4. PEREJASLAV PRINCIPLE Territory. Cities. The Pereyaslavl principality as one of the three parts of the ancient Russian land was formed even before it was divided between the sons of Yaroslav the Wise. Unlike most other principalities, it was in the XII - first half of the XIII century. actually not

Education ON Features of the state. And the socio-economic system.

Formation of the Commonwealth. The crisis of the state and its 3 sections.

1) Written sources indicate that in the 6-8 centuries AD, the Krivichi, Radimichi and Dregovichi had state formations in the form of reigns. The princes, according to Shtykov, are not the tribes of the Iron Age, but the so-called unions of tribes. The princes consisted of volosts and principalities, which were created on the site of the former tribal communities. Each volost-principality coexisted with its own prince and veche. Legislative power belonged to the veche. The functions of the prince were quite diverse: he was supposed to defend the territory of the principality, guard trade routes, and exercise court. Tribal princes were chosen from among the volosts by the right of seniority and moral leadership. The princes were usually formed from the clan elders, as well as the Varangians, who came from the Scandinavian peninsula. The Varangians could either be invited by the local population, or seize power by force into their own hands.

The threat from the Varangians, Cossacks and other peoples contributed to the unification of the East Slavic tribes into a single state - Kievan Rus. Written sources note that initially the Krivichi, the Novgorod Slavs were slightly ruled by the Varangians. But then they drove them over the pestilence. The Slavs had troubles, and in order to avoid them, the Vikings, in particular Rurik, were again invited. On the territory of Eastern Europe n. Two unions of reigns: the northern reign, which was headed by Novgorod and the southern union of reigns, headed by Kiev. The Northern Union of Princedoms was headed by Rurik, who sent one of his governors to Polotsk. This did not like the Kiev princes Oskold and Dir, who in 865 made a campaign against Polotsk and captured it, subjugating Kiev. After the death of Rurik, Oleg became a sovereign politician in Novgorod, who was the guardian of Prince Igor Rurikovich.

In 882 Oleg captures Kiev and kills the local princes Oskold and Dir. He is the creator of Kievan Rus and establishes his power over most of the East Slavic tribes. In 885, the Radimichi, who paid tribute to the barracks, were annexed to Kiev. Also in the structure of Kievan Rus were included the territories of the Belarusian underworld and subdnepr. As for the Dregovichi, they retained their independence until 980, but they became part of Kiev. Prince Igor carried out two campaigns against Byzantium in 907 and 942, while the Radimichi and Krivichi took part in the first of them. Soon Igor was killed by the Drevlyans, trying to take tribute from them. His wife, Olga, dealt with the Drevlyans. Igor's son, Prince Svyatoslav, significantly expanded the borders of Kievan Rus. He defeated the Kazakh Kagonat, the Volosko-Kama Bugaria, and also defeated the Yases and Kosokhs. Kievan Rus reached its greatest power under Yaroslav the Wise. Since the 11th century, the process of fragmentation of Kievan Rus begins and its gradual weakening. About statehood eastern Slavs noun Two positions: Norman and Anti-Norman. In the Norman theory, researchers in the west and some Russians adhere. According to this theory, the state. The Eastern Slavs were created by the Varangians. Anti-Normans claim that the state. The Eastern Slavs were originally, and the Varangians only gave rise to princely dynasties. Kievan Rus was a fragile state. education. It included various peoples who tried to get out of the subordination of Kiev at any cost.

2) In the 70s, Polotsk managed to get out of the power of Kiev. In Polotsk at this time, Prince Rogvalod, who was a Varangian, began to rule. After the death of the Kiev prince Svyatoslav, a stubborn struggle for the Kiev throne flared up between his sons: the Kiev prince Yaropolk and the Novgorod prince Vladimir. Each of the brothers tried to enlist the support of Polotsk by marrying Princess Ragneda. Ragneda, as her chosen one, chose the Kiev prince Yaropolk, but she refused Vladimir, saying that she did not want to be the wife of a “slave”. This offended Vladimir, who made a trip to Polotsk, burned the city, destroyed Rogvolod and his sons, and forcibly took Ragneda as his wife. After that, Vladimir defeated his brother Yaropolk and became the prince of Kiev. After an unsuccessful attempt on the life of Vladimir, he, after consulting with his boyars, decided to send Ragneda and her son Izyaslav back to their homeland, to the Polotsk land. Izyaslav began to rule Izyaslavl, and then became the prince of Polotsk. Izyaslav died young and became famous as an exemplary peasant who regularly attended church services. After the death of Izyaslav, the Polotsk principality was headed by his son Bryachislav. Under him, Polotsk began to conduct an aggressive foreign policy... The goal of Polotsk was to defeat Novgorod, as the main competitor on the way "From the Varangians to the Greeks", while the task was to capture the cities of Vitebsk and Usvyaty. Bryacheslav captures Novgorod in 921 and takes large booty in the city. His action provoked a reaction from his own uncle, the Kiev prince Yaroslav. The Kiev prince overtook the Polotsk army and defeated it. A peace treaty was concluded between Kiev and Polotsk, according to which Polotsk received Vitebsk and Usvyatu. After the death of Bryachislav, Polotsk was ruled by his son Vseslav, who was nicknamed the Wizard. Under him, the Polotsk kingdom reached its power. In 1065, Vseslav made an unsuccessful attempt to capture Pskov. In the next 1066, Vseslav captures Novgorod and returns with rich booty to the Polotsk land. The Kiev prince gathers a huge coalition and invades the Polotsk land. He burns Minsk and in 1067 a battle takes place on the Nemiga River, which ended in a draw. The Kiev prince invited Vseslav and his sons to negotiations, where the latter were treacherously captured. Vseslav and his sons were taken to Kiev, where they were sent to prison.

In 1068, an uprising took place in Kiev, and the townspeople proclaimed Vseslav a Kiev prince, who was released from prison. Vseslav ruled in Kiev for only 7 months. The army of the former Kiev prince Izyaslav and his father-in-law approached Kiev, polish king Borislav. And Vseslav was forced to leave for the Polotsk land. In 1071 he expels the son of the Kiev prince from Polotsk and reigns over the principality. After the death of Vseslav, the Polotsk land split into a number of appanages, in particular, Minsk, Turov, Vitebsk, and others were formed. Polotsk remained the main one. At this time, the son of Vseslav, the Minsk prince Gleb, was active. Its goal is to strengthen the Minsk land by capturing the basins of the Dnieper and Pripyat rivers. Gleb captures Orsha, Kopys and controls the Dnieper basin. Gleb's activity caused concern about the side of the Kiev prince. In 1116 the Minsk principality was invaded by a coalition of Russian princes and Gleb was forced to make peace with the Kiev prince. He left Minsk with his wife, but in 1118 a coalition of Russian princes invaded Minsk land back, Gleb was captured and, being imprisoned in Kiev, dies there. The Polotsk princes have always shown their disobedience to Kiev. They refused to participate in the campaign against the Polovtsy, which was organized by the Kiev prince Mstislav. In revenge, in 1129, a coalition of Russian princes led by a Kiev prince invaded the Polotsk land. The Polotsk princes were exiled to Byzantium, and only a few of them were able to return to their homeland in 1139. Thus, from the beginning of the 12th century and up to its end, a period took place on the Polotsk land feudal fragmentation... It was expressed in the fact that various dynasties of Vseslav's heirs fought for the Polotsk throne. In 2-0-30 years of the 12th century, the role of the veche increased in the Polotsk land, in which merchants and boyars played the main role. The princes were elected at the veche, and if the townspeople did not like the prince, the prince was expelled from the city. The Turov principality was formed in the south of Belarus in the basin of the Pripyat River. Until the end of the 10th century, it developed independently and the local princely dynasty ruled here. The first prince was the legendary Tur, whom a number of researchers consider Rogvalod's brother. Several stages can be distinguished in the history of the Turov land: the end of the 10th century, and it is associated with the activities of Prince Svyatopolk, the end of the 11th - the beginning of the 12th centuries, the Turov principality belongs to Kiev, which was ruled by the Izyaslavovich dynasty, from 1112 to 1154 rounds was owned by the heirs of Vladimir Monomakh and representatives of the dynasty of the Chernigov prince Olgovich, the 50s of the 12th century, the heirs of the Izyaslavovich dynasty began to rule in Turov and the city at that time was no longer subordinate to Kiev.

Features of the Turov principality:

1. The city was subordinate to the Kiev princes for a long time.

2. In the absence of the prince, the mayor ruled there.

3. The townspeople themselves elected a local bishop.

3) In the 13th century, the largest state in Eastern Europe arose - the ON.

There are several reasons for its formation:

1. Development of agricultural production, crafts and trade, contributed to the enrichment of the local political and economic elite, which was interested in creating a powerful state

2. Lithuanian and Belarusian lands were in danger from the side of the crusaders and the Mongol-Tatars

3. Lithuanian and Belarusian feudal lords believed that a single state would help them keep the lower strata of society under their control.

The center of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania will become the upper Ponyomanye, now it is the territory of the Grodno region. In the upper Ponymane high level reached agriculture, the development of handicrafts (Novogrudok, Volkovysk, Slonim). This region maintained close economic contacts with Polish and Czech lands, as well as with Byzantium and a number of other states. The Upper Ponymanye was not attacked by the crusaders and the Mongol-Tatars, and the Polotsk land was weakened by the struggle with the crusaders. The formation of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania is associated with the activities of Prince Mindovg. In 1246, Mindovg found himself in Novogrudok, was chosen by the local population as a prince and accepted Orthodoxy. After that, Mindovg begins to subordinate the upper Ponyomanye to Novogrudok. This policy of Mindaugas did not like the Galicia-Volyn princes and the Livonian Order. With whom Novogrudok had to fight. To defend the young state, Mindaugas entered into an alliance with the Livonian Order and in 1253 adopted Catholicism and the title of king. In 1254, peace was concluded with the Galicia-Volyn principality. The son of Sindovg played an important role here. By the terms of the contract, the upper Ponemanie went to the son of the Galician-Volyn prince, and the daughter of Mindvoga was married to another son of this prince. Voishelk leaves for a monastery, which we ourselves found. In 1263, Mindaugas and his young sons were killed by hired killers, by order of the Zhmut prince Troyanyaty. For a short time, the Troinyats become the Grand Duke of Lithuania. Voyshelk, however, threw off his cassock, began to rule in Novogrudok and, together with the tribesman of Mindovg, the Polotsk prince Toltsevil, expelled Roman from Ponyomanye. The triplets tried to destroy their rival, he managed to kill, but in 1264 he himself dies at the hands of assassins. Voyshelk becomes the ruler of the ON. The GDL was opposed by the Galicia-Volyn principality, with which Voyshelk concludes an agreement. He gives the ON to the son of the Galicia-Volyn prince Shvark.

There were several dozen small states on the lands of ancient Belarus. But the largest and most significant were considered the Polotsk and Turov princedoms. Smaller voivodships were under their rule. Such as Pinsk, Minsk, Vitebsk and others. In this article we will look at the history of education, culture and rulers of the largest and most famous public education - Principality of Polotsk.

You can hear that the Polotsk principality is the first Belarusian state. The way it is. After all, the first mentions of the origin of feudal relations refer to the Polotsk land. It was here, on the famous waterway “from the Varangians to the Greeks”, that the strongest principality of the Belarusian tribes (Radimichi, Krivichi, Dregovichi) was formed.

Education

How did the Principality of Polotsk appear on the Belarusian lands? Unfortunately, it is not possible to answer this question properly. To date, no written sources or archaeological finds have survived, with the help of which it would be possible to establish when the formation of the Polotsk principality began. Only the assumptions of historians remain. And the most common theory is called the 9th century. It was at this time that the collective tombs (long mounds) disappeared. Instead of them, single embankments appeared, less often paired ones. Scientists explain this fact by a strong weakening of clan and tribal ties. In addition, it was in the 9th century that class differences between tombs began to appear. Some were expensively furnished, others much simpler. This indicated inequality in property.

The division of the tribe into the poor and the rich led to the emergence of the nobility, which towered over other members of the community and seized central power. From the nobility, in turn, local princes emerged. They built for themselves cities, in which they were safe with their tribes. So, in the first half of the 9th century, the tribal nobility of the Krivichi built a city for themselves in the place where the Polota River flowed into the Western Berezina. Here tribute was collected from all over the area.

Mother of Belarusian cities

The history of the Polotsk principality begins simultaneously with the creation of the city of Polotsk. The first official mention of the city dates back to 862. However, historians claim that it appeared much earlier. So, even in the undated part of the "Tale of Bygone Years" (the oldest chronicle collection on slavic lands) the name "Polochane" is mentioned simultaneously with the "Krivichi". Hence, we can conclude that even during the times of the Krivichi, a separate state emerged with its capital in Polotsk. Long before the first Varangians appeared on those lands and the Old Russian state was formed.

The city got its name thanks to the river on the banks of which it is located. As already mentioned, not far from this settlement, the Polota River flowed into the Western Berezina.

Territory

The Polotsk and Turov principalities were located on extremely barren lands. However, Polotsk had one important advantage. It was here that the intersection of significant trade routes along the Berezina, Dvina and Neman was located. That is, the waterway "from the Varangians to the Greeks." This contributed not only to the development of trade and economy in the state, but also caused a massive resettlement of other peoples and tribes to the Polotsk lands. And the territory of the principality was surrounded by impenetrable forests, which served as reliable protection from enemies. And the Polotsk citizens made more and more enemies every year. Since the control of the principality over trade routes did not like the neighboring states - Kiev and Novgorod. Which ultimately led to territorial disputes and massive bloodshed.

The Polotsk principality included not only the Polotsk lands, but also part of the territory of the Dregovichi, Lithuanian and Finnish tribes. The Polotsk residents settled throughout the Polota, as well as in the basins of the Berezina, Svisloch and Neman. The principality included such big citieslike Minsk, Borisov, Logoisk, Zaslavl, Drutsk, Lukoml and others. Thus, during the IX-XIII centuries it was a large and strong European state.

First prince

The first mention of the sovereign who united the Polotsk principality dates back to the second half of the 10th century. As the chronicles say, “valadaryu, trymau and prince Ragvalod Polatsk land”.

Norman Rogvolod "came from across the sea" and ruled from 972 to 978. This period is considered the final stage in the formation of the Polotsk principality. The state acquired its own borders, the political and administrative systems were established, a strong army was formed, and trade relations began to be established. The city of Polotsk became the historical nucleus and center.

Princess with three names

The history of the Polotsk principality is the history of the struggle for independence, which in the end was lost. So, already in 980, the lands were listed as part of the Old Russian state. The principality became between the then warring Novgorod and Kiev.

As the chronicles say, in 978, Prince Rogvolod, in order to strengthen the borders of his state, decided to marry his daughter Rogneda to the Kiev prince Yaropolk, while refusing Vladimir Svyatoslavich (the sovereign of Novgorod from the Rurik dynasty). Unable to endure the insult, Vladimir stormed Polotsk, killed Rogvolod and his two sons, and forcibly made Rogneda his wife, giving her the name Gorislav. Then the Novgorod prince seized Kiev and introduced on the Polotsk lands new religion - Christianity.

According to The Tale of Bygone Years, Rogneda and Vladimir had four sons: Izyaslav (Prince of Polotsk), Yaroslav the Wise (Prince of Kiev and Novgorod), Vsevolod (Prince Vladimir-Volynsky) and Mstislav (Prince of Chernigov). And also two daughters: Premislava, who later married Laszlo the Bald (Ugric king), and Predslava, who became the wife of Boleslav III the Red (Czech prince).

After Rogneda tried to kill Vladimir, she, together with her son Izyaslav (who interceded for his father for his mother), was exiled to the Polotsk lands, to the city of Izyaslavl. The princess cut her hair as a nun and took a third name - Anastasia.

Princes of the Polotsk principality

In 988 the inhabitants of Izyaslavl invited the son of Rogneda and Vladimir Izyaslav to reign. He became famous as the sovereign scribe and the disseminator of a new belief, Christianity, in the Polotsk land. It is with Izyaslav that a new branch in the Rurik dynasty begins - Izyaslavich (Polotsk). Izyaslav's descendants, unlike the children of his brothers, emphasized their kinship with Rogvolod (on the maternal side). And they called themselves Rogvolodovich.

Prince Izyaslav died young (in 1001), having outlived his mother Rogneda by only one year. The Polotsk principality was ruled by his youngest son Bryachislav Izyaslavich. Until 1044, the sovereign pursued his own policy aimed at expanding the lands. Taking advantage of the civil strife and the weakening of Russia, Bryachislav captured Veliky Novgorod and held power for five years together with his uncle Yaroslav the Wise. At the same time, the city of Bryachislavl (modern Braslav) was built.

Flourishing

The Polotsk principality reached the peak of its power in 1044-1101, during the reign of Vseslav the Prophetic, the son of Prince Bryachislav. Knowing that he was faced with battles not for life, but for death, the prince prepared for war until the mid-60s of the XI century - he strengthened the cities, collected an army. So, Polotsk was moved to the right bank of the Western Dvina, to the mouth of the Polota River.

Vseslav began to expand the Polotsk lands far to the north, subjugating the Latgalian and Livonian tribes. However, in 1067, when his campaigns to Novgorod ended unsuccessfully, the prince and his sons were captured by Izyaslav Yaroslavich, and the state was captured. But a year later, the rebellious people freed Vseslav, and he managed to return the lost lands.

From 1069 to 1072, the Polotsk principality waged a relentless and bloody war with the Kiev sovereigns. The Smolensk principality was captured, as well as part of the Chernigov lands in the north. In those years, the population of the capital of the principality was more than twenty thousand people.

A fall

After the death of Vseslav in 1101, his sons divided the principality into appanages: Vitebsk, Minsk, Polotsk, Logoisk and others. And already in 1127, taking advantage of the disagreements between the princes, he seized and plundered the Polotsk land. The Izyaslavichi were taken prisoner, and then completely exiled to distant Byzantium. So, by the end of the XII century, the authority of the Polotsk principality in the international arena finally fell, and part of the territories were seized by Novgorodians and Chernigovites.

In the XIII century, a new disaster struck the Polotsk lands - the Order of the Swordsmen, which later became Livonian. The then reigning prince Vladimir Polotsky fought with the crusaders for more than twenty years, but he could not stop them. This was the beginning of the end of independence. And in 1307 Polotsk became part of

Culture of the Polotsk principality

It was this principality that became the place where the Belarusian statehood, as well as culture and writing, were born. Such names as Lazar Bogsha, Francis Skaryna, and Simeon Polotsk are associated with Polotsk. They are the pride of the Belarusian nation.

With the advent of Christianity in the Polotsk lands, architecture began to develop. So, the first monumental building made of stone was Polotsk Sophia Cathedral, built in the 1050s. And in 1161 the jeweler Lazar Bogshay created a masterpiece of applied art of the Eastern Slavs - the unique cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk. The XIII century was the time when the Belarusian language appeared.

The first of the appanage principalities to separate from the the old Russian state, later gaining independence. In the period from the 14th to the 18th century, it was part of.

The Polotsk principality carries its history of existence even before. It is known that in the early 870s the prince obliged the Polotsk citizens to pay tribute, and later the Kiev prince did the same. In the period from 972 to 980. the Norman Rogvolod reigned on the Polotsk land, the principality was considered dependent on the prince who then ruled in Kiev. The Polotsk land was listed as part of the Old Russian state already in 980 after the prince killed Rogvolod, captured Polotsk and married Rogneda, the daughter of the victim. In 988 - 989 Vladimir appointed his son Izyaslav to the throne, who later became the ancestor of the princely dynasty. In 992, the Polotsk diocese was formed.

Despite the fact that the lands of the principality were almost barren, it was located at the intersection of important trade routes along the Dvina, Neman and Berezina; formidable forests defended the enemy from attacks. This contributed to the resettlement of foreign peoples here. The cities developed rapidly, becoming trade and craft centers (Polotsk, Izyaslav, Minsk, etc.). Such prosperity in the economy gave the Izyaslavichs some resources, on the basis of which they fought against the Kiev authorities for independence.

From 1001 to 1044 Bryachislav - the heir of Izyaslav led an independent policy, trying to expand his possessions, taking advantage of the weakening of Russia due to. In 1021, he managed to capture Veliky Novgorod, but then the prince gave him a rebuff on the river. Sudome. Yaroslav, out of courtesy to Bryachislav, allocated him the Usvyat and Vitebsk volosts.

The peak of the power of the Polotsk principality is considered to be the period of the reign of Vseslav (1044 - 1101), the son of Bryachislav. He began to expand the lands to the north and northwest, imposing tribute on the neighboring tribes of the Livs and Latgalians. In 1067, after unsuccessful campaigns against, the prince struck back at Vseslav, capturing Minsk, defeating his squad, and together with his two sons took prisoner. The Polotsk principality passed into the possession of Izyaslav. On September 14, 1068, the Kiev residents who rebelled against Izyaslav overthrew him and Vseslav regained Polotsk. In 1069 - 1072. despite brutal war with Izyaslav, Mstislav, Svyatopolk and Yaropolk (the sons of Izyaslav), Vseslav preserved the Polotsk principality.

In 1078 he captured the Smolensk principality and a part in the north. However, in 1078 - 1079. the prince attacked the Polotsk principality and destroyed some of the cities. In 1084 he captured Minsk and defeated the Polotsk land. Vseslav exhausted all his resources and stopped expanding his possessions. After the death of Vseslav in 1101, the Polotsk principality fell apart into appanages. In 1119, the Izyaslavichy aggression against their neighbors ceases after unsuccessful attempts get Novgorod and the Smolensk principality. The principality is weakening, Kiev is taking advantage of the moment: in 1119, Vladimir Monomakh captures the inheritance of Gleb Vseslavich, and he himself is thrown into prison; in 1127 he ravages the Polotsk land in the south-west; in 1129, thanks to the refusal of the Izyaslavichs to march with the Russians against the Polovtsi, Mstislav seized the principality and at the Kiev Congress asked for the imprisonment and deportation of the Polotsk princes to Byzantium; Then he gives the Polotsk land to his son Izyaslav, and in the cities he puts the governors.

In 1132, one of the Izyaslavichs, Vasilko Svyatoslavich, managed to return the Polotsk principality, but not its former power and strength. In the 12th century, a fierce struggle for the princely throne flared up between Rogvolod Borisovich and Rostislav Glebovich. In 1150 - 1160. Rogvolod fails in an attempt to reunite the principality due to disagreements with other Izyaslavichi and outside interference (the prince and others). By the 13th century, German knights conquer the tributaries of Polotsk; by 1252 Polotsk and other cities were taken by the Lithuanian princes; at the end of the 13th century, in the struggle between the Teutonic Order, Lithuania and the Smolensk princes for the Polotsk lands, Lithuania gained the upper hand.

In 1307, the Lithuanian prince Viten conquered Polotsk from the sword-bearers, and Gedemin, who ruled after, took possession of the Minsk and Vitebsk principalities. By 1385, the Polotsk principality became part of the Lithuanian state.