Vladimir Monomakh, who was the Grand Duke of Kyiv in 1113 - 1125, was called so in honor of his maternal grandfather, the Byzantine emperor Konstantin Monomakh, whose precious crown and golden bars were sent to Vladimir among other gifts by the then Byzantine sovereign, Alexey Komnen. Standing out sharply from other princes of his contemporaries by his personal qualities and services to the Russian land, Monomakh enjoyed the great favor of the people, while still being the specific prince of Chernigov. This love of the people was expressed in the fact that the people of Kiev offered him the throne even after the death of his father Vsevolod, but he refused, not wanting to violate the rights of seniority Svyatopolk II. After the death of Svyatopolk, Monomakh also wanted to refuse in favor of the eldest in the family Oleg Svyatoslavich, but the people of Kiev did not want to hear about Oleg, who had repeatedly brought the Polovtsy to Russian soil, but called Monomakh to them, threatening to rebel if he refused. Monomakh had to agree and became the Grand Duke.

Being a specific prince, Monomakh took care of the reconciliation of the princes, convening them to congresses on the security of the Russian land, arranging general campaigns against the Polovtsians. Having become a great prince, he calmed the Russian land, forcing the specific princes to obey and punishing the disobedient. The Svyatoslavs also had to recognize the seniority of Monomakh and obeyed him. The Polovtsy did not dare to attack Russian soil under him. Monomakh left his children Instruction, in which he gives them advice on how to live and manage the land, and cites his life as proof of the practicability of these tips; from this teaching it is clear that he was the ideal of a Christian prince of the twelfth century.

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

The largest Russian historian Sergei Solovyov characterizes Monomakh in this way on the basis of his princely activity and Instruction to children. “Monomakh does not at all belong to those historical figures who look ahead, destroy the old, satisfy the new needs of society: he was a person with a purely protective character. Monomakh did not rise above the concepts of his age, did not go against them, did not want to change the existing order of things; but by personal virtues, by strict fulfillment of duties, he covered up the shortcomings of the existing order, made it not only tolerable for the people, but even capable of satisfying their social needs. Society, agitated by princely strife, which had suffered so much from them, demanded, first of all, from the prince that he faithfully fulfill his family duties, did not argue with his brother, reconciled hostile relatives, brought smart advice to the outfit in the family: and here is Monomakh during the evil enmity between the brothers knew how to earn the title of brother-lover. For pious people, Monomakh was a model of piety: according to contemporaries, everyone marveled at how he performed the duties required by the church. To contain the main evil - strife- it was necessary that the princes abide by the oath given to each other: Monomakh did not agree to cross the kiss of the cross under any pretext. The people experienced already under other princes disaster from the fact that princely truth did not reach people; tiuns and youths robbed without the knowledge of the prince. Monomakh did not allow to offend either a thin smerd or a wretched widow, he himself corrected (given the truth, court) people. With the rudeness of the customs of that time, strong people did not like to restrain their anger, and the one who was subjected to it paid with his life: Monomakh punished his children so that they would not kill either the right or the wrong, they would not destroy the souls of Christians. Other princes allowed themselves intemperance; Monomakh was chaste. Society strongly disliked the greed in the princes; they saw with displeasure that the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of St. Vladimir retreat from the rules of this prince, accumulate wealth, collecting it with a burden for the people: Monomakh was a model of good princes in this respect - from early youth, his hand stretched out to everyone, according to contemporaries; he never hid treasures, never counted money, but distributed them with both hands, and meanwhile his treasury was always full, because with his generosity he was a model of a good host, did not look at the ministers, he himself kept all the outfit in the house. More than all modern princes, Monomakh resembled his great-grandfather, the affectionate Prince Vladimir. “If you go somewhere in your lands, Monomakh punishes the children, do not let the youths offend the people either in the villages or in the field, so that you will not be cursed later. Where will you go, where will you stand, drink, feed the poor; most of all honor the guest, no matter where he comes to you, a kind or simple person or an ambassador; you cannot give him a gift, treat him well, drink, feed: a guest in all lands glorifies a person either good or evil. What he punished the children, he himself did: calling the guests, he served them, and when they ate and drank to their fill, he only looked at them.

In addition to the princely strife, the land suffered from the constant attacks of the Polovtsy: Monomakh from an early youth stood on the guard of the Russian land, fought for it with the filthy, acquired the name of a good sufferer (worker) for the Russian land par excellence. In that age of people's youth, the heroic exploits of Monomakh, his amazing activity, could not but arouse strong sympathy, especially when these exploits were performed for the benefit of the earth. He spent most of his life away from home, most of the nights he slept on damp earth; he made some long journeys 83; at home and on the road, in war and hunting, he did everything himself, did not give himself rest either at night or during the day, neither in cold nor in heat; before daylight he got up from his bed, went to mass, then thought with his retinue; judged people, went hunting or something like that, went to bed at noon and then began the same activity again.

Vladimir Monomakh at the monument "1000th Anniversary of Russia"

A child of his age, Monomakh loved to try his heroic strength on the Polovtsy as much as he loved to try it on wild animals, was a passionate hunter; he knitted live horses in the forests with his own hands; the tour threw him on his horns more than once, the deer gored him, the elk trampled on his feet, the boar tore off his sword on his side, the bear bit him, the wolf dumped him along with the horse. “I didn’t run to save my stomach, I didn’t spare my head,” he says himself. - Children! do not be afraid of either the army or the beast, do a man's work, nothing can harm you if God does not command; but death will be from God, so neither father nor mother will be taken away from the brothers; God's food is better than man's."

But with this courage, prowess, insatiable thirst for activity in Monomakh, he united common sense, sharpness, the ability to look at the investigation of the case, to benefit. Of Monomakh's relatives there were other no less brave princes, no less active, but the courage and activity of Monomakh always coincided with the benefit for the Russian land. The people got used to this phenomenon, got used to believing in the valor, prudence, good intentions of Monomakh, got used to consider themselves calm behind his shield and therefore had a strong affection for him, which he transferred to all his offspring.

The chronicler, speaking of the death of Monomakh, remarks: “the faithful, Christ-loving and Grand Duke of all Rus', which, like the sun, illuminated the Russian land. The rumor about him swept through all countries, he was especially terrible for the filthy. He was a brotherly lover, a beggar-lover and a kind sufferer for the Russian land, and all the people and all people wept for him, like children for their father or mother.

Vladimir Monomakh is known to modern historians better than other princes of that era. The years of his life are known (1053-1125), as well as the fact that he was born from Vsevolod Yaroslavich and the “Queen of the Greeks”. By his mother, Vladimir was the grandson of Constantine IX (Byzantine emperor), and by his father - Yaroslav the Wise.

He received an excellent education, knew several languages, including Greek. Even the ancient Romans considered it important to know this language for further education. All scientific, philosophical and spiritual knowledge of that time was open to those who understood Greek speech and writing. In history lessons at school, you can often hear the question: "Describe the policy of Vladimir Monomakh." The article is devoted to the answer to it.

Beginning of the reign

IN early years Vladimir Vsevolodovich reigned in Rostov, then in Smolensk, Chernigov, Pereyaslavl. His authority in political life was undeniable. He was an ardent opponent of fratricidal strife between the princes. To answer the question: “Characterize the policy of Vladimir Monomakh,” you should carefully study the events of the Lyubetz Congress of Princes.

It was Vladimir who initiated this congress in Lubitsch in 1097, the purpose of which was to stop the strife between the princes and come to a general agreement on what belongs to which of them. He fought strife all his life.

Policy Description

The main enemy of Rus', in addition to princely strife, Vladimir Monomakh considered the Polovtsy. It was he who managed to settle down the nomads and establish a peaceful life in the state for thirty years.

In addition to weapons, he used the methods of his grandfather Yaroslav the Wise to maintain peace in his lands. It is known that he became famous as the "father-in-law of Europe." Vladimir Vsevolodovich married his sons to the daughters of the Polovtsian Khan. Thus, he strengthened peaceful relations with him.

The prince himself was married to the daughter of the Anglo-Saxon king Gita. With the help of inter-dynastic marriages, he was able to intermarry with the Swedish, Norwegian, Byzantine, Hungarian states. Next, the domestic policy of Vladimir Monomakh will be briefly presented.

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Domestic politics

The characterization of the policy of Vladimir Monomakh is not limited to wars, the fight against strife and international agreements. He was engaged in the improvement of peaceful life, civic activities, and construction. So, in the annals there is a mention of the construction of a bridge across the Dnieper, the strengthening of the cities of Ladoga and Novgorod the Great, the creation of many temples.

Many disasters fell to the share of Rus' of that time, the prince could not fight with them. Such catastrophic events and phenomena include:

• earthquakes;
• droughts;
• floods (often in Novgorod);
• fires (especially destructive was the fire in Kyiv in 1124, which lasted two days and destroyed the entire Podil and part of the Upper Town);
• locust invasion (in the south).

To streamline people's lives, the prince updated the Russian Truth. After his additions, it was renamed the "Charter of Vladimir Monomakh." It included clauses on the conditions of a cash loan, which established a single percentage of payments on the debt. It allowed ordinary people(ryadovichs, smerds, purchases) to avoid the threat of becoming slaves for debts. At the same time, the document protected the boyars, merchants, combatants, usurers, clergymen from popular uprisings.

Despite the desire for unity, the internal policy of Vladimir Monomakh did not provide for the destruction of the specific order. For centuries, there was an opinion that the prince should unite in his hands as much land as possible for himself and his children.

Teaching to children

Vladimir Monomakh, whose domestic policy was not limited only to the fight against strife, is represented by literary activity. One of the works for which the prince became famous was his Teaching to Children. It is good example his mind, erudition, literacy, piety. In it, he urges his children to live in peace. He gives them his instructions.

Instructions of Vladimir Monomakh:

• honor God most of all;
• in war, rely only on yourself, and not on the governor;
• don't be lazy;
• love your wives, but do not let them have power over you;
• enforce justice;
• honor people - the old as fathers, and the young as brothers;
• honor ambassadors and guests with gifts or treats, as they will tell the world about you;
• do not forget your knowledge and learn everything new.

The work itself is studied by contemporaries as an outstanding literary monument. It is also used as a historical document that allows you to understand the features of Russian medieval life, its way of life, moral values. Acquaintance with the work will allow students and schoolchildren to cope with the task: "Describe the policy of Vladimir Monomakh."

Last way

The prince lived for 74 years. His last days on Earth were connected with the affairs of the state. He made a trip to his native Pereyaslavl, where he was going to oversee the completion of the construction of the Church of Boris and Gleb.

After his death, his body was transported to Kyiv and the remains were buried in Sophia Cathedral next to his father. The chronicler tells that all the people wept for him, because they considered him "a brother-lover, a beggar-lover and a kind sufferer for the Russian land."

The legend of Monomakh's hat

If they ask: "Describe the policy of Vladimir Monomakh", it is worth mentioning interesting legend. It consists in the fact that when the Kiev prince went to Byzantium, the emperor sent him symbols of power (regalia) to meet him. The ambassadors gave him a gift, which consisted of many precious and sacred items:

• a wooden cross with a piece of crucifixion on which Christ was executed;
• a bowl of carnelian, which once belonged to Emperor Augustus Caesar;
• golden barms (shoulder pads) decorated precious stones;
• Arabian gold chain;
• royal crown.

It was the crown that began to be called the Cap of Monomakh. She was crowned on the throne of subsequent kings until Peter the Great. Modern specialists have found a discrepancy in this legend, since the crown consists of details that date back to the 14th century.

However, the legend proves that Rus' was considered the successor of Constantinople (Constantinople). So far, no one dares to refute such conclusions, partly because of the wise policy of Vladimir Vsevolodovich.

Reign: 1113-1125

From the biography.

Vladimir Monomakh is the grandson of Yaroslav the Wise. He owes his nickname to his maternal grandfather, Konstantin Monomakh. It's wise statesman and legislator, a skilled commander and diplomat, a strict and wise ruler.

In 1097, Monomakh gathered a congress of princes in Lyubech, at which it was noted how civil strife had a detrimental effect on Rus'. However, the congress consolidated the beginning of fragmentation: “Let everyone keep his fatherland” (that is, he owns the lands inherited from his father and does not encroach on others).

While not yet a Kiev prince, Monomakh organized a number of successful campaigns against the Polovtsy: in 1103, 1109 and 1111, before that the Dolobsky Congress of Princes was convened in 1103, at which the princes agreed to jointly oppose the Polovtsy.

In 1113, after the death Kyiv prince Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, there was an uprising in Kyiv, Monomakh was invited to reign. Thus, he was on the throne at the age of 60!

He supplemented Russkaya Pravda with the “Charter of Vladimir Monomakh”, in which he significantly limited the abuses of moneylenders, thereby protecting the rights of purchases - it was they who suffered from the lawlessness of moneylenders. It was forbidden to enslave dependent people working off debt.

"Instruction" by Vladimir Monomakh

This is a valuable source for military history. The first work of the military memoir genre. But first of all, this is an instruction to the future warrior, the defender of the country.

In the first place in the education of princes, Monomakh put moral education. He bequeathed to children, grandchildren, all descendants to be fair, merciful, not to be lazy (“may the sun not find you in bed”), to study, to lead an honest and decent life defender of the fatherland. He taught to protect widows, orphans and the poor, not to let the strong destroy the weak.

Monomakh wrote a lot about his hunting exploits, he believed that hunting hardens a man: “Children, do not be afraid of war or the beast - do the work of a man!”

The main idea of ​​the "Instruction" is the condemnation of strife and a call for the unity of Rus'.

Cap of Monomakh

The military successes of Monomakh and his children significantly increased the international prestige of Rus'. Byzantium began to be afraid of Rus', and after the son of Monomakh Mstislav was sent by his father with a huge army to Andrianopol, Emperor Alexy Komnenos decided to make peace with Monomakh and sent him gifts to Kiev. Among them was a barma (that is, a wide collar with precious stones, with inscriptions of a religious nature, it was worn over the clothes of the ruler), the Cross from the Life-Giving Tree, a golden chain, a crown and a cornelian cup of Augustus Caesar. The Metropolitan of Ephesus not only presented gifts, but even crowned the kingdom with a hat sent to him (though this is only a legend). According to another version, the hat was presented to Ivan Kalita by Khan Uzbek, and this happened much later, in the 14th century.

A scepter (a shortened staff), a chain, a barma, an orb (a golden ball with a crown or a cross) and a hat became attributes of the wedding of rulers in Rus'.

The well-known saying: “You are heavy, Monomakh's hat”, - appeared in the tragedy of A.S. Pushkin

"Boris Godunov".

Today, the symbols of power are kept in the Armory in Moscow.

This material can be used in preparation for task number 40

Historical portrait of Vladimir Monomakh (1053 - 1125)

The eldest son of Grand Duke Vsevolod I Yaroslavich Vladimir (see Appendix No. 6) approached his great reign at the very respectable age of 60.

Vladimir's childhood years were spent in Pereyaslav Yuzhny, bordering with the Polovtsian nomads, where his father reigned at that time. According to church concepts of that time, 12-14-year-old youths in Christian countries were already considered adults. Vladimir was no exception to this rule. From childhood, he took part in military campaigns and princely hunts. At the age of 12, his father put Vladimir to reign in Rostov. Since then, the rise of the Rostov, and later the Rostov-Suzdal principality began. Since 1073, Vladimir Monomakh reigned in Smolensk. In 1066 in Pereyaslavl, where Vladimir spent total for over 30 years, his wedding to Princess Gita, daughter of the Anglo-Saxon king Harald II Godwinosson, was played.

In 1078, his father became the Grand Duke of Kyiv, and he received possession of Chernigov. Already from a young age, the prince had to face both princely strife and nomadic Polovtsy. In this environment, Vladimir developed such character traits as decisiveness, courage and independence in decision-making. Later, recalling the Chernigov period of his life in his autobiographical "Instruction to your children", Monomakh wrote: "What my combatant could do, I always did myself both in war and hunting, not giving myself rest either at night or during the day, regardless of heat or cold. I did not rely on posadniks and privets, but I myself followed all the order in my household. I took care of the hunting arrangements, and of horses, and even of birds of prey, falcons and hawks ... I hobbled in the forest with my own hands forests three thousand wild horses, and even when I had to ride across the steppe, I also caught them with my own hands.

Twice tours raised me with a horse on the horns. A deer butted me with his horns, an elk trampled me with his feet, and another gored me; a wild boar ripped a sword from my hip, a bear bit my knee, and once a lynx, jumping on my hips, knocked me off my knees ... ".

Since 1093, he fought against the Polovtsy and their ally Oleg Svyatoslavich, to whom he was forced to give Chernigov (1094).

He was the initiator of the congress of princes in Lyubech in 1097, the congress on Uvetichi in 1100, the Dolobsky congress in 1103. In 1103, 1107, 1111, he organized general campaigns of princes against the Polovtsy, inflicted a number of defeats on them. Invited to reign in Kyiv during the Kyiv uprising of 1113. Having suppressed the uprising, Vladimir Monomakh issued a series of laws that abolished servitude for debts and limited interest on loans. Vladimir Monomakh managed to temporarily unite most of the territory of Rus' under his rule.

In 1115, a bridge across the Dnieper would have been built in Kyiv, but the Grand Duke paid special attention to the development of writing and literature. In 1116, the first version of the Code, presented by Sylvester, did not receive the full approval of the Grand Duke. By 1118, the Sylvester Chronicle Code was completed and approved by the Grand Duke.

Monomakh also created an independent literary work - "Teachings to his children."

He felt the hour of death approaching, the Grand Duke went to the Alt River, where not far from Pereyaslavl South, next to the chapel, at the site of the murder of Saint Prince Boris, a small house was built. Vladimir Vsevolodovich died in it on May 19, 1125. The body of the prince was transported to Kyiv and buried in the church of St. Sophia.

Reign: 1113-1125

From the biography.

Vladimir Monomakh is the grandson of Yaroslav the Wise. He owes his nickname to his maternal grandfather, Konstantin Monomakh. This is a wise statesman and legislator, a skilled commander and diplomat, a strict and wise ruler.

In 1097, Monomakh gathered a congress of princes in Lyubech, at which it was noted how civil strife had a detrimental effect on Rus'. However, the congress consolidated the beginning of fragmentation: “Let everyone keep his fatherland” (that is, he owns the lands inherited from his father and does not encroach on others).

While not yet a Kiev prince, Monomakh organized a number of successful campaigns against the Polovtsy: in 1103, 1109 and 1111, before that the Dolobsky Congress of Princes was convened in 1103, at which the princes agreed to jointly oppose the Polovtsy.

In 1113, after the death of the Kyiv prince Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, an uprising took place in Kyiv, Monomakh was invited to reign. Thus, he was on the throne at the age of 60!

He supplemented Russkaya Pravda with the “Charter of Vladimir Monomakh”, in which he significantly limited the abuses of moneylenders, thereby protecting the rights of purchases - it was they who suffered from the lawlessness of moneylenders. It was forbidden to enslave dependent people working off debt.

"Instruction" by Vladimir Monomakh

It is a valuable source on military history. The first work of the military memoir genre. But first of all, this is an instruction to the future warrior, the defender of the country.

In the first place in the education of princes, Monomakh put moral education. He bequeathed to children, grandchildren, all descendants to be fair, merciful, not to be lazy (“may the sun not find you in bed”), to study, to lead an honest and dignified life as a defender of the fatherland. He taught to protect widows, orphans and the poor, not to let the strong destroy the weak.

Monomakh wrote a lot about his hunting exploits, he believed that hunting hardens a man: “Children, do not be afraid of war or the beast - do the work of a man!”

The main idea of ​​the "Instruction" is the condemnation of strife and a call for the unity of Rus'.

Cap of Monomakh

The military successes of Monomakh and his children significantly increased the international prestige of Rus'. Byzantium began to be afraid of Rus', and after the son of Monomakh Mstislav was sent by his father with a huge army to Andrianopol, Emperor Alexy Komnenos decided to make peace with Monomakh and sent him gifts to Kiev. Among them was a barma (that is, a wide collar with precious stones, with inscriptions of a religious nature, it was worn over the clothes of the ruler), the Cross from the Life-Giving Tree, a golden chain, a crown and a cornelian cup of Augustus Caesar. The Metropolitan of Ephesus not only presented gifts, but even crowned the kingdom with a hat sent to him (though this is only a legend). According to another version, the hat was presented to Ivan Kalita by Khan Uzbek, and this happened much later, in the 14th century.

A scepter (a shortened staff), a chain, a barma, an orb (a golden ball with a crown or a cross) and a hat became attributes of the wedding of rulers in Rus'.

The well-known saying: “You are heavy, Monomakh's hat”, - appeared in the tragedy of A.S. Pushkin

"Boris Godunov".

Today, the symbols of power are kept in the Armory in Moscow.

This material can be used in preparation for task number 25 - a historical essay.

Historical portrait of Vladimir Monomakh: activities

1. Domestic policy of Vladimir Monomakh

Preserving the unity and stability of the state, strengthening its economic power:

• three-quarters of the country was subordinate to the Grand Duke and his relatives
• internecine wars were put to an end (Lyubech Congress in 1097)
• went further development trade, the start of minting coins was laid, which significantly increased the trade turnover in the country.

Further development of literature and art, education:

• a version of the Tale of Bygone Years appeared, written by the monk of the Kiev-Pechersk monastery Nestor. In 1117 the monk Sylvester created the second version of the "Tale ...", which has come down to us
• "Journey" of Abbot Daniel - a story about a journey to Palestine
• "Instruction" of Monomakh addressed to his children
• many books from Byzantine literature were translated
• schools were created, began to "collect from the best people children and send them to book learning”
• churches were actively built.

2. Foreign policy of Vladimir Monomakh

Protecting the country together with sons from external enemies:

• In the northwest, Mstislav built stone fortresses in Novgorod and Ladoga; in the northeast, Yuri repelled the raids of the Volga Bulgars; cities, completely subjugated the Polotsk land.

Establishing friendly relations with other countries:

• from 1122 - recovered friendly relations with Byzantium
• the policy of strengthening dynastic ties with Europe continued, Monomakh himself was married to the daughter of the king of England - Gita.

The results of the activities of Vladimir Monomakh

• the centralization of power intensified, control was maintained over the most important cities of Rus', over the route “from the Varangians to the Greeks.” Under Monomakh, Rus' was the strongest power
• temporary cessation of strife
• there has been an increase in the economic and military power countries
• development of culture and education.
• the cessation of the Polovtsian raids, which significantly increased the international prestige of Rus', gave the people self-confidence.
• further peaceful cooperation with the countries of the West, the use of diplomatic methods and dynastic marriages for these purposes.

Chronology of the life and work of Vladimir Monomakh

The image of Vladimir Monomakh on the pedestal of the monument to Mikeshin M.O. "Millennium of Rus'" in Novgorod (the opening of the monument - in 1882)