Prince Svyatopolk Izyaslavich. Domestic and foreign policy during the reign of Svyatopolk

Studying the life of the princes who ruled the cities of Kievan Rus (Kiev, Novgorod, Chernigov, Vladimir-Volynsky) and others, historians draw parallels, how family ties and personal qualities influenced the formation of the great state of Kievan Rus.

Svyatopolk Izyaslavich was more remembered by his descendants as the ruler of foreign policy, which did little for the unity of the state.

Pedigree of Svyatopolk Izyaslavich

Svyatopolk (at the baptism of Michael) was born on November 8, 1050. His father Izyaslav Yaroslavich was the prince of Kiev. Who mother, for certain is not known. According to some sources, it was his father's concubine, according to other sources - the daughter of the Polish king Mieszko II - Gertrude.

Svyatopolk's father was the middle son of Yaroslav the Wise and the Swedish princess Ingegerda (Irina at baptism).

Izyaslav reigned in Kiev, when his son Sviatopolk turned 19 years old, and he planted him to rule in Polotsk in 1069.

The historical period of development of Kievan Rus after the death of Yaroslav the Wise is considered a time of troubles when Svyatopolk Izyaslavich and other princes waged constant wars with each other and the Polovtsians.

The beginning of the reign

The reign in Polotsk of Izyaslav's son lasted only 2 years, after which he had to leave the city and return to his father in Kiev, as the former lord of the volost returned the city.

In 1073-1077 Svyatopolk with his father was in exile, and after Izyaslav again began to reign in Kiev, gave his son Novgorod, whom he ruled until 1088. From 1089 to 1093 he ruled in Turov. The death of the last of the sons of Yaroslav the Wise led to the fact that the reign in Kiev was to pass to his eldest grandson - Svyatopolk.

Although the people of Kiev wished to be ruled by Vladimir Monomakh, Yaroslav's younger grandson, he did not want to violate the law and invited Svyatopolk to take the prince's throne. So in 1093 he became the prince of Kiev.

The battle with the Polovtsians

The reign of Svyatopolk Izyaslavich in Kiev lasted intermittently from 1093 to 1113 and remained in the memory of the people as a vague and cruel time. In the first year the new prince showed himself as a short-sighted ruler, who does not understand the position of Kievan Rus in foreign policy.

While Svyatopolk Izyaslavich took the throne, the Polovtsian horde went with the war to Russia. But after learning about the new prince, they sent ambassadors with the world and various requirements for his imprisonment. The prince did not listen to the advice of the boyars, who were advisers even under his father and uncle, but he heeded the demand of his vigilantes, who came after him from Turov, to imprison the ambassadors.

This decision was the beginning of disasters that accompanied the entire board of Svyatopolk. The Polovtsy went to war, and although the prince dismissed the ambassadors and proposed peace, it was too late. Having a squad of only 800 soldiers, he could not resist the Polovtsian princes.

After listening, finally, to the Kiev boyars, Svyatopolk asked for help from the Chernigov prince Vladimir Monomakh. He came not alone, but he called with his brother Rostislav and his team. But, even having collected troops together, they found that their numbers were considerably inferior to the Polovtsian army.

When both armies met on the different banks of the Stugni River, Vladimir suggested entering into negotiations with the Polovtsi, but Svyatopolk did not heed the advice and decided to fight, which turned out to be devastating for Rusich. Svyatopolk fled with the remnants of his army to Trepol, and then to Kiev.

Vladimir Monomakh in this battle lost his brother and most of the squad and boyars and returned to Chernigov in great sorrow. The Polovtsi seized and plundered the lands north of Kiev and destroyed the town of Torchesk, capturing all its inhabitants.

Only in 1094 Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, whose reign began with great losses, made peace with the Polovtsi, marrying the daughter of the most influential Khan, Tugorkan.

Lyubech Congress

The struggle of the princes for the Chernigov and Novgorod destinies led to constant quarrels and bloodshed until the princes decided to assemble and settle all issues with peace. In 1097, the grandchildren of Yaroslav the Wise met in Lyubech: Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, Vladimir Monomakh, David Igorevich, Oleg with his brother David and Vasilko Rostislavich.

The purpose of the meeting was to unite the princes of Kievan Rus against external enemies and to assign to each of them those destinies that they were put under the law. This was done so that the princes did not pretend to land each other and did not wage wars of internecine strife.

All agreed with the division of land, and those who and where will rule. The princes kissed the cross as a sign that they agreed with the decision, and promised not to violate it. Also, all agreed that they would unite against the one who violated the oath.

The decision of this congress was of historical significance, since it clearly showed the internal fragmentation of Kievan Rus to separate independent principalities, ready to unite in the event of external danger. All this influenced the relations between the princes and it was changed only by the death of Svyatopolk Izyaslavich and the coming to power of Vladimir Monomakh.

Congress in Vitečev

Svyatopolk violated the oath given in Lyubech, listening to the deceptive speeches of David, who envied the brothers Vasilko and Volodar Rostislavich. Inviting Vasilka to his birthday, Svyatopolk allowed David to blind him and take him to Vladimir.

This act outraged all the boyars and princes, since such an insidious cruelty was not yet between them. Vladimir Monomakh called on other participants in the congress of brothers Oleg and David Svyatoslavich and went to Kiev.

Civil strife did not happen only because to ask for Kiev and the Russian land came Vladimir's stepmother. The princes demanded that Svyatopolk go to war with David Igorevich, which he did in 1099.

The subsequent wars led to a new congress, which took place in 1100 in Vitichevsk. His result was the accession of Vladimir-Volynsky to the lands of Svyatopolk.

Dolobsky Congress

The Dolobsky Congress of 1103 was appointed by Vladimir Monomakh to hold a council with the Prince of Kiev on the need for campaigns against the Polovtsians. Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, whose internal and foreign policy did not contribute to the strengthening of Rus and liberation from the Polovtsian yoke, did not want military campaigns, referring to the desire of the squad not to fight, but to sow.

At a meeting near Lake Dolobal, on the left bank of the Dnieper, Vladimir held a speech in which he convinced that before sowing, the borders should be strengthened, or the enemies would ravage the villages and burn the crops.

He persuaded both the vigilantes and Svyatopolk of the need for war against the Polovtsians. Thus began the campaigns of Rusich against the conquerors.

Hiking in the Polovets

The military actions begun in 1103 became the first association of the princes of Kievan Rus against the Polovtsian khans. The confrontation between the two armies, which lasted for more than seven years, led to the fact that in each new battle the Rusichs gained a crushing victory.

The decisive battle was the battle on March 27, 1111, when the Polovtsian troops could not stand the fierce assault of Russian troops and turned to flight. The princes with rich booty returned home.

Wives and children of Svyatopolk

Historians know nothing about the first wife of Svyatopolk, but in this marriage were born:

• Son Yaroslav (1072-1123) - at different times Prince Vladimir-Volynsky, Vyshgorodsky and Turovsky;
• Daughter Anna (died in 1136);
• Daughter of Sbyslava (died in 1111);
• Daughter of Predslav.

The second wife was the daughter of Khan Tugorkana, in baptism Elena. From this marriage were born:

• Bryachislav (1104-1123);
• Izyaslav (died in 1127);
• Maria (died later than 1145).

The eldest son of Svyatopolk was Mstislav's son (died in 1099), born of a concubine.

The death of Svyatopolk Izyaslavich (date 16.04.1113) led to a popular uprising in Kiev. The people, dissatisfied with the reign of the deceased prince, demanded the throne of Vladimir Monomakh. Only to stop the unrest, he agreed to reign in Kiev.

Svyatopolk in the history of Kievan Rus

The death of Svyatopolk Izyaslavich put an end to the vague time, which in the history of Kievan Rus was called one of the bloodiest and cruelest. With the advent of the government of Vladimir Monomakh, the once isolated state became a single and powerful state.

An example of bloody trouble and mass death of people with the short-sighted and irresolute policy of Svyatopolk became a warning for the subsequent rulers of Kievan Rus.