Prince Svyatopolk Izyaslavovich. The reign of Svyatopolk the first

Auto 01.10.2021

Auto

Reigned 1093-1112Svyatopolk-Mikhail

Prince Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, who received the name Michael in baptism, is the son of Izyaslav Yaroslavich and the Polish princess, was born in 1050. In 1069, by the will of his father, he became the prince of Polotsk instead of the deceased Mstislav, where he ruled continuously for two years. In 1071, the former ruler, Vseslav Bryachislavich, returned power in the Principality of Polotsk. Being a vindictive and touchy man, 7 years later, Svyatopolk, together with Vladimir Monomakh, burned down the Polotsk suburbs.

In 1078 he became Prince of Novgorod, where he ruled for ten years.

In 1088 he headed the Principality of Turov, after which in 1093 he became the Grand Prince of Kyiv.

The process of capturing and establishing the power of Svyatopolk in Kyiv is interesting. After the death of Vsevolod Yaroslavich, Prince Svyatopolk Izyaslavich was invited to Kyiv by Vladimir Monomakh. Arriving in Kyiv on April 24, the prince was warmly received by the people of Kyiv. After some time, the ambassadors of the Polovtsy who attacked the Russian land came to Svyatopolk, offering to make peace. After conferring with the faithful boyars, the prince decided to put the ambassadors under lock and key, which meant not accepting the conditions of the militant side. Having learned about the act of Svyatopolk, the Polovtsy continued the war and laid siege to Torchesk. Realizing that he had made a mistake, Svyatopolk released the captured ambassadors, but this did not stop the Polovtsy, and Svyatopolk had to turn to Vladimir Monomakh and Rostislav, Prince of Pereyaslavl for help. Three princes advanced with their retinues to Trepol, melted across the Stugna River and prepared for a bloody battle. The troops were lined up: in the middle - the squads of Rostislav, on the right - Svyatopolk, on the left - Vladimir. But after a brutal attack by the Polovtsy, the frightened warriors of Svyatopolk fled from the battlefield, forcing their prince to follow them. The other two detachments had no choice but to capitulate, having been defeated.

Having strengthened their positions near Torchesky, the Polovtsy went to war against Kyiv, where on July 23 a battle took place on Zhelan, which ended in the escape of Russian soldiers and Prince Svyatopolk, who later took refuge in Kyiv. Returning with success to Torchesk, the Polovtsy captured the persistent city, for disobedience they took the inhabitants to the steppes, and the city was burned to the ground. Experiencing incredible fear of the Polovtsy, Svyatopolk, having married the daughter of the Polovtsian Khan Tugorkan, Elena, in 1094 made peace with his opponents.

In 1096, Prince Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, with the support of Vladimir Monomakh, expelled Prince Oleg Svyatoslavich from the Chernigov lands. But at that time, Khan Bonyak went to the Kyiv land with the war, leading an army that was incredible in terms of the number of people. The Polovtsians moved towards Kyiv, burning everything in their path. The princely court of Svyatopolk in Berestov also suffered. The example of Khan Bonyak was followed by Svyatopolk's father-in-law, Tugorkan, who decided to capture Pereyaslavl, but Svyatopolk, Mikhail and Vladimir Monomakh, secretly melted across the Dnieper from enemy eyes, suddenly attacked the enemy, forcing the Polovtsians to flee. Many Polovtsy were overtaken by death that day, and it did not spare Tugorkan, whom Svyatopolk later buried in Berestovo, paying tribute to him as the father of his second wife.

The fleeing Khan Bonyak again approached Kyiv and on June 26 burned the entire area around the city, then, having ruthlessly plundered the monasteries - Germanov, Pechorsky and Stefanov - returned to the steppe with his troops.

While in power in Kyiv, Svyatopolk participated in the Lyubech Congress, held in 1097, after which, together with David Igorevich, Prince of Vladimir-Volynsky, Vasilko Rostislavich, Prince of Terebovlsky, was captured. A year later, under pressure from Vladimir Vselodovich Monomakh, he declared war on the captive David Igorevich, which resulted in the expulsion of the latter from the principality subordinate to him. Being a wise military strategist and politician, Svyatopolk-Mikhail made numerous campaigns against the Polovtsians.

In 1099, Svyatopolk undertook a military campaign against the Vladimir-Volyn principality, successfully conquering it. Blinded David, who was there, begging for mercy, was released by Svyatopolk, after which he fled to Poland. Deciding to continue the conquest, Svyatopolk led troops to Volodar Rostislavich and his brother Vasilko. However, on the field of Rozhni, Svyatopolk was defeated and fled to Vladimir, but, not feeling safe there, returned to Kyiv.

Grand Duke Svyatopolk II Izyaslavich (in holy baptism Michael) (November 8/21, 1050 - Kyiv, April 16/29, 1113). The son of Grand Duke Izyaslav I Yaroslavich and Grand Duchess Gertrude (Elizaveta) (nee Princess of Poland, daughter of King Mieszko II Vyaly and sister of King Casimir I the Restorer). In 1068 he received Polotsk from his father, but in 1071 he was expelled by Vseslav Bryachislavich. In 1073-1077 he was in exile with his father in Poland and Germany. In 1078 he was called to reign in Veliky Novgorod. In 1088 he moved to Turov. In 1093, after the death of Grand Duke Vsevolod I Yaroslavich, he occupied the throne of Kyiv in strict accordance with the principle of ladder law. He provoked a conflict with the Polovtsy by arresting their embassy, which arrived to negotiate peaceful coexistence. He was defeated by the Polovtsy in the battles of Trepol and the Zhelan River. In 1094, he made peace with the Polovtsians and married the daughter of the Polovtsian Khan Tugorkan (baptized Elena). In 1095, together with Prince Vladimir Monomakh, he resumed hostilities against the Polovtsy; in 1096, Svyatopolk II's father-in-law Khan Tugorkan and his son died in this war. Inside the country, the situation was complicated by enmity with Chernigov Prince Oleg Svyatoslavich. In 1097 Svyatopolk II chaired the Congress of Princes in Lyubech, convened on the initiative of Prince Vladimir Monomakh. The congress decided “everyone (i.e. everyone) keeps his fatherland”, which, on the one hand, limited internecine arbitrariness, but on the other, legally fixed the principle of specific fragmentation. Immediately after the end of the congress, Svyatopolk II, believing the slander of Prince Vladimir-Volynsky Davyd Igorevich, captivated and allowed the blinding of Prince Terebovlsky Vasilko Rostislavich. This crime almost caused a war between the Grand Duke and St. Vladimir Monomakh. However, the Dowager Grand Duchess Anna (stepmother of Vladimir Monomakh) and Metropolitan Nikolai managed to prevent strife on the condition of punishing Prince Davyd Igorevich. The latter in 1099, after a 7-week siege of Vladimir-Volynsky, was expelled by Svyatopolk II and fled to Poland. The civil strife between the Grand Duke, on the one hand, and Volodar and Vasilko Rostislavich and Davyd Igorevich, who had united with them, on the other, resumed in the same year. The victim of the struggle was the son of Svyatopolk II, Prince Mstislav, who died in June during the siege of Vladimir-Volynsky by Davyd Igorevich. In August, the Congress of Princes in Vitichev deprived Davyd Igorevich of his inheritance (Vladimir-Volynsky). In 1100-1102 Svyatopolk II fought with varying success against his nephew, Prince Yaroslav Yaropolkovich. In 1103, by decision of the Congress of Russian Princes in Dolobsk, their coalition defeated the Polovtsy. Also during this period, Svyatopolk II strengthened the international position of the Russian state by marrying Princess Barbara of the Eastern Roman Empire (daughter of Emperor Alexei I Komnenos) (1103) and arranging the marriages of his daughters: Princess Sbyslava married the Polish Duke Boleslav III Krivousty (1103) , and Predslava - for the Hungarian Prince Almos (1104). The campaign of governor Putyaty in the winter of 1104-1105 against Prince Gleb Vseslavich of Polotsk ended in vain. In 1106-1111 Svyatopolk II won a number of victories over the Polovtsy (the most significant - together with Vladimir Monomakh in the battle on the Salnitsa River on March 27/April 9, 1111). Svyatopolk II especially revered St. teacher Theodosius of the Caves, always prayed at his tomb before any important matter, and in 1108 ordered Metropolitan Nicephorus to canonize St. Theodosius. The Grand Duke was distinguished by a high level of education. Contemporaries noted his innocence. At the same time, Svyatopolk II was accused of love of money and patronage of usurers to the detriment of the Russian population. The death of the Grand Duke was preceded by a solar eclipse, perceived as a harbinger of misfortune. Immediately after his death, an uprising broke out in Kyiv, and a Jewish pogrom began, caused by the dissatisfaction of the people of Kiev with the excessive privileges given by Svyatopolk II to usurers. Excesses were stopped by Vladimir Monomakh, who ascended the Grand Duke's throne of Kyiv out of the order of the right of the ladder. Svyatopolk II was buried in the Kyiv church of St. Michael the Archangel.

SVYATOPOLK II IZYASLAVICH (MIKHAIL)

Svyatopolk II (Mikhail) Izyaslavich - the son of Izyaslav Yaroslavich, was born in 1050. In 1069, Izyaslav expelled Vseslav from Polotsk and planted his son Mstislav there, and after his death - Svyatopolk; in 1071 Svyatopolk was expelled from there by Vseslav. In 1078, his father planted Svyatopolk in Novgorod; in 1088 he moved to Turov and reigned there until 1093, when Vsevolod of Kyiv died. The son of Vsevolod, Vladimir Monomakh, voluntarily gave way to Svyatopolk, as the eldest in the princely family, the Kyiv throne. Svyatopolk was not distinguished by the abilities of the ruler and failed to win the favor of the people. The Polovtsy defeated him at Trepol and on Zhelan and devastated the country; Svyatopolk was forced to buy peace and married the daughter of the Polovtsian Khan Tugorkan. Despite this, the struggle with the Polovtsians continued. At the Lyubetz congress in 1097, it was decided that each of the princes owned his own estate. For Svyatopolk, thus, Kyiv was approved with Turov. But even after the congress, the discord between the princes did not end. David Igorevich Volynsky assured Svyatopolk that Vasilko Rostislavich Galitsky and Vladimir Monomakh agreed to seize the possessions of Svyatopolk and David. Svyatopolk allowed David to capture Vasilko in Kyiv and blind him. This caused a rapprochement between Monomakh and the Svyatoslavichs of Chernigov, who undertook a campaign against Svyatopolk. He had to make peace with them and accept an assignment to punish David by driving him out of his inheritance. Svyatopolk not only captured Volyn, but also tried to seize the Galician land, in which, however, he failed. Volhynia remained with Svyatopolk. The subsequent years of Svyatopolk's reign were marked by his participation in the princes' campaigns against the Polovtsy. Svyatopolk died in 1113. The people of Kiev, who did not like him for his incapacity, cruelty, suspicion and greed, immediately after his death began to rob his close associates and threatened to plunder even the prince's property. A monument to the reign of S. in Kyiv remained the Golden-Domed St. Michael's Church. S.K.

Brief biographical encyclopedia. 2012

Svyatopolk II. - Oleg Svyatoslavich and civil strife for Chernihiv. - Lubech Congress. - Blinding of Vasilko and disputes over Volhynia - Vitichevsky Congress - - Bitterness against the Polovtsy. - United campaigns of princes in the steppe.

The beginning of the reign of Svyatopolk Izyaslavich

With the death of the last of the sons of Yaroslav, the grand ducal dignity was to pass to one of his grandsons. According to the generic concepts of that time, seniority belonged to Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, that is, the son of the eldest of the Yaroslavichs, who occupied the Kyiv table. Although the people of Kiev expressed their desire to have the courageous Vladimir Monomakh as prince, who was called by his dying father to Kyiv and was present at his burial; but Vladimir did not want to violate the rights of Svyatopolk and bring on an internecine war. He sent for him to Turov to call him to the Grand Duke's table, and he himself went to his Chernigov inheritance. It was not for nothing that the people of Kiev wanted to bypass Svyatopolk: he soon revealed his inability to inspire respect in his younger relatives and fear in Russia's external enemies.

Svyatopolk Izyaslavich on the pedestal of the monument to the 900th anniversary of the Congress of Princes in Lyubech (face in the center). Sculptor Gennady Ershov

Battle with the Polovtsians on Stugna (1093)

The Polovtsy went to fight the Russian land at the time when the news of the death of Vsevolod reached them; they sent envoys to Svyatopolk with an offer of peace, accompanying his proposal, of course, with various demands. Svyatopolk, not heeding the advice of experienced Kievan boyars who served his father and uncle, listened to his warriors who came with him from Turov, and ordered the Polovtsian ambassadors to be imprisoned. Then the Polovtsy began to devastate the Russian borders and, among other things, laid siege to Torchesk, a city located on the river Ros, on the border with the steppe and populated mainly by captured Torches. Svyatopolk caught himself, dismissed the Polovtsian ambassadors and offered peace himself; but now it was already difficult to stop the horde. Having no more than 800 youths, the Grand Duke, on the advice of unreasonable people, wanted to oppose the barbarians; however, he finally listened to the old boyars and sent to ask for help from Vladimir Monomakh. The latter was not slow to come from Chernigov, and called his younger brother Rostislav from Pereyaslavl. But the forces gathered are insufficient. When the princes came to the Stugna River, Vladimir advised them to stop and, threatening the Polovtsy from here, enter into negotiations with them. But Svyatopolk dared to fight, which was also demanded by the ardent youth of Kiev. The Stugna River was then in flood. (This happened in the month of May.) The troops crossed it, passed the city of Trepol and went beyond the rampart, poured by Russia to protect against the steppes. Here the Polovtsian horde met the Russians and struck first of all at the squad of Svyatopolk; the latter could not stand it and ran; then the barbarians broke the squads of Vladimir and Rostislav. Svyatopolk rushed with his people to the nearby city of Trepol, and the Chernigov and Pereyaslav residents ran to Stugna and wade through it; and Rostislav drowned. Vladimir, who wanted to catch his brother, almost sank himself. He lost in this battle a significant part of his squad with many boyars and returned to Chernigov very sad. And Svyatopolk on the same night fled from Trepol to Kyiv. Then the Polovtsy, dissolving their pens on the Russian land, freely began to rob and take full. Their corrals reached Vyshgorod, that is, north of Kyiv. Svyatopolk tried again to fight the barbarians and was again utterly defeated. Meanwhile, the besieged Torchesk bravely defended itself for more than nine weeks; Finally, tormented by hunger and thirst, he opened the gate. The barbarians set fire to the city, and divided its inhabitants among themselves and took them away to their lodges along with a huge crowd captured in other cities and villages. In the next year 1094, Svyatopolk made peace with the Polovtsy and, in order to seal it, he married the daughter of Tugorkan, the strongest of the Polovtsian khans. But this war was only the beginning of those disasters and internecine strife, which marked the reign of Svyatopolk-Michael.

Continuation of the fight against Oleg Svyatoslavich

The reason for the civil strife that took place under Svyatopolk II was the continuation of disputes, on the one hand, for Chernigov, on the other, for Volhynia. Oleg Svyatoslavich, imprisoned by the Greek government on the island of Rhodes, stayed there for two years. But with the accession to the Byzantine throne of the famous Alexei Komnenos, circumstances changed. The Russian prince not only received freedom, but, it seems, also the help with which he regained the Tmutarakan table (in 1083); moreover, he severely punished the seditious Tmutarakan Khazars and executed the main culprits of his exile. For about ten years, Oleg sat quietly in Tmutarakan; but after the death of Vsevolod, in 1094 he appeared with crowds of Polovtsians near Chernigov in order to win his hereditary inheritance. Vladimir Monomakh, who had not yet recovered from the defeat on the banks of the Stugna, this time was not ready to fight. When the enemies began to burn down the monasteries and villages lying near Chernigov, after an eight-day defense, he made peace with Oleg, surrendered the city to him; and he himself with his family, under the cover of a small squad, passed through the Polovtsian crowds and retired to his hereditary Pereyaslavl. However, Oleg did not suddenly establish himself in the Chernihiv region. Svyatopolk and Vladimir Monomakh invited him to go with them to the Polovtsians; but he avoided war with former allies. In the following year, 1096, Svyatopolk and Vladimir sent to call Oleg to Kyiv in order to jointly discuss the defense of the Russian land from the barbarians and think about it jointly with the bishops, abbots, boyars and city elders. Oleg gave a proud answer: "It is not proper for bishops, abbots and smerds to judge me." “So you don’t go to the filthy with us, nor to advice to us; but you are plotting to help the filthy against us,” Svyatopolk and Vladimir ordered him to tell him and, uniting, went to Oleg. The latter was expelled from Chernigov; but instead of Tmutarakan, he now retired to another hereditary inheritance of the Svyatoslavichs, to the land of Muromo-Ryazan. Shortly before that time, one of the sons of Vladimir Monomakh, Izyaslav, expelled Oleg's posadniks from Murom and took possession of this city. Oleg with the Ryazants came to Murom, and under its walls defeated Izyaslav; the last fell in this battle; and his Rostov and Belozersky combatants were taken prisoner and put in chains. Not satisfied with the return of the Murom inheritance, Oleg, in turn, captured the neighboring volosts - Rostov and Suzdal, hereditary in the Monomakh family, placed his posadniks there and began to collect tribute. Then Oleg was opposed by his godson, the eldest son of Monomakh Mstislav, who reigned in Novgorod the Great. He appeared in the Suzdal region and expelled the Oleg posadniks from there. Modest Mstislav then offered peace to the godfather. “I am younger than you,” he ordered to tell Oleg, “send with my father, return the captured squad; and I will listen to you in everything.”

By the same time, Monomakh's letter to Oleg, preserved in the annals, probably belongs. Despite the sadness of the loss of his youngest son, Vladimir, however, leans towards the peace-loving convictions of Mstislav; he addresses his enemy with words of reconciliation and, in a touching letter to him, pours out his feelings of a father and a Christian. But the insidious Oleg only wanted to gain time through negotiations in order to prepare forces and attack by surprise. It was the first week of Lent. Mstislav was sitting at dinner in Suzdal one day when the news came to him that Oleg had already appeared on the Klyazma. The young prince managed to gather his squad, which consisted of Novgorodians, Rostovians and Belozersk, hurried to meet Oleg and defeated him on the banks of the Koloksha River, which flows into the Klyazma. Pursuing his godfather and uncle deep into the Ryazan region, Mstislav ordered him to say: “Don’t run, but better go to the brothers with a request; they will not deprive you of the Russian land (i.e., inheritance in Southern Russia); I will also ask for you my father". Oleg finally followed his advice, and this time peace negotiations led to the famous Lyubech congress, which ended the cruel feuds for Chernigov.

Lubech congress 1097

In 1097 senior princes, Yaroslav's grandchildren Svyatopolk, Vladimir Monomakh, David Igorevich and Oleg and their brother David gathered in Lyubech on the banks of the Dnieper, in addition, their nephew Vasilko Rostislavich. “Why are we ruining the Russian land with our quarrels,” they said to each other, “and the Polovtsy rejoice in our internecine strife and spread our land; from now on we will be together, and let everyone own his fatherland.” As a result, they decided that Svyatopolk would continue to hold Kyiv, and Vladimir Monomakh - the lands of Pereyaslav and Rostov, David, Oleg and Yaroslav Svyatoslavich - Chernigov and Muromo-Ryazan, David Igorevich - Vladimir-Volyn; Rostislavichs left the cities that were appointed by Vsevolod, namely Volodar - Przemysl, and Vasilka - Terebovl. The princes kissed the cross, i.e. swore allegiance to this decision, and pledged to arm themselves with everything against anyone who decides to violate the agreement. Then they parted. Thus, Chernihiv was returned to the Svyatoslavichs.

The Lyubech congress is of such significance in our history that it clearly expressed the desire of Russia to fragment into separate lands (fatherlands), i.e. to the consolidation of these lands behind the well-known branches of the Russian princely house, and, consequently, to some of their isolation. The resolution of this congress formed the basis of almost all subsequent inter-princely relations.

Blinding of Prince Vasilko

But as soon as the internecine strife on the part of Chernigov subsided, it quickly and unexpectedly arose from the other side: the Volyn question came forward for Chernigov, accompanied by even more bloody and dramatic deeds. Before proceeding to further events, it is necessary to mention one case that has a close connection with them. It is said above that during the reign of Vsevolod, his nephew Yaropolk Izyaslavich received the Vladimir-Volyn region as an inheritance and that his neighbors Rostislavichs were at enmity with him: the latter wanted to increase their inheritances at the expense of the Volyn land. Once Yaropolk Izyaslavich was driving from Vladimir to his Cherven Zvenigorod and was lying on a wagon. Suddenly, one of the warriors who accompanied him, named Neradets, seized the moment, plunged his sword into the prince's side and galloped away. The murderer fled to Przemysl to the eldest of the Rostislavichs, Rurik; therefore, they were suspected of instigating a crime that, apparently, went unpunished. After that, the inheritance of Vladimir-Volynsky went to David Igorevich.

Volhynia was also approved for David at the Lyubech Congress, excluding some of its parts that belonged to the Cherven cities and were given to two Rostislavichs, Vasilko and Volodar (their elder brother Rurik had already died). The insidious, envious David was burdened by the neighborhood of the Rostislavichs. It is not known whether he wanted to own all the Volyn land undividedly, or whether he did not consider himself safe on their part; but the fact is that he listened to some evil advisers and decided to destroy Vasilko; and for this he used the old, dark case of the death of Yaropolk Izyaslavich. From Lyubech, the Volyn prince arrived in Kyiv together with Svyatopolk and began to inspire him that Vladimir Monomakh and Vasilko Rostislavich had agreed to act in concert: the first wanted to take possession of Kyiv, and the second - Vladimir. The circumstances, as it were, confirmed his slander: Vasilko really gathered strength, called the Berendeys and Torks to him and prepared for war. The Grand Duke at first expressed distrust of David's words; but the latter reminded him of the fate of his older brother Yaropolk, directly stating that he died from the Rostislavichs. This reminder had an effect on the weak-hearted Svyatopolk; he became available to the suggestions of David, who repeated: "Until we grab Vasilko, neither you will reign in Kyiv, nor me in Vladimir."

Meanwhile, Vasilko, returning from Lyubech, also arrived at Kyiv, on November 4 he crossed the Dnieper with his convoy at the Vydubetsky monastery; in the evening he dined at the monastery and then spent the night in his camp. In the morning Svyatopolk-Michael sent to ask him to stay in Kyiv until his name day, the Grand Duke, i.e. until November 8th. Vasilko refused, saying that he needed to hurry home, that he was threatened by an army from the Poles. A new reason for David's evil suggestions to Svyatopolk: "Look, he does not at all consider you an elder, and you will see how he returns home and captures your volosts Turov and Pinsk and Berestye." Svyatopolk sent Vasilko to tell him to visit him, even if only for a short time. Vasilko mounted a horse and rode to Kyiv with some servants. According to the chronicle, some lad, i.e. from the younger combatants, warned him of the danger, but in vain; the prince did not believe, recalling the recent kissing of the cross in Lyubech, and said: "God's will be done." In the gridiron near Svyatopolk, he met with David; while the host was talking to the guest, David sat in silence, his eyes downcast. Svyatopolk went out under the pretext of ordering breakfast; David followed him. Warriors immediately attacked Vasilko and put him in chains. The matter was very important; therefore Svyatopolk the next day gathered his boyars together with the Kyiv elders with Vladimir Monomakh to kill the Grand Duke and take possession of his cities. The boyars and elders were perplexed whether to believe it or not, and gave an evasive answer: "You, prince, must take care of your head, and if the accusation is true, Vasilko is punishable; but if David told a lie, then let him answer for it before God" . Upon learning of this, the abbots of the monasteries hurried to intercede for Vasilko before the Grand Duke. Then David redoubled his efforts to intimidate the latter and persuade him to blind the prisoner; Svyatopolk, after some hesitation, agreed.

That same night they brought Rostislavich to Zvenigorod, a place about ten versts from Kyiv, and stayed with him in the same hut. Here Vasilko saw a princely shepherd, a torchin by birth, sharpening a knife; he guessed that they wanted to blind him and wept bitterly. Indeed, two grooms entered, one Svyatopolkov, the other Davidov, spread the carpet and wanted to knock down the prince; the latter, although bound, defended himself desperately; called two more. Vasilka was knocked down, boards were placed on his chest and all four sat on them; the unfortunate bones crunched. Then Torchin, with bestial cruelty, blinded him. They laid the prince dead on a cart and took him to Vladimir Volynsky. When the guides stopped to dine in the town of Zdvizhenye, they took Vasilko's shirt off and gave it to him to wash. Having washed it and put it on the prince again, the priest began to cry over him as if he were dead. From this weeping, the prince woke up, drank fresh water and, feeling his chest, said: "Why did he appear before God in it and together with it." In Vladimir, David put the prisoner under guard and assigned 30 soldiers to him with two princely youths, Ulan and Kolchaya. Sitting in custody, Vasilko, in a moment of humility, said that God, of course, punished him for his pride. He did not even have a thought for Svyatopolk or David; but he had big ideas. He gathered an army and called on the Berendeys and Torques with the Pechenegs to go against the Poles. He thought to say to David and his brother Volodar: "Give me your younger squad, and drink and be merry yourself; I will go to the Lyash land, take it and avenge the Russian land." Then he wanted to capture some part of the Danube Bolgars and settle them with him; and after that he intended to ask Svyatopolk and Vladimir for the Polovtsy, and there either get glory for himself, or lay down his life for the Russian land. “I already rejoiced in my soul, hearing that Berendichi were coming to me; but God deposed me for my arrogance,” concluded the prisoner.

The news of the blinding of Vasilko horrified other princes: "there has never been such a thing in our family," they said. Vladimir Monomakh immediately summoned the Svyatoslavichs, David and Oleg, and went with them to Kyiv. To the reproaches addressed to the Grand Duke, the latter was justified by the fact that David Igorevich told him about the plans of Vasilko. “There is no need for you to refer to David,” the brothers answered him, “Vasilko was taken and blinded not in the city of David.” Vladimir and the Svyatoslavichs were already preparing to cross the Dnieper in order to expel Svyatopolk from Kyiv, when Vladimir's stepmother and Metropolitan Nikolai came to them as ambassadors from the people of Kiev. They begged the princes not to destroy Russia with a new internecine strife and not to please the Polovtsians; the latter will come and take the Russian land, which the old princes acquired with their courage and their great labors. Vladimir was touched by these admonitions; he honored his father's wife, honored the dignity of a saint, and agreed to peace, but with the fact that Svyatopolk himself would go against David Igorevich and punish him for vile slander. Svyatopolk promised. Meanwhile, Volodar Rostislavich had already started a war with David and agreed to peace only under the condition of extradition of his blinded brother. David really gave him Vasilko; but the peace did not last. Blind Vasilko yearned for revenge; besides, there was a dispute about some cities, and the war broke out again. Rostislavichi besieged David in Vladimir itself and sent to tell the citizens that they did not want to ruin the city, but only demanded the extradition of their villains Turyak, Lazar and Vasil, who incited David to blind Vasilko. Citizens forced the prince to extradite Lazar and Vasil (Turyak managed to escape to Kyiv). Rostislavichi hanged them and retreated from the city. The example of these people shows what an active part in the troubles of that time the boyars and princely warriors had and how they subordinated short-sighted or weak-hearted princes to their influence.

Svyatopolk hesitated to fulfill the promise given to Vladimir Monomakh and the Svyatoslavichs. Only in 1099 did he finally get together and go to David. The latter turned with a request for help to his ally, the Polish king Vladislav Herman; but Svyatopolk also offered Vladislav his alliance and sent him rich gifts. Besieged in Vladimir and not receiving help from the Poles, David was forced to surrender the city to Svyatopolk and be content with the small parish left to him. But the feuds didn't end there. The Grand Duke, encouraged by success, now decided to expel the Rostislavichs from the Volyn land in order to own it in full. The memory of the might of the Kyiv sovereign, who dominated all Russian lands, was still too alive, and even such an unenterprising prince as Svyatopolk II (of course, not without the influence of the Kyiv boyars), discovers an attempt, if not to unification, then to the greatest possible seizure of lands into his own. arms. And in such cases, the fertile Volyn land, as the closest to Kyiv and not separated from it by any natural barriers, usually served as the first subject of Kyiv harassment. The struggle with the brave brothers, however, was unsuccessful. Then the Grand Duke called for the help of the Ugric king Koloman. But this time, the common danger reconciled the Rostislavichs with David: he united with them against Svyatopolk in order to regain Vladimir for himself. David brought hired Polovtsian help. The famous Polovtsian Khan Bonyak came with him, and they decided to attack the Ugrians, who stood near Przemysl on the Vagra River and were much more numerous than the Polovtsians. On this occasion, our chronicler reports curious details about Bonyak. On the night before the battle, he rode out of his camp into the field and began to howl like a wolf; first one wolf answered him, then many howled. Bonyak returned to the camp and said to David: "Tomorrow we will have victory over the Ugrians." In the morning he divided the army into three parts: he sent his governor Altunop forward, put David back and under the banner, i.e. under the banner, with his Russian squad; and he himself, with the rest of the Polovtsy, set up an ambush on the sides. The Ugry stood as outposts; Altunopa attacked the first outpost and, firing arrows, turned into a feigned flight. The Ugry gave in to deceit and began to pursue him; when they passed the ambushes, Bonyak came out and attacked them from the rear; Altunope turned them in the face; so did David. Bonyak, according to the chronicle, knocked the Ugrians into the ball, "like a falcon knocking down jackdaws." Ugry rushed to flee; and many of them drowned in the rivers Vagra and San.

Congress in Vitichev (“Uvetichi”) in 1100

The war of David and the Rostislavichs with Svyatopolk lasted until the next year 1100; in August of this year, the princes gathered for a new congress, which this time took place near Vitichev. Svyatopolk, Vladimir Monomakh, David and Oleg Svyatoslavich, accompanied by their combatants, came together to judge the case of David Igorevich, and, it seems, on his own complaint. He also came to the convention. “Well, now you are sitting with us on the same carpet,” the brothers said to David, “tell me what your complaint is.” The brothers got up, mounted their horses, and each rode up to his squad to consult with her. David, meanwhile, sat aside and waited for a decision. After talking with the boyars and among themselves, the brothers detached their husbands: Svyatopolk - Putyata, Vladimir - Orogost and Ratibor, David and Oleg Svyatoslavich of some Torchin, and ordered David Igorevich to say the following:

“We don’t give you the table of Vladimir, because you threw a knife between us and did something that never happened in the Russian land. We don’t imprison you and don’t do you any other harm; go, sit down on Buzhsk and Ostrog; Svyatopolk gives you also Dubno and Czartorysk, Vladimir - two hundred hryvnias, David and Oleg - also two hundred hryvnias.

The disgraced prince had to obey the decision of the brothers. Vladimir Volynsky remained behind Svyatopolk; the latter also gave David the city of Dorogobuzh, where he subsequently died.

Russian princes make peace in Uvetichi. Painting by S. V. Ivanov

Just as the Lyubech congress settled the dispute over Chernigov, so the Vitichevsky congress ended civil strife over the Volyn region. Having established peace in the Russian land, the princes bowed to the convictions of Vladimir Monomakh and, with their combined forces, now turned against their common enemies, i.e. on wild Polovtsy. The struggle of Russia with these nomads about that time takes on a fierce, stubborn character. As insidious as they were predatory, the Polovtsian khans often made peace with the Russian princes, taking jars and swearing not to attack Russian lands; but after that they forgot about their oaths and again came to burn, rob and take away the Russian population into captivity. Such perfidy hardened the Russian people, and only this general bitterness can explain the following act of Vladimir Monomakh, who most respected oaths and agreements, the most chivalrous of the Russian princes of that time.

Russia and the Cumans under Svyatopolk Izyaslavich

In 1095, two Polovtsian khans, Itlar and Kitan, came to Vladimir in Pereyaslavl to conclude peace. Itlar with his people entered the city itself and settled down in the courtyard of Ratibor; and Kitan stood outside the city between the ramparts, taking one of the sons of Vladimirov, Svyatoslav, as a hostage. Ratibor was an old, noble boyar, who had served as voivode to Monomakh's father. For some reason, this boyar and his family were especially angry at the Polovtsy and planned to treacherously kill their guests. At the same time, the Kyiv boyar Slovyata was in Pereyaslavl, sent from Svyatopolk with some kind of assignment (obviously related to the same Polovtsy). Together with him, the Ratiborovichi began to persuade Vladimir to exterminate the Polovtsy. The prince hesitated, saying: "How can this be done after the oath just given?" The squad calmed his conscience with the words: "There is no sin in that; the Polovtsians always take an oath to keep the peace and always break it, constantly shedding Christian blood." Vladimir, although reluctantly, gave his consent. On the same night, the Slavs with a detachment of Russians and Torkov crept up to the camp of Kitan: first they stole the young Svyatoslav, and then rushed to the Polovtsy and killed everyone along with the khan. Meanwhile, Itlar and his people spent the night in the courtyard of Ratibor, not knowing anything about the fate of Kitan. In the morning he was invited to the hut to have breakfast and warm up, as it was at the end of February. But as soon as the khan and his retinue entered the hut, they were locked up, the ceiling was opened, and from there the first Olbeg Ratiborich hit an arrow right in the heart of Itlar; then they beat all his people. Such perfidy, of course, did not bring any significant benefit to the Russian land. It only further embittered both sides. Following then, Svyatopolk and Vladimir, with their combined forces, undertook a campaign in the steppes, destroyed some of the Polovtsian towers and returned with a large booty, consisting of servants, horses, camels and other livestock. This was the campaign in which Oleg Svyatoslavich evaded participation. The Polovtsy in the same year retaliated by an invasion of Kyiv; they besieged the city of Yuryev for a long time, on the river Ros, and finally burned it after it was abandoned by its inhabitants. Svyatopolk settled these immigrants from Yuryev on the site of ancient Vitichev, on a high hill on the right bank of the Dnieper, and the newly founded city named Svyatopolch after himself.

In the following year, 1096, when the Grand Duke and Vladimir were busy with an internecine war with Oleg Svyatoslavich, the Polovtsy took advantage of the convenient time and intensified their raids. Their fierce Khan Bonyak ravaged the right bank of the Dnieper to Kyiv itself, and devastated the environs of the capital and turned the Grand Duke's suburban court on Berestov to ashes; and another khan, Kurya, raged on the left side near Pereyaslavl. Svyatopolk's father-in-law, Tugorkan, came and laid siege to Pereyaslavl itself in the absence of Vladimir. Then Svyatopolk and Vladimir, united, crossed the Dnieper at Zarub and, unexpectedly for the Polovtsians, appeared near Pereyaslavl. The barbarians were utterly defeated. Among those killed was Tugorkan; the Grand Duke ordered him, as his father-in-law, to be taken to the capital and buried near Berestov. But while the princes were still in Pereyaslavl, Bonyak, taking advantage of the absence of the troops, appeared again near Kyiv and almost burst into the city itself. He burned several monasteries and villages, including the red princely court built by Vsevolod on Vydubetsky hill. During this unexpected invasion, the famous Pechora monastery also suffered. The barbarians attacked her with wild cries at the hour when the monks, after matins, were sleeping in their cells. Having cut down the monastery gates, they began to rob, set fire to the temple of the Mother of God and ransack the empty cells, from which the monks managed to escape. Hearing about this invasion, Svyatopolk and Vladimir hurried to strike at Bonyak; but with the same speed he left for the steppe with which he had come. The Russian princes chased him, but could not overtake him.

Similar attacks by the Polovtsy were repeated almost every year; Russian princes sometimes managed to gather forces in time and defeat one or another crowd of barbarians. Often the princes came together with the Polovtsian khans, made peace with them, sealed it with mutual oaths and even marriages with their daughters. But nothing could stop the disastrous Polovtsian raids. The defensive war proved too insufficient; it was necessary to wage a more energetic and friendly struggle in order to beat back the movement of the steppe to South Russia. Thanks to the efforts of Vladimir Monomakh, the Russian princes led such an offensive struggle at the beginning of the 12th century. This offensive of the Eastern European people against their Turkish neighbors coincided in time with the same movement of the Western European peoples against another part of the same Turkish tribe, which came out of the same Trans-Caspian steppes and, uniting under the banner of the Seljukids, extended its dominance to almost the whole of Asia Minor. Glorious Russian campaigns deep into the Polovtsian steppes coincided with the beginning of the Crusades to liberate the Holy Land. Vladimir Monomakh and Gottfried of Bouillon are two heroic leaders who at the same time fought to defend the Christian world against the hostile East.

Dolobsky congress (1103) and campaigns of Russian princes against nomads

In 1103, Vladimir invited Svyatopolk in the spring to set out together on a campaign against the Polovtsy; but the combatants advised against the campaign on the grounds that it was not the time to tear the farmers away from the field. To discuss this matter, the princes gathered not far from Kyiv on the left bank of the Dnieper near Dolobsky Lake and sat in one tent, each with his squad. Vladimir was the first to break the silence:

Brother, you are the eldest, start talking about how we can protect the Russian land?

Svyatopolk answered;

Brother, you better start.

How can I speak! Vladimir objected. - Against me and my and your squad; they will say that I want to destroy both the villagers and arable land. But this is what is surprising to me: how you feel sorry for them, but you don’t think that in the spring the stink will plow on your horse; and suddenly the Polovchin will come, kill the stinker with an arrow, take his horse, wife and children for himself, and burn him in the threshing floor. Why don't you think about this?

Dolobsky Congress of Princes - a date between Prince Vladimir Monomakh and Prince Svyatopolk. Painting by A. Kivshenko

The squad unanimously recognized the validity of his words.

I am ready to go with you,” said Svyatopolk.

Great, brother, you will do good to the Russian land, ”said Vladimir.

The princes got up, kissed and sent to call the Svyatoslavichs with them on the campaign. Oleg excused himself with illness, but his brother, David, went. In addition to these senior princes, several of their younger relatives went on a campaign with their squads, including one of the sons of the recently deceased Vseslav of Polotsk. The princes moved with horse and foot army; the latter sailed in boats along the Dnieper, and the former led her horses along the shore. Having passed the rapids, the boats stopped at the island of Khortytsia; the infantry went ashore, the riders mounted their horses and, uniting, went to the steppe. After a four-day campaign, Russia reached the enemy camps. Preparing for battles, princes and warriors fervently prayed and made various vows; one promised to distribute generous alms, the other to make a donation to the monastery.

Meanwhile, the Polovtsian khans, having heard about the Russian campaign, also gathered at the congress and began to deliberate. The eldest of them, Urusoba, advised to ask for peace. "Russia will fight hard with us, because we have done a lot of evil to the Russian land," he said. But the younger leaders did not want to listen to him and boasted, having beaten Russia, go to her land and take her cities. The Polovtsians sent forward Altunopa, who was famous among them for his courage. He ran into a Russian sentry detachment, was surrounded, beaten and himself fell in this battle. Encouraged by the first success, the Russian regiments boldly attacked the main forces of the Polovtsy. The barbarians, like a thick forest, covered a wide field; but there was no cheerfulness in them; according to our chronicle, both the riders and the horses stood in some kind of slumber. The Polovtsy did not long withstand the swift attack of Russia and fled. The battle took place on April 4th. Up to twenty Polovtsian princes fell in it, including Urusoba. One of the strongest khans, Beldyuz, was taken prisoner and began to offer the Grand Duke a ransom for himself, promising a lot of gold, silver, horses and all kinds of cattle. Svyatopolk sent him to Vladimir. “How many times have you sworn not to fight in the Russian land?” Monomakh told him. “Why didn’t you keep your sons and relatives so that they would not break their oaths and shed Christian blood?” and ordered him to be cut into pieces. The Russians destroyed many Polovtsian towers and took a lot of booty as captives, horses, camels and other livestock. They also captured some of the Pechenegs and Torkovs, who had joined with the Polovtsy. With great honor and glory the princes returned to their cities.

But the strength of the nomads was far from being broken by this brilliant campaign. In the following years, the barbarians took revenge on Russia with new raids. The ferocious Bonyak and old Sharukan were still alive. Once they came together to Russia and stopped near the city of Lubno on the banks of the Sula. Svyatopolk and Vladimir united this time with Oleg Chernigovsky. They hit the Polovtsy so unexpectedly that they did not have time to "put up a banner" and were utterly defeated. On Assumption Day, on the temple feast of the Caves Monastery, Svyatopolk returned from the campaign and went straight to the monastery to give thanks for the victory. The Russian princes made peace with the Polovtsian khans, and on the daughter of one of these khans, Aepa, Vladimir married his youngest son Yuri, later famous Dolgoruky. Oleg Svyatoslavich married his son Svyatoslav to the daughter of another khan, who was also called Aepa. But these peace treaties and marriage alliances, as usual, did not stop the hostile actions and raids of the Polovtsians. Then Monomakh convinced the Russian princes to make a new big campaign with common forces in order to defeat the Polovtsian towers in the very steppes of the Zadonsk.

Svyatopolk, Vladimir Monomakh and David Svyatoslavich again became at the head of the united militia. This time, the princes set out even earlier than before, precisely at the end of February, in order to make a campaign before the onset of the summer heat, which is so painful in the southern steppes. As far as the Khorola River, the army still traveled in the winter, but here it was necessary to leave the sleigh. It gradually passed the Psel, Vorskla, Donets and other rivers, and in the sixth week, on Tuesday, reached the banks of the Don. On these banks there were settled camps, or winter quarters, of the main Polovtsian khans. Russia was clothed in armor, which during the campaign usually folded onto the cart. The regiments settled down and moved in battle order to the city of Khan Sharukan; by order of Vladimir, the priests went ahead of the troops singing troparions and kontakions. The Sharukans came out to meet Russia with a bow, with fish and wine, which saved their dwellings from ruin. The next town of Khan Sutra was burned down. On Thursday, the Russian army went further from the Don. The next day, March 24, she met with the Polovtsian horde. The Russians remained victorious and celebrated their victory along with the Annunciation Day. The main battle took place on Passion Monday, on the banks of the Salnitsa. The enemies were very numerous, and again, like a dense forest, they surrounded the Russian army. The stubborn slaughter lasted until Vladimir Monomakh, with a swift onslaught at the head of his regiment, decided victory. According to the chronicle legend, the Polovtsy justified their defeat by miraculous help, which was provided to the Christians by some bright warriors who hovered over the Russian regiments. Again, with a huge number of prisoners and all kinds of cattle, the Russians returned from the campaign. The chronicler adds that the glory of these victories spread far among other peoples, such as the Greeks, Ugrians, Lyakhs, Czechs, and reached Rome itself.

On the daughters of Vsevolod, see Karamzin to vol. II note. 156 and 157. A critical compilation of all the Latin news about the marriage of Eupraxia with Henry IV is found in Krug in the second volume of his Forschungen in der akteren Geschichte Russlands. S-Ptrsb. 1848.

The Lyubech congress and, in general, the events of Svyatopolkov's reign, see P. S. R. Let. Khrushchev "The Tale of Vasilko Rostislavich" in Thu. About. Nestor the chronicler. Book. I. Kyiv. 1879. Regarding Vsevolodov's nephew Yaropolk Izyaslavich, see Schlumberger in the history of Zoya and Theodora on pages 463 and 465 for portraits of this prince and his mother in Byzantine royal costumes, taken from the miniatures of the "Psalter" of Archbishop Trevskoy.

In the annals about the place of the princely congress in 1100 it is said: "in Uvetichi". Some scientists tried to determine where these Uvetichi lay, and made various assumptions. But there is an obvious misunderstanding here. In the oldest list, of course, it was: "at Vitichev"; the illiterate writer, not understanding it well, mistook it for one word and, for greater clarity, added the preposition в. However, we meet the real reading at Tatishchev: "on Vyatichov". Even Artsybashev assumed a mistake here (II. 329. Research and Pogodin's lectures. IV. 162).

Campaigns against the Polovtsians, see Full. Sobr. Rus. chronicles.



Prince of Polotsk 1069 - 1071
Predecessor:	Mstislav Izyaslavich
Successor:	Vseslav Bryachislavich Prophetic
Prince of Novgorod 1078 - 1088
Predecessor:	Gleb Svyatoslavich
Successor:	Mstislav Vladimirovich the Great
Prince of Turov 1088 - 1093
Predecessor:	Yaropolk Izyaslavich
Successor:	Vyacheslav Yaropolkovich
18th Grand Duke of Kyiv 1093 - 1113
Predecessor:	Vsevolod Yaroslavich
Successor:	Vladimir Vsevolodovich Monomakh
Birth:

Dynasty:	Rurikovichi
	Izyaslav Yaroslavich

The beginning of the great reign

Hiking in the steppe

Marriage and children

Svyatopolk (Mikhail) Izyaslavich(November 8, 1050 - April 16, 1113) - Prince of Polotsk (1069 - 1071), Novgorod (1078 - 1088), Turov (1088 - 1093), Grand Duke of Kyiv (1093 - 1113). Son of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Izyaslav Yaroslavich; who his mother was is not exactly known (according to some sources, Gertrude of Poland, daughter of Meshko II, according to others, Svyatopolk was born from Izyaslav's concubine).

Knyazhich

In 1069, his father sent Svyatopolk to Polotsk in place of the deceased Mstislav. In 1071, Vseslav Bryachislavich, the former prince of Polotsk, regained the parish. It can be assumed that Svyatopolk spent the next two years with Izyaslav Yaroslavich in Kyiv, and then shared his exile. Already after the return of Izyaslav to Kyiv, Svyatopolk received Novgorod in 1078 and in the winter of that year he went with Vladimir Monomakh to Polotsk and burned his settlements.

The beginning of the great reign

Upon the death of Grand Duke Vsevolod Yaroslavich in 1093, his son Vladimir Monomakh invited Svyatopolk to Kyiv, as the eldest of all the grandsons of Yaroslav the Wise. Svyatopolk was then in Turov and arrived in Kyiv on April 24. According to the chronicler, the people of Kiev came out to meet the new prince and received him with joy.

As soon as Svyatopolk had time to sit down in Kyiv, the Polovtsians came to the Russian land and sent their ambassadors to him, offering peace. Svyatopolk, without gathering the senior squad of his father and uncle, began to confer only with the Turov boyars, whom he had brought with him. They advised him not to put up with the Polovtsians. Svyatopolk ordered to intercept the ambassadors and put them under lock and key. Having found out about this, the Polovtsy went to war against Russia and laid siege to Torchesk. Svyatopolk changed his mind, let the ambassadors go, but the Polovtsy no longer wanted peace, but began to advance, fighting everywhere. Svyatopolk sent to Vladimir Monomakh and began to call him on a campaign with him. Vladimir gathered his soldiers and sent for his brother Rostislav to Pereyaslavl, ordering him to help Svyatopolk.

The princes went to Trepol, and the whole army crossed the Stugna, which at that time was overflowing with water. Having prepared for battle, they placed Rostislav's squad in the middle, Svyatopolk to the right of it, and Vladimir to the left. On May 26, the Polovtsians, who in turn formed up for a decisive battle, attacked Svyatopolk and crashed into his regiment. Svyatopolk himself held firm, but his people, unable to withstand the onslaught of the Polovtsy, ran. After that, Svyatopolk also ran, followed by all the other Russian regiments.

That same night, Svyatopolk reached Kyiv. And the Polovtsy besieged Torchesk for nine weeks, then they split in two: some remained near the city, while others went to Kyiv. Svyatopolk went out to meet the enemies and on July 23 fought with them on Zhelan. And again the Russians fled under the onslaught of the filthy, so that there were more dead than in the previous battle. Svyatopolk rode to Kyiv, and the Polovtsians returned to Torchesk. The next day, the exhausted defenders surrendered. The Polovtsy took the city, burned it, and divided the people and took them to the steppe. Svyatopolk, no longer having the strength to wage war, in 1094 made peace with the Polovtsy and married the daughter of Tugorkan, the Polovtsian khan.

In 1096, Svyatopolk, together with Vladimir Monomakh, went to Oleg Svyatoslavich and expelled him from the Chernihiv land. Not having had time to finish this business, the princes learned that Khan Bonyak with many Polovtsy fought the lands around Kyiv and burned the princely court in Berestov. Then Tugorkan, Svyatopolkov's father-in-law, came to Pereyaslavl and stood near the city. Svyatopolk and Vladimir went from Starodub to the Dnieper and, secretly from the Polovtsy, crossed the Dnieper. The Polovtsy, noticing the princely regiments, barely had time to line up for battle. Vladimir immediately hit the enemy, and the Polovtsy fled, unable to withstand the onslaught. Tugorkan, his son and many other khans were killed that day. The next morning they found the corpse of Tugorkan. Svyatopolk took him, brought him to Kyiv and buried him in Berestov.

On June 26, Khan Bonyak came to Kyiv for the second time and burned the entire lowland and foothills. After the Polovtsians rushed to the Kyiv monasteries - Stefanov, Germanov and Pechorsky - and, having plundered them, went back to the steppe.

Lyubech and Vitichevsky congresses

In 1097, Svyatopolk and Vladimir Monomakh gathered all the Russian princes in Lyubech to establish peace. The princes said to each other: “Why are we ruining the Russian land, Inviting quarrels on ourselves? And the Polovtsy plunder our land and rejoice that we are torn apart by strife. Let us unite and from now on we will sincerely protect the Russian land. And let everyone own his fatherland. On that, all the princes kissed each other's cross, swearing: "If now someone encroaches on someone else's volost, let the cross be honest against him and all the Russian land." Having decided so, they all dispersed.

After the congress, Svyatopolk and Davyd Igorevich went together to Kyiv, and then some men began to slander Davyda against Prince Vasilko Rostislavich, as if he had conspired with Vladimir Monomakh against him and Svyatopolk. Davyd, believing false slander, began to slander Svyatopolk on Vasilko: “Who killed your brother Yaropolk? And now the Rostislavichi are plotting against you and me and have already come to an agreement with Vladimir. Take care of your head." Svyatopolk believed all the slanders of Davyd, and both began to think about Vasilka. They decided to capture him. Svyatopolk sent to Vasilko, who was still in Rudnitsa near Kyiv, with an invitation to a name day. Vasilko came with a small retinue to the princely court. Svyatopolk escorted him to the hut where Davyd was sitting. After that, they both went out, and Vasilko was seized and locked up, guards were assigned to him. On the same night, Svyatopolk gave Vasilko to Davyd. The prisoner was taken to Belgorod and blinded there, after which Davyd took him to his place in Volyn.

Upon learning of what had happened, Vladimir Monomakh, Davyd and Oleg Svyatoslavich sent their husbands to Svyatopolk with accusations against him:

Svyatopolk answered:

But the men Vladimirov, Olegov and Davydov said:

And having said this, they left Kyiv.

The next morning, the princes began to cross the Dnieper to go to war against Svyatopolk. Svyatopolk already wanted to escape from Kyiv, but the people of Kiev detained him and sent to Vladimir his stepmother, the widow of Vsevolod, and with her Metropolitan Nikola, so that they begged Vladimir not to start strife again and not to ruin the Russian land. Vladimir heeded the prayers of the princess. After that, the princes began to be sent among themselves and agreed that Svyatopolk should go to war against Davyd and either capture or drive him away.

In 1099, Svyatopolk with all his army approached Vladimir Volynsky (Vasilok had already been liberated by his brother Volodar by this time) and stood near the city for seven weeks. Finally, David began to ask: "Let me out of the city." Svyatopolk agreed and released him. Davyd fled to Poland, and Svyatopolk occupied Vladimir. Having driven Davyd away, Svyatopolk went to war against Volodar and Vasilko Rostislavich, as he wanted to take away his brother's parish from them. The regiments met in the field at Rozhni and a fierce battle began. Seeing that the Rostislavichi were overpowering, Svyatopolk fled to Vladimir, and from there to Kyiv. The Vitichevsky Congress of Princes put an end to the war in 1100.

Hiking in the steppe

In the spring of 1103, Svyatopolk and Vladimir gathered for a council in Dolobsk. The princes sat down in the same tent with their retinues and began to talk about a campaign in the steppe. And they sent to Oleg and Davyd Svyatoslavich, saying: "Go to the Polovtsy and we will come out alive or dead." Davyd obeyed the princely invitation and came to Svyatopolk with his squad, but Oleg did not.

Having gathered, the princes on horseback and in boats went down the Dnieper beyond the rapids and stood in the rapids near the Khortichev Island. From here on horseback and on foot it took four days to Suteni. After some time, the Polovtsian regiments advanced on the Russian camp, and they were like a forest, the chronicler writes, so that there was no end in sight for them, and Russia went to meet them and there was a great battle on April 4 on Suteni, in which Russia won a complete victory over the Polovtsy . In addition to many ordinary soldiers, 20 Polovtsian princes were killed that day. The Russians seized rich booty: cattle, sheep, horses, camels and baggage with property and servants, and returned from the campaign with full and great glory.

At the end of the winter of 1111, Vladimir Monomakh again convinced Svyatopolk and Davyd Svyatoslavich to organize a big campaign against the Polovtsy. On March 4, the Russians reached Khorol and left their sleighs here, as the land was bare, and then they went on foot and on horseback ... On March 24, the Polovtsy gathered their regiments and went into battle. The Russian princes, placing their hope in God, said to each other thus: “It can be seen that death is here for us! Let's stand firm." And, saying goodbye to each other, each went to his regiment. Both sides came together, a fierce battle began, and the Polovtsians were defeated again, as they had been eight years ago. On March 27, the Polovtsians gathered in even greater numbers than the day before, and overlaid the Russian regiments. Again, a fierce battle began between the opponents, and people fell from both sides. Finally, Vladimir and Davyd with their regiments began to advance, and the Polovtsians took to flight. Svyatopolk, Vladimir and Davyd, having glorified God, captured a large crowd and returned home.

Death

After Easter 1113, he fell ill and died on 16 April. The squad and the boyars mourned him and buried him in the church of St. Michael in Kyiv.

Tatishchev characterizes Svyatopolk as follows:

Svyatopolk died in Vyshgorod and was buried in the Kyiv church of St. Michael. After his death, a popular uprising took place in Kyiv, during which the houses of officials and usurers were robbed.

Marriage and children

First wife: name unknown. Possibly the daughter of the Czech prince Spytignev II. It was previously believed that she was Barbara Komnena. (For identification, see: Wives of Svyatopolk). From this marriage were born:

Yaroslav (Ivan) (d. 1123), prince of Vladimir-Volynsky 1097, 1100-1118, Vyshgorodsky 1100-1118, Turov 1100-1118
Anna(died after 1136); husband: Svyatoslav (Svyatosha) Davydovich(c.1080 - 1142), prince of Lutsk
Sbyslava(d. 1113); husband: from 1103 Boleslav III Crooked Mouth(1085-1138), King of Poland
Predslava; husband: from 1104 Almos the Hungarian(1068-1129), King of Croatia