Svyatoslav received the position and title of great commander at the age of about three years. His father, a direct descendant of the first Rurik Igor, was killed by the Drevlyans, but he himself turned out to be too small to lead the state. Therefore, until he came of age, his mother, Olga, ruled in Kyiv. But everyone has their time, and Svyatoslav Igorevich also left his indelible mark on history, which we will talk about today.
Biography of Prince Svyatoslav: the story of a great warrior
If you rely on the information given to us ancient Russian chronicles, then Svyatoslav was the only son of Igor, the direct heir of the first Rurik, essentially being his grandson. The boy's mother was Princess Olga, who has a rather vague origin. Many believe that she is the daughter of Oleg, nicknamed the Prophetic, others call the Varangian princess Helga, and still others completely shrug their shoulders, thinking that she was an ordinary Pskov peasant woman. It is not possible to find out exactly in what year she gave birth to Svyatoslav; there are only somewhat scattered indications from ancient scrolls.
According to the Ipatiev Chronicle, the birth of Svyatoslav dates back to 942, just at the time when Igor brought defeat after an unsuccessful campaign against Byzantium. However, neither the Tale of Bygone Years nor the Laurentian list contains such information. Historians are puzzled by the fact that such an important event was overlooked by the chroniclers as unimportant. IN literary works sometimes another date is given - 920, but they cannot be trusted as historical sources.
All the ancestors of Grand Duke Svyatoslav bore Scandinavian (Varangian) names, he became the first to be named in Slavic. However, historians were looking for a catch here too. For example, Vasily Tatishchev found Byzantine scrolls in which this name was read as Sfendoslavos (), from which he concluded that this is a combination of the Greek version Sven or Svent and the Russian ending -slav. Over time, the first part of the name was transformed into the variant Holy (holy).
Personal qualities and childhood of the prince
You can find the first documentary mention of the name Svyatoslav in the agreement that his father Igor drew up with Byzantium in 944. According to scattered information, Rurikovich was killed by the Drevlyans for excessive greed in 945 or even in 955, but the first date seems more likely. After this, Igor’s wife and mother of the future prince Olga waited another year and went on a military campaign to take revenge on her rebellious subjects.
According to the legends that have reached us, her little son was also with her at that time. The Tale of Bygone Years says that he swung and threw a heavy spear, which flew between the horse’s ears and fell at his feet. And so began the extermination of the Drevlyans for the murder of the prince. The boy really grew up warlike and brave, while constantly being with his mother. He was raised not by nannies and mothers, but by falconers and warriors.
It is worth saying a few words about the appearance of the young and brave prince, all of whose thoughts were aimed exclusively at military achievements, campaigns, battles and great victories. The famous Byzantine historian and writer Leo the Deacon writes that he saw Svyatoslav on a boat, along with his subjects. He sat at the oars like the others, not disdaining hard work if necessary. The same source writes that he was of average height, with light blue eyes. His head was clean-shaven, only a tuft of blond hair stuck out on the top, a sign of a princely family.
The deacon writes that he was a young man of strong build, stocky and handsome, despite the slightly gloomy expression on his face. In one ear Svyatoslav wore a gold earring decorated with a carbuncle, his nose was snub-nosed, and an early mustache appeared above his upper lip. Russian professor Sergei Solovyov believes that he had a sparse beard and two braids, braided in the Scandinavian style.
Reign of Prince Svyatoslav
It is believed that until the very beginning of his reign in Kyiv, Svyatoslav was constantly with his mother Olga, but this does not fit with some historical information. The Byzantine emperor of that time, Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, noted that Novgorod in 949 was ruled by “Sfendoslav, son of Ingor, Archon of Russia.” Therefore, many believe that the young prince was placed on the throne of this city long before his father’s untimely death. However, this is in no way consistent with the timing. There is evidence from the same emperor that Svyatoslav was in Olga’s embassy during her visit to Constantinople in 957.
The beginning of the reign
The mother of the young Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich, Grand Duchess Olga, was early imbued with Byzantine culture. Around 955-957, she was baptized, going to Constantinople for this, where she was even given her own bishop for these purposes. After this, she repeatedly asked her son to follow her example, but he was a convinced pagan and only laughed at his mother, believing that she had simply come across a whim. And besides, among the pagan army it would hardly have been possible for a Christian to earn authority.
As already mentioned, Leo the Deacon says that Olga’s embassy in Constantinople also included Svyatoslav’s people, but they received very few gifts, even less than her slaves at the first reception. During the second visit, the name of the heir is not mentioned at all. The Soviet historian and philologist believes that everything is much more banal. He says that Svyatoslav came to woo the Greek princess, which he was politely, but quite understandably, refused. Therefore, after the first reception, he simply went home, becoming a pagan for the rest of his life.
The history of Prince Svyatoslav is quite confusing and vague, but his attitude towards Christianity as a whole can be traced perfectly. The first missionary and Archbishop Adalbert of Magdeburg writes that in 595, Queen Olga of the Rugs sent an embassy to Otto I the Great, King of Germany, where the issues of the general baptism of Rus' were discussed. He did not fail to immediately send a bishop with his retinue, but their mission in Kyiv in 961 ended in nothing, that is, a complete failure.
This may indicate that at that time it was not Olga, a convinced Christian, who was in power, but her stubborn offspring. The following information already concerns the year 964. The famous Nestor in his “Tale...” talks about what a brave and strong warrior the Prince of Rus' Svyatoslav was, what respect he enjoyed among his squad and what glory he covered himself with before the people.
On the throne: achievements and military campaigns
Around 960-961, the Khazar king Joseph complained in a letter to the dignitary of the Cordoba caliphate, Hasdai ibn Shafrut, that he was waging an endless and stubborn war with the Rus, which he could neither win nor complete. He believed that by not letting them by sea to Derbent, he was protecting all Islamic lands, along with the Muslim faith, since this army could conquer Baghdad. Indeed, in previous years the Russians had successfully repaired almost all of the Khazar tributaries - the East European Slavs. The Russians wanted to get the strategic Kerch Strait and Poddonye, so war was clearly inevitable, and no Joseph could stand in their way.
- Trip to Khazaria.
According to the “Tale...” in 964 or 965, Grand Duke Svyatoslav set out towards the Oka and Volga. On the way, he met the Vyatichi, but did not conquer them and impose tribute, since, apparently, he pursued other goals. The following year he came close to Khazaria, namely to Belaya Vezha (Sarkel, today located under the water of the Tsimlyansk Reservoir). The Khazars came out to meet the prince with their kagan and suffered a crushing defeat. The capital of Khazaria, the city of Itil, Semender and many others upstream of the Volga were plundered by the Russians.
Svyatoslav also managed to conquer the Yases, their Ugrians, and the Kasogs. The Arab traveler and geographer of that time, Abul-Qasim Muhammad ibn Haukal an-Nisibi, also names Volga Bulgaria among the prince’s “trophies” in 968 or 969. He managed to crush the previously strong Khazar Khaganate, and at the same time the city of Tmutarakan joined Rus'. According to some sources, the Russians stood in Itil until 980. But even before that, in 966, the Vyatichi were nevertheless conquered, with tribute imposed on them, as the Tale of Bygone Years writes about.
- Misunderstandings with the Bulgarian kingdom.
Beginning in 967, a conflict suddenly broke out between Byzantium and the Bulgarian kingdom, the causes of which historians interpret in different ways. In the same year or a year later, the Greek emperor Nikephoros II Phocas decided to suck up to Svyatoslav and sent an embassy to him. It carried generous gifts, the historian says, about almost half a ton of gold (15 centinarii), not counting everything else. The main goal of this was, apparently, the crushing of the Bulgarian kingdom, with the wrong hands, as if without taking any special part in it.
The head of the embassy in Kyiv, Klokir, “resolved” the issues with Svyatoslav and agreed not only on the conquest of the Bulgarian kingdom, but also that he would help him take away the Byzantine throne. In 968, Russian troops entered Bulgaria and won the decisive battle near Dorostole (Silistra), although they failed to take the fortress itself. But they managed to capture more than eight dozen other fortified cities. He established his settlement in Pereyaslavets, on the Danube River, where he was also brought gifts from the Greeks.
But then news came that the rebellious Pechenegs, knowing when the prince was not in the city, laid siege to Kyiv and Svyatoslav Igorevich had to quickly return home. Russian historian Anatoly Novoseltsev believes that the Khazars could have encouraged the nomads to take such a step, but Byzantine intervention cannot be completely ruled out, because this country has always been distinguished by unscrupulous decisions for its own benefit. The prince and his horse squad easily drove the crowds of Pechenegs back to the steppe, but did not want to stay at home, even despite the death of his beloved, albeit often blamed, mother, Grand Duchess Olga, who was later recognized as a saint.
Geographically, Pereyaslovets, which Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich loved so much, is very difficult to determine. Many believe that this is a port town on the Danube, called Pereslav or Pereslav Maly. Tatishchev cites evidence that while Svyatoslav was scaring the Pechenegs in Kiev, his governor in Pereyaslovets Volk had to constantly defend himself from Bulgarian raids, which again indicates the proximity of the Bulgarian capital of Preslav the Great. There is also evidence that during the last battle, the Kyiv prince managed to capture the Bulgarian Tsar Boris himself.
- Byzantine war.
Svyatoslav did not manage to sit quietly in Pereyaslovets, although he was not the type of person to simply stay in place. He was drawn to battle, to battle, to win for himself and the people glory and wealth that would not be forgotten forever and ever. Already in 970, he made a deal with the Bulgarians, Ugrians (Hungarians) and Pechenegs, who were subordinate to him, and attacked the historical region of Thrace, belonging to Byzantium. Leo the Deacon says that the Kyiv prince had more than thirty thousand warriors on his side, while the Greek commander Vardas Sklerus could have had no more than twelve thousand warriors.
The Russian army came very close to Constantinople (Constantinople) and besieged Arcadiopolis. There, the Pechenegs were first surrounded and killed, followed by the Bulgarians, and only then Svyatoslav’s squad was defeated. This is what the Deacon says, but The Tale of Bygone Years interprets events somewhat differently. It says that the Grand Duke approached the very walls of the capital, did not attack, but only took a rich tribute.
Contrary to early expectations, Byzantium remained very dissatisfied with the Russian occupation of the Bulgarian possessions. Instead of a weak Christian neighbor, the Greeks received a strong, courageous and brave pagan who was not ready to stop there. Emperor John I Tzimiskes, who came to power in 969, began to prepare for war with the Rus, realizing that it would be impossible to resolve issues with them by agreement. In the early spring of 971, the ruler personally, accompanied by five thousand soldiers, crossed the Balkan Mountains, and the main part of the army followed, under the command of the famous eunuch Vasily Lekapin.
In Pereyaslovets they learned about John’s strike force quite late, so they had to take refuge behind the walls of the city, although at that time there was a squad of eight thousand warriors there. This was a fatal mistake, as Byzantine help arrived and they took the city by storm. Then many Russian soldiers died, and Volk and his comrades managed to hide in the fortress of the palace of Tsar Simeon. Svyatoslav, who was just on the way, tried to recapture the city, but he failed. He was besieged in a symbolic place - the Dorostol fortress, where it all began, and after three months of grueling skirmishes and hunger he began to seek peace. He gave Bulgaria to Byzantium, and he himself was released on the condition that his own father be restored from 944 (military trade agreement).
Personal life and death of the great warrior Svyatoslav Igorevich
The reign of Prince Svyatoslav is filled with military exploits and victories. He himself, as if he were not of noble birth, took up arms and always fought in the front ranks. However, it wouldn’t hurt to tell a little about what he was like in everyday life, whether he had children, and what legacy this man left behind. He always stood his ground, defended the faith of his ancestors, protected the borders of the state and tried to expand them as much as possible, therefore even descendants as distant as you and I can properly appreciate his contribution to the history of the great Kievan Rus.
Family life: residence, marriages and children
The chroniclers of that time have very little information about the weddings of the Grand Duke of Kyiv. Apparently special attention he did not pay attention to this moment, but was more occupied with military affairs. Prince Svyatoslav's policy was more directed outward than inward, this also played a role. Kyiv is considered his main residence, but the ruler appeared there quite rarely. He did not like his capital and felt better in freedom, for example, in the same Pereyaslovets, where he knew that everything was under control.
“The Tale of Bygone Years” quotes his words, as if he were writing to his mother, calling him home, that “I don’t like to sit in Kyiv, I want to live in Pereyaslavets,” “where all the blessings flow: from the Greek land gold, pavoloki, wine, various fruits ; from the Czech Republic and from Hungary silver and horses; From Rus' are furs and wax, honey and slaves.” However, there is information about at least three sons.
- Yaropolk Svyatoslavovich (born in 955), Prince of Kiev (972-978), Prince of Novgorod (977-978).
- Oleg Svyatoslavich (born in 955), prince of the Drevlyans (970-977).
- Vladimir Svyatoslavich, also known as Vladimir I, Vladimir the Great, Vladimir the Baptist, Vladimir the Saint (born around 960), prince of Novgorod (970-988) and Kiev (978-1015).
History does not indicate the names or indications of the relationship of the mothers of the first two offspring. But something is already known about Vladimir’s mother. Her name was Malusha Lyubechanka and she was not of a noble family, but served as a housekeeper for Svyatoslav’s mother Olga when she was still just a child. After this she was given as a concubine to the prince. According to legend, it was her brother who became the prototype for creating the image of the Russian hero Dobrynya Nikitich.
The ninth-century Byzantine chronicler and official John Skylitzes speaks of another brother of Vladimir, named Sfeng, who in 1016 allegedly helped the Greeks suppress the rebellion of George Zulus in Chersonesos. However, the Russian historian Alexander Solovyov believes that we are not talking about another son of Svyatoslav, but about his grandson, the son of Vladimir Mstislav the Brave, Prince of Tmutarakan and Chernigov.
Betrayal and death of a brave warrior
After concluding a separate peace with Byzantium, Svyatoslav and his army were safely sent home, where he went, boarding the boats. However, realizing that he would never leave the Greeks alone, the emperor ordered the Pechenegs wandering around Kyiv to be notified of his return, surrounded by a very small army. The Khazar Khaganate was completely defeated, and the routes to the East were open; the cunning Byzantines could not miss such a chance.
In 971, the prince approached the Dnieper and wanted to climb along it to Kyiv, but the governor, whose name was preserved in the “Tale...”, as Sveneld, warned that a hundred higher above the rapids stood the Pechenegs, ready to destroy the remnants of Svyatoslav’s squad. However, having approached the rapids by land, he did not escape the battle, since he was attacked by the Pecheneg prince Kurya, who killed Igor’s son. The same information is confirmed by the Byzantine Leo the Deacon. He says that the Russian army was ambushed by the Patsenaks (Pechenegs).
The great Russian historian Nikolai Karamzin, however, like all his followers, believe that it was the Greeks who convinced the Pechenegs to attack the Russians and kill them. They feared the growing power and influence of Kievan Rus. If you analyze the treatise of Konstantin Porphyrogenitus “On the Administration of the Empire”, you can find lines in which it is written in plain text that one should make friends with the Patsenaks in order to jointly fight the Ugrians (Hungarians) and Russians. Nestor the chronicler attributes the death of Svyatoslav to the fact that he disobeyed the will of his parents and did not accept baptism, as Olga ordered him. However, such a development of events is extremely unlikely.
Perpetuating memory among the people
The personality of the great warrior Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich did not immediately attract artists, although his contemporaries remembered many war songs about him. Russian poets and artists pulled out the image of a glorious warrior, brave and incorruptible, shook off the centuries-old dust and used it during the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774. After all, all this happened again on the Danube, it was easy to draw an analogy. For example, in Ivan Akimov’s film “ Grand Duke Svyatoslav kissing his mother and children upon returning from the Danube to Kyiv” shows all the tossing of the warrior’s soul between family and duty to the state.
By the nineteenth century, interest in the figure of Svyatoslav had subsided somewhat. However, in 1843, Alexander Fomich Veltman’s story “Raina, the Bulgarian Princess”, about the Bulgarian wars of the prince, was published. At the dawn of the twentieth century, the sculpture “Svyatoslav on the way to Tsargrad” was erected, created by Evgeniy Lanceray, a Russian animal sculptor. The image of the stubborn prince has already been used in our days by neopagans as an example of steadfastness of views and worldview. There are monuments to Svyatoslav Igorevich in Kyiv, Mariupol, Serpukhov, Zaporozhye.
One of the monuments to the 1040th anniversary of the defeat of the Khazar Khaganate, which was first planned to be erected in Belgorod, but in the end it was erected in the village of Kholki, caused quite a stir. The whole point is that the sculptor Vyacheslav Klykov depicted a six-pointed Star of David on the shield of the defeated Khazars, which was seen as anti-Semitism. As a result, the shield was changed, and the sculpture itself was placed in the village so that it would not be an eyesore. Svyatoslav is also a symbol of the ultras of the Dynamo football club from Kyiv. They even publish a newspaper with the same name.
Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich
(brave) 942 - March 972.
Son of Prince Igor and Princess Olga.
Prince of Novgorod 945-969
Grand Duke of Kyiv from 964 to 972
The Grand Duke, who forever entered the history of Rus' as a warrior prince. There was no limit to the prince’s courage and dedication. Not much is known about Svyatoslav Igorevich; historians, for example, argue about the date of his birth. However, despite some vagueness and uncertainty, the chronicles brought to us some facts by which we can characterize Svyatoslav.
The first time the name of Svyatoslav is mentioned is in a chronicle describing the events of 945, when Svyatoslav’s mother, Princess Olga, went with an army to the Drevlyans to avenge the death of her husband, Prince Igor. As a child, he took part in his first battle. Svyatoslav sat on a horse in front of the Kyiv squad. And when both armies came together, Svyatoslav threw a spear towards the Drevlyans. Svyatoslav was just a baby, so the spear flew away not far and fell in front of the horse on which Svyatoslav was sitting. But the Kyiv governors said: “The prince has already begun, let us follow, squad, the prince.” This was the ancient custom of the Rus - only the prince could start the battle. And it doesn’t matter what age the prince was.
Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich was raised as a warrior from childhood. Svyatoslav’s teacher and mentor was Asmud, who taught the young pupil to be the first in battle and hunting, to stay firmly in the saddle, control a boat, swim, and hide from enemy eyes both in the forest and in the steppe. Svyatoslav was taught the general art of war by the chief Kiev governor Sveneld.
Since the mid-60s. In the 10th century, we can count the beginning of the independent reign of Prince Svyatoslav. The Byzantine historian Leo the Deacon left a description of him: of medium height, with a broad chest, blue eyes, thick eyebrows, beardless, but with a long mustache, only one strand of hair on his shaved head, which indicated his noble origin. In one ear he wore an earring with two pearls.
Svyatoslav was not particularly interested in the internal affairs of the state. The prince did not like to sit in Kyiv; he was attracted by new conquests, victories, and rich booty. He always took part in the battle with his squad. He wore simple military armor. On campaigns he did not have a tent, nor did he carry carts, boilers and meat with him. He ate with everyone else, roasting some game over the fire. His warriors were just as hardy and unpretentious. Svyatoslav's squad, unencumbered by convoys, moved very quickly and appeared unexpectedly in front of the enemy, instilling fear in them. And Svyatoslav himself was not afraid of his opponents. When he went on a campaign, he always sent a message to foreign lands - a warning: “I want to go against you.”
Svyatoslav made his first big campaign in 964 - against the Khazar Kaganate. It was a strong Jewish state in the lower reaches of the Volga, which imposed tribute on the Slavic tribes. Svyatoslav's squad left Kyiv and, ascending the Desna River, entered the lands of the Vyatichi, one of the large Slavic tribes that were tributaries of the Khazars at that time. Prince of Kyiv ordered the Vyatichi to pay tribute not to the Khazars, but to Kyiv, and moved his army further - against the Volga Bulgarians, Burtases, Khazars, and then the North Caucasian tribes of the Yases and Kasogs. This unprecedented campaign lasted for about four years. Victorious in all battles, the prince crushed, captured and destroyed the capital of the Jewish Khazaria, the city of Itil, and took the well-fortified fortresses of Sarkel on the Don and Semender in the North Caucasus. On the shores of the Kerch Strait he founded an outpost of Russian influence in this region - the city of Tmutarakan, the center of the future Tmutarakan principality.
Svyatoslav made his second big campaign to Bulgaria in 968. Kalokir, the ambassador of the Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros Phocas, persistently called him there, hoping to pit two peoples dangerous to his empire in a war of extermination. The Russian prince was obliged to come to the rescue of the allied power under an agreement concluded with Byzantium in 944 by Prince Igor. In addition, the Byzantine king sent gifts of gold, accompanying a request for military assistance. In addition, Bulgaria had already adopted Christianity, and as you know, Prince Svyatoslav was a follower of the ancient faith of his ancestors and a great opponent of Christianity. To his mother’s persuasion to accept Christianity, he replied: “The Christian faith is an ugliness!”
Svyatoslav with a 10,000-strong army defeated a 30,000-strong Bulgarian army and captured the city of Malaya Preslava. Svyatoslav named this city Pereyaslavets. Svyatoslav even wanted to move the capital from Kyiv to Pereyaslavets, citing the fact that this city is located in the middle of his possessions, and “all the benefits from the Greek Land flow here” (Pereyaslavets was located at the intersection of trade routes to the Balkans and Western Europe). At this time, Svyatoslav received alarming news from Kyiv that the city was besieged by the Pechenegs. The Bulgarian Tsar Peter entered into a secret alliance with Nicephorus Phocas. He, in turn, bribed the Pecheneg leaders, who agreed to attack Kyiv in the absence of the Grand Duke. Leaving part of the squad in Pereyaslavets, the prince hurried to Kyiv and defeated the Pechenegs. Three days later, Princess Olga died. Svyatoslav divided the Russian land between his sons: he placed Yaropolk as prince in Kyiv, sent Oleg to the Drevlyansky land, and Vladimir to Novgorod. He himself hurried to his possessions on the Danube.
While the Pechenegs were being beaten, an uprising arose in Pereyaslavets, and the Bulgarians drove the Russian warriors out of the city. The prince could not come to terms with this state of affairs, and again led his troops to the west. He defeated the army of Tsar Boris, captured him and took possession of the entire country from the Danube to the Balkan Mountains. In the spring of 970, Svyatoslav crossed the Balkans, took Philippol (Plovdiv) by storm and reached Arkadiopol. His squads had only four days left to travel across the plain to Constantinople. Here the battle with the Byzantines took place. Svyatoslav won, but lost many soldiers and did not go further, but, taking “many gifts” from the Greeks, returned back to Pereyaslavets.
In 971 the war continued. This time the Byzantines were well prepared. Newly prepared Byzantine armies moved towards Bulgaria from all sides, many times outnumbering the Svyatoslav squads stationed there. With heavy fighting, fighting off the advancing enemy, the Russians retreated to the Danube. There, in the city of Dorostol, the last Russian fortress in Bulgaria, cut off from their native land, Svyatoslav’s army found itself under siege. For more than two months the Byzantines besieged Dorostol.
Finally, on July 22, 971, the Russians began their last battle. Having gathered the soldiers before the battle, Svyatoslav uttered his famous words: “We have nowhere to go, we have to fight - willy-nilly or not. Let us not disgrace the Russian land, but let us lie here as bones, for the dead have no shame. If my head falls, then decide for yourself what to do.” And the soldiers answered him: “Where your head lies, there we will lay our heads.”
The battle was very stubborn, and many Russian soldiers died. Prince Svyatoslav was forced to retreat back to Dorostol. And the Russian prince decided to make peace with the Byzantines, so he consulted with his squad: “If we don’t make peace and they find out that we are few, they will come and besiege us in the city. But the Russian land is far away, the Pechenegs are fighting with us, and who will help us then? Let's make peace, because they have already committed to pay us tribute - that's enough for us. If they stop paying us tribute, then again, having gathered many soldiers, we will go from Rus' to Constantinople.” And the soldiers agreed that their prince was speaking correctly.
Svyatoslav began negotiations for peace with John Tzimiskes. Their historical meeting took place on the banks of the Danube and was described in detail by a Byzantine chronicler who was in the emperor’s retinue. Tzimiskes, surrounded by his entourage, was waiting for Svyatoslav. The prince arrived on a boat, sitting in which he rowed along with ordinary soldiers. The Greeks could distinguish him only because the shirt he was wearing was cleaner than that of other warriors and because of the earring with two pearls and a ruby inserted into his ear. This is how an eyewitness described the formidable Russian warrior: “Svyatoslav was of average height, neither too tall nor too short, with thick eyebrows, blue eyes, a flat nose and a thick long mustache hanging on his upper lip. His head was completely naked , only on one side of it hung a strand of hair, signifying the antiquity of the family. The neck is thick, the shoulders are wide and the whole figure is quite slender.”
Having made peace with the Greeks, Svyatoslav and his squad went to Rus' along the rivers in boats. One of the governors warned the prince: “Go around, prince, the Dnieper rapids on horseback, for the Pechenegs are standing at the rapids.” But the prince did not listen to him. And the Byzantines informed the Pecheneg nomads about this: “The Rus, Svyatoslav with a small squad, will go past you, taking away from the Greeks a lot of wealth and countless prisoners.” And when Svyatoslav approached the rapids, it turned out that it was completely impossible for him to pass. Then the Russian prince decided to wait it out and stayed for the winter. With the beginning of spring, Svyatoslav again moved to the rapids, but was ambushed and died. The chronicle conveys the story of the death of Svyatoslav as follows: “Svyatoslav came to the rapids, and Kurya, the prince of Pechenezh, attacked him, and killed Svyatoslav, and took his head, and made a cup from the skull, bound it, and drank from it.” This is how Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich died. This happened in 972.
As already mentioned, Svyatoslav divided Kievan Rus itself in 970, before going to Danube Bulgaria, between his sons: Yaropolk got Kyiv, Oleg got the Drevlyansky land, and Vladimir got Novgorod.
Svyatoslav Igorevich(957–972) already bore a Slavic name, but his character was still a typical Varangian warrior, a warrior. As soon as he had time to mature, he formed himself a large and brave squad and with it began to seek glory and prey for himself. He left the influence of his mother early and “was angry with his mother” when she urged him to be baptized: “How can I change my faith alone? The squad will start laughing at me,” he said. He got along well with his squad, led a harsh marching life with them, and therefore moved with unusual ease: “walking easily, like a pardus (leopard),” as the chronicle puts it.Monument to Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich in Zaporozhye
While his mother was still alive, leaving the Principality of Kiev in Olga’s care, Svyatoslav made his first brilliant campaigns. He went to the Oka and subjugated the Vyatichi, who then paid tribute to the Khazars; then he turned to the Khazars and defeated the Khazar kingdom, taking the main cities of the Khazars (Sarkel and Itil). At the same time, Svyatoslav defeated the Yasov and Kasog (Circassian) tribes on the river. Kuban and captured the area at the mouths of the Kuban and on the Azov coast called Tamatarkha (later Tmutarakan). Finally, Svyatoslav penetrated the Volga, ravaged the land of the Kama Bulgarians and took their city of Bolgar. In a word, Svyatoslav defeated and ruined all the eastern neighbors of Rus' that were part of the Khazar power system. Rus' was now becoming the main force in the Black Sea region. But the fall of the Khazar state strengthened the nomadic Pechenegs. All the southern Russian steppes, previously occupied by the Khazars, now fell at their disposal; and Rus' itself soon had to experience great troubles from these nomads.
Returning to Kyiv after his conquests in the East, Svyatoslav Igorevich received an invitation from the Greeks to help Byzantium in its fight against the Danube Bulgarians. Gathering a large army, he conquered Bulgaria and remained there to live in the city of Pereyaslavets on the Danube, since he considered Bulgaria his property. “I want to live in Pereyaslavets Danube,” he said: “there is the middle (center) of my land, all sorts of benefits are collected there: from the Greeks gold, fabrics, wines and fruits, from the Czechs and Ugrians - silver and horses, from Rus' furs, wax and honey and slaves." But he had to return from Bulgaria to Kyiv for a while, because in his absence the Pechenegs attacked Rus' and besieged Kyiv. The people of Kiev with Princess Olga and Svyatoslav’s children barely managed to escape the formidable enemy and sent to Svyatoslav with reproaches and a request for help. Svyatoslav came and drove the Pechenegs into the steppe, but did not stay in Kyiv. The dying Olga asked him to wait in Rus' until her death. He fulfilled her wish, but, having buried his mother, he immediately left for Bulgaria, leaving his sons as princes in Rus'. However, the Greeks did not want to allow Russian domination over the Bulgarians and demanded the removal of Svyatoslav back to Rus'. Svyatoslav refused to leave the banks of the Danube. The war began, and the Byzantine emperor John Tzimiskes defeated Svyatoslav. After a series of difficult efforts, he locked the Russians in the fortress of Dorostol (now Silistria) and forced Svyatoslav to make peace and cleanse Bulgaria.
Meeting of Prince Svyatoslav with Emperor John Tzimiskes on the banks of the Danube. Painting by K. Lebedev, ca. 1880
Svyatoslav's army, exhausted by the war, on the way home was captured in the Dnieper rapids by the Pechenegs and scattered, and Svyatoslav himself was killed (972). Thus the Pechenegs completed the defeat of the Russian prince, begun by the Greeks.
After the death of Svyatoslav Igorevich in Rus', civil strife occurred between his sons (Yaropolk, Oleg and Vladimir), in which Yaropolk and Oleg died, and Vladimir remained sovereign. The state, shaken by strife, showed signs of internal decay, and Vladimir had to spend a lot of effort to discipline the Varangians who served him and pacify the renegade tribes (Vyatichi, Radimichi). After Svyatoslav’s failure, the external power of Rus' also began to shake. Vladimir waged many wars with various neighbors over the border volosts, and also fought with the Kama Bulgarians. He also became involved in a war with the Greeks, as a result of which he converted to Christianity according to the Greek rite. This the most important event The first period of power of the Varangian dynasty in Rus' ended.
This is how the Principality of Kiev was formed and strengthened, politically uniting most of the tribes of the Russian Slavs.
941 IGOR'S CAMPAIGN TO CONSTANTINOPLE.
Prince Svyatoslav
Constantinople did not comply with the agreement with Russia, and most of the Byzantine troops were engaged in the war with the Arabs. Prince Igor led a huge squadron of 10 thousand ships south along the Dnieper and the Black Sea to the south. The Russians devastated the entire southwestern coast of the Black Sea and the shores of the Bosphorus Strait. On June 11, Theophanes, who led the Byzantine troops, was able to burn a large number of Russian boats with “Greek fire” and drive them away from Constantinople. Part of Igor’s squad landed on the Asia Minor coast of the Black Sea and in small detachments began to plunder the provinces of Byzantium, but by the fall they were forced out onto the boats. In September, near the coast of Thrace, the patrician Theophanes again managed to burn and sink the Russian boats. The survivors were plagued by a “stomach epidemic” on the way home. Igor himself returned to Kyiv with a dozen rooks.
A year later, Igor’s second campaign against Constantinople was possible. But the emperor paid off, and the princely squad was glad to receive tribute without a fight. In the next year, 944, peace between the parties was formalized by an agreement, although less favorable than in 911 under Prince Oleg. Among those who concluded the agreement was the ambassador of Svyatoslav, the son of Prince Igor, who reigned in “Nemogard” - Novgorod.
942 BIRTH OF SVYATOSLAV.
This date appears in the Ipatiev and other chronicles. Prince Svyatoslav was the son of Prince Igor the Old and Princess Olga. The date of birth of Prince Svyatoslav is controversial. Due to the advanced age of his parents - Prince Igor was over 60 years old, and Princess Olga was about 50. It is believed that Svyatoslav was a young man over 20 by the mid-40s. But it is more likely that Svyatoslav’s parents were much younger than he was as a mature husband in the 40s of the 9th century.
943 -945. RUSSIAN TROODS DESTROY THE CITY OF BERDAA ON THE CASPIAN SEA.
Detachments of Rus appeared in the vicinity of Derbent on the shores of the Caspian Sea. They failed to capture a strong fortress and, using ships from the harbor of Derbent, moved by sea along the Caspian coast to the south. Having reached the confluence of the Kura River and the Caspian Sea, the Russians climbed the river to the largest shopping center Azerbaijan city of Berdaa and captured it. Azerbaijan was recently captured by the Daylemite tribes (warlike highlanders of the southern Caspian region) led by Marzban Ibn Muhammad. The troops gathered by Marzban continually besieged the city, but the Rus tirelessly repelled their attacks. After spending a year in the city, completely devastating it, the Rus left Berdaa, having exterminated by that time most of its population. After the blow inflicted by the Russians, the city fell into decay. It is assumed that one of the leaders of this campaign was Sveneld.
945 THE DEATH OF PRINCE IGOR.
Igor entrusted the collection of tribute from the Drevlyans to governor Sveneld. The princely squad, dissatisfied with the quickly rich Sveneld and his people, began to demand that Igor independently collect tribute from the Drevlyans. The Kiev prince took increased tribute from the Drevlyans, returning back he released most of the squad, and he himself decided to return and “collect more”. The indignant Drevlyans “emerged from the city of Iskorosten and killed him and his squad.” Igor was tied to tree trunks and torn in two.
946 OLGA'S REVENGE OF THE DREVLYANS.
Princess Olga
A vivid chronicle story tells about the unsuccessful matchmaking of the Drevlyan prince Mal with Olga, and about the princess’s revenge on the Drevlyans for the murder of Igor. Having dealt with the Drevlyan embassy and exterminated their “deliberate (i.e., senior, noble) husbands,” Olga and her squad went to the Drevlyan land. The Drevlyans went to battle against her. “And when both armies came together, Svyatoslav threw a spear towards the Drevlyans, and the spear flew between the horse’s ears and hit him in the leg, for Svyatoslav was just a child. And Sveneld and Asmund said: “The prince has already begun, let us follow, squad, the prince.” And they defeated the Drevlyans.” Olga’s squad besieged the city of Iskorosten, the capital of the Drevlyansky land, but could not take it. Then, having promised peace to the Drevlyans, she asked them for tribute “from each household, three doves and three sparrows.” The delighted Drevlyans caught the birds for Olga. In the evening, Olga’s warriors released the birds with smoldering tinder (smoldering tinder fungus) tied to them. The birds flew into the city and Iskorosten began to burn. Residents fled from the burning city, where the besieging warriors were waiting for them. Many people were killed, some were taken into slavery. Princess Olga forced the Drevlyans to pay a heavy tribute.
Around 945-969. THE REIGN OF OLGA.
Svyatoslav's mother reigned peacefully until he reached manhood. Having traveled all her possessions, Olga organized the collection of tribute. By creating local “cemeteries”, they became small centers of princely power, where tribute collected from the population flocked. She made a trip to Constantinople in 957, where she converted to Christianity, and Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus himself became her godfather. During Svyatoslav's campaigns, Olga continued to rule the Russian lands.
964-972 RULE OF SVYATOSLAV.
964 SVYATOSLAV'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST VYATICHI.
The Vyatichi are the only Slavic tribal union that lived in the area between the Oka and the upper Volga, which was not part of the sphere of power of the Kyiv princes. Prince Svyatoslav organized a campaign into the lands of the Vyatichi in order to force them to pay tribute. The Vyatichi did not dare to engage in open battle with Svyatoslav. But they refused to pay the tribute, informing the Kyiv prince that they were tributaries of the Khazars.
965 SVYATOSLAV'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE KHAZARS.
Svyatoslav took Sarkel by storm
Khazaria included the Lower Volga region with the capital Itil, the Northern Caucasus, the Azov region and Eastern Crimea. Khazaria fed and grew rich at the expense of other peoples, exhausting them with tributes and predatory raids. Numerous trade routes passed through Khazaria.
Having secured the support of the steppe Pechenegs, the Kiev prince led a strong, well-armed, large army trained in military affairs against the Khazars. The Russian army moved along the Seversky Donets or Don and defeated the army of the Khazar Kagan near Belaya Vezha (Sarkel). They besieged the Sarkel fortress, which was located on a cape washed by the waters of the Don, and on the eastern side a ditch filled with water was dug. The Russian squad, with a well-prepared, sudden assault, took possession of the city.
966 CONQUEST OF VYATICHI.
The Kyiv squad invaded the lands of the Vyatichi for the second time. This time their fate was sealed. Svyatoslav defeated the Vyatichi on the battlefield and imposed tribute on them.
966 VOLGA-CASPIAN CAMPAIGN OF SVYATOSLAV.
Svyatoslav moved to the Volga and defeated the Kama Bolgars. Along the Volga he reached the Caspian Sea, where the Khazars decided to give Svyatoslav battle under the walls of Itil, located at the mouth of the river. The Khazar army of King Joseph was defeated, and the capital of the Khazar Kaganate Itil was devastated. The winners received rich booty, which was loaded onto camel caravans. The Pechenegs plundered the city and then set it on fire. A similar fate befell the ancient Khazar city of Semender on Kum in the Caspian region (the vicinity of modern Makhachkala).
966-967 year. SVYATOSLAV ESTABLISHED TAMAN.
Svyatoslav's squad moved with battles across the North Caucasus and Kuban, through the lands of the Yases and Kasogs (ancestors of the Ossetians and Circassians). An alliance was concluded with these tribes, which strengthened the military power of Svyatoslav.
The campaign ended with the conquest of Tmutarakan, then it was the possession of the Khazars of Tamatarkh on the Taman Peninsula and Kerch. Subsequently, the Russian Tmutarakan principality arose there. The Old Russian state became the main force on the shores of the Caspian Sea and on the coast of Pontus (Black Sea). Kievan Rus strengthened in the south and east. The Pechenegs kept peace and did not disturb Rus'. Svyatoslav tried to gain a foothold in the Volga region, but he failed.
967 MEETING OF SVYATOSLAV WITH THE BYZANTINE AMBASSADOR KALOKIR.
Vladimir Kireev. "Prince Svyatoslav"
The Emperor of Constantinople, Nikephoros Phocas, was busy with the war with the Arabs. Deciding to eliminate the threat to the Byzantine colonies in Crimea, as well as to get rid of the Bulgarians, to whom the Empire had been paying tribute for 40 years, he decided to pit them against the Russians. To do this, the ambassador of Emperor Nicephorus, patrician (Byzantine title) Kalokir, went to the Kyiv prince Svyatoslav. He promised Svyatoslav neutrality and even the support of Byzantium if the prince started a war with Bulgaria. This proposal came from the emperor; Kalokir himself secretly hoped in the future, with the support of Svyatoslav, to overthrow the emperor and take his place.
August 967. ATTACK OF SVYATOSLAV ON THE DANUBE BULGARIA.
Having gathered an army of 60,000 soldiers on his lands, from young “husbands blooming with health,” Svyatoslav moved to the Danube along the route of Prince Igor. Moreover, this time he attacked the Bulgarians suddenly, without the famous “I’m coming to you.” Having passed the Dnieper rapids, part of the Russian troops moved to Danube Bulgaria, along the coast. And the Russian boats went out into the Black Sea and along the coast reached the mouth of the Danube. Where took place decisive battle. Upon landing, the Russians were met by a thirty-thousand-strong Bulgarian army. But unable to withstand the first onslaught, the Bulgarians fled. Having tried to take refuge in Dorostol, the Bulgarians were defeated there too. According to the Tale of Bygone Years, Svyatoslav captured 80 cities in Dnieper Bulgaria and settled in Pereyaslavets. At first the Russian prince did not seek to go beyond the boundaries of Dobrudja; apparently this was agreed upon with the ambassador of the Byzantine emperor.
968 NIKIFOR PHOCAS IS PREPARING FOR WAR WITH SVYATOSLAV.
The Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros Phocas, having learned about the captures of Svyatoslav and the plans of Klaokir, realized what a dangerous ally he called and began preparations for war. He took measures to defend Constantinople, blocked the entrance to the Golden Horn with a chain, installed throwing weapons on the walls, reformed the cavalry - dressed the horsemen in iron armor, armed and trained the infantry. Through diplomatic means, he tried to attract the Bulgarians to his side by negotiating a marriage alliance between the royal houses, and the Pechenegs, probably bribed by Nicephorus, attacked Kyiv.
Spring 968. SIEGE OF Kyiv BY THE PECHENEGS.
Pecheneg raid
The Pechenegs surrounded Kyiv and kept it under siege. Among the besieged were three sons of Svyatoslav, the princes Yaropolk, Oleg and Vladimir and their grandmother Princess Olga. For a long time they were unable to send a messenger from Kyiv. But thanks to the valor of one youth who was able to pass through the Pecheneg camp, posing as a Pecheneg looking for his horse, the people of Kiev managed to convey the news to the governor Petrich, who stood far beyond the Dnieper. The voivode depicted the arrival of a guard, who was supposedly followed by a regiment with the prince “without number.” The cunning of Governor Pretich saved the people of Kiev. The Pechenegs believed all this and retreated from the city. A messenger was sent to Svyatoslav, who told him: “You, prince, are looking for and pursuing a foreign land, but having taken possession of your own, you are too small to take us, your mother and your children.” With a small retinue, the warrior prince mounted his horses and rushed to the capital. Here he gathered “warriors”, united with Petrich’s squad in hot battles, defeated the Pechenegs and drove them to the steppe and restored peace. Kyiv was saved.
When Svyatoslav began to beg to stay in Kyiv, he answered: “I don’t like living in Kyiv, I want to live in Pereyaslavets on the Danube (probably the current Rushchuk). Princess Olga persuaded her son: “You see, I’m sick; where do you want to go from me? (“For she was already ill,” adds the chronicler.) When you bury me, go wherever you want.” Svyatoslav stayed in Kyiv until his mother’s death. During this time, he divided the Russian land between his sons. Yaropolk was imprisoned in Kyiv, Oleg in the Drevlyansky land. And the “robichich” Vladimir’s son from the housekeeper Malusha was asked to join the Princes of Novgorod by the ambassadors. Having completed the division and buried his mother, Svyatoslav, replenishing his squad, immediately set off on a campaign across the Danube.
969 BULGARIAN RESISTANCE IN THE ABSENCE OF SVYATOSLAV.
The Bulgarians did not feel any special changes with his departure to Rus'. In the fall of 969, they prayed to Nikifor Phokas for help against the Rus. The Bulgarian Tsar Peter tried to find support in Constantinople by entering into dynastic marriages of Bulgarian princesses with young Byzantine Caesars. But Nikifor Foka apparently continued to adhere to the agreements with Svyatoslav and did not provide military assistance. Taking advantage of Svyatoslav's absence, the Bulgarians rebelled and knocked the Rus out of several fortresses.
Invasion of Svyatoslav into the lands of the Bulgarians. Miniature of the Manasieva Chronicle
“Russian History” by V.N. Tatishchev tells about the exploits in Bulgaria during Svyatoslav’s absence there of a certain governor Volk (unknown from other sources). The Bulgarians, having learned about the departure of Svyatoslav, besieged Pereyaslavets. The Wolf, experiencing a shortage of food and knowing that many townspeople “had agreement” with the Bulgarians, ordered the boats to be secretly made. He himself announced publicly that he would defend the city to the last man, and defiantly ordered to cut all the horses and salt and dry the meat. At night, the Russians set the city on fire. The Bulgarians rushed to attack, and the Russians, setting out on boats, attacked the Bulgarian boats and captured them. The Wolf detachment left Pereyaslavets and freely went down the Danube, and then by sea to the mouth of the Dniester. On the Dniester, the Wolf met Svyatoslav. Where this story came from and how reliable it is is unknown.
Autumn 969-970. SECOND CAMPAIGN OF SVYATOSLAV TO BULGARIA.
Upon returning to Danube Bulgaria, Svyatoslav again had to overcome the resistance of the Bulgarians, who took refuge, as the chronicle says, in Pereyaslavets. But we must assume that we are talking about Preslav, the capital of Danube Bulgaria, not yet controlled by the Russians, which is south of Pereyaslavets on the Danube. In December 969, the Bulgarians went to battle against Svyatoslav and “the slaughter was great.” The Bulgarians began to prevail. And Svyatoslav said to his soldiers: “Here we fall! Let us stand up courageously, brothers and squad!” And by evening Svyatoslav’s squad won, and the city was taken by storm. The sons of the Bulgarian Tsar Peter, Boris and Roman, were taken prisoner.
Having captured the capital of the Bulgarian kingdom, the Russian prince went beyond Dobruja and reached the Bulgarian-Byzantine border, ruining many cities and drowning the Bulgarian uprising in blood. The Russians had to take the city of Philippopolis (modern Plovdiv) in battle. As a result, the ancient city, founded by King Philip of Macedon in the 4th century BC. e., was devastated, and the 20 thousand surviving inhabitants were impaled. The city was depopulated for a long time.
Emperor John Tzimiskes
December 969. THE COUP OF JOHN TZIMISCES.
The conspiracy was led by his wife, Empress Theophano, and John Tzimiskes, a commander who came from a noble Armenian family and nephew of Nikephoros (his mother was Phocas’ sister). On the night of December 10-11, 969, the conspirators killed Emperor Nicephorus Phocas in his own bedchamber. Moreover, John personally split his skull in two with a sword. John, unlike his predecessor, did not marry Theophano, but exiled her away from Constantinople.
On December 25, the coronation of the new emperor took place. Formally, John Tzimiskes, like his predecessor, was proclaimed co-ruler of the young sons of Romanus II: Basil and Constantine. The death of Nikephoros Phocas finally changed the situation on the Danube, because the new emperor considered it important to get rid of the Russian threat.
A new usurper ascended the Byzantine throne - John, nicknamed Tzimiskes (he received this nickname, meaning “slipper” in Armenian, for his small stature).
Despite his small stature, John was distinguished by extraordinary physical strength and agility. He was brave, decisive, cruel, treacherous and, like his predecessor, possessed the talents of a military leader. At the same time, he was more sophisticated and cunning than Nikifor. Byzantine chroniclers noted his inherent vices - an excessive craving for wine during feasts and greed for bodily pleasures (again, in contrast to the almost ascetic Nikephoros).
The old king of the Bulgarians could not withstand the defeats inflicted by Svyatoslav - he fell ill and died. Soon the entire country, as well as Macedonia and Thrace as far as Philippopolis, fell under the rule of Svyatoslav. Svyatoslav entered into an alliance with the new Bulgarian Tsar Boris II.
Essentially, Bulgaria broke up into zones controlled by the Rus (northeast - Dobrudzha), Boris II (the rest of Eastern Bulgaria, subordinate to him only formally, in fact - by the Rus) and not controlled by anyone except the local elite (Western Bulgaria). It is possible that Western Bulgaria outwardly recognized the power of Boris, but the Bulgarian tsar, surrounded in his capital by a Russian garrison, lost all contact with the territories not affected by the war.
Within six months, all three countries involved in the conflict had new rulers. Olga, a supporter of an alliance with Byzantium, died in Kyiv, Nicephorus Phocas, who invited the Russians to the Balkans, was killed in Constantinople, Peter, who hoped for help from the Empire, died in Bulgaria.
Byzantine emperors during the life of Svyatoslav
Byzantium was ruled by the Macedonian dynasty, which was never violently overthrown. And in Constantinople of the 10th century, a descendant of Basil the Macedonian was always emperor. But when the emperors of the great dynasty were young and politically weak, a co-principal who had actual power sometimes became at the helm of the empire.
Roman I Lakopin (c. 870 - 948, imp. 920 - 945). Usurper-co-ruler of Constantine VII, who married him to his daughter, but tried to create his own dynasty. Under him, the Russian fleet of Prince Igor was burned under the walls of Constantinople (941).
Constantine VII Porphyrogenet (Porphyrogenitus) (905 - 959, imp. 908 - 959, fact. from 945). The emperor is a scientist, the author of edifying works, such as the work “On the Administration of an Empire.” He baptized Princess Olga during her visit to Constantinople (967).
Roman II (939 - 963, imp. from 945, fact. from 959). The son of Constantine VII, husband Feofano died young, leaving two minor sons Vasily and Constantine.
Theophano (after 940 - ?, empress regent in March - August 963). Rumor attributed to her the poisoning of her father-in-law Konstantin Porphyrogenitus and her husband Roman. She was a participant in the conspiracy and murder of her second husband, Emperor Nikephoros Phocas.
Nikephoros II Phocas (912 - 969, emperor from 963). The famous commander who returned Crete to the rule of the empire, then the Byzantine emperor who married Theophano. He continued successful military operations, conquering Cilicia and Cyprus. Killed by John Tzimiskes. He was canonized.
John I Tzimisces (c. 925 - 976, emperor from 969) Svyatoslav's main opponent. After the Russians left Bulgaria. He carried out two eastern campaigns, as a result of which Syria and Phenicia again became provinces of the empire. Presumably poisoned
Vasily Lakapin- the illegitimate son of Roman I, castrated as a child, but who served as the first minister of the empire from 945-985.
Vasily II Bulgarokton (Bulgaro-Slayer) (958 - 1025, cont. from 960, imp. from 963, fact. from 976). The greatest emperor of the Macedonian dynasty. He ruled jointly with his brother Konstantin. He fought numerous wars, especially with the Bulgarians. Under him, Byzantium reached its greatest power. But he was unable to leave a male heir and the Macedonian dynasty soon fell.
Winter 970. THE BEGINNING OF THE RUSSIAN-BYZANTINE WAR.
Having learned about the murder of his ally, Svyatoslav, possibly instigated by Klaokir, decided to begin the fight against the Byzantine usurper. The Rus began to cross the border of Byzantium and devastate the Byzantine provinces of Thrace and Macedonia.
John Tzimiskes tried through negotiations to persuade Svyatoslav to return the conquered regions, otherwise he threatened with war. To this Svyatoslav replied: “Let the emperor not bother to travel to our land: we will soon set up our tents in front of the Byzantine gates, surround the city with a strong rampart, and if he decides to undertake a feat, we will bravely meet him.” At the same time, Svyatoslav advised Tzimiskes to retire to Asia Minor.
Svyatoslav reinforced his army with the Bulgarians, who were dissatisfied with Byzantium, and hired detachments of Pechenegs and Hungarians. The number of this army was 30,000 soldiers. The commander of the Byzantine army was Master Varda Sklir, it consisted of 12,000 soldiers. Therefore, Skleros had to give up most of Thrace to be torn to pieces by the enemy and preferred to sit out in Arcadiopolis. Soon the army of the Kyiv prince approached this city.
970 BATTLE NEAR ARCADIOPOL (ADRIANOPOL).
At the Battle of Arkadiopolis (modern Lüleburgaz in Turkey, about 140 kilometers west of Istanbul), the Rus' onslaught was stopped. The apparent indecisiveness of Bardas Sklera caused the barbarians to become self-confident and disdainful of the Byzantines who were secluded in the city. They wandered around the area, drinking, thinking they were safe. Seeing this, Varda began to implement a plan of action that had long been matured in him. The main role in the upcoming battle was assigned to the patrician John Alakas (by origin, by the way, a Pecheneg). Alakas attacked a detachment consisting of Pechenegs. They became interested in pursuing the retreating Romans and soon came across the main forces, commanded personally by Varda Sklir. The Pechenegs stopped, preparing for battle, and this completely destroyed them. The fact is that the phalanx of the Romans, allowing Alakas and the Pechenegs chasing him through, parted to a considerable depth. The Pechenegs found themselves in the “sack”. Because they did not retreat immediately, time was lost; the phalanxes closed and surrounded the nomads. All of them were killed by the Romans.
The death of the Pechenegs stunned the Hungarians, Rus and Bulgarians. However, they managed to prepare for battle and met the Romans fully armed. Skylitsa reports that the first blow to the advancing army of Bardas Skleros was delivered by the cavalry of the “barbarians,” probably consisting mainly of Hungarians. The onslaught was repelled, and the horsemen took refuge among the foot soldiers. When both armies met, the outcome of the battle was uncertain for a long time.
There is a story about how “a certain Scythian, proud of the size of his body and the fearlessness of his soul,” attacked Barda Sklerus himself, “who was going around and inspiring the formation of warriors,” and hit him on the helmet with a sword. “But the sword slipped, the blow was unsuccessful, and the master also hit the enemy on the helmet. The weight of his hand and the hardening of the iron gave his blow such force that the entire skiff was cut into two parts. Patrick Constantine, the brother of the master, rushing to his rescue, tried to strike another Scythian on the head, who wanted to come to the aid of the first and boldly rushed towards Varda; the Scythian, however, dodged to the side, and Constantine, missing, brought his sword down on the horse’s neck and separated his head from the body; The Scythian fell, and Konstantin jumped off his horse and, grabbing the enemy’s beard with his hand, stabbed him to death. This feat aroused the courage of the Romans and increased their courage, while the Scythians were gripped by fear and horror.
The battle approached its turning point, then Varda ordered the trumpet to be blown and the tambourines to be banged. The ambush army immediately, at this sign, ran out of the forest, surrounded the enemies from the rear and thus instilled such terror in them that they began to retreat.” It is possible that the ambush attack caused temporary confusion in the ranks of the Rus, but the battle order was quickly restored. “And Rus' gathered in arms, and there was a great slaughter, and Svyatoslav was overcome, and the Greeks fled; and Svyatoslav went to the city, fighting and smashing the cities that stand and are empty to this day.” This is how the Russian chronicler talks about the outcome of the battle. And the Byzantine historian Leo the Deacon writes about the victory of the Romans and reports implausible loss figures: the Rus allegedly lost over 20 thousand people, and the Byzantine army lost only 55 people killed and many wounded.
Apparently the defeat was severe, and the losses of Svyatoslav’s troops were significant. But he still had great strength to continue the war. And John Tzimiskes had to offer tribute and ask for peace. Since the Byzantine usurper was still puzzled by the suppression of the rebellion of Bardas Phocas. Therefore, trying to gain time and delay the war, he entered into negotiations with Svyatoslav.
970 REBELLION OF VARDAS PHOCAS.
In the spring of 970, the nephew of the murdered Emperor Nicephorus, Bardas Phocas, fled from his place of exile in Amasia to Caesarea in Cappadocia. Gathering around him a militia capable of resisting government troops, he solemnly and in front of a crowd of people put on red shoes - a sign of imperial dignity. The news of the rebellion greatly excited Tzimiskes. Bardas Skleros was immediately summoned from Thrace, whom John appointed stratelate (leader) of the campaign against the rebels. Skler managed to win over to his side some of the military leaders who were subordinate to his namesake. Abandoned by them, Foka did not dare to fight and preferred to take refuge in a fortress with the symbolic name of the Tyrants' Fortress. However, besieged by stratilate, he was forced to surrender. Emperor John ordered Varda Phokas to be tonsured a monk and sent him along with his wife and children to the island of Chios.
970 RUS ATTACKS ON MACEDONIA.
Squad of the Russian Prince
Having received the tribute, Svyatoslav returned to Pereyaslavets, from where he sent his “ best husbands"to the Byzantine emperor to conclude an agreement. The reason for this was the small number of the squad, which suffered heavy losses. Therefore, Svyatoslav said: “I will go to Rus' and bring more squads (since the Byzantines could take advantage of the small number of Russians and surround Svyatoslav’s squad) in the city; and Ruska is a distant land, and the Pechenesi are with us as warriors,” that is, from allies they turned into enemies. A small reinforcement arrived from Kyiv to Svyatoslav.
Detachments of Russians periodically devastated the border Byzantine region of Macedonia throughout 970. The Roman troops here were commanded by Master John Kurkuas (the Younger), a known lazy man and drunkard, who was inactive, making no attempt to protect the local population from the enemy. However, he had an excuse - a lack of troops. But Svyatoslav no longer launched a large-scale offensive against Byzantium. He was probably happy with the current situation.
Winter 970. TZIMISCES' CLICKY.
In order to take decisive action to curb the aggressive attacks of the Rus, significant preparations were required, which could not be completed before the spring of next year; and besides, in the coming winter, crossing the Gemsky ridge (Balkans) was considered impossible. In view of this, Tzimiskes again started negotiations with Svyatoslav, sent him expensive gifts, promising to send gifts in the spring, and, in all likelihood, the matter ended with the conclusion preliminary agreement about the world. This explains that Svyatoslav did not occupy the mountain passes (klissurs) through the Balkans.
Spring 971. INVASION OF JOHN TZIMISCES IN THE DANUBE VALLEY.
Tzimiskes, taking advantage of the dispersion of Svyatoslav's army throughout Bulgaria and his confidence in the world, unexpectedly sent a fleet of 300 ships from Suda with orders to enter the Danube, and he himself and his troops moved towards Adrianople. Here the emperor was pleased with the news that the mountain passes were not occupied by the Russians, as a result of which Tzimiskes, with 2 thousand mounted men-at-arms at the head, having behind 15 thousand infantry and 13 thousand cavalry, and a total of 30 thousand, unhindered passed the terrible klissurs. The Byzantine army fortified itself on a hill near the Tichi River.
Quite unexpectedly for the Russians, Tzimiskes approached Preslava, which was occupied by the governor of Svyatoslav Sfenkel. The next day, Tzimiskes, having built dense phalanxes, moved towards the city, in front of which the Russes were waiting for him in the open. A stubborn battle ensued. Tzimiskes brought the “immortals” into battle. The heavy cavalry, thrusting their spears forward, rushed towards the enemy and quickly overthrew the Rus, who were fighting on foot. The Russian soldiers who came to the rescue could not change anything, and the Byzantine cavalry managed to approach the city and cut off those fleeing from the gate. Sfenkel had to close the city gates and the victors destroyed 8,500 “Scythians” that day. At night, Kalokir, whom the Greeks considered the main culprit of their troubles, fled from the city. He informed Svyatoslav about the emperor's attack.
The Greeks storm Preslav. A stone thrower is shown as a siege weapon. Miniature from the chronicle of John Skylitzes.
The rest of the troops arrived at Tzimiskes with stone-throwing and battering machines. It was necessary to hurry to take Preslava before Svyatoslav arrived to the rescue. At first, the besieged were asked to surrender voluntarily. Having received a refusal, the Romans began to shower Preslav with clouds of arrows and stones. Without difficulty breaking the wooden walls of Preslava. After which, with the support of archers' shooting, they stormed the wall. With the help of ladders, they managed to climb the fortifications, overcoming the resistance of the city’s defenders. The defenders began to leave the walls, hoping to take refuge in the citadel. The Byzantines managed to open the gate in the southeastern corner of the fortress, allowing the entire army into the city. The Bulgarians and Russians, who did not have time to take cover, were destroyed.
It was then that Boris II was brought to Tzimiskes, captured in the city along with his family and identified by the signs of royal power on him. John did not punish him for collaborating with the Rus, but, declaring him the “legitimate ruler of the Bulgars,” gave him due honors.
Sfenkel retreated behind the walls of the royal palace, from where he continued to defend himself until Tzimiskes ordered the palace to be set on fire.
Driven out of the palace by flames, the Russians desperately fought back and almost all were exterminated; only Sfenkel himself with several warriors managed to get through to Svyatoslav in Dorostol.
On April 16, John Tzimiskes celebrated Easter in Preslav and renamed the city in honor of the victory in his name - Ioannopolis. They also released the Bulgarian prisoners who fought on the side of Svyatoslav. The Russian prince did the opposite. Blaming the traitorous “Bulgarians” for the fall of Preslava, Svyatoslav ordered to gather the most noble and influential representatives of the Bulgarian nobility (about three hundred people) and behead them all. Many Bulgarians were thrown into prison. The population of Bulgaria went over to the side of Tzimiskes.
The emperor moved to Dorostol. This well-fortified city, which the Slavs called Dristra (now Silistria), served as Svyatoslav's main military base in the Balkans. Along the way, a number of Bulgarian cities (including Dinia and Pliska - the first capital of Bulgaria) went over to the side of the Greeks. The conquered Bulgarian lands were included in Thrace - the Byzantine theme. In the twentieth of April, the army of Tzimiskes approached Dorostol.
Armament of Kievan Rus warriors: helmets, spurs, sword, axe, stirrup, horse fetters
The defense of the city began in complete encirclement. Numerical superiority was on the side of the Byzantines - their army consisted of 25-30 thousand infantry and 15 thousand cavalry, while Svyatoslav had only 30 thousand soldiers. With available forces and without cavalry, he could easily be surrounded and cut off from Dorostol by the excellent numerous Greek cavalry. heavy, grueling battles for the city, which lasted about three months.
The Rus stood in dense rows, long shields closed together and spears thrust forward. The Pechenegs and Hungarians were no longer among them.
John Tzimiskes deployed infantry against them, placing heavy cavalry (cataphracts) along its edges. Behind the infantrymen were archers and slingers, whose task was to shoot without stopping.
The first attack of the Byzantines slightly upset the Russians, but they held their ground and then launched a counterattack. The battle continued with varying success all day, the entire plain was strewn with the bodies of those killed on both sides. Closer to sunset, Tzimiskes’ warriors managed to push back the enemy’s left wing. Now the main thing for the Romans was to prevent the Russians from reforming and coming to the aid of their own. A new trumpet signal sounded, and the cavalry - the emperor's reserve - was brought into battle. Even the “immortals” were marched against the Rus; John Tzimiskes himself galloped after them with the imperial banners unfurled, shaking his spear and motivating the soldiers with a battle cry. An answering cry of joy rang out among the hitherto restrained Romans. The Russians could not withstand the onslaught of the horsemen and fled. They were pursued, killed and captured. However, the Byzantine army was tired of the battle and stopped the pursuit. Most of Svyatoslav's soldiers, led by their leader, returned safely to Dorostol. The outcome of the war was a foregone conclusion.
Having identified a suitable hill, the emperor ordered a ditch more than two meters deep to be dug around it. The excavated earth was carried to the side adjacent to the camp, so that the result was a high shaft. At the top of the embankment they strengthened spears and hung interconnected shields on them. The imperial tent was placed in the center, the military leaders were located nearby, the “immortals” were around, then ordinary warriors. At the edges of the camp stood infantrymen, behind them were horsemen. In the event of an enemy attack, the infantry took the first blow, which gave the cavalry time to prepare for battle. The approaches to the camp were also protected by skillfully hidden pit traps with wooden stakes at the bottom, metal balls with four points placed in the right places, one of which stuck up. Signal ropes with bells were stretched around the camp and pickets were placed (the first began within an arrow's flight from the hill where the Romans were located).
Tzimiskes tried, but failed, to take the city by storm. In the evening, the Rus again undertook a large-scale foray, and, according to the chronicle sources of the Byzantines, for the first time they tried to act in horse formation, but, having bad horses recruited in the fortress and not accustomed to battle, they were overthrown by the Greek cavalry. In repelling this attack, Varda Sklir commanded.
On the same day, a Greek fleet of 300 ships approached and settled on the Danube opposite the city, as a result of which the Russians were completely surrounded and no longer dared to go out on their boats, fearing Greek fire. Svyatoslav, who attached great importance to the preservation of his fleet, for safety ordered the boats to be pulled ashore and placed near the city wall of Dorostol. Meanwhile, all his boats were in Dorostol, and the Danube was his only route of retreat.
Russian squad attacks
Realizing the doom of their situation, the Russians again made a foray, but with all their might. It was led by the valiant defender of Preslav Sfenkel, and Svyatoslav remained in the city. With long, human-sized shields, covered with chain mail and armor, the Russians, leaving the fortress at dusk and observing complete silence, approached the enemy camp and unexpectedly attacked the Greeks. The battle lasted with varying success until noon the next day, but after Sfenkel was killed by a spear, and the Byzantine cavalry again threatened to be destroyed, the Russians retreated.
Svyatoslav, expecting an attack in turn, ordered a deep ditch to be dug around the city walls and Dorostol now became practically impregnable. By this he showed that he decided to defend to the last. Almost daily there were forays by the Russians, often ending successfully for the besieged.
Tzimisces at first limited himself to only a siege, hoping to starve to force Svyatoslav to surrender, but soon the Russians, who were making constant forays, dug up all the roads and paths with ditches and occupied them, and on the Danube the fleet increased its vigilance. The entire Greek cavalry was sent to monitor the roads leading from the west and east to the fortress.
There were many wounded in the city and severe famine was setting in. Meanwhile, the Greek battering machines continued to destroy the walls of the city, and stone-throwing weapons caused great casualties.
Horse Guard X century
Choosing a dark night, when a terrible thunderstorm broke out with thunder, lightning and heavy hail, Svyatoslav personally led about two thousand people out of the city and put them on boats. They safely bypassed the Roman fleet (it was impossible to see or even hear them because of the thunderstorm, and the command of the Roman fleet, seeing that the “barbarians” were fighting only on land, as they say, “relaxed”) and moved along the river for food . One can imagine the amazement of the Bulgarians who lived along the Danube when the Rus suddenly reappeared in their villages. It was necessary to act quickly before news of what had happened reached the Romans. A few days later, having collected grain bread, millet and some other supplies, the Rus boarded ships and just as quietly moved towards Dorostol. The Romans would not have noticed anything if Svyatoslav had not learned that horses from the Byzantine army were grazing not far from the shore, and nearby there were baggage servants who were guarding the horses and at the same time storing firewood for their camp. Having landed on the shore, the Russians silently passed through the forest and attacked the baggage trains. Almost all the servants were killed, only a few managed to hide in the bushes. Militarily, this action did not give the Russians anything, but its audacity made it possible to remind Tzimisces that much could still be expected from the “damned Scythians.”
But this foray enraged John Tzimisces and soon the Romans dug up all the roads leading to Dorostol, posted guards everywhere, control over the river was established in such a way that even a bird could not fly from the city to the other bank without the permission of the besiegers. And soon the truly “dark days” came for the Rus, exhausted by the siege, and the Bulgarians still remaining in the city.
End of June 971. THE RUSSIANS KILL THE “EMPEROR”.
During one of the forays, the Russians managed to kill a relative of Emperor Tzimiskes, John Kurkuas, who was in charge of the battering guns. Because of his rich clothes, the Russians mistook him for the emperor himself. Puffed up, they planted the severed head of the military leader on a spear and displayed it above the city walls. For some time, the besieged believed that the death of the basileus would force the Greeks to leave.
At noon on July 19, when the Byzantine guards, exhausted by the heat, lost their vigilance, the Rus quickly attacked and killed them. Then it was the turn of catapults and ballistae. They were hacked to pieces with axes and burned.
The besieged decided to strike a new blow at the Greeks, who, like Sfenkel, had their own squad. The Russians revered him as the second leader after Svyatoslav. He was respected for his valor, and not for his “noble relatives.” And initially in battle he greatly inspired the squad. But he died in a skirmish with Anemas. The death of the leader led to a panicked flight of the besieged. The Romans again cut down those fleeing, and their horses trampled the “barbarians.” The coming night stopped the massacre and allowed the survivors to make their way to Dorostol. Howls were heard from the direction of the city; there were funerals of the dead, whose bodies the comrades were able to carry from the battlefield. The Byzantine chronicler writes that many male and female captives were slaughtered. “Performing sacrifices for the dead, they drowned infants and roosters in the Istra River.” The bodies that remained on the ground went to the winners. To the surprise of those who rushed to tear off the armor from the dead “Scythians” and collect weapons, among the defenders of Dorostol killed that day were women dressed in men’s clothing. It is difficult to say who they were - Bulgarians who sided with the Rus, or desperate Russian maidens - the epic “wood logs” who went on a campaign along with men.
Feat of arms. The hero of Byzantium is the Arab Anemas.
One of the last forays of the Rus against the Greeks was led by Ikmor, a man of enormous stature and strength. Drawing the Rus with him, Ikmor destroyed everyone who stood in his way. It seemed that there was no equal to him in the Byzantine army. The invigorated Russians did not lag behind their leader. This continued until one of Tzimiskes’ bodyguards, Anemas, rushed towards Ikmor. This was an Arab, the son and co-ruler of the Emir of Crete, who ten years earlier, together with his father, was captured by the Romans and went into the service of the victors. Having galloped up to the mighty Russian, the Arab deftly dodged his blow and struck back - unfortunately for Ikmor, a successful one. An experienced grunt cut off the Russian leader's head, right shoulder and arm. Seeing the death of their leader, the Russians shouted loudly, their ranks wavered, while the Romans, on the contrary, were inspired and intensified the onslaught. Soon the Russians began to retreat, and then, throwing their shields behind their backs, they ran to Dorostol.
During the last battle of Dorostol, among the Romans rushing towards the Rus from the rear, there was Anemas, who had killed Ikmor the day before. He passionately wanted to add a new, even brighter feat to this feat - to deal with Svyatoslav himself. When the Romans who suddenly attacked the Rus briefly brought disorganization into their system, a desperate Arab flew up on horseback to the prince and hit him on the head with a sword. Svyatoslav fell to the ground, he was stunned, but remained alive. The Arab's blow, gliding across the helmet, only broke the prince's collarbone. The chainmail shirt protected him. The attacker and his horse were pierced by many arrows, and then the fallen Anemas was surrounded by a phalanx of enemies, and he still continued to fight, killed many Russians, but finally fell cut into pieces. This was a man whom none of his contemporaries surpassed in heroic deeds.
971, Silistria. Anemas, bodyguard of Emperor John Tzimisces, wounded the Russian prince Svyatoslav
Svyatoslav gathered all his military leaders for a council. When some started talking about the need to retreat, they advised waiting for the dark night, lowering the boats that were on the shore into the Danube and, keeping as quiet as possible, sailing unnoticed down the Danube. Others suggested asking the Greeks for peace. Svyatoslav said: “We have nothing to choose from. Willingly or unwillingly, we must fight. We will not disgrace the Russian land, but we will lie down with bones - the dead have no shame. If we run away, it will be a shame for us. So let’s not run, but let’s stand strong. I’ll go before you - if my head falls, then take care of yourself.” And the soldiers answered Svyatoslav: “Where you place your head, there we will lay our heads!” Electrified by this heroic speech, the leaders decided to win - or die with glory...
The last bloody battle near Dorostol ended in the defeat of the Rus. The forces were too unequal.
July 22, 971 The last battle under the walls of Dorostol. First and second stages of the battle
Svyatoslav personally led the thinned squad to the last battle. He ordered the city gates to be tightly locked so that none of the soldiers would think of seeking salvation outside the walls, but would think only about victory.
The battle began with an unprecedented onslaught of Russians. It was a hot day, and the heavily armored Byzantines began to succumb to the indomitable onslaught of the Rus. In order to save the situation, the emperor personally rushed to the rescue, accompanied by a detachment of “immortals”. While he was distracting the enemy's attack, they managed to deliver bottles filled with wine and water to the battlefield. The invigorated Romans with renewed vigor began to attack the Rus, but to no avail. And it was strange, because the advantage was on their side. Finally Tzimiskes understood the reason. Having pushed back the Rus, his warriors found themselves in a cramped place (everything around was in the hills), which is why the “Scythians,” who were inferior to them in numbers, withstood the attacks. The strategists were ordered to begin a feigned retreat in order to lure the “barbarians” onto the plain. Seeing the flight of the Romans, the Russians shouted joyfully and rushed after them. Having reached the appointed place, the warriors of Tzimiskes stopped and met the Rus who were catching up with them. Having encountered the unexpected resistance of the Greeks, the Russians not only were not embarrassed, but began to attack them with even greater frenzy. The illusion of success that the Romans created with their retreat only inflamed the exhausted pre-Rostol villagers.
Tzimiskes was extremely annoyed by both the large losses that his army suffered and the fact that the outcome of the battle, despite all efforts, remained unclear. Skylitzes even says that the emperor “planned to settle the matter by duel. And so he sent an embassy to Svendoslav (Svyatoslav), offering him single combat and saying that the matter should be resolved by the death of one husband, without killing or depleting the strength of the peoples; whoever wins among them will be the ruler of everything. But he did not accept the challenge and added mocking words that he, supposedly, understands his own benefit better than the enemy, and if the emperor does not want to live anymore, then there are tens of thousands of other ways to death; let him choose whichever he wants. Having answered so arrogantly, he prepared for battle with increased zeal.”
The battle between Svyatoslav's soldiers and the Byzantines. Miniature from the manuscript of John Skylitzes
The mutual bitterness of the parties characterizes the next episode of the battle. Among the strategists who commanded the retreat of the Byzantine cavalry was a certain Theodore of Mysthia. The horse under him was killed, Theodore was surrounded by the Rus, who longed for his death. Trying to get up, the strategist, a man of heroic build, grabbed one of the Rus by the belt and, turning it in all directions like a shield, managed to protect himself from the blows of swords and spears flying at him. Then the Roman warriors arrived, and for a few seconds, until Theodore was safe, the entire space around him turned into a battle arena between those who wanted to kill him at all costs and those who wanted to save him.
The emperor decided to send the master Barda Skler, the patricians Peter and Roman (the latter was the grandson of Emperor Roman Lekapin) to circumvent the enemy. They should have cut off the “Scythians” from Dorostol and struck them in the back. This maneuver was carried out successfully, but it did not lead to a turning point in the battle. During this attack, Svyatoslav was wounded by Anemas. Meanwhile, the Rus, who had repulsed the rear attack, again began to push back the Romans. And again the emperor, with a spear at the ready, had to lead the guard into battle. Seeing Tzimiskes, his soldiers cheered up. The decisive moment was approaching in the battle. And then a miracle happened. First, from behind the advancing Byzantine army, a blow blew strong wind, a real hurricane began, bringing with it clouds of dust that filled the eyes of the Russians. And then there was a terrible downpour. The Russian advance stopped, and the soldiers hiding from the sand became easy prey for the enemy. Shocked by the intervention from above, the Romans later assured that they saw a rider galloping ahead of them on a white horse. When he approached, the Russes allegedly fell like mown grass. Later, many “identified” the miraculous assistant of Tzimisces as Saint Theodore Stratilates.
Varda Sklir pressed on the Russians from the rear. The confused Russians found themselves surrounded and ran towards the city. They did not have to break through the enemy's ranks. Apparently, the Byzantines used the idea of the “golden bridge”, widely known in their military theory. Its essence boiled down to the fact that the defeated enemy was left with the opportunity to escape by flight. Understanding this weakened the enemy’s resistance and created the most favorable conditions for his complete defeat. As usual, the Romans drove the Rus to the very city walls, mercilessly chopping them down. Among those who managed to escape was Svyatoslav. He was badly wounded - in addition to the blow that Anemas dealt him, the prince was hit by several arrows, he lost a lot of blood and was almost captured. Only the onset of night saved him from this.
Svyatoslav in battle The losses of the Russian army in the last battle amounted to more than 15,000 people. According to the Tale of Bygone Years, after the conclusion of peace, when asked by the Greeks about the size of his army, Svyatoslav answered: “We are twenty thousand,” but “he added ten thousand, for there were only ten thousand Russians.” And Svyatoslav brought more than 60 thousand young and strong men to the banks of the Danube. You can call this campaign a demographic catastrophe for Kievan Rus. Calling on the army to fight to the death and die with honor. Svyatoslav himself, although wounded, returned to Dorostol, although he promised to remain among the dead in the event of defeat. By this act, he greatly lost his authority in his army.
But the Greeks also achieved victory at a high price.
Significant numerical superiority of the enemy, lack of food and, probably, not wanting to irritate his people, Svyatoslav decided to make peace with the Greeks.
At dawn on the day following the battle, Svyatoslav sent envoys to Emperor John asking for peace. The Emperor received them very favorably. According to the chronicle, Svyatoslav reasoned as follows: “If we do not make peace with the king, the king will find out that we are few - and, when they come, they will surround us in the city. But the Russian land is far away, and the Pechenegs are our warriors, and who will help us? And his speech to the squad was lovely.
According to the concluded truce, the Russians undertook to cede Dorostol to the Greeks, release prisoners and leave Bulgaria. In turn, the Byzantines promised to let their recent enemies return to their homeland and not attack their ships along the way. (The Russians were very afraid of the “Greek fire” that destroyed the ships of Prince Igor at one time.) At the request of Svyatoslav, the Byzantines also promised to obtain from the Pechenegs guarantees of the inviolability of the Russian squad upon its return home. The booty captured in Bulgaria, apparently, remained with the vanquished. In addition, the Greeks had to supply the Rus with food and actually gave out 2 medimnas of bread (about 20 kilograms) for each warrior.
After the conclusion of the agreement, the embassy of John Tzimiskes was sent to the Pechenegs, with a request that they allow the Rus, returning home, through their possessions. But it is assumed that Theophilus, Bishop of Euchaitis, who was sent to the nomads, set the Pechenegs against the prince, carrying out a secret assignment from his sovereign.
PEACE TREATY.
A peace treaty was concluded between the two states, the text of which was preserved in the Tale of Bygone Years. Due to the fact that this agreement determined the relationship between Rus' and Byzantium for almost twenty years and subsequently formed the basis of the Byzantine policy of Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich, we present its entire text translated into modern Russian: “List from the agreement concluded under Svyatoslav, Grand Duke of Russia , and under Sveneld. Written under Theophilos sinkel, and to Ivan, called Tzimiskes, King of Greece, in Derestre, the month of July, indictment 14th, in the summer of 6479. I, Svyatoslav, Prince of Russia, as I swore, and confirm my oath by this agreement: I want to have peace and perfect love with every great king of Greece, with Basil, and Constantine, and with God-inspired kings, and with all your people until the end of the age; and so do those who are under me, Rus', the boyars and others. I will never begin to plot against your country and gather warriors and I will not bring any other people to your country, not to those that are under Greek rule - not to the Korsun volost and how many of their cities there are, not to the Bulgarian country. And if anyone else thinks against your country, then I will be his opponent and will fight with him. As I swore to the Greek kings, and the boyars and all of Rus' are with me, so we will keep the agreement inviolable; if we do not preserve what was said before, let me, and those who are with me, and those under me, be cursed by the god in whom we believe - in Perun and Volos, the cattle god - and Let us be pierced like gold, and let us be cut off with our own weapons. What we have promised you today and have written on this charter and sealed with our seals will be true.”
End of July 971. MEETING OF JOHN TSIMISKES WITH SVYATOSLAV.
Meeting of the Kyiv prince Svyatoslav with the Byzantine emperor John Tzimiskes
Finally, the prince wanted to personally meet with the Basileus of the Romans. Leo the Deacon places a description of this meeting in his “History”: “The Emperor did not shy away and, covered in gilded armor, rode up on horseback to the bank of the Istra, leading behind him a large detachment of armed horsemen sparkling with gold. Sfendoslav also appeared, sailing along the river on a Scythian boat; he sat on the oars and rowed along with his entourage, no different from them. This is what his appearance was: of moderate height, not too tall and not very short, with shaggy eyebrows and light blue eyes, snub nose, beardless, with thick, excessively long hair above his upper lip. His head was completely naked, but a tuft of hair hung from one side of it - a sign of the nobility of the family; the strong back of his head, wide chest and all other parts of his body were quite proportionate, but he looked gloomy and wild. He had a gold earring in one ear; it was decorated with a carbuncle framed by two pearls. His robe was white and differed from the clothing of his entourage only in its cleanliness. Sitting in the boat on the rowers’ bench, he talked a little with the sovereign about the terms of peace and left.”
971-976. CONTINUATION OF THE REIGN OF TZIMISCES IN BYZANTIUM.
After the departure of the Rus, Eastern Bulgaria became part of the Byzantine Empire. The city of Dorostol received a new name Theodoropol (either in memory of St. Theodore Stratelates, who contributed to the Romans, or in honor of the wife of John Tzimiskes Theodora) and became the center of the new Byzantine theme. Vasilevo Romanev returned to Constantinople with huge trophies, and upon entering the city, the residents gave their emperor an enthusiastic meeting. After the triumph, Tsar Boris II was brought to Tzimiskes, and he, submitting to the will of the new ruler of the Bulgarians, publicly laid aside the signs of royal power - a tiara trimmed in purple, embroidered with gold and pearls, a purple robe and red ankle boots. In return, he received the rank of master and had to begin to get used to the position of a Byzantine nobleman. In relation to his younger brother Roman, the Byzantine emperor was not so merciful - the prince was castrated. Tzimiskes never got around to Western Bulgaria - it was necessary to resolve the protracted conflict with the Germans, to continue victorious wars against the Arabs, this time in Mesopotamia, Syria and Palestine. The basileus returned from his last campaign completely ill. According to the symptoms, it was typhus, but, as always, the version that Tzimiskes was poisoned became very popular among the people. After his death in 976, the son of Roman II, Vasily, finally came to power. Feofano returned from exile, but her eighteen-year-old son no longer needed guardians. She had only one thing left to do - to live out her life quietly.
Summer 971. SVYATOSLAV EXECUTES HIS CHRISTIAN WARRIORS.
The later so-called Joachim Chronicle provides some additional details about the last period of the Balkan War. Svyatoslav, according to this source, blamed all his failures on the Christians who were part of his army. Having become furious, he executed, among others, his brother Prince Gleb (about whose existence other sources know nothing). By order of Svyatoslav, Christian churches in Kyiv were to be destroyed and burned; the prince himself, upon returning to Rus', intended to exterminate all Christians. However, this, in all likelihood, is nothing more than the conjecture of the chronicle's compiler - a later writer or historian.
Autumn 971. SVYATOSLAV GOES TO HOMELAND.
In the fall, Svyatoslav set off on the return journey. He moved on boats along the seashore and then up the Dnieper towards the Dnieper rapids. Otherwise, he would not have been able to bring the booty captured in the war to Kyiv. It was not simple greed that motivated the prince, but the desire to enter Kyiv as a winner, not a vanquished one.
The closest and most experienced governor of Svyatoslav, Sveneld, advised the prince: “Go around the rapids on horseback, for the Pechenegs are standing at the rapids.” But Svyatoslav did not listen to him. And Sveneld, of course, was right. The Pechenegs were really waiting for the Russians. According to the story “The Tale of Bygone Years”, the “Pereyaslavl people” (you must understand, the Bulgarians) reported the approach of the Russians to the Pechenegs: “Here Svyatoslav is coming to you in Rus', having taken from the Greeks a lot of booty and countless prisoners. But he doesn’t have enough squad.”
Winter 971/72. WINTERING IN BELOBEREZHE.
Having reached the island of Khortitsa, which the Greeks called “the island of St. George,” Svyatoslav became convinced of the impossibility of further advancement - at the ford of Krariy, which was located in front of the first threshold on his way, there were Pechenegs. Winter was approaching. The prince decided to retreat and spend the winter in Beloberezhye, where there was a Russian settlement. Perhaps he was hoping for help from Kyiv. But if so, then his hopes were not destined to come true. The people of Kiev were unable (or perhaps did not want?) to come to the rescue of their prince. The bread received from the Byzantines was soon eaten.
The local population did not have food supplies sufficient to feed the rest of Svyatoslav’s army. Hunger began. “And they paid half a hryvnia for a horse’s head,” the chronicler testifies to the famine in Beloberezh. This is a lot of money. But, obviously, Svyatoslav’s soldiers still had enough gold and silver. The Pechenegs did not leave.
The end of winter - the beginning of spring 972. THE DEATH OF THE RUSSIAN PRINCE SVYATOSLAV.
The last battle of Prince Svyatoslav
No longer able to remain at the mouth of the Dnieper, the Rus made a desperate attempt to break through the Pecheneg ambush. It seems that the exhausted people were put in a hopeless situation - in the spring, even if they wanted to bypass the dangerous place by abandoning their rooks, they could no longer do this due to the lack of knights (which were eaten). Perhaps the prince was waiting for spring, hoping that during the spring flood the rapids would become passable and he would be able to escape the ambush while preserving the spoils. The result was sad - most of the Russian army was killed by the nomads, and Svyatoslav himself fell in the battle.
“And Kurya, the prince of the Pechenegs, attacked him; and they killed Svyatoslav, and cut off his head, and made a cup out of the skull, bound the skull, and then drank from it.”
The death of Prince Svyatoslav on the Dnieper rapids
According to the legend of later chroniclers, the inscription was made on the bowl: “Seeking strangers, I destroyed my own” (or: “Desiring strangers, I destroyed my own”) - quite in the spirit of the ideas of the Kievites themselves about their enterprising prince. “And this cup is, and is kept to this day in the treasuries of the princes of Pechenezh; The princes and the princess drink from it in the palace, when they are caught, saying this: “As this man was, his forehead is, such will be the one born of us.” They also searched for the other warriors’ skulls with silver and kept them for drinking from them,” says another legend.
Thus ended the life of Prince Svyatoslav; This is how the lives of many Russian soldiers ended, that “young generation of Rus” that the prince took to war. Sveneld came to Kyiv to Yaropolk. The governor and the “remnant people” brought the sad news to Kyiv. We do not know how he managed to avoid death - whether he escaped from the Pecheneg encirclement (“by escaping in battle,” as a later chronicler put it), or moved by another, land route, leaving the prince even earlier.
According to the beliefs of the ancients, even the remains of a great warrior, and even more so a ruler, a prince, concealed his supernatural power and strength. And now, after death, the strength and power of Svyatoslav should have served not Rus', but its enemies, the Pechenegs.
Name: Svyatoslav Igorevich (Svyatoslav Rurikovich)
Date of birth: 942
Age: 30 years old
Date of death: 972
Activity: commander, statesman
Marital status: was married
Svyatoslav Igorevich: biography
Prince of Novgorod and Kiev Svyatoslav Igorevich ruled the Russian state from 944 to 972. The ruler is known for his military campaigns and conquests, battles against the Bulgarian state and Byzantium.
The only son of Prince Igor and Princess Olga was Svyatoslav. Exact date The birth of the future ruler is still not known. According to the Ipatiev list, Svyatoslav Igorevich was born in 942 (some sources indicate the year 940). There is no record of the event in the Laurentian list. This raises a lot of questions among researchers, since the information is contradictory. The year 920 is stated in literary sources, but historians consider this to be fiction and not true.
The upbringing of the prince's son was entrusted to the shoulders of the Varangian Asmud, who emphasized basic skills. Young Svyatoslav received knowledge that was useful in military campaigns: the art of combat, control of horses, boats, swimming, and the skill of camouflage. Another mentor, Voivode Sveneld, was responsible for the art of military leadership. The first information about Svyatoslav, which can be seen in the Russian-Byzantine treaty of Prince Igor, began to appear in 944. A year later, the prince dies.
The death of the ruler was led to the dissatisfaction of the Drevlyans over the collection of too much tribute. Since Svyatoslav Igorevich is still a child, the reins of power pass to his mother, Princess Olga. A year after the murder of her husband, Olga goes to the lands of the Drevlyans. As befits a head of state, 4-year-old Svyatoslav begins the battle with his father’s squad. The young ruler won the battle. The princess forced the Drevlyans to submit. To prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future, the regent is introducing a new system of government.
The chronicles say that in childhood Svyatoslav Igorevich did not part with his mother and lived constantly in Kyiv. Scientists have found evidence that this judgment is incorrect. The Byzantine Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus said the following:
“The monoxyls coming from outer Russia to Constantinople are some from Nemogard, in which Sfendoslav, the son of Ingor, the archon of Russia, sat.”
Researchers believe that Svyatoslav moved to Novgorod at the request of his father. There was a mention in the chronicles of Olga's visit to Constantinople. At the same time, they talk about the future prince without naming the title of Svyatoslav Igorevich.
Beginning of reign
The Tale of Bygone Years says that Svyatoslav Igorevich’s first campaign took place in 964. The main goal of the ruler was to strike at the Khazar Kaganate. The prince did not become distracted by the Vyatichi people he met along the way. The attack on the Khazars occurred a year later - in 965. The chronicle says the following about this:
“In the summer of 6473 (965) Svyatoslav went against the Khazars. Having heard it, the Khazars came out to meet him with their prince Kagan and agreed to fight, and in the battle Svyatoslav defeated the Khazars, and took their city and the White Vezha. And he defeated the Yasov Ikasogs.”
It is interesting that Svyatoslav’s contemporary presents events in a different way. Ibn-Haukal claimed that the prince dealt with the Khazars later than the time indicated in the chronicle.
A contemporary recalled other military actions against Volga Bulgaria, but such information is not available in official sources. This is what Ibn Haukal said:
“Bulgar is a small city, it does not have numerous districts, and was known for being a port for the states mentioned above, and the Rus devastated it and came to Khazaran, Samandar and Itil in the year 358 (968/969) and set off immediately after to the country of Rum and Andalus... And al-Khazar is a side, and there is a city in it called Samandar, and it is in the space between it and Bab al-Abwab, and there were numerous gardens in it... but then the Rus came there, and not There are neither grapes nor raisins left in that city.”
In 965, Svyatoslav Igorevich arrives in Sarkel on the Don. Several battles were required to conquer this city. But the ruler did not celebrate the victory for long, as Itil appeared on the way - main city Khazar Khaganate. The conqueror got another settlement - Semender. This glorious city is located on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
The Khazar Khaganate fell to the onslaught of Svyatoslav, but this was not enough for the ruler. The prince tried to conquer and secure these lands for himself. Soon Sarkel was renamed Belaya Vezha. According to some reports, in the same years Kyiv received Tmutarakan. It is believed that they managed to retain power until the early 980s.
Domestic policy
Svyatoslav Igorevich's domestic policy was active. The ruler set himself the goal of strengthening power by attracting military squads. Politics did not attract the young prince, so there were no significant changes in the internal activities of the state during the years of Svyatoslav’s reign.
Despite his dislike for the internal affairs of Rus', Svyatoslav Igorevich made some adjustments. In particular, he formed a new system for collecting taxes and duties. In different parts of the Old Russian state, special places were organized - graveyards. Here they collected money from residents. Svyatoslav Igorevich was able to overcome the Vyatichi, who continually rebelled against the ruler. During the campaign, the prince pacified the violent people. Thanks to this, the treasury began to replenish again. Despite the work in this direction, Princess Olga took upon herself most of the worries.
The wisdom of the Grand Duke's reign manifests itself after the birth of his sons. Svyatoslav Igorevich needed to place faithful and devoted people on the thrones in different cities. Yaropolk ruled in Kyiv, and in Novgorod, Oleg became Prince Drevlyansky.
Foreign policy
Foreign policy became the passion of the young prince. He has several major wars- with the Bulgarian kingdom and Byzantium. There are many versions in history of these important events for Rus'. Historians have settled on two variations of the fight against the Bulgarian kingdom. The first opinion was that it all started with a conflict between Byzantium and the Bulgarian kingdom. In this regard, the Byzantine emperor turned to Svyatoslav Igorevich for help. It was his soldiers who were supposed to attack Bulgaria.
The second opinion lies in the fact that Byzantium tried to weaken the Kyiv prince, since the ruler was able to conquer their lands. And there was no peace in the Byzantine state: the ambassador who arrived to Svyatoslav decided to plot against his emperor. He persuaded the Russian prince, promised him Bulgarian lands and treasures from the Byzantine treasury.
The invasion of Bulgaria took place in 968. Svyatoslav Igorevich managed to overcome his opponents and conquer Pereyaslavets, located at the mouth of the Danube. Relations with the Byzantine state gradually began to deteriorate. In the same year, the Pechenegs raided Kyiv, so the prince had to urgently return to the capital of Rus'. In 969, Princess Olga, who was involved in the internal politics of the state, died. This prompted Svyatoslav Igorevich to involve children in his rule. The prince did not want to stay in the capital:
“I don’t like to sit in Kyiv, I want to live in Pereyaslavets on the Danube - for there is the middle of my land, all the blessings flock there: gold, pavoloks, wines, various fruits from the Greek land; from the Czech Republic and from Hungary silver and horses; From Rus' are furs and wax, honey and slaves.”
Despite the fact that it was the Byzantine government that organized the raid on the Bulgarians, the latter turned to them for help in the fight against Svyatoslav. The emperor thought for a long time about what to do, but then decided to strengthen his state with a dynastic marriage. At the end of 969, the sovereign died, and John Tzimiskes ascended the throne. He did not allow the Bulgarian son and the Byzantine maiden to get engaged.
Painting "Meeting of Svyatoslav with John Tzimiskes". K. Lebedev, 1916 Realizing that Byzantium is no longer an assistant, the authorities of the Bulgarian state decide to conclude an agreement with Svyatoslav Igorevich. Together the rulers go against Byzantium. Military tensions between the empire and the Russian state increased. Gradually, troops were drawn up to the fortresses. In 970 there was an attack on Byzantium. On Svyatoslav’s side were the Bulgarians, Hungarians and Pechenegs. Despite serious advantages in the number of military personnel, Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich was defeated in a general battle.
Painting "Feast of Svyatoslav's warriors after the battle near Dorostol in 971." Henryk Semiradsky A year later, the troops regained their strength and again began to raid the Byzantine state. Now the rulers clashed in battle. Again the Byzantine fighters were more successful. They captured the Bulgarian king and approached Svyatoslav. In one of the battles the prince was wounded. After this, the Byzantine emperor and the Russian ruler sat down at the negotiating table. Svyatoslav Igorevich leaves Bulgaria, but restores trade relations with Byzantium. Now the eastern part of the Bulgarian state is subject to the emperor. Western regions gained independence.
Personal life
Military campaigns became the main goal of Svyatoslav Igorevich’s life. The prince's personal life was going well. The ruler became the father of three sons - Yaropolk, Oleg and Vladimir. The responsibility for the internal politics of the state fell on the shoulders of the young sons while their father conquered new territories.
Painting "Grand Duke Svyatoslav kissing his mother and children upon returning from the Danube to Kyiv." I. A. Akimov, 1773 In official documents of that time there is no information about the wife who gave birth to two older sons. It is known about Vladimir's mother. The woman was not married to the prince, but was a concubine.
Death and memory
The biography of Svyatoslav Igorevich ends in March 972. The prince could not remain at the mouth of the Dnieper. Together with the army, the ruler tried to get through the Pecheneg ambush. This was a disastrous mistake, as the weakened fighters fell at the hands of the nomads. The Pechenegs brutally dealt with Svyatoslav:
“And Kurya, the prince of Pecheneg, attacked him; and they killed Svyatoslav, and cut off his head, and made a cup out of the skull, bound the skull, and then drank from it.”
During his reign, the prince expanded the territory of the state and received the nickname Brave. Svyatoslav is called that way in historical information. The memory of Svyatoslav Igorevich still lives on. The image of the warrior prince was used in fiction, art. At the beginning of the 20th century, the first monument “Svyatoslav on the way to Tsargrad” appeared. The sculptures are located in Kyiv and Ukrainian regions.
A unique photo is available on the Internet. Masters, based on the descriptions of the prince’s contemporaries, created a portrait: a man of average height, snub nose, with thick eyebrows, blue eyes, a long mustache, a strong nape and a broad chest.