Prince of Rostov, Novgorod, Grand Duke of Kyiv Yaroslav Vladimirovich was baptized as George in honor of St. George the Victorious. Son of Grand Duke Vladimir, father, grandfather, uncle of some of the rulers of Europe. During his reign in Kyiv, the first code of laws in Russia was published, which entered the history of the state as "Russian Truth". Ranked among the saints and revered by the Russian Orthodox Church as "pious".
Birth
Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich, known in history as Yaroslav the Wise, was born in the family of the Baptist of Russia, Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich of Novgorod and Kyiv, and presumably Princess Rogneda of Polotsk in 979. He is from the Rurik family. The year of birth, like the mother of the prince, has not been reliably established. The well-known historian N. Kostomarov expressed doubts about Rogneda as the mother of Yaroslav.
A historian from France Arrignon was sure that Yaroslav's mother was a Byzantineprincess Anna. His confidence is confirmed by the intervention of Yaroslav Vladimirovich in the internal political affairs of Byzantium in 1043. The official version is that it was Rogneda who was the mother of Vladimir, as most sources indicate this. This is what most Russian and world historians adhere to.
If doubts about the mother can be explained by the lack of proper information, a series of certain events that researchers need to somehow explain, then the dispute over the date of birth confirms the assumption of historians that the struggle for the great reign of Kiev was not easy and fratricidal.
It should be recalled that the reign of Kyiv gave the title of Grand Duke. In the ladder form, this title was considered the main one, and it was passed on to the eldest sons. It was Kyiv that was paid tribute by all other cities. Therefore, all sorts of tricks were often used in the struggle for seniority, including changing the date of birth.
Year of birth
Historians on the basis of chronicles found that Yaroslav Vladimirovich was the third son of Rogneda, after Izyaslav, Mstislav. After him came Vsevolod. This is confirmed in the chronicle "The Tale of Bygone Years". The eldest son, it is assumed, was Vysheslav, whose mother is considered to be the first wife of Vladimir, the Varangian Olov.
Between Mstislav and Yaroslav was another son of Prince Vladimir, Svyatopolk, born of a Greek woman, the widow of his brother, Prince Yaropolk Svyatoslavovich of Kyiv. He died fighting the princeVladimir for the throne of Kyiv, and his wife was taken last as a concubine. Paternity was controversial, but Prince Vladimir considered him to be his own son.
Today it is precisely established that Svyatopolk was older than Yaroslav Vladimirovich, his year of birth fell on 979. This is confirmed by a number of chronicles. It was found that the marriage of Prince Vladimir and Rogneda was in 979. Taking into account that he is the third son of Rogneda, it can be assumed that the date of birth is set incorrectly.
Many scientists, including S. Solovyov, believe that Yaroslav Vladimirovich could not have been born in 979 or 978. This is confirmed by studies of bone remains in the 20th century, they indicate that presumably the remains belonged to a person aged 50 to 60 years.
Another historian Solovyov expressed doubts about the life expectancy of Yaroslav - 76 years. Based on this, we can conclude that the date of birth was incorrectly set. This was done in order to show that Yaroslav was older than Svyatopolk, and to justify his right to rule in Kiev. According to some sources, Yaroslav's date of birth should correspond to 988 or 989.
Childhood and youth
Prince Vladimir granted various cities to his sons. Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich got Rostov. At this time, he was only 9 years old, so the so-called breadwinner was attached to him, who was the governor and was called Budy or Buda. Almost nothing is known about the Rostov period, since the prince was young enough to rule. After his death in 1010Prince Vysheslav of Novgorod, Prince Yaroslav of Rostov, who at that time was 18-22 years old, was appointed ruler of Novgorod. This once again confirms that the time of his birth in the annals of temporary years is indicated incorrectly.
Foundation of Yaroslavl
A legend is connected with the history of Yaroslavl, according to which Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise founded the city during his journey from Rostov to Novgorod along the Volga River. During the parking, the prince with his retinue went to a large cliff, suddenly a bear jumped out of the thicket of the forest. Yaroslav, with the help of an ax and run up servants, killed him. A small fortress was built on this site, from which the city, called Yaroslavl, later grew. Maybe it's just a beautiful legend, but, nevertheless, Yaroslavl considers his date of birth from 1010.
Prince Novgorodsky
After the death of Vysheslav, the question arose of ruling in the Novgorod principality. Since Novgorod was the second most important city after Kyiv, where Vladimir reigned, the management was to be inherited by the eldest son, Izyaslav, who was in disgrace with his father, and died by the time the ruler of Novgorod was appointed.
After Izyaslav came Svyatopolk, but he was imprisoned on charges of treason against his father. The next son in seniority was Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise, whom Prince Vladimir appointed to reign in Novgorod. This city was supposed to pay tribute to Kyiv, which amounted to a size equal to 2/3 of all collectedtaxes, the rest of the money was only enough to support the squad and the prince. This caused discontent among the Novgorodians, who were waiting for an excuse to rebel against Kyiv.
In the brief biography of Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise, the period of Novgorod rule is not sufficiently known. All generations of Ruriks ruling in Novgorod lived in Gorodische, located not far from the settlement. But Yaroslav settled in the city itself in the trading place "Yaroslav's Court". Historians also refer to this period the marriage of Yaroslav. His first wife, according to some sources, was called Anna (not literally established). She was of Norwegian origin.
Rebellion against Kyiv
Towards the end of his life, Grand Duke Vladimir brought his youngest son Boris closer to him, to whom he transferred control of the army and was going to leave him the throne of Kyiv, contrary to the rules of inheritance by his eldest sons. Svyatopolk, at that time the elder brother, whom Vladimir threw into prison, spoke out against him.
Yaroslav decides to go to war against his father for the abolition of tribute to Kyiv. Not having sufficient troops, he hires the Varangians, who arrived in Novgorod. Having learned this, Vladimir was about to go on a campaign against the rebellious Novgorod, but became very ill. In addition, in the middle of the summer of 1015, the Pechenegs invaded Kievan Rus. Instead of going against Novgorod, Boris was forced to fight against the steppe nomads, who fled under the onslaught of the Russian army.
At this time in Novgorod, the Vikings, languishing from idleness, engaged in robbery and violence, which raised local residents against them,who killed them. Yaroslav was in his suburban village Rakoma. Upon learning of what had happened, Yaroslav ordered the instigators of the massacre to be brought to him, promising to forgive them. But as soon as they appeared, he ordered to seize them and execute them. What caused the wrath of most of Novgorod.
At this point, he receives a letter from his sister, who informed him of Vladimir's death. Understanding that it is impossible to leave unresolved problems, Yaroslav asks for peace from the Novgorodians, promising to give a certain monetary amount of vira (payoff) for each murdered person.
Fight with Svyatopolk for the throne in Kyiv
Prince Vladimir dies in the city of Berestov on June 15, 1015. The board was taken over by the eldest of the brothers Svyatopolk, whom the people called the Accursed. To protect himself, he kills his younger brothers: Boris, Gleb and Svyatoslav, beloved by the people of Kiev. The same fate awaited Yaroslav Vladimirovich, the reign of Novgorod strengthened him as a politician, and he was a danger to Svyatopolk.
Therefore, Yaroslav, with the support of the Novgorodians and the called-up Varangians, in 1016 defeated the army of Svyatopolk near Lyubich and entered Kyiv. The accursed several times approached the city in alliance with the Pechenegs. In 1018, the king of Poland, Boleslav the Brave, came to his aid - Svyatopolk's father-in-law, who entered Kyiv, captured Yaroslav's wife Anna, his sisters and stepmother. But instead of handing over the throne to Svyatopolk, he decided to seize it himself.
The saddened Yaroslav returned to Novgorod and decided to flee abroad, but the townspeople did not let gohim, announcing that they themselves would go against the Poles. The Varangians were also called up again. In 1019, the troops moved to Kyiv, where the locals rose to fight the Poles. On the Alta River, Svyatopolk was defeated, wounded, but managed to escape. Yaroslav Vladimirovich - the Grand Duke of Kyiv reigned on the throne.
Yaroslav's personal life
Historians also disagree on how many wives Yaroslav had. Most tend to believe that the prince had one wife, Ingigerda, the daughter of the king of Sweden, Olaf Shetkonung, whom he married in 1019. But some historians suggest that he had two wives. The first is the Norwegian Anna, from whom he had a son, Ilya. They, allegedly, with the sisters and stepmother of the Great Yaroslav Vladimirovich, were taken captive by King Boleslav and taken to the Polish lands, where they disappeared without a trace.
There is a third version, according to which, Anna is the name of Ingigerda in monasticism. In 1439, nun Anna was canonized as a saint and is the patroness of Novgorod. Ingigerda was given as a gift by his father the lands that were adjacent to the city of Ladoga. They were later called Ingria, where St. Petersburg was built by Peter I. Ingigerda and Prince Yaroslav had 9 children: 3 daughters and 6 sons.
Kiev government
The years of Yaroslav Vladimirovich's reign were full of military confrontations. In 1020, the prince's nephew Bryachislav invaded Novgorod, taking many prisoners and booty from it. Yaroslav's team overtook him on the Sudoma River near Pskov, where he was defeated by the prince, leavingprisoners and booty, fled. In 1021, Yaroslav gives him the cities of Vitebsk and Usvyat.
In 1023 the Tmutarakan Prince Mstislav, Yaroslav's younger brother, invaded the lands of Kievan Rus. He defeated the army of Yaroslav near Deciduous, capturing the entire left bank. In 1026, having gathered an army, Yaroslav returns to Kyiv, where he concludes an agreement with his brother that he will rule on the right bank, and the left bank will belong to Mstislav.
In 1029, together with Mstislav, they made a trip to Tmutarakan, where they defeated and expelled the Yases. In 1030, he conquered the Chud in the B altic and founded the city of Yuryev (Tartu). In the same year, he went to the city of Belz in Galicia and conquered it.
In 1031 King Harald III of Norway ran to Yaroslav, who would later become his son-in-law, marrying his daughter Elizabeth.
In 1034, Yaroslav made his beloved son Vladimir prince of Novgorod. In 1036 he brought sad news to him - Mstislav died suddenly. Worried about the possibility of challenging the Kyiv possessions by the last of the brothers - Sudislav, he imprisons Prince Pskov under a slander.
Meaning of Yaroslav's reign
Grand Duke Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise ruled over the data in the management of the lands as a zealous master. He constantly multiplied territories; strengthened the borders, settling across the steppe expanses of the southern limits of the captured Poles, who defended Russia from the steppe nomads; strengthened the western borders; stopped forever the raids of the Pechenegs; built fortresses and cities. During his reign,military campaigns were stopped, which made it possible to save the state from enemies and expand its territories.
But the meaning of the reign was not only that. The time of his reign is the highest flowering of the state, the era of prosperity of Kievan Rus. First of all, he helped spread Orthodoxy in Russia. He built churches, promoted education in this area and the training of priests. Under him, the first monasteries were opened. His merit is also in the liberation of the Russian Church from Greek and Byzantine dependence.
In the place of the final victory over the Pechenegs, he built the Cathedral of St. Sophia, decorated with frescoes and mosaics. Two monasteries were also built there: St. George, in honor of his patron George the Victorious and St. Irene, in the name of the angel of his wife. The Kyiv church of St. Sophia was built in the likeness of Constantinople, this can be seen in the photo. Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise contributed to the construction of the cathedrals of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and the construction of the monastery.
The whole of Kyiv was surrounded by a stone wall, in which the Golden Gate was built. Yaroslav, being an enlightened man, ordered to purchase books and translate them from Greek and other languages. He bought a lot himself. All of them were gathered at the St. Sophia Cathedral and were available for general use. He ordered priests to teach people, schools were formed in Novgorod and Kyiv under him.
Why was Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich nicknamed Yaroslav the Wise?
Historians attach particular importance to the collections of laws compiled under Yaroslavl that were in forcein Kievan Rus. The Code of Laws "Russkaya Pravda" was the first legal document that laid the foundation for the legislation of the Russian state. In addition, it was supplemented and developed at a later time. This suggests that the laws were used in everyday life.
A church charter was drawn up, it was translated from the Byzantine language. Yaroslav took care of the spread of Christianity, did everything to make the churches shine with splendor, and ordinary Christians were taught the basic Orthodox laws. He took care of the prosperity of the cities and the tranquility of the people inhabiting the lands of Kievan Rus. It was for these deeds that Yaroslav Vladimirovich was given the nickname Wise.
During the time of Kievan Rus, dynastic marriages played an important role. It was they who helped to establish foreign policy ties. He intermarried with many noble families of Europe, which allowed him to solve many cases without bloodshed. His policy allowed him to establish good relations with his brother Mstislav and take part in new campaigns with him.
Prince Yaroslav the Wise died, as is commonly believed, on February 20, 1054, in the arms of Vsevolod, his son. They were given a covenant to their children: to live in peace, never to fight with each other. Many famous historians disagree on the date of death, but it is the generally accepted date nonetheless. He was buried in the Hagia Sophia in Kyiv. In the 20th century, the crypt was opened three times; in 1964, during the opening, its remains were not found. It is believed that they were taken out in 1943 by Ukrainian henchmen of the Nazis. The remains are allegedly in the US.
