Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest, whose brief biography is in all Russian history textbooks, is best known for the fact that it was under him that the northeast of Rus' became the most important and influential political center of the East Slavic world. Therefore, this ruler earned good fame among grateful descendants.

Childhood and youth

Vsevolod was born in 1154 into the family of the founder of Moscow, Yuri Dolgoruky. He was the youngest son of the prince, who died a few years after the birth of the child. After Yuri, Vsevolod’s elder brother Andrei Bogolyubsky began to rule. He was Yuri's son from his second wife. In 1162, Andrei expelled Vsevolod (still a child), his mother, and two other brothers, Mstislav and Vasilko, from his lands.

The Rurikovichs went to Constantinople, where they found shelter at the court of Emperor Manuel Komnenos. At the age of fifteen, Vsevolod the Big Nest, whose short biography can tell about many unexpected turns in his fate, returned home, having made peace with his older brother. As a young man, he took part in the campaign against Kyiv in 1169. It was a war of the northern princes against the old southern capital. For several decades, Rus' has been divided into several independent states, each of which was vying for leadership. Each city was ruled by the Rurikovichs, which turned into family squabbles. When Kyiv finally fell in 1169, it lost even the ghostly chance of being called the capital of Rus'.

Viceroy in Kyiv

A few years later, young Vsevolod the Big Nest was sent to the Mother of Russian Cities to rule as governor. A brief biography of the prince suggests that he did not last long on the banks of the Dnieper. In 1173, a few weeks after appearing in Kyiv, he was defeated by the children of the Smolensk ruler Rostislav, who also laid claim to the local throne. Vsevolod was captured, but was ransomed by his older brother Mikhail.

The struggle for the Vladimir Principality

All this time, Andrei Bogolyubsky ruled in Vladimir. However, in 1174 he was killed by a group of conspirators (his own boyars). His death became the cause of an internecine war for power over the northeast of Rus'. Andrey had no children. Therefore, on the one hand, the brothers Mikhail and Vsevolod declared their rights to the throne, and on the other, the nephews and children of Rostislav’s elder brother, who died many years ago, Mstislav and Yaropolk. The conflict also flared up between cities. In the principality, which was once owned by Yuri Dolgoruky, several political centers were formed (Vladimir, Suzdal, Rostov). The aristocracy tried to make their city the main one in the northeast of Rus'.

First, Mikhail Yuryevich established himself in Vladimir. He was supported by Vsevolod the Big Nest, whose short biography tells of various political alliances with relatives. However, Mikhail unexpectedly died in 1176, and the Rostislavichs still wanted to take possession of Vladimir-on-Klyazma. They ruled in Rostov and Suzdal. In addition, they were supported by the Ryazan prince Gleb.

Union with Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich

The Chernigov ruler came to the aid of Vsevolod, who replaced his older brother in Vladimir. In 1176-1177. One after another they defeated the troops of Mstislav (Battle of Lipitsa) and Gleb (Battle of Koloksha). All enemy princes were captured. Gleb soon died in captivity. The Rostislavichs were blinded and released. After these events, Vsevolod Yuryevich the Big Nest, whose short biography was marked by important success, became the sole ruler of northeastern Rus'. He made Vladimir-on-Klyazma his capital.

Having become the sole ruler, Vsevolod was involved in organizing campaigns against his eastern neighbors (Mordovians and Volga Bulgars). He also fought for influence in Kyiv and Novgorod, which tried to defend its republican political system. The fight went on with varying degrees of success for both sides. During the years of his reign, Vsevolod the Big Nest became known for his wisdom and balance. His biography (it is almost impossible to briefly talk about any of the princes of Rus', too much will be missed) is well described in the multi-volume “History of the Russian State” by Nikolai Karamzin.

Question of succession to the throne

In the last years of his life, Vsevolod the Big Nest, whose biography we are considering, was preoccupied with the problem of succession to the throne in his domains. He had many children (8 sons and 4 daughters). That is why he, in fact, received the historical nickname Big Nest.

A dispute broke out between his two eldest sons, Konstantin and Yuri (also known as Georgiy), regarding the right to inheritance. In order to reconcile the children, Vsevolod convened a council. Konstantin, who was his father's governor in Rostov, was to receive Vladimir, and Rostov was to be given to Yuri. However, the eldest son refused to obey this order from his father because he believed that he had the right to both older cities in the principality. Vsevolod did not forgive Konstantin for such defiant behavior and deprived him of Vladimir, giving the capital to Yuri. While the father was alive, the brothers somehow reconciled themselves and lived quietly. However, with the death of Vsevolod in 1212, internecine war broke out in northeastern Rus'.

Results of the board

Nevertheless, it was precisely at this time that the principality flourished. Vsevolod strengthened the central government, depriving the Rostov boyars of influence. He did a lot of decorating and arrangement of Vladimir, where temples and other buildings important for people’s lives were regularly built.

Vsevolod became the last sole ruler of northeastern Rus'. After the death of the prince, his numerous sons divided the state. The Mongol invasion a few years later further aggravated this split. Also, Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest, whose short biography is full of information about wars in various parts of Rus', became the last ruler of Vladimir who still had influence on the southern principalities. After him, throughout the 13th century, they gradually moved into the orbit of Lithuanian interests.

Vsevolod big nest

After the death of Andrei Bogolyubsky, a new civil strife struck the Russian lands, the cause of which, however, like all others, was the struggle for power. This time the struggle unfolded over the Suzdal region, which, after Andrei’s reign, acquired the status of the dominant one in the country. The people of Suzdal, honoring the will of Yuri Dolgoruky, who bequeathed these lands to his younger sons, called Andrei's brother, Vsevolod, to reign. Residents of Rostov, encouraged by local boyars, demanded that the Principality of Suzdal be transferred to Mstislav, Prince of Novgorod. On June 27, 1176, Vsevolod the Great Nest and his retinue fought with Mstislav of Novgorod and won a glorious victory. The winner returned to Vladimir. The rebellious Rostovites submitted to the new prince.

Fighting internal enemies

Mstislav, after the defeat, returned to Novgorod, but was expelled from there by the residents, who perceived his behavior as betrayal. Prince Vsevolod, at the request of the Novgorodians, sent his nephew, Yaroslav, to reign with them. Then Mstislav fled to his brother Gleb in Ryazan, whom he persuaded to war with the great Vladimir ruler. Gleb, having gathered an army, began to commit outrages in the lands of Suzdal. Prince Vsevolod the Great Nest, having gathered allied troops, met with Gleb’s army on the Koloksha River in the winter of 1177. For about a month, the troops stood opposite each other on different banks, waiting for the river to freeze. As soon as this happened, Vsevolod and his army defeated the enemy and imprisoned Mstislav and Gleb with his commanders and boyars. Soon Gleb died in prison. There was excitement in the city, people broke into the dungeon and blinded Mstislav Rostislavich and his brother Yaropolk. Prince Vsevolod the Great Nest, showing remorse for what happened in his city, releases Mstislav and Yaroslav to freedom. Soon the news spread throughout the country that the brothers, praying in the Smyadynsky temple, had received their sight. Residents of Novgorod accepted the brothers as people chosen by God himself and called Mstislav to reign. In 1178 Mstislav died. Yaroslav took his place, but soon the Novgorodians, dissatisfied with him, expelled this ruler.

Fighting external enemies

In 1181, internecine wars ceased for a while. Their result was the sole annexation of the Novgorod lands to the possessions of the Vladimir Principality. Taking advantage of this truce within the country, Vsevolod turns his attention to Volga Bulgaria, which Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky wanted to take possession of. Having entered Volga Bulgaria at the head of the allied army, Vsevolod saw an army not far away and prepared for battle. It turned out that it was an army of Polovtsians who joined Vsevolod and set off together for the assault. Izyaslav Glebovich, the nephew of the great ruler of Rus', without waiting for the general offensive, himself, at the head of his army, went on an assault, but was killed in battle. Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest, mourning Izyaslav, made peace with the Bulgarians and returned to Vladimir.

In 1185, the Southern princes, led by Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich, went to the Polovtsian Khanate, where they defeated an advance detachment, but later experienced enormous difficulties, which were described in “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign.” The princes of the Western lands at this time fought with the Lithuanian tribes, who refused to pay tribute to the Russians, and, taking advantage of the disunity of the Russians, began to disturb the western borders of the state.

Prince Vsevolod the Great Nest is the greatest example of how an intelligent man, backing his mind with strength, was able to temporarily restore order in the country, reconcile people and strengthen the borders of the state. There were internecine wars, but they were not so long and not so bloody. Prince Vsevolod always restored order and reconciled the princes.

Prince Vsevolod III Big Nest

Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest (in baptism he had the name Dmitry) - the Grand Duke and significant political figure of ancient Rus', was the Prince of Vladimir since 1176. Under his rule, the Principality of Vladimir reached its greatest power. Prince Vsevolod had quite an impressive offspring - 12 children, of which 8 were boys, which is why he received the nickname “Big Nest”. He ruled for a short time in Kyiv (from February to March 1173). As already mentioned, the reign of Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest is associated with the unprecedented rise and prosperity of the Vladimir-Suzdal land. Having good relations with the nobility, relying on the new cities of the north-east of Rus': Vladimir, Dmitrov, Kostroma, Tver, Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest significantly weakened the influence of the local boyars, which was already quite weak here.

In 1162, his elder brother Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky was expelled along with his mother from his native land and was forced to leave for Constantinople to the Byzantine Emperor Manuel. Returning to his homeland at the age of fifteen, he entered into an alliance with Andrei Bogolyubsky.

In 1169, together with his brother, with the support of the allied forces, they set off on a campaign against Kyiv, where, at the direction of his elder brother Mikhail, together with Yaropolk Rostislavovich, he sat on the grand-ducal throne, however, after a short time he was captured by the Smolensk Rostislavovichs, who captured the city. Mikhail Yuryevich came to the rescue, who ransomed Prince Vsevolod from captivity. After the vile murder in 1174, Andrei Bogolyubsky, together with his brother Mikhail Yuryevich, fights for the throne in the Vladimir-Suzdal principality.

After the death of Mikhail (in 1176), he continued to fight with his nephews Mstislav and Yaropolk Rostislavich for the right to reign on this land. Having the support of the Chernigov prince Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich, in 1176 he defeated Mstislav, and after some time Gleb of Ryazan, capturing him and the Rostislavovichs. Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest destroys his competitors: Prince Gleb quickly dies in prison, and the Rostislavovichs are blinded by the prince. In light of these events, Roman Glebovich, who was married to Svyatoslav’s daughter, was placed on the Ryazan throne. The increased power of Roman interferes with Vsevolod, as a result of which Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest breaks the alliance with Svyatoslav.

The consequence of these events was Svyatoslav’s campaign against Vsevolod. Both troops met on the Vlena River. Knowing that the Chernigov army was strong in a wide and quick attack, Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest established his positions near the hills and forest, thereby eliminating Svyatoslav’s strong trump card. Seeing such a cunning step on the part of Vsevolod, Svyatoslav did not dare to go on the offensive and withdrew his army. The weakness demonstrated by Svyatoslav allowed Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest to expel his son from Novgorod, and for the next 30 years Vsevolod’s henchmen ruled there.
Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest continued the fight against Volga Bulgaria and the Mordovians, making several successful campaigns. In 1189, his nephew, the Galician prince Vladimir, came under the patronage. In 1198, Vsevolod launched a campaign against the main southern enemy of Rus' - the Polovtsians, defeating them in their winter camp and forcing them, in order to avoid clashes with him, to move much further south, instead of going north, to Russian lands. After the death of the Kyiv prince Svyatoslav, a new wave of civil strife began in Rus'. After numerous campaigns and a long stage of hostility, the Olgovichs were forced to agree to a truce, renouncing their claims to Kyiv while Rurik ruled there, and to Smolensk as long as Prince David reigned there. Both of them were supporters of Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest.

Thus, once again Prince Vsevolod strengthened his influence on the balance of political forces in the territory of southern Russia. The situation noticeably worsened with the rise of Prince Roman Volynsky to power in Galich and Kyiv. The united coalition represented by Rurik Rostislavovich and the Olegovichs tried to throw the new prince off the throne, but could only defeat Kyiv in 1203. In 1205, Prince Roman dies, and at the invitation of the King of Hungary, the throne in Galich is taken by Vsevolod's son Yaroslav, which was claimed by the Olegovichs.

A new round of internecine wars begins, at the beginning of which Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest lost the southern lands of the Pereyaslav principality. In response, Vsevolod goes on a campaign to Ryazan, burns the city and takes 6 Ryazan princes prisoner. The Olegovichs, seeing the current situation, offered peace to Vsevolod, as a result of which Vsevolod Chermny began to reign in Kyiv, Rurik in Chernigov, and the son of Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest married the daughter of the Chernigov prince. At the same time, the question of succession to the throne arose acutely: Vsevolod’s son Konstantin, being the eldest son, demanded that two major cities of Vladimir and Rostov be given to him, and that Suzdal be given to his brother Yuri. Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest, realizing the urgency of the issue, decided to convene a general council, which included, as the chronicle says, “all people.”

And this council made a decision: to give Rostov to Konstantin, and to imprison Yuri in Vladimir. Subsequently, after the death of Prince Vsevolod, this will become the cause of new internecine wars. Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest has remained in history as a wise and prudent politician. Under his rule, North-Eastern Rus' received enormous development, having the opportunity to influence the balance of power throughout the entire Ancient Rus'.

Continuing the work of Andrei Bogolyubsky, he not only strengthened his political influence, but also gave a new impetus to the development of the culture of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality. The wife of Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest, Ossetian princess Maria, was also very famous. Maria was a woman raised within the framework of Christianity, distinguished by her intelligence and kind heart. Having founded a monastery in Vladimir, she spent a lot of energy and time on helping the poor and needy.

She bequeathed to her children to live in peace and love, saying that internecine wars are death for the principality. Shortly before her death, she went to a monastery and became a nun, where she soon died. Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest from childhood accustomed his sons to princely power, arranging a strange ritual of cutting off hair, putting his sons on a horse. All residents of the principality were invited to this event, where they were presented with expensive gifts. Prince Vsevolod was famous for his kind man, who knew how to be generous and hospitable. The children of Vsevolod formed many dynasties of Vladimir and Moscow princes, which gave many bright names to the fatherland.

VSEVOLOD YURIEVICH(Dimitri Georgievich) Big Nest (1154–1212) - Grand Duke of Vladimir and Suzdal. Born in 1154 in Dmitrov, the son of Yuri Vladimirovich Dolgorukov and the Greek princess Olga, who received his nickname for having many children (according to some sources he had 8, according to others - 10 sons and 4 daughters from his first marriage with the Czech royal Maria Shvarnovna (? -March 19, 1206) Despite the fact that he had no children from his second wife, Lyubov (? -April 15, 1212), the daughter of Prince Vasilko Bryachislavich of Vitebsk, Vsevolod the Big Nest, having given birth to numerous sons in his first marriage, actually became the progenitor of 115 families (clans). ) Northern Russian princes.

After the death of his father (1162), as an 8-year-old child, together with his mother and younger brother Mikhail, he was expelled from the Suzdal land by his elder brother Andrei Yuryevich Bogolyubsky and was forced to grow up in Constantinople (Constantinople) in the homeland of his mother’s relatives, at the court of Emperor Manuel.

Returning to Rus' as a 15-year-old teenager, Vsevolod made peace with Andrei and, together with him and other princes, participated in the campaign against Kyiv in March 1169, which ended with the proclamation of his brother as the Grand Duke of Kyiv. Andrei left Suzdal, and Vsevolod remained to live there with his uncle, Gleb Georgievich, whom Andrei appointed as governor in his place. In 1171 he took part in the strife for the grand-ducal table that unfolded after the death of his uncle.

In 1173 Vsevolod took power in Kyiv and for 5 weeks was the Grand Duke of Kyiv, but was soon captured by his rival, the Smolensk prince Roman Rostislavich. He was ransomed from captivity by his younger brother Mikhail Yuryevich. After the murder of his brother Andrei by a group of boyars (1174), Vsevolod agreed with his younger brother Mikhail on the division of the “inheritance”: he helped him take possession of Vladimir, and he himself settled in Suzdal. When Michael died suddenly in 1175, Vsevolod captured Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, and after him Vladimir, proclaiming himself Grand Duke (1177).

This caused a new strife: the Rostov princes and the Chernigov prince laid claim to the “Vladimir table”. Svyatoslav Vsevolod[ov]ich. Seeking recognition as the most powerful ruler with the strongest army and squad, Vsevolod burned Torzhok in 1178, took Volokolamsk, and far to the north of Vladimir ordered the foundation of Gleden (Ustyug). The struggle for the Vladimir throne continued until 1182, when Vsevolod finally defeated his rivals and confiscated the lands and property of the Rostov boyars. He had to interrupt his powerful offensive against the Volga Bulgars due to the death of his beloved nephew Izyaslav Glebovich.

In 1183 he returned to Vladimir, in 1185 he went on a campaign against the Polovtsy together with the Seversky prince, known from the Lay of Igor’s Campaign. Igor Svyatoslavich. The author of the Word reported with respect about the power of Vsevolod’s squad: “they can scoop up the Volga with oars, and the Don with helmets.” Unlike Prince Igor, he returned alive in 1187 and again went against the Volga Bulgars, returning home with rich booty. Having brilliantly mastered the art of political compromise, he took advantage of the help of his recent opponents, the Polovtsians, in this campaign. When they treacherously began to plunder the outskirts of his principality, he launched a punitive campaign against them, forcing them to retreat beyond the Don (1186).

At the beginning of the 13th century. successfully fought with the Novgorodians (1201), Ryazanians, managing to finally conquer Ryazan by 1207. Diplomatically achieved recognition from Chernigov and, as the Principality of Kyiv lost its former power, extended its power to its lands (Kyiv, Chernigov, Galich, Novgorod Seversky), as well as the lands of distant Smolensk. He died on April 15, 1212 in Vladimir on Klyazma.

The years of Vsevolod's reign were marked by the highest flowering of the culture of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality. Chronicles were compiled, which emphasized the respectful attitude towards the Vladimir prince even on the part of the “German kings”, Gorodets on the Volga was founded, the Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir was rebuilt, construction began on the Kremlin (Detinets), the Nativity and Dmitrovsky Cathedrals with wall bas-reliefs depicting Vsevolod himself and his sons.

In memory of the powerful prince, a postage stamp was issued in 2004 in honor of the 850th anniversary of his birth, as well as his fictionalized biography.

Lev Pushkarev, Natalya Pushkareva

XI. ANDREY BOGOLYUBSKY. VSEVOLOD THE BIG NEST AND HIS SONS

(continuation)

Disorder. – The struggle between uncles and nephews and the rivalry between older cities and younger ones. - Mikhail Yurievich. – Vsevolod the Big Nest. – His zemstvo and foreign policy. - Boyars. - Bulgarian campaign. – Fires and buildings. - Family matters. - Nephew. - A disagreement with my eldest son.

Princely strife after the death of Andrei Bogolyubsky

The unrest that followed the murder of Andrei aroused in the best, most prosperous part of the population a desire to quickly end the anarchy, i.e. to call upon the princes, without whom Ancient Rus' could not imagine the existence of any social order, and especially any external security. Boyars and warriors from Rostov, Suzdal, Pereyaslavl came to Vladimir and, together with the Vladimir squad, they began to communicate about which of the descendants of Yuri Dolgoruky to call to reign. Many voices pointed to the need to hurry with this matter, because the neighboring princes, Murom and Ryazan, would perhaps take it into their head to take revenge for previous oppression from Suzdal and would come in an army, taking advantage of the fact that there was no prince in the Suzdal land. This fear was fair; for at that time the stern, enterprising Prince Gleb Rostislavich was sitting on the Ryazan table. There is even reason to assume that the aforementioned unrest in the Suzdal land and the very murder of Andrei Bogolyubsky occurred not without some participation of Gleb Ryazansky, through the mediation of his supporters and minions. At the Vladimir Congress we find his ambassadors, namely two Ryazan boyars Dedilts and Boris.

In addition to the young son of Yuri of Novgorod, Andrei left behind his two younger brothers, Mikhail and Vsevolod, who were his brothers on his father’s side, not his mother’s, having been born from Dolgoruky’s second wife. He also had two nephews, Mstislav and Yaropolk Rostislavich. Under the influence of the Ryazan ambassadors, the majority of the congress leaned towards the nephews, who were suryas to Gleb Ryazansky; since he was married to their sister. The congress sent several men to the Ryazan prince with a request to add his ambassadors to them and send them all together for their brothers-in-law. Both Andrei’s brothers and nephews lived at that time with the Chernigov prince Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich. Obviously, not all Suzdal residents wanted nephews; some still remembered the oath given to Dolgoruky to place his youngest sons on their table. In addition, the Chernigov prince patronized the Yuryevichs more than the Rostislavichs. Therefore, things worked out in such a way that all four princes went to the Rostov-Suzdal land to reign in it together; eldership was recognized for Mikhalko Yuryevich; on which they swore an oath before the Bishop of Chernigov. Mikhalko and one of the Rostislavichs, Yaropolk, rode ahead. But when they reached Moscow, they were met here by a new embassy, ​​actually from the Rostovites, who announced to Mikhalka that he should wait in Moscow, and Yaropolk was invited to go further. Obviously, the Rostovites did not like the Chernigov agreement on the joint reign of the Yuryevichs with the Rostislavichs and on the seniority of Mikhalko. But the residents of Vladimir accepted the latter and seated him on their table.

Then a struggle or civil strife between uncles and nephews began - a struggle that was curious especially because of the different attitudes of the Suzdal cities towards it. The oldest of them, Rostov, of course, looked with displeasure at the preference that Andrei showed to the younger Vladimir in front of him. Now the time has come for the Rostovites, it seemed a convenient time to restore their former primacy and humble Vladimir. Calling it their “suburb,” the Rostovites demanded that he submit to their decisions, following the example of other Russian lands: “For from the beginning, the Novgorodians, Smolnyans, Kievans, Polochans and all the authorities, as if in a Duma at a meeting, converge, and on what the elders decide, on that and the suburbs will become." Irritated by the pride of the Vladimir residents, the Rostovites said: “After all, these are our slaves and masons; we will burn Vladimir or we will install our mayor in it again.” In this struggle, another older city, Suzdal, stood on the side of Rostov; and Pereyaslavl-Zalessky discovered hesitation between the opponents. The Rostov and Suzdal residents gathered a large army, received additional help from the Murom and Ryazan residents, besieged Vladimir, and after a stubborn defense forced it to temporarily submit to their decision. Mikhalko retired again to Chernigov; the elder Rostislavich Mstislav sat in Rostov, and the younger Yaropolk sat in Vladimir. These young, inexperienced princes completely submitted to the influence of the Rostov boyars, who, through all sorts of lies and oppression, hastened to enrich themselves at the expense of the people. In addition, Rostislav brought with him the South Russian warriors, who also received positions as posadniks and tiuns and also began to oppress the people with sales (penalties) and vira. Yaropolk's advisers even seized the keys to the storerooms of the Assumption Cathedral, began to plunder its treasures, take away from him the villages and tributes approved for him by Andrei. Yaropolk allowed his ally and brother-in-law Gleb of Ryazan to take possession of some church treasures, such as books, vessels and even the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary.

When in this way not only the political pride of the Vladimir people was insulted, but also their religious feelings were affected, then they entered with even greater energy and again called the Yuryevichs from Chernigov. Mikhalko appeared with the Chernigov auxiliary squad and expelled the Rostislavichs from the Suzdal land. Grateful to Vladimir, he again established the main princely table in him; and he imprisoned his brother Vsevolod in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. Rostov and Suzdal were again humiliated, not receiving a special prince. Mikhalko lived for a long time in Southern Rus' and was distinguished by his military exploits there, especially against the Polovtsians. Having established himself in Vladimir, he immediately forced Gleb of Ryazan to return the main shrine of Vladimir, i.e. the icon of the Mother of God, and everything that was stolen by him from the Assumption Church.

But already in the next 1177 Mikhalko died, and the younger Yuryevich Vsevolod settled in Vladimir. The Rostov boyars tried again to challenge Vladimir's primacy and again called the Rostislavichs to reign. The same Gleb Ryazansky again acted as their zealous ally. He, with hired crowds of Polovtsians, entered the Suzdal land, burned Moscow, rushed straight through the forests to Vladimir and plundered Bogolyubov with its Nativity Church. Meanwhile, Vsevolod, having received help from the Novgorodians and Svyatoslav of Chernigov, went to the Ryazan land; but, hearing that Gleb was already ravaging the outskirts of his capital, he hurried back and met the enemy on the banks of the Koloksha River, which flows into the Klyazma on the left. Gleb suffered a complete defeat here, was captured and soon died in custody. Both Rostislavichs were also captured by Vsevolod; but then, at the request of the Chernigov prince, they were released to relatives in Smolensk.

Reign of Vsevolod the Big Nest

Vsevolod III, nicknamed the Big Nest, began his reign with such a brilliant victory, who again united the entire Rostov-Suzdal land in his hands.

Vsevolod spent his youth in different places, amidst various circumstances and changes in his destiny, which greatly contributed to the development of his practical, flexible mind and governmental abilities. By the way, while still a child, he and his mother and brothers (expelled by Andrei from Suzdal) spent some time in Byzantium, from where he could take away many instructive impressions; then he lived for a long time in Southern Rus', where he became skilled in military affairs. By pacifying the seditious Rostovites with a victory over a hostile neighbor, the Ryazan prince, and the final rise of the Vladimir people, Vsevolod became their favorite from the very beginning; They attributed his success to the special patronage of their shrine, the miraculous icon of the Mother of God. Vsevolod’s very behavior at the first stages of his reign is tinged with some gentleness and good nature. After the victory at Koloksha, the Vladimir boyars and merchants almost rebelled because the prince left the captives of Rostov, Suzdal and Ryazan free; in order to calm the excitement, he was forced to put them in prisons. Something similar happened again a few years later, during the siege of the Novgorod suburb of Torzhok: when the prince delayed the attack, as if sparing the city, his squad began to grumble, saying: “We didn’t come to kiss them,” and the prince was forced to take the city on his shield. From the same data from historians, we have every right to conclude that some prominent features in the activities of the famous North Russian prince, in addition to his personal character, were determined by the environment, the character of the North Russian population.

Obviously, the unsuccessful end that befell Andrei’s attempt to introduce complete autocracy, according to natural historical law, led to the so-called. a reaction in favor of those whom he tried to completely subjugate to his will, that is, in favor of the boyars and squad. During the civil strife that occurred after his death, the Rostov and Suzdal boyars were defeated and humiliated, but only in order to join their victors, the boyars and warriors of Vladimir, and have common interests with them. As in other regions of Rus', the northeastern cities during these unrest show devotion to their princely family (the descendants of Dolgoruky) and do not call princes from any other branch. But they also do not place them on their table unconditionally, but only according to a certain row, or agreement. So, regarding the aforementioned oppression of the people from the alien warriors of Yaropolk Rostislavich, the people of Vladimir began to hold meetings, at which it was said in the following sense: “We, of our own free will, accepted the prince and established ourselves with him by kissing the cross; and these (South Russians) are not at all appropriate to sit at us and plunder other people's volosts, brothers! In the same way, not without success, the people of Vladimir imprisoned Mikhalko, and then Vsevolod. This series, of course, consisted of a confirmation of old customs that ensured the advantages of the military class or boyars and squads, as well as some rights of zemstvo people in relation to court and administration. Consequently, in North-Eastern Rus' we still see the same customs and relations of the squad towards their princes, as in Southern Russia, the same city councils. However, all the northern princes, up to and including Vsevolod, spent part of their lives in Southern Rus', had possessions there and brought many Southern Russians with them to the north, including Kievites. Northern Rus' was still fed by Kievan customs and legends, so to speak, by Kievan citizenship.

At the same time, however, those features of difference begin to emerge, which subsequently developed and gave North-Eastern Rus' a different shade compared to Kievan Russia. The boyars and squad in the north take on a more zemstvo connotation than in the south, more sedentary and landowning; they are closer to other classes and do not represent such a predominance in military strength as in the south. Like the Novgorod militia, the Suzdal militia is primarily a zemstvo army, with boyars and a squad at the head. The North-Eastern squad is less separating its benefits from the interests of the land; it is more united with the rest of the population and more assists the princes in their political and economic concerns. In a word, in North-Eastern Rus' we see the beginnings of more state-based relations. Some features of the Suzdal boyars seemed to resemble the ambitious aspirations of the contemporary Galician boyars. But in the north it could not find equally favorable soil for its claims. The population here was distinguished by a less impressionable and mobile, more reasonable character; there were no Ugrians or Poles in the neighborhood, connections with whom were fed and supported by internal sedition. On the contrary, as soon as the Suzdal land calmed down under the firm, intelligent rule of Vsevolod III, the northern boyars became his zealous assistant. Being cooler and more cautious than his older brother, Vsevolod not only did not enter into an open fight with the boyars, but caressed them, outwardly observed old customs and relationships and used their advice in zemstvo affairs. In the person of Vsevolod III, in general, we see a prince who presented a wonderful example of the northern, or Great Russian, character, active, prudent, home-conscious, capable of steadily pursuing his goal, of cruel or gentle behavior, depending on the circumstances, in a word, those very traits , on which the state building of great Russia was built.

Vsevolod's struggle with neighboring principalities

When the unrest caused by the murder of Andrei ended, and Vsevolod restored autocracy in the Rostov-Suzdal principality, then it became possible to restore its dominance over the neighboring Russian regions, Novgorod, on the one hand, and Murom-Ryazan, on the other. The desire for this predominance was not only a personal matter of the Prince of Vladimir, but also of his boyars, squads and people, who were aware of their superiority in strength and had already become accustomed to such predominance under Yuri Dolgoruky and Andrei Bogolyubsky. In the review of Novgorod history, we saw how Vsevolod managed to again establish Suzdal influence in Veliky Novgorod and give it princes from his own hands. He achieved even more decisive dominance in the Ryazan region. This region, after Gleb, who died in captivity in Vladimir, was divided by his sons, who recognized themselves as dependent on Vsevolod and sometimes turned to him to resolve their disputes. But here the Suzdal influence collided with the Chernigov influence, since the Ryazan princes were a junior branch of the Chernigov ones. Vsevolod had to quarrel with his benefactor Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich, who considered himself the head of not only the Chernigov-Seversk princes, but also the Ryazan princes, intervened in their feuds, and also supported Novgorod the Great in its struggle with Suzdal and planted his son there. It came to an open rupture.

The Chernigov prince, together with the Seversky squads and hired Polovtsians, undertook a campaign to the Suzdal land. Near the mouth of the Tvertsa, the Novgorodians, brought by his son (Vladimir), joined them. Having devastated the banks of the Volga, Svyatoslav, not reaching forty miles from Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, met Vsevolod III, who, in addition to the Suzdal regiments, had with him auxiliary squads from Ryazan and Murom. Despite the impatience of those around him, cautious and calculating like a true northern prince, Vsevolod did not want to risk a decisive battle with the southern Russian regiments, known for their military prowess; and began to wait for the enemy beyond the Vlena River (the left tributary of the Dubna, which flows into the Volga). He located his camp on its steep banks in an area crossed by ravines and hills. Both troops stood for two weeks, looking at each other from the opposite bank. Vsevolod ordered the Ryazan princes to make an unexpected night attack. The Ryazan people broke into Svyatoslav’s camp and created confusion there. But when Vsevolod Trubchevsky ("buy-tour" "Tales of Igor's Campaign") arrived to help the Chernigov residents, the Ryazan residents fled, losing many killed and captured. In vain Svyatoslav sent to Vsevolod with a proposal to resolve the matter by the Court of God and asked for this to retreat from the shore so that he could cross. Vsevolod detained the ambassadors and did not answer. Meanwhile, spring was approaching: fearing a flood, Svyatoslav abandoned the convoy and hurried to leave (1181). The following year, the rivals restored their old friendship and became related by the marriage of one of Svyatoslav’s sons to Vsevolod’s sister-in-law, Princess Yasskaya. And soon afterwards (in 1183), when Vsevolod planned a campaign against the Kama Bolgars and asked Svyatoslav for help, he sent him a detachment with his son Vladimir.

Vsevolod's campaign against the Kama Bulgarians

This last war arose as a result of the robberies to which Bulgarian ships were subjected on the Oka and Volga from the Ryazan and Murom freemen. Having not received satisfaction for their grievances, the Bulgarians armed the ship's army, in turn devastated the outskirts of Murom and even reached Ryazan itself. The campaign of Vsevolod III therefore had the significance of the general defense of Russian lands from foreigners. In addition to the Suzdal, Ryazan and Murom regiments, Chernigov and Smolny residents took part in it. Up to eight princes gathered in Vladimir-on-Klyazma. The Grand Duke happily feasted with his guests for several days, and then on May 20 set out with them on a campaign. The Suzdal residents of Klyazma descended into the Oka and here united with the allied regiments. The cavalry went through the field past the Mordovian villages, and the ship's army sailed along the Volga. Having reached one Volga island called Isady, the princes stopped the ships here under the cover of a predominantly Belozersk squad with the governor Thomas Laskovich; and with the rest of the army and cavalry they entered the land of the Silver Bulgarians. The Grand Duke made peace with the neighboring Mordovian tribes, and they willingly sold food supplies to the Russian army. On the way, the Russians were unexpectedly joined by another Polovtsian detachment, which was brought by one of the Bulgarian princes against their fellow tribesmen. Obviously, in Kama Bulgaria the same civil strife occurred as in Rus', and the Bulgarian rulers also brought steppe barbarians onto their land. The Russian army approached the “Great City,” that is, the main capital. The young princes galloped up to the very gates and fought with the enemy infantry fortified near them. Vsevolod’s nephew Izyaslav Glebovich especially distinguished himself for his courage; but an enemy arrow pierced him through the armor under the heart, so that he was carried dead to the Russian camp. The mortal wound of his beloved nephew greatly saddened Vsevolod; he stood for ten days under the city; and, without taking it, went back. Meanwhile, the Belozersk people who remained with the ships were attacked by the devious Bulgarians who sailed along the Volga from the cities of Sobekul and Chelmat; The Bulgarians, called Temtyuz, and the cavalry from Torchesk also joined with them; the number of attackers reached up to 5000. The enemies were defeated. They were in a hurry to leave in their uchans; but Russian boats pursued them and sank more than 1,000 people. The Russian infantry returned home in the same order, i.e. on ships; and the cavalry also went through the lands of Mordva, with which this time there were hostile clashes.

The body of Izyaslav Glebovich, who died dearly, was brought to Vladimir and buried in the golden-domed Church of the Virgin Mary. His brother, Vladimir Glebovich, as we saw, reigned in Southern Pereyaslavl and distinguished himself by his heroism during the invasion of Konchak of Polovetsky. If not about these Glebovichs, then about the Ryazan ones, “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign” recalls when it turns to the power of the Suzdal prince: “Grand Duke Vsevolod! You can scatter the oars of the Volga and pour out the helmets of the Don. Even if you were (here), you would be a chaga (captive) in your legs, and a koschei in a cut. You can shoot live shereshirs (throwing weapons) on dry land, daring sons of Gleb.” That such an appeal was not just rhetoric and that Vsevolod took to heart the grievances of the Russian land from the barbarians is shown by his great campaign against the Polovtsians, undertaken in the spring of 1199 with the Suzdal and Ryazan regiments. He reached the Polovtsian winter quarters on the banks of the Don and destroyed them; The Polovtsy did not dare to fight him; with their wagons and herds they went to the sea itself.

Domestic policy of Vsevolod the Big Nest

The restless Ryazan princes, with their infighting and indignation, caused a lot of trouble for Vsevolod. He made several trips to their land and completely subjugated it. The princes of the neighboring Smolensk region also revered his eldership. As for Southern Rus', even during the life of the energetic Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich, the influence of the Suzdal prince was restored there. The latter could interfere in the affairs of the Dnieper region all the more conveniently because he himself had a hereditary volost of Pereyaslavl in it, which he held first with his nephews, and then with his own sons. We saw that after the death of Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich, his successors occupied the Kiev table only with the consent of Vsevolod III. He achieved such dominance not by sending an army there, like Andrei Bogolyubsky, but only by skillful policy, although combined with some cunning. It is known how he cleverly quarreled Rurik of Kyiv with Roman Volynsky and prevented a close union of these strongest rulers of South-Western Rus', which could have repelled the claims of North-Eastern Rus'.

With the help of a clever and careful policy, Vsevolod gradually established order and tranquility in his land, established his power and had success in almost all important enterprises. It is also imperceptible that he zealously followed Bogolyubsky’s autocratic aspirations. Taught by his fate, he, on the contrary, is the custodian of ancient druzhina customs and honors the great boyars. The chronicles do not mention any displeasure on their part; although they add to the praise of Vsevolod that he dealt impartial judgment to the people and did not condone strong people who offended the lesser. Of the great boyars of Vsevolod, who distinguished themselves as governors, the chronicle names Foma Laskovich and old Dorozhai, who also served Yuri Dolgoruky: they led the Bulgarian campaign of 1183. Further mention is made of: Yakov, the “sister” of the Grand Duke (nephew from his sister), who accompanied Verkhuslava Vsevolodovna, the bride of Rostislav Rurikovich, to Southern Rus' with the boyars and with the noblewomen; Tiun Gyur, who was sent to restore the Oster Town; Kuzma Ratshich, the “sword-bearer” of the Grand Duke, who in 1210 went with an army to the Ryazan land, and others.

Vsevolod’s actions on the issue of appointing Rostov bishops are curious. Like Bogolyubsky, he tried to choose them himself, and exclusively from Russian people, and not from Greeks, which undoubtedly fulfilled the people's desire. Once the Kiev Metropolitan Niknfor appointed Nikola Grechin to the Rostov department, whom, according to the chronicle, he put “on a bribe,” that is, he took money from him. But the prince and the “people” did not accept him and sent him back (around 1184). Vsevolod sent an ambassador to Kyiv to Svyatoslav and the metropolitan with a request to appoint Luka, hegumen of the Savior on Berestov, to the Rostov bishopric, a man of humble spirit and meek, therefore, one who could not enter into any disputes with the princely authority. The Metropolitan resisted, but Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich supported the request, and Luke was appointed to Rostov, and Nikola Grechin to Polotsk. When the humble Luke died four years later, the Grand Duke chose his own confessor John as his successor, whom he sent to be appointed to the Metropolitan of Kyiv. John, apparently, was also a quiet bishop, obedient to the Grand Duke and, moreover, his active assistant in the building of churches.

Vsevolod's buildings

Quite frequent wars and campaigns did not prevent Vsevolod from diligently engaging in economic, construction, judicial, family, etc. matters. In peacetime, he did not live in his capital city of Vladimir, but conscientiously performed the ancient custom of polyudya, i.e. He himself traveled around the regions, collected tribute, judged criminals, and sorted out lawsuits. From the chronicle we learn that various events find him in Suzdal, then in Rostov, then in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, in Polyudye. At the same time, he monitored the serviceability of the fortifications, built fortifications or repaired dilapidated city walls. Deserted cities were restored (for example, Ostersky Town). Fire in particular provided food for construction activities. So in 1185, on April 18, a terrible fire devastated Vladimir-on-Klyazma; Almost the entire city burned down. The prince's court and up to 32 churches became victims of the fire; including the Assumption Cathedral, created by Andrei Bogolyubsky, was burned. At the same time, his jewelry, expensive vessels, silver chandeliers, icons in gold frames with pearls, liturgical books, expensive princely clothes and various “patterns” or gold-embroidered fabrics (oxamites), which were hung in the church during major holidays, were lost. Many of these treasures were kept in the church tower, or storeroom, in the choir; the confused servants threw them out of the tower into the church yard, where they also became prey to the flames.

The Grand Duke immediately began to destroy traces of the fire; by the way, he rebuilt the detinets, the prince’s tower, and renovated the golden-domed temple of the Assumption; and expanded it by adding new walls on three sides; and around the middle dome he erected four more smaller ones, which he also gilded. When the renovation was completed, in 1189 the cathedral church was again and solemnly consecrated by Bishop Luke. Three or four years later, almost half of Vladimir again fell prey to flames: up to 14 churches burned down; but the prince's courtyard and the cathedral church survived this time. In 1199, on July 25, we read the news of the third big fire in Vladimir: it began during the liturgy and continued until Vespers; and again almost half of the city and up to 16 churches burned down. Renovating old churches, Vsevolod decorated his capital city with new ones; By the way, he erected the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, at which he built a monastery, and also the Church of the Assumption, at which his wife Maria founded a nunnery. But the most famous building of the Grand Duke is the court temple in honor of his saint, Demetrius of Thessalonica; since the Christian name of Vsevolod III was Demetrius. This temple to this day represents the most elegant monument of ancient Russian art.

Vsevolod received a lot of help in his construction activities from Bishop John, his former confessor. By the way, they renovated the cathedral Church of the Mother of God in the city of Suzdal, which had become dilapidated from time and neglect. Its tops were again covered with tin, and the walls were again plastered. The following news from the chronicler is curious in this regard: the bishop this time did not turn to German craftsmen; but he found his own, some of whom poured tin, others made wings, others prepared lime and whitened the walls. Consequently, the construction activities of Yuri, Andrei and Vsevolod did not remain without influence on the education of purely Russian master technicians; Vsevolod III is an example of a northern prince-family man. God blessed him with numerous offspring; as indicated by its very nickname, the Big Nest. We know the names of eight of his sons and several daughters. His attachment to old family customs is indicated, among other things, by the news of the chronicle about the tonsure of princely sons. This ancient pan-Slavic rite consisted of cutting the hair of a three- or four-year-old prince and putting him on a horse for the first time; and they had a feast. In Christian times, such a ritual was, of course, accompanied by prayers and the blessing of the church. Vsevolod celebrated his tonsure with special solemnity and gave merry feasts. He accompanied the marriage of his son and the marriage of his daughter with even larger feasts and generous gifts. We saw how he married his beloved daughter Verkhuslava-Anastasia to Rurik’s son Rostislav.

Family of Vsevolod the Big Nest

Vsevolod was married to a Yassy, ​​or Alan, princess. Between the Russian princes of that time we find more than one example of a marriage alliance with individual Caucasian rulers, partly Christian, partly semi-pagan. It may very well be that the beauty of Circassian women, different from Russian women, captivated our princes. However, by all indications, in the 12th century, ancient relations with the Caucasian peoples, established during the time of Russian rule on the shores of the Azov and Black Seas, were still continuing, i.e. in Tmutarakan land. Immigrants from the Caucasus often entered the Russian service and were even among the close servants of the prince, such as, for example, the famous Anbal, the housekeeper of Andrei Bogolyubsky. Vsevolod's wife Maria, although she grew up in a semi-pagan country, like many Russian princesses, was distinguished by her special piety, zeal for the church and charity. The monument to her piety is the Assumption Monastery mentioned above, which she founded in Vladimir. For the last seven or eight years of her life, the Grand Duchess was depressed by some serious illness. In 1206, she took monastic vows in her Assumption monastery, where a few days later she died and was solemnly buried, mourned by the Grand Duke, children, clergy and people. Maria, apparently, arrived in Russia not alone, but with her whole family, or summoned her relatives to her later, perhaps after some unfortunate coup for her family in her homeland. At least the chronicle mentions two of her sisters: one of. Vsevolod married them off to his son Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich of Kyiv, and the other to Yaroslav Vladimirovich, whom he kept on the table of Veliky Novgorod as a brother-in-law and assistant. Yaroslav's wife also died in Vladimir, even before the Grand Duchess, and was buried in her Assumption monastery. In general, more than one orphaned or persecuted relative found shelter and affection with this hospitable Vladimir couple. Thus, under her wing, the sister of the Grand Duke, the unloved wife of Osmomysl of Galitsky, Olga Yuryevna, in the chernitsy Euphrosinia (died in 1183 and buried in the Vladimir Assumption Cathedral), and the widow of brother Mikhalko Yuryevich, Fevronia, who outlived her by twenty-five years, spent the rest of their lives wife (buried in Suzdal Cathedral). Loving a full family life, the Grand Duke, after the death of his first wife, obviously missed his widowhood, and, being an almost sixty-year-old man, already having many grandchildren, entered into a second marriage with the daughter of the Vitebsk prince Vasilko, in 1209. A child-loving family man, Vsevolod III was not always a complacent prince in relation to his nephews and, like Andrei, did not give them inheritance in the Suzdal region, including Bogolyubsky’s son Yuri. However, the latter, perhaps, armed his uncle against himself with his behavior. Russian chronicles do not tell us anything about the fate of Yuri Andreevich. Only from foreign sources do we learn that, persecuted by his uncle, he retired to one of the Polovtsian khans. Then an embassy from Georgia came to him with a marriage proposal. At that time, the famous Tamara sat on the throne of Georgia, after her father George III. When the Georgian clergy and nobles were looking for a worthy groom for her, one noble man named Abulasan pointed out to them the name of Yuri, as a young man who, by his origin, handsome appearance, intelligence and courage, was completely worthy of Tamara’s hand. The nobles approved this choice and sent one merchant as ambassador to Yuri. This latter arrived in Georgia, married Tamara and at first marked himself with military feats in wars with hostile neighbors. But then he changed his behavior, indulged in wine and all sorts of revelry; so Tamara, after vain admonitions, divorced him and sent him to the Greek possessions. He returned to Georgia and tried to rebel against the Queen; but was defeated and expelled again. His further fate is unknown.

Denying inheritance to his nephews, Vsevolod, however, in relation to his sons did not show any concern about the subsequent successes of autocracy. According to the custom of the old Russian princes, he divided his lands between them and even discovered a lack of state foresight, in which he was undoubtedly inferior to his brother Andrei. Vsevolod had six surviving sons: Konstantin, Yuri, Yaroslav, Svyatoslav, Vladimir, Ivan. He placed the elder Konstantin in Rostov, where this clever prince gained popular favor. What brought him especially close to the Rostovites was a terrible fire, which in 1211 destroyed most of their city, including 15 churches. At that time, Constantine was feasting in Vladimir at the wedding of his brother Yuri with the daughter of the Kyiv prince Vsevolod Chermny. Hearing about the misfortune of the Rostovites, Konstantin hurried to his destiny and put a lot of effort into relieving the victims. The next year, 1212, the Grand Duke, feeling the approach of death, sent again for Constantine, to whom he appointed the eldest Vladimir table, and ordered Rostov to be transferred to his second son Yuri. But here Konstantin, who had hitherto been distinguished by modesty and obedience, suddenly showed decisive disobedience to his father: he did not go to the double conscription and demanded both cities, Rostov and Vladimir, for himself. In all likelihood, in this case the claims of the Rostovites to seniority were renewed, and the suggestions of the Rostov boyars were in effect. On the other hand, Constantine, perhaps, understood that in order to eliminate such a dispute between two cities and in the form of strong government power, the Grand Duke must have both of these cities in his hands. Vsevolod was greatly upset by such disobedience and punished Constantine by depriving him of seniority, and giving the Vladimir great table to his second son Yuri. But, realizing the fragility of such an innovation, he wished to strengthen it with a general oath of the best people of his land; Consequently, he repeated almost the same thing that his brother-in-law Yaroslav Osmomysl Galitsky did 25 years ago. Vsevolod summoned boyars from all his cities and volosts in Vladimir; He also gathered nobles, merchants and clergy with Bishop John at their head and forced this Zemsky Sobor to swear allegiance to Yuri as the Grand Duke, to whom he entrusted his other sons. Soon afterwards, on April 14, Vsevolod the Big Nest died, was mourned by his sons and people and solemnly buried in the golden-domed Assumption Cathedral.

The source for the struggle of Rostov and Suzdal with Vladimir and for the reign of Vsevolod III is P.S.R. Let., especially Lavrentievskaya; and also the Chronicler of Pereyaslavl Suzd. ed. book Obolensky. About Vsevolod’s visit to Byzantium as a child in Stepen. book 285. Details about his Bulgarian campaign in the arches of Lavrent., Ipat., Voskresen., Tversk. and Tatishchev. Their news was that the ships were left at the island of Isada at the mouth of Tsevka (Tsividi), i.e. in the present Cheboksary district (Tatishch. III, note 532. Karam, III. note 63), this news is obviously inaccurate. The princes could not leave the ships so far behind them and go further by land. In the news of the campaign against the Bulgarians in 1220, the Isads are indicated on the Volga below the mouth of the Kama, opposite the Bulgarian city of Oshel (see Resurrection). In addition, chronologically, not all lists agree with each other. Thus, the two oldest vaults, Ipatievsky and Lavrentievsky, in the second half of the 12th century sometimes diverge from each other for two whole years. To Laurent. Vsevolod's campaign against the Bulgarians is placed under 1184, and in Ipat. - under 1182. About the battle of Vsevolod III with Gleb of Ryazan on the river. Kolokshe see note by K. Tikhomirov in Antiquities Moscow. Archaeol. About. XI. M. 1886. For the news of Vsevolod’s rejection of Nikola Grechin to the Rostov department and the installation of Luke, see Lavren. under 1185, Ipat. under 1183.0 fires, Vsevolod’s buildings and his family relationships ibid. About Vsevolod’s second marriage in the Resurrection Code. “On the rite of tonsure” of Lavrovsky in “Moskvityan.”, 1854.0 marriage of Yuri Andreevich with Tamara, see Histore de la Georgie traduite par M. Brossel. S-Ptrsb. 1849.1. 412 ff. His: “Information about the Georgian Queen Tamara in Old Russian Literature” (Uchen. Zap. Acad. N. on 1 and 3 departments, vol. I, issue 4). “Historical excerpt from Georgian history, translated by the Imeretian prince Konstantin” (Almanac “Minerva” for 1837). Butkov “On the marriages of Russian princes with Georgian and Yasyns” (Severn. Archive for 1825. Part XIII). The mediator in relations between Rus' and Georgia was probably Alania, or Ossetia; since the Ossetian rulers, on the one hand, were related to the Russians and the princes, and on the other, to the Georgian kings. In the legend about Tamara, we see that her nobles persuaded her to marry Yuri with the help of her aunt Rusudana, a widowed Ossetian princess. Tamara herself, on her mother’s side, was the granddaughter of an Ossetian prince and, perhaps, was in some relationship with Vsevolod III. In view of such circumstances, her marriage to Yuri Andreevich is an event that does not contain anything incredible.