Biography of Vladimir Monomakh - Russian prince and great commander

In 1053, in the family of Anna (Greek princess) and Vsevolod I Yaroslavich, Vladimir was born - a descendant of the Rurikovichs. Monomakh nicknamed him from the mother's kind. According to historians, Anna was either a daughter, or niece of the Byzantine emperor himself. In this article you will be presented with a brief biography of Vladimir Monomakh.

Childhood

Childhood prince, passed at the court of his father - Vsevolod. From a young age, he showed himself brave and resourceful. It was all the fault of training the centurion's princes. We can say that the military biography of Vladimir Monomakh began from the moment when the prince was 14 years old. Just then he headed the squad and periodically made long trips with her. Young Vladimir was brutally suppressed uprising vyatichi and made several successful attacks on the territory of the Polovtsians. The prince also loved hunting. And he did not allow the jaegers to protect themselves from danger. Because of this Vladimir Monomakh, whose brief biography is known to all schoolchildren, constantly got into unpleasant situations: he was under the feet of an elk and on the horns of a deer. And on one of the hunts wild boar managed to tear off his sword from his hip.

Hiking and death of father

Further biography of Vladimir Monomakh had several important campaigns. In 1076, together with the Poles and Oleg Svyatoslavich, he went against the Czechs. And then he twice spoke with Svyatopolk and his father against the prince of Polotsk. Two years later, Vsevolod became a prince of Kiev, giving the leadership of Vladimir Chernigov. In 1080, Monomakh repulsed several Polovtsi raids on their lands, and also destroyed nomadic-torks.

In 1093 Vsevolod died, and Vladimir had the opportunity to take the throne in Kiev. But, not wishing war with his cousin Svyatopolk, he conceded to him this right. Monomakh himself remained to rule in Chernigov and extended his power to Smolensk and Rostov.

Under Sviatopolk Izyaslavich

After the death of Vsevolod, Vladimir and Svyatopolk, the Polovtsians were defeated at Stugna. Then they again met with them in a new battle under Khalep. No one knows the outcome of the battle, but after him a truce was immediately signed, sealed by the union of Svyatopolk and the daughter of Khan Tugorkan.

Soon the world was broken, and in 1094 the Polovtsians beat back Chernigov from Vladimir, which forced him to settle in Pereyaslavl princedom. In the next few years, he and Svyatopolk participated in numerous campaigns against the Polovtsi, beating off the cities seized from him and uniting the Russian lands.

The beginning of the reign

After the death of Svyatopolk in 1113, the biography of Vladimir Monomakh was marked by a very significant event. Because of the popular uprising that broke out in Kiev, the leaders of society asked him to take the throne. Be a prince, Vladimir suppressed the insurrection, but still softened the position of the lower by the approval of several laws. Thus appeared the "Charter of the Rez", which limited the income of moneylenders, defined the rules of enslavement and eased the situation of purchases and debtors.

During this period, the prince actively engaged in the strengthening of Kievan Rus. 3/4 of its territories were under his leadership at the expense of his sons. Another way to control became dynastic marriages between the Rurik people. All the daughters and granddaughters of the ruler were given out for different princes. According to the biography of Vladimir Monomakh of that period, stability in the state was maintained only on the authority of the prince. He earned it in the fight against the Polovtsians.

War with Byzantium

The biography of Prince Vladimir Monomakh includes hikes not only for the purpose of protecting their lands, but also for the purpose of capturing strangers. So, in 1114 in Russia appeared False Diogen II, who declared himself a descendant of the Byzantine emperor. Monomakh supported him, giving his impostor Maria to the impostor. In 1116, having collected a considerable army, Vladimir went to Byzantium with the war on the pretext of returning the throne to the "true prince". With the support of Monomakh, Lzhediogen possessed several Danube towns. In one of them he was overtaken by two assassins, sent by Alexei I (the Byzantine emperor). But the war did not end there. Vladimir continued to act in the interests of Basil (son of Lzhediogen), but all his attempts were unsuccessful. Soon Byzantium won all the Danube land. The war ended with a dynastic marriage in 1123: the granddaughter of the prince married a Byzantine emperor. On this brief biography of Vladimir Monomakh is over. It remains to say a few words about his death.

Death

Vladimir Monomakh, whose brief biography was presented in this article, ruled Kiev for almost 13 years. He died in May 1125 and was buried in the St. Sophia Cathedral next to his father. Now, thanks to the lessons of history, the name of Monomakh is known to everyone. It was the greatest prince, who united the Russian land, defended it and stopped all strife. To accomplish these goals, he has accomplished more than eighty campaigns. The merit of the prince is undeniable. It is not for nothing that Monomakh's cap is considered the crown of the autocracy and a symbol of the unification of Russian lands.