Teaching children a summary. The reign of vladimir monomakh
The reign of Vladimir Monomakh (briefly)
The reign of Vladimir Monomakh - a brief description
Vladimir Vsevolodovich Monomakh was born on May 26, 1052. His father was Vsevolod Yaroslavich, and his mother was Anna, the daughter of the emperor of Byzantium, Constantine the Ninth. In 1067 he was appointed to reign in Smolensk, from 1078 he reigned in Chernigov. From 1125 he was the Grand Duke of Kyiv. This talented ruler remained in history not only as a prince, but also as a writer, after whom we got his important literary works.
However, no matter how hard Prince Monomakh tried to keep the peace, it was often these attempts to avoid war that brought him to the battlefield. The first significant military clash in the life of Monomakh occurred in 1077, when he, obeying the order of the Prince of Kyiv Izyaslav, set out with an army against the Polovtsians. Vladimir receives the Principality of Chernigov, however, after Oleg Svyatoslavich, who came under the walls of his castle, demanded to give back his father's lands in 1094, Monomakh, avoiding battle, leaves with his squad for Pereyaslavl.
Later, already being reigning in Solensk, Vladimir actively tried to help neighboring princes in the fight against enemies. In 1097 and 1100 he was one of the initiators of the meetings of the specific princes.
After the death of Vsevolod Yaroslavich, Monomakh was in no hurry to take the throne of Kyiv. Moreover, he passes it on (despite his father's will) to Svyatopolk Izyaslavich. Also, to the best of his ability, he always tried to provide military assistance to the new prince in campaigns. Monomakh became the Grand Duke of Kyiv only in 1113. The Kyiv nobility called him to reign, fearing an uprising of the people against usurers. Thanks to Monomakh, the uprising was suppressed, and the prince himself, having found out the reasons for its occurrence, established the rules of debt law to prevent conflicts in the future. The princely charter contributed to the simplification of the fate of purchases (employees and debtors).
Also, the reign of Prince Monomakh was marked by confrontations with the Polovtsians (nomads). Vladimir himself repeatedly concluded peace agreements with them and was the organizer of raids into the Polotsk territories in order to attract the people's militia. It should be noted that the names of such a peaceful policy made Monomakh so popular among the people.
In 1116, Monomakh provided military assistance to his son-in-law, Emperor Diogenes, who opposed Byzantium (this conflict ended a little later than the death of Diogenes himself). In 1120, the Pechenegs were completely expelled from the Russian lands.
The main events of the reign of Vladimir Monomakh:
We draw a lot of information about the life of Kievan Rus from the chronicles that were composed by the monks from the Lavra. You can also learn a lot of interesting things from those years. But over time, secular works appeared that were devoted to the life of society outside the church. The first such work is considered to be "Instruction" by Vladimir Monomakh. The summary of this work can be summarized in a few words. The prince described in it what a real ruler of a vast country should be, and turned to his children, trying to protect them from mistakes and temptations.
Not every person can read the work in the original. For those who want to learn more about the history of the Eastern Slavs and their worldview, there is a summary of the contents of the "Instruction". Vladimir Monomakh is considered the ideal ancient Russian prince-Christian, a peacemaker. It was he who called all the rulers of the specific principalities of Russia to the Lyubech congress, at which he called for kissing the cross and promising to stop fratricidal wars. Having performed this historical rite, not many followed their oath. Discord continued, and ambassadors came to the Kyiv lord himself with a request to join the campaign against Smolensk. As befits a noble prince, Vladimir refused, recalling that he had made a promise on the cross. And then, upset by such treachery, he undertook to write his message to the children.
Statement
As the prince himself wrote, he compiled his "Instruction" in anticipation of an imminent death. In it, he tried to reveal to his descendants the truth that they had forgotten. First of all, Vladimir reminded them of the duties of a true Christian: attending church, praying every minute for the mercy of the Lord. The grandson ruled the golden-domed Kyiv in He saw that his country was dying at the hands of the rulers themselves, who could not share power. Therefore, Vladimir bequeathed them to live in peace and harmony. The devil, he wrote, can be defeated by three virtues: tears, repentance and alms. He himself sincerely believed in what he wrote, and he himself has always been just such a prince.
"Instruction" by Vladimir Monomakh - short description selfless ruler who cares about his people. He is equally fair and merciful to the population, does not make a difference between people. Vladimir writes that the prince should not rely on assistants, but always figure everything out himself. Monomakh is the first humanist on the territory of Russia, since he was against the death penalty, he bequeathed to hospitably meet all foreigners.
Only the essence conveys the summary of the content of the "Instructions" by Vladimir Monomakh. But it cannot express that living language, the gentle voice of the prince. If all people follow the instructions of the ancient Russian sage, then the world will become better, kinder, brighter. Therefore, everyone should study this message from the past. But if you don’t have time at all to master it in its entirety, then read at least a summary of the content of Vladimir Monomakh’s Teachings. It still contains the essence, the grain of truth that the great Kyiv prince tried to convey to us.
Vladimir Vsevolodovich Monomakh short biography for children
In short, Vladimir Monomakh is a talented military leader, a competent manager, Prince of Smolensk, from 1078 Prince of Chernigov, from 1113 Prince of Kyiv. He began to show his military prowess during the life of his father, Prince of Kyiv Vsevolod Svyatoslavovich. Actively participates in the military campaigns of his father, such as, for example, in the war against the Czechs on the side of the Poles. Successfully beats off the incessant raids of the Polovtsians. Receives from his father the princely table of Chernigov, and remains here for a long time. After the death of his father, he calmly reacted to the placement of his brother Svyatopolk Izyaslavich on the Kyiv throne. But, despite the voluntary abandonment of Kyiv, Vladimir continues the struggle for power, defended control over Rostov, Smolensk, and in 1102 kept Novgorod for his son Mstislav.
During the reign of the Kyiv prince Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, Vladimir Monomakh strives to organize joint military campaigns against the Polovtsy (1103 - the battle on Suteni, 1111 - the battle on Salnitsa). And in 1094, as a result of the military invasion of Prince Oleg, carried out with the support of the Polovtsy,
Vladimir cedes the Chernigov reign to Oleg Svyatoslavich. After that, he was embroiled in long internecine wars. In 1096, he managed to return Chernigov, but the clashes continued. The result of this long military confrontation was outlined at the Lyubech Congress (1097), here the princes decided to assign to each of the Rurik family a certain fiefdom, inherited from their father. So Vladimir Monomakh returns under his control the Smolensk, Rostov volosts, as well as Pereyaslavl Yuzhny and Novgorod.
After the death of Svyatopolk in 1113, the Kyiv boyars invited Vladimir to reign. During his reign, Kievan Rus grew stronger and actively developed. Vladimir Monomakh pays special attention to the development of the legislative base of the new state. Under him, a code of laws "Russian Truth" appears, one of the most interesting documents of this code is the so-called "Charter of Vladimir Monomakh", or "Charter on cuts." According to this charter, the profits of usurers were significantly limited, and the position of debtors and "purchases" was improved. Vladimir Monomakh, as the Grand Duke of Kyiv, controlled more than half of the Russian lands, and competently placing his sons as townsmen in the controlled principalities, he kept power in general.
In 1116, Vladimir supports the Byzantine impostor False Diogenes II, and goes on a military campaign against Byzantium. This initiative did not bring success and the territorial expansion of Kievan Rus. And in 1123, having entered into an allied marriage between the granddaughter of Monomakh and the Byzantine Emperor, the parties established peace.
In general, the reign of Vladimir Monomakh is short, can be considered literate and progressive. Thanks to his policy and military successes, it was possible to maintain the cohesion of the Russian lands, and Kievan Rus grew stronger and developed.
More short biographies of the great commanders:
Vladimir the Second Monomakh, or Vladimir Vsevolodovich, was the prince of Smolensk from 1067, Chernigov - from 1078, Pereyaslavl - from 1093, Grand Duke of Kyiv - from 1113, as well as a statesman, military leader, writer, thinker. His father was Vsevolod the First Yaroslavich, and his mother was the daughter of the Emperor of Byzantium, Constantine Monomakh. By the nickname of his mother's family, Vladimir received his name - Monomakh.
Start of activity
Vladimir spent his childhood and early youth at his father's court in the city of Pereyaslavl - South. FROM young years his father trusted him to lead a squad, go on distant military campaigns, fight against the Polovtsians. He even managed to suppress the Vyatichi uprising. From 1076 to 1080 Vladimir participated in several internecine wars. In the same period, his father received the Principality of Kiev, and Vladimir Monomakh himself settled in Chernigov, more than once defended his lands from Polovtsian raids and from nomadic Torks.
When his father died, Prince Vsevolod (1093), Vladimir could take his place on the throne of Kiev, but he voluntarily offered to do this to his cousin Svyatopolk, and he himself remained to rule in Chernigov. His power in Rostov and Smolensk was preserved.
Internecine wars (1093 - 1113)
After the death of his father - Vsevolod Yaroslavich - Vladimir had a chance to fight a lot. In one of the first battles with the Polovtsy, he, along with his brother Rostislav and Svyatopolk Izyaslavovich, suffered a heavy defeat on Stugna. Brother Rostislav then drowned in the river, and Vladimir, when trying to save him, almost drowned himself. Then, with the same Polovtsians, together with Svyatopolk, he fought again - near Khalep, after which the parties made peace and sealed it with the wedding of Svyatopolk and the daughter of the Polovtsian Khan Tugorkan. During this period, Vladimir fought with Prince. Oleg Svyatoslavich, who became an ally of the Polovtsy, and gave him Chernigov (1094).
After that, he settled in Pereyaslav land. In 1096, he sent his son Izyaslav to conquer Mur, and in the meantime he fought against Svyatopolk, drove him out of Chernigov and laid siege to Starodub. At the same time, they were forced to divert their attention to Tugorkan and Bonyak, who approached the Russian borders on both sides of the Dnieper. Vladimir and Svyatopolk returned from Starodub and defeated Tugorkan in the battle on Trubezh, in which Tugorkan died.
This provided a certain respite from the Polovtsian invasions. Oleg, meanwhile, managed to capture Murom, Rostov, Suzdal. After the intervention of Vladimir and his sons, Oleg was defeated and deprived of Ryazan. But nevertheless, despite many defeats, the Lubech Congress decided to give the Svyatoslavichs the entire inheritance of their father: Chernigov, Murom, Novgorod-Seversky, Kursk, Ryazan. Since that time, internecine wars on the left bank of the Dnieper have subsided.
After the aforementioned Lyubech congress, Vladimir Monomakh conducted several more military campaigns against the Russian princes, but in 1103, in alliance with other princes, he developed a plan for a joint struggle against the Polovtsy and carried out several campaigns against them, as a result of which the Polovtsian troops were defeated until 1111.
Reigning in Kyiv
When the prince of Kyiv Svyatopolk Izyaslavovich died in 1113, a popular revolt broke out in the city. Then the Kyiv nobility called for the principality of Vladimir Monomakh. He suppressed the uprising, but issued laws that alleviate the situation of the lower classes: the “Charter of Vladimir Monomakh” (“Charter on Cuts”), which became part of.
During the reign of Vladimir Monomakh, the positions of Kievan Rus strengthened. He and his sons controlled three-quarters of her territories. The authority of Monomakh, which he deserved in the fight against the Polovtsian raids, made it possible to maintain stability in the country and concentrate most lands Ancient Russia in the power of the Kyiv prince. History credits Monomakh with the creation of the second edition of The Tale of Bygone Years, which he entrusted to the monk Nestor (Sylvester) in the Kiev Caves Monastery. That is what our contemporaries know.
Writer Monomakh
As a wise statesman and thinker, Vladimir Monomakh left three works: the most famous - "Instructions of Vladimir Monomakh", autobiographical memoirs "Ways and Fishes", as well as a letter to his cousin Oleg Svyatoslavovich.
The years of the reign of Vladimir Vsevolodovich Monomakh are considered the happiest and most flourishing for Kievan Rus. A wise statesman who was the governor of the Smolensk, Chernigov, Pereyaslav principalities and became the Grand Duke of Kyiv, a talented commander and thinker, he inscribed his name in golden letters in the history of the Russian state. “Vladimir Monomakh's Instruction” is a secular and at the same time philosophical instruction to sons and future generations, and even today it arouses admiration for the wisdom of this great man.
Vladimir Monomakh was born in 1053. His father, Prince Vsevolod of Pereyaslavl, was the son whose genealogy was first mentioned in The Tale of Bygone Years. A year after the birth of his grandson, his great grandfather died. Vladimir's mother was a close relative (possibly daughter) of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX Monomakh. Hence the prince's nickname, which translates as "combatant", which accurately characterizes his personality.
Childhood and youth life path the future ruler of Kyiv passed at the court of his father in Pereyaslav-Yuzhny. The father attracted the boy to participate in the hunt for wild animals as a child. As Monomakh later wrote in his teaching to his sons, he was in the paws of a bear and on the horns of a tour.
However, this was only a "warm-up". Indeed, at the age of 13, the boy got into the military field, where he was taken by his father to comprehend military affairs. At the same age, he began to reign independently in the Rostov-Suzdal lands, gaining the first experience government controlled.
This experience came in handy when Vladimir Monomakh was put on the reign of Smolensk. This is the period from 1073 to 1078. The Smolensk prince participated in the battles, helping his neighbors in the fight against external enemies - the Polovtsians. Military campaigns were frequent. In 1076, Monomakh and Oleg Svyatoslavich supported the Poles by participating in a campaign against the Czechs. Later, together with his father and Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, he twice went against Vseslav of Polotsk.
Governing body
In 1078, Vsevolod Yaroslavich undertook to reign in Kyiv. His 25-year-old son Vladimir Monomakh got Chernihiv. To protect the patrimony, the young nobleman was forced to repeatedly repel the devastating raids of the Polovtsy and the Mongol-Tatars. For a decade and a half, the son was the right hand of his father. He helped him decide political issues and more than once became the head of the grand ducal squads, which made campaigns to pacify the rebellious princes or destroy the Polovtsian hordes.
In 1093, when his father died, Vladimir Monomakh could become his successor - the prince of Kyiv. But according to the existing rules of succession, the Kyiv throne should have been occupied by the eldest of the Rurikovichs. At that time, such was the cousin Svyatopolk Izyaslavich. Monomakh did not want civil strife and fratricidal war and gave the throne to his brother. He himself went to rule Chernigov.
These 2 decades, from 1093 to 1113, Vladimir Monomakh knew both the joy of victories and the bitterness of defeats. In battles, he lost his eldest son and younger brother. In 1094, he gave the Chernihiv lands to Oleg Svyatoslavovich, leaving behind the more “modest” Principality of Pereyaslav.
The Polovtsy continued to annoy Kievan Rus. Regular raids bled the land. Vladimir Monomakh became the ideological inspirer of the unification of the princes in the face of a common enemy. Some researchers believe that the prince was the initiator of preventive strikes against the enemy, organizing sorties into the Polovtsian steppe. The campaign turned out to be successful in 1111, after which the main objective was achieved - Russia got rid of the nomad raids for a long time. And nine years later, the Pecheneg troops finally left the Russian lands. Researchers consider the protection of Russia from the Polovtsy the main merit of Vladimir Monomakh.
Since the sons of Vladimir Monomakh, in addition to fighting the nomads, regularly staged military campaigns against Livonia and Bulgaria, Europe started talking about the power of the Kievan prince. Vladimir caused great concern among the Byzantine emperor. According to legend, as a sign of peaceful disposition, the ruler of the empire sent rich gifts to Vladimir Monomakh: an orb, a scepter, a hat and ancient barmas. Subsequently, these items became a symbol of sovereign power in Russia, and the headdress was called the Monomakh's Hat. These gifts are now in the Kremlin Armory. They are also presented on all reproductions and photos depicting Vladimir Monomakh.
Vladimir Monomakh also contributed to the cessation of fratricidal wars on Russian soil. To create a strong army, the consolidation of all the princes was required, which was not observed in those years. One of the main events during the reign of Monomakh was the Lubech Congress of Princes. In 1097, a meeting of the rulers of six Russian principalities was organized. At the meeting, issues were resolved on the division of territories and the unity of the armies. Such an agreement was a significant achievement in the internal political activities of the ruler and had a beneficial effect on the strengthening of the state. But the unification of forces was prevented by the betrayal of Davyd Igorevich, which led to new strife. In 1010, Vladimir Monomakh convened a second congress, at which the rulers managed to come to a peaceful solution.
Great reign
After the death of Svyatopolk in 1113, Vladimir Monomakh took over the reins of Kievan Rus and became the Grand Duke. It was a difficult period for Kyiv, because at that time a popular uprising against usurers began. The new ruler took the side of the people and took measures to limit the collection of interest.
Monomakh proved to be an effective reformer in the field of legislation. He supplemented the code of laws "Russian Truth", written by his grandfather Yaroslav the Wise. Revenge for murder was banned and replaced by a monetary fine. He also forbade the slave to be turned into slavery for outstanding debts. Yes, and the very position of the common people facilitated. Such was domestic politics Vladimir Monomakh.
The position of the great Kyiv prince was so strengthened that no one dared to challenge his seniority. Monomakh controlled three-quarters of the territory of the state. Under the prince, a fortress in Suzdal and fortifications in Vladimir-on-Klyazma were rebuilt. The Church of the Savior and the Assumption Cathedral appeared there, which were included in the number of architectural monuments. Temples were also built in Smolensk, Rostov and other cities where the prince ruled.
Foreign policy Vladimir Monomakh was also successful. The raids of the Volga Bulgarians, Polovtsy and Mongol-Tatars no longer bothered the state. And the tribes of the Berendeys and Torks were forever forced out of Russia. In the "Word about the destruction of the Russian land" this time is called the happiest and most serene. Contemporaries of Vladimir Monomakh in Europe were Philip I and Louis VI - the kings of France, Henry I Beauclerk of England and the Emperor of Byzantium John II Komnenos.
The concentration of power in one hand and the cessation of internecine wars strengthened the state. The period has begun cultural development. The wise prince managed to leave his mark on literature. Unfortunately, only 4 of his works have survived to this day: a letter to Oleg Svyatoslavich, an autobiographical chronicle about military campaigns, "The Charter of Vladimir Vsevolodovich" (or "The Charter of Vladimir Monomakh"), as well as the famous book "Instruction of Vladimir Monomakh", which is still known under the names "Instruction of Vladimir Vsevolodovich", "Testament of Vladimir Monomakh to Children" or "Instruction to Children".
These literary works are the most valuable storehouse of everyday experience, passed on to the princely offspring and all subsequent generations, and also - good advice for state administration. Many statements of Vladimir Monomakh became aphorisms and quotations.
Personal life
The life of Monomakh testifies that the nobleman had three spouses and many children. Today it is impossible to reliably establish which of the wives gave birth to which of the children.
It is authentically known that the personal life of Vladimir Monomakh was eventful. Researchers call Gita of Wessex the first wife of the prince. She is an English princess and daughter of the Anglo-Saxon King Harold II. She gave birth to her husband six (according to another version, seven) sons: Mstislav, Yaropolk, Vyacheslav, Izyaslav, Roman and Svyatoslav.
Two more sons of Monomakh - and Andrei. But researchers disagree whether Gita was the mother of Yuri, who became known as Yuri Dolgoruky. Vladimir also had several daughters. The names of three have come down to us: Maria (Maritsa), Euphemia and Agafia.
All researchers rank wisdom, the desire for self-education, as well as political intuition as personal qualities of Vladimir Monomakh. Having received the Rostov and Suzdal lands from his father at the age of 13, the prince did not leave care about them and by the end of his life turned them into a flourishing land with a developed culture.
Death
The famous ruler died on May 19, 1125. He was buried with honors in Kyiv. The tomb of the ruler is located in the Hagia Sophia. The result of the reign of Vladimir Monomakh was a strong state with a developed economy and culture. The role of Vladimir Monomakh in the history of Russia is evidenced by his popularity over the following centuries.
In the 21st century, in memory of the prince, documentaries from the series "Generals of Russia" and "History of the Russian State". They were given historical portrait personalities and are represented important facts biographies of the ruler.
Memory
- Commemorative coin of Ukraine dedicated to Volodymyr Monomakh
- Postage stamp of Ukraine dedicated to Volodymyr Monomakh
- The image of Vladimir Monomakh on the monument "1000th Anniversary of Russia" in Veliky Novgorod
- Monument to Vladimir Monomakh in the city of Priluki, Chernihiv region
- Nuclear submarine of the Borey project of the Russian Navy