Complete table of Rurikovich. Princes Ivan III and Vasily III

Became the founder of the grand ducal dynasty. Later, his biography was rewritten more than once.

Since the 18th century, controversy has been raging around the personality of Prince Rurik. Behind the mean lines of "The Tale of Bygone Years" are hidden historical facts, for the identification of which today there are not enough sources, and this enables historians to put forward various hypotheses about the origin of the legendary Varangian.

Grandson of Gostomysl. One of the early lists of the Novgorod Chronicle, dating from the middle of the 15th century, contains a list of local posadniks, where the first is a certain Gostomysl, a native of the Obodrite tribe. In another manuscript, which was created at the end of the 15th century, it is said that the Slovenes, having come from the Danube, founded Novgorod and called Gostomysl to the elders. The "Joachim Chronicle" reports: "This Gostomysl was a man of great courage, the same wisdom, all his neighbors were afraid of him, and his people loved trials for the sake of justice. For this sake, all close peoples honored him and gave gifts and tributes, buying peace From him". Gostomysl lost all his sons in the wars, and married his daughter Umila to some ruler of a distant land. Once Gostomysl had a dream that one of Umila's sons would be his successor. Before his death, Gostomysl, having gathered "the elders of the earth from the Slavs, Rus, Chud, Ves, Mers, Krivichi and Dryagovich", told them about prophetic dream, and they sent to the Varangians to ask for their son Umila as a prince. Rurik and his relatives came to the call.

Testament of Gostosmysl. “..At that time, a certain governor of Novgorod named Gostosmysl, before his death, called all the rulers of Novgorod and said to them: “Oh, men of Novgorod, I advise you to send wise men to the Prussian land and call to you from the local clans ruler." They went to the Prussian land and found there a certain prince named Rurik, who was from the Roman family of Augustus the Tsar. And envoys from all Novgorodians begged Prince Rurik to go to them to reign. (The legend of the Vladimir princes of the XVI-XVII centuries)"

Descendant of Emperor Augustus. In the 16th century, Rurik was declared a relative of the Roman emperors. Metropolitan of Kiev Spiridon, at the direction of Tsar Vasily III, was engaged in compiling the genealogy of the Moscow kings and presented it in the form of the "Message on the Monomakh's Crown". Spiridon reports that the "voivode Gostomysl", dying, asked to send ambassadors to the land of Prus, who was a relative of the Roman Caesar Gaius Julius Augustus Octavian, (Prussian land), in order to call on the prince "Augustus of the clan." Novgorodians did so and found Rurik, who gave rise to the family of Russian princes. This is what the "Legend of the Princes of Vladimir" (XVI-XVII centuries) says: "... At that time, a certain governor of Novgorod named Gostomysl, before his death, called all the rulers of Novgorod and said to them:" Oh, men of Novgorod, I advise to you, so that you send wise men to the Prussian land and call on you from the local clans of the ruler. "They went to the Prussian land and found there a certain prince named Rurik, who was from the Roman family of Augustus the Tsar. And the envoys from Prince Rurik begged all Novgorodians, so that he would go to reign over them.

Rurik is a Slav. At the beginning of the 16th century, the hypothesis of the Slavic origin of the Varangian princes was put forward by the Austrian ambassador to Russia, Sigismund Herberstein. In Notes on Muscovy, he argued that the northern tribes found their ruler in Wagria, among the Western Slavs: from them and faith, and customs, and language. The author of "History of Russia" V.N. Tatishchev saw in the Varangians northern peoples in general, but by "Rus" he meant the Finns. Confident in his rightness, Tatishchev calls Rurik "Prince of Finland."

Position M.V. Lomonosov. In 1749, the historian Gerhard Friedrich Miller wrote his dissertation "The Origin of the Russian People and Name". He argued that Russia "received both tsars and its name" from the Scandinavians. M.V. became his main opponent. Lomonosov, according to whom, "Rurik" was from the Prussians, but had the ancestors of the Roksolani Slavs, who originally lived between the Dnieper and the mouth of the Danube, and after several centuries moved to the Baltic Sea. "True Fatherland" Rurik. In 1819, the Belgian professor G.F. Holmann published in Russian the book "Rustringia, the original fatherland of the first Russian prince Rurik and his brothers", where he stated: "The Russian Varangians, from whom Rurik descended with his brothers and retinue, lived on the banks of Baltic Sea, which Western sources called German, between Jutland, England and France. On this coast, Rustringia was a special land, which for many reasons can be recognized as the true fatherland of Rurik and his brothers. The Rustrings, who belonged to the Varangians, were from time immemorial seafarers who traded on the sea and shared dominance over the sea with other peoples; in the 9th and 10th centuries, they considered Rurik between their first surnames. "Rustringia was located on the territory of present-day Holland and Germany.

"True Fatherland" Rurik. In 1819, the Belgian professor G.F. Holmann published a book in Russian "Rustringia, the original homeland of the first Russian prince Rurik and his brothers" where he stated: The Russian Varangians, from whom Rurik descended with his brothers and retinue, lived on the shores of the Baltic Sea, which Western sources called German, between Jutland, England and France. On this coast, Rustringia was a special land, which for many reasons can be recognized as the true fatherland of Rurik and his brothers. Rustrings, who belonged to the Varangians, were from time immemorial seafarers who traded on the sea and shared dominance over the sea with other peoples; in the 9th and 10th centuries they considered Rurik between their first surnames". Rustringia was located on the territory of present-day Holland and Germany.

Conclusions N.M. Karamzin on the origin of the Rurikovichs. While working on the “History of the Russian State”, N. M. Karamzin recognized the Scandinavian origin of Rurik and the Varangians, assumed that the “Vargi-Rus” lived in Sweden, where there is the Roslagen region. Some part of the Varangians moved from Sweden to Prussia, from where they already came to the Ilmenye and the Dnieper region.

Rurik of Jutland. In 1836, F. Kruse, a professor at Dorpat University, suggested that the annalistic Rurik is a Jutland hevding, who in the middle of the 9th century participated in Viking attacks on the lands of the Frankish Empire and had a fief (possession for the life of the master) in Friesland. Kruse identified this Viking with Rurik of Novgorod. Old Russian chronicles do not report anything about the activities of Rurik before his arrival in Russia. However, in Western Europe his name was well known. Rurik of Jutland is a real historical person, not a mythical hero. The historicity of Rurik and his vocation in Northern Russia experts believe it is quite likely. In the monograph "The Birth of Russia" B.A. Rybakov wrote that, wanting to protect themselves from unregulated Varangian extortions, the population of the northern lands could well invite one of the kings as a prince so that he would protect him from other Varangian detachments. Identifying Rurik of Jutland and Rurik of Novgorod, historians rely on the data of Western European chronicles, discoveries in the field of archeology, toponymy and linguistics.

The Rurikoviches are the descendants of the legendary Rurik, the Varangian prince, the semi-legendary founder of the first Russian grand ducal dynasty. In total, the Russian throne was occupied by representatives of only two dynasties. The second is the Romanovs. The Ruriks ruled from 862 AD until 1610. Romanovs from 1613 to 1917. There are 48 princes and tsars of Rurikovich. Romanovs - nineteen.

First prince of Russia

• IX century - Eastern historians reported on a major union of Slavic tribes - Slavia (with a center in Novgorod), Kuyava (Kiev), Artania
• 839 - in the French "Saint-Bertin annals" representatives of the people "Ros" are mentioned, who were in the Byzantine embassy to the king of the Carolingian dynasty, Louis the Pious
• 859 - Northern Slavic tribes Chud, Slovenes, Mary, Vesi and Krivichi refused to pay tribute to the Varangians. strife.
• 860 (or 867) - Calling the Varangians to restore order. Rurik settled in the town of Ladoga
  

  “Vstasha Slovene, reckshe Novogorodtsy and Merya and Krivichi against the Varangians and drove them across the sea and did not give them tribute. Start owning and setting up cities. And there was no truth in them, and generation upon generation and rati and captivity and bloodshed without ceasing. And for this, having gathered up, he decided to himself: “Who would be a prince in us and rule over us? We will look for and install one either from us, or from Kozars, or from Polyany, or from Dunaichev, or from the Varangians. And there was a great rumor about this - a sheep of this, a sheep of another who wants. The same conferred, sent to the Varangians "

  In the late 1990s the findings of archaeologist Yevgeny Ryabinin in Staraya Ladoga prove that Ladoga not only existed more than 100 years before Rurik, but also had the highest level of production development for that time. 2 km from Ladoga, Ryabinin dug out the Lyubsha fortress, which was erected in the 6th-7th centuries, rebuilt on a stone foundation around 700. Near Ladoga, the oldest in Eastern Europe lathe(“Arguments of the Week”, No. 34 (576) of 08/31/2017)

• 862 (or 870) - Rurik began to reign in Novgorod.
  Russian historical science has not yet come to a consensus on who Rurik was, whether he existed at all, whether the Slavs called him to reign and for what. Here is what academician B. A. Rybakov writes about this:

  “Was there a calling of princes or, more precisely, of Prince Rurik? The answers can only be speculative. Norman raids on the northern lands at the end of the 9th and in the 10th century are beyond doubt. A proud Novgorod patriot could portray real raids as a voluntary call of the Varangians by northern residents to establish order. Such coverage of the Varangian campaigns for tribute was less offensive to the pride of the Novgorodians than the recognition of their helplessness. The invited prince had to “dress by right”, to protect his subjects with some kind of letter.
  It could be otherwise: wanting to protect themselves from unregulated Varangian extortions, the population of the northern lands could invite one of the kings as a prince, so that he would protect him from other Varangian detachments. Rurik, in which some researchers see Rurik of Jutland, would be a suitable figure for this purpose, since he came from the most remote corner of the Western Baltic and was a stranger to the Varangians from southern Sweden, located closer to the Chud and Eastern Slavs. Science has not sufficiently developed the question of the connection between the annalistic Varangians and the Western, Baltic Slavs.
  Archaeologically, the connections of the Baltic Slavs with Novgorod can be traced up to the 11th century. Written sources of the 11th century speak of trade between the Western Baltic and Novgorod. It can be assumed that if the calling of a foreign prince actually took place as one of the episodes of the anti-Varangian struggle, then such a prince could be Rurik of Jutland, whose original place of reign was in the neighborhood of the Baltic Slavs. The considerations expressed are not sufficiently substantiated to build any hypothesis on them.

• 864 - Capture by the Varangians Askold and Dir of princely power in Kiev
• 864 (874) - Campaign of Askold and Dir to Constantinople
• 872 - "Oskold's son was killed by the Bulgarians." “The same summer, Novgorodians were offended, saying:“ as if we were a slave and many evils would suffer in every possible way from Rurik and from his kind. That same summer, kill Rurik Vadim the Brave and many other Novgorodians of his advisers.
• 873 - Rurik distributed the cities of Polotsk, Rostov, Beloozero, he gave into the possession of his close associates
• 879 - Rurik died

Rurik dynasty

• Oleg 879-912
• Igor 912-945
• Olga 945-957
• Svyatoslav 957-972
• Yaropolk 972-980
• Vladimir Saint 980-1015
• Svyatopolk 1015-1019
• Yaroslav I the Wise 1019-1054
• Izyaslav Yaroslavich 1054-1078
• Vsevolod Yaroslavich 1078-1093
• Svyatopolk Izyaslavich 1093-1113
• Vladimir Monomakh 1113-1125
• Mstislav Vladimirovich 1125-1132
• Yaropolk Vladimirovich 1132-1139
• Vsevolod Olgovich 1139-1146
• Izyaslav Mstislavich 1146-1154
• Yuri Dolgoruky 1154-1157
• Andrei Bogolyubsky 1157-1174
• Mstislav Izyaslavich 1167-1169
• Mikhail Yurievich 1174-1176
• Vsevolod Yurievich (Big Nest) 1176-1212
• Konstantin Vsevolodovich 1216-1219
• Yuri Vsevolodovich 1219-1238
• Yaroslav Vsevolodovich 1238-1246
• Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky 1252-1263
• Yaroslav Yaroslavich 1263-1272
• Vasily I Yaroslavich 1272-1276
• Dmitry Alexandrovich Pereyaslavsky 1276-1294
• Andrey Alexandrovich Gorodetsky 1294-1304
• Mikhail Yaroslavich 1304-1319
• Yuri Danilovich 1319-1326
• Alexander Mikhailovich 1326-1328
• John I Danilovich Kalita 1328-1340
• Simeon Ioannovich Proud 1340-1353
• John II the Meek 1353-1359
• Dmitry Konstantinovich 1359-1363
• Dmitry Ioannovich Donskoy 1363-1389
• Vasily I Dmitrievich 1389-1425
• Vasily II Vasilyevich Temny 1425-1462
• John III Vasilyevich 1462-1505
• Vasily III Ioannovich 1505-1533
• Elena Glinskaya 1533-1538
• John IV the Terrible 1533-1584
• Fyodor Ioannovich 1584-1598
• Boris Godunov 1598-1605
• Vasily Shuisky 1606-1610

All the supreme rulers in Russia put a lot into its development. Thanks to the power of the ancient Russian princes, the country was built, territorially expanded, and provided with protection to fight the enemy. Many buildings were built, which today have become an international historical and cultural landmark. Russia was replaced by a dozen rulers. Kievan Rus finally disintegrated after the death of Prince Mstislav.
The collapse took place in 1132. Separate, independent states were formed. All territories have lost their value.

Princes of Russia in chronological order

The first princes in Russia (the table is presented below) appeared thanks to the Rurik dynasty.

Prince Rurik

Rurik ruled the Novgorodians near the Varangian Sea. Therefore, he had two names: Novgorod, Varangian. After the death of his brothers, Rurik remained the only ruler in Russia. He was married to Efanda. His assistants. They looked after the economy, arranged courts.
The reign of Rurik in Russia fell in the period from 862 to 879. After, he was killed by two brothers Dir and Askold, they took the city of Kiev into power.

Prince Oleg (Prophetic)

Dir and Askold did not rule for long. Oleg was Efanda's brother, he decided to take matters into his own hands. Oleg was famous throughout Russia for his intelligence, strength, courage, dominance.He captured the city of Smolensk, Lyubech and Constantinople in his possession. He made the city of Kiev the capital of the Kievan state. Killed Askold and Dir.Igor, became the adopted son of Oleg and his direct heir to the throne.In his state lived the Varangians, Slovaks, Krivichi, Drevlyans, northerners, glades, Tivertsy, streets.

In 909, Oleg met a wise sorcerer who told him:
- You will soon die from a snake bite, because you will abandon your horse. It so happened that the prince abandoned his horse, exchanging it for a new, younger one.
In 912, Oleg learned that his horse had died. He decided to go to the place where the remains of the horse lay.

Oleg asked:
- From this, the horse, I will accept death? And then, a poisonous snake crawled out of the horse's skull. The snake bit him, after which Oleg died. The prince's funeral lasted several days with all honors, because he was considered the most powerful ruler.

Prince Igor

Immediately, after the death of Oleg, the throne was taken by his stepson (Rurik's own son) Igor. The dates of the reign of the prince in Russia vary from 912 to 945. His main task was to preserve the unity of the state. Igor defended his state from the attack of the Pechenegs, who periodically made attempts to take over Russia. All the tribes that were in the state regularly paid tribute.
In 913, Igor married a young Pskovian girl, Olga. He met her by chance in the city of Pskov. During his reign, Igor suffered quite a few attacks and battles. While fighting the Khazars, he lost all his best army. After that, he had to re-create the armed defense of the state.

And again, in 914, the new army of the prince was destroyed in the fight against the Byzantines. The war lasted a long time and as a result, the prince signed an eternal peace treaty with Constantinople. The wife helped her husband in everything. They ruled half the state. In 942 they had a son, who was named Svyatoslav. In 945, Prince Igor was killed by neighboring Drevlyans who did not want to pay tribute.

Princess Saint Olga

After the death of her husband Igor, his wife Olga took the throne. Despite the fact that she was a woman, she was able to manage the entire Kievan Rus. In this not an easy task, she was helped by intelligence, quick wit and masculinity. All the qualities of a ruler gathered in one woman and helped her to cope well with the rule of the state. She took revenge on the greedy Drevlyans for the death of her husband. Their city Korosten soon became part of her possession. Olga is the first of the Russian rulers who converted to Christianity.

Svyatoslav Igorevich

Olga waited a long time for her son to grow up. And having reached the age of majority, Svyatoslav fully became the ruler in Russia. The years of the reign of the prince in Russia from 964 to 972. Svyatoslav, already at the age of three, became the direct heir to the throne. But since he could not physically manage Kievan Rus, his mother, St. Olga, replaced him. All childhood and adolescence, the child learned military affairs. Studied courage, militancy. In 967, his army defeated the Bulgarians. After the death of his mother, in 970, Svyatoslav staged an invasion of Byzantium. But the forces were not equal. He was forced to sign a peace treaty with Byzantium. Svyatoslav had three sons: Yaropolk, Oleg, Vladimir. After Svyatoslav returned back to Kiev in March 972, the young prince was killed by the Pechenegs. From his skull, the Pechenegs forged a gilded bowl for pies.

After the death of his father, the throne was taken by one of the sons, the prince of Ancient Russia (table below) Yaropolk.

Yaropolk Svyatoslavovich

Despite the fact that Yaropolk, Oleg, Vladimir were brothers, they were never friends. Moreover, they were constantly at war with each other.
All three wanted to rule Russia. But Yaropolk won the fight. Sent his siblings out of the country. During the reign, he managed to conclude a peaceful, eternal treaty with Byzantium. Yaropolk wanted to make friends with Rome. Many were not happy with the new ruler. There was a lot of permissiveness. The pagans, together with Vladimir (Yaropolk's brother), successfully seized power into their own hands. Yaropolk had no choice but to flee the country. He began to live in the city of Roden. But some time later, in 980, he was killed by the Vikings. Yaropolk decided to make an attempt to seize Kiev for himself, but it all ended in failure. During his short reign, Yaropolk failed to make global changes in Kievan Rus, because he was famous for his peacefulness.

Vladimir Svyatoslavovich

Prince Vladimir of Novgorod was the youngest son of Prince Svyatoslav. Ruled by Kievan Rus from 980 to 1015. He was warlike, courageous, possessed all necessary qualities, which should have been with the ruler of Kievan Rus. Performed all the functions of the prince in ancient Russia.

During his reign,

• built a defense along the rivers Desna, Trubezh, Sturgeon, Sula.
• There were many beautiful buildings built.
• Made Christianity the state religion.

Thanks to his great contribution to the development and prosperity of Kievan Rus, he received the nickname "Vladimir the Red Sun." He had seven sons: Svyatopolk, Izyaslav, Yaroslav, Mstislav, Svyatoslav, Boris, Gleb. He divided his lands equally among all his sons.

Svyatopolk Vladimirovich

Immediately after the death of his father in 1015, he became the ruler of Russia. He was not enough part of Russia. He wanted to take over everything Kiev state and decided to get rid of his own brothers. To begin with, on his orders, it was necessary to kill Gleb, Boris, Svyatoslav. But this did not bring him happiness. Without causing the approval of the people, he was expelled from Kiev. For help in the war with his brothers, Svyatopolk turned to his father-in-law, who was the king of Poland. He helped his son-in-law, but the reign of Kievan Rus did not last long. In 1019 he had to flee from Kiev. In the same year, he committed suicide, as his conscience tormented him, because he killed his brothers.

Yaroslav Vladimirovich (Wise)

He ruled Kievan Rus in the period from 1019 to 1054. He was nicknamed the Wise, because he had an amazing mind, wisdom, masculinity, inherited from his father. He built two big cities: Yaroslavl, Yuryev. He treated his people with care and understanding. One of the first princes who introduced a code of laws called “Russian Truth” into the state. Following his father, he divided the land equally between his sons: Izyaslav, Svyatoslav, Vsevolod, Igor and Vyacheslav. From birth, he brought up in them peace, wisdom, love of the people.

Izyaslav Yaroslavovich the First

Immediately after the death of his father, he took the throne. He ruled Kievan Rus from 1054 to 1078. The only prince in history who could not cope with his duties. His assistant was his son Vladimir, without whom Izyaslav would have simply ruined Kievan Rus.

Svyatopolk

The spineless prince took over the reign of Kievan Rus immediately after the death of his father Izyaslav. Ruled from 1078 to 1113.
He had a hard time finding mutual language with Old Russian princes (table below). During his reign, there was a campaign against the Polovtsy, in the organization of which Vladimir Monomakh helped him. They won the battle.

Vladimir Monomakh

After the death of Svyatopolk, Vladimir was elected ruler in 1113. He served the state until 1125. Smart, honest, brave, reliable, courageous. It was these qualities of Vladimir Monomakh that helped him rule Kievan Rus and fall in love with the people. He is the last of the princes of Kievan Rus (table below), who managed to preserve the state in its original form.

Attention

All wars with the Polovtsy ended in victory.

Mstislav and the collapse of Kievan Rus

Mstislav is the son of Vladimir Monomakh. He took the throne of the ruler in 1125. He was similar to his father not only outwardly, but also in character, in the way of ruling Russia. The people treated him with respect. In 1134, he handed over the reign to his brother Yaropolk. That served as the development of unrest in the history of Russia. Monomakhovichi lost the throne. But soon there was a complete disintegration of Kievan Rus into thirteen separate states.

The Kiev rulers did a lot for the Russian people. During their reign, everyone diligently fought against the enemies. There was a development of Kievan Rus as a whole. Many buildings were completed, beautiful buildings, churches, schools, bridges that were destroyed by enemies, and everything was built anew. All the princes of Kievan Rus, the table below, did a lot to make history unforgettable.

Table. Princes of Russia in chronological order

Prince's name	Years of government
10. 11. 12. 13.	Rurik Oleg Prophetic Igor Olga Svyatoslav Yaropolk Vladimir Svyatopolk Yaroslav the Wise Izyaslav Svyatopolk Vladimir Monomakh Mstislav	862-879 879-912 912-945 945-964 964-972 972-980 980-1015 1015-1019 1019-1054 1054-1078 1078-1113 1113-1125 1125-1134

The Rurikoviches are the descendants of Rurik, who became the first known chronicle prince of ancient Russia. Over time, the Rurik family split into several branches.

Dynasty

The Tale of Bygone Years, written by the monk Nestor, tells the story of the calling of Rurik and his brothers to Russia. The sons of the Novgorod prince Gostomysl died in the wars, and he married one of his daughters to a Varangian-Russian, who gave birth to three sons - Sineus, Rurik and Truvor. They were called by Gostomysl to reign in Russia. It was with them that the Rurik dynasty began in 862, which reigned in Russia until 1598.

First princes

In 879, the summoned Prince Rurik died, leaving his little son Igor. At the time when he was growing up, Oleg, a relative of the prince through his wife, ruled the principality. He conquered the entire Kiev principality, and also built diplomatic relations with Byzantium. After the death of Oleg in 912, Igor began to reign until he died in 945, leaving two heirs - Gleb and Svyatoslav. However, the eldest (Svyatoslav) was a three-year-old child, and therefore his mother, Princess Olga, took the reign into her own hands.

Having become the ruler, Svyatoslav was more fond of military campaigns, and in one of them he was killed in 972. Svyatoslav left three sons: Yaropolk, Oleg and Vladimir. Yaropolk killed Oleg for the sake of autocracy, while Vladimir first fled to Europe, but later returned, killed Yaropolk and became the ruler. It was he who baptized the people of Kiev in 988, built many cathedrals. He reigned until 1015 and left behind 11 sons. After Vladimir, Yaropolk began to reign, who killed his brothers, and after him Yaroslav the Wise.

Yaroslavichi

Yaroslav the Wise reigned in total from 1015 to 1054 (including breaks). When he died, the unity of the principality was broken. His sons divided Kievan Rus into parts: Svyatoslav received Chernigov, Izyaslav - Kiev and Novgorod, Vsevolod - Pereyaslavl and the Rostov-Suzdal land. The latter, and later his son Vladimir Monomakh, significantly expand the inherited lands. After the death of Vladimir Monomakh, the disintegration of the unity of the principality is finally established, in each part of which a separate dynasty rules.

Russia specific

Feudal fragmentation is growing due to the ladder of succession to the throne, according to which power was transferred by seniority to the brothers of the prince, while the younger ones were given in cities of less significant importance. After the death of the chief prince, everyone moved by seniority from city to city. This order led to internecine wars. The most powerful princes launched a war for Kiev. The power of Vladimir Monomakh and his descendants proved to be the most influential. Vladimir Monomakh leaves his possessions to his three sons: Mstislav, Yaropolk and Yuri Dolgoruky. The latter is considered the founder of Moscow.

Moscow's struggle with Tver

One of the famous descendants of Yuri Dolgoruky was Alexander Nevsky, under whom an independent Moscow principality arose. In an effort to elevate their influence, the descendants of Nevsky begin to fight with Tver. During the reign of a descendant of Alexander Nevsky, the Moscow principality becomes one of the main centers of the unification of Russia, but the Tver principality remains outside its influence.

Creation of the Russian state

After the death of Dmitry Donskoy, power passes to his son Vasily I, who managed to maintain the greatness of the principality. After his death, a dynastic struggle for power begins. However, under the reign of a descendant of Dmitry Donskoy, Ivan III, the Horde yoke ends and the Moscow principality plays a decisive role in this. Under Ivan III, the process of forming a unified Russian state was completed. In 1478, he appropriated the title of "sovereign of all Russia" to himself.

The last Rurikovichs

The last representatives of the Rurik dynasty in power were Ivan the Terrible and his son Fyodor Ivanovich. The latter was not a ruler by nature, and therefore, after the death of Ivan the Terrible, the Boyar Duma essentially controls the state. In 1591 Dmitry, another son of Ivan the Terrible, dies. Dmitry was the last contender for the Russian throne, since Fyodor Ivanovich had no children. In 1598, Fedor Ivanovich also dies, with whom the dynasty of the first Russian rulers, who had been in power for 736 years, is interrupted.

The article mentions only the main and most prominent representatives of the dynasty, but in fact there were much more descendants of Rurik. The Rurikovichs made an invaluable contribution to the development of the Russian state.

Historians call Rurikovich the first dynasty of Russian princes and tsars. They didn't have a last name, but dynasty received by the name of its legendary founder - Novgorod Prince Rurik, who died in 879.

However, a more reliable historical person, and hence the ancestor of the dynasty, is Great prince Kiev Igor, whom the chronicle considers the son of Rurik.

Dynasty Rurikovich was at the head Russian over 700 years. Rurik ruled Kiev Russia and then when she's in xii century broke up, large and small Russian principalities. AND after associations all Russians lands around Moscow in charge of states stood the Grand Dukes of Moscow from the family Rurikovich. The descendants of the former specific princes lost their possessions and made up the highest stratum Russian aristocracy, but they retained the title "prince" at the same time.

In 1547 Grand Duke Moscow took the title king All Russia". The last representatives of the dynasty Rurikovich in Russian throne was the king Fyodor Ivanovich who died childless in 1598. But this does not mean that this is the end of the race. Rurikovich. Stopped only his youngest - Moscow- branch. But the male offspring of others Rurikovich(former specific princes) by that time had already acquired surnames: Baryatinsky, Volkonsky, Gorchakov, Dolgorukov, Obolensky, Odoevsky, Repnin, Shuisky, Shcherbatov, etc.

All Rurikovich who ruled Russia is very difficult to remember - there were too many of them. But you need to know at least the most famous ones. Among Rurikovich the largest statesmen were the Grand Dukes Vladimir Saint, Yaroslav wise, Vladimir Monomakh , Yuri Dolgoruky , Andrey Bogolyubsky , Vsevolod big Nest , Alexander Nevsky, Ivan Kalita , Dmitriy Donskoy, Ivan the Third, Basil Third, Tsar Ivan Grozny .

Rurikovichi - princely family descendants of Rurik, fragmented over time into many branches. The last rulers of ruling dynasty Rurikovich in Russia were Tsars Fedor I Ioannovich and Vasily Shuisky.

There are disputes about the origin of Rurik. Western and some Russian scholars consider him a Norman, while others believe that he was of West Slavic (Bodrichi) origin (see Rus (people) and Rurik).

According to one of the Norman theories (A. N. Kirpichnikov, E. V. Pchelov, etc.) Rurikovichi are a branch of the Danish Skjoldung dynasty, known since the 6th century. According to West Slavic theory Rurikovichi are a branch of the dynasty of obodrite princes.

Branching of the genus

In Russian- Byzantine treaty 944 years nephews are mentioned Igor Rurikovich, but the actual branching of the Rurik family begins with St Vladimir. When the clan branched out, the younger uncles sometimes turned out to be younger than the older nephews in age and often outlived them. And acting order of succession had such a feature as the institute outcasts, when the descendants of the prince who did not occupy the throne were deprived of the right to occupy this throne, therefore, the senior lines that settled in destinies(which was fixed by the decision Lyubech Congress of Princes (1097 )), a greatest influence junior lines were acquired for public affairs. The allocation of certain branches was also fixed by dynastic marriages, which from the era of the reign Vladimir Monomakh (1113 -1125 ) began to be concluded between representatives different families genus Rurikovich.

Izyaslavichi of Polotsk

Main article : Izyaslavichi of Polotsk

separates before others Polotsk descendant line Izyaslav Vladimirovich. His mother Rogneda was the daughter of the last Polotsk prince-Neryurikovich - Rogvolod, so the Ruriks of the Polotsk branch were sometimes called Horny grandchildren. Her eldest son Izyaslav became a Kievan viceroy in Polotsk. However, after the death of Izyaslav, his father did not send one of his younger sons to Polotsk (as, for example, after the death Vysheslav in Novgorod transferred there from Rostov Yaroslav, upon death Vsevolod transferred to Vladimir-Volynsky Pozvizda), and the sons of Izyaslav began to rule in Polotsk. Izyaslav's grandson Vseslav Bryachislavich became the only one of the Polotsk princes who occupied the grand throne as a result of Kiev uprising of 1068 .

Rostislavichi (first Galician dynasty)

Main article : Rostislavichi (Galician)

The eldest son of Yaroslav the Wise died in 1052, before the father, and his son Rostislav Vladimirovich turned out to be an outcast. V 1054 Yaroslav divided southern Russia between the three eldest sons at that time - Izyaslav , Svyatoslav and Vsevolod. Rostislav managed to win back Tmutarakan from his uncle Svyatoslav, twice expelling his son and governor from there Gleb. The sons of Rostislav fought against Yaropolk Izyaslavych Volynsky and Turovsky, which led to his death in 1087 and the consolidation of the Rostislavichs and their descendants in Przemysl and Terebovle. V 1140 the leading role has passed to Galich , their possessions were merged into one Galician Principality , and with the extinction of the Rostislavich dynasty in 1198 become the core of the future Galicia-Volyn principality(With 1254 Kingdoms of Russia).

Izyaslavichi Turovskie

Main article : Izyaslavichi Turovskie

Vyacheslav Yaroslavich died in 1057 , Igor Yaroslavich was transferred by older brothers to Smolensk, and Volyn was annexed to the possessions of Izyaslav of Kiev. Subsequently, Volyn joined the Kiev possessions Vsevolod Yaroslavich in 1087 by death Yaropolk Izyaslavych , Svyatopolk Izyaslavich v 1100 after decision Vitichev Congress who condemned Davyd Igorevich , Vladimir Monomakh by death Yaroslav Svyatopolchich v 1117. Vladimir Monomakh deprived the Izyaslavichs and Turov, his sons reigned here. Only in 1162 younger son of Yaroslav Svyatopolchich Yuri, maternal grandson Mstislav the Great, was able to keep Turov Principality for themselves and their descendants.

Svyatoslavichi

Main articles : Svyatoslavichi , Olgovichi , Yaroslavichi of Muromo-Ryazan

After death on Kiev reign Svyatoslav Yaroslavich in 1076 Izyaslav Yaroslavich returned to Kiev, and Vsevolod Yaroslavich kept Chernigov. Svyatoslavichi novel and Oleg in alliance with Cumans began a struggle for the former possessions of their father, which led to death in 1078 v Battle of Nezhatinnaya Niva Izyaslav Yaroslavich and Oleg's ally Boris Vyacheslavich, son of Monomakh Izyaslav v 1096(v 1078 during the transition of Vsevolod Yaroslavich to Kiev, he left his son Vladimir Monomakh as governor in Chernigov). V 1097 by decision Lyubech Congress of Princes let each one keep his own The Svyatoslavs received their father's inheritance.

V 1127 descendants were separated into a separate branch Yaroslav Svyatoslavich, expelled from Chernigov by his nephew and son-in-law Mstislav the Great Vsevolod Olgovich and preserved for their descendants Murom , Ryazan and Pronsk. V 1167 the Chernihiv branch of descendants died out Davyd Svyatoslavich, the descendants of Vsevolod Olgovich settled in Chernigov, the descendants of Vsevolod Olgovich settled in Novgorod-Seversky and Kursk Svyatoslav Olgovich .

Monomakhovichi (Monomakhovichi)

Main articles : Monomashici , Mstislavichi , Romanovichi , Yurievichi

After the death of the youngest son Vsevolod Yaroslavich Rostislav v battle with the Polovtsy on the river Stugna v 1093 the name of Vsevolod Yaroslavich is assigned to the offspring Monomakhovichi. During the reign of Vladimir Monomakh and his son Mstislav ( 1113 -1132 ) Kiev princes regain their direct control over all of Russia (including Polotsk and Turov), with the exception of the southwestern possessions of the Rostislavichs and left-bank possessions of the Svyatoslavichs ( Kursk temporarily owned by the Monomakhoviches).

Monomakhovichi branch out on the line Mstislavich(they, in turn, on the Izyaslavichi Volynsky(including with 1198 Romanovich Galician) and the Rostislavichs Smolensky) and Yurievich(Georgievich) Vladimir(from Yuri Dolgoruky). Last line from the end 12th century acquired a predominant importance among the princes of all Russia; great princes and kings come from it Moscow. With death Fedor I Ioannovich (1598 ) the Moscow line of the Rurik dynasty ceased, but individual princely families continue to exist to this day.

Descendants of Rurik

The distant descendants of Rurik on the female line are 10 modern monarchs of Europe (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, England, Spain, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Monaco), several American presidents, writers, artists.