In this article we will consider the testament to the children of Vladimir Monomakh - "Instruction". The analysis of this work will be very interesting, since this work has almost a thousand years of history. It is imbued with faith in the good, elevates moral standards and guides descendants along the path of peace, advising them to forget disagreements in favor of a single common goal. To understand this work in its entirety, however, requires not only careful reading, but also knowledge of the historical context, against which the wisdom of the ruler's recommendations stands out even more clearly.
Biography
Vladimir Vsevolodovich ruled various regions of Russia before becoming the Grand Duke of Kyiv in 1113. He was nicknamed Monomakh, since his mother was, in all likelihood, the daughter of the Emperor of Byzantium - Constantine Monomakh.
The future Grand Duke grew up in conditions of political tension - he survived a number of military conflicts with the Polovtsians, who posed a serious threat to the ancient Russian state, and internal strife. When analyzingtext "Instruction of Vladimir Monomakh" it is necessary to note some facts of his personal biography. Unlike many young offspring of the princely family, Vladimir showed an amazing peacefulness. For example, he renounced his claims to the throne of Kyiv after the death of his father in favor of his older brother. Of course, such a sequence was provided for by tradition, but in many other similar situations, the applicants unleashed conflicts for personal power, weakening the country.
Basic text
Vladimir's main position is faith in God, from which various strategies of behavior follow, approved and supported by Christianity: keep the given oaths, help the weak and the poor, honor the elders, lead a righteous life. Here he points to the need to carry out prayer.
However, Vladimir Monomakh discovers a more ancient motif in his will. The analysis of the "Instruction" demonstrates that the veneration of the guest is of high importance for the ruler. You may have heard that from ancient times there was an unwritten code in which the acceptance of a guest in your home was recognized as mandatory, regardless of the time of day and living conditions. As in fairy tales, where “feed, drink and put to bed” is the only possible option for meeting a stranger, in everyday life a traveler who looked into the light was an inviolable person. It was not even supposed to ask who he was and where he came from - he could only tell it at will, already being accepted by the owners.
So, the analysis of the Teachingschildren by Vladimir Monomakh shows that the text is a combination of ideas of religious and everyday morality.
Theme of Unity
Vladimir, as a wise politician, opposes the fragmentation of the state. Of course, he saw throughout his life how often the thirst for personal power undermines the stability of the country: in internecine wars, the struggle for power with the use of intrigues and the involvement of external military forces, he sees only a way to "shatter" the well-being of Russia. As we know from the biography of the prince, he himself did not take the opportunity to increase his influence until he received the legal right to do so.
Looking into the coming century, we see how the reluctance of the descendants to analyze the "Teachings of Vladimir Monomakh" and heed the advice of the wise ruler turned out: the Mongols, who passed through Russia in a whirlwind, swept away all the troops of the princes who had drifted away from each other and established their rule for several centuries.
War theme
Vladimir, accepting the system of Christian values and calling to believe in God and help those in need, does not advocate renunciation of war. Indeed: he is a politician, and without military force it is simply impossible to ensure the security of the country and the people. An analysis of the Teachings of Vladimir Monomakh as a historical source shows that the prince participated in more than eighty campaigns and concluded dozens of agreements, which he himself tells about.
It cannot be said that the author always acted objectivelyfair”, but always in the interests of their country. For example, having accepted a request for help from an impostor claiming the Byzantine throne, the prince could not help but realize the deception. The long hostilities, which became the last between Kyiv and Constantinople, ended without any serious success, and the agreement was sealed by a dynastic marriage.
Links
Vladimir is a highly educated person. The work is replete with quotations, especially from the Bible, which speaks not only of the developed morality of the prince, but also of a deliberate study of the issue in anticipation of writing his will to the children.
When analyzing the Teachings of Vladimir Monomakh, one can see the names of many Russian cities. Some of them today are major centers: Vladimir, Novgorod, Kursk, Smolensk, Rostov. Others have lost their former significance: Suteisk, Kordno, Starodub, Berestye, Turov.
Other scenes are also cited in the text: thanks to the records of the Grand Duke about hunting deer and boars, martens and aurochs, as well as many other animals, scientists can draw conclusions about the sustainability of their habitat. Thus, a historical source can serve the needs of a wide variety of sciences.
Form of presentation
Unfortunately, you will not be able to read this text in the original without preparation - the Russian language of the 12th century is very different from the modern one, both in spelling and in pronunciation. Have you heard about such letters as “yat”, “nous big” and “nus small”? Do you know what sounds the symbols denoted,looking like a soft and hard sign? So, reading the text in its original form will be problematic.
Thus, when analyzing the work "Instruction of Vladimir Monomakh" you should be guided by translations. They are usually accompanied by a large number of notes that will make your work easier. Comments written by professional historians will allow you not to refer to encyclopedias and other sources on every issue.
Despite the difference in spelling, the grammatical structure of the Russian language has largely been preserved. This will allow you to see the stylistic features and literary devices used by the author.
Conclusion
The original text of the Teaching might not have survived to this day. Most likely, he would have died in the Moscow fire of 1812, if not for a fortunate combination of circumstances. For fun, look at the original text and try to decipher it.
However, the analysis of the Teachings of Vladimir Monomakh can also be carried out according to an adapted version. This work is an important historical document reflecting both state problems and realities, as well as facts from the personal biography of the Grand Duke.
Be sure to check out other texts from different eras. Only by referring to original documents instead of free interpretations do you come closer to understanding the meaning that the author put into what was written, as well as the context that caused the creation of the text. And remember that hard work is alwaysis bearing fruit.
