Kievan Rus - a medieval state,emerged in the IX century. The first great princes placed their residence in the city of Kiev, which, according to legend, was founded in the VI. three brothers - Kiy, Schek and Horiv. The state quickly entered a phase of prosperity and occupied an important international position. This was facilitated by the establishment of political and trade relations with such powerful neighbors as Byzantium and the Khazar Khaganate.
Askold's Board
The name "Russian land" stuck forthe state with its capital in Kiev during the rule of Askold (9th century). In The Tale of Bygone Years, his name is mentioned next to Dir, his elder brother. To date, there is no information about his board. This gives grounds for a number of historians (for example, Rybakov B. A.) to associate the name Dir with another Askold nickname. In addition, the question of the origin of the first Kiev rulers still remains unresolved. Some researchers consider them Varangian governors, others derive the origin of Askold and Dir from the fields (the descendants of Kyi).
The Tale of Bygone Years gives some importantinformation about the rule of Askold. In 860, he made a successful trip to Byzantium and even kept Constantinople in a denial for about a week. According to legend, it was he who forced the Byzantine ruler to recognize Russia as an independent state. But in 882 Askold was killed by Oleg, who then sat on the throne of Kiev.
Oleg's Board
Oleg - the first Grand Prince of Kiev, who ruled882-912 According to legend, he received power in Novgorod from Rurik in 879 as regent of his little son, and then moved the residence to Kiev. In 885, Oleg annexed to his principality the lands of the Radiches, Slavs, and Krivichis, after which he made a trip to the streets and Tivertsi. In 907 he opposed the mighty Byzantium. Oleg's brilliant victory is described in detail by Nestor in his work. The campaign of the Grand Duke not only contributed to strengthening the position of Russia in the international arena, but also opened access to duty-free trade with the Byzantine Empire. Oleg's new victory in Constantinople in 911 confirmed the privileges of Russian merchants.
It is with these events that the stage of the formation of the new state with its center in Kiev ends and the period of its highest flourishing begins.
Board of Igor and Olga
After Oleg's death, Rurik's son comes to power -Igor (912-945). Like his predecessor, Igor had to face the disobedience of the princes of the subordinate tribal unions. His reign begins with a clash with the Drevlians, streets and Tivertsi, whom the Grand Duke has imposed unbearable tribute. Such a policy and determined his imminent death at the hands of rebellious Drevlyans. According to legend, when Igor once again came to collect tribute, they inclined two birch trees, tied his legs to their tops and let them go.
After the death of the prince, his wife ascended the throneOlga (945-964). The main goal of her policy was revenge for the death of her husband. She suppressed all Drevlian anti-Rurian sentiments and finally subjugated them to her power. In addition, the first attempt to baptize Kievan Rus, which was unsuccessful, is associated with the name of Olga the Great. The following great princes continued the policy aimed at proclaiming Christianity the state religion.
Board of Svyatoslav
Svyatoslav - the son of Igor and Olga - reigned in 964-980yy He led an aggressive foreign policy and almost did not care about the internal problems of the state. First, during his absence, Olga was in charge of management, and after her death, the affairs of the three parts of the state (Kiev, Drevlyane land and Novgorod) were headed by the great Russian princes Yaropolk, Oleg and Vladimir.
Svyatoslav made a successful campaign on the Khazarkaganat. Such powerful fortresses as Semender, Sarkel, Itil could not stand before his retinue. In 967 he began the Balkan campaign. Svyatoslav seized the territories in the lower reaches of the Danube, captured Pereyaslav and planted his governor there. In the next campaign in the Balkans, he managed to subjugate virtually all of Bulgaria. But on the way home the squad of Svyatoslav was defeated by the Pechenegs, who conspired with the emperor of Byzantium. The great prince died in the forage.
Board of Vladimir the Great
Vladimir was the illegitimate son of Svyatoslav, sinceborn from Malusha, the key-keepers of Princess Olga. His father put the future great ruler on the throne in Novgorod, but during the strife he managed to seize the throne of Kiev. Having come to power, Vladimir streamlined the management of the territories and uprooted any signs of local nobility on the lands of subordinate tribes. It was during his time that the tribal division of Kievan Rus was replaced by territorial one.
On the lands united by Vladimirmany ethnic groups and nations. In such circumstances, the ruler was difficult to maintain the territorial integrity of the state, even with weapons. This led to the need for an ideological substantiation of Vladimir’s rights to govern all tribes. Therefore, the prince decided to reform paganism, putting in Kiev, not far from the place where the palaces of the grand dukes and idols of the most revered Slavic gods were located.
Baptism of Russia
An attempt to reform paganism turned out to beunsuccessful. After that, Vladimir called to himself the rulers of various tribal unions professing Islam, Judaism, Christianity, etc. After listening to their proposals for a new state religion, the prince went to Byzantine Chersonesos. After a successful campaign, Vladimir declared his intention to marry the Byzantine princess Anna, but since it was impossible while he professed paganism, the prince was baptized. Returning to Kiev, the governor sent messengers around the city with the order to come to the Dnieper on the next day. January 19, 988 people entered the river, where they were baptized Byzantine priests. In fact, the baptism of Russia was forced.
New faith did not immediately become nationwide. First, residents of large cities joined Christianity, and in churches up to the XII century. there were special places for the baptism of adults.
The significance of proclaiming Christianity as the state religion
The adoption of Christianity had a huge impact onfurther development of the state. First, this led to the fact that the great Russian princes strengthened their power over disunited tribes and peoples. Secondly, the role of the state in the international arena has increased. The adoption of Christianity allowed to establish close ties with the Byzantine Empire, the Czech Republic, Poland, the German Empire, Bulgaria and Rome. It also contributed to the fact that the military campaigns of the great princes of Russia were no longer used as the main method for implementing foreign policy plans.
Board of Yaroslav the Wise
Yaroslav the Wise united Kievan Rus under hisby the authorities in 1036. After many years of strife, the new ruler had to re-establish himself on these lands. He managed to return the cities of Cherven, establish the city of Yuryev in the Peipsi land and finally break the Pechenegs in 1037th. In honor of the victory over this alliance, Yaroslav ordered the foundation of the greatest temple, St. Sophia of Kiev.
In addition, he first compiled a collection of lawsStates - "The Truth of Yaroslav". It should be noted that before him the rulers of ancient Russia (the grand dukes Igor, Svyatoslav, Vladimir) asserted their power by means of force, and not of law and law. Yaroslav was engaged in the construction of churches (Yuriev Monastery, St. Sophia Cathedral, Kiev-Pechersk Monastery) and supported the prestige of the prince's government is still weak church organization. In 1051 he appointed the first Metropolitan of Rus - Hilarion. The Grand Duke remained in power for 37 years and died in 1054.
Board of Yaroslaviches
After the death of Yaroslav the Wise, the most important landswere in the hands of his eldest sons - Izyaslav, Svyatoslav and Vsevolod. Initially, the grand dukes ruled the state quite harmoniously. They successfully fought against the Türkic-speaking tribes of the Torks, but in 1068 on the river Alta suffered a crushing defeat in the battle with the Polovtsy. This led to the fact that Izyaslav was expelled from Kiev and fled to the Polish king, Boleslav II. In 1069, with the help of the allied forces, he again occupied the capital.
В 1072 г.Grand princes of Russia gathered at the assembly in Vyshgorod, where the famous set of Russian laws "The Truth of Yaroslavich" was approved. After this begins a long period of internecine wars. In 1078 Kiev throne took Vsevolod. After his death in 1093, Svyatopolk Izyaslavich came to power, and two sons of Vsevolod, Vladimir Monomakh and Rostislav, began to rule in Chernihiv and Pereyaslav.
Board of Vladimir Monomakh
After the death of Svyatopolk in 1113 Kievansinvited to the throne of Vladimir Monomakh. He saw the main goal of his policy in the centralization of state power and in strengthening the unity of Russia. He used dynastic marriages to establish peaceful relations with different princes. It was thanks to this and far-sighted domestic policy that he was able to successfully control the vast territory of Russia for 12 years. In addition, the dynastic marriages united the Kiev state with Byzantium, Norway, England, Denmark, the German Empire, Sweden and Hungary.
Under the Grand Duke Vladimir MonomakhThe capital of Rus was settled down, in particular, a bridge was built across the Dnieper. The ruler died in 1125, after which a long period of fragmentation and decline of the state began.
Grand princes of ancient Russia in the period of fragmentation
What happened next?During feudal fragmentation, the rulers of ancient Russia changed every 6-8 years. Grand princes (Kiev, Chernigov, Novgorod, Pereyaslav, Rostov-Suzdal, Smolensk) fought for the main throne with arms. The state Svyatoslav and Rurik, who belonged to the most influential family of Olgovichi and Rostislavovich, ruled the longest of all.
In Chernigov-Seversky principality powerwas in the hands of the dynasty Olegovich and Davidovich. Since these lands were the most susceptible to the expansion of the Polovtsy, the rulers managed to restrain their aggressive campaigns through the conclusion of dynastic marriages.
Pereyaslavl principality, even in the period of fragmentation, was completely dependent on Kiev. The highest flourishing of these territories is associated with the name of Vladimir Glebovich.
Strengthening of the Moscow principality
After the decline of Kiev, the main role goes to the Moscow principality. Its rulers borrowed a title that was worn by the great princes of Russia.
Strengthening of the Moscow principality is associated with the nameDaniel (the younger son of Alexander Nevsky). He managed to subjugate the city of Kolomna, the Pereyaslavl principality and the city of Mozhaisk. As a result of joining the last important trade route and the waterway of the r. Moscow was within the territory of Daniel.
The reign of Ivan Kalita
In 1325, Prince Ivan Danilovich came to power.Kalita. He made a trip to Tver and defeated her, thereby eliminating his strong rival. In 1328 he received a label from the Mongol khan on the Vladimir principality. In his reign, Moscow firmly consolidated its superiority in North-Eastern Russia. In addition, at this time there is a close union of the grand-ducal power and the church, which played a significant role in the formation of a centralized state. Metropolitan Peter transferred his residence from Vladimir to Moscow, which became the most important religious center.
In relations with the Mongol khans, Ivan Kalitapursued a policy of maneuvering and proper payment of tribute. The collection of funds from the population was carried out with marked rigidity, which led to the accumulation of considerable wealth in the hands of the ruler. It was during the princedom of Kalita that the foundation of Moscow’s power was laid. His son Semyon has already claimed the title "Grand Prince of All Russia".
Union of lands around Moscow
During the reign of Kalita, Moscow succeededrecover from a series of internecine wars and lay the foundation for an effective economic and economic system. This power was supported by the construction in 1367 of the Kremlin, which was a military defensive fortress.
In the middle of the XIV century.Princes of Suzdal-Nizhny Novgorod and Ryazan principalities join the struggle for supremacy on the Russian land. But Tver remained the main opponent of Moscow. The rivals of the powerful princedom often sought support from the Mongol khan or Lithuania.
The union of the Russian lands around Moscow is associated with the name of Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy, who besieged Tver and achieved recognition of his power.
Battle of Kulikovo
In the second half of the XIV century.Grand princes of Russia direct all their forces to fight the Mongol khan Mamai. In the summer of 1380, he and his army approached the southern borders of Ryazan. In opposition to him, Dmitry Ivanovich set up a 120,000-strong squad that moved in the direction of the Don.
The defeat of the Mongols accelerated the collapse of the Golden Horde and strengthened the importance of Moscow as the center of the unification of the Russian lands.
