On the foundation of the Old Russian state, very little information has been preserved. The same can be said about its creators. However, no one questions the fact that Prince Oleg's campaign against Kyiv took place and played a decisive role in the unification of the Slavic tribes and principalities.
Odd
The one who later went down in history under the name of Oleg the Prophet was supposedly born in the first half of the 9th century on the territory of modern Denmark. He was given the name Odd, and subsequently began to be called Orvar, which translates as "arrow". Nothing more is known about his early years. As for the relationship with Rurik, the researchers agree that they were not related by blood ties. However, according to one version, the prince's wife was his sister Efanda, and according to another, Oleg himself was his son-in-law. Thanks to this, as well as to his personal qualities, Odd became a commander and enjoyed the trust and respect of Rurik. Together with him, he arrived in Ladoga and Priilmenye between 858 and 862
Board in Novgorod
After the death of Rurik in 879, heleft a young son Igor. There was a question of guardianship. Oleg, who, according to most researchers, was the boy's uncle, proclaimed himself (possibly elected) co-ruler of the young prince until he came of age. The new prince was ambitious, and he had far-reaching plans. In particular, he planned to take control of the land part of the most important trade route from the "Varangians to the Greeks".
Preparing the trip
It took a lot of time and effort for Prince Oleg to bring his grandiose military-political plan to fruition at that time. In 882, he managed to assemble a large army, consisting not only of a squad of Varangians and Novgorod warriors, but also Krivichi, Chud from Izborsk, Vesi from Beloozero and Mary from Rostov. Oleg himself became the head of the army. In order to give his actions a legal character, he took Igor with him, who at that time was barely 5 years old. The host moved to Kyiv on the boats, which are Slavic one-trees. They were easily disassembled and assembled, so such vessels could, if necessary, be dragged from one river to another.
The way from the Varangians to the Greeks
The route along which Prince Oleg's campaign against Kyiv was to take place was well known to him. It was part of the trade route "from the Varangians to the Greeks", which Scandinavian merchants used to get to Constantinople. Traditionally, their path passed from the Varangian (B altic) Sea through the Gulf of Finland up the Neva. Then he walked along Ladogalake, from there up the Volkhov and along Lake Ilmen. Further, the boats followed up the Lovat River, and they had to be dragged to the Dnieper by drag. At the end of the journey, the travelers sailed along the Pont-Sea and reached Constantinople. Some Varangian merchants continued on their way, reaching cities on the Mediterranean coast.
Prince Oleg's trip to Kyiv
The first success of the troops that set out from Novgorod was the capture of Smolensk, which at that time was the capital of the Slavs-Krivichi. The city surrendered without a fight, since among Oleg's combatants there were many of their fellow tribesmen. Leaving to rule in Smolensk "husband" from among the people loyal to him, Oleg went further and captured the city of Lyubech, which belonged to the tribe of northerners. With this step, the entire Dnieper route was taken under control, that is, one of the main goals was achieved, for the sake of which Prince Oleg's campaign against Kyiv was started (in which year this happened, you already know).
Askold and Dir
Prince Oleg's campaign against Kyiv could have dragged on if he had not lured the then rulers of the city into a trap. Askold and Dir were also Vikings from Rurik's squad, but did not belong to the princely family. Being skilled commanders, they repeatedly made campaigns against their neighbors and even "went to Tsargrad". According to the Greek chronicles, both were baptized after returning from the Byzantine campaign.
Trap
In order to avoid a long siege of Kyiv, Oleg sent a messenger to the rulers of the city, whoordered to say that Varangian merchants wanted to meet with them, who, together with the young Novgorod prince, were sailing to Greece. Askold and Dir, who encouraged international trade in every possible way, without suspecting fraud, came to the banks of the Dnieper without protection. Meanwhile, Oleg hid almost all of his warriors in an ambush. As soon as the Kyiv rulers approached the boats, they found themselves surrounded by armed warriors. Oleg appeared before them, holding Prince Igor in his arms. Pointing to the child, he stated that Askold and Dir own Kyiv, not being a princely family, while Igor is the son of Rurik. Both Varangians were immediately stabbed to death by Oleg's warriors.
Reasons for killing Askold and Dir
It is difficult for a modern person to understand Oleg's cruelty towards his fellow tribesmen, who were not enemies of either him or Rurik. However, the prince had good reasons to get rid of these rulers. The fact is that, according to the annals, having arrived with Rurik in their new homeland, these warriors asked him for permission to go “plunder” Tsargrad. However, along the way, their plans changed, and they settled in Kyiv. With the help of their squad, Askold and Dir freed the inhabitants of the city from the need to pay tribute to the Khazars and subjugated some Slavic tribes. All this led to the growth of their authority among the nobility and the common people. Thus, Askold and Dir became rivals of the Rurik clan and an obstacle to the implementation of Oleg's plan to control the main trade route of that time, which promised considerable economic benefits. In addition, the Kyiv rulers shortly before these events adopted Christianity, that is, in the eyes ofVikings from the squad of the Novgorod prince they were people who rejected their gods.
Conquest of Kyiv
The warriors of Askold and Dir, as well as the inhabitants of the city, left without leaders and seeing a direct descendant of Rurik in front of them, did not put up any resistance to the Novgorodians. They recognized the power of Igor and Oleg, and the latter, having entered there, proclaimed Kyiv the Mother of Russian cities.
The bodies of the murdered rulers were buried on a mountain in the vicinity of the capital of the new united state. Many decades later, on the grave of Askold, which has survived to this day, the church of St. Nikola, and near the burial place of Dir - the church of St. Irina.
Thus ended the campaign of Prince Oleg to Kyiv (year 882). The victory went to the Novgorodians with little bloodshed, and its results had an impact on the history of Eastern Europe for many centuries.
Further reign
Kyiv's location was extremely successful. The city was not only located on the most important trade route of that time, but also made it possible to establish ties with the Crimea, Bulgaria and Khazaria. Oleg moved the prince's "table" there, leaving his posadnik in Novgorod. Having strengthened the city, he began the construction of fortresses on the lands of the Slavic tribes subject to him. Prince Oleg, whose campaign against Kyiv proved to be extremely successful, collected tribute with the help of his posadniks. A significant part of the funds raised went to the maintenance of the squad, which consisted of the Varangians.
The new state had no clear boundaries and was constantly attacked by warlike peoples who roamed theWild Field. In addition, even those Slavic tribes that paid tribute to Oleg often attacked each other, and the prince had to act as a judge.
The first successes of the new state
Almost immediately after entering Kyiv, Prince Oleg "went to war" against the tribe of the Drevlyans who lived in dense forests on the banks of the Pripyat. They met the Varangian squad with weapons in their hands. However, in the battle, the people of Kiev came out victorious, and their opponents were forced to pay tribute with black martens and other fur-bearing animals.
It took Oleg two more years to conquer the lands of the Radimichi and the Dnieper northerners, who lived east of the Kiev region. These tribes paid tribute to the Khazars, against whom they could not fight alone. Oleg proved to be a skilled diplomat. He offered the Radimichi and northerners to pay him a smaller tribute in exchange for protection from Khazaria. So the campaign of Prince Oleg against Kyiv (882) subsequently led to the destruction of the power of a foreign khan over the Slavic tribes.
In addition, it is known that he managed to let the militant Ugrians through his possessions, who were forced to leave their homes near the Urals due to constant skirmishes with the Pechenegs.
In subsequent years (until 906) Oleg was engaged in protecting the borders of his state. The grown-up Igor was in no hurry to demand the transfer of power to him, since the authority of the guardian among the nobles and warriors was much higher than that of the young prince.
In 906, Oleg went to war to Constantinople and fixed his shield on its walls,concluding several agreements that promote the development of trade and receiving a huge one-time tribute. Oleg died in 912. According to legend, the bite of a poisonous snake was the cause of his death.
Consequences of Prince Oleg's campaign against Kyiv
The news of the success of the Novgorodians quickly spread around the Slavic tribes and reached Byzantium.
The reign of Prince Oleg in Kyiv lasted about 24 years. It was he who laid the core of the Old Russian state, since soon his power was recognized by the tribes of the Northerners, Polyans, Drevlyans, Krivichi, Ilmen Slovenes, Vyatichi, Ulich, Radimichi and Tivertsy. In the capitals of the principalities that obeyed him, Oleg began to appoint his people, through whom he organized the centralized management of the power he had created. In addition, annual detours of the lands that were part of the Old Russian state began to be made, which made it possible to lay the foundation for the judicial and tax systems.
Thus, Prince Oleg's campaign against Kyiv (the date of the march of troops from Novgorod is unknown) became one of the most important events in the history of our country. In particular, he secured the leadership of the Rurik clan, which ruled Russia until the beginning of the 17th century (the last representative on the throne was Vasily Shuisky).
Now you know when such historical events as Prince Oleg's campaign against Kyiv and the formation of the Old Russian state took place. Unfortunately, too little information about this semi-legendary personality has survived to this day. However, most researchers agree that the Prophetic Oleg played a crucial role in the history ofRussia.
