Reign and murder of brothers

Fight with Yaroslav

In historiography

Svyatopolk Vladimirovich, in baptism Peter, in ancient Russian historiography - Svyatopolk the Accursed(c. 979-1019) - Prince of Turov (from 988), and then of Kiev in 1015-1016 and 1018-1019, ruler of Kievan Rus.

Origin

Born to a Greek woman, the widow of the Kyiv prince Yaropolk Svyatoslavich, taken as a concubine by his brother and murderer Vladimir. The chronicle says that the Greek woman was already pregnant (not idle), thus his father was Yaropolk. Nevertheless, Vladimir considered him his legitimate son (one of the eldest) and gave him an inheritance in Turov. The chronicler calls Svyatopolk the son of two fathers (from two fathers) and notes with a hint of future fate Prince: “From sin comes evil fruit.”

In the Tale of Bygone Years, Vladimir’s other son Yaroslav, who became the Grand Duke of Kyiv Yaroslav the Wise, is placed ahead of Svyatopolk. In the Novgorod First Chronicle, Yaroslav the Wise occupies the fourth position, which, apparently, is more consistent with reality according to historians. The rumor about the birth of Svyatopolk from two parents gives reason to believe that he was born 7-9 months after Vladimir entered Kyiv in June 978, respectively, Svyatopolk could have been born at the beginning of 979.

Some historians continue to consider the origin of Svyatopolk debatable. G. Kotelshchik, based on the tamga on the coins of Svyatopolk, believes that the prince himself declared his descent from Yaropolk. If this version is correct, and the interpretation of the princely tamgas is quite controversial (the bident was also on the tamga of Mstislav Vladimirovich, found in Taman), then this proves Svyatopolk’s efforts to dissociate himself from Vladimir and his other sons. It is known that in 1018 Svyatopolk took Yaroslav’s stepmother and sisters hostage; this would hardly be acceptable if he also considered himself the son of Vladimir.

Marriage

Svyatopolk was married to his daughter Polish prince Boleslaw the Brave (Polish: Boleslaw I Chrobry). She was born from her third marriage to Emgilda between 991-1001. (closer to the first date) and died after August 14, 1018. Most researchers date the marriage to 1013-1014, believing that it was a consequence of the peace concluded with Poland after unsuccessful trip Boleslav. However, the mission of the Cistercian Bruno in 1008, which could have ended in peace, sealed by marriage, remains unnoticed. Svyatopolk occupied the throne of Turov somewhere from 990, his lands bordered on Poland and therefore it was he who was chosen by Vladimir as a candidate for marriage with the Polish princess.

Reign and murder of brothers

Shortly before Vladimir's death, he was imprisoned in Kyiv; Together with him, his wife (the daughter of the Polish king Boleslaw I the Brave) and his wife’s confessor, the Kolobrzeg (Kolberg) Bishop Reinburn, who died in prison, were taken into custody. The reason for Svyatopolk's arrest was, apparently, Vladimir's plan to bequeath the throne to his beloved son Boris; It is noteworthy that Vladimir’s other eldest son, Prince Yaroslav of Novgorod, also rebelled against his father around this time.

After the death of Vladimir on July 15, 1015, Svyatopolk was released and ascended the throne without much difficulty; he was supported by both the people and the boyars who made up his entourage in Vyshgorod near Kiev.

In Kyiv, Svyatopolk managed to issue silver coins (50 such coins are known), similar to Vladimir’s silver coins. On the front side there is an image of the prince with a circular inscription: “Svyatopolk on the table [throne].” On the reverse side: a princely sign in the form of a bident, the left end of which ends with a cross, and the inscription: “And behold his silver.” On some coins Svyatopolk is called his Christian name Petros or Petor.
During the same year, three brothers of Svyatopolk were killed - Boris, the Murom prince Gleb and the Drevlyan Svyatoslav. The Tale of Bygone Years accuses Svyatopolk of organizing the murder of Boris and Gleb, who were glorified as holy martyrs under Yaroslav. According to the chronicle, Svyatopolk sent the Vyshgorod men to kill Boris, and upon learning that his brother was still alive, he ordered the Varangians to finish him off. According to the chronicle, he called Gleb in the name of his father to Kyiv and sent people to kill him along the way. Svyatoslav died trying to escape from the killers to Hungary.

However, there are other theories about this. In particular, the Scandinavian Saga of Eymund mentions a war between King Yarisleif (Yaroslav) and his brother Burisleif, where Yarisleif hires the Varangians to fight his brother and ultimately wins. The name Burisleif is identified by many with Boris (cf. also the connection of the name Boris with the name Borislav), but according to another version it is the name of King Boleslav the Brave, which the saga calls his ally Svyatopolk, without separating them. Also, the chronicle of Thietmar of Merseburg, which tells how Svyatopolk fled to Poland, is often interpreted in favor of his innocence, since it does not mention Svyatopolk’s reign in Kiev (which, however, contradicts the existence of Svyatopolk’s coins) and any actions against Boris and Gleb.

Fight with Yaroslav

A power struggle began between Svyatopolk and Yaroslav. In 1016, Yaroslav marched with the Novgorod and Varangian troops against his brother. The troops met near Lyubech on the Dnieper, and for a long time neither side decided to be the first to cross the river and give battle. Finally, Yaroslav attacked, taking advantage of the moment when Svyatopolk was feasting with his squad. The troops of the Kyiv prince were defeated and thrown into the river, Yaroslav captured Kyiv.

The defeated prince retreated to Poland, where he called for help from his father-in-law, King Boleslaw I the Brave. In 1018, with the support of Polish and Pecheneg troops, Svyatopolk and Boleslav set out on a campaign against Kyiv. The squads met on the Bug, where the Polish army under the command of Boleslav defeated the Novgorodians, Yaroslav again fled to Novgorod.

Svyatopolk again occupied Kyiv. Not wanting to support Boleslav's troops, stationed in Russian cities for food, he broke the alliance and expelled the Poles. Many Kyiv boyars left along with Boleslav. Less than a year later, deprived military force Svyatopolk was forced to flee Kyiv again from Yaroslav, who returned with the Varangians. The Kiev prince called on other allies, the Pechenegs, for help, hoping with their help to regain power. In the decisive battle on the Alta River (not far from the place where Boris died), Svyatopolk received a wound from which, apparently, he died: “... and his bones, weakened, cannot turn gray, they carry them and carry them.” PVL designates the place of death of Svyatopolk as “between the Poles and the Chakhas,” which many researchers (starting with one of the first researchers of the Boris and Gleb monuments O.I. Senkovsky) consider not literal geographical designation borders of the Czech Republic and Poland, but a proverb meaning “God knows where.”

There is an Icelandic saga “The Strand of Eymund Hringsson”, which describes the struggle between three brothers: Buritslav, in whom most researchers see Svyatopolk, Yaritsleif (Yaroslav the Wise) and Vartislav, who is most often identified with Prince of Polotsk Bryachislav Izyaslavich, nephew, and not brother of Yaroslav and Svyatopolk. According to it, after being wounded, Buritslav goes to “Turkland” and returns with an army. So the feud could continue indefinitely. Therefore, King Eymund asked Yaritsleif: “Will you order him to be killed or not?” To which Yaritsleiv gave his consent:

Having received consent, Eymund and his comrades set off to meet Buritslav’s army. Having set up an ambush along the route and waited until nightfall, Eymund tore down the tent of the prince's tent and killed Buritslav and his guards. He brought the severed head to Yaritsleiva and asked if he would order his brother to be buried with dignity. Yaritsleiv said that since they killed him, they should bury him. Then Eymund returned for the body of Buritsleiv, left behind by the army that had dispersed after his death, and brought it to Kyiv, where the body and head were buried.

The version of “The Strand” about the murder of Buritslav-Svyatopolk by the Varangians, who were sent by Yaroslav, is now accepted by many historians, sometimes preferring it to the story about the death of Svyatopolk in the chronicles.

In historiography

In connection with the role that Svyatopolk plays in the chronicle and hagiography of Boris and Gleb (created starting from the third quarter of the 11th century), he appears as one of the most negative characters in medieval Russian history; Svyatopolk the Accursed is a constant epithet of this prince in chronicles and lives. There are hypotheses of a number of historians of the second half of the 20th century. (N.N. Ilyin, M.Kh. Aleshkovsky, A. Poppe) revise the reports of sources, disagreeing with the chronicle texts, justify Svyatopolk, and attribute the murder of Boris and Gleb to Yaroslav or even Mstislav Vladimirovich. This point of view is based, in particular, on the testimony of the Scandinavian sagas, where Prince “Burislav” dies at the hands of Yaroslav.

"Fifth column" Ancient Rus'[History of betrayal and intrigue] Shambarov Valery Evgenievich

Tangle first Svyatopolk the Accursed

Tangle first

Svyatopolk the Accursed

Betrayal has existed among people since ancient times. We can find examples in both the Old Testament and mythology different nations, and in historical sources. People betrayed their kings, bosses, patrons, and relatives. It also happened that they betrayed their entire people. Sometimes for selfish reasons - let them conquer your fellow tribesmen, but personally you will benefit from this or find yourself in a privileged position. Although it happened that they cheated without any self-interest. They became infected with foreign culture and customs. They considered them more prestigious than their relatives, and for this reason they turned to foreigners.

In the VI century. BC e. in Scythia, even one of the kings, Skil, became interested in foreign customs and fashions. He got into the habit of traveling to the Greek colony of Borysthenis. He stayed to live there for a long time and built himself a palace in the city. Hellenic culture completely captivated him; he dressed in Greek clothes and had a Greek wife. He openly declared that the Hellenic way of life was sweeter and more attractive to him than the traditions of his people. Skil also changed the beliefs of the Scythians, made sacrifices in the temples of Borysthenis, and participated in other people's religious rites. But one day the Scythians learned that their king, in the celebrations of Dionysus, was jumping and raging in the processions of the Bacchants. The whole country rebelled, Skil was overthrown and killed.

Subsequently, Roman and Byzantine diplomacy learned very well to look for suitable candidates among the Sarmatian, German, Slavic leaders, to lure them to their side - some with flattery, some with gifts, some with political benefits, promises of support. In these ways, conspiracies were repeatedly organized against the Hun king Attila. Emperor Mauritius, in his manual on the art of war, “Strategikon,” openly taught how to attract and process the Slavic “kings” and quarrel among themselves.

However, to seek out and sort out all the betrayals in national history It would probably be simply unrealistic. We will start with the period of Kievan Rus. The period is completely “historical”, quite fully illuminated by both Russian chronicles and foreign chronicles. And the first bright figure who comes to our attention is Prince Svyatopolk, nicknamed the Accursed. However, his abilities for treason were hereditary. Such qualities were already demonstrated by the prince's father, Yaropolk.

In 969, the great warrior and sovereign of Rus' Svyatoslav Igorevich went to the Balkans. In Kyiv he left his young son Yaropolk to reign, in the Drevlyansky land - Oleg, in Novgorod - his side son Vladimir. None of them were appointed heir. Svyatoslav reserved the great reign for himself; he only intended to move the capital to the Danube. But in the war with the Byzantines he suffered heavy losses. Negotiations began. On the Russian side they were led by Voivode Sveneld, and on the Greek side by the head of the foreign policy department, Bishop Theophilus. An agreement was concluded according to which the Russians pledged to leave for their homeland. But for this they maintained access to the sea, took away countless trophies, the Greeks paid them subsidies, a disguised tribute. They also pledged to help the Pechenegs, Byzantine allies, allow Svyatoslav to pass along the Dnieper.

Reality has become different. The same Bishop Theophilus went to the Pechenegs and actually informed them that there were few Russians left, they were carrying countless booty. The delighted Pechenegs did not hide the fact that they would definitely attack. The Greeks did not inform Svyatoslav about this. Well, the Russian sovereign sent Sveneld with a cavalry squad along the steppe route. He himself sailed on boats with foot warriors - they were carrying the wounded, the sick, and enormous wealth. We began to climb the Dnieper and discovered: hordes of steppe inhabitants were waiting near the river rapids. The thinned out troops had no chance to break through. We returned to the river mouth.

We wintered on Beloberezhye - Kinburn Spit, in fishermen's dugouts. They starved, they lived in poverty, they died. They were waiting for help from Kyiv, Sveneld was supposed to send it.

But the governor betrayed him. Prince Yaropolk sat in Kyiv, he was 10–11 years old. Under the boy-prince, the boyars were accustomed to being in charge, and Svyatopolk easily found with them mutual language. By the way, we may recall that chief master Byzantine intrigues, Bishop Theophilus negotiated with Sveneld. And then I went to the Pechenegs... Is it a coincidence? No, I don’t believe in such coincidences.

The governor brought Yaropolk under his influence. We don’t know how, but in fact the boy agreed to the coup. Russian soldiers lived in poverty on Beloberezh, dying from disease, but there was no help. In the spring, exhausted and weakened, they decided to make a breakthrough. Everyone still hoped that now the people of Kiev would attack and clear the way. No, there were no Kievites. Sveneld and Yaropolk did not send them. But the Pechenegs cheated. They pretended that they had retreated from the rapids, otherwise Svyatoslav would not have gone by sea to other shores. But when the Russians unloaded the boats and began to drag them around the rapids, the enemy army swooped in. In the last desperate felling, both the prince himself and all his faithful warriors laid down their heads.

Yaropolk turned out to be a usurper, and even a parricide. Sveneld and the Kiev elite ruled on his behalf. Svyatoslav's other sons were also still children. Oleg was 9-10 years old, Vladimir even younger. But the boyars assigned to them did not recognize the Kyiv government. The majority of the people did not approve of the coup; in their memory, Svyatoslav remained an epic hero, the winner of the Khazars and Greeks. As a result, Rus' split. The western and northern lands took Oleg's side. Brother Vladimir, that is, the Novgorodians, whose position was symbolized by Vladimir, also submitted to him.

To hold on, Sveneld sought support among the enemies of Rus'. He pushed Yaropolk to enter into an alliance with the Pechenegs. The prince made friends with the direct killers of his father! But what difference does it make if the help of the steppes may be needed against the Drevlyans, Novgorodians, against their brothers? The alliance with the Pechenegs could not have taken place without the blessing of Byzantium. But Emperor Tzimiskes new government in Kyiv was quite satisfactory. And Sveneld took measures for further rapprochement with Constantinople. When Yaropolk grew up, a temporary worker allegedly married him to a captive Greek nun. Although Svyatoslav and Sveneld, concluding peace, returned all the prisoners to the Byzantines. We can safely assume that the nun (in Rus' they called her Preslava) was a spy. She was significantly older than husband, could regulate it. With her, other Greek spies appeared in the palace.

In 977, Sveneld and Yaropolk launched a surprise attack on their rivals. The prince's brother Oleg was defeated and died. Vladimir and his uncle Dobrynya were forced to flee overseas. But the position of the common people was decisive. When Sveneld died, Vladimir returned to his homeland. It turned out that they were waiting for him. Novgorodians, Krivichi, Chud, all immediately took his side. Then other tribes and cities began to move over to him. The campaign against Kyiv in 980 went without any fighting at all. And Yaropolk was afraid to even stay in his own capital; he did not trust his subjects. He fled to the Rodnya fortress and was besieged.

Varyazhko’s close associate advised Yaropolk: “Don’t go, sir, to your brother, you will die. Leave Rus' for a while and gather an army in the land of the Pechenegs.” As we see, the last faithful servant of the prince was a foreigner, and he even had nowhere to run except to the Pechenegs, to bring nomads to Rus'! But another adviser, Blud, persuaded the prince to surrender. He went to his brother, and the Varangian mercenaries who were waiting in the hallway pierced him with swords.

Was he executed according to the law, as an accomplice in the coup, a parricide, a fratricide? Later, under Yaroslav the Wise, “Russkaya Pravda” in its first article read: “Whoever kills a person, the relatives of the murdered person will avenge the death with death.” Vladimir fulfilled the law. And Yaropolk’s wife Preslav was pregnant at that time, and the winner included her among his wives. This was not perversion, not a manifestation of lust, but also according to the law. After all, the wife was not responsible for the crimes of her husband, and the sovereign acted as required by pagan Slavic law - the brother inherits his brother’s widow. He did not live with the Greek woman as his wife (she was 12–15 years older than Vladimir), but he accepted her into the family, supported her equally with other wives and recognized her son Svyatopolk as his. In Rus', such children were called “sons of two fathers.”

Several years passed, and in 988 St. Equal to the Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir Svyatoslavich established Christianity in Kyiv. At the same time he married Byzantine princess Anna. But he already had several pagan wives and children born from them. They needed to be removed, and the sovereign did the same as his father: he assigned inheritances to his sons. And he sent the mothers away with their children. At the same time, eight-year-old Svyatopolk and Preslava received Turov, the land of the Dregovichi tribe.

It can be noted that the sovereign did not offend his adopted son at all. His inheritance was vast and fertile, covering southern part Belarus. The principality was much more comfortable than the wilderness of Suzdal or Rostov; in 1006 an independent diocese was established here. In addition to Turov, the cities of Pinsk and Brest fell into Svyatopolk’s possessions. But next to Svyatopolk was his mother. She never had warm feelings for Vladimir. While we lived in Kyiv, we had to hold our tongue. And in Turov, the mother and her entourage treated Svyatopolk to the fullest extent.

Well, Russian craftsmen built wonderful mansions - bright, cheerful, and decorated them with intricate carvings. This was also the case with the Turov Palace. But he was filled with anger and hatred. Svyatopolk was told how his usurper uncle had insidiously overthrown and killed his father. What a brilliant position he would have occupied under Yaropolk - firstborn, heir! Svyatopolk was over 30, but his mother tenaciously kept him under her influence and did not even allow him to marry. For the true heir to the Kyiv throne, any boyar daughter looked like an unsuitable match...

And next door was Poland. King Boleslav the Brave, powerful and extremely warlike, ruled there. He conquered the Czech Republic, crushed the Germans, Lithuanians, Polabian Slavs - Lusatians and Lutichians. The Lyutichs and the Czechs united with the German Emperor Henry II and fought back. Then Boleslav turned to St. Vladimir. He proposed an alliance against the Germans and wooed him to his daughter Predslava. No, the Russian sovereign refused. He did not want to enter into a completely unnecessary war, and he simply felt sorry for his daughter - Boleslav was already an old man. And he was extremely fat in build; he even had difficulty moving. Servants helped him climb into the saddle.

But he was ready to fight with anyone, no matter! He was offended by the refusal. He immediately made peace with the same Germany with which he had just fought, and in 1013 he went to Rus'. However, the heroes of St. Vladimir were strong, the squads were united and well trained. The Poles were immediately hit hard, and Boleslav soon realized that he had perhaps gotten carried away. He got involved and offered to negotiate. St. Vladimir was not at all against stopping the fight: he did not start it. We agreed with the neighbor to arrange the world more firmly, in a family-like way, and the wedding still took place. But no longer the king and the young princess. Now Boleslav offered to give his own daughter from his first marriage to the Turov prince Svyatopolk. The contract was signed and the newlyweds were married. As usual, we feasted, sang, and danced.

Although Boleslav’s courage was by no means combined with honesty and nobility. In fact, his move was a masterfully calculated sabotage. He knew very well about Svyatopolk’s moods; they lived nearby. A confessor was attached to the bride. And not just an ordinary one, but a royal one, Bishop Reinburn of Kolobrzeg. When the celebrations died down and the guests left, on behalf of Boleslav he laid out far-reaching proposals to Svyatopolk. Isn't it time for the prince to separate himself from his hated uncle? Go under the arm of a kind father-in-law? Of course, together with the Principality of Turov. At the same time, change your faith and come under the auspices of the Pope. In general, the shot was aimed accurately. Hit the bull's eye. Svyatopolk caught fire.

But Vladimir Krasno Solnyshko was not in power for the first day. He would be a bad sovereign if he didn’t know: things are very, very wrong in Turov. He would have been a bad sovereign if he had not looked after Svyatopolk and his entourage through faithful people. He did not allow the conspiracy to mature. As soon as it was discovered that the “son of two fathers” was persuading his fellow boyars to cheat, Vladimir decided that his paternal responsibilities for his adoption had been exhausted. The vigilantes suddenly arrived and arrested the warm company. They brought her to Kyiv, and the princess was accommodated delicately at court. And Svyatopolk and Rainburn were sent to where traitors were supposed to be - to prison. The bishop could not bear such a shock and died in prison.

It seemed that calm in Rus' had improved, but no... Novgorod spoke up. The city is rich, the region is vast, and it paid a considerable tax - 3,000 hryvnia of silver per year. A third went to support the local prince and his squad, two thirds went to Kyiv. The Novgorod boyars have been grumbling for a long time, but do they have to pay? On whom does all of Rus' stand if not on the Novgorodians? Was it not Novgorod that summoned Rurik, marched to Kyiv under the banners of the Prophetic Oleg, and elevated Vladimir himself to the Kiev throne? And where is the gratitude?

The sovereign's son Yaroslav ruled here; later he would receive the nickname Wise. He was young and hot. He led the Novgorodians in the victorious war against the Swedes, married Swedish princess Ingigerde. Local boyars egged on the prince. The capital is already awash in luxury, wouldn’t they themselves have found where to put the money? Temples and palaces would be built no worse than those in Kyiv! Yaroslav found their arguments reasonable. In 1014, he wrote to his father that he would not send tribute.

Vladimir got angry. He threatened the disobedient man that he would bring him to order by force. But I found a scythe on a stone. Yaroslav regarded his father’s anger as undeserved, and in turn became wound up. Yes, he would be ashamed to retreat - in front of the Novgorodians, in front of his young wife. He snapped: we won’t pay and that’s it. Obstinacy went off scale, and St. Vladimir ordered to gather an army. Did he intend to fight against his son? The facts show no. He knew very well that the mess was made by the Novgorod boyars, who were sparing their wallets. I also knew something else: these boyars wouldn’t want war either. After all, during a siege, their homes and wealth could have perished, their villages could have been ruined.

They only tried to intimidate, to bargain for concessions. Fights with the Pechenegs taught the people of Kiev to instantly raise shelves. The Emperor had the opportunity to set out immediately, along a convenient winter road. But the army gathered and hustled in Kyiv all winter and spring... Vladimir gave Novgorod time to come to its senses. The boyars realize that he will not give in and will cast bait for negotiations.

But Svyatopolk’s betrayal and Yaroslav’s prank made the Grand Duke think about something else... He had many sons, from different mothers, different upbringings. But formally Svyatopolk was considered the eldest! Although in that era it was not necessarily the eldest son who became the heir. In Germany, the successor to kings and emperors was chosen by a congress of princes, and in Byzantium and Bulgaria, the monarchs themselves determined the successors. Often, Greek and German emperors crowned their heirs during their lifetime and appointed them co-rulers so that the transfer of power would take place without shocks.

Vladimir decided to do the same. He summoned his son from his Bulgarian wife, Boris, who ruled in distant Rostov. It was to him that the Grand Duke planned to leave the throne. Let him be close, enter into the intricacies Kyiv politics, accustomed to state scales. And let the boyars, the army, and other sons get used to the fact that here he is, the future ruler. Boris arrived joyful and spiritual. I missed my father, my relatives, and the beautiful Kyiv churches. Boris was certainly not in the mood to fight Yaroslav and treated him with respect. And in general, Boris’s evangelical consciousness did not accept that it was possible to cross weapons with his own brother. He is not an enemy of Rus', not a foreigner!

Daughter Predslava also stood up for Yaroslav before her father. She was friends with her older brother and corresponded with him. You never know what happens to anyone - he got excited, the advisers misled him. The Grand Duke pondered how best to resolve the conflict. If the army moves out, the Novgorodians will retreat in any case. Then Yaroslav himself will understand what their incitement is worth. And the peace-loving Boris will help reassure his brother. It will be possible to make concessions to the Novgorodians, but not immediately. Wait for them to bow and obey... The sovereign did not have time to implement these plans.

The course of further events shows that the conspiracy began to be woven in Kyiv itself. It was based on the capital's boyars. In a great and powerful power, gathered through the efforts of St. Vladimir, it also grew stronger and richer. The inherited lands were supplemented by awards and new grants from the sovereign. But strong centralized power, which the Grand Duke claimed, embarrassed and irritated the aristocrats. Isn't it better to live like in the West? Like Polish gentlemen or Hungarian barons? The boyars did not forget how their fathers, under the weak Yaropolk, ruled the entire country. Now his son was in prison...

Arrival of St. Boris and the talk that he would be proclaimed heir spurred on the traitors. The Grand Duke was not yet old at all, he was barely over fifty. His health was excellent, his illnesses were never mentioned anywhere, he was constantly on hikes and on horseback. And in the spring of 1015 he suddenly fell ill. Was his illness caused by natural causes? This may be doubted. Somehow everything happened too “timely”.

The seditionists needed to remove the assembled army from Kyiv, and a false report was received about an attack by the Pechenegs. It was not difficult to inspire him: among the conspirators was the chief governor of Vladimir, Wolf Tail. The Emperor entrusted the army of St. Boris - this is his first assignment in the role of “ right hand"father. Let us emphasize: the condition of the Grand Duke at that moment did not cause any concern. Otherwise, would his son have left him? But as soon as the army left, the saint’s well-being. Vladimir’s condition worsened sharply. On July 15, the Baptist of Rus' gave up his soul to the Lord...

The conspirators staged the first Kiev Maidan in history. They brought out crowds of their own servants and took possession of the capital. Svyatopolk was released from prison and placed on the throne. Nobody bothered with legality; the matter was decided by fists, knives and tinned throats. From the people of Kiev the expression of the will of St. Vladimir was hidden, and even the fact of his death was hidden from the rest of the country. Svyatopolk first began to distribute the treasury accumulated adoptive father, paid off supporters, recruited new ones. St. Boris wandered aimlessly through the steppes and returned back. Suddenly he learned about the coup, the traitorous commanders took the regiments away from him, and Svyatopolk the Accursed sent assassins. He decided to get rid of all his half-brothers. Another detachment overtook and finished off Svyatoslav Drevlyansky, who was trying to hide abroad. St. Gleb was lured out of Murom. They reported not about the death, but about the illness of the father. When he rushed to Kyiv, the killers were waiting on the road.

But sister Predslava managed to send a letter to Yaroslav the Wise about what happened in the capital. And once again the boyars decided not to know the outcome of the confrontation. The position of the Russian common people decided. It did not yet know about all the details of the atrocities, but in its soul it felt on whose side the truth was. At that time, the Novgorodians had just quarreled with Yaroslav and rebelled against him. However, they heard about the coup and decided to discard their previous scores. They collected money and armed themselves. But Svyatopolk the Accursed was still a smart man. He was aware that the people were not on his side. He didn’t even try to attack Novgorod. For defense, he entered into an alliance with the eternal enemies of Rus', with the Pechenegs. St. Vladimir fought with them for a quarter of a century, and there was no way to make peace. But the usurper had no difficulties. Come, dear friends!

Both sides agreed late autumn 1016 on the Dnieper near Lyubech. The cold river separated the opponents. There were significantly more Kyivans, and besides, they had professional warriors - squads of the capital's boyars, the Pechenegs. Yaroslav brought armed commoners. They mocked them; Voivode Wolf Tail rode along the shore and shouted: “Hey, you carpenters, why did you come here with your lame prince?” But many Kyiv warriors sympathized with Yaroslav, sent them and suggested where it was better to strike. And Svyatopolk tried to arouse the sympathy of the soldiers for himself, to stir up the fervor of battle by other means. I gave them a strong drink every evening.

The Novgorodians decreed that anyone who was cowardly should be considered a traitor and killed. We crossed at night and pushed the boats away, cutting off our own escape route. They tied scarves around their heads so they could distinguish them in the darkness, and fell into a drunken state. Axes and swords flashed. The defeat was complete... Svyatopolk fled to Poland in panic, leaving his wife in Kyiv. And the capital, having lost such a prince, did not even think of resisting. Yaroslav entered Kyiv. Organized the search and burial of the relics of the holy passion-bearers Boris and Gleb.

Although the struggle is by no means over. Svyatopolk galloped up to Boleslav the Brave and asked for help. He paid generously. The treaty that gave Red Rus' to Poland was signed. That is, Prykarpattya. There were salt deposits there. In the Middle Ages, the product was very expensive; without salt it was impossible to prepare meat, lard, and fish for future use. Therefore, the Carpathian region was of great interest to both the king and his financiers, Polish Jews. True, at first Boleslav could not help his son-in-law. He was busy with another war with the German emperor. And he assessed the situation, sent an embassy to Yaroslav the Wise, and concluded an alliance with him. But they did not have time to implement it and were unable to do so. The Poles fell on the Germans and smashed them to smithereens. The emperor accepted all the conditions that were dictated to him. He not only gave up several regions, but also renounced friendship with the Russians. On the contrary, he allocated a detachment of German knights for a campaign against Kyiv.

In addition to the Germans, Boleslav invited the Hungarians, and Svyatopolk invited the Pechenegs. In 1018, a huge army poured into the east. Supporters of the escaped prince also acted in Kyiv. Someone set fire, and purposefully, to fortifications. A severe fire destroyed part of the walls and towers. But for Yaroslav such a massive invasion was unexpected. He hastily gathered warriors and met the enemy on the banks of the Bug. But Boleslav was an experienced warrior, he cheated. He set up camp and began to build a bridge. Yaroslav considered that so far everything was going well, he was gaining time, troops from distant cities would have time to reach him. But the Russian knights saw: until the construction is completed, they can relax. But the river is summer heat became shallow, the king ordered to secretly measure the depth. Having chosen the right moment, he rushed ford.

Our soldiers didn’t even have time to prepare. An avalanche of enemies scattered them. Yaroslav was saved by the warriors who covered him and the speed of his horse. But he could not count on the loyalty of the capital’s boyars; he rushed to the north. I reached Novgorod with only four companions. He was broken not only physically, but also mentally. Did he have any hope of defeating the combined forces of Svyatopolk, the Poles, and the Pechenegs? It seemed that the only thing left to do was to emigrate. He ordered the boats to be prepared and to sail to his wife’s relatives, the Swedes. But the Novgorodians rose up. They demonstratively chopped up the rooks and declared: “We want and can still resist Boleslav. You don’t have a treasury - take everything we have.” They introduced an additional tax and equipped warriors.

And Southern Rus' found itself in the power of the victors. The cities, seeing countless hordes and not hoping for help, surrendered. Only one resisted, he was taken by storm, and Boleslav sold all the inhabitants, young and old, into slavery. In Kyiv, the burnt walls have not yet been restored, but the boyars have changed them. They convinced the population that the “liberators” had arrived. On August 14, the city elite solemnly greeted Boleslav and Svyatopolk and took the oath to the fratricide. Repressions began. They captured Svyatopolk's opponents and those who advanced under Yaroslav, executed them, and forced them into captivity. The sisters of Yaroslav, Predslav and Dobrognev also ended up in the hands of the invaders. The story of how Predslava helped her brother was revealed, and Boleslav came up with a special punishment for her. He made her his concubine. Recently St. Vladimir refused the king's request for matchmaking, and now the princess was forcefully placed under the royal carcass.

But... Svyatopolk and his supporters did not get what they wanted. Because Boleslav really liked the rich and beautiful Russian capital. Much better than Polish towns and damp, torch-smoked castles. Did it make sense to be content with the Carpathian region? He had much more at his disposal. In words, the king recognized his son-in-law as a “legitimate” prince, but in reality he stopped taking him into account. He had no intention of leaving now. He simply occupied Kyiv and surrounding cities, unleashing outright robbery. He cleaned out the treasury and temples.

Ordinary Poles behaved similarly. They were the winners! Throughout the courtyards, chests and storeroom doors were cracking, pigs were squealing, cows were mooing, and chickens were cackling. Girls and young women were raped. You can't fight against the sword! But they intimidated with swords during the day, and at night the Poles fell asleep, and the Russians took up knives. Corpses were found on the streets. Who, how? But no one knows. More and more people were killed from night to night. The Poles were very cordially received by the Kyiv Jews, who bought looted loot and Russian slaves from them. But the Jews were also attacked; their houses began to be set on fire.

And Svyatopolk was completely baked on both sides. On the one hand, the king who seized power from him. On the other hand, there is growing Russian rage. It seemed to the prince that he had come up with a way out. He whispered to those close to him, let them spread rumors that he himself was fighting against the Poles. But those close to him were a match for the master, they immediately pawned Boleslav. He was indignant at such black ingratitude. But the Polish army was melting, and the king considered it best to say goodbye to Kiev.

A huge convoy crawled out of the city. They took away such wealth as had never been seen in Poland. Boleslav led away the prisoners, taking with him two princesses: young Dobrogneva, the youngest of the daughters of St. Vladimir, and trampled Predslava. But the capital’s traitors also realized that Svyatopolk’s affairs were completely rotten. Some hoped to get out in front of Yaroslav. And those whose snouts were completely dirty joined the king, leaving with their families and cartloads of junk forever. The Poles separated from Rus' those areas that they hoped to hold - the Carpathian region and Volyn. Boleslav outlined the border along the Bug, placing garrisons west of this river.

As for Svyatopolk the Accursed, he was now left completely without support. His attempts to cling to guerrilla warfare The people of Kiev didn’t believe it. They cursed the prince who dragged the enemy horde onto their heads. When Yaroslav and the Novgorodians marched south, no one wanted to fight for Svyatopolk. He abandoned Kyiv and disappeared. Yaroslav entered the city without a fight, and was greeted with sincere joy.

Although his opponent still hasn't calmed down. He again drove his horses to the enemies of Rus' - this time to the Pechenegs. He no longer had any money or valuables, but he could pay with his subjects! The people of the steppe will have the right to recruit as many Russian slaves as they want! Svyatopolk campaigned well, all the hordes rose to the campaign. News of the threatening movement in the steppe reached the border fortresses and reached Kyiv. Yaroslav managed to gather a large army and stood on the river. Alte. At the same place where the murderers overtook St. Boris.

The steppe turned black from the cavalry splashing out. Chroniclers noted that the masses of enemies advanced like a dense dense forest; the Russians had never seen so many Pechenegs. But against them stood shoulder to shoulder the Novgorodians, Kyivians, Belgorodians, Pereyaslavians, Chernigovians, and Smolyanians. Now they did not stand for a fight for power, but closed off Rus'. And Yaroslav also recalled that it was from this place that the chain of meanness and atrocities began. He cried out: “The blood of my innocent brother cries out to the Most High.”

The rats collided so hard that the earth shook. The arrows obscured the sun like clouds and fell like steel rains. Spears and bones crunched, opponents clashed with swords, grappled in deadly embraces and strangled each other. Three times the battle fizzled out on its own. Exhausted opponents dispersed or fell exhausted. But, after catching their breath, after sipping on the water heated in the sun, they seized again. Only in the evening the Pechenegs wavered, began to back away - and broke and rolled away...

Svyatopolk with several servants slipped away to the west. He was paralyzed from the stress he suffered; he could not sit on a horse. He was brought to Brest, the city of his former principality. But the prince was no longer himself. He imagined he was being chased, imagined that he was being overtaken. He looked around in horror, forbade us to stop, and ordered us to move on. But where? It was no longer possible to visit Boleslav; his father-in-law was distinguished by his vindictiveness. And anyway, who needed him, a loser and a prince good for nothing else? We moved towards the Czech Republic along remote forest roads. Somewhere along the way, Svyatopolk the Accursed died.

Yaroslav the Wise managed to rescue Sister Dobrogneva. Exchanged for the widow of Svyatopolk, daughter of the Polish king. The fate of Predslava is unknown. Either she disappeared in a foreign land, or she returned with Dobrogneva, but renounced the world and retired to a monastery.