As you know, the Old Russian state arose on the trade route, which was also called "from the Varangians to the Greeks." Tribes such as the Krivichi, Ilmenian Slavs, Glades, Dregovichi, Drevlyans, Radimichi, Polochani and Northerners lived on the territory of the newly formed state.
The very first documentary mention of such an ethnonym as "Rus" appears closer to the 9th century. According to historians, the ethnonym "Kievan Rus" appeared only in XVIII-XIX centuries in documentary research.
As a child, he was under the tutelage of boyars who dominated the state through their influence on the palace and the Duma. It is interesting to note that he simultaneously ensured the continuity of the Moscow monarchical tradition and the integral features of the Byzantine Empire, which would bring lasting results. The idea was to create an autocratic power supported by immediate reforms in all areas of Russian life: administrative, legislative, ecclesiastical and military. One of the reforms that caused more discontent and violence was the division of the land, as it influenced the rule of the landlords of the boyars, and they came into conflict: many lands belonging to the boyars became part of the reserved kingdom.
The first capital of Russia
The period of foundation of such a state as Ancient Russia is the VIII century. Along with the emergence of the state, the first capital of Ancient Russia, Ladoga, appeared. Memories of this city are described in the Ipatiev list of the "Tale of Bygone Years". As you know, Ladoga belonged to Rurik, and the estimated dates of Ladoga's stay in the status of the capital of the state are 862-864. It was during these years that Rurik was constantly in the capital, and after it was renamed Novaya Ladoga (modern Leningrad region).
Naturally, this forced inclusion of the land was not peaceful, which led to the expulsion or extermination of the boyars, while the rest of the population was attributed to slavery by a small number of nobles loyal to the king. One of the most important actions was the conduct of the war in order to feed their power by increasing the territory. It is in this context that he clashes with the Ottomans, captures vast Siberian territories and begins his colonization in the 1980s, conflicts with the Polish-Lithuanian state for control of Baltic Sea but defeated from the Livonian War.
It is also worth mentioning that most scientists do not recognize Ladoga as the first capital of Ancient Rus, therefore, it is practically not mentioned in the main scientific works related to the emergence of Ancient Rus. Nevertheless, one should not forget that many sources indicate precisely that Ladoga is the first capital of Russia.
The first capital of Russia - Novgorod
According to other chronicles, the first capital of Russia was Novgorod (862-882). It is believed that from the beginning of 862 Rurik ruled Russia precisely while in Veliky Novgorod. But, in spite of this, nevertheless, since 882, the capital again changes its location and is transferred to Kiev. Nevertheless, Veliky Novgorod continues to be of great political importance for the state. According to ancient princely traditions, the eldest sons of the prince went to rule in Novgorod, therefore, rivalry between these two capitals continued, which was a striking feature the old Russian state in all periods of its existence. As a result, it still remains completely unclear which city was the capital of Russia. The controversy continues to this day.
Forms of feudal land tenure
Although the reforms were imposed by violence, Ivan's reign is considered progressive by many scholars. He arrives shortly after the death of Boris and seizes power with the support of the boyars and people. He was killed during the uprising of Muscovites in the old dynasty of Rurik, which was extinguished with the death of Fedor, and the boyars named their tsar - Vasily Chuissky, who, in order not to lose the support of the Russian and Polish aristocracy, grants him broad powers.Inexperienced peasants quickly moved. Russia was immersed in a sea of internal and external conflicts, so it was necessary to take radical measures with the convocation of Russian common states in order to exclude foreigners from prisons, deciding to choose Mikhail Romanov for Tsar.
The first capital of Kievan Rus
After Oleg came to power, Kiev became the capital of the ancient Russian state, which is why the state began to be called Kievan Rus. At this moment, Novgorod loses its power and authority. After the baptism of Rus (the beginning of the 10th century), Kiev finally made it clear that it was the capital, since the main metropolitan lived there. This fact played a big role in the development of the city and the state itself.
It is with this appointment that the Romanov dynasty begins, which will remain in power until a new stage in the life of restless Russia begins. More active external contacts started; positions were won against Poland; the Cossacks were protected, the Ottoman Empire collided; the economy developed, increasing agricultural and industrial products through the introduction of new technologies. Despite this growing "state of grace," Russia was marred by repeated peasant revolts against the harsh laws of slavery as well as religious conflicts.
In addition to political convictions, Kiev was also convenient with geographic point vision. It was on the land of the Drevlyans and had a very convenient location, thanks to which it served as the capital of Russia for many years, or rather for 361 years (from 882 to 1243).
From the end of the XII century and up to the beginning of the XIII century, Russia was divided into four main centers: Volyn, Smolensk, Suzdal (Vladimir) and Chernigov. Despite the fact that each center had its own main ruler, they still remained dependent on the Kiev principality. Only the heir of Rurik had the right to occupy the princely throne that was in Kiev, but the dynasty was interrupted, since the struggle for the Kiev throne was very fierce and everyone wanted to get the largest "piece" of power over all other principalities. Fratricidal wars led Kiev to fall, but it still continued to be the center of interests of the entire ancient Russian state.
Two kings were introduced: Ivan and Peter, respectively the sons of Alexis' first and second marriage. In the meantime, his sister Sophia would be the regent. After a coup d'état against his half sister, Pedro the Great happens to reign alone. It was during the reign of Peter the Great that Russia underwent tremendous transformations at all levels in a long process that led to modernity. Peter's goal was to endow Russia with structures similar to those he met in the West when he made his study tour of Europe and through the contacts he had with foreigners living in Russia in his youth.
In the XII century, Kiev continued to be the capital of Rus, but it gradually lost its role as the center of the state. The Grand Duke no longer needed to be located in Kiev, and since 1169 Kiev was subordinate to one of the relatives of the Grand Duke. The tradition of Kiev rule was interrupted by the invasion of the Mongols. After the destruction, the city finally lost its value, and they stopped fighting for it. After that, the city was ruled only by weak princes who did not chase the throne.
The first act was the famous cut of the beard and long hair, an old orthodox custom. He ordered the wearing of European costumes, allowed the use of tobacco, which was forbidden by the patriarchs, adopted the Julian calendar and expelled noble women from it. He had Russian books translated by European authors. Westernization also went through the language - Russian was now marked by the words of a foreign language, in particular French. He founded the city of St. Petersburg, which later became the capital of the kingdom.
It was with European officers that he organized an army and armada with European characteristics after the Prussian model. He organized a governing structure along Western lines - he created a senate similar to Sweden and nine colleges, each responsible for a branch of administration, replacing the Boyar Duma, whose members were appointed directly by the king, often recruiting foreigners to supply the prosecution. The highest affairs of the state have now been entrusted to colleges, which in some ways are equivalent to our current ministries.
Capital of Ancient Russia - Vladimir
The city of Vladimir itself appeared in 1108, and Vladimir Monomakh became its founder. A few years later, Vladimir began to be considered the capital of North-Eastern Russia, and before that the capital was the city of Suzdal. The reason for such changes was the desire of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky to transfer all his possessions from Suzdal to Vladimir, in order to turn this city into the same influential political and economic center as Kiev. For the same reason architectural features Vladimir are very similar to those in Kiev.
Promoting centralization, the empire was divided into governments and provinces controlled by the Senate and colleges. For control to be effective, it was necessary to create a secret state police. Bureaucracy became a part of everyday life and a new nobility of officials appeared, which eventually drove out the boyars. He created a picture of categories in the army, court and administration. Thus, the nobility was closely associated with the government and the army, and reinforcements were made in the fields.
Peter the Great's idea was to centralize the state as much as possible. This process had consequences, even in the economy, with the creation of industries that lived off private initiative, but also with a large part of the public capital invested. Evolution was notable for the significant number of factories created during his reign. A multidisciplinary tax system has increased the revenues needed to maintain a large fleet and army engaged in centuries of war and infrastructure construction.
Many scientists argue to this day whether Vladimir was the capital of all Russia, or only its North-Eastern part. The city of Vladimir reached the peak of its power during the reign of Vsevolod Yuryevich, and after that it was forgotten, since Kievan Rus was under the influence of the Golden Horde. After Golden Horde captured Ancient Russia, the khan called the Vladimir princes the main rulers of the state, and starting in 1299 the metropolitan's residence moved to Vladimir. The last ruler of Vladimir was Vasily I, and his heirs were already crowned in Moscow. But, despite this, although Vladimir has become an ordinary province, it is still mentioned in chronicles for a long time as a city of great national importance.
At the religious level, foreigners were granted freedom of religion and the college system was applied to the Church, creating the Holy Synod, which replaced the Patriarch of Moscow. In this way he finally represented the Church. He found strong opposition to the implementation of reforms, especially the more conservative ones, but continued to apply them without hesitation. One of Peter's greatest dreams was to conquer wide access to the sea. He opened Russia to the Baltics and Black Sea... He conquered Estonia, Livonia, penetrated Finland and Pomerania.
Moscow is the first capital in Russia
The earliest mentions of Moscow date back to 1147. Until the moment when the Mongols attacked Kiev, and the Golden Horde gained power over Kievan Rus, Moscow did not play any role. The city was considered an ordinary province, but from the beginning of 1263, when Daniil Alexandrovich began to rule in Moscow, it began to develop very quickly. Although Prince Daniel did not claim the princely throne, he was not going to just sit back. With the help of the Smolensk and Ryazan volosts, Daniel increased his territories, thanks to which the prince managed to gather a strong army. It was this step that became a huge impetus for the future.
A window in the west ran from the Karelian Isthmus to Riga, with the capital, St. Petersburg, serving as the entrance to the Baltic Sea. He colonized Siberia and began commercial relations with the Chinese Empire. The result of Russia's task of transformation, carried out with stubbornness and brutality, was the creation of a powerful state, open to Europe, and mental, social and economic renewal. However, the work remained incomplete. Despite the great development, Pedro's reforms showed several contradictions and imbalances.
Their attention was drawn exclusively to the privileged segment of society, the aristocracy, leaving in silence the peasant and traditionalist Russia, which remained rooted in their habits, ignorance and mysticism. Foreign officials were offered to the detriment of citizens. Some industries have produced products that Russians don't need. Russia is now entering the second stage of the path, which will lead to the further development and enlightenment of despotism. The reinforcement of the autocracy, already a secularist tendency, contributed to the further strengthening of the aristocrats and the aggravation of the position of the peasants.
Since 1325, the residence of the metropolitan is based in Moscow, the territory of the Moscow princes is significantly increasing, due to which the quantity and quality of the Moscow army is growing. But despite such rapid development, due to the oppression of the Mongol Khan, she had a very precarious position. Only disagreements with the Golden Horde gave the Moscow princes a chance to increase their political influence, and the turning point was the victory of Moscow over the Horde army of Mamai in 1380, also known as the Battle of Kulikovo. After that, Moscow finally became the capital of Russia, and today the Russian Federation.
He tried to develop a code with the emergence of opinions from all sections of society, ignoring, of course, the servants. Catherine herself, in the light of the doctrines of Montesquieu and Beria, writes the Instruction or Instruction, which in practice had no effect. The reinforcement of slavery was evident: the masters could send their servants to Siberia, and Ukraine knew slavery. Russia expanded its ownership of the Black Sea as a result of new wars with Turkey.
He entered the Caucasus and created a protectorate in Georgia. It is the survival of the old regime, which is incompatible with any model of the Enlightenment that the queen tried to implement. There is no doubt that Bulgaria is the closest to the EU, EU and NATO. The potential risk of this proximity to the Alliance becomes a natural and logical opposition to the development of the Atlantic and colonial dependence on the United States and a threat to NATO in a natural way, without the need for additional catalysts. Bulgaria and Russia are deeply interdependent in history, culture, language and writing. with hope and gratitude for the national liberation from the power of the Ottoman Empire, with the development of internal processes in Bulgaria and Russia with hereditary ties with the Russian imperial, Soviet and Russian states.
Ancient Moscow of the 17th century. An educational film about the history of the capital of ancient Russia.
In modern historiography, the concept of "Kievan Rus" denotes the early feudal state of the Eastern Slavs of the 9th-12th centuries, which developed on the territory adjacent to the waterway of the route "from the Varangians to the Greeks", and arose as a result of the unification of two East Slavic state associations - "Kuyavy" ( political union of the tribes of Polyans, Northerners and Vyatichi, center - Kiev) and "Slavia" (Chud, Slovenia, Merya, Krivichi, center - Novgorod).
Historically, the centuries-old blood of aristocratic and popular ties, wars and friendships, translucency of writing, culture, literature and many hopes has developed. Initially, the Kiev principality grew on the basis of the Bulgarian state formation. John Exarch, Chernoritsa Grabar, Chernoritsky Dok, Presbyter Gregory and others. Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians and other countries continue to speak languages that are very close to the language of the Orthodox Church, which was undoubtedly then Bulgarian, in which the books were written in Preslav and Ohrid.
In ancient chronicles, Kievan Rus is known under the name "Ruska earth", "Rus", but initially in the 9th century. so called only the lands of the Slavic tribes of the Middle Dnieper ("Kuyava"), which were ruled by the "kagans" ("khakans") of the Rus - Askold and Dir. Later, after the conquest of Kiev in 882 by the Novgorod prince Oleg (Prophetic) and the announcement of it as the capital ("mother city of Rus"), that is, after the unification of "Kuyava" and "Slavia", the name "Ruska earth", "Rus" gradually spreads to the entire territory of the united lands.
Evidence is also found in the Hermitage and in all major museums and in every Russian Orthodox Church. Kiev was founded by brother Kubrat in 620, the place of the Bulgarian settlement from the time of Attila was founded in 430 years. Kievan Rus also comes from Black Bulgaria, as evidenced by recent genetic examinations.
The Kiev prince adopts Christianity in his Orthodox version through the mediation of Bulgaria, from which he perceives the Bulgarian literary language and Bulgarian scripture. The first spiritual leader of the Russian Church and the first Russian bishops are Bulgarians by nationality. It has survived in several versions, written in Bulgarian in the Russian version.
Spread out in the X century. from west to east from the Carpathians to the Oka and the upper Volga, from north to south from the Baltic to the Black Seas, Kievan Rus was a fragile union of Slavic tribes that required the constant use of military force. Political unity was ensured mainly not by economic ties or ethnic closeness of the Slavic tribes, but by blood relations of the ruling dynasty of Rurikovich, their patrimonial clan land ownership, the need for its military protection from the claims of neighboring states and raids of nomads.
Holy Prince Helena, the first Russian saint, is proof of old aristocratic ties and the worst mistake of Tsar Simeon the Great. Information about Princess Olga comes mainly from the "Primary Russian Chronicle", written 150 years after her death. The Chronicle, as well as other church texts, as a rule, praise her, since she is the first high-ranking conductor of Christianity in Kievan Rus. Information about Princess Olga is also contained in a historical document called "Chronicle of the Russian Tsar", as well as in another historical monument- "The genealogy of Russian princes."
The "planting" of Vladimir I ("Red Sun") in the cities of the Eastern Slavs (with the exception of Polotsk) of his twelve sons and the introduction of Christianity in 988 strengthened the unity of Kievan Rus to a certain extent, but even after that, the wars of the princes-relatives continued to shake it for the Kiev throne. The attempt of the princes to streamline their relations at the congress in Lyubech (1037) with the rule “keep your fatherland every day” led to the actual fragmentation of the feudal-confederate Kievan Rus.
In the first half of the 12th century, after a brief strengthening of the central power of the Kiev prince Vladimir II (Monomakh), Kiev was gradually losing its dominant position. In the 30s of that century, Kievan Rus, as a relatively unified state association of the East Slavic peoples, ceases to exist.
The first associations of the Eastern Slavs were not stable, but over time they became more solid. Compiler of the "Tale of Bygone Years" on the basis of those that have come down to him historical information and legends tells about the existence of a number of independent tribal principalities among the Eastern Slavs before the formation of the Old Russian state. The glades had their own principality, headed by Kiy, "and in the Drevlyans (among the Drevlyans) their own, in their Dregovichi, and their Slovenia in Novgorod, and the other in Polo and others of Polochans."
Not all tribal principalities followed tribal boundaries. Some of them were complex political formations, such as the Volhynians, or, on the contrary, settled on a part of the tribal territory, like the Slovenian principality in Novgorod and “on Polota”. Tribal reigns were the forerunners of the ancient Russian state and were an embryonic form of statehood in Russia. Some of the tribal reigns persisted during the period of the Old Russian state. So, the chronicler calls the Drevlyane prince Mal, who ruled in the Drevlyane land during the time of Igor and Olga, among the Vyatichi in the XI century. were Prince Khodota and his son.
The leading role in the formation of the ancient Russian state was played by Russia (according to the chronicle, "the clearing is now conquering Russia"). Glades were the most developed of the East Slavic tribes. The chronicle distinguishes them as “wise and intelligent men” who have from “their fathers” the customs of a decent life. Archaeological excavations confirm the higher socio-economic level of the Polyans in comparison with other East Slavic tribes. The oldest and largest East Slavic city, Kiev, arose in the land of the glades. It is not surprising, therefore, that the beginning of the political history of the Eastern Slavs in the well-known legend about the construction of Kiev is connected with the formation of a principality at the head of Kiev. Telling about the construction of Kiev, the chronicler notes that Kiy, who reigned in it, traveled to Constantinople to the emperor of Byzantium, who received him with great honors. Returning, Kiy tried to settle on the Danube, for which he built a small town there. However, neighboring tribes opposed this, and he was forced to return to his homeland. After the death of Kiy and his brothers Shchek and Khoriv, their descendants were princes among the glades.
The chronicle story about Kiev echoes the story of Procopius of Caesarea about the invitation by Emperor Justinian I (527-565) to his service of the Ant prince, who was entrusted with the defense of a fortress on the Danube. Not having mastered the neighboring tribes, the invited prince left the city entrusted to him. A comparison of these two very close stories sheds light on the time of the emergence of the principality among the glades, which the chronicler considers the first step towards the formation of the ancient Russian state. It coincides with a turbulent era in the life of the Slavs, when tribal associations were formed in the context of the struggle with Byzantium.
Glades, called, according to the chronicler, Russia, became the basis for the formation of the Old Russian nationality, and their land became the core of the territory of the Old Russian state. The tribal union formed around Russia, led by the Kiya dynasty, was long and lasting. He resisted the struggle against the Avars, although the latter managed to subdue the Volynians. The power of the Russian tribal union gradually expanded, and the territory for which the name of the Russian land was assigned also expanded.
From the beginning of the IX century. the military and political activity of the association created by Russia is increasing. On the pages of European sources, messages appear about the forays of the Rus on other peoples. At the turn of the VIII and IX centuries. the Rus army fought in the Crimea, captured Surozh (Sudak) and passed the entire coast from Chersonesos to Kerch. Information about this campaign is contained in a Greek literary work - the life of Stephen of Sourozh. Another similar Byzantine monument, the life of George of Amastrid, tells about the invasion at the beginning of the 9th century. Russian squads on the Asia Minor coast of the Black Sea from Propontis (Bosphorus) to Amastrida (Sinop). There is information about the sea campaign of the Rus to the island of Aegina (in the Aegean Sea). The Arab historian Ibn-Khordadbeg reports that in the middle of the IX century. ruos (a tribe of the Slavs), walking By the Azov Sea and the Don until it approaches the Volga, and then the Volga, the Caspian Sea and by land were getting to Baghdad.
In 839, the ambassadors of the Khakan (Tsar) of the Rus visited the Emperor Louis I the Pious, which is described in the Vertinsky annals of the 9th century. To Louis I, the ambassadors of the Rus arrived from Constantinople, where they went to agree, apparently, on the fight against the Hungarians who had broken through into the Black Sea steppes. The ambassadors could not return to their homeland in the usual ways due to the robbery of the nomads who appeared in the steppe. Therefore, the Byzantine emperor sent them with his people to Louis I the Pious, asking them to ensure a safe return to their homeland through the lands of his empire.
In 860 the Rus made a large campaign against Constantinople in revenge for the violation of the treaty by the Greeks and the torture of the ambassadors and merchants of the Rus. The attack was unexpected at a time when the Byzantine troops and the emperor were in the south of the empire, protecting it from the invading Arabs. The Rus troops on 200 ships sailed to Constantinople, besieged and almost took it. Byzantium was forced to change its policy towards Russia and conclude a treaty of "peace and love".
