Ancient principalities on the territory of Belarus. The first states are princedoms on the territory of Belarus. Reasons and process of creation of Kievan Rus
The first state formations on the territory of Belarus. Polatsk and Turov principalities (IX-XIII centuries)
Mogilev, 2014
Introduction
Chapter 1. Polotsk principality
Chapter 2. Turov principality
Conclusion
Introduction
The East Slavic unions of tribes felt a kinship with each other, they were close in language, culture, customs, and had many common external interests. All this created the conditions for the political unification of the Eastern Slavs, which happened in the second half of the 9th century. This association was headed by the Rurik dynasty, the main city - Kiev. However, the Rurik empire was not a centralized state. It was a political union of feudal lords around the Grand Duke with the aim of repelling the constant raid of external enemies and collecting tribute from its own population. In the XI - XII centuries. - the growth of productive forces, the emergence of new economic centers, the strengthening of the power of the princes on the ground, constant civil strife, and as a result - feudal fragmentation, which led to the collapse of Kievan Rus
The purpose of this work: to consider the first state formations on the territory of Belarus - the Polotsk and Turov princedoms of the 9th - 13th centuries.
To achieve the goal, the following tasks must be disclosed:
.Explore the Polotsk principality of the 9th - 13th centuries. 2.Explore the Turov principality of the 9th - 13th centuries. Chapter 1. Polotsk principality
In the VIII - IX centuries. the eastern Slavs were a number of tribal alliances, a kind of proton peoples, with common ethnic characteristics. ... At the end of the 9th century. the Old Russian state of the Eastern Slavs, Kievan Rus, arose. It included all modern Belarusian lands. Written sources mention the most powerful state formation on the territory of Belarus - the Polotsk land. The center of the principality was the city of Polotsk, which is mentioned in the chronicle "The Tale of Bygone Years" under 862. The city was located on the Western Dvina River, which was part of the most important trade route. The advantageous geographical position contributed to the rapid growth of Polotsk and its transformation into a major center of crafts and trade. The first historically famous Polotsk prince was Rogvolod. In 60 - 70 years. X century. Polotsk, as a possible ally, was given great importance in the rivalry between Kiev and Novgorod. Around 970 - 980 two brothers wooed the Polotsk princess Rogneda, the daughter of Rogvolod: Vladimir Novgorodsky and Yaropolk Kievsky. Rogneda elected Yaropolk. Insulted by the refusal, Vladimir attacks Polotsk. Polotsk was taken and burned, and Rogvolod and his two sons were killed. Vladimir forced Rogneda to become his wife. Later, Vladimir tricked Yaropolk and became the great Kiev prince, known in history as Vladimir "Red Sun". It is associated with the adoption and spread of a new religion on the lands of the Eastern Slavs - Christianity. Under Vladimir, the unification of the East Slavic lands was almost completed and Kievan Rus, an early feudal state of the Eastern Slavs, reached its highest power, which existed until the beginning of the XII century. Vladimir gave Rogneda a new name - Gorislav. She lived with Vladimir for several years, but she never forgave him for the death of her father and brothers. Once, when Vladimir was sleeping, she tried to kill him with a knife. But Vladimir woke up and grabbed Rogneda's hand. According to the law of that time, death awaited her, but her mother was defended with a sword in her hands by her young son Izyaslav. After that, Vladimir, on the advice of the boyars, decided to send Rogneda and his son to her "fatherland" - the Polotsk land. Here a city was built for her, named after her son Izyaslavl (modern Zaslavl). Perhaps Vladimir's decision was influenced by his adoption of Christianity, which prohibited polygamy. He offered Rogneda to become the wife of another noble person, but she refused. Rogneda became a nun under the name Anastasia. She remained known in history as a princess with three names and one of the first nuns among the Eastern Slavs. During her lifetime, the inhabitants of Polotsk invited Izyaslav to reign. He is known in history as a scribal prince who knew and spread writing in Polotsk along with Christianity. His seal with an inscription is one of the first written monuments in the Belarusian lands. Prince Izyaslav died at a young age in 1001, having outlived his mother for a year. And from him came the Polotsk princely dynasty. The successor was Prince Bryachislav Izyaslavich (1001-1044). Under him, the second Polotsk state began to take shape, which flourished in the middle - second half of the 11th century. During the time of Bryachislav, the borders of the Polotsk land expanded, primarily to the west and north. The Polotsk people completely control the route along the Dvina to the Varangian (Baltic) Sea, collecting tribute from the Baltic tribes. At the same time, relations between Polotsk and Novgorod worsened. This was caused by the struggle for the priority right of control over the Scandinavian-Byzantine exports - imports on the way "from the Varangians to the Greeks." The two largest branches of this route ran through Polotsk and Novgorod. In the first half of the 11th century. activity along this path has decreased, respectively, the number of goods has decreased and the level of well-being of the rival states has decreased. In addition, territorial disputes arose at the border, disputes over control over Kiev. Until 1026 Bryachislav of Polotsk and Yaroslav of Novgorod ruled Kiev through their governors. After the death of Bryachislav, his son Vseslav, nicknamed the Wizard (1044 - 1101), took his place. Until the 60s of the 11th century. all the activities of the Polotsk prince were aimed at streamlining his state. Out of 35 cities on the territory of Belarus that existed in the 9th - 13th centuries, to the Polotsk land in the 11th century. include Vitebsk, Zaslavl, Drutsk, Braslav, Mensk, Orsha, Lagoisk, Lukoml, Kukeinos and Gersika. The areas of cities are growing, sometimes they are even transferred to new places. Polotsk itself occupies more than 20 hectares at this time and has a population of 1-15 thousand people. Trade and crafts are developing rapidly here. But from 1065 a stubborn struggle with Novgorod and Kiev resumed. It is due to the fact that after the death of Yaroslav the Wise in 1054 the lands of Kievan Rus were divided among all his sons (there were seven of them), but over time, power was in the hands of three of them - Izyaslav, Svyatoslav and Vsevolod. These brothers Yaroslavichi began to take over the land of the younger princes - second cousins \u200b\u200bnephews, thereby violating the covenant of their father. They were going to seize the Polotsk land. In such circumstances, Polotsk acted as the guarantor of inheritance rights and the preservation of justice. In the period from 1065 to 1078, battles took place between Vseslav the Sorcerer and the Yaroslavichs for Pskov, Novgorod, Mensk, Smolensk. In 1067 the Polotsk prince was taken prisoner and spent 14 months in a Kiev prison - chopped up with his two sons. As a result of the uprising of the Kievites on September 15, 1068, he became the Grand Duke of Kiev, but soon returned to his place in Polotsk. Recognizing the truth behind Vseslav, such well-known figures of the 11th century as the Kiev hegumen Anthony of Pechersky and Nikon the Chronicler came out on his side. The last time Vseslav stood up in 1078 for the princes - exiles Boris of Smolensk, Rostislav of Novgorod and Oleg of Chernigov. After that and until his death in 1101, he disappears from the pages of the chronicles. Meanwhile, in the late 11th - early 12th century. eminent congresses of princes take place in Lubech, Uvetichi, near Lake Dolob. At the congresses, the question of the division of Kievan Rus is decided: "Let everyone keep his patrimony" There were no Polotsk princes at these congresses. Even during his lifetime, Vseslav distributed the separate principalities of the Polotsk land between his seven sons (David, Rogvolod, Boris, Gleb, Roman, Rostislav, Svyatoslav (Yuri)). The largest principality - Polotsk - went to Rogvolod, Menskoe - to Gleb. The most active policy to strengthen his principality was pursued by Glebmensky. This caused discontent in Kiev, since the Menskoe principality was mainly located on the ethnic lands of the Dregovichi, some of which were subordinate to Kiev. The wars between Kiev and Mensk ended with the capture of Gleb and his death, probably violent, in Kiev in 1119. Despite the fragmentation of the Polotsk land, which sometimes led to disputes and bloody battles between the Polotsk-Men princes Vseslavichi themselves, the Polotsk land was viewed from the outside as the former integral state. The role and authority of the Polotsk rulers did not give rest to the South Russian princes. In 1129 the Kiev prince Mstislav, having united large forces, attacked the regiment. As a result, the entire family - princes Rostislav, Svyatoslav, Vasily, Ivan, David - were captured and exiled to Byzantium together with their families. There they, as military leaders, fought on the territory of Asia Minor with the Saratins. Vasily and Ivan survived, who in 1138-1139. returned to their homeland. From the beginning of the 12th century. great changes began to take place in the social and political life of Polotsk. The veche became more active - a general meeting of the townspeople to resolve various issues. Veche expelled and invited princes, concluded peace treaties and declared wars, regulated the attitude of artisans, concluded trade agreements. Veche also became the highest court. This was due to the deepening and development of a diversified economy in society. The feudal system gradually conquered traditional tribal production and slave-owning exploitation. Gradually, boyars and warriors came to the fore, who, with the help of the priority right to collect tribute with the permission of the prince, subjugated free producers. Tribute is replaced by feudal rent, estates and volosts appear, the patriarchal order is destroyed, the first guild organizations of the "brotherhood" type are created in the cities. Vassal relations are established between the "senior" and "junior" princes. The church is becoming more active as a major landowner. But this was a time of transition to feudalism, as free communal peasants, free artisans, and slaves - "slaves", "smerds" remained. The craft has not yet completely separated from agriculture. At the same time, the interests of the new, emerging classes and old princely-patriarchal institutions increasingly came into conflict. From the beginning of the 13th century. a new danger began to hang over the Polotsk land - German knights - crusaders appeared in the north and west. In 1201, with the imprudent permission of the Polotsk prince Vladimir, they founded the city of Riga at the mouth of the Western Dvina. A gradual and persistent occupation of the lands of the Balts began, which were in allied relations with the Polotsk people or paid tribute to them, and the Polotsk lands proper. The Order of the Swordsmen, from 1237 called Livonian, took control of the lands of the Latgalians and Livs in the lower reaches of the Western Dvina, the Polotsk cities of Kukeinos (1208) and Gersika (1209) were seized, in 1224 they occupied the Estonian city of Tartu (Yuryev) ... The danger of the invasion of the crusaders forced to go to the military alliance of Polotsk with Novgorod and Polotsk with Lithuania. The daughter of the Polotsk-Vitebsk prince Bryachislav Paraskev in 1239 became the wife of Alexander Yaroslavich of Novgorod (Nevsky). But the victorious battles with the crusaders on the Neva in 1240 and Lake Peipsi in 1242 did not radically change the situation. The Polotsk land was gradually losing its power and former greatness. In such a situation, the Polotsk people entered into an alliance with the lands of the Upper Ponemania, whose capital was Novogorodok, through an invitation to the reign of the Lithuanian princes. In the late 50s - early 60s of the 13th century. the first Lithuanian prince Tovtivil appeared in the Polotsk reign. The period of existence of the Polotsk land begins in an alliance with Lithuania in a new state - the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL). Output
: The Polotsk principality was the first full-fledged state that was formed on the Belarusian lands. ... In the first decades of the 11th century. The Polotsk principality was militarily and economically a strong state. This was the basis for the formation of a kind of moral and political imperative among the ruling elite of the principality about the possibility and necessity of uniting the East Slavic lands around Polotsk. Chapter 2. Turov principality
On the territory of southern Belarus, on the lands of the ancient Dregovichi, there was the Turov principality, which the chronicle first mentions in 980. Its northern part adjoined the Polotsk land. The original political center of the principality was Turov, one of the most ancient cities in Russia. The first mentions and events of 988, when the boundaries of the Turov land were determined, indicate that the Turov region from the very beginning developed as an independent state unit with all the relevant institutions. The main difficulty in the formation of this state was that it did not occupy the entire ethnic territory of the Dregovichi, but only the lands of the left bank of the Pripyat with the cities of Turov, Pinsk, Slutsk, and later - Berestye. In the north, the lands around Mensk belonged to the Polotsk state, in the south and east the Bragin volost - to the Kiev principality, Rechitskaya - to Chernigov, in the west part of the land was in the possession of the Vladimir-Volyn princes. At the same time, sources suggest that before the end of the 10th century. in Turov was ruled by a dynasty of princes, whose family was interrupted during the creation of the "empire of Vladimir Svyatoslavich". In 988, Vladimir of Kiev gave the Turov land to his third son Svyatopolk. Svyatopolk was the son of Vladimir Svyatoslavich from a Greek woman - Yaropolk's ex-wife. According to the chronicle, when Vladimir killed his brother Yaropolk, the Greek woman was already pregnant. Probably, Svyatopolk was not sure of Vladimir's paternity, which manifested itself later in his desire for the independence of the Turov region from Kiev. He made this attempt as early as 1012 during the life of Vladimir, having previously married the daughter of the Polish king Boleslav the Brave and invited the Catholic bishop Rainburn to him. It is the latter, preferably, that caused such a complete rejection of the personality of Svyatopolk by the Kiev chronicles. However, in the struggle of Svyatopolk for the independence of the Turov land, there were grounds for a geopolitical plan. The fact is that Turovshchina was in an advantageous geographical position. She lay on the way from Poland to Kiev. In addition, one of the directions of the route "from the Varangians to the Greeks" ran through Turov. In addition, there were unusually productive and rich arable lands here. After the death of Vladimir Svyatoslavich in 1015, it was Svyatopolk of Turov who became the prince of Kiev, but retained the Turov land. Yaroslav the Wise did not agree with this and began a war against Svyatopolk. After Yaroslav the Wise - Prince of Kiev - gave Turovshchina to his son Izyaslav. This probably happened before the death of the Grand Duke in 1054 and testifies to the stability of the state-princely tradition in Turov, as well as to the constancy of the territory of this state. After the death of Yaroslav, Izyaslav becomes the great Kiev prince, but leaves Turov behind. Izyaslav's two sons - Yaropolk and Svyatopolk - owned Turov. But in 1130, with the death of Svyatopolk, the power of the Izyaslavichs in Turov ended and the city with the land passed to the Monomakhovich family. They "held" the principality as an addition to their main possessions - Kiev, Pereyaslavl and other lands. But this was the right of force, and not the result of the belonging of the Turov land to the Kiev region. In the middle of the 12th century. between the southern Russian princes there was a stubborn struggle for the possession of Kiev. Together with Kiev, Turov passed from hand to hand - now to the Suzdal, now to the Volyn princes. But in the 50s of the 12th century. Prince Yuri Yaroslavich was on the throne of Turov, who returned the land to the possession of the Izyaslavich dynasty. The Kiev princes did not want to put up with this. Having united in 1158, they made a campaign against Turov in order to take it away from Yuri. It is obvious that Yuri Yaroslavich was not only a successful military leader, but also enjoyed the respect of the Turovites, their full support. He cared primarily about the inhabitants of the land, considering the principality as his rightful heritage. Only this and the reliable fortification of the city can explain the fact that the ten-day siege was successfully withstood. The attack on Turov of the Volyn princes in 1160 was also repelled. This time the enemy troops stood under the walls of the city for three weeks. As a result of a stubborn struggle, the Turov principality restored its independence and independence. In the Turov region, an independent princely dynasty was revived - a necessary condition for state existence. In the following decades, the land was ruled by the sons of Yuri - Svyatopolk (1189), Ivan (1170), Gleb (1196), Yaroslav (1183), Yaropolk (1190). Yuri also had two daughters - Anna and Malfrid. At this time, the Turov land was divided into specific principalities: Turov, Pinsk, Kletskoye, Slutskoye, Dubrovitskoye. Each of them was ruled by the sons of Yuri Yaroslavich. However, some lands turned out to be dependent on the Kiev and Galicia-Volyn princes. But, despite the specific fragmentation, it can be assumed that the Turov land and in the 12th century. was perceived as an integral state-political unit. Among the cities of the Turov principality, the largest were Pinsk and Berestye, and the smaller ones were Kobrin, Kamenets, Drogichin, Belsk, Melnik, Mozyr, Rogachev, Bragin. Output:
Tours are still regarded as the center of the whole earth. In the late 13th - early 14th century. The Turov land was completely annexed to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. polotsk Turov principality of Belarus All this testifies to the transition to a qualitatively new stage in the development of the Belarusian statehood. State administration bodies have undergone significant development. Along with customary law, written norms of law began to be used. I would especially like to mention multilateral treaties, which testify to the recognition by other state entities. List of sources used
1.
Abetsedarskaya E.L., Brigadin P.I., Zhilunovich L.A. and etc.History of Belarus: Textbook. allowance. - Minsk: "Ecoperspectiva", 1997. - 319 p. 2.
Kozakov Yu.L., Loiko P.O., Khodin S.N. and etc.History of Belarus: Complete course: A guide for high school students and applicants to universities. - Minsk: LLC "Unipress", 2003. - 416 p. 3.
Novik Y.K., Martsul G.S., Kachalak I.L.History of Belarus: Vucheb. dapam. At 2 pm Part 1. - Minsk: Universiteckae, 2000 .-- 416 p. 4.
S.V. PanovMaterials on the history of Belarus. Grade 9. - Minsk: Aversev, 2010 .-- 333 p. 5.
Chigrinov P.G.Essays on the history of Belarus: Textbook. manual for universities. - Mn .: Vysh. shk., 2000 .-- 461 p.
§ 6. Polotsk and Turov principalities - the first early feudal states on the territory of Belarus
The largest and most powerful principality on the territory of Belarus in the early Middle Ages was Polotsk principality. It was formed in the middle reaches of the Western Dvina in the 9th-10th centuries, occupied the whole of Northern Belarus and bordered in the north with Novgorod land, in the east with Smolensk, in the south with Turovo-Pinsk, in the west and north-west with Lithuanian lands - Latvian tribes. The Polotsk principality occupied over a third of the territory of modern Belarus.
Around the time when the Varangians were invited to Russia, a local princely dynasty existed in Polotsk, the rights of which were preserved for many generations. Under Oleg, among the subjects of Kiev, written sources also name the Krivichi who paid tribute to him. Oleg made a trip to Byzantium in 907 with the participation of Krivichi and Radimichi. In the treaty between Oleg and Byzantium, Polotsk is also mentioned among the cities that had the right to tribute. As allies of Kiev, the Polotsk nobility and local princes relied on the Grand Duke of Kiev.
Under Oleg's successors - Igor, Olga and Svyatoslav - Polotsk's dependence on Kiev is gradually weakening. In the last quarter of the X century. here reigned Rogvolod, who had power in the land of Polotsk. This indicates the relative independence of Polotsk.
After the death of the Grand Duke of Kiev Svyatoslav Igorevich, a struggle broke out between his sons Yaropolk and Vladimir for the Kiev throne. The first was in Kiev, the second in Novgorod. Perhaps, in order to find a powerful ally, both brothers solicited the hand of Rogvolod's daughter Rogneda. The young princes sent matchmakers to the Polotsk princess. The chronicle informs: Rogneda, having learned that Vladimir was the son of Svyatoslav and a slave girl, did not want to become a slave woman's wife and answered with disdain: “I don’t want to take off a slave woman, I’m going for Yaropolk.” After the refusal of Rogneda was passed to Vladimir, in 980 he went on a campaign against Polotsk, defeated the Polotsk army, destroyed the city, killed Rogvolod and his two sons, and forcibly took Rogneda to Kiev and forced him to become his wife.
Tradition says that Rogneda tried to take revenge on Vladimir for her dishonor, the death of her father and brothers. She decided to kill Vladimir while he was asleep, but the attempt failed: he suddenly woke up and grabbed her hand. Vladimir took a sword to hack down the proud Polochanka, but their young son Izyaslav stood up to protect his mother with a sword in his hands. This little defender so impressed Vladimir that he built a new city Izyaslav (now Zaslavl not far from Minsk) and sent Rogneda and Izyaslav there. However, this was not just a link. Vladimir was forced to yield to the Polotsk boyars and give Rogneda her "fatherland" - the Polotsk land, placing his young son Izyaslav on the reign there. It was at this time, after the baptism of Rus, that the Kiev prince sent his other sons to large cities as governors. Izyaslav became not only a Polotsk prince, but also the founder of a new dynasty - the Izyaslavichi. In chronicles, the Polotsk princes are often referred to as the Rogvolodov grandchildren.
In the XI century. Kievan Rus was divided into three parts, headed by Kiev, Polotsk and Novgorod, which competed with each other. However, in fact, in Russia, only two princely branches survived: the son of Vladimir - Yaroslav the Wise in Kiev and the great-grandson of Rogvolod - Bryanislav Izyaslavin in Polotsk.
While other Russian lands passed in seniority to the heirs of Yaroslav the Wise, Polotsk was in the hands of a local princely family and did not participate in the struggle for the Kiev throne. This is due to the fact that the descendants of Izyaslav Vladimirovich legally lost their right to this throne. It is known that the basis of the ancient right of inheritance in Russia was the principle of succession, according to which the principality could be received by any of the Rurikovichs in the order of seniority. This means that it was not the son who received the right to inherit, but the father's next oldest brother. At the same time, the eldest in the family could only take the throne on which his father sat. Izyaslav died before his father, Prince Vladimir of Kiev. Izyaslav's children and grandchildren could never have been the princes of Kiev.
The name of Bryachislav is associated with the war with Novgorod and the Kiev prince Yaroslav. In 1021 Bryachislav suddenly attacked Novgorod, occupied the city, and captured prisoners. However, on the river. Yaroslav's army was waiting for him. Bryachislav was defeated and fled to Polotsk. Further events developed rather strangely. Yaroslav did not go to Polotsk, but called Bryachislav to his place for negotiations and offered him: "Budze is with me for one." Bryachislav agreed and received two cities for this - Vitebsk and U Svyat. The Kievan prince, the bearer of supreme power in Russia, as the researchers suggest, acted as an arbiter in the dispute between Polotsk and Novgorod, where Polotsk and Novgorod were constituent parts of one state and were subordinate to it. Perhaps Yaroslav needed military assistance from Bryachislav in his campaigns against Lithuania, but the chronicler does not specify this.
The Polotsk principality reached the greatest power during Vseslav Bryanislavich. Chronicles report that the prince did a lot for the welfare of the Polotsk land, forgetting about sleep and rest. During his lifetime, many legends and legends developed about him, in particular, that Vseslav was a wizard and could run hundreds of miles as a gray wolf. There was a legend that he was born as a result of sorcery, with a noticeable birthmark, which supposedly contained all his extraordinary strength. To prevent the "magic sign" from catching people's eyes, the prince always wore a bandage on his head. Vseslav and the author of "The Lay of Igor's Campaign" draws as a magician.
While Yaroslav the Wise was alive, Vseslav did not think about the separation of the Polotsk principality from the Kiev region. After the death of Yaroslav (1054), the Kiev throne was taken by his eldest son. Having expounded, titled as the Grand Duke, Svyatoslav from Chernigov, Vsevolod from Pereyaslavl. At first, Vseslav lived in harmony with them, even took part in the joint campaigns of the southern princes against the Polovtsians, who constantly threatened Kiev. This continued until the 60s. XI century. From that time on, the struggle between Polotsk and Kiev flared up again and did not stop until the death of Vseslav.
In 1065 Vseslav laid siege to Pskov, and the next year he took Novgorod, taking church property from the St. Sophia Cathedral as a trophy of war. In response, three brothers - Izyaslav, Svyatoslav and Vsevolod - united and opposed Vseslav. The first city on their way was Minsk. The city was besieged and taken. The Kiev princes led their troops further along the river. Nemige and then met with the troops of Vseslav. The small river on March 3, 1067 witnessed a terrible battle. The author of The Lay of Igor's Host wrote: “On Nemiza, sheaves are laid with their heads, threshed with damask flails, life is put on the current, the soul blows from the body. The bloody shores of Nemiga were not sown with livestock, but with the bones of the sons of the Russians. " The river Nemiga is gone now. Nemiga Street in Minsk runs along its bed.
In the summer of 1067, the Yaroslavichi, who were camped near Orsha, invited Vseslav to negotiate with his two sons. They guaranteed his safety, but broke their promise, took him prisoner, took him to Kiev and put him in prison. In 1068 the people of Kiev rebelled against their prince Izyaslav, liberated Vseslav and proclaimed him the Grand Duke of Kievan Rus.
Further events unfolded as follows. Deprived of the Kiev throne, Izyaslav turned to the Polish king Boleslav for help. Vseslav with the Kiev militia came to meet Boleslav's army, which approached Kiev. Probably, some disagreements arose among the people of Kiev, so the prince-sorcerer decided not to get involved in a dubious matter, abandoned the army and fled to his homeland at night - to Polotsk.
Feudal strife continued. Since the late 70s. XI century. Vladimir Monomakh entered the fight against the Polotsk princes. As a result of the wars, the Polotsk cities suffered greatly: in 1078 - Logoisk, Lukoml, Drutsk, about 1084 - Minsk. After the death of Vseslav, the Polotsk land was divided between his sons (there were six of them), who later began to endow volosts with their children. A number of appanage principalities appeared: Polotsk, Minsk, Vitebsk, Drutsk, Izyaslavskoe (now Zaslavl, Minsk region), Logoisk, Strezhevskoe, Gorodetskoe. The throne in Polotsk was considered the main one. This city continued to be the most important political center.
What was the political system of the Polotsk principality?
Legislature in the Polotsk principality belonged to the veche, or the people's assembly. Veche invited the prince to reign, issued laws, elected the non-commissioned officers (uryadtsy, officials), approved the declaration of war or peace. The power of the veche extended not only to the city, but also to the entire volost, scattered throughout the principality. In the Polotsk principality, the veche existed until the end of the 15th century. (1448), when the city was given the Magdeburg right.
Executive power in the Polotsk principality belonged to the prince. The prince was often one of the ancestors of the tribe. Energy and ability, especially in military affairs, set him apart from the general mass of elders. In some places where life was relatively calm, the prince became ruler on the basis of clan seniority. In the Polotsk principality, the prince was engaged in military affairs, at the head of his squad he carried out campaigns to other lands. In addition, the prince was in charge of economic affairs, together with the tiuns he administered the court, guarded the trade routes and caravans in his principality.
The bishop held a high social position in Polotsk. On behalf of the prince and the bishop, the agreements concluded by the Polotsk veche were written, their seals were attached to the documents.
The second large early feudal principality in Belarus was Turov principality, formed in the IX-X centuries. Its territory basically corresponded to the places where the Dregovichi settled in the south of Belarus in the Pripyat basin. The political center of the principality - Turov - is almost a contemporary of Polotsk. Pinsk was a large city. The chronicler connected the name of Turov with the name of the local prince Tura. The emergence and development of Turov and Pinsk was facilitated by their advantageous location on the water Pripyat-Bug trade route from Kiev and other Russian lands to Western Europe.
In 988 the Grand Duke of Kiev Vladimir Svyatoslavich gave Turov to his son Svyatopolk, who, according to his father's idea, was supposed to contribute to the spread of South Byzantine influence in Turov. But Svyatopolk, as the chronicles testify, did not justify his father's hopes. By marrying the daughter of the Polish king Boleslav, a Catholic by faith, he fell under Western influence. Together with the daughter of the Polish king, the western bishop of Reinberg arrived in Turov, who became close to Svyatopolk and began to incite him to oppose Vladimir. Relying on the Turovites, who well remembered the times when the Turov land was white independent from Kiev, and also hoping for military assistance from his father-in-law, the Polish king Boleslav, Svyatopolk decided to secede from Kiev. Vladimir, having learned about the enemy intentions of his eldest son, unexpectedly attacked Svyatopolk and imprisoned him, his wife and Bishop Reinberg in prison. After Vladimir died in 1015, Svyatopolk, as the eldest in the family, received the right to occupy the Kiev grand-ducal throne. A struggle broke out between Svyatopolk and Yaroslav, in which Yaroslav won. Svyatopolk fled to Poland, where he died.
The Turov principality was included by Yaroslav the Wise into the Kiev principality as a volost, which was directly subject to the power of the Kiev prince. The volost did not have its own independent status and the princely line assigned to it. Turov can be viewed as a buffer between Polotsk and Kiev, given the aggressive policy towards neighbors on the part of the Polotsk princes and the threat of Lithuanian and Yatvyazi raids. Therefore, the Kiev princes tried to keep Turov with them, sending their sons and close relatives there as princes.
In the 50s. XII century. Turov left the submission of Kiev, and an independent princely dynasty was established in it. At the end of the XII - beginning of the XIII century. on the territory of the principality a number of small feudal "patchwork" principalities were formed - Turovskoe, Pinsk, Slutskoe, Kletskoe, Dubrovitskoe (on the territory of modern Ukraine).
The Polotsk and Turov principalities had all the attributes of state power - legislative (veche), executive (princes and squads) and judicial (princes and tiuns). They can be considered the first early feudal states on the territory of Belarus.
Question 9. The first state formations on the territory of Belarus (1x-11th centuries)
Tribal reign of Krivichi-Polotsk became the basis Polotsk principality,which in the X-XI centuries. was one of the largest principalities in Eastern Europe.
For the first time, the Polotsk principality was mentioned in the "Tale of Bygone Years" under 862. The first known Polotsk prince was Rogvolod.According to the chronicle, he "came from across the sea" in 960-970. The chronicles preserve the legend about the unsuccessful matchmaking of Prince Vladimir to the daughter of Rogvolod Rogneda,dated 980 Rogneda became one of the wives of Vladimir Svyatoslavich. Their son Izyaslavlaid the foundation for the dynasty of Polotsk princes, which were Bryachislav(1003-1044), Vseslav the Charodey(1044-1101) and their descendants. The greatest power Polotsk reached under Vseslav, who tried to capture Pskov and Novgorod. His squad was defeated in battle bunk bed Nemige(1067), and the prince himself was taken prisoner and sent to Kiev. In 1068 Vseslav was liberated by the people of Kiev and placed on the throne. He ruled in Kiev for seven months, but failed to retain power and fled to Polotsk.
In Polotsk, there was a princely veche system. Supreme political, military and judicialpower belonged to the prince. The most important affairs of the principality were decided on veche -the traditional general meeting of adult men. The armed forces of the principality consisted of squadsprince and city \u200b\u200bmilitia.
On the basis of the tribal unification of the Dregovichi in the south of Belarus Turov principality.The first mention of it in chronicles dates back to 980. The Turov land was considered the patrimony of the Kiev princes, therefore members of the Kiev princely house reigned here. They could reign in Kiev at the same time. Directly Turov was led by a representative of the prince - posadnik.Veche played a secondary role here. The city militia in Turov was commanded by a tysyatsky. The second most important city in the Turov land was the city of Pinsk.
In the Middle Bug region, a significant center was the city Berestye,first mentioned under 1019, the Beresteyskaya land at different times was part of the larger Turov and Ga-litsko-Volyn princedoms. In the Belarusian Ponemanie, an important role was played by Gorodnya(Grodno, 1127), in Posozhie - Gomel(1142). The lands of the Middle Dnieper region with the cities of Mstislavl and Krichev in the XI-XIII centuries. were part of the Smolensk principality.
Question 10. Feudal fragmentation in the Belarusian lands
At the beginning of the XII century. The Old Russian state (Kievan Rus) entered period of feudal fragmentation,when small territorial entities - specific principalities,or volosts, -turned into independent political units. The period of feudal fragmentation in the historical tradition is called "Specific period".An outward sign of feudal fragmentation is a large number internecine warsbetween the princes. In 1097, in Lyubech near Kiev, the princes agreed that each of the princes of Rurikovich received the right to own his fiefdom. This decision served as a legal basis for the fragmentation of the Old Russian state. In fact, feudal fragmentation in Russia began after the death of the Kiev prince Mstislav the Great in 1132, when the concept of seniority in a dynasty was lost, and it was replaced by the concept of seniority in each of the branches of this dynasty. The underlying causes of feudal fragmentation are: natural character of the economy(when everything needed is produced and consumed by the producers or owners themselves); weak economic ties between the lands of large principalities; the emergence of large land ownership of the local nobility; the growth and strengthening of cities; tradition of transferring cities and volosts by the prince to his sons or nephews.Feudal fragmentation is a natural and common process for all early feudal states.
Appanage principalities in the Polotsk land appeared in the last years of the reign of Vseslav the Charodey. His six sons received cities and parishes. Eldest son Boriswas the heir to the Polotsk throne. After the death of Vseslav (1101), the lands received by the sons became their estates, that is, hereditary possessions. The Polotsk principality fell apart into specific principalities: Polotsk, Minsk, Izyaslavskoe and others. The brothers were at enmity with each other. Minsk prince Glebat the beginning of the XII century. pursued a policy of elevation of Minsk, undertook a number of campaigns of conquest in neighboring lands, but was defeated. The Polotsk princes, who considered themselves sovereign rulers, refused to take part in the all-Russian campaign against the Polovtsian nomads and were exiled to Byzantium as punishment in 1129. Princely power in Polotsk and the beginning of the XII century. played a less prominent role, but the importance of evening.At the end of the XII century. in the Polotsk land there were almost continuous internecine wars.
In the second halfXII in.the Turov land disintegrated into specific principalities. Prince Yuri Yaroslavich,direct notomokveli Kiev princes, seized power in Turov. In 1157-1158. the Kiev prince organized a campaign against him. With the help of the inhabitants of Pinsk, Yuri defended the reign and began to control the entire Turov land. His sons actively participated in civil strife. FROM midXII in.rises Iinsk,which becomes the political center of the Turovo-Pinsk principality.
As a result of feudal fragmentation in the XII-XIII centuries. on the Belarusian lands there were about 20 principalities, which almost continuously fought with each other and were easy prey for external conquerors. However, all the lands of the former Kievan Rus retained a single faith, culture, common judicial and legal norms, language and writing, awareness of the common historical fate.
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Principalities on the territory of Belarus (political development) IX - XIII centuries
Political development of the Polotsk principality in the XI century.
After the death of Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich, a struggle for power between his descendants began in the Kiev state, one of whom was the Polotsk prince Bryachislav. Under his leadership, the Polotsk people seized and plundered Novgorod in 1021. In 1021 - 1026. Bryachislav became a Kiev prince together with Yaroslav the Wise, while continuing to remain a Polotsk prince. In 1026, the sole power of Yaroslav the Wise was established in Kiev. In return for this, Prince Bryachislav receives a fact. complete power in the Polotsk land. The Polotsk principality is restoring its state. independence.
The Polotsk principality reached its greatest prosperity during the reign of Vseslav Bryachislavovich the "Sorcerer" (1044 - 1101).
1065 - 1066 Polotsk, led by Vseslav, made predatory campaigns on Pskov and Novgorod. In response, the princes of Kievan Rus sent large forces against the Polotsk principality, which burned Minsk. 3 March 1067 a battle took place between them and the Polotsk people on the river. Nemiga, which ended in huge losses for both sides. Vseslav and his sons were invited to negotiations and was captured and put in a porub (prison) in Kiev. As a result of the popular uprising in 1068, Vseslav the Charodey became a prince in Kiev for 7 months. But in 1069 he was stripped of the throne and forced to fight for the Polotsk throne. In 1071, he finally regained power in Polotsk. In 1077 and 1084, one of the Kiev princes, Vladimir Monomakh, made campaigns to Polotsk and Minsk. In 1078 the Polotsk people burned Smolensk.
After the death of Vseslav in 1101, the territory of the Polotsk principality was divided into a number of appanage principalities: Vitebsk, Minsk, Izyaslavskoe, Logoisk, Drutsk, Lukomsk - this is how the period of feudal fragmentation began. Each of the appanage principalities had their own governing bodies, an army, and a tax system. At the same time, they obeyed the Polotsk prince.
The Grand Duke of Polotsk was a kind of chairman of the federal union of the princes of the Polotsk land.
Reasons for feudal fragmentation:
Economic development of individual regions;
The need to streamline relations between representatives of the princely dynasty in order to prevent the struggle for the main throne.
In 1127, a large campaign was organized, led by the Kiev prince Mstislav, against the Polotsk land. During it Logoisk and Izyaslavl were captured; The Polotsk principality was in fact subordinated to Kiev.
Since the 1230s. the Kiev state collapsed, and it gradually loses its dominant influence in the region. In 1132, the Polotsk veche drove out the Kiev protege Izyaslav and chose the representative of the Polotsk dynasty Vasilka Svyatoslavich to reign.
In the XII - XIII centuries. in the Polotsk land, a new system of state - politician a device that can be described as a veche democracy. The main bodies of the state. the authorities in Polotsk and the appanage principalities were: the prince - the official head of state, the squad - the permanent professional armed forces under the prince, the veche - the general meeting of all free adult male residents of the principality.
Under the influence of feudal fragmentation in the Polotsk principality, a specific form of state was formed. - politician devices - a party democracy.
Turov principality
The Turov principality was formed on the basis of the tribal reign of the Dregovichi. It covered the territory of modern southern Belarus - Polesie.
The Turov principality arose on the water Pripyat-Bug trade route from Kiev to Poland. Its center was Turov.
In the first half of the XII century. in the conditions of the crisis and the collapse of the Kiev state, the position of the princes of Turov often passed from hand to hand, the political leader reigned. instability. In 1158 - 1160. The Turov principality separated from the Kiev state, its first independent prince was Yuri Yaroslavich, who laid the foundation for a local independent dynasty.
In the second half of the XII century. in the Turov principality, the process of feudal fragmentation began. Specific principalities were formed: Pinsk, Kletsk, Slutsk, Dubrovitskoe. At the end of the XII - the first half of the XIII centuries. The Turov principality fell under the politic. the influence of the neighboring strong state - the Galicia-Volyn principality.
In the state. - politician The structure of the Turov principality was formed by a veche democracy on the model of that which existed in the Polotsk principality.
In addition to the Polotsk and Turov principalities, the lands of modern Belarus were part of other Slavic principalities. On the lands of the Krivichi-Smolyan and part of the Radimichi in the 9th century. formed the Smolensk principality, which in the first half of the XII century. becomes completely independent. As a result of feudal fragmentation from the second half of the XII century. within its framework, several appanage principalities were formed.
In the west of modern Belarus, where the Slavs assimilated the Baltic tribes, Brest (1017), Novgorod (1117), Grodno (1116) princedoms arise.
Question 9. The first state formations on the territory of Belarus (IX-XII centuries)
Tribal reign of Krivichi-Polotsk became the basis Polotsk principality, which in the X-XI centuries. was one of the largest principalities in Eastern Europe.
For the first time the Principality of Polotsk is mentioned in the "Tale of Bygone Years" under 862 BC The first known Polotsk prince was Rogvolod. According to the chronicle, he "came from across the sea" in 960-970. The chronicles preserve the legend about the unsuccessful matchmaking of Prince Vladimir to the daughter of Rogvolod Rogneda, dated 980 Rogneda became one of the wives of Vladimir Svyatoslavich. Their son Izyaslav laid the foundation for the dynasty of Polotsk princes, which were Bryachislav (1003-1044), Vseslav the Wizard (1044-1101) and their descendants. The greatest power Polotsk reached under Vseslav, who tried to capture Pskov and Novgorod. His squad was defeated in the battle on r. Nemige (1067), and the prince himself was taken prisoner and sent to Kiev. In 1068 Vseslav was liberated by the people of Kiev and placed on the throne. He ruled in Kiev for seven months, but failed to retain power and fled to Polotsk.
In Polotsk, there was a princely veche system. The supreme political, military and judicial power belonged to the prince. The most important affairs of the principality were decided on veche - the traditional general meeting of adult men. The armed forces of the principality consisted of the prince's squad and city \u200b\u200bmilitia.
On the basis of the tribal unification of the Dregovichi in the south of Belarus Turov principality. The first mention of it in chronicles refers to 980 BC The Turov land was considered the patrimony of the Kiev princes, therefore members of the Kiev princely house reigned here. They could reign in Kiev at the same time. Directly Turov was led by a representative of the prince - posadnik. Veche played a secondary role here. The city militia in Turov was commanded by a tysyatsky. The second most important city in the Turov land was the city of Pinsk.
In the Middle Bug region, the city of Berestye was a significant center , first mentioned under 1019 BC Beresteyskaya land at different times was part of the larger Turov and Galicia-Volyn principalities. In the Belarusian Ponemane important role played Gorodnya (Grodno, 1127 BC), in Posozhie - Gomel (1142 g . ). The lands of the Middle Dnieper region with the cities of Mstislavl and Krichev in the XII-XIII centuries. were part of the Smolensk principality.
Question 10. Feudal fragmentation in the Belarusian lands
IN early XII century. The Old Russian state (Kievan Rus) entered period of feudal fragmentation, when small territorial entities - specific principalities, or volosts, - turned into independent political units. The period of feudal fragmentation in the historical tradition is called "specific period". An outward sign of feudal fragmentation is a large number of internecine wars between the princes. In 1097, in Lyubech near Kiev, the princes agreed that each of the princes of Rurikovich received the right to own his fiefdom. This decision served as a legal basis for the fragmentation of the Old Russian state. In fact, feudal fragmentation in Russia began after the death of the Kiev prince Mstislav the Great in 1132, when the concept of seniority in the dynasty was lost, and it was replaced by the concept
seniority in each of the branches of this dynasty. The underlying causes of feudal fragmentation are: natural character of the economy (when everything needed is produced and consumed by the producers or owners themselves); weak economic ties between the potions of large principalities; the emergence of large land ownership of the local nobility; the growth and strengthening of cities; tradition of transferring cities and volosts by the prince to his sons or nephews. Feudal fragmentation is a natural and common process for all early feudal states.
Appanage principalities in the Polotsk land appeared in the last years of the reign of Vseslav the Charodey. His six sons received cities and parishes. Eldest son Boris was the heir to the Polotsk throne. After the death of Vseslav (1101), the lands received by the sons became their estates, that is, hereditary possessions. The Polotsk principality fell apart into specific principalities: Polotsk. Minsk. Izyaslavskoe and others. The brothers were at enmity with each other. Minsk prince Gleb at the beginning of the XII century. pursued a policy of elevation of Minsk, undertook a number of campaigns of conquest to neighboring lands, but was defeated. The Polotsk princes, who considered themselves sovereign rulers, refused to take part in the all-Russian campaign against the Polovtsian nomads and were exiled to Byzantium as punishment in 1129. Princely power in Polotsk at the beginning of the XII century. played a less prominent role, but the importance of evening. At the end of the XII century. in the Polotsk land there were almost continuous internecine wars.
In second half of the XII century.the Turov land disintegrated into specific principalities. Prince Yuri Yaroslavin, a direct descendant of the great Kiev princes, seized power in Turov. In 1157-1158 the Kiev prince organized a campaign against him. With the help of the inhabitants of Pinsk, Yuri defended the reign and began to control the entire Turov land. His sons actively participated in civil strife. FROM mid-12th centuryrises Pinsk, which becomes the political center of the Turovo-Pinsk principality.
As a result of feudal fragmentation in the XII-XIII centuries. on the Belarusian lands there were about 20 principalities, which almost continuously fought with each other and were easy prey for external conquerors. However, all the lands of the former Kievan Rus retained a single faith, culture, common legal norms, language and writing, an awareness of the common historical fate.
