Where was Yaroslav the Wise born? Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise

Prince Yaroslav the Wise

It is better to suffer an offense than to inflict one.

Plato

Prince Yaroslav the Wise was born in 978. His father was Prince Vladimir, who placed his young son on the princely throne of the city of Novgorod, which he ruled until 1019. After the death of Prince Vladimir, the Kiev throne was seized by Svyatopolk, who, blinded by the thirst for power, killed his three brothers: Boris, Gleb and Svyatoslav. Wanting to punish his brother, Yaroslav gathers an army to march on Kyiv. In total, the army consisted of forty thousand Slavs and thousands of mercenary Varangians. This campaign began in 1016. The confrontation with Svyatopolk continued until 1019, and ended with the murder of the latter.

Beginning of reign

This is how Prince Yaroslav the Wise began his reign, which lasted 35 years. This time can without a doubt be called a golden time in the history of Kievan Rus. But initially everything was not so smooth. The reign of Yaroslav, even after the death of Svyatopolk, was not unconditional. Mstislav Udaloy, who at that time held a princely post in the city of Tmutarakan, refused to recognize his brother as the sole ruler of Kievan Rus. Mstislav gathered an army and went to war against Kyiv. The key battle of this confrontation took place on river Ruda in 1023. In this battle, Yaroslav was defeated and went to Novgorod to gather a new army. It should be noted that Mstislav showed rare generosity and decided not to challenge his brother’s reign. He invited Yaroslav to rule all the lands on the right side of the Don, leaving the left part behind him. Yaroslav refused.

Division and unification of the country

However, after returning to Novgorod, Prince Yaroslav the Wise gathered a new army and went to a meeting with his brother, which took place near Kiev. The brothers agreed to conclude an alliance and divided the lands of Kievan Rus among themselves. Mstislav took control of all the eastern lands, Yaroslav - the western ones. The only border between the brothers' possessions was the Dnieper. This event was truly key for Rus'. For the first time, the country, previously constantly tormented by internal and external enemies, found peace. The consent of the princes was complete and they did not dare to violate the terms of the signed peace. This continued until 1036, when Mstislav died. After the death of his brother, Prince Yaroslav the Wise became the rightful ruler. Now all of Kievan Rus was under his control: its western and eastern parts.

The year 1036 is marked not only by the reunification of the western and eastern lands of Rus'. It was this year that the battle with the Polovtsians took place near Kiev. The Russian army won a magnificent victory, completely defeating the enemy. From now on they did not represent such a formidable force. Now the prince could concentrate on solving other pressing problems.

End of reign

Prince Yaroslav went down in history under the name Wise. This is what the people of Kiev called it, because it was under them that the first educational institutions were opened in the country, and the first written set of laws was compiled - “Russian Truth”.

This ruler devoted the last years of his life to fighting a possible internecine war after his death. To do this, he himself decided to divide the country between his sons. So, Izyaslav, the eldest son, was bequeathed to the administration of the city of Kiev, Svyatoslav became the ruler of Chernigov, Vsevolod was succeeded by Pereyaslav, Igor became a prince in the Vladimir-Volyn land, Vyacheslav became the ruler of Smolensk.

Yaroslav the Wise died in 1054, leaving his sons a great country, which, after a long period of calm, declared itself as a strong power.

Grand Duke of Kiev (1016-1018, 1019-1054).

Yaroslav Vladimirovich was born around 978. He was the son of the Grand Duke of Kyiv and Grand Duchess Rogneda, daughter of the Polotsk Prince Rogvold.

Yaroslav Vladimirovich was placed by his father to reign, first in, then in. In 1014, he stopped paying tribute to Kyiv, hoping to separate his possessions from Southern Rus'. began gathering troops in order to force his son to submit to his authority, but during preparations for the campaign he died.

After his death, the Kiev throne was seized by the Turov prince Svyatopolk the Accursed, half-brother of Yaroslav Vladimirovich. Wanting to eliminate possible rivals, Svyatopolk organized the murder of his brothers, Prince of Rostov Boris and Prince of Murom Gleb, as well as the Drevlyan prince Svyatoslav.

Having secured the support of the Novgorodians, Yaroslav Vladimirovich in December 1015, in the battle of Lyubech, defeated Svyatopolk and captured Kyiv. In 1018, together with his father-in-law, the Polish king Boleslav I the Brave, Svyatopolk invaded Rus', managed to defeat Yaroslav in the Battle of the Bug and recapture Kyiv. Yaroslav Vladimirovich fled to, from where he intended to go to Scandinavia. But the Novgorodians cut down the prince's boats and forced Yaroslav to continue the fight. In the Battle of Alta in 1018, Svyatopolk suffered a crushing defeat, and Yaroslav reoccupied Kyiv.

After the victory over Svyatopolk, Yaroslav Vladimirovich began a fight with his other brother, the Tmutarakan prince Mstislav, who also laid claim to the Kiev throne. Mstislav won the battle of Listven (near Chernigov) in 1024, but he allowed Yaroslav to reign in Kyiv. Nevertheless, Yaroslav did not dare to accept his brother’s offer and continued to stay in, sending his mayors to Kyiv.

According to the peace treaty of 1025, Yaroslav Vladimirovich received Russian land to the west of the Dnieper and with the center in Kyiv, and Mstislav - the eastern part, with Chernigov and Pereyaslavl. Only after the death of Mstislav in 1035 did Yaroslav Vladimirovich become an “autocrat” in Rus'.

In 1036, the Pechenegs were defeated near Kiev, stopping their attacks on Rus'. In 1038-1042 Yaroslav Vladimirovich waged successful wars with Byzantium, Lithuanian and Finnish tribes.

The period of the autocratic rule of Yaroslav the Wise became a time of political power, cultural and economic prosperity of the ancient Russian state. This was evidenced by the marriages of Yaroslav's daughters with the kings of France, Norway, Denmark, and Hungary. He strengthened the internal position of the state by introducing a set of laws - the “Russian Truth”. The prince also helped strengthen his influence on the church by installing the Russian monk Hilarion as metropolitan. Under him, the first monasteries were created, and the majestic St. Sophia Cathedral was erected in Kyiv. The love of books, translations of Byzantine works into the Slavic language, and the development of chronicle writing are a brilliant expression of the flourishing of the entire ancient Russian culture. Under Yaroslav the Wise, the first Russian chronicle was written - the so-called. The oldest vault. The Tale of Bygone Years contains a commendable review of the educational activities of the Grand Duke.

Chronicle data regarding the death of Yaroslav the Wise are contradictory. It is believed that he died on February 2, 1054, but other dates are also given. Before his death, the Grand Duke bequeathed the Kiev throne to the eldest of his sons, the Novgorod prince Izyaslav Yaroslavich, and divided the remaining possessions into appanages, which marked the beginning of feudal fragmentation. Yaroslav the Wise was buried in the tomb of the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv.

The reign of Yaroslav the Wise in Kievan Rus occurred at the end of the first and beginning of the second millennium (about 978-1054). He is rightfully considered one of the greatest rulers not only of Rus', but also of Europe. During the years of his reign, he brought the Principality of Kiev to a new stage of world development, his state reached a high level of political and military power.

The article describes the reign of Yaroslav the Wise. The main facts of his biography and the results of his reign are briefly mentioned.

Origin of the Grand Duke

Historians continue to argue about the exact date of his birth; many sources indicate the year of birth as 978. His father is the baptist of Rus', Vladimir Svyatoslavovich, and his mother is the Polonsky princess Rogneda Rogvoldovna, whom Prince Vladimir took by force. From this marriage he had three more sons.

According to the chronicles, Yaroslav lived a long life and died at 75 years old. He became the ancestor of many rulers in Europe. For the first time, the reign of Yaroslav the Wise was briefly mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years, written by the monk Nestor.

Rostov prince

The beginning of Yaroslav's independent rule is considered to be 988, when his father placed him as a child in the principality of Rostov. In reality, the power belonged to his mentor, who made all decisions, taking into account the very young age of the prince.

There is almost no historical evidence of the Rostov reign of Prince Yaroslav the Wise. In any case, in the chronicles of that time there is no mention of important historical facts related to the Rostov reign. Many historians believe that the reign of Prince Yaroslav the Wise in Rostov was marked by the emergence of a city named Yaroslavl in his honor. The year 1010 is officially considered the year of its founding.

Beginning of reign

In 1010 (1011), after the death of one of the eldest sons of Grand Duke Vladimir Vysheslav and contrary to the expectations of Yaroslav's elder brother Svyatopolk, Vladimir appointed Yaroslav to rule Novgorod. Compared to the Rostov princedom, the Novgorod princedom was considered higher, but the Novgorod prince was also subordinate to the Kyiv prince and was obliged to pay tribute to him.

Rebellion against father

In 1014, Yaroslav refused to pay tribute to Kyiv and rebelled against his father. The reason for such a rebellion is that Vladimir brought his youngest son Boris closer to him and intended to transfer the Kiev throne to him. For the same reason, the eldest of his sons, Svyatopolk, rebelled against Vladimir. For this he was imprisoned and remained in captivity until the death of his father.

To resist his father, Prince Vladimir, Yaroslav hires the Varangians, but the army remains inactive and engages in robbery in Novgorod itself, which causes the righteous anger of the Novgorodians. Prince Vladimir himself cannot engage in single combat with his son, since the Principality of Kyiv is threatened by an attack by the Pechenegs. And the army gathered against Novgorod goes to battle with the steppe nomads. Boris leads the army, since Vladimir by this time is becoming frail and old.

Brother on brother

The confrontation between son and father ends with the death of Vladimir Svyatoslavovich on July 15, 1015. But the battle of two brothers, Svyatopolk and Yaroslav, for the Kiev throne begins. Svyatopolk, popularly nicknamed the Accursed, killed three of his brothers on the way to the throne.

Several times Yaroslav and Svyatopolk the Accursed met in deadly confrontation. In 1018 a decisive battle took place. Svyatopolk and his father-in-law, the Polish king Boleslav the Brave, again invaded Kievan Rus. This time they defeated Yaroslav, who returned to Novgorod and wanted to flee to Scandinavia. However, the Novgorodians forced their prince to continue the fight. In the spring of 1019, on the Alt River, Svyatopolk was finally defeated and fled. According to some historical sources, on the way to Poland, Yaroslav’s soldiers overtook him and killed him. But Yaroslav is in no hurry to occupy the Kiev throne, since his nephew Bryachislav and brother Mstislav lay claim to it.

Fight for Kyiv

In 1019, Yaroslav married for the second time. His chosen one is the Swedish princess Ingigerda (in Orthodoxy Irina). It is believed that Yaroslav’s first wife was a Norwegian, her name was Anna, she, along with the prince’s sisters, was captured by the Poles and forever captured in Poland. Many researchers consider the alliance with Ingigerda to be a political move by Yaroslav in order to eliminate unstable relations with the Swedes.

The brothers continued to fight for the Kiev throne with varying degrees of success until 1026, when Mstislav defeated Yaroslav’s troops and moved the capital to Chernigov. He proposed to the prince to sit down in Kyiv and divide the administration of the lands along the Dnieper, leaving the entire right coast for Yaroslav. A peace treaty was concluded. But even being the master of the Kyiv throne, Yaroslav did not leave Novgorod until the death of Mstislav, that is, until 1035, confident that the Novgorodians would support him under any circumstances. Only after the death of Mstislav in 1035 did Yaroslav the Wise become the autocrat of Kievan Rus. The years of his reign became the heyday of Rus'.

To avoid claims to the Kiev throne from his younger brother, who reigned in Pskov, Yaroslav imprisoned Sudislav in prison.

Chronology of military actions

The history of the reign of Yaroslav the Wise contains numerous references to military operations. Here are just a few of them:

• 1029 - campaign to help Mstislav against the Yasses, expelling them from Tmutarakan (now Krasnodar region);
• 1031 - campaign together with Mstislav against the Poles, as a result the cities of Przemysl and Cherven were conquered;
• 1036 - victory over the Pecheneg troops and liberation of Ancient Rus' from their raids;
• 1040 and 1044 - military actions against Lithuania.

Results of the reign of Yaroslav the Wise. Politics and state

The period in power is 37 years. The reign of Yaroslav the Wise is considered the period of the rise of the Principality of Kyiv, when many European states sought a military and political union with it. As a talented politician, Yaroslav the Wise preferred diplomacy to any military action. He pragmatically arranged marriage alliances for his ten children and other relatives with European rulers, which served the security purposes of the state. It is known that he paid a symbolic annual tribute to the Varangians - 300 hryvnia of silver, which was very little, but maintained peace on the northern borders.

Yaroslav the Wise did a lot for the state. He spent the years of his reign not only on strengthening military power, but also on organizing life in the state according to the laws. Under him, the Church Charter and the code of laws “Yaroslav’s Truth” were adopted, which is considered the most ancient part of the collection of norms of ancient law “Russian Truth”.

Being an educated man, Yaroslav also takes care of the education of his subjects: he also opens libraries. was opened by him in the St. Sophia Cathedral.

His plans included solving another important problem - the transfer of power. which flared up between receivers, plunged the country into ruin and disaster, weakened it and made it easy prey for external enemies. Often, contenders for the main throne, in their own selfish interests, hired foreign troops, which committed outrages and plundered the population. Yaroslav, as a talented politician, certainly understood the importance of improving the transfer of power, but this problem was never resolved due to his death.

Religious implications

The results of the reign of Yaroslav the Wise are not limited only to political achievements. He did a lot to strengthen Christianity in the state. In 1051, the Russian Church was finally freed from the influence of Constantinople, having for the first time independently elected at the Episcopal Council. A large number of Byzantine books were translated into Church Slavonic, and considerable funds were allocated from the treasury for their correspondence.

The reign of Yaroslav the Wise was marked by the founding of many monasteries and churches. The monasteries of Kiev-Pechersk and Yuri were revered not only as church centers, but also as social and cultural centers. In 1037, construction began on the famous St. Sophia Cathedral, in which Yaroslav’s ashes were subsequently buried. By his order in 1036-1037. The famous Kyiv Golden Gate was erected, which, according to Yaroslav's plan, was supposed to symbolize the movement of the center of Orthodoxy to Kievan Rus.

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

Kyiv after the death of Vladimir

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

Rise to power

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

Development of Kyiv

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

Yaroslav's truth

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

Church activities of Prince Yaroslav the Wise

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

Development of education and writing

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

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

Foreign policy

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

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

Russian Prince Yaroslav the Wise pursued a balanced and consistent foreign policy aimed at strengthening the international position of the state and maintaining the authority of his country.

The will written by Yaroslav the Wise

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

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

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

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

Biography

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

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

The beginning of the “golden” time of Kievan Rus

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

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

Foreign policy

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

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

Domestic policy

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

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

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

The prince's personal life

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

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

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

Results of government and reform

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

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

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

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

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