Library of Yaroslav the Wise - history, description and interesting facts. Yaroslav the Wise Political line of rapprochement with the West

One of the most revered ancient Russian princes is Prince Yaroslav the Wise, the son of the great (Baptist). He received the nickname Wise for his love of enlightenment and the creation of the first code of laws known in Rus', later called the Russian Truth.

And he is also the father, uncle and grandfather of many European rulers. At baptism, Yaroslav received the name George (or Yuri). The Russian Orthodox Church venerates him as a faithful one and even included the day of his memory in the calendar. In a leap year it is March 4th, and in a normal year it is March 5th.

Childhood and youth

The date of birth of Yaroslav Vladimirovich is still being debated today. But most historians and scientists are inclined to believe that the prince was born in 978, although no one is completely sure of this. His birthday is even more unknown.

His parents were Vladimir Svyatoslavovich, who belonged to the Rurik family, and the Polotsk princess. Even here, however, there is no agreement. For example, the famous historian Nikolai Kostomarov doubted that it was Rogneda who was the mother of Yaroslav. And his French colleague Arrignon even believed that the Byzantine princess Anna gave birth to the prince. Allegedly, this circumstance explains his intervention in intra-Byzantine affairs in 1043.

But for the sake of justice, it should be noted that the rest of the mass of historians tends to consider Rogneda the woman who gave birth to the most famous of the ancient Russian princes.

All four offspring born in a marriage with Rogneda, Izyaslav, Mstislav, Yaroslav and Vsevolod, Grand Duke Vladimir sent to reign in different cities. Yaroslav got Rostov. But since the boy was barely 9 years old, a breadwinner and governor Budy was assigned to him (in other sources of Budy). Later, when the matured prince Yaroslav the Wise began to rule Novgorod, the breadwinner and mentor turned into a close ally.

Governing body

This period is in the nature of traditions and legends. The time of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, as well as the personality itself, some historians tend to idealize, others to demonize. The truth, as usual, is somewhere in the middle.

The reign of Novgorod had a higher status than the administration of Rostov. And yet, the ruler of Novgorod had a subordinate status in relation to the Kyiv, that is, Vladimir. Therefore, Prince Yaroslav the Wise paid his father every year 2/3 of the tribute collected from the Novgorod lands without fail. It was the amount of 2 thousand hryvnia. 1 thousand remained for the maintenance of the nobleman and his squad. I must say that its size was only slightly inferior to Vladimir's squad.

Probably, it was this circumstance that prompted the son to rebel and in 1014 refuse to pay a huge tribute to his father. Novgorodians supported their mayor, as there is information in the surviving annals. Vladimir became angry and began to prepare a campaign to pacify the rebels. But at that time he was in advanced years. Soon he fell ill and died suddenly, without punishing his son.

The father's place was taken by the eldest son - Svyatopolk the Accursed. To protect himself and keep power in his hands, he destroyed three brothers: Boris, who was especially loved by the people of Kiev, Gleb and Svyatoslav. The same fate awaited the Novgorod mayor. But he managed to defeat Svyatopolk in a bloody battle near Lyubech and in 1016 entered Kyiv.

The fragile truce between the brothers, who divided Kyiv along the Dnieper, from time to time turned into a "hot" stage. But in 1019, Svyatopolk died, and Yaroslav the Wise began the undivided rule of the Kyiv throne.

The great merit of Prince Yaroslav the Wise was the victory over the Pechenegs. This happened in 1036. As the chronicles say, the city was besieged by nomads at the time when the ruler left for Novgorod, where he took part in the laying of the temple. But having received news of the danger, he quickly returned and defeated the Pechenegs. From that moment on, their devastating and bloody raids on Rus' stopped for a while.

The "golden" time of Yaroslav the Wise began. After the victories won, the nobleman took up the grandiose construction. Sophia Cathedral was founded on the site of the brilliant victory over the nomads. In many ways, it was a copy of the cathedral in Tsargrad. Decorated with magnificent frescoes and mosaics, the temple struck the beauty of its contemporaries and pleases the eye today.

The nobleman did not spare money for church splendor and invited the best Greek masters to decorate the cathedral. And the famous Golden Gate appeared in the city, repeated the same in Constantinople. Above them grew the Church of the Annunciation.

Domestic and foreign policy

The ruler made considerable efforts to break the dependence of the Russian Orthodox Church on Byzantium, which dominated it. Therefore, in 1054, for the first time in the history of Rus', its church was headed by a Russian, and not a Greek, metropolitan. His name was Illarion.

The internal policy of Yaroslav the Wise was aimed at increasing the education of the people and eradicating the remnants of the pagan faith. The Christian faith was inculcated with renewed vigor. In this, the son continued the work of his great father, Vladimir the Baptist.

The son ordered to translate Greek handwritten books into Slavonic. He himself loved to read and tried to instill a love of reading and enlightenment in his subordinates. The clergy began to teach children to read and write. A school for boys appeared in Novgorod, which accepted the first 300 students.

The number of books grew rapidly and bookish wisdom was elevated into a kind of fashion of that time. Being enlightened became prestigious.

The Tale of Bygone Years speaks of a certain collection of books and documents, which is commonly called the Library of Yaroslav the Wise. Scholars speak of different numbers: from 500 to 950 volumes. According to some reports, the library was transferred by the prince (according to other sources, his great-grandson) to St. Sophia Cathedral.

Since the ancient books, which are a thousand years old, have not been found, there are many hypotheses where they can be stored. Some argue that these may be the dungeons of the St. Sophia Cathedral, others talk about the catacombs of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, others - about the Vydubitsky Monastery. But there are also skeptics who believe that priceless tomes could not survive after the devastating Polovtsian raids and fires.

Another version that has the right to exist - the Library of Yaroslav the Wise has become part of the no less legendary Library.

Prince Yaroslav the Wise stood at the origins of the appearance of the first Russian monasteries, among which the main one is the Kiev-Pechersk. The monastery not only made a huge contribution to the promotion and popularization of Christianity and Orthodoxy, but also played a huge role in education. After all, chronicles were compiled and books were translated here.

And also at this wonderful time, Russkaya Pravda by Yaroslav the Wise appeared. This is the first set of laws of Rus', which the followers added and increased.

Historians also highly appreciate the foreign policy of the nobleman, in which he also achieved great success. It seems that he was the first of the Russian princes to emphasize diplomacy, and not force of arms.

At that time, dynastic marriages were considered the main way to establish relations with other states. And since Kievan Rus during the reign of the Wise turned into an enlightened and strong state, many rulers of European countries expressed a desire to “marry” with it.

The wife of Yaroslav the Wise was the daughter of King Olaf of Sweden - Ingigerda, who received the name Irina after baptism. From her father she inherited a rich dowry - the city of Aldeigaborg (later Ladoga). The lands adjacent to it were called Ingermanlandia (which translates as the lands of Ingigerda).

The son of the prince - Vsevolod - married a Greek princess. Two more offspring - on the German princesses. Son Izyaslav married the sister of the Polish prince Casimir, and Casimir himself married the sister of the Wise - Dobrogneva.

The daughters of a Kyiv nobleman had the same dynastic marriages. Elizabeth was married to the Norwegian king Harald, Anastasia - to the Hungarian ruler Andrei. But the most famous and revered was the daughter Anna Yaroslavna, who became the wife of the French King Henry I. As a result of such a foreign policy, Prince Yaroslav the Wise found himself connected by ties of kinship with many strong neighbors, near and far.

Founding of cities

Prince Yaroslav the Wise founded Yuriev. This happened in 1030, when he went on a campaign against Chud. A new city, named after its angel, appeared on the shores of Lake Peipsi. Now it is called Tartu and is the second largest Estonian city after Tallinn.

Another city of Yaroslav the Wise is Yaroslavl, although some historians consider the fact of its foundation by the prince not indisputable.

There is another Yuryev, which was founded by the prince. This city turned out to be at the same time a fortress, which was part of the Poros defensive line. It was erected to protect Kyiv from nomads. In 1240, the Tatar-Mongols destroyed it, leaving only the ruins of the church. Around it, the city was revived, having received the name of the White Church. It is still called that today.

Personal life

Many historians agree that Ingigerd's wife, who became Irina after baptism, had a huge influence on her husband and left a noticeable mark on the history of Rus'. In 1703, St. Petersburg was built on the lands she inherited from her father.

In Kyiv, thanks to Princess Irina, the first convent appeared. It was built at the church of St. Irene. One of its columns "survived" until the middle of the twentieth century. Now only the quiet Irininskaya Street reminds of the existence of the temple.

It is difficult to say today how the personal life of Yaroslav the Wise and Ingigerda-Irina developed. It is only known that 6 sons and 3 daughters were born in marriage with her. The wife shared the views of her husband and converted to his faith, doing a lot to advance it.

The great nobleman, it seems, was not handsome. A strongly protruding nose and the same chin, a sharply defined mouth and large eyes did not add to the attractiveness. He was also lame because of the different lengths of his legs. According to one version - because of the hip and knee joints damaged in battle, and according to another - because of Perthes' hereditary disease.

There is a historical puzzle-puzzle on which different historians have their own opinion. Some of them claim that Prince Yaroslav the Wise was married twice.

His first wife was allegedly Norwegian Anna. In this marriage, a son, Ilya, was even born. But in 1018, together with his mother, he was captured by the Polish king Boleslav the Brave and forever taken to Poland. This version is allegedly confirmed by the fact that the name of Anna is found in some annals.

But there are opponents of this controversial version. They claim that everything is much simpler. Anna is the monastic name of Ingigerdy-Irina. Allegedly, at the end of her life, she took the veil as a nun, taking this name for herself. In 1439, Archbishop Evfimy canonized Anna as a saint. She is considered the heavenly patroness of Novgorod.

It is noteworthy that Prince Yaroslav the Wise himself was ranked among the saints only in the 21st century.

Death

Prince Yaroslav the Wise spent the last years of his life in Vyshgorod. He died on the feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy in the arms of one of his sons, Vsevolod, having outlived his wife by 4 years and by 2 of the eldest of his sons, Vladimir.

February 20, 1054 is considered the date of the prince's death. He was buried in the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, in a 6-ton marble sarcophagus. Unfortunately, the remains of the great ruler have disappeared. It is known that the sarcophagus was opened three times in the 20th century: in 1936, 1939 and 1964. And they did it not always in a qualified and conscientious manner.

After the autopsy in 1939, the remains of Yaroslav the Wise were sent to Leningrad, where scientists from the Institute of Anthropology confirmed for the first time that one of the 3 skeletons (male, female and child) from the opened burial really belonged to the prince. According to the found skull, anthropologist Mikhail Gerasimov managed to restore the appearance of the ruler.

The remains were returned to Kyiv. But in 2009, the tomb was again opened and found that there were no remains of the oldest of the Ruriks. Two female skeletons were found at the site - one from the times of Kievan Rus, the second even more ancient - from the Scythian period. And the newspapers Izvestia and Pravda of 1964 were also found in the tomb.

Many historians and researchers are inclined to the version that the remains should be sought in the United States. Allegedly, they were taken there in 1943, when the German troops retreated.

In February 1054, Grand Duke Yaroslav I died, whose reign became the "golden age" for Rus'. But behind the image of the wise sovereign lies a fierce warrior, the leader of the Varangians, King Yaritsleiv, who even today never ceases to amaze his descendants ...

"On a horse"

During the Middle Ages, a person's life was largely determined by attendant circumstances: the stratum of society in which he was born, physical data, the presence of a good educator. It seemed that fate favored Yaroslav, the son of Grand Duke Vladimir. However, the future did not look bright.

Firstly, historians believe that Yaroslav was not the eldest son, contrary to later chronicles. Secondly, the study of the remains showed that the Grand Duke was lame! And physical injury for that time was a serious obstacle on the way to power, because it was not in the Varangian order to give the reins of government to someone who could not show himself on the battlefield. In some nations, such as the Celts, a person with a defect could not be a king at all - it was believed that his rule would bring misfortune.

But Yaroslav defeated lameness, compensating for it with an iron will. He learned to ride in the saddle, which was not easy for him with his illness, and from now on he felt much more confident on a horse than on the ground. Chronicles also mention the lameness of the prince, and the cure is attributed to a miracle: “And only after the baptism of Vladimir, his wives and children, Yaroslav got to his feet and began to walk, and before that he could not walk.”

King Yaritsleif

Yaroslav came to power only after a long internecine struggle with his many brothers, each of whom sat in his city. The "strike force" of our hero was Norman mercenaries and Varangian kings. In Novgorod, Yaroslav specially for them established the "Pomoron yard", that is, the "yard for visitors" - the place of permanent residence of the Scandinavian warriors.

They lived there, in luxury and wealth: "King Yaritsleif ordered to build a stone house and clean it well with precious cloth, and they were given everything they needed from the most valuable goods."


Yaroslav took “under his wing” the fugitive Scandinavian nobility, one of his governors was the Norwegian king Edmund Ringsson, who is blamed for the murder of a certain “Buritslav”, in whose image historians see the martyr Boris Vladimirovich.

History is written by the winners

We all know about the bloody Svyatopolk the Accursed, who seized power in Kyiv and decided to get rid of his closest brothers - competitors: Boris Vladimirovich, whom Vladimir himself put at the head of his squad, and Gleb, whose revenge he was afraid of.

In 1019, Yaroslav the Wise allegedly managed to overthrow the tyrant's brother and honorably bury the brothers, who were soon canonized as saints. This story is described to us by an early monument of Russian literature, The Tale of Boris and Gleb.


Everything would be fine if it were not for the Eymund Saga, which has survived to this day, which describes the murder by Eymund on the orders of Yaroslav of the already mentioned Buritslav, whose death matches the descriptions with the death of Boris from the Tale. Moreover, in the saga he is killed twice - the second time the text repeats one to one our information about the death of Svyatopolk on Alta.

In addition, the tyranny of Svyatopolk today seems exaggerated. Why did the Accursed need to attack Kyiv, which would already belong to him by right of seniority? Today it is no longer possible to establish the truth, but there is probably an unsolved crime behind this story.

runaway Bride

Of all the blessings that Yaroslav the Wise brought to Rus', his wife Ingigerda, a Swedish princess, is called the most valuable acquisition. The daughter of Olaf Shetkonung, Irina became a real boon for the country, she played an important role both in the development of international relations and in religious matters, in particular, it was she who founded the first convent in Kyiv. Eymund, close to Yaroslav, said the following about her: “I don’t trust her, because she is smarter than the King himself.”

I must say, the story of the marriage of the Grand Duke and Ingigerda came out very delicate. The bride, literally, ran away from the crown. Before the courtship of Yaroslav, she was already engaged to the Norwegian king Olav Haraldson, later known as Olaf the Holy - the first Christian king of Norway.

He demanded it in exchange for signing a peace treaty with Sweden. However, when the groom with all his retinue came to pick up the bride, it turned out that she had already been married to King Yaritsleif several months ago. Olav Haraldsson was very angry, but did not take revenge for personal insults. As a dowry, Ingigerda brought Yaroslav the lands around Ladoga.

Library of Yaroslav the Wise

Perhaps one of the main mysteries of Yaroslav is the location of his legendary library, allegedly containing a rich collection of manuscripts and manuscripts that can shed light on many dark spots in the history of Rus'. The only mention of it refers to 1037 and is contained in the "Tale of Bygone Years": "Yaroslav is loved by books, and having copied and written many, he put them in the church of St. Sophia, and created them himself."


So, it is assumed that the precious collection should have been in St. Sophia Cathedral. It is believed that the books could have been stolen by Batu during the Tatar-Mongol invasion. There is another opinion that the lost library of Yaroslav became part of the no less legendary library of Ivan the Terrible.

Despite the paucity of information, scientists do not cease to hope that Yaroslav's library is not a myth. In her search, they even resorted to dowsing. But there are no results yet, and today the only book collection named after Yaroslav is still the library in the city of Yaroslavl.

Anna Yaroslavna - Queen of France

As you know, Yaroslav the Wise pursued an active policy of inter-dynastic marriages, his children dispersed throughout Europe. But perhaps the most famous was the marriage of Anna's youngest daughter to the French King Henry I.

Young Anna was the couple of her mother, she immediately showed herself to be an active political figure. By the way, she was much more educated than her husband, she read and wrote in Greek and Latin, while Henry I himself signed with a cross.

By the way, about the contrast between “barbarian”, as it is often believed, Russia and courtly France, an excerpt from a letter from the princess to her father clearly speaks: “To what barbarous country did you send me; here the dwellings are gloomy, the churches are ugly and the manners are terrible.”

"There was, but swam away"

It would seem that any schoolchild knows where Yaroslav the Wise is buried, of course, in Kyiv Sofia, where his sarcophagus stands. But this information is out of date. In the 20th century, Yaroslav was disturbed at least three times - in 1936, 1939 and 1964.

A few years ago, in 2009, the sarcophagus was opened again, only Yaroslav was no longer there. But there were Soviet Izvestia and Pravda, as well as the remains of two women, one of whom belonged to the period of Kievan Rus, apparently the wife of Yaroslav Elena, and the second turned out to be a guest from the Scythian era.


Today, the main version of the loss says that the ashes of Yaroslav repeated the fate of the Icon of St. Nicholas "Wet", which, together with the German invaders, was taken from Kyiv through Poland and Germany to the United States, and today is in the Holy Trinity Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

It is forbidden to take pictures in the parish, to discuss the fate of the ashes of Yaroslav the Wise, too, for some reason, they refuse.

Tatyana Shingurova

The Great Kyiv Prince Yaroslav the Wise became famous for many of his achievements. It is known that the people loved him for his kind, fair attitude towards people. He did not seek to conquer new lands, but managed to increase the level of education in his possessions and improve the well-being of the people. During the years of the prince's reign, more books were written than during the entire existence of Kievan Rus. And so that all this handwritten property could pass to the heirs, it was necessary to find a reliable place for storage. This place was the library of Yaroslav the Wise.

Following historical footsteps

The first and only mention of the book depository is given in the Tale of Bygone Years, it dates back to 1037. It says: "Yaroslav loved books, and he put a lot of writing in the church of St. Sophia, which he created himself."

Mikhail Lomonosov also studied this issue. He expressed the opinion that there were also scrolls from the Library of Alexandria in Kyiv. Lomonosov was sure that knowledge brought from India and East Asia was stored there, which Europeans still did not know.

How many books were there?

It is not known for certain how many handwritten texts were kept under the vaults of the cathedral. Some historians believe that there were about 500 of them, others are sure that there were much more - about 1000. It is known that Yaroslav the Wise was very fond of books and was a polyglot, he could read most European languages. All texts were first translated from Greek, Bulgarian, Latin, and then manually copied and bound. During the life of the prince, about 1000 copies were copied. And he began to create his priceless library 17 years before his death.

It is worth noting that at the beginning of the 11th century, people did not yet know what paper was. Texts were written on parchments. They were made from the skin of young calves and sheep, which was thinned and dried in the sun. Parchment was an extremely expensive material, as it took a very long time to make, and animals were killed in herds to create even one book. The covers of such manuscripts were real works of art. They used morocco leather, which was decorated with precious metals and stones. Some copies had diamond, emerald and pearl inserts.

Princely heritage

The first library of Yaroslav the Wise did not last long. Information about it is lost at the beginning of the 13th century, when the Tatar-Mongols attacked Rus' and burned Kyiv. According to most historians, it was during this period that the book depository died. At the same time, this could have happened earlier, for example, during the Polovtsian raids in 1169 and 1206.

There is a chance that some books still managed to be saved. Largely thanks to the daughters of the prince. The younger daughter of Yaroslav the Wise was betrothed to the French King Henry I. During her departure, she took some of the manuscript property. One such book was the legendary Reims Gospel. It is assumed that for seven centuries in a row all the kings of France, including Louis XIV, took the oath during the coronation precisely on this manuscript from the library of Yaroslav the Wise.

The prince had two more daughters, who also became queens of other ruling dynasties of medieval Europe. Anastasia became the wife of King Andrew I of Hungary, Elizabeth - the wife of King Harold III of Norway. When leaving for a new place of residence, the princesses took some of the books with them as a dowry.

Nevertheless, most of the manuscripts remained in Kyiv. The library definitely existed until 1054, and then its traces are lost.

Where to look for the library of Yaroslav the Wise?

Yaroslavl seems to some to be one of the suitable places where the Grand Duke could leave his treasures. After all, this mighty city was founded by him and had strong indestructible walls of the Kremlin. But in fact, it is worth looking for a library in Kyiv.

To date, there are several versions of the possible existence of a secret vault. But none of them have been officially confirmed.

Version 1: St. Sophia Cathedral

It is most logical to look for a library where it was founded. But in 1240, during the invasion of the Tatar-Mongol, St. Sophia Cathedral was completely destroyed. Ivan Mazepa took up its restoration several centuries later. But no information that a secret vault was found underground has not been recorded in history.

In 1916, a collapse of the soil occurred under the cathedral. The workers who carried out the excavations found an ancient note in one of the walls, which read: "Whoever finds this passage, he will find the great treasure of Yaroslav." But further excavations soon ceased. As evidenced by the documents, to prevent unauthorized treasure hunting.

In 2010, a group of researchers of secret places discovered a huge room underground (at the depth of a four-story building). The studies were carried out with the help of a device called a "bio-locator", its effectiveness was repeatedly tested on other objects. Perhaps, deep underground in the Kyiv catacombs, an unknown treasure is hidden.

Version 2: Mezhyhirya

Children's libraries named after Yaroslav the Wise were opened during the Soviet Union throughout the vast country. But the party authorities kept silent about the discovery of another book depository. We are talking about a secret treasure in Mezhyhirya.

It all started in 1934, when a country residence of the first secretary of the regional party committee of Kyiv, Postyshev, was being built in this city. The territory of the former Mezhyhirya Monastery was chosen as the site for the work. While digging a pit, a basement was found, completely filled with ancient books. Then the party leadership ordered to bury the basement, and keep quiet about the find.

So it was until the 80s of the last century, when one of the workers decided to open the secret. Around the same time, they began to rebuild the country residence for another statesman and again stumbled upon the ill-fated cave. But all attempts by historians and archaeologists to penetrate there were in vain. An urgent state project was ordered to be completed and the basement to be buried.

For the whole world, the mysterious cellar, filled to the brim with parchments blackened with time, remained a mystery.

Libraries of our time

The Central Children's Library named after Yaroslav the Wise exists in the city of Yaroslavl. But this is not the only book depository named after the Grand Duke. In Kharkov, at the Law University named after Yaroslav the Wise, there is also a structural unit of the same name.

Today, the scientific library of the National Law University named after Yaroslav the Wise is a modern youth center, which constantly hosts conferences and research projects.

Central Children's Library of Yaroslav the Wise

This facility is located in the Dzerzhinsky district of Yaroslavl, that is, in the most densely populated area of ​​the city. Address of the Central Children's Library: st. Trufanova, 17, cop. 2. The street is named after the great commander of the Great Patriotic War - Nikolai Ivanovich Trufanov.

Yaroslav the Wise Children's Library was founded in 1955. Then the area was called Stalin and it was actively developed. The new schools required the construction of a library. Then the administration of Yaroslavl made a gift to the youth: it opened a new modern book depository, which contained a huge number of books.

Twenty years later, the city's library system was centralized, and the book depository became known as the Central Children's Library. She united 15 more establishments under her wing, thus becoming the single coordinator of children's leisure.

Only in 2008 the Central Children's Library of Yaroslavl was named after the founder of the city - Yaroslav the Wise. Now her team holds various events, festivals, creative competitions, fairs, local history readings, cultural events, etc.

Modern library life

Every year, the Central Children's Library of Yaroslav the Wise organizes days dedicated to the Grand Duke. This time is used to study and preserve the historical and cultural heritage in the modern world. These days, historical performances are staged, military reconstructions of medieval battles are arranged, including the capture of fortresses, conferences are held and, of course, a holiday is organized for the whole city.

The library is the temple of science. Young people come here to gain new knowledge, enrich themselves with the experience of their ancestors and become as wise as one of the greatest rulers of Kievan Rus.

Yaroslav the Wise, the prince of Ancient Rus', is known to any schoolchild. Once a great ruler of a vast state, now he lives peacefully on the pages of a history textbook, revealing new information about his amazing work to young minds. A true patriot, a subtle diplomat, an experienced economist and a true connoisseur of art - all this can be said about the prince. It is impossible to briefly describe the historical portrait of Yaroslav the Wise, since the period of his reign was generously humiliated by good deeds and smart deeds.

War with brothers for the throne

After his death, Prince Vladimir of Rus' left many heirs-sons. The eldest, Svyatopolk, decided to become a single ruler, for this purpose he killed his younger brothers: Gleb, Boris and Svyatoslav. The surviving Yaroslav, at that time the prince of Novgorod, having learned about the atrocities of his relative, gathered a squad and went to Kyiv. There were many battles for the throne between the brothers. Svyatopolk, nicknamed the Cursed for his evil temper and intolerant character, often asked for help from the Pechenegs. The forces were unequal, and Yaroslav retreated. But the Russian people themselves one day, tired of the unbearable ruler, took up arms and helped the Novgorodian defeat his brother and take the throne.

A little later, he also had to enter the battlefield with Mstislav, who ruled in Tmutarakan. Another brother who showed up also wanted to remove the more successful son Vladimir from the throne. But even here Yaroslav won. He was greatly supported by both nobles and ordinary peasants. Since then, the era of the heyday of Ancient Rus' began. The historical portrait of Yaroslav the Wise (c. 988-1054) still speaks of the courage and thoughtfulness of this great ruler.

Why Wise?

Nicknames were given to the princes by common people, based on their style of government, habits or character traits. The historical portrait of Yaroslav the Wise makes it clear that he was a really deep person, with a broad outlook and an analytical mindset. The nickname "Wise" was given to him because of his tireless educational work. He not only read chronicles and books, which at that time was considered the peak of learning, he also did everything to ensure that literacy spread to all segments of the population.

Representatives of the clergy, at his direction, began to teach children the art of reading and writing. The prince also opened the first school for boys, which was located in Novgorod. In the 11th century, this became a big event that turned people's idea of ​​life upside down. Buying books in large quantities, the prince collected a huge library and handed it over to Yaroslav the Wise - an example of a historical portrait of a ruler who constantly thought about the well-being of his subjects and contributed to this in every possible way.

Introduction of translations

The historical portrait of Yaroslav the Wise testifies to the outstanding prince, his amazing abilities in science and creativity. He became the first in Rus' who decided not only to read and write books, but also to translate the already existing works of foreign chroniclers and sages.

He revered the wisdom of representatives of other powers, he was especially struck by the thinkers of ancient Greece. Yaroslav ordered their philosophical treatises to be translated so that people who wanted to read them would use their native language, Slavic, thereby improving it and studying it more deeply. Adhering to this principle, he initiated the destruction of the dependence of Russian scientists on the heritage of Byzantium. And when the question arose about the appointment of a new metropolitan, he did not call him from abroad, as was customary before, but appointed his own, Hilarion, from the simple Slavic village of Brestov. The church charter, the Nomocanon, was also translated into their native language, as ordered by the prince. To be the best, not to be afraid of changes - these are the character traits that the historical portrait of Yaroslav the Wise demonstrates through the centuries. The history of Russia did not know such rulers before.

The first handwritten law in Rus'

Yes, Yaroslav the Wise also had a hand in this good and necessary cause. It stands at the origins of the creation of the most ancient Russian monument of jurisprudence - the "Charter" ("Russian Truth", or "Court of Yaroslavl"). Modern researchers unanimously declare that this is not a simple book written by the prince, not only his reflections and thoughts, but a very deep work in the field of law, a whole collection of laws, orders and customs in force in those distant times. It was said that private individuals helped the ruler in creating the collection. But even if they completely wrote the Charter, Yaroslav's contribution cannot be overestimated. Since he, at least, patronized them, gathered them all under one roof, united them in one thing and brought it to the end - he published a collection.

The "Charter" strengthened the responsibility for murder, arson, damage to livestock and property. He stood guard over the health and life of ordinary people, provided for financial compensation for injuries and insults. He recommended conducting an examination, searching for criminals in hot pursuit, checking false testimony - at this still initial level of development of these components of the modern law enforcement system.

The heyday of Kyiv

Yaroslav the Wise (1019-1054 - the years of his reign in Kyiv) ruled with dignity. During this period, the heyday of the state and the capital of ancient Rus' - Kyiv falls. The prince patronized religion. He welcomed the construction of new temples and churches. During his reign, the first monasteries began to be built, among them the world-famous Kiev-Pechersk. Today it is a whole Lavra, which amazes with its beauty and luxury. This is the center of religious life in Kyiv.

Yaroslav also fortified this city with a huge shaft, turning it into a real fortress. The southern entrance was framed by gates, they were called "Golden" because of the church domes. Also in the center of this part of the city was erected the Metropolitan Cathedral, known as St. Sophia. These buildings in the old capital of Russian cities have survived to our time in excellent condition. They radiate the glory and strength of our ancestors. Millions of tourists come to Kyiv every year to look at these man-made wonders.

Thanks to the prince, the craft began to develop actively. Masters from all over Rus' came to Kyiv and set up a whole settlement here. Now this place is called Podil. The capital of the Russian principality reached its apogee of development and caught up with such European capitals as London and Paris.

Prince's foreign policy

He managed to expand the borders of Rus'. His power covered and the western part of this land was built by St. George's city, known today as the Estonian Tartu. The desire to make your principality the best is the creed that radiates from the historical portrait of Yaroslav the Wise. testifies that he managed to restore power on the Neman over the Yotvingians. He completely rebuilt and revived not only Kyiv, but also Novgorod, Vladimir-Volynsky, Chernigov.

Yaroslav strengthened the borders of the principality, waged an active struggle against the nomads. When they reached the borders of his state, he gathered a squad and successfully repulsed enemy attacks. He was feared and respected. Yaroslav was very educated and was received in the most influential countries of Europe: Britain, France, Germany, Norway, Byzantium. The rulers of these powers drank tea with him at the same table, communicated on an equal footing and considered Rus' a full-fledged, developed and strong state unit of that time.

Dynastic connections

Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise, whose political portrait is described in every history textbook today, showed how valuable marriages were for him, concluded with a representative of the royal houses of Europe. This, too, showed his illustrious wisdom. He himself married the daughter of the Swedish king Ingigerda, who was baptized into Irina.

His sons also made a good match. Izyaslav chose the sister of the Polish king, Igor - the princess of Germany, Svyatoslav - the Austrian princess, Vsevolod - the Greek princess from the Monomakh family, who gave birth to another famous Russian prince Vladimir Monomakh.

The daughters of Prince Yaroslav settled down even better. Anastasia married the king of Hungary, Elizabeth married the Norwegian ruler, Anna married the French king. As you can see, these dynastic ties further strengthened the position of Rus' in the political and economic world arena. And they showed all European states the strength and power of our illustrious ancestors.

Establishment of the Russian Imperial House

Yaroslav also had a hand in this important moment. He managed to intermarry with almost all of Europe, and this contributed to the prosperity of his grand principality. The historical portrait of Yaroslav the Wise shows that an active foreign policy helped him in domestic affairs. So, thanks to extensive family ties, he established trade, began to equip cities and further strengthen the borders.

The dynastic policy was also approved at the legislative level. Alexander the Blessed laid the foundation for the Russian Imperial House. According to this decree, persons of the royal family did not have the right to enter into unequal marriages. This achieved even greater development of the principality. After all, ties with the royal houses of other powers only strengthened the position of Rus', since there was little sense from other unions. Blood ties also helped to avoid wars; in the event of an enemy attack, they provided active support and assistance, enriched the treasury and developed all areas of the principality's life.

Conclusion

The historical portrait of Yaroslav the Wise reveals to us the whole depth of the prince's thought, his foresight and analytical mindset. He knew exactly what was needed for the development of the state and clearly adhered to his plan. Thanks to him, Rus' reached the apogee of its development. Economy, trade, art and construction were at their highest peak. The state not only prospered, it declared itself on the political world stage. Russia was considered, it was respected and revered.

What were the heirs of Yaroslav, the princes of Ancient Rus'? Who are they? Historical portraits show that the Wise did not have a worthy follower. None of his sons could resolutely follow in the footsteps of their father, so Rus' did not see such a development in those distant years. All the achievements of the prince slowly faded away, the pace of development decreased, and then completely disappeared. The dark medieval hours, the Time of Troubles, were approaching. Rus' seemed to be forgotten in a lethargic dream, waiting for a new strong and wise ruler.

Recently, the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church committed. What is this Russian prince famous for? What was his wisdom and why was he canonized?

In his youth he participated in internecine wars

From his youth, Yaroslav was distinguished by the same indomitable temper as the young Vladimir, his father. Yes, and he had to participate in strife no less than his parent. The chronicle reports the date of his birth - 978 or 979. His father treated Yaroslav in the best possible way - it was not for nothing that he first received the Rostov princely table from the hands of his father, and then, jumping over the heads of his older brothers, ended up in Novgorod - the second “honorable” city of Rus' after Kyiv. Yaroslav very early felt the taste of independent government. In the summer of 1015, Vladimir died. Shortly before that, Yaroslav raised a rebellion against him - he refused to pay tribute from Novgorod. He was threatened with a punitive expedition from Kyiv. He even recruited Varangians to repulse it. But death struck her father in the midst of the hassle of her equipment. Svyatopolk, the eldest by birth, reigned in Kyiv. The brothers - at least some of them - agreed to submit to Svyatopolk. But fear and uncertainty pushed him to monstrous deeds, thanks to which he received the evil nickname "Cursed", that is, he who has become stoned, likened to the fratricidal Cain. By order of Svyatopolk, his brothers, Saints Boris and Gleb, were killed. Another son of Vladimir, Svyatoslav, fled to the Hungarians, wanting to hide from death. But he was overtaken there by the killers sent by his older brother. Yaroslav, a brave and angry man, did not allow the thought of flight. Two troops, Yaroslav and Svyatopolk, met at Lyubech in the fall of 1016. The Novgorodians crossed the river, pushing the boats away: in this way they showed that they were looking for either victory or death. Svyatopolk fled without waiting for the end of the battle. Following him, trembling, the people of Kiev began to scatter. The Pechenegs allied to them left without starting a battle. The Grand Duke of Kyiv took refuge from the wrath of his brother with the Poles, at the court of his father-in-law. Yaroslav entered Kyiv for the first time as a ruler. Two years later, the Polish king Boleslav with Svyatopolk led the Polish army to Rus'. Yaroslav's army could not withstand their pressure. Barely keeping four warriors with him, Yaroslav fled to Novgorod. But Svyatopolk soon lost his main support - the foreign troops. The warriors of Boleslav, who stood up "to feed" in the cities, soon got tired of the locals. Feed someone else's army - who is happy? Fearing to lose all independence, Svyatopolk ordered to kill the scattered Poles. Then Boleslav turned away from him. Having taken the remnants of the army, he robbed the Kievan boyars, drove the Kyivans out as captives, and took away a large area from his son-in-law. Meanwhile, the Novgorodians put up a new army. Under the banners of Yaroslav, they again tried their luck in the Kiev region. Svyatopolk, squeezed out of the "capital city" by the Novgorod army, went to the Pechenegs for help. Having brought them to Rus', he met with the northern militia and lost again. Now he had to leave Rus' forever. Svyatopolk died in a foreign land. In 1019, Yaroslav finally established himself on the throne of Kiev.

Defended Rus' from the steppes, built cities and fortresses

Yaroslav “planted” the Poles captured by the power of the sword on the lands not far from Kyiv - along the Ros River. Obviously, it was full enough so that new strongholds could appear on the southern border of Rus', unsafe from Pecheneg raids. Having added Poles to the locals, giving fighters from his squad, Yaroslav began to set up new cities in Porosye (1032). In exactly the same way, his father once strengthened the defenses of the South with cities. Yaroslav felt in his own skin how right his father was in his urban planning activities. Another time the Pechenegs reached Kyiv. Yaroslav hastily returned from near Novgorod, bravely went out into the field against the besiegers and gave battle. The Novgorodians fought together with their old rivals, the Kievans. Between them stood a detachment of Varangians. United Rus' met the furious pressure of the nomads, and "the slaughter was cruel." Only at sunset the equestrian lavas of the newcomers, tired and bloodless, in horror before the northern hardness, crumbled and ran. No one else wanted to allow them to the very heart of the country. Yaroslav began to renew his father's defensive system and build it up. In 1037, shortly after the defeat of the Pechenegs, he began to build new fortifications around Kyiv: the city grew, the old walls could not accommodate all its streets.

Had a "bookish mind"

Most of all, the Grand Duke was remembered by his contemporaries as the organizer of the affairs of the Church and the great "scribe". His father also did a lot for the Church, but Saint Vladimir was not marked by a craving for “verbal grapes”. But his offspring endlessly surprised his relatives, the Kyiv nobility and the hired Varangian princes with an unusual love for parchment books. Here are the words of the chronicle, filled with ardent gratitude from the cassock scribe to the sovereign scribe: “Yaroslav loved church charters, he loved a lot of priests, he especially loved Chernorizians, and had a passion for books, reading them often both at night and during the day. And he gathered many scribes, and they translated from Greek into Slavonic and into writing. They copied and collected many books that instruct believers, and they enjoy the teaching of the Divine word. As if one plows the land, another sows, while others reap and eat food that never fails, so is this one. After all, his father Vladimir plowed the land and softened it, that is, enlightened him by baptism. This same Yaroslav, the son of Vladimirov, sowed bookish words in the hearts of believers, and we reap, accepting bookish teachings ... Yaroslav ... as we have already said, he loved books and, having written a lot of them, put them in the church of St. Sophia, which he created himself. Yaroslav Vladimirovich made sure that Rus' acquired a still thin, but gradually growing layer of educated people. Under Yaroslav, most likely, Russian chronicle writing began - either at the Church of the Tithes, or at the Hagia Sophia.

Built temples, patronized the Church

In 1037, Yaroslav Vladimirovich founded the Hagia Sophia Cathedral and the Annunciation Gate Church in Kyiv. In 1043, his son Vladimir began the construction of the Hagia Sophia in Novgorod, apparently in agreement with his father. Yaroslav Vladimirovich founded the monasteries of St. George and St. Irene. When the sorcerers (pagan priests) revolted in the Suzdal land, he personally went there with an army, captured the sorcerers, expelled them in part, and executed them in part. At that time, a serious threat of internecine war with his brother Mstislav still hung over Yaroslav; despite this, the prince took up the rebellion of the Magi without the slightest delay. He gave the church a new charter that expanded its prerogatives compared to what his father had established.

Gave Russ legislation

Subordinating Rus' to the Christian ideal, Yaroslav saw before him a society intoxicated with the ethical norms of the pre-Christian era. If people leave that pagan darkness in which they lived for centuries, that rudeness of morals, that mercilessness, that vindictiveness that painted the life of ancient Russian society in bloody tones, Christianity will wither like a flower on stony soil. Yaroslav Vladimirovich himself and his brothers were made from the same dough. The father had barely begun to instill in them the difficult moral patterns of the Christian faith. His offspring still happily surrendered to the riot of swords, the dances of love of power, not seeing anything wrong with that. And only with time, already at a fair age, it began to change: souls, albeit with delay, creaking, getting stuck, turned to Christ. But what about those who made up the lower part in the pyramid of Russian society? It was necessary to give them a law, a firm written law, dragging them out of an era of chaotic violence. Under Yaroslav and by his will, the first Russian code of laws was born - "Russian Truth". Before the law, if it existed, it was only in the form of a custom passed from mouth to mouth. Now the Grand Duke, wishing to be a good Christian, approved uniform norms for all, betraying them to parchment. Russkaya Pravda limited the right to blood feud. The descendants of Yaroslav will abolish it altogether, but first it was necessary to at least shake its status as a generally accepted norm. The oldest version of Russkaya Pravda included less than twenty articles. But later this modest source will give rise to a full-flowing river of medieval Russian legislation.

On the screen saver - a monument to Yaroslav the Wise. Photo source