Vsevolod the Big Nest: a brief biography and a history of government

Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest, brief biographywhich is in all the textbooks on the history of Russia, is best known for the fact that it was with him that the north-east of Russia became the most important and influential political center of the East Slavic world. Therefore, this ruler deserved a good reputation among grateful descendants.

Childhood and youth

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

Rurikovich went to Constantinople, wherefound shelter at the court of Emperor Manuel Comnenus. In fifteen years Vsevolod the Big Nest, whose brief biography can tell about a lot of unexpected turns in his fate, returned home, having made peace with his older brother. He participated in the campaign against Kiev in 1169. It was the war of the northern princes against the old southern capital. For several decades Rus has been divided into several independent states, each of which argued for leadership. In each city ruled the Rurikovichi, which turned the political conflict into a family squabble. When in 1169 Kiev still fell, he lost even illusive chances to be called the capital of Russia.

Viceroy in Kiev

A few years later in the Mother of Russian citiesThe young Vsevolod the Big Nest was sent to govern as a viceroy. A short biography of the prince says that he did not last long on the banks of the Dnieper. In 1173, a few weeks after the appearance in Kiev, he was defeated by the children of the Smolensk ruler Rostislav, who also claimed the local throne. Vsevolod was taken prisoner, but was bought by his older brother Mikhail.

Fight for Vladimir principality

All this time in Vladimir rules AndreiBogolyubsky. However, in 1174 he was killed by a group of conspirators (his own boyars). His death became the cause of the internecine war for power over the northeast of Russia. Andrei 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 elder brother, who died many years ago, Mstislav and Yaropolk. The conflict also broke out between the cities. In the principality, which was once owned by Yury Dolgoruky, several political centers were formed (Vladimir, Suzdal, Rostov). The aristocracy was trying to make their city mainly in the north-east of Russia.

At first Mikhail Yuryevich entrenched in Vladimir. He was supported by Vsevolod the Big Nest, whose brief biography tells of various political alliances with relatives. However, Michael died unexpectedly in 1176, and Rostislavichi still wanted to seize Vladimir-on-Klyazma. They ruled in Rostov and Suzdal. In addition, they were supported by the Prince of Ryazan, Gleb.

Union with Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich

To help Vsevolod, who replaced the olderbrother in Vladimir, came Chernigov ruler Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich. 1176-1177 they defeated the troops of Mstislav (the Lipitskaya Battle) and Gleb (the battle at Koloksha) one by one. All enemy princes were captured. Gleb soon died in prison. Rostislavich also were blinded and released. After these events, Vsevolod Yurevich the Big Nest, whose brief biography was marked by an important success, became the sole ruler of north-eastern Russia. He made his capital Vladimir-on-Klyazma.

Becoming the sole ruler, Vsevolod was engagedthe organization of campaigns against the eastern neighbors (Mordovians and Volga Bulgars). He also fought for influence in Kiev and Novgorod, who tried to defend their republican political system. The struggle went on with varying success for both parties. During the years of rule, Vsevolod the Big Nest became known for his wisdom and prudence. The biography (briefly to tell about any of the princes of Russia is almost impossible, too much will be missed) is well described in the multivolume "History of the Russian State" Nikolai Karamzin.

The question of succession

In the last years of his life Vsevolod the Big Nest,the biography of which we are considering, was concerned about the problem of succession in his possessions. He had many children (8 sons and 4 daughters). That is why he, in fact, got the historical nickname Big Nest.

Between his two eldest sons - Konstantinand Yuri (also known as George) - a dispute broke out regarding the right to inheritance. In order to reconcile the children, Vsevolod convened a cathedral. Constantine, who was the governor of his father 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 for such defiant behavior and deprived him of Vladimir, giving the capital Yuri. While the father was alive, the brothers somehow humbled themselves and lived quietly. However, with the death of Vsevolod in 1212, a civil war broke out in northeastern Russia.

Results of the Board

However, it was under this Prince of Vladimirprincipality flourished. Vsevolod strengthened the central government, depriving the Rostov boyars of influence. He dealt a lot with decorating and arranging Vladimir, in which churches and other buildings important for the life of the people were built regularly.

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