Surprisingly, the Wise Yaroslav received his nickname not during his lifetime, but only in the 60s of the XIX century. During his lifetime he was called Khromts. Studies show that his leg was severed, therefore, he was limping. At that time, such a deficiency was considered a sign of wisdom, intelligence, providence, so the word "lame" as a nickname could be considered as close in meaning to the word "wise". So they began to call Yaroslav - the Wise. The deeds of this prince eloquently speak for themselves. The heyday of the Old Russian state under Yaroslav the Wise is a confirmation of these words.
Unification of Russia
Yaroslav did not immediately become the ruler of Kyiv, he had to fight for a long time with his brothers for the Kyiv throne. After 1019, Yaroslav united under his rule almost all the lands of the ancient Russian state, thereby helping to overcome feudal fragmentation within the country. In many areas, his sons became governors. Thus began the flowering of Old Russianstate under Yaroslav the Wise.
Russian Truth
An important step forward for Yaroslav's domestic policy was the compilation of a general set of laws, which was called "Russian Truth". This is a document that defined the rules of inheritance, criminal, procedural and commercial law common to all. The flourishing of the Old Russian state under Yaroslav the Wise was impossible without this document.
These laws helped strengthen relations within the state, which generally contributed to overcoming feudal fragmentation. After all, now each city did not live by its own rules - the law was common to all, and this, of course, contributed to the development of trade and created the opportunity to stabilize relations within the state as much as possible.
The laws of Russkaya Pravda reflected the social stratification of society. For example, fines for killing a smerd or a serf were several times less than payments for killing a free person. Fines replenished the state treasury.
The heyday of Kyiv
The very emergence of Russkaya Pravda was a gigantic step forward on the way to overcoming feudal fragmentation and uniting different parts of the country. The flourishing of the Old Russian state was actively under Yaroslav the Wise. History reports that Kyiv has become truly the center of the country. The development of crafts contributed to trade relations. Merchants flocked to the city offering their goods. Kyiv grew rich, and the fame of it spread to many cities and countries.
Foreign policy of Yaroslav the Wise
The flourishing of the Old Russian state under Yaroslav the Wise also affected foreign policy. Events during this period were aimed at strengthening the borders, developing relations with neighboring countries, primarily with Western Europe. This influenced the increase in the authority of the state. Relations with other countries have reached a higher level.
Despite the fact that the flourishing of the Old Russian state was gaining momentum under Yaroslav the Wise, historical events were not only positive. Russia still suffered from nomadic raids. But soon this trouble was solved. In 1036, the troops of Yaroslav the Wise defeated the Pechenegs, who after that stopped attacking Russia for a long time. By order of the prince, fortress cities were built on the southern border to defend the borders.
Dynastic marriages
The Old Russian state flourished under Yaroslav the Wise in different directions. History reports that in 1046 he managed to sign a peace treaty with the Byzantine state. This document was important because political and cultural relations were beneficial for both countries. The peace treaty with Byzantium was reinforced by a dynastic marriage. Vsevolod Yaroslavich married the daughter of Konstantin Monomakh.
The heyday of the Old Russian state under Yaroslav the Wisewas strengthened by dynastic marriages of the prince's children. Of course, they contributed to the strengthening of ties between Kievan Rus and Europe. The sons of Yaroslav the Wise were married to German princesses: Svyatoslav, Igor and Vyacheslav. Daughter Elizabeth was married to the Norwegian prince Harold, Anna - to the French king Henry I, Anastasia - to the Hungarian king Andrew I. Such dynastic marriages, firstly, demonstrated the attractiveness of Russia for Europe, and secondly, were useful for the Kievan state, as they gave more opportunities for cultural and economic development, contributed to the flourishing of the ancient Russian state.
Spread of Christianity under Yaroslav the Wise
The year 988 is considered the year of the christening of Russia. But the state did not become Christian in one year, it took quite a lot of effort to spread the faith throughout the country. And much was done for this precisely during the reign of Yaroslav: about 400 churches were built in Kyiv, on the site where Yaroslav's army defeated the Pechenegs, St. Sophia Cathedral was erected, a temple of wisdom and divine reason, cathedrals were built in Polotsk and Novgorod, the Church of the Great Martyr George and Saint Irene. It was under Yaroslav that the first Russian monasteries arose, among them the Kiev Caves Monastery, within the walls of which chronicles began to develop, books were translated and copied.
In 1054, for the first time, not a Greek, but a Russian Metropolitan Hilarion stood at the head of the Russian Church. It was necessary tomake the Russian Church independent of Byzantium. The “Sermon on Law and Grace” written by him solemnly proclaims that the Christian faith will bring peace and joy to the state.
Enlightenment of Kievan Rus under Yaroslav the Wise
As chronicle sources say, Yaroslav the Wise spoke several foreign languages and read many books. The princely library was the richest. It was under this prince that the flowering of the ancient Russian state was observed. Yaroslav the Wise was one of the most enlightened rulers of the Kievan state.
The beginning of Russian chronicle writing is attributed precisely to the years of the reign of Yaroslav the Wise. According to research, the first chronicle was created around 1037. On its basis, the Kiev-Pechersk monk Nestor later created The Tale of Bygone Years. The creation of chronicles pursued the goal of uniting Russia around Kyiv.
Yaroslav the Wise created the first public library where everyone could take the manuscript and read freely. The prince invited translators from Byzantium who translated ancient, mainly church manuscripts. In many monasteries, educated monks were engaged in copying books. Theological and historical writings, books by Greek and Byzantine authors were distributed throughout the monasteries, thereby introducing Russia to the culture of the ancient world.
The prince also paid attention to education. Schools were formed at many monasteries. Yaroslav the Wise himself chose young men in Kyiv andNovgorod for teaching in schools. Original trade schools were created.
All these events secured the glory of the enlightener for the prince. There was an incredible flowering of the Old Russian state under Yaroslav the Wise. Briefly, the historical events of that time are described in this article.
Unfortunately, after the death of the prince, Kievan Rus gradually began to decline. But even those measures that Yaroslav the Wise managed to carry out gave Russia a lot. The reign of Yaroslav the Wise - the heyday of Kievan Rus.
