Prince of Turov (988-1015) and Grand Duke Kiev (1015-1019) Svyatopolk Vladimirovich, known in ancient Russian historiography as Svyatopolk the Accursed, was born around 979. At baptism he was given the name Peter.
Svyatopolk is the son of Yaropolk Svyatoslavich, his mother Julia was a Greek nun. As the chronicle says, at one time Svyatoslav brought her as a captive and married her to Yaropolk.
The chronicler reports that after the murder of his brother Yaropolk, Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich took his widow, who was already pregnant from Yaropolk, as his wife. Soon she gave birth to a son, Svyatopolk, whom Vladimir raised along with his children. Therefore, in some sources Svyatopolk is called the son of Yaropolk, in others - the son of Vladimir.
Around 988, Vladimir gave Svyatopolk an inheritance in Turov.
Around 1013, Svyatopolk married the daughter of the Polish prince Boleslav the Brave. Together with the young princess, her confessor, Bishop Rainburn, arrived in Turov, who obviously had the intention of tearing the Russian Church away from Constantinople and reassigning it to Rome.
Svyatopolk, dissatisfied with Vladimir and incited by his wife and bishop, began preparing an uprising against Prince Vladimir, enlisting the support of his father-in-law. But the plot was discovered, and Vladimir imprisoned Svyatopolk along with his wife and Rainburn.
Vladimir died in 1015 while preparing for a campaign against Novgorod against another rebellious son, Yaroslav. The prince did not have time to make any orders regarding the heir, and therefore Svyatopolk was released and took the throne without any difficulties.
In The Tale of Bygone Years, Svyatopolk is accused of organizing the murder of Boris and Gleb, who are canonized as innocent victims. First of all, Svyatopolk decided to deal with Vladimir’s favorite, the Rostov prince Boris, who had the grand ducal squad at his disposal. Svyatopolk sent faithful people to Boris. During matins, the murderers made their way to the prince’s tent and stabbed him with spears. The wounded but still alive Boris was brought to Svyatopolk, and there he was hacked to death with a sword. Then Svyatopolk sent messengers to Gleb of Murom, inviting him to visit his allegedly seriously ill father, whose death Gleb did not yet know. On the way, Gleb was attacked by assassins sent by Svyatopolk, and one of Gleb’s men, a cook named Torchin, stabbed his master to death on the orders of the villains. The third brother, Svyatoslav Drevlyansky, having learned about the death of Boris and Gleb, fled to Hungary, but on the way Svyatopolk’s people caught up with him and also killed him.
After the massacres of his relatives, Svyatopolk received the nickname “Cursed” from his contemporaries.
Having learned about the murder of the brothers, the Novgorod prince Yaroslav, with the support of the Varangians and Novgorodians, went to war against Svyatopolk in 1016. A power struggle began between Svyatopolk and Yaroslav. The troops met on the Dnieper at Listven. Yaroslav went on the attack, taking advantage of the moment when Svyatopolk and his squad were feasting. The troops of Svyatopolk the Accursed were defeated and thrown into the river. Yaroslav seized the throne in Kyiv.
Prince Svyatopolk fled to Poland and called for help from King Boleslav I the Brave, his father-in-law. In 1017, with the support of Pecheneg and Polish troops, they marched on Kyiv. The meeting of the squads took place on the Bug, Yaroslav was defeated and fled to Novgorod.
The Kyiv throne again began to belong to Svyatopolk. In order not to support the troops of his father-in-law Boleslav, who were stationed in Russian cities, he expelled the Poles. Together with Boleslav the Brave, most of the Kyiv boyars also left.
Meanwhile, with the money collected by the Novgorodians, Yaroslav hired a new army from the Varangians and went to Kyiv. Left without military force Svyatopolk fled to other allies - the Pechenegs. There he recruited a new army and moved to Rus'. In 1019, Yaroslav met him on the Alta River, not far from the place where Boris was killed. The Pecheneg army was defeated, and Svyatopolk himself was seriously wounded. He fled to Poland, then to the Czech Republic.
The chroniclers wrote: “...and his bones, when weakened, cannot turn grey, and are carried away and carried.” Abandoned by everyone, he died in 1019 on the road somewhere between Poland and the Czech Republic.
Vladimir Svyatoslavich |
|
7th Grand Duke of Kyiv |
|
Predecessor: |
Vladimir Svyatoslavich |
Successor: |
Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise |
Predecessor: |
Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise |
Successor: |
Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise |
Religion: |
Paganism, converted to Orthodoxy |
Birth: |
OK. 979 |
Dynasty: |
Rurikovich |
Yaropolk Svyatoslavich |
|
Reign and murder of brothers
Fight with Yaroslav
In historiography
Svyatopolk Vladimirovich, in baptism Peter, in ancient Russian historiography - Svyatopolk the Accursed(c. 979-1019) - Prince of Turov (from 988), and then of Kiev in 1015-1016 and 1018-1019, ruler of Kievan Rus.
Origin
Born to a Greek woman, the widow of the Kyiv prince Yaropolk Svyatoslavich, taken as a concubine by his brother and murderer Vladimir. The chronicle says that the Greek woman was already pregnant (not idle), thus his father was Yaropolk. Nevertheless, Vladimir considered him his legitimate son (one of the eldest) and gave him an inheritance in Turov. The chronicler calls Svyatopolk the son of two fathers (from two fathers) and notes with a hint of future fate Prince: “From sin comes evil fruit.”
In the Tale of Bygone Years, Vladimir’s other son Yaroslav, who became the Grand Duke of Kyiv Yaroslav the Wise, is placed ahead of Svyatopolk. In the Novgorod First Chronicle, Yaroslav the Wise occupies the fourth position, which, apparently, is more consistent with reality according to historians. The rumor about the birth of Svyatopolk from two parents gives reason to believe that he was born 7-9 months after Vladimir entered Kyiv in June 978, respectively, Svyatopolk could have been born at the beginning of 979.
Some historians continue to consider the origin of Svyatopolk debatable. G. Kotelshchik, based on the tamga on the coins of Svyatopolk, believes that the prince himself declared his descent from Yaropolk. If this version is correct, and the interpretation of the princely tamgas is quite controversial (the bident was also on the tamga of Mstislav Vladimirovich, found in Taman), then this proves Svyatopolk’s efforts to dissociate himself from Vladimir and his other sons. It is known that in 1018 Svyatopolk took Yaroslav’s stepmother and sisters hostage; this would hardly be acceptable if he also considered himself the son of Vladimir.
Marriage
Svyatopolk was married to the daughter of the Polish prince Boleslaw the Brave (Polish: Boleslaw I Chrobry). She was born from her third marriage to Emgilda between 991-1001. (closer to the first date) and died after August 14, 1018. Most researchers date the marriage to 1013-1014, believing that it was a consequence of the peace concluded with Poland after Boleslav’s unsuccessful campaign. However, the mission of the Cistercian Bruno in 1008, which could have ended in peace, sealed by marriage, remains unnoticed. Svyatopolk occupied the throne of Turov somewhere from 990, his lands bordered on Poland and therefore it was he who was chosen by Vladimir as a candidate for marriage with the Polish princess.
Reign and murder of brothers
Shortly before Vladimir's death, he was imprisoned in Kyiv; Together with him, his wife (the daughter of the Polish king Boleslaw I the Brave) and his wife’s confessor, the Kolobrzeg (Kolberg) Bishop Reinburn, who died in prison, were taken into custody. The reason for Svyatopolk's arrest was, apparently, Vladimir's plan to bequeath the throne to his beloved son Boris; It is noteworthy that Vladimir’s other eldest son, Prince Yaroslav of Novgorod, also rebelled against his father around this time.
After the death of Vladimir on July 15, 1015, Svyatopolk was released and ascended the throne without much difficulty; he was supported by both the people and the boyars who made up his entourage in Vyshgorod near Kyiv.
In Kyiv, Svyatopolk managed to issue silver coins (50 such coins are known), similar to Vladimir’s silver coins. On the front side there is an image of the prince with a circular inscription: “Svyatopolk on the table [throne].” On back side: a princely sign in the form of a bident, the left end of which ends with a cross, and the inscription: “And behold his silver.” On some coins Svyatopolk is called his Christian name Petros or Petor.
During the same year, three brothers of Svyatopolk were killed - Boris, the Murom prince Gleb and the Drevlyan Svyatoslav. The Tale of Bygone Years accuses Svyatopolk of organizing the murder of Boris and Gleb, who were glorified as holy martyrs under Yaroslav. According to the chronicle, Svyatopolk sent the Vyshgorod men to kill Boris, and upon learning that his brother was still alive, he ordered the Varangians to finish him off. According to the chronicle, he called Gleb in the name of his father to Kyiv and sent people to kill him along the way. Svyatoslav died trying to escape from the killers to Hungary.
However, there are other theories about this. In particular, the Scandinavian Saga of Eymund mentions a war between King Yarisleif (Yaroslav) and his brother Burisleif, where Yarisleif hires the Varangians to fight his brother and ultimately wins. The name Burisleif is identified by many with Boris (cf. also the connection of the name Boris with the name Borislav), but according to another version it is the name of King Boleslav the Brave, which the saga calls his ally Svyatopolk, without separating them. Also, the chronicle of Thietmar of Merseburg, which tells how Svyatopolk fled to Poland, is often interpreted in favor of his innocence, since it does not mention Svyatopolk’s reign in Kyiv (which, however, contradicts the existence of Svyatopolk’s coins) and any actions against Boris and Gleb.
Fight with Yaroslav
A power struggle began between Svyatopolk and Yaroslav. In 1016, Yaroslav marched with the Novgorod and Varangian troops against his brother. The troops met near Lyubech on the Dnieper, and for a long time neither side decided to be the first to cross the river and give battle. Finally, Yaroslav attacked, taking advantage of the moment when Svyatopolk was feasting with his squad. The troops of the Kyiv prince were defeated and thrown into the river, Yaroslav captured Kyiv.
The defeated prince retreated to Poland, where he called for help from his father-in-law, King Boleslaw I the Brave. In 1018, with the support of Polish and Pecheneg troops, Svyatopolk and Boleslav set out on a campaign against Kyiv. The squads met on the Bug, where Polish army under the command of Boleslav she defeated the Novgorodians, Yaroslav again fled to Novgorod.
Svyatopolk again occupied Kyiv. Not wanting to support Boleslav's troops, stationed in Russian cities for food, he broke the alliance and expelled the Poles. Many Kyiv boyars also left with Boleslav. Less than a year later, Svyatopolk, who had lost his military strength, was forced to flee Kyiv again from Yaroslav, who had returned with the Varangians. The Kiev prince called on other allies, the Pechenegs, for help, hoping with their help to regain power. In the decisive battle on the Alta River (not far from the place where Boris died), Svyatopolk received a wound from which, apparently, he died: “... and his bones, weakened, cannot turn grey, they carry them on carriers.” PVL designates the place of death of Svyatopolk as “between the Poles and the Chakhas,” which many researchers (starting with one of the first researchers of the Borisoglebsk monuments O.I. Senkovsky) consider not a literal geographical designation of the border of the Czech Republic and Poland, but a saying with the meaning “God knows where” .
There is an Icelandic saga “The Strand of Eymund Hringsson”, which describes the struggle between three brothers: Buritslav, in whom most researchers see Svyatopolk, Yaritsleiv (Yaroslav the Wise) and Vartislav, who is most often identified with the Polotsk prince Bryachislav Izyaslavich, a nephew, not a brother Yaroslav and Svyatopolk. According to it, after being wounded, Buritslav goes to “Turkland” and returns with an army. So the feud could continue indefinitely. Therefore, King Eymund asked Yaritsleif: “Will you order him to be killed or not?” To which Yaritsleiv gave his consent:
Having received consent, Eymund and his comrades set off to meet Buritslav’s army. Having set up an ambush along the route and waited until nightfall, Eymund tore down the tent of the prince's tent and killed Buritslav and his guards. He brought the severed head to Yaritsleiva and asked if he would order his brother to be buried with dignity. Yaritsleiv said that since they killed him, they should bury him. Then Eymund returned for the body of Buritsleiv, left behind by the army that had dispersed after his death, and brought it to Kyiv, where the body and head were buried.
The version of “The Strand” about the murder of Buritslav-Svyatopolk by the Varangians, who were sent by Yaroslav, is now accepted by many historians, sometimes preferring it to the story about the death of Svyatopolk in the chronicles.
In historiography
In connection with the role that Svyatopolk plays in the chronicle and hagiography of Boris and Gleb (created starting from the third quarter of the 11th century), he appears as one of the most negative characters in medieval Russian history; Svyatopolk the Accursed is a constant epithet of this prince in chronicles and lives. There are hypotheses of a number of historians of the second half of the 20th century. (N.N. Ilyin, M.Kh. Aleshkovsky, A. Poppe) revise the reports of sources, disagreeing with the chronicle texts, justify Svyatopolk, and attribute the murder of Boris and Gleb to Yaroslav or even Mstislav Vladimirovich. This point of view is based, in particular, on the testimony of the Scandinavian sagas, where Prince “Burislav” dies at the hands of Yaroslav.
The newest book of facts. Volume 3 [Physics, chemistry and technology. History and archaeology. Miscellaneous] Kondrashov Anatoly Pavlovich
Why did the Grand Duke of Kyiv Svyatopolk receive the nickname Damned?
The Grand Duke of Kiev Svyatopolk (ruled 1015–1019) was the son of Yaropolk Svyatoslavovich, the elder brother of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Vladimir Svyatoslavovich. Vladimir killed Yaropolk, luring him into a trap with deception and betrayal, took his widow as war booty and made him his wife, and adopted the boy she gave birth to. Svyatopolk remained in history under the nickname Damned, because, trying to seize the grand-ducal throne after the death of Vladimir Svyatoslavovich, he killed his cousins Boris, Gleb and Svyatoslav Vladimirovich. Their brother, the Novgorod prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich, opposed Svyatopolk and defeated him in the Battle of Lyubech in 1016, after which Svyatopolk, married to the daughter of the Polish king, fled to the Kingdom of Poland. Returning in 1018 with a Polish army, Svyatopolk defeated Yaroslav on the Bug River and expelled him from Kyiv. The dissatisfaction of the popular masses with the rule of foreigners forced the Polish troops to leave Rus'. In 1019, Yaroslav again opposed Svyatopolk, and he went to the Pechenegs. In the battle on the Alta River, Svyatopolk was defeated, fled to Poland, then to the Czech Republic and died on the way (in the same 1019).
From the book Big Soviet Encyclopedia(IG) of the author TSB From the book Great Soviet Encyclopedia (SV) by the author TSB From the book The Newest Book of Facts. Volume 3 [Physics, chemistry and technology. History and archaeology. Miscellaneous] authorHow many wives did the Grand Duke of Kyiv Vladimir Svyatoslavovich have before his baptism? Being a pagan, Vladimir Svyatoslavovich (? – 1015) had five legal (as they said then, “led”) wives. Having known a woman at the age of 15–16, he, according to the chronicler, was “overcome by female lust.” That's why
From the book 3333 tricky questions and answers author Kondrashov Anatoly PavlovichHow did the Grand Duke of Kyiv Vladimir Svyatoslavovich motivate his rejection of Islam? According to the Tale of Bygone Years, in 986, Bulgarian Muslims arrived in Kyiv to convert Prince Vladimir to Islam. When the prince asked what the essence of their faith was, they explained: “Mohammed
From the book 100 great Ukrainians author Team of authorsHow did the Grand Duke of Kyiv Vladimir Svyatoslavovich motivate his renunciation of Judaism? According to the chronicler, when Prince Vladimir asked where their land was, the Jews who came to convert him to their faith answered: “In Jerusalem.” Apparently the prince knew well enough
From the book Big dictionary quotes and catchphrases author Dushenko Konstantin VasilievichWhy did Russian Prince Yuri Vladimirovich receive the nickname Dolgoruky? Yuri, the sixth son of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Vladimir Vsevolodovich Monomakh, ruled in the Rostov-Suzdal land during his father’s life. After the death of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Mstislav Vladimirovich in 1132
From the author's bookWhy did the Grand Duke of Vladimir Vsevolod Yuryevich receive the nickname Big Nest? The Grand Duke of Vladimir Vsevolod the Big Nest (1154–1212), son of Yuri Dolgoruky, received his nickname not only for having many children (he had 8 sons and 4 daughters), but also for the fact that soon
From the author's bookWhy did Moscow Prince Ivan I Danilovich receive the nickname Kalita? In 1328, the Moscow prince Ivan Danilovich, as a reward for pacifying the uprising in Tver against the Tatar tribute collectors (Baskaks), received from the Khan of the Golden Horde a label for the great reign of Vladimir along with
From the author's bookWhy did the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily II Vasilyevich receive the nickname Dark? Vasily II Vasilyevich (1415–1462), Grand Duke of Moscow from 1425, was able to inherit the throne only thanks to the support of the Moscow boyars and the Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas, his grandfather from
From the author's bookWhy did Russian Prince Yuri Vladimirovich receive the nickname Dolgoruky? Yuri, the sixth son of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Vladimir Vsevolodovich Monomakh, during his father’s life ruled in the Rostov-Suzdal land. After the death of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Mstislav Vladimirovich in 1132
From the author's bookSvyatoslav (942–972) Grand Duke of Kiev, commander The Tale of Bygone Years dates the beginning of the independent reign of Grand Duke Svyatoslav Igorevich to 964. Short-lived, but bright and eventful, his reign was marked for Rus' at first by brilliant
From the author's bookVladimir the Holy (960–1015) Grand Duke of Kiev, baptist of Rus' Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich has an exceptional place in national history. During his reign Christianity triumphed in Rus' and it became one of the most powerful powers
From the author's bookYaroslav the Wise (980–1054) Grand Duke of Kiev, statesman and cultural figure Yaroslav, son of Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich, respectfully called the Wise by his contemporaries, was born around 980, shortly after his father was established in Kyiv. Yaroslav's mother was from Polotsk
From the author's bookVladimir Monomakh (1053–1125) Grand Duke of Kyiv, commander and public figure, writer The last period is associated with the name of Vladimir Monomakh state unity and the power of Kievan Rus. Vladimir, born a year before the death of his grandfather Yaroslav the Wise,
From the author's bookYuri Dolgoruky (1090–1157), Grand Duke of Kiev, founder of Moscow Yuri Vladimirovich, the sixth son of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Vladimir Monomakh and his English wife Gita, went down in history as an ambiguous and contradictory personality. He spent most of his life in
From the author's bookYURI DOLGORUKY (?-1157), Prince of Suzdal and Grand Duke of Kiev 22 Come to me, brother, in Moscow. An invitation sent to the Novgorod-Seversk prince Svyatoslav Olgovich in 1147. This first written mention of Moscow was preserved in the Ipatiev Chronicle. ? PSRL. – M.,
Knows many cases of fratricide. The same Vladimir, father (and according to some sources, uncle) of Svyatopolk, killed his brother Yaropolk, and even at the moment when his wife was about to give birth, and his nickname was Red Sun.
Svyatopolk received his prefix to his name - Damned - probably due to the number of killed brothers. There were three of them: Boris, Gleb and Svyatoslav.
The first rulers of Rus'
Prince Svyatopolk, according to some sources, was not Vladimir I’s son, but his nephew, since Krasno Solnyshko immediately married the widow of the murdered Yaropolk, the Greek Julia, and she was already bearing another fratricide. Actually, Svyatopolk had all the rights to the Kiev throne both as Vladimirovich, because he was the eldest son after the death of Vysheslav, and as Yaropolkovich, because he was the legitimate son of the legitimate Kyiv ruler. All of the above were the first Russian rulers with whom the history of Rus' began. Svyatopolk was the great-great-grandson of Rurik, the great-grandson of Igor and Olga, the grandson of Svyatoslav, the son or nephew of Vladimir. With them, Rus' became established, was baptized, with them the faith grew stronger and the lands multiplied.
Honored prefix to the name
Of course, not all of them were fratricides. Judging by the chronicles and historical sources, contemporaries still have fond memories of Boris and Gleb. Taking into account their innocent death and high spiritual qualities, the passion-bearing brothers were canonized, and they became the first Russian saints. Their blood stopped sedition in Rus'. Why did Svyatopolk Vladimirovich the Accursed kill them? Why was he called that? Why is Svyatoslav, who also fell at the hands of the Damned, not counted among the saints?
The term “cursed” itself Ancient Rus' has the following synonyms: wicked and sinful, rejected by the church and damned. That is, if Svyatopolk was given such a nickname, and he “became famous” for centuries with it, it means that his crimes overflowed the cup of human patience. Svyatopolk Vladimirovich the Accursed did not live even 40 years (born in 979, died in 1019), Kievan Rus ruled for about a year and remained in people's memory as the killer of brothers.
Stranger
He was raised by Vladimir as his own son and received the reign in Turov, the capital of the Turov principality, located on the territory of present-day Belarus. Later, Krasno Solnyshko gave him possession of the Drevlyan lands and Pinsk, that is, as we see, he did not offend him at all.
Prince Svyatopolk of Turov on this throne was the first representative of the Rurik family and reigned there since 988. Svyatopolk himself called himself the son of Yaropolk. Its origin is reflected in its name. All other sons of Vladimir the Baptist have the root “slav” in their names in honor of their grandfather Svyatoslav: Izyaslav and Vysheslav, Yaroslav and Mstislav. And in the name of Svyatopolk, the first syllable indicates that the grandfather was really Svyatoslav Igorevich, and the father was Yaropolk. There is no absolutely accurate data, and the mother is not always indicated as Greek (sometimes they talk about a Czech woman, who was Vladimir’s first wife). In The Tale of Bygone Years they write about him as the son of two fathers and call him “an evil fruit.”
Catholic wife
One way or another, all the actions of the hero of our story indicate that he did not love either Vladimir himself, or his brothers or sisters. So, in 1018, Svyatopolk Vladimirovich the Damned took hostage his sisters and stepmother, that is, Vladimir’s next wife, and his brother Yaroslav, later nicknamed the Wise. Additionally, he married a Polish princess, daughter of Bolesław I the Brave, in 1015. The young lady had a spiritual mentor - Bishop Reinburn of Kolberg, and together they all dreamed of re-subordinating Rus' to Catholic Rome. For this purpose, it was necessary to overthrow Vladimir, who also once killed Svyatopolk’s father. But the plot was discovered by the Greek clergyman Anastas Korsunyanin, who at the time was the de facto leader of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Achieving the desired goal
Svyatopolk Vladimirovich Damned with his wife and her mentor were thrown into prison. One can imagine how angry he came out of there after the death of Vladimir, which happened on July 15, 1015. None of the brothers were in Kyiv, Svyatopolk easily took the throne and became Great. He did not recognize all his relatives, but he hated his father’s favorite, Boris, fiercely. The people of Kiev supported him. How the Damned One dreamed of power can be judged by the fact that, sitting on the throne for only a year, he managed to issue his own currency - pieces of silver with a circular inscription around the portrait: “Svyatopolk on the table.”
Cynical killer
During the same year, he kills three brothers (considering them not relatives, but step-brothers) - the Rostov prince Boris, the favorite of the army and the people, the Murom prince Gleb and the Drevlyan Svyatoslav. Boris and Gleb were distinguished by their piety and simple human decency.
They didn't listen to persuasion close circle and responded to Svyatopolk’s false call about the desire for reconciliation. Gleb, who did not know about his father’s death, was summoned by Svyatopolk on behalf of Vladimir. Moreover, both Boris and Gleb recognized the power of the new Prince of Kyiv unconditionally and promised to honor him as they honored their father. Boris the Accursed killed with particular cruelty. Svyatoslav wanted to flee to Hungary, but the killers overtook him there too. Perhaps because he resisted and did not swear allegiance to Svyatopolk, the church did not canonize him.
Damned Villain
Svyatopolk Vladimirovich the Accursed, without hesitation for a minute, would have killed Yaroslav, but at the first meeting near Lyubech on the Dnieper he was defeated by his troops, and Yaroslav occupied Kyiv.
But the Accursed One, who fled to his father-in-law, returned with him and the Polish troops, who, under the leadership of Boleslav I the Brave, defeated the Novgorodians on the Bug. Svyatopolk again took the Kyiv throne. But this man obviously lacked any positive qualities, including elementary gratitude: he expelled Polish troops from Kyiv so as not to put them on allowances.
Evil is punished
Yaroslav, who returned with the Varangians, finally defeated all of Svyatopolk’s allies (this time they were Pechenegs) on the Alta River, near the place where Svyatopolk Vladimirovich the Accursed killed his brother Gleb. Brief biography it contains facts of conspiracies, betrayals, murders and... nothing that would have been done, like his father Vladimir the Baptist and brother Yaroslav the Wise, for the glory of the Russian land. There is no exact information about when, where and how he died. There are legends that while fleeing from the battlefield, the fratricide went crazy and died somewhere in a deserted place on the border of Poland and the Czech Republic.
Unconfirmed options
There are some versions that say that Svyatopolk was slandered, and that he had nothing to do with the murder of the brothers Boris and Gleb, they say, this was the work of Yaroslav, who openly opposed his father.
Before his death, Vladimir was preparing for a campaign against Novgorod to pacify his rebellious son, who, given the presence of older brothers, could not even dream of the Kiev throne. And Yaroslav was very ambitious. In addition, the name of this Svyatopolk continued to be used to name princely children, while there was a clear set of family princely names, from which “bad” ones were excluded. By the way, in the Scandinavian “Edmund’s Saga” it is Yaroslav who is indicated as the murderer of Boris. It is difficult, however, to imagine that Yaroslav was capable in those days, in the absence of the media, to commit the murder of three brothers and so successfully shift the blame to Svyatopolk, who for several hundred years has been considered the accursed murderer of Boris and Gleb, who became heavenly after death defenders of the Fatherland.
In 978, he took his pregnant widow, a Greek woman, as his concubine. In 979, she gave birth to a son, Svyatopolk, who was adopted by the now great Kiev prince Vladimir. He raised Svyatopolk along with his other 11 sons and gave him an inheritance in Turov. Chroniclers call Svyatopolk the son of two fathers.
In 1013, after Prince Vladimir concluded a peace treaty with Poland, Svyatopolk married the daughter of the Polish prince Boleslav I the Brave. There is a version that Svyatopolk was chosen for this union because the Turov lands bordered on Poland.
Incited by his wife and her confessor, Bishop Rainburn, Svyatopolk began to prepare an uprising against his father, Prince Vladimir of Kyiv, with the goal of seizing power. The Polish prince Boleslav also provided his support. But the plot was discovered, and Prince Svyatopolk Vladimirovich, along with his wife and bishop, were sent to prison. Around the same time, Vladimir’s other eldest son, Prince Yaroslav of Novgorod, also rebelled against his father.
Shortly before Vladimir's death in 1015, Svyatopolk was released, receiving Vyshgorod as his inheritance. Having learned about the death of his stepfather, Prince Svyatopolk Vladimirovich hurried to Kyiv and, as the eldest son, took the throne. To win over the people of Kiev, he began to generously distribute gifts. Despite this, the soul of the people did not lie with Svyatopolk, and he knew that his position was fragile.
Then Prince Svyatopolk planned to exterminate all the sons of Vladimir and take possession of their inheritance. First, the people he sent killed Boris on the Alta River while he was praying, then the killers overtook Gleb near Smolensk. Boris and Gleb, the beloved sons of St. Vladimir, were distinguished by their extraordinary kindness and Christian piety. The Church recognized them as Saints.
Then Svyatoslav Drevlyansky was killed. After the massacre of his relatives, Prince Svyatopolk Vladimirovich received the nickname “Cursed”.
Having learned about the murder of his brothers, Yaroslav (in the future the Wise), with the support of the Novgorodians and Varangian warriors, went to war against Svyatopolk. Both troops met on the Dnieper. Yaroslav attacked when Svyatopolk was feasting with his soldiers, pushed his army to the lake, on which there was still thin ice, and many of Svyatopolk’s soldiers drowned. Svyatopolk the Accursed fled to Poland for the help of his father-in-law.
With the support of Polish and Pecheneg warriors, in 1017 he won the throne, and Yaroslav fled back to Novgorod. When the Poles left Kyiv, Yaroslav again attacked Svyatopolk. Yaroslav won the battle on the Alta River, and Prince Svyatopolk the Accursed, wounded, fled to Poland and along the road, abandoned by everyone, died in 1019.
According to some researchers, Svyatopolk is called the Damned undeservedly, because. the story about the murder of Boris and Gleb was inserted into the chronicle much later. According to some reports, Boris dies in an internecine war with Yaroslav. The Varangian mercenaries, having killed Boris, brought his head to Yaroslav.
We know nothing about the death of Svyatoslav Drevlyansky, as well as about himself, except for the fact that he was killed near Mount Ugorskaya. But he had a squad capable of protecting his prince, while Svyatopolk did not have one.