Prince of Polotsk Vseslav Bryachislavich ruled in Kyiv for a very short time, only 7 months. In Polotsk, power belonged to him for a long 57 years. Not only his birth, but his life was full of speculation and shrouded in a veil of mystery.
The beginning of life: an unusual appearance
No information about the mother of Prince Vseslav was found. In the "Tale of Bygone Years" there is a legend about his mysterious birth. It is said that there was an "ulcer" on the baby's head. The Magi advised the mother the following: "Put this ulcer on him, let him wear it until death." The opinions of historians about the word "ulcer" are divided. Some believe that it means a birthmark located on Vseslav's head, which he subsequently covered with a special bandage. Others are sure that the future ruler was born in a "shirt", that is, the remnants of the amniotic sac were present on his body. Prince Vseslav Bryachislavich in his adult life could wear it as a talisman. The fact that today about a lucky person who escaped misfortune, they say that he was born in a shirt, is an echo of those ancient times. In addition to being part of the placentacould serve as a talisman to its owner and avert trouble, also this sign could mean a person's attitude to witchcraft. Perhaps this is also why Vseslav Bryachislavich was considered among the people as a werewolf prince, a sorcerer.
Beginning of reign
In 1044, the prince's father, Bryachislav Izyaslavovich, died. Power passed to Vseslav: he inherited the principality of Polotsk. But since he also considered himself the heir of Vladimir (Grand Duke), then, in his opinion, the entire Kiev principality should have belonged to him alone. For the first decade of his reign, Vseslav Bryachislavich of Polotsk was on friendly terms with the princes of Kyiv Yaroslavich. They fought together against the Turks in 1060. Then began his struggle for the independence of the Principality of Polotsk.
Fighting neighbors
From 1065 began the time of raids on neighboring principalities, the leader was Vseslav Bryachislavich. His domestic and foreign policy, according to historians, was characterized by intolerance and militancy. First, Kyiv was sacked and besieged, then the city of Pskov was devastated. In 1067, according to chroniclers, a devastating raid on Novgorod was made. As a result, even the Hagia Sophia was plundered.
Izyaslav I Yaroslavich did not forgive Vseslav such willfulness and together with his brothers decided to oppose him. It was the frosty winter of 1067. Despite the bitter cold, the brothers besieged and then captured Minsk, which at that time belonged to the Polotsk principality. As a result, the entire male population was killed, and women and childrentaken prisoner. On the Neman River, an unsuccessful battle for Vseslav with the Yaroslavich brothers took place.
A few months later, the brothers invited the Prince of Polotsk to the city of Orsha for peace talks. Vseslav, having equipped the rook, set off on a journey without fear for his life, since the rulers of Kievan Rus kissed the cross, which in those days gave a guarantee of safety. But it turned out to be a cunning trick of the brothers. They seized Vseslav Bryachislavich and took him to Kyiv, where they then sent him to a hack (a dungeon without doors, which was built around a prisoner). Such an insidious act caused a rather large resonance among the people, and many residents of Kyiv took the side of Vseslav.
Release from captivity
Vseslav Bryachislavich, whose biography is based mainly on chronicles, was released in 1068. This happened during a popular uprising due to the unsuccessful battle of the Yaroslavich brothers with the Polovtsians on the Alta River. In addition, Izyaslav did not give the people of Kiev weapons to continue the battle with the nomads. Prince Vseslav Bryachislavich was released from prison and proclaimed Prince of Kyiv. But his reign did not last long, only 7 months, and did not bring any significant events. Izyaslav Yaroslavich fled to Poland after the uprising.
Return to Polotsk
In 1069, Izyaslav, having gathered the Polish army, returned to Kyiv. Vseslav Bryachislavich (a brief biography indicates his secret disappearance near Belgorod) advanced with his army to meet them, but, being unsure of his abilities, departed with his sons for Polotsk. But even there I overtook himIzyaslav Yaroslavich, deposing from the throne and placing his son Mstislav on the reign. But he soon died, and another son of Izyaslav, Svyatopolk, took his place. However, already in 1071 Vseslav managed to regain Polotsk. It was not difficult for him, since the inhabitants of the city were always for "their" prince.
Heirs of the Prince of Polotsk
Vseslav Bryachislavich Polotsky (a brief biography does not indicate the name of his wife) raised seven sons. But some historians insist that there were six of them, since Boris is the baptismal name of Rogvolod. It is also not known for certain which destinies they ruled, but the principality of Polotsk was divided among his heirs during the life of Vseslav, subsequently it broke up into seven destinies. Sons - Davyd, Gleb, Boris, Roman, Svyatoslav, Rostislav, Rogvolod. All princely children received a Christian upbringing. Boris Vseslavich contributed to the construction of churches and monasteries. Even the most warlike of his sons, Gleb Minsky, who attacked Kyiv lands many times, took care of the monasteries. He especially treated the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, where he was later buried.
Vseslav's daughter, Anna, married the Byzantine emperor Alexei Komnenos. This dynastic connection has had many cultural and historical implications.
Omens
At the beginning of his reign, Vseslav Bryachislavich was in good, peaceful relations with the Yaroslavich brothers (Izyaslav, Svyatoslav, Vsevolod). But due to disagreements that arose, Vseslav went to war against Kievan Rus. Chronicles describe the mystical moments that preceded this event. In 1063, the Volkhov River, which flows near Novgorod, carried its waters in the opposite direction for five days. The sages of that time saw this as a bad omen for their city. It is worth noting that historians do not refute the reverse flow of the river and do not consider it a myth, since there is a completely scientific explanation for this fact.
Two years later, an event took place again, regarded as an omen of misfortune. An unusually bright star with rays of red color lit up in the sky. During the week it rose in the evening in the west and shone until dawn. In the annals, she was recorded as a "bloody star". Historians have found an explanation for this fact. The star could well be Halley's Comet, approaching the Earth every 75 years. The same star in England was taken as a harbinger of the imminent death of King Edward the Confessor and the capture of the country by William the Conqueror.
The third omen is a solar eclipse. This natural phenomenon was also seen as a prediction of imminent misfortune.
In 1065, as the wise men predicted, trouble happened - Vseslav went to war against Kievan Rus.
Government results
The territory of the Principality of Polotsk, thanks to the confident and wise military policy of Vseslav, has increased significantly. The volosts that were part of the principality at the end of the 11th century are Polotsk, Vitebsk, Minsk, Orsha, Mstislav, Lukomlsay, Drutsk, Logoisk, Slutsk and part of Livonia.
During the reign of Vseslav, the Cathedral of St. Sophia was built in Polotsk - the oldestan architectural monument on the territory of modern Belarus, which has come down to our time. The Prince of Polotsk brought the bells for the cathedral from the captured St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod.
There is an opinion that in his declining years Vseslav himself took monastic vows. The validity of this event is unknown. But among the princely persons of that time, such a phenomenon was quite popular.
Mention of Vseslav of Polotsk in folklore
The battle on the Nemiga River, as well as the capture of Novgorod by Vseslav, are described in the Tale of Igor's Campaign. In this work, the prince of Polotsk is presented as a sorcerer and a werewolf. Not all events described in the “Word…” are confirmed in chronicles.
The personality of the prince of Polotsk and the uprising in Kyiv are reflected in the epic "Volkh Vseslavievich". The motif of the sorcery of Prince Vseslav is repeated. The war with the Polovtsian prince Shurukan is described. To raid Russia, he took advantage of the uprising in Kyiv.
Prince Vseslav ruled for quite a long time - 57 years. He died a natural death in 1101 and was buried in Polotsk.
