founder and first ruler.

The years of the reign of Prince Oleg in Kyiv are 882-912. According to the Tale of Bygone Years, after Oleg’s death from a snake bite, Rurik’s son Igor (912-945) becomes the Prince of Kyiv.

Having reigned in Kyiv, Oleg established a tribute to the Varangians for Novgorod at 300 hryvnia.

Prince Oleg devoted the following years to the conquest of Kiev's neighbors Slavic peoples on the left and right banks of the Dnieper - the Drevlyans, Northerners, Polyans, Radimichi, many peoples had previously been dependent on the Khazars and paid them tribute.

Prince Oleg's campaign against Byzantium

We learn about this campaign from the Tale of Bygone Years, which reports that in 907, Prince Oleg, having gathered a huge army, on ships, the number of which reached 2000, moved to Constantinople. According to estimates, the number of soldiers reached 80 thousand, and the army consisted of Varangians and warriors of Slavic and non-Slavic peoples subject to Rus'.

The Greeks blocked the access of enemy ships to the harbor of Constantinople with a chain. However, Prince Oleg figured out how to get around this obstacle. He ordered the ships to be put on wheels. A fair wind drove the innumerable armada overland to the walls of the Byzantine capital. The Greeks got scared and asked for peace. Prince Oleg demanded a large tribute - 12 hryvnia for each warrior. He hung his shield as a sign of victory on the gates of Constantinople. After this campaign, Prince Oleg was nicknamed the Prophetic.

However, not all researchers are sure that such a campaign even took place.

Supporters of the idea that the campaign took place refer as evidence to the reliability of the Russian-Byzantine treaty concluded after it in 911. And the agreement was extremely successful. Russian merchants received the right to duty-free trade in Constantinople, could live for six months in the capital suburb in the monastery of St. Mammoth, receive food at the expense of the Byzantine side and repair their boats. Such an agreement could well have been preceded by the brilliant victory of Prince Oleg.

But there are serious arguments in favor of the opinion that the campaign is legendary, since only Russian sources speak about such a significant event, but Greek sources are silent. But the numerous enemy sieges and attacks that Constantinople was subjected to over the centuries were often and colorfully described by Byzantine authors. This is how the attacks of Rus' in 860 and 941 were described. And not a word about this campaign and the capture of Constantinople.

Death of Prince Oleg

The prince died in 912. The legend says that the Magi predicted that Prince Oleg would die from his own beloved horse. The prince ordered him to be taken away and remembered the ominous prophecy only a few years later, when the horse had long since died. Laughing at the Magi, he wanted to look at the bones of the horse, and said, standing with one foot on the skull: “Should I be afraid of him?” At that same moment a snake crawled out of the skull and inflicted a fatal bite on the prince.

Of course, this is just a legend, written down several centuries after Oleg’s death. For the legendary prince - a legendary death.

Results of the reign of Prince Oleg

Let us summarize the reign of the first leader of the Old Russian state.

Domestic policy of Prince Oleg

Scientists associate significant events in ancient Russian history with Oleg’s reign in Kyiv. First of all, the territorial core of the Old Russian state was laid. Under him Kyiv became new residence Old Russian state. The tribes of the Ilmen Slovenes, Krivichi, Polyans, Severians, Drevlyans, Vyatichi, Radimichi, Ulichs and Tivertsi were recognized as the supreme ruler of Oleg. Through his governors and local princes, he managed to lay the foundations for government administration of the young country. Annual surveys of the population (Polyudye) laid the foundation for the judicial and tax systems.

Foreign policy of Prince Oleg

Prince Oleg also led an active foreign policy. Before him, for two centuries, the Khazar Khaganate collected tribute from a number of East Slavic lands. Oleg fought with the Khazars and freed the Slavs from tribute to the Kaganate. In 898, Hungarians appeared at the borders of Oleg’s power, moving to Europe from Asia. The prince managed to establish peaceful relations with this warlike people. Oleg's campaign in 907 against the capital of the Byzantine Empire, Constantinople (Constantinople), was crowned with a brilliant victory. In 909, Rus' and Byzantine Empire concluded a military treaty of alliance. But the trade agreement of 911 was especially successful, according to which Russian merchants received the right of duty-free trade with Byzantium, unique for that time, and, in case of need, full provision of food and shipwrights to repair their boats.

Abstract

Abstract topic

Reign of Prince Oleg

Artist's signature ___________________

Accepted the job “ _____” ____________ 20 ___________________________________

Teacher's signature and full name

2. PREFACE.

It was from the end of the 9th century. we can talk about the beginning of the formation of a large state, which was called Rus' and appeared primarily as a result of the unification of the two main political centers of the Eastern Slavs - the southern one with Kiev and the northern one with Novgorod. The latter most likely arose at this time, replacing an older settlement, possibly on the so-called Rurik settlement, near Novgorod. Oleg gradually annexed most of the East Slavic lands to Kyiv in one way or another. From the chronicle it is clear that by the end of his reign the Polans, Slovenes (Novgorod), Chud, Krivichi, Merya, Drevlyans, Radimichi, Northerners, White Croats, Dulebs and Tivertsy submitted to him. However, the subordination of the Croats and Dulebs is doubtful, as well as the Western Krivichi (Polotsk). In any case, the “path from the Varangians to the Greeks” with its branches to the Desna and Western Dvina came under Kyiv’s rule. Oleg received the nickname Prophetic, which may simply be a Slavic translation of his (Scandinavian) name Oleg (Sc. Helgi), which means Holy, Prophetic.

3. THE BEGINNING OF OLEG'S REIGN. UNIFICATION OF Rus'.

Rurik died in 879, leaving behind an infant son, Igor. All affairs in Novgorod were taken into hands by either the governor or Rurik’s relative Oleg. There are two versions about Oleg’s origins: some fragments with confusion in the chronology of the First Novgorod Chronicle and the traditional one, set out in the “Tale of Bygone Years”, according to which Oleg is relative of Rurik (brother of his wife Efanda, guardian of young Igor). After the death of Rurik in 879, Oleg received rule of the principality, since Igor was still small. For three years, Oleg remains in Novgorod and, after improving his situation, he and his squad go south along the Volkhov-Dnepr river line.

IN 882 according to chronicle chronology, Prince Oleg, a relative of Rurik, went on a campaign from Novgorod to the south. Capturing along the way Smolensk And Lyubech, establishing his power there and putting his people under reign. Having sailed to the Kyiv Mountains and not expecting to take a strong fortress by storm, Oleg resorted to military stratagem. Having hidden the soldiers in the boats, he sent word to Askold and Dir, who reigned in Kyiv, that a merchant caravan had sailed from the north and was asking the princes to go ashore. The unsuspecting Kyiv rulers came to the meeting. Oleg's warriors jumped out of the ambush and surrounded the Kievites. Oleg picked up little Igor in his arms and declared to the Kyiv rulers that they did not belong to the princely family, but he himself “was of the princely family,” and Igor was the son of Prince Rurik. Askold and Dir were killed, and Oleg established himself in Kyiv. Entering the city, he declared: “Let Kyiv be the mother of Russian cities.”

So the Novgorod north defeated the Kyiv south. But it was only a purely military victory.” Economically, politically, and culturally, the Middle Dnieper region was far ahead of other East Slavic lands. At the end of the 9th century. it was the historical center of Russian lands, and Oleg, by making Kyiv his residence, only confirmed this position. A single ancient Russian state emerged with its center in Kyiv. This happened in 882.

Oleg did not complete his military successes here. Having settled in Kyiv, he imposed tribute on the territories under his control - he “set tribute” to the Novgorod Slovenes, Krivichs, and other tribes and peoples. Oleg entered into an agreement with the Varangians and pledged to pay them 300 silver hryvnia annually so that there would be peace on the northwestern borders of Rus'. In 883, Oleg conquered the Drevlyans and imposed a “heavy” tribute on them, and in 884 and 885. imposed tribute on the northerners and Radimichi, who had previously paid tribute to the Khazars. But Oleg, in fact, exempts the northerners and Radimichi bordering on the Khazars from tribute, imposing tribute on them “lightly”. From now on, these East Slavic tribes ceased their dependence on the Khazar Khaganate and became part of Rus'. The Vyatichi remained tributaries of the Khazars.

“... 6391 (883) per year. Oleg began to fight against the Drevlyans and, having conquered them, took tribute from them by black marten. Per year 6392 (884). Oleg went against the northerners, and defeated the northerners, and imposed a light tribute on them, and did not order them to pay tribute to the Khazars, saying: “I am their enemy” and there is no need for you (to pay them). Per year 6393 (885). He sent (Oleg) to the Radimichi, asking: “Who are you giving tribute to?” They answered: “The Khazars.” And Oleg said to them: “Don’t give it to the Khazars, but pay me.” And they gave Oleg a cracker, just like they gave it to the Khazars. And Oleg ruled over the glades, and the Drevlyans, and the northerners, and the Radimichi, and he fought with the streets and Tivertsy.”

4. CAMPAIGN AGAINST BYZANTIUM

Under 907, the chronicle reports Oleg’s campaign against Byzantium. Under the banner of Oleg came the Varangians, Slovenes, Chud, Krivichi, Merya, Drevlyans, Radimichi, Polyans, Northerners, Vyatichi, Croats, Dulebs and Tivertsy. Having equipped 2000 rooks with 40 warriors each ( The Tale of Bygone Years), Oleg went on a campaign to Constantinople. Byzantine Emperor Leo VI Philosopher ordered to close the gates of the city and block off the harbor with chains, thus providing Varangians the opportunity to plunder and destroy the suburbs of Constantinople. However, Oleg launched an unusual assault: “And Oleg ordered his soldiers to make wheels and put ships on wheels. And when a fair wind blew, they raised sails in the field and went to the city." . The frightened Greeks offered Oleg peace and tribute. Byzantium at that time was in a difficult situation. Negotiations for peace with the Arabs were not completed, despite the brilliant naval victory won by the Byzantines over the Arab fleet in the Aegean Sea. Soon after this success, the ruler of the Asia Minor border region, who sided with the Arabs, rebelled against Emperor Leo II. Under these conditions, it was especially important for the Byzantine government to maintain peace with Kievan Rus, whose military assistance against the Arabs was urgently needed by the empire.
The chronicle preserves the texts of two treaties between Oleg and Byzantium: a fragment of the treaty included in the chronicle story dated 907, and a treaty of 911. Most researchers consider the treaty of 907 to be part of the treaty of 911. It is very possible that as a result of Oleg’s campaign against Constantinople, completed around 907, a preliminary verbal agreement on peace and alliance was established, which in 911 was included in the written text of the treaty. first written contracts in 907 And 911 , which provided for preferential terms of trade for Russian merchants (trade duties were abolished, ship repairs and overnight accommodation were provided), solutions to legal and military issues
Byzantium was especially interested in the military assistance that Rus' could provide it. According to the treaty of 911, the Russian prince agreed not to prohibit the soldiers of Rus' from entering the service of the empire at will. Back in the summer of 910, the Byzantine government sent a large naval expedition against the Arabs under the leadership of the commander Imerius, who led a fleet of 177 ships with 47,000 oarsmen and warriors. On the ships there was a Russian detachment of 700 people.
According to the agreement, Oleg received 12 hryvnia for each rowlock, and Byzantium promised to pay tribute to Russian cities (Kyiv, Chernigov, Pereyaslavl, Polotsk, Rostov, Lyubech and others, in which the “grand dukes” sat). As a sign of victory, Oleg nailed his shield on the gates of Constantinople. The main result of the campaign was a trade agreement on duty-free trade Rus' V Byzantium. Oleg also ordered sails to be sewn for his boats, not simple ones, but from expensive materials - from wool and silk. The Greeks carried out the will of the Kyiv prince, and the Russian boats returned to Kyiv under rich sails.

The text of this agreement is significant. First of all, the treaty only talks about the Rus, and not a word mentions the Slavic tribes. Secondly, the Rus are shown as a multi-ethnic conglomerate - “the Russian race”. This is evidenced by the names of the ambassadors “from the Russian family”: Veremud (Velmud), Karla, Farlof, Rulav, Stemid, Frelav, Aktevu, Gudy, Troir, etc. These names for the most part can be explained mainly from Celtic, Illyrian, Iranian, Frisian and Finnish languages. But it is characteristic that this treaty of Oleg, as well as the later treaty of Igor, was written in Slavic, which indicates the Slavic-speaking nature of the princely squads.

A beautiful legend has been preserved about Oleg’s death in The Tale of Bygone Years. Even before the campaign against the Greeks, the Kyiv prince had a favorite horse. But one day the prince asked the pagan sorcerer: “Why will I die?” And the sorcerer answered him: “Prince! You will die from your beloved horse on which you ride - you will die from it!” These words sank into Oleg’s soul, and he said: “I will never ride this horse and see him again.” And he ordered the horse to be fed, but he himself did not mount it again. Several years passed, and Oleg remembered the sorcerer’s prediction. Then the prince called the groom and asked him: “Where is my horse, which I ordered to feed and take care of?” And he answered: “The horse died.” Oleg laughed: “The wise men told a lie, the horse has already died, but I am alive.” And Oleg went to look at the place where the remains of the horse lay - bones and a skull. Seeing the horse skull, Oleg stepped on it with his foot and laughed again: “Isn’t it from this skull that I will die?!” And then a snake crawled out of the skull and bit the prince on the leg. The prince fell ill and soon died. This legend finds parallels in the Icelandic saga about the Viking Orvar Odd , who was also fatally stung at the grave of his beloved horse . It is unknown whether the saga became the reason for the creation of the Russian legend about Oleg or, on the contrary, the circumstances of Oleg’s death served as material for the saga. However, if Oleg is a historical character, then Orvar Odd is the hero of an adventure saga, created on the basis of some oral traditions no earlier XIII century.

In fact, different chronicles indicate the time and place of Oleg’s death differently. Some report the death of Oleg in Kyiv, others report that Oleg ended his days in the north, in the city of Ladoga, or even overseas.

According to information from the Bohemian chronicles, it is possible that Oleg the Prophet had a son, also named Oleg. This Oleg, after the death of his father, waged war with Igor, who captured Kyiv, and then fled to Moravia, where he became famous as a warrior and commander.

6. LIST OF REFERENCES USED

“A manual on the history of the Fatherland for those entering universities” Orlov A.S., Polunov A.Yu., Shestova T.L., Shchetinov Yu.A.

“History of Russia from ancient times to the end of the 17th century” Bokhanov A.N., Gorinov M.M.

1. Board Dmitry Donskoy

   Abstract >> Historical figures

   She clearly acted against her tyrants. Prince Oleg defeated the Orda Murza Tagai, who plundered... the Horde, calmly dealt with internal affairs board. About a year has passed. Khan was silent... by her. But, one way or another, board Dmitry Donskoy was of great importance...

2. Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich Wise political portrait

   Abstract >> History

   Only mention of start and end dates board. How can we explain this? A satisfactory answer... the graves of the bones of Vladimir's older brothers, princes Oleg and Yaropolk and their baptism is a rite, of course...

3. Board Yaroslav the Wise

   Law >> History

   Crisis. Accompanied by popular uprisings, boards impostors, destruction state power, ... 12.Creation of Kyiv:1) prince OLEG,years board(879-912); twice... dethroned by rebels. During the period board

The reign of Prince Oleg (briefly)

The reign of Prince Oleg - a brief description

Chronology of the reign of Prince Oleg 882-912.

In 879, after the death of Rurik, his relative Oleg became the prince of Novgorod (this happened due to the early age of Igor, Rurik’s son). The new prince was very warlike and enterprising. As soon as he ascended the princely throne, he set the goal of seizing the waterway to Greece. However, for this it was necessary to conquer all the Slavic tribes living along the Dnieper.

Since in order to achieve the set goals one squad was not enough, Oleg gathers an army from Finnish tribes, as well as Krivichi and Ilmen Slavs, after which he moves south. On his way, he subjugates Smolensk, Lyubech (where he leaves some of the soldiers), and then goes to Kyiv.

At that time, Askold and Dir, who did not belong to the princely family, ruled in Kyiv. Oleg lured them out of the city by cunning and gave the order to kill them. After this, the people of Kiev surrendered without a fight, Oleg took the place of the Grand Duke of Kyiv, and the city itself proclaimed “the mother of Russian cities.”

The new Kiev prince carried out large-scale work to strengthen the city’s structures, which were responsible for its defense, and also carried out several successful military campaigns in 883-885, thereby expanding the lands subject to Kyiv. In addition, Oleg subjugated the Radimichi, Northerners and Drevlyans. He built fortresses and cities in the conquered lands.

Domestic politics during the reign of Prince Oleg

Domestic policy under Oleg was reduced to collecting tribute from conquered tribes (essentially, it remained the same as under other rulers). The tribute was fixed throughout the state territory.

Foreign policy during the reign of Prince Oleg

The year 907 was marked for Prince Oleg and Rus' with a very successful campaign against Byzantium. Frightened by the huge army and falling for Oleg’s trick (the ships were put on wheels and walked on land), the Greeks offered the Prince of Kyiv a huge tribute, which he accepted on the condition that Byzantium would provide benefits to Russian merchants. Five years later, Oleg signed a peace treaty with the Greeks.

After this campaign, legends began to be made about the prince, attributing to him supernatural abilities and mastery of magic. From that time on, the people began to call Prince Oleg the Prophetic.

The prince died in 912. According to legend, Oleg once asked the sorcerer the reason for his death and he answered him that the prince would die from his faithful beloved horse. After this, Oleg gave the horse to the stable, where he was cared for until death. Having learned about the death of the horse, the prince came to his bones on the mountain to say goodbye to his faithful friend, where he was bitten on the leg by a snake that crawled out of the horse’s skull.

Activities of the first Kyiv princes

You see in front of you a map of Ancient Rus', or rather the tribes that lived on their territory. You see that this is the territory of present-day Ukraine and Belarus. Ancient Rus' extended from the Carpathians in the West, to the Oka and Volga in the East and from the Baltic in the North, to the steppes of the Black Sea region in the South. Of course, Kyiv was the capital of this Old Russian state and it was there that the princes of Kyiv sat. We will begin our study of Ancient Rus' with Prince Oleg. Unfortunately, no information about this prince has been preserved, but only the legend “The Legend of the Prophetic Oleg” has been preserved, which you all know very well. And so in 882, Oleg headed to Kyiv from Novgorod. He was a warrior of Rurik (862-882) and while Rurik’s son, Igor, was small, Oleg was his regent. And in 882, Oleg captured Kyiv, killing Askold and Dir, and from that moment his reign began.

Oleg the Prophet - Historical portrait C6

Life time: 9th century – early 10th century

Reign: 882-912

Main activities:

1. Domestic policy:

1.1. He made Kyiv the capital of Ancient Rus', so some historians consider Oleg the founder of the Old Russian state. “Let Kyiv be the mother of Russian cities”

1.2. He united the northern and southern centers of the Eastern Slavs by conquering the lands of the Ulichs, Tivertsi, Radimichi, Northerners, Drevlyans, and subjugating cities such as Smolensk, Lyubech, Kyiv.

2. Foreign policy:

2.1. He made a successful campaign against Constantinople in 907.

2.2. He concluded peace and trade agreements with Byzantium that were beneficial for the country.

Results of activities:

During the years of his reign, Prince Oleg significantly increased the territory of Rus' and concluded the first trade agreement with Byzantium (Constantinople)

The second ruler after Oleg was Igor the Old and much is unknown about his reign in modern history and we only know about the last four years of his reign in Kyiv.