Yuri Dolgoruky is considered the founder of Moscow and one of the main "collectors of lands". It is believed that this prince pursued a policy of uniting the Russian principalities, but all these ideas turn out to be controversial.
When was Dolgoruky born?
We do not know for certain either the day or even the year of Yuri Dolgoruky's birth. It is known that the name Yuri is a derivative of the name George. It is also known that Yuri Dolgoruky celebrated his name day in April. If you look at the calendar, it turns out that in April the memory of Georgiev is celebrated four times, but only once - on the 23rd - in memory of George the Victorious, after whom, obviously, the prince was named. It was customary to baptize babies on the fortieth day after birth, but this rule was not always observed in princely houses, therefore it is customary among historians to indicate only the season when Yuri Dolgoruky was born - in the spring.
If spring, what year? Vasily Tatishchev indicated the year 1090, but later calculations refute this date. Yuri was the sixth child of Vladimir Monomakh, his elder brother Vyacheslav (fifth son) was about 15 years older than Yuri, and he was born between 1081 and 1084. Thus, the year of birth of Yuri Dolgoruky is still unknown today and is determined between 1095-1097 and 1102.
Whose son?
Who was the mother of Yuri Dolgoruky? On this score, historians have at least some clarity. The prince could be the son of the second wife of Vladimir Monomakh Efimiya, since the first wife of Vladimir Monomakh - Gita of Wessex, daughter of the Anglo-Saxon king Harold II, died on March 10, probably 1098, while "Gyurgeva mother", which is mentioned in the "Instruction" of Vladimir Monomakh, died May 7, 1107. Obviously, they were two different women. Thus, the version of Vasily Tatishchev about the relationship of Yuri Dolgoruky with the Anglo-Saxons is disputed today.
Founder of Moscow
If you ask any person about who Yuri Dolgoruky is, then with a high degree of probability they will answer you: "He founded Moscow." And this would be a mistake, since Yuri Dolgoruky was not the founder of Moscow. His name is associated with the ancient history of the Russian capital only for the reason that the first mention of Moscow in the Ipatiev Chronicle occurs in connection with a letter from Dolgoruky to Prince Svyatoslav Olgovich of Novgorod-Seversky, whom Yuri calls "to his place in Moscow" to stay.
However, Yuri Dolgoruky was not the founder of Moscow. The chronicle says that the prince gave his guest "a strong dinner." This means that Moscow not only existed, but was also a city in which it was possible to place a squad and arrange a feast. It is known that in the Moscow region there were villages and villages that belonged to the boyar Stepan Ivanovich Kuchko. By the way, Dolgoruky killed the boyar himself, and subsequently married his daughter Julitta to his son Andrei Bogolyubsky. By the way, the "conspiracy of the Kuchkovichi" is one of the main versions of the murder of Andrei Bogolyubsky.
Why "Dolgoruky"?
With historical nicknames, the situation has always been and remains interesting. They can be interpreted in different ways, in contrast to the market preferences of a particular era. So, Ivan Kalita at one time was positioned as a greedy prince who carried a wallet with him because of his stinginess, then the same wallet became an attribute of a generous person who distributed alms to everyone.
A similar situation is with the nickname "Dolgoruky". The 18th-century historian Mikhail Mikhailovich Shcherbatov wrote that Prince Yuri was nicknamed Dolgoruky by analogy with the Persian king Artaxerxes - for "greed for acquisition." In the current history textbooks, the origin of the nickname is explained by the fact that Yuri Dolgoruky was a "collector of lands."
It must be said that in addition to Yuri, there were two more “Dolgoruky” in the Rurik family. This is the ancestor of the Vyazemsky princes, a descendant of Mstislav the Great, Andrei Vladimirovich Dolgaya Ruka, who is mentioned in chronicles only once, in 1300; and a descendant of St. Michael Vsevolodovich of Chernigov, Prince Ivan Andreevich Obolensky, nicknamed Dolgoruky, the ancestor of the Dolgorukov princes. In all cases, the interpretation of nicknames is unprovable.
Where did the cult come from
Until the middle of the 20th century, Yuri Dolgoruky was presented in historical science as one of the "regional" princes, whose activity as a whole for the history of the Russian state was insignificant. He did a lot for the Rostov-Suzdal land, pursued an active urban policy, but without the annalistic "binding" to Moscow, Yuri Dolgoruky would have remained one of the many talented and active, but far from being grand dukes.
The cult of Yuri Dolgoruky is of late, Stalinist origin. It was prepared for the 800th anniversary of Moscow, in 1947. Then they issued a medal with the image of the prince, and made a monument (installed in 1954). Plus, Yuri Dolgoruky as a symbol of the city was also in the fact that he ideally combined with the patron of Moscow, George the Victorious.
Historians cannot determine the exact date of birth in the biography of Yuri Dolgorukov. It is believed that he was born between 1090 and 1097. At an early age, Yuri became the prince of Rostov-Suzdal, ruled in Suzdal until the end of his life.
The nickname Dolgoruky was due to attempts to capture Pereyaslavl, Kyiv. After the founding of Moscow, Dolgoruky fortified the city with walls and a moat. In the biography of Prince Yuri Dolgorukov, several attempts were made to conquer Kyiv. In 1147 he established himself in Kursk, and two years later captured Kyiv. But he could not rule there for a long time - Izyaslav recaptured the city. After several unsuccessful battles, Dolgoruky no longer attacked the southern lands while Izyaslav was alive.
The biography of Dolgoruky is also known for the foundation of several cities in addition to Moscow (Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, Yuryev-Polsky), as well as fortresses and cathedrals. In 1155, Yuri again attacked Kyiv, ruled there until 1157. Mstislav Izyaslavich, Rostislav Mstislavich, Izyaslav Davydovich united together to fight Yuri Dolgoruky. But the campaign was never resolved, because on May 15, 1157, the Grand Duke of Kyiv died.
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Yuri Dolgoruky is considered the founder of Moscow and one of the main "collectors of lands". It is believed that this prince pursued a policy of uniting the Russian principalities, but all these ideas turn out to be controversial.
When was Dolgoruky born?
We do not know for certain either the day or even the year of Yuri Dolgoruky's birth. It is known that the name Yuri is a derivative of the name George. It is also known that Yuri Dolgoruky celebrated his name day in April. If you look at the calendar, it turns out that in April the memory of Georgiev is celebrated four times, but only once - on the 23rd - in memory of George the Victorious, after whom, obviously, the prince was named. It was customary to baptize babies on the fortieth day after birth, but this rule was not always observed in princely houses, therefore it is customary among historians to indicate only the season when Yuri Dolgoruky was born - in the spring.
If spring, what year? Vasily Tatishchev indicated the year 1090, but later calculations refute this date. Yuri was the sixth child of Vladimir Monomakh, his elder brother Vyacheslav (fifth son) was about 15 years older than Yuri, and he was born between 1081 and 1084. Thus, the year of birth of Yuri Dolgoruky is still unknown today and is determined between 1095-1097 and 1102.
Whose son?
Who was the mother of Yuri Dolgoruky? On this score, historians have at least some clarity. The prince could be the son of the second wife of Vladimir Monomakh Efimiya, since the first wife of Vladimir Monomakh - Gita of Wessex, daughter of the Anglo-Saxon king Harold II, died on March 10, probably 1098, while "Gyurgeva mother", which is mentioned in the "Instruction" of Vladimir Monomakh, died May 7, 1107. Obviously, they were two different women. Thus, the version of Vasily Tatishchev about the relationship of Yuri Dolgoruky with the Anglo-Saxons is disputed today.
Founder of Moscow
If you ask any person about who Yuri Dolgoruky is, then with a high degree of probability they will answer you: "He founded Moscow." And this would be a mistake, since Yuri Dolgoruky was not the founder of Moscow. His name is associated with the ancient history of the Russian capital only for the reason that the first mention of Moscow in the Ipatiev Chronicle occurs in connection with a letter from Dolgoruky to Prince Svyatoslav Olgovich of Novgorod-Seversky, whom Yuri calls "to his place in Moscow" to stay.
However, Yuri Dolgoruky was not the founder of Moscow. The chronicle says that the prince gave his guest "a strong dinner". This means that Moscow not only existed, but was also a city in which it was possible to place a squad and arrange a feast. It is known that in the Moscow region there were villages and villages that belonged to the boyar Stepan Ivanovich Kuchko. By the way, Dolgoruky killed the boyar himself, and subsequently married his daughter Julitta to his son Andrei Bogolyubsky. By the way, the "conspiracy of the Kuchkoviches" is one of the main versions of the murder of Andrei Bogolyubsky.
Why "Dolgoruky"?
With historical nicknames, the situation has always been and remains interesting. They can be interpreted in different ways, in contrast to the market preferences of a particular era. So, Ivan Kalita at one time was positioned as a greedy prince who carried a wallet with him because of his stinginess, then the same wallet became an attribute of a generous person who distributed alms to everyone.
The situation is similar with the nickname "Dolgoruky". The 18th-century historian Mikhail Mikhailovich Shcherbatov wrote that Prince Yuri was nicknamed Dolgoruky by analogy with the Persian king Artaxerxes - for "greed for acquisition." In the current history textbooks, the origin of the nickname is explained by the fact that Yuri Dolgoruky was a "collector of lands."
It must be said that in addition to Yuri, there were two more "Dolgoruky" in the Rurik family. This is the ancestor of the Vyazemsky princes, a descendant of Mstislav the Great, Andrei Vladimirovich Dolgaya Ruka, who is mentioned in chronicles only once, in 1300; and a descendant of St. Michael Vsevolodovich of Chernigov, Prince Ivan Andreevich Obolensky, nicknamed Dolgoruky, the ancestor of the Dolgorukov princes. In all cases, the interpretation of nicknames is unprovable.
Where did the cult come from
Until the middle of the 20th century, Yuri Dolgoruky was presented in historical science as one of the "regional" princes, whose activity as a whole for the history of the Russian state was insignificant. He did a lot for the Rostov-Suzdal land, pursued an active urban policy, but without the annalistic "binding" to Moscow, Yuri Dolgoruky would have remained one of the many talented and active, but far from being great princes.
Here is what Karamzin writes about him in his "History of the Russian State": "Our modest Chroniclers rarely talk about the evil qualities of Sovereigns, zealously praising the good ones; but George, no doubt, distinguished himself first when, being the son of a Prince so beloved, he could not deserve We saw that he played with the sanctity of oaths and agitated Russia, exhausted by internal disagreements, for the benefit of his ambition.
Vasily Tatishchev was no less categorical: “This Grand Duke was of considerable height, fat, white in face, his eyes were not very large, his nose was long and crooked, his beard was small, a great lover of women, sweet food and drink; more about fun than about management and the army was diligent, but all of it consisted in the power and supervision of his nobles and favorites ... He did little himself, more and more allied children and princes ... ".
The cult of Yuri Dolgoruky is of late, Stalinist origin. It was prepared for the 800th anniversary of Moscow, in 1947. Then they issued a medal with the image of the prince, and made a monument (installed in 1954). Plus, Yuri Dolgoruky as a symbol of the city was also in the fact that he ideally combined with the patron of Moscow, George the Victorious.
The exact date of birth of Yuri Vladimirovich Dolgoruky is not known. But, most historians call 1090. Being a very small child, he, together with his brother Mstislav, reigned in Rostov. From 1117 he began to rule in these lands alone, and in 1125 he transferred the capital of the principality to Suzdal. Yuri Dolgoruky whose biography is full of intrigues, cruel strife, as the chroniclers report, was distinguished by cunning and ambition, but courage was also inherent in him. The goal and dream of the prince was the throne of the Great Kyiv, which is quite natural, because Yuri Vladimirovich was the son of the Grand Duke of Kyiv. And he acted more than actively in this direction.
Prince Yuri Dolgoruky quite successfully reigned in the Rostov lands, won the love of his subjects, defending their interests in every possible way. He built churches (the religiosity of the prince is especially noted in the annals), founded new cities. It was this activity of his that made the prince one of the most famous personalities in the history of Russia. He is best known as the founder of Moscow, Yuri Dolgoruky. The first mention of this small city in those days dates back to 1147.
It is worth noting that Yuri Dolgoruky sought to rule independently. This, like many other things, he succeeded, although not immediately. He ceased to depend on Kyiv only by 1131. The reign of Yuri Dolgoruky was able to turn the Vladimir-Suzdal principality into one of the main centers of the north of Russia.
For the first time, Dolgoruky succeeded in ascending the throne of Kyiv in 1149, after he defeated the army of Izyaslav 2 Mstislavovich. But, he did not manage to stay the Kyiv prince for long. Already in 1152 he was expelled. But pretty soon, two of the three contenders for the Kievan reign, Vyacheslav Vladimirovich and Izyaslav Mstislavovich, died. And the troops of the third, Izyaslav Davydovich, were greatly weakened by that time. Yuri Dolgoruky did not miss this opportunity. Izyaslav Davydovich was forced to flee to Chernigov after Yuri Dolgoruky moved towards him with his squad. So Dolgoruky received, in 1155, he again received the coveted Kievan reign and the title of Grand Duke.
But, he did not have a chance to rule for long. According to the version that historians adhere to, Yuri Dolgoruky was poisoned in 1157. According to the information that has come down to us, the Grand Duke felt unwell during a feast at the Kyiv boyar Osmannik Petrila. And a few days later he died, which provoked a rebellion in Kyiv.
Yuri left three sons from a Greek woman, the daughter of the emperor of Byzantium, who was his second wife: Vasily, Vsevolod, Mikhail. The first time he was married to the daughter of the Polovtsian Khan.
In the history of Kievan Rus, there are not many rulers who left a significant mark. Each of the princes left his milestone in the chronology of events, which is now being studied by scientists. Some of them distinguished themselves by campaigns against neighboring states, some annexed new lands, some entered into a historically important alliance with enemies. Yuri Dolgoruky, of course, was not the last among them. This ruler is interesting if only because many historians consider him the founder of Moscow. The prince received the nickname "Dolgoruky" for his constant attempts to conquer Kyiv and other cities of Kievan Rus.
The beginning of the reign
Before considering the years of government, it is worth familiarizing yourself with his biography. Date of birth is still a controversial issue. It is known that the future prince appeared in 1090 and was the youngest Yuri Dolgoruky is the bearer of the Rurik surname. And although he was born in Kyiv, his childhood passed in Rostov. For the first time he became the prince of the Rostov-Suzdal principality from 1113 together with his brother Mstislav. However, starting from 1125, the lands pass into the sole subordination of Yuri.
Despite his imperious and difficult nature, the policies of Yuri Dolgoruky during his reign brought much benefit to Kievan Rus, although ambitious plans (for the most part) brought death and destruction. Several years passed after the accession of the ruler to the throne, as he led a campaign against the Volga Bulgars. Such an order came from Vladimir Monomakh, after the capture of Suzdal by this people. After the campaign, in 1125, Prince Yuri Dolgoruky moved the capital of his principality to Suzdal, thereby reducing the political significance of Rostov.
On the throne of the Rostov-Suzdal principality and the first conquest of Kyiv
The period from 1120 to 1147 is not particularly remarkable, except for one fact - during this period, the foundation of Moscow takes place. Yuri Dolgoruky is reduced to the construction of churches. And of course, intervention in the internecine strife of the princes of Kievan Rus. Although we must give him his due - as history testifies, Yuri Dolgoruky turned many existing cities into centers of trade and crafts. Such an approach could not but contribute to their development.
Internecine strife arose, as a rule, because of the Kyiv throne and the order of its succession. The desire to sit on the throne in the main city of Russia was not alien to the Rostov-Suzdal ruler. The Grand Duke not only tried to remove the new henchmen, but also personally take this place. In the end, the Kyiv throne in 1149 was occupied by Yuri Dolgoruky. In short, the seniority of succession was violated, and many were outraged. The displaced Izyaslav took advantage of this discontent and made an alliance with the Hungarians and Poles.
The unpopularity of the new sovereign and the alliance made did not allow Dolgoruky to hold on to the government for a long time. The year 1151 became for Yuri Vladimirovich the date of the loss of the throne in Kyiv and the return to his principality.
Founding of Moscow
It is Prince Yuri Dolgoruky who is considered the founder of Moscow, although there are still disputes between historians on this issue. The border settlement was located at the point of contact of several principalities at once - Novgorod, Ryazan, Suzdal, Seversky and Smolensk. The town was located on the Moscow River, which, like other villages on the banks, belonged to the boyar Kuchka. The reasons why the owner of the land was executed are unknown, but after that Yuri Dolgoruky took the city and other settlements for himself. Moscow began to develop - a princely estate, a wooden Kremlin, churches and other buildings were built. Christianity was also planted among the pagan population.
Initially, the settlement was called Kukov, later renamed to Moscow. But it became a major city, which had significance and political influence on the life of the Rostov-Suzdal Principality and Kievan Rus, only after the change of three generations of the descendants of Yuri the First.
Foundation of Russian cities - Pereyaslavl-Zalessky
The reign of Yuri Dolgoruky was distinguished not only by attempts to seize the throne of Kyiv, but also by the creation and development of new Russian cities. So, in addition to Moscow, such cities as Pereyaslavl-Zalessky and Yuryev-Polsky were founded.
The construction was due to the prince's far from ambitious plans. Frequent attacks of the Volga Bulgars led to the need to strengthen the borders of the principality. Pereyaslavl-Zalessky was moved to a lowland - to Trubezh. A ditch was dug along the perimeter of the southern and western sides of the city, which connected with the natural barriers of the approaches to the city. The fortress for the defense of Pereyaslavl was considered one of the largest built by Yuri.
Yuryev-Polsky - a fortress on the border of the principality
For the same purpose, the city of Yuryev-Polsky was founded. A round fortress was erected to protect the city. It was surrounded by 7-meter ramparts, which have survived to this day. There were three gaps in the wall of the fortress - the gates to Vladimir, Moscow and Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. A city was built near the mouth of the Gza River on the banks of the Koloksha.
Gorodets on the Volga River
The city was founded by Yuri Dolgoruky in 1152 in the middle reaches of the Volga. In ancient manuscripts, he was also called Radilov. The city had a military garrison, artisans and peasants. The inhabitants of the city not only ensured the existence of the city, but also carried on active trade with Kyiv, Asian countries, Bulgaria, and the Baltic states. The main purpose of Gorodets was to restrain the Volga Bulgars from advancing into the Russian lands.
Founding of Dmitrov
The city was founded in 1154 and named after the son of Yuri Dolgoruky, who was born in the same year. Dmitrov was built in the swampy lowland of the Yakhroma River. For protection, the Kremlin was erected, built at the foot of the mountain. On the one hand, the fortress was protected by impenetrable swamps, on the other hand, an artificial moat, in some places reaching a width of 30 meters. The walls were fortified with towers. It was a remote place, surrounded by swamps and forests, on the very outskirts of the Suzdal principality.
Second reign in Kyiv
Despite the fact that Yuri's possessions were quite extensive, the prince did not stop trying to get the throne of Kyiv. Having conquered Ryazan in 1154, the prince went on a campaign to the southern lands of Kievan Rus. On the way, he concluded a truce with Rostislav of Smolensk and in 1155 again reigned in the capital of Kievan Rus, occupying it together with his ally Svyatoslav Olgovich. Izyaslav, who ruled Kyiv, surrendered the city without a fight and fled to Chernigov. To strengthen his power, Yuri sent his sons to reign in the cities that were under his influence. However, the reign was short-lived - in 1157 Yuri Dolgoruky died. There is a version that he was poisoned by the boyars, who did not like the new ruler. After his death, an uprising broke out, during which the princely court was plundered.
Family life of Yuri Dolgoruky
Some historical and artistic sources mention the difficult nature of the prince. At the same time, they indicate that Yuri was a beloved son and his father, Vladimir Monomakh, indulged him in everything. However, the time came when Dolgoruky had to submit to the will of the Kyiv prince. In 1108, Yuri Dolgoruky got a wife. Naturally, the marriage took place for the political reasons of the father, however, like all marriages concluded then between the rulers of states.
The first wife of the future Rostov-Suzdal prince was the daughter of the Polovtsian Khan Alena Osipovna. The wife fell in love with the prince, and he somewhat settled down. Soon the young couple was sent to the northeast to the Rostov principality. From this marriage were born Rostislav (ruled in Novgorod), Andrei Bogolyubsky, Ivan, Gleb and Boris. Three daughters were born from the first wife: Elena, Maria and Olga.
Yuri Dolgoruky also had a second wife. The biography has very little information about her, nowhere is even the year of her marriage mentioned. But from her, Yuri Dolgoruky had six sons - Vasilko, Mstislav, Yaroslav, Svyatoslav, Mikhail and Vsevolod.
Residence of Yuri Dolgoruky
Since the Grand Duke did not feel too confident in Rostov due to the political situation in the state, he moved to Suzdal. But his residence was by no means in Suzdal, but in a village called Kideksha. This was done for similar reasons - Yuri Dolgoruky feared the Suzdal boyars. A fortified settlement quickly grew up where the Kamenka flows into the Nerl. On the one hand, Kideksha was protected by high banks of the river, on the other hand, the fortress was surrounded by a high rampart with an oak palisade on it.
Since Yuri Dolgoruky was distinguished by strong piety, churches were also built in the village. However, after the death of the prince, Kideksha lost its significance. His son moved the capital to Vladimir, and the residence to Bogolyubovo. In 1238, after the invasion of the Tatar-Mongol horde, the village was plundered and fell into disrepair.
Monument to the founder of Moscow
Disputes about the origin of the city do not stop between historians until now. And yet, the residents themselves believe that it was founded by Yuri Dolgoruky. Moscow served as a meeting place for the prince and his brother, according to ancient chronicles. Under Stalin, it was decided to erect a monument to Yuri Dolgoruky. It is located on Tverskaya Square in Moscow. In 1946, a competition was announced, it was won by Orlov, who had never studied
But as it turned out, Comrade Stalin himself became interested in the sculptor. Apparently, he really liked the patriotism of the sculptor - at that time, the Soviet pioneers were more important than the delegation from the United States. It turned out that the product created by Orlov, intended for the home of pioneers, was presented to a representative of America. Orlov wrote a complaint, after which he was scheduled to meet with the head of the USSR. After that, the sculptor led the work on the creation of the monument. Changes were made to the project of the monument in the process of creation - as if according to Stalin's remarks. One way or another, but the monument was erected in 1954. But if Stalin was very pleased, then Nikita Khrushchev for some reason did not like the monument. He was especially annoyed by the naturalness of the stallion - at his direction, the genitals were removed.
Monuments to Yuri Dolgoruky in other cities
They also believe that the prince founded their city and helped its development and prosperity. The monument was erected on Voskresenskaya Square on the day of the celebration of the 850th anniversary of the city. The project was developed by Vladimir Tserkovnikov. The monument weighs 4 tons and has a height of 4.5 meters.
A bust of Dolgoruky was erected in Pereslavl-Zalessky. Orlov worked on its creation, as well as on the Moscow monument. It is located in the Goritsky Monastery, where it was transported from Moscow in 1963.
The monument to Yuri Dolgoruky in Dmitrov was created by Tserkovnikov. It is located on the Historical Square, which is surrounded by the remains of the ancient Kremlin next to the Assumption Cathedral. Today it is a museum-reserve. According to legends, the monument was erected exactly at the place where he was predicted to have a son.
Temples built by Yuri Dolgoruky
All the chroniclers noted the great piety of the prince. Therefore, in addition to fortresses and cities, you can find many temples built by order of Yuri Dolgoruky. Of those that have survived to this day, the following can be noted: the Transfiguration Cathedral (Pereslavl-Zalessky), the Church of Boris and Gleb (Kideksha), St. George's Cathedral (Vladimir), the Church of the Savior (Suzdal), the Nativity Cathedral (Suzdal) .
Instead of a conclusion
The personality of the prince is very contradictory. Greed, cruelty, dominance - the features that Yuri Dolgoruky fully possessed. Biography describes not only these traits. He was also a far-sighted politician who understood the importance of well-fortified borders not only with neighboring states, but also between Russia. Yuri Dolgoruky was very ambitious and pious. A biography written by various authors confirms this - several attempts to seize the princely throne in Kyiv, the capture of the cities of Bulgaria, the foundation and strengthening of cities, the construction of temples.
Despite everything, the prince still left a significant mark on the history of Kievan Rus - many cities and churches still exist. And the fact that the Capital and the boyars did not like the rule of the prince is quite understandable. Then the rulers were very dependent on the boyars, who, in turn, were objectionable to those who had determination and authority. But in his native Rostov-Suzdal principality after his death he was remembered with gratitude. After all, it was Yuri Dolgoruky who organized the defense against the Polovtsians and Bulgars.
