Who is the Kyiv prince Svyatoslav. Grand Duke of Rus' Svyatoslav Igorevich: biography, history of famous campaigns

Prince Svyatoslav - Grand Duke of Kiev from 945 to 972, born in 942, the son of the Kyiv Prince Igor and the famous Princess Olga.
Prince Svyatoslav became famous as a great commander, and to a lesser extent a political figure. After the death of his father he became a prince, but his mother, Princess Olga, ruled. When Svyatoslav was able to rule the country himself, he was engaged in military campaigns, and in his absence his mother ruled.

Early years
The young prince was the only son of Prince Igor and his wife Princess Olga and became the legal heir of his father, having no other competitors for the throne. There is an opinion that Svyatoslav was born in 942, but there is no exact confirmation of the prince’s birth this year.
Svyatoslav is a Slavic name, and Prince Svyatoslav became the first prince with a Slavic name, before which his ancestors had Scandinavian names. The first mention of the future prince dates back to the Russian-Byzantine treaties of 944.
The following year, his father, Prince Igor, was killed by the Drevlyans. And already in 966, Princess Olga, together with her four-year-old son, went to war against them. As the chronicles say, before the battle with the Drevlyans, little Svyatoslav threw a spear at the enemy, but it did not reach the target. Seeing this, the squad began to attack, saying “The prince has already begun, it’s time for the squad to join.”
Having defeated the Drevlyans, the princess and her son returned to the capital. Russian chronicles say that Svyatoslav spent his entire childhood next to his mother, but there are also refuting records from Byzantium.

Svyatoslav's reign
Upon ascending the throne, Svyatoslav refused to accept paganism, as his mother had done, believing that such a gesture would deprive him of the loyalty of his squad. The Tale of Bygone Years says that the prince himself began to rule only in 964. Prince Svyatoslav began his reign from a military campaign. His targets were the Vyatichi and the Khazar Kaganate.
In 965, his army attacked the Khazar Kaganate, and before that imposed a large tribute on the Vyatichi. Svyatoslav wanted to annex the territories of the Kaganate to the territory of his state. On the site of the former capital of the Kaganate, the Russian village of Belaya Vezha appeared. Returning to the capital, the prince once again defeated the Vyatichi and again imposed tribute on them.
In 967, Rus' declared war on the Bulgarian kingdom, as an ally of the Byzantine Empire. The very next year, Svyatoslav and his army launched an attack on the territory of the Bulgarian kingdom. In 966, the Pechenegs attacked Kyiv, to which Svyatoslav responded. Together with his squad, he returned to defend the capital and successfully drove the Pechenegs back to the steppe. To prevent this from happening again, Svyatoslav immediately set out on a campaign against the Pechenegs, subsequently completely defeating them and capturing their capital, Itil.
During these years, Princess Olga dies, and now there is no one to rule the country in the absence of Prince Svyatoslav; he himself was not very involved in state affairs, but preferred to fight. His sons began to rule the country: Yaropolk, Oleg and Vladimir. And the prince himself went on a new campaign against the Bulgarians.
There is practically no information about this war, but it is known that Svyatoslav won a number of very important victories over the Bulgarians and even captured their capital. Due to catastrophic defeats, the Bulgarians were forced to conclude a peace that was humiliating for them, but beneficial for Svyatoslav.
At this moment, the allies of the Bulgarians, the Byzantines, intervened; they offered Prince Svyatoslav tribute in exchange for him leaving the Bulgarian kingdom with his army. But Svyatoslav refused to fulfill these demands. Svyatoslav wanted not only to plunder the Bulgarian kingdom, but also to make these lands his own.
In response to this, the Byzantines began to accumulate their troops on the border with the Bulgarian kingdom. Not expecting an attack by the Byzantines, Svyatoslav himself went to war against them, attacking Thrace. In 970, the battle of Arcadiopolis took place. Sources differ about the outcome of the battle. The Byzantines say that they won the battle, and Svyatoslav was defeated. Russian chronicles say that he won a victory and approached Constantinople, but then returned and imposed tribute on Byzantium.
Svyatoslav then continued to attack the Bulgarian kingdom and won several great victories. The Byzantine king led the campaign against Svyatoslav personally. After fighting several battles with the Russians, the Byzantines began to talk about peace. The fighting had mixed success and both sides lost many soldiers - peace here was the best option for both sides.
The peace was signed successfully and Svyatoslav left Bulgaria, trade resumed with Byzantium, and she was obliged to provide the Russian army during this retreat.

Death of Svyatoslav
Returning home, at the mouth of the Dnieper, Prince Svyatoslav was ambushed by the Pechenegs, as a result of which he died. Having only his squad at his disposal, he did not expect a siege, and was defeated by the more numerous Pechenegs.
There are opinions that Byzantium had a hand in the murder of Svyatoslav, because it wanted to get rid of this threat once and for all, and took advantage of the Pechenegs for its own purposes.
After his death he left three sons, who were mentioned above. The name of his wife is unknown to historians, since there are no documents left about her existence.
Prince Svyatoslav is remembered as a great Russian commander and brave warrior. He gained the greatest respect in the ranks of his squad and soldiers. As a politician, he was not noted for special talent; he was of little interest in state affairs. But as a result of successful campaigns, he managed to significantly expand the territory of Kievan Rus.

Prince Svyatoslav was declared the ruler of Kievan Rus after the death of his father, the Grand Duke of Kyiv Igor, who was brutally dealt with by the Drevlyans for his arbitrariness in collecting tribute. However, he had to rule the state only after the death of his mother, Princess Olga.

Rus' at that time represented separate lands subject to Kyiv, where East Slavic, Finno-Ugric and other tribes lived, who paid tribute to him. At the same time, the mechanism of interaction between the center and the territories subordinate to it has not yet fully developed. The state occupied a huge space, where many volosts were ruled by tribal leaders, who, although they recognized the supreme power of Kyiv, continued to live according to their own laws.

While his father was still alive, Svyatoslav, together with his breadwinner uncle Asmud, was sent to reign in the Novgorod land. After the death of Prince Igor, Princess Olga became the ruler of Rus' with a young heir. She was able to force the grand ducal squad, led by the powerful governor Sveneld, to serve her. With her help, she brutally suppressed the rebellion of the Drevlyans, destroying virtually the entire tribal elite and elders of this tribe. Although Svyatoslav was still a child, he, along with experienced warriors, endured all the hardships of a military campaign against the capital of the Drevlyan land - Iskorosten, which was captured and set on fire.

Showing the strength of the grand ducal power, Olga toured the Russian lands and began to organize them. She organized graveyards for collecting tribute and established lessons - a certain amount of payment from the population, which became the first manifestation of the state structure of Rus'.

Princess Olga adhered to a peaceful foreign policy, and this contributed to the economic strengthening of the country. Having received holy baptism in Constantinople, she wanted to spread Orthodoxy in her own country, but her attempts encountered resistance from the pagan party, headed by Prince Svyatoslav. In 962, he pushed Olga away from governing the country. Svyatoslav set a course for expanding the borders of the state and began to pursue a policy of conquest, hatching plans to create a Russian state centered on the Balkans.

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS

964 The beginning of the state activity of Prince Svyatoslav.

964 Military campaign of Prince Svyatoslav against the Vyatichi.

965 Volga Bulgaria gained independence from the Khazars.

965 Svyatoslav's defeat of the Khazar Kaganate, Burtases and Volga Bulgaria.

966 The subordination of the Vyatichi to the power of Kyiv and the imposition of tribute on them.

967 Arrival in Kyiv of the ambassador of the Byzantine emperor Kalokir.

967 Svyatoslav's war with Bulgaria for the Danube region. He captured 80 cities, including Dorostol and Pereyaslavets. The reign of Svyatoslav in Pereyaslavets. Imposing tribute on the Greeks.

968 Conquest of the Vyatichi by Svyatoslav Igorevich.

969 spring- Attack of the Pechenegs on Russian land. Their siege of Kyiv. Return of Svyatoslav to Kyiv.

969— The beginning of the reign of Vladimir Svyatoslavovich in Novgorod.

969 December 11- Assassination of the Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros Phocas. Accession to the imperial throne of John Tzimiskes.

970 Grand Duke Svyatoslav divided the Russian lands between his sons, transferring Kyiv to Yaropolk, the Drevlyansky land to Oleg, and Novgorod the Great to Vladimir.

970 January 30— Death of the Bulgarian Tsar Peter and accession to the throne of Boris II.

970 Svyatoslav's war in Bulgaria in alliance with the Hungarians against the Byzantine Empire.

970 Recapture of Pereyaslavts by Svyatoslav.

971 April 23 - July 22 The siege of Svyatoslav's army by the Byzantine army in the Dorostol fortress. Defeat of Svyatoslav.

971 Svyatoslav's conclusion of a humiliating peace with the Byzantine Empire.

971 Departure of Prince Svyatoslav to Pereyaslavets-on-Danube.

972 spring— Death of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Svyatoslav on the Dnieper rapids.

In 945, after the death of his father, Svyatoslav at an early age remained with his mother Olga and close educators Asmud and Sveneld.

Svyatoslav grew up among warriors. Olga, deciding to avenge the death of her husband, took the child with her and, placing him on a horse, handed him a spear. He began the battle by symbolically throwing a spear, which flew between the horse's ears and fell at his feet. “The prince has already begun the battle, let’s follow him, squad!” Svyatoslav's act inspired the warriors and the Russians won the battle.

Campaigns of Svyatoslav

Already in 964, Svyatoslav ruled independently. In 965, leaving Princess Olga to rule Kyiv, he went on a campaign. Svyatoslav spent the rest of his life in campaigns and battles, only occasionally visiting his native land and mother, mainly in critical situations.

During 965-966. subjugated the Vyatichi, freed them from tribute to the Khazars, defeating the Khazar Khaganate and the Volga Bulgarians. This made it possible to take control of the Great Volga Route, which connects Rus', Central Asia and Scandinavia.

In his battles, Svyatoslav became famous for the fact that before attacking the enemy, he sent a messenger with the words: “I’m coming to you!” Seizing the initiative in conflicts, he led armed offensives and achieved success. The Tale of Bygone Years describes Svyatoslav: “he moved and walked like a pardus (that is, a cheetah), and fought a lot. On campaigns, he did not carry carts or cauldrons with him, did not cook meat, but thinly sliced horse meat, or animal meat, or beef and fried it over coals, and ate it that way. He didn’t even have a tent, but he slept with his saddle cloth over his head. All his other warriors were the same.”

The opinions of historians in the description of Svyatoslav coincide. Byzantine chronicler Lev the Deacon says about Svyatoslav: “of medium height and very slender, he had a wide chest, a flat nose, blue eyes and a long shaggy mustache. The hair on his head was cut, with the exception of one curl - a sign of noble birth; in one ear hung a gold earring decorated with a ruby and two pearls. The prince's whole appearance was something gloomy and stern. His white clothes only differed from other Russians in their cleanliness.” This description confirms the strong-willed character of Svyatoslav and his insane desire to seize foreign lands.

Svyatoslav was considered a pagan. Princess Olga, having been baptized, tried to persuade her son to also accept Christianity. According to the chronicle, Svyatoslav refused and answered his mother: “How can I accept a different faith alone? My squad will mock.”

In 967, Svyatoslav and his squad defeated the Bulgarian army Tsar Peter Having reached the mouth of the Danube, he “set up” the city of Pereyaslavets (Maly Pereslav). Svyatoslav liked the city so much that he decided to make it the capital of Rus'. According to the chronicle, he told his mother: “I don’t like to sit in Kyiv, I want to live in Pereyaslavets on the Danube - there is the middle of my land! Everything good comes there: gold, drags, wines and various fruits from Greece, silver and horses from the Czech Republic and Hungary, furs and wax, honey and fish from Rus'.” And there is even evidence that he reigned in Pereyaslavets and here he received the first tribute from the Greeks.

The Byzantine Emperor John I Tzimiskes, being in cahoots with the Pechenegs, was very concerned about the successes military campaigns of Svyatoslav and tried to weaken the neighbors. In 968, having learned about the establishment of Svyatoslav in Bulgaria, John forced the Pechenegs to attack Kyiv. The prince left Bulgaria and returned to Kyiv, to defend his city, where his mother ruled. Svyatoslav defeated the Pechenegs, but did not forget the treachery of Byzantium.

Children of Svyatoslav

Svyatoslav had three sons: the first Yaropolk - born from his first wife, the daughter or sister of the Hungarian king. According to other data from the Kyiv boyar Predslava. Second Vladimir. Considered illegitimate. Nicknamed the Red Sun. Mother of Malusha or Malfred, daughter of the Drevlyan prince Mal. Third son Oleg from his wife Esther.

After the death of his mother, in 968, Svyatoslav transferred the internal affairs of his state to his grown-up sons. Yaropolk Kyiv. Vladimir Novgorod. Oleg received the Drevlyan lands (in at the moment Chernobyl area).

Bulgarian campaign of Prince Svyatoslav

In 970, Svyatoslav decided to conclude an agreement with the Bulgarians and the Hungarians against Byzantium. Having gathered an army of about 60 thousand, he began a new military campaign in Bulgaria. According to the chroniclers, Svyatoslav horrified the Bulgarians with his actions and thereby obeyed them. He occupied Philippopolis, crossed the Balkans, captured Macedonia, Thrace and reached Constantinople. According to legend, the prince addressed his squad: “We will not disgrace the Russian land, but we will lie here as bones, for the dead are not ashamed. If we run, it will be a shame for us.”

After fierce battles and a major loss in 971, Svyatoslav finally took the Byzantine fortifications and was forced to sign a peace treaty with Emperor John Tzimiskes. Returning to Kyiv, Svyatoslav was waylaid by the Pechenegs and killed at the Dnieper rapids. A feasting cup was made from his skull, bound in gold.

After the military hikes Svyatoslav Igorevich(965-972) the territory of the Russian land increased from the Volga region to the Caspian Sea, from the North Caucasus to the Black Sea region, from the Balkan Mountains to Byzantium. He defeated Khazaria and Volga Bulgaria, weakened and frightened the Byzantine Empire, and opened routes for trade between Rus' and the eastern countries.

The time of birth of Igor and Olga’s son, Prince Svyatoslav, raises questions. The Tale of Bygone Years does not date this event, noting only that in 945 - 946 Svyatoslav was still a child. When the troops of Olga and the Drevlyans stood opposite each other, ready for battle, the signal for battle was the spear thrown by Svyatoslav towards the enemy. But since he was still small then, the spear fell in front of his horse. Some Old Russian chronicles, including the Ipatiev Chronicle, note the birth of Svyatoslav in 942. This, however, contradicts other chronicle data: after all, Igor was born in the late 870s, Olga in the 880s - at the latest in the early 890s, and they got married in 903. It turns out that only after 40 years of marriage two elderly people had a son, which seems unlikely. Therefore, scientists tried to somehow explain these contradictions.

Unfortunately, there was some nihilism here too. Thus, archaeologist S.P. Tolstov even wrote that “the genealogy of the Rurikovichs before Svyatoslav is sewn with white thread,” and L.N. Gumilyov believed that Svyatoslav was not the son of Igor at all (or was the son of another Igor, not Rurikovich). But the sources do not make it possible to doubt the direct relationship of Svyatoslav with Igor and Olga. Not only Russian chronicles, but also foreign authors, such as Leo the Deacon and Constantine Porphyrogenitus, call Svyatoslav the son of Igor and Olga.

Additional information from some historical works can help find a way out of a difficult chronological situation. According to the “Chronicle of Pereyaslavl-Suzdal”, Vladimir, who died in 1015, lived 73 years, that is, he was born in 941 - 942, and he was not the first-born of Svyatoslav. The German chronicler Thietmar of Merseburg also wrote about Vladimir’s advanced age, who died “burdened down by years.” And according to V.N. Tatishchev, who in this case referred to the Rostov and Novgorod chronicles, Svyatoslav was born in 920. And finally, the message of Constantine Porphyrogenitus in his treatise “On the Administration of the Empire” (compiled in 948 - 952) that Ingor’s son Sfendoslav sat in Nemogard (most researchers see Novgorod in this name). Apparently, Svyatoslav reigned in Novgorod before he officially became the prince of Kyiv, that is, until the fall of 944. In this case, it is completely incomprehensible how a two-year-old baby could reign in such a large center of Rus' and even send his representative to Russian-Byzantine negotiations (at the conclusion of the treaty of 944, Svyatoslav was represented as a separate ambassador). Of course, one can assume that his breadwinner Asmud ruled for Svyatoslav, that is, both the reign and the embassy were simple formalities, but then what was the point of them? Princes in Rus' could take part in adult life from the age of seven or eight, but for a child of two years old to be especially represented at foreign policy negotiations and formally to be a prince in the second most important Russian city (and Konstantin writes that Svyatoslav “sat”, reigned, and not just owned) - this has never happened either before or after Svyatoslav!

All this allows us to conclude that Svyatoslav was born earlier than 942, perhaps in the early 920s, that is, 20 years earlier than the dating of the Ipatiev Chronicle. The error can be explained by assuming that around 942 it was not Svyatoslav who was born, but one of his sons. The great historian S. M. Solovyov once drew attention to another side of this problem. According to the chronicles, there is a story that the mother of Svyatopolk the Accursed was brought to Svyatoslav’s son Yaropolk as a wife by his father, and initially she was a nun. If there is a historical fact behind this legend, then in 970 Yaropolk was already married, which does not fit well with the date of birth of Svyatoslav in 942. Solovyov explained this by saying that the princes could marry their young children, even if the bride was much older: “The difference in age did not mean anything in polygamy.” However, the chronicle news itself once again demonstrates the complexity of the problem under consideration.

When analyzing the dating of Svyatoslav’s birth, the analogy with the same late birth of Igor is striking. According to the chronicles, Igor was still very young at the time of Rurik’s death (according to the Resurrection Chronicle - two years old). Svyatoslav seems to repeat this situation: he is approximately three years old (if we accept that Igor died in the late autumn of 944, then Svyatoslav was also two years old). Under Igor, the teacher is Oleg, who is actually an independent prince until his death. Under Svyatoslav - Olga, who also holds the reins of power in her hands for a very long time. Perhaps, with the help of an analogy with Igor, the chronicler tried to explain the actual usurpation of power by Olga, presenting Svyatoslav as a child?

If Svyatoslav was born earlier, then it turns out that Olga simply removed her son from supreme power. Perhaps this should be seen as one of the reasons for his unrestrained military activity?

It is interesting that, belonging to the Varangian dynasty by origin, Svyatoslav bore a purely Slavic name. In Constantine Porphyrogenitus and Leo the Deacon, the name of the prince is rendered as Sfendoslav, which proves the preservation of nasal vowels in the Slavic language at that time. The fact of the initial reign of Svyatoslav in Novgorod can be considered, in fact, as the earliest manifestation of the dynastic tradition of the Rurikovichs to place the eldest son, heir or one of the sons of the Grand Duke on the Novgorod table. Thus, the unity of the two most important Old Russian centers and the special position of Novgorod in the system of the Old Russian state were emphasized. Svyatoslav began this tradition, which arose almost immediately after the establishment of Kyiv as the ancient Russian capital (Igor was the first Kiev prince from the Rurik family).

Svyatoslav became famous as a brave and valiant knight, who shared all the difficulties and hardships with his warriors. He did not take with him a tent, bed, dishes and boilers, did not like expensive clothes, and together with the soldiers slept in the open air, on the ground, putting a saddle under his head, and ate half-raw meat baked on coals. The prince's appearance matched his lifestyle - a mighty hero, hardened in hardships and menacing in appearance. Svyatoslav was a brave and talented commander - his enemies were afraid of him. “I’m coming at you!”, that is, I’m coming at you, - this is how he usually warned the enemy before the start of the war.

Svyatoslav spent almost his entire life in wars with neighboring states. In 964 he moved to the lands of the Vyatichi, who paid tribute to the Khazars. This was the first blow to the power of the Khazar Kaganate. The Vyatichi lived between the Oka and Volga rivers, this remote region was separated from the rest of Rus' by dense, impenetrable forests, and the trip there became Svyatoslav’s first feat (much later, Vladimir Monomakh proudly wrote that he passed through the land of the Vyatichi). Then in 965 Svyatoslav defeated the Khazar Khaganate. He took an important fortress that protected Khazaria from the Don - Belaya Vezha (Sarkel). Sarkel was built for the Khazars by the Byzantines back in the late 830s. Now the entire Volga was under the control of Rus', and this could not but worry the Byzantines. An envoy from Constantinople, the dignitary Kalokir, appeared in Kyiv with rich gifts and suggested that Svyatoslav direct his attack on Danube Bulgaria. At that time, it left the control of Byzantium and ceased to comply with the terms of the peace treaty previously concluded between the two countries. Svyatoslav, pursuing his own goals, agreed. The prince found the idea of taking possession of the Lower Danube tempting. After all, it was an economically and commercially rich region. If it had become part of Rus', its borders would have expanded and come close to the borders of the Byzantine Empire itself.

In 967, Svyatoslav began a war with the Bulgarians. Luck was with him. According to the chronicles, the Russians took 80 cities along the Danube, and Svyatoslav settled in the Danube city of Pereyaslavets. Here the Byzantines sent him all kinds of gifts, including gold and silver. In 968, Svyatoslav had to leave to save Kyiv from the Pecheneg invasion, but then he returned to the Danube. The chronicle preserved his words: “I don’t like to sit in Kyiv, I want to live in Pereyaslavets on the Danube - for there is the middle of my land, all the good things flow there: from the Greek land - gold, grass, wine, various fruits, from the Czech Republic and from Hungary silver and horses, from Rus' - furs and wax, honey and slaves.” This position widened the gap between Svyatoslav and the Kyiv elite. The people of Kiev reproached their prince: “You, prince, are looking for someone else’s land and taking care of it, but have abandoned your own...” This is probably why they did not send troops to help him when Svyatoslav returned to Kyiv after the war with the Byzantines.

But still, Svyatoslav was drawn to the Danube. Soon he was there again, retook Pereyaslavets, who returned to the Bulgarians during his absence, and then the war with Byzantium broke out. The emperor then was an Armenian by origin, John Tzimiskes (Tzimiskes translated into Russian means “slipper”). He was known as an experienced commander, but Svyatoslav was not inferior to him in military skill. The clash between the two heroes became inevitable. The Byzantine historian Leo the Deacon brought to us the true words of the Russian prince: “Sfendoslav (Svyatoslav) was very proud of his victories over the Misians (residents of the Byzantine province of Mysia); he had already firmly taken possession of their country and was completely imbued with barbaric arrogance and arrogance (here, of course, it must be taken into account that Svyatoslav was a mortal enemy for the Byzantines). Sfendoslav answered the Roman ambassadors arrogantly and impudently: “I will leave this rich country no sooner than I receive a large monetary tribute and a ransom for all the cities I captured during the war and for all the prisoners. If the Romans do not want to pay what I demand, let them immediately leave Europe, to which they have no right, and go to Asia, otherwise let them not hope to conclude peace with the Tauro-Scythians (as Leo the Deacon calls the inhabitants of Rus').”

Emperor John, having received such an answer from the Scythian, again sent ambassadors to him, instructing them to convey the following: “We believe that Providence governs the universe, and we profess all Christian laws; Therefore, we believe that we ourselves should not destroy the unshakable peace that we inherited from our fathers, undefiled and thanks to the assistance of God. That is why we strongly urge and advise you, as friends, to immediately, without delay or reservation, leave a country that does not belong to you at all. Know that if you do not follow this good advice, then not we, but you will find yourself violating the peace concluded in ancient times. (...) if you do not leave the country yourself, we will expel you from it against your will. I believe that you have not forgotten about the defeat of your father Ingor (Igor), who, disregarding the oath agreement, sailed to our capital with a huge army on 10 thousand ships, and to the Cimmerian Bosporus (Kerch Strait) arrived with barely a dozen boats, becoming the messenger of his own misfortune. I don’t even mention his further pitiful fate when, having gone on a campaign against the Germans (or rather, to the Drevlyans), he was taken prisoner by them, tied to tree trunks and torn in two. I think that you will not return to your fatherland if you force the Roman force to come out against you - you will find death here with your entire army, and not a single torchbearer will arrive in Scythia to announce the terrible fate that has befallen you.” This message angered Sfendoslav, and he, seized by barbaric rage and madness, sent the following answer: “I see no need for the Roman Emperor to rush to us; let him not exhaust his strength on the journey to this country - we ourselves will soon pitch our tents at the gates of Byzantium (Constantinople) and we will erect strong barriers around the city, and if he comes to us, if he decides to confront such a misfortune, we will bravely meet him and show him in practice that we are not some artisans, earning a living by the labor of our hands (the Byzantine army consisted largely of peasants, while Svyatoslav’s squad included professional warriors), but men of blood who defeat the enemy with weapons. In vain, out of his unreasonableness, he mistakes the Russians for pampered women and tries to intimidate us with similar threats, like infants who are frightened with all sorts of scarecrows.” Having received news of these crazy speeches, the emperor decided to immediately prepare for war with all diligence in order to prevent the invasion of Sfendoslav and block his access to the capital...”

The news of the approach of Svyatoslav’s squads threw the treacherous Greeks into confusion. The Russians advanced towards Constantinople. But Tzimiskes managed to mobilize his forces, and Svyatoslav retreated. The fate of the Balkans was decided in bloody battles. Finally, Svyatoslav left the capital of Bulgaria - Preslav the Great and strengthened himself in the fortress on the Danube Dorostol (now Silistra). Here in 971 his army was surrounded by the army of the Byzantine emperor of one hundred thousand. Svyatoslav's governors considered further struggle pointless and offered the prince to surrender. But he resolutely refused and turned to his few soldiers with an appeal: “We will not disgrace the Russian land, but we will lie with our bones. The dead have no shame. Let’s stand strong, I’ll go ahead of you!”

Leo the Deacon also talks about the same battle: “While the sovereign (Emperor John) slowly moved towards the army of the Russians, several brave men, possessed by desperate audacity, separated from their phalanx, who, having set up an ambush, made a surprise attack and killed some soldiers from the advance detachment of the Romans. Seeing their corpses scattered along the road, the emperor lowered the reins and stopped his horse. The death of his compatriots infuriated him, and he ordered to hunt down those who committed this atrocity. John's bodyguards, having carefully searched the surrounding forests and bushes, captured these robbers and brought them bound to the emperor. He immediately ordered them to be killed, and the bodyguards, without delay drawing their swords, cut them all to pieces. Then the troops approached the space lying in front of Dorostol... the Tauro-Scythians tightly closed their shields and spears, giving their ranks the appearance of a wall, and waited for the enemy on the battlefield. The emperor lined up the Romans against them, placing armored horsemen on the sides, and archers and slingers behind, and, ordering them to shoot non-stop, led the phalanx into battle. The warriors fought hand-to-hand, a fierce battle ensued, and in the first battles both sides fought for a long time with equal success. The Ros, who had gained the glory of victors in battles among neighboring peoples, believed that a terrible disaster would befall them if they suffered a shameful defeat from the Romans, and they fought with all their might. The Romans were overcome by shame and anger at the thought that they, who had defeated all opponents with arms and courage, would retreat as inexperienced newcomers in battle and would lose their great glory in a short time, having been defeated by a people fighting on foot and unable to ride at all. on horseback. Prompted by such thoughts, both armies fought with unsurpassed courage; The dew, guided by their innate brutality and rage, rushed in a furious outburst, roaring like one possessed, towards the Romans, and the Romans advanced, using their experience and military art. Many warriors fell on both sides, the battle went on with varying success, and until the evening it was impossible to determine which side was winning. But when the sun began to decline to the west, the emperor threw all the cavalry at full speed against the Scythians; in a loud voice he called on the soldiers to show in practice their natural Roman valor and instilled in them good spirits. They rushed with extraordinary force, the trumpeters sounded the trumpet for battle, and a mighty cry rang out over the Roman ranks. The Scythians, unable to withstand such an onslaught, fled and were driven back behind the walls; they lost many of their warriors in this battle. And the Romans sang victory hymns and glorified the emperor. He gave them rewards and feasts, increasing their zeal in battle.”

But, despite the “victory hymns,” John realized that Svyatoslav was facing death. Seeing that he would not be able to break the resistance of the Russians, the Byzantine emperor made peace. Leo the Deacon described the meeting of Svyatoslav with Tzimiskes in the following way: “Sfendoslav also appeared, sailing along the river on a Scythian boat; he sat on the oars and rowed along with his entourage, no different from them. This is what his appearance was: of moderate height, not too tall and not very short, with shaggy eyebrows and light blue eyes, snub nose, beardless, with thick, excessively long hair above his upper lip. His head was completely naked, but a tuft of hair hung from one side of it - a sign of the nobility of the family; the strong back of his head, wide chest and all other parts of his body were quite proportionate, but he looked gloomy and wild. He had a gold earring in one ear; it was decorated with a carbuncle framed by two pearls. His robe was white and differed from the clothing of his associates only in its cleanliness. Sitting in the boat on the rowers' bench, he talked a little with the sovereign about the terms of peace and left. Thus ended the war between the Romans and the Scythians.”

As a result, Rus' and Byzantium concluded a new peace treaty - not in the palace or in the office, but right on the battlefield. The Russes pledged not to attack Bulgaria and the Byzantine lands in the future, and the Greeks promised to freely let Svyatoslav’s army home, providing it with a small supply of food. Trade relations between the two powers were also restored. The text of the agreement, as usual, was drawn up in two copies and sealed. One should think that on the seal of the Russian prince there was an image of a bident - the family sign of the Rurikovichs.

Returning to their homeland, the Russian army was divided. One part of it, led by governor Sveneld, headed overland, and Svyatoslav and his squad sailed along the Danube to the Black Sea. Then they entered the Dnieper and moved north. But in the spring of 972, on the Dnieper rapids, where ships had to be dragged, the Russian squad was attacked by the Pechenegs. Svyatoslav died in battle. And the Pechenezh khan Kurya made a cup from the prince’s skull, bound in gold. He drank wine from this cup, hoping that the intelligence and courage of the glorious commander would pass to him.

Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich forever remained in Russian history as a brave warrior and great commander, who covered Russian weapons with glory and strengthened the international prestige of Rus'.

Svyatoslav had three sons. During his lifetime, he made his eldest son Yaropolk his heir in Kyiv, his second son Oleg the prince of the Drevlyans, and the younger Vladimir, born of the concubine Malusha, at the request of the Novgorodians themselves, the prince of Novgorod.

Malushi's origins are unknown. The chronicles only vaguely say that she was the daughter of a certain Malk Lyubechanin. Malusha’s sister was Dobrynya, a distant prototype of the epic hero Dobrynya Nikitich. Malusha herself was a slave of Princess Olga, and therefore Princess Rogneda called Vladimir “robichich,” that is, the son of a slave (but more on that below). An interesting hypothesis about the pedigree of Malusha has arisen in historiography. It has been suggested that she is actually the daughter of the Drevlyan prince Mal, who after the death of her father became the slave of the winner, Princess Olga. But this version encounters such insoluble contradictions that it cannot be considered worthy of attention.

It is curious that the Scandinavian “Saga of Olav Tryggvason” also speaks about Vladimir’s mother, although without mentioning her name. King Gardarika Valdamar had an old, decrepit mother. She was considered a pagan prophetess, and many of her predictions came true. There was a custom in Gardariki: on the first day of Yule (a pagan winter holiday, later identified with Christmas), in the evening, Vladimir’s mother was carried out in a chair into the ward, placed opposite the prince’s place, and the old prophetess predicted the future. Vladimir treated his mother with great respect and respect, asking her if Gardariki was in any danger. One evening, the princess predicted the birth in Norway of Olav Tryggvason, who later visited Rus'.

The motif of prophecy is common in medieval literature. But despite the legendary nature of this story (researchers believe that the image of Vladimir’s mother could reflect the features of the wise Princess Olga), it adds new colors to early Russian history.

After the death of Svyatoslav, Yaropolk became the full-fledged prince of Kyiv. But his reign was short-lived. Sveneld remained the governor under Yaropolk, as well as under his father and grandfather. “The Tale of Bygone Years” tells how one day Sveneld’s son Lute was hunting in the forests near Kyiv. At the same time, Prince Oleg Svyatoslavich also went hunting. “Who dared to hunt on the princely lands?” - Oleg asked his governor, seeing several horsemen in the distance. “Lute Sveneldich,” they answered him. Then the prince decided to punish the disobedient one. Having caught up with Lyut, Oleg killed him in anger. Since then, Sveneld harbored a grudge against Oleg and began to persuade Yaropolk to go to war against his brother.

In 977, strife began between the Svyatoslavichs. Yaropolk set out on a campaign against the Drevlyansky principality. In the first battle, Oleg was defeated and fled to the city of Ovruch. Like many Russian cities, Ovruch was surrounded by a moat, across which a bridge was built to the city gates. Oleg's warriors and surrounding residents from all sides flocked under the walls of the city, hoping to hide from the approaching squads of Yaropolk. On the bridge leading to the fortress, many people crowded, they crowded and pushed each other. Oleg himself got caught in this crush. He barely made his way among the people distraught with fear and was finally thrown from his horse straight into the ditch. The bodies of crushed warriors and the corpses of horses fell on him from above... When Yaropolk captured Ovruch, he found the lifeless body of his brother in the city ditch. The prince lamented that he started the war, but it was no longer possible to stop it.

Vladimir, who reigned in Novgorod, learned about what had happened and fled to his relatives in Scandinavia. In 980, he returned to Rus' with a large Varangian squad and moved south to Kyiv. Along the way, the young prince decided to capture the large and rich city of Polotsk, where Rogvolod reigned. Rogvolod had two sons and a beautiful daughter, whose name was Rogneda. Vladimir wooed Rogneda, but the proud princess refused him (“I don’t want rozuti robichich,” she said, since, according to custom, a wife took off her husband’s shoes after the wedding), especially since Yaropolk was going to marry her. Then Vladimir suddenly attacked Polotsk, captured the city and burned it. Rogvolod and his sons died, and Rogneda inevitably had to become the wife of the winner. She gave birth to Vladimir four sons, one of whom was Yaroslav the Wise.

Now it was Yaropolk’s turn. On the advice of Voivode Blud, whom Vladimir bribed, Yaropolk fled from Kyiv, leaving the city to the mercy of fate. Deprived of a leader, the Kievans did not even resist the approaching army. The gates of Kyiv opened, and Vladimir solemnly sat on the princely throne of his father. Yaropolk, meanwhile, took refuge in the small town of Roden, but his strength was exhausted. When Vladimir approached the city, those close to Yaropolk advised their prince to surrender without a fight. With a heavy heart, Yaropolk went to his brother’s headquarters. And as soon as he entered the vestibule of Vladimir’s house, two Varangians guarding the doors lifted him by the bosoms with their swords. The bloody body of the prince hung lifelessly on sharp swords...

Thus began the reign of Vladimir in Kiev.

942 Chronicle news of the birth of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Igor Rurikovich and his wife Grand Duchess Olga's son Svyatoslav.

Previously 944 The beginning of the reign of Svyatoslav in the Novgorod land.

944 The campaign of Prince Igor in alliance with the Pechenegs against Byzantium. Conclusion of the Russian-Byzantine peace treaty. Mention in the text of the contract of the name of Princess Olga and Svyatoslav.

944 December 16- The overthrow of the Byzantine Emperor Romanos I Lecapinus by his own sons and co-rulers Stephen and Constantine.

945 January- Overthrow of the Byzantine co-rulers Stephen and Constantine. Proclamation of Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus as Byzantine Basileus.

945 autumn- The death of Prince Igor in the Drevlyansky land. Declaration of the young Svyatoslav as the Grand Duke of Kyiv. The beginning of the reign of ruler Olga in Kievan Rus.

946 spring- Arrival of the Drevlyan ambassadors to Kyiv with the intention of marrying Olga to Prince Mal. Olga's reprisal against the Drevlyan embassy.

946 summer- Arrival in Kyiv to Olga of the “best men” of the Drevlyansky land. Burning of the Drevlyan matchmakers by order of Princess Olga.

946 end of summer- Olga’s third revenge on the Drevlyans. The murder of representatives of the Drevlyan clans during the funeral feast for Igor.

946 The march of the Kyiv army, led by governor Sveneld, together with Princess Olga and Prince Svyatoslav, to the Drevlyansky land. Siege, capture and burning of Iskorosten. Murder of city elders. The end of the war with the Drevlyans and the imposition of tribute on them.

947 Princess Olga's tour of the volosts of Kievan Rus. Establishment of graveyards and camps for collecting tribute in the Meta and Luga basins, as well as along the Dnieper and Desna. Determination of the fixed amount of tribute from subject tribes.

Mid-10th century Relocation of the Polovtsians to the steppes of the Black Sea region and the Caucasus.

Mid-10th century Annexation of the land of the Tivertsi to the Principality of Kyiv.

Mid-10th century Separation of the Principality of Polotsk.

Mid-10th century the first mention in the chronicle of Vyshgorod - a city north of Kyiv.

2nd half X century Formation of the Vladimir-Volyn principality.

954 Participation of the Byzantines (together with the Russians) in the battle of Al-Hadas.

955 Chronicle record of Olga's journey to Constantinople.

957 September 9- Reception of Princess Olga in Constantinople by the Byzantine Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus.

959 autumn- Report from a German chronicle about the embassy of Princess Olga to the German king Otto I with a request to send a Catholic bishop to Russian soil.

959 November- Death of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus. Accession of Romanus II to the Byzantine throne.

Before 960 Birth of Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich's son Yaropolk.

Before 960 Birth of Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich's son Oleg.

Around 960 The birth of a son, Vladimir, to Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich and his concubine Malusha Lyubechanka.

Previously 962 The arrival of the German Bishop Adalbert in Kyiv with the goal of converting the Russians to the faith of Christ and bringing them into the fold of the Roman Church. Expulsion of the bishop and his retinue from Kyiv.

Later 962 Dissatisfaction of the adherents of paganism, led by Prince Svyatoslav, with Olga's policies in Kyiv. Removal of Olga from direct government of the country.