In what city was Yaroslav the Wise born? Briefly about the years of the reign of Yaroslav the Wise

Ruler Yaroslav is one of the most revered princes of Kievan Rus. This is a rather bright personality, the memories of whom are preserved in the chronicles.

During the reign of the prince Kievan Rus strengthened its position on the political map of the world and entered a period of prosperity. The characteristics of Yaroslav the Wise include such traits as determination, justice, courage, love of science, deep religiosity and strong will.

Biography

Prince Yaroslav was born in 978 (this is the date indicated in many sources) in the family of Vladimir, belonging to the Rurik family, and Rogneda, a Polotsk princess. Prince Vladimir appointed four brothers of Yaroslav as rulers of different cities of Rus'. At the age of nine, Yaroslav became the prince of Rostov, Voivode Budy assisted him in his reign. When the prince began to rule Novgorod, the governor became his closest ally. The prince sent two-thirds of the tribute collected from Novgorod to his father in Kyiv. This is what led to the son’s rebellion, which was supported by the residents of Novgorod. Prince Vladimir did not have time to punish him for the uprising, as he died while preparing a squad to pacify the rebels.

The reign of the heir began with a war for the throne. The first to occupy it was Vladimir’s son, Svyatopolk, who destroyed his three younger brothers. The ruler of Novgorod managed to defeat his older brother in the Battle of Lyubech, after which the brothers divided Kyiv along the Dnieper. Yaroslav received full power over the Kyiv throne in 1019 after the death of Svyatopolk.

The beginning of the “golden” time of Kievan Rus

A brief description of the reign of Yaroslav the Wise can be found in the chronicles. It began with a victory over the Pechenegs. They attacked Kyiv while the prince was away in Novgorod to build a new temple. But danger forced the ruler to return and recapture Kyiv from the attackers. From that time on, Pecheneg raids on the capital ceased for some time.

After the battle, the prince began to strengthen his power and began building up the city. He built the St. Sophia Cathedral, the frescoes and mosaics of which amaze art lovers to this day. The Golden Gate appeared in Kyiv, above which the Church of the Annunciation rose. Stone gates were erected around the city, and Kievan Rus itself became one of the most powerful European states.

Foreign policy

In foreign policy, the prince was guided by strengthening the international position of the state. The list of his military campaigns includes victories over the Finnish people, the Principality of Lithuania, and Poland. It was Yaroslav who ended the hostility between Kievan Rus and Byzantium and signed a peace treaty. The marriage between Prince Vsevolod's son and Princess Anna sealed the truce.

The authority of the principality was reinforced by dynastic marriages. The prince married three of his daughters to the rulers of other states: Anna became the wife of the King of France, Anastasia took the Hungarian throne next to King Andrew, Prince Harald of Norway married Anastasia. Three of Yaroslav's six sons became husbands of German princesses.

Domestic policy

During the reign of Yaroslav the Wise people were actively enlightened. The prince built a church school for boys and took care of the census and translation of Greek books. He interrupted the dependence of the Russian Orthodox Church from Byzantium through the appointment of the Russian Metropolitan Hilarion.

New churches were actively built, the art of architecture, painting, and temple painting developed. Many Russian monasteries appeared precisely thanks to Prince Yaroslav. He restored the payment of tithes - subjects gave a tenth of their income for the development of the church and the construction of new churches.

The ruler loved to read and tried to instill a love of reading in his subjects. During his reign, a library consisting of books and documents was collected. It was for his love of books and religion that the prince received the nickname Wise. The prince published the first set of laws in Kievan Rus - “Russian Truth”, as well as a set church canons"Nomocanon". In these documents, the prince fairly determined the punishment for crimes committed in the principality. He canceled death penalty, replacing it with fines.

The prince's personal life

His wife, Ingigerda, who after baptism received the name Irina, had a great influence on the owner of the Kyiv throne. The city of St. Petersburg was built on lands that she inherited from her father. Irina built the first monastery for women in Kyiv. The wife fully accepted her husband’s faith and shared his Political Views and did a lot for existing churches and those under construction.

Little is known about the relationship between the spouses, but the marriage produced three daughters and six sons. By historical portrait Yaroslav the Wise can hardly be called handsome: large eyes, a sharp mouth and a protruding nose did not add to his attractiveness, but Irina was devoted to her husband. The prince was lame, but in Kievan Rus, physical defects were a sign of an extraordinary mind. Wise prince they began to call him after his death, and during his lifetime he received the nickname “Lame.”

The sources indicate different names The ruler's spouses are Irina and Anna. Some scientists explain this by the fact that in old age Irina became a nun and took the name Anna. In the fifteenth century, Anna was canonized; today she is the patroness of modern Novgorod.

Results of government and reform

The results of the reign of Yaroslav the Wise include the following: results of domestic and foreign policy:

• full establishment of Christianity as the state religion;
• creation of a legislative system;
• introduction of education among the common people;
• strengthening the power of princes;
• creating new and strengthening existing ties between Kievan Rus and Western countries;
• strengthening the international authority of the principality.

The activities of Yaroslav the Wise brought many positive results for the Grand Duchy. The main reforms of Yaroslav the Wise include:

Their last years the ruler spent in Vyshgorod. Death occurred during the Feast of Orthodoxy; the ruler died in the arms of his son Vsevolod at the age of seventy-six.

In the twentieth century, the sarcophagus with the remains of the prince was opened three times, as a result of which the real place of their stay is now unknown. It is believed that the tomb containing his skeleton was transported to the United States during the advance of Nazi troops. In the twenty-first century, Prince Yaroslav was canonized.

Prince Yaroslav the Wise was one of the most prominent statesmen medieval era. Was born future ruler of the entire Russian land around 988. He received an excellent education at home and knew several languages. Despite the slight injury, the prince showed himself to be an excellent warrior, whose courage and bravery were held up as an example. In his mature years he showed himself to be a wise politician and an excellent diplomat. During his reign, Kievan Rus experienced an unprecedented flowering in culture, education, writing and architecture.

Kyiv after the death of Vladimir

The death of Vladimir the Great sparked a fierce power struggle between his sons. In 1015 Kyiv throne occupied by Svyatopolk. The Prince of Novgorod Yaroslav opposed him and defeated him in the battle of Lyubich. Svyatopolk asked for help from his father-in-law, the Polish king Boleslav the Brave. He agreed and, leading a large army, invaded Rus'. In the battle near Volyn in 1018, Yaroslav was defeated and retreated to Novgorod. Power in Kyiv again belonged to Svyatopolk. But the atrocities of the Polish army, robberies and looting outraged the people of Kiev, and they rebelled. Boleslav the Brave returned to Poland, annexing the Cerven cities to his kingdom - small area in Volyn with the cities of Shepol, Cherven, Volyn.

Rise to power

Having gathered his own army, Yaroslav went to Kyiv. Svyatopolk, whom historical chronicles will henceforth call the Accursed, turned to the Pechenegs for help. The decisive battle took place in the summer of 1019 on the river. Alte near Pereyaslav. Victory was Yaroslav's. This date is considered the beginning of his reign as the prince of all Rus'. But in 1021, Yaroslav was forced to recognize the independence of Bryacheslav, the ruler of the Principality of Polotsk. And a year later, the Tmutarakan prince Mstislav opposed Yaroslav, who defeated the prince of Kyiv. Negotiations began, which ended in 1026. As a result, it was decided to divide the lands. Mstislav got the left bank of Rus' with Chernigov, Yaroslav - the right bank of the Dnieper with Kiev, Bryacheslav confirmed his rights to reign in Pereyaslavl. Later, Bryacheslav recognizes the supremacy of Kyiv. Only after the death of Mstislav in 1036 did Yaroslav gain full power over Kievan Rus.

Development of Kyiv

Understanding the importance of Kyiv as the spiritual and political center of the entire state, Prince Yaroslav the Wise began large-scale construction and strengthening of his capital. The ruler planned to transform the Russian capital city into a second Constantinople. The city was to be fortified by ramparts 3.5 km long. Piled by hand, they were about 14 m high and 30 m wide at the base. These fortifications were intended to protect Kyiv from attacks by nomads. The decoration of the city was the Golden Gate - the main entrance of the nearby Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary. The territory of the new city expanded, its area increased to 70 hectares. New churches appeared - in 1037 the St. Sophia Cathedral was opened - an outstanding monument of world architecture; in 1051 the Kiev Pechersky Monastery was opened. During these same years, the Church of St. George and the Church of St. Irene were built. The Golden Gate and the Church of St. Sophia became symbols of the “sovereignty” of Kyiv, and the architectural and artistic ensemble revealed the idea of ​​​​the divine origin of the princely dynasty.

Yaroslav's truth

The development of society required giving legitimacy to changes in relations between different segments of the population. Grand Duke Yaroslav the Wise decided to streamline the existing legal norms. In 1016, the “truth of Yaroslav” saw the light of day - a charter issued to Novgorod, in which the reign of Prince Yaroslav the Wise began. The diploma was part of the “Russian Truth” - charter legal norms and laws of ancient Russian society. “Yaroslav’s Truth” contained 18 articles. The document dealt with punishments for murder and mutilation, for damaging someone else's property, riding someone else's horse, and so on. The issue of blood feud was considered separately. The law reserved the right to take revenge on offenders, but at the same time proposed replacing murders with a fine. Around 1025, the decree “Pokon Virny” was issued, which determined the amount of tribute collected from the population for the maintenance of the squad.

Church activities of Prince Yaroslav the Wise

The domestic policy of Prince Yaroslav the Wise paid great attention to the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church. Lengthy negotiations with Byzantium did not produce the desired results - Eastern Empire did not grant autocephaly to Kyiv, that is, church independence. Grand Duke Yaroslav the Wise was forced to agree to the arrival of a Byzantine bishop to Kyiv. He, however, soon went home. In 1051, by order of Yaroslav, the post of metropolitan was occupied by the Russian Hilarion, about whose life and activities very little information has been preserved. But the Patriarch of Constantinople refused to approve Hilarion, and Prince Yaroslav the Wise after some time agreed to accept the new Byzantine metropolitan.

Development of education and writing

Russian prince Yaroslav the Wise was one of the most educated people in Rus'. He loved and revered books, and brought the so-called scribes - the sages of that time - closer to him. The activities of the scribes were carried out in the St. Sophia Cathedral. By decision of the prince, about 960 books were collected, which became the basis of the first state library. Libraries were also opened in other cities - collections of books are known in Belgorod, Chernigov, Pereslavl.

The activities of Prince Yaroslav the Wise did not ignore the problems of education. Before him, children were educated at home. During Yaroslav's reign, much attention was paid to schools. Are opening educational establishments, private and church, the first church schools appeared. There were also noticeable advances in literature. For example, in 1039 work on the chronicle Kyiv vault was completed. Hilarion wrote famous work“A Tale about Law and Grace,” in which he substantiated the idea of ​​​​the equality of Rus' among other Christian states.

Foreign policy

Grand Duke Yaroslav the Wise adhered to the policies of his father in interstate relations. He gave preference not to military action, but to mutually beneficial political alliances. At the end of the 40s. The main direction of activity of Prince Yaroslav the Wise is the rise of Rus' among European states. Friendly relations are established with Hungary, France, Germany, Norway, and relations with England are improved. The most a shining example international recognition of Kievan Rus were the desires of European monarchs to establish dynastic marital relations with Yaroslav's house. Thus, Yaroslav's daughter Anna became the French queen, Anastasia took the Hungarian throne, and Elizabeth married the Norwegian king. Three sons of Yaroslav the Wise married representatives of the most noble families in Europe. It is not for nothing that Yaroslav the Wise, the Kiev prince, received the nickname “father-in-law of Europe” from his contemporaries.

Relations with Byzantium were not going very well for Yaroslav. In 1043, a war began with the empire, in which Rus' was defeated. Prince Yaroslav the Wise agreed to sign an agreement, according to which Byzantium was obliged to compensate for the damage caused by the empire to Russian merchants in Constantinople and the Russian monastery in Athos. The prince was also worried about the defense of the southern borders of the state - fortress cities were built and ramparts were built on the cordons with the Pechenegs and Polovtsians.

The Russian prince Yaroslav the Wise carried out a balanced and consistent foreign policy aimed at strengthening the international position of the state and maintaining the authority of its country.

The will written by Yaroslav the Wise

The Kiev prince perfectly understood the inevitability of the struggle between his sons for the main, Kiev throne. In order to somehow prevent this tragedy, Yaroslav the Wise, the Grand Duke of Kiev, drew up a will, which outlined the main provisions on the succession to the throne. The document also spoke about the division of the Russian land between the sons into separate possessions - appanages. Yaroslav bequeathed to his sons to respect, love and support each other, otherwise “you will destroy the land of your fathers and grandfathers.” The introduced system of inheritance of power provided that supreme power would belong to a group of princes - relatives, interconnected by vassal-hierarchical relations. According to the will, the Kiev throne should be inherited by Yaroslav's eldest son.

Thanks to external and domestic policy Yaroslav the Wise, Kievan Rus experienced a political and cultural flourishing. The wise reign of the prince strengthened his political positions ancient Russian state for many years.

Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise
Years of life: 980-1054
Reign: 1019-1054

Son of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Vladimir I Svyatoslavovich (from the Rurik family) and the Polotsk princess Rogneda Rogvolodovna.

Upon reaching adulthood, the father makes Yaroslav the prince of Rostov (987-1010), and after the death of his eldest son, Vladimir Svyatoslavovich, Yaroslav becomes the prince of Novgorod (1010-1034). Yaroslav's residence became the Prince's Court, later called Yaroslav's Court.

Prince Yaroslav the Wise

In 1014 Yaroslav refused to pay tribute to Kyiv, which angered his father. Vladimir ordered preparations for a campaign against Novgorod, but did not have time carry out your plan. On July 15, 1015, Vladimir Svyatoslavovich died suddenly. Yaroslav began to fight for the Kiev throne with his brother Svyatopolk. The rebellious Kievans freed Svyatopolk from prison and declared them their prince, but Yaroslav, having secured the support of the Novgorodians, continues the struggle, which lasts 4 years. In December 1015, near Lyubech, Yaroslav defeated Svyatopolk and captured Kyiv.

Father, grandfather, uncle of some European rulers. During his reign, the first set of laws in Rus' was published in Kyiv, which went down in the history of the state as “Russian Truth”. Canonized and revered by the Russian Orthodox Church as “the faithful.”

Birth

Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich, known in history as Yaroslav the Wise, was born into the family of the baptist of Rus', Prince of Novgorod and Kyiv Vladimir Svyatoslavovich and presumably the Polotsk princess Rogneda in 979. He is from the Rurik family. The year of birth, as well as the prince’s mother, have not been reliably established. The famous historian N. Kostomarov expressed doubt about Rogneda as the mother of Yaroslav.

The French historian Arrignon was sure that Yaroslav’s mother was Byzantine princess Anna. His confidence is confirmed by the intervention of Yaroslav Vladimirovich in the internal political affairs of Byzantium in 1043. The official version is that Rogneda was Vladimir’s mother, as most sources point to this. This is what most Russian and world historians adhere to.

If doubts about the mother can be explained by the lack of proper information, a series of certain events that researchers need to explain in some way, then the dispute about the date of birth confirms the assumption of historians that the struggle for the great reign of Kiev was difficult and fratricidal.

It should be recalled that the rule of Kiev gave the title of Grand Duke. In the ladder form, this title was considered the main one, and it was passed on to the eldest sons. It was to Kyiv that tribute was paid by all other cities. Therefore, all sorts of tricks were often used in the struggle for seniority, including changing the date of birth.

Year of birth

Based on chronicles, historians have established that Yaroslav Vladimirovich was the third son of Rogneda, after Izyaslav and Mstislav. After him came Vsevolod. This is confirmed in the chronicle “The Tale of Bygone Years.” The eldest son, it is assumed, was Vysheslav, whose mother is considered to be Vladimir’s first wife, the Varangian Olova.

Between Mstislav and Yaroslav walked another son of Prince Vladimir, Svyatopolk, born of a Greek woman, the widow of his brother, the Kyiv prince Yaropolk Svyatoslavovich. He died in the struggle with Prince Vladimir for the Kiev throne, and his wife was taken by the latter as a concubine. Paternity was controversial, but Prince Vladimir considered him to be his own son.

Today it has been precisely established that Svyatopolk was older than Yaroslav Vladimirovich, his year of birth was in 979. This is confirmed by a number of chronicles. It was established that the marriage of Prince Vladimir and Rogneda took place in 979. Taking into account that he is the third son of Rogneda, it can be assumed that the date of birth is not set correctly.

Many scientists, including S. Solovyov, believe that Yaroslav Vladimirovich could not have been born in 979 or 978. This is confirmed by studies of bone remains in the 20th century; they indicate that the remains presumably belonged to a person aged 50 to 60 years.

Even the historian Soloviev expressed doubts about Yaroslav’s life expectancy - 76 years. Based on this, we can conclude that the date of birth was incorrectly established. This was done in order to show that Yaroslav was older than Svyatopolk, and thereby justify his right to rule in Kiev. According to some sources, Yaroslav's date of birth should correspond to 988 or 989 years.

Childhood and youth

Prince Vladimir granted various cities to his sons. Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich got Rostov. At this time he was only 9 years old, so a so-called breadwinner was assigned to him, who was a governor and was called Budy or Buda. Almost nothing is known about the Rostov period, since the prince was quite young to rule. After the death of Prince Vysheslav of Novgorod in 1010, Prince Yaroslav of Rostov, who was 18-22 years old at that time, was appointed ruler of Novgorod. This once again confirms that the time of his birth in the chronicle of bygone years is indicated incorrectly.

Founding of Yaroslavl

A legend is connected with the history of the emergence of Yaroslavl, according to which Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise founded the city during his journey from Rostov to Novgorod along the Volga River. During the stay, the prince and his retinue went to a large cliff, suddenly a bear jumped out from the thicket of the forest at him. Yaroslav, with the help of an ax and running servants, killed him. A small fortress was built on this site, from which a city later grew, called Yaroslavl. Maybe this is just a beautiful legend, but, nevertheless, Yaroslavl considers the date of its birth to be from 1010.

Prince of Novgorod

After the death of Vysheslav, the question of government in the Novgorod principality arose. Since Novgorod was the second most important city after Kyiv, where Vladimir reigned, control should have been inherited by the eldest son, Izyaslav, who was in disgrace with his father, and had died by the time the ruler of Novgorod was appointed.

After Izyaslav came Svyatopolk, but he was in prison on charges of treason against his father. The next son in seniority was Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise, whom Prince Vladimir appointed to reign in Novgorod. This city had to pay tribute to Kyiv, which amounted to 2/3 of all taxes collected; the rest of the money was only enough to support the squad and the prince. This displeased the Novgorodians, who were waiting for a reason to rebel against Kyiv.

IN short biography Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise, the period of Novgorod rule is not well known. All generations of Rurik ruling in Novgorod lived in Gorodishche, located near settlement. But Yaroslav settled in the city itself in the trading place “Yaroslav’s Dvorishche”. Historians also date Yaroslav’s marriage to this period. His first wife, according to some sources, was named Anna (not established verbatim). She was of Norwegian origin.

Revolt against Kyiv

At the end of his life, Grand Duke Vladimir brought his youngest son Boris, to whom he transferred control of the army and was going to leave him the Kiev throne, contrary to the rules of inheritance by eldest sons. Svyatopolk, at that time his elder brother, whom Vladimir threw into prison, spoke out against him.

Yaroslav decides to go to war against his father for the abolition of tribute to Kyiv. Not having enough troops, he hires the Varangians who arrived in Novgorod. Having learned this, Vladimir prepared to go on a campaign against the rebel Novgorod, but became very ill. In addition, in the mid-summer of 1015, the Pechenegs invaded Kievan Rus. Instead of going against Novgorod, Boris was forced to fight against the steppe nomads, who fled under the onslaught of the Russian army.

At this time, in Novgorod, the Varangians, languishing from idleness, took up robbery and violence, which aroused local residents against them, who killed them. Yaroslav was in his country village of Rakome. Having learned about what had happened, Yaroslav ordered the instigators of the massacre to be brought to him, promising to forgive them. But as soon as they appeared, he ordered them to be captured and executed. This brought upon himself the wrath of most of Novgorod.

At this point, he receives a letter from his sister, who informed him about Vladimir's death. Realizing that unresolved problems cannot be left, Yaroslav asks for peace from the Novgorodians, promising to give a certain amount of vira (ransom) for each killed.

The struggle with Svyatopolk for the throne in Kyiv

Prince Vladimir dies in the city of Berestov on June 15, 1015. The eldest of the brothers Svyatopolk, whom the people nicknamed the Damned, took over the reign. To protect himself, he kills his younger brothers: Boris, Gleb and Svyatoslav, beloved by the people of Kiev. The same fate awaited Yaroslav Vladimirovich; the time of Novgorod rule strengthened him as a politician, and he posed a danger to Svyatopolk.

Therefore, Yaroslav, with the support of the Novgorodians and the summoned Varangians, defeated Svyatopolk’s army near Lyubich in 1016 and entered Kyiv. The accursed man approached the city several times in alliance with the Pechenegs. In 1018, the King of Poland Boleslav the Brave, Svyatopolk's father-in-law, came to his aid. He entered Kyiv and captured Yaroslav's wife Anna, his sisters and stepmother there. But instead of transferring the throne to Svyatopolk, he decided to seize it himself.

The saddened Yaroslav returned to Novgorod and decided to flee abroad, but the townspeople did not let him go, declaring that they themselves would go against the Poles. The Varangians were also called upon again. In 1019, the troops moved to Kyiv, where local residents rose up to fight the Poles. On the Alta River, Svyatopolk was defeated and wounded, but managed to escape. Yaroslav Vladimirovich - the Grand Duke of Kiev reigned on the throne.

Personal life of Yaroslav

Historians also disagree on how many wives Yaroslav had. Most are inclined to believe that the prince had one wife, Ingigerda, the daughter of King Olaf Shetkonung of Sweden, whom he married in 1019. But some historians suggest that he had two wives. The first is the Norwegian Anna, with whom he had a son, Ilya. They, allegedly, with the sisters and stepmother of the Great Yaroslav Vladimirovich, were captured by King Boleslav and taken to the Polish lands, where they disappeared without a trace.

There is a third version, according to which Anna is Ingigerda’s monastic name. In 1439, nun Anna was canonized and is the patroness of Novgorod. Ingigerda's father gave him lands that were adjacent to the city of Ladoga. They were later named Ingria, where Peter I built St. Petersburg. Ingigerda and Prince Yaroslav had 9 children: 3 daughters and 6 sons.

Kiev rule

The years of Yaroslav Vladimirovich's reign were full of military confrontations. In 1020, the prince's nephew Bryachislav invaded Novgorod, taking many prisoners and booty. Yaroslav's squad overtook him on the Sudoma River near Pskov, where he was defeated by the prince, abandoned prisoners and booty, and fled. In 1021, Yaroslav gave him the cities of Vitebsk and Usvyat as his inheritance.

In 1023, the Tmutarakan prince Mstislav invaded the lands of Kievan Rus, younger brother Yaroslav. He defeated Yaroslav's army near Listvenny, capturing the entire left bank. In 1026, having gathered an army, Yaroslav returned to Kyiv, where he concluded an agreement with his brother that he would rule on the right bank, and the left bank would belong to Mstislav.

In 1029, together with Mstislav, they made a campaign to Tmutarakan, where they defeated and expelled the Yas. In 1030, he conquered Chud on the Baltic and founded the city of Yuryev (Tartu). In the same year he went to the city of Belz in Galicia and conquered it.

In 1031, the King of Norway, Harald III the Severe, fled to Yaroslav, who would later become his son-in-law by marrying his daughter Elizabeth.

In 1034, Yaroslav installed his beloved son Vladimir as Prince of Novgorod. In 1036 he brought him sad news - Mstislav suddenly died. Concerned about the possibility of challenging the Kyiv possessions of the last of the brothers, Sudislav, he imprisons Prince Pskov under a slander.

The significance of Yaroslav's reign

Grand Duke Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise ruled over the lands as a zealous owner. He constantly increased his territories; strengthened the borders, settling captive Poles across the steppe expanses of the southern borders, who defended Rus' from the steppe nomads; strengthened the western borders; stopped the Pecheneg raids forever; built fortresses and cities. During his reign, military campaigns did not stop, which made it possible to preserve the state from enemies and expand its territories.

But the significance of the board lay not only in this. The time of his reign was the highest flowering of the state, the era of prosperity of Kievan Rus. First of all, he helped spread Orthodoxy in Rus'. He built churches, contributed to education in this area and the training of priests. The first monasteries were opened under him. His merit is also in the liberation of the Russian Church from Greek and Byzantine dependence.

At the site of the final victory over the Pechenegs, he built the Cathedral of St. Sophia, decorated with frescoes and mosaics. Two monasteries were also built there: St. George, in honor of their patron Saint George the Victorious, and St. Irene, in the name of the angel of his wife. The Kiev Church of St. Sophia was built in the likeness of the Tsaregrad one, this can be seen in the photo. Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise contributed to the construction of the cathedrals of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and the establishment of the monastery.

All of Kyiv was surrounded stone wall, in which the Golden Gate is located. Yaroslav, being an enlightened man, ordered books to be purchased and translated from Greek and other languages. He bought a lot himself. All of them gathered at the St. Sophia Cathedral and were available for public use. He ordered priests to teach people, and schools were founded under him in Novgorod and Kyiv.

Why was Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich nicknamed Yaroslav the Wise?

Special meaning historians attribute the collections of laws compiled under Yaroslavl that were in force in Kievan Rus. The Russian Truth code of laws was the first legal document, which laid the basis for legislation Russian state. In addition, it was supplemented and developed at a later time. This suggests that the laws were used in everyday life.

Was compiled church charter, it is translated from the Byzantine language. Yaroslav took care of the spread of Christianity, did everything to make churches shine with splendor, and ordinary Christians were taught the basic Orthodox laws. He cared about the prosperity of cities and the peace of people inhabiting the lands of Kievan Rus. It was for these deeds that Yaroslav Vladimirovich was given the nickname Wise.

During the times of Kievan Rus, dynastic marriages played important. They were the ones who helped establish foreign policy ties. He became related to many noble families of Europe, which allowed him to resolve many matters without bloodshed. His policy allowed him to establish good relations with his brother Mstislav and participate with him in new campaigns.

Prince Yaroslav the Wise died, as is commonly believed, on February 20, 1054, in the arms of Vsevolod, his son. They were given a covenant to their children: to live in peace, never to fight with each other. Many famous historians do not agree on the date of death, but, nevertheless, this is the generally accepted date. He was buried in St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv. In the 20th century, the crypt was opened three times; in 1964, during the autopsy, his remains were not discovered. It is believed that they were taken out in 1943 by Ukrainian henchmen of the Nazis. The remains are allegedly located in the United States.

Yaroslav the Wise was great Prince of Kyiv(1015-1018, 1019-1054), Rostov prince (989-1010), Novgorod prince (1010-1034).

Yaroslav was born around 982 year, was the second son of Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich from the Rurik dynasty from the Polotsk princess Rogneda.

At the age of 10, Vladimir sent his son to take the Rostov princely table, and in 1100, Yaroslav became the Novgorod prince.

At the end of the reign of Vladimir the Great in 1014, Yaroslav refused to pay the annual tribute to Kyiv, which amounted to 2,000 hryvnia, and marched against his father. While preparing for the campaign, Vladimir died.

After the death of his father Vladimir on November 26 (St. George's Day) 1015, Yaroslav the Wise, in a fierce struggle for the Kiev throne, defeated Svyatopolk's troops at Lyubech and took the Kiev throne, but 1018, under the pressure of the Polish troops of King Boleslav, whom Svyatopolk took to help him, must leave Kyiv and fled to Novgorod. After the final victory at the Battle of the Altoi River 1019 Yaroslav the Wise became the Grand Duke of Kyiv.

In an effort to unite all Russian lands under his rule, Yaroslav Vladimirovich fought against his brother Mstislav Vladimirovich, Prince of Tmutarakan and Chernigov. After the battle that Yaroslav lost in Listveny near Chernigov in 1024, Yaroslav was forced to retreat to Mstislav Chernigov and all the lands east of the Dnieper, except for Pereyaslav. Subsequently, after the peace concluded in 1026 in Gorodok near Kiev, understanding and cooperation began between the brothers. Yaroslav the Wise helped Mstislav in the fight between the Zkasogama and the Yasami in 1029, expanding his possessions to Caucasus Mountains; and Mstislav - in binding and expanding the state of Yaroslav the Wise to the west of the Dnieper. 1030 in the north, Yaroslav occupied the lands between Lake Peipsi and the Baltic and there he founded the city of Yuryev (now Tartu), in 1030 - 1031 the troops of Yaroslav and Mstislav recaptured the Cherven gardens, which were captured by Boleslav 1 in 1018. At the same time, Yaroslav received from the Polish kingdom a strip of land between the San and Bug rivers. According to information contained in the Tale of Bygone Years, in 1030 he recaptured the city of Belz, and in 1031 he founded a city named after himself Yaroslav.

1036 - after the death of Mstislav, Yaroslav becomes the only owner of the Kyiv state, except for the Principality of Polotsk, which was allocated by Vladimir the Saint to the inheritance of the Izyaslav family. 1036, according to the chronicle, Yaroslav the Wise defeated the Pechenegs near Kyiv and allegedly, according to the chronicle, began to build the St. Sophia Cathedral in 1037 on the site of the victory over them. Although recent studies of Sophia of Kyiv have refuted this statement of the chronicle.
In 1038-1042, Yaroslav led successful campaigns against the Lithuanian tribes - the Yatvingians, against Mazovia, against the Baltic-Finnish tribes Yam and Chud. In 1043, under the leadership of his son Vladimir and governor Vyshata, he prepared a campaign against Byzantium, which ended in defeat, many soldiers were captured or died. To protect his state against attacks by nomads, Yaroslav strengthened the southern border, building cities above the Ros and Trubezh rivers of Korsun, Kanev, Pereyaslav; same as the second one fortification line over Sula Lubny, Lukoml, Voin.

Yaroslav spent the last years of his life in Vyshgorod. Died 20 February 1054, and a power struggle developed between his five sons. This period is known in historiography as the Yaroslavich Triumvirate, from which the collapse of Kievan Rus began and after a century and a half it actually ceased to exist as a single state.

Yaroslav the Wise meaning of activity

During his reign of Yaroslav the Wise, Kievan Rus turned into a powerful European state. To consolidate power in the state and streamline legal and social relations citizens during the reign of Yaroslav the Wise, a collection of laws was concluded, the so-called Pravda of Yaroslav, which constitutes the oldest part of the laws of Russian law - the Russian Pravda.

The expansion of the borders of the capital of Rus' - Kyiv, begun by Vladimir the Saint, was completed; new defensive ramparts were poured under Vladimir the Saint (research by P. Rappoport) (the modern Yaroslav Val street was laid along one of them), and Yaroslav only placed a visor on them.

The Golden Gate, the Polish Gate, the Jewish Gate, St. George's and Irininsky Cathedrals, and St. Sophia Cathedral were built. Created a library St. Sophia Cathedral. During his reign, the cities of Korsun and Gyurg (now Bila Tserkva) were founded, Chernigov, Pereyaslav, Vladimir-Volynsky, Turov were developed, and dynastic ties were established with the royal courts of Sweden, Norway and France.

The minting of silver coins continued.