Location of the Principality of Polotsk 9th 13th century. Principality of Polotsk - Russian Historical Library

There were several dozens of small states on the lands of ancient Belarus. But the largest and most significant were considered the Polotsk and Turov principalities. Smaller provinces were under their rule. Such as Pinsk, Minsk, Vitebsk and others. In this article we will consider the history of education, culture and rulers of the largest and most famous state formation - the Polotsk principality.

You can hear that the Principality of Polotsk is the first Belarusian state. The way it is. After all, the first mention of the origin of feudal relations refers to the Polotsk land. It was here, on the famous waterway "from the Varangians to the Greeks", that the strongest principality of the Belarusian tribes (Radimichi, Krivichi, Dregovichi) was formed.

Education

How did the Polotsk principality appear on the Belarusian lands? Unfortunately, it is not possible to properly answer this question. To date, no written sources or archaeological finds have been preserved, with the help of which it would be possible to establish when the formation of the Polotsk principality began. Only the assumptions of historians remain. And the most common theory calls the 9th century. It was at this time that collective tombs (long mounds) disappeared. Instead of them, single mounds appeared, less often - paired ones. Scientists explain this fact by a strong weakening of tribal and tribal ties. In addition, it was in the 9th century that class differences began to appear between the tombs. Some were expensively furnished, others much simpler. This was indicative of wealth inequality.

The division of the tribe into poor and rich led to the emergence of the nobility, which towered over other members of the community and seized the central power. From the nobility, in turn, stood out local princes. They built fortress cities for themselves, in which they were safe with their tribes. So, in the first half of the 9th century, the tribal nobility of the Krivichi built a city for themselves in the place where the Polota River flowed into the Western Berezina. Here, tribute was collected from all over the region.

Mother of Belarusian cities

The history of the Polotsk principality begins simultaneously with the creation of the city of Polotsk. The first official mention of the city dates back to 862. However, historians say that it appeared much earlier. So, even in the undated part of The Tale of Bygone Years (the oldest chronicle in the Slavic lands), the name "Polotchane" is mentioned simultaneously with the "Krivichi". From this we can conclude that even in the days of the Krivichi, a separate state stood out with its capital in Polotsk. Long before the first Varangians appeared on those lands and the Old Russian state was formed.

The city got its name due to the river on the banks of which it is located. As already mentioned, not far from this settlement, the Polota River flowed into the Western Berezina.

Territory

The Polotsk and Turov principalities were located on extremely infertile lands. However, Polotsk had one important advantage. It was here that the intersection of significant trade routes along the Berezina, Dvina and Neman was located. That is, the waterway "from the Varangians to the Greeks." This contributed not only to the development of trade and economy in the state, but also caused a massive migration of other peoples and tribes to the Polotsk lands. And the territories of the principality were surrounded by impenetrable forests, which served as a reliable defense against enemies. And Polotsk residents made more and more enemies every year. Since the control of the principality over trade routes did not like the neighboring states - Kiev and Novgorod. Which eventually led to territorial disputes and mass bloodshed.

The Principality of Polotsk included not only the Polotsk lands, but also part of the territory of the Dregovichi, Lithuanian and Finnish tribes. Polochans settled throughout Polota, as well as in the basins of the Berezina, Svisloch and Neman. The principality included such large cities as Minsk, Borisov, Logoisk, Zaslavl, Drutsk, Lukoml and others. Thus, during the IX-XIII centuries it was a large and strong European state.

First prince

The first mention of the sovereign who united the Principality of Polotsk dates back to the second half of the 10th century. As the chronicles say, "valadaryu, trymau i prince Ragvalod Polatsk land."

Norman Rogvolod "came from beyond the sea" and ruled from 972 to 978. This period is considered the final stage in the formation of the Polotsk principality. The state had its own borders, the political and administrative systems were established, a strong army was formed, trade relations began to be established. The city of Polotsk became the historical core and center.

Princess with three names

The history of the Principality of Polotsk is the history of the struggle for independence, which was eventually lost. So, already in 980, the lands were listed as part of the Old Russian state. The principality became between Novgorod and Kiev, which were then at odds.

As the chronicles say, in 978, Prince Rogvolod, in order to strengthen the borders of his state, decided to marry his daughter Rogneda to the Kiev prince Yaropolk, while refusing Vladimir Svyatoslavich (the sovereign of Novgorod from the Rurik dynasty). Unable to bear the insult, Vladimir took Polotsk by storm, killed Rogvolod and his two sons, and forcibly made Rogneda his wife, giving her the name Gorislava. Then the prince of Novgorod captured Kyiv and introduced a new religion in the Polotsk lands - Christianity.

According to The Tale of Bygone Years, Rogneda and Vladimir had four sons: Izyaslav (Prince of Polotsk), Yaroslav the Wise (Prince of Kyiv and Novgorod), Vsevolod (Prince Vladimir-Volynsky) and Mstislav (Prince of Chernigov). And also two daughters: Premislava, who later married Laszlo the Lysy (Ugric king), and Predslava, who became the wife of Boleslav III the Red (Czech prince).

After Rogneda tried to kill Vladimir, she, along with her son Izyaslav (who stood up for his father for his mother), was sent to the Polotsk lands, to the city of Izyaslavl. The princess cut her hair as a nun and took a third name - Anastasia.

Princes of the Principality of Polotsk

In 988, the inhabitants of Izyaslavl invited the son of Rogneda and Vladimir Izyaslav to reign. He became famous as a sovereign-scribe and a distributor of a new belief, Christianity, in the Polotsk land. It is with Izyaslav that a new branch in the Rurik dynasty begins - the Izyaslavichi (Polotsk). The descendants of Izyaslav, unlike the children of his brothers, emphasized their kinship with Rogvolod (on the maternal side). And they called themselves Rogvolodovichi.

Prince Izyaslav died young (in 1001), outliving his mother Rogneda by only one year. His younger son Bryachislav Izyaslavich began to rule the Polotsk principality. Until 1044, the sovereign pursued his own policy aimed at expanding the land. Taking advantage of civil strife and the weakening of Russia, Bryachislav captured Veliky Novgorod and held power for five years together with his uncle Yaroslav the Wise. At the same time, the city of Bryachislavl (modern Braslav) was built.

heyday

The Principality of Polotsk reached its peak of power in 1044-1101, during the reign of Vseslav the Prophet, son of Prince Bryachislav. Knowing that he was facing life-and-death battles, the prince prepared for war until the mid-60s of the 11th century - he fortified cities, raised an army. So, Polotsk was moved to the right bank of the Western Dvina, to the mouth of the Polota River.

Vseslav began to expand the Polotsk lands far to the north, subjugated the tribes of Latgalians and Livs. However, in 1067, when his campaigns in Novgorod ended unsuccessfully, the prince, along with his sons, was captured by Izyaslav Yaroslavich, and the state was captured. But a year later, the rebellious people freed Vseslav, and he managed to return the lost lands.

From 1069 to 1072, the Principality of Polotsk waged a relentless and bloody war with the Kiev sovereigns. The principality of Smolensk was captured, as well as part of the Chernigov lands in the north. In those years, the population of the capital of the principality was more than twenty thousand people.

The fall

After the death of Vseslav in 1101, his sons divided the principality into destinies: Vitebsk, Minsk, Polotsk, Logoisk and others. And already in 1127, taking advantage of the differences between the princes, he captured and plundered the Polotsk land. Izyaslavichi were taken prisoner, and then completely exiled to distant Byzantium. Thus, by the end of the 12th century, the authority of the Principality of Polotsk in the international arena had finally fallen, and Novgorodians and Chernigovians seized part of the territories.

In the XIII century, a new disaster struck the Polotsk lands - the Order of the Sword-bearers, which later became Livonian. Prince Vladimir of Polotsk, then ruling, fought with the crusaders for more than twenty years, but he was unable to stop them. This was the beginning of the end of independence. And in 1307 Polotsk became part of

Culture of the Principality of Polotsk

It was this principality that became the place where Belarusian statehood was born, as well as culture and writing. Polotsk is associated with such names as Lazar Bogsha, Francysk Skaryna, and Simeon Polotsky. They are the pride of the Belarusian nation.

With the advent of Christianity in the Polotsk lands, architecture began to develop. So, the first monumental building made of stone was the Polotsk St. Sophia Cathedral, built in the 1050s. And in 1161, the jeweler Lazar Bogsha created a masterpiece of applied art of the Eastern Slavs - a unique cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk. The 13th century was the time when the Belarusian language appeared.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The first of the specific principalities, separated from the composition of the ancient Russian state, later gaining independence. In the period from the 14th to the 18th century, it was part of.

The Principality of Polotsk carries its history of existence even before. It is known that as early as the beginning of the 870s, the prince obliged the Polotsk people to pay tribute, and later the prince of Kyiv did the same. In the period from 972 to 980. the Norman Rogvolod reigned on Polotsk land, the principality was considered dependent on the then ruling prince in Kyiv. Polotsk land was listed as part of the ancient Russian state already in 980 after the prince killed Rogvolod, captured Polotsk and married the daughter of the murdered - Rogneda. In 988 - 989 years. Vladimir appointed his son Izyaslav to the throne, who later became the ancestor of the princely dynasty. In 992, the Polotsk diocese was formed.

Despite the fact that the lands of the principality were almost barren, it was located at the intersection of significant trade routes along the Dvina, Neman and Berezina; fortified forests protected from enemy attacks. This contributed to the resettlement of foreign peoples here. Cities developed rapidly, becoming trade and craft centers (Polotsk, Izyaslav, Minsk, etc.). Such prosperity in the economy gave the Izyaslavichs some resources, relying on which they fought with the Kiev authorities for independence.

From 1001 to 1044 Bryachislav - Izyaslav's heir led an independent policy, trying to expand his possessions, taking advantage of the weakening of Russia due to. In 1021, he managed to capture Veliky Novgorod, but then the prince rebuffed him on the river. Sudome. Yaroslav, out of courtesy to Bryachislav, gave him the Usvyat and Vitebsk volosts.

The peak of the power of the Polotsk principality is considered to be the period of the reign of Vseslav (1044 - 1101), the son of Bryachislav. He began to expand the land to the north and northwest, imposing tribute on the neighboring tribes of the Livs and Latgalians. In 1067, after unsuccessful campaigns on, the prince struck back at Vseslav, capturing Minsk, breaking his squad, and, together with his two sons, captured. The Principality of Polotsk passed into the possession of Izyaslav. On September 14, 1068, the inhabitants of Kiev who rebelled against Izyaslav overthrew him and Vseslav regained Polotsk. In 1069 - 1072. despite the brutal war with Izyaslav, Mstislav, Svyatopolk and Yaropolk (sons of Izyaslav), Vseslav retained the Principality of Polotsk.

In 1078 he captured the principality of Smolensk and part of the north. However, in 1078 - 1079. the prince attacked the Principality of Polotsk and destroyed some of the cities. In 1084 he captured Minsk and defeated the Polotsk land. Vseslav exhausted all his resources and stopped expanding his possessions. After the death of Vseslav in 1101, the Principality of Polotsk broke up into destinies. In 1119, the aggression of the Izyaslavichs against their neighbors stops after unsuccessful attempts to get Novgorod and the Smolensk principality. The principality is weakening, Kyiv is taking advantage of the moment: in 1119, Vladimir Monomakh seizes the inheritance of Gleb Vseslavich, and throws him into prison; in 1127 he ravaged the Polotsk land in the south-west; in 1129, due to the refusal of the Izyaslavichs from the campaign with the Russians against the Polovtsy, Mstislav seizes the principality and at the Kiev Congress asks for the imprisonment and deportation of the Polotsk princes to Byzantium; Then he gives the Polotsk land to his son Izyaslav, and puts governors in the cities.

In 1132, one of the Izyaslavichs, Vasilko Svyatoslavich, managed to return the Principality of Polotsk, but not its former power and strength. In the 12th century, a fierce struggle for the princely throne flared up between Rogvolod Borisovich and Rostislav Glebovich. In 1150 - 1160. Rogvolod fails in an attempt to reunite the principality due to disagreements with other Izyaslavichs and outside interference (prince, etc.). By the 13th century, German knights were conquering the tributaries of Polotsk; by 1252, Polotsk and other cities were taken by the Lithuanian princes; at the end of the 13th century, in the struggle between the Teutonic Order, Lithuania and the Smolensk princes for the Polotsk lands, Lithuania prevailed.

In 1307, the Lithuanian prince Viten conquered Polotsk from the Swordsmen, and Gedemin, who ruled after, took possession of the Minsk and Vitebsk principalities. By 1385, the Principality of Polotsk became part of the Lithuanian state.

The Principality of Polotsk, located west of Smolensk and north of Turov, differed sharply from all the regions described above that constituted the lands of Russia in the 12th century. It has never been a family property of any of the descendants of Yaroslav Vladimirovich and, unlike other principalities, has never been connected by an umbilical cord with the mother of Russian cities, Kiev. No matter how hard the Kiev princes tried to subdue it, it remained independent and indifferent to major political events throughout most of the 11th and 12th centuries. The descendants of the second son of Vladimir Svyatoslavich Izyaslav, who was sent here to reign with his mother Rogneda at the end of the 10th century, ruled here. At the end of the 12th century, it was the only principality that simultaneously bordered Lithuania and the lands of the German Order, which made it vulnerable to two potentially aggressive western neighbors.

Like Turov, the soils here were poor, the area was wooded and swampy. But in terms of trade, this region had a huge advantage over most other principalities: in the center of this land, the Western Dvina flowed, directly connecting the principality with the Baltic; the upper course of the Neman in the western part of the principality also led there. Convenient river routes also led to the south: the Dnieper and its two main tributaries, the Drut and the Berezina, flowed on the southeastern outskirts of the region.

The Polotsk land had all the conditions for gaining independence; in this respect it resembled Novgorod. There was also a strong local boyars here; in Polotsk, a rich trading center, there was a city council and, in addition, some kind of "brothers" who fought with the princes; it is possible that these were merchant associations similar to Ivan on Opoki in Novgorod.

In the 11th century, the Principality of Polotsk was, apparently, strong and united; for a whole hundred years, only two princes occupied the throne - the warlike son of Izyaslav Bryachislav (1001-1044) and his even more aggressive grandson Vseslav (1044-1101). A bright era in the life of the Polotsk land was the long reign of Vseslav Bryachislavich (1044-1101). This energetic prince fought with Novgorod, and with Pskov, and with the Yaroslavichs. One of the enemies of Vseslav was Vladimir Monomakh, who went on campaigns to the Polotsk land from 1084 to 1119. The princes of Kiev managed only for a time to subdue this land, which lived its own isolated life. The last time a decisive attempt to subdue it was made by Mstislav the Great in 1127, sending troops from all over Russia - from Volyn and Kursk, from Novgorod and from Tork Porosye. All detachments were given exact routes and all of them were assigned a single, common day for the invasion of the Polotsk principality. Prince Bryachislav of Polotsk, seeing himself surrounded, "feared, could not go either Semo or Ovamo." Two years later, some Polotsk princes were exiled to Byzantium, where they stayed for ten years.

In 1132, Polotsk independently chose a prince for itself and, along with other lands of Russia, completely separated itself from the power of Kyiv. True, unlike the neighboring principalities, the Polotsk land immediately broke up into destinies; Minsk (Menesk) was the first to stand out as an independent reign. In the struggle between Rogvolod Borisovich of Polotsk and Rostislav Glebovich of Minsk in 1158, the townspeople of Polotsk and Drutsk took an active part. Rogvolod, the grandson of Vseslav, turned out to be an outcast prince without a principality. The Druchans began to invite him to their place, and when he was near Drutsk with an army, 300 Druchans and Polotsk people left on boats for a solemn meeting of the prince. Then in Polotsk "the revolt was great." The townspeople and the boyars of Polotsk invited Rogvolod to the great reign, and they wanted to lure Rostislav, the instigator of the strife, on June 29 to a feast and kill him, but the prudent prince put chain mail under his dress and the conspirators did not dare to attack him. The next day, an uprising began against the Rostislav boyars, which ended with the reign of Rogvolod. However, the attempt of the new prince of Polotsk to unite all the destinies was not successful. After one unsuccessful campaign, during which many Polotsk people died, Rogvolod did not return to his capital, and the Polotsk people once again showed their will, like the people of Kiev or Novogorodsk - they invited Prince Vseslav Vasilkovich (1161-1186) from Vitebsk in 1162.

The history of the Polotsk land at the end of the 12th - beginning of the 13th centuries is poorly known to us. Unfortunately, the Polotsk chronicle, which belonged to the architect P. M. Eropkin at the beginning of the 18th century, perished. V. N. Tatishchev copied from it an interesting detailed account of the events of 1217 in Polotsk. The wife of Prince Boris Davydovich, Svyatokhna, led a complex intrigue against her stepsons Vasilko and Vyachka: either she wanted to poison them, or she sent false letters, or she sought their expulsion, and, finally, with the help of her retinue, she began to destroy the Polotsk boyars, hostile to her. A thousand man, a posadnik and a key keeper were killed. The veche bell rang, and the people of Polotsk, embittered by the fact that the supporters of the princess “ravaged the cities and robbed the people,” opposed the intriguer Svyatokhna Kazimirovna; she was taken into custody. V. N. Tatishchev held this chronicle in his hands for a very short time. He noted that in it “a lot is written about the Polotsk, Vitebsk and other ... princes; only I didn’t have time to write everything out and then ... I didn’t get to see.

Prince Vyachko subsequently fell in battle with the German knights, defending the Russian and Estonian lands.

The Polotsk-Vitebsk-Minsk land, which later, in the 14th century, became the basis of the Belarusian nationality, had a peculiar culture, an interesting history, but the far-reaching process of feudal fragmentation did not allow it to maintain its integrity and political independence: in the 13th century, Polotsk, Vitebsk, Drutsk and The Minsk principalities were absorbed by a new feudal formation - the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, in which, however, Russian laws were in force and the Russian language dominated.

The Principality of Polotsk, an ancient Russian principality of the 9th-13th centuries, lay to the west of the great waterway "from the Varangians to the Greeks" and bordered in the east with Smolensk, in the southeast with Kiev, in the south with Turov-Pinsk principalities, in the north with Pskov and Novgorod, in the west, until the 13th century, the possessions of the Polotsk principality reached the shores of the Baltic Sea along the course of the Western Dvina. The center of the Principality of Polotsk was the middle reaches of the rivers of the Western Dvina and Polota, inhabited by the Slavic tribes of the Dregovichi, Rodimichi, Polotsk Krivichi (Polochans). The ancient period in the history of the Polotsk principality is little known. According to the chronicle, Rurik, being a prince of Novgorod, had a governor in Polotsk. At the end of the 9th century or the beginning of the 10th century, the Principality of Polotsk was subordinated to the Kiev prince Oleg. At the end of the 10th century, the Norman prince Rogvold reigned there. Vladimir Svyatoslavich married his daughter Rogneda. Having become the prince of Kiev, he annexed the principality of Polotsk to Kiev, but then allocated Polotsk to the eldest son from Rogneda Izyaslav. After Izyaslav (d. 1001), the Principality of Polotsk went to his son Bryachislav. Since that time, a long period of strife between the descendants of Izyaslav and the Kiev Yaroslavichs for possession of the Polotsk principality began. This struggle ended in 1127 with the victory of the Kiev prince Mstislav, the son of Vladimir Monomakh, who expelled the Izyaslavichs. Mstislav Izyaslavich was appointed to reign in Polotsk, but after the death of Mstislav (1132), the Polotsk princes Izyaslavich returned from Tsargrad and again occupied their lands. They still had to obey in many respects the Kiev, and from the beginning of the 13th century, the Smolensk princes.

In the economic life of the Polotsk principality, the extraction of furs and honey, the cultivation of hops played an important role. The geographical position of the Principality of Polotsk on the Western Dvina, near the upper reaches of the Dnieper and Volga, determined its importance as an intermediary in the trade of the West and East. The Principality of Polotsk conducted trade with Scandinavia and the island of Gotland, from the beginning of the 13th century - through Riga with the Hansa. The Principality of Polotsk also carried on a lively trade with Novgorod and Pskov. Furs, wax, hops were mainly exported, bread, salt, cloth, and metal were imported. In the 12th century, in connection with the development of trade relations with the West along the Western Dvina, German trading settlements arose at the mouth of this river with gostiny yards for storing goods and military fortifications (Ikskul, Golm). Following the German merchants, Catholic missionaries also appeared here. Having received permission from Prince Vladimir of Polotsk to preach the "word of God" in his possessions, they began to forcibly baptize the Livs and demand from the baptized "tithes" for the church and work for themselves - "God's servants." Rich lands and the possibility of easy capture attracted German feudal invaders to the mouth of the Western Dvina. The region dominated by pre-feudal relations was an easy target for the German feudal lords, who were looking for easy money. Having built a new strong fortress-city of Riga, in 1202 they establish the Order of the Livonian Knights (see Livonian Order), begin an organized seizure of land belonging to the Livonians and establish a regime of feudal exploitation of the local population. The local population offered stubborn resistance to the invaders. The Livs turned to Prince Vladimir for help and pointed out that "the Germans are a great burden for them, and the burden of faith is unbearable." A quarrel with the Germans was also unprofitable for Prince Vladimir. He received large incomes from the growing trade with them. In addition, the German ambassadors who arrived brought him large gifts and assured the prince that the tribute paid by the Livs would arrive in Polotsk carefully. Having believed them, Prince Vladimir instructed to sort out the complaints of the Livonians, for which he summoned Albert (bishop of Livonia). Meanwhile, the Germans were victorious over the Livs. After that, Albert did not go to court and soon announced to Vladimir that he refused to pay tribute from the Livs, since the latter allegedly did not want to pay it to Polotsk themselves. So the German knights began to own the Livs, although the latter fought hard against them for a long time. Moving upstream of the Western Dvina, the German knights soon captured the destinies of the Principality of Polotsk - Kukonoys and Gersika. The lands occupied by the Livonian knights were named Livonia(flax of the Holy Roman-German Empire). After the death of Prince Vladimir (1216), the Livonian knights, using their connections with the merchants of Polotsk and Smolensk, intervening in the internal affairs of the Polotsk principality, having secured themselves from Polotsk, rushed to the lands of Pskov and Novgorod, but in 1242 on the ice of Lake Peipsi (see Battle of the Ice) Russian troops under the leadership of Prince Alexander Nevsky defeated them. After the formation of the Principality of Lithuania with the assistance of Livonia, the latter, taking advantage of the feudal disunity of the Russian lands, the Tatar invasion and the Mongol-Tatar yoke ruining Russia, took possession of the Belarusian and part of the Ukrainian and Russian lands. In 1307, the Principality of Polotsk became part of Lithuanian principality. For the return of these Russian lands, the Muscovite state waged a series of wars throughout the 16th-18th centuries.

Great Soviet Encyclopedia. Ch. ed. O.Yu. Schmidt. Volume forty-six. Floors - Optical prisms. - M., JSC Soviet Encyclopedia. - 1940. Column. 191-193.

Literature:

Henry of Latvia, Chronicle of Livonia. Introduction, trans. and comments by S. A. Anninsky, M.-L., 1938; Keisler F., The end of the initial Russian rule in the Baltic region in the 13th century, St. Petersburg, 1900; Danilevich V. E., Essay on the history of the Polotsk land until the end of the 14th century, Kyiv, 1896; Berezhkov M., On Russian trade with Riga in the 13th and 14th centuries, Journal of the Ministry of National Education, St. Petersburg, 1877, February.