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In these books, exciting adventures take place against the backdrop of famous historical events! Military battles, crime dramas, passionate love stories, mysteries and investigations - and our ancestors, the ancient Slavs, act as the main characters. Do not miss!

Have fun reading!

She grew up far from Kyiv, in a remote corner, where young girls were still given to the bear prince, and their fate was controlled by an old witch, whose hut stood on the border of the world of the living and the dead. The niece of Oleg the Prophet, who conquered the rich Constantinople, she was an enviable bride, and therefore they planned to use her hand for political purposes. But the girl took after her uncle in character and stubbornness and decided everything in her own way. A little more, and Olga’s name will become known not only throughout all Slavic lands, but also far beyond their borders.

The few witnesses to the fatal wound of Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich, the son of Ivan the Terrible, flatly refuse to testify. The best detective of the Robbery Order, Trofim Pyzhov, who is going to Sloboda as if for execution, must investigate the crime. And yet…

Adventures, investigations, love! “Seal of Vladimir” Ancient Rus', 1070. The keeper of the library of Prince Vladimir Monomakh was found murdered and robbed. Vladimir's personal seal has disappeared. The prince’s advisor, warrior Artemy understands that the librarian’s death is somehow connected with the treasures of the ancient tribe... “Treasures of Byzantium” For the wedding of Prince Vladimir, the guests prepared rich gifts, the most expensive of all were Byzantine jewelry with diamonds and rubies. But on the eve of the celebration, disaster struck: the beautiful Nastasya was found poisoned, and the Byzantine jewelry disappeared without a trace. Princely advisor Artemy must find out what happened...

The best historical series about the struggle of the Slavs against the predatory Varangians two centuries before Prince Rurik! An exciting action thriller from the bestselling author of “Skald. Vikings" and "The Spell of the Magi. Vikings! If the Norman squad rules our lands, if newcomers from the West violate the Truth, treating the Slavs as slaves, young and old rise up against the invaders, and even women take up the knife.

The famous historical epic novel about the events of the 13th century - a very difficult period in Russian history. Two of the most outstanding figures of their time - Daniil Galitsky and Alexander Nevsky - continue to inspire generations living many centuries later.

Veliky Novgorod is one of the oldest and most famous cities in Russia. According to legend, it became the place where the chronicler Rurik was called and the birth of Russian statehood. In the Middle Ages it was the center of Novg

The Byzantine Empire, torn apart by internal enemies, requires military assistance. Emperor Vasily II addresses the Russian Prince Vladimir. He agrees to help if his sister is given in marriage to the Emperor

This book is a collection of poetic fairy tales written for those readers who, having entered adulthood, continue to appreciate and love fairy tales, who are interested in the history of the Fatherland, Russian folklore,

There are basic dogmas adopted by the church, when, where and how it appeared and conquered minds. And all official sources follow this direction. At the same time, from indirect sources one can see another

A Russian spy in the Golden Horde, he did everything possible to stir up unrest in the steppe after the death of the Great Khan and put an end to the damned Ig. He bled his sword in countless battles for the sake of wasps

During excavations of an ancient Russian monastery, archaeologists find a parchment that speaks of a certain Book of Perun. Full of inspiration, scientists continue their search, not even imagining what this is all about.

If you mix Slavic epics with the history of Ancient Rus' of the 10th century and add for spice the motifs of the Persian epic "Shah-name", and all this is carefully flavored with imagination - then here is a new look at

Two bestsellers in one volume! The best novels about the greatest princes, under whose rule the Russian land entered its “golden age”, reaching the heights of prosperity and power - even Western chroniclers

There is no sadder story in the world than “The Tale of the Destruction of the Russian Land” from Batu’s invasion, and debate about the causes and culprits of this catastrophe has been raging for centuries. How the steppe hordes managed to

Flight of the Falcon is a historical story about the times of ancient Rus'. The daughter of the Pskov governor, Olga, returns home from a trip to Kyiv. This is the first long trip in her life and she is sad that it is cancelled.

He came from our world... They called him... SAGE! He knew how to wield magic and conspiracy, a saber and a flail. But he never thought that his life and freedom would depend on it. Just one wrong order

A heroic-patriotic novel dedicated to medieval Rus' and the first clashes with the army of Genghis Khan (XIII century). It is against this formidable historical background that the plot, full of drama, unfolds: m

THREE BESTSELLERS IN ONE VOLUME! The entire trilogy about Batu's invasion. Rus' is bleeding in an unequal struggle, but is fighting to the death! When the merciless Horde, like iron locusts, devastates the Russian land,

“The Great Defeat of Peter the Great”, “The Best Ruler in Russian History”, “How the Russians Lost the 150-Year War to the Chukchi”, “The Five Bloodiest Chekist Executioners”, “The Unwritten History of Varyazhsk

“I’m coming at you!” - these proud words are inscribed in Russian history in gold: military honor did not allow Prince Svyatoslav to go on a campaign without warning, without posing an open challenge to his enemies. The Last Sovereign

He is a rogue killer whose only wealth is a sword and a dream of glory. She is the daughter of a powerful leader, vegetating in the shadow of her father and brother. For the sake of her love, he will go to the ends of the world, forget his home and betray

“Trace of the Varangian Boat” is the second of six historical adventure novels about events of the 7th-8th centuries AD, possibly taking place in the upper reaches of the Volga River. The Varangian squad takes tribute from the village and takes away

Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, Walter Scott, etc. - popular writers all over the world who successfully wrote historical novels. It is unlikely that it will be possible to compile a complete list of books devoted to this topic. Works of this genre, according to researchers, arose in the 19th century. Before this, authors who tried to create such novels could not achieve the required level of historical generalization. Walter Scott managed to do this. It was his works that gave impetus to the emergence of what is today called "best historical novels".

Critics note that one of the distinctive features that clearly characterize books in the genre of historical novels is their accessibility. They are read with pleasure by both young people and representatives of the older generation. Touching, fascinating, entertaining historical books, the list of which is endless, do not get old and do not lose their relevance. They will always help to diversify a regular evening at home. One effective way to overcome boredom is to open historical novels. The list of books can be continued endlessly, so readers will always have a choice.

The amazing story of the Norman peasant woman Jeanne, to whom Messadier dedicated an entire trilogy, unfolds in France in the mid- and late 15th century: from the last battles of the Hundred Years' War to the first expeditions to the newly discovered America. Jeanne is forced to flee war-torn Normandy to Paris. Here fate involves her in the intrigues of the royal court, here both love and glory await her, here she will meet both King Charles VII and the poet Francois Villon.

The dream of Nikolai Perelyak, a master of historical fencing and a great lover of everything medieval, has come true. He is in the ninth century. And he is a Viking from the team of the glorious Jarl Hrorek the Falcon. Ahead is a great campaign to France, but first you need to spend the winter on the Danish island of Roskilde, the possession of the most powerful and cruel of the Norman kings - Ragnar Lothbrok.

Those who think that wintering in the company of Danish Vikings is a continuous feast with warrior friends and cheerful girls is not entirely right. There are also cheerful bloody holidays in honor of local gods and merry Norman games, from which not everyone manages to emerge unharmed. And also crazy berserkers, aggressive neighbors and beautiful Danish women who should not be touched without permission, so as not to be left without hands.

In short, it won't be boring. Neither the hero nor the reader.

Continuation of the adventures of the crazy Arthur Alexandrov in the past.

“What I saw really puzzled me. There were Tatars there, as if they were making a film about the Mongol yoke, and seven short horses were grazing nearby. Having counted the people, I discovered that there were five of them. Having quickly looked around, I didn’t find any movie cameras or people in normal clothes There was only one conclusion: I fell back in time again."

The plot of The Count of Monte Cristo was gleaned by Alexandre Dumas from the archives of the Parisian police. The true life of François Picot, under the pen of a brilliant master of the historical adventure genre, turned into a fascinating story about Edmond Dantes, a prisoner of the Château d'If. Having made a daring escape, he returns to his hometown to bring justice - to take revenge on those who destroyed his life.

A thick novel that doesn't let go until the last page, The Count of Monte Cristo is a classic that is truly re-read.

The third novel in the historical adventure tetralogy by the famous Ukrainian writer Vladimir Kirillovich Malik about the struggle of the people of Ukraine against foreign invaders in the second half of the 17th century. Readers will again meet the Cossack Arsen Zvenigora and his friends - the Russian Roman Voinov, the Pole Martyn Spyhalsky, the Bulgarian governor Mladen and his son Nenko, already familiar to them from the previous novels “Ambassador of Urus-Shaitan”, “Firman Sultan”, published by the publishing house as one book in 1973

The author tells about the amazing world of the Siberian taiga, about the people who lived at the beginning of the 19th century on the banks of the majestic beauty of the Angara. The action-packed novel centers on the fate of those who found and mined gold here. Vividly written episodes make you think about the terrible power of the “golden calf” and the invincible power and breadth of the Slavic soul, allowing you to see the power of love and friendship, hatred and betrayal.

Mid 19th century. A young girl who has lost her memory ends up in an insane asylum. The employees call her Nina. A year later, a carriage comes for her and takes her to Yekaterinburg. So Nina ends up in the house of the merchant Levit, who opened a restaurant, and with it a casino and a brothel. Only he knows what mystical gift Nina has. He shouldn’t have stirred up her memory, because the girl’s gift could be deadly for everyone.

Johannes Vilhelm Jensen is a famous Danish writer and Nobel Prize laureate.

Jensen's work is practically unknown to the modern Russian reader, while Jensen's works are constantly republished abroad. Jensen tried to create a colossal panorama of the fate of the Scandinavian tribes - from the Ice Age to the barbarian campaigns against Rome. The epic “The Long Journey” is a brilliant example of “high” literature. The publication of Jensen in Russian is a significant cultural event in the process of Russian book publishing.

Our contemporaries, tourists who had a fun rafting trip down the Ural river Kuyva, as part of a “weekend tour,” find themselves in the mid-16th century. There, on the Kuyva River, on the border of the Stroganov lands, but several years before Ermak’s campaign to conquer Siberia.

Part of the campaign decides to go to Moscow, believing that only there they will be able to apply their knowledge with due success. These optimists hope to take their rightful place in Rus', or in Europe, if they are lucky.

Their other brothers in misfortune, more beaten by life and who have long become pessimists, remain in the border village. They know the history of geography and have not trusted the authorities, especially those in Moscow, for a long time. Therefore, the first thing they decide to do is protect themselves and their loved ones; fortunately, they know how to work with their hands, are not afraid of difficulties, and have some skills. To protect not only from Bashkir and Tatar raids, but also from Stroganov’s henchmen, from hunger and the cold of the upcoming winter. Moreover, apart from a couple of axes, a chainsaw and some tools, tourists have nothing. No weapons, no money, no warm clothes.

However, they have the Urals, with iron, copper, and lead ores studied and partially selected. With gold mines, emerald and diamond mines, and coal mines developed by the twenty-first century. Moreover, now all this wealth is untouched and waiting in the wings. This is what extourists take advantage of when building a settlement on “no man’s” land that does not belong to the Stroganovs. And, in order to avoid oppression by the Russian authorities, they are called subjects of another country, lying far in the northeast, the rich and powerful kingdom of Magadan.

While some of the impostors are building houses, mining ore and trying to arm themselves, others are making acquaintances in the neighboring Vogul tribes and Russian forts. Together they fight off the attacks of the Siberian Tatars. At the same time, extourists are trying in every way to expand their tiny village, inviting friends and neighbors there, imprisoning captives and fugitives from Rus'. With the receipt of explosives, the Magadan farmstead turns into a fortress capable of withstanding the onslaught of several hundred nomads. And tourists who have become skilled blacksmiths, together with their assistants, are in a hurry to increase their ammunition.

In anticipation of the upcoming (according to history) raid of nomads, the “Magadanians” warn all their neighbors about it, offer their help and prepare for battle.

Historical Adventures

Many people like to read adventure books, worrying about the main character and mentally transporting themselves through time and space. It’s always interesting to replay dangerous situations in our heads and figure out what we would do in the shoes of the book characters.

We first encounter the adventure genre in childhood. Who doesn’t remember the adventures of Kolobok or “Alice in Wonderland”? Growing up, we want to not only have breathtaking adventures, but also learn the details of the life and life of the people in whose times our heroes lived, that is, read historical adventures.

Features of the historical adventure genre

Historical adventures are one of the most popular genres among readers. Books written in this direction talk about distant times. The author, collecting information bit by bit, tries to restore as accurately and plausibly as possible the details of everyday life and surroundings. And.

Heroes, as a rule, in historical adventures are fictitious, but episodes may contain real historical figures . Events in books can take place not only in distant times, but also in exotic countries whose culture is poorly understood.

The main characters are aimed at accomplishing feats , looking for countless treasures, travel with pirates, suffer disaster alone on a desert island, fight with the enemy with swords, explore the habits of animals in their normal habitat and much more.

What attracts you to this genre?

It’s interesting to meet people in books, to see times and countries through their eyes. Reading about historical adventures, we empathize with the heroes, appreciate the writer’s talent and his skill in presenting interesting historical facts. The heroes of such works captivate the heart with their courage, bravery, and desire to discover something new.

We want to imitate heroes in our lives with perseverance to achieve our goals. . In addition, the plots in such works have exciting trials and love affairs. The finale is a wonderful achievement. Reading about historical adventures is great fun!

What literature in the genre of historical adventures can be read on our website?

Our online electronic library has a wide selection of books on this topic. We offer you to get acquainted with the most popular works, for example, such as:

Vladimir Malik;
James Clavell;
Alexander Mazin;
Rafael Sabatini;
Philippa Gregory and much more.

The adventure novel tells about Edmond Dantes. He was falsely accused of treason and put in a fortress, from which there is only one way out - death. After spending several years in prison, Dantes tries to commit suicide, but hears some sounds and decides to find out what they mean.

Having begun to dig under the walls of the chamber, he met his neighbor Abbot Faria in the tunnel. The scientist is considered crazy because he constantly talks about a multi-million dollar treasure buried on the island. Faria, unlike Dantes, is full of hopes of being released.

Faria works tirelessly, making tools, writing scientific papers and dreaming of escape. Dantes tells his new friend about all the circumstances that led him to this place, and Faria piece by piece reconstructs the course of events.

Dantes swears revenge on all his offenders. From that moment on, he learns manners and science from Faria. They hope to escape together, but the Abbot dies of a heart attack. Wrapped in a funeral bag, our hero impersonates the deceased.

The guards throw Dantes into the sea, where he is picked up by smugglers. He finds the treasure that Faria told him about and becomes a very rich man. Thus, the path to revenge began for Edmond, who henceforth called himself the Count of Monte Cristo. You can read about how he did this in the book online for free.

Every person was born once and was very small. He knows and remembers about that time only from the stories of adults. In the same way, every nation was once born and was very small. He knows about himself from those times from legends and traditions, and from the fragmentary information that has been preserved in the records of other peoples. These stories are usually more like fairy tales; it is almost impossible to prove their veracity, and therefore they are interpreted by anyone as they wish.

But the time comes, and the people have written language. As soon as it appears, people first begin to write down stories about their deeds - this is how written history is born. Scientists say that we can only guess about the pre-written history of a people, but we can prove written history. The longer a people’s written language exists, the more accurate, detailed and informative its history turns out to be.

In this book, the reader will learn the history of the Russian state from the time of its formation to the time of the birth of the Russian kingdom. This means that it begins in preliterate times and is built on the interpretation of legends and traditions, and ends seventeen years before the appearance of the first Russian printed book. The huge period between 862 and 1547 is 685 years.

The events that went into it can only be described very briefly in such a book. However, brevity is the sister of talent, and modern people often demand that very little be said about big things, and only the most important things. We considered the most important point of view on the domestic history of Russian academic science. School history textbooks are oriented towards it; it has absorbed the most demonstrative concepts of Russian scientists of past times. We refer to traditions, legends, and controversial points of view only in some incisions given throughout the main text.

In general, science history is a fascinating adventure story that certainly provides food for the mind and pleasure for the soul. Happy reading everyone!

About history

The great Spanish writer Miguel Cervantes said: “History is the treasury of our deeds, a witness to the past, an example and lesson for the present, a warning for the future.”

About mankurts

Among the people, people who did not know their history were usually called Ivans, who did not remember their kinship. Recently they have been called mankurts. This is the nickname of the characters in the novel “Stormy Stop” by Chingiz Aitmatov. Mankurts were captives turned into soulless slaves, completely subordinate to their masters and knowing nothing about their previous life.

Section 1. The beginning of the Russian state

Slavs

Life of the Eastern Slavs.

Artist S. Ivanov

When exactly the Slavic people appeared, science cannot say. It is only known that they once separated from the Indo-European community of tribes. The first to mention the Slavs in his “History” was Herodotus (5th century BC). It was said absolutely precisely about them only one thousand one hundred years later in the 6th century. the Gothic historian Jordanes in Getica and the Byzantine historian Procopius of Caesarea in the Wars. Both told about the Slavic peoples - the Wends, Sklavins and Ants.

Initially, the ancients called all Slavs Wends. They lived on a vast territory from the Vistula River to the future Novgorod lands, from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. The Sklavins and Antes were Wendish tribal groups. The first settled between the Dniester, Danube and Tisza rivers, on the lands of present-day Romania, Moldova, part of Hungary and part of Ukraine. Anty settled between the Dniester and Dnieper, from the headwaters of these rivers to the Black Sea, on the lands of modern Ukraine.

Nowadays science believes that the Wends represented the northern group of Slavs, the Sklavins - the western group, and the Antes - the eastern group. They were no different from each other.

In the 4th century. The Ants formed a tribal union - the beginnings of a state. This was the alliance of the leader God. Around 375 it was defeated by the Goths. The enemies crucified God and his sons who were taken captive. Then there was the invasion of the Huns, then the invasion of the Avars. So the surviving Slavs were able to form a new tribal union only two hundred years later - in the 6th century.

By that time, the Slavs lived in communities (tribes), which consisted of families - groups of close relatives. Most of them were engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding. They cultivated wheat, millet, rye, oats, and barley. They raised cattle, pigs, sheep, chickens and ducks.

The Slavs also had professional warriors - warriors who united into squads engaged in robbing neighboring peoples and capturing slaves. They protected their relatives in case of attacks by strangers. The squads were headed by leaders - princes and governors. The power of the princes was hereditary.

Kyiv. Monument-fountain to the founders of the city on Independence Square. Sculptor A. Kushch

In the union of tribes there was no single ruler; all issues were resolved either by the council of elders or by the general meeting of the tribe - the veche, i.e. there was democracy.

The council of elders of the Antes was dominated by the princes of the tribal squads. Presumably in the 7th century. Among them, the prince of the Polyan tribe, Kiy, stood out, who, together with his younger brothers Shchek and Khoryv and his sister Lybid, is considered the founder of Kyiv, the main city of the Polyan. Scientists agreed to consider the conditional death of the legendary Kiy and his brothers as the end of the era of the Antes, the collapse of their union and the conquest of the scattered Ant tribes by the Khazars.

Herodotus

Father of History Herodotus

The ancient Greek Herodotus lived about two and a half thousand years ago (in the 5th century BC). He wrote the book "History". Before Herodotus, other people wrote Histories, but their books perished in time. Herodotus’s “History” turned out to be the oldest historical book that has survived in its entirety to our times. Therefore, scientists all over the world gave Herodotus the nickname Father of History.

Jordan

Historian ready Jordan

The Goth Jordan lived almost one and a half thousand years ago, in the 6th century. He wrote the book “On the Origin and Deeds of the Getae” (the short title of the book is “Gethica”). In "Getica" the Slavs are told for the first time.

Procopius of Caesarea

The Syrian Procopius of Caesarea lived at the same time as Jordan. He was a historian in the Byzantine Empire and wrote the books The History of Wars and The Secret History. He himself was a participant in many of the events he described.

Tribe

A tribe is a large group of people united by a common origin, language, traditions and customs. Tribe members usually believed in the same gods. They united primarily for joint defense against enemies, aggressive campaigns and overcoming natural disasters.

When do we first learn about the Russians?

Scientists begin the history of the Russian people in June 860. Under this time, for the first time in writing, the appearance of the Rus is mentioned - about their raid on the outskirts of the capital of the Byzantine Empire, the city of Constantinople.

In Rus'. Soul of the people. Artist M. Nesterov

Calling of the Varangians

Varangians. Artist V. Vasnetsov

Any story about the birth of an ancient state is legendary, that is, it is close to a fairy tale, but this fairy tale was invented based on events that actually happened. This is the story of the birth of the Russian state. For the fourth century now, scientists have been trying to discover bit by bit where there is truth in it and where it is fiction, but they have not yet come to a consensus.

From the “Tale of Bygone Years” by the chronicler Nestor, which is considered our main source of information about the ancient history of the Russian people, as well as from the Joakim (Tatishchev) chronicle, researchers learned the following.

To the north of the Antes, in the basin of Lake Ilmen and in the upper reaches of the Mologa River, lived the Slavic tribe of Slovenes. In the first half of the 9th century. Elder Gostomysl ruled the Slovenes. He had four sons and three daughters. Gostomysl's sons died during his lifetime, but he married his daughters to neighboring princes. One day the elder saw in a dream how a huge tree grew from the womb of his middle daughter Umila, covering a large city with its branches. Having solved the dream, Gostomysl declared his son Umila his heir.

After the death of the elder, a great discord began among the Slovenians. According to archaeological research, in the 860s - 870s. In those places there was indeed a fierce civil strife. To stop the bloodshed, around 862 the Slovenes sent envoys to Umila’s son, the Varangian prince Rurik, with an appeal: “Our land is great and abundant, but there is no order in it. Come reign and rule over us."

Rurik came with his brothers Sineus and Truvor. He himself sat down to rule in Ladoga, Sineus - in Beloozero (at the source of the Sheksna River), Truvor - in Izborsk (now the village of Stary Izborsk near Pskov).

What happened in 864 is unknown, but Sineus and Truvor died, and their lands came under the rule of Rurik. The following year, the prince moved to live in the city of Novgorod, which he founded.

Rurik died in 879, and all his life he ruled only Northern Russia. In this regard, in science there are two points of view on the time of formation of the Russian state. Some historians claim that it arose around 862, when Rurik took over princely power from the Slovenes. Other historians insist that Rurik is only the founder of the first dynasty of Russian rulers - the Rurikids, and the state was founded in 882, when Oleg, regent for Rurik's young son, Prince Igor, conquered Kiev and united Northern and Southern Rus'.

Shum-mountain near Novgorod. According to legend, Rurik and 12 of his outstanding warriors are buried here

Country and state

Remember, every person should know this.

A country is a land (they are also called by another word - territory) and their population, united by one state.

A state is an organization created by people that governs the population of a country, creates laws for them, forces them to execute these laws, and also protects the borders of a state-governed country from other states. Only part of the country's population works in the state: these are legislators, judges, officials, police officers, and military personnel.

Country and state are usually called by the same name, but never confuse them - they are different.

Joakim (Tatishchev) chronicle

This is the name of the one who disappeared back in the 18th century. chronicle, which was allegedly written by the Novgorod bishop Joachim Korsunyanin at the very beginning of the 11th century. The great Russian historian Vasily Tatishchev managed to read this chronicle, who then rewrote it and then published part of it in his work “Russian History”. Many scientists suggest that Tatishchev himself came up with this chronicle and published excerpts from it as if from the real thing.

Amled

The great English writer W. Shakespeare based the plot of the tragedy “Hamlet” on the life of a real person – the Jutland prince Amled. Jutland is a land in northern Denmark. A number of researchers claim that Amled was either the uncle or grand-grandfather of the Russian prince Rurik (Rorik).

Rurikovich

The Rurik dynasty ruled in Rus' for seven hundred and thirty years: from 862, when the Varangian Rurik became the Slovenian prince, and until January 7, 1592, when Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich died.

Prophetic Oleg

Death of Askold and Dir. Artist F. Bruni

Since the time of Rurik, the Khazar Khaganate became the main enemy of Novgorod. The fight against him led to the unification of Rus' and the formation of a powerful Russian state.

In 882, the regent Prince Oleg undertook a campaign against Southern Rus', which was dependent on the Khazar Kaganate. His goal was Kyiv. It was ruled by Askold and Dir, talented commanders (possibly Varangians), who in 866 led the successful campaign of the Slavs against the capital of the Byzantine Empire, the city of Constantinople. Oleg did not dare to openly attack Kyiv. He left the army in ambush, and he and Igor landed on the shore. Askold and Dir greeted the distinguished guests, but suddenly they were surrounded by warriors. Oleg exclaimed, pointing at Igor:

– You own Kiev, but you are not princes or of a princely family; I am a princely family, and this is the son of Rurik!

Askold and Dir were killed, and none of the Kievites were indignant at this - the death of the rulers meant the end of the Khazar yoke.

The unification of Southern and Northern Rus' under the rule of one prince marked the beginning of the Old Russian state. Oleg chose Kyiv as his capital.

- This will be the mother of Russian cities! - he said.

A mayor was appointed in Novgorod.

Soon Oleg subjugated the largest Ant tribes. In the very first summer of his reign in Kyiv, he went to war against the Drevlyans and treated them harshly: “he tortured them” and imposed tribute - “a black marten from the smoke.” Then the northerners and Radimichi were conquered. Since both tribes had previously paid tribute to the Khazars, Oleg significantly reduced it. From now on, the Dnieper was completely in the power of the Kyiv prince.

Shield on the gates of Constantinople. Artist B. Olshansky

Modern scholars believe that Oleg pursued a pro-Byzantine policy and successfully fought the Khazars. Not by war, but by reasonable policy, he achieved a profitable trade agreement with Byzantium in 911. But the chronicles preserved the story of a grandiose military campaign that began in 907. The Rus had about 2,000 ships, each housing 40 troops. When the fleet approached Constantinople, the Byzantines closed the sea approach to the city with iron chains. Then Oleg ordered the ships to be pulled onto land and put on wheels. They raised the sails, and with a fair wind, the army approached the city by land, as if by sea. The besieged asked for peace. According to the concluded agreement, they paid a huge tribute. Departing from Constantinople, the Rus nailed their shields to its gates, which symbolized their victory over the arrogant Byzantines. For the victory over the empire, Oleg was given the nickname by the people - Prophetic, i.e. Wise.

The further fate of Prince Oleg is very vague. It is not even known whether he returned to Kyiv. According to legend, Prince Oleg died from the bite of a snake that crawled out of the skull of his long-dead war horse. This happened in 912.

Trizna for the Prophetic Oleg. Artist V. Vasnetsov

Khazar Khaganate

This is the name of the state of the nomadic Khazar people. In ancient times, the Kaganate occupied a vast territory from the Dnieper River to the Aral Sea, from the middle of the Volga River, to Transcaucasia. The Khazars were ruled by a king, the Khagan.

Regent

A regent is a temporary manager of state affairs during a minor or sick ruler.

About the death of Prophetic Oleg

Prophetic Oleg at the bones of his horse. Artist V. Vasnetsov

Some researchers believe that Prince Oleg was poisoned - either by the Magi or by the people of Prince Igor.

The great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin dedicated a wonderful poem to the story of Prophetic Oleg. Read it, and if you can, memorize it.

Song about Prophetic Oleg
How the prophetic Oleg is getting ready now
To take revenge on the foolish Khazars:
Their villages and fields for a violent raid
He was doomed to swords and fires;
With his squad, in Tsaregrad armor,
The prince rides across the field on a faithful horse.
From the dark forest towards him
An inspired magician is coming,
An old man obedient to Perun alone,
The messenger of the covenants of the future,
He spent his entire century in prayers and fortune-telling.
And Oleg drove up to the wise old man.
“Tell me, magician, favorite of the gods,
What will happen to me in life?
And soon, to the joy of our neighbors-enemies,
Will I be covered with grave earth?
Reveal to me the whole truth, do not be afraid of me:
You will take a horse as a reward for anyone.”
“The Magi are not afraid of mighty lords,
But they don’t need a princely gift;
Their prophetic language is truthful and free
And friendly with the will of heaven.
The coming years lurk in darkness;
But I see your lot on your bright brow,
Now remember my words:
Glory to the warrior is joy;
Your name is glorified by victory;
Your shield is on the gates of Constantinople;
Both the waves and the land are submissive to you;
The enemy is jealous of such a wondrous fate.
And the blue sea is a deceptive wave
In the hours of fatal bad weather,
And the sling and the arrow and the crafty dagger
The years are kind to the winner...
Under the formidable armor you know no wounds;
An invisible guardian has been given to the mighty.
Your horse is not afraid of dangerous work:
He, sensing the master's will,
Then the humble one stands under the arrows of enemies,
It rushes across the battlefield,
And the cold and the slashing are nothing to him.
But you will receive death from your horse.”
Oleg grinned - but
And the gaze was darkened by thoughts.
In silence, leaning his hand on the saddle,
He gets off his horse gloomily;
And a faithful friend with a farewell hand
And he strokes and pats the cool guy’s neck.
"Farewell, my comrade, my faithful servant,
The time has come for us to part:
Now rest! no one will step foot
Into your gilded stirrup.
Farewell, be comforted - and remember me.
You, fellow youths, take a horse!
Cover with blanket, shaggy carpet;
Take me by the bridle to my meadow:
Bathe, feed with selected grain;
Give me spring water to drink.”
And the youths immediately departed with the horse,
And they brought another horse to the prince.
The prophetic Oleg feasts with his retinue
At the clink of a cheerful glass.
And their curls are white as morning snow
Above the glorious head of the mound...
They remember days gone by
And the battles where they fought together...
“Where is my friend? - said Oleg, -
Tell me, where is my zealous horse?
Are you healthy? Is his running still as easy?
Is he still the same stormy, playful person?”
And he heeds the answer: on a steep hill
He had long since fallen into deep sleep.
Mighty Oleg bowed his head
And he thinks: “What is fortune telling?
Magician, you lying, crazy old man!
I would despise your prediction!
My horse would still carry me.”
And he wants to see the horse's bones.
Here comes the mighty Oleg from the yard,
Igor and old guests are with him,
And they see: on a hill, on the banks of the Dnieper,
Noble bones lie;
The rain washes them, the dust covers them,
And the wind stirs the feather grass above them.
The prince quietly stepped on the horse's skull
And he said: “Sleep, lonely friend!
Your old master outlived you:
At the funeral feast, already nearby,
It’s not you who will stain the feather grass under the ax
And feed my ashes with hot blood!
So this is where my destruction was hidden!
The bone threatened me with death!”
From the dead head the grave serpent
Meanwhile, hissing crawled out;
Like a black ribbon wrapped around my legs:
And the suddenly stung prince cried out.
The circular buckets, foaming, hiss
At the mournful funeral of Oleg:
Prince Igor and Olga are sitting on a hill;
The squad is feasting on the shore;
Soldiers remember days gone by
And the battles where they fought together.

Paganism

Idols. Artist N. Roerich

Ancient Rus' was pagan, that is, polytheistic. The first name is religious, the second is scientific, and both mean “polytheism.” In those days, people lived in close connection with nature and endowed the entire world around them with supernatural powers. Various objects, natural phenomena, and animals were declared deities.

The Tale of Bygone Years names the pantheon of the highest gods of Ancient Rus'. There were six of them. The main one was the thunder god Perun, the patron of warriors. This was followed by Khors (god of the Sun), Dazhbog (god of fertility), Stribog (god of the winds), Simargl (god of death and heavenly fire) and Makosh (goddess of fate and crafts). Makosh was usually accompanied by two spring goddesses giving birth - Lada and Lelya. They also worshiped Veles (Volos) - the god of cattle, who is also the god of the dead, wisdom and magic, and Rod-Svyatovit - the creator of all living things, the patron of the human race.

The pagans deified animals: snakes (personified rain), lizards (lord of the underwater world), swans, ducks, etc. Magic birds with human heads occupied a special place in mythology. The most famous of them: Alkonost - the bird of joy, Sirin - the bird of sadness and Gamayun - the legless prophetic bird-fortuneteller, messenger of the gods.

Sacrifices were made to the gods - demands. The most common requirement was a wreath of flowers and freshly picked birch branches. In the years of famine, human demands were made - babies or elders were killed.

General prayers were held in sanctuaries - temples where wooden or stone images of deities stood. Such prayers were called “events” (being together). The pagans especially revered the oak tree, which is why temples were often built in sacred oak groves. The most revered temple among the people was located on the island of Khortitsa (on the Dnieper) - a huge sacred oak tree grew there.

Meeting of the Prophetic Oleg with the magician. Artist V. Vasnetsov

The pagans had their own priests - the Magi. They determined the dates and places of event prayers and brought human demands. People revered the Magi as sorcerers and prophets.

Outstanding scientific studies are devoted to paganism in Rus', which are advisable for every self-respecting Russian to read. This is a book by the great Russian folklorist and writer, compiler of the famous collection “Russian Folk Tales” A.N. Afanasyev - “Poetic views of the Slavs on nature”, as well as a two-volume work by academician B.A. Rybakova - “The Paganism of the Ancient Slavs” and “The Paganism of Ancient Rus'”. But these books are for adults, just know that they are there.

Sirin and Alkonost. A song of joy and sorrow. Artist V. Vasnetsov

Pantheon

A pantheon is a group of gods worshiped in one religion.

About Marena

When burying the deceased, the pagan Slavs held a funeral feast - a fighting competition designed to drive away the goddess of death Marena (Marina, Kostroma, Baba Yaga) from the hearth.

A hut on chicken legs

The hut of death. Artist N. Roerich

A fence was placed around the burial place of a noble person, behind which a “pillar” was installed, i.e., a “death hut” - a small house on 2 or 4 posts. In folk tales, the “pillar” turned into the dwelling of the goddess of death Marena (Baba Yaga) - a hut on chicken legs.

Drevlyansky Troubles

The first meeting of Prince Igor with Olga. Artist V. Sazonov

Prince Igor Rurikovich lived a long life (c. 877 – c. 945). He was a weak ruler. As historians note, his greatest achievement was his marriage for love to the Pskov maiden Beautiful. Prince Oleg agreed to this marriage, but ordered the bride to take the Varangian name - Olga.

During the days of Oleg's campaign against Constantinople, Igor remained the governor in Kyiv, and after his death in 912 he became an independent ruler. At the same time, the Drevlyan princes, whose lands were located between the current cities of Rivne, Zhitomir and Chernobyl, rebelled against him. It was with great difficulty that the rebels were suppressed.