The Great Russian Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich the Great was born presumably in February 1076. At baptism, he was called Theodore, and in Europe he was known as Prince Harald, as well as his maternal grandfather - Harold II Godvinson, who was the last of the Anglo-Saxon kings and the father of Gita of Wessex. The father of Mstislav Vladimirovich the Great was that famous prince Vladimir Monomakh. Subsequently, he was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church.
Life story
Mstislav Vladimirovich the Great in the family was the eldest son. According to the old Russian law of the reign, this meant that it was he who, after the death of his father, would take the throne and become the great Kiev prince. And yet, his path to the throne was not easy, moreover, he was full of obstacles and a fierce struggle. During the last years of the reign of Vladimir Monomakh, Russia turned into a kind of arena for internecine wars between Russian princes. Before ascending the throne of Kiev, Mstislav Vladimirovich the Great reigned in one or the other of Russian cities. Especially for a long time Novgorod was in his power. Under him, this city greatly expanded its possessions, was able to achieve political and economic prosperity. But at some point, Prince Mstislav was forced to violate the vow given to the Novgorodians for a life-long reign and, on the orders of his father, left the city, heading for reigning in Belgorod. Vsevolod, his son, takes his place in Novgorod.
Grand Duke of Kiev
When the father of Mstislav Vladimirovich the Great died in 1125, he automatically became the Grand Duke of Kiev. It seemed that this could be another reason for the discontent of other princes, but everything went smoothly: oddly enough, his candidacy suited everyone. However, other Russian princes were in no hurry to swear allegiance to him, and at first only Kiev and the principality of Kiev belonged to his possessions. Two years later, he managed to change the situation. Mstislav decided to join the struggle for power in the city of Chernigov. With the assistance of the Polovtsy, he managed to capture some of the Chernigov lands. After that, the inhabitants of Smolensk bowed before him. However, he does not stay here and places his son on the princely throne. Soon, almost all of Russia was in his power.
Mstislav Vladimirovich the Great: main events
After he was able to subjugate all the Russian princes, Mstislav decides to improve the foreign policy situation and makes several trips to the Principality of Polotsk, subjugates a number of foreign cities. Over the next year, he finally conquers the Polovtsian lands and places Izyaslav on the throne. On this he did not want to stop and went with the army to the Baltic states. However, failure awaited him there; during the capture of Lithuania, Russian troops were defeated.
Children and family
The wife of Mstislav the Great in 1095 was the daughter of the king of Sweden. She gave birth to her husband four sons. The father made sure that each of his sons - Vsevolod, Izyaslav, Rostislav and Svetopolk - became rulers of various Russian cities. The Norwegian princess was not particularly healthy and died shortly after the birth of her youngest son. The prince married a second time, and in his new marriage he had two more daughters.
The results of the reign of Mstislav the Great
Why was he called Great? It was that prince who managed to stop internecine wars for a while. The years of the reign of Grand Duke Mstislav Vladimirovich, thus, were marked by peace on Russian soil. He became the sole ruler of Kievan Rus. In addition, he managed to expand the territory of his country. He also conducted a very wise tax policy: he took from the people as a tax exactly as much as was necessary, did not rob the people completely and left funds for a normal existence. With him, almost no one was starving. The years of his reign were also marked by the construction of many Orthodox churches.
For the first time, Mstislav had the opportunity to expand his possessions during the struggle for Chernihiv. His daughter was married to Novgorod-Seversky Prince Vsevolod Olgovich, whose uncle ruled Chernigov at that time. He called for help from the Polovtsy and managed to drive his uncle out of his place. Mstislav and Yaropolk opposed Vsevolod, as they swore allegiance to Yaroslav, but he did not restore the status quo. Then the Grand Duke seated his son Izyaslav on the Kursk throne, and then managed to isolate Murom and Ryazan from Chernigov, in Smolensk, after the death of the Svyatoslavovichs, he placed his son Rostislav on the princely throne, and he, in turn, founded the local dynasty here.
Trekking in Plock
1123 was successful for Mstislav the Great. He did not become content with the conquest of Russian cities, but decided to go to the neighbors, namely the Polovtsy. Here he was able to conquer, and then plunder Strezhev, Izyaslavl, Lagozhsk and others. Vladyka of Polotsk, Prince Davyd Vseslavich was replaced, his own brother - Rogvolod, who held out until 1128, ascended to the throne. After his death, Davyd again took the throne, however, Mstislav could not allow this and took him and his two other brothers prisoner, and Izyaslav Mstislavich was appointed the prince of these places. Secondary Prince Vasilko Svyatoslavich began to rule the Polotsk land, which Mstislav the Great sent in 1130 to Constantinople in Constantinople.
Legends associated with the name of Mstislav the Great
German church leader in the first third of the 12th century Rupert in his "Praise to Saint Panteleimon" reports that, during the years of his reign, Mstislav-Harald almost died during the hunt. He was attacked by a bear and torn his stomach in such a way that his insides fell out. The wounded prince was brought to his house. His mother, Gita, began to pray to St. Panteleimon. And then a dream occurred to Mstislav Vladimirovich the Great. Briefly, barely breathing, he told his mother about him: a young man came to him and promised to cure him. According to the legend, the next morning a young man who really looked like Panteleimon came to him, brought with him various potions and healed him. When the second son was born at Mstislav, then at baptism he was given the name Panteleimon. Moreover, the prince founded a wonderful monastery near Novgorod and named it after this saint. And this was not the only temple that he rebuilt. It was on his orders that the Church of the Annunciation and the St. Nicholas Cathedral was built.
Diploma of the Great Kiev Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich
This is a unique monument of the past of Russia, which has survived to this day. It was written on parchment, and a hanging silver seal with gilding was attached to it. This letter dates back to the great era, that is, the Kiev reign of Mstislav Vladimirovich (1125-1132), who was called the Great for his affairs by the people. It is not possible to establish the exact date for the writing of the Diploma of Grand Duke Mstislav Vladimirovich, therefore it is generally accepted that this happened around 1130. It was then that the son of the Grand Duke, Vsevolod, came to his father in Kiev, although in some chronicles this event dates back to 1126. Historian S.V. Yushkov calls this document an immunity letter. This means that its owner is primarily transferred the right to land ownership and to the collection of tribute, supra and sale. Later, he also receives awards in the form of exemption from the financial and administrative subordination of princely power and general jurisdiction. A letter of Mstislav was kept in
Buice, in a monastery founded even under Vsevolod. It is located on the shores of the lake of the same name on the border of the Tver and Pskov provinces.
The death of the Grand Duke
According to the annals, Mstislav Vladimirovich died on April 14, 1132. He gave his throne not to one of his sons, as everyone assumed, but to his brother - Yaropolk. However, he made a condition before him that after he ascended to the great princely throne, his Pereyaslavlsky would cede to his son Mstislav Vsevolod. However, this plan could not be implemented, since his younger brothers rose against Vsevolod. While uncles and nephews were at enmity with each other over the Kiev throne, the Olgovichi, who also claimed power in Kiev, entered the arena of struggle. It turned out that the death of Mstislav became the reason for the collapse of Kievan Rus into many separate principalities that waged internecine wars.
