Izyaslav was the eldest son of Yaroslav I Vladimirovich, Grand Duke of Kyiv, and the Swedish princess Ingigerda, after baptism named Irina. Izyaslav was born in 1024. After the death of his father in 1054, he became the heir to the principality of Kyiv and at the same time divided the land between his brothers Svyatoslav II, Vsevolod I and Igor, according to the will of his father. The first years of Izyaslav's reign were not particularly tense, although he nevertheless undertook several campaigns against external enemies. And inside Rus' for ten whole years there were no internecine wars.
Izyaslav's struggle for power
Starting in 1067, the idyll ended. The Troubles were initiated by Prince Vseslav of Polotsk, who believed that, by law and by kinship, he had the right to reign in Kyiv, since he was the great-grandson of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Vladimir. Vseslav provocatively attacked Novgorod, took it and plundered it, although Novgorod was in the legal possession of Izyaslav.
Izyaslav called the brothers for help, and together they went to war against Vseslav. In the battle with him on the Neman, the brothers won, but Vseslav managed to escape. Izyaslav offered to negotiate with him, inviting him to his tent. But as soon as the delegation (Vseslav and his two sons) appeared in the tent, they were immediately arrested and sent to prison.
Izyaslav's conflict with the squad. Escape to Poland
In the next raid of the Polovtsians (1068), Izyaslav and his brothers were defeated on the river. Alte. Izyaslav brought the remnants of the army back to Kyiv. But his warriors, grieving the defeat, in a very rude form began to demand horses and weapons from the prince in order to go to war again. Outraged by the impudent tone of the ultimatum, Izyaslav refused to comply with the demand of his squad. This provoked a rebellion in its ranks, as a result of which the rebels rescued Vseslav from prison and even declared him their sovereign. Izyaslav had to quickly leave Kyiv. In Poland, where he went, he was received well, because the king there was Boleslav II, a relative of Izyaslav.
The return of Izyaslav to Rus'
Izyaslav, in alliance with Boleslav and his army, returned to his homeland (1069). Vseslav allowed them to freely reach Belgorod, and then with his army went to meet them. But he did not start a fight, either fearing the superior forces of the Polish army, or doubting the loyalty of the people of Kiev. He simply abandoned his squad and returned to his Polotsk, and the people of Kiev, abandoned by the "sovereign", were forced to return to their place in Kyiv. Through the mediation of the brothers Izyaslav - Svyatoslav and Vsevolod - they pleaded guilty and asked the Grand Duke to return to reign in Kyiv. So Izyaslav returned his power in the capital.
Revenge of Izyaslav. new escape
Wanting to take revenge on Vseslav, Izyaslav captured Polotsk (1071). Vseslav in response made an attempt to take Novgorod, but to no avail. As a result of several clashes, Vseslav still managed to regain Polotsk. While the Russian princes sorted out their relationship, the Polovtsy ravaged the villages along the banks of the Desna. Chernigov Prince Svyatoslav convinced Vsevolod that their brother Izyaslav had gone over to the side of Vseslav of Polotsk and was plotting against the brothers. Vsevolod and Svyatoslav eventually united against Izyaslav.
Izyaslav again fled to Poland (1073). But this time Boleslav was in no hurry to help. Then Izyaslav turned to Emperor Henry IV (Germany). He made an attempt to help. He sent his messenger to Kyiv with an ultimatum: if you don't return power to the rightful prince, we will start a war with you. Svyatoslav, who was sitting in Kyiv, went to bribe the ambassador and emperor Henry. Having received generous gifts Henry did not send his troops to Rus'. Izyaslav then turned to the Pope for intercession. But the petition of Pope Gregory the Seventh was not needed.
Again in Kyiv
In 1076, Izyaslav's brother Svyatoslav, who once overthrew him from the throne of Kyiv, died. Izyaslav returned to Kyiv, and in 1077 he reconciled with his brother Vsevolod, making peace with him. But peace in the country did not last long. Izyaslav's nephews, who also sought power, joined the internecine wars. 1078 brought the following events: Prince. Oleg Svyatoslavovich and Boris Vyacheslavovich hired the Polovtsy, came to Chernigov and defeated the troops of Vsevolod. Vsevolod fled to Izyaslav in Kyiv. He immediately went to Chernigov. The battle was at the walls of the city. In this battle, Prince Izyaslav died.
Izyaslav's trace in history
As statesman Izyaslav supplemented Russkaya Pravda, a collection of civil laws introduced by his father Yaroslav. These additions are called “The Truth of Izyaslav”, according to which the death penalty was banned in Rus'. The foundation of the famous and still famous Kiev-Pechersky Monastery is also the merit of Izyaslav.
Izyaslav Mstislavich - was the son of Mstislav the Great and the grandson of Vladimir Monomakh. His father and grandfather were princes of Kyiv. With the direct order of succession, Izyaslav could also count on the throne in the Mother of Russian cities. However, he was born in 1097, and his entire adult life fell on the 12th century - the era of ongoing civil strife and political fragmentation of his native country.
Youth
Izyaslav Mstislavich until the end of his days was forced to prove his right to leadership in the fight against numerous uncles and other older relatives from the Rurik dynasty. He received the first experience of reigning in Kursk, where in 1125-1129. was his father's lieutenant. Then Mstislav sent his son to Polotsk. This city has long belonged to a separate branch of the Rurikovich, briefly expelled from there after the lost war.
Mstislav the Great, who ruled in Kyiv, had several sons, and Izyaslav Mstislavich was the second of them. His older brother Vsevolod received Novgorod, and the younger one, Rostislav, inherited Smolensk.
There is no doubt that Mstislav wanted to transfer Kyiv to one of his sons, even contrary to the established order, according to which main city Rus passed to the eldest member of the entire dynasty. To this end, the monarch entered into an agreement with his younger brother Yaropolk. The agreement was as follows. After the death of Mstislav, the childless Yaropolk received Kyiv and promised to transfer the throne to one of his nephews. Time has shown that such agreements were then unviable.
In Novgorod
Mstislav died in 1132, and his son Izyaslav Mstislavich received from Yaropolk first Pereyaslavl, and then Turov, Pinsk and Minsk instead. However, it was not possible to stay in the new place for a long time. Just a couple of years later, the prince was expelled by his other uncle, Vyacheslav.
Deprived of power, Izyaslav went to Novgorod to his elder brother Vsevolod. At the same time, the prince enlisted the support of the Olgoviches, the rulers of the Chernihiv land. The Mstislavichs, dissatisfied with their share, demanded large destinies from their uncles. In an effort to prove the seriousness of their intentions, the brothers at the head of the Novgorod army invaded North-Eastern Rus', which belonged to the youngest son of Monomakh, Yuri Dolgoruky.
Vsevolod wanted Prince Izyaslav Mstislavich to occupy the Rostov Principality. However, it was impossible to start a war with an uncle, declaring such a goal. A plausible reason was found very quickly. Traditionally, Novgorodians did not make bread, but bought it from their neighbors. On the eve of the campaign of the Mstislavichs, Suzdal merchants significantly increased the prices of their goods, which caused indignation of Vsevolod's subjects.
At the end of 1134, the Novgorod army, led by the Mstislavichs, invaded the possessions of Yuri Dolgoruky. The squad moved along the banks of the Dubna and Kubri rivers. The Mstislavichs were going to establish control over the waterway in order to cut off the uncle's southern cities from the northern ones.
On January 26, 1135, Izyaslav Mstislavich, the grandson of Vladimir Monomakh, led an army into the battle at Zhdana Mountain. The Novgorodians had an advantage - they were the first to occupy a strategically important height. To crush the Suzdalians, the squad rushed down, but at that moment it turned out that part of the troops of Yuri Dolgoruky carried out a deceptive maneuver and went to the rear of the Mstislavich regiments. Novgorodians were defeated, the flower of their army and aristocracy perished, including the thousandth Petrilo Mikulich and the posadnik Ivanko Pavlovich. Vsevolod subjects accused of cowardice and flight from the battlefield. In 1136, as a result of the uprising, he lost power. Izyaslav had nothing to lose from the very beginning, and after the defeat he continued the struggle for power with redoubled energy.
Volyn and Pereyaslav prince
In addition to his brother Vsevolod, Izyaslav's allies were the Olgovichi of Chernigov. Together with them, he, returning from North-Eastern Rus', went on a raid to Pereyaslav and Kyiv land. This trip turned out to be more successful than the previous one. Not wanting war, Yaropolk yielded to his nephew Vladimir-Volynsky. Izyaslav ruled there in 1135-1142.
Prince Yaropolk died in 1139. The throne of Kiev was seized by Vsevolod Olgovich, who had previously ruled Chernigov. Yaropolk's long-standing promise to Mstislav about the transfer of power to his nephew did not come true. By that time, Izyaslav had become the eldest of the living sons of Mstislav. His brother, expelled from Novgorod, died shortly before Yaropolk.
Vsevolod Olgovich was married to Maria Mstislavovna, Izyaslav's sister. Allied relations between them did not work out. Nevertheless, in 1135, Izyaslav ceded Vladimir-Volynsky to the Olgovichi, and in exchange received Pereyaslavl. The proximity of this city to Kyiv soon played into the hands of the prince.
Beginning of board in Kyiv
Vsevolod of Kiev died in 1146. Shortly before his death, he forced Izyaslav to swear that he would not take the throne from his younger brother Igor. However, as soon as Vsevolod died, riots broke out in Kyiv. The townspeople did not like the Olgoviches and wanted to be ruled by a descendant of Monomakh. Soon Izyaslav took possession of the city. Igor tried to defend himself. He marched against the opponent with an army, but was defeated and caught bogged down in a swamp.
The fact that Izyaslav Mstislavich was a great one angered his uncles. Vyacheslav, who once expelled his nephew from Turov, declared his rights, but now he himself was deprived of his inheritance. Pereyaslavl, where Izyaslav ruled until Kyiv, also remained under his control. he appointed his son Yaroslav as governor. Pereyaslavl received the senior heir Mstislav.
Meanwhile, a drama unfolded in Kyiv. Deprived of power, Izyaslav was sent to a monastery. There he became a monk and led a quiet life. But even Igor's sincere humility did not save him from the angry crowd. In 1147, a group of Kyivans again rioted in the city and broke into the monastery where the disgraced prince lived. Igor was torn to pieces, and his body was publicly abused. Izyaslav did not differ in bloodthirstiness, he did not organize this cruel massacre, but it was he who had to bear responsibility for it.
Civil strife approaching
The murdered Igor had a brother Svyatoslav Seversky. Having received news of the terrible fate of a relative, he became an implacable enemy Kyiv prince. Izyaslav II Mstislavich had other opponents. Yuri Dolgoruky remained the most active of them. The younger son of Monomakh continued to rule Rostov and Suzdal. Sent to the far north-eastern Zalesye by his father, he early years was dissatisfied with the lost share. Yuri was annoyed at his nephew, who happened to be near Kiev at the moment when the people of Kiev staged a rebellion against the Olgovichi.
Dolgoruky got his nickname for a reason. His ambitions from the Rostov-Suzdal land extended to the whole of Rus'. Yuri gathered a whole coalition against Izyaslav. The already mentioned Svyatoslav Seversky, as well as Vladimirko Galitsky (he wanted to preserve the independence of Galicia from Kyiv), entered the union. Finally, on the side of Dolgoruky were the Polovtsy, whose dubious services he always used without any hesitation.
Izyaslav in the approaching war was supported by his younger brother Rostislav Smolensky, Vladimir Davydovich Chernigov, Rostislav Yaroslavich Ryazan and Novgorodians. He was also occasionally helped by the kings of Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland.
Dominance War
At the first stage, civil strife engulfed the Chernihiv land. The Davydovichs sought to deprive Svyatoslav of his lot. While Prince Izyaslav Mstislavich and Yuri Dolgoruky were deciding the fate of Kyiv, other Rurikovichs also tried to act according to their own interests. Everyone was at war with everyone. Izyaslav sent his son Mstislav with the Berendeys and Pereyaslavtsy to Novgorod-Seversky besieged by the Davydovichs. The fort was not taken.
Then Izyaslav Mstislavich, the Grand Duke of Kiev, himself with his retinue advanced to Novgorod. Svyatoslav first retreated to Karachev, and then, together with Yuri, attacked the Smolensk possessions. The turn in the war took place after the Davydovichs made peace with Seversky prince. Izyaslav II Mstislavich, in short, was not happy with what had happened. In 1148, together with the Hungarian army, he invaded the Chernigov possessions. The general battle never happened. After standing near Lyubech, the Kiev prince retreated.
Defeat
In 1149, Izyaslav 2 Mstislavich made peace with both the Davydovichs and Svyatoslav Seversky. In addition, one of the sons of Yuri Dolgoruky, Rostislav, came to his service, dissatisfied with the fact that his father deprived him of his inheritance. After that, Izyaslav, together with Rostislav of Smolensk and the Novgorodians, set off on a campaign in North-Eastern Rus'. The coalition army robbed many of Yuri's possessions. 7 thousand people were taken prisoner.
Upon returning to Kyiv, Izyaslav quarreled with Rostislav Yurievich, accusing him of treason and depriving him of his inheritance. Dolgoruky took advantage of the fact that his son fell into disgrace and, having received another just reason to attack the enemy, set off on a campaign to the south. In the decisive battle near Pereyaslavl in August 1149, the Kiev prince was defeated. Yuri Dolgoruky fulfilled his old dream and took possession of ancient capital. It seemed that Izyaslav Mstislavich (1146-1149) would no longer regain control over Kiev, but he did not even think of giving up.
Volyn campaign
Having lost Kyiv, Izyaslav retained Volhynia. It was there that she moved. Here, in the west of Rus', the support of the kings of the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary was especially useful to him. Yuriy's army laid siege to the fortress of Lutsk, the defense of which was led by Vladimir Mstislavich.
Izyaslav with his Western allies came to the rescue of the city, when it already felt the lack of water. The battle, however, did not happen. The opponents agreed that Izyaslav would renounce his claims to the throne of Kiev, and Yuri would give him the selected Novgorod tribute. As usual in that turbulent era, these agreements were never de facto implemented.
Return to Kyiv
In 1151, Izyaslav, joined by a Hungarian detachment sent by King Geza II, again occupied Kyiv. During this campaign, the main threat to him was Vladimirko Galitsky, from whom he managed to break away with the help of a deceptive maneuver. Yuriy left Kyiv, actually surrendering it without any struggle. Vladimirko Galitsky, angered by the inaction of the allies, also ended the war.
So, in Kyiv, the years of the reign of Izyaslav Mstislavich (1151-1154) continued again. This time he compromised and invited Vyacheslav to his place, with whom he had formally reigned since then. The relationship between uncle and nephew cannot be called good: they suffered many quarrels and mutual insults. Now the princes finally reconciled. The nephew, as a symbolic gesture, gave up the palace to his uncle and treated him like a father. At the same time, virtually all decisions were made by Izyaslav Mstislavich. Internal and foreign policy The prince was completely dependent on the war. During the entire period of his reign, there was not a single long period of peace.
Yuri Dolgoruky, who returned to the Rostov-Suzdal land, was not going to give up his own ambitions. In 1151, he again went south with his retinue. Yuri was supported by the princes of Chernigov and the Polovtsians. To attack Kyiv, it was necessary first to force the Dnieper. The first crossing attempt took place near Vyshgorod. Izyaslav prevented her by sending a fleet of many boats there.
The squad of the Suzdal prince did not retreat and again tried their luck on another section of the river. Having crossed the Zarubinsky ford, she approached Kyiv. The advance detachment, which consisted mainly of Polovtsy, was destroyed in the vicinity of the city. Khan Bonyak died in the battle. Yuri Dolgoruky, hoping for the help of Vladimir Galitsky, retreated to the west, but was soon defeated in a battle on the Ruta River. The battle cost the life of the Chernigov prince Vladimir Davydovich. Izyaslav could triumph. Yuri Dolgoruky had only Kursk left in the south of Rus'.
Last years
Civil strife prevented the princes from fighting against the real threat - the Polovtsians. Having gained a foothold in Kyiv, Izyaslav twice sent his sons with squads to the steppe. The trips were successful. Kiev land for several years forgot about the destructive invasions. In 1152, the allied Izyaslav Mstislavich Izyaslav Davydovich was besieged by Dolgoruky in Chernigov. The prince of Kiev at the head of the army went to his rescue. Yuri had to retreat.
Vladimirko Galitsky also remained an opponent of Izyaslav. In 1152, the Hungarians defeated it on the San River. Then Izyaslav himself went to Galicia. Vladimirko made peace with him and soon died. His son and heir recognized Izyaslav as senior, but in fact pursued an independent policy, which led to an armed conflict. The Kyiv prince defeated him near Terebovl. It was the last major battle commander.
Izyaslav Mstislavich (or Vladimirovich, or rather, Monomashevich - that is, the grandson of Vladimir Monomakh) died in 1154 in Kyiv. His death caused great grief among the townspeople. Izyaslav liked people's love, he regularly feasted with common people and spoke at a common meeting like his glorious ancestor Yaroslav the Wise. The prince was buried in the monastery of St. Theodore, built by his father Mstislav the Great.
After the death of Izyaslav, the long internecine war did not stop. Kyiv passed from hand to hand. In 1169, it was burned and plundered by Andrei Bogolyubsky, heir of Yuri Dolgoruky, after which it lost its significance as a key political center of Rus'. The descendants of Izyaslav entrenched themselves in Volhynia. His grandson Danil Romanovich united all of Southwestern Rus' and even bore the title of King of Rus'.
IZYASLAV YAROSLAVICH(in baptism - Dmitry) (1024-03.10.1078) - Prince of Kiev from 1054
The second son of the Kyiv prince Yaroslav the Wise and Irina (Ingigerd) - the daughter of the Swedish king Olaf. Ruled in Turov. In 1039 he married the sister of the Polish king Casimir I - Gertrude, who adopted the name Elena in Orthodoxy. After the death of his father in 1054, he became a prince of Kyiv.
In the first years of his reign, he acted in close alliance with his younger brothers - Prince Svyatoslav of Chernigov and Prince Vsevolod of Pereyaslavl. In 1058 he made a campaign against the golyad tribe. In 1060, together with his brothers and Prince of Polotsk Vseslav Bryachislavich, he defeated the Torks. In 1064, he repulsed the invasion of the Polovtsians near the town of Snovsk. In the winter of 1067, taking revenge on Vseslav Bryachislavich for the robbery of Novgorod, he ravaged the city of Minsk in alliance with his brothers. March 3, 1067 in the battle on the river. The Nemiga Yaroslavichi defeated Vseslav himself, and in July of the same year, during peace negotiations near Smolensk, violating the oath given to the Polotsk prince, they captured him and imprisoned him in Kiev.
In September 1068, the Yaroslavichi were defeated by the Polovtsy on the river. Alta. Izyaslav Yaroslavich fled to Kyiv, where he refused the demand of the townspeople to distribute weapons to them and lead a new militia to fight the Polovtsy. On September 15, an uprising began in Kyiv, Izyaslav was expelled from Kyiv and fled to Poland. Prince Vseslav Bryachislavich of Polotsk, released from prison, was placed in his place. In May 1069, with the support of his relative, the Polish king Boleslav II, Izyaslav Yaroslavich returned to Kyiv. Before entering the city, he promised his brothers and the people of Kiev not to take revenge on the inhabitants of Kyiv land for his exile, sent his son Mstislav ahead of him, who executed 70 people and blinded many. Harassment by Izyaslav Yaroslavich continued after his return to the throne of Kiev. Dissatisfied people of Kiev began to beat the Poles, who came with Izyaslav.
In the same year, Izyaslav expelled Vseslav from Polotsk and installed Mstislav's son as prince there. In 1072, together with the brothers Svyatoslav and Vsevolod, he participated in the solemn transfer of the relics of Sts. Boris and Gleb to a new church in Vyshgorod. During the reign of Izyaslav, "The Truth of the Yaroslavichs" was also compiled.
In March 1073, Izyaslav Yaroslavich was again expelled from Kiev, this time by the brothers Svyatoslav and Vsevolod, who accused him of conspiring with Vseslav of Polotsk, and again fled to Poland, where he unsuccessfully sought support from King Boleslav II, who preferred an alliance with the new Kievan Prince Svyatoslav Yaroslavich. In the beginning. In 1075, Izyaslav Yaroslavich, expelled from Poland, turned to the German king Henry IV for help. The king limited himself to sending an embassy to Rus' to Svyatoslav Yaroslavich with a demand to return the Kiev table to Izyaslav.
Having received expensive gifts from Svyatoslav, Henry IV refused to interfere further in Kyiv affairs. Without waiting for the return of the German embassy from Kyiv, Izyaslav Yaroslavich in the spring of 1075 sent his son Yarogyulk Izyaslavich to Rome to Pope Gregory VII, offering him to accept Rus' under the protection of the papal throne, i.e. convert her to Catholicism. The pope appealed to the Polish king Boleslav II with an urgent request to help Izyaslav. Boleslav hesitated, and only in July 1077, after the death of Svyatoslav Yaroslavich, with the support of the Polish forces, Izyaslav Yaroslavich returned to the Kiev table. A year later, he died in a battle on Nezhatina Niva, fighting on the side of his brother Vsevolod Yaroslavich against his nephews, princes Oleg Svyatoslavich and Boris Vyacheslavich, who captured Chernigov.
IZYASLAV YAROSLAVICH(in baptism - Dmitry) (1024-03.10.1078) - Prince of Kiev from 1054
The second son of the Kyiv prince Yaroslav the Wise and Irina (Ingigerd) - the daughter of the Swedish king Olaf. Ruled in Turov. In 1039 he married the sister of the Polish king Casimir I - Gertrude, who adopted the name Elena in Orthodoxy. After the death of his father in 1054, he became a prince of Kyiv. In the first years of his reign, he acted in close alliance with his younger brothers - Prince Svyatoslav of Chernigov and Prince Vsevolod of Pereyaslavl. In 1058 he made a campaign against the golyad tribe. In 1060, together with his brothers and Prince of Polotsk Vseslav Bryachislavich, he defeated the Torks. In 1064, he repulsed the invasion of the Polovtsians near the town of Snovsk. In the winter of 1067, taking revenge on Vseslav Bryachislavich for the robbery of Novgorod, he ravaged the city of Minsk in alliance with his brothers. March 3, 1067 in the battle on the river. The Nemiga Yaroslavichi defeated Vseslav himself, and in July of the same year, during peace negotiations near Smolensk, violating the oath given to the Polotsk prince, they captured him and imprisoned him in Kiev. In September 1068, the Yaroslavichi were defeated by the Polovtsy on the river. Alta. Izyaslav Yaroslavich fled to Kyiv, where he refused the demand of the townspeople to distribute weapons to them and lead a new militia to fight the Polovtsy. On September 15, an uprising began in Kyiv, Izyaslav was expelled from Kyiv and fled to Poland. Prince Vseslav Bryachislavich of Polotsk, released from prison, was placed in his place. In May 1069, with the support of his relative, the Polish king Boleslav II, Izyaslav Yaroslavich returned to Kyiv. Before entering the city, he promised his brothers and the people of Kiev not to take revenge on the inhabitants of Kyiv land for his exile, sent his son Mstislav ahead of him, who executed 70 people and blinded many. Harassment by Izyaslav Yaroslavich continued after his return to the throne of Kiev. Dissatisfied people of Kiev began to beat the Poles, who came with Izyaslav.
In the same year, Izyaslav expelled Vseslav from Polotsk and installed Mstislav's son as prince there. In 1072, together with the brothers Svyatoslav and Vsevolod, he participated in the solemn transfer of the relics of Sts. Boris and Gleb to a new church in Vyshgorod. In the reign of Izyaslav, "The Truth of the Yaroslavichs" was also compiled.
In March 1073, Izyaslav Yaroslavich was again expelled from Kiev, this time by the brothers Svyatoslav and Vsevolod, who accused him of conspiring with Vseslav of Polotsk, and again fled to Poland, where he unsuccessfully sought support from King Boleslav II, who preferred an alliance with the new Kievan Prince Svyatoslav Yaroslavich. In the beginning. In 1075, Izyaslav Yaroslavich, expelled from Poland, turned to the German king Henry IV for help. The king limited himself to sending an embassy to Rus' to Svyatoslav Yaroslavich with a demand to return the Kiev table to Izyaslav. Having received expensive gifts from Svyatoslav, Henry IV refused to interfere further in Kyiv affairs. Without waiting for the return of the German embassy from Kyiv, Izyaslav Yaroslavich in the spring of 1075 sent his son Yarogyulk Izyaslavich to Rome to Pope Gregory VII, offering him to accept Rus' under the protection of the papal throne, i.e. convert her to Catholicism. The pope appealed to the Polish king Boleslav II with an urgent request to help Izyaslav. Boleslav hesitated, and only in July 1077, after the death of Svyatoslav Yaroslavich, with the support of the Polish forces, Izyaslav Yaroslavich returned to the Kiev table. A year later, he died in a battle on Nezhatina Niva, fighting on the side of his brother Vsevolod Yaroslavich against his nephews, princes Oleg Svyatoslavich and Boris Vyacheslavich, who captured Chernigov.
Izyaslav Yaroslavich, the biography of the Grand Duke of Kyiv is marked by serious changes in the laws of the state.
Izyaslav did a lot for the development of culture, left the built monasteries as a memory.
Have a tall stature, with a handsome face of a prince and a corresponding character. The man is not malicious, without tricks, did not like deceivers and constantly stood for the truth.
Years of life
Izyaslav, baptized Dmitry, was born in 1020 in Nezhatina Niva to Yaroslav the Wise and Irina, the Swedish princess Ingigerda.
In addition, the family had an older brother Vladimir and 5 younger brothers and a sister. The prince of Kiev died after being seriously wounded in the battle on October 3, 1078.
Years of government
While his father lived, Izyaslav ruled in Turov in Polissya. In 1052, when his elder brother died, Novgorod also inherited. With the death of his father in 1054, according to his will, he began to reign in the Grand Duchy of Kiev. The rest of the land, as requested by the father, was divided between the brothers.
For 10 years, the reign was quiet, with the exception of two victorious wars with Latvians and goliads. There were no strife and civil strife within the country. Ruled by Izyaslav Yaroslavich together with Svyatoslav and Vsevolod. This system was called the triumvirate of the Yaroslavichs.
The brothers revised "Russian Truth", Yaroslav the Wise and adopted "The Truth of the Yaroslavichs". Principalities became separate metropolises. Interesting. The law of Russian Truth "Damage of the beard" states: For damage to the beard of another person, a fine of 12 hryvnias is charged.
The triumvirate broke up after the defeat of the Polovtsians in 1068. The retreating soldiers of Izyaslav demanded to be provided with weapons and horses, but were refused. An uprising began, during which the prince fled under the protection of the Polish king. Then the rebels released the arrested Vseslav of Polotsk, the prince's nephew, and put him on the throne. After 7 months, Izyaslav returns to Kyiv.
1071-1073 took place in clarifying the relationship between the princes of Kyiv and Polotsk. And at this time, the Polovtsy ruined Russian villages. Vsevolod, convinced by his brother that Izyaslav was a traitor along with Vseslav, plotted. In 1075, Izyaslav had to flee again to the Polish principality.
The Polish prince, who had entered into an alliance with his brothers, drove out Izyaslav. Germany also received a refusal to help. He even tried to ask the Pope to intercede in exchange for the adoption of the Latin faith and secular power dads. Izyaslav Yaroslavich was able to return to his homeland after the death of Svyatoslav and reconciliation with Vladislav in 1076.
In July 1077, the prince again ascended the throne of Kyiv. 1078 - the beginning of a new civil strife, this time the nephews Oleg Svyatoslavich and Boris Vyacheslavich. In the decisive battle on the river. Sozhitsa, Izyaslav was mortally wounded. Thus ended the reign of the Grand Duke of Kiev, Izyaslav Yaroslavich.
Domestic politics
The board of Izyaslav Yaroslavich within the state consisted of:
- in the struggle with the brothers and nephew for power in Kyiv and the strengthening of princely power;
- in the further development of laws in Rus' with the aim of restoring order - the abolition of blood feud and replacement with a fine; abolition of the death penalty;
- in development cultural heritage: the Dimitrovsky Cathedral was erected and the Kiev-Pechora Monastery was built.
Foreign policy
Foreign policy is marked by the struggle against the Polovtsians and the defense of Russian territory from outside enemies.
- 1055, 1060 - the joint defeat of the Torques.
- 1058 - the success of the campaign against the Baltic tribe of golyad.
- In 1061, the Polovtsy attacked Rus' for the first time.
- 1064 Izyaslav repulsed the attack in the battle on Snova.
- 1968 - Yaroslavichi brothers lost the battle.
Wife and kids
Izyaslav's wife is Gertrude (baptized Elena), daughter of the King of Poland, Mieszko II Lambert. Three sons and one daughter were born. The eldest son, who was born in 1043, was named Yaropolk and christened Peter. Subsequently, the prince of Volyn and Turov. It is believed that the Vsevolodkovich family descended from Yaropolk.
The second son was named Svyatopolk, at baptism he was given the name Michael. Born in 1050 ruled in Polotsk, Novgorod, Turov and Kyiv. The youngest, born in 1054, was called Mstislav. Ruled in the Novgorod and Polotsk principalities. Daughter Eupraxia, born in 1059, was subsequently married to the Polish prince Mieszko, son of Boleslav.
Doom
In 1078, the internecine war resumed, marked by the confrontation between the brothers and nephews of Oleg Svyatoslavovich, who claimed Chernigov and Boris Vyacheslavovich, the outcast prince. Yaroslavichi with a large army went to Chernigov. The battlefield was Nezhatinaya Niva. Izyaslav was defended by infantry, but the prince received a mortal blow from the enemy's mounted spear. The brothers won this battle, but, already left alone. Oleg was not caught, he fled to Tmutarakan, and Boris was killed. Izyaslav Yaroslavovich was buried in Kyiv, in the Cathedral of St. Sophia.
Results
The main merit of Izyaslav Yaroslavich is the completion, together with his brothers, of the code of laws in the Russian state called "The Truth of the Yaroslavichs." The laws stated that death penalty and blood feud. Thanks to Prince Izyaslav, land was allocated and the Kiev-Pechersky Monastery was built. In addition, the Dimitrovsky Monastery with a cathedral was founded.
Dealing with internecine wars, the prince managed to repel the invasions of external enemies: Polovtsy, Torks, Baltics. The memory of Izyaslav is not marked by monuments or works of art. The name of the prince is found only in The Tale of Bygone Years, in foreign chronological tables, yes in the historical records of explorers.
