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Boleslaw I's expedition to Kiev
Part of Kievan succession crisis, 1015—9

Kievan Rus in the 11th century, with adjoining regions
Date1018
Location
Kievan Rus'
Result Temporary victory for Svyatopolk and Boleslaw
Belligerents
Kievan Rus' loyal to Svyatopolk allied with the Duchy of the Poles Kievan Rus' loyal to Yaroslav the Wise
Commanders and leaders
Boleslaw I the Brave
Svyatopolk I the Accursed		 Yaroslav I the Wise
Strength
uncertain unknown
Casualties and losses
unknown unknown

The intervention in the Kievan succession crisis of 1015—19 by the Polish Duke Boleslaw Chrobry was an episode in the struggle between Svyatopolk Vladimirovich ("the Accursed") and his brother Yaroslav ("the Wise") for the rulership of Kiev and Kievan Rus. It occurred when Svyatopolk's father-in-law, Duke Boleslaw of Poland, intervened on Svyatopolk's behalf.

The intervention was successful Svyatopolk, as Boleslaw defeated Yaroslav's armies, and temporarily secured the throne for Svyatopolk. But when Boleslaw withdraw himself and his army from Kiev, Svyatopolk was unable to retain his position, being defeated by Yaroslav in the following year. Chronicles of the expedition include legendary accounts as well as factual history and have been subject to varied interpretations.

Background

The Duke of Poland, Boleslaw I, and the ruler of Kiev, Vladimir I, had previously fought over the Cherven towns (in what was later called Red Russia) in a conflict that ended favorably for Vladimir.[1] Furthermore, Boleslaw, who already had two wives, wanted to marry Predslava, one of Vladimir's daughters, in order to cement ties between the two families. Despite Boleslaw's best efforts, the offer was refused and instead he had to accept a less prestigious connection to the house of Vladimir through the marriage of Boleslaw's daughter to Vladimir's son, Svyatopolk.[2][1] Between 1005 and 1013, Vladimir arranged Svyatopolk's marriage to Boleslaw's daughter, whose name has not survived in sources.[3][4][5]

It is possible that Vladimir decided that neither Svyatopolk nor Yaroslav would succeed to the Kievan throne after his death, as both Svyatopolk and Vladimir went into revolt against their father.[3][6] This however depends on very little evidence, and in the words of two historians, the origins of their "quarrels with their father are obscure".[7] According to Thietmar of Merseburg, Boleslaw allegedly encouraged Svyatopolk's revolt through the latter's wife, though he does not specify the goal of the revolt.[8] Svyatopolk's consipracy was, in the event, thwarted by Vladimir, who called Svyatopolk and his entourage to Kiev and jailed them in 1013.[3]

The planned overthrow, if it existed, may have been supported by Bishop Reinbern of Kolberg, who had traveled with Boleslaw's daughter.[8] According to the same chronicler, Reinbern activitely took part in converting pagans in and around the Rus lands, but was imprisoned with Svyatopolk and the latter's wife.[8] Reinbern died shortly after being imprisoned.[8][4][1] It is of note that Boleslaw invaded Kiev's lands in 1013, though no source gives any explantion. This was possibly Boleslaw's first attempt to re-take the Cherven towns,[9] though it has also been argued that his goal might have been to free Svyatopolk.[4]

Death of Vladimir

Boleslaw the Brave

In the confusion resulting from the death of Vladimir, it was Svyatopolk who was able to seize power in Kiev, Yaroslav being in the north, Mstislav in the south, Svyatoslav in the Derevlian land, Gleb in Murom and Boris on an expedition against the Pechenegs.[6][10] As Franklin and Shepard put it, Svyatopolk's "previous arrest turned to his advantage, for it ensured that he was already ... closest to the center of power".[7] According to the Primary Chronicle, Svyatopolk successfully arranged the murder of three of his brothers, Boris of Rostov, Gleb of Murom and Svyatoslav of the Derevlian lands.[7][11]

Svyatopolk's reign in Kiev was threatened when his brother Yaroslav arrived from the north. After a 3 month stand-off near Lyubech, Svyatopolk was defeated and "fled to the Poles".[12][4][13] Boleslaw, who had recently agreed a peace with the German Kingdom (the Treaty of Bautzen), agreed to support his son-in-law through military intervention.[3]

Sources

There are three main sources that provide historians with evidence for these events. The best and most reliable account is from a chronicle by Bishop Thietmar of Merseburg, who obtained detailed information Saxon knights fighting for Boleslaw.[14]

Another source, Nestor the Chronicler's Primary Chronicle also gives a detailed account of events, its reliability being variable, depending event-by-event on the sources from which it was compiled. Nestor's writing reflects the typical Rus' admiration of Saint Vladimir, while Bishop Thietmar's account, despite a generally positive attitude towards the Rus', paints both Boleslaw and Vladimir exclusively in a negative light.[1]

A third source is the Chronicle of Polish Dukes, a semi-legendary ode to the early Polish dukes written in the 1110s by the supposedly Hungarian-French Benedictine monk Gallus'.[15] This account portrays Boleslaw in a very positive light.

Expedition to Kiev

Yaroslav the Wise

According to Thietmar, the army of Boleslaw crossed the border in 1018 and reached Kiev later that same year. No figures are known for Boleslaw's army, except that Thietmar relates:

"Among those rendering assistance to the aforesaid duke, were three hundred of our [German] warriors, five hundred Hungarians, and one thousand Pechenegs".[16]

Less is known about Yaroslav's army, but it is assumed that he also managed to collect a force of similar size. It is also believed that he was aware of Boleslaw's intentions and had time to make defensive preparations.[17] Probably after concentrating his forces during June, in July Boleslaw led his troops to the border - the banks of the Western Bug River, near one of the settlements of the Volhynia region.[17] The narrative of Boleslaw's invasion is almost entirely dependent upon the account of Thietmar:

"We may not keep silent regarding the sad and harmful events that occurred in Russia. For, on our [German] advice, Boleslav attacked it with a large army and caused much destruction. On July 22, the duke [Boleslav] came up to a certain river, where he ordered his army to set up camp and separate the necessary bridges. Also camped near the river, along with his army, was [Yaroslav] the king of the Russians."[18]

Yaroslav's forces may have take position with archers covering the crossing points. Boleslaw seems to have takem his time, allowing his army to rest, and started work on makeshift bridges.[17] The Battle at Bug river finally occurred around July 23.[19] Thietmar's near-contemporary account offered the following:

The Poles provoked the enemy into fighting and, with unexpected success, drove them from the river bank which they [the Rus] were supposed to defend. Elated by this news, Boleslav hastily notified his companions and quickly cross the river although not without effort. In contrast, the hostile army, drawn up in battle formation, vainly attempted to defend its homeland. It collapsed at the first attack, however, and failed to mount any effective resistance. Among those who fled, many were killed, but only a few of the victors were lost. On our side, the dead included Erich, an illustrious knight whom our emperor had long held in chains. From that day on, with every success, Boleslav drove the scattered enemies before him; and the whole populace received and honoured him with many gifts.[20]

According to the later Chronicle of Polish Dukes by Gallus, the battle occurred by accident: When Boleslaw decided to throw a feast to boost his army's morale, Yaroslav's archers and scouts decided to create trouble for the Polish servants who were gutting the animals and preparing them near the river. However, they only annoyed them enough that the servants themselves crossed the relatively shallow river and chased away Yaroslav's surprised troops, who had been guarding the river.[19] Bolesław learned of the skirmish sooner than Yaroslav, and managed to move most of his army across the river, defeating the surprised Yaroslav.[19]

The Russian Primary Chronicle gives a different version of events, in which both armies were combat ready and separated by the river before Boleslaw, enraged by insults from across the river, charged with his army, surprising Yaroslav and scattering his forces.[13][19] All accounts agree that the Polish prince was victorious in the battle.[19] Yaroslav retreated north to Novgorod, rather than to Kiev - likely suspecting that he lacked enough strength to defend Kiev, which was besieged by the Pechenegs and had a significant pro-Svyatopolk faction within its walls.[19] Nestor notes that after reaching Novgorod, Yaroslav attempted to flee "overseas" in hopes of coming back with a Varangian force, but according to the Primary Chronicle, the citizens of Novgorod pressured him to lead the fight back to Boleslaw and Svyatopolk.[13][21][22]

Fall and occupation of Kiev

Bolesław Chrobry and Svetopelk at Kiev, in a legendary (if ahistorical) moment of hitting the Golden Gate with the Szczerbiec sword. Painting by Jan Matejko.

Boleslaw's victory paved the way to Kiev. As Boleslaw was advancing from the west, according to Thietmar, Boleslaw's Pecheneg allies had approached Kiev, perhaps forcing Yaroslav to detach a part of his forces to ensure the safety of his capital.[17]

"At Boleslav's instigation, the very strong city of Kiev was disturbed by the constant attacks of hostile Pechenegs and severely weakened by fire. It was defended by the inhabitants, but quickly surrendered to the foreign warriors, after its king [Yaroslav] fled and abandoned it."[20]

The city, which suffered from fires caused by the Pechenegs' ongoing siege, surrendered upon seeing the main Polish army on August 14.[23] The entering forces, led by Boleslaw, were ceremonially welcomed by the local archbishop and Vladimir's family:[23]

On 14 August, the city received Boleslav and Sventipolk [i.e. Svyatopolk], its long-absent lord. Thereafter, through his favour, and from fear of us, the whole region was brought into submission. When they arrived, the archbishop of that city received them, at the church of St Sophia, with relics of the saints and other kinds of ceremonial apparatus.[20]

A later popular Polish legend related to the history of the Polish coronation weapon, the Szczerbiec sword, is the tale of the Golden Gate of Kiev, upon which the Szczerbiec was supposedly notched when Boleslaw's entered the city.[23] This legend has no historical basis, however, and the gate was only built approximately 20 years later, while the sword itself was not forged until 200 years later. It is of course possible, however unlikely, that Boleslaw notched another gate with another sword, thus giving rise to the legend.[24]

Boleslaw sent his German and Hungarian mercenaries home after Svyatopolk was re-established on the Kievan throne, "the populace" having "flocked to him" and having "appeared loyal".[25] It is not known how long Boleslaw remained in and around Kiev. The 10 months given by the unreliable account of Gallus is fanciful.[26] Boleslaw in fact departed within a few months and, as Thietmar died on December 1 1018, Boleslaw must have been back in Poland a good time before December.[26] >

The Primary Chronicle alleges that as the result of Polish plunderings, Svyatopolk ordered "that any Lyakhs [i.e. Poles] found in the city should be killed".[27][22][28] The resulting unrest, according to the same source, forced Boleslaw to leave Kiev, whereupon Svyatopolk was left to fend for himself.[27][22][21][1][29] This negative turn of events is omitted in the only contemporary source, Thietmar of Merseberg's Chronikon.[30] By contrast, his summary of the expedition, written in a part of the Chronikon not devoted to the expedition, recounts that:

Duke Boleslav invaded the Russian king's realm with his army. After placing his long-exiled brother-in-law, the Russian's brother, on the throne, he returned in high spirits."[31]

According to Thietmar, Boleslaw asked Yaroslav to return his daughter, whom Yaroslav had taken prisoner.[23] As Yaroslav refused, Boleslaw took members of Yaroslav's family to Poland as prisoners when he returned to his country in September. His captives included Vladimir's widow and Yaroslav's sister, Predslava, whose hand Boleslaw had sought earlier. Having been rebuffed, Boleslaw now took her as a concubine.[23] The Polish duke also took some commoners as well as much of the treasury of Kiev.[29] Among the notable commoners was the venerated Saint Moses the Hungarian.[1]

In the past some historians (such as Zhylenko and Kostomarov) have conjectured that Boleslaw decided to rule Kievan lands himself, though Boleslaw had no power base there and no Rurikid blood.[1][21] [23]Boleslaw's main motivation, acccording to the interpretations of modern historians, was to regain the Cherven towns for his patrimony, while at the same time aiding his kinsman, to whom he had an obligation.[32][33] The expedition also furnished an occassion to enrich his followers with Kiev's famous wealth, and indeed on many later occassions in the Kievan period the rulers of Poland, as well as Hungarians or Pechenegs, were paid to intervene in Rus succession disputes; in the case of Boleslaw II, the Polish monarch took the money without making any expedition.[34] It was related by Thietmar that before departing, Boleslaw

"was shown an unspeakable amount of treasure, most of which he distributed among his friends and supporters".[25]

Aftermath

Svyatopolk lost the throne soon afterwards and lost his life the following year.[24] As Boleslaw was involved in a conflict with Holy Roman Emperor Henry II, he did not intervene on behalf of his son-in-law when he was deposed and instead signed a pact with Yaroslav, who had successfully regained the throne. Although he lost control of Kiev, Boleslaw succeeded in keeping the Cherven Towns captured by Vladimir the Great in 981; he was crowned King of Poland in 1025.[24] Yaroslav outlived Boleslaw and contributed greatly to the strengthening of Kievan Rus'.[35]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Zhylenko, W. 30
  2. ^ Wyprawa Kijowska Chrobrego, 7
  3. ^ a b c d Wyprawa Kijowska Chrobrego, 6
  4. ^ a b c d Brockhaus, Sviatopolk.
  5. ^ The Primary Chronicle, Section.
  6. ^ a b Franklin & Shepard, Emergence of Rus, 184—5.
  7. ^ a b c Franklin & Shepard, Emergence of Rus, 185.
  8. ^ a b c d Thietmar Merseburgensis Episcopi Chronicon, VII. 72; Warner (ed.), Chronicon, 358.
  9. ^ Franklin & Shepard, Emergence of Rus, 199.
  10. ^ Martin, Medieval Russia, 44—5.
  11. ^ Cross (ed.), Russian Primary Chronicle, 126—30; these events, while not uncommon for their time, contributed to earning Svyatopolk the nickname of "The Accursed".
  12. ^ Franklin & Shepard, Emergence of Rus, 186
  13. ^ a b c The Primary Chronicle, Section
  14. ^ Fraklin & Shepard, Emergence of Rus, 184.
  15. ^ Barford, Early Slavs, 9.
  16. ^ VIII. 32; Warner (ed.), Chronicon, 384.
  17. ^ a b c d Wyprawa Kijowska Chrobrego, 8
  18. ^ VIII. 31; Warner (ed.), Chronicon, 382—3.
  19. ^ a b c d e f Wyprawa Kijowska Chrobrego, 9.
  20. ^ a b c VIII. 31; Warner (ed.), Chronicon, 383.
  21. ^ a b c Kostomarov, Yaroslav
  22. ^ a b c Grekov, section 12
  23. ^ a b c d e f Wyprawa Kijowska Chrobrego, 10
  24. ^ a b c Wyprawa Kijowska Chrobrego, 11
  25. ^ a b VIII. 32; Warner (ed.), Chronicon, 384.
  26. ^ a b Franklin & Shepard, Emergence of Rus, 187, n. 14.
  27. ^ a b PVL, s.a. 6526, Cross (ed.), Russian Primary Chronicle, 132.
  28. ^ Brockhaus, Boleslaw
  29. ^ a b Ryzow, 1999
  30. ^ See VIII. chs 31—33; Warner (ed.), Chronicon, 383—5.
  31. ^ VII. 66; Warner (ed.), Chronicon, 354.
  32. ^ Franklin & Shepard, Emergence of Rus, 199, 253.
  33. ^ Martin, Medieval Russia, 45.
  34. ^ Franklin & Shepard, Emergence of Rus, 257—8, 329—30.
  35. ^ Wyprawa Kijowska Chrobrego, 12

References

  • Wyprawa Kijowska Chrobrego Chwała Oręża Polskiego Nr 2. Rzeczpospolita and Mówią Wieki. Various authors and editors. 5 August 2006 Template:Pl icon
  • Barford, P. M. (200 1), The Early Slavs: Culture and Society in Early Medieval Eastern Europe, Ithaca: Cornell University Press, ISBN 0-8014-3977-9 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  • Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary (1900s) Болеслав Пяст Template:Ru icon
  • Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary (1900s) Святополк I Владимирович Template:Ru icon
  • Cross, Samuel Hazzard; Sherbowitz-Wetzor, Olgerd, eds. (1953), The Russian Primary Chronicle: Laurentian Text, The Medieval Academy of America Publication No. 60, Cambridge, MA: Medieval Academy of America
  • Franklin, Simon; Shepard, Jonathan (1996), The Emergence of Rus, 750-1200, Longman History of Russia, London & New York: Longman, ISBN 0-582-49091X
  • Grekov, Boris (1882–1953), "Kievskaya Rus'", AST, 2004, ISBN 5-17-025449-0 Template:Ru icon
  • Martin, Janet (1995), Medieval Russia, 970-1584, Cambridge Medieval Textbooks, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-36832-4
  • "Патерик Києво-Печерський", organized, adapted into Ukrainian, and footnoted by Iryna Zhylenko, Kiev, 2001. Sec. 30 and editor's notes Template:Uk icon
  • Kostomarov, Nikolay (1817–85), "Russkaya istoriya v zhizneopisaniyakh ee glavneyshikh deyateley" ("Russian History in Biographies of its main figures"), Moskva (Moscow), "Mysl'", 1993 , ISBN 5244007424, LCCN 94-0 Section 2: Yaroslav Template:Ru icon
  • Ryzow ,Konstantin, (1999). All monarchs of the world: Russia: 600 short biographies. Moscow: Veche, Veche. ISBN 5-7838-0268-9. (Рыжов Константин (1999). Все монархи мира: Россия: 600 кратких жизнеописаний (in Russian). Москва: Вече.), LCCN 98-0 Template:Ru icon
  • Warner, David A., ed. (2001), Ottonian Germany: The Chronicon of Thietmar f Merseburg, Manchester Medieval Sources Series, Manchester & New York: Manchester University Press, ISBN 0-7190-4926-1

Further reading

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