907 in the history of Russia is marked by the legendary campaign against Constantinople (or as it was also called - Tsargrad), which was led by Prince Oleg of Novgorod. This event is associated with a lot of speculation and doubts on the part of historians, many of whom do not believe in its authenticity for a number of reasons. In this article, we will tell you in detail about Oleg's campaign against Tsargrad (summary), and try to figure out whether this event really happened the way the ancient Russian chronicles depict it.
Who is Prince Oleg?
Oleg was Prince of Novgorod and Grand Duke of Kyiv from 882 to 912, which was the year of his death. After he received power over the Novgorod land (which happened after the death of Rurik) as regent for the minor Igor, he captured ancient Kyiv. It was this city that at that time was destined to become the capital anda symbol of the unification of the two main centers for the Slavs. That is why historians often consider Prince Oleg as the founder of the Old Russian state. And Oleg's subsequent campaign against Tsargrad became the reason for him to be called "Prophetic".
Why was Oleg named Prophetic?
As The Tale of Bygone Years tells us, Oleg's campaign against Tsargrad took place in 907. The chronicle talks about how the city was besieged and taken, and the courage and sharp mind of the prince, who outwitted the Byzantines, is sung. According to this source, he refused to take poisoned food from them, which is why he was nicknamed "Prophetic". People in Russia began to call Oleg that way, who defeated the Greeks. In turn, his name comes from Scandinavia, and when translated means "holy".
Prophetic Oleg's trip to Tsargrad
As mentioned above, the content of the campaign and the Russian-Byzantine war is described in the PVL (Tale of Bygone Years). These events ended with the signing of a peace treaty in 907. This became famous among the people thanks to the following words: "Prophetic Oleg nailed his shield on the gates of Constantinople." But, nevertheless, this campaign is not mentioned in Greek sources, and also, in general, it is not mentioned anywhere, except in Russian legends and annals.
Besides, already in 911 the Russians signed a new document. Moreover, in the authenticity of the conclusionof this agreement, none of the historians doubts.
Byzantium and Russians
It should be noted that after the campaign of the Rus against Constantinople in 860, Byzantine sources do not indicate any conflicts with them. However, there is some circumstantial evidence to the contrary. For example, the instruction of Emperor Leo IV already at the beginning of the 10th century contains information that hostile "northern Scythians" use small ships sailing at fast speed.
Oleg's campaign through the Tale of Bygone Years
As the legend about Oleg's campaign says, Tsargrad was taken not only with the involvement of the Slavs, but also the Finno-Ugric tribes, which are listed in the ancient Russian written monument of the early 12th century - "The Tale of Bygone Years". According to the annals, some warriors traveled on horseback along the coast, while others traveled by sea with the help of two thousand ships. Moreover, more than thirty people were placed in each vessel. Historians still hesitate as to whether to believe the "Tale of Bygone Years" and whether the data about the campaign indicated in the annals are authentic.
Legends in the description of the campaign
The legend about Prince Oleg's campaign against Constantinople contains a large number of legends. For example, the narrative indicates that the ships moved on wheels, on which they were put by Oleg. The Byzantines were frightened by the Ruses heading towards Constantinople and asked for peace. However, they carried the poisoned dishes, which the prince refused. Then the Greeks had no choice but to give theirconsent to what Oleg offered. According to legend, they had to pay 12 hryvnias to all the soldiers, as well as a separate amount to the princes in Kyiv, Pereyaslavl, Chernigov, Rostov and other cities, except Novgorod. But the prince's victories did not end there. In addition to a one-time payment, the Greeks of Byzantium had to pay a permanent tribute to the Rus, and also agree to conclude an agreement (we are talking about the very agreement signed in 907), which was supposed to regulate the conditions of stay, as well as the conduct of trade by Russian merchants in Greek cities. The parties took mutual oaths. And Oleg, in turn, committed the very famous act that made him legendary, according to legend, in the eyes of the common people. He hung a shield on the gates of the Byzantine capital of Constantinople as a victorious symbol. The Greeks were ordered to sew sails for the Slavic army. Chronicles say that it was after Oleg's campaign against Tsargrad was completed in 907 that the prince became known among the people as "Prophetic".
However, if the stories of the ancient Russian chronicler about the Rus' raid on Constantinople in 860 are based only on Byzantine chronicles, then the story of this raid is based on information obtained from legends that were not recorded. Moreover, several plots coincide with similar ones from the Scandinavian sagas.
Treaty of 907
What were the terms of the contract, and was it concluded? If you believe the "Tale of Bygone Years", then after the victorious actions of the princeOleg in Constantinople was signed with the Greeks, a document quite advantageous for Russia. The purpose of its main provisions is considered to be the resumption of peaceful and good-neighbourly relations between these peoples and states. The Byzantine government undertook to pay a certain amount of annual tribute to the Rus (and its size is quite substantial), as well as to pay a lump sum payment of indemnity - both in money and in things, gold, rare fabrics, etc. The contract stipulated the above the size of the ransom for each warrior and the size of the monthly allowance that the Greeks were supposed to give to Russian merchants.
Information about Oleg's campaign from other sources
According to the Novgorod First Chronicle, a number of events took place in a different way. At the same time, campaigns against Constantinople were carried out under the leadership of Prince Igor, while the “Prophetic” was just a governor. The chronicle describes Oleg's legendary campaigns against Tsargrad in this way. At the same time, the year is indicated as 920, and the dating of the next raid refers the events to 922. However, the description of the campaign in 920 is similar in detail to the description of Igor's campaign of 941, which is reflected in several documents.
The information contained in the Byzantine chronicles written by Pseudo-Simeon at the end of the 10th century contains information about the Rus. In one of the fragments, some historians see details pointing to the predictions of the sages about the future death of Oleg, and in the personality of Rosa - the prince himself. Among popular science publications, there is an opinion expressed by V. Nikolaev about the campaigns of the Ross against the Greeks, committed around 904. If abelieve his constructions (which were not mentioned in the chronicles of Pseudo-Simeon), then the dews were defeated at Trikefal by the Byzantine leader John Radin. And only a few managed to escape from the Greek weapons due to the insight of their prince.
A. Kuzmin, when studying the text of the Chronicle of the Tale of Bygone Years about the deeds of Oleg, suggested that the author used texts from Bulgarian or Greek sources about raids led by the prince. The chronicler cited the phrases of the Greeks: "This is not Oleg, but Saint Demetrius, who was sent to us by God." Such words indicate, according to the researcher, at the time of the events in 904 - the Byzantines did not provide assistance to the Thessalonians. And Demetrius of Thessalonica was considered the patron of the robbed city. As a result, a large number of the inhabitants of Thessalonica were slaughtered, and only a few of them were able to free them from the Arab pirates. These words of the Greeks about Demetrius, unclear in context, could contain indications of revenge from Saint Constantinople, who was indirectly guilty of such a fate for the population.
How do historians interpret the chronicle?
As mentioned above, information about the raid is contained only in Russian chronicles, and nothing is indicated in Byzantine writings on this matter.
However, if you look at the text part of the fragments of documents, which is given in the "Tale of Bygone Years", we can say that, nevertheless, information about the campaign of 907 is not completely fictitious. Missing data in Greeksources, some researchers explain the wrong date, which refers to the war in the "Tale of Bygone Years". There are a number of attempts to make its connection with the campaign of the Rus (Dromites) in 904, while the Greeks fought with the army of pirates, which was led by Leo of Tripoli. The theory that most resembles the truth belongs to the authorship of Boris Rybakov and Lev Gumilyov. According to their hypothesis, information about the raid in 907 should be attributed to events in 860. This war was replaced by information about unsuccessful campaigns led by Askold and Dir, which was inspired by legends about the extraordinary liberation of the Christian population from pagan tribes.
Dating the campaign
It is not known exactly when Prince Oleg's campaign against Tsargrad was made. The year to which these events are attributed (907) is conditional and appeared after the chroniclers had made their own calculations. From the very beginning, the legends about the reign of the prince did not have an exact date, which is why later the information was divided into stages that were attributed to the initial and final period of his reign.
Besides, the "Tale of Bygone Years" contains information about the relative dating of the raid. It contains information that what was predicted by the sages (the death of the prince) actually happened five years after the campaign against Constantinople was made. If Oleg died no later than 912 (this is evidenced by the data on the sacrifice in the works of Tatishchev, which were performed at the time of the appearance of Halle -legendary comet), then the author calculated everything correctly.
The meaning of Oleg's campaign against Tsargrad
If the campaign really happened, then it can be considered a significant event. The document that was signed as a result of the campaign should be regarded as defining the relationship between the Greeks and the Russians for the next decades. Subsequent historical events, one way or another, were connected with those raids that were carried out by Prince Oleg, regardless of their correct dating.
