The beginning of the reign of Vsevolod, a large nest. Vsevolod III big nest. Vsevolod Yurievich Big Nest - short biography

The Tale of Bygone Years says that Vsevolod Yuryevich Big Nest was one of the greatest rulers of his time. Having headed the Vladimir principality, he made significant changes in its social structure and economy. He was the son of the Prince of Moscow.

Wikipedia reports that thanks to Vsevolod's policy, the treasury increased significantly, and the city literally flourished before our eyes. The prince made the main bet on the boyars and nobles, who until that moment were a rather weak class.

Who is Vsevolod Big Nest. The exact date of birth is unknown; the future ruler was born presumably at the beginning of the 12th century. The Tale of Bygone Years claims that Vsevolod was born in 1154.

Here is it short biography... There were 13 children in the large family of Prince Yuri Dolgoruky. The prince's sons later all became princes and ruled Kievan Rus.

After the death of Yuri Dolgoruky in Russia, an internecine war for power broke out between several heirs. Vsevolod, together with his mother and two brothers Vasilko and Mstislav, was expelled from Moscow by another brother, Prince Vladimir-Suzdal named Andrei.

The exiles found refuge in Constantinople. Upon returning to his homeland, Vsevolod took part in an internecine war with his brothers, during which he defended his right to reign. In February-March 1173 he became the ruler of Kiev, and in 1176 he began to rule in Vladimir.

A list of the main events of the struggle for power during civil strife:

• in 1169 he returned from Constantinople and entered into an alliance with his brother Andrew. Later, together with other rulers, he made campaigns against the Kiev principality;
• Kiev managed to capture only in 1173, but the reign did not last long, five days later the city was captured by the Smolensk prince, and the young man was taken prisoner, but soon brother Michael freed him;
• starting in 1174, together with his brother Mikhail, he made regular campaigns to the Vladimir principality. The purpose of the campaigns was to seize power and stand at the head of Vladimir;
• from 1176 to 1177, thanks to the alliance with Svyatoslav, he made campaigns, during which he won victories over Gleb Ryazansky, Rostislavovich, Mstislav;
• the alliance with Svyatoslav ends in 1180. To take revenge on Vsevolod, he makes a punitive campaign, but cannot win.

Who is Vsevolod Big Nest... AT national history It was not by chance that the prince was given the nickname Big Nest. He was nicknamed so because Yuri had a large family, he had 12 children, including 8 boys and 4 girls.

However, this explanation is confusing to some researchers. At that time it was customary to have many children. This was due to the fact that many died in infancy from various diseases.

After all, medicine was not well developed, and many diseases were not yet discovered. The doctors of the time were unable to cope with serious illnesses, and deaths were frequent. For this reason, in every family, regardless of class, there were seven, ten, twelve children.

There is another version why they called him that. The ruler sought to annex new territories to expand state borders. In this he had no equal, and many cities surrendered under his onslaught. The large nest symbolizes the expansion of the borders of the state, the ruler wanted and strove to annex more and more territories.

Governing body

The years of government are characterized by the economic and political flourishing of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality.

The influence of the Kiev prince decreased. The ruler adhered to the monarchical regime, for this reason he strove for autocracy. Who is Vsevolod a big nest for the history of the Russian state.

Some scholars are of the opinion that nothing new was accomplished during the reign. Domestic and foreign policy of Vsevolod Big Nest was only the consolidation of the result and success of his brother Andrei Bogolyubsky. After the death of the prince, the fragmentation of the Russian lands increased, which aggravated the position of the state.

First of all, the ruler tried to establish relations with his neighbors - Kiev and the territories closest to it. In order to strengthen his status within the state and increase his importance in the political arena, Vsevolod provoked the rulers of Russia from the south.

While both sides were at enmity, the Big Nest strengthened its own power and achieved what no prince could afford before:

• received the right to elect and appoint a bishop;
• achieved sole control of the principality without the participation of the boyars.
• subjugated Novgorod, which was one of the most powerful Russian lands.

The Novgorod principality was subjugated due to the fact that management was concentrated in the hands of Veche (council), and a special person, who was called the mayor, performed the controlling function.

Vsevolod the Big Nest: facts from life

The historical portrait of the prince is characterized by his foreign policy. To expand trade, a large number of campaigns were made, the main purpose of which was to annex new lands and conquer new trade routes. That is why under the reign of Vsevolod III there was a sharp rise in the economy.

In 1183, a successful campaign against the Volga Bulgaria was made, which made it possible to shift the territorial border beyond the Volga. In addition, this had a positive effect on the protection of the southeastern zones of Russia. Strong economic relations were established with Bulgaria, and merchants were given the opportunity to freely trade with neighboring countries.

The Polovtsi have posed a threat to the state for many years. In 1183-1185, the prince made repeated campaigns against the Polovtsy and the Mordovians, to expand the lands from the south in 1184 and 1186, he carried out campaigns against the Bulgarians, which became successful and helped to establish mutually beneficial trade relations with other territories.

Results of activities

The reign was 37 years. During this period, the Vladimir principality became the most powerful.

The princely power spread throughout the territory of Russia, and the authority of the ruler was recognized by other princes.

As an excellent military leader, he managed to create a powerful and strong army, which made it possible to win multiple victories in campaigns to other lands. The talented ruler began the process of centralizing the Russian lands.

Note!Since the reign of Vsevolod the Third, the governorship arose, before that in all large cities, the grand duke's own children were in charge.

The prince devoted time not only to campaigns and the economy, but also was actively involved in urban planning. First of all, he built fortifications on the border of the state, special attention was paid to the security of the city of Vladimir.

Structures of stone were erected, for example, the Vladimirsky Detinets-Kremlin, which was erected by 1195 in record time, in just one year. In the same year, the Nativity Cathedral was built. In 1183, the construction of the Dmitrovsky Cathedral began, which was completed only in 1197. During the construction of the structure, sculptural decoration was used for the first time.

Death of the ruler

In the last years of his reign, the question of succession to the throne arose. The eldest son Konstantin wanted to stand at the head of two large cities - Rostov and Vladimir, and the younger Yuri was supposed to reign in Suzdal.

My father did not agree with this, gathered all the people and announced that Constantine had no right to rule the Vladimir-Suzdal principality.

Yuri should rightfully take his place, and Vladislav put Konstantin in charge of Rostov. This was the beginning of the enmity between the brothers.

The death of Vsevolod led to a deterioration in the situation and the division of the principality. The sons of Vsevolod the Big Nest started a war among themselves, which led to the weakening of the power of the city of Vladimir over other Russian territories. Most of the previously annexed cities split off.

As a result, new specific principalities were formed: Uglich, Yaroslavl, Rostov, Pereyaslavl, Suzdal, Starodubsk, Yurievsk.

Note!Vsevolod the Big Nest was an intelligent and talented ruler who subjugated almost all the lands of Russia to his power.

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Let's sum up

The prince is described as a person who sincerely believed in God, was merciful towards other people, never was hypocritical. He continued to pursue the same policy as his father and brother, which led to the spread of the monarchy in the Russian lands.

Born during the gathering of Polyudy by his father Yuri Dolgoruky on the Yakhroma River (in honor of which the city of Dmitrov was founded). Mother is the daughter of the Byzantine emperor Olga.

After the capture of Kiev by Yuri in 1155 and the reign of his eldest sons in Southern Russia Vsevolod the Big Nest and his older brother Mikhalko received the cities of Rostov and Suzdal. In 1161, he was deprived of his possessions by his brother, the Grand Duke of Vladimir Andrei Bogolyubsky, and in the same year, together with his mother and brothers Mstislav and Vasily, he left for Byzantium. By 1168 he returned to Russia and at the beginning of 1169 he participated in the campaign of Andrey and other Russian princes against Kiev. He served his brother, the Grand Duke of Kiev Gleb Yuryevich, and at the end of 1170 he participated in the defeat of the Polovtsy in the area of \u200b\u200bthe Southern Bug River. At the beginning of 1173, after a quarrel between the Smolensk Rostislavichs and Andrew, he reigned in Kiev for 5 weeks, after which he was expelled by the Rostislavichs and, apparently, settled at Mikhalka in the city of Torchesk, then in the Chernigov land.

In the fall of 1173 he took part in Andrey's campaign to the Kiev land; reigned in Kiev (together with Yaropolk Rostislavich). He was defeated by Prince Mstislav Rostislavich near Vyshgorod and went to Chernigov. After the murder of Andrey (1174), he hoped to reign in the Rostov land, but was not accepted by the local boyars. Having smashed his nephews on the Belekhov field near the Koloksha River on July 15, 1175, he occupied Rostov land with Mikhalk and became a prince in the city of Pereslavl-Zalessky. After the death of Mikhalka (06/19/1176) he took possession of the Vladimir table. 03/07/1176 he defeated his nephews at Pruskovaya Gora and finally secured the Vladimir table. He expanded the borders of the Vladimir Grand Duchy, strengthened its position in the Novgorod, Ryazan, and Murom lands.

In 1178 he founded the city of Gleden (later Veliky Ustyug) at the confluence of the Sukhona and Yug rivers in order to control the trade routes to the Novgorod and Dvina lands and the Volga region. In 1182, by order of Vsevolod on the Volga, at its confluence with the Tvertsa River, the Tverd fortress was built to protect the Vladimir-Suzdal lands from the raids of Novgorodians and Novotorzhites. Subsequently, the fortress Tverd was renamed Tver. He organized a river trip to Bulgaria, the Volga-Kama (1183), in which the princes of Kiev, Smolensk, Ryazan and Murom also participated. Later I went to Bulgaria twice more.

Intervention Vsevolod the Big Nest in the affairs of the Ryazan principality (1180, 1186, 1207, 1209), campaigns against the Chernigov principality (1207, 1209) led to the expansion of the Vladimir possessions in the south up to the Oka River and the actual vassal dependence of the Ryazan princes. Probably to protect the Ryazan borders he undertook a victorious campaign against the Polovtsians (summer 1198). He strengthened his position in Novgorod, where in 1182-1184 and 1187-1210 his protégés ruled almost continuously. Most of the Russian princes recognized him as the elder of the Monomashichi. He was the head of a large family (hence the nickname - Big nest).

Sons Vsevolod Yurievich: Konstantin, Boris, Gleb, Yuri, Yaroslav, Vladimir, Svyatoslav, Ivan, daughters: Mstislav, Verkhuslav, Sbyslav, Elena.

The Russian historian M.K. Lyubavsky wrote about the significance of northeastern Russia in the following way: “The Great Russian nationality in all the variety of its constituent elements formed in the basins of the upper Volga and Oka rivers before their confluence. Here she found her political basis and here, predominantly, her colonization fund accumulated, that human material that, from the middle of the 16th century, she began to scatter over the forests of the east and north and over the steppes of the south and southeast.

Where did the population of the Rostov-Suzdal land come from? Answering this question, one has to identify several currents that flowed into this region: from the region of Novgorod Slovenes and Krivichi Smolensk, from the south-west and south from the region of Vyatichi and Don region. By the time of the arrival of the Tatars, Slavic-Russian colonization covered the entire basin of the upper Volga up to its connection with the Oka and the entire Oka basin.

After the death of Vsevolod III, the Rostov-Suzdal land separated from itself: the Grand Duchy of Vladimir, which became the transitional possession of princes recognized as elders or great among the descendants of Vsevolod III; principality of Rostov, inherited by the eldest son of Vsevolod Constantine and kept in the possession of his descendants; principality Pereyaslavskoe, inherited by Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, who later separated out the principality of Tverskoe and Moscow; the principality of Yuryevskoye, inherited by the next son of Vsevolod Svyatoslav and retained in the possession of his son, grandson and great-grandson (until 1340); the principality of Starodubskoye, which went to the youngest son of Vsevolod Ivan and was kept in the possession of his descendants.

After the arrival of the Tatars, the principality of Suzdal-Nizhny Novgorod, which was endowed with his son Andrei by the Grand Duke Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, also emerged from the Grand Duchy of Vladimir, and which remained behind his descendants; the principality of Galicia-Dmitrovskoe, inherited by the next in seniority, Prince Konstantin Yaroslavich, and held onto his descendants; Kostroma, inherited by the youngest son of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich Vasily.

VSEVOLOD YURIEVICH(Dimitri Georgievich) Big Nest (1154–1212) - Grand Duke of Vladimir and Suzdal. Born in 1154 in Dmitrov, the son of Yuri Vladimirovich Dolgorukov and the Greek princess Olga, who received his nickname for having many children (according to some sources, he had 8, according to others - 10 sons and 4 daughters from his first marriage with the Czech Queen Maria Shvarnovna (? -19 March 1206) Despite the fact that he had no children from his second wife, Lyubov (? -15 April 1212), the daughter of Vitebsk prince Vasilko Bryachislavich, Vsevolod the Big Nest, having given life to numerous sons in his first marriage, actually became the progenitor of 115 families (genera ) of the North Russian princes.

After the death of his father (1162) as an 8-year-old child, together with his mother and younger brother Mikhail, he was expelled from the Suzdal land by his elder brother Andrei Yuryevich Bogolyubsky and was forced to grow up in Constantinople (Constantinople) in the homeland of his mother's relatives, at the court of Emperor Manuel.

Returning to Russia as a 15-year-old teenager, Vsevolod made peace with Andrew and, together with him and the other princes, participated in the campaign against Kiev in March 1169, which ended with the proclamation of his brother as the Grand Duke of Kiev. Andrei left Suzdal, and Vsevolod remained there to live with his uncle, Gleb Georgievich, whom Andrei put in his place as governor. In 1171 he took part in the strife for the grand ducal table, which unfolded after the death of his uncle.

In 1173 Vsevolod took power in Kiev and for 5 weeks was the Grand Duke of Kiev, but was soon captured by his rival, the Smolensk prince Roman Rostislavich. He was redeemed from captivity by his younger brother Mikhail Yurievich. After the murder of his brother Andrey by a group of boyars (1174), Vsevolod agreed with his younger brother Mikhail on the division of the "inheritance": he helped him to seize Vladimir, and he himself settled in Suzdal. When Mikhail suddenly died in 1175, Vsevolod captured Pereyaslavl Zalessky, and after him Vladimir, proclaiming himself the Grand Duke (1177).

This caused a new strife: the Rostov princes and the Chernigov prince claimed the "Vladimir's table". Svyatoslav Vsevolod [s] ich. Seeking recognition as the most powerful ruler with the most powerful army and squad, Vsevolod burned Torzhok in 1178, took Volokolamsk, and ordered to lay Gleden (Ustyug) far to the north of Vladimir. The struggle for the Vladimir throne continued until 1182, when Vsevolod finally defeated his rivals and confiscated the land and property of the Rostov boyars. He had to interrupt his powerful attack against the Volga Bulgars in connection with the death of his beloved nephew Izyaslav Glebovich.

In 1183 he returned to Vladimir, in 1185 he went on a campaign against the Polovtsy together with the Seversky prince, known from the Word about Igor's regiment. Igor Svyatoslavich. The author of the Word reported about the power of Vsevolod's squad with respect: "they can scoop the Volga with oars, and the Don with helmets." Unlike Prince Igor, he returned alive in 1187 and again went to the Volga Bulgars, returning home with rich booty. Having brilliantly mastered the art of political compromise, he took advantage of the help of his recent opponents, the Polovtsians, in this campaign. When they treacherously began to plunder the outskirts of his principality, he undertook a punitive campaign against them, forcing them to retreat beyond the Don (1186).

At the beginning of the 13th century. successfully fought with Novgorodians (1201), Ryazanians, having finally managed to conquer Ryazan by 1207. Diplomatically achieved recognition from Chernigov and, as the Kiev principality lost its former power, extended its power to its lands (Kiev, Chernigov, Galich, Novgorod Seversky), as well as the lands of distant Smolensk. He died on April 15, 1212 in Vladimir on the Klyazma.

The years of Vsevolod's reign were marked by the highest flourishing of the culture of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality. Chronicles were compiled, in which the respectful attitude towards the Vladimir prince was emphasized even on the part of the "German kings", Gorodets was founded on the Volga, the Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir was rebuilt, the construction of the Kremlin (Detinets), the Rozhdestvensky and Dmitrovsky Cathedrals began with wall bas-reliefs depicting Vsevolod himself and his sons.

In memory of the powerful prince, a postage stamp was issued in 2004 in honor of the 850th anniversary of his birth, as well as his fictionalized biography.

Lev Pushkarev, Natalia Pushkareva

The nickname of this Grand Duke of Russia is not accidental: despite the relatively short (only 58 years) life (1154-1212), this ruler of Russia rightfully occupies a worthy place in the Russian book of records, not to mention the Guinness book. He was married twice, but after himself he left a rich demographic legacy - 12 (!) Children. Today such large families in our country are extremely rare: a maximum of 1-2, or even 3 children. The population of today's Russia hovers around the 147 million mark. (taking into account the annexation of the Crimea, where the population is about 2.5 million). Demography in Russia is a very slippery and complex issue. With such a territory as our country, this figure is catastrophically low! In the same Russian Empire the population was about 185 million, and large families were completely normal and natural. The norm was to have 5 to 10 children in a family. Not long before its collapse, the USSR numbered 290 million people, 160 (about 60%) of whom were Russians. But you can't go far on maternity capital: you need a fundamentally new approach so that the number of ITS population (and not imported) begins to grow by leaps and bounds. In China, for example, since the time of Qin Shihuandi, the following practice has been used: the more children you give birth, the faster you will be exempted from paying taxes and will be taken over by the state. This system looked like this: 1 child - 20 years of taxes, 2 - 15, 3 - 10, 4 - 5, 5 and more - lifelong tax exemption. And I must say that this approach not only benefited China, but also played a cruel joke on it: the state was unable to feed such a hefty anthill, numbering almost 1.5 billion (!!!) people. As a result, this led to the fact that the Chinese began to massively disperse in all directions, and the government of the country decided to reduce the size of its population by adopting the "one child in a family" program. During the Second World War, China's losses amounted to 40 million people - more than the Soviet Union (27-30 million), and during the Cultural Revolution the number of victims increased even more - 60 million. Today, the results of the "one child in a family" program have led to that 400 (!!!) million people are rapidly turning into pensioners, in connection with which the authorities of the Celestial Empire have already made some softening, allowing them to raise no more than 2 children.
So I think: will Russia be pulled out by the Chinese experience, or will there still be people who will solve the demographic problem without outside help?
The birth of Prince Vsevolod, the son of Yuri Dolgoruky. Facial annalistic set
Vsevolod Yurievich the Big Nest (baptized Dmitry, 1154 - April 15, 1212) - Grand Duke of Vladimir since 1176. The tenth son of Yuri Dolgoruky, the younger brother of Andrei Bogolyubsky. Under him, the Grand Duchy of Vladimir reached its highest power. He had a large offspring - 12 children (including 8 sons), therefore he received the nickname "Big Nest". For five weeks (from February to March 24, 1173) he reigned in Kiev. In Russian historiography, he is sometimes called Vsevolod III.

The reign of Vsevolod was the period of the highest rise of the Vladimir-Suzdal land. The reasons for Vsevolod's success are reliance on new cities (Vladimir, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Dmitrov, Gorodets, Kostroma, Tver), where the boyars before him were relatively weak, as well as reliance on the nobility.

Princely strife after the death of Andrei Bogolyubsky
The riots that followed the assassination of Andrey caused the best, most prosperous part of the population to want to end the rulelessness as soon as possible, i.e. summon the princes without whom Ancient Russia I could not even imagine the existence of any social order, and especially any external security. Boyars and vigilantes from Rostov, Suzdal, Pereyaslavl came to Vladimir and, together with the Vladimir squad, began to report which of the descendants of Yuri Dolgoruky to call for reign. Many voices pointed to the need to hurry with this matter, because the neighboring princes, Murom and Ryazan, perhaps, would take it into their heads to take revenge for the previous oppression from the Suzdal and will come as an army, taking advantage of the fact that there is no prince in Suzdal. This fear was right; for at that time the stern, enterprising prince Gleb Rostislavich was sitting on the Ryazan table. There is even a reason to assume that the aforementioned turmoil in the Suzdal land and the very murder of Andrei Bogolyubsky did not take place without some participation of Gleb Ryazansky, with the mediation of his supporters and minions. At the Vladimir Congress we find his ambassadors, namely, two Ryazan boyars, Dedilts and Boris.

In addition to the young son of Yuri Novgorodsky, after Andrei there were two of his younger brothers, Mikhail and Vsevolod, who were his brothers by his father, not by his mother, having been born from Dolgoruky's second wife. He also had two nephews, Mstislav and Yaropolk Rostislavichi. Under the influence of the Ryazan ambassadors, the majority of the congress sided with the nephews, who were Shurias to Gleb Ryazansky; since he was married to their sister. The congress sent several husbands to the Ryazan prince with a request to add their ambassadors to them and send them all together for their shuryas. Both brothers and nephews of Andrey at that time lived with the Chernigov prince Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich. Obviously, not all Suzdal residents wanted nephews; some still remembered the oath given to Dolgoruky to put his younger sons on their table. In addition, the Chernigov prince patronized the Yuryevichs more than the Rostislavichs. Therefore, the matter was arranged in such a way that all four princes went to the Rostov-Suzdal land in order to reign in it together; the eldership was recognized for Mikhalk Yurievich; on which they swore an oath before the Bishop of Chernigov. Mikhalko and one of the Rostislavichi, Yaropolk, drove ahead. But when they reached Moscow, they were met here by a new embassy, \u200b\u200bactually from the Rostovites, which announced to Mikhalka to wait in Moscow, and Yaropolk was invited to go further. Obviously, the Rostovites did not like the Chernigov treaty on the joint reign of the Yuryevichs with the Rostislavichs and the seniority of Mikhalk. But the people of Vladimir accepted the latter and put him on their table.

Then began a struggle or civil strife between uncles and nephews - a struggle, especially curious about different attitude to her Suzdal cities. The oldest of them, Rostov, of course, looked with displeasure at the preference that Andrei showed to the youngest Vladimir before him. Now it seemed that it was a convenient time for the Rostovites to regain their former primacy and humble Vladimir. Calling it their "suburb", the Rostovites demanded that he submit to their decisions, following the example of other Russian lands: "For from the beginning Novgorodians, Smolnyans, Kievans, Polochans and all the authorities, as if on a thought at the Veche, converge, and on what the elders will lay, on and the suburbs will become. " The Rostovites, irritated by the pride of the residents of Vladimir, said: "After all, these are our servants and masons; we will burn Vladimir or put our mayor again in it." In this struggle on the side of Rostov stood another senior city, Suzdal; and Pereyaslavl-Zalessky discovered hesitation between opponents. The Rostov and Suzdalites gathered a large army, received more help from the Murom and Ryazan people, besieged Vladimir, and after a stubborn defense forced him to submit to their decision for a while. Mikhalko withdrew again to Chernigov; in Rostov the elder Rostislavich Mstislav sat down, and in Vladimir the younger Yaropolk. These young, inexperienced princes completely submitted to the influence of the Rostov boyars, who were in a hurry to enrich themselves at the expense of the people with all sorts of lies and oppression. In addition, Rostislav brought with him the southern Russian warriors, who also received the posts of mayors and tiuns and also began to oppress the people with sales (fines) and vira. Yaropolk's advisers even seized the keys to the storerooms of the Assumption Cathedral, began to plunder his treasures, take away from him villages and tributes approved for him by Andrey. Yaropolk allowed his ally and brother-in-law Gleb Ryazansky to take possession of some church jewels, such as books, vessels, and even the miraculous icon of the Mother of God itself.

When in this way not only the political pride of the people of Vladimir was offended, but their religious feeling was also affected, then they entered with even greater energy and again called the Yuryevichs from Chernigov. Mikhalko came with the Chernigov auxiliary squad and expelled the Rostislavichs from the Suzdal land. Grateful to Vladimir, he again approved the main princely table in him; and he put his brother Vsevolod in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. Rostov and Suzdal were again humiliated, not getting a special prince. Mikhalko for a long time lived in Southern Russia and was distinguished there by military exploits, especially against the Polovtsians. Having established himself in Vladimir, he immediately forced Gleb of Ryazansky to return the main shrine of Vladimir, i.e. the icon of the Mother of God, and everything that was stolen by him from the Assumption Church.

But already in the next 1177 Mikhalko died, and the younger Yuryevich Vsevolod sat in Vladimir. Rostov boyars tried again to challenge the primacy of Vladimir and again called on the Rostislavichs to reign. The same Gleb Ryazansky again acted as their zealous ally. He, with hired crowds of Polovtsy, entered the Suzdal land, burned Moscow, rushed straight through the forests to Vladimir and plundered Bogolyubov with his Christmas temple. Meanwhile Vsevolod, having received help from the Novgorodians and Svyatoslav of Chernigov, went to the Ryazan land; but, hearing that Gleb was already ravaging the outskirts of his capital, he hurried back and met the enemy on the banks of the Koloksha River, which flows into the Klyazma on the left. Gleb suffered a complete defeat here, was captured and soon died in prison. Both Rostislavich were also captured by Vsevolod; but then, at the request of the Chernigov prince, they were released to visit relatives in Smolensk.

Board of Vsevolod the Big Nest
With such a brilliant victory, Vsevolod III, nicknamed the Big Nest, began his reign, who again united the entire Rostov-Suzdal land in his hands.
Vsevolod spent his youth in different places, in the midst of various circumstances and changes in his destiny, which greatly contributed to the development of his practical, flexible mind and government abilities. By the way, while still a child, he with his mother and brothers (expelled by Andrey from Suzdal) spent some time in Byzantium, from where he could take away many instructive impressions; then he lived for a long time in Southern Russia, where he was skilled in military affairs. By pacifying the seditious Rostovites by a victory over a hostile neighbor, the Ryazan prince, and by the final rise of the Vladimirites, Vsevolod from the very beginning became their favorite; they attributed his successes to the special patronage of their shrine, miraculous icon Virgin. The very behavior of Vsevolod at the beginning of his reign is with a touch of some gentleness and good nature. After the victory at Koloksha, the Vladimir boyars and merchants almost revolted for the fact that the prince left the prisoners of Rostov, Suzdal and Ryazan at large; to calm the excitement, he was forced to put them in prisons. Something similar happened a few years later, during the siege of the Novgorod suburb of Torzhok: when the prince hesitated by attack, as if sparing the city, his squad began to murmur, saying: "We did not come to kiss them," and the prince was forced to take the city as a shield. From the same data of historians, we have every right to conclude that some prominent features in the activities of the famous North Russian prince, in addition to his personal character, were determined the environment, the nature of the North Russian population.

Obviously, the unsuccessful end, which befell Andrey's attempt to introduce complete autocracy, according to the natural historical law, led the so-called. a reaction in favor of those whom he tried to completely subordinate to his will, that is, in favor of the boyars and squads. During the internecine strife that occurred after his death, the Rostov and Suzdal boyars were defeated and humiliated, but only in order to join their victors, the boyars and warriors of Vladimir, and have common interests with them. As in other regions of Russia, the cities of the northeastern during these troubles show loyalty to their princely family (Dolgoruky's offspring) and do not call princes from any other branch. But they also do not put them on their table unconditionally, but only according to a certain series, or agreement. So, regarding the aforementioned harassment of the people from the alien warriors of Yaropolk Rostislavich, the residents of Vladimir began to create veche, which said in this sense: "We voluntarily accepted the prince and established ourselves with a kiss of the cross; and it is not at all fitting for these (South Russians) to sit with us and rob someone else's parish. Trade, brothers! " In the same way, not without a number of people, the residents of Vladimir put Mikhalk, and then Vsevolod. This series, of course, consisted in confirming the old customs that ensured the advantages of the military class or boyars and squads, as well as some of the rights of the zemstvo people in relation to court and government. Consequently, in North-Eastern Russia we see for the time being the same customs and attitude of the squad to their princes, as in South, the same city parties. However, all the northern princes, up to Vsevolod inclusive, spent part of their lives in Southern Russia, had possessions there and brought with them to the north many South Russians, including the Kievans. Northern Russia was still nourished by Kiev customs and traditions, so to speak, by Kiev citizenship.

At the same time, however, those features of distinction that later developed and gave North-Eastern Rus a different shade compared to Kievan Rus are beginning to emerge. The boyars and squads in the north acquire a shade more zemstvo than in the south, more sedentary and landowning; they are closer to other classes and do not represent such a predominance in military strength as in the south. Like the Novgorod one, the Suzdal militia is primarily a zemstvo army, with boyars and squads at the head. The northeastern squad is less separating its benefits from the interests of the land; it is more united with the rest of the population and more assists the princes in their political and economic concerns. In short, in North-Eastern Russia we see the beginnings of more state relations. Some of the features of the Suzdal boyars seemed to recall the ambitious aspirations of the contemporary Galician boyars. But in the north it could not find the same fertile ground for its claims. The population here was distinguished by a less impressionable and mobile, more judicious character; there were no Ugrians and Poles in the neighborhood, ties with whom nourished and supported internal sedition. On the contrary, as soon as the Suzdal land calmed down under the firm, intelligent rule of Vsevolod III, the northern boyars became his zealous assistant. Being cooler and more cautious than his older brother, Vsevolod not only did not enter into open struggle with the boyars, but caressed him, outwardly observed the old customs and attitudes and used his advice in zemstvo affairs. In the person of Vsevolod III, in general, we see a prince who presented a wonderful example of a northern, or Great Russian, character, active, calculating, homely, capable of unswervingly pursuing his goal, of a cruel or gentle course of action, depending on the circumstances, in a word, those are the features , on which the state building of great Russia was built.

Vsevolod's struggle with neighboring principalities
When the turmoil caused by the murder of Andrei ended, and Vsevolod restored autocracy in the Rostov-Suzdal principality, then it was possible to restore its dominance over the neighboring Russian regions, Novgorod, on the one hand, and Muromo-Ryazan, on the other. The desire for this predominance was not only a personal matter of the Vladimir prince, but also of his boyars, squads and people, who were aware of their superiority in strength and had already got used to such predominance under Yuri Dolgoruk and Andrei Bogolyubsky. In a review of Novgorod history, we saw how Vsevolod managed to re-establish Suzdal influence in Veliky Novgorod and give him princes out of his hands. It reached an even more decisive predominance in the Ryazan region. This area, after Gleb, who died in captivity in Vladimir, was divided by his sons, who recognized themselves as dependent on Vsevolod and themselves sometimes turned to him to resolve their disputes. But here the Suzdal influence clashed with the Chernigov influence, since the Ryazan princes were the younger branch of the Chernigov ones. Vsevolod had to quarrel with his benefactor Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich, who considered himself the head of not only the Chernigov-Seversk princes, but also the Ryazan princes, intervened in their feuds, and also supported Novgorod the Great in his struggle with Suzdal and put his son there. It came to an open break.

The Chernigov prince, together with the Seversk squads and hired Polovtsy, undertook a campaign in the Suzdal land. Near the mouth of the Tvertsa, the Novgorodians joined them, brought by his son (Vladimir). Having devastated the banks of the Volga, Svyatoslav, not reaching forty versts to Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, met Vsevolod III, who, in addition to the Suzdal regiments, had auxiliary squads from Ryazan and Murom. Despite the impatience of those around him, cautious and calculating like a true northern prince, Vsevolod did not want to risk a decisive battle with the South Russian regiments, known for military prowess; and began to wait for the enemy across the river Vlenya (the left tributary of the Dubna, which flows into the Volga). He placed his camp on its steep banks in an area crossed by ravines and hills. For two weeks both troops stood, looking at each other from the opposite bank. Vsevolod ordered the Ryazan princes to make an unexpected night attack. The Ryazanites broke into Svyatoslav's camp and caused confusion there. But when Vsevolod Trubchevskii came to the aid of the Chernigovites ("bui-tour" "The Lay of Igor's Regiment"), the Ryazanites fled, having lost many killed and prisoners. In vain Svyatoslav sent to Vsevolod with a proposal to resolve the matter by the Court of God and asked for this to retreat from the coast so that it could be crossed. Vsevolod detained the ambassadors and did not answer. Meanwhile, spring was approaching: fearing the spill of water, Svyatoslav threw the baggage train and hastened to leave (1181). The following year, the rivals restored their old friendship and became related by the marriage of one of Svyatoslav's sons to Vsevolod's sister-in-law, Princess Yasskaya. And soon then (in 1183), when Vsevolod planned a campaign against the Kama Bolgars and asked Svyatoslav for help, he sent him a detachment with his son Vladimir.

Vsevolod's hike to the Kama Bulgarians
This last war arose as a result of the plunders that the Bulgarian ships on the Oka and Volga were subjected to from the Ryazan and Murom volunteers. Not receiving satisfaction for the offense, the Bulgarians armed the ship's men, in turn devastated the outskirts of Murom and reached Ryazan itself. The campaign of Vsevolod III therefore had the significance of the general defense of the Russian lands from foreigners. In addition to the Suzdal, Ryazan and Murom regiments, the Chernigov and Smolny residents took part in it. Up to eight princes gathered in Vladimir-on-Klyazma. The Grand Duke spent several days cheerfully feasting with his guests, and then on May 20 set out on a campaign with them. Suzdal's Klyazma descended into the Oka and then joined up with the allied regiments. The cavalry went by the field past the Mordovian villages, and the ship's men swam along the Volga. Having reached one of the Volga islands, called Isady, the princes stopped the ships here under the cover of predominantly Belozersk squad with the voivode Foma Laskovich; and with the rest of the army and cavalry they entered the land of the Silver Bulgarians. The Grand Duke made peace with the neighboring Mordovian tribes, and they willingly sold food supplies to the Russian army. On the way to the Russians, a Polovtsian detachment unexpectedly joined, which was led by one of the Bulgarian princes against his fellow tribesmen. Obviously, in Kama Bulgaria, the same civil strife happened as in Russia, and the Bulgarian rulers also brought steppe barbarians to their land. The Russian army approached the "Great City", that is, the main capital. The young princes galloped up to the very gates and fought with the enemy infantry fortified around them. Vsevolod's nephew Izyaslav Glebovich was especially distinguished for his courage; but an enemy arrow pierced him through the armor under his heart, so that he was carried dead to the Russian camp. The mortal wound of his beloved nephew greatly saddened Vsevolod; he stood for ten days under the city; and, not taking it, went back. Meanwhile, the people of Belozero, who remained at the ships, were attacked by the roundabout Bulgarians, who sailed by the Volga from the cities of Sobekul and Chelmat; with them also joined the Bulgarians, called temtyuz, and the cavalry from Torchesk; the number of the attackers extended to 5000. The enemies were defeated. They were in a hurry to leave on their lessons; but Russian boats pursued them and drowned more than 1000 people. The Russian infantry returned home in the same manner, i.e. on ships; and the cavalry also went through the lands of Mordva, with which this time it was not without hostile clashes.

The body of the dear Izyaslav Glebovich, who died, was brought to Vladimir and buried in the golden-domed church of the Mother of God. His brother, Vladimir Glebovich, as we have seen, reigned in South Pereyaslavl and distinguished himself for his heroism during the invasion of Konchak Polovetsky. If not about these Glebovichs, then “The Lay of Igor's Regiment” recalls the Ryazan ones, when he refers to the power of the Suzdal prince: “Grand Duke Vsevolod! You can sprinkle the oars on the Volga, and pour out the Don helmets. Even if you were (here), you would be chaga (captive) on the legs, and koschey on the cut. You can shoot live shereshirs (throwing weapons) on dry land, the daring sons of Glebov. " That this appeal was not just rhetoric and that Vsevolod took to heart the insults of the Russian land from the barbarians, this is shown by his large campaign against the Polovtsy, undertaken in the spring of 1199 with the Suzdal and Ryazan regiments. He reached the Polovtsian winter quarters on the banks of the Don and ruined them; The Polovtsi did not dare to fight him; with their wagons and herds, they went to the sea itself.

Domestic policy of Vsevolod Big Nest
The restless Ryazan princes caused Vsevolod a lot of trouble with their strife and indignation. He several times undertook campaigns in their land and completely subjugated it. The princes of the neighboring Smolensk region also venerated his eldership. As for Southern Russia, even during the life of the energetic Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich, the influence of the Suzdal prince was restored there. The latter could intervene all the more conveniently in the affairs of the Dnieper region, because he himself had in it the hereditary Pereyaslav volost, which he held first by his nephews and then by his own sons. We saw that after the death of Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich, his successors occupied the Kiev table only with the consent of Vsevolod III. He achieved this predominance not by sending a host there, like Andrei Bogolyubsky, but by his only skillful policy, albeit combined with a certain cunning. It is known how he cleverly quarreled Rurik of Kiev with Roman Volynsky and prevented the close alliance of these strongest rulers of Southwestern Russia, which could rebuff the claims of North-Eastern Russia.

With the help of a clever and cautious policy, Vsevolod gradually established order and tranquility in his land, established his power and was successful in almost all important enterprises. It is also imperceptible that he diligently followed the autocratic aspirations of Bogolyubsky. Taught by his fate, he, on the contrary, is the keeper of the old retinue customs and honors the great boyars. The chronicles do not mention any displeasure on their part; although they add to the praise of Vsevolod that he did an impartial judgment to the people and did not pander to strong people who offended lesser ones. Of the great boyars of Vsevolod, who distinguished themselves as governors, the chronicle names Foma Laskovich and old Dorozhai, who still served Yuri Dolgoruky: they were the governor in the Bulgarian campaign of 1183. Further, they mention: Yakov, the "sister" of the Grand Duke (nephew from his sister), who accompanied Verkhuslava Vsevolodovna, the bride of Rostislav Rurikovich, to South Russia with the boyars and boyars; tiun Gyurya, who was sent to renew Oster Township; Kuzma Ratshich, the "sword" of the Grand Duke, who went with an army to the Ryazan land in 1210, and others.

Vsevolod's actions on the appointment of Rostov bishops are curious. Like Bogolyubsky, he tried to choose them himself, and exclusively from the Russian people, and not from the Greeks, which undoubtedly fulfilled the people's desire. Once the Metropolitan of Kiev Niknfor appointed Nikola Grechin to the Rostov cathedra, whom, according to the chronicle, he put "on a bribe", that is, he took money from him. But the prince and the "people" did not accept him and sent him back (about 1184). Vsevolod sent an ambassador to Kiev to Svyatoslav and to the metropolitan with a request to appoint Luka, an abbot at the Savior on Berestovo, a man of humble spirit and meekness, to the Bishop of Rostov, and therefore one who could not enter into any quarrels with the princely authority. The Metropolitan opposed, but Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich supported the request, and Luke was placed in Rostov, and Nikola Grechin - in Polotsk. When the humble Luke died four years later, the Grand Duke chose his own confessor John as his successor, whom he sent to be assigned to the Kiev Metropolitan. John, apparently, was also a quiet bishop, obedient to the Grand Duke and, moreover, his active assistant in the building of the temple.

Vsevolod's buildings
Quite frequent wars and campaigns did not prevent Vsevolod from diligently engaging in economic, construction, judicial, family affairs, etc. In peacetime, he did not heal in his capital Vladimir, but conscientiously fulfilled the old custom of polyudya, i.e. He himself traveled to the regions, charged, collected tributes, tried criminals, settled litigations. From the chronicle, we learn that various events find him in Suzdal, then in Rostov, then in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, on the polyudye. At the same time, he observed the serviceability of the fortifications, built detinets, or repaired the dilapidated city walls. The abandoned cities were renewed (for example, Ostersky Gorodok). Fire in particular provided food for building activities. So in 1185 on April 18, a terrible fire devastated Vladimir-on-Klyazma; almost the whole city was burned. The prince's court and up to 32 churches became victims of the fire; including the burnt and the Cathedral of the Assumption Church, created by Andrei Bogolyubsky. At the same time, his jewelry, expensive vessels, silver chandeliers, icons in gold frames with pearls, liturgical books, expensive princes' clothes and various "ornamental" or gold-embroidered fabrics (oxamites), which during great holidays hung up in the church. Many of these treasures were kept in the church tower, or pantry, in the choir; confused ministers threw them out of the tower into the churchyard, where they also became prey to the flame.

The Grand Duke immediately began to destroy the traces of the fire; by the way, he rebuilt the Detinets, the princely tower and renewed the golden-domed temple of the Assumption; and expanded it by adding new walls on three sides; and around the middle dome he erected four more smaller ones, which he also gilded. When the renovation was completed, in 1189 the cathedral church was again and solemnly consecrated by Bishop Luke. Three or four years later, almost half of Vladimir again fell prey to the flames: up to 14 churches were burnt down; but the prince's court and the cathedral temple survived this time. In 1199, on July 25, we read the news about the third great fire in Vladimir: it began during the liturgy and lasted until Vespers; and again almost half of the city and up to 16 churches were burnt down. Renovating old churches, Vsevolod decorated his capital city with new ones; among other things, he erected the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin, at which he male monastery, and also the temple of the Assumption, at which his wife Maria founded a convent. But the most famous building of the Grand Duke is the court-prince's temple in honor of his saint, Demetrius of Thessaloniki; since the Christian name of Vsevolod III was Demetrius. To this day, this temple represents the most elegant monument of ancient Russian art.

Vsevolod was helped a lot in his construction activities by Bishop John, his former confessor. By the way, they carried out the renovation of the Cathedral Church of the Theotokos in the city of Suzdal, which has become dilapidated from time and neglect. The tops of it were again covered with tin, and the walls were plastered again. Curious about this is the following news of the chronicler: this time the bishop did not address the German masters; but he found his own, of whom some poured tin, others wings, and others cooked lime and whitewashed the walls. Consequently, the construction activities of Yuri, Andrey and Vsevolod did not remain without influence on the education of purely Russian master technicians; Vsevolod III is a model of the northern family-man. God blessed him with numerous offspring; which is indicated by the very nickname of it the Big Nest. We know the names of eight of his sons and several daughters. His attachment to old family customs is indicated, among other things, by the news of the chronicle about the tonsure of the prince's sons. This ancient common Slavic rite consisted in the fact that a three- or four-year-old prince was cut off his hair and for the first time put on a horse; and they were having a feast. In Christian times, of course, prayers and blessings of the church were added to such a rite. Vsevolod celebrated tonsures with particular solemnity and gave merry feasts. He accompanied the marriage of his son and the marriage of his daughter with even larger feasts and lavish gifts. We saw how he gave his beloved daughter Verkhuslava-Anastasia to the son of Rurikov Rostislav.

Family of Vsevolod Big Nest
Vsevolod was married to a Yass, or Alan, princess. Among the Russian princes of that time, we meet more than one example of a marriage union with individual Caucasian rulers, partly Christian, partly semi-pagan. It may well be that the beauty of the Circassian women, different from Russian women, captivated our princes. However, by all indications in the XII century, the ancient relations with the Caucasian peoples, established during the Russian rule on the shores of the Azov and Black Seas, were still continuing, i.e. in the Tmutarakan land. People from the Caucasus often entered the Russian service and were even among the prince's servants, such as the famous Anbal, the key keeper of Andrei Bogolyubsky. The wife of Vsevolod Maria, although she grew up in a semi-pagan country, like many Russian princesses, was distinguished by her special piety, zeal for the church and charity. A monument to her piety is the aforementioned Assumption Monastery in Vladimir, which she built. For the last seven or eight years of her life, the Grand Duchess was depressed by some grave illness. In 1206, she tonsured her hair in her Dormition monastery, where she died a few days later and was solemnly buried, mourned by the Grand Duke, children, clergy and people. Maria, apparently, arrived in Russia not alone, but as a whole family, or summoned her loved ones to her later, perhaps after some unfortunate coup for her family in her homeland. At least the chronicle mentions two of her sisters: one of. Vsevolod gave them off to the son of Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich of Kiev, and the other to Yaroslav Vladimirovich, whom he kept on the table of Veliky Novgorod as a brother-in-law and an assistant. Yaroslav's wife also died in Vladimir, even before the Grand Duchess and was buried in her own Dormition monastery. In general, not one orphaned or persecuted relative found shelter and affection with this hospitable Vladimir couple. So, under her wing the sister of the Grand Duke, the unloved wife of Osmomysl Galitsky, Olga Yuryevna, in the dungeons Euphrosinia (she died in 1183 and was buried in the Vladimir Assumption Cathedral), and the widow of Mikhalk Yuryevich's brother, Fevronia, who survived her twenty-five years wife (buried in the Suzdal Cathedral). Loving full family life, the Grand Duke of the death of his first wife, obviously, missed his widowhood, and, being almost sixty years old, already having many grandchildren, entered into a second marriage with the daughter of the Vitebsk prince Vasilko, in 1209. A child-loving family man, Vsevolod III was not always a benevolent prince in relation to his nephews and, like Andrei, did not give them inheritances in the Suzdal region, including the son of Bogolyubsky, Yuri. However, the latter, perhaps, by his behavior himself armed his uncle against himself. Russian chronicles tell us nothing about the fate of Yuri Andreevich. Only from foreign sources do we learn that, persecuted by his uncle, he retired to one of the Polovtsian khans. Then the embassy from Georgia came to him with a marriage proposal. At that time, the famous Tamara sat on the throne of Georgia, after her father George III. When the Georgian clergy and nobles were looking for a worthy bridegroom for her, a noble husband named Abulasan pointed out to them the name of Yuri as a young man who, by his origin, handsome appearance, intelligence and courage, was quite worthy of Tamara's hand. The nobles approved this choice and sent one merchant as an ambassador to Yuri. This latter arrived in Georgia, was married to Tamara and at first marked himself with feats of arms in wars with hostile neighbors. But then he changed his behavior, indulged in guilt and all revelry; so Tamara, after vain admonitions, divorced him and sent him to the Greek domain. He returned to Georgia and tried to rebel against the Queen; but was defeated and driven out again. His further fate is unknown.

Denying inheritance to his nephews, Vsevolod, however, in relation to his sons did not show any worries about the subsequent successes of autocracy. According to the custom of the old Russian princes, he divided his lands between them and even discovered a lack of state foresight, in which he was undoubtedly inferior to his brother Andrei. Vsevolod had six sons left alive: Konstantin, Yuri, Yaroslav, Svyatoslav, Vladimir, Ivan. He planted the elder Constantine in Rostov, where this clever prince acquired a popular disposition. He was especially close to the Rostovites by a terrible fire, which in 1211 destroyed most of their city, including 15 churches. Constantine at that time was feasting in Vladimir at the wedding of his brother Yuri with the daughter of the Kiev prince Vsevolod Chermny. Hearing about the misfortune of the Rostovites, Konstantin hastened to his inheritance and put a lot of concern to relieve the victims. In the next 1212, the Grand Duke, sensing the approach of death, sent again for Konstantin, who was appointed by the senior Vladimir's table, and Rostov ordered to transfer it to his second son Yuri. But then Konstantin, who had hitherto been distinguished by modesty and obedience, suddenly showed decisive disobedience to his father: he did not go to the two-time conscription and demanded both cities, Rostov and Vladimir. In all likelihood, in this case, the claims of the Rostovites to seniority were renewed, and the suggestions of the Rostov boyars acted. On the other hand, Constantine, perhaps, understood that in order to eliminate such a dispute between two cities and in the form of strong government power, the grand duke must have both of these cities in his hands. Vsevolod was greatly upset by such disobedience and punished Constantine by depriving him of his seniority, and gave the Vladimir great table to his second son Yuri. But, realizing the fragility of such an innovation, he wished to strengthen it with a common oath of the best people of his land; hence, he repeated almost the same thing that his brother-in-law Yaroslav Osmomysl Galitsky did 25 years ago. Vsevolod summoned boyars from all his cities and volosts to Vladimir; also gathered noblemen, merchants and clergy with Bishop John at the head and made this Zemsky Sobor swear allegiance to Yuri as the Grand Duke, to whom he entrusted his other sons. Soon afterwards, on April 14, Vsevolod the Big Nest died, was mourned by his sons and people and solemnly buried in the golden-domed Assumption Cathedral.

Vsevolod Yuryevich (son of Yuri Dolgoruky) - received the nickname Big Nest for a completely obvious reason: he had a very large family - twelve children, eight of whom were sons.

Role in history

Historians consider the period of Vsevolod's reign to be the period of the highest rise and prosperity of the Vlodimiro-Suzdal lands. The reasons for his successful reign, they call cooperation with new cities: Vladimir, Pereslavl - Zalessky, Dmitrov, Gorodets, Kostroma, Tver. There he managed to strengthen the forces of the boyars, which had been relatively weak before him. In addition, he found support from the local nobility. Vsevolod was an intelligent and gifted commander: he managed to form his army and train it so that it was ready for any trial. In the famous "Lay of Igor's Regiment" the author respectfully noted that the army of Vsevolod could "splash the Volga with oars", and the Don "scoop out with helmets."

Beginning of life

The Grand Duke was born in 1154. In 1162, when Vsevolod was only seven years old, his elder brother, Prince of Kiev Andrei Bogolyubsky, expelled his stepmother, Princess Olga from his principality. Together with the children - Michael, Vasily and Vsevolod - she left for Constantinople under the patronage of Emperor Manuel. At the age of fifteen, Vsevolod returned to Russia and made peace with Andrei. Soon, in 1169, he and other allied princes took part in the conquest of Kiev. In 1173, Vsevolod's elder brother Mikhail Yuryevich sent him to reign in Kiev, but the Rostislavovichs of Smolensk who had seized the city soon took him prisoner. Soon Michael bought out his brother.

Strife: conquests and losses

After the murder of the brothers Andrei Bogolyubsky (1174) and Mikhail (1176), the Rostovites sent an ambassador to Novgorod with a message about these deaths to Mstislav Rostislavovich, the grandson of Yu. Dolgoruky. They asked Mstislav to intervene. Mstislav immediately gathered his regiments and headed for Vladimir. And there they already blessed Vsevolod Yuryevich and his children for reign. A battle took place between the people of Vladimir and Mstislav, where the people of Vladimir won. Mstislav took his troops to Novgorod. Meanwhile, Vsevolod, in alliance with Svyatoslav of Chernigov, defeated the Ryazan prince Gleb, after which Roman Glebovich, Svyatoslav's son-in-law, became prince there. In 1180, Vsevolod opposed the fact that Roman concentrated his power on the Ryazan lands, and severed the connection with Svyatoslav. Then Svyatoslav directed his weapon against Vsevolod. As a result, the son of Svyatoslav was expelled from Novgorod, after which Vsevolod's representatives ruled there for three decades. Vsevolod the Big Nest himself did not stop the struggle against Volga Bulgaria and the Mordovians. This is evidenced by his campaigns in 1184, 1186. In 1180, he made a new campaign against the Ryazan lands. After the death of Prince Svyatoslav (1194), the Chernigov Olgovichi claimed the reign of Kiev. Vsevolod agreed to the plan of the Smolensk princes Rostislavovich, according to which the Olgovichi would be deprived of the possessions of the right-bank Dnieper. In 1195, the Olgovichi successfully opposed the Prince of Smolensk. David. Rurik of Kiev was going on a campaign against the Chernigov principality. They prepared to defend their capital (1196) and made cuttings along the entire path of the alleged enemy offensive, and placed the main forces behind them. But there was no fight. As a result of the negotiations, the Olgovichi refused to claim Kiev while Rurik was alive, and Smolensk - while Davyd was alive. New strife deprived Vsevolod of the southern territories of the Pereyaslavl principality, and Rurik lost power in Kiev. In 1207, Vsevolod made a campaign in Chernigov, defeated the Chernigov allies in Ryazan, burned the city itself and captured six princes. A few years later, peace was concluded, the Kiev principality remained with Vsevolod Chermny, Vsevolod the Big Nest regained the south of Pereyaslavl. But in the Novgorod land, his position was shaken under the influence of the Rostislavovichs of Smolensk, or rather, their representative from the next generation - Mstislav Udatny (1210).

Board results

The results of Vsevolod's activities were the taming of the Rostov boyars who opposed the princely power, the multiplication of the Vladimir-Suzdal lands, the construction of the Dmitrovsky and Christmas cathedrals in Vladimir. The Grand Duke died on April 15, 1212. His relics are kept in the Vladimir Assumption Cathedral.