{ The Invitation of the Varangians by Viktor Vasnetsov 1. Russia in centuries. 2. Political decentralization of the Kiev Rus. 3. Kiev Rus and Mongol Tatars invasion. Issues: Kievan Rus is an unstable state formation, consisted of several principalities held by a single princes Rurik-dynasty with its head - the Great prince - in Kiev. 882 (Kiev conquest by Oleg) (Beginning of the age of the Tatar yoke*) Yoke - an immense oppressive force or burden It is a patrilineal principle of inheritance where the order of succession to the throne prefers the monarch's younger brother over the monarch's own sons. Agnatic seniority ( ) ( - stairs) Yaroslav the Wise (c ) Son of Vladimir the Great (Baptizer) Yaroslav the Wise ( Forensic facial reconstruction) Sarcophagus of Yaroslav the Wise 1051 Yaroslav called for the Council of Russian bishops, which elected metropolitan Illarion to be the Head of the Russian Church. The Christian Rus started its own way to church independence. Yaroslav was known as the town-planner. Some cities were called after him. They were: Yaroslavl on the Volga, Yuryev in the Baltic area (Yury was the Christian name of Yaroslav) (Modern Tartu). Kiev became one of the most beautiful cities of the world. There were erected St. Sophias Cathedral, Golden Gate, etc. in Kiev. Flourishing Times St. Sophias Cathedral XI AD (Reconstructed XVII-XVIII) Golden Gate Russkaya Pravda Old East Slavic: Justice of the Rus/Russian Truth, Justice of the Rus/Russian Truth, 13th century, 1280 It was the legal code of Kievan Rus' and the subsequent Rus' principalities during the times of feudal division. The Code limited barbarous customs of blood feud, introduced penalties (vira) for murder, insulting of mans honour and dignity, protected private household, introduced the hereditary right, limited tyranny of judicial executors. Russkaya Pravda (Russian Truth) The Russkaya Pravda, most likely under influence of the Christianity, did not know dishonouring and severe punishments. At the same time the penalties were rather big. They differed depending on the social status of the injured. The persons of the upper social stratum of the Slav society were protected by the double penalty consisting of 80 grivnas (silver ingots performing the functions of money). Russkaya Pravda (Russian Truth) Administering justice in Kievan Rus, by Ivan Bilibin. (a kind of the Trial by ordeal ) bast shoe Boyars () -member of the highest rank of the feudal Kievan Rus' Gridni () princes bodyguard Posadniki () - the mayor in some cities or towns Virniks () - person, who takes tribute Smerds () - free peasants Zakupy () - feudally dependent peasants by loan Ryadovichi () - feudally dependent peasants by treaty Kholops () -feudally dependent people, slaves. Society according to the Russian Truth After death of Yaroslav the Wise (1054) the Kiev state was divided among his five sons. Intensification the intertribal wars for the Kiev throne. Period when Rus was exposed to devastating forays of the Kumans (Polovtsian- ) Political decentralization of the Kiev Rus. (XI-XIII) The loss of value of the Trade route from the Varangian to the Greeks because of social changes in the Scandinavia Inner dynastic conflicts, caused with the inheritance system Different economic interests of the regions Local interests of the local aristocracy Political decentralization of the Kiev Rus. (XI-XIII) After a series of conflicts between Yaroslaw The Wise descendants Council of Liubech 1097 Princes decided to hold principalities as their own votchina Council of Uvetich 1100 Princes confirmed the custom to hold principalities as votchina The Kievan Rus Disappearance as a political unit votchina(, from father), land estate that could be inherited The Kievan Rus Disappearance as a political unit Russian princes make peace in Uvetich by Ivanov I.S. Northeastern Rus Vladimiro-Suzdal principality Southern and Southwestern Rus Halych- Volyn principality Northwestern Rus Principality of Novgorod (Novgorod republic) Three centers of Rus principles during the decentralization period. Unlimited princes power Access to eastward territories Trade routes along Oka and Volga rivers Migration from the South Vladimiro-Suzdal principality Dormition (Assumtion) Cathedral in Vladimir Roman Mstislavich united in 1199 Volyn and Halich principality Close by Hungary, Poland, Moravia Powerful local aristocracy (boyarstvo) presence Halych-Volyn principality Trade and craft center Ties with Hanse (There were Goth and German courts inside the city) Specific social and political system High rank of education Novgorod (Lord Novgorod The Great) Writings on birch bark I sent to you thrice. What kind of evil do have over me Why dont you come to me? I did treat you like a brother! And you are not pleased with it as I see. If you were, you would have escape from [peoples] attention and would have come to me. Maybe I have hurt you not realizing that, but if you scoff at me, than let God and me, unworthy, be your judges ( 752, 10801100-s). archimandrite head of diocese, mediator Prince head of armed troops, duties colector Veche - popular assembly 300 Golden Belts a council of aristocracy Posadnik head of city government Tysyatski head people's emergency volunteer corps Lord Novgorod The Great { Kiev Rus and Mongol Tatars invasion Predominately positive role (Karamzin N.M.) The invasion assisted Russian principalities in consolidation with Moscow at the head Mostly positive role (Gumelyov L.N.) Ordinary good-neighbourly relations between the Forest and the Steppe. Gumelyov N.M denied the term Mongol-Tatar Yoke Insignificant role (Soloviev S.M, Klyuchevsky V.O.) All social and economical processes within Russian principalities had its internal origin, and the invasion had a little influence on them Predominately negative role The invasion threw back Russian society and conserved social development Mongol-Tatar invasion in Russian historiography At the beginning of the thirteenth century the military chief Temujin became the leader of the Mongols. When a baby, he became an orphan. Almost 20 years of severe struggle for existence hardened his character. In 1182 a small Horde (Horde is Headquarters of Khan) appointed Temujin to be the military chief and named him Jenkhiz Khan i.e. the first among the equal . A campaign against the tatars. The founder and Great Khan (emperor) of the Mongol Empire, leader of nomadic tribes Genghis Khan/Temujin 1155 1227 Yassa (written code of law created by Genghis Khan): The ruling that divides men of the army into tens, hundreds, thousands, and ten thousands (tumen) is to be maintained. This arrangement serves to raise an army in a short time, and to form the units of commands. The mutual aid and mutual rescue, severe punishments (death penalty) for murder, robbery, theft, lechery, refusal of food and water to a traveller, refusal to return another man's weapon Great Yassa The Silk road control ( 1255/1256) Genghis Khans grandson 1242 gedei Khans death About 1250 Saray-Batu was founded (nearby modern Astrakhan) Batu Khan May Battle of the Kalka River (between Cumans, Rus princes and the Mongol Empire) 1237 (December) First Mongols invasion Sacking of Suzdal by Batu Khan (February, 1238; a miniature from the 16- th century chronicle) Northeastern Rus campaign ( ) Winter 1237 Ryazan January 1238 Moscow, Suzdal 7 February Vladimir 4 March 1238 . Sit river battle Sothern Rus campaign ( ) September 1240 Kiev siege December Kievs fall Spring 1241 Halych-Volyn taking Phases: 49 of 74 towns were destroyed (some of them totally) Many craftsmen were taken in captivity (Exit) tribute taken by Baskacks till XIV, later by princes yarlyk, the licence to rule the Grand Duchy divide et impera principle Consequences: Impetus to consolidation of Russian lands Cultural enhancement Consequences: