Surprisingly, Wise Yaroslav received his nickname not during his lifetime, but only in the 60s of the XIX century. During his life he was called Khromts. Studies show that his leg was chopped, therefore, he was limping. At that time, such a flaw was considered a sign of wisdom, intelligence, and providence, so the word “lame” as a nickname could be considered as close in meaning to the word “wise”. So they began to call Yaroslav - the Wise. The deeds of this prince eloquently speak for themselves. The heyday of the Old Russian state under Yaroslav the Wise is a confirmation of these words.
Association of Russia
Yaroslav did not immediately become the ruler of Kiev, he had to fight long enough with his brothers for the Kiev throne. After 1019, Yaroslav united under his authority almost all the lands of the Old Russian state, thereby contributing to overcoming feudal fragmentation within the country. In many areas, his sons became governors. Thus began the heyday of the Old Russian state under Yaroslav the Wise.
Russian truth
An important step forward for Yaroslav’s domestic policy was the drafting of a general code of laws, which was called the “Russian Truth”. This is a document that defined the rules of inheritance, criminal, procedural and commercial legislation that are common to all. The heyday of the Old Russian state under Yaroslav the Wise was impossible without this document.
These laws contributed to the strengthening of relations within the state, which in general contributed to overcoming feudal fragmentation. After all, now every city did not live by its own rules - the law was common to all, and this, of course, contributed to the development of trade and created the opportunity to stabilize relations within the state as much as possible.
The laws of the Russian Truth reflected the social stratification of society. For example, the fines for killing a stink or slave were several times lower than the payments for killing a free man. Fines replenished the state treasury.
The heyday of Kiev
The very emergence of "Russian Truth" was a giant step forward on the path to overcoming feudal fragmentation, unity of different parts of the country. The flowering of the Old Russian state under Yaroslav the Wise was actively going on. History reports that Kiev has truly become the center of the country. The development of crafts facilitated trade relations. Merchants flocked to the city, offering their goods. Kiev was rich, and its fame spread throughout many cities and countries.
Foreign policy of Yaroslav the Wise
The flowering of the Old Russian State under Yaroslav the Wise also affected foreign policy. Events in this period were aimed at strengthening borders, developing relations with neighboring countries, primarily with Western Europe. This has affected the increase in the authority of the state. Relations with other countries have reached a higher level.
Despite the fact that the heyday of the Old Russian state was gaining momentum under Yaroslav the Wise, historical events were not only positive. Russia still suffered from raids by nomads. But soon this trouble was resolved. In 1036, the troops of Yaroslav the Wise defeated the Pechenegs, who after that for a long time stopped attacking Russia. By order of the prince, fortified cities were built on the southern border to defend the borders.
Dynastic marriages
The flowering of the Old Russian state under Yaroslav the Wise proceeded in different directions. History reports that in 1046 he managed to sign a peace treaty with the Byzantine state. This document was important because political and cultural relations were beneficial for both countries. The peace treaty with Byzantium was reinforced by dynastic marriage. Vsevolod Yaroslavich married the daughter of Konstantin Monomakh.
The heyday of the Old Russian state under Yaroslav the Wise was strengthened by dynastic marriages of the children of the prince. Of course, they contributed to the strengthening of ties between Kievan Rus and Europe. The sons of Yaroslav the Wise were married to German princesses: Svyatoslav, Igor and Vyacheslav. Daughter Elizabeth was married to the Norwegian prince Harold, Anna - to the French king Henry I, Anastasia - to the Hungarian king Andrei I. Such dynastic marriages, firstly, demonstrated the attractiveness of Russia to Europe, and secondly, were useful for the Kiev state, since they gave more opportunities for cultural and economic development, contributed to the flourishing of the ancient Russian state.
The spread of Christianity under Yaroslav the Wise
988 is considered the year of the baptism of Rus . But the state did not become Christian in one year, it took a lot of effort to spread faith throughout the country. And much was done for this precisely during the reign of Yaroslav: about 400 churches were built in Kiev, on the spot where the army of Yaroslav defeated the Pechenegs, the St. Sophia Cathedral, the temple of wisdom and divine reason were built, cathedrals were built in Polotsk and Novgorod, the church of the Great Martyr George and St. Irina. It was during Yaroslav that the first Russian monasteries appeared, among them the Kiev Pechersky Monastery, within the walls of which chronicles began to develop, books were translated and copied.
In 1054, the head of the Russian Church for the first time was not the Greek, but the Russian Metropolitan Hilarion. This was necessary to make the Russian church independent of Byzantium. The Word of Law and Grace, written by him, solemnly announces that the Christian faith will bring peace and joy to the state.
Enlightenment of Kievan Rus under Yaroslav the Wise
According to annalistic sources, Yaroslav the Wise spoke several foreign languages and read many books. The princely library was the richest. It was with this prince that the heyday of the Old Russian state was observed. Yaroslav the Wise was one of the most enlightened rulers of the Kiev state.
The beginning of the Russian annals dates back to the years of the reign of Yaroslav the Wise. According to research, the first chronicle was created around 1037. On its basis, the Kiev-Pechersk monk Nestor later created the "Tale of Bygone Years." The creation of the annals pursued the goal of uniting Russia around Kiev.
Yaroslav the Wise created the first public library, where everyone could take the manuscript and read freely. The prince invited from Byzantium translators who translated ancient, mainly church manuscripts. In many monasteries, educated monks were copying books. Theological and historical works, books of Greek and Byzantine authors spread throughout the monasteries, thereby introducing Russia to the culture of the ancient world.
The prince paid attention and education. Many monasteries formed schools. Yaroslav the Wise himself chose young men in Kiev and Novgorod to study in schools. Created a kind of vocational schools.
All these events secured the glory of the enlightener for the prince. The incredible heyday of the Old Russian state under Yaroslav the Wise. Briefly historical events of that time are described in this article.
Unfortunately, after the death of the prince, Kievan Rus gradually began to decline. But even those events that Yaroslav the Wise managed to carry out, gave Russia a lot. The reign of Yaroslav the Wise - the heyday of Kievan Rus.