Prince Yuri Dolgoruky
The first mention of Moscow, as is known, is in the Ipatiev Chronicle from 1147: “Come to me, brother, in Moscow” (“Come to me, brother, in Moscow”) with these words Yuri Dolgoruky invites Prince Svyatoslav to visit. Therefore, 1147 is now officially considered the year the capital was founded. In fact, the city and the settlement in its place existed before the mentioned year. In 1156, through the efforts of Yuri Dolgoruky, Moscow was fortified and turned into a protected trading center, and the prince went down in history as the founder. The question of the true age of Moscow is very complex; archaeological excavations in recent years indicate that Moscow is much older, and as soon as historians come to a consensus, the official founding date will be changed.
Today we will talk about the final refuge of Yuri Dolgoruky. Officially, he was buried in one of the oldest churches in Kyiv - the Savior on Berestovo.
Church of the Savior on Berestov, Kyiv
Memorial plaque on the temple
And here is a sarcophagus made of labradorite, built in 1947. 
But this sarcophagus is, in fact, empty, that is, the cenotaph is a symbolic tombstone. The remains of Prince Yuri Dolgoruky have never been buried like this.
A natural question arises - where are they?
Then the fun begins. In 1947, on September 7, Muscovites were preparing to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the city and Stalin decided to coincide with this date with the ceremonial reburial of the remains of Yuri Dolgoruky and transport them from Kyiv to Moscow. A group of archaeologists headed by Academician M.M. was sent to Kyiv. Gerasimov. The internal boundaries of the Church of the Savior on Berestov were carefully dug and explored. Archaeologists have discovered burials from a later period. Academician M.M. Gerasimov, a world-famous scientist, could say that these are the remains of Dolgoruky and no one would doubt it, but, as a true scientist, he could not take such a sin on his soul. The archaeological expedition finished its work, and a cenotaph was installed in the temple as a sign of respect for the people of Kiev.
The next major archaeological survey was in 1989. Having studied the chronicles, scientists came to the conclusion that the burial may not have been in the temple, but near the temple... Three sarcophagi were discovered at a short distance from the walls of the temple: in the first lay the remains of Dolgoruky’s sister, Efimiya, in the second, Dolgoruky’s son, Gleb, and his wife, and in the third - remains that are believed to be those of Dolgoruky.
Why presumably? There are arguments - for, there are and against. The main argument - for - the chronicles indicate this particular temple as a burial place. The time of installation of the sarcophagus was determined - May 15-20, 1157, which corresponds to the chronicle date. The remains were poorly preserved, the skull crumbled into dust. A forensic medical examination showed that Yuri Dolgoruky was short - 157 cm, fragile in build with underdeveloped muscles and died at the age of 60-70 years, which at that time was considered very old, suffered from painful osteochondrosis and, most likely, moved with difficulty . It was believed that Dolgoruky was poisoned by the boyars at the feast of the boyar Osmyannik Petrila. The examination did not find traces of poison, however, this does not mean anything; according to experts, traces of only inorganic poisons (arsenic, lead, etc.) persist for a long time, and traces of organic ones (for example, poisonous berries) disappear over time. Considering the prince’s illness, it can be assumed that he died from illness and old age, and not from poisoning. But that’s all if we consider the found remains to be genuine.
What about genetic testing? The procedure is complex, time-consuming, expensive and, moreover, does not provide a 100% guarantee. Yuri Dolgoruky belonged to the Rurikovich family, for examination it is necessary to have a living descendant of the Rurikovichs or to disturb the ashes, for example, of Ivan the Terrible.
What is the fate of the found remains?
Here, in such a box, they are stored at the Institute of Archeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine until better times, when new identification methods appear.
In the meantime... In the Church of the Savior on Berestov there is a symbolic sarcophagus; the sarcophagus that was dug up near the temple was put back in place and covered with sand, and the remains are stored in a box on a shelf in one of the rooms of the Institute of Archeology...
Name: Yuri Dolgorukiy
Date of Birth: 1099
Age: 58 years old
Activity: Prince of Rostov-Suzdal and Grand Duke of Kiev, son of Vladimir Vsevolodovich Monomakh
Family status: was married
Yuri Dolgoruky: biography
This is probably one of the most controversial and troubled characters in Russian history. Son, he was overwhelmed by a constant desire to increase power and possessions, conquering more and more cities and villages.
The famous Russian historian Vasily Tatishchev, describing the biography of the statesman, mentioned that the prince was “a great lover of women, sweet food and drink.” And he cared most of all “about fun, rather than about governance and warfare.” He himself did little, entrusting routine duties to “the children and princes of the allies.”
Another historian and publicist, Mikhail Shcherbatov, agrees with Tatishchev. He believed that contemporaries bestowed the nickname “Dolgoruky” on Yuri for his personal qualities. The prince, “like the Persian king Artaxerxes, showed “greed for acquisition.”
The same Vasily Tatishchev came to the conclusion that the year 1090 should be considered the date of birth of the prince. If this is so, then his mother was Gita of Wessex, the first wife of Vladimir Monomakh. By origin, she was an English princess, the daughter of the last reigning Anglo-Saxon king, Harold II.
However, “Gyurgeva Mati” (mother of Yuri), which is mentioned in the “Teaching” of Vladimir Monomakh, died in May 1107, and Gita died in the spring of 1098. Therefore, according to some researchers, the mother of this offspring could be Monomakh’s second wife, Efimia.
This means that Yuri Dolgoruky was born between 1095 and 1097. But there is no consensus, so it is generally accepted that the prince was born in the 1090s.
Governing body
While still a boy, Yuri, together with his brother Mstislav, was sent to reign in Rostov.
In 1117, Dolgoruky's independent rule began. But in the early 1130s he was irresistibly drawn south, closer to the prestigious Kyiv principality. The main events in the foreign and domestic policies of Yuri Dolgoruky were the numerous campaigns of conquest that the prince undertook.
In 1132, Yuri captured Pereyaslavl Russky. But he couldn’t gain a foothold there for a long time - he only stayed there for a week. The capture of Pereyaslavl in 1135 resulted in the same result.
The restless Yuri Dolgoruky regularly intervened in inter-princely feuds. He had a special interest in the great Kyiv, where at that time his nephew Izyaslav Mstislavovich ruled. Previously, the city was ruled by Yuri's father, Vladimir Monomakh, which is why the ambitious prince so earnestly strove to take the senior princely throne. Of the several attempts to capture Kiev, three were successful. The people of Kiev did not like the greedy and cruel nobleman.
Dolgoruky managed to occupy the coveted city for the first time in 1149. Yuri defeated the troops of Izyaslav the Second Mstislavich and captured Kyiv. In addition, the Turov and Pereyaslavl thrones came under his control. The governor gave Vyshgorod to his elder brother Vyacheslav.
The traditional order of succession to the throne, which was based on the principle of seniority, was violated, so the struggle for the Kiev throne continued. Izyaslav came to an agreement with the Polish and Hungarian allies and regained Kyiv in 1150-51. He made Vyacheslav co-ruler.
The voivode made a new attempt to recapture the city. But the battle ended in an unfortunate defeat on the Ruta River.
The voivode made his second successful raid on Kyiv in 1153. Having secured the consent of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Rostislav, he expelled Izyaslav from the city. Rostislav even conceded the title of Grand Duke of Kyiv to the winner. And again it was not possible to sit on the throne for a long time.
But the third attempt was crowned with success. Having conquered the Principality of Kiev in 1155, the ruler received the title of Great Prince of Kyiv and established himself here until his death. However, a long reign did not work out here either: Yuri Dolgoruky died 2 years after the conquest of Kyiv, in 1157.
The years of the reign of Prince Yuri Dolgoruky turned out to be controversial. The nobleman was envious, cunning and greedy, but at the same time he was called a brave and skillful warrior. Some researchers consider him not stupid at all, which had a positive impact on the results of Dolgoruky’s reign. The prince's merits include an alliance with the Byzantine Empire (including trade), and the conclusion of a peace treaty with the Polovtsians, as well as a cherished, albeit short-lived stay on the Kiev throne.
But it just so happened that the nobleman, who had dreamed of Kyiv all his life, is associated with another city - Moscow. Descendants consider him the founder of the capital. According to legend, Yuri Dolgoruky was returning from Kyiv to Vladimir and in the swamps he saw an unusual shaggy animal with three heads, which melted into the fog with the onset of morning. Near this place, a settlement was discovered by the boyar Kuchka, who was unfriendly to the prince’s squad and did not give due honors to the unexpected guests. In response to this, Yuri Dolgoruky undertook a military seizure of the settlement, killing Kuchka in the process.
Yuri showed mercy only to the boyar's children - his daughter Ulita, whom he later married to his son Andrei Bogolyubsky, and his sons Peter and Yakima. When the Kuchka’s offspring discovered the secret of their father’s death, they conspired and killed Yuri Dolgoruky’s son, Andrei. This fact is described in the life of Prince Bogolyubsky, who was later glorified by the Russian Orthodox Church as a saint.
In 1147, by order of Yuri Dolgoruky, a settlement was founded on the outskirts of northeastern Rus', the role of which was to protect the borders. It rose on a hill at the confluence of three rivers. It was an ideal place for a guard fort. The settlement turned out to be favorable for life and began to grow rapidly.
In the same year 1147, the governor, returning from a campaign against Novgorod, wrote a message to his ally, the Chernigov-Seversk prince Svyatoslav Olgovich: “Come to me, brother, in Moscow!”. Moscow is mentioned for the first time in this message. Later, the prince’s chronicle statement turned into a quote that is familiar to all admirers of Russian history. The Ipatiev Chronicle says that the prince’s letter is the very first source of information about the future capital of Russia. Therefore, 1147 is considered the year the city was founded.
Among historians, there is a version according to which, by the time it was mentioned in the chronicles, this city had already existed for five thousand years. The name used two ancient Slavic roots: “mosk”, which in translation sounds like “flint” and “kov” - “to hide”. In general, the word meant “stone shelter.”
Not only Moscow is considered “born” of this nobleman. Yuri Dolgoruky founded Dmitrov, naming this city in honor of the youngest son of Vsevolod the Big Nest, baptized Dmitry. And in the early 1150s, the voivode founded Pereyaslavl-Zalessky and Yuryev-Polsky. No reforms were carried out during the reign of the prince. The main achievements of the governor’s internal political activities include the construction of cities, fortresses and temples. The development of the northeastern lands and the calm state on the eastern borders led to the strengthening of Dolgoruky's power.
In 1154, the thirst for conquest again seized the prince. He captured Ryazan, recapturing it from Prince Rostislav. Dolgoruky’s son, Andrei Bogolyubsky, began to rule the city. But it was not possible to hold Ryazan: Rostislav enlisted the support of the Polovtsians and drove the invaders out of his patrimony.
In 1156, the founding prince of Moscow fortified the city with a deep moat and a powerful wooden palisade. His son Andrei Bogolyubsky watched the work.
The policies of Yuri Dolgoruky were not hated everywhere as much as in Kyiv. In the north of Rus' there is a good memory of him. Here they believe that he put a lot of effort into developing the Russian land.
During his lifetime, Vladimir-on-Klyazma grew and became stronger. The nobleman also left behind architectural monuments - the Transfiguration Cathedral in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, the Church of Boris and Gleb in Kideksha, St. George's Cathedral in Yuryev-Polsky, the Church of St. George in Vladimir and the Church of the Savior in Suzdal.
Personal life
The nobleman was married twice. Dolgoruky's first wife is the daughter of the Polovtsian khan Aepa Osenevich. This marriage was conceived by Vladimir Monomakh, with the goal of strengthening peace with the Polovtsians through an alliance. The personal life of Yuri Dolgoruky and the Polovtsian woman turned out happily. This marriage produced 8 children.
After the death of his first wife, the prince married a second time. His wife was Princess Olga, daughter (according to other sources, sister) of the Byzantine emperor Manuel I Komnenos. From two marriages of Yuri Dolgoruky, 13 children were born.
Among the sons of Yuri Dolgoruky, Andrei Bogolyubsky became famous, who strengthened the position of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality, which became the core of modern Russia, as well as Vsevolod “Big Nest”, who, after the murder of the elder Andrei, took over the reins of government of the principality. The grandson of Vsevolod III - - became famous for his victory over the Livonian knights during the Battle of the Ice.
Death
In 1157, Yuri Dolgoruky, having returned to Kyiv, walked at a feast at Osmyannik Petrila. On the night of May 10, the prince felt unwell. Some researchers are inclined to believe that the unloved nobleman was poisoned by the Kiev nobility. 5 days later, on May 15, the ruler died.
The people of Kiev did not wait long: on May 16, the day of the funeral, they plundered the courtyard of the nobleman they hated and his son. Kyiv was again occupied by a representative of the Chernigov Davydovich line, Izyaslav the Third.
The people of Kiev did not even allow the body of the deceased prince to be buried next to the body of his father Vladimir Monomakh. The prince's grave was built in a different place. Yuri Dolgoruky was buried on the territory of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra - in the Berestovsky monastery of the Savior.
Memory
Historians, when characterizing Yuri Dolgoruky, positively assess his contribution to history, calling the prince “a collector of Russian lands.” The goals and objectives of his policy were the strengthening of centralized power over the Russian principalities, which helped reduce internecine wars.
The monument to Yuri Dolgoruky on Tverskaya Square in the capital is a tribute to the founding prince. The sculpture, created according to the design of S. M. Orlov, was installed in 1954, although the monument was personally approved on the eve of the celebration of the 800th anniversary of Moscow. The image of the prince turned out to be collective, since no exact images of Yuri Dolgoruky have survived. On the shield, which is in the mayor’s hand, is depicted. The ornament that decorated the monument used Slavic folklore images and ancient motifs that came to Rus' through Byzantium.
And in April 2007, a strategic nuclear submarine was launched in Russia. The boat “Yuri Dolgoruky” is another “movable” monument to the Grand Duke.
In memory of Yuri Dolgoruky, commemorative coins are regularly issued. They appeared on the occasion of the 800th anniversary, and then the 850th anniversary of the founding of the capital of Russia.
Many documentaries were devoted to interesting facts from the biography of Prince Dolgoruky, and in 1998 the feature film “Prince Yuri Dolgoruky” was released, in which he played the main character.
Memory
- Monuments to Yuri Dolgoruky in Moscow, Dmitrov, Kostroma, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Yuryev-Polsky
- The image of the prince on the medal “In memory of the 800th anniversary of Moscow”
- The name of the asteroid (7223) Dolgorukij, discovered by astronomer Lyudmila Karachkina
- Feature film "Prince Yuri Dolgoruky"
- Creation of the nuclear submarine "Yuri Dolgoruky"
- The car of the Moscow Automobile Plant M-2141R5 "Yuri Dolgoruky" based on the car "Moskvich-2141"
A worthy descendant of the great Vladimir Monomakh, his seventh son - Yuri Dolgoruky - entered the history of Russia not only as the Kiev and appanage Rostov-Suzdal, founder of the city of Moscow. He left a memory of himself as an ambitious, energetic person who went straight to his goal. The assessment of his life and work is ambiguous, as are the deeds, actions and decisions of many great military leaders of those ancient times.
N.M. Karamzin spoke of him as a person who was noted for the transformation of the eastern expanses of ancient Rus': the founding of many cities and settlements, the construction of roads and churches, and the spread of Christianity. And he claims that, having a tough disposition and not being distinguished by his kindheartedness, Dolgoruky did not stand on ceremony with his enemies and rebellious boyars, which earned him active popular rejection.
Birth of a prince
The biography of Yuri Dolgoruky is quite vague; historians have to guess about many facts from the prince’s life by comparing scanty chronicle evidence. We have not received exact information about the date of his birth: different sources give different numbers, and, analyzing them, we can only say with confidence that he was born in the period from 1090 to 1097. Due to the remoteness of these events, we do not know which of Monomakh’s wives (first or second) was Yuri’s mother. And let's not focus on this fact. The main thing is that this man accomplished many glorious deeds.
Strengthening the North-Eastern Russian lands
Participation in the most famous and successful campaign of 1111 against the Polovtsians as part of the army of Russian princes became Yuri’s first victory: the daughter of the Polovtsian khan became his first wife. The prince, whose biography emphasizes that he could not count on inheriting the Kyiv throne, being one of the younger sons of Monomakh, from 1113 became the appanage ruler of the Rostov-Suzdal principality, practically the outskirts of Rus' between the Oka and Volga rivers.
He is mainly engaged in the transformation and strengthening of this region, the construction of cities and temples. Yuri Dolgoruky became the first prince to rule the lands entrusted to him for more than forty years. By strengthening the Rostov-Suzdal region and formalizing its borders, Yuri Dolgoruky (his years of reign led to the creation of many fortified cities in North-Eastern Rus') strengthened his influence and position.
Strengthening Christianity
While building cities, the prince did not forget about the spread of the Orthodox Christian faith, building magnificent churches. Until now, he is revered as the founder of many churches and monasteries, in particular, the St. George Monastery in Vladimir-on-Klyazma, Borisoglebsky - on the Church of Our Lady in Suzdal, the Church of St. George in Vladimir and Yuryev, the Church of the Savior in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky and Suzdal.
Campaigns and victories
In 1120, at the behest of his father, Yuri Dolgoruky led a successful campaign together with the Polovtsians - nomads of Turkic origin - against the Volga Bulgars, who lived on the lands of modern Tatarstan, Chuvashia, Samara and Penza regions. The biography of Yuri Dolgoruky is not replete with military victories - he rarely fought, but, possessing endless courage and skill as a military leader, he used these qualities to achieve his goals. He was probably a fairly educated person who understood the need for the unification of Russian lands. He participated in this process, strengthening the northeast of Rus'.
Since 1125, Suzdal became the capital of the region instead of Rostov. The principality began to be called the Rostov-Suzdal land.
Prince's aspirations
Strengthening his position in the northeast of Rus', Prince Yuri Dolgoruky strives for the southern possessions, inaccessible Kyiv, where “big politics is done.” It was for this activity that the chroniclers nicknamed Yuri Dolgoruky. After the death of Vladimir Monomakh in 1125, the Kiev throne was inherited by his eldest son Mstislav, then (after his death in 1139) he soon ceded power to Vyacheslav Vladimirovich, the sixth son of Monomakh.
Princely discord was widespread, and the struggle for power at all times remained the most cruel and unprincipled. In the period from 1146 to 1154, Prince Yuri Dolgoruky tried to gain power in Kyiv. This becomes the main goal of his life. And during this time he twice won the throne from his nephews - the sons of Mstislav, but could not keep it. He succeeded in ascending the Kiev throne on March 20, 1155, after the death of his brother and sixth son of Monomakh, Vyacheslav Vladimirovich. The short reign of Yuri Vladimirovich in the city of the Golden Gate was not calm, but he died on May 15, 1157, having fulfilled his dream as the Grand Duke of Kyiv.
Foundation of Moscow
The first mention of Moscow in ancient chronicles dates back to 1147. The biography of Yuri Dolgoruky and chronicles of that time claim that the construction of the city began after the prince met with Svyatoslav Olgovich in a small settlement on the Moscow River.
The year of the first mention of Moscow began to be considered the date of its foundation. Yuri Dolgoruky closely monitored the development of the city; in 1156, by his order, the future capital was fortified with a moat and new wooden walls. Around the same time, the construction of a wooden Kremlin began.
Wives and children
The biography of Yuri Dolgoruky mentions two marriages of the prince. The first wife was a Polovtsian, whose name was not preserved in the chronicles, the second was called Olga. These marriages brought Yuri eleven sons and two daughters. Unfortunately, historical documents do not preserve any details about the prince’s family relationships. The name of the last daughter of the ruler has not been clarified.
The characterization of Yuri Dolgoruky by the ancient chroniclers is very unflattering: the prince’s difficult temperament, his cunning and resourcefulness in achieving his goals contributed to his extreme unpopularity among the people of Kiev.
Perhaps this was the reason for his death. Chroniclers do not deny the possibility of Yuri's poisoning. However, despite all the contradictions of this strong nature, the fact is clear: Yuri Dolgoruky, whose short biography emphasizes the implementation of tough policies, contributed greatly to the strengthening and unity of Rus' as a great state.
Yuri I Vladimirovich Dolgoruky
Years of life: about 1091-1157
Reign: 1149-1151, 1155-1157
Yuri Dolgoruky's father was Vladimir Monomakh, Grand Duke of Kiev. Yuri was his youngest son. His mother, according to one version, was the daughter of the last Anglo-Saxon king Harold II, Gita of Wessex. According to another version, she is the second wife of Vladimir Monomakh, whose name is unknown.
Yuri the First Vladimirovich Dolgoruky is a representative of the Rurik family, the ancestor of the Vladimir-Suzdal Grand Dukes.
Prince of Rostov-Suzdal (1125-1157); Grand Duke of Kiev (1149-1150 - six months), (1150-1151 - less than six months), (1155-1157).
Yuri Vladimirovich Dolgoruky is one of the most restless and controversial figures in Russian history. Being the son of Vladimir the Second Monomakh, the Grand Duke of Kyiv, he did not want to be content with little and constantly sought to conquer the Grand Duke's throne and various appanages. It is for this that he was nicknamed Dolgoruky, that is, having long (long) arms.
While still a child, Dmitry was sent with his brother Mstislav to reign in the city of Rostov. From 1117 he began to reign alone. Since the beginning of the 30s. Dmitry Dolgoruky began to be uncontrollably drawn to the south, closer to the prestigious Kyiv throne. Already in 1132 he captured Pereyaslavl Russky, but was only able to stay there for 8 days. His attempt to stay in Pereyaslavl in 1135 also failed.
Since 1147, Yuri constantly intervened in inter-princely feuds, trying to take away the city of Kyiv from his nephew Izyaslav Mstislavich. During his long life, Yuri Dolgoruky attempted to attack Kiev many times and captured it 3 times, but in total he did not sit on the Kiev throne for even 3 years. Because of his thirst for power, selfishness and cruelty, he did not enjoy the respect of the people of Kiev.
Principality
Yuri's first principality was the Rostov-Suzdal land. It is unknown when he began to reign here. In historiography, the date 1096-1097 has been established, but there is no evidence in the sources in this regard. At that time, Yuri was just a child, so the closest boyar of Monomakh, Georgy (Yuri) Simonovich, ruled on his behalf. Despite the fact that the political center of the principality was Rostov, the prince himself lived in Suzdal. This was probably caused by the wary attitude of the local nobility towards Yuri, but Simonovich, as the Rostov tysyatsky, managed to keep both sides from conflicts.
At that time, the Rostov-Suzdal land was on the rise: trade flourished, crafts developed, and cities were built. The influx of population came from the south, which suffered most from princely strife and attacks by nomads. The Rostov land was also a turbulent region, since it was adjacent to Volga Bulgaria, and Christianity and Islam did not have very warm relations. In 1107, the Bulgars attacked Suzdal and besieged it. The city was saved from destruction. Perhaps this conflict pushed Monomakh to an alliance with the Polovtsians against the Bulgars, which was sealed in January 1108 by Yuri’s marriage to the daughter of the Polovtsian khan Aepa Osenevich. Of course, with this step, Vladimir also wanted to separate the Polovtsian khans, to disrupt their unity, which would weaken the pressure on the southern borders of Rus'. And dynastic marriages in the Middle Ages were the best seal that sealed peace agreements.
Yuri was first mentioned on the pages of the chronicle in 1107 precisely in connection with his marriage. There is an assumption that it was at this time, and not earlier, that Vladimir Monomakh allocated him the Rostov-Suzdal estate. In the next decade, there was a thaw in Russian-Bulgar relations, but the poisoning of Aepa and other Polovtsian khans by the Bulgars during negotiations in 1117 led to a new conflict with Yuri. In 1120 he made his first trip to the Volga. The Bulgar army was defeated, the Rostov prince captured large booty. This victory eliminated the Bulgarian threat to North-Eastern Rus' for some time.
In 1125, the Kiev table was occupied by Yuri's elder brother Mstislav, nicknamed the Great. He was the last of the Kyiv princes who managed to maintain the unity and power of Kievan Rus. It is generally accepted that his death in 1132 marked the beginning of a new era - feudal fragmentation and the existence of independent principalities. The main principality and at the same time the dream of almost every more or less significant member of the Rurik dynasty remained Kiev. For a long time, a tireless struggle continued between the princes, who were attracted by the prospect of establishing suzerainty over the entire territory of Rus'. Prince Yuri was no exception.
An intelligent, although not always seasoned politician, he saw the key importance of Pereslavl in the struggle for the Kiev table. Located just two days' ride from Kyiv, Pereyaslavl was a kind of stepping stone to the grand prince's throne. According to tradition, one of the Grand Duke’s brothers usually sat in this city. Therefore, in 1132, Yuri captured Pereyaslavl, but lasted only eight days. The new Kiev prince Yaropolk Vladimirovich, Yuri's brother, expelled him and sent him back to Suzdal. After this, Yuri tried to become the Prince of Polotsk, but this attempt was not crowned with success. In 1134 he again became the Prince of Pereyaslavl. This time he simply exchanged Pereyaslavl with Yarogyulk for Rostov and Suzdal, but again he could not resist in the south and returned to his first principality. Over the next few years, Yuri concentrated his efforts in the northern direction, first of all subordinating Novgorod to his influence, where in May 1138 he installed his son Rostislav as prince. It seemed that Dolgoruky at this time was not at all interested in the rivalry that had once again arisen around Kyiv. Three brothers of Yuri - Mstislav, Yaropolk and Vyacheslav, successively occupied the Kiev table in 1125-1139, then the Chernigov Olgovich clan came to power in the country. They belonged to the same generation of Rurikovichs as the Monomashichis. Both of them were great-grandsons of Yaroslav the Wise, and the Olgovichi were even older than the Monomashichs, since their grandfather Svyatoslav was the older brother of the Monomashichs’ grandfather, Vsevolod.
In 1146, the grand-ducal table was occupied by Yuri's nephew Izyaslav Mstislavich, the son of Mstislav the Great. This was a direct violation of Yuri’s rights, because he thus remained the last Monomashich of this first generation, who did not occupy the Kyiv table and had more rights to Kyiv. More, if we proceed from the old order of succession to the throne based on “tribal seniority,” when power passed from the older brother to the younger. However, at the Lyublensk Congress of Princes in 1097, the “patrimonial” principle was proclaimed - that is, each prince had the right to the inheritance of his father. According to this principle, Izyaslav, whose father Mstislav succeeded his father Monomakh, had predominant rights. But neither one nor the other order of succession to the throne dominated the practice of inter-princely relations in Rus', and their coexistence led to strife and undermined the foundations of the Kyiv state.
The conquest of Izyaslav in Kyiv became the reason for many years of strife between the Rurikovichs, when two warring factions of princes were created. On the side of Izyaslav Mstislavich were his brother the Smolensk prince Rostislav, the elder brother of Yuri Dolgoruky, the former Kiev prince Vyacheslav, and Novgorod, Yuri’s traditional rival. Izyaslav enjoyed the support of the Kyiv boyars, who invited him to reign. Izyaslav also focused on an alliance with Poland and Hungary. Yuri's allies were Vladimirko Galitsky (his son Yaroslav Osmomysl married Yuri's daughter Olga) and Svyatoslav Olgovich (brother of the previous Kyiv princes Vsevolod II and Igor (1139-1146). This group was supported by the Polovtsians and Byzantium.
In 1146, Svyatoslav Olgovich, Prince of Kursk and Novgorod-Seversk, was expelled from the Siverskaya land and went to the land of the Vyatichi, where he settled in the small town of Lobinsk. It was here that the embassy of Yuri Dolgoruky arrived to him and conveyed the famous words: “Come to me, brother, in Moscow.” The meeting in Moscow took place on “Friday of the Praise of the Holy Mother of God” in 1147, that is, on Friday of the fifth week of Lent. This day fell on April 4, 1147 - the first day of the historical existence of Moscow. However, this chronicle message does not indicate the existence of Moscow as a city. A number of chronicles date the foundation of Moscow by Yuri only to the year 1156. Some historians believe that Moscow was built in 1153. Indeed, in 1147 only a small settlement could exist, and in 1153 Yuri fortified Moscow, erected a Kremlin with strong walls, and turned the city into an outpost on the border with Smolensk land.
With the beginning of Izyaslav's reign in Kyiv, Yuri stopped supplying Suzdal tribute to Kyiv, which was an important step towards strengthening the political independence of Rostov-Suzdal Rus'. Yuri's struggle with Izyaslav began with Dolgoruky's campaign against Novgorod. A retaliatory blow was struck the following year, 1148, when Izyaslav launched a campaign against the Rostov land and devastated the Volga lands right up to Yaroslavl. In the summer of 1149, Yuri marched on Kyiv and defeated Izyaslav’s army in the battle of Pereyaslav. At the beginning of September 1149, he entered Kyiv without a fight and became the Kyiv prince. The first Kiev reign of Yuri Dolgoruky began. He installed his son Rostislav (died in 1151) as the prince of Pereyaslavl (died in 1151), but already in May 1150 Izyaslav unexpectedly approached Kiev, taken by surprise, Yuri was unable to resist and fled to Gorodets-Ostersky.
However, Izyaslav's triumph did not last long. Yuri, having gathered the troops of the Chernigov prince Svyatoslav Olgovich and Vladimir Galitsky, moved to recapture the capital. In the battle on the Stugna River, Izyaslav was defeated by the Galicians and fled to Vladimir-Volynsky. Yuri, meanwhile, reoccupies Kyiv. The transfer of Kyiv from one hand to another has become a common occurrence. In April 1151, with the help of Hungarian troops, Izyaslav again knocked Yuri out of the capital and occupied the grand-ducal throne for the third time. In May of this year, a decisive battle took place on the Ruta River, which put an end to Dolgoruky’s attempts to recapture Kyiv. He was already over fifty years old at that time. Yuri returns to Suzdal. True, he tried to organize campaigns against Kyiv in both 1152 and 1153, but both attempts were unsuccessful.
At the same time, with renewed energy he begins to develop the Rostov-Suzdal land. Zvenigorod on the Moscow River was built, Kideksha, the prince's country residence, was fortified, Yuryev-Polsky and Gorodets-Meshchersky were built. As noted above, in 1153 a fortress was built in Moscow. In 1154, Dmitrov was founded, named after the Christian patron, the son of Yuri - Vsevolod, the future Big Nest. This construction made it possible to strengthen the borders of the principality and contributed to the further economic development of the region.
Meanwhile, big changes took place in Kyiv. On November 14, 1154, Prince Izyaslav Mstislavich died. This gave impetus to a new wave of strife. The Kiev table was occupied by Izyaslav's brother Rostislav, but he was soon expelled by the Chernigov prince Izyaslav Davidovich. Having learned that the army of Yuri is approaching from the north, this time deciding to become the prince of Kyiv at any cost, he voluntarily cedes the grand-ducal table. Their union was sealed by the marriage of Yuri's son Gleb to the daughter of Izyaslav Davidovich. March 20, 1155 Yuri Dolgoruky becomes the prince of Kyiv for the third time,
An important point of his reign was the establishment of close relations with Byzantium. For his second marriage, Dolgoruky was married to a relative of the Byzantine Emperor Manuel Komnenos. Yuri's church policy was connected with Byzantium. Izyaslav tried to break with the tradition of appointing Russian metropolitans in Constantinople. An important step on this path was the election of Klim (Clement) Smolyatich as metropolitan in 1147. This was the second Kiev metropolitan of Russian origin after Hilarion. He supported Izyaslav and therefore his powers were not recognized in all Russian lands. The Russian Church found itself on the verge of a split at this time. In 1155, Klim was removed and Dolgoruky turned to the Patriarchate of Constantinople with a request to appoint a new Russian metropolitan. This was the Greek theologian Constantine I. With the support of Yuri, he began a tough fight with the supporters of Clement. Clement himself and the late Izyaslav were anathematized, and their actions were declared illegal. The active work of the new metropolitan was interrupted after the death of Dolgoruky.
Death
Yuri died unexpectedly. Before that, he feasted with the Kyiv osmenik (trade duty collectors) Petrila, after which he fell ill and died five days later, on the night of May 15, 1157. The next day he was buried in the village of Berestovo in the Church of the Holy Savior. The chronicles hint that Yuri was poisoned. He had plenty of enemies. Dolgoruky managed to turn a powerful coalition of princes against himself. By 1157, Izyaslav Davidovich and Svyatoslav Olgovich (former ally), Rostislav of Smolensky and the son of the late Izyaslav, Mstislav of Volyn, were preparing to openly oppose him. Yuri was not popular among the people of Kiev either. He did not make a “row” with the city, and the Kiev veche could not forgive such a violation of its traditional rights. Immediately after his death, a riot broke out in the city against the princely administration. The Kievans destroyed the city and country estates of the prince and killed all the Suzdal residents in the cities and villages of the Kyiv land. After this, the Kyiv boyars invited Izyaslav Davidovich of Chernigov to the throne.
Thus ended the Kyiv epic of Yuri Dolgoruky. His activities on a nationwide scale were rather insignificant, but he did a lot for the Rostov-Suzdal land. During his reign, the distant, almost wild region began to gradually turn into one of the most highly developed regions of Rus'. In fact, he prepared the ground on which the principality flourished under his sons - Andrei Bogolyubsky and Vsevolod the Big Nest. He went down in history primarily as the founder of the capital of the Russian state, as the prince who laid the foundation for the dynasty of Vladimir-Suzdal and Moscow rulers, the organizer of North-Eastern Rus', which became the core of the future Russia.
Marriages and children
Marriages: from 1108 married to the daughter of the Polovtsian khan Aepa Osenevich (from 1108), from June 14, 1182. on Princess Olga (daughter or sister) of the Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos)
In total, Yuri Dolgoruky had 13 children:
· Rostislav Yurievich, Prince of Novgorod, Pereyaslavl
· Andrei Bogolyubsky, Grand Duke of Vladimir-Suzdal
· Ivan Yurievich, Prince of Kursk
· Gleb Yuryevich, Prince of Pereyaslavsky, Grand Duke of Kiev
· Boris Yurievich Prince of Belgorod, Turov
· Mstislav Yuryevich, Prince of Novgorod
· Yaroslav Yurievich, Prince of Chernigov
· Svyatoslav Yuryevich, Prince Yuryevsky
· Vasilko (Vasily) Yuryevich, Prince of Suzdal
· Mikhail Yuryevich, Grand Duke of Vladimir-Suzdal
· Vsevolod the Third Big Nest, Grand Duke of Vladimir-Suzdal
· Maria; Olga, who was the wife of the Galician prince Yaroslav Osmomysl.
Yuri Dolgoruky, son of Vladimir Monomakh, Grand Duke of Kiev, is known to most Russian citizens as the founder of Moscow. But this is only a drop in the biography of the Grand Duke.
First, let's look at the cities that Yuri Dolgoruky founded.
Which city was founded by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky?
In addition to the well-known Moscow, the capital of the Russian Federation, Yuri Dolgoruky founded Yuryev-Polsky, Pereyaslavl-Zalessky and Dmitrov. The prince is also credited with the founding of Kostroma, Zvenigorod, Dubna, Starodub, Przemysl, but this information is questioned.
Biography of Yuri Dolgoruky.
The exact date of birth of Yuri Dolgoruky is unknown, so it is generally accepted that he was born in the 90s, namely in the 1090s.
Years of life Yuri Dolgoruky: 1090e-1157.
Years of reign Yuri Dolgoruky: 1149-1151, 1155-1157.
Yuri is the youngest son of Vladimir Monomakh. There are several versions about Yuri's mother: Gita of Wessex, daughter of Harold II or the second wife of Vladimir Monomakh, whose name is unknown.
Yuri Vladimirovich is the ancestor of the Vladimir-Suzdal princes, a representative of the Rurikovich family.
Yuri Dolgoruky - Prince of Rostov-Suzdal (1125-1157), in addition, bore the title Grand Duke of Kiev (1149-1150, 1150-1151, 1155-1157). Yuri Dolgoruky never gave up the desire to conquer the Grand Duke's throne and various appanages. This is why he was nicknamed Dolgoruky, for his long (long) arms.
Yuri Vladimirovich, as a child, was sent by his older brother Mstislav to rule Rostov as a prince. Of course, he never gave control to the child; Yuri began reigning alone in 1117. In the early 30s, Dmitry Dolgoruky began to look at Kyiv. In 1132 and 1135, Yuri Dolgoruky captured Pereyaslavl Russky, but Yuri failed to hold out for more than a few days.
Since 1147, Yuri Dolgoruky began to interfere in the feuds between the princes, and several times tried to take Kyiv from Izyaslav Mstislavich. It was in 1147, returning from the Novgorod campaign, that Yuri Dolgoruky wrote a message to his ally Prince Yaroslav Olgovich, in which he called on him to come to Moscow. It is 1147 that is considered the date of the city. Then Yuri Dolgoruky ordered the founding of a city on the outskirts of North-Eastern Rus' to protect his borders. The small village at that time was a guard fort and was located on a high hill at the confluence of three rivers.
Yuri Dolgoruky's dream came true three times - he became the Grand Duke of Kyiv, but because of the prince's cruelty, his self-interest and thirst for power, he did not enjoy respect in Kyiv. Yuri Dolgoruky captured Kyiv three times, but in total he ruled there for less than three years.
The reign of Kiev Yuri Dolgoruky.
The first time Yuri Dolgoruky became the Grand Duke of Kyiv in 1149, defeating the troops of Izyaslav the Second Mstislavovich and seizing the throne. The Turov and Pereyaslav principalities also came under control. In 1150-1551, Izyaslav, with the support of Hungarian and Polish allies, regained Kyiv. In these years, Yuri regained his rule, but not for long. Yuri Dolgoruky was finally defeated in 1151 on the Ruta River.
In 1155, Yuri Dolgoruky took Kyiv once again, having already expelled Prince Izyaslav III, having secured the consent of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Rostislav. After the exile of Izyaslav III, Rostislav transferred his title to Yuri Dolgoruky, who ruled Kiev until his death in 1157.
The chronicles say a lot about the qualities of Yuri Dolgoruky, both negative (envious, ambitious, cunning) and positive (brave, skillful warrior, intelligent ruler).
Yuri Dolgoruky was married 2 times and had 13 children.