Chernigov princes. Chernigov-Seversky Principality: geographical location, administration, major cities Chernigov Seversky Principality geographical location

Chernigov, which later became the capital of the principality of the same name, is one of the oldest Russian cities. The exact date of its foundation is unknown, but it existed already in the 9th century, since in Oleg’s agreement with the Greeks Chernigov is mentioned as one of the large southern Russian cities that conducted large trade with Byzantium.

The capital is Chernigov, the modern regional center of Ukraine, on the right bank of the river. Desna, a tributary of the Dnieper.

Chernigov, which later became the capital of the principality of the same name, is one of the oldest Russian cities. The exact date of its foundation is unknown, but it existed already in the 9th century, since in Oleg’s agreement with the Greeks Chernigov is mentioned as one of the large southern Russian cities that conducted large trade with Byzantium. The principality itself arose on the territory inhabited by tribes of northerners (from them this land received the name Severskaya or Chernigovo-Severskaya), who occupied the river basin. Gums and Sumy; partially clearings; Radimichi who lived along the river. Sauger; Vyatichi, who lived along the banks of the Oka, etc. The principality occupied a vast territory along the banks of the Dnieper, along the Desna, Seim, Sozh, and the upper Oka basin. In addition to Chernigov itself, the principality included a number of other cities that later played a huge role in the history of the Russian state (Lubich, Murom, Starodub, Novgorod-Seversky, etc.).

According to the Tale of Bygone Years, before Oleg’s reign, the northerners and Vyatichi paid tribute to the Khazars. Oleg, having received power, went down the Dnieper, captured the coastal cities and imprisoned his husbands in them. Having settled in Kyiv, Oleg conquered many Slavic tribes living along the Dnieper (northerners, Radimichi, etc.). Among the cities mentioned by Oleg in the treaty with the Greeks were Chernigov, Lyubich, Pereyaslavl and others, which firmly became part of Kievan Rus.

In 1024, several years after Yaroslav’s victory over Svyatopolk, the Tmutarakan prince Mstislav Vladimirovich with a huge Russian-Caucasian army moved to Kyiv. In the battle of Listven, Yaroslav the Wise and his Varangian squad were completely defeated and fled to Novgorod. The path to Kyiv was open, but Mstislav did not take advantage of this, but occupied Chernigov, which had been captured along the way, and began negotiations. In 1026, the brothers gathered in Gorodets for negotiations and made peace. Chernigov and the entire Left Bank remained with Mstislav, who became the first appanage prince of Chernigov, and the entire Right Bank and Kyiv - with Yaroslav I. Thus, for the first time in history, the Russian land was split into two parts. However, when Mstislav died in 1036, leaving no heirs, Chernigov and Kyiv again united “under the hand” of Yaroslav into a single whole.

In 1054, Yaroslav the Wise divided the “fatherland” between his sons before his death. Chernigov went to Svyatoslav Yaroslavich, Izyaslav settled in Kyiv, and Vsevolod in Pereyaslavl, which gradually separated from the Seversk land. This is how the final split of the Old Russian state took place, which began with the formation of three completely independent centers: Kyiv, Pereyaslav and Chernigov, which soon began to split into even smaller semi-state entities.

At first, the Yaroslavich brothers, who formed the so-called “triumvirate,” lived amicably, went against the Polovtsians together, but then discord broke out again, disputes began over the possession of Tmutarakan, then a struggle broke out between Svyatoslav Yaroslavich and Vseslav of Polotsk, who captured Novgorod in 1062. His brothers came to Svyatoslav’s aid; in 1067, with joint efforts they defeated Vseslav and imprisoned him in the Kiev “cut.” However, soon the Polovtsians attacked Southern Rus'. A year later on the river. Alta, the Russian squads were defeated by the nomads. Uprisings began in Kyiv, Izyaslav I fled, and the townspeople proclaimed Vseslav, released from prison, prince. As a result of the princely strife, Vseslav retired to Polotsk, and Kyiv became the arena of a furious dispute between the Yaroslavich brothers.

In 1073, Svyatoslav of Chernigov, who fought for the possession of grand-ducal power, in alliance with Vsevolod Yaroslavich, expelled Izyaslav from Kyiv and himself became prince in the capital. After this, Chernigov became the center of fierce princely disputes, which especially intensified under Oleg Svyatoslavich, who fought both with Chernigov relatives and with the Kyiv princes.

In 1076, Oleg Svyatoslavich, who was imprisoned in Vladimir Volynsky, was removed from it and began to live with his uncle Vsevolod Yaroslavich in Chernigov. In 1078, Oleg fled to Tmutarakan, where the rogue princes Boris Vyacheslavich and Roman Svyatoslavich already lived. Soon Boris and Oleg invaded Chernigov land. On the river Sozhitse Oleg Svyatoslavich defeated Vsevolod Yaroslavich, who fled to Kyiv, and Oleg captured Chernigov. Soon, however, Vsevolod Yaroslavich and the people of Kiev besieged Chernigov. In the battle on Nezhatina Niva, Boris Vyacheslavich and Izyaslav of Kiev fell. Oleg Svyatoslavich fled to Tmutarakan, and Vsevolod Yaroslavich captured Kyiv and was proclaimed Grand Duke. His son Vladimir Monomakh was imprisoned in Chernigov. In 1094, Oleg Svyatoslavich, who returned from Byzantine captivity, together with the Polovtsians again besieged Chernigov and forced Monomakh to retire to Pereyaslavl. Oleg reigned in Chernigov and expelled the mayors of Monomakh from Murom. Soon, however, Monomakh again took possession of Chernigov and drove Oleg out of there; the latter, in revenge, ravaged Murom in 1096 and killed Izyaslav Vladimirovich, who was sitting there.

After the Lyubich Congress (1097), the Seversk land was finally divided into several principalities. But the unrest in the Chernigov principality continued. Oleg Svyatoslavich received Novgorod-Seversky by decision of the congress, and Davyd Olgovich sat in Chernigov. From that time on, Novgorod-Seversky practically separated from the Chernigov principality and began to live a separate life. Soon Murom and then other lands separated from Chernigov.

The Tatar invasion did not spare Southern Rus' either. In 1239, the Seversk land was devastated by nomads, Chernigov itself was plundered and burned. In 1246, the Chernigov prince Mikhail Vsevolodovich was brutally killed at Batu's headquarters. After his death, further fragmentation of the Seversk-Chernigov land began, as a result of which the principalities that separated from its composition gradually became fragmented and smaller. The former centers - Chernigov, Pereyaslavl and Novgorod-Seversky - also lost their political role over time. In the XIV century. The Principality of Chernigov finally ceased to exist, and its main territory was annexed by Gediminas to Lithuania around 1320.

List of rulers

1024 - 1036 Mstislav Vladimirovich Brave Tmutarakansky

1054 - 1073 Svyatoslav II Yaroslavich of Kyiv

1073 - 1078 Vsevolod I Yaroslavich of Kyiv

1078 - 1078 Boris Vyacheslavich Tmutarakansky

1078 - 1093 Vladimir II Vsevolodovich Monomakh, leader. Prince Kyiv

1094 - 1097 Oleg Svyatoslavich Gorislavich Chernigovsky

1097 - 1123 Davyd Svyatoslavich Chernigov

1123 - 1127 Yaroslav (Pankraty) Svyatoslavich Muromsky

1127 - 1139 Vsevolod II Olgovich of Kyiv

1139 - 1151 Vladimir Davydovich Chernigovsky

1152 - 1154 Izyaslav III Davydovich of Kyiv

1154 - 1155 Svyatoslav Olgovich Novgorod-Seversky

1155 - 1157 Izyaslav III Davydovich of Kyiv

1157 - 1164 Svyatoslav Olgovich Novgorod-Seversky

1164 - 1177 Svyatoslav III Vsevolodovich of Kyiv

1177 - 1198 Yaroslav Vsevolodovich Chernigov

1198 - 1202 Igor Svyatoslavich Novgorod-Seversky

1202 - 1204 Oleg Svyatoslavich Chernigovsky

1204 - 1210 Vsevolod III Svyatoslavich Chermny of Kyiv

1210 - 1214 Rurik II Rostislavich of Kyiv

1214 - 1214 Vsevolod III Svyatoslavich Chermny of Kyiv

1214 - 1214 Rurik (Constantine) Olgovich Chernigovsky

1214 - 1219 Gleb Svyatoslavich of Chernigov

1219 - 1224 Mstislav Svyatoslavich Chernigov

1224 - 1224 Oleg Svyatoslavich Kursky

1224 - 1236 Michael II Vsevolodovich Saint of Kyiv

1236 - 1239 Mstislav Glebovich of Chernigov

1240 - 1243 Rostislav Mikhailovich Chernigovsky

1243 - 1246 Michael II Vsevolodovich Saint of Kyiv

1246 - 1246 Andrey Mstislavich Rylsky

1246 - 1261 Vsevolod Yaropolkovich of Chernigov

1261 - 1263 Andrey Vsevolodovich Chernigovsky

1263 - 1288 Roman Mikhailovich Old Bryansk

1288 - Oleg (Leonty) Romanovich Bryansky

Beginning XIV century Mikhail Dmitrievich Chernigovsky

1 floor XIV century Mikhail Alexandrovich Chernigovsky

- 1370 Roman Mikhailovich Bryansky

1393 - 1401 Roman Mikhailovich Bryansky

Genealogy of the Russian nobility

From to 1503 - as part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, then - the Russian State.

Story

Before the Lyubech Congress

Taking advantage of the weakening of Svyatopolk and Vladimir Monomakh and entering into an alliance with the Polovtsy, Oleg in 1094 restored the independence of the Chernigov principality, expelling Vladimir Monomakh from Chernigov. In 1096, he undertook a campaign along the route Starodub - Smolensk - Murom - Suzdal - Rostov - Murom (Murom Campaign (1096)), after which the Lyubech Congress was convened.

Under the Svyatoslavichs (1097-1127)

The campaign ended with defeat in a 3-day battle and the temporary captivity of the princes who took part in it. The Polovtsian retaliatory invasion of Rus' was successfully stopped on the Dnieper and Seimas.

Campaigns of 1180-1181

The campaign, during which Svyatoslav and his allies consistently encountered all their political opponents, was undertaken by Svyatoslav at a time when, almost simultaneously, his relations with the Smolensk princes worsened, who continued to keep the entire Kiev land under their control and lay claim to Vitebsk together with Svyatoslav’s allies - the Polotsk princes, as well as with Vsevolod the Big Nest, who launched an offensive against the Ryazan relatives of Svyatoslav and at the same time captured his son Gleb. The reason for the war was given by Svyatoslav himself, who attacked Davyd Rostislavich on the Dnieper catches and immediately left Kyiv for Chernigov for a military training camp with his brothers. Leaving part of his forces in Chernigov, Svyatoslav, with the Polovtsians and Novgorodians, invaded the Vladimir-Suzdal principality and stood to no avail with Vsevolod, on whose side were the Ryazan and Murom residents, along the two banks of the Vlena River, and leaving from there in the spring of 1181, he burned Dmitrov. Then he united with part of the Chernigov forces near Drutsk, in which he besieged Davyd of Smolensk and forced him to leave the city. However, Svyatoslav had to recognize the Kyiv land for the Rostislavichs, since Rurik defeated the Olgovichi and Polovtsians on the Dnieper, and Novgorod (as well as influence in Ryazan) was ceded to Vsevolod, who captured Torzhok after Svyatoslav left.

Campaigns of 1196

After the death of Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich and the reign of Rurik Rostislavich in Kyiv, Vsevolod the Big Nest destroyed the union of the southern Monomakhovichs, demanding from Rurik the parish in the Kyiv land that had previously been given to Roman Mstislavich of Volyn and then transferring it to Rurik’s son Rostislav. Roman divorced Rurik’s daughter and entered into an alliance with the Olgovichs (). In the winter of 1196, the Olgovichi, in alliance with the Polotsk residents, conducted a campaign in the Smolensk land. In the fall of 1196, Roman ordered his people to ravage the lands of Rurik, who, in turn, soon organized an attack by the troops of Vladimir Galitsky and Mstislav Romanovich on Peremil, and Rostislav Rurikovich on Kamenets. At the same time, Rurik, Davyd and Vsevolod attacked the Principality of Chernigov and, although they could not overcome the defenses of Chernigov and spotted the principality in the northeast, they forced Yaroslav Vsevolodovich to abandon his claims to Kyiv and Smolensk.

Early 13th century

"Grand Duke of Chernigov" as a title of the Bryansk princes

In the first years of the 14th century, the Smolensk princely dynasty was established in Bryansk through a dynastic marriage, and until the capture in 1357 by the Grand Duke of Lithuania Olgerd, there was a struggle between the Smolensk and Bryansk princes, complicated by the intervention of the Tatars. Under Lithuanian rule, the principality maintained autonomous governance for several decades. In the 14th century, the formation of fiefs continued: in addition to those mentioned above, the principalities arose: Mosalsky, Volkonsky, Mezetsky, Myshetsky, Zvenigorod and others; The Novosilsk principality splits into Vorotynskoye, Odoevskoye and Belevskoye.

The last Prince of Bryansk and Grand Duke of Chernigov was Roman Mikhailovich. Subsequently, he was the Lithuanian governor in Smolensk, where in 1401 he was killed by rebel townspeople. By the end of the 15th century, most of the appanage principalities in the Chernigov-Seversk land were liquidated and the corresponding territories belonged directly to the Grand Duke of Lithuania, who installed his governors in the cities.

The owners of the small Chernigov principalities at different times lost their independence and became serving princes under the rule of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The largest of them (the Novosilsk princes) retained complete internal autonomy from Lithuania and their relations with Vilna were determined by agreements (terminations), the smaller ones lost part of their princely rights and approached the status of ordinary patrimonial owners.

The descendants of many of the appanage Chernigov-Seversk princes at the turn of the 16th century moved along with their lands to Moscow service (Vorotynsky, Odoevsky, Belevsky, Mosalsky and others), while retaining their possessions and enjoyed (until the liquidation of the appanages in the middle of the 16th century) the status of servicemen princes. Many of them became the founders of the Russian princely families that still exist today.

Left bank of the Dnieper

Already in the 9th century, Southern Rus' included, in addition to the tribal reign of the glades, also part of the Dnieper left bank with the later cities of Chernigov and Pereyaslavl. It is difficult to accurately determine its eastern border. Academician B. A. Rybakov includes here the middle reaches of the Desna and the Seim basin. In Oleg’s treaty with the Greeks in 907, the main centers of the Dnieper left bank, Chernigov and Pereyaslavl, are mentioned among Russian cities, respectively, in second and third place after Kyiv, and it is said that princes subordinate to Kyiv sit in them.

First mention of people that side of the Dnieper as representatives of a special territorial entity dates back to 968. At the head of these people, Voivode Pretich is mentioned, who could have been an official of the Kyiv prince. However, the decisive argument in favor of their intervention in the siege of Kyiv by the Pechenegs is the fear of revenge on the part of the Kyiv prince, and then Pretich makes peace with the Pecheneg khan when he lifted the siege of Kyiv, but did not go to the steppe. And only Svyatoslav, who returned from the Danube, expelled the Pechenegs.

Before the final conquest of the Vyatichi in the 11th century, communication with the Murom land took place through Smolensk, and not through Chernigov, and the princely center in Murom arose earlier than Chernigov. An accurate idea of ​​the delimitation of the possessions of the princes of the left bank with the possessions of the princes of the right bank east of the Dnieper is given by the negotiations of Oleg Svyatoslavich in 1096 with Izyaslav and Mstislav Vladimirovich: Murom is considered the patrimony of the Chernigov princes, Rostov - of the Kyiv princes. Smolensk land also did not belong to the possessions of the Chernigov princes. Although Smolensk itself was located on the right bank of the Dnieper, the territory under its control included the upper reaches of the Desna in the south and the Protva basin in the east.

The epochal division of the Russian land along the Dnieper between Yaroslav and Mstislav Vladimirovich dates back to 1024, which lasted until the death of Mstislav in 1036. Moreover, during this period, the Kiev prince Yaroslav lived in Novgorod. In 1024, Tmutarakan, the original table of Mstislav, joined the Chernigov principality. Since 1054, a new princely center was formed in Pereyaslavl on the left bank, which subsequently did not belong to the possessions of the Chernigov dynasty. Under the elder Yaroslavichs, separate Orthodox metropolises existed in Chernigov and Pereyaslavl. In 1097, the entire Chernigov land was recognized as the descendants of Svyatoslav Yaroslavich, however, they were deprived of the right to occupy the Kyiv throne. This right was restored in 1139 by Vsevolod Olgovich, who married the daughter of Mstislav Monomakhovich, and of all the Olgovichs, only the descendants of Vsevolod subsequently laid claim to Kyiv. However, this right was disputed by the Monomakhovichs, who tried to secure for themselves not only Smolensk and Kyiv, but also all the Kyiv volosts on the right bank. The claims of the Chernigov princes to Pereyaslavl existed in parallel with their claims to Kyiv.

Economy

Most of the principality (except for the forest-steppe Posemye) was covered with forests, with the western part (the outskirts of the capital) being swampy and the eastern part (the upper reaches of the Oka) being hilly. The trade route along the Desna connected the middle Dnieper with the upper reaches of the Volga through a system of portages on the upper Dnieper, the trade route along the Seim connected the middle Dnieper with the upper Oka and the Seversky Donets in the Kursk region, and there was also a dry route between Kiev and Bulgar to the east.

Destinations of the Chernigov Principality

• Principality of Tmutarakan (Krasnodar Territory, Crimea) - lost at the end of the 11th century.
• Principality of Murom (Ryazan and Vladimir regions) - separated in 1127.
• Vshchizh Principality (Bryansk Region) → (mid-XIII century)→ Bryansk Principality (Bryansk Region)
• Starodub Principality (Bryansk Region) → (mid-XIII century)→ Bryansk Principality (Bryansk Region)
• Snov Principality (Chernigov region) → (mid-XIII century) → Bryansk Principality (Bryansk region)
• Novgorod-Seversk Principality (Chernigov region) → (mid-XIII century) → Bryansk Principality (Bryansk region)
• Trubchevsk Principality (Bryansk Region) → (mid-XIII century)→ Bryansk Principality (Bryansk Region)

Family

• Principality of Kursk (Kursk region) → (early XIV century)→ Principality of Kiev
• Principality of Rila (Kursk region) → (beginning of the 14th century)→ Principality of Kiev
• Putivl Principality (Sumy region) → (beginning of the 14th century) → Kiev Principality
• Lipetsk Principality (Lipetsk region)

Verkhovsky principalities

• Karachev Principality (territory of Kaluga, Lipetsk and Oryol regions)
• Glukhov Principality (Sumy region)
  • Odoevsky Principality (Tula Region)
  • Novosilsk Principality (Oryol Region)
• Tarusa Principality (Kaluga Region)
  • Obolensky Principality (Kaluga Region)
• Principality of Mezets (Kaluga region)
• Principality of Spazh (Tula region)
• Principality of Konin (Tula region)

Russian princely families originating from the Principality of Chernigov

see also

	in Wikisource

Write a review about the article "Chernigov Principality"

Notes

Literature

• Zotov R.V. About the Chernigov princes according to the Lyubets Synodik and about the Chernigov principality in the Tatar era. - St. Petersburg, 1892.
• Zaitsev A.K. Chernigov principality X-XIII centuries. : selected works / Alexey Zaitsev; Preparation of maps V. N. Temushev. State Historical Museum. State Military-Historical and Natural Museum-Reserve "Kulikovo Field".. - M.: Quadriga, 2009. - 226 p. - (Historical and geographical research). - 1,000 copies.- ISBN 978-5-91791-006-2.
• (in translation)// Ancient Rus'. Questions of medieval studies. 2008. No. 3 (33). pp. 106-114.
• .

Links

• Nikolaev V.V. . UNPC Oryol State Technical University. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
• Zotov,

Turning events stories Chronicle tribes Kyiv rulers before the collapse of Old Russian states (1132) Significant wars and battles Major principalities in the XII-XIII centuries Society Crafts and economics Culture Literature Architecture

An excerpt characterizing the Principality of Chernigov

“No, fifty,” said the Englishman.
- Okay, for fifty imperials - that I will drink the entire bottle of rum without taking it from my mouth, I will drink it while sitting outside the window, right here (he bent down and showed the sloping ledge of the wall outside the window) and without holding on to anything... So? ...
“Very good,” said the Englishman.
Anatole turned to the Englishman and, taking him by the button of his tailcoat and looking down at him (the Englishman was short), began repeating to him the terms of the bet in English.
- Wait! - Dolokhov shouted, banging the bottle on the window to attract attention. - Wait, Kuragin; listen. If anyone does the same, then I pay one hundred imperials. Do you understand?
The Englishman nodded his head, not giving any indication as to whether he intended to accept this new bet or not. Anatole did not let go of the Englishman and, despite the fact that he nodded, letting him know that he understood everything, Anatole translated Dolokhov’s words to him in English. A young thin boy, a life hussar, who had lost that evening, climbed onto the window, leaned out and looked down.
“Uh!... uh!... uh!...” he said, looking out the window at the stone sidewalk.
- Attention! - Dolokhov shouted and pulled the officer from the window, who, entangled in his spurs, awkwardly jumped into the room.
Having placed the bottle on the windowsill so that it would be convenient to get it, Dolokhov carefully and quietly climbed out the window. Dropping his legs and leaning both hands on the edges of the window, he measured himself, sat down, lowered his hands, moved to the right, to the left and took out a bottle. Anatole brought two candles and put them on the windowsill, although it was already quite light. Dolokhov's back in a white shirt and his curly head were illuminated from both sides. Everyone crowded around the window. The Englishman stood in front. Pierre smiled and said nothing. One of those present, older than the others, with a frightened and angry face, suddenly moved forward and wanted to grab Dolokhov by the shirt.
- Gentlemen, this is nonsense; he will be killed to death,” said this more prudent man.
Anatole stopped him:
“Don’t touch it, you’ll scare him and he’ll kill himself.” Eh?... What then?... Eh?...
Dolokhov turned around, straightening himself and again spreading his arms.
“If anyone else bothers me,” he said, rarely letting words slip through his clenched and thin lips, “I’ll bring him down here now.” Well!…
Having said “well”!, he turned again, let go of his hands, took the bottle and brought it to his mouth, threw his head back and threw his free hand up for leverage. One of the footmen, who began to pick up the glass, stopped in a bent position, not taking his eyes off the window and Dolokhov’s back. Anatole stood straight, eyes open. The Englishman, his lips thrust forward, looked from the side. The one who stopped him ran to the corner of the room and lay down on the sofa facing the wall. Pierre covered his face, and a weak smile, forgotten, remained on his face, although it now expressed horror and fear. Everyone was silent. Pierre took his hands away from his eyes: Dolokhov was still sitting in the same position, only his head was bent back, so that the curly hair of the back of his head touched the collar of his shirt, and the hand with the bottle rose higher and higher, shuddering and making an effort. The bottle was apparently emptied and at the same time rose, bending its head. “What’s taking so long?” thought Pierre. It seemed to him that more than half an hour had passed. Suddenly Dolokhov made a backward movement with his back, and his hand trembled nervously; this shudder was enough to move the entire body sitting on the sloping slope. He shifted all over, and his hand and head trembled even more, making an effort. One hand rose to grab the window sill, but dropped again. Pierre closed his eyes again and told himself that he would never open them. Suddenly he felt that everything around him was moving. He looked: Dolokhov was standing on the windowsill, his face was pale and cheerful.
- Empty!
He threw the bottle to the Englishman, who deftly caught it. Dolokhov jumped from the window. He smelled strongly of rum.
- Great! Well done! So bet! Damn you completely! - they shouted from different sides.
The Englishman took out his wallet and counted out the money. Dolokhov frowned and was silent. Pierre jumped onto the window.
Gentlemen! Who wants to bet with me? “I’ll do the same,” he suddenly shouted. “And there’s no need for a bet, that’s what.” They told me to give him a bottle. I'll do it... tell me to give it.
- Let it go, let it go! – said Dolokhov, smiling.
- What you? crazy? Who will let you in? “Your head is spinning even on the stairs,” they spoke from different sides.
– I’ll drink it, give me a bottle of rum! - Pierre shouted, hitting the table with a decisive and drunken gesture, and climbed out the window.
They grabbed him by the arms; but he was so strong that he pushed the one who approached him far away.
“No, you can’t persuade him like that for anything,” said Anatole, “wait, I’ll deceive him.” Look, I bet you, but tomorrow, and now we're all going to hell.
“We’re going,” Pierre shouted, “we’re going!... And we’re taking Mishka with us...
And he grabbed the bear, and, hugging and lifting it, began to spin around the room with it.

Prince Vasily fulfilled the promise made at the evening at Anna Pavlovna's to Princess Drubetskaya, who asked him about her only son Boris. He was reported to the sovereign, and, unlike others, he was transferred to the Semenovsky Guard Regiment as an ensign. But Boris was never appointed as an adjutant or under Kutuzov, despite all the efforts and machinations of Anna Mikhailovna. Soon after Anna Pavlovna's evening, Anna Mikhailovna returned to Moscow, straight to her rich relatives Rostov, with whom she stayed in Moscow and with whom her beloved Borenka, who had just been promoted to the army and was immediately transferred to guards ensigns, had been raised and lived for years since childhood. The Guard had already left St. Petersburg on August 10, and the son, who remained in Moscow for uniforms, was supposed to catch up with her on the road to Radzivilov.
The Rostovs had a birthday girl, Natalya, a mother and a younger daughter. In the morning, without ceasing, trains drove up and drove off, bringing congratulators to the large, well-known house of Countess Rostova on Povarskaya throughout Moscow. The countess with her beautiful eldest daughter and guests, who never ceased replacing one another, were sitting in the living room.
The Countess was a woman with an oriental type of thin face, about forty-five years old, apparently exhausted by children, of whom she had twelve. The slowness of her movements and speech, resulting from weakness of strength, gave her a significant appearance that inspired respect. Princess Anna Mikhailovna Drubetskaya, like a domestic person, sat right there, helping in the matter of receiving and engaging in conversation with the guests. The youth were in the back rooms, not finding it necessary to participate in receiving visits. The Count met and saw off the guests, inviting everyone to dinner.
“I am very, very grateful to you, ma chere or mon cher [my dear or my dear] (ma chere or mon cher he said to everyone without exception, without the slightest shade, both above and below him) for himself and for the dear birthday girls . Look, come and have lunch. You will offend me, mon cher. I sincerely ask you on behalf of the whole family, ma chere.” He spoke these words with the same expression on his full, cheerful, clean-shaven face and with an equally strong handshake and repeated short bows to everyone, without exception or change. Having seen off one guest, the count returned to whoever was still in the living room; having pulled up his chairs and with the air of a man who loves and knows how to live, with his legs spread gallantly and his hands on his knees, he swayed significantly, offered guesses about the weather, consulted about health, sometimes in Russian, sometimes in very bad but self-confident French, and again with the air of a tired but firm man in the performance of his duties, he went to see him off, straightening the sparse gray hair on his bald head, and again called for dinner. Sometimes, returning from the hallway, he walked through the flower and waiter's room into a large marble hall, where a table for eighty couverts was being set, and, looking at the waiters wearing silver and porcelain, arranging tables and unrolling damask tablecloths, he called to him Dmitry Vasilyevich, a nobleman, who was taking care of all his affairs, and said: “Well, well, Mitenka, make sure everything is fine. “Well, well,” he said, looking around with pleasure at the huge spread-out table. – The main thing is serving. This and that...” And he left, sighing complacently, back into the living room.
- Marya Lvovna Karagina with her daughter! – the huge countess’s footman reported in a bass voice as he entered the living room door.
The Countess thought and sniffed from a golden snuffbox with a portrait of her husband.
“These visits tormented me,” she said. - Well, I’ll take her last one. Very prim. “Beg,” she said to the footman in a sad voice, as if she was saying: “Well, finish it off!”
A tall, plump, proudly looking lady with a round-faced, smiling daughter, rustling with their dresses, entered the living room.
“Chere comtesse, il y a si longtemps... elle a ete alitee la pauvre enfant... au bal des Razoumowsky... et la comtesse Apraksine... j"ai ete si heureuse..." [Dear Countess, how long ago... she should have been in bed, poor child... at the Razumovskys' ball... and Countess Apraksina... was so happy...] lively women's voices were heard, interrupting one another and merging with the noise of dresses and the moving of chairs. That conversation began, which is started just enough so that at the first pause you get up and rustle with dresses. , say: “Je suis bien charmee; la sante de maman... et la comtesse Apraksine” [I am delighted; mother’s health... and Countess Apraksina] and, again rustling with dresses, go into the hallway, put on a fur coat or a cloak and leave. about the main city news of that time - about the illness of the famous rich and handsome man of Catherine's time, old Count Bezukhy, and about his illegitimate son Pierre, who behaved so indecently at an evening with Anna Pavlovna Scherer.
“I really feel sorry for the poor count,” said the guest, “his health is already bad, and now this grief from his son will kill him!”
- What's happened? - asked the countess, as if not knowing what the guest was talking about, although she had already heard the reason for Count Bezukhy’s grief fifteen times.
- This is the current upbringing! “Even abroad,” said the guest, “this young man was left to his own devices, and now in St. Petersburg, they say, he did such horrors that he was expelled from there with the police.
- Tell! - said the countess.
“He chose his acquaintances poorly,” Princess Anna Mikhailovna intervened. - The son of Prince Vasily, he and Dolokhov alone, they say, God knows what they were doing. And both were hurt. Dolokhov was demoted to the ranks of soldiers, and Bezukhy’s son was exiled to Moscow. Anatoly Kuragin - his father somehow hushed him up. But they did deport me from St. Petersburg.
- What the hell did they do? – asked the Countess.
“These are perfect robbers, especially Dolokhov,” said the guest. - He is the son of Marya Ivanovna Dolokhova, such a respectable lady, so what? You can imagine: the three of them found a bear somewhere, put it in a carriage and took it to the actresses. The police came running to calm them down. They caught the policeman and tied him back to back to the bear and let the bear into the Moika; the bear is swimming, and the policeman is on him.
“The policeman’s figure is good, ma chere,” shouted the count, dying of laughter.
- Oh, what a horror! What's there to laugh about, Count?
But the ladies couldn’t help but laugh themselves.
“They saved this unfortunate man by force,” the guest continued. “And it’s the son of Count Kirill Vladimirovich Bezukhov who is playing so cleverly!” – she added. “They said he was so well-mannered and smart.” This is where all my upbringing abroad has led me. I hope that no one will accept him here, despite his wealth. They wanted to introduce him to me. I resolutely refused: I have daughters.
- Why do you say that this young man is so rich? - asked the countess, bending down from the girls, who immediately pretended not to listen. - After all, he only has illegitimate children. It seems... Pierre is also illegal.
The guest waved her hand.
“He has twenty illegal ones, I think.”
Princess Anna Mikhailovna intervened in the conversation, apparently wanting to show off her connections and her knowledge of all social circumstances.
“That’s the thing,” she said significantly and also in a half-whisper. – The reputation of Count Kirill Vladimirovich is known... He lost count of his children, but this Pierre was beloved.
“How good the old man was,” said the countess, “even last year!” I have never seen a more beautiful man.
“Now he’s changed a lot,” said Anna Mikhailovna. “So I wanted to say,” she continued, “through his wife, Prince Vasily is the direct heir to the entire estate, but his father loved Pierre very much, was involved in his upbringing and wrote to the sovereign... so no one knows if he dies (he is so bad that they are waiting for it) every minute, and Lorrain came from St. Petersburg), who will get this huge fortune, Pierre or Prince Vasily. Forty thousand souls and millions. I know this very well, because Prince Vasily himself told me this. And Kirill Vladimirovich is my second cousin on my mother’s side. “He baptized Borya,” she added, as if not attributing any significance to this circumstance.
– Prince Vasily arrived in Moscow yesterday. He’s going for an inspection, they told me,” the guest said.
“Yes, but, entre nous, [between us],” said the princess, “this is an excuse, he actually came to Count Kirill Vladimirovich, having learned that he was so bad.”
“However, ma chere, this is a nice thing,” said the count and, noticing that the eldest guest was not listening to him, he turned to the young ladies. – The policeman had a good figure, I imagine.
And he, imagining how the policeman waved his arms, laughed again with a sonorous and bassy laugh that shook his entire plump body, as people laugh who have always eaten well and especially drunk. “So, please, come and have dinner with us,” he said.

There was silence. The Countess looked at the guest, smiling pleasantly, however, without hiding the fact that she would not be at all upset now if the guest got up and left. The guest’s daughter was already straightening her dress, looking questioningly at her mother, when suddenly from the next room several men’s and women’s feet were heard running towards the door, the crash of a chair being snagged and knocked over, and a thirteen-year-old girl ran into the room, wrapping her short muslin skirt around something, and stopped in the middle rooms. It was obvious that she accidentally, with an uncalculated run, ran so far. At the same moment a student with a crimson collar, a guards officer, a fifteen-year-old girl and a fat, ruddy boy in a children's jacket appeared at the door.
The count jumped up and, swaying, spread his arms wide around the running girl.
- Oh, here she is! – he shouted laughing. - Birthday girl! Ma chere, birthday girl!
“Ma chere, il y a un temps pour tout, [Darling, there is time for everything,” said the countess, pretending to be stern. “You keep spoiling her, Elie,” she added to her husband.
“Bonjour, ma chere, je vous felicite, [Hello, my dear, I congratulate you,” said the guest. – Quelle delicuse enfant! “What a lovely child!” she added, turning to her mother.
A dark-eyed, big-mouthed, ugly, but lively girl, with her childish open shoulders, which, shrinking, moved in her bodice from fast running, with her black curls bunched back, thin bare arms and small legs in lace pantaloons and open shoes, I was at that sweet age when a girl is no longer a child, and a child is not yet a girl. Turning away from her father, she ran up to her mother and, not paying any attention to her stern remark, hid her flushed face in the lace of her mother’s mantilla and laughed. She was laughing at something, talking abruptly about a doll that she had taken out from under her skirt.
– See?... Doll... Mimi... See.
And Natasha could no longer speak (everything seemed funny to her). She fell on top of her mother and laughed so loudly and loudly that everyone, even the prim guest, laughed against their will.
- Well, go, go with your freak! - said the mother, feigning angrily pushing her daughter away. “This is my youngest,” she turned to the guest.
Natasha, taking her face away from her mother’s lace scarf for a minute, looked at her from below through tears of laughter and hid her face again.
The guest, forced to admire the family scene, considered it necessary to take some part in it.
“Tell me, my dear,” she said, turning to Natasha, “how do you feel about this Mimi?” Daughter, right?
Natasha did not like the tone of condescension to childish conversation with which the guest addressed her. She did not answer and looked at her guest seriously.
Meanwhile, all this young generation: Boris - an officer, the son of Princess Anna Mikhailovna, Nikolai - a student, the eldest son of the count, Sonya - the count's fifteen-year-old niece, and little Petrusha - the youngest son, all settled in the living room and, apparently, tried to keep within the boundaries of decency the animation and gaiety that still breathed from every feature of them. It was clear that there, in the back rooms, from where they all ran so quickly, they were having more fun conversations than here about city gossip, the weather and Comtesse Apraksine. [about Countess Apraksina.] Occasionally they glanced at each other and could hardly restrain themselves from laughing.
Two young men, a student and an officer, friends since childhood, were the same age and both were handsome, but did not look alike. Boris was a tall, fair-haired young man with regular, delicate features of a calm and handsome face; Nikolai was a short, curly-haired young man with an open expression on his face. Black hairs were already showing on his upper lip, and his whole face expressed impetuosity and enthusiasm.
Nikolai blushed as soon as he entered the living room. It was clear that he was searching and could not find anything to say; Boris, on the contrary, immediately found himself and told him calmly, jokingly, how he had known this Mimi doll as a young girl with an undamaged nose, how she had grown old in his memory at the age of five and how her head was cracked all over her skull. Having said this, he looked at Natasha. Natasha turned away from him, looked at her younger brother, who, with his eyes closed, was shaking with silent laughter, and, unable to hold on any longer, jumped and ran out of the room as quickly as her fast legs could carry her. Boris didn't laugh.
- You seemed to want to go too, maman? Do you need a carriage? – he said, turning to his mother with a smile.
“Yes, go, go, tell me to cook,” she said, pouring out.
Boris quietly walked out the door and followed Natasha, the fat boy angrily ran after them, as if annoyed at the frustration that had occurred in his studies.

Of the young people, not counting the countess's eldest daughter (who was four years older than her sister and already behaved like a grown-up) and the young lady's guest, Nikolai and Sonya's niece remained in the living room. Sonya was a thin, petite brunette with a soft gaze, shaded by long eyelashes, a thick black braid that wrapped around her head twice, and a yellowish tint to the skin on her face and especially on her bare, thin, but graceful, muscular arms and neck. With the smoothness of her movements, the softness and flexibility of her small limbs, and her somewhat cunning and reserved manner, she resembled a beautiful, but not yet fully formed kitten, which would become a lovely little cat. She apparently considered it decent to show participation in the general conversation with a smile; but against her will, from under her long thick eyelashes, she looked at her cousin [cousin] who was leaving for the army with such girlish passionate adoration that her smile could not deceive anyone for a moment, and it was clear that the cat sat down only to jump more energetically and play with your sauce as soon as they, like Boris and Natasha, get out of this living room.
“Yes, ma chere,” said the old count, turning to his guest and pointing to his Nicholas. - His friend Boris was promoted to officer, and out of friendship he does not want to lag behind him; he leaves both the university and me as an old man: he goes into military service, ma chere. And his place in the archive was ready, and that was it. Is that friendship? - said the count questioningly.
“But they say war has been declared,” said the guest.
“They’ve been saying this for a long time,” said the count. “They’ll talk and talk again and leave it at that.” Ma chere, that’s friendship! - he repeated. - He is going to the hussars.
The guest, not knowing what to say, shook her head.
“Not out of friendship at all,” answered Nikolai, flushing and making excuses as if from a shameful slander against him. – Not friendship at all, but I just feel a calling to military service.
He looked back at his cousin and the guest young lady: both looked at him with a smile of approval.
“Today, Schubert, colonel of the Pavlograd Hussar Regiment, is dining with us. He was on vacation here and takes it with him. What to do? - said the count, shrugging his shoulders and speaking jokingly about the matter, which apparently cost him a lot of grief.
“I already told you, daddy,” said the son, “that if you don’t want to let me go, I’ll stay.” But I know that I am not fit for anything except military service; “I’m not a diplomat, not an official, I don’t know how to hide what I feel,” he said, still looking with the coquetry of beautiful youth at Sonya and the guest young lady.
The cat, glaring at him with her eyes, seemed every second ready to play and show all her cat nature.
- Well, well, okay! - said the old count, - everything is getting hot. Bonaparte turned everyone’s heads; everyone thinks how he got from lieutenant to emperor. Well, God willing,” he added, not noticing the guest’s mocking smile.
The big ones started talking about Bonaparte. Julie, Karagina’s daughter, turned to young Rostov:
– What a pity that you weren’t at the Arkharovs’ on Thursday. “I was bored without you,” she said, smiling tenderly at him.
The flattered young man with a flirtatious smile of youth moved closer to her and entered into a separate conversation with the smiling Julie, not noticing at all that this involuntary smile of his was cutting the heart of the blushing and feignedly smiling Sonya with a knife of jealousy. “In the middle of the conversation, he looked back at her. Sonya looked at him passionately and embitteredly and, barely holding back the tears in her eyes and a feigned smile on her lips, she stood up and left the room. All Nikolai's animation disappeared. He waited for the first break in the conversation and, with an upset face, left the room to look for Sonya.
– How the secrets of all these young people are sewn with white thread! - said Anna Mikhailovna, pointing to Nikolai coming out. “Cousinage dangereux voisinage,” she added.
“Yes,” said the countess, after the ray of sunshine that had penetrated into the living room with this young generation had disappeared, and as if answering a question that no one had asked her, but which constantly occupied her. - How much suffering, how much anxiety has been endured in order to now rejoice in them! And now, really, there is more fear than joy. You're still afraid, you're still afraid! This is precisely the age at which there are so many dangers for both girls and boys.
“Everything depends on upbringing,” said the guest.
“Yes, your truth,” continued the Countess. “Until now, thank God, I have been a friend of my children and enjoy their complete trust,” said the countess, repeating the misconception of many parents who believe that their children have no secrets from them. “I know that I will always be the first confidente [confidant] of my daughters, and that Nikolenka, due to her ardent character, if she plays naughty (a boy cannot live without this), then everything is not like these St. Petersburg gentlemen.
“Yes, nice, nice guys,” confirmed the count, who always resolved issues that confused him by finding everything nice. - Come on, I want to become a hussar! Yes, that's what you want, ma chere!
“What a sweet creature your little one is,” said the guest. - Gunpowder!
“Yes, gunpowder,” said the count. - It hit me! And what a voice: even though it’s my daughter, I’ll tell the truth, she will be a singer, Salomoni is different. We hired an Italian to teach her.
- Is not it too early? They say it is harmful for your voice to study at this time.
- Oh, no, it’s so early! - said the count. - How did our mothers get married at twelve thirteen?
- She’s already in love with Boris! What? - said the countess, smiling quietly, looking at Boris’s mother, and, apparently answering the thought that had always occupied her, she continued. - Well, you see, if I had kept her strictly, I would have forbidden her... God knows what they would have done on the sly (the countess meant: they would have kissed), and now I know every word she says. She will come running in the evening and tell me everything. Maybe I'm spoiling her; but, really, this seems to be better. I kept the eldest strictly.
“Yes, I was brought up completely differently,” said the eldest, beautiful Countess Vera, smiling.
But a smile did not grace Vera’s face, as usually happens; on the contrary, her face became unnatural and therefore unpleasant.
The eldest, Vera, was good, she was not stupid, she studied well, she was well brought up, her voice was pleasant, what she said was fair and appropriate; but, strangely, everyone, both the guest and the countess, looked back at her, as if they were surprised why she said this, and felt awkward.
“They always play tricks with older children, they want to do something unusual,” said the guest.
- To be honest, ma chere! The Countess was playing tricks with Vera,” said the Count. - Well, oh well! Still, she turned out nice,” he added, winking approvingly at Vera.
The guests got up and left, promising to come for dinner.
- What a manner! They were already sitting, sitting! - said the countess, ushering the guests out.

When Natasha left the living room and ran, she only reached the flower shop. She stopped in this room, listening to the conversation in the living room and waiting for Boris to come out. She was already beginning to get impatient and, stamping her foot, was about to cry because he was not walking now, when she heard the quiet, not fast, decent steps of a young man.
Natasha quickly rushed between the flower pots and hid.
Boris stopped in the middle of the room, looked around, brushed specks from his uniform sleeve with his hand and walked up to the mirror, examining his handsome face. Natasha, having become quiet, looked out from her ambush, waiting for what he would do. He stood in front of the mirror for a while, smiled and went to the exit door. Natasha wanted to call out to him, but then changed her mind. “Let him search,” she told herself. Boris had just left when a flushed Sonya emerged from another door, whispering something angrily through her tears. Natasha restrained herself from her first move to run out to her and remained in her ambush, as if under an invisible cap, looking out for what was happening in the world. She experienced a special new pleasure. Sonya whispered something and looked back at the living room door. Nikolai came out of the door.

Territory and main cities

· This principality was finally formed in the 11th century, by the will of Yaroslav the Wise, although the lands of the Chernigov region belonged to the oldest cell of the Russian state.

· At the beginning of the 12th century. the territory of the Chernigov principality covered the left bank lands in the Desna and Seim, Sozh and upper Oka basins. Chernigov region was separated from the Kyiv land by the Dnieper.

· Until the second half of the 12th century. The Chernigov princes owned the city of Tmutarakan - a large port in the Kerch Bay.

· In the era of development, the Chernigov principality broke up into smaller fiefs. The most influential among them was the Novgorod-Seversk principality

· There were many cities in the Chernigov principality. The largest among them - Chernigov, Novgorod-Seversky, Putivl, Bryansk, Kursk, Starodub - are mentioned in sources in connection with many events in Russian history.

· The capital city of Chernigov was second in size only to Kyiv.

o Chernigov was well fortified and had good communications with other cities.

o The Chernigov princes zealously cared about the development of the city.

o during the 12th century. in the city the glorious Boris and Gleb Cathedral was built - one of the best in Rus', Mikhailovskaya, Blagoveshchensk, Pyatnitskaya, Assumption churches, each of which was worthy of being called a pearl of ancient Russian architecture

Chernigov princes

· Chernigov lands, according to the will of Yaroslav the Wise, belonged to Svyatoslav

· His sons Oleg and David became the founders of the dynasties of Chernigov princes - Olegovych (the chronicle calls them Olgovichs) and Davidovich

· It was the representatives of these dynasties who decided the fate of the Chernigov lands.

· Moreover, from Svyatoslav Yaroslavich, the Chernigov princes did not give up their dream of getting Kyiv.

· The strength of the Chernigov principality is evidenced by the fact that some of the princes were truly lucky to rule in Kyiv. This was, in particular, Vsevolod Olgovich, who ruled in Kyiv from 1139 to 1146.

· An interesting circumstance of the political life of the Chernigov region is hidden by a certain hostility with which the Kyiv chroniclers report the reign of the Chernigov princes in Kyiv.

· Eastern Chernigov lands directly bordered the world of nomads.

· Chernigov princes, seeking peaceful relations, often resorted to dynastic marriages with Polovtsian princesses.

· Connected with the nomads territorially, and sometimes by blood, they willingly attracted the Polovtsian hordes to carry out their vainglorious plans.

· This policy did not find support among the people of Kiev, so they often stood up, not wanting to recognize the Chernigov princes as their own. And yet, against the general background of ancient Russian history, such events happened infrequently. There are significantly more references to the stubborn defense of the Chernigov residents of their native land from nomadic attackers

"The Tale of Igor's Campaign"

The event is directly connected with the Chernihiv region, which is immortalized in an outstanding work of ancient Ukrainian literature - a poem "The Tale of Igor's Campaign"

· The main participant in the incident was the Prince of Novgorod-Seversk Igor

· Of the year 1185 he and the wives of his brother Vsevolod, son Vladimir and nephew Svyatoslav set out on a campaign against the Polovtsians.

· But knightly zeal alone was not enough. Igor intended to surprise the Polovtsians.

· However, from the very beginning the battle plan had to be changed, so the nomads were ready for the fight.

· The first day of the battle brought victory to the Russians. The Polovtsians began to retreat to the steppes.

· Igor recklessly ordered to pursue them. Therefore, the Russian squads were forced to spend the night in the Polovtsian steppes.

· This had tragic consequences. The Polovtsians gathered large forces and launched an attack in the morning. The campaign ended in complete defeat - so shameful that the Russian land did not remember anything like it: Almost all of the army died, and four princes were captured

· The consequences of the campaign were so tragic that it opened the way for the Polovtsians to the Chernigov, Pereyaslav and Kyiv lands

· The relative calm on the southern borders of the Russian land, achieved through the joint efforts of many princes, led by the Kyiv princes Svyatoslav and Rurik, was crossed out.

Brilliant poet of the 12th century. took advantage of the unsuccessful campaign of the vain Novgorod-Seversk prince Igor to appeal to the Russians with a call for unity and reservations about the trouble that inter-princely feuds and discord were pushing the Russian land towards him.

Principality of Pereyaslavl

Territory

· The Principality of Pereyaslavl was formed by Yaroslav the Wise.

· Its territory was small compared to other principalities.

· In the east and south, the lands of the Pereyaslav region directly bordered the Steppe.

· This geographical location largely determined the life of the Pereyaslavl residents, because their land served as a shield for Kyiv and other Russian territories.

· That is why powerful defensive fortifications were built in the Pereyaslav Principality by the measures of the Grand Dukes of Kyiv.

· The cities of Pereyaslav region arose mainly as military fortresses.

· Pereyaslavl, in particular, was an impregnable stronghold.

· The city was located near the Dnieper, where the Alta River flowed into the Trubezh River, and had such reliable fortifications that the Polovtsians, who often broke into the Pereyaslavl land, were unable to take the city itself

Principality of Chernigov- one of the largest and most powerful state formations of Kievan Rus in the 11th-13th centuries. Most of the Chernigov principality was located on the left bank of the Dnieper in the basin of the Desna and Seim rivers. The principality was inhabited by northerners and, partly, by glades. Later his possessions spread to the lands of the Radimichi, as well as the Vyatichi and Dregovichi. The capital of the principality was the city of Chernigov. Other significant cities were Novgorod-Seversky, Starodub, Bryansk, Putivl, Kursk, Lyubech, Glukhov, Chechersk and Gomel. The possessions and influence of the Chernigov principality reached deep to the north, including the Murom-Ryazan lands, as well as to the southeast, to the Tmutarakan principality.

Until the 11th century, the principality was governed by local tribal elders and governors from Kyiv, appointed by the Grand Duke to collect taxes from the population, resolve litigation, and also to protect the principality from external enemies, mainly nomads.

At the end of the 11th and 12th centuries, the principality was divided into a number of fiefs. In 1239 it was devastated by the Mongol-Tatars and soon broke up into a number of independent principalities, of which Bryansk became the most influential. From 1401 to 1503 - as part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Story

The city of Chernigov was first mentioned in chronicles in 907, where it talks about the peace treaty of Prince Oleg with the Greeks, and it was made the first city after Kyiv. In 1024, Chernigov was captured by the Prince of Tmutarakan Mstislav Vladimirovich, who reigned there until his death in 1036. His only son, Eustathius, died childless before his father and Chernigov was again annexed to Kyiv. The Grand Duke of Kiev Yaroslav the Wise, shortly before his death, assigned appanages to his sons, of whom the second, Svyatoslav, received Chernigov (1054). The unbroken line of Chernigov princes begins with him. The next independent prince was Svyatoslav's eldest son Davyd, after whom, by right of seniority, the Chernigov throne passed in 1123 to Yaroslav, who was expelled by his own nephew Vsevolod Olgovich in 1127. Thus, the Chernigov principality remained in the possession of the descendants of two princes - David and Oleg Svyatoslavich. The elder line, the Davydovich line, ceased with the death in 1166 of the great-grandson of Svyatoslav Yaroslavich, Prince Svyatoslav Vladimirovich. The younger line - the descendants of Oleg Svyatoslavich (“Gorislavich” - according to “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign”), that is, the line of the Olgovichs, was divided into two branches: the elder - the descendants of Vsevolod Olgovich, through the latter’s son Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich, and the younger - the descendants of Svyatoslav Olgovich, through his sons Oleg and Igor Svyatoslavich.

After the death of Mikhail Vsevolodovich in 1246, the Chernigov principality broke up into separate fiefs: Bryansk, Novosilsky, Karachevsky and Tarussky. Bryansk became the actual capital of the Chernigov-Seversk land, since the defeat of Chernigov by Mongol-Tatar troops no longer allowed it to perform capital functions. The Bryansk princes were also titled as the Grand Dukes of Chernigov. In the 14th century, the fragmentation of the Chernigov-Seversky lands continued: in addition to those mentioned above, the principalities emerged: Mosalsky, Volkonsky, Mezetsky, Myshetsky, Zvenigorod and others; The Novosilsk principality splits into Vorotynskoye, Odoevskoye and Belevskoye. In 1357, Bryansk was captured by the Grand Duke of Lithuania Olgerd, and the principality lost its independence. However, even under Lithuanian rule it maintained autonomous governance for several decades; The last Prince of Bryansk and Grand Duke of Chernigov was Roman Mikhailovich. Subsequently, he was the Lithuanian governor in Smolensk, where in 1401 he was killed by rebel townspeople. By the end of the 15th century, most of the appanage principalities in the Chernigov-Seversk land were liquidated and the corresponding territories belonged directly to the Grand Duke of Lithuania, who installed his governors in the cities.

The owners of the small Chernigov principalities at different times lost their independence and became serving princes under the rule of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The largest of them (the Novosilsk princes) retained complete internal autonomy from Lithuania and their relations with Vilna were determined by agreements (terminations), the smaller ones lost part of their princely rights and approached the status of ordinary patrimonial owners.

In the middle of the 15th century, part of the southern Russian lands, on which appanages had already been liquidated, was granted by the Lithuanian princes to princes descended from the Moscow grand ducal family and who fled to Lithuania. Thus, several appanage principalities were restored in the Seversk land: Rylskoye and Novgorod-Severskoye (descendants of Dmitry Shemyaka), Bryansk (descendants of Ivan Andreevich Mozhaisky), Pinskoye (descendants of Ivan Vasilyevich Serpukhovsky).

The descendants of many of the appanage Chernigov-Seversk princes at the turn of the 15th-16th centuries returned to Moscow jurisdiction (Vorotynsky, Odoevsky, Belevsky, Mosalsky and others), while retaining their possessions and using (until the middle of the 16th century, when the appanages were liquidated in Moscow, existing on the territory of the Chernigov-Seversk land) with the status of serving princes. Many of them became the founders of the Russian princely families that still exist today.

Destinations of the Chernigov principality

• Novgorod-Seversk Principality
• Principality of Kursk
• Principality of Putivl
• Bryansk Principality
• Trubchevsky Principality
• Glukhov Principality
• Principality of Ustiv
• Novosilsk Principality
• Principality of Karachev
• Rila Principality
• Lipovichi Principality
• Obolensky Principality

Novgorod-Seversk Principality

Before the Mongol invasion, Novgorod-Seversky was the second most important princely center in the Chernigov-Seversky land after Chernigov. After the Mongol invasion, the principality disintegrated, part of the lands went to the Bryansk principality, the southern outskirts were subjected to repeated devastation and partially went to the Kyiv principality (Putivl) and partially came under the direct control of the Golden Horde (Kursk). The northernmost appanage of the Novgorod-Seversky principality, Trubchevsk, remained important.

Bryansk Principality

After the Mongol invasion, Bryansk became the political center of all Chernigov-Seversky lands, although the southern and eastern princely centers were assigned to individual lines of the Olgovichi. Starodub was also an important princely center of the Bryansk Principality.

Russian princely families originating from the Principality of Chernigov

• Belevskys
• Vorotynsky
• Odoevsky
• Mosalsky
• Koltsov-Mosalskie
• Oginsky
• Puzyna
• Gorchakovs
• Yeletskys
• Zvenigorodsky
• Bolkhovsky
• Volkonsky
• Baryatinsky
• Myshetsky
• Obolensky
• Repnins
• Tyufyakins
• Dolgorukovs
• Shcherbatovs
• Kromsky

The Rus' of Yaroslav the Wise was a huge empire (according to the ideas of that time), and after its collapse due to feudal fragmentation, some new principalities themselves became strong economic and political units. One of them was the Principality of Chernigov.

Geographical position of the Chernigov principality

Chernigov lands lay northeast of Kyiv, on the left bank of the Dnieper. It was mainly a forest zone, with a large number of rivers (Desna, Seim), a temperate climate, convenient for living and farming. Dense forests and considerable distances separated the Chernihiv region from the steppe zone where the nomads lived, and largely protected them from destructive raids (it is known that the nomadic steppe people were afraid of the forest and preferred not to go deep into it).

The Principality of Chernigov captured the lands of modern Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Its neighbors were the Murom-Ryazan, Turovo-Pinsk, Pereyaslavl and Smolensk principalities. The location features contributed to economic development, and there were many cities in the principality: Chernigov, Bryansk, Novgorod-Seversky, Starodub, Putivl, Kozelsk.

Result of the Wise One's error

Before his death, the princes appeared in Chernigov only temporarily (in particular, Mstislav the Brave, brother of Yaroslav, ruled there for some time). But Yaroslav himself bequeathed Chernigov to his son Svyatoslav after his death. This decision of the wise prince marked the beginning of the feudal fragmentation of Rus', and Svyatoslav, through his son Oleg, became the founder of the Chernigov Olgovich dynasty.

Like other territories, before the Mongol invasion, the Chernihiv region was rocked by civil strife. The reasons could be both the attempts of local rulers to extend power to foreign land, and the claims of neighbors to the rich Chernigov. So, in 1205, after the death of the “buy-tur” Roman Mstislavich, the Olgovichs laid claim to the Principality of Galicia, but were killed. And Mikhail Vsevolodovich (the last Chernigov prince before the Mongol invasion) for some time kept Novgorod and even Kyiv under control.

Also, internal disputes took place between the two branches of the heirs of Svyatoslav Yaroslavich - the Olgovichs and Davydovichs. As a result, the principality quickly began to further fragment (Bryansk, Starodub, Kursk, Novgorod-Seversk and other principalities appeared).

During the Mongol invasion, Prince Mikhail refused to send help to his relative Yuri Ryazansky (it was Evpatiy Kolovrat who went to him for help), and he himself “sat out” the dangerous time in Hungary. However, some appanage estates, formally dependent on the Chernigov prince, fought bravely. In particular, tiny Kozelsk received the honorary nickname “evil city” from the Mongols and held the second place in terms of duration of defense after Kyiv (although it was 10 times smaller).

After this, the lands of the principality ended up in different states - under the control of the Mongols and Lithuania. But formally it existed until 1401, when it was finally abolished by the Lithuanians.

Rich lands

Chernihiv region was considered one of the richest regions of Rus'. Its soil and good moisture contributed to the growth of grain crops. Vast forests and reservoirs provided good opportunities for fishing - hunting, picking mushrooms and berries, beekeeping, and fishing.

The location on trade routes (in particular, next to the famous route “from the Varangians to the Greeks”) was of great importance for the economy of the Chernigov principality. Therefore, trade became one of the main occupations of the local population and stimulated the growth of cities. The townspeople were also engaged in crafts - woodworking, weapons and jewelry making, and leather processing. The results were often for sale.

The Chernigov land was considered very comfortable for living from the point of view of the Russians. However, feudal squabbles led to its capture by enemies and the disappearance of Chernigov statehood.