Treaty of Russia with Byzantium: a general characteristic

In Ancient Rus the law was represented by the norms of customary law. There were no written collections containing them. The law was an oral body of law. The treaties were international and between the princes were oral. The first written documents of international law, which have survived to this day, were the treaties of Russia with Byzantium.

Rus and Byzantium

Until the end of the first millennium, the Right in Russia was oral, there was no written rule of law. The first written agreements appeared precisely because of uneasy relations with Byzantium, the successor of Roman law, where the principles and norms were developed, which became the basis of legal relations in any civilized state.

Between Rus and Byzantium there was always a mutual interest. The treaties of Russia with Byzantium were concluded, despite the fact that their main points of contact are military clashes, but they created and aroused interest in each other, mutual respect. This we see from the treaties that were drawn up after the next military clash. After reading them, you can not see where the defeated, and where the winner. It was in times of military clashes that Russia's treaties with Byzantium were signed, and thanks to them relations were being built in the future, under which trade and cultural ties developed.

The points of interaction between the interests of the two states took place mainly along the coast of the Black Sea and the Crimea, where Byzantium had subordinate territories. Russia needed exits to the southern seas for the further development of trade. Frequent trips of Russian troops to the south were connected with the expansion of trade routes. It was trade relations that were devoted to a number of items that were included in the treaties of Rus with Byzantium.

Formation of the Byzantine State

At the end of IV century the Great Roman Empire gradually fell into decay. From the west it was besieged by numerous tribes of barbarians, who by their raids destroyed a great civilization. But the visionary Roman emperor Constantine in the IV century transferred the capital of the state to the eastern part of the empire, to the city of Constantinople that he founded, which was located on the shores of the Bosphorus Bay in the place of the ancient Greek city of Byzantium. This step, in fact, divided the empire into two parts.

Rome was ruled by its rulers, but Constantinople remained the main city of the empire. By the end of the fifth century, almost the entire territory of Western Europe was captured by German barbarians. The western part of the Roman Empire did not resist them either. The tribes of the German barbarians seized and plundered Rome. The state and ancient civilization came to an end.

At the time of the plundering of Rome by barbarians, Byzantium was a very powerful empire, which was also attacked by conquerors, including Russian princes' squads. After each hike, a written treaty with Russia was drawn up with Byzantium. By the end of the first millennium Byzantium was a powerful empire capable of deflecting part of the lands of the Western Roman Empire and holding them for more than two centuries. A prosperous state contributed to the construction of new cities, with beautiful palaces and temples. He was destined to stand more than ten hundred years, multiplying and preserving the heritage of the great Roman Empire.

Byzantium is the heiress of Rome

The ancient state of Byzantium, in its essence, is the cultural heir and civilizational successor of the Great Roman Empire - the second Rome. Most of its population is the Greeks, who led the empire to Christianity. It continued to develop and prosper. Byzantium made an invaluable contribution to the world development of mankind. It was an enlightened Christian state. Here lived and worked scientists, musicians, poets, philosophers and lawyers.

Byzantium was retained Roman law. It not only survived, but continued to develop and also dealt with relations with other countries, evidences of this are the treaties of Rus with Byzantium. One of the most important achievements of the empire was the systematization and ordering (codification) of Roman law. That is, all text documents were rightfully revised, systematized according to chapters, parts, paragraphs, articles. In this state, the law exists today in all civilized countries.

Ruses of the Ruses against Byzantium

Byzantium flourished. The western cities of the Roman Empire were destroyed by the barbarians. The cities that make up Byzantium continued their peaceful development. Much attention was paid to trade. Through Byzantium, the famous route from the Varangians to the Greeks passed. It is not surprising that the state was constantly attacked by the barbarians, who tried to seize the riches of the empire.

The Ancient Rus, whose campaigns against Byzantium wore, above all, was not the goal of annexation of new lands, was not an exception, and she was interested in trade relations and getting a rich tribute. At that time Byzantium was the center of Christianity, and Russia was the pagan country of the barbarians. Although the Russian squads marched behind the tribute, Byzantium made every effort to establish its relations with the northern country. After the campaigns, successful or unsuccessful, another contract was signed between Rus and Byzantium.

Contracts

Byzantium was of interest to Rus. And, above all, as a highly developed state formation. At the same time, Russia was profitable for Byzantium. In the Byzantine army there were many Slavs and northern Scandinavians. They were excellent warriors: brave and hardy. Byzantium had a great influence on the countries of Eastern Europe, including Russia. Relations between the two countries could be judged by the agreements concluded between them. Points of agreements dealt with vital issues that help to build complex relationships.

Up to our time, the first 5 treaties of Russia and Byzantium have reached. They represent a translation from Greek into the Old Slavonic language and are contained in the most ancient manuscript "The Tale of Bygone Years". These are the very first treaties of Russia. Byzantium was a great positive influence on the process of the formation of the state and the principles of the law of the northern neighbor. The agreements are considered to be the basic prerequisites for early written sources of Russian law.

Treaty of 907

The first written treaty between Rus and Byzantium was signed in 907. But not all scientists believe the same. Some researchers are inclined to speculate about the emergence of it as a preparatory document. So it is or not, to confirm or deny one of the opinions is not possible.

Treaty of 911

It was concluded on September 2 and marked the most successful campaign of Prince Oleg's squad for Byzantium.

What caused the conclusion of the treaty between Russia and Byzantium? First of all, it was needed to establish good-neighborly relations, to resolve the issue of trade, shipping, those issues that often arise when communicating with people living in two countries. The agreement shows that the ambassadors were sent to the prince, who were instructed, first of all, to assure the kings of the Greek Leo, Alexander and Constantine in sincere friendship and good-neighborliness. Further on the items, the vital issues concerning relations between the two countries and people participating in certain events on the territory of Russia or Byzantium were discussed in detail.

Treaty of 945

Prince Igor concluded the treaty of Rus with Byzantium after his crushing defeat as a result of the 945 campaign. This agreement practically copied all the points of the 911 treaty. In addition, new items and amendments to earlier ones were added to it. Thus, for example, in the treaty of 911, an item was introduced to provide Russian merchants with benefits when visiting Byzantium. The 945 treaty amended that this would be done if they had special princely letters. The list of benefits was significantly reduced.

Since the signing of the treaty, Russia was ordered not to assert its rights to the possessions of Byzantium in the Crimea. In addition, Russia was not allowed to leave ambushes at the mouth of the Dnieper River and was ordered to help Byzantium during the conduct of hostilities.

The Russian-Byzantine War of 970-971

The essence of the military conflict was the following, during the reign of Prince Svyatoslav, in 969 the Bulgarian-Byzantine conflict occurred. To the Russian prince were sent ambassadors of Byzantium with considerable gifts to persuade the ruler to punish the Bulgarian Tsar Peter. Prince Svyatoslav with his team moved in the direction of Bulgaria, which he conquered and began to rule it.

But then the Russian prince together with the Bulgarians went against Byzantium. The war lasted until June 21, 971, when the last battle took place, which ended in vain. In Constantinople was uneasy, an attempt was made coup. The army of Rusich was exhausted and lost a lot of dead. As always, part of the top of the Bulgarians took the side of the Greeks.

Treaty of 971

Svyatoslav addressed the emperor John Tzimisce with a proposal to conclude a peace in which he put forward favorable conditions for Rus, including the restoration of the former relations with Byzantium. The Emperor without hesitation agreed to everything. The treaty left in force all the conditions of the previous document, and Prince Svyatoslav promised never against Byzantium to fight, not to incite other states to war against it and become an ally of the great empire.

Treaty of 1046

Ten years later, in 981, the Russian prince Vladimir took Chersonese, married the daughter of the emperor - Princess Anne and the baptism of Rus took place. Russia became a reliable ally of Byzantium. Under the emperor is the Russian military corps, on Mount Athos there is a Russian monastery. But in 1043 the tension between the two countries again reigns, leading to a new campaign of Russian troops on the sea boats to Tsargrad. The hurricane and the so-called "Greek fire" of the Byzantines caused the death of the naval squadron.

According to some reports, in 1044 Rusichs took Chersonese, in 1046 Prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich married the daughter of Emperor Constantine Monomakh and a peace treaty was concluded between Rus and Byzantium.