The first rulers of Russia. Rulers of Ancient Russia: chronology and achievements

"Kievan Rus" is a concept that is subject to numerous speculations today. Historians argue not only whether there was a state with that name, but also who inhabited it.

Where did Kievan Rus come from?

If today in Russia the phrase "Kievan Rus" is gradually leaving scientific use, being replaced by the concept of "Old Russian state", then Ukrainian historians use it everywhere, and in the context of "Kievan Rus - Ukraine", emphasizing the historical continuity of the two states.

However, until the beginning of the 19th century, the term "Kyiv Rus" did not exist, the ancient inhabitants of the Kyiv lands did not even suspect that they lived in a state with such a name. The first to use the phrase "Kievan Rus" was the historian Mikhail Maksimovich in his work "Where does the Russian land come from", which was completed in the year of Pushkin's death.

It is important to note that Maksimovich used this expression not in the sense of the state, but in a number of other names of Russia - Chervonnaya, White, Suzdal, that is, in the sense of geographical location. Historians Sergei Solovyov and Nikolai Kostomarov used it in the same sense.

Some authors of the beginning of the 20th century, including Sergei Platonov and Alexander Presnyakov, began to use the term "Kievan Rus" already in the sovereign-political sense, as the name of the state of the Eastern Slavs with a single political center in Kyiv.

However, Kievan Rus became a full-fledged state in Stalin era. There is a curious story about how Academician Boris Grekov, while working on the books "Kievan Rus" and "Culture Kievan Rus”, he asked his colleague: “You are a party member, advise, you should know what concept He (Stalin) will like.”

Using the term “Kievan Rus”, Grekov considered it necessary to explain its meaning: “In my work, I deal with Kievan Rus not in the narrow territorial sense of this term (Ukraine), but precisely in that broad sense of the “Rurikovich empire”, corresponding to the Western European empire Charlemagne - which includes a vast territory, on which several independent state units were subsequently formed.

State before Rurik

The official domestic historiography says that statehood in Russia arose in 862 after the Rurik dynasty came to power. However, for example, political scientist Sergei Chernyakhovsky argues that the beginning of Russian statehood should be pushed back at least 200 years into history.

He draws attention to the fact that in the Byzantine sources, when describing the life of the Rus, obvious signs of their state structure were reflected: the presence of writing, the hierarchy of the nobility, the administrative division of lands, petty princes are also mentioned, over whom the "kings" stood.

And yet, despite the fact that Kievan Rus united vast territories inhabited by East Slavic, Finno-Ugric and Baltic tribes under its rule, many historians are inclined to believe that in the pre-Christian period it cannot be called a full-fledged state, since there were no class structures there. and there was no centralized authority. On the other hand, it was not a monarchy, not a despotism, not a republic, most of all, according to historians, it looked like some kind of corporate governance.

It is known that the ancient Russians lived in tribal settlements, were engaged in crafts, hunting, fishing, trade, agriculture, and cattle breeding. The Arab traveler Ibn Fadlan in 928 described that the Russians built large houses in which 30-50 people lived.

“Archaeological monuments of the Eastern Slavs recreate a society without any clear traces of property stratification. In the most diverse regions of the forest-steppe belt, it is not possible to indicate those that, in terms of their architectural appearance and the content of household and household equipment found in them, would be distinguished by wealth, ”stressed the historian Ivan Lyapushkin.

Russian archaeologist Valentin Sedov notes that the emergence of economic inequality on the basis of existing archaeological data cannot yet be established. “It seems that there are no distinct traces of the property differentiation of the Slavic society in the grave monuments of the 6th-8th centuries,” the scientist concludes.

Historians conclude that the accumulation of wealth and their transmission by inheritance in ancient Russian society was not an end in itself, it apparently was neither a moral value nor a vital necessity. Moreover, hoarding was clearly not welcomed and even condemned.

For example, in one of the treaties between the Russians and the Byzantine emperor there is a fragment of the oath of the Kyiv prince Svyatoslav, telling about what will happen in case of violation of obligations: “let us be golden, like this gold” (meaning the golden plate-stand of the Byzantine scribe) . This is once again shows the despicable attitude of the Rus to the golden calf.

A more correct definition of the political structure of pre-dynastic Kievan Rus is a veche society, where the prince was completely dependent on the people's assembly. Veche could approve the transfer of power of the prince by inheritance, or could re-elect him. The historian Igor Froyanov noted that “an ancient Russian prince is not an emperor or even a monarch, because a veche, or a people’s assembly, to which he was accountable, stood above him.”

The first Kyiv princes

The Tale of Bygone Years tells how Kiy, who lived on the Dnieper "mountains", together with the brothers Shchek, Khoriv and sister Lybid, built a city on the right bank of the Dnieper, later named Kyiv in honor of the founder. Kiy, according to the annals, he was the first prince of Kyiv. However, modern authors are more inclined to believe that the story of the founding of the city is an etymological myth designed to explain the names of Kievan areas.

Thus, the hypothesis of the American-Ukrainian orientalist Omelyan Pritsak, who believed that the emergence of Kyiv is associated with the Khazars, and Kiy as a person is identical to the hypothetical Khazar vizier Kuya, became widely known.

At the end of the 9th century, no less legendary princes, Askold and Dir, appeared on the historical stage of Kyiv. It is believed that they were members of the Varangian squad of Rurik, who later became the rulers of the capital city, converted to Christianity and laid the foundations ancient Russian statehood. But even here there are many questions.

In the Ustyug annals it is said that Askold and Dir were "neither the tribe of the prince, nor the boyars, and Rurik will not give them either a city or a village." Historians believe that their desire to go to Kyiv was stimulated by the desire to obtain land and a princely title. According to the historian Yuri Begunov, Askold and Dir, having betrayed Rurik, turned into Khazar vassals.

The chronicler Nestor writes that the troops of Askold and Dir in 866 made a campaign against Byzantium and plundered the environs of Constantinople. However, Academician Aleksey Shakhmatov argued that in the older chronicles telling about the campaign against Constantinople there is no mention of Askold and Dir, nothing is said about them either in Byzantine or Arabic sources. “Their names were inserted later,” the scientist believed.

Some researchers suggest that Askold and Dir ruled in Kyiv at different times. Others put forward the version that Askold and Dir are one and the same person. According to this assumption, in the Old Norse spelling of the name "Haskuldr", the last two letters "d" and "r" could be separated into a separate word, and eventually become an independent person.

If you look at the Byzantine sources, you can see that during the siege of Constantinople, the chronicler speaks of only one commander, though without naming him.
Historian Boris Rybakov explained: “The personality of Prince Dir is not clear to us. It is felt that his name is artificially attached to Askold, because when describing their joint actions, the grammatical form gives us a single, not a double number, as it should be when describing the joint actions of two persons.

Kievan Rus and Khazaria

The Khazar Khaganate is considered a powerful state, under whose control the most important trade routes from Europe to Asia turned out to be. + During its heyday (at the beginning of the 8th century), the territory of the Khazar Khaganate extended from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea, including the lower Dnieper region.

The Khazars made regular raids on the Slavic lands, plundering them. According to the testimony of the medieval traveler Ibrahim ibn Yakub, they mined not only wax, furs and horses, but mainly prisoners of war for sale into slavery, as well as young men, girls and children. In other words, the lands of Southern Russia actually fell into the Khazar bondage.

Maybe the state of the Khazars was looking in the wrong place? Publicist Alexander Polyukh is trying to sort out this issue. In his research, he focuses on genetics, in particular, on the position according to which the blood type corresponds to the way of life of the people and determines the ethnos.

He notes that according to genetic data, Russians and Belarusians, like most Europeans, have more than 90% of blood type I (O), and ethnic Ukrainians are 40% carriers of group III (B). This is a sign of peoples who led a nomadic lifestyle (here he also includes the Khazars), whose blood group III (B) approaches 100% of the population.

These conclusions are largely supported by the archaeological finds of Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Valentin Yanin, who confirmed that Kyiv at the time of its capture by the Novgorodians (IX century) was not a Slavic city, this is also evidenced by the "birch bark letters".
According to Polyukh, the conquest of Kyiv by the Novgorodians and the revenge on the Khazars, carried out by Prophetic Oleg, suspiciously coincide in time. Perhaps it was the same event? Here he makes a loud conclusion: "Kyiv is a possible capital of the Khazar Khaganate, and ethnic Ukrainians are the direct descendants of the Khazars."

Despite all the paradoxical conclusions, perhaps they are not so divorced from reality. Indeed, in a number of sources of the 9th century, the ruler of the Rus was called not a prince, but a kagan (khakan). The earliest message about this refers to the year 839, when, according to the ancient Russian chronicles, Rurik's warriors had not yet arrived in Kyiv.

The period of formation of the Old Russian state begins with the reign of the Norman prince Rurik. His descendants sought to annex new territories to their principalities, to establish trade and allied relations with Byzantium and other countries.

Donorman princes	Polyudye was not introduced, but developed historically
The first mention of Russia	References to Russia are contained in contemporary Western European, Byzantine and Eastern sources.
Rurik (862-879)	The Varangians, who invaded the East Slavic lands, took thrones in the cities: Novgorod, Beloozero, Izborsk
Oleg (879-912)	According to the chronicle, in 882 two East Slavic centers united: Novgorod and Kiev. The troops of Prince Oleg took Constantinople
Igor (912-945)	peace was concluded between Prince Igor and the emperor of Byzantium the assassination of Prince Igor
Olga (945 - 964)	"Lessons" and "graveyards" were established in Kievan Rus: began to appoint persons to collect tribute (tributors) set the amount of tribute (lessons) indicated places for princely strongholds (graveyards) During the reign of Princess Olga, most of the population of Kievan Rus professed paganism. The collection of tribute from the tribes subject to the Kyiv ruler acquired a regular and orderly character during the reign of Olga.
Svyatoslav (962-972)
Vladimir Svyatoslavich (980-1015)	Consequences of Baptism: 1) the culture of Russia has become "axial" 2) strengthened statehood Russia entered the circle of Christian countries, focusing not on Asia, but on Europe.
Yaroslav the Wise (1019-1054)	The conclusion of dynastic marriages became the main means of foreign policy of Kievan Rus during the reign of Yaroslav the Wise
Triumvirate of the Yaroslavichs. (1060) Izyaslav (1054-1073; 1076-1078) Vsevolod (1078-1093) Svyatoslav (1073-1076)	Articles on blood feuds were excluded from the Russkaya Pravda of the Yaroslavichs.
Vladimir Monomakh (1113-1125)	The congress of ancient Russian princes in 1097, where the question “why are we destroying the Russian land, causing strife among ourselves” was raised, took place in Lyubech 1093-1096. All-Russian campaign against the Polovtsians, organized by Vladimir Monomakh.

Domestic and foreign policy of the ancient Kyiv princes

	Politics
	Successful campaign against Byzantium, conclusion of an agreement in September 911. with the Byzantine emperor Leo VI. He managed to unite the northern and southern lands as part of a single state.
	He subjugated the tribes of the streets to his power. In 941 - a large campaign against Byzantium, which ended in the defeat of the Russian army. The conclusion of the treaty of 944. with the Byzantine emperor Roman I Lekapen. The uprising of the Drevlyans, as a result of which he was killed.
By the beginning of the 10th century, the power of the Kyiv prince extended to most East Slavic lands. This is how the Old Russian state was formed.
	Having avenged the murder of her husband three times, she made a campaign against the Drevlyans. Their capital - Iskorosten was taken and destroyed, and the inhabitants were killed or enslaved. Olga and her retinue traveled around the land of the Drevlyans, “setting charters and lessons” - the amount of tribute and other duties. “Stanovishcha” were established - places where tribute should have been brought, and “traps” - hunting grounds were allocated. She visited Byzantium on a "friendly visit" and was baptized.
Svyatoslav	The expansion of the borders of the Old Russian state to the east led to the war between Svyatoslav and the Khazars in the mid-60s. 10th century The campaign against Khazaria in the late 60s was successful, the Khazar army was defeated. After the victories of Svyatoslav, the Vyatichi living in the Oka valley also submitted to the power of the Kyiv prince. In 968 Svyatoslav appeared on the Danube - the Bulgarians were defeated. A war broke out between the Kyiv prince and Byzantium. In July 971 Svyatoslav was defeated near Dorostol. According to the concluded peace, the Byzantines released Svyatoslav with his soldiers. At the Dnieper rapids, Svyatoslav died in battle with the Pechenegs.
Svyatoslav, being away from home for a long time, appointed his eldest son Yaropolk as governor in Kyiv, planted his second son, Oleg, in the land of the Drevlyans, and the Novgorodians took the youngest, Vladimir. It was Vladimir who was destined to win the bloody civil strife that flared up after the death of Svyatoslav. Yaropolk started a war with Oleg, in which the latter died. However, Vladimir, who came from Novgorod, defeated Yaropolk and after his death began to reign in Kyiv.
Vladimir Krasno Solnyshko		He is trying to strengthen the rather loose super union of tribes. In 981 and 982. he made successful campaigns against the Vyatichi, and in 984. - on radimichi. In 981 conquered the Cherven cities in South-Western Russia from the Poles. The Russian lands continued to suffer from the Pechenegs. On the southern borders of Russia, Vladimir built four defensive lines. Baptism of Russia.
Yaroslav the Wise		On the initiative of Yaroslav, the first written collection of laws, Russkaya Pravda, was created. He did a lot for the spread of Christianity, building new churches, cathedrals, schools, and the first monasteries were founded by him. At the end of his reign, he issued a "Charter", in which significant monetary fines were established in favor of the bishop for violation of church canons. Yaroslav also acted as a successor to his father's efforts to organize the country's defense against attacks by nomads. During the reign of Yaroslav, Russia finally took an honorable place in the community of states of Christian Europe. Triumvirate of Yaroslavichs: Izyaslav, Vsevolod, Svyatoslav
Vladimir Monomakh		A serious attempt was made to restore the former significance of the power of the Kyiv prince. Having the support of the people, Vladimir forced almost all Russian princes to submit to him. In Kyiv, during the reign of Monomakh, a new collection of laws, The Long Truth, was prepared. In general, it was a prince close to the ideal in the view of an ancient Russian person. He himself created a portrait of such a prince in his famous Teaching. The "Charter on cuts" protected the city's lower classes.

Management system of ancient Russian lands

The territory of Kievan Rus has undergone repeated changes over the more than 3-century history of the existence of the state. According to Nestor, the Eastern Slavs numbered 10-15 tribes (Polyans, Drevlyans, Ilmen Slovenes, etc.), settled over a large area. However, it is unlikely that the land of the Vyatichi, with whom the princes of Kyiv regularly fought until the end of the 11th century, can be attributed to Kievan Rus. And in the XII-XIII centuries feudal fragmentation led to the fact that part of the Russian principalities were captured by the Lithuanians and Poles (Polotsk, Minsk, etc.).

During the 3 centuries, not only the territory changed, but also the regional administration, as they would say now. Initially, the tribes ruled themselves. In the 9th century, Oleg, regent under the prince of Novgorod, conquered Kyiv, thus establishing a centralized power. Subsequently, he and his followers on the Kiev princely throne imposed tribute on several neighboring tribes. The management of the territories in the 9th-10th centuries consisted in the collection of tribute and was carried out in the form of polyudya - the prince and his retinue traveled around the cities and villages and collected tribute. In addition, the prince led the defense of the land from common external enemies, and could also organize a military campaign (most often in the direction of Byzantium).

Since there was enough land in Kievan Rus, and it would be difficult for one prince to lead such a vast territory, the grand dukes practiced distributing appanages to their combatants. First with a return as payment for military affairs, and then in hereditary possession. In addition, the grand dukes had many children. As a result, in the XI-XII centuries, the Kyiv dynasty ousted the tribal princes from their ancestral principalities.

At the same time, the land in the principalities began to belong to the prince himself, the boyars, and monasteries. The exception was the Pskov-Novgorod land, in which at that time there was still a feudal republic.
To manage their allotments, the princes and boyars - large landowners divided the territory into hundreds, fifths, rows, counties. However, there was no unambiguous definition of these territorial units.

Often there were no unambiguously defined boundaries of these units. City management was carried out by posadniks and thousandths, at a lower level they were centurions, tenths, governors, elders, depending on the traditions of a particular land. At the same time, if candidates for higher positions were more often appointed, then for lower positions they were elected. Even to collect tribute, the peasants chose "good people."

The people's assembly among the Eastern Slavs was called veche.

(19 ratings, average: 4,37 out of 5)

1. Olesya

   Very detailed and historically correct table. This period of ancient Russian history is usually best remembered by both schoolchildren and students. The thing is that the reign of the ancient Russian princes is certainly associated with various myths, chronicle fables and unusual stories. My favorite stage in the development of the ancient Russian state remains the period of the reign of Yaroslav the Wise. If there were more such rulers in Russia, the country would not have to regularly experience dynastic crises and popular riots.

2. Irina

   Olesya, I completely agree with you about Yaroslav the Wise. By the way, it is interesting that, after all, initially he had no desire to become the head of state: circumstances prompted him to do so. However, the period of his personal reign became for Russia a time of stability and prosperity. So you say after that that a person does not make history: he does, and how! If it were not for Yaroslav, Russia would not have received rest from strife and would not have had in the XI century. "Russian Truth". He managed to improve the international situation. Talented statesman! There would be more of these in our time.

3. Lana

   The table shows only individual Russian princes, therefore it cannot be considered complete, if we consider everything in detail, then we can count more than 20 princes who were in family ties and ruled their own destinies.

4. Irina

   The table is useful but incomplete. In my opinion, it would be better to highlight the features of the foreign and domestic policies of the princes. Attention is paid more to changes and innovations, and not to the characteristic features of the period of government.

5. Angelina

   Information about internal and foreign policy very few rulers. It would be much more informative to present the main achievements of the princes in the form of a single table - the information is a little scattered - you can get confused. Sense in the first table I do not see at all. For some rulers, there is little information at all. For example, Vladimir the Great carried out a number of important reforms that are not mentioned at all in the tables.

6. Igor

   Vladimir Monomakh managed for a short time of his reign to unite more than half of the lands of Russia, which fell apart after the triumvirate of the Yaroslavichs. Vladimir Monomakh improved the legislative system. For a short time, his son Mstislav managed to maintain the unity of the country.

7. Olga

   Nothing is said about the important reforms of Volodymyr the Great. In addition to the baptism of Russia, he carried out administrative and military reform- this helped to strengthen the borders and strengthen the unity of the territories of the state.

8. Anna

   It is worth noting the features of the rulers of the period of formation and the heyday of Russia. If at the formation stage they were strong warriors, an example of courage, then at the heyday stage they were politicians and diplomats who practically did not even participate in campaigns. This concerns, first of all, Yaroslav the Wise.

9. Vyacheslav

   In the comments, many approve and admire the personality of Yaroslav the Wise and argue that Yaroslav saved Russia from strife and strife. I completely disagree with such a position of commentators in relation to the personality of Yaroslav the Wise. There is a Scandinavian saga about Edmund. This saga tells that the squad of Scandinavians was hired by Yaroslav for the war with his brother Boris. By order of Yaroslav, the Scandinavians send assassins to his brother Boris and kill him (Prince Boris, who was later recognized as a saint with his brother Gleb). Also, according to the Tale of Bygone Years, in 1014 Yaroslav raised an uprising against his father Vladimir Krasno Solnyshko (the baptist of Russia) and hired the Varangians to fight him, wanting to rule in Veliky Novgorod on his own. The Varangians, while in Novgorod, robbed the population and committed violence against the inhabitants, which led to an uprising against Yaroslav. After the death of his brothers Boris, Gleb and Svyatopolk, Yaroslav took the throne of Kyiv and fought with his brother Mstislav Tmutorokan, nicknamed the Brave. Until 1036 (the year of Mstislav's death), the Russian state was divided between Yaroslav and Mstislav into two independent political associations. Until the death of Mstislav, Yaroslav preferred to live in Novgorod, and not in the capital Kyiv. Yaroslav also began to pay tribute to the Varangians in the amount of 300 hryvnias. Introduced a rather heavy fine in favor of the bishop for non-compliance with Christian rules. This despite the fact that 90% of the population were pagans or dual faith. He sent his son Vladimir, together with the Varangian Harold, on a predatory campaign against Orthodox Byzantium. The army was defeated and most of the soldiers died in battles from the use of Greek fire. During his reign, nomadic tribes cut off the Tmutarakan principality from Kyiv, and as a result, it fell under the influence of neighboring states. The relatives of the Swedish king Olaf Shetkonung handed over the native Russian lands around Ladoga to hereditary possession. Then these lands became known as Ingria. The code of laws Russian Truth reflects the enslavement of the population, which actively took place during the reign of Yaroslav, as well as the uprisings and resistance to his power. In the course of recent studies of the Russian chronicles in the description of the reign of Yaroslav the Wise, there are a large number of changes and insertions in the original text of the chronicle made, most likely at his direction. Yaroslav distorted the annals, killed the brothers, started a civil strife with the brothers and declared war on his father, being essentially a separatist, and he is praised in the annals and the church recognized him as a faithful. Maybe that's why Yaroslav was nicknamed the Wise?

Lessons 1-3

It is advisable to enter all the information received by students in the classroom in Table No. 7 “The First Russian Princes”.

Table 7. FIRST RUSSIAN PRINCES

comparison line				Svyatoslav
1. Brief information about the personality	Ruler of Russia since 879, presumably a relative of Rurik	The ruler of Russia after the death of Oleg (913). Igor Stary	Igor's wife, conflicting information about the origin. During the life of Igor, she was quite independent in business. Ruler of Russia since 945	The ruler of Russia since 964. He became famous for his military achievements
2. Strengthening the power of the Kyiv prince	The unification of Novgorod and Kyiv under the rule of Oleg. Association of East Slavic tribes (drevlyans, northerners, radimichi, glades, howls, krivichi, ilmen slovenes)	Return of recalcitrant tribes under the rule of the Kyiv prince, maintaining unity	The establishment of "lessons", the creation of graveyards and camps. The gradual weakening of the local tribal nobility and the strengthening of princely power (tiuns)	He paid more attention to foreign policy, caring little for the welfare of the state.
3. Relationship with byzantine empire	Signing of the treaties of 907 and 911	An unsuccessful campaign and the signing (945) of an agreement less beneficial for Russia than under Oleg	Acceptance of Christianity. Maintaining diplomatic relations	Confrontation with Byzantium for influence in the Danube lands. Military operations that ended in the death of Svyatoslav

Table 7. FIRST RUSSIAN PRINCES (continued)

comparison line				Svyatoslav
4. Relationship with Eastern neighbors	Implementation of mutual raids	The conclusion of an alliance with the Pechenegs, the use of troops for joint actions		The defeat of the Khazar Khaganate
5. Results of the board	Expansion of the territory of the state, strengthening the foreign political power of Russia. Caring for border security	Preservation of the unity of Russia, weakening of the international authority of the state	Establishing and maintaining order in the state. Strengthening diplomatic ties with Byzantium, European states	Expansion of the territory of the Old Russian state. Weakening of attention to domestic political issues

The first option for studying the topic Lesson 1

The first princes of the state of Kievan Rus

During this lesson, the teacher will acquaint schoolchildren with the activities of the first Russian princes, pay attention to how the Old Russian state has changed during the period of their reign, what the changes are connected with. Will continue to work on the formation of students' skills in working with historical sources and the works of historians, with a map, tables and diagrams.

Plan

• ? I. Gallery of images (Oleg, Igor, Olga, Svyatoslav).
• ? 2. Unification of tribes.
• ? 3. Strengthening the power of the Kyiv prince.

Basic terms and concepts: polyudye, lessons, graveyards, camps, blood feud.

Main dates and events:

• 882 - the unification of Novgorod and Kyiv under the rule of Oleg. 882 - 912 - the reign of Oleg.
• 912 - 945 - the reign of Igor.
• 945 - uprising of the Drevlyans.
• 972 - the death of Svyatoslav.

During the classes

• 1.1. Before starting to explain the material, the teacher draws on the blackboard, and the students in notebooks, the basis of table No. 6 “The First Russian Princes”, which will be filled in by them during three lessons.
• 1.2. The teacher begins the lesson by introducing students to the first Russian princes who had big influence on the process of formation of the Old Russian state. For the story, the material proposed as a reference to this topic is used. The teacher records all dates and names on the blackboard. Pupils fill in the first line of the table under the guidance of the teacher. In the future, this work will be carried out by them independently.
• 2.1. To work on the question of the unification of the Slavic tribes under the rule of the first princes, the teacher needs a wall map "Kievan Rus in the 9th - early 12th centuries." and atlases on the desks of students. The teacher uses the technique of animating the map, attaching colored magnets to it in the course of explaining the new material, indicating the subordination of the tribe (the teacher can choose to designate the territories attached to each of the princes, a certain color of the magnet and a single color to designate the territory of the Old Russian state).
• 2.2. Using materials for the teacher's story, the teacher reports the annexation of the tribes by Prince Oleg, showing the indicated tribes on the map (schoolchildren follow the course of the explanation and in their atlases, find the called tribes).

Material for the teacher's story

In 879, Rurik died, handing over the reign and his young son to his relative Oleg. From that moment on, Oleg, Igor's guardian, becomes the ruler of Russia. Oleg faced very important state tasks: the subjugation of the unconquered East Slavic tribes, the protection of the state's borders from external enemies, the strengthening of ties with Byzantium and the expansion of Russian-Byzantine trade.

“In the summer of 6387 (879). Rurik died, transferring his reign to Oleg, his relative, and giving him his son Igor, for he was still very small.

In the summer of 6390 (882). Oleg went, taking with him many warriors: Varangians, Chuds, Slovenes, I measure, all, Krivichi - and came to Smolensk, and took power in the city, and planted his husbands in it. From there he went downstairs and took Lyubech and seated his husbands. Arriving at the Kyiv mountains, Oleg found out that Askold and Dir reigned here. And he hid some of the warriors in the boats, and left the others behind, and he himself approached the mountains, carrying the child Igor. And he sent Askold and Dir to say: “We - guests, we are going to the Greeks_ from Oleg and from Prince Igor. Come out to us, to your relatives." When Askold and Dir arrived, the soldiers jumped out of the boats. And Oleg said to Askold and Dir: "You are not princes and not a princely family, but I am a princely family." And when Igor was carried out, he said: "Here he is, the son of Rurik." And they killed Askold and Dir, and carried them to the mountain, and buried them on the mountain, where Olmin's court is now. On that grave, Olma built the church of St. Nicholas. And Prince Oleg sat down in Kyiv, and Oleg said: "This will be the mother of Russian cities."

According to the chronicler, Oleg united many East Slavic tribes. The prince subjugated the tribes of the "ferocious" Drevlyans, and they pledged to pay tribute to him with black martens. The northerners were subjugated by him, the Radimichi were released from the power of the Khazar Khaganate. By joining these tribes, Oleg established a close connection and direct communication between northern Novgorod and Kyiv. Later, the tribes of Dulebs, Tivertsy and Croats were subordinated to them. Thus, according to The Tale of Bygone Years, Oleg was subject to the glades, northerners, Radimichi, Drevlyans, Eastern Krivichi, Ilmen Slovenes and some Finno-Ugric tribes. Probably, the Dregovichi, Western Krivichi, Ulichi and Tivertsy fell into some kind of dependence on Kyiv. The Vyatichi tribes remained under the rule of the Khazars, and Southwestern Russia, possibly under the rule of the Czech Republic and Poland.

The conquered tribes paid tribute to Kyiv. For example, Novgorodians were obliged to bring to Kyiv a special tribute to the Varangians in the amount of 300 hryvnia (hryvnia is a silver ingot, equal in weight to 200 grams).

“Oleg, thinking more about conquests, wanted to live on the border in order to attack foreign lands the sooner; thought to terrify the neighbors, not to be afraid of them. - He entrusted the distant regions to the nobles, ordered to build cities, or fixed camps for the army, which was supposed to be a thunderstorm and external enemies and internal rebels "(N.M. Karamzin). Presumably, the cities being built are small towns - fortresses, which, on the one hand, were a camp for the army and were supposed to protect Russia from the steppe nomads, and on the other hand, were intended to strengthen the power of the prince in the conquered lands.

The death of Prince Oleg is described in The Tale of Bygone Years.

“In the summer of 6420 (912). And Oleg lived, the prince in Kyiv, having peace with all countries. And autumn came, and Oleg remembered his horse, which he once put to feed and no longer sat on it. For once he asked the sorcerers and sorcerers: “Why should I die?” And one magician said to him: “Prince! You love a horse and ride it, you will die from it! And these words sunk into the soul of Oleg, and he said: "I will never sit on it and I will not see it again." And he ordered to feed the horse and not to lead him to him, and lived for several years without seeing him, while he went to the Greeks.

When four years had passed, on the fifth Oleg came from Tsargrad to Kyiv and remembered his horse, from which the sorcerers once predicted his death. And he called the oldest groom and said: “Where is my horse, which I ordered to feed and take care of?” He replied: “Already dead!” Oleg laughed and reproached that sorcerer, saying: “The wise men are not telling the truth, but everything is a lie: the horse died, but I am alive.” And he ordered to saddle his horse: "Let me see his bones."

And he came to the place where his bones lay bare and his skull naked, got off his horse and, laughing, said: “Should I accept death from this skull?” And stepped foot on the skull. And a snake crawled out of his skull and bit him on the leg. And then he fell ill and died. And all the people mourned him with a great cry, and carried him, and buried him on a mountain called Shchekovitsa.

There is his grave to this day, it is reputed to be Oleg's grave. J And all the years of his reign were thirty and three.

After explaining the material, the teacher can put questions and tasks to the students.

Questions and tasks for students

• 1. Show on the map the tribes included by Oleg in the state.
• 2. What was the dependence of the East Slavic tribes on the Kyiv prince?
• 2.3. Further, the teacher introduces the concept of “polyudye”, explains its meaning and talks about the collection of tribute, based on the treatise of the Byzantine emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus “On the Governance of the State”, written in the middle of the 10th century. The teacher reports that polyudye was collected in two ways: either the tributaries themselves brought it to Kyiv, or the prince with his retinue traveled around the conquered tribes.

Material for the teacher's story

Konstantin Porphyrogenitus. 06 state management. “When the month of November comes, the princes immediately leave Kyiv with all the Russes and go to the polyudye, i.e. roundabout ... Feeding there for whole winter, they are in the month of April, when the ice on the Dnieper River melts, they return to Kyiv again.

The teacher tells about the export of tribute along the way "from the Varangians to the Greeks", showing the path on the map, the students follow it on the atlases. You can give students the opportunity to independently find in the atlases the path "from the Varangians to the Greeks" and other trade routes of the Slavs. To do this, the teacher must first prepare the handout below.

Tale of Bygone Years

“When the meadow lived separately in these mountains, there was a path from the Varangians to the Greeks and from the Greeks along the Dnieper, and in the upper reaches of the Dnieper - dragged to Lovot, and along Lovot you can enter Ilmen, the great lake; Volkhov flows out of the same lake and flows into the Great Lake Nevo, and the mouth of that lake enters the Varangian Sea. And on that sea you can sail to Rome, and from Rome you can sail along the same sea to Constantinople, and from Constantinople you can sail to the Pontus Sea, the Dnieper River flows into it.

Konstantin Porphyrogenitus. About government

“The Slavs cut down one-tree trees in their mountains in the winter, and, having dressed them ... when the ice melts, they introduce them into nearby lakes. Then, since they (the lakes) flow into the Dnieper River, from there they themselves enter the same river, come to Kyiv, pull the boats ashore for equipment and sell them to the Russes.

... First of all, they come to the first threshold, called ... "do not sleep." This threshold... is narrow; steep and high rocks protrude in the middle of it, like islands. Aspiring to them and rising, and from there overthrowing down, the water makes a great noise and fear. Therefore, the Russ do not dare to pass among these islands, but, having moored nearby and landed people on land, and leaving things in the same trees ... they ... pass the first threshold along the bend of the river bank ...

Having passed seven thresholds... they come to the so-called Krari crossing, where the Chersonites cross on their way from Russia, and the Pechenegs - to Kherson. This crossing is approximately equal in width to the hippodrome (80 m), and in height from its bottom to the place where the allies are sitting, so that the arrow of the shooter flies from one side to the other. Therefore, the Pechenegs come to this place and attack

Russov. Having passed this place, they reach an island called St. Gregory, and on this island they make their sacrifices, as a huge oak tree grows there.

Then, moving from this island, they sail about four days until they reach the estuary that forms the mouth of the river; it has the island of St. Epheria. Having landed on this island, they rest there for two or three days. ... From there they go to the Dniester River and, having safely reached it, they rest again. When favorable weather sets in, they set sail and come to the river called Belaya; they come to the Selina, the so-called branch of the Danube ... enter the mouth of the Danube. From the Danube they reach Konop, from Konop to Constantia on the Varna River, from Varna they come to the Dichina River - all these places are in Bulgaria, - from Dichina they reach the region of Mesimvria; here ends their long-suffering, terrible, difficult and difficult voyage.

Questions and tasks for students

• 1. Find on the map the path "from the Varangians to the Greeks" and other trade routes used by the Slavs, based on the texts of the sources.
• 2. What difficulties did the Slavs face along the way?
• 3. At what time of the year did the Slavs set off on the road "from the Varangians to the Greeks"?
• 2.4. After self-acquaintance with the texts or after the completion of the teacher's explanation, you can offer students assignments.

Questions and tasks for students

• 1. Number the sections of the path "from the Varangians to the Greeks":
  • - Dnipro
  • - Ladoga lake(nevo)
  • - Volkhov
  • - Lovat
  • - Ilmen-lake
  • - Baltic (Varangian) Sea
  • - Black (Pont) Sea
• 2. Show on the map the route “from the Varangians to the Greeks” and the trade route indicated in the treatise of Constantine Porphyrogenitus.
• 3; Based on the information received about the occupations of the Eastern Slavs, guess what goods could be exported along this trade route.
• 4. What was the significance of the collection and sale of polyudya for the Russian princes?

3.1. Talking about the solution of internal problems by Prince Igor, the teacher dwells on the episode of the murder of Igor by the Drevlyans: this will help students understand the significance of Princess Olga's reforms. Before starting to explain the material, it is necessary to pose questions to the students.

h Questions and assignments for students

• 1. Why the Drevlyans rebelled against the government Kyiv prince?
• 2. What conclusions should a wise ruler draw from this?

“In the summer of 6421 (913). After the death of Oleg, Igor began to reign, ”- We read in The Tale of Bygone Years. He became the ruler of Russia already at a mature age and went down in history as Igor Stary. Igor faced important state tasks: maintaining unity within the Russian lands, defending against eastern neighbors and maintaining profitable ties with Byzantium.

After the death of Oleg, Igor faced the task of returning the separated tribes to the power of the Kyiv prince. The Drevlyans separated from Kyiv, and Igor was forced to prove his strength and fight with them. “Igor go to the Drevlyans, and defeating them and laying tribute to the great Olegova on them.”

After a campaign against Byzantium, he went to the land of the Drevlyansk, pushed by his warriors, in order to receive tribute from the Drevlyans.

“And Igor began to plot a campaign against the Drevlyans, wanting to take more tribute from them.

In the summer of 6453 (945). The squad said to Igor: “The youths of Sveneld put on weapons and clothes, and we are naked. Come, prince, with us for tribute, and you will get it, and so will we.”

And Igor listened to them: he went to the Drevlyans for tribute and added a new one to the former tribute, and his men did violence to them.

Taking tribute, Igor went to his city. When he was walking back, on reflection, he said to his squad: “Go home with tribute, and I will return and look like more.” And he sent his retinue home, and he himself returned with a small retinue, desiring more wealth.

The Drevlyans, having heard that he was coming again, held a council with their prince Mal: ​​“If a wolf gets into the habit of sheep, then he takes out the whole herd until he kills him. So is this one: if we do not kill him, then he will destroy us all.

And they sent to him, saying: “Why are you going again? Took away J all the tribute." And Igor did not listen to them. And leaving the city

Iskorostenya, the Drevlyans killed Igor and his squad, since there were few of them. And Igor was buried, and there is his grave near Iskorosten, in the Drevlyansk land, to this day, ”

The Byzantine historian writes that the Drevlyans tore Igor in two, tying him to two trees.

After the teacher's explanation is completed, the students answer the pre-set questions.

Material for the teacher's story

After the death of Igor, his wife, Princess Olga, became the ruler of the Kievan state. Little is known about its origin - information is very contradictory. It is possible that she was originally from Pskov, since in the "Tale of Bygone Years" under 903 it is written: "And they brought him a wife from Pskov, named Olga." Some authors suggest that Olga came from the semi-legendary Novgorod family of Gostomysl, others consider her the daughter of Prince Oleg. some are simple peasant women. So, N.M. Karamzin claims that “Olga was of a simple Varangian family, and lived in a village called Vybutskaya, near Pskov; that young Igor, having arrived from Kyiv, had fun there, once, with animal trapping; saw Olga, spoke with her, recognized her intelligence, modesty, and preferred this amiable country girl to all other brides ... She took her name, it seems, on behalf of Oleg, as a sign of his friendship for this worthy princess, or as a sign of Igoreva to love him."

Olga during the life of Igor occupied a high position in the political hierarchy of Kievan Rus and was quite independent in business. She owned lands and cities, she owned Vyshgorod near Kyiv, the villages of Bududino, Olzhichi and other possessions. The power of Olga is evidenced by the fact that in Igor's treaty with the Greeks in 944, the ambassador of Princess Olga is mentioned, who is in the document in third place after the ambassadors of Igor and Svyatoslav. Obviously, Olga was in charge of state affairs and had the right to administer court in the absence of her husband.

After the death of her husband, revenge becomes Olga's main goal. In the annals we can find a detailed account of these events under 945.

Tale of Bygone Years

“The Drevlyans said: “Here we killed the Russian prince; let's take his wife Olga for our prince Mal and Svyatoslav, - let's take it and do to him what we want. And the Drevlyans sent their best husbands, twenty in number, in a boat to Olga ... And they told Olga that the Drevlyans had come. And Olga called them to her and said to them: “Good guests have come”; and the Drevlyans answered: "Come, princess." And Olga said to them: “Tell me, why did you come here?” The Drevlyans answered: “The Derevskaya land sent us with these words: “We killed your husband, because your husband, like a wolf, plundered and robbed, and our princes are good, because they introduced order in the Derevskaya land. Marry our prince for Mala. Olga said to them: “Your speech is kind to me, - I can no longer raise my husband; but I want to honor you tomorrow before my people; now go to your boat and lie down in it, magnifying yourself. In the morning I will send for you, and you say: “We will not ride horses, we will not go on foot, but carry us in a boat.” And they will lift you up in a boat." And let them go to the boat. Olga ordered to dig a great and deep hole in the Terem courtyard outside the city. The next morning, sitting in the tower, Olga sent for the guests. And they came to them and said: "Olga is calling you for a great honor." They answered: “We do not ride horses or wagons, and we do not go on foot, but carry us in a boat” ... And they carried them in a boat. They sat down, magnifying themselves, leaning on their sides and in great chest badges. And they brought them to the yard to Olga, and as they carried them, they threw them together with the boat into the pit. And, leaning close to the pit, Olga asked them: “Is honor good for you?” They will answer: "More than Igor's death to us." And ordered them to fall asleep alive; and covered them up.

And Olga sent to the Drevlyans and said to them: “If you really ask me, then send the best husbands to marry your prince with great honor, otherwise the people of Kyiv will not let me in.” Hearing about this, the Drevlyans chose the best men who ruled the Derevskoy land, and sent to her. Olga ordered the Drevlyans who came to prepare a bath, telling them this: “After washing, come to me.” And they kindled a bath, and the Drevlyans entered it and began to wash; and they locked the bathhouse behind them, and Olga commanded to light it from the door, and they all burned down.

And she sent to the Drevlyans with the words: “I’m already coming to you, prepare many honeys near the city where my husband was killed, let me cry on his grave and arrange a feast for him.” They, having heard this, brought a lot of honey and brewed it. Olga, taking a small squad with her, went light, came to the grave of her husband and mourned him. And she ordered her people to fill up a great grave, and when they filled it, she ordered to perform a feast. After that, the Drevlyans sat down to drink, and Olga ordered her youths to serve them. And the Drevlyans said to Olga: “Where is our squad, which was sent for you?” She answered: "They are following me with my husband's retinue." And when the Drevlyans got drunk, she ordered her youths to drink for them to bear, and she herself walked away and ordered the squad to chop down the Drevlyans, and five thousand of them were cut down. And Olga returned to Kyiv and gathered an army against the remaining Drevlyans.

In the year 6454 (946). Olga and her son Svyatoslav gathered many brave warriors and went to the Derevskaya land, and the Drevlyans came out against her ... And Olga stood all summer and could not take the city. And she planned like this: she sent to the city with the words: “What do you want to sit out for? After all, all your cities have already surrendered to me and pledged to pay tribute and are already cultivating their fields and lands, and you, refusing to pay tribute, are going to starve to death. The Drevlyans answered: “We would be happy to pay tribute, but you want to avenge your husband.” Olga told them that “I already took revenge for the offense of my husband, when you came to Kyiv for the first time and the second, and the third time, when I arranged a feast for my husband. I no longer want to take revenge - I only want to take a small tribute from you and, having made peace with you, I will go away. The Drevlyans asked: “What do you want from us? We are glad to give you honey and furs.” She said: “Now you have neither honey nor furs, so I ask you a little: give me from each yard three doves and three sparrows. I don’t want to impose a heavy tribute on you, like my husband, that’s why I ask you little. You were exhausted in the siege, that's why I ask you for such a small amount. The Drevlyans, rejoicing, gathered three doves and three sparrows from the court and sent them to Olga with a bow. Olga said to them: “So you have already submitted to me and my child. Go to the city, and tomorrow I will retreat from it and go to my city. The Drevlyans entered the city with joy and told the people, and the people in the city rejoiced. Olga, having distributed to the soldiers - one for a dove, one for a sparrow, ordered to tie tinder to each dove and sparrow, wrapping it in small handkerchiefs and attaching a thread to each bird. And when it began to get dark, Olga ordered her soldiers to release doves and sparrows. The doves and sparrows flew into their nests: the doves into the dovecotes, and the sparrows under the eaves... And there was no yard where it would not burn... And so she took the city and burned it, took the city elders into captivity, and other people she killed, gave the third into slavery to her husbands, and left the rest to pay tribute.

And laid a heavy tribute on them... And Olga went with her son and with her retinue through the Drevlyane land, establishing the order of tribute and taxes.

Questions and tasks for students

• 1. List how Olga took revenge on the Drevlyans for her husband?
• 2. How does the chronicler feel about what Olga did? Think about what it is connected with?
• 3. Express your attitude to Olga's revenge.

The teacher introduces the concept "blood feud" explaining that in the X century. she replaced justice.

3.3. In the course of the story about the introduction of "lessons", camps and churchyards, the issue of a gradual change in the role of the Kyiv princes is considered.

Material for the teacher's story

Having completed her revenge, Olga set about establishing order in the Russian land. The greatest merit can be considered the fact that she established clearly fixed amounts of tribute - “lessons” and set graveyards and camps all over the earth (fortified courtyards of princely tribute collectors and places for the prince to stop when leaving to collect polyudya). “Olga went to Novgorod and established graveyards and tributes along the Meta and along the Luga - dues and tributes. Her lairs have been preserved throughout the earth ... ",- we read in "The Tale of Bygone Years".

During the years of Olga's reign, the power of the elders in the Slavic lands noticeably weakened, they were replaced by princely rulers - tiuns. Weakened tribal and strengthened princely power.

In the last years of her life, Olga withdrew from state affairs, handing over the "reins of government" of Russia to her son Svyatoslav.

The teacher asks students questions and tasks:

Questions and tasks for students

• 1. What was the basis of the power of the first Kievan princes?
• 2. What was the significance of Olga's reforms for Kievan Rus? How did they change the nature of the power of the Kyiv prince?
• 3.4. Mentioning Prince Svyatoslav in this lesson, the teacher draws the attention of students to the fact that this prince sought to strengthen the external power of Russia, practically not caring about the internal structure of the state. It is necessary not to forget about the annexation of the Vyatichi tribes, who previously paid tribute to the Khazar Khaganate.

Material for the teacher's story

According to Byzantine authors, “He was of medium height and rather slender, but gloomy and wild in appearance; he had a broad chest, a thick neck, blue eyes, thick eyebrows, a flat nose, a long mustache, a sparse beard and one tuft of hair on his head, as a sign of his nobility; in his ear hung a golden earring adorned with two pearls and a ruby.(N.M. Karamzin).

From The Tale of Bygone Years we learn that he “Easily went on campaigns, like a pardus, and fought a lot. On campaigns, he did not carry carts or cauldrons with him, he did not boil meat, but, thinly slicing horse meat, or animal meat, or beef and roasting it on coals, he ate it like that. He did not even have a tent, but he slept with a sweatshirt spread out, with a saddle in his head. So were all his other warriors. And sent to other lands with the words: “I want to go to you.”

By the time of the death of his father - Igor the Old - Svyatoslav was still a boy. He was brought up by governors Asmud and Sveneld. The chronicle brought to us a legendary story about how the prince, who was not yet five years old, together with his mother, Princess Olga, went on a campaign against the Drevlyans:

“Olga and her son Svyatoslav gathered many brave warriors and went to the Derevskaya land, and the Drevlyans came out against her. And when both troops came together for a fight, Svyatoslav threw a spear at the Drevlyans, and the spear flew between the ears of the horse and struck him in the leg, for Svyatoslav was still a child. And Sveneld and Asmud said: "The prince has already begun, let's follow, squad, for the prince."

Based on chronicle evidence, historians believe that the chronicle is silent about Prince Svyatoslav until 964 precisely because he was very young. However, contrary to chronicle evidence, some researchers believe that in the year of Igor's death, Svyatoslav was already twenty years old, and Olga usurped power, preventing her own son from ruling. Getting acquainted with the personality of Svyatoslav, his deeds, successes in foreign policy, one can doubt such a conclusion, since Svyatoslav could well prove himself as a brave and courageous warrior before 964, if not for his young age. Therefore, the most likely version is that by 964 Svyatoslav was 22 years old.

The death of Svyatoslav

"Having made peace with the Greeks,- we read in the annals, - Svyatoslav in boats went to the rapids. And the voivode father Sveneld told him: “Go around, prince, the thresholds on horseback, for the Pechenegs are standing at the thresholds.” And he did not listen to him and went in the boats. And the Pereyaslavites sent to the Pechenegs to say: “Here Svyatoslav is going past you to Russia with a small squad, taking from the Greeks a lot of wealth and captives without number.” Hearing about this, the Pechenegs set foot on the thresholds. And Svyatoslav came to the rapids, and it was impossible to pass. And he stopped to spend the winter in Beloberezhye, and they had no food, and they had a great famine, so that half a hryvnia was paid for a horse's head. And here Svyatoslav overwintered.

In the year 6480 (972), when spring came, Svyatoslav went to the rapids. And Kurya, the prince of the Pechenegs, attacked him, and they killed Svyatoslav, and took his head, and made a cup from the skull, bound him, and drank from him. Sveneld came to Kyiv to Yaropolk. And all the years of Svyatoslav's reign were twenty and eight.

Most of the lands conquered by Svyatoslav were lost to Russia. The agreement with Byzantium did not add anything to the successes of Oleg the Prophet and Igor the Old, but, on the contrary, obliged Russia to provide military assistance to Byzantium. Inside Russia, too, there was no order: after his death, the sons of Svyatoslav began internecine wars for the right to primacy.

4.1. The last stage of the lesson is to check the completion of table No. 6 “The First Russian Princes”, on which the students worked as they explained the new material.

The main conclusion that the teacher should make in the lesson: by the end of the 10th century. the power of the Kyiv princes over the East Slavic tribes acquired orderly forms and was significantly strengthened.

As homework it is advisable to invite students to work with the contour map "Kievan Rus in the 9th - early 12th centuries." for the following assignments:

• 1) write on the map the year of the unification of Kyiv and Novgorod under the rule of Oleg;
• 2) highlight in different colors the tribes attached to the Kievan state by Oleg and Svyatoslav;
• 3) designate the main stages of the path "from the Varangians to the Greeks", underline them with one line;
• 4) find on the map the capital of the Drevlyane land and designate it with the first letter.

In addition to working with the map, you can invite students to write a story about the collection of polyudya on behalf of the prince's combatant.

The second option for studying the topic Lesson 1 The first princes of the state of Kievan Rus

Lesson - game lesson ("Trial of Svyatoslav"),

In the case when the activities of Prince Svyatoslav are studied in a separate lesson, it is possible to conduct a game in the form of a trial of Svyatoslav.

The topic is completely submitted for independent study. In the process of preparing for the game, students study the proposed literature. In the period of preparation for the lesson, the teacher plays the role of a consultant, and directly in the process of conducting the game, he performs the function of a leader (judge), directs the discussion process, and monitors compliance with the rules.

Bibliography

Karamzin N.M.

Karamzin N.M. Traditions of centuries: Tales, legends, stories // History of the Russian State. M., 1988.

Kargalov V.V., Sakharov A.N. Generals of Ancient Russia. M., 1986.

The Tale of Bygone Years (any edition).

Presnyakov A.E. Lectures on Russian history: In 2 volumes. T. 1. Kievan Rus. M., 1993.

Rybakov B.A. Kievan Rus and Russian principalities of the XII-XIII centuries. M 1982.

Sakharov A.N. Diplomacy of Svyatoslav. M., 1982.

History of Russia since ancient times // Works: In 17 vols. T. 1, 2. M., 1988.

Encyclopedia for children: History of Russia and its closest neighbors / Comp. S.T. Ismailov. T. 5. Ch. 1. M., 1995.

1-2 weeks before the start of the game, students receive a task and a list of recommended literature. The teacher appoints a group of experts who, in the process of joint preparation, should analyze all stages of Prince Svyatoslav's activities and prepare their conclusion. The rest of the class is divided by the teacher, taking into account the wishes of the children, into two groups: accusers and defenders. Each group has a leader

(lawyer or prosecutor) who will lead the preparation of the group. The task of the prosecutors or defenders is to prepare an opinion on the activities of Svyatoslav, with which they will appear in court. By studying the literature provided, the groups should find evidence of the prince's activities that will help them act as his defenders or accusers. During the pre-preparation stage, the teacher acts as a facilitator, helping the groups to make sense of the information and draw the right conclusions. Back to top court session The groups should prepare abstracts of their conclusions and write them on separate sheets, which will be attached to the board during the lesson. It is advisable to inform the schoolchildren of the rules of the court session in advance, as this will help them limit the range of the selected material to only the necessary conclusions and facts.

During the classes

1.1. The class is seated in three groups: experts, prosecutors and defenders. The teacher recalls the timetable for performances and the criteria for assessing students' knowledge. As the chairman of the expert group or a judge, he makes an opening speech, which opens the court session.

Introductory word of the teacher

1.2. You can start our lesson with the words of V. A. Zhukovsky: Look, in formidable beauty,

air regiments,

Their shadows rush high above our tents...

Oh, Svyatoslav, the scourge of ancient years,

Behold your eagle's flight.

"Let's die! The dead have no shame!”

Rattles in front of the squad.

Today we have to get acquainted with the activities of Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich. A close acquaintance with historical research, as you already understood, shows that there is no unity among scientists on many aspects of Svyatoslav's biography. Almost all known foreign policy steps and internal affairs of Svyatoslav are controversial. Historians of various schools and trends present us with their image of a prince-warrior. At our meeting, we will get acquainted with various assessments of the activities of this prince. But you must remember that our task is not to put an end to the long-term dispute of historians, but to learn how to carefully read the sources and be able to form your own idea of ​​the person being studied based on them. In addition, we continue to learn the art of discussion and the search for truth in the course of a dispute. Your conclusions will be evaluated today by an expert group, which, just as carefully as you, studied the proposed literature and drew up its conclusions on our topic.

2.1. The floor is given to the accusers who, from a negative point of view, cover the activities of Svyatoslav (based on historical sources and the wall map "Kievan Rus in the 9th - early 12th centuries"). The main speech is made by the prosecutor, whose speech, if necessary, is supplemented by other members of the group.

Sample accusatory speech of the prosecutor (fragment)

Prince Svyatoslav cared more about the conquest of distant lands. Spending all the time on campaigns, conquering more and more new lands, he did not care at all about his land, his people. While the prince fought against the recalcitrant Bulgarians, his capital, his elderly mother, his people were almost killed by the Pechenegs. And only the courage and courage of the defenders of Kyiv, as well as military cunning, saved the city from plunder and desecration. Instead of strengthening the power of the land of Kyiv, taking care of his capital, the prince decided to move the center of the Russian state to Pereyaslavets-on-the-Danube, to richer lands. Great are the exploits of this prince-warrior, this is indisputable. However, was it worth it to destroy the Russian army in the fight against Byzantium, which did not threaten the Russian land. Wouldn't it have been better to direct the power of Russian weapons to protect their country, their people!? etc.

• 2.2. After the presentation of the “accusation”, the expert group can ask questions to the prosecutor, to which the whole group answers. Questions can also be asked by the "protection" of Prince Svyatoslav. All answers - abstracts of the group are attached to the board under the "-" sign.
• 3.1. The chairman gives the floor to the defenders of the prince. On their behalf, a lawyer speaks with a speech previously prepared by the group. When answering, he and other members of the group also use the wall map, fragments of historical sources and writings to support their position.

Sample speech of a lawyer (fragment)

Prince Svyatoslav took care of expanding the boundaries of the Russian state, increasing the number of tributaries. It was for this purpose that he went on his numerous campaigns. And the successes of the prince are obvious: during the years of Svyatoslav's reign, the territory of the Russian state expanded significantly, new trade routes appeared, and the amount of tribute received by the treasury increased. Thinking about moving the capital to Pereyaslavets-on-the-Danube, Svyatoslav was primarily concerned about the welfare of the state. This city was located at the crossroads of the most important trade routes, which would further strengthen the power of Russia, etc.

• 3.2. After the speech of the “defence”, the expert group takes the floor, which asks questions of interest to it. The “prosecution” also comes up with questions. Theses of "defence" are attached to the board under the "+" sign.
• 4.1. The results of the hearing are summed up by the expert group, based on their conclusions and abstracts attached to the board. While she prepares the final "word", the teacher can offer a series of cognitive tasks to the class.

Questions and tasks for students

• 1. At the beginning of the lesson, you got acquainted with a fragment of Zhukovsky's poem "A Singer in the Camp of Russian Warriors." Listen to it again and tell what event is being discussed in this poem?
• 2. What other expressions related to the activities of Prince Svyatoslav can you name? Explain when they were spoken.
• 3. Check how well you know the dates of the main historical events of this period? (The teacher prepares cards with dates in advance, which must be explained to the students, and shows them to the class in turn.)
• 4. Match the passages from The Tale of Bygone Years with the dates of Svyatoslav's campaigns.

/. “... And the king sent to him, saying this: “Do not go to the capital, take tribute as much as you want **, because only a few did not reach Constantinople. And they gave him tribute; he also took for the dead, saying: “He will take his kind for the murdered **. He also took many gifts and returned to Pereyaslavets with great glory ... ".

• 2. “... Svyatoslav went to the Danube against the Bulgarians. And both sides fought, and Svyatoslav defeated the Bulgarians, and took their eighty cities along the Danube, and sat down to reign there in Pereyaslavets, taking tribute from the Greeks ... ".
• 3. “... Svyatoslav went to the Khazars. Having heard, the Khazars went out to meet them, led by their prince Kagan, and agreed to fight, and in the battle Svyatoslav the Khazars defeated, and took their capital Belaya Vezha. And he defeated the yas and kasogs ... ".
• 4. "... Svyatoslav defeated the Vyatichi and laid tribute on them ...".
• 1) 966-967; 2) 970; 3) 970-971; 4) 965
• 4.4. The expert group read out the final "word" - the verdict to Prince Svyatoslav. The teacher corrects it as needed.

Sample Closing Statement of Experts (excerpt)

Analyzing the arguments of the prosecution and the defense, experts believe that Prince Svyatoslav did a lot to strengthen the foreign policy power of the state. During the years of his reign, the borders of Russia expanded significantly, the Vyatichi tribes were subordinated, the Khazar Khaganate was defeated, Tmutarakan and Belaya Vezha became part of the state of Kievan Rus. However, his victories in the east cannot be unambiguously assessed, since the defeat of the Khazar Khaganate led to the appearance of the Pechenegs on the Russian southern borders, an insidious and powerful enemy who plundered and ruined the outlying Russian lands. The desire of Svyatoslav to gain a foothold on the Danube and to press the influence of Byzantium in Bulgaria is also commendable. However, this campaign did not bring the expected results, but only exposed the Russian capital to the danger of desecration by the Pechenegs, and killed many Russian soldiers. Etc.

4.5. Then the teacher sums up the game and gives marks. For the final word, the teacher can use the materials for the teacher's story, proposed for the lesson "Results of the reign of the first Russian princes."

Homework for the lesson:

Complete tasks for contour map"Kievan Rus in the 9th - early 12th centuries":

• 1) mark on the map with arrows the direction of Svyatoslav's campaigns. Indicate the years of campaigns above the arrow;
• 2) inscribe or highlight in color the territories that fell under the rule of Russia during the reign of Svyatoslav;
• 3) designate the city that Svyatoslav wanted to make the capital of the state of Kievan Rus;
• 4) indicate on the map the place of death of Prince Svyatoslav and his small squad. Put the date of the event next to it.

Write an essay-reflection on the topic: “What should the ruler of the state care more about: foreign policy power or internal improvement?” If you are not satisfied with such a statement of the question, change the topic and state your position.

The first option for studying the topic Lesson 2. The foreign policy of the Kyiv princes

A lesson in learning new material.

• ? 1. Relations with Byzantium.
• ? 2. Relations with eastern neighbors.

Dates to remember:

• 907 - Oleg's campaign against Constantinople. The first treaty between Russia and Byzantium.
• 911 - the second treaty between Russia and Byzantium.
• 941 - Igor's first campaign against Byzantium.
• 944 - Igor's second campaign against Byzantium. Signing an agreement.
• 964 - 966 - Svyatoslav's campaigns against the Khazars.
• 970 - 971 - Russian-Byzantine war.

During the classes

Introductory word of the teacher

In the previous lesson, we talked about the domestic political activities of the first Russian princes. Today we will get acquainted with their foreign policy activities. You have to find out how relations developed between Russia and Byzantium during this period, what agreements were concluded between these two states, and compare their main provisions. You will get acquainted with the eastern neighbors of Russia and find out what policy the Russian princes pursued towards their eastern neighbors. At the end of the lesson, you will have to determine what was the general direction of Russia's policy towards Byzantium and the East.

1.1. The task of the teacher is to show the importance of partnership with Byzantium for the young Russian state and to reveal the dynamics of relations between Russia and Byzantium. The teacher highlights Russian-Byzantine relations during the reign

Oleg, using materials for the lesson. The teacher sets out the texts of the treaties of Russia with Byzantium on his own, fixing brief conclusions on the board. Pupils continue to work with tables started in the previous lesson.

Material for the teacher's story

There is no news about Oleg until 906, but this year he decides to fight with Byzantium. “In the summer of 6415 (907). Oleg went to the Greeks, leaving Igor in Kyiv; he took with him a lot of Varangians, and glorious, and Chud, and Krivichi, and I measure, and Drevlyans, and Radimichi, and Polyans, and Severyans, and Vyatichi, and Croats - they are all called Greeks - "Great Scythian". And with these, Oleg went with all of them on horseback and on ships; and there were two thousand ships. And he came to Constantinople, the Greeks closed the Court, and closed the city. And Oleg went ashore and began to fight. And he did many murders around the city, and broke many chambers, and burned the churches. And those who were taken prisoner, some were flogged, others were tortured, others were shot, and others were thrown into the sea. And many other evils were done by the Russians to the Greeks, as the enemies usually do.

And Oleg ordered his soldiers to make wheels and put ships on them. And since there was a fair wind from the field, they raised the sails and went to the city. The Greeks, seeing this, were frightened and said, sending envoys to Oleg: “Do not destroy the city, we will give you whatever tribute you want.” And Oleg stopped the soldiers, and the Greeks brought him food and wine, but Oleg did not accept the wine, because it was poisoned. The Greeks were frightened and said: "This is not Oleg, but St. Dmitry, sent to us from God." And Oleg ordered the Greeks to give tribute to two thousand ships, twelve hryvnias per person, and there were forty husbands in each ship; and then give tribute to Russian cities: first of all for Kyiv, and then for Chernigov, for Pereyaslavl, for Polotsk, for Rostov, for Lyubech and for other cities, because the great princes, subject to Oleg, sit in these cities.

And the Greeks agreed to this, and began to ask for peace, so that the Greek land would not fight. And the Greek kings promised to pay tribute. And they swore an oath to each other: they themselves kissed the cross, and Oleg and his husbands were taken to an oath according to Russian law, and they swore by their weapons and Perun, their god, and Veles, the god of cattle, and approved the world.

And Oleg hung his shield on the gates of Constantinople, showing victory, and went from the Greeks ...

And Oleg came to Kyiv, bringing gold, and curtains, and fruits, and wine, and all sorts of patterns. And they called Oleg the Prophetic, since people were pagans and unenlightened.

In 911, Prince Oleg sent ambassadors to Constantinople, who concluded a written agreement with the Empire.

Thus, we see that during the reign of Prince Oleg, Russia turned into a strong state, which even such powerful neighbors as the Byzantine Empire had to reckon with. Treaty of 911 testifies that Russia in this period already has its own laws that approve property, personal security, the right to inherit, and conducts an active trade, including slaves.

Until 941, there is no news about the established strong ties with Byzantium in the annals.

After the explanation is completed, questions and tasks can be put before the class.

Questions and tasks for students

• 1. What goals did Oleg pursue in the campaign against Byzantium?
• 2. Whose interests corresponded to the agreement between Russia and Byzantium in 911? On what basis can such a conclusion be drawn?
• 3. What was the significance of this agreement for the Russian state?
• 1.2. The main purpose of presenting the material on Igor's campaign against Constantinople is to compare the terms of the treaties of 911 and 944. The teacher covers the events and the content of the agreement, having previously set the task for the students: to compare the terms of the agreements between Oleg and Igor with Byzantium. While explaining the material, the class may be asked where they have already encountered the use of "Greek fire"? Some may also remember the composition of the mixture being made.

Material for the teacher's story

In 941, Igor's army went on a campaign against Byzantium. The reason for the event was, obviously, the fact that the Greeks did not comply with the terms of the agreement of 911. In the Tale of Bygone Years we find the following description of these events:

“In the summer of 6449 (941). Igor went to the Greeks. And the Bulgarians sent a message to the tsar that the Russians were going to Tsargrad: ten thousand ships. Theophanes met them in the boats with fire and began to fire on the Russian boats with trumpets. And a terrible miracle was seen. The Russians, seeing the flame, rushed into the sea, trying to escape. But only a few returned home.

And, having come to their land, they told - each to their own- about what happened and the rook fire. “Like lightning from heaven,” they said, - the Greeks have with them and, letting it go, they set fire to us; that is why they did not overcome them.

Igor, having returned, began to gather a lot of soldiers, wanting to go to them again.

The text refers to the so-called "Greek fire", an incendiary mixture, which included sulfur, tar and oil. “Greek fire was used both in naval battles, and in the siege and defense of cities and in field battles.

This campaign is described both in Byzantine sources and in the works of other historians. The Bishop of Cremona, Luitprand, spoke about the executions that were carried out in Byzantium on captured Russian soldiers.

Two years later, having gathered a new army (calling the Varangians from across the sea and hiring the Pechenegs), Igor again went on a campaign against Byzantium. Having learned about the number of Igor's troops, the emperor hastened to settle the matter peacefully. Karamzin describes these events as follows: “Lakapin, not sure of victory and wanting to save the Empire from the new disasters of war with a desperate enemy, immediately sent Ambassadors to Igor. Having met him near the Danube mouth, they offered him a tribute, which Oleg had once taken from Greece; promised even more, if the Prince prudently agrees to peace; they also tried with rich gifts to disarm the greedy Pechenegs. Igor stopped and, having called his squad, announced to her the desire of the Greeks. “When the Tsar,” answered the faithful comrades of the Prince of Russia, - gives us silver and gold without war, what more can we demand? Do you know who will win? are we? are they? and who advises with the sea? Below us is not the earth, but the depth of the sea: in it is the common death of people. Igor accepted their advice, took gifts from the Greeks for all his soldiers, ordered the hired Pechenegs to ruin neighboring Bulgaria and returned to Kyiv.

The following year, Lekapin sent Ambassadors to Igor, and the Prince of Russia to Tsargrad, where they concluded a solemn peace ... "

According to the Chronicler, when the charter was brought from Byzantium, Igor and his soldiers took the oath, but since there were already Christians among the Varangians, many took the oath not on the hill near the idol of Perun, but in the Cathedral Church of St. Elijah.

Assessing Igor's policy towards Byzantium, it is worth saying that he did not have such significant success as Oleg.

After completing the explanation of the material, students answer questions and complete assignments.

Questions and tasks for students

• 1. How did the treaty of 944 change the relationship between Russia and Byzantium?
• 2. To whom was this agreement more beneficial: Russia or Byzantium?
• 1.3. Introducing schoolchildren to Olga's policy towards Byzantium, the teacher draws their attention to the methods by which Olga solved the problem of strengthening the international authority of Russia.

Material for the teacher's story

Ties with the powerful Byzantine Empire during the years of Olga's reign continued to strengthen. However, unlike Oleg and Igor, Olga did not go hiking against a strong neighbor. The wisdom of her policy was that she preferred skillful diplomacy to brute force.

Olga began to solve foreign policy problems only after she put things in order within the state. Of particular importance for the strengthening of Russia's position in Europe, the expansion of Russia's international relations was the adoption of Christianity by Olga. To date, the question remains where Olga was baptized - in Kyiv (the evidence is based on the description of Olga's stay in Constantinople, which was compiled by the Byzantine emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus, who did not mention her baptism in a word) or in Constantinople. Most likely, Olga was familiar with the Christian faith back in Kyiv, in her squad, as well as in the squad of her husband Igor, there were Christians, but she was baptized in Byzantium. In The Tale of Bygone Years we find the following description of these events:

“In the year 6463 (955). Olga went to the Greek land and came to Constantinople. And then Caesar Constantine, the son of Leo, reigned, and Olga came to him, and the king saw that she was very beautiful in face and reasonable, marveled at her mind, talking with her, and said to her: “You are worthy to reign with us in our capital.” She, having understood the meaning of this appeal, answered the emperor: “I am a pagan. If you want to baptize me, then baptize me yourself, otherwise I will not be baptized.” And the tsar and the patriarch baptized her ... And the name Elena was called to her in baptism, like the ancient queen - mother of Constantine the Great. And the patriarch blessed her and let her go. After the baptism, the king called her and said to her: “I want to take you as my wife.” She answered: “How do you want to take me when you yourself baptized me and called me daughter. And Christians don't allow it. - you know yourself". And the king said to her: "You outwitted me, Olga." And gave her numerous gifts - gold, and silver, and curtains, and various vessels; and let her go, calling her his daughter ... "

Although the baptism of Olga did not lead to the baptism of Russia, it significantly increased the prestige of the secular authorities of Kyiv in the international plan.

After the explanation is completed, the students are asked questions and tasks.

Questions and tasks for students

• 1. How did the baptism of Princess Olga affect the international position of Kievan Rus?
• 2. In your opinion, which methods were more effective: those used by Oleg, Igor or Olga?
• 1.4. When explaining the material on the relationship between Russia and Byzantium during the years of Svyatoslav's reign, the main emphasis of the teacher is on the fact that the prince pays more attention to solving the foreign policy tasks of the state. Covering the war of Svyatoslav on the Danube, it is necessary to pay attention to the events associated with the siege of Kyiv by the Pechenegs. It is advisable to distribute the text of the chronicle legend to children for introductory reading. Next, the teacher briefly covers the events. Russian-Byzantine war and compares, with the help of students, the content of Svyatoslav's treaty with Byzantium with previous Russian-Byzantine agreements.

Material for the teacher's story

In The Tale of Bygone Years we read: “In the year 6475 (967). Svyatoslav went to the Danube against the Bulgarians. And both sides fought, and Svyatoslav defeated the Bulgarians, and took their eighty cities along the Danube, and sat down to reign there, in Pereyaslavets, taking tribute from the Greeks. Constantinople prompted Svyatoslav to march on Bulgaria. Obviously, the Greeks were concerned about the growing influence of Russia in the Crimea. The ambassador of the Byzantine emperor Nikephoros Foki Kalokir was sent to Kyiv. “The dissatisfaction of the Emperor Nicephorus Foka with the Bulgarian Tsar Peter served for Svyatoslav as a pretext for a new and even more important conquest. The emperor, wanting to take revenge on the Bulgarians because they did not want to hinder the Hungarians in their private flow into Greece, ordered Kalokir, the son of the chief of Kherson, to go as an ambassador to Kyiv, with a promise of great gifts to the courageous Prince of Russia, if he goes to fight Bulgaria. Svyatoslav fulfilled the desire of Nicephorus, taking several pounds of gold from the Greeks, and with 60,000 soldiers appeared in boats on the Danube. In vain the Bulgarians tried to repulse them: the Russians, drawing their swords and shielding themselves with shields, rushed to the shore and crushed the enemies. The cities surrendered to the victor. Tsar

Bulgarian died of grief. Having satisfied the revenge of the Greeks, rich in booty, proud of glory, the Prince of Russia began to rule in ancient Mysia; I also wanted gifts from the Emperor as a token of gratitude and lived cheerfully in Bolgarsky Pereyaslavets, not thinking that at that very time his native capital was in danger, ”- writes N.M. Karamzin. The mouth of the Danube was in the hands of Svyatoslav. Trade routes to the Balkans and Western Europe passed here. Apparently, Svyatoslav was going to firmly settle in Pereyaslavets. In the "Tale of Bygone Years" under 969 we read: “I don’t like to sit in Kyiv, I want to live in Pereyaslavets on the Danube - there is the middle of my land, all the blessings flow there: from the Greek land - gold, curtains, wines, various fruits, from the Czech Republic and Hungary - silver and horses, but from Russia furs and wax, honey and slaves. However, Svyatoslav could not strengthen himself on the Danube properly at that time. The Pechenegs attacked Kyiv, which he left practically without protection, where the elderly Princess Olga lived with the children of Svyatoslav, taking advantage of the long absence of the prince.

Tale of Bygone Years

“And the Pechenegs laid siege to the city with great power: there were countless of them around the city. And it was impossible to leave the city, nor to send a message. And the people were exhausted from hunger and thirst. And people from the other side of the Dnieper gathered in boats and stood on the other side. And it was impossible to get through to Kyiv either, or from Kyiv to them. And people in the city began to grieve and said: “Is there someone who could get to the other side and tell them: if you don’t approach the city in the morning, we will surrender to the Pechenegs.” And one youth said: “I will pass,” and they answered him: “Go.” He left the city, holding a bridle, and ran through the Pechenegs' camp, asking them: "Did anyone see a horse?" For he knew the Pecheneg language, and they took him for their own. And when he approached the river, then, throwing off his clothes, he rushed into the Dnieper and swam. Seeing this, the Pechenegs rushed after him, shot at him, but did not. could do nothing for him. On the other side they noticed this, rode up to him in a boat, took him in a boat and brought him to the squad. And the youth said to them: “If you don’t come to the city tomorrow, then people will surrender to the Pechenegs.” Their governor, named Pretich, said: “Let's go tomorrow in the boats and, having captured the princess and princes, let's go to this shore. If we do not do this, then Svyatoslav will destroy us. And the next morning, close to dawn, they got into the boats and blew loudly, and the people in the city shouted. It seemed to the Pechenegs that the prince himself had come, and they fled from the city in all directions. And Olga went out with her grandchildren and people to the boats. The Pecheneg prince, seeing this, returned alone and turned to the governor Pretich: “Who came here?” And he answered him: "People from the other side." The Pecheneg prince again asked: “Are you not a prince?” Pretich answered: “I am his husband, I came with the vanguard, and behind me comes the army with the prince himself: there are countless of them.” So he said to scare the Pechenegs. The prince of the Pechenegs said to Pretich: "Be my friend." He replied, "I will." And they shook hands with each other, and the Pecheneg prince Pretich gave a horse, a saber and arrows, and he gave him chain mail, a shield and a sword. And the Pechenegs retreated from the city. And it was impossible to take the horse out to drink: the Pechenegs stood on Lybid. And the people of Kiev sent to Svyatoslav with the words: “You, prince, are looking for a foreign land and take care of it, but you left your own. And the Pechenegs almost took us, and your mother, and your children. If you do not come and protect us, then they will take us. Don't you feel sorry for your fatherland, your old mother, your children? Hearing these words, Svyatoslav with his retinue quickly mounted his horses and returned to Kyiv; greeted his mother and children and lamented about what happened to them from the Pechenegs. And he gathered the soldiers, drove the Pechenegs into the field, and peace came.

Questions and tasks for the document

• 1. Give a moral assessment of the actions of Prince Svyatoslav.
• 2. Compare the campaign of Svyatoslav to Bulgaria with the campaigns of Oleg and Igor to Constantinople.

After the death of Olga (969), Svyatoslav again went to the Danube. Before leaving, he distributed the Russian lands among his sons: Kyiv entrusted Yaropolk, the Drevlyansk land to Oleg, and the Novgorod lands to Vladimir, his son from Olga's housekeeper Malusha. Returning to Bulgaria, he again inflicted a crushing defeat on the Bulgarian army and settled in Pereyaslavets. From that moment, apparently, all of Bulgaria submitted to Svyatoslav. The Bulgarian Tsar Boris retained his capital, but a strong Russian detachment entered there.

Having fortified themselves on the Danube, the Russians began to raid the Byzantine lands, which would inevitably lead to a conflict with the new Byzantine emperor John Tzimisces. The emperor demanded that Svyatoslav comply with the agreement signed with Nikifor Foka, as well as the withdrawal of Russian troops from Bulgaria, but Svyatoslav persisted, and the war began. The events of this war, which went on with varying success, are described differently by Russian and Byzantine sources. Byzantine historians can find the following description of one of the battles: “The Grand Duke, adding the Bulgarians to the Russian squad, his new subjects - Hungarians and Pechenegs, then his allies, entered Thrace and devastated its villages to the very Adrianople. Varda Sklir, the General of the Empire, seeing the large number of the enemy, was confined in this city and for a long time could not dare to fight. Finally, he managed to defeat the Pechenegs by cunning, then the Greeks, encouraged by success, fought with Prince Svyatoslav. The Russians showed ardent courage, but Varda Sklir and his brother Constantine Patricius forced them to retreat, killing in single combat some two famous Scythian heroes.(N.M. Karamzin). Nestor describes the same battle as follows: “And Svyatoslav went to the Greeks, and they came out against the Russians. When did the Russians see them - they were greatly frightened by such a great multitude of warriors, but Svyatoslav said: “We have nowhere to go, whether we like it or not, we must fight. So let us not disgrace the Russian land, but let us lay our bones here, for the dead know no shame. If we run - shame on us. So we won’t run, but we’ll stand strong, and I will go ahead of you: if my head lies down, then take care of your own.” And the soldiers answered: "Where your head lies, there we will lay down our heads." And the Russians were filled, and there was a fierce slaughter, and Svyatoslav overcame, and the Greeks fled. It is unlikely that the outcome of the battle was just that, since 10 thousand Russian soldiers were opposed by a 100 thousandth Byzantine army, but the fearlessness of the prince in this battle is worthy of respect.

After a series of battles, Svyatoslav was besieged in Dorostol. And, although the Greeks could not take the fortress, the prince was forced to ask for peace. The army of Svyatoslav was small, the soldiers were starving, many generals were killed. Gathering his squad for advice, Svyatoslav said: “Let’s conclude peace with the king: after all, they have already pledged to pay tribute to us, that’s enough for us. If they stop paying tribute to us, then again, having gathered a lot of soldiers, we will go from Russia to Tsargrad.("The Tale of Bygone Years").

In the summer of 971 peace was concluded.

“The month of July, Indict 14, in the summer of 6479 (971), I, Svyatoslav, the Prince of Russia, according to my oath, I want to have until the end of the century peace and perfect love with Tzimiskes, the Great King of Greece, with Basil and Constantine, God-inspired Kings, and with all your people, promising in the name of all the Russians, Boyars and others who are under me, never to think of you, not to gather my troops and not to bring a stranger to Greece, the Kherson region and Bulgaria. When other enemies think of Greece, let me be their enemy and fight them. If I or those under me do not keep these right conditions, let us have an oath from God in whom we believe: Perun and Volos, the god of cattle. May we be as yellow as gold and cut with our own weapons. In witness whereof we have written an agreement on this charter, and have sealed it with our seals.”, - wrote N.M. Karamzin.

Emperor Tzimiskes supplied Svyatoslav's army with provisions and allowed the Russians to cross the Dnieper.

Finally, you can ask students the following question:

How did the nature of relations between Russia and Byzantium change during the reign of Svyatoslav?

The teacher presents the material about the death of the prince, based on the text of the Tale of Bygone Years.

2.1. The question of the relationship of Russia with its eastern neighbors is presented by the teacher in a concise manner. The teacher pays the most attention to the policy of Prince Svyatoslav and the defeat of the Khazar Khaganate. In the course of the story, the teacher works with a wall map, and the students follow the progress of the presentation of the material from the atlases.

Material for the teacher's story

During the years of Oleg's reign, relations with the eastern neighbors developed mainly from mutual raids. So, in 898, when Oleg fought with the tribes along the banks of the Dniester and the Bug, the tribes of the Ugric peoples (Hungarians) who came from the east pitched their tents (vezhs) near Kyiv. “Displaced by the Pechenegs, they were then looking for new dwellings; some crossed over the Don, to the border of Persia; others rushed to the West: the place where they stood near Kyiv was called Ugorsky in Nestor's time. Whether Oleg let them in friendly or repulsed them by force is unknown; these fugitives crossed the Dnieper and took possession of Moldavia, Bessarabia, the land of Volosh,- wrote N.M. Karamzin. Some historians believe that the Ugrians plundered the outskirts of Kyiv, forced the people of Kiev to pay tribute to them and went west.

During the reign of Igor, militant opponents appeared within Russia - the Pechenegs, Turkic nomadic peoples. In the X century. their country, Pechenegia, was divided into eight tribal unions - four to the west of the Dnieper and four to the east.

Having concluded an alliance with Igor in 915, the Pechenegs did not disturb the borders of Russia for about five years. At least, Nestor speaks of a war with them only in 920. The Pechenegs also took part in Igor's campaign against Byzantium. The Arab historian ibn Haukal wrote about them: "They and the thorn " in the hands of the Kyiv rulers.

In addition to connections with the Pechenegs, the following events also belong to this period of Russian history: the Arab historian Massoudi writes that “The Russians, idolaters, together with the Slavs, then lived in the Kozar capital Atel and served the Kagan, that with his permission, around 912, their army, sailing on ships to the Caspian Sea, ravaged Dagestan, Shirvan, but was finally exterminated by the Mohammedans.”

In another Arabic source (Abulfeda) one can find information about the capture by the Russians in 944 of Barda, the capital of Arran. He writes that after the victory, the Russians returned to their lands beyond the Kura River and the Caspian Sea. The third Arabic source (historian Abulfarach) attributes this attack to other peoples. “The Russians could come to Shirvan by the Dnieper, the Black Sea, the Sea of ​​Azov, the rivers Don, Volga - by a distant, laborious; but the charm of prey gave them courage, courage and patience ... ",- wrote N. M. Karamzin.

Svyatoslav's initial target was his eastern neighbors. In The Tale of Bygone Years we read:

“In the year 6472 (964). ... And he went to the Oka River and the Volga, and met the Vyatichi, and said to them: “To whom are you giving tribute?” They answered: “Khozaram - we give on a crack from a plow.

“In the year 6473 (965). Svyatoslav went to Khazar. Having heard, the Khazars went out to meet them, led by their prince Kagan, and agreed to fight, and in the battle Svyatoslav Khazar defeated and their capital and took the White Tower. And he defeated the yas and the kasogs.

“In the year 6474 (966). Svyatoslav defeated the Vyatichi and laid tribute on them.

The Slavic tribe of the Vyatichi, as we see, paid tribute to the Khazar Khaganate. In the X century. this state existed by collecting duties from transit trade along the route: Krakow - Kyiv - Bulgar - Itil - the Caspian Sea. The capital of the state was the city of Itil. The city was surrounded by a wall; it had many yurts and earthen buildings. On an island in the middle of the river stood the palace of the king. In the western part of the city lived close associates of the king, large dignitaries and royal slaves, in the eastern part - merchants, artisans and other people. There were many synagogues, churches, mosques in the city, where Christians, Muslims, pagans, and Jews lived side by side.

As Karamzin writes: “The fierce battle decided the fate of the two peoples. The Kagan himself led the army; Svyatoslav won and took the Kozar White Tower, or Sarkel, as Byzantine Historians call it, a city on the banks of the Don, fortified by Greek art. The chronicler does not tell us any further news about this war ... ". In the 60s. The Khazar Khaganate lost most of its territories: Sarkel (Belaya Vezha) and Tamatarhu (Tmutarakan) went to Kievan Rus, Khazaria lost all its vassals in Primorsky Dagestan. Now the possessions of the Khazars were limited only to the North Caucasus (Don - Volga - the Caspian coast - the lower reaches of the Terek and Sulak - Egorlyk - Manych). Khazaria existed until the middle of the 11th century, when the Polovtsians invaded its territory from behind the Volga. They captured the North Caucasus and destroyed Khazaria. Until the beginning of the XIII century. Khazars lived under the rule of the Polovtsy and disappeared already in the era of the Golden Horde khans.

The chronicle reports that after the defeat of the Khazar army, Svyatoslav went to the North Caucasus, where he conquered the tribes of Yases (Ossetians) and Kasogs (Circassians). Eastern authors report that the Volga-Kama Bulgars and the Mordovian tribes on the Volga were also subordinated to Svyatoslav. On the way back, Svyatoslav subjugated the Vyatichi tribes.

N.M. Karamzin admires Svyatoslav's victories: “A conquest so remote seems amazing; but the stormy spirit of Svyatoslav rejoiced in dangers and labors. Having made his way from the Don River to the Cimmerian Bosporus, this Hero could approve the communication between the region and the southern Tmutorokan and Kyiv through the Black Sea and the Dnieper. In Tauris, there was already one shadow of the ancient power of the Kagans. However, if we argue what these victories gave Russia, then the conclusions will be ambiguous. On the one hand, the conquest of the Vyatichi gave Russia new tributaries, pushed the boundaries of the Russian lands. Russia received wide opportunities for control over trade routes, routes to the east were opened. But on the other hand, the campaign of Svyatoslav dramatically changed the balance of power in the Volga region: the Khazar Khaganate, which was holding back the onslaught of the steppe nomads on the Russian lands, ceased to fulfill this function, and Russia faced the danger of a collision with a new enemy - the Pechenegs.

2.2. After the explanation is completed, the teacher asks the students questions and tasks:

Questions and tasks for students

• 1. What goals did Svyatoslav pursue when setting out on a campaign against the Khazars?
• 2. Highlight the positive and negative consequences of the defeat of the Khazar Khaganate by Rus (the answer to the question can be given as a written assignment with its registration in table N ° 8 “Consequences of the defeat of the Khazar Khaganate by Rus”, proposed below):

Table 8. CONSEQUENCES OF THE DEFEAT OF THE KHAZAR KAGANATE

• 3.1. At the end of the lesson, the teacher asks the students to formulate what was the general orientation of Russia's policy towards Byzantium and its eastern neighbors and collects several notebooks for checking in order to control the filling in of the table by the students during the lesson.
• 3.2. Homework assignments may vary.

For independent study, the question of the relationship of Russia with its eastern neighbors can be raised, which will allow paying more attention to Russian-Byzantine relations in the lesson.

On the contour map "Kievan Rus in the 9th - early 12th centuries." students must identify:

• 1) the directions of the campaigns of the squads of the Kyiv princes, inscribing the name of the prince and the year of the military campaign above the arrow;
• 2) the territories conquered by Prince Svyatoslav, indicating the year of the conquest;
• 3) places and years of the most important battles.

Preparation for the final lesson on the topic "The first Russian princes". Selection of materials for the evaluation of their activities.

The second option for studying the topic

Lesson 2

Foreign policy of the first Russian princes

The lesson is a laboratory lesson based on group work.

lookahead task

Prepare reports on relations between Russia and its eastern neighbors. The task can be given to groups of students, the whole class, or the text of the message is offered to any of the students by the teacher himself. During the lesson, the greatest attention should be paid to working with texts of sources, the formation of analysis skills in students. The ability to work in a group, defend one's position, work with a comparative table and a map is practiced in the lesson in the first place.

During the classes

Introductory word of the teacher

The teacher announces that the purpose of today's lesson is to determine the main directions of the policy of the first Russian princes and to identify the significance of their foreign policy for the development of the Old Russian state.

1.1. Students are invited to outline the circle of the main foreign policy partners and opponents of Kievan Rus. They can do this with the help of an atlas (map "Kievan Rus in the 9th - early 12th centuries") and using the knowledge gained in the previous lesson and in the process of independent reading.

The result of the work can be following diagram No. 7 "The main directions of the foreign policy of the first Russian princes", made on the board.

Scheme 7. THE MAIN DIRECTIONS OF THE FOREIGN POLICY OF THE FIRST RUSSIAN PRINCES

• 1.2. The teacher gives a brief background on the relationship between Russia and Byzantium during the reigns of Oleg and Igor, after which he invites students to compare their main achievements. To this end, the class is divided into 4 groups, each of which receives materials for work.
• Group 1: agreement between Russians and Greeks (907)
• 1. “Greeks give 12 hryvnias per person, in addition to the structures for the cities of Kyiv, Chernihiv, Pereyaslavl, Poltesk, Rostov, Lyubech and others, where the Princes, Oleg’s subjects rule.”
• 2. “The ambassadors sent by the Prince of Russia to Tsargrad will be satisfied with everything from the Imperial treasury. Russian guests or merchants who come to Greece, the Emperor is obliged to give bread, wine, meat, fish and fruits for six months; they also have free entry to the public baths, and receive food supplies, anchors, tackle, sails and everything they need on their way back.

The Greeks, for their part, offered the following conditions:

• 1. "Russians who will be in Constantinople not for trade do not have the right to demand a monthly allowance."
• 2. "May the Prince forbid his ambassadors to offend the inhabitants in the regions and villages of Greece."

• 3. “Russians can only live at St. Mama’s and must notify the city authorities of their arrival, who will write down their names and give them a monthly allowance: Kyiv, Chernigov, Pereyaslav and other citizens. They will go only to one city gate with the Imperial bailiff, unarmed and no more than fifty people at a time; may trade freely in Constantinople without paying any duty."
• Group 2: agreement between Russians and Greeks (911)

“We are from the Russian family, Karl Ingelot, Farlov, Veremid, Rulav, Gudy, Ruald, Karn, Flelav, Ruar, Aktutryan, Lidulfost, Stemid, sent by Oleg the Grand Duke of Russia, and all those who are under his hand, bright Boyars, to you, Leo, Alexander and Konstantin (brother and son of the first) to the Great Kings of Greece, to keep and notify from many years the former love between Christians and Russia, by the will of our Princes and all those who exist under the hand of Oleg, the following chapters are no longer verbal, as before, but they affirmed this love in writing, and swore that according to the Russian law with their weapons.

• 1. In the first word, let us make peace with you, Greeks! Yes, we love each other with all our hearts, and we will not allow any of our Bright Princes who are at hand to offend you, but we will strive, as far as we can, to always and unwaveringly observe this friendship! Also, you, Greeks, always keep love unmoving for our Bright Princes of Russia and all that exist under the hand of Bright Oleg. In the case of crime and guilt, let us do so.
• 2. Guilt is proven by evidence; and when there are no witnesses, then not the plaintiff, but the defendant swears - and let each swear according to his Faith.
• 3. Whether a Rusin kills a Christian or a Christian Rusin, let him die at the place of the atrocity. When the murderer makes a home and hides, then his estate is given to the next of kin of the murdered, but the murderer's wife is not deprived of her rightful part. When the offender leaves without leaving his estate, he is considered to be on trial until they find him and put him to death.
• 4. Whoever strikes another with a sword, or with what kind of vessel, let him pay five lira of silver according to the Russian law; but let the unimpressed one pay what he can, let him take off the very clothes in which he walks, and let him swear by his Faith that neither neighbors nor friends want to redeem him out of guilt: then he is dismissed from further punishment.
• 5. When a Rusin steals something from a Christian or a Christian from a Rusin, and the one caught stealing wants to resist, the owner of the stolen thing can kill him without being punished, and take back what is his; but he must only bind the thief, who, without resistance, is given into his hands. If a Rusyn or a Christian, under the guise of a search, enters someone's house and by force takes someone else's property instead of his own, he will pay three times.
• 6. When the wind throws the Greek boat onto a foreign land, where we, Russia, happen, we will guard it along with its cargo, send it to the Greek land, and lead it through every terrible place to the fearless. When she cannot return to her homeland due to a storm or other obstacles, then we will help the rowers and bring the boat to the nearest Russian pier. Goods and everything that will be in the ship we saved, let it be sold freely; and when our Ambassadors go to Greece to the King, or guests for a purchase, they will honorably bring the boat there and give back intact what was received for its goods. If one of the Russians kills a man on this boat, or steals something, let the guilty execution be the above.
• 7. If there are Russians in Greece among the purchased slaves or Greeks in Russia, then free them and take for them what they cost the merchants, or the real, well-known price of the slaves; let the prisoners also be returned to the fatherland, and for each let 20 gold coins be paid. But the Russian soldiers who, out of honor, come to serve the Tsar, may, if they themselves wish, remain in the Greek land.
• 8. If the Russian slave leaves, is stolen or taken away under the guise of a purchase, then the owner can look everywhere and take him; and whoever opposes the search is considered guilty.
• 9. When Rusin, who serves the Christian Tsar, dies in Greece without disposing of his inheritance, and there will be no relatives with him: then send his estate to Russia to his dear neighbors, and when he makes an order, then give the estate to the heir designated in the spiritual.
• 10. If between the merchants and other Russian people in Greece there are guilty and if they demand them to the fatherland for punishment, then the Christian Tsar must send these criminals to Russia, even if they did not want to return there.

Yes, the Russians do the same in relation to the Greeks!

For the faithful fulfillment of these conditions between us, Russia and the Greeks, we ordered them to be written in cinnabar on two charters. The King of Greece sealed them with his hand, swore by the Holy Cross, the Indivisible Life-Giving Trinity of the one God, and gave the charter to our Grace; and we, the Russian Ambassadors, gave him another and swore, according to our law, for ourselves and for all Russians, to fulfill the approved chapters of peace and love between us, Russia and the Greeks. September in the 2nd week, in the 15th summer (that is, Indikta) from the creation of the world ... (September 2, 911).»

• Group 3: agreement between Russians and Greeks (944)
• 1. We are from the Russian family, Ambassadors and guests of Igor ... We, sent from Igor, the Grand Duke of Russia, from the whole Principality, from all the people of the Russian land, to renew the old world with the Great Kings of Greece, Roman, Constantine, Stefan, with all the Boyars and with all Greek people, in spite of the Devil, the hater of goodness and hatred of enmity, for all the years, as long as the sun shines and the world stands. May the Russians, baptized and unbaptized, not dare to break the alliance with the Greeks, or may God Almighty condemn the former to eternal and temporary death, and may the latter not have help from God Perun; let them not defend themselves with their shields; let them fall by their own swords, arrows, and other weapons; let them be slaves in this age and the next!
• 2. The Grand Duke of Russia and the Boyars send him freely to Greece with ships with guests and ambassadors. The guests, as was customary, wore silver seals, and gold ambassadors; from now on, let them come with a letter from the Prince of Russia, in which their peaceful intention will be testified, as well as the number of people and ships sent. If they come without a letter, let them be kept in custody until we inform the Prince of Russia about them. If they resist, let them lose their lives, and let their death not be exacted from the Prince of Russia. If they leave for Russia, then we, the Greeks, will notify the Prince of Russia of their flight, may he do with them as he pleases.
• 3. (At the beginning of the article, we are talking about how to behave in Constantinople to ambassadors and guests ...)

The Russian guests will be guarded by the Tsarist official, who sorts out their quarrels with the Greeks. Any fabric bought by the Russians, with a price higher than 50 spools, must be shown to him so that he will put his seal on it. Departing from Constantinople, let them take food supplies and everything necessary for the ships, in accordance with the agreement. Yes, they have no right to spend the winter at St. Mama's, and let them return with guards.

4. When the slave leaves Russia for Greece, or from the guests living with the Holy Mother, let the Russians look for and take him. If he is not found, let them swear to escape him according to their Faith, Christians and pagans. Then the Greeks will give them, as before, two cloths per slave. If a Greek slave flees to the Russians with theft, then they must return him and what he demolished intact; for which they receive two spools as a reward.

• 5. If Rusin steals something from a Greek or a Greek from Rusin, let him be severely punished according to Russian and Greek law; let him return the stolen thing and pay twice its price.
• 6. When the Russians bring the Greek captives to Tsargrad, then they will take ten gold pieces for each, if there is a good young man or girl, eight for a middle-aged man, five for an old man or baby. When the Russians are found in captivity with the Greeks, then for every captive, give a ransom of ten spools of gold, and for the purchased price, which the owner will announce under the cross (or oath).
• 7. Let the prince of Russia not arrogate to himself power over the country of Kherson and its cities. When will he, fighting in those places, demand troops from us Greeks; we will give him as much as he needs.
• 8. If the Russians find a Greek boat near the shore, let them not offend her; and whoever takes something from the boat, or kills, or enslaves the people in it, let him be punished according to the Russian and Greek law.
• 9. Let the Russians do no harm to the Chersones who fish at the mouth of the Dnieper; let them not winter there, neither in Beloberezhye, nor near St. Etherius; but when autumn comes, let them go to their lands, to the Russian land.
• 10. Yes, the Russian prince does not let the Black Bulgarians fight in the land of Kherson.
• 11. If the Greeks, being in the Russian land, turn out to be criminals, yes, the Prince does not have the power to punish them; but let them receive this punishment in the Kingdom of Greece.
• 12. When a Christian slays a Rusin, or a Rusin a Christian, the relatives of the slain, having detained the murderer, may they put him to death.
• 13. This article repeats the terms of beatings exactly.
• 14. If the Kings of Greece demand troops from the Russian Prince, may the Prince fulfill their demand, and through that all other countries will see in what love the Greeks live with Russia.

These conditions are written on two charters: one will be with the Kings of Greece; the other, signed by them, will be delivered to the Grand Duke of Russia Igor and his people, who, having accepted it, swear to keep the truth of the union: Christians in the Cathedral Church of St. Elijah with the presenting honest Cross and this charter, and the unbaptized laying their shields, hoops and swords on the ground nudes.

4 group: excerpts from the Treaties for comparative analysis

Treaty of 907: introduction, paragraph 2 (I), paragraph 3 (II), conclusion.

Treaty of 911: introduction, art. 10, conclusion.

Treaty of 944: introduction, art. 2,3,7,9,10, 11,14, conclusion.

The task of this group is to formulate the main conclusions to the comparative table No. 6 "Agreements between the Russians and the Greeks."

Before starting work on documents, students enter the columns of the table in their notebooks, fill in the header and the “comparison line” column. In the process of working with the document, groups 1-3 fill in their column.

1.3. After completing the practical work with the document, each group reports the results of their activities, which are recorded on the blackboard and entered in table No. 9 “Agreements between Russians and Greeks” by the rest of the groups. Group 4 reports their conclusions, which are also recorded in notebooks.

The finished table will look like this:

Table 9. RUSSIAN AGREEMENTS WITH GREEKS

comparisons
Status of guests and ambassadors			They must have a letter of identification, otherwise they will be held in custody. Maintenance for 6 months at the expense of the treasury, free entry to the public baths, supply with everything necessary for the return journey
Residence of guests and ambassadors		St. Mama, must notify of their arrival	St. Mama, must announce their arrival. Could not winter in Byzantium
The rights of ordinary Russians	Not in content	Not in content	Not in content
Trading rights	Free, duty-free	Free, duty-free	No provision for duty-free shopping

Table 9. AGREEMENTS OF RUSSIANS WITH GREEKS (continued)

comparisons
Punishments for crimes committed against each other		Death for murder Payment for bodily injury Payment for theft Return of criminals to their homeland	Punishment for a crime is committed in the offender's homeland
Help in. shipwrecks			Helping each other and punishing breach of contract
		Slave exchange, return of runaway slaves	Slave exchange, payment for the return of a slave
On the exchange of prisoners			Release of captives, payment of ransom
About inheritance		The procedure for disposing of the property of the deceased
Service of Russian warriors in Byzantium		Voluntary	Provision of Russian troops at the request of the Byzantine emperor
military obligations			Providing Byzantine troops for the war with Kherson. Defense of the borders of Byzantium from the Danube Bulgarians

1.4. After filling in the table, the teacher can offer the class the following cognitive questions and tasks based on the material of the sources.

Questions and tasks for students

• 1. What important information did historians get in the process of getting acquainted with the text of the treaties? (Active trade with Byzantium, a mercenary squad, the appearance of Christians among the Slavic warriors, the presence of slavery and the slave trade, etc.)
• 2. What information about the level of development of the Old Russian state do these sources provide us with?

• 2.1. The teacher provides information about the relationship between Russia and Byzantium during the reigns of Olga and Svyatoslav, paying special attention to the methods by which these princes solved the problems they faced.
• 2.2. At the last stage of the lesson, students make presentations on other areas of Russia's foreign policy activities. The teacher corrects the answers and formulates the main conclusions.
• 2.3. As homework, students should be offered a task in the contour map, given to the first version of the study of the topic. They can also complete a creative task: “Describe the main results of the campaigns of Svyatoslav (Oleg, Igor) on behalf of a prince, combatant, merchant, etc.”
• 2.4. The teacher can evaluate the work of students in the lesson based on the results of the work of the group (correct filling of the table according to the materials of the document, activity in the process of working on questions and assignments). The criterion for evaluating the oral communication of students should be free possession of the map, good knowledge of the dates and main events of the foreign policy activities of the first Russian princes.

Option 1 can be used as homework.

Lesson 3 Results of the reign of the first Russian princes

The lesson is a discussion session (“Protection of the Board”).

The lesson can be given in the form of defending the reign of each prince.

The lesson is supposed to acquaint students with a variety of views and assessments of the activities of the first Russian princes, teach children to discuss, work in a group, make collective decisions, briefly formulate questions and conclusions.

A detailed plan of discussion and assignments for students

• 1. Get acquainted with the various assessments of the activities of Prince Oleg, using the proposed literature. Highlight the positive and negative results of his reign, determine the significance of the prince's activities, his influence on the course of Russian history.
• 2. What are the results and results of the reign of Prince Igor? Compare the assessments of the activity of this prince with the assessments of the activity of his predecessor. What influence did the activities of Prince Igor have on the course of Russian history?

• 3. Give a description of the results and results of the reign of Princess Olga. Highlight those innovations that contributed to the strengthening of Russian statehood.
• 4. Get acquainted with the various assessments of the activities of Prince Svyatoslav. What is the main difference between his activities and the reign of his predecessors? What were the main results and results of the reign of this prince?

Literature for preparation

• 1. Bushuev S. V., Mironov G. E. History of the Russian state: Historical and bibliographic essays: V2 kn. 1. IX-XVI centuries. M., 1991.
• 2. Grekov B.D. Kievan Rus. M., 1949.
• 3. Karamzin N.M. History of Russian Goverment. M., 1998.
• 4. Klyuchevsky V O. Russian history course. M., 1988.
• 5. Novosiltsev A.P. Formation of the Old Russian state and its first ruler // Questions of history. 1991. No. 2-3.
• 6. Platonov S.F. Lectures on Russian history. M., 1993.
• 7. Rybakov B.A. World of history: the initial centuries of Russian history. M., 1987.
• 8. Soloviev S.M. History of Russia since ancient times // Works: In 18 vols. M., 1988.
• 9. Tikhomirov M.N. Ancient Russia. M., 1975.

Preliminary preparation and advance task

The class is divided into 4 groups. Each group prepares arguments in defense of the rule of their prince, using the information received in the lessons and as a result of studying additional literature, and also prepares counterarguments to the theses of other groups (theses can be made public in advance).

Composition of the group:

• 1. Keynote speaker (prepares a speech for 3-5 minutes, justifying the position of the group).
• 2. Co-speakers (make additions to the main report on any issue, 1-2 minutes).
• 3. Cartographer (should show all the main events on his topic).
• 4. Analyst (identifies weaknesses in the main report of the group in the course of preparing for the game, analyzes comments on the report from other groups, as well as inconsistencies that another group allows during the presentation of the material).
• 5. Erudite (answers the most controversial and problematic questions during the discussion).

6. Generator of ideas (organizes the work of the group in the process of preparing for the discussion and during the game).

The teacher develops a scenario for the discussion, draws up instructions, that is, determines the basic rules for discussion, the rules for speaking, forms groups and distributes roles in them, and, if necessary, consults with groups.

At the beginning of the lesson, he sets tasks for the groups and determines the main goal of the game.

The work of the groups is evaluated by an expert group, which consists of either strong students in the class or high school students invited to the game.

Game progress

Introductory word of the teacher

In today's lesson, we have to take stock of the activities of the first Russian princes, determine their contribution to the formation of Russian statehood, highlight the positive and negative results and consequences of government. During the discussion, you will get acquainted with different opinions and judgments of historians, different views on the problems proposed for discussion. Your task will be not only to prove your point of view based on the literature you have read, or to refute the point of view of opponents, but also to once again comprehend the information you received and formulate final conclusions. At the end of the lesson, we will have to determine what significant changes took place in the Russian state during the reign of the first Russian princes.

The teacher introduces the students to the rules of the discussion. Each group performs according to the rules. After the end of the speech, 5 minutes are allotted for questions to the speakers and comments. Then they move on to the position of the next group.

Sample group performance (excerpts)

Keynote speaker:

The greatest contribution to the development of Russian statehood was made by Princess Olga. It was thanks to her that a lasting peace between the tribes and order in governance were established in Russia. Due to the fact that Olga suppressed the uprising of the Drevlyans, introduced "lessons" and established "graveyards" and "camps», in Kievan Rus, the process of collecting tribute from the conquered tribes was streamlined, faith in the justice of the power of the Kyiv prince was established. The princess managed to pacify the recalcitrant tribes, using not only force, but also cunning and diplomacy, which was unusual for other Russian princes.

The foreign policy activities of Princess Olga also contributed to strengthening the power of the Russian state. The ruler preferred to act not by military force, but used diplomatic methods, and proved to be a talented diplomat. Thanks to Princess Olga, relations between Russia and Byzantium, the main foreign policy partner of the state, improved significantly.

During her reign, Olga showed herself to be a perspicacious and talented ruler. Possessing the gift of historical foresight, she was the first of the Russian rulers to adopt the Christian faith, which later allowed Russia to become an equal partner of many European states. It is possible that it was her decision that predetermined the choice of faith by Prince Vladimir at the end of the 10th century.

Co-speakers:

Even during the life of Igor, Olga had great authority in the state and was quite independent in business. She owned lands and cities, where she proved to be a wise ruler. Olga was represented abroad by her own ambassadors (see Igor's treaty with the Greeks, 944).

Cartographer:

Shows on the map the territory of the state of Kievan Rus, power over which was preserved or restored during the reign of Olga. Shows the place of baptism of Princess Olga, etc.

Is it possible to say that the ruler is great when he destroyed one of the East Slavic tribes solely in order to avenge the death of his spouse?

Erudite answer:

AT this case Olga's act cannot be regarded only as revenge for the murder of her husband, although, of course, in this case the principle of blood feud took place. The cruel reprisal against the Drevlyans also had a national significance: Olga confirmed her ability to independently rule the state, pacified the recalcitrant tribe that paid tribute to Kyiv, and showed the consequences awaiting other recalcitrant tribes. Hike to the Drevlyans - it is nothing more than a demonstration of the power of the ruler.

Question from analysts from other groups:

Princess Olga did not make military campaigns, did not expand the boundaries of the Russian state, adding new lands. During the years of her reign, Russia did not confirm by force of arms its right to preferential trade with Byzantium. How, then, can one say that the foreign policy pursued by Olga was of great importance for Russia?

Erudite answer:

The success of foreign policy is not always measured by the number of wars won and bloody battles. The great diplomat is the one who manages to solve all problems without the use of weapons. Olga managed to maintain diplomatic relations with Byzantium, not to lose any of the privileges received by Russia in previous years. And the baptism of Olga according to the Orthodox rite in Byzantium significantly increased the international prestige of Russia.

2. The expert group analyzes the arguments "for" and "against" in the course of the work of the groups and determines which of them better argues its position and has more complete information. Based on the reports and comments, the experts should determine which of the Russian princes (conclusiveness and validity of the conclusions) had a greater influence on the development of the Old Russian state. The group presents their results at the end of the lesson.

Final word of the teacher

Today we summed up the results of the reign of the first Russian princes. You once again turned to the material that was previously studied, and this allowed you to draw important conclusions about the contribution that these princes made to the process of forming Russian statehood and strengthening the foreign political power of Russia. During the reign of Oleg, Igor, Olga and Svyatoslav, the Russian state significantly expanded its borders, including many East Slavic tribes and neighboring peoples in the orbit of its influence. The power of the prince over the East Slavic peoples was significantly strengthened, the procedure for collecting tribute from the conquered tribes was streamlined, the nature of the relationship between the central and local authorities changed. In foreign policy, Russia also achieved great success, giving a worthy rebuff to the powerful Byzantine Empire and defending its borders from its eastern neighbors.

3. The teacher evaluates the work of students in accordance with the functions that they performed in the lesson. You can also offer a variant of evaluating the activities within the groups according to the significance of the contribution to the common work. In this case, students make their own grades.

To enliven the discussion and give it a problematic character, the teacher can, during the discussion, offer students the assessments of the activities of the princes by domestic historians, given below.

N.M. Karamzin on the reign of Oleg. (Karamzin N.M. History of the Russian state. M., 1998.)

“We can believe and not believe that Oleg really was stung by a snake on the grave of his beloved horse ...

It is much more important and more reliable that the Chronicler tells about the consequences of Olegova's death: the people groaned and shed tears. What can be said stronger and more striking in praise of the Sovereign who has died? So, Oleg not only terrified his enemies, he was also loved by his subjects. Warriors could mourn in him a brave and skillful leader, and the people - protector. Having attached to his state the best, richest countries of present-day Russia, this Prince was the true founder of its greatness ... The Ruler’s wisdom blossoms Educated States, but only the strong hand of the Hero founds great Empires and serves them reliable support in their dangerous news. Ancient Russia is famous for more than one Hero: none of them could equal Oleg in the conquests that confirmed her mighty being. Does history recognize him as the legitimate ruler since the time when the heir of Ruriks matured? Do not great deeds and state benefit excuse Olegov's lust for power? And hereditary rights, not yet approved by custom in Russia, could they seem sacred to him? ..

But the blood of Askold and Dir remained a stain of his glory.

N.M. Karamzin on the reign of Igor (ibid.)

“Igor in the war with the Greeks did not have the successes of Oleg, he did not seem to have his great properties, but he preserved the integrity of the Russian Power, arranged by Oleg, preserved its honor and benefits in treaties with the Empire, was a pagan, but allowed the newly converted Russians to glorify the triumph of God Christian and, together with Oleg, left to his heirs an example of prudent tolerance, worthy of the most enlightened times.

N.M. Karamzin about Princess Olga (ibid.)

“Tradition called Olga Khitroya, the Church - Holy, History - Wise. Having avenged the Drevlyans, she managed to maintain silence in her country and peace with Svyatoslav's strangers until the age of majority; with the activity of a great man, she established order in a vast and new State; did not write, perhaps, laws, but gave statutes, the simplest and most necessary for people in the youth of civil societies. Until the time of the Olgins, the Grand Dukes fought, she ruled the State ... Under Olga, Russia became famous in the most remote countries of Europe. The German chroniclers speak of her Embassy to Germany to the Emperor Otto... Finally, having become a zealous Christian, Olga served as a convincing example for Vladimir and prepared for the triumph of the true Faith in our fatherland.”

Opinions of historians about Svyatoslav

N.M. Karamzin (ibid.)

“In addition to the proud dreams of the conqueror, Bulgaria really could please him with its warm climate and the wealth of active, convenient trade with Constantinople; it is also probable that this state, contiguous with the Empire, was superior to Russia in civil education, but for such advantages, did he have to move away from his fatherland, where was, so to speak, the root of his strength and power?

“Thus died this Alexander of our ancient history, who so courageously fought both with enemies and with disasters; he was sometimes defeated, but in the very misfortunes he amazed the winner with his generosity; equaled the harsh military life with the Heroes of the Songsinger Homer, and, enduring patiently the ferocity of bad weather, exhausting labors and everything terrible for bliss, showed the Russian soldiers how they can overcome enemies at all times. But Svyatoslav, an example of great commanders, is not an example of a great Sovereign; for he respected the glory of victories more than the public good, and by his character, captivating the imagination of the Poet, deserves the reproach of the Historian.

Rybakov B.A. World of history: the initial centuries of Russian history. M., 1987

“In relation to Russia, all the swift activity of Svyatoslav was not only not a lack of attention to her interests ... but, on the contrary, everything was designed to solve major state problems.”

4. As homework, students can be asked to fill in the last line of table No. 6 "The first Russian princes"; compile a dictionary of historical terms and concepts according to A.S. Pushkin. The teacher can set a general task, or he can specify it by defining the concepts and terms that need to be paid attention to: Khazars, Constantinople armor, magician, sorcerer, prophetic language, shield on the gates of Constantinople, squad, feast. The work is handed in at the next lesson in writing to the teacher.

THE FIRST PRINCES OF KIEVAN RUS

The Old Russian state was formed in Eastern Europe in the last decades of the 9th century as a result of the unification under the rule of the princes of the Rurik dynasty of the two main centers of the Eastern Slavs - Kyiv and Novgorod, as well as lands located along the waterway "from the Varangians to the Greeks." Already in the 830s, Kyiv was an independent city and claimed the title of the main city of the Eastern Slavs.

Rurik, as the chronicle tells, when dying, transferred power to his brother-in-law Oleg (879-912). Prince Oleg remained in Novgorod for three years. Then, recruiting an army and moving in 882 from Ilmen to the Dnieper, he conquered Smolensk, Lyubech and, having settled in Kyiv to live, made it the capital of his principality, saying that Kyiv would be "the mother of Russian cities." Oleg managed to unite in his hands all the main cities along the great waterway "from the Varangians to the Greeks." This was his first target. From Kyiv, he continued his unifying activity: he went to the Drevlyans, then to the northerners and subjugated them, then subjugated the Radimichi. Thus, all the main tribes of the Russian Slavs, except for the outlying ones, and all the most important Russian cities gathered under his hand. Kyiv became the center of a large state (Kievan Rus) and freed the Russian tribes from Khazar dependence. Throwing off the Khazar yoke, Oleg tried to strengthen his country with fortresses from the eastern nomads (both Khazars and Pechenegs) and built cities along the border of the steppe.

After the death of Oleg, his son Igor (912–945) came to power, apparently having no talent for either a warrior or a ruler. Igor died in the country of the Drevlyans, from whom he wanted to collect a double tribute. His death, the courtship of the Drevlyan prince Mal, who wanted to take Igor's widow Olga for himself, and Olga's revenge on the Drevlyans for the death of her husband are the subject of poetic tradition, described in detail in the annals.

Olga remained after Igor with her young son Svyatoslav and took over the reign of the Kyiv principality (945–957). According to the ancient Slavic custom, widows enjoyed civil independence and full rights, and in general, the position of a woman among the Slavs was better than among other European peoples.

Her main business was the adoption of the Christian faith and a pious journey in 957 to Constantinople. According to the story of the chronicle, Olga was baptized "by the tsar with the patriarch" in Constantinople, although it is more likely that she was baptized at home in Russia, before her trip to Greece. With the triumph of Christianity in Russia, the memory of Princess Olga, in holy baptism Elena, began to be revered, and the Russian Orthodox Church, Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga was canonized as a saint.

Olga's son Svyatoslav (957-972) already bore a Slavic name, but his temper was still a typical Varangian warrior, combatant. As soon as he had time to mature, he made himself a large and brave squad, and with it began to seek glory and prey for himself. He got out of his mother's influence early and "was angry with his mother" when she urged him to be baptized.

How can I change my faith alone? The squad will start laughing at me,” he said.

With the retinue, he got along well, led a harsh camp life with her.

After the death of Svyatoslav in one of the military campaigns between his sons (Yaropolk, Oleg and Vladimir) there was an internecine war in which Yaropolk and Oleg died, and Vladimir remained the sovereign ruler of Kievan Rus.

Vladimir waged many wars with various neighbors for border volosts, he also fought with the Kama Bulgarians. He was also drawn into the war with the Greeks, as a result of which he adopted Christianity according to the Greek rite. This major event the first period of power of the Varangian Rurik dynasty in Russia ended.

This is how the Kiev principality was formed and grew stronger, uniting politically most of the tribes of Russian Slavs.

Another even more powerful unification factor for Russia was Christianity. The baptism of the prince was immediately followed by the adoption of Christianity in 988 by all of Russia and the solemn abolition of the pagan cult.

Returning from the Korsun campaign to Kyiv with the Greek clergy, Vladimir began to convert the people of Kiev and all of Russia to the new faith. He baptized people in Kyiv on the banks of the Dnieper and its tributary Pochaina. The idols of the old gods were thrown to the ground and thrown into the river. Churches were built in their place. So it was in other cities where Christianity was established by princely governors.

Even during his lifetime, Vladimir distributed the administration of individual lands to his numerous sons.

Kievan Rus became the cradle of the Russian land, and historians call the son of Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir, Grand Duke of Kyiv Yuri Dolgoruky, who was also the prince of Rostov, Suzdal and Pereyaslav, the first ruler of Russia.

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Nicholas II (1894 - 1917) Due to the stampede that occurred during his coronation, many people died. So the name "Bloody" was attached to the kindest philanthropist Nikolai. In 1898, Nicholas II, taking care of world peace, issued a manifesto in which he called on all countries of the world to completely disarm. After that, a special commission met in The Hague to develop a number of measures that could further prevent bloody clashes between countries and peoples. But the peace-loving emperor had to fight. First, in the First World War, then the Bolshevik coup broke out, as a result of which the monarch was overthrown, and then shot with his family in Yekaterinburg. The Orthodox Church canonized Nicholas Romanov and his entire family as saints.

Rurik (862-879)

Prince of Novgorod, nicknamed the Varangian, as he was called to reign by the Novgorodians because of the Varangian Sea. is the founder of the Rurik dynasty. He was married to a woman named Efanda, with whom he had a son named Igor. He also raised his daughter and stepson Askold. After his two brothers died, he became the sole ruler of the country. He gave all the surrounding villages and settlements to the management of his close associates, where they had the right to independently create a court. Around this time, Askold and Dir, two brothers who were in no way related to Rurik by family ties, occupied the city of Kyiv and began to rule the glades.

Oleg (879 - 912)

Kyiv prince, nicknamed the Prophet. Being a relative of Prince Rurik, he was the guardian of his son Igor. According to legend, he died, stung in the leg by a snake. Prince Oleg became famous for his intelligence and military prowess. With a huge army for those times, the prince went along the Dnieper. On the way, he conquered Smolensk, then Lyubech, and then took Kyiv, making it the capital. Askold and Dir were killed, and Oleg showed the glades the little son of Rurik - Igor as their prince. He went on a military campaign to Greece and, with a brilliant victory, provided the Russians with preferential rights to free trade in Constantinople.

Igor (912 - 945)

Following the example of Prince Oleg, Igor Rurikovich conquered all the neighboring tribes and forced them to pay tribute, successfully repulsed the Pecheneg raids and also undertook a campaign in Greece, which, however, was not as successful as the campaign of Prince Oleg. As a result, Igor was killed by the neighboring conquered tribes of the Drevlyans for his irrepressible greed in extortions.

Olga (945 - 957)

Olga was the wife of Prince Igor. She, according to the customs of that time, very cruelly took revenge on the Drevlyans for the murder of her husband, and also conquered the main city of the Drevlyans - Korosten. Olga was distinguished by very good ability to rule, as well as a brilliant, sharp mind. Already at the end of her life, she accepted Christianity in Constantinople, for which she was later canonized as a saint and named Equal-to-the-Apostles.

Svyatoslav Igorevich (after 964 - spring 972)

The son of Prince Igor and Princess Olga, who, after the death of her husband, took the reins of government into her own hands, while her son grew up, learning the wisdom of the art of war. In 967, he managed to defeat the army of the Bulgarian king, which greatly alarmed the emperor of Byzantium, John, who, in collusion with the Pechenegs, persuaded them to attack Kyiv. In 970, together with the Bulgarians and Hungarians, after the death of Princess Olga, Svyatoslav went on a campaign against Byzantium. The forces were not equal, and Svyatoslav was forced to sign a peace treaty with the empire. After his return to Kyiv, he was brutally killed by the Pechenegs, and then the skull of Svyatoslav was decorated with gold and made from it a bowl for pies.

Yaropolk Svyatoslavovich (972 - 978 or 980)

After the death of his father, Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich, he made an attempt to unite Russia under his rule, defeating his brothers: Oleg Drevlyansky and Vladimir Novgorodsky, forcing them to leave the country, and then annexed their lands to the Kyiv principality. He managed to conclude a new agreement with the Byzantine Empire, and also to attract the horde of the Pecheneg Khan Ildea to his service. Tried to establish diplomatic relations with Rome. Under him, as the Joachim manuscript testifies, Christians were given a lot of freedom in Russia, which caused displeasure of the pagans. Vladimir Novgorodsky immediately took advantage of this displeasure and, having agreed with the Varangians, recaptured Novgorod, then Polotsk, and then laid siege to Kyiv. Yaropolk was forced to flee to Roden. He tried to make peace with his brother, for which he went to Kyiv, where he was a Varangian. Chronicles characterize this prince as a peace-loving and meek ruler.

Vladimir Svyatoslavovich (978 or 980 - 1015)

Vladimir was the youngest son of Prince Svyatoslav. He was Prince of Novgorod since 968. Became Prince of Kyiv in 980. He was distinguished by a very warlike disposition, which allowed him to conquer the Radimichi, Vyatichi and Yotvingians. Vladimir also waged wars with the Pechenegs, with the Volga Bulgaria, with the Byzantine Empire and Poland. It was during the reign of Prince Vladimir in Russia that defensive structures were built at the borders of the rivers: Desna, Trubezh, Sturgeon, Sula and others. Vladimir also did not forget about his capital city. It was under him that Kyiv was rebuilt with stone buildings. But Vladimir Svyatoslavovich became famous and remained in history due to the fact that in 988 - 989. made Christianity the state religion of Kievan Rus, which immediately increased the authority of the country in the international arena. Under him, the state of Kievan Rus entered the period of its greatest prosperity. Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich became an epic character, in which he is referred to only as "Vladimir the Red Sun." Canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church, named Prince Equal to the Apostles.

Svyatopolk Vladimirovich (1015 - 1019)

Vladimir Svyatoslavovich, during his lifetime, divided his lands between his sons: Svyatopolk, Izyaslav, Yaroslav, Mstislav, Svyatoslav, Boris and Gleb. After Prince Vladimir died, Svyatopolk Vladimirovich occupied Kyiv and decided to get rid of his rival brothers. He gave the order to kill Gleb, Boris and Svyatoslav. However, this did not help him establish himself on the throne. Soon, Prince Yaroslav of Novgorod expelled him from Kyiv. Then Svyatopolk turned for help to his father-in-law, King Boleslav of Poland. With the support of the Polish king, Svyatopolk again took possession of Kyiv, but soon circumstances developed in such a way that he was again forced to flee the capital. On the way, Prince Svyatopolk committed suicide. This prince was popularly nicknamed the Accursed because he took the life of his brothers.

Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise (1019 - 1054)

Yaroslav Vladimirovich, after the death of Mstislav Tmutarakansky and after the expulsion of the Holy Regiment, became the sole ruler of the Russian land. Yaroslav was distinguished by a sharp mind, for which, in fact, he received his nickname - the Wise. He tried to take care of the needs of his people, built the cities of Yaroslavl and Yuryev. He also built churches (St. Sophia in Kyiv and Novgorod), realizing the importance of spreading and establishing a new faith. It was he who published the first code of laws in Russia called "Russian Truth". He divided the allotments of the Russian land between his sons: Izyaslav, Svyatoslav, Vsevolod, Igor and Vyacheslav, bequeathing them to live in peace with each other.

Izyaslav Yaroslavich the First (1054 - 1078)

Izyaslav was the eldest son of Yaroslav the Wise. After the death of his father, the throne of Kievan Rus passed to him. But after his campaign against the Polovtsy, which ended in failure, he was driven out by the people of Kiev themselves. Then his brother Svyatoslav became the Grand Duke. Only after the death of Svyatoslav, Izyaslav again returned to the capital city of Kyiv. Vsevolod the First (1078 - 1093) It is possible that Prince Vsevolod could well have been a useful ruler, thanks to his peaceful disposition, piety and truthfulness. Being himself an educated person, knowing five languages, he actively contributed to education in his principality. But, alas. Constant, incessant raids of the Polovtsy, pestilence, famine did not favor the rule of this prince. He held onto the throne thanks to the efforts of his son Vladimir, who would later be called Monomakh.

Svyatopolk II (1093 - 1113)

Svyatopolk was the son of Izyaslav the First. It was he who inherited the throne of Kyiv after Vsevolod the First. This prince was distinguished by a rare spinelessness, which is why he failed to calm the internecine friction between the princes for power in the cities. In 1097, a congress of princes took place in the city of Lubicz, at which each ruler, kissing the cross, pledged to own only his father's land. But this shaky peace treaty was not allowed to materialize. Prince Davyd Igorevich blinded Prince Vasilko. Then the princes, at a new congress (1100), deprived Prince Davyd of the right to own Volhynia. Then, in 1103, the princes unanimously accepted Vladimir Monomakh's proposal for a joint campaign against the Polovtsy, which was done. The campaign ended with the victory of the Russians in 1111.

Vladimir Monomakh (1113 - 1125)

Regardless of the right of seniority of the Svyatoslavichs, when Prince Svyatopolk II died, Vladimir Monomakh was elected Prince of Kyiv, who wanted the unification of the Russian land. Grand Duke Vladimir Monomakh was brave, tireless and favorably distinguished himself from the rest by his remarkable mental abilities. He managed to humble the princes with meekness, and he fought successfully with the Polovtsians. Vladimir Monoma is a vivid example of the prince's service not to his personal ambitions, but to his people, which he bequeathed to his children.

Mstislav the First (1125 - 1132)

The son of Vladimir Monomakh, Mstislav the First, was very much like his legendary father, demonstrating the same remarkable qualities of a ruler. All the recalcitrant princes showed him respect, fearing to anger the Grand Duke and share the fate of the Polovtsian princes, whom Mstislav expelled to Greece for disobedience, and sent his son to reign in their place.

Yaropolk (1132 - 1139)

Yaropolk was the son of Vladimir Monomakh and, accordingly, the brother of Mstislav the First. During his reign, he came up with the idea to transfer the throne not to his brother Vyacheslav, but to his nephew, which caused confusion in the country. It was because of these strife that the Monomakhovichi lost the throne of Kyiv, which was occupied by the descendants of Oleg Svyatoslavovich, that is, the Olegovichi.

Vsevolod II (1139 - 1146)

Having become the Grand Duke, Vsevolod II desired to secure the throne of Kyiv for his family. For this reason, he handed over the throne to Igor Olegovich, his brother. But Igor was not accepted by the people as a prince. He was forced to take the veil as a monk, but even the monastic attire did not protect him from the wrath of the people. Igor was killed.

Izyaslav II (1146 - 1154)

Izyaslav II fell in love with the people of Kiev to a greater extent because with his mind, temper, affability and courage he very much reminded them of Vladimir Monomakh, the grandfather of Izyaslav II. After Izyaslav ascended the throne of Kyiv, the concept of seniority, adopted for centuries, was violated in Russia, that is, for example, while his uncle was alive, his nephew could not be a Grand Duke. A stubborn struggle began between Izyaslav II and Prince Yuri Vladimirovich of Rostov. Izyaslav was twice expelled from Kyiv in his life, but this prince still managed to retain the throne until his death.

Yuri Dolgoruky (1154 - 1157)

It was the death of Izyaslav II that paved the way to the throne of Kyiv Yuri, whom the people later called Dolgoruky. Yuri became the Grand Duke, but he did not have a chance to reign for long, only three years later, after which he died.

Mstislav II (1157 - 1169)

After the death of Yuri Dolgoruky between the princes, as usual, internecine strife for the throne of Kyiv began, as a result of which Mstislav II Izyaslavovich became the Grand Duke. Mstislav was expelled from the throne of Kyiv by Prince Andrei Yurievich, nicknamed Bogolyubsky. Before the expulsion of Prince Mstislav, Bogolyubsky literally ruined Kyiv.

Andrei Bogolyubsky (1169 - 1174)

The first thing that Andrei Bogolyubsky did, becoming the Grand Duke, was to transfer the capital from Kyiv to Vladimir. He ruled Russia autocratically, without squads and vecha, pursued all those dissatisfied with this state of affairs, but, in the end, he was killed by them as a result of a conspiracy.

Vsevolod III (1176 - 1212)

The death of Andrei Bogolyubsky caused strife between the ancient cities (Suzdal, Rostov) and new ones (Pereslavl, Vladimir). As a result of these confrontations, Andrei Bogolyubsky's brother Vsevolod the Third, nicknamed the Big Nest, began to reign in Vladimir. Despite the fact that this prince did not rule and did not live in Kyiv, nevertheless, he was called the Grand Duke and was the first to make him swear allegiance not only to himself, but also to his children.

Constantine the First (1212 - 1219)

The title of Grand Duke Vsevolod the Third, contrary to expectations, was transferred not to his eldest son Konstantin, but to Yuri, as a result of which strife arose. The decision of the father to approve the Grand Duke Yuri was also supported by the third son of Vsevolod the Big Nest - Yaroslav. And Konstantin in his claims to the throne was supported by Mstislav Udaloy. Together they won the Battle of Lipetsk (1216) and Konstantin nevertheless became the Grand Duke. Only after his death, the throne passed to Yuri.

Yuri II (1219 - 1238)

Yuri successfully fought with the Volga Bulgarians and Mordovians. On the Volga, on the very border of Russian possessions, Prince Yuri built Nizhny Novgorod. It was during his reign that the Mongol-Tatars appeared in Russia, who in 1224 in the Battle of Kalka first defeated the Polovtsy, and then the troops of the Russian princes who came to support the Polovtsy. After this battle, the Mongols left, but thirteen years later they returned under the leadership of Batu Khan. The hordes of the Mongols ravaged the Suzdal and Ryazan principalities, and also, in the battle of the City, they defeated the army of the Grand Duke Yuri II. In this battle, Yuri died. Two years after his death, the hordes of the Mongols plundered the south of Russia and Kyiv, after which all the Russian princes were forced to admit that from now on they all and their lands were under the rule of the Tatar yoke. The Mongols on the Volga made the city of Saray the capital of the horde.

Yaroslav II (1238 - 1252)

The Khan of the Golden Horde appointed Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich of Novgorod as Grand Duke. This prince during his reign was engaged in restoring Russia devastated by the Mongol army.

Alexander Nevsky (1252 - 1263)

Being at first the Prince of Novgorod, Alexander Yaroslavovich defeated the Swedes on the Neva River in 1240, for which, in fact, he was named Nevsky. Then, two years later, he defeated the Germans in the famous Battle of the Ice. Among other things, Alexander fought very successfully with the Chud and Lithuania. From the Horde, he received a label for the Great reign and became a great intercessor for the entire Russian people, as he traveled to the Golden Horde four times with rich gifts and bows. was later canonized as a saint.

Yaroslav III (1264 - 1272)

After Alexander Nevsky died, two of his brothers began to fight for the title of Grand Duke: Vasily and Yaroslav, but the Khan of the Golden Horde decided to give the label to reign to Yaroslav. Nevertheless, Yaroslav failed to get along with the Novgorodians, he treacherously called on even the Tatars against his own people. The Metropolitan reconciled Prince Yaroslav III with the people, after which the prince again swore an oath on the cross to rule honestly and fairly.

Basil the First (1272 - 1276)

Vasily the First was the prince of Kostroma, but he claimed the throne of Novgorod, where the son of Alexander Nevsky, Dmitry, reigned. And soon Vasily the First achieved his goal, thereby strengthening his principality, previously weakened by division into destinies.

Dmitry the First (1276 - 1294)

The entire reign of Dmitry the First proceeded in a continuous struggle for the rights of the great reign with his brother Andrei Alexandrovich. Andrei Alexandrovich was supported by the Tatar regiments, from which Dmitry managed to escape three times. After his third escape, Dmitry nevertheless decided to ask Andrei for peace and, thus, received the right to reign in Pereslavl.

Andrew II (1294 - 1304)

Andrei II pursued a policy of expanding his principality through the armed seizure of other principalities. In particular, he claimed the principality in Pereslavl, which caused civil strife with Tver and Moscow, which, even after the death of Andrei II, were not stopped.

Saint Michael (1304 - 1319)

Prince Mikhail Yaroslavovich of Tver, having paid a large tribute to the khan, received from the Horde a label for a great reign, while bypassing the Moscow prince Yuri Danilovich. But then, while Mikhail was at war with Novgorod, Yuri, conspiring with the Horde ambassador Kavgady, slandered Mikhail before the khan. As a result, the khan summoned Michael to the Horde, where he was brutally killed.

Yuri III (1320 - 1326)

Yuri the Third, married the daughter of Khan Konchaka, who in Orthodoxy took the name Agafya. It was her untimely death that Yuri Mikhail Yaroslavovich of Tverskoy treacherously accused, for which he suffered an unjust and cruel death at the hands of the Horde Khan. So Yuri received a label for reigning, but the son of the murdered Mikhail, Dmitry, also claimed the throne. As a result, Dmitry at the first meeting killed Yuri, avenging the death of his father.

Dmitry II (1326)

For the murder of Yuri III, he was sentenced to death by the Horde Khan for arbitrariness.

Alexander of Tver (1326 - 1338)

The brother of Dmitry II - Alexander - received from the khan a label to the throne of the Grand Duke. Prince Alexander of Tverskoy was distinguished by justice and kindness, but he literally ruined himself by allowing the people of Tver to kill Shchelkan, the khan's ambassador hated by all. Khan sent a 50,000-strong army against Alexander. The prince was forced to flee first to Pskov and then to Lithuania. Only 10 years later, Alexander received the khan's forgiveness and was able to return, but, at the same time, he did not get along with the prince of Moscow - Ivan Kalita - after which Kalita slandered Alexander of Tverskoy in front of the khan. Khan urgently summoned A. Tverskoy to his Horde, where he was executed.

John the First Kalita (1320 - 1341)

John Danilovich, nicknamed "Kalita" (Kalita - wallet) for his stinginess, was very cautious and cunning. With the support of the Tatars, he devastated the principality of Tver. It was he who took upon himself the responsibility of accepting tribute for the Tatars from all over Russia, which contributed to his personal enrichment. With this money, John bought entire cities from the specific princes. Through the efforts of Kalita, the metropolis was also transferred from Vladimir to Moscow in 1326. He laid the Assumption Cathedral in Moscow. Since the time of John Kalita, Moscow has become the permanent residence of the Metropolitan of All Russia and becomes the Russian center.

Simeon the Proud (1341 - 1353)

The Khan gave Simeon Ioannovich not only a label to the Grand Duchy, but also ordered all the other princes to obey only him, so Simeon began to be called the prince of all Russia. The prince died, leaving no heir from a pestilence.

John II (1353 - 1359)

Brother of Simeon the Proud. He had a meek and peaceful disposition, he obeyed the advice of Metropolitan Alexei in all matters, and Metropolitan Alexei, in turn, was highly respected in the Horde. During the reign of this prince, relations between the Tatars and Moscow improved significantly.

Dmitry the Third Donskoy (1363 - 1389)

After the death of John the Second, his son Dmitry was still small, therefore the khan gave the label to the great reign to the Suzdal prince Dmitry Konstantinovich (1359 - 1363). However, the Moscow boyars benefited from the policy of strengthening the Moscow prince, and they managed to achieve a great reign for Dmitry Ioannovich. The Suzdal prince was forced to submit and, together with the rest of the princes of northeastern Russia, swore allegiance to Dmitry Ioannovich. The attitude of Russia towards the Tatars also changed. Due to civil strife in the horde itself, Dmitry and the rest of the princes took the opportunity not to pay the usual dues. Then Khan Mamai entered into an alliance with the Lithuanian prince Jagiello and moved with a large army to Russia. Dmitry and other princes met the army of Mamai on the Kulikovo field, (near the river Don) and at the cost of huge losses on September 8, 1380, Russia defeated the army of Mamai and Jagello. For this victory they called Dmitry Ioannovich Donskoy. Until the end of his life, he took care of strengthening Moscow.

Basil the First (1389 - 1425)

Vasily ascended the princely throne, already having experience of government, since even during the life of his father he shared the reign with him. Expanded the Moscow principality. Refused to pay tribute to the Tatars. In 1395, Khan Timur threatened Russia with an invasion, but it was not he who attacked Moscow, but Edigey, the Tatar Murza (1408). But he lifted the siege from Moscow, receiving a ransom of 3,000 rubles. Under Basil the First, the Ugra River was designated as the border with the Lithuanian principality.

Vasily II (Dark) (1425 - 1462)

Yuri Dmitrievich Galitsky decided to take advantage of the minority of Prince Vasily and claimed his rights to the Grand Duke's throne, but the Khan decided the dispute in favor of the young Vasily II, which was greatly facilitated by the Moscow boyar Vasily Vsevolozhsky, hoping to marry his daughter to Vasily in the future, but these expectations were not destined to come true . Then he left Moscow and assisted Yuri Dmitrievich, and soon he took possession of the throne, on which he died in 1434. His son Vasily Kosoy began to claim the throne, but all the princes of Russia rebelled against this. Vasily II captured Vasily Kosoy and blinded him. Then the brother of Vasily Kosoy Dmitry Shemyaka captured Vasily II and also blinded him, after which he took the throne of Moscow. But soon he was forced to give the throne to Vasily II. Under Vasily II, all metropolitans in Russia began to be recruited from Russians, and not from Greeks, as before. The reason for this was the adoption of the Florentine Union in 1439 by Metropolitan Isidore, who was from the Greeks. For this, Vasily II gave the order to take Metropolitan Isidore into custody and instead appointed Bishop John of Ryazan.

John the Third (1462 -1505)

Under him, the core of the state apparatus began to form and, as a result, the state of Russia. He annexed Yaroslavl, Perm, Vyatka, Tver, Novgorod to the Moscow principality. In 1480 he overthrew Tatar-Mongol yoke(Standing on the Ugra). In 1497, the Sudebnik was compiled. John the Third launched a large construction in Moscow, strengthened the international position of Russia. It was under him that the title "Prince of All Russia" was born.

Basil the Third (1505 - 1533)

"The last collector of Russian lands" Vasily the Third was the son of John the Third and Sophia Paleolog. He had a very impregnable and proud disposition. Having annexed Pskov, he destroyed the specific system. He fought twice with Lithuania on the advice of Mikhail Glinsky, a Lithuanian nobleman, whom he kept in his service. In 1514, he finally took Smolensk from the Lithuanians. Fought with the Crimea and Kazan. As a result, he managed to punish Kazan. He withdrew all trade from the city, ordering from now on to trade at the Makariev Fair, which was then transferred to Nizhny Novgorod. Vasily the Third, wishing to marry Elena Glinskaya, divorced his wife Solomonia, which turned the boyars against him even more. From the marriage with Elena, Vasily III had a son, John.

Elena Glinskaya (1533 - 1538)

She was appointed to rule by Vasily III himself until the age of their son John. Elena Glinskaya, having barely ascended the throne, very severely dealt with all the rebellious and dissatisfied boyars, after which she made peace with Lithuania. Then she decided to repulse the Crimean Tatars, who boldly attacked the Russian lands, however, these plans of hers could not be realized, since Elena suddenly died.

John the Fourth (Terrible) (1538 - 1584)

John the Fourth, Prince of All Russia became in 1547 the first Russian Tsar. From the end of the forties he ruled the country with the participation of the Chosen Rada. During his reign, the convocation of all Zemsky Sobors began. In 1550, a new Sudebnik was drawn up, and reforms of the court and administration (Zemskaya and Gubnaya reforms) were also carried out. conquered the Kazan Khanate in 1552, and the Astrakhan Khanate in 1556. In 1565, the oprichnina was introduced to strengthen the autocracy. Under John the Fourth, trade relations with England were established in 1553, and the first printing house in Moscow was opened. From 1558 to 1583 the Livonian War for access to the Baltic Sea continued. In 1581, the annexation of Siberia began. All domestic politics country under Tsar John was accompanied by disgrace and executions, for which he was nicknamed the Terrible by the people. The enslavement of the peasants increased significantly.

Fedor Ioannovich (1584 - 1598)

He was the second son of John the Fourth. He was very sickly and weak, did not differ in sharpness of mind. That is why very quickly the actual control of the state passed into the hands of the boyar Boris Godunov, the brother-in-law of the tsar. Boris Godunov, having surrounded himself with exclusively devoted people, became a sovereign ruler. He built cities, strengthened relations with the countries of Western Europe, built the Arkhangelsk Harbor on the White Sea. By order and instigation of Godunov, an all-Russian independent patriarchate was approved, and the peasants were finally attached to the land. It was he who in 1591 ordered the assassination of Tsarevich Dmitry, who was the brother of the childless Tsar Fedor, and was his direct heir. 6 years after this murder, Tsar Fedor himself died.

Boris Godunov (1598 - 1605)

The sister of Boris Godunov and the wife of the late Tsar Fedor abdicated the throne. Patriarch Job recommended that Godunov's supporters convene a Zemsky Sobor, at which Boris was elected tsar. Godunov, having become king, was afraid of conspiracies on the part of the boyars and, in general, was distinguished by excessive suspicion, which naturally caused disgrace and exile. At the same time, the boyar Fyodor Nikitich Romanov was forced to take tonsure, and he became a monk Filaret, and his young son Mikhail was sent into exile at Beloozero. But not only the boyars were angry with Boris Godunov. A three-year crop failure and the pestilence that followed it, which hit the Muscovite kingdom, forced the people to see this as the fault of Tsar B. Godunov. The king tried his best to alleviate the plight of the starving. He increased the earnings of people employed in state buildings (for example, during the construction of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower), generously distributed alms, but people still grumbled and willingly believed the rumors that the legitimate Tsar Dmitry was not killed at all and would soon take the throne. In the midst of preparations for the fight against False Dmitry, Boris Godunov died suddenly, while having managed to bequeath the throne to his son Fyodor.

False Dmitry (1605 - 1606)

The fugitive monk Grigory Otrepiev, who was supported by the Poles, declared himself Tsar Dmitry, who miraculously managed to escape from the murderers in Uglich. He entered Russia with several thousand men. The army came out to meet him, but it also went over to the side of False Dmitry, recognizing him as the legitimate king, after which Fyodor Godunov was killed. False Dmitry was a very good-natured man, but with a sharp mind, he diligently engaged in all state affairs, but caused displeasure of the clergy and boyars, from the fact that, in their opinion, he did not honor the old Russian customs enough, and completely neglected many. Together with Vasily Shuisky, the boyars entered into a conspiracy against False Dmitry, spread a rumor that he was an impostor, and then, without hesitation, they killed the fake tsar.

Vasily Shuisky (1606 - 1610)

The boyars and townspeople elected the old and inept Shuisky as king, while limiting his power. In Russia, rumors arose again about the salvation of False Dmitry, in connection with which new unrest began in the state, intensified by the rebellion of a serf named Ivan Bolotnikov and the appearance of False Dmitry II in Tushino (“Tushinsky thief”). Poland went to war against Moscow and defeated the Russian troops. After that, Tsar Vasily was forcibly tonsured a monk, and Russia came to Time of Troubles interregnum lasting three years.

Mikhail Fedorovich (1613 - 1645)

Diplomas of the Trinity Lavra, sent throughout Russia and calling for protection Orthodox faith and the fatherland, did their job: Prince Dmitry Pozharsky, with the participation of the zemstvo headman of Nizhny Novgorod Kozma Minin (Sukhoroky), gathered a large militia and moved to Moscow in order to clear the capital of rebels and Poles, which was done after painful efforts. On February 21, 1613, the Great Zemstvo Duma gathered, at which Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov was elected Tsar, who, after long rejections, nevertheless ascended the throne, where the first thing he undertook was to pacify both external and internal enemies.

He concluded the so-called pillar agreement with the Kingdom of Sweden, in 1618 he signed the Treaty of Deulino with Poland, according to which Filaret, who was the parent of the king, was returned to Russia after a long captivity. Upon his return, he was immediately elevated to the rank of patriarch. Patriarch Filaret was an adviser to his son and a reliable co-ruler. Thanks to them, by the end of the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich, Russia began to enter into friendly relations with various Western states, having practically recovered from the horror of the Time of Troubles.

Alexei Mikhailovich (Quiet) (1645 - 1676)

Tsar Alexei is considered one of the the best people ancient Russia. He had a meek, humble disposition, and was very pious. He could not stand quarrels at all, and if they happened, he suffered greatly and tried in every possible way to reconcile with the enemy. In the first years of his reign, his closest adviser was his uncle, the boyar Morozov. In the fifties, Patriarch Nikon became his adviser, who decided to unite Russia with the rest of the Orthodox world and ordered everyone from now on to be baptized in the Greek manner - with three fingers, which caused a split among the Orthodox in Russia. (The most famous schismatics are the Old Believers, who do not want to deviate from the true faith and be baptized with a "fig", as ordered by the patriarch - noblewoman Morozova and archpriest Avvakum).

During the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich, every now and then in different cities riots broke out that were suppressed, and the decision of Little Russia to voluntarily join the Muscovite state provoked two wars with Poland. But the state survived thanks to the unity and concentration of power. After the death of his first wife, Maria Miloslavskaya, in whose marriage the tsar had two sons (Fyodor and John) and many daughters, he married a second time to the girl Natalya Naryshkina, who bore him a son, Peter.

Fedor Alekseevich (1676 - 1682)

During the reign of this tsar, the issue of Little Russia was finally resolved: its western part went to Turkey, and the East and Zaporozhye - to Moscow. Patriarch Nikon was returned from exile. They also abolished localism - the ancient boyar custom to take into account the service of ancestors when occupying state and military positions. Tsar Fedor died without leaving an heir.

Ivan Alekseevich (1682 - 1689)

Ivan Alekseevich, together with his brother Peter Alekseevich, was elected king thanks to the Streltsy rebellion. But Tsarevich Alexei, suffering from dementia, did not take any part in public affairs. He died in 1689 during the reign of Princess Sophia.

Sophia (1682 - 1689)

Sophia remained in history as the ruler of an extraordinary mind and possessed all the necessary qualities of a real queen. She managed to calm the unrest of the dissenters, curb the archers, conclude an "eternal peace" with Poland, which is very beneficial for Russia, as well as the Nerchinsk Treaty with distant China. The princess undertook campaigns against Crimean Tatars but fell victim to her own lust for power. Tsarevich Peter, however, having guessed her plans, imprisoned her half-sister in the Novodevichy Convent, where Sophia died in 1704.

Peter the Great (Great) (1682 - 1725)

The greatest tsar, and since 1721 the first Russian emperor, statesman, cultural and military figure. He made revolutionary reforms in the country: collegiums, the Senate, bodies of political investigation and state control were created. He made divisions in Russia into provinces, and also subordinated the church to the state. He built a new capital - St. Petersburg. The main dream of Peter was the elimination of Russia's backwardness in development compared to European countries. Taking advantage of Western experience, he tirelessly created manufactories, factories, shipyards.

To facilitate trade and for access to the Baltic Sea, he won the Northern War, lasting 21 years, from Sweden, thereby “cutting through” a “window to Europe”. He built a huge fleet for Russia. Thanks to his efforts, the Academy of Sciences was opened in Russia and the civil alphabet was adopted. All reforms were carried out by the most cruel methods and caused multiple uprisings in the country (Streletsky in 1698, Astrakhan from 1705 to 1706, Bulavinsky from 1707 to 1709), which, however, were also mercilessly suppressed.

Catherine the First (1725 - 1727)

Peter the Great died without leaving a will. So, the throne passed to his wife Catherine. Catherine became famous for equipping Bering in trip around the world, and also established the Supreme Privy Council at the instigation of a friend and colleague of her late husband Peter the Great - Prince Menshikov. Thus, Menshikov concentrated virtually all state power in his hands. He persuaded Catherine to appoint the son of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich, who was still sentenced to death by his father, Peter the Great, for being disgusted with the reforms, Peter Alekseevich, as the heir to the throne, and also to agree to his marriage with Menshikov's daughter Maria. Until the age of Peter Alekseevich, Prince Menshikov was appointed ruler of Russia.

Peter II (1727 - 1730)

Peter II ruled for a short time. Having barely got rid of the imperious Menshikov, he immediately fell under the influence of the Dolgoruky, who, in every possible way distracting the emperors from state affairs with fun, actually ruled the country. They wished to marry the emperor to Princess E. A. Dolgoruky, but Pyotr Alekseevich suddenly died of smallpox and the wedding did not take place.

Anna Ioannovna (1730 - 1740)

The Supreme Privy Council decided to somewhat limit the autocracy, therefore they chose Anna Ioannovna, Dowager Duchess of Courland, daughter of John Alekseevich, as empress. But she was crowned on the Russian throne as an autocratic empress and, first of all, having entered into rights, destroyed the Supreme Privy Council. She replaced it with the Cabinet and, instead of the Russian nobles, gave positions to the Germans Ostern and Munnich, as well as to the Courlander Biron. The cruel and unjust rule was later called "Bironism".

Russia's intervention in the internal affairs of Poland in 1733 cost the country dearly: the lands conquered by Peter the Great had to be returned to Persia. Before her death, the empress appointed the son of her niece Anna Leopoldovna as her heir, and appointed Biron as regent for the baby. However, Biron was soon overthrown, and Anna Leopoldovna became the empress, whose reign cannot be called long and glorious. The guards staged a coup and proclaimed Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, daughter of Peter the Great.

Elizaveta Petrovna (1741 - 1761)

Elizabeth destroyed the Cabinet, established by Anna Ioannovna, and returned the Senate. Issued a decree abolishing the death penalty in 1744. In 1954, she established the first loan banks in Russia, which became a great boon for merchants and nobles. At the request of Lomonosov, she opened the first university in Moscow and in 1756 opened the first theater. During her reign, Russia waged two wars: with Sweden and the so-called "seven-year war", in which Prussia, Austria and France took part. Thanks to the peace with Sweden, part of Finland went to Russia. The death of Empress Elizabeth put an end to the Seven Years' War.

Peter the Third (1761 - 1762)

He was absolutely unsuitable for governing the state, but his temper was complacent. But this young emperor managed to turn absolutely all layers of Russian society against him, since he, to the detriment of Russian interests, showed a craving for everything German. Peter the Third, not only did he make a lot of concessions in relation to the Prussian Emperor Frederick II, he also reformed the army according to the same Prussian model, dear to his heart. He issued decrees on the destruction of the secret office and the free nobility, which, however, did not differ in certainty. As a result of the coup, due to his relationship with the empress, he quickly signed the abdication and soon died.

Catherine II (1762 - 1796)

The time of her reign was one of the greatest after the reign of Peter the Great. Empress Catherine ruled harshly, suppressed the Pugachev peasant uprising, won two Turkish wars, which resulted in the recognition of the independence of the Crimea by Turkey, and also the coast of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov departed Russia. Russia got the Black Sea Fleet, and active construction of cities began in Novorossia. Catherine II established the colleges of education and medicine. Cadet corps were opened, and for the education of girls - the Smolny Institute. Catherine II, herself possessing literary ability, patronized literature.

Paul the First (1796 - 1801)

He did not support the transformations that his mother, Empress Catherine, started, in state system. Of the achievements of his reign, one should note a very significant relief in the life of serfs (only a three-day corvee was introduced), the opening of a university in Dorpat, and the emergence of new women's institutions.

Alexander the First (Blessed) (1801 - 1825)

The grandson of Catherine II, assuming the throne, vowed to govern the country "according to the law and heart" of his crowned grandmother, who, in fact, was engaged in his upbringing. At the very beginning, he undertook a number of different liberation measures aimed at different sections of society, which aroused the undoubted respect and love of people. But external political problems distracted Alexander from internal reforms. Russia, in alliance with Austria, was forced to fight against Napoleon, the Russian troops were defeated at Austerlitz.

Napoleon forced Russia to abandon trade with England. As a result, in 1812, Napoleon nevertheless, having violated the agreement with Russia, went to war against the country. And in the same year, 1812, Russian troops defeated Napoleon's army. Alexander the First established a state council in 1800, ministries and a cabinet of ministers. In St. Petersburg, Kazan and Kharkov, he opened universities, as well as many institutes and gymnasiums, the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum. It greatly facilitated the life of the peasants.

Nicholas the First (1825 - 1855)

He continued the policy of improving peasant life. He founded the Institute of St. Vladimir in Kyiv. Published a 45-volume complete collection of laws Russian Empire. Under Nicholas I in 1839, the Uniates were reunited with Orthodoxy. This reunification was a consequence of the suppression of the uprising in Poland and the complete destruction of the Polish constitution. There was a war with the Turks, who oppressed Greece, as a result of the victory of Russia, Greece gained independence. After the rupture of relations with Turkey, on the side of which England, Sardinia and France sided, Russia had to join a new struggle.

The emperor died suddenly during the defense of Sevastopol. During the reign of Nicholas I, the Nikolaevskaya and Tsarskoye Selo railways, lived and worked great Russian writers and poets: Lermontov, Pushkin, Krylov, Griboyedov, Belinsky, Zhukovsky, Gogol, Karamzin.

Alexander II (Liberator) (1855 - 1881)

The Turkish war had to be ended by Alexander II. The Paris peace was concluded on very unfavorable terms for Russia. In 1858, according to an agreement with China, Russia acquired the Amur region, and later - Usuriysk. In 1864, the Caucasus finally became part of Russia. The most important state transformation of Alexander II was the decision to free the peasants. Killed by an assassin in 1881.