Vsevolod Yurievich Big Nest
Grand Duke Vladimir 1176 - 1212
Predecessor:	Mikhail Yurievich
Successor:	Yuri Vsevolodovich
Religion:	Orthodoxy
Birth:	1154 Dmitrov
Dynasty:	Rurikovichi
	Yury Dolgoruky
	1) Maria Shvarnovna 2) Lyubov Vasilkovovna
	sons: Konstantin, Boris, Yuri, Yaroslav and Vladimir, Svyatoslav, Gleb and Ivan

Family and Children

Vsevolod Yurievich Big Nest (1154-1212) - Grand Duke Vladimir from 1176 (1174), for five weeks (from February to March 24, 1173) was the Grand Duke of Kyiv. The tenth son of Yuri Dolgoruky, half-brother of Andrei Bogolyubsky, Byzantine by mother. He had a large offspring - 12 children (including 8 sons), so he received the nickname "Big Nest". In Russian historiography it is sometimes called Vsevolod III.

Biography

In 1162, together with his mother and brother, he was expelled by Andrei Bogolyubsky, went to Constantinople to Emperor Manuel. At the age of fifteen, he returned to Rus' and, having reconciled with Andrei, in 1169, together with other henchman princes, he took part in a campaign against Kyiv. In 1173, by order of his elder brother, Mikhail Yuryevich, he sat down in Kyiv together with Yaropolk Rostislavich and was soon captured by the Smolensk Rostislavichs who captured the city. Ransomed from captivity by Michael. After the murder of Andrei (1174) and the death of his brother Mikhail (1176), the Rostovites sent to Novgorod to Prince Mstislav Rostislavich (grandson of Yuri Dolgoruky):

Mstislav quickly gathered a squad and went to Vladimir. However, here they already kissed the cross of Vsevolod Yuryevich and his children. On the Yuryevsky field, across the river Gzoya, a battle took place, in which the Vladimirites won, and Mstislav fled to Novgorod. The reign of Vsevolod is the period of the highest rise of the Vladimir-Suzdal land. The reasons for the success of Vsevolod 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.

The unknown author of The Tale of Igor's Campaign noted: his army "can splash the Volga with oars, and scoop out the Don with helmets." Vsevolod the Big Nest continued to fight against the Volga Bulgaria and the Mordovians (campaigns of 1184 and 1186). Having organized three campaigns in 1180, 1187 and 1207, he subjugated the Ryazan princes. In 1190 he took under the patronage of the Galician prince Vladimir Yaroslavich. In 1196, he led a coalition of princes who unsuccessfully tried to force the Olgoviches of Chernigov to abandon their claims to Kyiv. Temporarily (1196-1202) owned Porose. He achieved the presence of his representatives in Novgorod, defended the Principality of Pereyaslavl. Taking advantage of the struggle for Kyiv between the Smolensk, Galician-Volyn and Chernigov princes in 1202-1210, he established control over Kiev and Chernigov.

Vsevolod skillfully combined the power of arms with skillful politics. When, after Vsevolod's intervention in Ryazan affairs in 1180, he had a break with his Chernigov patron, Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich, and the Chernigov-Novgorod troops burned Dmitrov and converged with the Vladimir troops along the two banks of the Vlena River, Vsevolod kept his troops from active operations, and Svyatoslav retreated.

Releasing his eldest son Konstantin to reign in Novgorod in 1206, Vsevolod delivered a speech:

Shortly before his death, Vsevolod wanted to give seniority to his eldest son Konstantin, and put Yuri in Rostov. But Konstantin was dissatisfied, he wanted to take both Vladimir and Rostov for himself. Then Vsevolod " calling all his boyars from cities and volosts and Bishop John, and abbots, and priests, and merchants, and nobles, and all people”(Resurrection Chronicle) and transferred seniority to his youngest son, Yuri. The indigenous custom was violated, which led to strife and disagreements. After the death of Vsevolod, specific principalities were formed in North-Eastern Rus': Suzdal, Pereyaslav (with Tver, Dmitrov), Rostov (with Beloozero, Ustyug), Yaroslavl, Uglich, Yuriev, Starodub. The main results of the reign of Vsevolod were the reprisal against the boyars of Rostov, who opposed the princely power, the expansion of the territory of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality, the decoration of Vladimir with the Dmitrovsky and Nativity cathedrals, the Kremlin-detinets. The chronicler speaks of his religiosity and love of poverty, and adds that the prince judged with a true and unfeigned judgment.

Family and Children

1st wife- Yasskaya Princess Maria, sister of the wife of Mstislav of Chernigov.

2nd wife- Lyubava, daughter of Vasilko Vitebsk.

Children:

• Constantine (1186-1218), prince of novgorod, Prince of Rostov and Grand Duke of Vladimir
• Boris (†1188),
• Gleb (†1189),
• Yuri (1188-1238), Grand Duke of Vladimir
• Yaroslav (1191-1246), Grand Duke of Vladimir
• Vladimir (1193-1229), prince of Starodub
• Svyatoslav (1196-1252), Grand Duke of Vladimir
• Ivan (1198-1247), prince of Starodub

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

Wikipedia reports that thanks to the policy of Vsevolod, 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 had been a rather weak class.

short biography

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 it is short biography. The large family of Prince Yuri Dolgoruky had 13 children. The princely sons subsequently all became princes and ruled Kievan Rus.

After the death of Yuri Dolgoruky in Rus', an internecine war broke out for power 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 Kyiv, and in 1176 he began to rule in Vladimir.

The 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. After, together with other rulers, he made trips to the Kiev Principality;
• Kyiv was captured 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 released him;
• starting in 1174, together with his brother Mikhail, he made regular trips 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 an alliance with Svyatoslav, he made campaigns, during which he defeated Gleb Ryazansky, Rostislavovichi, Mstislav;
• Union with Svyatoslav ends in 1180. In order to take revenge on Vsevolod, he makes a punitive campaign, but he fails to win victories.

Who is Vsevolod the Big Nest. IN 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, of which 8 were boys and 4 were girls.

However, this explanation confuses 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 have not yet been discovered. The doctors of that time could not cope with serious diseases, and deaths occurred frequently. For this reason, in every family, regardless of class, there were seven, ten, twelve children.

There is another version of why he was called 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. A large nest symbolizes the expansion of the borders of the state, the ruler desired and sought to annex more and more new territories.

Governing body

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

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

Some scholars are of the opinion that nothing new was accomplished during the reign. Internal and foreign policy Vsevolod the Big Nest was only a consolidation of the results and successes 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 improve 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 Rus' 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 choose 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 principality of Novgorod was subdued due to the fact that management was concentrated in the hands of the Veche (council), and a special person, who was called the posadnik, 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 Rus'. Strong economic relations were established with Bulgaria, and merchants were able to freely trade with neighboring countries.

The Polovtsians have been a threat to the state for many years. In 1183-1185, the prince made repeated campaigns against the Polovtsians and Mordovians, in order to expand the lands from the south side in 1184 and 1186 he carried out campaigns against the Bulgarians, which became successful and helped 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.

Princely power spread throughout the territory of Rus', 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 during campaigns to other lands. The talented ruler began the process of centralization of Russian lands.

Note! Since the reign of Vsevolod the Third, a governorship arose, before that, in all major cities management was carried out by the relatives of the grand duke.

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

Stone structures were erected, for example, the Vladimir 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 a ruler

IN last years Board raised the question of succession to the throne. The eldest son Konstantin wanted to be at the head of two major cities- Rostov and Vladimir, and the younger Yuri was to reign in Suzdal.

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

Yuriy should rightfully take his place, and Vladislav appointed Konstantin to manage Rostov. This was the beginning of hostility between the brothers.

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

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

Note! Vsevolod the Big Nest was a smart and talented ruler who subjugated almost all the lands of Rus' to his power.

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Summing up

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

In contact with

He was the son of a Grand Duke and a "Greek" (Byzantine princess?).

After the death of his father in 1162, together with his mother and younger brother Mikhail, Vsevolod was expelled from Suzdal by his elder brother. Until the age of 15, he was brought up in Constantinople at the court of the Byzantine emperor Manuel I Komnenos.

After returning to Rus', Vsevolod reconciled with and, together with him and other princes, participated in the campaign against Kyiv in March 1169, which ended with the proclamation of his brother as the Grand Duke of Kyiv. left Kyiv, and Vsevolod stayed there to live with his uncle, Prince Gleb Georgievich, whom the Grand Duke installed instead of himself as governor. In 1171, Vsevolod Yurievich took part in the strife at the Grand Duke's table, which unfolded after the death of his uncle.

In 1173, Vsevolod Yurievich took power in Kyiv and for 5 weeks was the Grand Duke of Kyiv, but was soon captured by his rival, the Smolensk prince Roman Rostislavich. From captivity, he was ransomed by his younger brother Mikhail Yurievich.

Vsevolod III Large The nest got its name for having many children. According to some sources, he had 8, according to others - 10 sons and 4 daughters, and became the progenitor of 115 families of northern Russian princes.

Vsevolod III died on April 15, 1212 in the Klyazma and was buried in. The years of his reign were marked by the highest flourishing of the culture of the Vladimir-Suzdal Principality. The cities were decorated with new remarkable buildings (in 1185-1189 it was expanded, in 1193-1197 the Dmitrievsky Cathedral was built, in 1194-1196 - the Vladimir Detinets, in 1192-1195 - the Nativity Cathedral, etc.), chronicle writing and applied art.

Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest, whose brief biography is in all textbooks on the history of Russia, is best known for the fact that it was under him that the northeast of Rus' became the most important and influential political center of the East Slavic world. Therefore, this ruler deserved good reputation among grateful descendants.

Childhood and youth

Vsevolod was born in 1154 in the family of the founder of Moscow - Yuri Dolgoruky. He was the youngest son of the prince, who died a few years after the birth of the child. After Yuri, Vsevolod's elder brother Andrei Bogolyubsky began to rule. He was the son of Yuri from his second wife. In 1162, Andrei expelled Vsevolod (still a child), his mother, and two other brothers, Mstislav and Vasilko, from his lands.

The Rurikovichs went to Constantinople, where they found shelter at the court of Emperor Manuel Komnenos. At the age of fifteen, Vsevolod the Big Nest, whose brief biography can tell about many unexpected turns in his fate, returned home, reconciled with his older brother. As a young man, he participated in a campaign against Kyiv in 1169. It was a war of northern princes against the old southern capital. For several decades, Rus' has been divided into several independent states, each of which argued for leadership. Rurikovich ruled in every city, which turned into a family squabble. When in 1169 Kyiv nevertheless fell, it lost even a ghostly chance of being called the capital of Rus'.

Viceroy in Kyiv

A few years later, the young Vsevolod the Big Nest was sent to rule the Mother of Russian Cities as a governor. A brief biography of the prince says that he did not last long on the banks of the Dnieper. In 1173, a few weeks after appearing in Kyiv, he was defeated by the children of the Smolensk ruler Rostislav, who also claimed the local throne. Vsevolod was captured, but was ransomed by his elder brother Mikhail.

The struggle for the Vladimir principality

All this time Andrey Bogolyubsky ruled in Vladimir. However, in 1174 he was killed by a group of conspirators (his own boyars). His death caused an internecine war for power over the north-east of Rus'. Andrew had no children. Therefore, on the one hand, the brothers Mikhail and Vsevolod declared their rights to the throne, and on the other, the nephews and children of Rostislav's older brother, who died many years ago, Mstislav and Yaropolk. The conflict also flared up between the cities. In the principality, which was once owned by Yuri Dolgoruky, several political centers were formed (Vladimir, Suzdal, Rostov). The aristocracy tried to make their city the main one in the north-east of Rus'.

First, Mikhail Yurievich established himself in Vladimir. He was supported by Vsevolod the Big Nest, whose brief biography tells of various political alliances with relatives. However, Mikhail died unexpectedly in 1176, and the Rostislavichi still wanted to take possession of Vladimir-on-Klyazma. They ruled in Rostov and Suzdal. In addition, they were supported by the Ryazan prince Gleb.

Union with Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich

To help Vsevolod, who replaced his older brother in Vladimir, Chernigov ruler came. In 1176-1177. one by one they defeated the troops of Mstislav (the battle of Lipitsk) and Gleb (the battle on Koloksha). All enemy princes were captured. Gleb soon died in captivity. Rostislavichi were blinded and set free. After these events, Vsevolod Yuryevich the Big Nest, whose brief biography was marked by an important success, became the sole ruler of northeastern Rus'. He made Vladimir-on-Klyazma his capital.

Having become the sole ruler, Vsevolod organized campaigns against the eastern neighbors (Mordovians and the Volga Bulgars). He also fought for influence in Kyiv and Novgorod, which tried to defend its republican political system. The struggle went on with varying success for both sides. Over the years of his reign, Vsevolod the Big Nest became known for his wisdom and balance. His biography (it is almost impossible to briefly talk about any of the princes of Rus', too much will be missed) is well described in the multi-volume History of the Russian State by Nikolai Karamzin.

Question of succession

In the last years of his life, Vsevolod the Big Nest, whose biography we are considering, was preoccupied with the problem of succession to the throne in his possessions. He had many children (8 sons and 4 daughters). That is why he, in fact, received the historical nickname of the Big Nest.

Between his two eldest sons - Konstantin and Yuri (also known as George) - a dispute broke out regarding the right to the inheritance. In order to reconcile the children, Vsevolod convened a council. Konstantin, who was his father's viceroy in Rostov, was to receive Vladimir, and Rostov was to be given to Yuri. However, the eldest son refused to obey this order of his father, because he believed that he had the right to both senior cities in the principality. Vsevolod did not forgive Konstantin such defiant behavior and deprived him of Vladimir, giving the capital to Yuri. While the father was alive, the brothers somehow resigned themselves and lived quietly. However, with the death of Vsevolod in 1212, an internecine war broke out in northeastern Rus'.

Board results

However, it was at this time that the principality prospered. Vsevolod strengthened the central government, depriving the influence of the Rostov boyars. He did a lot of decorating and arranging Vladimir, in which temples and other buildings important for people's lives were regularly built.

Vsevolod became the last sole ruler of northeastern Rus'. After the death of the prince, his numerous sons divided the state. The invasion of the Mongols a few years later further aggravated this split. Also, Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest, whose brief biography is full of information about wars in various parts of Rus', became the last ruler of Vladimir, who still had influence on the southern principalities. After him, throughout the 13th century, they gradually moved into the orbit of Lithuanian interests.

Vsevolod Yuryevich the Big Nest (baptized Dmitry, 1154 - April 15, 1212) - the Grand Duke of Vladimir from 1176, for five weeks (from February to March 24, 1173) was the Grand Duke of Kiev. The tenth son of Yuri Dolgoruky, half-brother of Andrei Bogolyubsky, Byzantine by mother. He had a large offspring - 12 children (including 8 sons), so he received the nickname "Big Nest". In Russian historiography it is sometimes called Vsevolod III.

Rostov and Suzdal did not have sympathy for Andrei Bogolyubsky, for he did not honor oldest cities North-Eastern Rus', giving preference to the young city of Vladimir-on-Klyazma. Vladimir was predominantly populated ordinary people who lived in the construction industry.
“These are our serfs, masons,” the arrogant residents of Rostov and Suzdal spoke of Vladimirians. After Andrei's death, they gave the grand-ducal "table" not to his son Yuri, who then ruled in Novgorod, but to his nephews Yaropolk and Mstislav Rostislavich. The residents of Vladimir invited the younger brother of Andrei Bogolyubsky, Mikhail Yuryevich, to their place.

This immediately caused enmity between the old and new cities. Rostislavichi, having attached to their squads the regiments of Murom, Pereyaslav, Ryazan, laid siege to Vladimir. The people of Vladimir could not resist for a long time and, having survived the seven weeks of the siege, they asked Prince Michael to leave the city. So Yaropolk established himself on the Vladimir table, and Mstislav became the prince of Rostov and Suzdal.

The new princes behaved like conquerors in the northeastern capital. Yaropolk, for example, on the very first day of his stay in Vladimir, took possession of the keys to the sacristy of the Assumption Cathedral, took away from the cathedral the lands granted by Andrei Bogolyubsky, and in the end gave the main shrine of the city - the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God - to the Ryazan prince Gleb. The squad did not lag behind the prince in the matter of profit.

Insulted by the incessant robberies, the inhabitants of Vladimir again called for the reign of Mikhail Yurievich. His army managed to defeat the squad of the Rostislavichs, and Grand Duke Michael "with honor and glory" entered the capital city ..

The first thing he did, having entered the Vladimir throne, was to return to the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin all the property and privileges taken by Yaropolk. The miraculous icon was also returned to Vladimir. Thus, the prince won the sincere sympathy of the townspeople.

But the rejoicing of the Vladimirites did not last long: in 1176 Mikhail died. The inhabitants of the city unanimously swore allegiance to his brother Vsevolod Yurievich.

The fate of Vsevolod at first was unenviable. Exiled by his brother Andrei Bogolyubsky to Byzantium, he roamed with his mother and two brothers in a foreign land for several years, then returned to his homeland and reigned, according to some reports, in Gorodets.

Having taken the throne of Vladimir, Vsevolod Yurievich ruled for 36 years, all these years continuing the policy of his brother Andrei, expanding and strengthening the Vladimir-Suzdal principality. He also had to pacify his own subjects, because, unlike Southern Rus', where the princely families were at enmity with each other (with the indifferent attitude of the urban population), in the northeast there was a struggle between the old cities of Rostov and Suzdal against the young ones: Vladimir, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Yuriev-Polsky, Moscow and others.

Immediately after the reign of Vsevolod, the Rostovites called Mstislav Rostislavich to their side, proclaimed him a prince and demanded that Vladimir be subjugated. The cautious Vsevolod was ready to settle the matter amicably. But the negotiations reached an impasse, we had to fight. In the battle near Yuryev, the Vladimirians defeated the army of Mstislav. Thus, Rostov the Great was finally conquered.

Mstislav could not accept this and turned to Gleb, the Ryazan prince, for help. And again Vsevolod Yurievich defeated the recalcitrant relatives, capturing Mstislav himself, Gleb and his son Roman. The joy of victory did not cool the bitterness that had accumulated among the inhabitants of Vladimir against the captive princes. “Judgment without mercy to those who themselves did not know mercy,” they pronounced the verdict.

To reassure the townspeople, Vsevolod imprisoned the captives and forced the people of Ryazan to give him Mstislav's brother Yaropolk. But he did not want to shed the blood of the Ruriks. Moreover, Svyatoslav, the prince of Chernigov, and the bishop of Chernigov, and the Ryazan princess asked for the prisoners. For two years Vsevolod delayed the decision of the fate of the captured princes. During this time, the Ryazan prince Gleb died, and his son was allowed to go home on condition of complete obedience to the Grand Duke.

With the Rostislavichs - Yaropolk and Mstislav - it turned out differently. The residents of Vladimir, having learned that negotiations were underway for their release, approached the princely court with a demand to blind the hated destroyers of shrines. The prince had to fulfill the will of the rebellious inhabitants, after which the Rostislavichs were released to Smolensk. (According to other sources, the peaceful Vsevolod only imitated blindness, because former prisoners soon "saw the light", praying in the church of Saints Boris and Gleb.)

Thus, Vsevolod Yurievich managed to establish his power in the northeast and finally consolidate the supremacy of Vladimir-on-Klyazma. Vsevolod was the first to take the title of Grand Duke of Vladimir. At the end of the 12th century, he founded the cities of Tver and Khlynov (Vyatka) and forced the Ryazan princes to submit. In order to avoid internecine unrest, Vsevolod, following the example of Andrei Bogolyubsky, expelled his nephews from their volosts and became "autocracy" in North-Eastern Rus'.

Boris Chorikov. Grand Duke Vsevolod frees Roman from prison. 1177.

Without leaving the banks of the Klyazma, Vsevolod also ruled South Russia. There, after the death of Bogolyubsky new force the enmity of the Monomakhoviches and the descendants of Oleg Gorislavich flared up, complicated by strife within these dynasties. The Kiev "table" continued to be considered great, but not a single ruler felt confident on it without the favorable attitude of the prince of Vladimir. In 1194, the prince of Smolensk, Rurik Rostislavich, was placed on the "golden table" "from the hand" of Vsevolod, unconditionally recognizing the seniority of the prince of Vladimir.

Strengthened, Vsevolod imperiously treated the Lord Veliky Novgorod. With his will, he imprisoned and dismissed princes there, violated the Novgorod "old times", innocently executed the Novgorod " the best people". In 1210, the Novgorodians did not recognize the son of the Grand Duke Vsevolod, Svyatoslav, as the ruler, and plundered his court. Vsevolod, in retaliation, cut off Novgorod's communications with the grain regions and left the city without food. Then Prince Mstislav Mstislavich Udaloy, the grandson of the Smolensk prince Rostislav, the great-grandson of Monomakh, helped the Novgorodians. He was already ready to oppose Vsevolod, but he did not bring the matter to war and limited himself to the exchange of prisoners.

Even in distant Galician Rus', they felt the hand of the Vladimir "autocrat". When the son of Yaroslav Osmomysl, Prince Vladimir, with the help of foreign mercenaries, expelled the son of the Hungarian king from Galich, then, in order to gain a foothold in the city, he asked Vsevolod Yuryevich: “Keep Galich under me, and I am God and yours with all Galich and always in your will” .

The authority of the powerful Vsevolod was supported by the valor of his troops and the luck of the brave ruler in battles. Usually he tried to settle the conflict peacefully, but if it came to swords, the prudent prince did not rush, like Bogolyubsky, headlong at the head of the squad into the battle "without time and place." Vsevolod selected in advance a convenient, dominant position and patiently waited for the enemy on it. It was very difficult to get him out of that position. No wonder the author of The Tale of Igor's Campaign complained about the absence of Vsevolod in Southern Rus' during the time of princely strife and Polovtsian raids: “Grand Duke Vsevolod! Is it possible that you can’t even mentally fly from afar to observe your father’s golden table? After all, you can splash the Volga with oars, and scoop out the Don with helmets!

The years of the reign of Vsevolod the Big Nest turned out to be beneficial for North-Eastern Rus'. There were no raids from outside, but the prince overcame internal strife. It was a period when the economy and culture of the Zalessky land were intensively developed. An excellent monument of that era is the Dmitrievsky Cathedral in Vladimir, “wonderfully decorated” with stone carvings. Strict and majestic, the temple resembles a fairy-tale hero guarding the borders of his native land. And if the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl can be compared with a lyrical poem, then the Dmitrievsky Cathedral is an epic about a harsh and heroic time.

Ordered by Demetrius Vsevolod, the icon depicting the saint named after him

Not only temples were built of stone, but also civil structures. Under Vsevolod, stone fortifications were surrounded by Vladimir, Suzdal, Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, Chernigov Oster. The “architects” were mostly Greeks, but masters gradually began to appear among the Russian people: it was no coincidence that the inhabitants of Rostov and Suzdal called the Vladimirians skillful in architecture “masons”. When it was necessary to renovate the Church of the Virgin in Suzdal, then in this city there were both architects and stone craftsmen.

Vsevolod Yurievich was nicknamed the "Big Nest" for his large family. He had twelve children. And he tried to endow all his sons with estates. From the Vsevolodovichs came the dynasties of Moscow, Suzdal, Tver princes. And again dividing the lands into destinies, Vsevolod sowed discord between the brothers. The disastrous shoots of this enmity began to sprout even during his lifetime.

In 1212, the Grand Duke, already seriously ill, called the eldest son Konstantin, who reigned there, from Rostov the Great. Vsevolod read him as his heir and ordered Rostov to be ceded to his brother Yuri. Konstantin was stubborn, as he was afraid not to keep seniority for Vladimir-on-Klyazma, and asked his father to leave both cities behind him. Enraged Vsevolod, on the advice of the bishop, deprived his eldest son of the grand prince's table, and appointed Yuri Vsevolodovich as his successor. In April of the same year, Vsevolod the Big Nest died.
But only in 1218, Prince Yuri managed to take power over his elder brother and seize the bequeathed throne. This finally violated the old tradition of succession of power by seniority. From now on, the will of the “one-holder” began to mean more than the age-old “old times”.

Family and Children

1st wife - Yasskaya Princess Maria Shvarnovna, sister of the wife of Mstislav of Chernigov.

Maria Shvarnovna (c. 1171 - March 19, 1205 (1206), Vladimir) - the wife of the Grand Duke of Vladimir Vsevolod the Big Nest, the Yasskaya princess (in later sources, she is erroneously called a Czech).

Married to Grand Duke Vsevolod Yuryevich (Georgievich), she gave birth to 12 children, including 8 sons (of which four (Konstantin, Yuri (George), Yaroslav, Svyatoslav), later were, in different time, Grand Dukes of Vladimir) and 4 daughters.

The last years of his life grand duchess Maria was seriously ill and vowed to found a monastery, and in 1200, at her insistence, the Assumption Monastery was founded in Vladimir, which later became known as the Assumption (Knyaginin) Monastery in her honor. Thanks to her efforts and patronage, the monastery was quickly built and developed. Mary herself took the tonsure and in monasticism received the name Martha. She died and was buried in the Assumption Cathedral of the monastery. The monastery later served as the ancestral burial vault of the princesses and princesses of the Grand Duchess of Vladimir's house.

2nd wife - Lyubava, daughter of Vasilko Bryachislavich of Polotsk-Vitebsk.

Konstantin (1186-1218) - Prince of Novgorod, Prince of Rostov and Grand Duke of Vladimir;

Boris (†1188);

Gleb (†1189);

Yuri (1188-1238) - Grand Duke of Vladimir;

Yaroslav (1191-1246) - Grand Duke of Vladimir;

Vladimir (1193-1227) - Prince of Starodub;

Vladimir (Dmitry) Vsevolodovich (October 26, 1192 - January 6, 1227), prince of Pereyaslavsky (1213-1215), Starodubsky (1217-1227), son of Grand Duke Vladimir Vsevolod the Big Nest and Princess Maria Shvarnovna.

At the age of 15, he accompanied his father on a campaign against Chernigov, after the death of Vsevolod the Big Nest (1212) he remained in Yuryev-Polsky. By the will of the situation after the death of his father, he was forced to take part in the internecine war of his older brothers: Konstantin and Yuri (George).

In 1213, he left Yuryev (since Yuryev-Polsky was received as an inheritance from his father by his brother Svyatoslav), first to Volok Lamsky, and then to Moscow and occupied it, taking it away from Yuri (George) Vsevolodovich. Later, together with his squad and Muscovites, he went to the city of Dmitrov (the city of his brother Yaroslav Vsevolodovich). The Dmitrovites burned down all the settlements, shut themselves up in the fortress and fought off all the attacks. Vladimir, having received news of the approach of Yaroslav's squad, left the city back to Moscow, having lost part of his squad, which was killed by the Dmitrovites, who were chasing the retreating. Yaroslav, together with Yuri (George), went to Moscow, and Prince Yuri (George) Vsevolodovich sent to tell Vladimir: ... "Come to me, do not be afraid, I will not eat you, you are my brother." Vladimir accepted the offer and during the negotiations, the brothers decided that Vladimir would give Moscow back to Yuri (George), and he himself would go to reign in Pereyaslavl-South. Here Vladimir married Princess Efimiya, the daughter of Prince Gleb Svyatoslavich of Chernigov, and reigned until 1215, when he was captured in a battle with the Polovtsy, from which he was released in 1218. After being released from captivity, Starodub received inheritance, where he reigned until his death.

According to the Laurentian Chronicle, in 1224 Vladimir, together with his nephew Vsevolod Konstantinovich, was sent by brother Yuri on a military campaign, however, the chronicle does not indicate the purpose of the campaign, placing the event between the installation of Metropolitan Kirill in Kiev (which occurred on January 6, 1225) and a large-scale invasion of Lithuanians into Novgorod land and the Principality of Smolensk, which ended in the Battle of Usvyat (until the spring of 1225). The Novgorod chronicles report that Vladimir and his son participated in the campaign against the Lithuanians led by Yaroslav, but nothing is known about Vladimir's children. Perhaps we are talking about the brother of Mstislav Udatny Vladimir Mstislavich and his son Yaroslav.

Vladimir died, having accepted the schema, in 1227. The Principality of Starodub again became part of the lands of the Grand Duchy of Vladimir.

Svyatoslav (1196-1252) - Grand Duke of Vladimir;

Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich (March 27, 1196 - February 3, 1252) - Grand Duke of Vladimir (1246-1248), son of Vsevolod Yurievich, baptized Gabriel. During his life, Prince Svyatoslav reigned in Novgorod, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Suzdal, and Vladimir.

As a four-year-old child, he was appointed to reign in Novgorod, and then was replaced by his older brother, Konstantin, in 1206 and returned to Novgorod again in 1208.

In 1212, after the death of his father, Svyatoslav received the city of Yuryev-Polsky as an inheritance. During his reign in 1230-1234, on the foundation of the white-stone church of the Holy Great Martyr George, the St. George Cathedral was built, “wonderfully, decorate with a carved stone from the sole to the top of the saints the faces and holidays, and he himself would be a master.” In the cathedral there is a relief composition, traditionally called the "Svyatoslav Cross", at the base of which there is a stone with an inscription-dedication of Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich.

In 1220, Svyatoslav, at the head of the Vladimir army, was sent by his elder brother Yuri against the Volga Bulgarians. The expedition was by river and ended with the victory of the Russian troops at Oshel.

In 1222, Svyatoslav, at the head of the Vladimir army, was sent by Yuri to help the Novgorodians and their prince Vsevolod, Yuri's son. The 12,000-strong Russian army, in alliance with the Lithuanians, invaded the territory of the order and devastated the surroundings of Wenden.

In 1226, Svyatoslav, together with his younger brother Ivan, at the head of the Vladimir army, was sent by Yuri against the Mordovians and won.

In 1229, Svyatoslav was sent by Yuri to Pereyaslavl-Yuzhny.

In 1234, Svyatoslav founded the church of St. George in Yuryev-Polsky.

In 1238 he took part in the Battle of the City. From his brother Yaroslav, who occupied the throne of Vladimir, he received the Suzdal principality as an inheritance.

Yaroslav died in 1246, and Svyatoslav occupied the grand prince's throne according to the old right of succession. He distributed to his nephews, the seven sons of Yaroslav, throughout the principality, but the Yaroslavichi were dissatisfied with this distribution. In 1248, he was expelled by his nephew Mikhail Yaroslavich Khorobrit, who soon died in battle with the Lithuanians on the Protva River. Then Svyatoslav himself defeated the Lithuanians at Zubtsov. The reign of Vladimir, by the will of Yaroslav and by the will of Guyuk, went to Andrey Yaroslavich.

In 1250, Svyatoslav and his son Dmitry traveled to the Horde. According to the historian A. V. Ekzemplyarsky, it was an unsuccessful trip with an attempt to return the Grand Duke's throne. The historian V. A. Kuchkin notes that although the annals do not explicitly speak about the purpose of this trip, such trips of Russian princes with their sons-heirs to the khans were usually made when it was a question of securing their principalities-fatherlands for the Rurikovich. Given that the grandson of Svyatoslav already bore the nickname Yuryevsky, Kuchkin makes the assumption that by that time Svyatoslav owned the Yuryevsky principality.

After a short reign in Vladimir, Prince Svyatoslav returned to Yuryev-Polsky. Here he founded a male princely monastery in honor of the Archangel Michael.

The last days of his life the holy prince lived pleasing to God, in fasting and prayer, purity and repentance. He died on February 3, 1252. His body was laid in the Cathedral of the Holy Great Martyr George built by him. The relics of the holy noble Grand Duke Svyatoslav were again found in 1991 and laid in the Holy Intercession Church in the city of Yuryev-Polsky "where to this day God's dishes and healing gifts with faith are served by those who come."

Marriage and children
Wife - Princess Evdokia Davydovna Muromskaya, daughter of Prince Davyd Yuryevich of Murom and his wife Princess Fevronia (in monasticism Euphrosyne), who are revered saints Peter and Fevronia, patrons of the family in Russia.

Prince Svyatoslav released his wife Evdokia in 1228 to the Murom Borisoglebsky Monastery, where she was tonsured a monk on July 24 on the feast of Boris and Gleb. The princess lived in the monastery until her death and was buried there, the remains are there now.

Son: Dmitry, according to the ancient calendar, he was revered as a saint

Ivan (1198-1247) - Prince of Starodub.

Ivan Vsevolodovich (August 28, 1197/1198 - 1247) - the specific prince of Starodub from 1238 to 1247. Nickname, according to some genealogies, Kasha, the youngest of the sons of Vsevolod Yuryevich (Big Nest).
After the death of his father, he took part in the struggle of his older brothers, Konstantin and Yuri, for the grand prince's table, holding the side of the second (1212-1213).

In 1226, together with his elder brother Svyatoslav, he led the successful campaign of the Vladimir troops against the Mordovians.

After the invasion of Batu, Grand Duke Yaroslav Vsevolodovich gave Ivan Starodub, which had just been devastated by the Tatars, as inheritance. In 1246 Ivan traveled with Yaroslav to the Horde.
He had an only son (wife not established) - Michael.

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History of Russian Goverment