The reign of Yaroslav the Wise (briefly)

The reign of Yaroslav the Wise - a brief description

Yaroslav was the son of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Vladimir (Svyatoslavich) and Princess Rogneda. Already in early youth(987) his father appointed him the prince of Rostov, and after the death of Vysheslav (the eldest son of Vladimir) in 1010, he became the prince of Novgorod.

After Vladimir Svyatoslavich died, the brothers began to fight for the right to the princely Kiev throne. At first, Svyatopolk captured Kyiv, killing his own brothers (Boris, Svyatoslav and Gleb), after defeating whom Yaroslav had to fight the Tmutarakan prince Mstislav. And although Mstislav won this fight, after his death in 1036, the entire Russian land is united in the same hands of Yaroslav.

Yaroslav (the Wise) married the daughter of the Swedish king Olaf, Ingigerda. This can be confusing because ancient Russian chronicles indicate two names of Yaroslav's wives - Anna and Irina. According to the researchers, most likely Ingegerda received the name Irina at baptism, and Anna took the name when she was tonsured a nun.

During the reign of Yaroslav the Wise (1019-1054), Rus' was able to flourish and become one of the strongest states in Europe. In order to strengthen his possessions, Prince Yaroslav decided to build several cities and surround Kyiv with a stone wall, and the main city gates were called both then and now "Golden".

Yaroslav's foreign policy was aimed at strengthening the authority of Rus' among other countries and peoples. The prince made several important military campaigns against Poland and the Principality of Lithuania, and in 1036 he was able to win complete victory over the Pechenegs, which Kievan Rus could not acquire for so long. On the site of this battle, the Church of St. Sophia was built.

Also during the reign of Prince Yaroslav, the last clash of Rus' and Byzantium happened. It resulted in the signing of a peace treaty, which was backed up by a dynastic marriage. The son of Yaroslav (Vsevolod) married the Greek princess Anna.

In addition, a feature of the internal policy of the Wise was the increase in literacy among the population of Rus'. For these purposes, schools were built where boys were taught church work. Also during the reign of the prince, Greek books were translated and copied.

The main asset of Yaroslav's reforms was Russkaya Pravda, the first collection of laws. Also under this prince, the church code of laws "Nomokanon" (The Pilot Book) appeared.

Yaroslav died at the age of seventy-six (1054).

The main events of the reign of Yaroslav the Wise:

Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise (978-1054) - Prince of Rostov and Novgorod, Grand Duke of Kiev, son of the Baptist of Rus'. After numerous battles with his brothers, he was able to secure the southern and western borders of the state. Also during the reign of Yaroslav, dynastic ties were established with European countries. It was under him that the Russian Truth was compiled. In addition, under this statesman, the Golden Gate, the Caves Monastery and the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv were built. To mitigate the dependence of the Russian Orthodox Church from Byzantium, the ruler sent his Metropolitan Hilarion to the temple.

Family ties

There are discussions among historians about the years of Yaroslav's life, but most of them adhere to the version of the year 978. He was born into the family of Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich, who christened Kievan Rus. The mother of the statesman was Rogneda Rogvolodovna.

Already in 987 he received the title of Prince of Rostov. It was in this year that a city called Yaroslavl was founded. Since the boy was very young, a breadwinner and governor of Buda was assigned to him. He helped the ruler to get comfortable, later he became the closest associate of Yaroslav.

After the death of Vysheslav in 1010, Yaroslav was recognized as the prince of Novgorod. In 1014, for the first time, he refused to pay tribute to Kyiv, which led to disagreements with his father Vladimir, who at that time was the head of state. He became furious, began to prepare a campaign to punish his son. However, he later fell ill and died suddenly.

The task of subduing his brother was taken over by the other sons of Vladimir. Since 1015, conflicts between Yaroslav and Svyatopolk the Accursed and Mstislav of Tmutarakan began. They lasted for several years. During this time, the borders of the state moved several times.

Conflicts with brothers

When Vladimir died, Svyatopolk took his place. He had to destroy three brothers in order to maintain power. Boris, Svyatoslav and Gleb died at the hands of the assassins of the ruler. This fate awaited the younger brother, but he managed to win the battle of Lyubich. In 1016, Svyatopolk fled to his father-in-law Boleslav, two years later they together tried to attack Yaroslav. The battle took place in Volyn, on the banks of the Bug. For a while, Boleslav managed to take possession of Kiev, but later he quarreled with his son-in-law and left. At this time, the Wise again attacks with his Vikings and wins.

In 1019, Yaroslav managed to become prince of Kyiv. He saw his main goal as protecting his native land from the Pechenegs and other conquerors. Under his rule, the ruler united almost all ancient Russian territories. But for full control, the man needed to deal with other relatives.

In 1021, he expelled his nephew Bryachislav of Polotsk, after which he divided the state along the Dnieper with his brother Mstislav. In 1036, he dies, and Yaroslav again becomes the only prince. At the same time, he sends his son Vladimir to the post of Novgorod sovereign.

The wise preferred to resolve all issues with the help of diplomacy, resorting to violence only in last resort. Studies of his remains showed that the statesman's leg was almost completely chopped off. He could not do without outside help, because he limped heavily.

Some historians claim that the injury was received during civil strife with the brothers. Other scientists believe that Yaroslav has been limping since childhood. In the annals there are confirmations of the second version, allegedly in his youth the ruler suffered paralysis of the legs. But that didn't detract from him. physical strength.

Administration of Kievan Rus

The Wise ruled Kiev from 1019 to 1054, during which time Rus' became the strongest country in Europe. The territory was surrounded by a stone wall, and the main gates of the city were called "Golden". Above them was the Church of the Annunciation. Thanks to this statesman in Rus', the first full-fledged code of laws "Russian Truth" was published. To strengthen the defense of the state, several fortresses were cut down along the Ros River.

He also founded several monasteries, including Yuryev and Kiev-Pechersky, as well as the Hagia Sophia. The foundation for the last of them was laid on the site of an enchanting victory over the nomads. Even now, the temple amazes with its splendor of the townspeople, the frescoes and mosaics are perfectly preserved. For decoration statesman invited the best craftsmen from Greece. Not far from the cathedral are the monasteries of St. George and St. Irene.

Special attention the sovereign devoted the church and the development of writing. He brought together numerous translators and scribes to expand the library Kievan Rus. Throughout the land, children were taught to read and write thanks to the school for boys opened in Novgorod. Yaroslav himself spent a lot of time reading. The specialists hired by him translated books into Old Russian and Church Slavonic.

In 1054, the prince feels the approach of death, so he divides all his lands between his sons, bequeathing them to live in peace. The throne of Kyiv went to Prince Izyaslav. The statesman died on February 20, 1054. He was buried in a marble coffin, the ceremony took place in the church of Hagia Sophia.

Dynastic marriages

Yaroslav Vladimirovich was married only once in his life, but the chronicles mention two names of his wife - Irina and Anna. The statesman's wife was called Ingigerde, she was the daughter of the Swedish king Olaf. According to historians, at baptism the girl received the name Irina, after she was tonsured as a nun, they began to call her Anna.

To strengthen his power, Yaroslav gave all his daughters to the kings of other countries. Elizabeth became the wife of the Norwegian Harald, Anastasia married the Hungarian ruler Andrei. Historians have devoted much time to studying the fate of Anna Yaroslavna, who became the wife of the French King Henry I.

The prince married the son of Vsevolod to a Greek princess, two more offspring tied the knot with German princesses. Izyaslav married the sister of the Polish prince Casimir, who, in turn, married the sister of the Wise. Her name was Dobrogneva. Yaroslav Vladimirovich sought to build a policy on love and diplomacy, avoiding the use of weapons. He hoped that his sons would continue his work, but the death of the sovereign was the impetus for the beginning of feudal fragmentation.

During his life, the statesman managed to do more than many other rulers. He had a strong character, constantly striving for enlightenment, for which he was nicknamed the Wise. The Russian Orthodox Church remembers and annually honors the memory of its prince. IN leap year this date falls on March 4, at all other times - on the 5th.
 

The year when Yaroslav baptized the Volga, the pagan inhabitants of the tract Medvezhiy Ugol released the "Holy Bear" against him, but the prince, armed with an ax, defeated the beast.

Foreign relations

Yaroslav still had to make many campaigns against external enemies - almost all of his reign was filled with wars. In the year he successfully repelled the attack of the Pechenegs on Kyiv and then fought with them, as with the allies of Svyatopolk the Accursed. In the year of the annals, the siege of Kyiv by the Pechenegs is noted, in the absence of Yaroslav, who had gone to Novgorod. Having received news of this, he hastened to help and utterly defeated the Pechenegs under the very walls of Kyiv. After this defeat, the attacks of the Pechenegs on Rus' ceased. Yaroslav's campaigns are known to the north, against the Finns. In a year, he went to Chud and established his power on the shores of Lake Peipus, where he built a city and named it Yuryev, in honor of his patron saint. In the year Yaroslav sent his son Vladimir on a campaign to the pit. The campaign was successful, but Vladimir's squad returned almost without horses, due to a case. There is news of a Russian campaign under Yaroslav to the Ural Range, led by Uleb in the year. On the western borders, Yaroslav waged wars with Lithuania and the Yotvingians, to stop their raids, and with Poland. In the year Yaroslav went to besiege Brest; in the year he took Belz (in northeastern Galicia; in next year with his brother Mstislav, he returned the Cherven cities to Rus' and brought many Polish captives, whom he resettled along the Ros river in towns to protect the lands from the steppe nomads. He finally retook Brest in a year. Several times Yaroslav went to Poland to help King Casimir to pacify the rebellious Mazovia; last hike was in the year. The reign of Yaroslav was also marked by the last hostile clash between Rus' and the Greeks. One of the Russian merchants was killed in a quarrel with the Greeks, after which, not receiving satisfaction for the insult, Yaroslav sent a large fleet to Byzantium in the year under the command of the eldest son of Vladimir Novgorod and the governor Vyshata. The storm scattered the Russian ships. Vladimir destroyed the Greek fleet sent to pursue him, but Vyshata was surrounded and taken prisoner at Varna. Peace was made in the year; prisoners on both sides are returned, and friendly relations are sealed by the marriage of Yaroslav's favorite son, Vsevolod, with the Byzantine princess.

Although he had to wage war almost constantly, according to the chronicler, he did not like to fight. In foreign policy, Yaroslav, like his father, relied more on diplomacy and mutually beneficial relationship than for weapons. His time was the era of active relations with the states of the West. Yaroslav was in family ties with the Normans: for a year he himself was married to the Swedish princess Saint Ingigerda, in baptism Irina, and the Norwegian prince Harald the Bold received the hand of his daughter Elizabeth. Yaroslav's four sons, among them Vsevolod, Svyatoslav and Izyaslav, were also married to foreign princesses. Foreign princes, such as Olaf the Holy, Magnus the Good, Harald the Bold, the English princes Edmund Ætheling and Edward the Exile, and noble Normans found shelter and protection from Yarsoslav, and Varangian merchants enjoy his special patronage. Sister Yaroslav Dobrogrev-Maria was married to Casimir of Poland, his second daughter Anna - to Henry I of France, the third, Anastasia - to Andrew I of Hungary.

Internal management

The significance of Yaroslav in Russian history is based mainly on his work on the internal structure of the Russian land. Yaroslav was the prince-"dresser" of the land, its benefactor. Like his father, he populated the steppe spaces, built new cities like Yuriev (now Tartu) and Yaroslavl, continued the policy of his predecessors to protect borders and trade routes from nomads and to protect the interests of Russian trade in Byzantium. He fenced off the southern border of Rus' with the steppe with fences and in the year began to set up cities here - Yuryev (now Belaya Tserkov), Torchesk, Korsun, Trepol and others.

Yaroslav's capital, Kyiv, appeared to Western foreigners as a rival to Constantinople; its liveliness, caused by intensive trading activity for that time, amazed the foreign writers of the century - it is significant that the son of Yaroslav, Vsevolod, without leaving Kiev, learned five languages. Decorating Kyiv with many new buildings, he circled it with new stone walls ("the city of Yaroslav"), arranging the famous Golden Gates in them, and above them - a church in honor of the Annunciation. Yaroslav founded in Kiev, on the site of his victory over the Pechenegs, the Church of St. Sophia, magnificently decorating it with frescoes and mosaics, and also built here the monastery of St. George and the monastery of St. Irina (in honor of the angel of his wife). The prototypes of these buildings were architectural structures Constantinople and Jerusalem. The completion of the construction coincided with the creation of the great monument ancient Russian literature, "Words on Law and Grace", which was uttered by the future Saint Hilarion on March 25 of the year. At the same time, the first Russian chronicle was written - the so-called. "Ancient Vault".

rod internal activities The holy prince was to promote the spread of Christianity in Rus', the development of the education necessary for this purpose, and the training of Russian clergy. Both in Kyiv and in other cities, Yaroslav did not spare money for church splendor, inviting Greek masters for this. Under Yaroslav, church singers came to Rus' from Byzantium and taught the Russians how to sing in octagon. The chronicler Nestor noted that under Yaroslav the Christian faith began to "be fruitful and expand, and the Chernorizians began to multiply and monasteries to appear." When, at the end of his reign, it was necessary to install a new metropolitan to the Kyiv Metropolis, Yaroslav in the year ordered the council of Russian bishops to appoint St. Hilarion, the first archpastor of the Russian metropolis, born in Russian, as metropolitan.

In order to instill in the people the beginnings of the Christian faith, Yaroslav ordered the translation of handwritten books from Greek into Slavonic and bought a lot of them himself. Gathering scribes and translators everywhere, he multiplied the number of books in Rus' and gradually introduced them into widespread use. Yaroslav put all these manuscripts in the library he built at St. Sophia Cathedral for general use. To spread the letter, Yaroslav ordered the clergy to teach children, and in Novgorod, according to later chronicles, he set up a school for 300 boys.

Finally, Yaroslav remained the most famous as a legislator. Already in Novgorod, when he was appointed governor there, he was called Pravosud - it was there that the development of the written laws of Rus' began. Yaroslav is credited with the oldest Russian monument of law - "Russian Truth" (also called the "Charter" or "Court of Yaroslavl"), which is a collection of laws and customs in force, the oral "Russian Law", which was mentioned in the treaties of Rus' with Byzantium. Russkaya Pravda was given to Novgorod in the year and was the first written code of laws - criminal, civil and administrative. He dealt primarily with issues of public order. Under Yaroslav, the Church Charter or Pilot Book appeared, compiled on the basis of the Byzantine Nomocanon. In it, for the first time, the concepts of sin and crime were distinguished: every crime is a sin, but not every sin is a crime.

Character and death

According to the review of the chronicle, the Grand Duke "was lame, but he had a kind mind and was brave in the rati." Describing his character, the chronicler speaks of intelligence, prudence, compassion for the poor, courage. Yaroslav's temper was strict, and his life was modest, unlike his father, who loved merry feasts. Contemporaries noted that Yaroslav himself was a well-read person in liturgical books and owned a large personal library. He, according to the chronicler, considered the books "rivers capable of drinking wisdom." The noble prince was distinguished by diligence in faith. According to one of the legends, he ordered the bones of princes Yaropolk and Oleg to be dug up and, having baptized them, buried them in the Kyiv Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, hoping by this to save their souls from eternal torment and death.

The faithful Grand Duke Yaroslav the Wise died on February 20 in his country residence Vyshgorod, near Kiev. They buried him in a marble coffin in the Kiev St. Sophia Cathedral he founded. One of the subjects of the prince scratched the inscription on the wall of the temple: "In the summer of the 6562 month of February, the 20th, the Assumption of our Tsar ...". Dividing the lands among his sons and transferring the throne of Kiev to his eldest son Izyaslav, he left them the following will:

“Here I am departing from this world, my children. Love one another, for you are brothers, from one father and one mother. If you live in love with each other, then God will be with you. He will subdue all your enemies and you will live in peace. If you begin to hate each other, quarrel, then you yourself will perish, and destroy the land of your fathers and grandfathers, which they acquired with their great labor. .

Memory, appreciation and veneration

The reign of Yaroslav was marked by the flourishing of the capital city of Kyiv and the strengthening of economic and cultural ties between the individual parts of the state. It was the era of the highest prosperity of Kievan Rus. With his activities, Yaroslav so exalted himself that over time, the nickname “Wise” was assigned to him.

The name of the Right-believing Grand Duke Yaroslav was included in the calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church with the blessing of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus' on December 8 of the year.

Family

• Father: St. equal to ap. Vladimir Svyatoslavich (ca. -), led. book. Kyiv.
• Mother: Rogneda Rogvolodovna, baptized Anastasia, Prince. Polotsk.
• Wife: Rev. Ingigerda Olafovna, baptized Irina, monastic Anna, blgv. princess of Sweden.

The year of Yaroslav's birth is not precisely known, but according to the generally accepted opinion, he was born in 978, although some historians deny this. Yaroslav's father was Vladimir Svyatoslavich, his mother was Rogneda Rogvolodovna.

Even in his youth (987) in the biography of Yaroslav the Wise, the title of Prince of Rostov was received. It is believed that the city of Yaroslavl was founded at that time. After the death of Vysheslav in 1010, Yaroslav became Prince of Novgorod.

If we consider short biography Yaroslav the Wise, a period of wars with his brother Svyatopolk soon followed. There were several battles for Kyiv (with Svyatopolk, Boleslav). After that, in 1019, Yaroslav became the Grand Duke of Kyiv.

The struggle for Kievan Rus began between Yaroslav and Mstislav. In 1034, Vladimir, the son of Yaroslav, became Prince of Novgorod. Only after sudden death Mstislav Yaroslav returned to Kyiv from Novgorod. In 1036 he finally settled in Kyiv. After that, in the biography of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, several successful military campaigns were made (against the Pechenegs, Yotvingians). Yaroslav remained the Grand Duke for 37 years. He founded several monasteries, cathedrals (for example, St. George's Monastery, Kiev-Pechersky Monastery, Hagia Sophia). Yaroslav the Wise died in February 1054.

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Name: Yaroslav the Wise (Yaroslav Vladimirovich)

Date of Birth: 978

Age: 76 years old

Height: 175

Activity: Prince of Rostov, Novgorod and Kyiv

Family status: widower

Yaroslav the Wise: biography

One of the most revered ancient Russian princes is Prince Yaroslav the Wise, the son of the great (Baptist). He received the nickname Wise for his love of enlightenment and the creation of the first code of laws known in Rus', later called the Russian Truth.

And he is also the father, uncle and grandfather of many European rulers. At baptism, Yaroslav received the name George (or Yuri). The Russian Orthodox Church venerates him as a faithful one and even included the day of his memory in the calendar. In a leap year it is March 4th, and in a normal year it is March 5th.

Childhood and youth

The date of birth of Yaroslav Vladimirovich is still being debated today. But most historians and scientists are inclined to believe that the prince was born in 978, although no one is completely sure of this. His birthday is even more unknown.

His parents were Vladimir Svyatoslavovich, who belonged to the Rurik family, and the Polotsk princess. Even here, however, there is no agreement. For example, the famous historian Nikolai Kostomarov doubted that it was Rogneda who was the mother of Yaroslav. And his French colleague Arrignon believed that she had given birth to the prince Byzantine princess Anna. Allegedly, this circumstance explains his intervention in intra-Byzantine affairs in 1043.

But for the sake of justice, it should be noted that the rest of the mass of historians tends to consider Rogneda the woman who gave birth to the most famous of the ancient Russian princes.

All four offspring born in a marriage with Rogneda, Izyaslav, Mstislav, Yaroslav and Vsevolod, Grand Duke Vladimir sent to reign in different cities. Yaroslav got Rostov. But since the boy was barely 9 years old, a breadwinner and governor Budy was assigned to him (in other sources of Budy). Later, when the matured prince Yaroslav the Wise began to rule Novgorod, the breadwinner and mentor turned into a close ally.

Governing body

This period is in the nature of traditions and legends. The time of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, as well as the personality itself, some historians tend to idealize, others to demonize. The truth, as usual, is somewhere in the middle.

The reign of Novgorod had a higher status than the administration of Rostov. And yet, the ruler of Novgorod had a subordinate status in relation to the Kyiv, that is, Vladimir. Therefore, Prince Yaroslav the Wise in without fail every year he paid his father 2/3 of the tribute collected from the Novgorod lands. It was the amount of 2 thousand hryvnia. 1 thousand remained for the maintenance of the nobleman and his squad. I must say that its size was only slightly inferior to Vladimir's squad.

Probably, it was this circumstance that prompted the son to rebel and in 1014 refuse to pay a huge tribute to his father. Novgorodians supported their mayor, as there is information in the surviving annals. Vladimir became angry and began to prepare a campaign to pacify the rebels. But at that time he was in advanced years. Soon he fell ill and died suddenly, without punishing his son.

The father's place was taken by the eldest son - Svyatopolk the Accursed. To protect himself and keep power in his hands, he destroyed three brothers: Boris, who was especially loved by the people of Kiev, Gleb and Svyatoslav. The same fate awaited the Novgorod mayor. But he managed to defeat Svyatopolk in a bloody battle near Lyubech and in 1016 entered Kyiv.

The fragile truce between the brothers, who divided Kyiv along the Dnieper, from time to time turned into a "hot" stage. But in 1019, Svyatopolk died, and Yaroslav the Wise began the undivided rule of the Kyiv throne.

The great merit of Prince Yaroslav the Wise was the victory over the Pechenegs. This happened in 1036. As the chronicles say, the city was besieged by nomads at the time when the ruler left for Novgorod, where he took part in the laying of the temple. But having received news of the danger, he quickly returned and defeated the Pechenegs. From that moment on, their devastating and bloody raids on Rus' stopped for a while.

The "golden" time of Yaroslav the Wise began. After the victories won, the nobleman took up the grandiose construction. Sophia Cathedral was founded on the site of the brilliant victory over the nomads. In many ways, it was a copy of the cathedral in Tsargrad. Decorated with magnificent frescoes and mosaics, the temple struck the beauty of its contemporaries and pleases the eye today.

The nobleman did not spare money for church splendor and invited the best Greek masters to decorate the cathedral. And the famous Golden Gate appeared in the city, repeated the same in Constantinople. Above them grew the Church of the Annunciation.

Domestic and foreign policy

The ruler made considerable efforts to break the dependence of the Russian Orthodox Church on Byzantium, which dominated it. Therefore, in 1054, for the first time in the history of Rus', its church was headed by a Russian, and not a Greek, metropolitan. His name was Illarion.

Domestic politics Yaroslav the Wise was aimed at improving the education of the people and eradicating the remnants of the pagan faith. The Christian faith was inculcated with new force. In this, the son continued the work of his great father, Vladimir the Baptist.

The son ordered to translate Greek handwritten books into Slavonic. He himself loved to read and tried to instill a love of reading and enlightenment in his subordinates. The clergy began to teach children to read and write. A school for boys appeared in Novgorod, which accepted the first 300 students.

The number of books grew rapidly and bookish wisdom was elevated into a kind of fashion of that time. Being enlightened became prestigious.

The Tale of Bygone Years speaks of a certain collection of books and documents, which is commonly called the Library of Yaroslav the Wise. Scientists talk about different amount: 500 to 950 volumes. According to some reports, the library was transferred by the prince (according to other sources, his great-grandson) to St. Sophia Cathedral.

Since the ancient books, which are a thousand years old, have not been found, there are many hypotheses where they can be stored. Some argue that these may be the dungeons of the St. Sophia Cathedral, others talk about the catacombs of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, others - about the Vydubitsky Monastery. But there are also skeptics who believe that priceless tomes could not survive after the devastating Polovtsian raids and fires.

Another version that has the right to exist - the Library of Yaroslav the Wise has become part of the no less legendary Library.

Prince Yaroslav the Wise stood at the origins of the appearance of the first Russian monasteries, among which the main one is the Kiev-Pechersk. The monastery not only made a huge contribution to the promotion and popularization of Christianity and Orthodoxy, but also played a huge role in education. After all, chronicles were compiled and books were translated here.

And also at this wonderful time, Russkaya Pravda by Yaroslav the Wise appeared. This is the first set of laws of Rus', which the followers added and increased.

Historians also highly appreciate the foreign policy of the nobleman, in which he also achieved great success. It seems that he was the first of the Russian princes to emphasize diplomacy, and not force of arms.

At that time, dynastic marriages were considered the main way to establish relations with other states. And since Kievan Rus during the reign of the Wise turned into an enlightened and strong state, then many rulers of European countries expressed a desire to “marry” with her.

The wife of Yaroslav the Wise was the daughter of King Olaf of Sweden - Ingigerda, who received the name Irina after baptism. From her father she inherited a rich dowry - the city of Aldeigaborg (later Ladoga). The lands adjacent to it were called Ingermanlandia (which translates as the lands of Ingigerda).

The son of the prince - Vsevolod - married a Greek princess. Two more offspring - on the German princesses. Son Izyaslav married the sister of the Polish prince Casimir, and Casimir himself married the sister of the Wise - Dobrogneva.

The daughters of a Kyiv nobleman had the same dynastic marriages. Elizabeth was married to the Norwegian king Harald, Anastasia - to the Hungarian ruler Andrei. But the most famous and revered was the daughter Anna Yaroslavna, who became the wife of the French king Henry I. As a result of such foreign policy Prince Yaroslav the Wise turned out to be connected by ties of kinship with many strong neighbors, near and far.

Founding of cities

Prince Yaroslav the Wise founded Yuriev. This happened in 1030, when he went on a campaign against Chud. New town, named after his angel, appeared on the shores of Lake Peipsi. Now it is called Tartu and is the second largest Estonian city after Tallinn.

Another city of Yaroslav the Wise is Yaroslavl, although some historians consider the fact of its foundation by the prince not indisputable.

There is another Yuryev, which was founded by the prince. This city turned out to be at the same time a fortress, which was part of the Poros defensive line. It was erected to protect Kyiv from nomads. In 1240, the Tatar-Mongols destroyed it, leaving only the ruins of the church. Around it, the city was revived, having received the name of the White Church. It is still called that today.

Personal life

Many historians agree that Ingigerd's wife, who became Irina after baptism, had a huge influence on her husband and left a noticeable mark on the history of Rus'. In 1703, St. Petersburg was built on the lands she inherited from her father.

In Kyiv, thanks to Princess Irina, the first convent. It was built at the church of St. Irene. One of its columns "survived" until the middle of the twentieth century. Now only the quiet Irininskaya Street reminds of the existence of the temple.

It is difficult to say today how the personal life of Yaroslav the Wise and Ingigerda-Irina developed. It is only known that 6 sons and 3 daughters were born in marriage with her. The wife shared the views of her husband and converted to his faith, doing a lot to advance it.

The great nobleman, it seems, was not handsome. A strongly protruding nose and the same chin, a sharply defined mouth and large eyes did not add to the attractiveness. He was also lame because of the different lengths of his legs. According to one version - due to the hip and knee joints, and on the other hand, due to hereditary disease Perthes.

There is a historical puzzle-puzzle on which different historians have their own opinion. Some of them claim that Prince Yaroslav the Wise was married twice.

His first wife was allegedly Norwegian Anna. In this marriage, a son, Ilya, was even born. But in 1018, together with his mother, he was captured by the Polish king Boleslav the Brave and forever taken to Poland. This version is allegedly confirmed by the fact that the name of Anna is found in some annals.

But there are opponents of this controversial version. They claim that everything is much simpler. Anna is the monastic name of Ingigerdy-Irina. Allegedly, at the end of her life, she took the veil as a nun, taking this name for herself. In 1439, Archbishop Evfimy canonized Anna as a saint. She is considered the heavenly patroness of Novgorod.

It is noteworthy that Prince Yaroslav the Wise himself was ranked among the saints only in the 21st century.

Death

Prince Yaroslav the Wise spent the last years of his life in Vyshgorod. He died on the feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy in the arms of one of his sons, Vsevolod, having outlived his wife by 4 years and by 2 of the eldest of his sons, Vladimir.

February 20, 1054 is considered the date of the prince's death. He was buried in the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, in a 6-ton marble sarcophagus. Unfortunately, the remains of the great ruler have disappeared. It is known that the sarcophagus was opened three times in the 20th century: in 1936, 1939 and 1964. And they did it not always in a qualified and conscientious manner.

After the autopsy in 1939, the remains of Yaroslav the Wise were sent to Leningrad, where scientists from the Institute of Anthropology confirmed for the first time that one of the 3 skeletons (male, female and child) from the opened burial really belonged to the prince. According to the found skull, anthropologist Mikhail Gerasimov managed to restore the appearance of the ruler.

The remains were returned to Kyiv. But in 2009, the tomb was again opened and found that there were no remains of the oldest of the Ruriks. Two female skeletons were found at the site - one from the times of Kievan Rus, the second even more ancient - from the Scythian period. And the newspapers Izvestia and Pravda of 1964 were also found in the tomb.

Many historians and researchers are inclined to the version that the remains should be sought in the United States. Allegedly, they were taken there in 1943, when the German troops retreated.