You can hear that the principality of Polotsk -the first Belarusian state. The way it is. After all, the first mention of the birth of feudal relations belong to the Polotsk land. It was here, on the famous waterway “from the Varangians to the Greeks,” that the strongest princedom of the Belarusian tribes (Radimichi, Krivichi, Dregovichi) was formed.
Education
How did the Principality of Polotsk appear onBelarusian lands? Unfortunately, to answer this question properly is not possible. To date, no written sources or archaeological finds have been preserved that could be used to establish when the formation of the Polotsk principality began. Only the assumptions of historians remain. And the most common theory is called IX century. It was at this time that the collective tombs disappeared (long burial mounds). Instead of them there were single mounds, less often - paired ones. Scientists attribute this fact to a strong weakening of tribal and tribal ties. In addition, it was in the 9th century that class distinctions between tombs began to appear. Some were expensively furnished, others - much easier. This indicated property inequality.
The division of the tribe into poor and rich led toappearance of the nobility, which towered over other members of the community and seized the central power. Of the nobility, in turn, stood out the local princes. They built fortified cities in which they were safe with their tribes. So, in the first half of the 9th century, the tribal nobility of the Krivichy built itself a city in the place where the Polota River flowed into the Western Berezina. Here, with all the neighborhoods collected tribute.
Mother of Belarusian cities
The history of the Polotsk principality beginssimultaneously with the creation of the city of Polotsk. The first official mention of the city refers to the year 862. However, historians claim that he appeared much earlier. So, even in the undated part of The Tale of Bygone Years (the oldest chronicle collection on Slavic lands), the name Polotskie is mentioned along with Krivichy. From this we can conclude that even in the times of the Krivichy a separate state emerged with its capital in Polotsk. Long before the first Vikings appeared on those lands and the Old Russian state was formed.
The city received its name due to the river, on the banks of which it is located. As already mentioned, not far from this settlement, the Polota River flowed into the Western Berezina.
Territory
Полоцкое и Туровское княжества располагались на extremely barren lands. However, Polotsk had one important advantage. It was here that the intersection of significant trade routes along the Berezina, Dvina and Neman was located. That is, the waterway "from the Varyags to the Greeks." This contributed not only to the development of trade and economy in the state, but also caused the mass migration of other peoples and tribes to the Polotsk lands. Yes, and the territory of the principality were surrounded by impassable forests, which served as reliable protection from enemies. And the Polotsk enemies made more and more enemies every year. Since the control of the principality for trade routes did not like the neighboring states - Kiev and Novgorod. What ultimately led to territorial disputes and massive bloodshed.
Polotsk principality included not onlyPolotsk lands, but also part of the territory of the Dregovichi, Lithuanian and Finnish tribes. Polotsk settled throughout the Western Dvina, Polote, as well as in the basins of the Berezina, Svisloch and Neman. The principality included such large cities as Minsk, Vitebsk, Orsha, Borisov, Logoisk, Zaslavl, Drutsk, Lukoml and others. Thus, over the course of the 9th-13th centuries, it was a large and strong European state.
First prince
The first mention of the sovereign who united the Principality of Polotsk dates back to the second half of the 10th century. As the chronicles say, “to vladaryu, to trymau i and princess Ragvalod Polatskaya land”.
Norman Rogvolod "came from across the sea" and rules with972 to 978. This period is considered the final stage of the formation of the Principality of Polotsk. The state had its own borders, established a political and administrative system, formed a strong army, began to establish trade relations. The city of Polotsk became the historical core and center.
Princess with three names
The history of the Polotsk principality is the history of the strugglefor independence, which was eventually lost. So, already in 980, the lands were listed as part of the Ancient Russian state. The principality became a bargaining chip between the then hostile Novgorod and Kiev.
As the chronicles say, in 978, Prince Rogvolod,in order to strengthen the borders of his state, he decided to give Rogneda’s daughter for the prince of Kiev Yaropolk, while refusing Vladimir Svyatoslavich (sovereign of Novgorod from the Rurik dynasty). Not tolerating insults, Vladimir took Polotsk by storm, killed Rogvolod and his two sons, and forcibly made Rogneda his wife, giving her the name of Gorislav. Then the Novgorod prince seized Kiev and introduced a new religion on the Polotsk lands - Christianity.
Согласно «Повести временных лет», у Рогнеды и Vladimir had four sons: Izyaslav (prince of Polotsk), Yaroslav the Wise (prince of Kiev and Novgorod), Vsevolod (prince Vladimir-Volynsky) and Mstislav (prince of Chernigov). As well as two daughters: Premislav, who later married Laszlo the Bald (Ugrian king), and Predslava, who became the wife of Boleslav III Ryzhy (Czech prince).
После того как Рогнеда пыталась убить Владимира, she and her son Izyaslav (interceding for his mother in front of his father) were sent to the Polotsk lands in the city of Izyaslavl. The princess took the veil and took the third name - Anastasia.
Princes of Polotsk principality
In 988, residents of Izyaslavl invited their sonRogneda and Vladimir Izyaslav to reign. He became famous as the sovereign scribe and disseminator of the new belief, Christianity, on the Polotsk land. It is from Izyaslav that a new branch begins in the dynasty of Rurikovich - Izyaslavich (Polotsk). The descendants of Izyaslav, unlike the children of his brothers, emphasized their kinship with Rogvolod (on the maternal line). And they called themselves Rogvolodovich.
Prince Izyaslav died young (in 1001)having survived his mother Rogneda by just one year. His younger son Bryachislav Izyaslavich began to rule the Polotsk principality. Until 1044, the emperor led his own policy aimed at expanding the land. Taking advantage of the internecine strife and the weakening of Russia, Bryachislav captured Novgorod and held power with his uncle Yaroslav the Wise for five years. At the same time, the city of Bryachislavl (modern Braslav) was built.
Flowering
Всеслав начал расширять полоцкие земли далеко на north, subjugated the tribes Latgalov and Liv. However, in 1067, when his campaigns in Novgorod ended unsuccessfully, the prince, along with his sons, was captured by Izyaslav Yaroslavich, and the state was captured. But a year later, the insurgent people liberated Vseslav, and he managed to return the lost lands.
From 1069 to 1072, the Principality of Polotsk ledrelentless and bloody war with Kiev sovereigns. Smolensk principality was captured, as well as part of the Chernigov lands in the north. In those years, the population of the capital of the principality was more than twenty thousand people.
A fall
After the death of Vseslav in 1101 his sonsdivided the principality into inheritances: Vitebsk, Minsk, Polotsk, Logoisk and others. And in 1127, the son of Vladimir Monomakh, taking advantage of the differences between the princes, seized and plundered the Polotsk land. Izyaslavich were taken prisoner, and then completely deported to distant Byzantium. So, by the end of the XII century, the authority of the Polotsk principality in the international arena finally fell, and Novgorod and Chernigov seized part of the territories.
In the XIII century, a new landfall fell on the Polotsk landstrouble - Order of the Sword, which later became Livonian. Prince Vladimir Polotsky, who then ruled, fought the Crusaders for more than twenty years, but he could not stop them. This was the beginning of the end of independence. And in 1307 Polotsk became part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
Culture of the Polotsk Principality
This particular principality became a place wherethe Belarusian statehood was born, as well as culture and writing. Such names as Euphrosyne of Polotsk, Lazar Bogsch, Francisk Skorina, Cyril of Turovsky and Simeon of Polotsk are associated with Polotsk. They constitute the pride of the Belarusian nation.
С появлением на Полоцких землях христианства architecture began to develop. Thus, the first monumental stone building was the Polotsk Saint Sophia Cathedral, built in the 1050s. And in 1161, the jeweler Lazar Bogsha created the masterpiece of applied art of the Eastern Slavs - the unique cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk. The XIII century was the time when the Belarusian language appeared.
