Foreign and domestic policy of Yaropolk 1. The reign of Yaropolk Svyatoslavovich. See what "Yaropolk I Svyatoslavich" is in other dictionaries

5th Grand Duke of Kyiv
972 - 978

Yaropolk Svyatoslavich (d. June 11, 978) - Grand Duke of Kiev (972-978), eldest son of Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich.

The etymology of the name is characteristic of the word formation of Slavic princely names: it consists of 2 parts, Yaro- (ardent in the sense of “bright, sparkling”) and -polk (regiment in Old Slavic “people, crowd”), that is, the name means approximately “shining among the people "

Prince of Kyiv

Yaropolk's date of birth and mother are unknown. His name was first mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years in 968, when, during the Pecheneg raid on Kyiv, Princess Olga locked herself in the city with 3 grandchildren, one of whom was Yaropolk.

Yaropolk's father, Prince Svyatoslav, before leaving for the war with Byzantium, entrusted Yaropolk with the administration of Kiev in 970. After the remnants of the Russian squad led by Sveneld brought news of the death of Prince Svyatoslav in the battle with the Pechenegs at the Dnieper rapids to Kyiv in the spring of 972, Yaropolk became the prince of Kyiv. Svyatoslav's other sons, Oleg and Vladimir, ruled the remaining parts of Kievan Rus.

Grand Duke Yaropolk Svyatoslavovich. Vereshchagin V

The reign of Yaropolk was a time of diplomatic contacts with the German Emperor Otto II: Russian ambassadors visited the emperor at the congress of princes in Quedlinburg in December 973. According to the German “Genealogy of the Welfs,” a relative of the emperor, Count Kuno von Eningen (the future Duke of Swabia, Conrad I), married his daughter to the “king of the Rugians.” According to one version, Cunegonde became the wife of Prince Vladimir after the death of his wife, the Byzantine princess Anna. Another version connects the engagement of Kuno’s daughter to Yaropolk.

The reign of Yaropolk is also associated with the minting of the first own coins of Kievan Rus, reminiscent of Arab dirhams - the so-called “pseudo-dirhams of Yaropolk” (a little more than 10 copies are known).

According to the Nikon Chronicle, ambassadors from Rome from the pope came to Yaropolk. Yaropolk’s sympathies for Christianity are reported in the controversial Joachim Chronicle, known from the extracts of the historian V.N. Tatishchev:

“Yaropolk was a meek and merciful man to everyone, loving Christians, and although he himself was not baptized for the sake of the people, he did not forbid anyone... Yaropolk is not loved by people, because he gave Christians great freedom.”

Civil strife and death.

In 975, an internecine war broke out between Yaropolk and his brothers, Prince of the Drevlyans Oleg and Prince of Novgorod Vladimir. Yaropolk, following the persuasion of the governor Sveneld, attacked Oleg’s possessions. While retreating to his capital Ovruch, Oleg was crushed in a ditch by falling horses. The chronicle presents Yaropolk lamenting the death of his brother, killed against his will. After the news of the beginning of civil strife, Vladimir fled from Novgorod “overseas”, so Yaropolk became the ruler of all Kievan Rus.

Murder of Yaropolk. Illustration by B. Chorikov.

The Tale of Bygone Years dates the death of Yaropolk and the reign of Vladimir to 980. An earlier document “Memory and Praise to Prince Vladimir” (Life of Prince Vladimir from the monk Iakov Chernorizets) gives the exact date of his reign - June 11, 978. Based on a number of chronological considerations, historians recognize the second date as more likely. Most likely, the murder of Yaropolk occurred on June 11.

Yaropolk left a widow, a former Greek nun, kidnapped for him by his father during one of his campaigns. Vladimir took her as a concubine, and she soon gave birth to a son, Svyatopolk the Accursed, the child of “two fathers.” According to the chronicle, it is not entirely clear whether the widow was pregnant before the death of Yaropolk, or became pregnant by Vladimir after being captured. According to indirect data, Svyatopolk the Accursed considered himself the son and heir of Yaropolk, and Vladimir - a usurper (for example, he took the “stepmother and sisters” of Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise hostage, which would be strange if Svyatopolk considered himself also Vladimirovich).

In 1044, Yaropolk’s nephew, Yaroslav the Wise, ordered the bones of uncles Yaropolk and Oleg to be dug out of the grave, their remains to be baptized (an act prohibited by Christian canons) and reburied next to Vladimir in the Tithe Church in Kyiv. If Yaropolk was baptized during his lifetime, which could only have happened shortly before his death, then seventy years later they no longer remembered it.

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History of Russian Goverment

Yaropolk Svyatoslavich - Grand Duke of Kiev, eldest son of the prince. Belongs to the Rurik family. Yaropolk did not rule the Old Russian state for long - only 8 years - from 972 to 980. This time was marked by bloody internecine wars. Having become the murderer of his own brother Oleg, Yaropolk himself fell at the hands of his half-brother.

Childhood and youth

The exact date of birth of Yaropolk is unknown, but historians suggest that it was 945. There is an opinion that, after all, he was born 10 years later - in 955. What is confusing is that in 945 his father Svyatoslav Igorevich was only 3 years old. But many chronicles were destroyed, so it is difficult to talk about the accuracy of the dates.

Yaropolk's father, Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich, was a great commander, he was of little interest in family life. That’s why his mother, Princess Olga, chose his wife. According to some reports, she was the daughter of a Kyiv boyar. But historian Vasily Tatishchev claims that the Ugric princess Predslava became Svyatoslav’s wife. They had two sons - Yaropolk and Oleg.

During military campaigns, Svyatoslav Igorevich was accustomed to achieving his goals at any cost. He did not strive to maintain marital fidelity. Therefore, the prince brought more than one captive wife from his campaigns. Yaropolk's brother Vladimir was his step-brother - he was born by Princess Olga's slave, housekeeper Malusha.

The name of Yaropolk Svyatoslavich first appeared in the Tale of Bygone Years in 968. It described the moment of the Pechenegs’ attack on Kyiv. Allegedly, then Princess Olga locked herself in the city with three grandchildren.

In 970, their father again went on a military campaign, and entrusted the rule of Kiev to his eldest son, Yaropolk. After 2 years, it became known that the Grand Duke of Kiev Svyatoslav fell in battle with the Pechenegs, and Yaropolk became the rightful ruler of the Old Russian state. Brother Oleg got the Drevlyansky lands, and Vladimir got the Novgorod ones.

Konstantin Bogdanov wrote that all three brothers were raised separately, each had their own mentors, they were never close. Every year the distrust of each other only grew.

Governing body

Presumably, at the beginning of his reign, Yaropolk was 27 years old. There were plenty of advisers around him. But since childhood, his main mentor was Voivode Sveneld. The Tale of Bygone Years describes the incident that started the internecine war between the brothers.

Svineld's son was hunting in Oleg's forests, and the young Prince Drevlyansky killed him, either accidentally or intentionally - history is silent about this. Svineld, dreaming of avenging his son’s life, convinces Yaropolk to go with an army against Oleg. But there is an opinion that this passage was inserted into the “Tale” much later than the main text and is purely a legend.

One way or another, in 977 Yaropolk went to war against his brother. Yaropolk had the advantage, and Oleg had to flee. While retreating to the capital of his lands, Oleg fell into a ditch and was crushed by the bodies of people and horses. Yaropolk did not want his brother to die and was extremely saddened by his tragic death. Oleg's lands came into the possession of Yaropolk.

When Vladimir found out about what had happened, he left Novgorod for the Varangian lands. In his absence, Yaropolk sent his own man to Novgorod. But soon Vladimir returned, and not alone, but with an army. He quickly removed his protege from the Novgorod lands and went to Kyiv. Of course, Vladimir’s goal was not just revenge for the death of his brother, but also the desire to become the head of Kievan Rus.

By his nature, Yaropolk was merciful; he pursued a soft internal policy, for example, the prince gave free rein to Christians. Plus, he married a Greek Christian woman. It is precisely for these reasons that some chronicles note the people’s dislike for the prince. After all, the bulk of the people were pagans.

Yaropolk was the first to mint his own coins in Kievan Rus. They resembled Arab dirhams, later they were nicknamed “pseudo-dirhams of Yaropolk.” But in any case, this was a big step forward for the Old Russian state.

Yaropolk Svyatoslavich also coped well with foreign policy. He managed to establish relations with the German Emperor Otto II. In 973, he sent ambassadors to Germany, and there is even a version that the prince was engaged to Otto’s relative, Cunegonde. His alliance with Germany was carefully thought out by him - it was created to confront Poland and the Czech Republic. He did not forget his father’s bloody wars with Byzantium, so Yaropolk concluded a new peace treaty.

Personal life

The Tale of Bygone Years says that Yaropolk married a former Greek nun. She was captured by Yaropolk's father. He was not at all embarrassed by the woman’s monastic status; he “undressed” her and took her as his wife. But, according to the Pereyaslavl-Suzdal Chronicle, Yaropolk’s wife became a nun only after Yaropolk’s death, and Vladimir “cut her hair”, seduced by her beauty.

Her name has been lost. But after it was released on screens, the name Irina began to be attributed to her.

After the murder of Yaropolk, Vladimir made the woman his own concubine. According to some reports, at that time she was pregnant and gave birth to a son, Svyatopolk. But this issue is causing great debate. Some chroniclers believe that Svyatopolk’s father was Vladimir. At least, Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich called him his legitimate son. And in history he remained as Svyatopolk Vladimirovich. Later they began to say that the son of a Greek woman was born from “two fathers.”

There is also information that during Yaropolk’s marriage to Irina, he was wooed. The conclusion comes naturally - at that time polygamy was legal. This is also reported by. By the way, when Vladimir marched on Kyiv, he also captured Polotsk. Knowing about Rogneda's matchmaking with Yaropolk, he forcibly took the girl as his wife, raping her in front of her parents, and then killed them and her brothers.

Death

In the conquest of the capital, Vladimir Svyatoslavich was helped by a traitor surrounded by Yaropolk - governor Blud. By agreement with Vladimir, he convinced the prince to leave Kyiv and take refuge in the city of Rodna. The siege was so painful that famine began in the city, and Yaropolk decided to negotiate with his brother.

Moreover, Blud assured the prince that he was in no danger and Vladimir had no plans to harm his brother. Of course, there were people around Yaropolk who convinced him otherwise, but he believed in Blud’s words and went to meet Vladimir, where he was immediately killed.

Two Varangians plunged sharp swords into his chest. Presumably this happened on June 11, 978. So Vladimir avenged Oleg’s death and became the Grand Duke of Kyiv.

In 1044, he dug up the remains of his uncles - Yaropolk and Oleg - and baptized their bones. After that, he reburied them next to Vladimir. True, according to Christian canons, such actions are prohibited.

Memory

1870 – Khmyrov M.D. “Yaropolk I Svyatoslavich”
2004 – “The Saga of the Ancient Bulgars. Vladimir's Ladder "Red Sun" as Yaropolk
2006 – cartoon “Prince Vladimir”
2007 – “History of the Russian State”, episode 11
2013 – Bogdanov K. “Vikings and Rus'. Conquerors or allies?
2016 – “Viking”, in the role of Yaropolk

Yaropolk I Svyatoslavich (? - 980)
Grand Duke of Kyiv in 972 - 980.
The eldest son of Svyatoslav Igorevich.
He was raised by his grandmother, Princess Olga.

Svyatoslav in 970, before going to Danube Bulgaria, divided Rus' between his sons: Yaropolk got Kyiv, Oleg got the Drevlyansky land with its center in Ovruch, and Vladimir got Novgorod.
After the death of Svyatoslav in 972, Rus' no longer had a single prince. For three years the brothers ruled peacefully in their lands, but trouble came from an unexpected source.
The main adviser to the young Yaropolk was Voivode Sveneld. In 975, Oleg Svyatoslavich killed Sveneld's son, Lyut, while hunting. This is why enmity arose between Yaropolk and Oleg. Sveneld constantly persuaded Yaropolk, trying to avenge his son: “Go against your brother, take away his land. You are the Grand Duke, your father entrusted you with the capital city, and therefore the country.”

In 977, Yaropolk nevertheless went against his brother Oleg in the Drevlyansky land. Oleg came out against him, and both sides became angry.
Yaropolk's squad won a victory and put the Drevlyans to flight. Oleg fled with his soldiers. In front of the city there was a deep ditch with one narrow bridge. The Drevlyans, fleeing, rushed to the bridge. But the bridge was very narrow. In the crush and panic, Oleg was pushed into the ditch. Before he could get to his feet, a horse fell from the moto and hit Oleg in the chest with its hoof.

Yaropolk was bitter about the death of his brother, cried over him and said to Sveneld: “Look! This is what you wanted!” When Oleg was buried, Yaropolk inherited his volost.

As soon as Vladimir in Novgorod heard that Yaropolk had killed Oleg, he got scared and fled with his uncle, governor Dobrynya, across the sea to the Varangians. And Yaropolk planted his mayors in Novgorod and alone owned the Russian land. In 980, Vladimir returned to Rus' with the Varangians and went to war against Yaropolk. Having reached Kyiv with a large army, Vladimir besieged it, and Yaropolk locked himself in the city along with the governor Blud. Vladimir soon entered into secret negotiations with Blud and found a faithful ally in him. There are such people in the history of all countries. Like lascivious dogs, they rush from master to master, serving the one who throws the biggest bone. “I want your help,” Vladimir said to Blud. “If you help, you will be my second father.”

In order to quickly kill Yaropolk, Blud resorted to cunning. He began to say to Yaropolk: “I found out that the people of Kiev are being sent with Vladimir and tell him:“ Approach the city, we’ll hand over Yaropolk to you.” Run away from the city! Yaropolk listened to him and, running out of Kyiv, shut himself up in the city of Rodna, which was located at the mouth of the Ros River. Vladimir entered Kyiv, and then besieged Yaropolk in Rodna. A severe famine soon began among the besieged. And Blud said to Yaropolk: “You see how many warriors your brother has. Should we defeat them? Make peace with your brother." Yaropolk agreed. Blud sent to Vladimir with the words: “Your thought has come true, I will bring Yaropolk to you - get ready to kill him.”

Vladimir, hearing this, entered his father’s mansion and sat down there with his soldiers and his retinue. And Blud instructed Yaropolk: “When you go to your brother, tell him: “Whatever you give me, I will accept.” Yaropolk went, although Varyazhko, his servant, warned the prince: “Don’t go, they will kill you, run to the Pechenegs and You will bring the soldiers." But Yaropolk did not listen to him. He came to Vladimir. Blud led him to the mansion, closed the door and two swords of the Varangian mercenaries pierced Yaropolk’s chest, and from that time Vladimir reigned alone in Kyiv. .

Yaropolk left a son from his wife, the Byzantine princess Julia - Svyatopolk (980-1019).

Grand Duke of Kiev, eldest son of Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich and Predslava

short biography

Yaropolk Svyatoslavich(Old Russian Yaropolk Svtoslavich; d. June 11, 978) - Grand Duke of Kiev (972-978), eldest son of Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich and Predslava. Fell victim to civil strife.

Prince of Kyiv

The date of birth and mother of Yaropolk are unknown (however, Tatishchev suggests that the mother of him and Oleg Drevlyansky was a certain Ugric princess Predslava, mentioned in the treaty with Byzantium in 945). His name was first mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years in 968, when, during the Pecheneg raid on Kyiv, Princess Olga locked herself in the city with 3 grandchildren, one of whom was Yaropolk.

Historian Konstantin Bogdanov wrote:

Probably, the brothers had a rather difficult relationship from the very beginning. They were born from different mothers and were later raised separately. Each of them had their own relatives and mentors, to whose advice they listened much more often than they should have. Later, the lack of mutual sympathy and trust between the brothers played a fatal role with them. The ambitions of the mentors only aggravated the discord that began in their childhood souls and became stronger with age.

The reign of Yaropolk was a time of diplomatic contacts with the German Emperor Otto II: Russian ambassadors visited the emperor at the congress of princes in Quedlinburg in December 973. According to the German “Genealogy of the Welfs”, the emperor’s relative Count Kuno von Eningen (the future Duke of Swabia Conrad I) married his daughter to "King of the Rugians". According to one version, Cunegonde became the wife of Prince Vladimir after the death of his wife, the Byzantine princess Anna. Another version connects the engagement of Kuno’s daughter to Yaropolk. The reign of Yaropolk is also associated with the minting of the first coins of the Old Russian state found by historians, reminiscent of Arab dirhams - the so-called "Yaropolk pseudo-dirhams"(a little more than 10 copies are known).

“Yaropolk was a meek and merciful man to everyone, loving Christians, and although he himself was not baptized for the sake of the people, he did not forbid anyone... Yaropolk is not loved by people, because he gave Christians great freedom.”

Other independent chronicles may also testify to the baptism of Yaropolk after the death of his father Svyatoslav, who had a negative attitude towards Christianity.

Civil strife and death

In 977, an internecine war broke out between Yaropolk and his brothers, the prince of the Drevlyan land Oleg and the Novgorod prince Vladimir. Yaropolk, following the persuasion of the governor Sveneld, attacked Oleg’s possessions. Oleg died in the fight for the Drevlyan city of Ovruch. He fell from a bridge while fleeing from the Kyiv squad and was crushed in the fortress ditch by other soldiers and horses. The chronicle presents Yaropolk lamenting the death of his brother, killed against his will. After the news of the beginning of civil strife, Vladimir fled from Novgorod "beyond the sea", and Yaropolk became the ruler of the entire Old Russian state.

Murder of Yaropolk. Hood. B. A. Chorikov.

In 978, Vladimir returned to Rus' with the Varangian army. First he recaptured Novgorod, then captured Polotsk and then moved on to Kyiv. Surrounded by Yaropolk was a traitor, governor Blud, who entered into an agreement with Vladimir. Blud persuaded Yaropolk to leave Kyiv and take refuge in the fortified city of Rodna on the Ros River. After a long siege, famine began in Rodna. Blud assured Yaropolk that he should enter into negotiations with Vladimir, who did not intend to cause him any harm. In turn, the youth Varyazhko convinced his prince Yaropolk not to go to Vladimir, since Yaropolk faced inevitable death. The latter did not heed the warnings of his youth, but Blud still managed to convince him to enter into negotiations with Vladimir. When Yaropolk arrived to negotiate with his brother, two Varangians “they lifted him up with swords under their bosoms”.

Family and Children

According to the Tale of Bygone Years, the prince's wife was a certain former Greek nun, captured by his father Svyatoslav during his campaigns. According to this source, Prince Svyatopolk the Accursed was born to a Greek woman from Yaropolk, but this is a debatable issue. Moreover, it is known that Princess Rogneda of Polotsk wooed Yaropolk when he was married to a Greek woman. From this Karamzin concludes that in those days polygamy was not illegal.

In modern culture

To the cinema

"The Saga of the Ancient Bulgars. Vladimir’s Ladder Red Sun” (2004, Russia) directed by Bulat Mansurov, in the role of Yaropolk Alexander Filippenko.
“Viking” (2016, Russia) directed by Andrey Kravchuk, in the role of Yaropolk - Alexander Ustyugov.

In cartoons

“Prince Vladimir” (2006, Russia) directed by Yuri Kulakov, Yaropolk is voiced by Anatoly Bely.

Today we will talk about a historical figure - Yaropolk Svyatoslavich, who at one time was a powerful prince who died during civil strife. Facts from the prince’s life are very scarce, but some grains can be pieced together. Today we will learn a little more about the life of Yaropolk than is written in history books, and we will also delve into the secrets of his political activities.

Biography

It is very difficult to say exactly when Yaropolk Svyatoslavich was born, so historians abandoned this idea. The prince's mother is also unknown, but some experts believe that she could be Predslava, a Ugric princess. The name Yaropolk first appears in the Tale of Bygone Years during the events of 968, when Princess Olga locked herself in the city with her three grandchildren, one of whom was Yaropolk Svyatoslavich. In short, it was she who instilled in him many useful skills, including the ability to negotiate.

Principality

In 970, Yaropolk's father, Svyatoslav, was forced to leave Kyiv to lead his army in the war against Byzantium. He entrusted his son with the administration of the city. Around 972 it became known that the prince died during the battle with the Pechenegs, which took place at the rapids of the Dnieper. From this year the young heir became the prince of Kyiv. We should not forget that Yaropolk was not the only son of the former prince: he had two more sons - Vladimir and Oleg. After the death of their father, these two became rulers of different parts of the Old Russian state.

Historians believe that the relationship between the brothers was quite complex for several reasons. Firstly, they had different mothers. Secondly, the boys were raised separately. Since childhood they were separated and had no common interests. With age, the alienation only intensified, and the insidious elderly advisers knew how to play on this. Young rulers too often listened to their mentors instead of listening to the voice of their hearts and minds. Ultimately, this led to sad consequences.

Civil strife

Yaropolk Svyatoslavich, whose biography is presented in the article, died during the civil strife. How it was? In 977, a struggle for power begins between the brothers. Yaropolk decides to attack the possessions of Prince Oleg after the admonitions of the governor Sveneld. The whole point is that Oleg accidentally killed Sveneld’s son, after which he became terribly angry and decided to take revenge on him, persuading the inexperienced Yaropolk to go to war against his brother. Defending the city of Ovruch, Oleg dies in the most unattractive way: fleeing from an enemy squad, he falls from a bridge and is crushed by horses and soldiers. The chronicle tells us that Yaropolk Svyatoslavich greatly grieved for his brother, because he did not want his death. Novgorod Prince Vladimir, having learned about the beginning of the internecine war, flees the city. Thanks to this, Yaropolk becomes the sole ruler of Kievan Rus.

Death

After some time, in 978, Vladimir returns and brings with him an army of Varangians. Under his leadership, the Varangians recaptured Novgorod and Polotsk. After this, Vladimir decides to attack Kyiv. Due to the betrayal of a certain governor Blud, Yaropolk Svyatoslavich dies.

The traitor began negotiations with Vladimir, convincing him to hide. At the same time, Blud convinced Yaropolk of Vladimir’s good intentions and urged him to go to the meeting. Yaropolk's youth, Varyazhko, convinced him of the opposite, dissuading him from the idea of a peaceful visit. Yaropolk Svyatoslavich made the wrong choice, which cost him his life. The chronicle reports that the prince arrived to the Varangians, and they raised him with swords. The date of death of the Kyiv prince is considered to be 980. But other sources claim that the principality of Vladimir began in 978, on June 11. That is why this date of Yaropolk’s murder is considered more likely.

Family

The Tale of Bygone Years tells us that the wife of Prince Yaropolk was a nun from Greece, who was captured in one of Svyatoslav’s campaigns. Some historians believe that Prince Svyatopolk the Accursed was born from the marriage of Yaropolk and a Greek nun, but this issue has not yet been finally resolved. It is known for sure that a certain princess Rogneda of Polotsk wanted to get Yaropolk as her husband and even wooed him while he was married. Historian Karamzin believes that, based on these data, it can be assumed that polygamy was not prohibited in Rus'.

Yaropolk Svyatoslavich: foreign and domestic policy

What was the prince's policy? Yaropolk Svyatoslavich, whose reign was too short (972-978), could have become an excellent diplomat. It is known that he established political connections with the German Emperor Otto the Second. There are even some sources claiming that the engagement of Cunegonde (a close relative of Otto the Second) and Yaropolk took place. If you carefully study the Nikon Chronicle, you can find out that Yaropolk received ambassadors from the Pope himself. From this it follows that Prince Yaropolk pursued an open foreign policy, trying to enlist the support of strong rulers. There is also evidence that he had some sympathy for the Christian religion. The Joachim Chronicle says that the prince treated Christians very favorably and did not forbid anyone to accept their faith. Because of this, ordinary people disliked him. But where does he get such sympathy? Princess Olga instilled in him love and respect for this religion. Yaropolk's internal policy was quite acceptable: he did not introduce exorbitant taxes, but also did not allow lawlessness.

An interesting fact is that in 1044 Yaroslav the Wise found the graves of Oleg and Yaropolk in order to excavate them and baptize the remains. And he did this, despite the fact that the Orthodox Church prohibited such acts. The personality of the hero of the article is immortalized in the film “Viking”, filmed by A. Kravchuk in 2016, as well as in the cartoon “Prince Vladimir”.