The dynasty of Polotsk princes. Polotsk princes

In the state system of the Belarusian lands until the 9th century. dominated by small states-principalities, which were isolated even from their closest neighbors. Each of these mini-states had its own capital. In the IX-X centuries. the growth of cities, crafts, workshops begins, which caused the beginning of centralization. This was facilitated by the role of the Orthodox clergy, which was a supporter of the idea of ​​a strong state. Several principalities rose on the territory of Belarus. The most significant of the early feudal principalities was Polotsk. It became the source of statehood in the Middle Ages. Polotsk was first mentioned in The Tale of Bygone Years in 862. Rogvolod was the first chronicle prince of Polotsk. During this period, Polotsk was in varying degrees of dependence on the Principality of Kiev. until 1101, the territory of the state was 40-50 thousand km, if in the X century. in Polotsk ≈ 1 thousand inhabitants, then in the XI century. ≈ 10-15 thousand people Polotsk pursued an aggressive policy. In 1066, the Polotsk people sacked Novgorod. In response, the South Russian princes united and in 1067 the Battle of Nemiga took place. Vseslav Charodey is captured by deceit and thrown into prison in Kiev. But a year later, the people of Kiev expel their prince and Vseslav Charodey becomes the prince of Kiev. After 7 months, he fled from Kiev and again became the prince of Polotsk. But Vseslav the Wizard also divided his country between 6 sons. Once again, small states become dependent. It was a pan-European process, but centralization was already unfolding in Western countries. The Polotsk principality is characterized by a developed political system. In the principality, the prince ruled, glad, veche. The highest ranks: the mayor, the governor, the thousand's manager, the keymaster and representatives of the Orthodox Church, the bishop and abbots - the abbots of the Orthodox Church. Upon accession to the throne, the prince took an oath and concluded an agreement between the top of Polotsk and the prince, who promised to fulfill the laws and norms. Laws were issued by the Rada, but the members of the Rada were appointed by the prince. A social hierarchy was formed, where the highest level was occupied by princes and boyars, and the lower strata - smerds, radoviches, purchases, serfs. The construction of the majestic church of St. Sophia testifies to the rise of Polotsk. The Turov principality was also powerful during this period. Already in the X century. flourishing until the 12th century. Turov got rid of the guardianship of the Kiev princes. The Turov Principality itself was formed from Turov, Pinsk, Slutsk and Kletsk. There was a veche in the city, which even elected a bishop. At the end of the 12th century. - the first half of the XIII century. The Polotsk and Turov principalities entered a period of feudal fragmentation. In the 12th century. the Minsk principality begins to rise, but its rise causes campaigns of the Kiev princes and the Minsk land could not become the center of the unification of the Belarusian lands. In the XIII century. the rise of the Grodno, Novogrudok, Volkovysk principalities begins, and external threats from the crusaders and the Mongol-Tatars will accelerate the process of unification of the Belarusian lands.

PRINCIPALITY OF POLOTSKY - a state formation in the 10th and 2nd third of the 12th - the end of the 13th centuries, a political formation as part of the Old Russian state and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Sto-li-tsa - the city of Po-lotsk. It was built in the 2nd half of the 9th - 2nd half of the 10th centuries on the basis of the early-not-go-state association-e-di-non-niya po-lo-chan (Western Cree -vi-whose). The ancient-ney-shay ter-ri-to-ria of the Principality of Polotsk embrace-you-va-la lands along the Western Dvina river and its tributary Po-lo-te. In the beginning - the middle of the 11th century, it grew-shi-ri-las in the middle of the Western Dvina and the Lo-va-ti, for example, but then in the composition of the Polotsk principality came ter-ri-to-rii races-se-le-niya of the northern dre-go-vi-chey with centers in the city-ro-de on the river Me-na (look in the article Minsk) and on go-ro-di-shche "Za-mo-chek" (see the article Za-slavl), as well as the land along the Drut River. From the beginning of the 11th century, dan-ni-kami in the pilot-kih princes were you, chickens and zem-ga-ly, lit-va and part of the lat-ga-lov. In 1021, the cities of Us-vyat and Vi-tebsk entered the Principality of Polotsk with ok-re-st-no-stya-mi.

In the 2nd half of the 10th century, the pra-vi-te-lem of the Principality of Polotsk was Prince Rog-vo-lod (according to “According to the weight of time years”, scan-di-nav according to -is-hod-de-nyu). Around 978, Prince Vla-di-mir Svyato-sl-vich co-made a move on Po-lotsk, killed Prince Rog-vo-lo-da, forcibly took himself into the same -we are his daughter Rog-ne-du, and after the nya-tiya of Kiev, he included the Principality of Polotsk in the composition of the Old Russian state.

Around 988, Vla-di-mir Holy-slav-vich you-de-lil the Principality of Polotsk in the possession of his elder son-well from Rog-ne-dy Izya-slav-vu Vla-di-mi-ro-vi-chu (? - 1001), in that way, someone-ro-go right-wi-whether there until the last quarter of the 13th century. In the reign of the prince-zey Brya-chi-sla-va Izya-sla-vi-cha (1001 or 1003 - 1044) and All-slav-va Brya-chi-sla-vi-cha (1044-1067, 1071-1101) The Principality of Polotsk for-ni-ma-lo dos-that-accurate-but-separate-len-noe from the ancient ter-ri-to-ry of the Old Russian state, according to the pilot some princes rarely teaching-st-in-va-li in the general Russian military ac-qi-yah. The Principality of Polotsk was ras-shi-rya-elk on the se-ve-ro-for-pa-de due to the addition of so-yuz-ni-kov and dan-ni-kov in the Pri-bal- ti-ke, in the south - due to sub-chi-non-niya of the northern group of dre-go-vi-chey; on the se-ve-ro-vos-to-ke in the course of the war in the pilot-kim prince-pits, it was possible to keep two new-go-rod-sky state-ta . In 1069, the Principality of Polotsk was under-chi-not-but Kiev prince Izya-slav Yaro-sla-vi-what, on-right-left-shim on the prince in Po- Lotsk of their sons-no-vey - Revenge-sla-va Izya-sla-vi-cha (1069) and Holy half-ka Izya-sla-vi-cha (1069-1071).

After the death of All-slav-va Brya-chi-sla-vi-cha on-cha-moose, the division of the Polotsk principality between his many sons-new-i-mi , the leading role among some in the 1100-1110s was played by the Minsk prince Gleb Vse-slavich. Po-lots table for-mal-but os-ta-val-sya “old-rey-shim” for Izya-sla-vi-chey, while from the Polotsk principality you are fak-ti-che-ski li-lissed and both-co-be-lissed the Minsk prince-same-st-vo, Druts-some prince-same-st-vo and Vi-teb-sky prince-same-st-vo. In the 1st half of the 12th century, there were three main lines in the pilots of Izya-sla-vi-chey (Minsk Gle-bo-vi-chi, other Rog- vo-lo-di-chi and vy-teb-sko-izya-slav-sky Holy-to-sla-vi-chi), representing-becoming-lying in military-po-lytic from-but -she-nii prak-ti-che-ski equals-but-ve-li-kie-ly. Therefore, in the 12th-13th centuries, pre-ten-den-you on a pilot table were not-rarely supported from outside. In the 1st third of the XII century, his for-ni-ma-li Ro-man Vse-slav-vich (ve-ro-yat-no, 1101-1014), Da-view Vse-slav-vich (ve- ro-yat-no, 1114-1127 and 1128-1129), Horn-in-lod - Bo-ris Vse-slavich (1127-1128). Serious pressure on Izya-sla-vi-whose was exerted by the Kiev princes of Vla-di-mir All-in-lo-do-wich Mo-no-mah (1113-1125 ) and Msti-slav Vla-di-mi-ro-vich Ve-li-ki (1125-1132), some in 1116 and 1127 co-ver-shi-whether military-ho-dy on them. In 1129, Msti-slav Vla-di-mi-ro-vich sent pain-shin-st-in-tom-kov All-sla-va Brya-chi-sla-vi-cha into exile in Vi -Zan-tiyu, about-vi-niv them in the na-ru-she-nii of the kre-st-no-go whole-lo-va-niya (Izya-sla-vi-chi from-ka-za-li from the teacher -stia in the ho-de on the catches). Pra-vi-te-la-mi of the Principality of Polotsk became the sy-no-vya of the ki-ev-sky prince-zya - Izya-slav Msti-slavich (1129-1132) and the Holy Regiment of Revenge -slavich (1132).

Soon after the death of revenge, Vla-di-mi-ro-vi-cha, Izya-sla-vi-chi returned to power in the Principality of Polotsk. In Po-lots-ke, prince Vasil-ko Svyato-slavich was established (1132 - about 1143/1144). After his death, the struggle for power in the Principality of Polotsk unfolded between the druts-ki-mi Rog-vo-lo-di-cha-mi and min-ski-mi Gle -bo-wee-cha-mi. In the middle of the XII century, b-go-da-rya di-na-stic marriages would they in-teg-ri-ro-va-ny in the political life of South Russia: in 1143, the daughter Va-sil-ko Holy-sla-vi-cha became the wife of the bu-du-sche-go black-no-gov-th and ki-ev-sky prince Holy-sla -va All-in-lo-do-vi-cha; in the same year, the other prince Rog-vo-lod (Va-si-liy) Rog-vo-lo-do-vich (Bo-ri-so-vich) did-nil-sya on do-che ri pe-re-yas-lav-sko-go (in the future, ki-ev-sko-go) of Prince Izya-slav-va Avenge-sla-vi-cha; in the 1140s or 1150s. All-slav Vas-sil-ko-vich same-nil-sya on do-che-ri smo-len-sko-go (later ki-ev-sko-go) of Prince Ros-ti-slav-va Avenge- thank-you-cha. As a result, the key influence on events in the Polotsk principality in the middle - 2nd half of the XII century began to have a Smolensk Ros-ti -sla-vi-chi (pre-zh-de everything, Prince Da-view of Ros-ti-slav-vich) and black-no-go-in-se-ver-sky Ol-go-vi-chi. At the same time, Ros-ti-sla-vi-chi in the 1160-1170s de-la-li bet-ku on the vi-teb-sky Holy-sla-vi-chi, and in the 1180s t-lis op-ret-sya on others Rog-vo-lo-di-chey. In turn, Ol-go-vi-chi at the end of the 1150s and in the 1190s you-stu-pa-li on a hundred-ro-not other-kih Rog-vo-lo-di-chey , and in the early 1180s, dey-st-vo-va-li in soyuz with wi-teb-ski-mi Holy-sla-vi-cha-mi.

First-at-the-initial-but-success in the struggle for the Principality of Polotsk with-put-st-in-shaft Horn-in-lo-du (Va-si-liyu) Horn-in-lo-do- vi-chu (Bo-ri-so-vi-chu) (about 1143/1144 - 1151), then pre-hundred-vi-te-lyu of the Minsk Gle-bo-vi-chey Ros-ti-sla -vu Gle-bo-vi-chu (1151-1158). At the end of the 1150s, with the support of the black-no-gov-sky prince of the Holy Glory of Ol-go-vi-cha, Rog-vo-lod returned to Po-lotsk (Va-si-liy) Horn-vo-lo-do-vich (Bo-ri-so-vich) (1158-1161), and with effort-le-ni-em in-zi-tsy Ros-ti-sla - vi-teb-sky prince Vse-slav Vasil-ko-vich (1161-1166, 1166 - ve-ro-yat-but, not earlier than 1181) ). In 1166, his reign-le-pre-ry-va-elk was briefly-time-men-ny for-capturing Po-lots-ka by Prince Vo-lo-da-rem Gle-bo-vi-chem .

In the 1180s, there was a union of the Minsk Gle-bo-vi-chey and other Rog-vo-lo-di-chey, leading to the sta-bi-li-za -tions of the internal-ri-po-lytic-po-lo-same-tion in the Polotsk principality. Possibly, at the beginning of the 1180s, in Po-lots-ke, for a short time, the prince-prince Gleb Rog-vo-lo-do-vich lived (not earlier than 1181 - about 1184). Then, for a long time, according to the pilot table, he occupied the pre-sta-vi-tel of the Minsk princes Vla-di-mir Vo-lo-da-re-vich (about 1184 - 1216). Around 1184, Vla-di-mir Vo-lo-da-re-vich raz-re-sewed Mey-nar-du pro-po-ve-do-wat ka-to-li-cism among the li-vs. In 1184, 1206, 1208, 1216, as a pilot prince, active, but intervening in the event in the Bal-ti-ke, one-on-one could not -ty-to-stand in a degree-pen-no-mu pe-re-ho-du races-la-woof-shih-sya in the middle and lower reaches of the Western Dvi- on the principalities of Er-si-ka and Kok-ne-se under the control of the Riga bishops.

The death of Vla-di-mi-ra Vo-lo-da-re-vi-cha you called a new struggle for the Principality of Polotsk. On January 17, 1223, the Smolensk troops for-hva-ti-li Po-lotsk, having replaced the princes Bo-ri-sa and Gle-ba, who were right here, (their lying to one or another line of the pilot princes is not us-ta-nov-le-na). Svyato-glory Msti-slavich, the eldest son of the Kiev prince of Msti-slav-va Ro-ma-no-vi- ca Old-ro-go. In-vi-di-mo-mu, but in the name of the pilot prince Svyato-glory Msti-slavich and vi-teb-sky prince Brya-chi-slav (Va-sil-ko-vich? ) mentioned-mi-na-lis as under-chi-nyon-nye sm-len-sky-mu prince Avenge-glory Da-vi-do-vi-chu in his do-go-in-re with Ri- goy and "Gothic be-re-gom" (1229).

Soon after the departure of the Holy Glory of Revenge-sla-vi-cha on the prince in Smolensk (1232) the right-wi-te-lem of the Polotsk principality, ve-ro- yat-no, the Viteb-sky prince Brya-chi-slav (Va-sil-ko-vich?) became. His power was based on tribal and church ties with North-Eastern Russia. Back in 1209, the vla-di-mir-sky prince Vse-vo-lod Yur-e-vich Big-shoye Gnez-before marrying the 2nd marriage on So-fi, before-che-ri vi -teb-sky prince Vas-sil-ka Brya-chi-sla-vi-cha (that is, all over the vi-di-mo-sti, se-st-re Brya-chi-sla-va), and in 1239, Brya-chi-slav himself gave his daughter in marriage to the new-born prince Alek-san-dr Yaro-sla-vi-cha. At the end of the 1230s, there was a sharp increase in military pressure on the Principality of Polotsk from the side of the Lithuanian princes. In a vi-di-mo-mu, for help against them until May 23, 1254, according to the pilot prince Kon-stan-tin Bez-ru-ki (no later than 1245 - about 1258) from - gave Li-von-sko-mu or-de-well the right to land on the ground in the Lower Pod-vi-nye and tribute from lat-ga-lov.

Around 1258-1263, in the Principality of Polotsk, the rule of the nephew of the Lithuanian prince Min-dov-ga - Tov-ti-vil (at the invitation of the lo-chan) ruled. In 1262, as a vassal of the Grand Duke of the Vla-di-mir-sky Alek-san-dr-Yaro-sla-vi-cha of Nevsky, he took part in the -de to the city of Derpt (we-not Tar-tu). After gi-be-li Tov-ti-vi-la in the fight against the Lithuanian prince Tre-nya-toy (Troy-on-that), the Principality of Polotsk passed into the hands of Prince Ger- day (1264-1267). His authorities under-chi-ni-moose and the Vitebsk principality, that you called military actions against the Principality of Polotsk from the side of the co-se-days. In 1266-1267, with the help of the Psko-Vi-Chey and the New-Go-Rods, Prince Dov-mont won a series of victories over Ger-de-nem, someone was killed in one of the battles. One-on-ko in Po-lots-ke uk-re-drank-sya you-sal of the Lithuanian prince Voi-shel-ka - Izya-slav (possibly, pro-is-ho-dil from mines -skikh Gle-bo-vi-whose; also, it is believed that he is the same person with the Svis-Loch prince Izya-slav, whose power is in 1257, the Mongol troops were raz-gro-mi-li under the command of noi-o-na Bu-run-dai). Confirming, as before Her-day, the tor-go-vy do-go-thief with Riga and the "Got-sky be-re-g", Prince Izya-slav could not on-la -dit from-no-she-niya with co-sed-ni-mi Russian princes-same-st-va-mi.

Polotsk, princes

- № 1. Andrew Vladimirovich. His ancestors in ascending line: Vladimir (No. 12), Vasilko (No. 11), Svyatoslav (No. 35), Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. In 1181, when Southern Russia there was a struggle between the Chernigov princes and David Rostislavich of Smolensk, and most of the Polotsk princes were on the side of the Chernigov prince Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich, Andrei Volodshich also kept an alliance with Svyatoslav. Chernigov princes (Yaroslav and Igor) attacked Drutsk, on Prince. Gleb Rogvolodovich (No. 23), who reigned in this city. David of Smolensk came to his aid when the Chernigov princes were already standing near the city, waiting for Svyatoslav to start the battle, and Svyatoslav himself was in a hurry from Novgorod. Andrei Volodshich, together with other princes of Polotsk, came out to meet Svyatoslav, to unite with him. Having met him, they proceeded with him to Drutsk. The victory, as you know, went to Svyatoslav. We have no further information about him.

"Complete Collection of Russian Chronicles", vol. II, p. 124; vol. III, p. 116; Karamzin. "History of the State. Russian." ed. well. "North". vol. III, pp. 60 and 86, approx. 95, 141; Solovyov, "History of Russia", ed. t-va "Public Benefit" book. I, vol. II, p. 546, approx. one; Ilovaisky, "History of Russia", vol. I, part 2, pp. 91, 92, 101-103; Dovnar-Zapolsky. "Essay on the history of the Krivichi and Dregovichi lands", pp. 140, 157.

№ 2. Boris Vseslavich, 3rd son of Vseslav. Ascending ancestors: Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. Shortly after the death of Vseslav, we see Boris as a prince in Polotsk; but whether he became it immediately after the death of his father, or after some time, is not known. Soon, already as Prince of Polotsk, Boris Vseslavich went to the Yatvyag (Lithuanian tribe), defeated them and, returning, built the city of Borisov (in honor of his name) and populated it. This was done by him in order to protect himself from the attacks of the Yatvyagovyans. In 1106, he participated with his brothers in a campaign against the Zimgolu or Zimegol tribe (which gave the name to Semigallia, a part of Courland). This campaign ended unhappily for the Vseslavich brothers: they lost about 9 thousand people in the battle. Then, around 1120, as some believe, Vladimir Monomakh, wanting to get closer to the Polotsk prince Boris, gave his granddaughter, the daughter of his son Mstislav (later the Great), to Borisov's son, Bryachislav. Some consider Bryachislav to be the son of Boris, but rather, as some historians suggest (Soloviev and others), consider him to be the son of David (see about Bryachislav Davidovich (No. 5). Around 1125, Boris was expelled by his brother David Vseslavich, who managed to win the favor of the Polotsk veche and became the Prince of Polotsk himself. This was the reason for Grand Duke Mstislav the Great to intervene in Polotsk affairs, as if standing up for Boris Vseslavich. Gathering a huge army, calling to his allies almost all the princes of the Russian land, Mstislav attacked Polotsk land from various sides.The Polochans started negotiations with Mstislav and achieved that, after they expelled David, Boris was not returned; with the permission of Mstislav, Rogvolod Vseslavich was made prince, and the princes were forced, it seems, to recognize the power of the Kiev prince, since only the princes of Polotsk did not recognize him.The next, in 1128, when the princes of Polotsk refused to participate in the campaign of the Grand Duke Mstislav, he again fell on the Principality of Polotsk, captured all the princes of Polotsk and sent them to prison to his relative, the Byzantine emperor in Constantinople. Only Boris was spared, but he did not survive much of the disaster that befell the Polotsk princes, as he died the following year, 1129. Boris is also known as the builder of two churches. Not content with the ancient Church of the Most Holy Theotokos, which still existed at that time, Boris founded the St. Sophia stone cathedral with seven peaks (chapters); he also built the Pyatnitskaya church over the river. Belchitsy. Boris is also credited with several so-called "Dvina" stones, on which his name was carved; they say they were placed in commemoration of various enterprises of his reign. So, for example, near the mountains. Disna was found a cross with an inscription carved in memory of his death.

"Complete collection of Russian chronicles", vol. I, pp. 120, 131; vol. II, pp. 12, 293, vol. III, p. b; vol. IV, p. 3; vol. V, p. 156; vol. VII, pp. 28, 231; vol. IX, p. 155; vol. XV, p. 195; Solovyov, "History of Russia", ed. t-va "Public Benefit", book. I, vol. II, p. 346, approx. 3; p. 546, approx. one; Karamzin, "History of the State Russian.", ed. magazine "North", vol. II, p. 92; I. D. Belyaev, "Stories from Russian History" vol. IV, pp. 319, 320; Batyushkov, "Belarus and Lithuania", p. 27; "Bulletin of South-Western Russia" 1864, February, dep. II, p. 77 (article by Govorsky); "Historical information about the Polotsk. St. Sophia Cathedral", 1864, November, otp. II, p. 1; Ilovaisky, "History of Russia", vol. I, part 2. pp. 101, 133. "Scholar. Western Academician of Sciences" 1855 III, pp. 64-69.

№ 3. Boris Rogvolodovich. His ancestors in ascending line: Rogvolod (No. 30), Boris (No. 2), Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. Boris Rogvolodovich was the specific prince of Drutsk after his brother Vseslav. In 1195, the struggle of David Rostislavich with the Chernigov princes resumed. Rurik Rostislavich, as proof of peacefulness, promised Yaroslav Vsevolodovich of Chernigov to ask his brother David Rostislavich for Yaroslav mountains. Vitebsk, where the son-in-law of Davidov, Vasilko Bryachislavich, reigned. It was decided to agree on this matter at a general council, but the Chernigov princes did not wait for a decision and, despite the winter and inconvenient time for hostilities, went on a campaign to Vitebsk, devastating the Smolensk land along the way. Boris Prince Drutsky, despite the fact that the Drutsk princes were generally in alliance with the Smolensk princes, and even had their patronage and protection from them, went over to the side of the Chernigov princes. In the second week of Great Lent, Mstislav Romanovich, the son of Roman Rostislavich, brother of David, from whom he subsequently inherited Smolensk, attacked with the Smolensk regiments the regiment of Oleg, the son of Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich, and David, the son of this prince Oleg, was killed. Then Mikhalko, David's thousandth, with the Smolensk people attacked the Polotsk troops, which came under the leadership of Vasilko Volodarevich (No. 9) and Boris Rogvolodovich. The Polochans repelled the attack, but did not pursue Smolyan and Mikhalka, but went into the rear of the Mstislav army. Mstislav, not knowing about the flight of Mikhalk, but only about the flight of Oleg Svyatoslavich, chased after Oleg's regiment, and then returned to the battlefield, as if to help Mikhalk. He did not find Mikhalok on the battlefield, but they met him, surrounded by a small detachment, the Polochans, and Boris Rogvolodovich took him prisoner. Oleg Svyatoslavich, having recovered from his flight and learned about the capture of Mstislav, returned to the battlefield, begged the captured Mstislav from Boris Drutsky and informed Chernigov about his victory. Although the victory was on the side of the Chernigov princes, however, its results were destroyed by the intervention of Rurik Rostislavich. We do not know the year of the death of Boris Rogvolodovich, but, according to the story transmitted by Tatishchev, Boris was still alive in 1217.

"Complete Collection. Russian Chronicles", vol. X, p. 28; Karamzin. "East. State. Russian.", ed. magazine "North", vol. III, p. 60 approx. 95; Batyushkov. "Belarus and Lithuania", pp. 33, 144; Dovnar-Zapolsky. "Essay on the history of the Krivichi and Dregovichi lands until the 13th century", p. 160; Tatishchev. "History", vol. III, p. 403.

№ 4. Bryachislav Vasilkovich. His ancestors in ascending line: Vasilko (No. 11), Svyatoslav (No. 35), Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. Bryachislav Vasilkovich was a specific prince in Izyaslavl, and then in Vitebsk. In 1158, during the struggle of Rogvolod Borisovich (No. 31) with the Glebovichi, he was still a young prince. Rogvolod Borisovich, having gone on a campaign against Vsevolod Glebovich (No. 14), took the city of Izyaslavl, which he did not rightfully own, and handed it over to Bryachislav Vasilkovich, to whom it was supposed to belong, as a fatherland: "that's a fatherland," said Bryachislav. It must be assumed that during the surrender of Izyaslavl, Rogvolod Borisovich was guided rather not by the rights of Bryachislav, but by the strategic importance of Izyaslavl in the fight against the Glebovichi, since it was safer to give it into the hands of the friendly line of the Vasilkovichi than to leave in the hands of Glebovich, although friendly, but, with his weakness, always able to change and go over to the side of his brothers. However, having received Izyaslavl, Bryachislav Vasilkovich was not calm in this city. In 1159, the Glebovichi attacked Izyaslavl and captured Bryachislav in it with his younger brother Volodsha (Volodar Vasilkovich), and Volodsha was put in a "cut", and Bryachislav was even kept in chains. The capture of Bryachislav in Izyaslav was the reason for Rogvolod Borisovich to go on a campaign against Glebovichi and begin the siege of Minsk, where Rostislav Glebovich (No. 35) settled and Bryachislav Vasilkovich was imprisoned with his brother Volodsha. The struggle between Rogvolod and Rostislav ended in peace "with all his will" Rogvolod, according to which the Vasilkovich brothers were to be released first of all. In 1162, the princes of Polotsk, including Bryachislav, participated in the campaign of Rostislav against Vladimir Mstislavich to the mountains. Slutsk. In the late 60s of the XII century, when David moved from Vitebsk to Vyshgorod, an inheritance located in Southern Russia, he gave Vitebsk to Bryachislav. But it seems more accurate to assume that David, taking little care of this city, in view of receiving an inheritance closer to Kiev, left it, badly or even without providing it for himself at all, and therefore the Vasilkovichi tried to take advantage of the opportunity and return their inheritance to themselves, for a while lost, as is known, for the sake of strengthening its position among other lines of the Polotsk princely family of the Vseslavichs, and especially the eldest of them, Vseslav, in the Polotsk principality. In 1169, Bryachislav and his brothers participated in the campaign of the Rostislavichs, their patrons, and Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky for Svyatoslav Rostislavich, who was expelled from the reign by the Novgorodians. In 1681, when a struggle took place in Southern Russia between the Chernigov princes and David Rostislavich of Smolensk, and most of the Polotsk princes were on the side of the Chernigov princes, in particular, on the side of Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich, Bryachislav, as well as his brother Vseslav Polotsky, also kept the union with them. (On the details of the formation of unions and the reason for the formation, see Vseslav Polotsky No. 16). How long Bryachislav reigned in Vitebsk is unknown, but only in the 90s of the XII century, it seems, his son Vasilko Bryachislavich was already there.

"Complete Collection of Russian Chronicles", vol. II, pp. 83, 86, 124; vol. VII, pp. 71, 91; Karamzin. "History of the Russian State", ed. magazine "North", vol. II, pp. 186, 198, approx. 286, approx. 407; vol. III, p. 88, approx. 60; Solovyov. "History of Russia", ed. t-va Societies. Benefit, book. I, vol. III, pp. 479, 531, 546, approx. one; Batyushkov. "Belarus and Lithuania", p. 33; Dovnar-Zapolsky. "Essay on the history of the Krivichi and Dregovichi lands until the 13th century", pp. 140, 152, 157, 167.

№ 5. Bryachislav Davydovich. His ancestors in ascending line: David (No. 25), Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. He was married to the granddaughter of Monomakh, the daughter of Mstislav and the Great. Until 1127, there is no information about this prince. In 1127, Mstislav I the Great, in alliance with the princes of almost all of Russia, attacked the Principality of Polotsk, wanting to punish those Polotsk princes who did not recognize his grand duchy. Wanting to help his father in the upcoming struggle with the army, Bryachislav gathered the Logozh squad and moved to Polotsk to help his father. But Mstislav came up with a special plan: he did not move directly to Polotsk, but sent the princes with retinues to cities that were of more strategic importance in the conquest of the country in different ways. The regiment of the Grand Duke himself was under the command of the eldest son of the Grand Duke Izyaslav and was sent to Logozhsk. All the princes on the appointed day were supposed to attack the indicated points, but Izyaslav one day outstripped the other princes and unexpectedly approached Logozhsk. Bryachislav, who, suspecting nothing, led the squad to his father, having learned about this, was at a loss, not knowing what to do; not knowing exactly where, in what direction Izyaslav was, he led the squad just in time for Izyaslav. In view of the kinship (he was married to Izyaslav's sister), Bryachislav was cordially received and was completely safe with the Logozh squad. The Logojanes, seeing their own in safety, surrendered themselves. Their example was followed by the city of Izyaslavl, whose prince was Bryachislav. We do not know further information about his life, but we have every reason to believe that he was among those princes who were sent by Mstislav the Great to imprisonment in Constantinople. In the "Journey of Archbishop Anthony to Constantinople" (at the end of the 12th century) mention is made of the grave of Princess Xenia, the wife of Prince Bryachislav, located in the church, on one side of the Golden Horn (in Galata). Of the princes sent to Tsargrad, there was only one with the name of Bryachislav, namely Bryachislav Davydovich. There was, as it were, news that the princes sent to Constantinople entered the Byzantine service and distinguished themselves in campaigns against the Saracens. This prince is considered by some to be the son of Prince Boris (Karamzin, Belyaev), perhaps wanting to explain the fact that Boris escaped the general captivity of the princes by family ties through this Prince Bryachislav, who is known to be married to the daughter of Mstislav, and believing that if Bryachislav was the son of David, then the events that led to the captivity of the princes would have been impossible. But here, probably, family ties could not play a role when "it was a matter of recognizing the grand duchy, and Mstislav's intercession for Boris is explained by a simple desire to intervene in the affairs of Polotsk, in the absence of a more suitable pretext. If only the reasons for kinship played the main role, then it would be impossible to understand Mstislav's consent to the request of the Polotsk people to plant Rogvolod, and not Boris, with them.

"Complete Collection of Russian Chronicles", vol. I, pp. 130, 131; vol. II, pp. 11, 12; vol. IV, p. 4; vol. V, p. 156; vol. VII, pp. 27, 28; vol. IX, p. 156; vol. XV, p. 196; Karamzin, H. M. "History of the Russian State", ed. magazine "North", vol. II, p. 114; Solovyov, S. M. "History of Russia", ed. t-va Societies. Benefit, book. I, vol. II, pp. 363, 364, 388; Dovnar-Zapolsky. "Essay on the history of the Krivichi and Dregovichi lands until the end of the 13th century", p. 93; Ilovaisky. "History of Russia", vol. I, p. 198, approx. 64; The book "Pilgrim, the legend of the places of the saints in Constantinople Dobrynya Andreykovich of Novgorod", published in 1879 by P.I. Savvaitov under the title "Journey of the Archbishop of Novgorod to Constantinople at the end of the XII century."

№ 6. Bryachislav Izyaslavich, son of Izyaslav Vladimirovich (No. 28), born around 997. After the death of his father in 1001, he inherited the Principality of Polotsk with his younger brother Vseslav Izyaslavich, and after the death of his brother in 1003, he became the sole prince of Polotsk. Yaroslav, probably wanting to restore the dependence of Polotsk on Novgorod, which seems to have existed in the time of Rurik, attacked Bryachislav in 1020 and defeated him. This struggle since 1020, despite the intervals of peacetime, he waged in "all the days of his belly." The following year, 1021, while Vseslav was in Kiev, Bryachislav unexpectedly attacked Novgorod and took it. But the news of Yaroslav's approach prompted Bryachislav to leave Novgorod; nevertheless, he managed to plunder a lot of wealth and returned from Novgorod with many captives. Yaroslav, having heard about this, left Kiev with an army, on the 7th day after the speech of Bryachislav from Novgorod, he overtook him on the way to the Sudoma River (in the current Pskov province), defeated and took away the looted wealth and captives, and Bryachislav returned to Polotsk. Yaroslav continued to fight with Bryachislav already in the very possessions of Bryachislav, forcing him to agree to peace. However, the forced peace was very honorable for Bryachislav. Yaroslav, in view of the upcoming struggle with Mstislav of Tmutarakansky, called on Bryachislav and gave him two cities: Vitebsk and Usvyat, in addition to the former and already vast possessions, and, in addition, called on him to be his ally, saying: "be with me for one" . However, the receipt of cities by Bryachislav did not guarantee not only an alliance, but even peace. The struggle continued until the death of Bryachislav in 1044. The foundation of the mountains is connected with the name of this prince. Bryachislavl (now Braslavl, Novoaleksandrovsky district, Kovno province). They say that this city was built by Izyaslav for Bryachislav, so that, owning it, Bryachislav would be as independent in his actions from the Polotsk people, as Izyaslav himself was independent thanks to the construction of his mountains for him by his father. Izyaslavl.

"Complete Collection of Russian Chronicles", vol. I, pp. 55, 63, 67; vol. II, pp. 261, 264, 268; vol. III, p. 1; vol. V; pp. 134, 138; vol. VII, pp. 223, 231, 328, 332, vol. IX, pp. 77, 83; vol. XV, pp. 142, 143, 149; Karamzin. "History of the State. Russian.", ed. magazine "North", vol. II, pp. 14, 15, approx. 21, 22; Solovyov. "History of Russia", ed. t-va "General. Benefit", book. I, vol. I, pp. 202, 204 and approx. 5, 6. I. D. Belyaev; "Stories from Russian History", vol. II p. 239; vol. IV, p. 316. Batyushkov. "Belarus and Lithuania", p. 24; Dovnar-Zapolsky. "Essay on the history of the Krivichi and Dregovichi lands before the beginning of the XIII century.", pp. 75, 76.

№ 7. Vasilko Borisovich; was the prince of the Polotsk colony in the Livonian land - in the city of Gersik (now Kreutzburg). His ancestors in ascending line: Boris (No. 3), Rogvolod (No. 30), Boris (No. 2), Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. The Livonian chronicles, in which the news about him was preserved, call him Wissewalde, which is why he is sometimes called Vsevolod, in consonance with this word, although, as one might rather assume, it is a corrupted name Vasilko. Vasilko, like his other brother Vyacheslav (No. 21), reigned in the Livonian city, a colony of the Polotsk land. In contrast to his brother Vyachka, who fought with the Lithuanians, this prince became so close to the Lithuanians that he even married the daughter of a noble Lithuanian and patronized the Lithuanian robbers, giving them a free pass along the Dvina and supplying food supplies. He, thanks to the Lithuanians, his constant allies, was "a terrible enemy of the Christian name, mainly Latins"; according to the chronicler, he not only fought the Germans, but even the Russians got it from him, since he did not know how to restrain the robberies of the Lithuanians. In 1209, Albert, Bishop of Riga, unexpectedly attacked Gersin and took possession of it; Vasilko himself escaped in a boat, having crossed the Dvina, but his wife was captured, and the city was set on fire. They say that Vasilko sobbed, standing on the other side and seeing the fire of his city. Soon he was summoned to Riga, where the bishop returned with booty and captives, and Vasilko appeared in Riga, and called the bishop "father." Then he was offered peace on the condition that he give his lands as a gift to St. Mother of God, and then received them on vassal relations from the hands of the bishop: only under such conditions, they told him, would they return to him both his wife and the captured Russians. But his vassal relations did not last long, since, although he swore to reveal to the bishop and the order the plans of the Russians and Lithuanians, he again started relations with the Lithuanians and restored them and the natives of the Livs against the Germans. The Germans saw that they would have to put an end to the prince of the city of Gersik, and the knights of Kukeynos were his special enemies here. For a long time they wanted to put an end to him, accused him many times, demanded that he be tried by the bishop, but Vasilko did not appear. Finally, with the permission of the bishop, the knights attacked the city by surprise, and took it, robbing the inhabitants. This was in 1214. The next year there was another attack on Gersik, and although the Germans devastated it, Vasilko managed to send for help to the Lithuanians, and the Germans were forced to retreat. If you believe the story reported by Tatishchev, then in 1217 Vasilko Borisovich was in the Polotsk land with his father. Perhaps, having lost Gersik, Vasilko retired to his father. He, as Tatishchev says, this year (1217) denounced his stepmother Svyatokhnia before his father, who slandered her husband’s close associates, who allegedly plotted to drive Boris away, execute Svyatokhnia and her son Vladimir, and as if they invited Vasilko to participate in this conspiracy . There is, however, another piece of information that he was killed in 1215, during the third, therefore, attack on Gersik by the Kukeynos Germans.

Solovyov. "History of Russia", ed. t-va "Public Benefit", book. I, vol. II, p. 613, approx. 1st, pp. 615-616, and 618 and approx. to p. 615; Karamzin. "History of the state. Russian.", Vol. III, p. 90, approx. 150, 151; Tatishchev. "History", vol. III, p. 403.

№ 8. Vasilko Bryachislavich. His ancestors in ascending line: Bryachislav (No. 4), Vasilko (No. 11), Svyatoslav (No. 35), Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. Vasilko Bryachislavich was the prince of Vitebsk after his father Bryachislav Vasilkovich. In 1181, along with other princes of Polotsk, he took part in the struggle between Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich of Chernigov and David Rostislavich of Smolensk, being in alliance, like his father Bryachislav Vasilkovich with Svyatoslav. Although the Vasilkovichi were indebted to the Smolensk princes, David went to Drukn to help Gleb, the son of Rogvolod Borisovich, the only prince of Polotsk who was in alliance with David, while the rest of the princes were in alliance with his enemy Svyatoslav. Near Drutsk were the Chernigov regiments with Prince. Yaroslav and Igor, and the princes of Polotsk moved to connect with Svyatoslav, who was coming from Novgorod. Victory, as you know, remained on the side of Svyatoslav. In 1186, wanting to humble the princes of Polotsk and punish them for their alliance with Svyatoslav, David Rostislavich went to Polotsk; he himself came from Smolensk, while his son Mstislav, prince came from Novgorod. Novgorod; two of the specific princes of Polotsk joined him. Polotsk residents, feeling incapable of fighting against such numerous forces, went out with a bow to meet David Rostislavich, brought rich gifts and agreed to all his demands; among the latter was the return of Vitebsk to his son-in-law Vasilko Bryachislavich. In 1195, Rurik Rostislavich, wishing to reconcile with Yaroslav Vsevolodovich of Chernigov, promised him to beg Vitebsk for Yaroslav, from his brother David. David, although he opposed in principle, but, at the request of Rurik Rostislavich, agreed to submit the case for consideration by the general council. It should be noted that the son-in-law of Davidov, Vasilko Bryachislavich, reigned in Vitebsk. Yaroslav Chernigovsky, however, did not want to wait for the decision of the council and attacked Vitebsk. The clash between Yaroslav of Chernigov and David ended unfavorably for David. Davidov's nephew, the son of his older brother, Mstislav Romanovich, sent to help his son-in-law, was captured by Prince. Boris Rogvolodovich Drutsky and was issued to the Chernigov princes. Only thanks to the intervention of Rurik Rostislavich was this civil strife stopped; but whether the victory of Davidov's enemies resulted in at least a temporary loss of Vitebsk is unknown. We only see that the annals, even under 1209, call Vasilko Bryachislavich Prince. Vitebsk. In this, 1209, Vsevolod III Yuryevich Big Nest married (2nd marriage) to the daughter of Vasilko Bryachislavich (Lyubov).

"Full. Collection. Russian. Years.", Vol. II, p. 124; vol. VII, p. 116; Karamzin. "Ist. state. Russian.", ed. well. "North", vol. III, pp. 60, 86, approx. 95, 141; Solovyov. "History of Russia", ed. t-va "Public Benefit", book. I, vol. II, p. 546, approx. 1st; Ilovaisky, "History of Russia", vol. I, part 2, pp. 91, 92, 101-103; Dovnar-Zapolsky. "Essay on the history of the Krivichi and Dregovichi lands from the 13th century", pp. 140, 157.

№ 9. Vasily Vladimirovich(Vasilko Volodarovich) - Prince Logozhsky. His ancestors in ascending line: Vladimir (No. 12), Vasilko (No. 11), Svyatoslav (No. 35), Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. In 1186, David Rostislavich of Smolensk undertook a campaign in the Polotsk land. With this campaign, David Rostislavich wanted to punish the Polotsk people with their prince, and partly the princes of other Polotsk cities, for their alliance with the Chernigov princes during their struggle with him; besides this goal, he also wanted to give Vitebsk to his son-in-law, Vasilko Bryachislavich. In addition to Prince Vseslav Rogvolodovich of Drutsk, who was an ally of David, like the previous prince of this city, Gleb Rogvolodovich (Vseslavov's brother), Vasilko Volodarovich, Prince. Logozhsky. David won this year, and the Polochans came out to meet with a bow without resistance. In 1195, David's struggle with the Chernigov princes resumed. It should be noted that Rurik Rostislavich, wanting to reconcile with the Chernigov princes (with Yaroslav and his brothers), promised Yaroslav Vsevolodovich to petition his brother David Rostislavich to give them Vitebsk, which was with Vasilko Bryachislavich, Davidov's son-in-law. Without waiting for the final decision on this matter, which they wanted to take at the general council, the Chernigov princes moved to Vitebsk, despite the fact that the time was winter and inconvenient for military operations. Almost all the princes of Polotsk were on the side of the Chernigovs, and even Prince Boris Rogvolodovich of Drutsk, although usually the Drutsk princes were on the side of the Smolensk ones. Vasilko Volodarovich was also on the side of the Chernigov princes, and even with the Chernigov troops defeated Mstislav Romanovich, who led the Smolensk. Victory, as you know, remained on the side of the Chernigov princes. There is no further news about the life of Vasilko Volodarovich.

"Full. Sobr. Russian. Years.", Vol. I, pp. 170, 174; vol. VII, p. 100; vol. X, p. 17; Karamzin. "History of the state. Russian.", ed. well. "North", vol. III, p. 60, approx. 87; Solovyov. "History of Russia", vol. I, p. 546, approx. 1st; Batyushkov. "Belarus and Lithuania", p. 33.

№ 10. Vasily Rogvolodovich- from the family of the princes of Polotsk. His ancestors in ascending line: Rogvolod (No. 31), Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. His name is mentioned among those princes who were sent by Mstislav the Great in 1129 to imprisonment in Constantinople. Some historians (Karamzin and others) consider Vasilko (No. 11), the first prince of Polotsk upon his return from captivity, to be the son of Rogvolod, despite the fact that the chronicles consider him the son of Svyatoslav. It is more correct to believe that he did not return, like many of the princes of Polotsk. The chronicles do not mention Vasilk Svyatoslavich, but Vasily Rogvolodovich, because they do not mention the names of the children of the princes when the fathers are alive, but only the names of the fathers, and Vasily Rogvolodich and his brother were mentioned because their father, Rogvolod Vseslavich, was no longer alive ( he died in 1127 or 1128).

"Complete Collection. Russian Chronicles", vol. I, p. 131; vol. II. page 12; vol. IV, p. 4; vol. V, p. 156; vol. VII, p. 28; vol. IX, p. 156; Karamzin. "History of the state. Russian.", ed. well. "North", vol. II, p. 114; approx. 252; Solovyov. "History of Russia", ed. t-va "Society. Benefit", book. I, vol. II, p. 364; Dovnar-Zapolsky. "Essay on the history of the Krivichi and Dregovichi lands until the 13th century", p. 94.

№ 11. Vasily Svyatoslavich - Prince of Polotsk, better known under the name "Vasilko". His ancestors in ascending line: Svyatoslav (No. 35), Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), St. Vladimir. Some (Karamzin, Bychkov) consider this prince to be the son of Rogvolod Vseslavich, thus connecting with Vasily Rogvolodovich, one of the two sons of the deceased Rogvolod Vseslavich, who were mentioned in the annals among the princes sent to imprisonment in Constantinople. Karamzin does not give any arguments to support his assumption. The reason why the Polotsk people put Vasilk Svyatoslavich on the Polotsk table was not that he was the son of their former prince Rogvolod, but that he was the only representative of the Izyaslav family who was at that time in Russia. This brave prince immediately after the death of Mstislav the Great, which followed in 1132, appeared in Russia, not being afraid of the brave Yaropolk, who at that time became the great prince, while other princes were afraid to return to Russia and returned only after the death of Yaropolk (in 1140 ). In view of the fact that the chronicles call him the son of Svyatoslav, and since we have no basis for asserting the opposite, we will recognize him as such. After the death of Mstislav and the movement in the princely tables, Izyaslav Mstislavich left Polotsk, which went to his brother Svyatopolk Mstislavich; then the Polotsk people, taking advantage of the presence of Vasilko Svyatoslavich, drove Svyatopolk away and made Vasilko a prince. This prince, wishing to establish himself on the throne, began to seek rapprochement with the princes of other Russia. For this purpose, he rendered an extraordinary service to the eldest of the sons of Mstislav the Great, Prince Vsevolod - Gabriel (St.). When this prince, who had been expelled from Novgorod earlier, was heading for Pskov in 1138, he was not only let by Vasilko through the Polotsk possessions, along the only way to Pskov (since it was impossible to get through the Novgorod possessions in the hostile mood of the Novgorodians towards Vsevolod), but and met him with honor on the road, forgetting all the evil that Father Vsevolodov did, taking revenge on the whole family of the Polotsk princes, imprisoning them in Constantinople. Seeing his sad situation, Vasilko did not take revenge on him, although, passing through the Polotsk possessions, Vsevolod was in his hands. Moreover, they reinforced even each other with a kiss on the cross an oath not to remember the past. ("Just do not remember that this act was done before this," says the chronicle). Such a service rendered to the senior representative of the Mstislav family undoubtedly influenced the strength of his reign. He probably pursued a similar kind of goal in 1143, giving his daughter (in marriage) to Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich, the grandson of Oleg Svyatoslavich. By this marriage, he, as it were, reconciled with the line of the Svyatoslavichs. The marriage took place in Novgorod, as the chronicler defines it, between Christmas and Epiphany. Having become a prince in 1132, he reigned in Polotsk until 1143, he died, in 1143 or at the beginning of the next, since in 1144 we already see Rogvolod Borisovich in Polotsk.

"Complete Collection. Russian Chronicles", vol. I, pp. 131, 132, 135; vol. II, pp. 12, 16, 19; vol. IV, p. 176; vol. V, p. 8; vol. VII, p. 29; vol. IX, pp. 157, 167; vol. XV, pp. 197, 199-200; Karamzin. "History of the state. Russian.", ed. well. "North", vol. II, pp. 114, 118, 121, 130, approx. 252, 259; Solovyov. "History of Russia", book. I, vol. II, pp. 368, 388; Batyushkov "Belarus and Lithuania", p. 26; Dovnar-Zapolsky. "Essay on the history of the Krivichi and Dregovichi lands until the 13th century", p. 95; Belyaev. "Stories from Russian history", book. IV, p. 321; Ilovaisky, "History of Russia", vol. I, part I, pp. 138, 143, 198, 206.

№ 12. Vladimir Vasilkovich, the youngest of the sons of the Polotsk prince Vasilko Svyatoslavich, more commonly known under the name of Volodar, and even more often under the name of "Volodsha". His ancestors in ascending line: Vasilko (No. 11), Svyatoslav (No. 35), Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. When his brother Bryachislav Vasilkovich (No. 4) received in 1158 from Rogvolod Borisovich, Prince of Polotsk, the city of Izyaslavl, which was the fatherland of Bryachislav, Volodar Vasilkovich settled with him in this city. Together with his brother, in 1159 he was taken prisoner in this city, sent to Minsk, and there he was planted "in a hack". With his brother, he also received release according to the peace concluded by Rogvolod Borisovich with Rostislav Glebovich, with him he also participated in the struggle of the Rostislavichs and Prince. Andrei Bogolyubsky for Svyatoslav Rostislavich with Novgorodians. We have no other information about his life, we don’t even know what lot he had. Judging by the fact that he lived with his brother Bryachislav, it can be assumed that he had no inheritance at all. He probably died at a young age.

"Complete Collection of Russian Chronicles", vol. II, pp. 86, 91, vol. VIII, p. 71; Karamzin. "History of the State. Russian.", ed. well. "North", vol. II, p. 198, approx. 407; Solovyov. "History of Russia", ed. t-va "Society. Benefit", book. I, vol. II, p. 479; Batyushkov. "Belarus and Lithuania", vol. I, p. 33; Dovnar-Zapolsky. "Essay on the history of the Krivichi and Dregovichi lands until the 13th century", p. 152.

№ 13. Vladimir Glebovich; better known under the name "Volodarya". His ancestors in ascending line: Gleb (No. 22), Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. Volodar is the bravest, most energetic and warlike of all the sons of Gleb, most reminiscent of his father and grandfather. When Gleb was sent to prison in Kiev, Minsk, it seems, was handed over to his sons, including Volodar Glebovich. When in 1151 Rostislav was called to reign in Polotsk, Volodar received Minsk. When, in 1159, Rogvolod Borisovich, having freed himself from captivity, captured the city of Drutsk, exiled with the inhabitants and expelled Gleb Rostislavich, the nephew of Volodar Glebovich, from there, Volodar participated in the campaign of his elder brother Rostislav against Rogvolod Borisovich to Drutsk. The campaign, as you know, was not successful, since Rostislav, unable to break the stubborn resistance of the city of Drutsk, was forced to make peace, transferring even several volosts to Rogvolod. When soon Rogvolod, by betraying Rostislav of Polotsk, regained the throne in Polotsk, and Rostislav was forced to leave Polotsk and retire to Minsk, Volodar unquestioningly gave Minsk to Rostislav, as his elder brother, and he himself moved to reign in Gorodets (now Gorodok, in the current Vitebsk province). After the surrender of Minsk to Rogvolod Borisovich, the Glebovichi (Rostislav and Vsevolod) kissed Rogvolod's cross at the conclusion of peace with him. Volodar, however, did not personally kiss the cross, since at that time he was at war with Lithuania ("walking near Lithuania in the woods"); according to another chronicle, Volodar allegedly fled to Lithuania, wanting to avoid the oath. One way or another, only the brothers kissed the cross for him. Rogvolod in 1161 undertook a campaign against Gorodets, where Volodar reigned; the latter did not fight during the day, but at night he unexpectedly made a sortie from Gorodets and, with the help of Lithuania, inflicted such a severe defeat on the Polotsk people and Rogvolod that they could not recover for a long time. For Rogvolod this defeat was fatal; after the defeat, he went to the city of Slutsk, and from there to Drutsk, to his ancestral inheritance, but not to Polotsk, since he did not dare to go there: “Do not dare to go to Polotsk, there are many Polotsk people outside,” says the chronicler. It could be expected that Volodar, after this brilliant victory, would immediately wish to take advantage of its fruits and become the Prince of Polotsk, in last resort make him his brother. But Volodar left Polotsk only for a while, probably because he was distracted by the fight with Lithuania. Polotsk was occupied by Vseslav (No. 16), the son of Vasilk Svyatoslavovich. Meanwhile, Volodar did not abandon his intention to become the prince of Polotsk: he did not want to give up the primacy of another line, which had captured Polotsk even without a fight, while they, the Glebovichi, fought so stubbornly and for a long time. And in 1167, Volodar went with an army to Polotsk, wanting to demand the reign of Polotsk from Vseslav. Vseslav Vasilkovich, at the approach of Volodar's army, came out to meet him; but before he had time to properly line up his regiments, suddenly Volodar, setting up an ambush, attacked Vseslav, caused confusion in the regiments and put them to flight. Vseslav, leaving Polotsk, fled to Vitebsk, to David Rostislavich. After Polotsk was abandoned by Vseslav, Volodar Glebovich appeared in Polotsk, and Polochans kissed his cross. Having arranged things in Polotsk, Volodar without delay set off with his army and Polotsk to Vitebsk. Thus, he began a struggle not only with Vseslav, but also with David Rostislavich. Approaching the river. Dvina, Volodar had not entered the battle yet; David did not dare to start the battle either, because he believed that it could be of decisive importance, and therefore it was dangerous to enter into it without waiting for Roman Rostislavich. Volodar's army found itself in a dangerous position between the river and David's army. This was probably the reason why Volodar did not attack David. Both camps were preparing to spend the night. At midnight, a terrible thunderstorm broke out with the strongest peals of thunder. In horror, the Polotsk army and the prince’s squad began to say: “Why are you standing, prince, you don’t go away from here. Roman is crossing the river, and David will strike from the other side.” Volodar himself, despite his courage, became alarmed and fled from Vitebsk. David, having sent Vseslav to Polotsk to reign, set off in the footsteps of Volodar, and although he could not overtake him, nevertheless, he killed many of the squad who had lost their way in the forests. He made no further attempts to capture Polotsk, as he realized that against the strong princes of Smolensk and their kindred princes, the struggle for him would be in vain; therefore, after this battle, he limited himself to his inheritance, continuing to fight with Lithuania, serving, so to speak, as an outpost for the rest of Russia against this enemy, still unknown to Russia.

"Complete Collection of Russian Chronicles", vol. II, pp. 82, 83, 91, 93-94, 305, 308; vol. III, p. 14; vol. V, p. 163; vol. VII, pp. 67, 75, 78, 79, 82; Karamzin. "History of the state. Russian.". ed. well. "North", vol. II, pp. 186, 198, approx. 386, 407; I. D. Belyaev. "Stories from Russian History", vol. IV, pp. 315, 319, 322, 323; Solovyov. "History of Russia", ed. t-va "Society. Benefit", book. I, vol. II, pp. 479, 480; Batyushkov. "Belarus and Lithuania", p. 30; Dovnar-Zapolsky: "Essay on the history of the Krivichi and Dregovichi lands until the XIII century", pp. 126, 151, 152, 159, 163.

№ 14. Vsevolod Glebovich. Ascending ancestors: Gleb (No. 22), Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. Vsevolod was a specific prince of Izyaslavl and participated in the struggle of his brother Rostislav with Rogvolod Borisovich. In 1158, when the older brother Rostislav, standing up for his son Gleb Rostislavich, expelled from Drutsk by Rogvolod, moved to Drutsk in order to besiege Rogvolod there, then with Rostislav Vsevolod also participated in the siege of Drutsk (although, it seems, he did not take an active part). The following year, Rogvolod had already become the prince of Polotsk, taking him away from Rostislav and receiving significant assistance from the Smolensk prince Rostislav Mstislavich. He decided to put such a defeat to Rostislav Glebovich and his brothers that they would forever abandon attempts to reach the throne of Polotsk. To do this, he decided to deal with each of the Glebovichs separately. The first blow was to be dealt to Vsevolod Glebovich, who then reigned in Izyaslavl. But Vsevolod, realizing that the fight against the Polotsk troops, and even reinforced by numerous forces sent from Rostislav of Smolensk, would be madness for the insignificant forces of the insignificant Izyaslavl inheritance, and, pinning hope on his former friendship with Rogvolod, went out to him with a bow and beat with his forehead . Rogvolod, having welcomed his former friend cordially, however, did not give Izyaslavl back to him, as he found it safer to leave Izyaslavl, which had a rather important strategic importance, in the hands of his Vasilkovich allies. Instead of Izyaslavl, Vsevolod received the city of Strezhev. There is no further information about his life. It must be assumed that Vsevolod, satisfied with this lot, remained a prince there. His name is not found in the fight between Volodar and Rogvolod.

"Complete Collection of Russian Chronicles", vol. II, pp. 82, 83, 305; vol. VII, p. 67; Karamzin "History. state. Russian.", ed. t-va "Society. Benefit", tons; II, p. 186, approx. 386; Solovyov. "History of Russia", book. I, vol. II, p. 479; Batyushkov. "Belarus and Lithuania", v. 30; Dovnar-Zapolsky. "Essay on the history of the Krivichi and Dregovichi lands", p. 151.

№ 15. Vseslav Bryachislavich. Ascending ancestors: Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. The birth of this prince, who spent his whole life in internecine strife and bloodshed, is surrounded by superstitious legends. They say that his mother gave birth to him from sorcery. When he was born, he had a gaping ulcer on his head. On this wound, the Magi ordered to apply a magical bandage, which Vseslav was not supposed to take off for the rest of his life. The influence of this bandage was attributed by contemporaries to the bloodthirstiness characteristic of Vseslav: "for this reason, he is not merciful to shed blood." The people captured the memory of Vseslav in the famous epics about the sorcerer Vseslavich the werewolf, who knew how to turn into a falcon, into a wolf, into a tour - golden horns. In such words, the people are expressed about him in the "Word of Igor's Campaign": "judging by the people, the prince of the city is a row, and he himself roams like a wolf in the night; from Kiev, roam to Kur Tmutorakani, the great Khorsov and the path has broken, that in Polotsk I will call early in the morning at St. Sophia's bells, and he heard the ringing in Kiev." After the death of his father in 1044, Vseslav became Prince. Polotsk. In 1060, together with led. Prince Izyalav Yaroslavich and his brothers Svyatoslav and Vsevolod Yaroslavich, he participated in the campaign against Torkov. Three years later, in 1063, there was a sign for the Novgorodians that foreshadowed them an attack from Vseslav (the reverse flow of the Volkhov). In 1064 Vseslav began civil strife in Russia; in 1065 he laid siege to Pskov; however, the siege, despite the large army of Vseslav, was unsuccessful, and Vseslav was forced to retreat, "having done nothing." In 1066, he, like his father, attacked Novgorod and occupied it from the Nerevsky end and subjected it to terrible plunder, taking away many inhabitants into captivity, not even sparing the shrines of the city. "And the bells were removed from St. Sophia. O great misfortune," says the chronicler: "often the chandelier was removed." The city itself was given over to a terrible burning. Yaroslavichi, brothers Izyaslav, Svyatoslav and Vsevolod, offended by the desecration of the Novgorod shrines, having united their troops, moved to the borders of the Principality of Polotsk and, despite the severe frosts at that time, approached Minsk. After a stubborn defense, Minsk was taken and plundered, and the captivity of the Novgorodians was avenged on the inhabitants of its Yaroslavichi. The city, according to the ancient expression, was given to the shield. Vseslav was not in Minsk at that time; when he learned about the appearance of the enemy within the principality, he went out to meet the enemies and overtook them (March 3, 1067) on the banks of the Nemiza River), some believe that it was the river. Neman). The battle was bloody and with heavy losses on both sides. This battle was hampered by deep snow that covered the banks of this river and severe frosts. The victory remained in the hands of the velo. book. Izyaslav Yaroslavich and his brothers. Vseslav fled to Polotsk. The Grand Duke, however, decided to enter into negotiations, and in the summer, in the month of June, he and his brothers kissed the cross to Vseslav, promising him safety, and invited him to a meeting for negotiations in Smolensk. Vseslav, secured by the kiss of the cross, trustingly crossed the Dnieper in a boat, and Grand Duke met him with honor and led him to his tent. As soon as Vseslav entered the tent, he was captured and betrayed into the hands of the soldiers. They say that this was done on the advice of Svyatoslav Yaroslavich. Then Izyaslav took Vseslav with his two sons to Kiev and there he imprisoned them ("in a cut"). Vseslav did not have long to wait for his deliverance. The strange fate of the Polotsk prince and this time was somehow strange, as if fabulous. Soon after the capture and imprisonment of Vseslav, the allied princes, under the leadership of led. book. Izyaslav Yaroslavich, went on a campaign against the Polovtsy and suffered a terrible defeat from them at the river. Alte. This battle was even more discredited in the eyes of the people of Kiev. book. Izyaslav, already unloved by them. When the warriors of the book. Vsevolod, who arrived in Kiev, gathered a veche on the Market Square (on Podil), and the people of Kiev, on the advice of the soldiers of Prince. Vsevolod, they decided to fight again and demanded weapons from the Grand Duke for this, and he refused them - a whole rebellion rose up against him. People close to the Grand Duke understood the mood of the crowd, as well as the fact that the people of Kiev at such a moment could remember the enchanting Prince Vseslav, and advised the prince to send to kill Vseslav. Izyaslav did not listen to them. In fact, soon the people of Kiev not only freed Vseslav from the "chop", but also made him their Grand Duke. Deprived of the great reign, Izyaslav fled to Poland to Boleslav II the Bold, who was related to the house of St. Vladimir, being the grandson of his daughter Maria. For seven months Vseslav was the Grand Duke, until Izyaslav, Boleslav and the Polish army came to Russia. It was in the spring of 1069. Vseslav allowed Boleslav to penetrate as far as Belgorod, and only then came out to meet him. But at night, unexpectedly, secretly, perhaps, fearing the Polish hordes and at the same time not hoping for the loyalty of the Kievans, who were cheating on their princes, he fled to Polotsk; the people of Kiev fled in horror to Kiev. As a sorcerer, Vseslav, in the words of The Tale of Igor's Campaign, "turning into a wolf, ran from Belgorod at night, shrouded in a snowy mist." Thus ended the seven-month reign of Vseslav. After some time, Izyaslav approached Polotsk, took him by storm and drove Vseslav out of there, and gave the principality to his eldest son Mstislav, who soon died in Polotsk, and the principality passed to the second son Svyatopolk. Having fled from Polotsk and pursued by Izyaslav Yaroslavich, Vseslav found shelter with the Finnish tribe of Vodi and, having gathered hordes of this tribe, and also calling adherents from Polotsk, approached the walls of Veliky Novgorod. Novgorodians, in whose memory the memory of the sacking of Novgorod, which was associated with sacrilege, was so fresh, fought desperately, and when they recaptured it from the walls of the city, on October 23, 1069 at the 6th hour. day, and Vseslav fled, they were satisfied with the victory and did not pursue him. Rather, however, to assume that the Novgorodians released Vseslav, who was captured, "for God's sake" and took an oath from him that he would not attack Novgorod. One of the reasons for such an attitude towards Vseslav was probably the charm of his personality, which embodied the idea of ​​an extraordinary, courageous prince-hero. This charm made bogatyrs flock to him from all over Russia and seek adventure, glory and exploits. Under the most unfortunate set of circumstances for him, Vseslav never remained without a squad devoted to him, did not remain lonely. Due to this circumstance, having suffered a defeat near Novgorod, Vseslav still did not leave the fight against the Yaroslavichs. On the contrary, the squads flocked to the prince in even greater numbers, and Vseslav in 1070 again occupied Polotsk, driving out Svyatopolk, who had been imprisoned by his father. book. Izyaslav. Having mastered Polotsk, he thoroughly established himself in it, so that, although he was defeated at Golotichesk by the third son of Izyaslav, Yaropolk Izyaslavich, he retained Polotsk, and Yaropolk's victory remained inconclusive. That Vseslav in the eyes of the Yaroslavichs was undoubtedly a great force can be understood from how frightened Vsevolod Yaroslavich was when Svyatoslav, wanting to arouse an opinion against Izyaslav, said: "Izyaslav communicates with Vseslav to our famously." This had a strong effect on Vsevolod, who immediately rose with Svyatoslav against his older brother. Vseslav, having returned Polotsk to himself, forgot about his failure; as soon as he heard in 1076 about the death of Svyatoslav Yaroslavich, immediately in the winter, at the end of 1076, he went to Novgorod to expel Gleb Svyatoslavich from there; here he had to fight with Vladimir Monomakh, who came from Smolensk to Gleb to help. With the onset of the summer of 1077, when Izyaslav and Vsevolod agreed on seniority, Vsevolod, by agreement with his son Vladimir Monomakh, went near Polotsk against Vseslav. Vsevolod had nothing against him, but went only as a result of the request of Izyaslav, Vseslav's sworn enemy. In the winter of 1078, Vladimir Monomakh, sent by his father, again went to war against Vseslav, this time with Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, once planted by his father in Polotsk and expelled from there by Vseslav. This time the campaign was not so unsuccessful. The allies approached Polotsk itself and even burned its suburbs; however, Polotsk was not taken; the Polovtsy, brought here by Monomakh as mercenary troops, greatly devastated the land to the mountains. Address. The allies captured huge booty, and Monomakh, returning, brought several pounds of gold as a gift to his father. The fight against Vseslav had the meaning of revenge for Izyaslav, and for Vsevolod and Vladimir Monomakh it was a means to distract Vseslav from Russia, to which he caused incalculable harm with his terrible and unexpected raids. And in fact, already after the death of Izyaslav (in 1078), when the father of Vladimir Monomakh, Vsevolod, became the Grand Duke, then Vseslav in 1083, in revenge for the attack on Polotsk and the devastation of the Polotsk land by Vladimir Monomakh in 1078 during absence of Vladimir Monomakh in Smolensk, and before the arrival of Monomakh, he managed not only to burn the settlements near the city and its fortress, but also to leave. Monomakh, who set off in pursuit, although he could not catch him, made his way into the Polotsk land and burned several cities to Lukoml and Logozhsk (in the current Mogilev and Minsk provinces.). Soon, taking Chernigov and Polovtsy with him, Monomakh reappeared in the land of Polotsk; this time, coming unexpectedly to Minsk, he made a terrible devastation. We have no information about the further fate of this prince, but it is most likely that the devastation of Vladimir Monomakh restrained his attacks on Russia. Vseslav died in 1101, on April 14, having divided the lands into appanages during his lifetime. Vseslav had 7 sons: Roman, Gleb, Boris, David, Rogvolod, Rostislav and Svyatoslav. Immediately after his death, civil strife arose, which weakened the importance of the Polotsk principality and, diverting forces to internal struggle, did not allow the Polotsk princes to play a role in the fate of other Russian lands.

"Complete Collection of Russian Chronicles", vol. I, pp. 67, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 78, 83, 87, 103, 117, 260, 263; vol. II, pp. 33, 120, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 274, 285, 287; vol. III, p. 2, 3, 212; vol. IV, pp. 16, 176; t, V, pp. 8, 117, 138, 139-140, 141, 142, 143, 147, 149, 154; vol. VII, pp. 18, 20, 41, 223, 231, 232, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 342; vol. IX, pp. 92, 93-94, 95, 96, 100, 137; vol. XV, pp. 153, 154, 156, 158, 159-160, 168, 188; Solovyov. "History of Russia", ed. t-va "Society. Benefit", book. I, vol. I, pp. 253, 262, 291, 294, 296, 297; vol. II, pp. 301, 809, 310, 341; Karamzin. "History of the state. Russian.", ed. magazine "North", vol. II, pp. 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 58, 59, 64, 90, note. 118, 119, 125; I. D. Belyaev. "Stories from Russian history", book. II, pp. 232, 233, book. IV, p. 316; Batyushkov. "Belarus and Lithuania", p. 24; Ilovaisky. "History of Russia", vol. I, part 1, pp. 111, 112, 116; A. Sapunov "Vitebsk Antiquity", vol. I, p. 360, (department IX); K. H. Bestuzhev-Ryumin. Russian History, vol. I, pp. 163, 180; "The Tale of Igor's Campaign", Song IX.

№ 16. Vseslav Vasilievich - Prince of Polotsk, also known under the name of Vseslav Vasilkovich. His ancestors in ascending line: Vasilko (No. 11), Svyatoslav (No. 35), Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. Before the election of Polotsk prince in 1162, after the fatal battle for Rogvolod Borisovich (No. 31) near Gorodets, Vseslav Vasilkovich was Prince. Vitebsk. Realizing that the Glebovichi, having broken the power of Rogvolod, would like to take possession of Polotsk, the Polotsk people chose Vseslav, because they knew that in case of need he would receive help from the Smolensk princes. In fact, not long before Vseslav transferred his ancestral inheritance - the city of Vitebsk to the Smolensk prince Rostislav, who gave it to his son David; in turn, David and Rostislav pledged to support Vseslav, as the prince of Polotsk, in his struggle with his rivals, especially with the Glebovichi. When Volodar Glebovich won a brilliant victory over Rogvolod Borisovich, which forced the latter to leave Polotsk, it could be assumed that Vladimir would wish to take advantage of the fruits of victory and attack Polotsk in order to seize the reign in it. Vseslav was not deceived in his expectations, and although not immediately, but 5 years after the reign of Vseslav Vasilkovich, namely in 1167, Vladimir Glebovich attacked Polotsk. Vseslav went out to meet him with an army, but before he had time to line it up, Volodar unexpectedly attacked him, led him into terrible confusion and then put him to flight. Vseslav, leaving Polotsk, fled to Vitebsk to David Rostislavich. Having settled down with the Polochans and led them to the cross, Vladimir Glebovich followed in the footsteps of Vseslav to Vitebsk and, approaching the Dvina River, settled down near it. David and Vseslav did not dare to join the battle on the same day, since from hour to hour they were expecting the arrival of Roman Rostislavich, David's brother, with the Smolensk people. The army of Vladimir Glebovich also did not want to start battles, being then in unfavorable conditions, since it was between the enemy and the river, because of which (from the south) they were waiting for the arrival of Roman, Prince. Smolensky. It happened that at that time a violent thunderstorm broke out at night, which, during a sleepless and restless night, caused panic in the army. Polotsk retreated, heading for Polotsk, and Vladimir Glebovich fled to his inheritance, in the city of Gorodok. David set off after Vladimir Glebovich, and again sent Vseslav to Polotsk. In 1169, Vseslav, with his brothers and Polochans, participated in the campaign of the Rostislavichs, his patrons, and Andrei Yuryevich Bogolyubsky for Svyatoslav Rostislavich, who was expelled from the reign by the Novgorodians. In 1175, Yaropolk Rostislavich (grandson of Yuri Dolgoruky) married the daughter of Vseslav Vasilkovich of Polotsk, and the wedding took place in the mountains. Vladimir. Chronicles, mentioning this fact, call Vseslav of Polotsk Prince. Vitebsk, but this is wrong, since Vseslav continued to be the Prince of Polotsk. We saw that Vitebsk was transferred to Rostislav Mstislavich Smolensky with his sons, who, in turn, were supposed to provide patronage and protection to the Vasilkoviches if they got into a difficult situation. Rostislavichi, indeed, justified the trust placed in them by the Vasilkovichi. By this time, however, Vitebsk, indeed, somehow again passes into the hands of the Vasilkoviches, after David from Vitebsk passed to an inheritance in the mountains. Vyshgorod, but only Vitebsk prince then was not Vseslav, but his next brother, Bryachislav. In 1178, the Novgorodians, under the leadership of their prince Mstislav Rostislavich, in retaliation for some insults, decided to move to Polotsk with a large army. Vseslav, however, found himself an intercessor in the person of Prince Roman Rostislavich of Smolensk, Mstislav's elder brother. This prince, when Mstislav Rostislavich approached Velikiye Luki, sent his son Mstislav Romanovich to help Vseslav, and to his brother of ambassadors, with the words: "You have no offense, but if you want to go to him (i.e. Vseslav), then first come to me."

Despite everything that Vseslav and the Polotsk princes in general received from the Rostislavichs, by the 80s of the XII century, the attitude of the Polotsk princes towards them had changed dramatically. In fact, instead of gratitude to David Rostislavich, we see that Vseslav, having forgotten the beneficence of David, participates in an alliance with his enemy, Svyatoslav of Chernigov. At that time, Vseslav’s fear for the loss of his Polotsk reign passed (then the 20th anniversary of his reign was coming) just as any danger from the outside passed: Glebovichi were insignificant, and the powerful Rostislav Mstislavich did not exist for a long time, and there was no solidarity among his sons in actions (rather rivalry), and Vseslav already had strong ties among the Svyatoslavich and Monomakhovich family, David Rostislavich was surrounded by ill-wishers and enemies with whom he had to fight. Taking all this into account, it becomes clear how Vseslav must have felt and how weighed down by dependence on the Smolensk princes, even if only to the smallest degree. Thus, this struggle was very important for Vseslav, and for all Vasilkoviches in general: it was a struggle for the independence of the entire Polotsk land, and for securing Vitebsk, which, due to difficult circumstances for its kind, had to be lost. When Gleb Rogvolodovich was attacked from the south, from the side of the Chernigov princes Yaroslav and Igor with the Chernigov regiments, Seversky and mercenary Polovtsy, Vseslav with the Polochans, his brother Bryachislav with the inhabitants of Vitebsk, as well as other representatives of the Vseslavov family came to Drutsk to help Chernigov. , mainly from the Vasilka line; besides, Vseslav Vasilkovich Polotsky brought with him regiments from Lithuania and Livi to help. The Chernigov princes expected to settle with Gleb Rogvolodovich in alliance with other Polotsk princes, but David Smolensky hastened to help with all the regiments to Gleb in Drutsk and intended to give battle to the Chernigov princes in order to settle the matter before the arrival of Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich from Novgorod with the Chernigov princes (Yaroslav and Igor ), whose plans did not include a battle with David Rostislavich without Svyatoslav, evaded the battle and took a very advantageous position on the banks of the Druchi River, and then spent all the time (a week) in a shootout with the enemy, dragging out time, without doing anything serious, until Svyatoslav appeared with the Novgorodians. Encouraged by the arrival of Svyatoslav, the Chernigov regiments quickly arranged a crossing over the Druch in order to attack David. David, not being able to fight with such numerous enemies, was forced to retreat from Drutsk and flee to Smolensk, Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich set fire to a prison near Drutsk, but did not take the city, and then quickly retreated from it, hurrying to Kiev, where his presence was necessary. We have no further news about Vseslav Vasilkovich; the year of his death is also unknown, but, according to all probabilities, he died in the 80s of the XII century as a prince of Polotsk.

"Complete Collection of Russian Chronicles", vol. I, p. 159; vol. II, pp. 88, 93, 94, 117, 120, 124, 308, 316; vol. IV, p. 16, vol. VII, pp. 75, 78, 79, 91, 100, vol. X, pp. 6, 17; Karamzin. "Ist. state. Russian.", ed. well. "North", vol. II, p. 128, approx. 407; vol. III, p. 88, approx. 60; Belyaev. "Stories from Russian history", book. IV, pp. 322, 323; Batyushkov. "Belarus and Lithuania", p. 83; Dovnar-Zapolsky. "Essay on the history of the Krivichi and Dregovichi lands until the 13th century", pp. 126, 140, 152, 154, 156, 156-157, 157.

№ 17. Vseslav Izyaslavich- the son of the first Polotsk prince Izyaslav Vladimirovich. After the death of his father (in 1001), he stayed with his younger brother Bryachislav and inherited the Polotsk land. How the brothers divided the land among themselves, and whether there was even a division itself, is unknown. In 1003, Vseslav Izyaslavich died, probably at a very young age, leaving no offspring, and Bryachislav Izyaslavich, his brother, became the owner of the entire Principality of Polotsk.

"Full. Collection. Russian. Letop.", Vol. I, p. 55; vol. II, p. 261; vol. XV, p. 121.

№ 18. Vseslav Nikolaevich(Mikulich) - from the family of the princes of Polotsk. His ancestors in ascending line: Nikolai Prince Logozhsky, Vladimir (No. 12), Vasilko (No. 11), Svyatoslav (No. 35), Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. Vseslav was the specific prince of Logozhsky. He took part in the struggle of Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich of Chernigov and David Rostislavich of Smolensk, being in alliance with Svyatoslav, Prince. Chernigov. During the internecine strife that broke out near Drutsk, Vseslav Mikulich was among the allies of Svyatoslav who came out to meet him when he hurried from Novgorod, where he had been until that time, to Drutsk, where a struggle ensued. The battle, as you know, ended in victory for Svyatoslav. We have no further information about him, just as it is not known when he died; it is only known that in 1186 another prince, Vasilko Volodarevich, was already in Logozhsk.

"Full. Collection. Russian. Years.", Vol. II, p. 124; Dovnar-Zapolsky. "Essay on the history of the Krivichi and Dregovichi lands until the 13th century", pp. 140, 157.

№ 19. Bseslav Rogvolodovich. His ancestors in ascending line: Rogvolod (No. 30), Boris (No. 2), Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. Vseslav Rogvolodovich was a specific prince in Drutsk, after his brother Gleb. In 1186, David Rostislavich of Smolensk, wanting to punish Polotsk and other cities of the Polotsk land with their princes for their alliance with Svyatoslav-Vsevolod of Chernigov against him (in 1180), decided to attack Polotsk. He himself moved from Smolensk, and his son Mstislav with the Novgorodians - from Novgorod. In this campaign, David was an ally, except for Vasilko Volodarevich (No. 9), and Vseslav Rogvolodovich. As is known from the chronicles, the Polotsk people did not dare to enter the battle without the Chernigov princes and went out with a bow and gifts to David, Mstislav Davidovich and their allies from the Polotsk princes. Since in 1180 in Drutsk, judging by the annals, there was Prince Gleb Rogvolodovich, and in 1195 - Boris Rogvolodovich, the reign of Vseslav Rogvolodovich in Drutsk can be determined by the end of the 80s and the beginning of the 90s of the XII century.

"Full. Collection. Russian. Letop.", Vol. I, p. 170; vol. II, p. 306; VII, p. 100; Solovyov. "History of Russia", ed. t-va "Public Benefit", book. I, vol. II, p. 246, approx. 1st; Dovnar-Zapolsky. "Essay on the history of the Krivichi and Dregovichi lands until the 13th century", p. 157; P. Batyushkov. "Belarus and Lithuania", p. 33.

№ 20. Vyacheslav Borisovich, better known under the name "prince Vyachko", - was a prince in the Polotsk colony in the Livonian land, in the city of Kukeynos (German: Kokenhausen). His ancestors in ascending line: Boris (No. 3), Rogvolod (No. 30), Boris (No. 2), Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. This Polotsk colony had to withstand the onslaught of the Lithuanians, who were either hostile to the Russians, carrying out raids, or served in the civil strife of the Polotsk princes as mercenary troops. But in difficult cases, the Polotsk princes did not like to turn to the princes of Southern Russia for help, since they were usually frightened even by the specter of submission to some Russian principality, and especially the nearest one: they were afraid of losing their freedom. By the beginning of the 13th century, newcomers from Western Europe, the Germans, appeared in Livonia. The Germans arrived here for the sake of trade and the preaching of Christianity among the then pagans and began, little by little, to establish themselves in this land. It was from these new neighbors that the Polotsk princes began to seek help against the onslaught of the Lithuanians, not noticing that they were becoming more and more entangled in networks. As an example of such myopia, one can point to the act of Vyacheslav Borisovich, who personally, on his own initiative, appeared in 1207 in Riga to Bishop Meingard, offering him half of the Kukeynos land and even the city for protecting him from the barbarians. This request probably expressed a desire to get a German garrison in case of a difficult situation in the fight against Lithuania. Vyacheslav, however, did not use it, but soon he himself suffered misfortune from the very Germans from whom he asked for protection. He somehow had to start a private quarrel with one of the knights, who attacked Kukeynos by surprise, took possession of it, seized the property of the prince and many citizens, and chained Prince Vyachko himself. However, he was soon released at the request of the bishop and summoned to Riga with this knight, who had done so much evil to Vyachka. Having experienced hostility from the Germans and pretended to caress the bishop, Vyacheslav harbored revenge; besides, while in Riga, he noticed that the crusaders sent from Germany, and the bishop himself, were going to Germany. Vyacheslav attacked the Germans during the construction of city buildings, that is, when they least expected an attack. Few reached Riga and reported the news there. Seeing how easily he managed to liberate Kukeynos from foreigners, Vyachko decided to continue the work of liberating Livonia and for this purpose sent ambassadors to the Polotsk prince, inviting him to jointly move to Riga; the Polotsk people had already begun to prepare for the siege of Riga, but to their misfortune neither the crusaders nor the bishop could leave Riga for the sea without a fair wind. The Livonian and German knights rushed to Riga, and the Russians, not being able to fight, not only retreated from Riga, but also burned Kukeynos, and then fled to the east; Vyachko went to Russia himself. Many years passed, and Vyacheslav had to fight against the Germans again. Around 1224, young Vsevolod Yuryevich was prince in Novgorod, who could not yet make campaigns, and the Novgorodians had to keep the city of Yuryev behind them, which served as an outpost for Novgorod from both Lithuania and the Germans. Then the Novgorodians remembered Vyachka and invited him to be a prince in this city. From here, from Yuryev, Vyachko took revenge on the Germans and, having established himself in northern Livonia, disturbed the knights with raids; but, mainly, the merit of Vyachka was that he was the defender of all the natives who rebelled against the Germans.

Seeing what a hindrance Vyachko serves in the conquest of the region, the Germans decided to take Yuryev (later renamed Dorpat by them), and the knights besieged it with huge crowds. It was August 15, 1225 (on the Assumption Day). Vyachko fought desperately, not giving up and all the time hoping for the arrival of the Novgorodians. The Bishop of Riga (Albert) himself took part in the siege; he, seeing that it was difficult for him to defeat him by force, offered Vyachka peace, giving him the right to take his property and leave the city, but he was not seduced by these conditions. The city was finally taken, and the Russians, in the midst of a desperate battle, wanted to get through the ranks of the enemy, but everyone fell. Among them was Vyachko.

"Complete Collection of Russian Years", vol. III, p. 39; N. M. Karamzin. "History of the State. Russian", ed. well. "North", vol. III, pp. 90, 122, approx. 205, 206; S. M. SOLOVIEV "History of Russia", book. I, vol. II, pp. 609-614, 620, 621; Scriptores rerum Livonicarum, vol. I, I, p. 409; Chronicon livonicum vetus, S.p. 50, 52, 64, 85, 101, 134, 138.

№ 21. Vyacheslav Svyatoslavich. His ancestors in ascending line: Svyatoslav (No. 35), Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), St. Vladimir. How much he owned, we do not know. Some identify him with Prince Vyachk, through whose possessions the Novgorod ambassadors passed in 1167 to the Grand Duke Mstislav. Vyacheslav had two daughters who were tonsured by their aunt, Rev. Euphrosyne of Polotsk, sister of Vyacheslav, daughter of Svyatoslav Vseslavich.

"Complete Collection of Russian Years", vol. III, p. 14; vol. IV, p. 12; vol. V, p. 163; vol. VII, p. 82; Karamzin. "History of the state. Russian.", ed. well. "North", vol. II, p. 204, approx. 218.

№ 22. Gleb Vseslavich, second son of Vseslav. Ascending ancestors: Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. Of all the sons of Vseslav, he most resembled his father in character. In his youth, in 1067, together with his father, he seems to have been sent to prison - "in a cut." From his father, Gleb received Minsk as an inheritance, became the first prince of Minsk, and Minsk remained in the possession of Gleb’s descendants throughout the entire period of independence. After the death, in 1101, of Prince Vseslav, his sons started strife and civil strife. David, Gleb's brother, deprived of his inheritance, perhaps by Gleb himself, began to seek help and protection from the princes of other Russia, took part in the general campaign of these princes against the Polovtsy and found himself a patron in the person of Pereyaslavl Prince Vladimir Monomakh. Then in 1104 David laid siege to Gleb in his specific city of Minsk. Great book. Svyatopolk sent an army to help David under the command of his governor Putyata (probably at the request of Monomakh), and Monomakh himself sent his son Yaropolk from himself. They say that this campaign of the South Russian princes to help David was caused by the fact that Gleb attacked the Dregovichi, who were under the rule of the Kiev led. book. Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, set fire to the city of Slutsk and not only did not feel guilty, but even reproached Vladimir Monomakh that because of him he had to attack the Dregovichi. Oleg, the son of Svyatoslav Yaroslavich, was also in alliance with them. Allied campaign against Gleb, book. Minsky, ended in nothing: Gleb managed to repel the allies from the city. Then the brothers reconciled, and in 1106 all the Vseslavichi, and among them Gleb Vseslavich, participated in a general campaign against the Lithuanian tribe Zimgola or Zimegola (which gave the name to Semigallia, the eastern part of the current Kurlyan province, where this tribe lived); in one of the annals, this tribe is called Zhmud. They say that the Zimgols were once tributaries of the Russian princes, and if this is so, then most likely they were dependent on the Polotsk princes, from whom, probably, at that time they were deposited or even thought to be deposited. A bloody battle took place, which ended very unhappily for the Vseslavichs: they lost most of their forces on the battlefield (up to 9000 hours), left with an insignificant part of their troops. In 1108, at the behest of Gleb, the Church of Our Lady on Klovo and the refectory of the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery ("the same as the banner," says the chronicle) were founded and completed. Gleb all the time, without ceasing, continued to make attacks on the possessions of the Kiev princes, not being afraid not only of Svyatopolk, he led. book. Kiev, and even Vladimir Monomakh, who, after the death of Svyatopolk, in 1113, became the Grand Duke. In 1116, Gleb not only attacked the lands of the Dregovichi, but also devastated them and took the mountains. Slutsk, burned it, despite the threats of Monomakh, who thought they would force Gleb to repent and thereby prevent bloodshed. Then Monomakh, wanting to put an end to Gleb, went to Minsk, only "hoping in God and in the truth," as the chronicler says. He took with him his sons, as well as David Svyatoslavich, the son of Svyatoslav Yaroslavich, and his nephews, the sons of Oleg Svyatoslavich, the grandchildren of Svyatoslav Yaroslavich. The son of Monomakh, Vyacheslav (then Prince of Smolensk), sent ahead, took the cities of Orsha and Kopys, and another son of Monomakh, Yaropolk (then Prince Pereyaslavsky), with David Svyatoslavich, Prince. Chernigov, took Drutsk by storm, devastated it and even brought the inhabitants into captivity. Meanwhile, Vladimir himself went with the main forces to the siege of Minsk, where Gleb sat down. Deciding to take Minsk and stand under it, no matter how long the siege would require, he ordered the camp to build a hut for himself, that is, a solid dwelling, in order to show the enemy that the city would face a long siege. Gleb, seeing such preparations and not hoping that his forces, as well as provisions for the army and residents, would be enough for such a long time, "horrified at heart," as the chronicler says, and began to send envoys after envoys asking for peace. This was before the onset of spring. Monomakh, not wanting to shed Christian blood "during the fasting days of Great Lent," as the chronicler says, agreed to peace on condition of an expression of humility and a promise to listen to him in everything. Then Gleb with his wife, children and retinue went from Minsk to the camp "to bow" to Monomakh. Monomakh read him instructions on how to behave in advance (“having punished him in everything”), returned the city of Minsk to his possession and returned to Kiev himself. Yaropolk did not return the inhabitants from captivity, like Monomakh, but at the end of the war he took the inhabitants taken captive from Drutsk to his Pereyaslav principality and founded the city of Zhelniy for them (in the present-day Zolotonoshsky district, Poltava province, on the river Sula.) . Gleb, however, was not for the future the instructions given by Monomakh: forgetting about the world, he attacked again three years later Smolensk region. Then Monomakh sent his son Mstislav against Gleb, and according to other news, he went himself and, taking Minsk, brought Gleb as a prisoner to Kiev, "seeing his malevolence," as the chronicler says. Gleb died in the same year of 1119, on September 13, in Kiev, in captivity at Monomakh. He was married to the daughter of Yaropolk Izyaslavich, his son led. book. Izyaslav Yaroslavich. From her Gleb had three sons: Rostislav, Vsevolod and Volodar. The princess died at the age of 84, in 1158, having outlived, therefore, her husband and widowed for almost 40 years. Gleb Vseslavich was buried in Kiev, in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra; his wife was subsequently buried next to him, "in the heads of St. Theodosius." Resembling, in his militancy, his father, Vseslav, as it is said, more than all his other numerous brothers, Gleb, however, was distinguished by piety (in contrast to his father, as you know, who did not disdain sacrilege); perhaps this quality developed under the influence of his beloved wife, with whom he lived in complete harmony, and who, with her prince, had "great love for the Mother of God and for Father Theodosius." As already mentioned, at the behest of Gleb, the Church of Our Lady on Klovo was built in 1108 and, for the sake of Theodosius, the refectory of the Kiev Caves Monastery. During the life of Gleb, he and his princess, as the chronicler says, donated 600 hryvnias of silver and 60 hryvnias of gold to the Kiev-Pechersky monastery; after the death of the princess, 100 grivnas of silver and 50 hryvnias of gold.

"Complete Collection of Russian Chronicles", vol. I, pp. 28, 72, 104, 119, 120, 127, 128; vol. II, p. 7, 8, 82, 287, 291, 292, 305; vol. V, pp. 141, 156; vol. VII, pp. 20, 24, 67, 335; vol. IX, pp. 93, 140, 149, 157, 211; "Litovsk. Letop.", ed. Danilovich, p. 122; Karamzin. "History of the state. Russian.", ed. zhur. "North", vol. II, pp. 92, 96, 101, 106; Solovyov. "History of Russia", ed. t-va "Society. Benefit", book. I, vol. II, pp. 341, 350, 351; I. D. Belyaev. "Stories from Russian History", vol. IV, pp. 319, 320; Batyushkov. "Belarus and Lithuania", pp. 25, 26; Sapunov. "Vitebsk antiquity", vol. I, sec. XI.

№ 23. Gleb Rogvolodovich. His ancestors in ascending line: Rogvolod (No. 30), Boris (No. 2), Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. Gleb was a specific prince in the mountains. Drutsk. In 1181, the Polotsk land took part in the civil strife that arose in Russia between David Rostislavich of Smolensk and Prince. Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich Chernigov. Almost all the princes of the Polotsk land were in alliance with Prince. Svyatoslav of Chernigov, and on the side of David Smolensky was only one Gleb Rogvolodovich, who inherited the city of Drutsk after his father (who died about 1171). Around Drutsk, a struggle broke out. Svyatoslav, in anticipation of David's attack on Chernigov, left his close Chernigov princes in it: Yaroslav and Igor, he himself went to Suzdal, and after the defeat from Vsevolod III of Suzdal, to Novgorod. The princes of Chernigov, making sure that David did not attack Chernigov, decided to act on their own. Not daring, however, to act personally against David himself in the absence of Svyatoslav, they planned to attack Davidov's ally Gleb Drutsky, especially since they knew that other Polotsk princes would be against him. However, David hurried to the aid of his faithful ally, and this forced the Chernigov princes to fight with David. And so they, waiting for Svyatoslav, began to drag out time in a light skirmish. With the return of Svyatoslav from Novgorod, all the Polotsk princes joined him. David, as you know, was not able to withstand the fight near Drutsk and left Gleb Rogvolodovich. Svyatoslav approached Drutsk, which, it seemed, was supposed to be plundered and burned, and the prince - to imprisonment in some city of southern Russia; but it turned out that Svyatoslav did not begin to take Drutsk, but limited himself to only burning one prison built near the city, and a little devastation of the surroundings: he was distracted by the struggle in southern Russia itself. Gleb was not a prince for long after that in Drutsk, since we already see Vseslav, his brother, as the prince of Drutsk in 1186, although there is no information whether he was then alive or not.

"Full. Collection. Russian. Letop.", Vol. II, p. 124; Batyushkov. "Belarus and Lithuania", p. 33; Dovnar-Zapolsky. "Essays on the history of the Krivichi and Dregovichi lands until the 13th century", pp. 140, 157, 168; Solovyov. "History of Russia", ed. t-va "Society. Benefit", book. I, vol. II, pp. 430, 546, approx. 1st, p. 596, approx. 1st; Karamzin. "Ist. state. Russian.", ed. well. "North", vol. III, p. 38, approx. 60.

№ 24. Gleb Rostislavich, Prince Drutsky in 1151-1158. His ancestors in ascending line: Rostislav (No. 34), Gleb (No. 22), Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. When in 1151 the Polotsk people expelled Rogvolod Borisovich from Polotsk and sent him to prison in Minsk, to the Glebovichi, and Rostislav Glebovich, the father of Gleb Rostislavich, received the Polotsk principality, then Gleb received Drutsk, an ancestral specific city that belonged to the Borisovich family all this time. Gleb Rostislavich reigned in it only until Rogvolod Borisovich was released from captivity. In 1158, having freed himself and retired to the city of Slutsk, which belonged to Svyatoslav Olgovich, Rogvolod Borisovich began to communicate with the inhabitants of Drutsk, in which he undoubtedly had the majority on his side, since this city was his family, and Gleb Rostislavich was a representative of an alien lines. Rogvolod's relations ended with the fact that Gleb Rostislavich was driven away and fled to his father. The father, wanting to avenge his son, undertook (although he saw strong unrest in the city) a campaign against Drutsk. If we take into account the fact that the Druchans fought for their legitimate ancestral prince, and the opponents were the Polotsk people, among whom there were many supporters of Rogvolod, then we will understand that the victory should undoubtedly have been on the side of the Druchans. This victory hastened the fall of Rostislav. Upon the expulsion of Gleb Rostislavich, who was planted in Drutsk by his father, and not by the vocation of the inhabitants or by the right of inheritance, and therefore already unloved, the Druchans immediately plundered his yard. We have no further information about the life of Gleb Rostislavich, but it can be assumed that he probably took part in the struggle of his father with his opponent.

"Complete Collection of Russian Chronicles", vol. II, pp. 82, 305; vol. VII, pp. 67, 242; vol. IX, p. 211; Karamzin, "History of the State Russian.", ed. well. "North", vol. II, p. 185, approx. 386; Solovyov. "History of Russia", ed. t-va "Public Benefit", book. I, vol. II, p. 478; Dovnar-Zapolsky. "Essay on the history of the Krivichi and Dregovichi lands until the 13th century", p. 151.

№ 25. David Vseslavich, the fourth son of Vseslav. His ancestors in ascending line: Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. Shortly after the death of his father, left without an inheritance (perhaps not having received it, or perhaps deprived of it by his brothers), David Vseslavich wandered around Russia, seeking patronage among the strong princes of South Russia. In 1103, he participated with Vladimir Monomakh in the defeat of the Polovtsians at the "Suten" tract, which, it seems, won the favor of the southern princes. In addition, he married his son Bryachislav to the daughter of Mstislav the Great, the grandson of Vladimir Monomakh. In 1104, David was in the army of the Grand Duke Svyatopolk, sent, under the leadership of the Grand Duke Governor Putyata and with the son of Vladimir Monomakh, Yaropolk (Oleg Svyatoslavich Chernigov was also with them), on their campaign against the Minsk prince Gleb Vseslavich, brother of David. This suggests that the campaign was undertaken in favor of David and, perhaps, to return the inheritance from Gleb, or only to find some other. The campaign ended without any success. In 1106, David participated in an unfortunate campaign, with his brothers Vseslavichs, against the Lithuanian tribe Zimgolu (Semigalia). Around 1125, at the instigation of David Vseslavich, who by that time had acquired a special favor of the Polotsk Vech, the Polotsk prince was expelled by the Polotsk people, and David sat in Polotsk. About the same time, Vladimir Monomakh died, and, contrary to custom, his son Mstislav the Great became the Grand Duke; David did not recognize the great principality of Mstislavov, which was supposed to be associated with unconditional obedience. Then Mstislav, as if standing up for Boris Vseslavich, who, it seems, recognized the power of the grand duke, wanting to have support in Mstislav, decided to intervene in the affairs of Polotsk. In 1127, having gathered huge forces, he moved to Polotsk, but from the north he came and devastated the Polotsk land, the eldest son of Mstislav - Vsevolod, Mstislavich with the Novgorodians. Polotsk, seeing the trouble, drove David away, entered into negotiations with Mstislav I the Great and began to ask for a prince not Boris, but his brother Rogvolod Vseslavich, who, probably, was not unpleasant to the Grand Duke. According to this agreement, Polochans pledged to be in obedience to the Grand Duke. In fact, at that time only the Polotsk land did not recognize his seniority. Around 1129, David was again the prince of Polotsk (probably after the death of Rogvolod Vseslavich). This year, David, along with other Polotsk princes, abandoned the general campaign of the entire Russian land against the Polovtsy, for which Mstislav the Great decided to put an end to the Polotsk princes. Almost all the princes of the Russian land now participated in the campaign against them. The Polotsk people did not want to fight, seeing the struggle as completely useless, and forced their princes to go to court in Kiev. Mstislav sent them all, except Boris, to imprisonment in Tsargrad to his relative, Byzantine Emperor John II, son of Alexei I Komnenos. Among them was David. There is no information about his later life, but it can be assumed that he died in Constantinople, in the early 30s of the XII century, since his name is not found among the names of the Polotsk princes who returned from Constantinople.

"Complete Collection of Russian Chronicles", vol. I, pp. 118, 119, 120, 131; vol. I, pp. 11, 12, 15, 287, 292-293, vol. IV, p. 4; vol. V, p. 156; vol. VII, pp. 19, 20, 27, 28, 29; vol. IX, p. 156; vol. XV, pp. 188, 189, 196; Karamzin. "History of the state. Russian.", ed. magazine "North", vol. II, p. 114, approx. 251 and 252; Solovyov, "History of Russia", ed. t-va "General. Benefit", book. I, vol. II, pp. 341, 363, 364; Belyaev, I. D. "Stories from Russian History", vol. IV, 318, 319, 320; Ilovaisky. "History of Russia", p. 198, approx. 64; Dovnar-Zapolsky. "Essay on the history of the Krivichi and Dregovichi lands before the beginning of the XIII century."

№ 26. David Svyatoslavich. His ancestors in ascending line: Svyatoslav (No. 36), Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), St. Vladimir. Whether he had any destiny at all, and which one, is unknown. This prince is known for visiting Palestine with his sister, the famous Rev. Euphrosyne of Polotsk. This seems to have been the first example of a Russian prince's pilgrimage. On the way to Palestine, they met with Emperor Manuel, who was marching against the Hungarians, and in Constantinople they were cordially received by the Patriarch of Constantinople Luke Chrysavergius. The year of their pilgrimage is unknown, but taking into account that Luke Chrysavergius occupied the patriarchal throne from 1156 to 1169, it can be determined as a period in the late 50s or early 60s of the XII century.

Karamzin. "History of the state. Russian.", ed. well. "North", vol. II, approx. 251.

№ 27. Ivan Rogvolodovich- from the family of the princes of Polotsk. His ancestors in ascending line: Rogvolod (No. 31), Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. He is mentioned among those princes who were sent by Mstislav the Great to imprisonment in Constantinople. It seems that he did not return from Constantinople.

"Complete Collection of Russian Chronicles", vol. I, p. 131, vol. II, p. 12; vol. IV, p. 4, vol. V, p. 156; vol. VII, p. 28; vol. IX, p. 156; Karamzin. "History of the state. Russian", ed. well. "North", vol. II, p. 114, approx. 252; Solovyov. "History of Russia", ed. t-va "Society. Benefit", book. I, vol. II, p. 364; Dovnar-Zapolsky "Essay on the history of the Krivichi and Dregovichi lands until the 13th century", p. 94.

№ 28. Izyaslav Vladimirovich, son of Saint Vladimir and Rogneda, daughter of Rogvolod, an independent prince of Polotsk. Vladimir, they say, wooed Rogneda, but she refused him, since he was born Svyatoslav from the housekeeper St. Olga, named after Malusha. Having refused Vladimir, Rogneda became the bride of Yaropolk, Prince of Kiev, Vladimir's elder brother. Then Vladimir went against his brother, but on the way he attacked Polotsk, killed Prince Rogvolod there and forcibly married Rogneda. The next year, and according to other news - in 981, Izyaslav was born from this marriage. In 987, Izyaslav received from his father Vladimir the Polotsk principality as an inheritance. According to the legend transmitted by the chronicle, Vladimir did not settle Rogneda in Kiev, but in his suburb, in the village. Predslavina, where he visited her. During one of these visits, they say, Rogneda, wanting to avenge the murder of her father and for the murder of her family, decided to kill Vladimir. The idea was discovered last, and Rogneda was almost killed by Vladimir himself, but according to legend, little Izyaslav, grabbing a sword, wanted to protect his mother. Struck by this, Vladimir hastened to remove Rogneda from himself, highlighting Izyaslav with his mother the Principality of Polotsk, as an inheritance from his grandfather Izyaslav on his mother's side, Prince. Rogvolod. It is difficult to accept this tradition on faith, since it raises questions that, whatever they may be, it is impossible to agree with it. If Rogneda and Izyaslav were sent to Polotsk, then what happened to the other two sons of Rogneda - Yaroslav and Vsevolod? The conclusion of the chronicler after this story sounds especially strange, that “then Rogvolozh’s grandchildren take up a sword against Yaroslav’s grandchildren,” while Izyaslav and Yaroslav were not only half-blooded, but also half-brothers, having a common mother Rogneda and a common grandfather on the mother’s side, Rogvolod. Thus, the duty to avenge could equally be assigned to either one or the other. In the next year, 988, Izyaslav, together with his brothers, received St. baptism. Giving the Principality of Polotsk as inheritance to Izyaslav, Vladimir probably did not even think of isolating him with his offspring from his family. This separation probably came from causes that did not depend on Vladimir, and arose in a historical way. Izyaslav, as you know, died in 1001, the other year of the death of his mother Rogneda, many years before the death of his father Vladimir the Holy. The descendants of this prince, by virtue of the custom that was then rooted in the inheritance of the Kiev table, as the descendants of a son who died before his father, were considered "outcasts" and excluded from the next tribal inheritance (the Kiev table). They could not move from one inheritance to another, from worse to better, from farthest from Kiev to closest to it, and therefore, by virtue of fate, they were forced to remain in the same Polotsk inheritance. His receipt of Polotsk as an inheritance was probably due to the reason that Polotsk was located on waterway along the Z. Dvina, which was required to be protected from the Normans (Varangians) invading the country. The name of this prince is associated with the construction of the city of Izyaslavl by Vladimir, not far from Minsk. Why did Saint Vladimir need to build this city? Probably, in order to isolate him from the influence of the Polotsk Veche, which had tremendous influence in the management of this vast region. Having support in this city, Izyaslav could be more independent in his actions. Living permanently with his mother Rogneda, who at the end of her life was distinguished by a special religiosity (as is known, she was the first of the princely family to become a monk), and distinguished by her mild character, Izyaslav, no doubt, could not remain without influence from his mother. Religiosity has become one of the hallmarks of his character. According to the chronicle, this prince was "quiet, meek and humble and merciful, and loving deeply and honoring the priestly rank and monasticism and diligence in honoring the Divine Scriptures and turning away from vain mockery, and tearful and tender, and long-suffering." The remains of Izyaslav, who died in 1001, were transferred in 1007 and buried in the Cathedral of the Most Holy Theotokos.

"Complete Collection of Russian Chronicles", vol. I, pp. 84, 52, 55, 63, 67, 131; vol. II, pp. 250, 259, 261; vol. III, pp. 2, 3; vol. V, pp. 2, 112, 120, 124, 131, 134, 138; vol. VII, pp. 28, 231, 292, 294, 313, 317, 328, 332; Solovyov, "History of Russia", ed. t-va "Society. Benefit", book. I, vol. I, pp. 146, 154, 155, 156, 168 approx. 4th, p. 171; vol. II, pp. 285, 286; Dovnar-Zapolsky "Essay on the history of the Krivichi and Dregovichi lands until the end of the 13th century", p. 70.

№ 29. Izyaslav Nikolaevich(Mikulich) - from the family of the princes of Polotsk. His ancestors in ascending line: Nikolai, Prince Logozhsky, Vladimir (No. 12), Vasilko (No. 11), Svyatoslav (No. 35), Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. When civil strife arose in southern Russia in 1181, the struggle between Svyatoslav-Vsevolod of Chernigov and David Rostislavich of Smolensk, and these civil strife responded in the Polotsk land with a clash near Drutsk, then almost all the Polotsk princes went over to the side of the Chernigov prince. Only one prince Drutsky was on the side of David. The princes of Chernigov attacked the prince of Drutsk, David hurried to the rescue. The Chernigov princes, seeing that they would have to fight David, and the fight against him in the absence of Svyatoslav himself was not part of their plans, they, standing against David and Gleb Drutsky, began to drag out time in skirmishes, waiting for Svyatoslav, who was then in Novgorod. Seeing that the struggle began, Svyatoslav hurried to Drutsk. Then several princes of the Principality of Polotsk came out to meet him with squads; among them was Izyaslav Mikulich. The victory remained on the side of Svyatoslav. "The Tale of Igor's Campaign" mentions the death of Izyaslav Mikulich in 1184 in the famous and unfortunate battle for the Russians with the Polovtsians.

"Complete Collection of Russian Chronicles", vol. II, p. 124; Dovnar-Zapolsky, "Essay on the history of the Krivichi and Dregovichi lands until the 13th century", pp. 140, 157.

№ 30. Rogvolod Borisovich. His ancestors in ascending line: Boris (No. 2), Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. From 1144, approximately, Rogvolod became the prince of Polotsk, - after Vasilk Svyatoslavich, the first prince of Polotsk from the Izyaslavich family upon their return from Constantinople. In 1144, Rogvolod Borisovich married the daughter of Izyaslav II Mstislavich. The wedding was performed in Pereyaslavl, and Vsevolod Olgovich was also present at it. This marriage, as it were, was supposed to reconcile the descendants of Yaroslav the Great with the descendants of Izyaslav of Polotsk. But there was no time to even think about enmity, since both sides were busy fighting in their own line. In the line of Yaroslav the Wise, the struggle between the offspring of Svyatoslav Yaroslavich and the offspring of Monomakh is joined by the struggle between the older and younger line of the Monomakhoviches; besides, the constant struggle with the Polovtsians distracted from the struggle with the Polotsk princes. Yes, and in the offspring of Vseslav Bryachislavich at this time, the struggle of Rogvolod, the son of Boris Vseslavich, with the sons of Gleb Vseslavich begins. In 1151, the Polotsk people, agreeing with the Glebovichi, expelled Rogvolod Borisovich from Polotsk and took him to prison in Minsk, under guard. Minsk was in the possession of the family of Gleb Vseslavich, whose eldest son, Rostislav Glebovich, who then reigned in Minsk, was invited by the Polotsk people to be prince; Minsk passed to the next brother, Volodar Glebovich. Having expelled Rogvolod, the son-in-law of Prince. Izyaslav II Mstislavich (son of Mstislav Vel.), then a strong prince of southern Russia, and fearing revenge from Izyaslav, the Polotsk people surrendered under the protection of the enemy and rival of the Novgorod-Seversky prince Svyatoslav Olgovich: "as if you had him as your father and walk in his obedience." Having become the prince of Polotsk, Rostislav Glebovich handed over to his son Gleb Rostislavich Drutsk, which was in the possession of the family of Boris Vseslavich and his son Rogvolod Borisovich. A few years after the capture of Rogvolod and his imprisonment in Minsk, Rostislav lost his patron in the person of Svyatoslav Olgovich (probably due to Rostislav's non-compliance with his obligations towards Svyatoslav). Around 1158, Rogvolod Borisovich was released from prison, appeared in Slutsk, a city that at that time belonged to Svyatoslav Olgovich, from whom he received not only patronage, but also regiments to find the "volost". First of all, he went to Drutsk, which had previously belonged to his family, from which, therefore, he could hope to find adherents. And in fact, as Rogvolod Borisovich approached, his party gained the upper hand in the city. Rogvolod Borisovich secretly began to communicate with her and received the following answer: "Go, prince, do not hesitate, we are glad to see you, if necessary, we will fight for you and with the children." Having then driven out Gleb Rostislavich, who was planted by their prince Rostislav Glebovich, after he himself became a prince in Polotsk, the inhabitants of the city of Drutsk made Rogvolod a particularly solemn welcome and brought him into the city with honors. Gleb, who fled to his father in Polotsk, along with his retinue, heavily robbed by the Druchans during exile, brought the news to Polotsk that Rogvolod was already in Drutsk. This caused a revolt in the city, since Rogvolod in Polotsk, as well as in Drutsk, had many adherents. Having endowed with numerous gifts the most important and most influential of Rogvolod's adherents, Rostislav hardly calmed the rebellion and, having gathered an army, went with him to Rogvolod to the city of Drutsk. The Druchans won the word given to Rogvolod, and fiercely fought with Rostislav; then the latter, seeing that the struggle would be unsuccessful, gave several new volosts to Rogvolod and began to negotiate for peace. Soon, however, Polotsk began secret relations with Rogvolod; "Our prince!" - they said: - we have sinned before God and before you, that we have stood against you without guilt, your property and your squads have plundered everything, and having seized them, we have handed them over to Glebovichi for great torment; if you forget everything that we they made you their madness, and kiss the cross to us, then we are your people, and you are our prince; Rostislav will be handed over to you, do with him what you want. Rogvolod took an oath. Some of the Polotsk, who belonged to the small party of Rostislav, informed him about the intrigues of the rest of the Polotsk, which is why the repeated attempts of the Polotsk to seize Rostislav for extradition to Rogvolod failed. Rostislav, having gathered a loyal squad, retired to his brother Volodar in Minsk. Upon the removal of Rostislav, Rogvolod occupied the Polotsk table, gathered an extensive army from the Polotsk people and, having received more from Rostislav Mstislavich, Prince. Smolensky, assisted by an army of Smolensk, Novgorodians and Pskovians, led by the sons of Rostislav Mstislavich, Rurik and Roman, went to Izyaslavl, where Prince Vsevolod, brother of Rostislav and Volodar Glebovich, was sitting. Not hoping to fight with such a large army, this prince, who had an insignificant inheritance and squad, placed all his hope on the former, once existing friendship between him and Rogvolod, and went out with a bow to him. Having received his former friend very affectionately, Rogvolod, however, did not give him Izyaslavl, which could serve as a great obstacle in the further struggle with the Glebovichi, but gave him the city of Strezhev; Bryachislav Vasilkovich, the grandson of Svyatoslav Vseslavich, to whose family this city belonged, received Izyaslavl; besides, he seemed to Rogvolod more reliable in the fight against the Glebovichi. Then, in order to deprive Rostislav's party in Polotsk of any hope of his return, he terribly devastated the surrounding region, approached Minsk itself and besieged the city and Rostislav who was hiding there. After spending 10 days in a stubborn siege, he made peace with Rostislav. The latter renounced the Polotsk reign, and Rogvolod returned to Polotsk. Glebovichi, however (probably without Vsevolod), did not want to confine themselves to one Minsk region and took away Izyaslavl, and the sons of Vasilk Svyatoslavich who were there, the grandsons of Svyatoslav Vseslavich - Bryachislav and Volodar (Volodsha) - were sent to imprisonment in Minsk. This was the reason for Rogvolod Borisovich to again fight against the Glebovichi. Maybe there was some kind of agreement between Rogvolod and Vasilkovichi, by virtue of which they received Izyaslavl earlier. One way or another, Rogvolod began the siege of Minsk. Rostislav Mstislavich, who had already helped Rogvolod in the fight against the Gleboviches and at that time (1159) was sitting on the table of Kiev, sent him 600 torcs from Kiev to help him. After a six-week siege, Rogvolod made peace "with all his will", and the Vasilkovichi were released to this world. The next year (1160) the war resumed due to some misunderstanding. Assuming that the Glebovichi would annually resume the struggle, Rogvolod decided to attack each one separately and in 1161 attacked Volodar, the most active of the Glebovichi, in the hope that Rostislav, left without the energetic support of his brother, would soon be forced to end the struggle. Volodar at that time reigned in Gorodets. Besieged by Rogvolod in this city, he did not dare to go into battle during the day with troops that exceeded his strength, but made a sortie at night with allied Lithuanians, unexpectedly attacked the besieging troops and inflicted such a defeat on them that they were forced to retreat with heavy losses. Having been defeated by Volodar Glebovich, Rogvolod fled from Gorodets to Drutsk, an inheritance that belonged to his family, leaving the mountains to their fate. Polotsk and leaving forever the intention to establish himself as a prince in Polotsk, since, according to the chronicle, "Polotsk does not dare to go, there are many Polotsk people outside." Having retired to his inheritance, to Drutsk, and descending, so to speak, from the historical stage, Rogvolod Borisovich probably remained a prince there until his death. After the defeat near Gorodets, chronicles, the main source of this time, do not give any information about Rogvolod. 22 versts from the city of Orsha to the right of the road to Minsk, half a verst from the village. Dyatlovka, on the land of the Drutsk inheritance, which belonged to Rogvolod Borisovich, in the wooden Borisoglebsk chapel, in the middle of its field, a monument was found in 1792, called from this city the "Orsha" stone or, after the church in the name of Boris and Gleb, "Borisov's stone". This monument was an unhewn boulder, on which a cross was deeply carved, not quite correct form with the inscription: "In l. 6679 May 7, this cross was completed: Lord, help the servant Vasily in baptism with the name Rogvolod s. Borisov." This monument gives us two indications: that Rogvolod was still alive until 1171, being all the time in the lot to which he retired 10 years ago. It is believed that this inscription on the stone determines the day and year of Rogvolod's death, that this inscription is a tombstone.

"Full. Collection. Russian. Letop.", Vol. I, p. 135; vol. II, pp. 19, 66, 82, 86, 88; vol. VII, pp. 56, 67, 68, 71, 73, 75; vol. IX, pp. 167, 211, 212; Karamzin. "History of the state. Russian.", ed. magazine "North", vol. II, pp. 130, 174, 185, 186, approx. 283, 358, 386; vol. III, p. 38, approx. 60; I. D. Belyaev. "Stories from Russian History", vol. IV, pp. 321, 332; Batyushkov. "Belarus and Lithuania", p. 30; Dovnar-Zapolsky, "Essay on the history of the Krivichi and Dregovichi lands until the 13th century." pp. 126, 151, 167; "Uchen. Zap. Akad. Nauk", vol. III, p. 50; Antiquities of Moscow. Archeol. General, vol. VI. pp. 291; "Archaeological Bulletin" 1867, p. 155.

№ 31. Rogvolod Vseslavich, fifth son of Vseslav (No. 15). His ancestors in ascending line: Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. Together with the brothers, Rogvolod participated in 1106 in an unfortunate campaign against the Lithuanian tribe Zimgoly (Semigalia), but the chronicle does not mention his name directly. What kind of inheritance he possessed and whether he possessed, we do not know; the chronicle has preserved for us only the news that in 1127, at the approach of Mstislav the Great, with the allied princes of almost the entire Russian land, to Polotsk, they expelled Prince David Vseslavich from there, entered into negotiations with Mstislav and begged Rogvolod Vseslavich to be princes, on which received the consent of Mstislav. This indicates that Rogvolod was personally pleasing to Mstislav. But in Polotsk, Rogvolod Vseslavich, apparently, did not reign for long, because when Mstislav called for a general campaign against the Polovtsy and the Polotsk princes, then the Polotsk prince was no longer Rogvolod, but David. He is not mentioned among the princes sent by Mstislav the Great to Tsargrad, to imprisonment, for refusing to participate in the general campaign, and only two sons of Rogvolod Vseslavich are mentioned: Vasily and Ivan Rogvolodovichi. It is possible with a high probability to think that Rogvolod Vseslavich, having become Prince of Polotsk in 1127, died either in the next, 1128, or in 1129.

"Complete Collection. Russian Chronicles", vol. I, p. 131; vol. V, p. 28; vol. VII, pp. 27, 29; vol. IX, p. 155; Karamzin. "History of the state. Russian.", ed. zhur. "North", vol. II, p. 114, approx. 251; Solovyov, History of Russia, ed. t-va "Society. Benefit", book. I, vol. II, p. 364; I. D. Belyav. "Stories from Russian History", vol. IV, p. 320; Dovnar-Zapolsky. "Essay on the history of the Krivichi and Dregovichi lands before the beginning of the 13th century", p. 94.

№ 32. Roman Vseslavich, the first son of Vseslav. Ascending ancestors: Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. In his youth, this prince, with his father Vseslav, in 1067, it seems, was imprisoned in Kiev ("in a cut"). Left without an inheritance, perhaps because he was deprived, or perhaps because his inheritance was taken away by a stronger prince, Roman wandered around Russia, seeking intercession among the princes of other Russia. We do not know anything about his wanderings: the chronicles retained only the news that he died in Ryazan in 1114. After his death, his wife took the vows in the convent near the Polotsk cathedral church. Here she was visited by Predslava Svyatoslavna, daughter of the youngest of Vseslav's sons, Svyatoslav (later Professor Euphrosyne of Polotsk); here she settled and cut her hair.

"Full. Collection. Russian. Letop.", Vol. I, p. 72; vol. V, p. 141; vol. VII, pp. 23, 335; vol. IX, pp. 93, 143; Belyaev. "Stories from Russian History", vol. IV, pp. 318, 319, 320: Batyushkov. "Belarus and Lithuania", p. 28; Life of Rev. Euphrosyne of Polotsk in the "Fourth Menaion" Metrop. Macarius.

№ 33. Rostislav Vseslavich, sixth son of Vseslav. His ancestors in ascending line: Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. In 1106, Rostislav probably participated in the unfortunate campaign of the Vseslavichs against the Lithuanian Zimgoly tribe (in Semigallia). The chronicle does not provide information about him, mentioning only that he was exiled to Constantinople for imprisonment among other princes of Polotsk. We do not meet him among those who returned from Constantinople after the death of Mstislav the Great, which makes us assume that he died in Constantinople. There were no offspring after him.

"Full. Collection. Russian. Letop.", Vol. I, p. 131; vol. II, p. 12; vol. IV, p. 4; vol. V, p. 156; vol. VII, p. 28; vol. IX, p. 156, vol. XV, p. 196; Karamzin, "History of the state. Russian.", ed. magazine "North", vol. II, p. 114, approx. 252; Solovyov. "History of Russia", ed. t-va "Society. Benefit", book. I, vol. II, p. 364; I. D. Belyaev. "Stories from Russian history", book. IV, p. 320; Batyushkov. "Belarus and Lithuania", p. 30; Ilovaisky. "History of Russia", vol. I, p. 198, approx. 64.

№ 34. Rostislav Glebovich - Prince of Polotsk (from 1151 - to 1159). His ancestors in ascending line: Gleb (No. 22), Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. Rostislav received the inheritance of his father, Gleb Vseslavich, the Minsk principality, where, it seems, he stayed until 1151. This year, the Polotsk people, perhaps not without the participation of the princes, seized Rogvolod Borisovich and sent him to Rostislav Glebovich in Minsk for imprisonment, Rostislav was elected their prince, and the latter handed Minsk over to his brother Volodar. Realizing that Rogvolod Borisovich, expelled from Polotsk, would not stop trying to regain his lost table, and that, due to his family ties, he would find support among the South Russian princes, especially Izyaslav Mstislavich, Rostislav and the Polotsk people tried to find themselves a patron; for this they entered into relations with Svyatoslav Olgovich, Prince. Seversky, and surrendered to him under the patronage: "as if you had him as a father to yourself and walk in his obedience." This choice was made because Izyaslav was an enemy of Svyatoslav, and among the Svyatoslavichs was one of the stronger. Having established himself on the throne, however, Rostislav apparently forgot about his duties towards Svyatoslav Olgovich, since in 1159 Rogvolod Borisovich, Rostislav's opponent, having freed himself from captivity in Minsk, found shelter in the possessions of just this prince, in the city of Slutsk . From Slutsk, Rogvolod directed all his forces to capture the city of Drutsk, the inheritance of his kind, where he undoubtedly had the majority of the population on his side. After the expulsion of Rogvolod, Rostislav Glebovich gave Drutsk to his son Gleb, and Rogvolod, having communicated with the inhabitants of Drutsk, expelled Gleb (1188), and settled in Drutsk himself. Arriving to his father in Polotsk, Gleb reported on the capture of Drutsk, on the actions and intentions of Rogvolod, and the news of this excited the whole city, but Rostislav's followers reassured him in time. Rostislav also had to spend a lot on bribing the most influential citizens; then, forcing the Polotsk people to swear allegiance to him and kiss the cross, he, with his brothers Vsevolod and Volodar, moved to Drutsk, wanting to punish the druchan for treachery to his prince, and to his son, and again install him in the reign. Unable to break the rebuff given by the Druchans, Rostislav entered into relations with Rogvolod about a world that was unfavorable for himself, since he recognized Drutsk as this world for Rogvolod, and with the addition of volosts to him. Polotsk people could not calm down, although they recently kissed the cross, saying to him: “You are our prince and God grant us to live with you”, however, in the same year they referred to Rogvolod, asking him to forget the insults inflicted on him by the looting of property, and those torments that he suffered at the Glebovichi, being exiled to Minsk, and promised to give Rostislav into the hands of Rogvolod to his full will. Adherents of the Rostislavovs informed the prince why the attempts of the Polotsk people to seize Rostislav by deceit, inviting him to fraternalism, on Peter's Day, at the Church of the Holy Mother of God, failed: Rostislav put on armor under his clothes and with a weapon hidden under it came to fraternalism. Unable to carry out their intention, the conspirators sent him to his country palace on the outskirts of Belchitsa (3 versts from the city on the other side of the Western Dvina) to call him to the veche. Although Rostislav answered them: “after all, yesterday I was with you, why didn’t you talk to me about anything,” he agreed and even went to the veche, but on the way he was met by a youth who informed that the veche was opposed in the city him, the people are beating his squad, and they intend to seize him. Seeing that his case was lost, Rostislav returned, gathered the remaining squad around him in Belchitsa and went to Dvinsk, to his brother Volodar, betraying the land of Polotsk to devastation. Soon after the reign of Rogvolod in Polotsk, his actions began against the Glebovichi in order to forever take away their hope for the Polotsk reign. Having quickly dealt with Vsevolod Glebovich, Rogvolod laid siege to Minsk, where Rostislav was then, and stood there for 10 days. The siege was unsuccessful, and soon a peace was concluded, to which Rostislav agreed, since it was difficult for him to fight against the Polotsk forces, and even connected with the troops sent by Rostislav, Prince. Smolensky. Seeing that nothing could be done with Rogvolod by force, Rostislav decided to apply the policy of Rogvolod, which he used in the fight against them: just as Rogvolod attacked first of all the weakest of the Glebovichi, Vsevolod, so Rostislav decided to attack the weakest allies of Rogvolod, the younger Vasilkovichi, and return to their family Izyaslavl, which was of great strategic importance in the struggle that arose between them. Prince Bryachislav was in Izyaslavl, and his younger brother, the third son of Vasilko Svyatoslavich, Vladimir Vasilkovich, known under the name of "Volodsha", was with him. Glebovichi attacked Izyaslavl, seized and imprisoned Bryachislav and Volodsha in Minsk. This served as a pretext for Rogvolod to again and immediately attack the Glebovichi and undertake a siege of Minsk. Rostislav was forced to ask for peace, which was concluded by all the will of Rogvolod, and the Vasilkovichi were released from captivity. Although Rostislav, having retired to his ancestral Minsk, withstood sieges from Rogvolod in it, they probably weakened him, since after the victory of Rogvolod we do not see him make any attempt to regain Polotsk, while his campaigns against Minsk, probably , continued.

"Complete Collection of Russian Chronicles", vol. II, pp. 66, 82, 86, 88; vol. VII, pp. 56, 67, 68, 71, 73; vol. IX, pp. 211, 217; Karamzin. "History of the State. Russian.", ed. magazine "North", vol. II, pp. 174, 185 - 186, approx. 407; I. D. Belyaev. "Stories from Russian History", vol. IV, pp. 315, 319, 321; Solovyov. "History of Russia", ed. t-va "General. Benefit", book. I, vol. II, pp. 452, 453, 477, 478; Dovnar-Zapolsky. "Essay on the history of the Krivichi and Dregovichi lands until the 13th century", p. 151; Batyushkov. "Belarus and Lithuania".

№ 35. Svyatoslav Yuri Vseslavich, seventh, the youngest son of Vseslav. His ancestors in ascending line: Vseslav (No. 15), Bryachislav (No. 6), Izyaslav (No. 28), Vladimir the Holy. Together with his brothers, Svyatoslav probably participated in the campaign of the Polotsk princes in 1106 against the Lithuanian Zimgolu tribe. His name is found among the princes exiled by Mstislav the Great to Constantinople, where he probably died, since it is not mentioned among those who returned from imprisonment after the death of Mstislav the Great. Svyatoslav was the father of the famous Princess Predslava of Polotsk (later Professor Euphrosyne of Polotsk), who became famous both for her pious life and the construction of monasteries and churches, and Princess Gorislava, who also, following the example of her sister, took the vows.

"Complete Collection. Russian Chronicles", vol. I, p. 131; vol. II, p. 12; vol. IV, p. 4; vol. V, p. 156; vol. VII, pp. 28, 29; vol. IX, p. 156; vol. XV, p. 196; Solovyov. "History of Russia", ed. t-va "Society. Benefit", book. I, vol. II, p. 364; Karamzin. "History of the State. Russian.", ed. zhur. "North", vol. II, p. 114, note. 252; I. D. Belyaev. "Stories from Russian History", vol. IV, p. 320; Ilovaisky. "Ist. Ros.", vol. I, p. 198, approx. 64; The life of a teacher Euphrosyne of Polotsk - in the "Fourth Menaion" Metropolitan. Macarius.

Gorislava Svyatoslavna - daughter of Svyatoslav (Yuri) Vseslavich (No. 35). Her princely name was Gorislava, her Christian name was Evdokia; lived in the twelfth century. She often visited her own sister Predslava (teacher Euphrosyne of Polotsk). The monastic life that she saw attracted her, and she took her tonsure in the same monastery where she lived in the nuns of Predslava (near the Polotsk Cathedral). The fact that Gorislava renounced the world, of course, is best explained by the religious upbringing she received in the family. It must be remembered that not only Predslava (Reverend Euphrosyne) came from the family of Svyatoslav, but also David Svyatoslavich (No. 26), who is known for being the only one of the Russian princes who visited the Holy Land.

Batyushkov. "Belarus and Lithuania", p. 28; Karamzin. "History of the state. Russian" ed. well. "North", vol. II, approx. 251.

Zvenislava Borisovna - daughter of Boris Vseslavich (No. 2). Her princely name was - Zvenislava, Christian - Eupraxia; lived in the twelfth century. She was tonsured in the same monastery where her cousin Predslava Svyatoslavna (teacher Euphrosyne of Polotsk) had gone, to the monastery that was near the Polotsk Cathedral. If Gorislava's departure to the monastery is explained to a certain extent by family education, then Zvenislava's departure is exclusively due to the constant visits to Predslava and her influence, since Zvenislava lived all the time with her father in Polotsk.

Batyushkov. "Belarus and Lithuania", p. 28; Karamzin. "Ist. state. Russian.", ed. well. "North", vol. II, p. 251.

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And it arose on the way "from the Varangians to the Greeks." It was this path that contributed to the rapid rise of the principality, its strong economy and well-known culture. The desire for independence, the struggle against the princes of Kiev, and then the Lithuanians who replaced them - this is the history of the Polotsk principality. Briefly, it looks like this: the more Kiev put pressure on the Polotsk nobility, the more powerful became the resistance and desire of Polotsk for independence. However, the wars with Kiev weakened the principality, and in 1307 Polotsk became part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Formation and dissociation of the principality

Polotsk is mentioned in Russian chronicles in 862. In the middle of the 10th century, Polotsk had its own lord - Rogvolod of Polotsk, whom, at the end of the 10th century, he kills, and takes his daughter as his wife. That allows you to attach this land to the Novgorod possessions. In 987, Prince Vladimir appointed the heir of Izyaslav as the prince of Polotsk, and the city of Izyaslavl became the capital.

As an adult, Prince Izyaslav rebuilt Polotsk, moving the capital of the principality to the left bank of the Polota River, to the most impregnable and high place. Under him, the isolation of the principality from the dominion of Kiev was started. It should be noted that at the beginning of the XI century, the Polotsk land occupied a vast territory of North-Western Russia. The location of Polotsk at the intersection of the waterways of the Western Dvina and the Upper Dnieper gave great benefits to the principality. Not a small role in the independence of the principality was played by iron-working production.

The reign of Vseslav the Enchanter (1044 - 1101)

The principality acquired the greatest prosperity under the grandson of Izyaslav - Vseslav Bryachislavovich. After a campaign against Torkov, in 1060, Vseslav began a long struggle with Kiev for possession of North-Western Russia. In 1065, the prince made an unsuccessful attack on Pskov. The failure did not break the prince, and the next year he attacked Novgorod and plundered the city. However, then luck turned away from Vseslav and in February 1067 the Kiev princes Yaroslavovichi attacked the Polotsk principality, capturing Minsk.

On March 3, a significant battle took place near the Nemiga River. For several days, the opponents did not dare to start a battle, not yielding to each other in stubbornness and not making compromises, and on the seventh day, Vseslav Polotsky decided to drive the Yaroslavovichs out of their native land. This battle was described in the Tale of Igor's Campaign, as well as in the Kiev chronicles. The prince himself escaped captivity and fled to Polotsk. According to legend, the prince was a werewolf sorcerer and fled the battlefield in the form of a wolf.

In the summer of the same year, the Yaroslavovichs invited the prince to Kiev for peace negotiations, promising him safety before the cross. However, Kiev did not keep his word, and Vseslav was captured. In 1068, the Yaroslavoviches had to defend native land already against the Polovtsians. However, they lost the battle on the Alta River and fled. Kiev was left without protection. On September 15, 1068, the Kiev uprising took place, and the people of Kiev freed Vseslav by force, appointing him the Grand Duke. The Yaroslavoviches naturally did not like this turn of affairs, and they fled to Poland for help.

When Vseslav heard that the Yaroslavovich army was heading for Kiev, he abandoned the city and fled to his native land - Polotsk. Like, houses and walls help, but he needs Kiev, like a second tail to a wolf. This did not help him much, and Izyaslav captured Polotsk, placing his son to reign there. In 1072, Vseslav regained Polotsk, after which the rapprochement between Izyaslav and Vseslav began. With the rest of the Yaroslavovichi, he fought uncompromisingly.

Accession of Polotsk to ON

Having many sons in the family, Vseslav Charodey divided the Polotsk land into 6 destinies, which were further divided more and more. In 1127, Kiev captured the Polotsk lands, devastated them and sent the Polotsk princes to Byzantium. However, three years later, power fell to one of the Polotsk princes, and after his death, a struggle for the throne began between three dynasties by a descendant of Vseslav, which finally undermined the combat capability of Polotsk, and in 1216 the Livonian Order captured the lands in the lower reaches of the Western Dvina.

A century later, the principality submitted to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL). The principality finally ceased to exist after 76 years, when Lithuania abolished the autonomy of Polotsk.

Polotsk, a city in Belarus on the Western Dvina at the confluence of the river. Cloths. First mentioned in "The Tale of Bygone Years" under 862. Was the center of the Polotsk principality. In the 2nd floor. 13th century captured by Lithuania. In 1563, during Livonian War 1558 - 1583, was taken by Russian troops, who held it until 1579. It was again occupied by the Russian army in 1655, but according to the Andrusovo truce of 1667, it retreated to Poland.

Finally returned to Russia in 1772. In 1777-96 - the center of the Polotsk governorship. A Belarusian educator was born in Polotsk (c. 1490) and lived F. Skorina. In the XIX - n. 20th century - Local mall. Architectural monuments: Sophia Cathedral (between 1044 and 1066 or the end of the 11th - n. 12th centuries, rebuilt in the 18th century), the cathedral Spaso-Evfrosinievskiy Monastery, built by the architect John (between 1128 and 1158), a house Peter I and etc.

POLOTSKY PRINCIPALITY, Russian principality, which arose in the X century. with the center in Polotsk. Located in the pool pp. Western Dvina, Berezina, Neman, on an important trade waterway for Russia, which contributed to early development in the Polotsk land of independent economy and culture. Polotsk nobility strove for isolation from Kiev. In the X century. book. Vladimir Svyatoslavich took possession of the Principality of Polotsk, having killed the prince of Polotsk. Rogvolod, and later gave it to his son Izyaslav. Under Bryachislav Izyaslavich (1001–44), a long struggle between the Principality of Polotsk and Kiev began, which after 1021 led to its isolation. Greatest value The Principality of Polotsk reached under Vseslav Bryachislavich (1044 - 1101). Under his sons, internecine wars began, fragmentation into destinies (Minsk, Vitebsk and other principalities) and wars with Kiev. In k. XII - n. 13th century there was a decline in the political significance of the Polotsk principality, most of its cities passed to Smolensk; possessions in the lower reaches of the Western Dvina were captured by German knights. K ser. 13th century The Principality of Polotsk submitted to the Lithuanian princes. In 1307 it was annexed to Lithuania with the preservation of autonomy, which was abolished in 1385.

G. Gorshkov

Polotsk principality- arose in the tenth century. on the basis of the Polotsk tribal association with the center in Polotsk. Located in the pool pp. Zap. Dvina, Berezina, Neman (on an important waterway for Russia "from the Varangians to the Greeks"), which contributed to the early development of independent. economy and culture. Polots. the feudal lord, the nobility always strove for isolation from Kiev. At the end of the tenth century Vladimir Svyatoslavich took possession of the Principality of Polotsk, having killed the tribal prince of Polotsk Rogvolod and his sons, forcibly took his daughter Rogneda as his wife, who bore him a son, Izyaslav. Later, Vladimir, being already led. book. Russia, gave Izyaslav the Principality of Polotsk. When Prince. Bryachislav Izyaslavich began long. the struggle of the Principality of Polotsk with Kiev, which after 1041 led to the isolation of the Principality of Polotsk. The prince reached its greatest importance under Vseslav Bryachislavich. Under his sons, however, civil strife began, fragmentation into independent, destinies. Then Minsk, Vitebsk, Drutsk, Gorodensky, Lagozhsky and other princes emerged from the Principality of Polotsk. The wars with Kiev completed the collapse of the Principality of Polotsk and its significance was reduced to zero: most of the cities passed to Smolensk, possessions in the lower reaches of the West. The Dvina were captured by the knights of the Livonian Order. By the middle of the XIII century, the Principality of Polotsk submitted to the Lithuanian princes. In 1307 it was annexed to Lithuania with the preservation of autonomy, which was finally abolished in 1383.

Church of the Savior Euphrosyne. XII century.

Polotsk- Old Russian. city ​​at the confluence of the river. Cloths in Zap. Dvina (now the river center of the Vitebsk region in Belarus). Mentioned for the first time. in "PVL" under 862. The center of the Polotsk principality. Traces of the ancient settlement are preserved on the right. coast of the West Dvina. Detinets, later named Verkh. Castle, irregular triangular shape, area approx. 10 hectares, was surrounded by a rampart around the perimeter. In his southern part rises a huge St. Sophia Cathedral, built in the middle. 11th century From the northeast, a roundabout town (Nizh. Zamok) adjoined the citadel, located in the bend of the river. Cloths. To the east of the citadel and to the south of the roundabout city, along the shore of the West. Dvina, there was Veliky Posad. The city was surrounded by burial mounds and monasteries. There were streets and "mansions" in the city, there was a veche that invited and expelled princes, and resolved issues of war and peace. In XII - 1st floor. 13th century P. enters into a bargain with Gotland and Riga. treaties regulating issues of trade along the Dvina. In the beginning. 13th century Polotsk resists German aggression. knights. Vo.2nd floor. 13th century captured by Lithuania. During the Livonian War of 1558-1583, it was taken (1563) by the Russians and was part of Russia until 1579, when it passed into the possession of Poland.

House of Peter I in Polotsk (Now the Museum of Local Lore).
Photo by Vyacheslav Rumyantsev.

Read further:

Roman (? - 1116) (Col. VIII), Prince of Polotsk (1101 - 16)

Davyd (1047/57 - after 1130) (col. VIII), Prince of Polotsk (1101 - 1127, 1128 - 29), exiled to Byzantium

Boris (? - 1127) (kol. VIII), Prince Drutsky (1101 - 19), Prince of Polotsk (1119 - 27), sometimes he is combined with his brother Rogvold

Rogvold (? - c. 1128) (col. VIII), Prince of Polotsk (1127 - 28)

Rostislav (c. 1070 - after 1140) (col. VIII), exiled to Byzantium in 1129

Brianchislav (? - after 1130) (col. VIII), expelled to Byzantium in 1129, Prince Izyaslavsky and Logozhsky (1127) married since 1125 to Xenia, daughter of Mstislav Vladimirovich (see Rurik. Descendants of Izyaslav I)

Vyacheslav (col. IX) is married to N Vyacheslavovna of Kiev

Vasilko the Restorer (? - 1144) (col. IX) mentioned in 1131

Ivan (col. IX) as a monk Davyd

Rostislav (col. IX) mentioned in 1129

Roman (col. X) was mentioned in 1165 as Prince of Vitebsk.

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