Studying the vital activity of the princes who ruled the cities of Kievan Rus (Kiev, Novgorod, Chernigov, Vladimir-Volynsky) and others, historians drew parallels how family ties and personal qualities influenced the formation of the great state of Kievan Rus.
Svyatopolk Izyaslavich was more remembered by his descendants as the arbiter of foreign policy, who did little for the unity of the state.
Family tree of Svyatopolk Izyaslavich
Svyatopolk (at the baptism of Michael) was born on November 8, 1050. His father, Izyaslav Yaroslavich, was Prince of Kiev. Who the mother is is not known for certain. According to some sources, this was the concubine of his father, according to other sources - the daughter of the Polish king Meshko the Second - Gertrude.
Svyatopolk’s father was the middle son of Yaroslav the Wise and the Swedish Princess Inghegerdy (Irina at baptism).
Izyaslav reigned in Kiev when his son Svyatopolk turned 19 years old, and he imprisoned him to rule in Polotsk in 1069.
The historical period of development of Kievan Rus after the death of Yaroslav the Wise is considered a troubled time when Svyatopolk Izyaslavich and other princes waged constant wars with each other and the Polovtsy.
The beginning of reign
The reign in Polotsk of the son of Izyaslav lasted only 2 years, after which he had to leave the city and return to his father in Kiev, as the former lord of the volost regained the city.
In 1073-1077 Svyatopolk with his father was in exile, and after Izyaslav began to reign in Kiev again, he gave his son Novgorod, whom he reigned until 1088. From 1089 to 1093 he ruled in Turov. The death of the last of the sons of Yaroslav the Wise led to the fact that the rule in Kiev was to go to his eldest grandson - Svyatopolk.
Although the people of Kiev wanted Vladimir Monomakh, the youngest grandson of Yaroslav, to rule them, he did not want to break the law and invited Svyatopolk to take the princely throne. So in 1093 he became Prince of Kiev.
Battle with the Polovtsy
The reign of Svyatopolk Izyaslavich in Kiev lasted intermittently from 1093 to 1113 and remained in the memory of the people as a vague and cruel time. In the first year, the new prince showed himself to be a short-sighted ruler, poorly understanding the position of Kievan Rus in foreign policy.
While Svyatopolk Izyaslavich took the throne, the Polovtsian horde went with war to Russia. But upon learning of the new prince, they sent ambassadors with peace and various requirements for its conclusion. The prince did not listen to the advice of the boyars, who were advisers even under his father and uncle, but heeded the demand of his warriors, who had come for him from Turov, to detain the ambassadors.
This decision was the beginning of the disasters that accompanied the entire reign of Svyatopolk. The Polovtsians went to war, and although the prince let go of the ambassadors and offered peace, it was too late. Having a squad of only 800 soldiers, he could not resist the Polovtsian princes.
Listening, finally, to the Kiev boyars, Svyatopolk asked for help from the Chernigov prince Vladimir Monomakh. He did not come alone, but called with him his brother Rostislav with his squad. But, even bringing the troops together, they found that their numbers were significantly inferior to the Polovtsian army.
When both armies met on different banks of the Stugni River, Vladimir proposed to enter into negotiations with the Polovtsy, but Svyatopolk did not heed the advice and decided to fight, which turned out to be devastating for the Russians. Svyatopolk fled with the remnants of his army to Trepol, and then to Kiev.
In this battle, Vladimir Monomakh lost his brother and most of his squads and boyars and returned to Chernigov in great sadness. The Polovtsians seized and robbed the lands north of Kiev and destroyed the city of Torchesk, capturing all its inhabitants in captivity.
Only in 1094 Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, whose reign began with heavy losses, made peace with the Polovtsi, marrying the daughter of the most influential khan - Tugorkan.
Lubech Congress
The struggle of the princes for the Chernigov and Novgorod destinies led to constant strife and bloodshed, until the princes decided to pack up and settle all the issues with the world. In 1097, the grandchildren of Yaroslav the Wise met in Lyubec: Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, Vladimir Monomakh, David Igorevich, Oleg with his brother David and Vasilko Rostislavich.
The purpose of the meeting was the unification of the princes of Kievan Rus against external enemies and securing for each of them those destinies that were laid to them by law. This was done so that the princes did not claim each other’s lands and did not wage internecine wars.
Everyone agreed with the division of land, and those who and where will rule. The princes kissed the cross in a sign that they agree with the decision, and promised not to violate it. Also, everyone agreed that they would unite against someone who breaks the oath.
The decision of this congress was of historical significance, since it clearly showed the internal fragmentation of Kievan Rus into separate independent principalities, ready to unite in case of external danger. All this influenced the relations between the princes and it changed only the death of Svyatopolk Izyaslavich and the coming to power of Vladimir Monomakh.
Congress in Vitechev
Svyatopolk violated the oath made in Lyubec by listening to the deceitful speeches of David, who envied the brothers Vasilka and Volodar Rostislavich. Inviting Vasilka to his birthday, Svyatopolk allowed David to blind him and take him to Vladimir.
This act outraged all the boyars and princes, since there was no similar treacherous cruelty between them. Vladimir Monomakh called on other participants in the congress of brothers Oleg and David Svyatoslavich and went to Kiev.
The civil strife did not happen only because Vladimir's stepmother went out to ask for Kiev and the Russian land. The princes demanded that Svyatopolk go to war against David Igorevich, which he did in 1099.
The ensuing after this war led to a new congress, which took place in 1100 in Witchevsk. Its result was the accession of Vladimir-Volynsky to the lands of Svyatopolk.
Dolobsky congress
The Dolob congress of 1103 was appointed by Vladimir Monomakh to hold advice with the Prince of Kiev on the need for campaigns against the Polovtsy. Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, whose domestic and foreign policy did not contribute to the strengthening of Russia and the liberation from the Polovtsian yoke, did not want military campaigns, citing the desire of the squad not to fight, but to sow.
At a meeting near Lake Dolobsky, on the left bank of the Dnieper, Vladimir held a speech in which he convinced that before sowing, the borders should be strengthened, or the enemies would ruin the villages and burn the crops.
He convinced both combatants and Svyatopolk of the need for war against the Polovtsy. Thus began the campaigns of the Russians against the conquerors.
Campaigns at the Polovtsian
The hostilities launched in 1103 became the first association of the princes of Kievan Rus against the Polovtsian khans. The confrontation between the two armies, which lasted more than 7 years, led to a crushing victory in each new battle.
The decisive battle was the battle of March 27, 1111, when the Polovtsian troops could not withstand the fierce onslaught of the Russian squads and took to flight. Princes with rich booty returned home.
Wives and children Svyatopolk
Historians do not know anything about Svyatopolk’s first wife, but were born in this marriage:
- son Yaroslav (1072-1123) - at different times, Prince Vladimir-Volynsky, Vyshgorodsky and Turovsky;
- daughter Anna (d. 1136);
- daughter of Sbyslav (d. 1111);
- daughter Predslava.
The second wife was the daughter of Khan Tugorkan, in the baptism of Helen. From this marriage were born:
- Bryachislav (1104-1123);
- Izyaslav (d. 1127);
- Mary (d. Later 1145).
The oldest son of Svyatopolk was the son of Mstislav (d. In 1099), born of a concubine.
The death of Svyatopolk Izyaslavich (04.16.1113) led to a popular uprising in Kiev. The people, dissatisfied with the reign of the deceased prince, demanded Vladimir Monomakh to the throne. Only to stop the unrest, he agreed to reign in Kiev.
