In what year did Kiev and Novgorod unite? Association of Kiev and Novgorod (briefly)

The unification of Kiev and Novgorod, which happened in 882, is considered to be the date of the formation of the Russian state. The founder of him rightly considered Prince Oleg, deservedly called "prophetic", that is, foreseeing the future. He was the first collector of Russian lands. Intelligent, determined and far-sighted, he rightly belongs to the list of 100 great generals of the world.

The main source of information

The epochal dates in the history of the Russian state include the year 882. The unification of Kiev and Novgorod, two large shopping centers of Eastern Slavic tribes at that time, marked the beginning of the birth of a large, original civilization with a unique culture. The main source of events of ancient Russian history is the "Tale of Bygone Years" (hereinafter PVL). This is the earliest chronicle. It is also called the "Original Chronicle" or "Nestorovo Chronicle", from which it can be concluded that many scholars consider the monk of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Nestor (circa 1056-1114) the author of this source, a large hagiographer (a theologian studying the lives of saints) and the chronicler .

How it all began

In this chronicle, the period of the history of Russian lands from the Biblical times to 1117 is described. According to the PVL, the unification of Kiev and Novgorod took place in 882 under the leadership of the legendary prince Oleg. At once it is necessary to make a reservation that by modern historians everything that concerns ancient Russia is disputed. But there are more or less generally accepted information. It is known that Oleg was a relative of Rurik, or rather his wife's brother - Efanida. After the death of Rurik Oleg became the guardian of the young Igor, and before his maturity - the ruler of the Novgorod lands. Many scientists point to the fact that in those days, of which we are talking, Novgorod, as such, did not yet exist. There was a large fortified shopping center Ladoga on the Volkhov River, known throughout the eastern Baltic. It was Ryurikovo ancient settlement, located under the present Novgorod.

The first unifier of Russian lands

In the 10th century the Detinets fortress was built here, which united three separate villages. But in the PVL 862 is indicated as the date of the first mention of Novgorod, and 1150 of its foundation Russia celebrated in 2009. The most popular version says that the city was, it was asked by the townspeople for the reign of the Scandinavians, came here, ruled here and gave birth Son of Rurik, who died in 879. Come to power voevoda Oleg immediately engaged in the transformation of the squad and the strengthening of existing borders. Then, three years later, he began to unite the Russian lands by conquests. A very clever and far-sighted politician, under the leadership of which the unification of the lands of Novgorod and Kiev took place, did not always act by force - bloodlessly, he cunningly subjugated Kiev and, later, Constantinople, charging exorbitant bribes from merchants of the East Slavic north.

The urgent need

To take control of most of the land along the way of goods - it was necessary and reasonable decision. Having obtained power, the prince immediately decided to conquer the lands lying along the trade route "from the Varangians to the Greeks". Obviously, the union of Oleg Novgorod and Kiev had been planned for a long time, maybe Rurik had these plans. Or maybe it was Oleg who was so far-sighted, after all, one of the main sources of money for the treasury of the state was trade. And the goods along the route were heavily taxed. Following the south with 2 thousand troops, Oleg subdued Slavic tribes living along the banks of the Dnieper, Pripyat, the Bug, the Dniester and the Sozh River. They were Drevlyane, Northerners, Radimichs. Earlier Rurik united under his rule the Finno-Ugrians (they included chudis, measures, weights), Ilmen Slovaks, Krivichi, that is, the East Slavic north, which in foreign sources is called Slavia. Thus, the first merit of Oleg was the expansion of the borders of the Russian land. And strengthening. Everywhere along the route he built cities and fortresses.

Retribution

The union of Kiev and Novgorod was conceived by Oleg for one more purpose - he wanted to punish the usurpers of Dir and Askold, who, according to one of the legends, betrayed Rurik. Departing for the conquest of Constantinople, these vigilantes settled in Kiev and refused to recognize the power of Rurik. They were not a princely family, and this gave Oleg the right to demand their refusal from power. Approaching the city, the strategist and cautious politician Oleg did not want to shed the blood of his soldiers, forcing them to take a well-fortified center, located on a high mountain, which made the fortress unassailable. Oleg pretended to be a Varangian merchant. The soldiers lay down on the bottom of the rooks, on top of them they covered with sacks of goods. The then masters of the city, Askold and Dir, went to the dock to take away the best of the brought, and take the tribute for permission to proceed further along the Dnieper to the sea. They were captured and killed, buried in different places.

Clever diplomat

So the unification of Kiev and Novgorod took place under the leadership of one man - Prince Oleg, who immediately began to strengthen the conquered city. It was he who entered the city, according to the legends, called Kiev "the mother of Russian cities." Oleg wanted to make this settlement the capital and to establish here his residence. Of course, Kyiv did not stop it. But even further Oleg acted very sensibly. Some tribes (mentioned above drevlyane, northerners, radimichi), he annexed to Russia, freeing them from paying an exorbitant tribute to the Khazar Khaganate. Territories that were subject to Oleg became a powerful power, the formation of which was initiated by the unification of Kiev and Novgorod. Year 882 is traditionally considered the beginning of Russian statehood.

"To revenge the unreasonable Khazars"

Oleg's second greatest thing was that he was the first to deliver a powerful blow to the aggressor - the Khazar Khaganate, which terrorized everything around. When prophetic Oleg was going to "revenge the unreasonable Khazars," Pechenegs appeared on his side, and the Magyars on the side of the enemies, who, carrying huge losses, were forced to flee for the Carpathians. The Russian army was becoming invincible.

And the beginning of all this is what happened in the year 882 unification of Kiev and Novgorod. It proved to be profitable also by the fact that in Kiev the level of civilization was slightly higher - there the crafts, crafts, the same trade and culture developed intensively. The united state was tightened up to the level of the future capital. The new big power will later be called Rus. Oleg and the growing Igor believed in the power of their troops.

"Your shield on the gates of Tsaregrad"

Oleg's third feat was the termination of the payment of tribute to Constantinople and the conclusion of contracts that were very beneficial for the new state with the Greeks. The merchants did not pay any more exorbitant duties. Perhaps it was only because prophetic Oleg united under his own head two Russian state centers - Kiev and Novgorod.

In addition, Kiev was the gateway to Byzantium, which at that time was the focus of science and culture and far exceeded the level of civilization all the countries of Europe. The signing of peace treaties with this country was, of course, in Russia's hands. Vospetyj A.S. Pushkin, Grand Duke Oleg nailed the shield to the gates of Tsaregrad (Constantinople), that is, conquered the city. Such successes he would never have achieved, if he did not complete the unification of Kiev and Novgorod. The year of this great event will forever remain in the annals of Russian history. The era of the formation of the Old Russian state is associated with the names of Oleg, Igor, Olga and Svyatoslav. Kievan Rus, at the peak of its heyday, occupied the territories bounded from the west by the Dniester and the upper Vistula, tributaries of the Volga from the east, the Taman Peninsula from the south and the upper reaches of the Northern Dvina from the north. The creation of such a large state in Eastern Europe was put by the association of Novgorod and Kiev under Oleg.

Complex problem solving

Of course, only taking Kiev could not be a super task. The new state represented an early feudal monarchy, headed by a single ruler who concentrated all power in his hands. The treasury was filled mainly due to the tribute levied on the conquered peoples. Subjugation of neighboring tribes ensured the solution of several tasks: raids decreased, revenues to the treasury increased, merchants sent goods duty-free, which in the end also increased the country's might. The solution of these tasks was possible only for a strong state, the birth of which initiated the unification of Novgorod and Kiev. The date, the importance of which is difficult to overestimate, played a major role in the formation of our country. Were later, and internecine wars, and the collapse of the powers to small principalities, but the state that already existed earlier, revived, united in the face of the enemy and defeated him in all wars. This is the essence of Russia, in this is its mentality, which is a combination of intellectual, emotional and cultural characteristics. He inherited descendants from the Varangian squad of Oleg, who came from the north to Constantinople and conquered him.

Short description

The combination of Kiev and Novgorod can be briefly described as follows. After the death in 879 of Rurik, power passed into the hands of his brother-in-law and the guardian of his young son Igor. Oleg Voevoda, having received the reins of government, fortified and arranged the lands that remained after the deceased for three years. Then, with a well-trained squad whose strike force was Varangian warriors, he moved south to conquer the lands, preferably all those who were traveling along the trade route "from the Varangians to the Greeks" and, thus, to save the merchants and the country from paying exorbitant tribute to Carried goods. Kiev, lying on this path, like Constantinople, were the most important tax collectors.