Vladimir-Suzdal principality - princes, culture, geographical location. Three centers of Russian statehood in the era of political fragmentation

During the period of fragmentation in Russia, several large centers emerged. One of them was the Vladimir-Suzdal principality.

Location

The territory of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality was located in the north-east of Russia, in the interfluve of the Oka and Volga. This factor, as well as a favorable climate, contributed to the popularity of the principality and the strengthening of its independence.

On the site of the ancient tribal centers, the main cities arose: Rostov, Suzdal, Yaroslavl, Vladimir, Dmitrov. The largest cities of the principality: Murom, Yaroslavl. The capital of the principality since the middle of the XII century is Vladimir on the Klyazma.

The geographical position of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality played big role in the development of these lands. This was due to the fact that the famous Volga trade route passed through the territory of the principality, which led to the development of trade and ensured a large influx of population. The neighbors of the Slavs - the Finno-Ugric tribes - conducted active trade with them and maintained cultural ties.

Economic development of the principality

Above, the description of geographical conditions and their impact on the economy was briefly touched upon. Let's dwell on this issue in more detail. Since ancient times, peoples have built their cities near large rivers. They were a source of food, protected the territory from the raids of enemy tribes and contributed to the development of agriculture.

Natural and climatic conditions and the presence of fertile soil led to the development of agriculture, cattle breeding, hunting and fishing. The townspeople were actively engaged in trade and handicrafts, art developed.

The presence of trade routes had a great impact on the economy and economy of the principality. Import and export of goods is an important source of income not only for the population, but also for the princely treasury. FROM Eastern countries Slavs carried out trade through the Volga trade route. Trade with Western European countries was also important. It was carried out through the sources of the Volga and the system of rivers flowing on the territory of the principality.

By the beginning of the 12th century, the process of formation of large boyar land ownership began on the territory of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality. The princes granted land to the boyars. Those, in turn, were entirely dependent on the prince. We will consider the features of governance in the principality below.

Political structure

The control system of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality was completely subordinate to the will of the prince, in whose hands all branches of power were concentrated. However, this did not exclude the existence of governing bodies, they were: the Council under the Prince, Veche and feudal congresses. The first two were convened exclusively to resolve the most important issues, in particular, regarding politics at the international level.

A large role is given to the squad, which becomes the main support of princely power. Local government was subordinate to the governors and volosters, who carried out the will of the prince.

Legislation in the principality was based on a set of laws created under, "Russian Truth".

To sum up and present the main socio-economic and political features:

The main branch of the economy was agriculture.
The population of the principality was constantly increasing due to people who fled from the raids of nomads and were looking for favorable conditions for farming.
The development of urban planning. The appearance of Moscow, Kostroma, Pereyaslavl-Zalessky.
Unlimited nature of princely power with the existence of an advisory body - Veche.

In the 9th - 12th centuries, the colonization of North-Eastern Russia took place - the settlement of the Finno-Ugric lands between the Oka and the Volga by the Slavic people. Subsequently, one of the most influential principalities of Specific Russia, the Vladimir-Suzdal lands (12th - 15th centuries), was formed on this territory.

The independent development of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality began in 1154, when he became the great prince of Kyiv. He made Suzdal the capital of the principality.

Even before the formation of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality, a dark spot in the history of the Suzdal land was the uprising of the Magi in 1024. Then, as the chronicle reports, due to the drought, a terrible crop failure occurred, which provoked the Magi (priests). They began to kill the "older child". Then he was forced to go to Suzdal to settle the situation.

1157 - the beginning of the reign of the son of Prince Dolgoruky -. Prince Andrei moved the capital from Suzdal to Vladimir. He strengthened his power, extended it to other lands. Prince Bogolyubsky actively rebuilt and elevated his principality, he wanted it to become the religious center of all Russia.

From 1176 to 1212 the reign of brother Andrei - who had a large number of heirs. Under him, the principality reached power. After his death, the principality was divided into numerous heirs, which contributed to the conquest and establishment of power over the lands of Specific Russia.

Under princes Andrei Bogolyubsky and Vsevolod 3, architecture was at a high level. Temples were actively built, which were supposed to glorify the principality. The architecture of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality had its own distinctive features. Even formed its own school, which used new material- high quality white stone - limestone (displacing the use of bricks).

Bright representatives of the mastery of the architects of Vladimir - princely lands are the Assumption Cathedral, the Dmitrievsky Cathedral and the palace of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky.

The development of the architectural school was interrupted by the Mongol-Tatar invasion of North-Eastern Russia. Subsequently, part of the traditions of the principality could not be fully revived.

The geographical position of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality was favorable for agriculture, cattle breeding, hunting and fishing.

The occupations of the population of large cities of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality included handicrafts, trade, construction, and the development of art.

The culture of the Vladimir-Suzdal Principality is represented by numerous paintings, literary monuments and jewelry art, developed to a high level. This development of culture is associated with the development natural resources territories of the principality and the policy of new social forces ("young squad").

By the 14th century independence specific principalities intensifies, some themselves claim the title of "Great" (Ryazan, Tver, Moscow, etc.). At the same time, the supreme power remains with the Grand Duke of Vladimir. He is perceived as the owner of the land, suzerain (a type of vassal feudal ruler, in whose subordination other smaller feudal lords) of the state territory. Legislative, executive, judicial, military and ecclesiastical power belongs to Prince Vladimirsky.

The features of the political and economic development of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality include:

Slower folding of feudal relations than in the Kyiv land. (By the time of the collapse Ancient Russia a strong boyars did not have time to form here, except for the city of Rostov);
The rapid growth of new cities (Vladimir, Yaroslavl, Moscow and others), successfully competing with the old ones (Rostov and Suzdal) and serving as a pillar of princely power. Moscow subsequently made the lands of North-Eastern Russia the basis of a single centralized state;
The main source of income is dues from the population (including for numerous buildings);
The military organization of the land consisted of a princely squad and a feudal militia;
Relations between peasants and feudal lords were based on norms. It was used in the Vladimir-Suzdal principality longer than in the rest;
The higher clergy played an important role in the life of the state.

From the side of foreign policy, there were 3 main directions carried out by the princes of North-Eastern Russia:

Volga Bulgaria;
Novgorod;
Kyiv.

The power of one person over another destroys, first of all, the one who rules.
Lev Tolstoy

Vladimir-Suzdal principality and its history - an important page Russian history, since already at the turn of the 12th-13th centuries it was the princes from Vladimir who achieved dominance over other principalities, as a result of which it was the Vladimir-Suzdal land that began to dominate Russia, and its princes began to exert the greatest influence on the politics and ways of not only their principality, but also to neighboring ones. In fact, by the 13th century, the political center of Russia was finally transferred from the South (Kyiv) to the Northeast (Vladimir and Suzdal).

Geographical position

The Vladimir-Suzdal principality was located in the northeastern part of Russia, in the interfluve of the Oka and Volga.

Map of the Vladimir-Suzdal land in the 12th-13th centuries

The largest cities in the principality: Vladimir, Suzdal, Uglich, Tver, Moscow, Kostroma, Galich, Beloozero, Veliky Ustyug and others. Basically, the cities were located in the southern part of the principality, and the farther north - the fewer cities.

The borders of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality passed with: the Novgorod Republic, the Smolensk principality, the Chernigov land, the Ryazan and Murom principalities.

princes

According to the Lyubech Congress of Princes, it was decided that the Rostov-Suzdal land (as the principality was originally called) was transferred to the control of the family of Vladimir Monomakh. Therefore, Yuri Dolgoruky, the son of Monomakh, became the first prince here.

Full list of princes:

Yuri Dolgoruky (r. 1125-1155)
Andrei Bogolyubsky (1157-1174)
Vsevolod Big Nest (1176 - 1212)
Yuri Vsevolodovich (1218 - 1238)
Yaroslav Vsevolodovich (1238-1246)
Alexander Nevsky (since 1252).

Just look at the list to understand what exactly these people used the greatest influence in Russia. The Vladimir-Suzdal princes mainly pursued the goal of independence from Kyiv and the subordination of other principalities to their power.

Peculiarities

The political features of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality consisted in the strong power of the prince. Unlike most other lands, here the prince was the head and decided all important issues. Schematically political feature this land can be represented as follows.

The strong power of the prince was possible due to the fact that in these lands there were a large number of new cities where a strong boyars had not yet had time to form. As a result, only the prince had real power, and the Veche had only an advisory character.

In general, the features of the development of the principality in the specific period (12-13 centuries) are as follows:

Unlimited princely power.
Population increase. People moved to these lands because they were relatively safe from nomadic raids.
Agriculture developed actively in the principality. There were many forests that served as natural protection.
Rapid urban growth. This applies both to new cities built during this period (Moscow, Pereyaslavl-Zalessky and others) and to old cities (Vladimir, Suzdal, Rostov, Yaroslavl and others).
Geographical location at the intersection of important trade routes along the Volga and Oka.

Economic features

Despite its geographical position, the Vladimir-Suzdal land had a large amount of arable land, which made agriculture a key aspect of the region's economic development. Also in these lands, other crafts were actively developed: fishing, hunting, beekeeping.

The resettlement of people from the south played a great influence on the economic development of the principality. They not only moved, but also carried elements of culture with them. Many of them were artisans, as a result of which the craft in the Vladimir-Suzdal land began to develop very quickly.

Development

Around the 30s of the 12th century, the Vladimir-Suzdal (at that time still Rostov-Suzdal) principality got rid of the power of Kyiv. So there was the creation of their own principality, which differed significantly from others in the form of a political structure. Princely power was strong in Vladimir. In many ways, this was the reason for the elevation of these lands to others. Suffice it to recall that in other principalities the system of government was different and less effective: in Novgorod, the boyars ruled through the Veche, and in the Galicia-Volyn lands, the power of the prince was comparable to that of the boyars.

Initially, the principality was called Rostov-Suzdal (under Dolgoruky), then Suzdal land (under Bogolyubsky) and only then Vladimir-Suzdal land (under the Big Nest).

An important event for this principality happened in 1238 - it was invaded by the Tatar-Mongols. Moreover, it was one of the first principalities for the invasion of the Mongols, so the main blow fell on the Vladimir-Suzdal land. As a result, since 1238 the principality recognized the Mongol power and was dependent on the Horde.

culture

The culture of the Vladimir-Suzdal land was multifaceted. Chronicle writing flourished here. Feature chronicles of this principality - emphasizing the greatness of the principality over others, as well as the special position of the city of Vladimir.

Architecture and construction actively developed in these lands. Builders most often used limestone white color. The peak of construction fell on the reign of Andrei Bogolyubsky and Vsevolod the Big Nest.

In the city of Vladimir, stone walls with golden gates were erected, and the Assumption Cathedral was also built. It was in this temple that the main religious shrines of the principality were kept. Later, during the reign of Vsevolod the Big Nest, the Dmitrievsky Cathedral was built in the city. One of the most unique architectural monuments of Ancient Russia, the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl, was built in Bogolyubovo. The church was built by order of Andrei Bogolyubsky on the banks of the Nerl River.

The development of painting also attracts attention. For example, the frescoes of the Assumption and Dmitrievsky Cathedrals amaze with their elegance.

As if foreseeing that North-Eastern Russia will be destined to serve as a link between the pre-Mongolian period of Russian history and the entire subsequent history of Muscovite Russia, the author of The Tale of Igor's Campaign speaks enthusiastically and with inspiration about the powerful Suzdal prince Vsevolod the Big Nest (1176-1212 BC). ):

Grand Duke Vsevolod!
I don’t think you fly from afar
Take away the gold of the table to observe?
You can scatter the oars on the Volga,
And Don pour out the helmets!
Even if you were, it would be chaga on the leg,
And koshchey in cut(i.e., Polovtsian captives would cost pennies. - B.R.).

His vast principality covered the ancient lands of the Krivichi, partly the Vyatichi, and those areas where Slavic colonization was directed from time immemorial: the lands of Meri, Muroma, Ves, that is, the interfluve of the Volga and Oka with the fertile Suzdal Opole and the Beloozero region. Over time, the borders of the Rostov-Suzdal land moved further into the taiga forests - to Northern Dvina, to Veliky Ustyug and even to the White Sea, touching here with the Novgorod colonies.

The relations of the Slavs who came here with the local Finno-Ugric population were, on the whole, undoubtedly peaceful. Both peoples gradually merged, enriching each other with elements of their culture.

The geographical position of the Rostov-Suzdal land had its advantages: there was no threat of Polovtsian raids, since the steppe was far away, here, behind the impenetrable forests of the Vyatichi, Kyiv princes, their tiuns and ryadovichi could not manage as boldly as around Kyiv. Varangian detachments penetrated here not directly by water, as in Ladoga or Novgorod, but through a system of portages in the Valdai forests. All this created the relative security of North-Eastern Russia. On the other hand, in the hands of the Suzdal princes there was such a main route as the Volga, flowing "seventy bellies into the Khvalis Sea", along the banks of which lay the fabulously rich countries of the East, willingly buying furs and Slavic wax. All Novgorod routes to the East passed through the Suzdal land, and this was widely used by the princes, forcibly influencing the economy of Novgorod.

In the 11th century, when the Volga region and the Oka were part of Kievan Rus, uprisings took place here: in 1024 - in Suzdal; around 1071 - on the Volga, Sheksna and Beloozero, suppressed by Jan Vyshatich.

By this time, the cities of Rostov, Suzdal, Murom, Ryazan, Yaroslavl, and others already existed. In the black earth regions of the Suzdal region, the local boyars grew rich, which had the opportunity to supply even Novgorod with bread.

The real reign of these regions began with Vladimir Monomakh, who, as a boy, had to pass "through Vyatiche" in order to get to distant Rostov. Those long years, when Monomakh, being a prince of Pereyaslavl, also owned the Rostov inheritance, affected the life of the North-East. Here such cities arose as Vladimir on the Klyazma, Pereyaslavl, named in contrast to the southern Zalessky, even the names of the southern rivers were transferred here. Here Vladimir built cities, decorated them with buildings, here he waged war with Oleg “Gorislavich”, here, somewhere on the Volga, he wrote his “Instruction”, “sitting on a sleigh”. The connection between Suzdal and Pereyaslavl Russian (now Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky) continued throughout the 12th century.

Rostov-Suzdal land separated from Kyiv simultaneously with other Russian lands in 1132-1135. Here reigned one of younger sons Monomakh - Yuri, who received the characteristic nickname Dolgoruky, obviously for his irrepressible craving for distant foreign possessions. His foreign policy was determined by three directions: wars with Volga Bulgaria, a trade rival of Russia, diplomatic and military pressure on Novgorod, and exhausting useless wars for Kyiv, which filled the last nine years of his reign.

Yuri Dolgoruky was gradually drawn into his southern adventures. It began with the fact that Svyatoslav Olegovich, expelled from Kyiv in 1146, his feudal neighbor in the principalities, turned to Yuri for help. Yuri Vladimirovich, having sent an army from the distant Beloozero to an ally, first of all started wars with his neighbors: he himself successfully fought with Novgorod, and sent Svyatoslav to the Smolensk lands. When Svyatoslav Olegovich began successful operations and “filled up” in the upper reaches of the Protva, a messenger from Yuri arrived to him, inviting him to the border town of Suzdal, obviously, to celebrate the victories: “Come to me, brother, to Moscow.” No one thought then that this town in the Vyatichi forests would be destined to become one of largest cities peace.

From the banks of the Protva, Svyatoslav's son first came to Moscow and brought Dolgoruky as a gift a hunting cheetah, the fastest animal, from which not a single deer could escape. Then, on April 4, 1147, Svyatoslav arrived in Moscow with his son Vladimir and a retinue, which included a ninety-year-old boyar who had also served his father, Oleg "Gorislavich". The next day, Yuri gave a solemn feast. “Command Gyurgi to arrange a dinner for the strong and do great honor to them and give Svyatoslav many gifts.” So Moscow was first mentioned, first the castle of the boyar Kuchka, in 1156 - a border fortress, in the XIII century. - specific princely town, and in the XV century. - the capital of the vast Russian state, which foreigners called it Muscovy by name.

In addition to Moscow, Yuri Dolgoruky built or fortified here the cities of Yuryev-Polskaya, Dmitrov, Kosnyatin, Kideksha, Zvenigorod, Pereyaslavl and others.

In his southern affairs, conquering Kyiv from his nephew Izyaslav Mstislavich or from his older brother Vyacheslav, Yuri either won battles and reached almost the Carpathians with his troops, or swiftly fled from Kyiv in a boat, leaving his squad and even secret diplomatic correspondence. V.N. Tatishchev preserved the following description of Yuri Dolgoruky, apparently going back to Kyiv sources hostile to him: “This great prince was of considerable height, fat, with a white face; the eyes are not very large, the nose is long and crooked; a small brada, a great lover of wives, sweet food and drink; more about fun than about reprisal and hostility, but all of this consisted in the power and supervision of his nobles and favorites.

Yuri died in Kyiv in 1157.

The real master of North-Eastern Russia, tough, power-hungry, energetic, was the son of Dolgoruky - Andrei Yuryevich Bogolyubsky (1157-1174).

Even during the life of his father, when Yuri firmly reigned in Kyiv, Andrei, violating his father's orders, left in 1155 for the Suzdal land, apparently invited by the local boyars. After the death of Yuri Dolgoruky, Andrei was elected prince. "Rostovites and Suzdalians, having thought of everything, girded Andrei." Rostov and Suzdal, the ancient boyar centers that influenced the entire course of events, wanted to acquire their own prince, their own dynastic branch, on an equal basis with all other lands, in order to stop the movement of princes who were not connected with the interests of this land. Andrei, who from his youth had made himself famous for his chivalrous exploits in the south, seemed like a suitable candidate. And he himself, probably, gladly exchanged the unstable happiness of a vassal warrior, who received one city or another for service, for the lasting possession of a huge country, already put in order under his father and grandfather.

However, the new prince immediately resolutely placed himself not next to the boyars, but above them. He made the relatively new city of Vladimir his capital, and his residence was a magnificent white-stone castle in Bogolyubovo near Vladimir, built by his craftsmen. The first act of the prince was the expulsion of his younger brothers (they could eventually turn into his rivals) and his father's old squad, which always interfered in management in such situations. “Behold, create, although the autocratic being of the entire Suzdal land.” From that time on, Andrei had to beware of the boyars; according to some reports, he even forbade the boyars to take part in princely hunts - after all, we know cases when princes did not return from hunting ...

In the struggle for power, Andrei sought to rely on the church, using the episcopal chair. He wanted to see Fyodor as bishop of Rostov, who supported the prince in everything, but the Kyiv and Tsaregrad church authorities did not support him, and in 1168 "Fedorets, the false lord" was executed as a heretic.

In the field of foreign policy, Andrei continued to act in the same three directions that had been outlined by Dolgoruky: campaigns against Volga Bulgaria, campaigns against Novgorod and Kyiv. Novgorod successfully repulsed the “Suzdalians”, and Andrey’s troops managed to take and plunder Kyiv in 1169. It should be repeated that this robbery, colorfully described by a contemporary from Kyivian, did not lead to either the economic or political decline of the former capital, where princely lines were soon entrenched , not subject to the northeastern prince. When the conqueror of Kyiv Andrey, “filled with arrogance, becoming proud of the velmi”, tried to dispose of the South Russian princes in 1174, his ambassador, the swordsman Mikhn, had his head and beard cut off and sent back in such a disfigured form. When Andrey Bogolyubsky saw the shorn boyar and heard from him the princes' firm refusal to obey, then "the image of his face became empty" and he "destroyed his meaning with intemperance, becoming irritated."

The undertaken second campaign against Kyiv brought together an unheard of number of princes and troops, but ended in a fruitless two-month siege of Vyshgorod. “And so all the strength of Andrei Prince Suzhdalsky returned ... for they came high-minded, and the humble departed to their homes.”

The too broad military plans of Prince Andrei, not caused either by the needs of defense or by the interests of the boyars, were supposed to aggravate relations within the principality. In all likelihood, conflicts with the boyars were caused and internal politics Andrey Bogolyubsky, who tried to get his hands on the boyars. Here, in North-Eastern Russia, the writer Daniil Zatochnik advised the boyar to set up his court and villages away from the princely residence so that the prince would not ruin it.

Legends about the beginning of Moscow, telling that the prince took this castle from the boyar Stepan Ivanovich Kuchka, lead us to Andrey. Although in the annals the construction of the princely fortress in 1156 is associated with the name of Yuri, we know that this year Yuri was in Kyiv, reconciled with the Polovtsy at Zarubinsky ford, met the metropolitan from Constantinople and prepared a campaign against Volyn.

The prince who built the fortress on the site of Kuchkov's yard is, obviously, Andrey Bogolyubsky. The boyars could not calmly look at the reign of their castles.

In 1173 Andrei conceived a new campaign against Volga Bulgaria; in the campaign, in addition to the main forces of Vladimir, Murom and Ryazan troops participated. In "Gorodets" on the Volga at the mouth of the Oka (Nizhny Novgorod, the modern city of Gorky), a collection was appointed for all squads. For two weeks, the princes unsuccessfully expected their boyars: they “didn’t like” the path, and they, without showing direct disobedience, found a clever way to evade an unwanted campaign - they “went not walking”.

All these events testified to the extreme tension in the relationship between the “autocratic” prince and the boyars, tension that reached the same degree as the princely-boyar conflicts reached at that time on the opposite edge of Russia, in Galich. In the same year, 1173, the Galician boyars burned the prince's mistress, the mother of the heir to the throne, at the stake, and the Suzdal boyars freed themselves from military service by inventing a way not to go while walking.

The year 1174, the year of the unsuccessful and inglorious campaign against the Kiev region, hastened the tragic denouement. A group of boyars led by the Kuchkovichi plotted against Andrei in 1174 (according to other chronicles, in 1175). Twenty conspirators, among whom were Yakim Kuchkovich, Peter, Kuchkov 8yat, the housekeeper Anbal, feasted at Peter's in Bogolyubovo, next to the prince's palace. The gathering should not have aroused any particular suspicion, since it took place on June 29, the day of the boyar Peter's name day. Yakim Kuchkovich, who received the news that the prince planned to execute his brother, made a speech: “The day he executed him, and us tomorrow; but providential about this prince! At night, armed conspirators, having drunk wine in a medusa, went up to the prince's bedroom and broke down the doors. Andrei wanted to take the sword hanging in the bedroom, but it turned out that the conspirators prudently removed it; the prince, physically very strong, fought for a long time in the dark with a crowd of drunken boyars armed with swords and spears. Finally, the killers left, and the prince, who was considered dead, went downstairs. Hearing his groans, the boyars lit candles, found Andrei and finished him off. The part of the palace where this bloody tragedy took place has been preserved to this day in Bogolyubovo.

An anthropological study of the skeleton of Andrei Bogolyubsky confirmed the words of the chronicle about the physical strength of the prince and the wounds inflicted on him. According to the skull from the tomb of Andrei, the famous anthropologist M.M. Gerasimov restored the appearance of this outstanding ruler, who was both a commander, a writer, and a customer of excellent architectural structures. Information V: N. Tatishchev describes Andrei Bogolyubsky as follows: firstly, he, like Solomon, created a magnificent temple (Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir), secondly, “expand the city of Vladimir and multiply all the inhabitants in it, like merchants, cunning needleworkers into different artisans inhabited. He was brave in the army and few of the princes like him were, but peace was more than war, and he loved the truth more than a great acquisition. He was small in stature, but broad and strong, his hair was black and curly, his forehead was high, his eyes were large and bright. Lived 63 years.

The day after the assassination of the prince, the townspeople of Bogolyubov, the masters of the palace workshops and even the peasants of the surrounding villages rose in revolt against the princely administration: the houses of the posadniks and tiuns were plundered, and the princely stewards themselves, including the "children" and swordsmen, were killed. The uprising also swept Vladimir.

What were the pros and cons of the reign of Yuri Dolgoruky and Andrei Bogolyubsky?

Undoubtedly positive was the extensive construction of cities, which were not only fortresses, but also the focus of crafts and trade, important economic and cultural centers of the feudal state. The prince, who was temporarily sitting on an inheritance, ready to jump to other lands at any moment, could not build cities. Yuri and Andrei (continuing Monomakh's policy) linked their main interests with the Rostov-Suzdal land, and this was objectively positive. According to some sources, an influx of colonists began to the new cities and newly developed lands, and the boyars approved such a policy of Yuri in the 1140s, during a period of relative harmony between princely and boyar interests.

The construction of cities, on the one hand, was the result of the development of productive forces, and on the other, a powerful factor in their further growth, which received a new, expanded base.

The growth of productive forces was not slow to affect the development of culture. The buildings of the era of Andrei Bogolyubsky that have survived to this day testify to the deep understanding by Russian architects of the tasks of their art. Subtle and deep mathematical analysis of proportions, the ability to foresee the optical distortions of the future building, the careful thoughtfulness of details that emphasize the harmony of the whole - these qualities of the architects of Andrei Bogolyubsky are the result of a general high development of culture. The Church of the Intercession on the Nerl, the complex of the Bogolyubsky castle, resurrected by the Soviet researcher N.N. Voronin, the Golden Gates of Vladimir are all unfading works of art that allowed the chronicler to compare Andrei with the biblical Tsar Solomon, and for us to comprehend the amazing beauty of Russian architecture on the eve of the creation of the Tale of Igor's Campaign. At the court of Andrei Bogolyubsky, literary activity also developed; Andrei himself was a writer. Fragments of the annals of Andrei's reign have been preserved.

Positive should be considered in the activities of Yuri and Andrei and the centralization of power, which came at the expense of infringing on the interests of the princes-kinsmen and boyars. In the usual Peaceful time this could, in all likelihood, remain within reasonable limits, when the power of the Grand Duke restrained the centrifugal forces and directed them along some single channel.

The disadvantages of "autocracy" within the framework of the principality-kingdom were conflicts that were born from the growth of the princely domain at the expense of boyar estates, and the fragmentation of the principality into appanages allocated to the sons of the prince. It led to the dismemberment of such a centuries-old organism as the “land” or “prince” of the 12th century, which, as we have seen, goes back to the ancient tribal unions of the 6th-8th centuries. It was extremely irrational to destroy, dismember what even a tribal society could achieve. However, this reproach is not applicable to Andrei - he did not divide his principality among the children; two of his sons died while he was still there, and The only son, who survived his father, - Georgy Andreevich, who later became the king of Georgia, was not taken into account during the dynastic redistribution of the Vladimir (in the old boyar terminology, Rostov-Suzdal) principality. The danger of such fragmentation came to light later, when the "Big Nest" of Prince Vsevolod wanted to spread to all the cities of North-Eastern Russia.

The negative side of the activities of Andrei Bogolyubsky was, of course, his desire for Kyiv, for the "Russian land", that is, for the forest-steppe part of the Dnieper region. This desire was in no way connected with the daily interests of the Suzdal boyars; these were the personal ambitious plans of Andrei, the grandson of Monomakh.

The economy of the South Russian boyars and princes, over the 200 years of the struggle against the Pechenegs and Polovtsians, has adapted to the needs of constant defense, constant readiness for sitting in a siege and campaigns. This may have been associated with the widespread development of purchasing (with the content of purchases inside the fortified boyar courtyards), the increase in the use of servile labor in the 12th century, which made it possible to quickly create the necessary food supplies in such conditions, and the creation of a kind of "peasant towns", the prototype of military settlements. , like the border Izyaslavl on Goryn. The main burden of constant military service in the south was by this time shifted to the many thousands of Berendey cavalry in Porosye.

None of this was in the Vladimir land, firmly fenced off by the Bryn, Moscow and Meshchersky forests from the Polovtsian steppe. Each campaign caused a sharp disruption of the feudal economy, not to mention its extreme ruin for the people. In the five years preceding the Kuchkovichi conspiracy, Andrei Bogolyubsky organized five distant campaigns: against Novgorod, against the Northern Dvina, against the Bulgarians, and two against Kyiv. According to the most conservative estimates, the troops had to cover about 8000 km during this time under the banner of Andrei (through forests, swamps and watersheds), that is, spend at least a year only on one movement to the target, not counting lengthy sieges and maneuvers. We add that three trips ended unsuccessfully. It is not surprising that this reign ended with an armed uprising by the boyar elite and a manifestation of popular anger against representatives of the princely administration that did not depend on it.

The uprising in 1174 in Bogolyubovo and Vladimir resembles the Kiev uprising of 1113, which also arose after the death of the prince, who overstretched the string of people's patience.

After the death of Andrei, Rostov and Suzdal, the center of the old local boyars, applied the system of princely duumvirate invented by the Kyiv boyars: they invited two of Andrei's nephews, minor princes, not dangerous for the local nobility.

However, here a new city appeared on the scene, which grew under Andrei into a large craft and trade center - Vladimir. The people of Vladimir accepted Mikhail Yurievich, brother Andrei. A war broke out between Rostov and Vladimir; the Rostovites, outraged by the rise of Vladimir, threatened: “Let's burn him! Or we will send our posadnik there again - after all, these are our serfs, masons! In this phrase, the disdain of the aristocrats for the democratic strata of the city, for artisans, masons, those “doers” who not long before this decisively cracked down on swordsmen and “children”, and now want to have their own prince, objectionable to Rostov and Suzdal, is evident in this phrase. Rostov temporarily won - Mikhail left Vladimir, and the boyars' chosen ones began to reign there, "listening to the boyar, and I will learn the boyar for many estates." Their "children's" "many hardships are created by people with sales and virami."

It ended up that the townspeople of Vladimir, the "new smaller people", again invited Mikhail and decided to stand firmly for him. Mikhail defeated the army of his nephews and became the Prince of Vladimir. His brother Vsevolod Yurievich was with him. The victory of the citizens of Vladimir had great consequences - there was a social split in the old Suzdal. The townspeople of Suzdal also invited Mikhail to their place (1176), saying that they, ordinary Suzdalians, did not fight with him, that only the boyars supported his enemies, “but don’t hold a dashing heart on us, but come to us!”

During these years, Moscow (Moskov, Kuchkovo) is often mentioned as a city standing at the crossroads of the border of Vladimir land by a well-trodden route from Chernigov to Vladimir.

In 1177, Mikhail Yurievich, who had been ill for a long time, died. The Rostov boyars again began the struggle for political hegemony, supporting their former candidate Mstislav Rostislavich Bezokoy against Vsevolod Yurievich, nominated by such cities as Vladimir, Pereyaslavl Zalessky and Suzdal. The arrogant Rostov boyars imperiously interfered in the affairs of the prince: when Mstislav was about to reconcile with his uncle, the boyars declared: “If you give him peace, we will not give him!” The matter was resolved by the battle near Yuriev on June 27, 1177, which brought victory to Vsevolod. The boyars were captured and tied up; their villages and herds are taken by the conquerors. After that, Vsevolod defeated Ryazan, where his enemies took refuge. Ryazan prince Gleb (from Olgovichi) and Mstislav Bezokiy with his brother Yaropolk were captured.

The townspeople of Vladimir, boyars and merchants, were supporters of decisive reprisal; they came to the princely court "many with weapons" and insistently demanded execution. Despite the intercession of Svyatoslav of Chernigov, a friend of Vsevolod, the captured rivals were blinded, and Gleb died in captivity.

Thus began the reign of the “great Vsevolod”, who could splash the Volga with oars and scoop up the Don with helmets. The strength of the new prince was given by his alliance with the cities, with wide sections of the urban population.

In addition, by this time, another force was being created that was the backbone of princely power - the nobility, that is, the service, military stratum, which depended personally on the prince, who received for service either land in temporary possession, or cash-in-kind payment, or the right collecting some princely income, part of which was intended for the collectors themselves. There was no single term yet, but in this category of junior members of the squad and princely ministerials, we must include “children”, “lads”, “grids”, “stepsons”, “mercifuls”, “swordsmen”, “virniki”, “birichs” , "tiuns", etc. Some of them were almost slaves, others rose to the position of boyars; this stratum was numerous and varied. In the fate of these people, much depended on their personal qualities, on chance, on the generosity or stinginess of the prince. They knew princely life, carried out palace service, fought, judged, galloped messengers to foreign lands, accompanied embassies, traveled around distant graveyards, stabbed princely rivals from around the corner, put them in chains, attended duels, organized dog or falconry hunting, led accounting for the princely economy, perhaps even wrote chronicles. In peacetime, they all had a business in a vast principality, where the state was intertwined with the personally princely, domain, and during the war they could already form the main core of the princely army, the cavalry of the “young”.

With one of these people, looking at the prince as the only patron, we get to know him through his own petition, written in an intricate language, but with great skill and erudition. This is Daniil the Sharpener ["Pseudo-Daniel". Around 1230], who wrote a letter of petition to the Pereyaslav prince Yaroslav Vsevolodich in the 13th century. He comes from serfs, but he is brilliantly educated, well-read and, in his own words, not so much brave in battle as smart, "strong in plans." He curses the rich boyars and asks the prince to accept him into his service:

“My prince, my lord! As the oak is fastened with many roots, so is our city with your power ... The head of the ship is a feeder, and you, prince, with your people ...

Spring adorns the earth with flowers, and you, prince, adorned us with your Grace ...

It would be better for me to drink water in your house than to drink honey in the boyars' yard ... "

Smart but poor, educated but rootless, young but unfit for military service, which would immediately open a wide road before him, he wants to find his place in life near the prince. He is not going to get rich by marrying a rich bride, he does not want to go to a monastery, he does not rely on the help of friends; all his thoughts are directed to the prince, who does not accumulate treasures, but distributes his “mercy” not only to household members, but also “from other countries ... flowing” to him.

This "Daniel" is a spokesman for the interests of that growing during the XII century. a layer of service people, who for the most part went, of course, to the army, to the "young squad" of the prince, but as an exception they also asked for a service that required, above all, "wisdom". The anti-boyar sentiments of these people allowed the princely power to rely on them in their struggle against the proud and independent boyars.

Under Vsevolod the Big Nest, the Vladimir principality strengthened, grew, internally strengthened thanks to the support of cities and the nobility and became one of the largest feudal states in Europe, widely known outside of Russia. Vsevolod could influence the politics of Novgorod, received a rich inheritance in the Kiev region, sometimes intervened in South Russian affairs, but without the grandiose expenses that his brother Andrei had to do. Vsevolod almost completely controlled the Ryazan principalities; six Glebovich brothers reigned there, constantly at enmity with each other. In the “Lay of Igor’s Campaign” it is said about Vsevolod: “You can shoot the shereshirs alive on dry land, the daring sons of Glebov,” that is, he can throw the “daring sons of Glebov” like incendiary shells with Greek fire. This meant the victorious campaign of 1183 against the Volga Bulgaria, in which, on the orders of Vsevolod, four Gleboviches took part. In 1185 they broke out of obedience, but the author of the Lay did not yet know this when he wrote this part of his poem. The Vladimir principality was also connected with the Pereyaslav-Russian principality. Vsevolod here planted his sons to reign.

Vsevolod died in 1212. Last year his life there was a conflict over the succession to the throne: Grand Duke wanted to leave the principality still under the leadership of the city of Vladimir, the new capital, and his eldest son Konstantin, a learned scribe and friend of the Rostov boyars, wanted to return to the old days of the championship of Rostov.

Then Vsevolod convened something like a Zemsky Sobor: “The Great Prince Vsevolod called all his boyars from cities and townships and Bishop John, and abbots, and priests, and merchants, and nobles, and all the people.” This congress of representatives swore allegiance to the second son, Yuri. However, after the death of his father, he managed to reign only in 1218. Yuri Vsevolodich died in 1238 in a battle with the Tatars on the river. City.

At the beginning of the XII century. Vladimir-Suzdal Rus was divided into several destinies between the numerous sons of Vsevolod the Big Nest.

The Vladimir-Suzdal principality, the core of the future Muscovite state of the 15th century, is a bright page in Russian history, and those solemn lines that are dedicated to it in the Tale of Igor's Campaign are not accidental.

The multifaceted culture of North-Eastern Russia is quite in tune with this remarkable poem: white-stone architecture, sculpture imbued with a peculiar medieval philosophy, chronicles, polemical literature, painting and “patterning” of gold and silver craftsmen, folk epics about local and all-Russian heroes.

An interesting reflection of the all-Russian culture of the X-XII centuries. is the Vladimir Chronicle of 1205/6, created, possibly with the participation of the eldest son of Vsevolod - Konstantin the Wise, about whom contemporaries said that he "was a great hunter for reading books and was taught many sciences ... collected many deeds of the ancient princes and he himself wrote, so did others work with him.

The original vault has not come down to us, but a copy of it, made in the 15th century, has been preserved. in Smolensk and first introduced into scientific circulation by Peter the Great ("Radziwill" or "Kenigsberg" chronicle). The vault presents the "cases of the ancient princes" from Kiy to Vsevolod the Big Nest.

A precious feature of the Radziwill Chronicle is the presence of 618 colorful miniatures, aptly called "windows to the vanished world".

A.A. Shakhmatov and A.V. Artsikhovsky established that the drawings, like the text, repeat the original - the code of 1205/6. Further analysis made it possible to determine that the compilers of the Vladimir code were not the first authors and artists - they had at their disposal a whole library of illustrated (“face”) annals, which included both the code of 997, and the code of Nikon 1073/76, and the Tale of Bygone Years by Nestor, and the Kievannals of the era of Monomakh and his sons, and various annals of the second half of the 12th century. In the hands of Vladimir archers there were even such facial annals, from which they took more drawings than text. So we can judge that the Kyiv chronicle of Peter Borislavich was illustrated, since in the Radziwillovsky there are miniatures depicting events that are not described in the text of this chronicle and are available only in the Kiev code of 1198 (Ipatiev Chronicle): Izyaslav Mstislavich's meeting with the Hungarian king, the embassy of the boyar Pyotr Borislavich to Vladimir Galitsky (1152), etc. Nowhere in the text of the Radziwill Chronicle does it say about the participation of the princess in the murder of Andrei Bogolyubsky, and in the figure we see, in addition to the murderous boyars, the princess carrying the severed hand of her husband. Other sources confirm the participation of the princess in the conspiracy.

The presence of illustrations in the vault of 997 is proved by the shape of the swords, characteristic of the middle of the 10th century, and the shape of the korchags, also of the 10th century, preserved in all redrawings.

Of great interest are the sketches of the original view of the ancient architecture of Kyiv, Pereyaslavl, Vladimir. tithe church in Kyiv (996) was destroyed by Batu in 1240 and copyists of the 15th century. was unknown, and on the miniature it is depicted as it was restored only according to the results of excavations of the 20th century.

The source illustrative materials of the code of 1205/6, relating to various chronicles of the 11th and 12th centuries, introduce us into the field of the literary and political struggle of that time, perhaps even to a greater extent than the chronicle text, since the selection of plots for illustration is especially boldly expressed the subjective tendency of the illustrator. In the miniatures of Nikon of Tmutarakansky (1073-76), sympathy for Mstislav Tmutarakansky and hostility towards Yaroslav the Wise and his eldest son Izyaslav are clearly visible. The artist, who painted miniatures for the annals of Izyaslav, showed unheard of impudence - he took revenge on Nikon by depicting him in the form of a donkey (!) On the abbot's place in the church.

The editorial processing of Nestor's work by Prince Mstislav was reflected in the abundant illustration of all (even small) episodes from the early period of Mstislav's life. A curious feature of the art school of the era of Monomakh and Mstislav is ironic drawings in the margins: a snake (victory over the Polovtsians), a dog (quarrels of princes), a cat and a mouse (a successful campaign in 1127), a monkey (frightened Torks), a lion being beaten with a club ( the defeat of Yuri Dolgoruky, who had a lion in the coat of arms), etc. One of these additions is of particular interest: when in 1136 the Chernigov Olgovichi began one of those bloody strife, about which they said then - “almost destroy ourselves?” , an artist from Kiev painted in the margins a deeply symbolic figure of a suicidal warrior stabbing a dagger into his chest. It was like an epigraph to the story of the collapse of Kievan Rus.

The Vladimir Chronicle of 1205/6 was not only an example of the luxurious state chronicle of one principality - it reflected in itself artistic culture Russia for several centuries.

Notes

. Tatishchev V.I. Russian history. M.; L., 1964, vol. III, p. 206.

Territory of the northeast Old Russian state occupied the vast Vladimir-Suzdal principality. These lands were unique. Geographically, they were separated from the main trade routes and from largest centers Ancient Russia with a large number of swamps and dense forests. Accordingly, the development of these territories was slow. The most valuable on this land were opolya - plots of fertile land between forests. Boyar possessions were few and undeveloped.

The settlement of the territory of the principality

Before coming here Eastern Slavs , the area was inhabited by Finno-Ugric tribes:

Whole;
Merya;
Murom;
Vyatichi;
Krivichi.

The first Slavs appeared here at the end of the 9th century. They migrated to escape the raids of nomads . Due to the large territory, the resettlement proceeded peacefully. The main activities were:

agriculture;
cattle breeding;
fishing;
salt mining;
beekeeping;
hunting.

Development of cities and forms of economy

At the end of the 10th - beginning of the 11th centuries, noticeable changes begin to take place here. By decision of the famous Lyubech Congress, the territories are transferred to the younger line of the descendants of Vladimir Monomakh. Growth of cities and economy begins. Rostov the Great, Suzdal, Yaroslavl, Vladimir-on-Klyazma are founded.

The growth of cities was not slow to affect economic development terrain. The lands began to grow rich and become one of the most significant within the framework of the Old Russian state.

From the middle of the 12th century, the growth of settlers from the south and southwest of Russia increased sharply due to the Polovtsian threat. largest cities during this period Rostov and Suzdal became. The new population was exempt for some time from taxes. As the settlement progressed, the territory began to turn into a Slavic one. Moreover, the southern settlers brought with them developed forms farming: plow arable farming under duopoly, new fishing skills, handicrafts.

In contrast to the south, princes founded the city in the northeast. If cities first arose in the south and then princely power appeared, then in the north it was quite the opposite. For example, Yaroslavl was founded by Yaroslav the Wise. Vladimir-on-Klyazma, as you might guess, Vladimir Monomakh.

This situation allowed the princes to declare the lands their property, distributing them to warriors and the church. . limiting the political power of the people. As a result, a patrimonial way of life began to form here - a special type of social system, when the prince is not only the political head, but also the supreme owner of all the land and resources of the territory.

Board history

The first prince who glorified the northeastern lands of Russia was a descendant of Vladimir Monomakh. Under him, the active development of these territories began.

Much attention was paid to the founding of new villages and cities. He is credited with the creation of such urban centers as Dmitrov, Yuriev and Zvenigorod. During the reign of Yuri Dolgorukov, the current capital of our state, the city of Moscow, was first mentioned.

great attention Yuri paid foreign policy. With him, regiments go on campaigns in different lands both the Old Russian state and neighboring countries. Managed to make successful campaigns on the territory of Volga Bulgaria. Three times he managed to capture the capital city of Kyiv.

His father's work was continued by his son Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky. Ruled from 1157 to 1174. Andrei was a man who considered the principality his home. He also went to Kyiv and was able to take this city. Bogolyubsky did not try to establish himself in it, but used the territories of southern Russia for plunder. Successfully went on campaigns against many Russian principalities. Of particular note is the prince's victory over Novgorod. More than once, the Vladimir-Suzdal princes fought with the Novgorodians and were defeated. It was Andrei who was able to block the supply of Volga bread to Novgorod, thereby forcing the Novgorodians to surrender.

An important part the reign of Prince Andrei was the problem of his relationship with the boyars. The fact is that the boyars dreamed of their own power. Bogolyubsky did not accept this. He moved the capital to the city of Vladimir. So, he deprived the boyars of the opportunity to actively influence themselves.

This seemed to him not enough. Andrei was afraid of conspiracies. He created his own residence in the village of Bogolyubovo, from which he got his nickname. The village was set in the place where the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir, stolen by him from Kyiv, was brought. The legend says that this icon was painted by the Apostle Luke himself.

The hatred of the boyars for the prince was great. Despite the fact that he hid in Bogolyubovo, he was overtaken there as well. With the help of traitors, the boyars managed to kill Andrei. Twenty people joined the conspiracy. None of them was personally offended by the prince, on the contrary, many enjoyed his confidence.

The death of Bogolyubsky in 1174 did not significantly affect the life of the principality. His policy was continued by his younger brother Vsevolod, who received the nickname "Big Nest" in history. Vsevolod had big family. He managed to plant his descendants in all cities and significant villages of the Vladimir-Suzdal land. Thanks to this position, he was finally able to suppress the obstinate boyars of the north-east of Russia. He was able to establish his firm, sole power in these territories. Gradually, Vsevolod begins to actively dictate his will to the rest of the princes of the Russian land.

During the reign of Vsevolod the "Big Nest", the principality received the status of a great one, that is, the first among other Russian lands.

The death of Vsevolod in 1212 provoked a new strife. Since his second son Yuri was declared the heir, the eldest son Konstantin of Rostov did not agree with his father's decision, and from 1212 to 1216 there was a struggle for power. Konstantin won it. However, he did not reign for long. In 1218 he died. And the throne passed to Yuri, who later founded Nizhny Novgorod.

Yuri Vsevolodovich turned out to be the last prince of independent Vladimir-Suzdal Rus. He ruled until 1238 and was beheaded in a battle with the Mongols on the City River.

During the period of 11-12 centuries, the principality strengthened, grew to one of the leaders of the Old Russian space and declared its claims to a great political future. It was it that, in the end, became the winning side, on the basis of which the Moscow principality subsequently arose, a single Moscow state, and then Russian kingdom.

Culture of the Vladimir-Suzdal Principality

The Principality is one of the most important cultural centers Ancient Russia. Architecture flourished here. Under princes Andrei and Vsevolod, various buildings were created. They were made of white limestone and decorated with intricate carvings. To this day, many buildings of this period that have come down to us are considered masterpieces of Old Russian art. Of particular note are the Golden Gates of Vladimir, Dmitrievsky and Assumption Cathedrals.

Among literary works can be called the "Word" and "Prayer" by Daniil Zatochnik. These works are a compilation of sayings from the Bible and the thoughts of the author.

The culture of the Vladimir-Suzdal Principality is in many ways the basis for the cultural tradition, which later became the base in modern Russia.