Studying the life of the princes who ruled the cities of Kievan Rus (Kyiv, Novgorod, Chernigov, Vladimir-Volynsky) and others, historians drew parallels on how family ties and personal qualities influenced the formation of the great state of Kievan Rus.
Svyatopolk Izyaslavich was more remembered by posterity as the arbiter of foreign policy, who did little for the unity of the state.
Pedigree of Svyatopolk Izyaslavich
Svyatopolk (at baptism Mikhail) was born on November 8, 1050. His father Izyaslav Yaroslavich was the Prince of Kyiv. Who the mother is is not known for certain. According to some sources, it was the concubine of his father, according to other sources - the daughter of the Polish king Mieszko II - Gertrude.
Svyatopolk's father was the middle son of Yaroslav the Wise and the Swedish princess Ingegerda (Irina at baptism).
Izyaslav reigned in Kyiv when his son Svyatopolk was 19 years old,and he put him to rule in Polotsk in 1069.
The historical period of the development of Kievan Rus after the death of Yaroslav the Wise is considered a troubled time when Svyatopolk Izyaslavich and other princes waged constant wars with each other and the Polovtsians.
Beginning of reign
The reign of the son of Izyaslav in Polotsk lasted only 2 years, after which he had to leave the city and return to his father in Kyiv, as the former lord of the volost regained the city.
In 1073-1077 Svyatopolk and his father were in exile, and after Izyaslav again began to reign in Kyiv, he gave his son Novgorod, which he ruled until 1088. From 1089 to 1093 he ruled in Turov. The death of the last of the sons of Yaroslav the Wise led to the fact that the rule in Kyiv was to pass to his eldest grandson, Svyatopolk.
Although the people of Kyiv wanted to be ruled by Vladimir Monomakh, the youngest grandson of Yaroslav, he did not want to break the law and invited Svyatopolk to take the princely throne. So in 1093 he became the Prince of Kyiv.
Battle with the Cumans
The reign of Svyatopolk Izyaslavich in Kyiv lasted intermittently from 1093 to 1113 and remained in the memory of the people as a troubled and cruel time. In the very first year, the new prince showed himself to be a short-sighted ruler, poorly understanding the position of Kievan Rus in foreign policy.
While Svyatopolk Izyaslavich took the throne, the Polovtsian horde went to war against Russia. But having learned about the new prince, they sent ambassadors with peace and various demands for his conclusion. The prince did not listenthe advice of the boyars, who were advisers even under his father and uncle, but heeded the demand of his warriors, who came for him from Turov, to take the ambassadors into custody.
This decision was the beginning of the disasters that accompanied the entire reign of Svyatopolk. The Polovtsy went to war, and although the prince dismissed the ambassadors and offered peace, it was too late. With a squad of only 800 soldiers, he could not resist the Polovtsian princes.
After finally listening to the Kyiv boyars, Svyatopolk asked for help from Chernigov Prince Vladimir Monomakh. He did not come alone, but called with him his brother Rostislav with a squad. But, even having gathered the troops together, they found that their numbers were significantly inferior to the Polovtsian army.
When both armies met on different banks of the Stugni River, Vladimir offered to enter into negotiations with the Polovtsy, but Svyatopolk did not heed the advice and decided to fight, which turned out to be devastating for the Russians. Svyatopolk fled with the remnants of his army to Trepol, and then to Kyiv.
Vladimir Monomakh in this battle lost his brother and most of the squad and the boyars and returned to Chernigov in great sadness. The Polovtsy captured and plundered the lands north of Kyiv and destroyed the city of Torchesk, capturing all its inhabitants.
Only in 1094, Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, whose years of rule began with great losses, made peace with the Polovtsy, marrying the daughter of the most influential khan, Tugorkan.
Lyubech Congress
The struggle of the princes for Chernigov and Novgorod led to constant strife and bloodshed,until the princes decided to get together and settle all issues amicably. In 1097, the grandchildren of Yaroslav the Wise met in Lyubech: Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, Vladimir Monomakh, David Igorevich, Oleg with his brother David and Vasilko Rostislavich.
The purpose of the meeting was to unite the princes of Kievan Rus against external enemies and secure for each of them those destinies that they are en titled to by law. This was done so that the princes would not claim each other's lands and would not wage internecine wars.
Everyone agreed on the division of land, and who and where will rule. The princes kissed the cross as a sign that they agreed with the decision and promised not to violate it. Also, everyone agreed that they would unite against the one who breaks the oath.
The decision of this congress was of historical significance, as it clearly showed the internal fragmentation of Kievan Rus into separate independent principalities, ready to unite in case of external danger. All this influenced the relationship between the princes and only the death of Svyatopolk Izyaslavich and the coming to power of Vladimir Monomakh changed it.
Congress in Vitechevo
Svyatopolk broke his oath given in Lyubech by listening to the deceitful speeches of David, who envied the brothers Vasilko and Volodar Rostislavich. Having invited Vasilko to his birthday party, Svyatopolk allowed David to blind him and take him to Vladimir.
This act outraged all the boyars and princes, since such insidious cruelty had not yet been between them. Vladimir Monomakh called on other participants in the congress of the brothers Oleg and DavidSvyatoslavich and went to Kyiv.
Civil strife did not happen only because Vladimir's stepmother came out to ask for Kyiv and the Russian land. The princes demanded that Svyatopolk go to war against David Igorevich, which he did in 1099
The wars that followed after this led to a new congress, which was held in 1100 in Vitichevsk. Its result was the annexation of Vladimir-Volynsky to the lands of Svyatopolk.
Dolobskiy congress
The Dolobsky congress of 1103 was appointed by Vladimir Monomakh to hold advice with the Kyiv prince on the need for campaigns against the Polovtsians. Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, whose domestic and foreign policy did not contribute to the strengthening of Russia and liberation from the Polovtsian yoke, did not want military campaigns, referring to the desire of the squad not to fight, but to sow.
When meeting near Dolobsky Lake, on the left bank of the Dnieper, Vladimir made a speech in which he convinced that before sowing, the borders should be strengthened, otherwise the enemies will devastate the villages and burn the crops.
He convinced both combatants and Svyatopolk of the need for a war against the Polovtsy. Thus began the campaigns of the Russians against the conquerors.
Traveling against the Polovtsy
The hostilities started in 1103 became the first unification of the princes of Kievan Rus against the Polovtsian khans. The confrontation between the two armies, which lasted more than 7 years, led to the fact that in each new battle the Russians won a crushing victory.
The decisive battle was the battle of March 27, 1111, when the Polovtsian troops could not withstand the fierce onslaught of Russian squads andturned to flee. The princes with rich booty returned home.
Wives and children of Svyatopolk
Historians do not know anything about Svyatopolk's first wife, but they were born in this marriage:
- son Yaroslav (1072-1123) - at different times the prince of Vladimir-Volynsky, Vyshgorodsky and Turov;
- daughter Anna (d. 1136);
- daughter of Sbyslav (d. 1111);
- daughter of Predslava.
The second wife was the daughter of Khan Tugorkan, baptized Elena. From this marriage were born:
- Bryachislav (1104-1123);
- Izyaslav (d. 1127);
- Mary (d. later 1145).
The eldest son of Svyatopolk was the son Mstislav (d. 1099), born of a concubine.
The death of Svyatopolk Izyaslavich (date 1113-16-04) led to a popular uprising in Kyiv. The people, dissatisfied with the reign of the deceased prince, demanded Vladimir Monomakh to the throne. Only to stop the unrest, he agreed to reign in Kyiv.
Svyatopolk in the history of Kievan Rus
The death of Svyatopolk Izyaslavich put an end to the time of troubles, which in the history of Kievan Rus is called one of the bloodiest and cruelest. With the advent of the reign of Vladimir Monomakh, the once fragmented state became a single and powerful power.
An example of bloody unrest and mass death of people under the short-sighted and indecisive policy of Svyatopolk became a warning for the subsequent rulers of Kievan Rus.
