It is officially believed that the word “king” comes from the Old Roman Ceasar, and kings are called kings only because all emperors in Rome were called Caesars, starting with Gaius Julius Caesar, whose name eventually became a household name. However, in Russian, a completely different word came from the Roman Ceasar - the word “Caesar”. This is exactly how this name was read in those ancient times, with [k]. The word “king” comes from the ancient word “Dzar”, it meant the red glow of hot metal, and in this meaning it turned into the word “heat”, as well as dawn, and in this meaning both dawn and glow come from the word “dzar” , and even lightning.
Remember the golden man, dug up in the Issyk mound in 1969? Judging by his attire, this was Dzar, and, with scales like the heat of grief, he really was a clear example of a Dawn Man.
Around the same time, approximately the same people, whose representative was buried in the Issyk mound, had a queen, Zarina. It was called Zarina in Persian, and in its native language, which can conventionally be called Scythian, it was called Dzarnya.
The names Zarina and Zara are still popular in the Caucasus. There is also its male counterpart Zaur.
In the modern Ossetian language, which is considered a descendant of Scythian, the word zærinæ means gold, and in Sanskrit, in which “d” turned into “x”, gold as हिरण्य (hiranya).
The word Ceasar is related to the word “mower” and he was named so for the reason that his mother’s stomach was cut with that same scythe, as a result of which Caesar was born.
Tsars in Rus' were traditionally called foreign rulers - first the Byzantine basileus, to whom the Hellenized version of the name of Caesar, sounding like καῖσαρ, was no longer applied for a long time, and then to the Horde khans.
After dominance on our territory passed from the Horde to Moscow, the Moscow Grand Dukes began to be unofficially called tsars - first Ivan III, and then Vasily III. However, only Ivan IV, later nicknamed the Terrible, officially appropriated this title to himself, since in addition to the Moscow principality he already owned two recent kingdoms - Kazan and Astrakhan. From then until 1721, when Russia became an empire, the royal title became the main title of the Russian monarch.

Appearance

Kings	Reign period	Notes
Simeon II Bekbulatovich		He was appointed by Ivan the Terrible, but after some time he was removed.
Fedor I Ivanovich		The last representative of the Rurik dynasty. He was so religious that he considered marital relations to be sinful, as a result of which he died childless.
Irina Fedorovna Godunova		After the death of her husband, she was proclaimed queen, but did not accept the throne and went to a monastery.
Boris Fedorovich Godunov		The first king of the Godunov dynasty
Fedor II Borisovich Godunov		The last king of the Godunov dynasty. Together with his mother, he was strangled by archers who went over to the side of False Dmitry I.
False Dmitry I		According to the generally accepted version, Otrepiev Yuri Bogdanovich, according to some historians, was actually Tsarevich Dmitry Ivanovich who survived the assassination attempt.
Vasily Ivanovich Shuisky		A representative of the princely family of the Shuiskys from the Suzdal branch of the Rurikovichs. In September 1610 he was handed over to the Polish hetman Zolkiewski and died in Polish captivity on September 12, 1612.
Vladislav I Sigismundovich Vaza		He was called to the throne by the Seven Boyars, but in fact never took over the rule of Russia and was not in Russia. On his behalf, power was exercised by Prince Mstislavsky.
Mikhail I Fedorovich		The first king of the Romanov dynasty. The actual ruler until 1633 was his father, Patriarch Filaret.
Alexey I Mikhailovich
Fedor III Alekseevich		He died at the age of 20, leaving no heirs.
Ivan V Alekseevich		From April 27, 1682, he ruled jointly with Peter I. Until September 1689, the country was actually ruled by Princess Sofya Alekseevna. All the time he was considered seriously ill, which did not prevent him from getting married and having eight children. One of the daughters, Anna Ioannovna, later became empress.
Peter I the Great		On October 22, 1721, the post of head of state began to be called All-Russian Emperor. Cm.:
Catherine I
Peter II		The son of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich, executed by Peter.
Anna Ioannovna		Daughter of Ivan V Alekseevich.
Ivan VI Antonovich		Great-grandson of Ivan V. Accessed the throne at the age of two months. His regents were Ernst Johann Biron, and from November 7, 1740, his mother Anna Leopoldovna.
Peter III		Grandson of Peter I and Catherine I, son of Princess Anna Petrovna and Duke of Holstein-Gottorp Karl Friedrich.
Catherine II the Great		Sophia Augusta Frederica of Anhalt-Zerbstska, wife of Peter III. She became empress, overthrowing and killing her husband.

The Old Russian chronicle of the 12th century “The Tale of Bygone Years” introduces us to a very interesting event that happened in 862. It was in this year that the Varangian Rurik was invited by the Slavic tribes to reign in Novgorod.

This event became fundamental in counting the beginning of the statehood of the Eastern Slavs and received the code name “Calling of the Varangians.” It is with Rurik that the countdown of the rulers of the Russian lands begins. Our history is very rich. It is filled with both heroic and tragic events, and all of them are inextricably linked with specific personalities that history has placed in chronological order.

Novgorod princes (862-882)

Novgorod princes of the pre-Kiev period. The State of Rurik - this is how the emerging Old Russian state can be conventionally called. According to the Tale of Bygone Years, this time is associated with the calling of the Varangians and the transfer of the capital to the city of Kyiv.

Kyiv princes (882-1263)

We include the rulers of the Old Russian state and the Principality of Kiev as the Kyiv princes. From the end of the 9th to the beginning of the 13th century, the Kiev throne was considered the most prestigious, and it was occupied by the most authoritative princes (usually from the Rurik dynasty), who were recognized by the other princes in the order of succession to the throne. At the end of the 12th century, this tradition began to weaken; influential princes did not occupy the Kiev throne personally, but sent their proteges to it.

Vladimir Grand Dukes (1157-1425)

The Vladimir Grand Dukes are the rulers of North-Eastern Rus'. The period of their reign begins with the separation of the Rostov-Suzdal principality from Kyiv in 1132 and ends in 1389, after the entry of the Vladimir principality into the Moscow principality. In 1169, Andrei Bogolyubsky captured Kyiv and was proclaimed Grand Duke, but did not go to reign in Kyiv. From this time on, Vladimir received grand ducal status and turned into one of the most influential centers of the Russian lands. After the start of the Mongol invasion, the Vladimir princes are recognized in the Horde as the oldest in Rus', and Vladimir becomes the nominal capital of the Russian lands.

Moscow princes and grand dukes (1263-1547)

During the period of feudal fragmentation, Moscow princes increasingly found themselves at the head of the troops. They managed to get out of conflicts with other countries and neighbors, achieving a positive solution to their own political issues. The Moscow princes changed history: they overthrew the Mongol yoke and returned the state to its former greatness.

Russian Tsars

Rurikovich

In 1547, the Sovereign of All Rus' and Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan IV Vasilyevich the Terrible was crowned Tsar and took the full title “Great Sovereign, by the grace of God Tsar and Grand Duke of All Russia, Vladimir, Moscow, Novgorod, Pskov, Ryazan, Tver, Yugorsk, Perm, Vyatsky, Bulgarian and others"; Subsequently, with the expansion of the borders of the Russian state, “Tsar of Kazan, Tsar of Astrakhan, Tsar of Siberia”, “and ruler of all Northern countries” were added to the title.

Godunovs

The Godunovs are an ancient Russian noble family, which after the death of Fyodor I Ivanovich became the Russian royal dynasty (1598-1605).

Time of Troubles

At the very beginning of the 17th century, the country was struck by a deep spiritual, economic, social, political and foreign policy crisis. It coincided with a dynastic crisis and the struggle of boyar groups for power. All this brought the country to the brink of disaster. The impetus for the start of the Troubles was the suppression of the royal Rurik dynasty after the death of Fyodor I Ioannovich and the not very clear policy of the new royal dynasty of the Godunovs.

Romanovs

The Romanovs are a Russian boyar family. In 1613, a Zemsky Sobor was held in Moscow to elect a new tsar. The total number of electors exceeded 800 people representing 58 cities. The election of Mikhail Romanov to the kingdom put an end to the Troubles and gave rise to the Romanov dynasty.

Russian emperors (1721-1917)

The title of Emperor of All Russia was adopted by Peter I on October 22 (November 2), 1721. This adoption took place at the request of the Senate after the victory in the Northern War. The title lasted until the February Revolution of 1917.

Provisional Government (1917)

In February 1917, the February Revolution took place. As a result, on March 2, 1917, Emperor Nicholas II abdicated the Russian throne. Power was in the hands of the Provisional Government.

After the October Revolution of 1917, the Provisional Government was overthrown, the Bolsheviks came to power and began building a new state.

These people can be considered formal leaders only because the post of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) - VKP(b) - CPSU committee after the death of V.I. Lenin was actually the most important government position.

General Secretaries of the Central Committee of the RCP(b), CPSU(b), CPSU (1922-1991)

President of the USSR (1990-1991)

The post of President of the Soviet Union was introduced on March 15, 1990 by the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR with appropriate amendments to the Constitution of the USSR.

Presidents of the Russian Federation (1991-2018)

The post of President of the RSFSR was established on April 24, 1991 based on the results of the All-Russian referendum.

Many people believe that there is no need to know the history of their state. However, any historian is ready to thoroughly argue with this. After all, knowing the history of Russia’s rulers is very important not only for overall development, but also in order not to make the mistakes of the past.

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In this article, we propose to familiarize yourself with the table of all the rulers of our country from the date of its founding in chronological order. The article will help you find out who ruled our country and when, as well as what outstanding things he did for it.

Before the appearance of Rus', a large number of different tribes lived on its future territory for many centuries, however, the history of our state started in the 10th century with the call to the throne of the Russian state of Rurik. He laid the foundation for the Rurik dynasty.

List of classification of rulers of Russia

It's no secret that history is a whole science that is studied by a huge number of people called historians. For convenience, the entire history of the development of our country has been divided into the following stages:

1. Novgorod princes (from 863 to 882).
2. Great Kyiv princes (from 882 to 1263).
3. Principality of Moscow (from 1283 to 1547).
4. Kings and Emperors (from 1547 to 1917).
5. USSR (from 1917 to 1991).
6. Presidents (from 1991 to the present day).

As can be understood from this list, the center of the political life of our state, in other words, the capital, changed several times depending on the era and events taking place in the country. Until 1547, the princes of the Rurik dynasty were at the head of Rus'. However, after this, the process of monarchization of the country began, which lasted until 1917, when the Bolsheviks came to power. Then came the collapse of the USSR, the emergence of independent countries on the territory of former Rus' and, of course, the emergence of democracy.

So, to thoroughly study this issue, to find out details about all the rulers of the state in chronological order, we suggest studying the information in the following chapters of the article.

Heads of state from 862 until the period of fragmentation

This period includes the Novgorod and Great Kyiv princes. The main source of information that has survived to this day and helps all historians compile lists and tables of all rulers is the Tale of Bygone Years. Thanks to this document, they were able to accurately, or as close to accurate as possible, establish all the dates of the reign of the Russian princes of that time.

So, list of Novgorod and Kyiv princes looks like this:

It is obvious that for any ruler, from Rurik to Putin, the main goal was to strengthen and modernize his state in the international arena. Of course, they all pursued the same goal, however, each of them preferred to go towards the goal in their own way.

Fragmentation of Kievan Rus

After the reign of Yaropolk Vladimirovich, the process of severe decline of Kyiv and the state as a whole began. This period is called the times of fragmentation of Rus'. During this time, all the people who stood at the head of the state did not leave any significant mark on history, but only brought the state into its worst form.

Thus, before 1169, the following personalities managed to sit on the throne of the ruler: Izyavlav the Third, Izyaslav Chernigovsky, Vyacheslav Rurikovich, as well as Rostislav Smolensky.

Vladimir princes

After the fragmentation of the capital of our state was moved to a city called Vladimir. This happened for the following reasons:

1. The Principality of Kiev suffered a total decline and weakening.
2. Several political centers arose in the country, which tried to take over the government.
3. The influence of the feudal lords grew every day.

The two most influential centers of influence on the politics of Rus' were Vladimir and Galich. Although the Vladimir era was not as long as the others, it left a serious mark on the history of the development of the Russian state. Therefore it is necessary to make a list the following Vladimir princes:

• Prince Andrey - reigned for 15 years from 1169.
• Vsevolod was in power for 36 long years, starting in 1176.
• Georgy Vsevolodovich - stood at the head of Rus' from 1218 to 1238.
• Yaroslav was also the son of Vsevolod Andreevich. Ruled from 1238 to 1246.
• Alexander Nevsky, who was on the throne for 11 long and productive years, came to power in 1252 and died in 1263. It is no secret that Nevsky was a great commander who made a huge contribution to the development of our state.
• Yaroslav the third - from 1263 to 1272.
• Dmitry the first - 1276 - 1283.
• Dmitry the second - 1284 - 1293.
• Andrei Gorodetsky is a Grand Duke who reigned from 1293 to 1303.
• Mikhail Tverskoy, also called "The Saint". Came to power in 1305 and died in 1317.

As you may have noticed, rulers for some time were not included in this list. The fact is that they did not leave any significant mark in the history of the development of Rus'. For this reason, they are not studied in school courses.

When the fragmentation of the country ended, the political center of the country was transferred to Moscow. Moscow princes:

Over the next 10 years, Rus' again experienced decline. During these years, the Rurik dynasty was cut short, and various boyar families were in power.

The beginning of the Romanovs, the rise of the tsars to power, the monarchy

List of rulers of Russia from 1548 to the end of the 17th century it looks like this:

• Ivan Vasilyevich the Terrible is one of the most famous and useful rulers of Russia for history. He ruled from 1548 to 1574, after which his reign was interrupted for 2 years.
• Semyon Kasimovsky (1574 - 1576).
• Ivan the Terrible returned to power and ruled until 1584.
• Tsar Feodor (1584 - 1598).

After Fedor's death, it turned out that he had no heirs. From that moment on, the state began to experience further problems. They lasted until 1612. The Rurik dynasty was over. It was replaced by a new one: the Romanov dynasty. They began their reign in 1613.

• Mikhail Romanov is the first representative of the Romanovs. Ruled from 1613 to 1645.
• After the death of Mikhail, his heir Alexei Mikhailovich sat on the throne. (1645 - 1676)
• Fedor Alekseevich (1676 - 1682).
• Sophia, Fedor's sister. When Fedor died, his heirs were not yet ready to come to power. Therefore, the emperor's sister ascended the throne. She ruled from 1682 to 1689.

It is impossible to deny that with the advent of the Romanov dynasty, stability finally came to Russia. They were able to do what the Rurikovichs had been striving for for so long. Namely: useful reforms, strengthening of power, territorial growth and banal strengthening. Finally, Russia entered the world stage as one of the favorites.

Peter I

Historians say, that for all the improvements of our state we owe it to Peter I. He is rightfully considered the great Russian Tsar and Emperor.

Peter the Great launched the process of flourishing of the Russian state, the fleet and army strengthened. He pursued an aggressive foreign policy, which greatly strengthened Russia’s position in the global race for supremacy. Of course, before him, many rulers realized that the armed forces are the key to the success of the state, however, only he managed to achieve such success in this area.

After the Great Peter, the list of rulers of the Russian Empire is as follows:

The monarchy in the Russian Empire existed for quite a long time and left a huge mark on its history. The Romanov dynasty is one of the most legendary in the whole world. However, like everything else, it was destined to end after the October Revolution, which changed the structure of the state to a republic. There were no more kings in power.

USSR times

After the execution of Nicholas II and his family, Vladimir Lenin came to power. At this moment, the state of the USSR(Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) was legally formalized. Lenin led the country until 1924.

List of rulers of the USSR:

During Gorbachev's time, the country again experienced colossal changes. The collapse of the USSR occurred, as well as the emergence of independent states on the territory of the former USSR. Boris Yeltsin, the president of independent Russia, came to power by force. He ruled from 1991 to 1999.

In 1999, Boris Yeltsin voluntarily left the post of President of Russia, leaving behind a successor, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. A year after that, Putin was officially elected by the people and was at the head of Russia until 2008.

In 2008, another election was held, which was won by Dmitry Medvedev, who ruled until 2012. In 2012, Vladimir Putin was again elected president of the Russian Federation and holds the post of president today.

Proclamation of the course towards the “village NEP” - 1925

The XIV Congress of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) - December 1925 proclaimed a course towards industrialization

Defeat of the “new opposition”

"United Opposition" - 1926-1927

Expulsion of L.D. Trotsky from the USSR-1929

Locarno Conference-1925

Soviet-German Treaty of Non-Aggression and Neutrality - 1926

The beginning of the USSR's participation in the work of the League of Nations Commission on Disarmament - 1927

USSR accession to the Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928

XV Congress of the CPSU (b), adoption of the first five-year plan - December 1927, proclaimed a course towards collectivization

Grain procurement crisis-1927-1928

First Five-Year Plan - 1928-1932

XVI Congress of the CPSU(b)-1930

Beginning of the Isotov movement-1932

Second Five-Year Plan-1933-1937

Beginning of the Stakhanov movement-1935

The appearance of the first MTS-1928

Message from I.V. Stalin about the “radical change” in the collective farm movement - November 1929

Transition to the policy of “liquidation of the kulaks as a class” - January 1930

Famine in the grain regions-1932-1933

Completion of collectivization-1937

“Shakhty affair” - 1928

Trial in the case of the "Industrial Party" - 1930

Trial in the case of the Union Bureau of Mensheviks - 1931

Activities of the “Union of Marxists-Leninists” headed by M.N. Ryutin - 1932

Resolution of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks “On the restructuring of literary and artistic organizations” - 1932

1st Congress of Soviet Writers-1934

Resolution of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks and the Council of People's Commissars "On the teaching of civil history in schools of the USSR" - 1934

XVII Congress of the CPSU (b) - January 1934

Adoption of the new Constitution of the USSR - November 1936

Campaign against formalism-1936

Trial in the case of the “Terrorist Trotskyist-Zinoviev Center” - 1936

Trial in the case of the “Parallel Anti-Soviet Trotskyist Center” - 1937

Death of S. Ordzhonikidze - February 1937

Case of M.N. Tukhachevsky-1937

"Great Terror" - 1937-1938

Publication of the “Short Course on the History of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) - 1938

Foreign policy of the USSR in the 1930s.

Entry of the USSR into the League of Nations-1934

Soviet-French-Czechoslovak mutual assistance agreement-1935

Soviet-Japanese conflict on Lake Khasan - July 1938

Soviet-Japanese conflict on the Khalkhin-Gol River - May-September 1939

Anglo-Franco-Soviet negotiations in Moscow - June-August 1939

Entry of Soviet troops into Western Ukraine and Western Belarus - September 17, 1939

Mutual assistance pacts between the USSR and the Baltic countries - September-October 1939

Entry of Soviet troops into the Baltic states - June 1940

Entry of Soviet troops into Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina - June 1940

Establishment of Soviet power in the Baltic states - July 1940

Entry of the Baltic States into the USSR - August 1940

Great Patriotic War - 1941-1945.

1941:

Evacuation of government institutions from Moscow -

The Germans went on the defensive in the Moscow direction -

Resumption of the German offensive on Moscow-

June 22, 1941 Patriarchal locum tenens Metropolitan Sergius made an appeal to believers, in which he called on them to defend their Fatherland from fascist robbers.

A radical turning point in the Great Patriotic War -

1942:

Unsuccessful offensive of the Red Army in Crimea - April-May

Unsuccessful offensive of the Red Army near Kharkov – May

1943:

In September 1943 Stalin allowed the election of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', as well as the formation of the Holy Synod; Sergius was elected patriarch.

The tank column, named after Dmitry Donskoy, was created with money from clergy and parishioners.

Guerrilla operation "Rail War" - August-September

Guerrilla operation "Concert" - September-October

1944: military operations

Leningradsko - Novgorod - January-February

Korsun-Shevchenkovskaya - January-February

Dnieper-Carpathian – January-March

Crimean – April-May

Belorusskaya (Bagration) - June-August

Karelian – June-August

Lvovsko-Sandomirovskaya – July-August

Pribaltiyskaya – July-September

Yassko-Kishinevskaya – August

Petsamo-Kirkenes - October

East Carpathian – September-October

Debrecen - October

1945:

Budapest – February

Balatonskaya – March

Vistula-Oder - January-February

East Prussian and Pomeranian – January-April

Vienna – March-April

Formation and development of the anti-Hitler coalition:

Signing of the Atlantic Charter – August 1941

USSR accession to the Atlantic Charter - September 1941

Moscow conference of representatives of the USSR, USA and Great Britain - September 29-October 1, 1941

Anglo-Soviet Alliance Treaty – May 1942

Soviet-American Agreement – ​​June 1942

Tehran Conference of Heads of Government of the USSR, USA, and Great Britain - November 28-December 1, 1943

Opening of a second front by the Allies in northern France -

Yalta Conference of Heads of Government of the USSR, USA and Great Britain - February 1945

Potsdam Conference of Heads of Government of the USSR, USA and Great Britain - July 1945

Post-war reconstruction-1945-1953:

Fourth Five-Year Plan - 1946-1950.

Abolition of cards for food and industrial goods - 1947.

Currency reform-1947

Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR “On criminal liability for theft of state and public property” - 1947.

Testing of an atomic bomb in the USSR - 1949.

Fifth Five-Year Plan - 1951-1955

XIX Congress of the CPSU-1952

Test of a hydrogen bomb in the USSR - 1953.

Resolution of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks “On the magazines “Zvezda” and “Leningrad” - 1946.

Resolution of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks “On the repertoire of drama theaters and measures to improve it” - 1946.

Resolution of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks “On the film

“Big Life” - 1946

Resolution of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks “On the opera “Great Friendship” by V. Muradeli” - 1948.

Arrest of members of the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee - 1948

Session of VASKHNIL, defeat of genetics - 1948.

Beginning of the campaign to “fight cosmopolitanism” - 1949

“Leningrad Affair” - 1949.

“The MGB Case” - 1951-1952.

Execution of members of the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee - 1952.

“The Doctors’ Case” - 1952

The beginning of the Cold War - W. Churchill's Fulton speech - 1946

Marshall Plan-1947

Creation of Cominform-1947

The establishment of communist regimes in Eastern Europe - 1947-1948.

Soviet-Yugoslav conflict-1948-1949.

Berlin crisis-1948-1949.

Creation of the Federal Republic of Germany and the GDR-1949.

Creation of NATO-1949

Creation of CMEA-1949

Korean War - 1950-1953

The description of history in textbooks and multimillion-dollar works of fiction in recent decades has been questioned, to put it mildly. The rulers of Russia in chronological order are of great importance in the study of ancient times. People interested in their native history are beginning to understand that, in fact, the real history written on paper does not exist; there are versions from which everyone chooses their own, corresponding to their ideas. History from textbooks is only suitable as a starting point.

Rulers of Rus' during the period of the highest rise of the Ancient State

Much of what is known about the history of Rus' - Russia is gleaned from “lists” of chronicles, the originals of which have not survived. In addition, even copies often contradict themselves and the elementary logic of events. Often historians are forced to accept only their own opinion and claim it to be the only correct one.

The first legendary rulers of Rus', who date back to 2.5 thousand years BC, were brothers Slovenian and Rus. They descend from the son of Noah Japheth (hence Vandal, Obodrit, etc.). The people of Rus are the Russians, the Rus, the people of Slovenia are the Slovenes, the Slavs. On the lake The Ilmen brothers built the cities of Slovensk and Rusa (currently Staraya Rusa). Veliky Novgorod was later built on the site of the burned Slovensk.

Known descendants of Sloven - Burivoy and Gostomysl- the son of Burivoy, either the mayor, or the foreman of Novgorod, who, having lost all his sons in battles, called his grandson Rurik to Rus' from the related tribe Rus (specifically from the island of Rügen).

Next come the versions written by German “historiographers” (Bayer, Miller, Schletzer) in Russian service. In the German historiography of Rus', it is striking that it was written by people who did not know the Russian language, traditions and beliefs. Who collected and rewrote chronicles, without preserving, but often deliberately destroying, adjusting the facts to some ready-made version. It is interesting that for several hundred years, Russian historiographers, instead of refuting the German version of history, did their best to adapt new facts and research to it.

Rulers of Rus' according to historical tradition:

1. Rurik (862 – 879)- called by his grandfather to restore order and stop civil strife between Slavic and Finno-Ugric tribes in the territory of modern Leningrad and Novgorod regions. Founded or restored the city of Ladoga (Old Ladoga). Ruled in Novgorod. After the Novgorod uprising of 864, under the leadership of the governor Vadim the Brave, he united northwestern Rus' under his leadership.

According to legend, he sent (or they themselves left) the warriors of Askold and Dir to fight in Constantinople by water. They captured Kyiv on the way.

It is not known exactly how the founder of the Rurik dynasty died.

2. Oleg the Prophet (879 – 912)- a relative or successor of Rurik, who remained at the head of the Novgorod state, either as the guardian of Rurik’s son, Igor, or as a legitimate prince.

In 882 he goes to Kyiv. Along the way, he peacefully annexed to the principality many tribal Slavic lands along the Dnieper, including the lands of the Smolensk Krivichi. In Kyiv he kills Askold and Dir, makes Kyiv the capital.

In 907 he waged a victorious war with Byzantium - a trade agreement beneficial for Rus' was signed. He nails his shield to the gates of Constantinople. He made many successful and not so military campaigns (including defending the interests of the Khazar Khaganate), becoming the creator of the state of Kievan Rus. According to legend, he dies from a snake bite.

3. Igor (912 – 945)- fights for the unity of the state, constantly pacifying and annexing the surrounding Kyiv lands and Slavic tribes. It has been at war with the Pechenegs since 920. Makes two campaigns against Constantinople: in 941 - unsuccessful, in 944 - with the conclusion of an agreement on more favorable terms for Rus' than Oleg's. He dies at the hands of the Drevlyans, going for a second tribute.

4. Olga (945 – after 959)- regent for three-year-old Svyatoslav. The date of birth and origin are not precisely established - either an ordinary Varangian, or Oleg’s daughter. She took cruel and sophisticated revenge on the Drevlyans for the murder of her husband. She clearly established the size of the tribute. Divided Rus' into parts controlled by tiuns. Introduced a system of graveyards - places of trade and exchange. She built fortresses and cities. In 955 she was baptized in Constantinople.

The time of her reign is characterized by peace with the surrounding countries and the development of the state in all respects. The first Russian saint. She died in 969.

5. Svyatoslav Igorevich (959 – March 972)- the date of the beginning of the reign is relative - the country was ruled by the mother until her death, Svyatoslav himself preferred to fight and was in Kyiv rarely and not for long. Even the first Pecheneg raid and the siege of Kyiv was met by Olga.

As a result of two campaigns, Svyatoslav defeated the Khazar Khaganate, to which Rus' had been paying tribute with its soldiers for a long time. He conquered and imposed tribute on Volga Bulgaria. Supporting ancient traditions and in agreement with the squad, he despised Christians, Muslims and Jews. He conquered Tmutarakan and made the Vyatichi tributaries. In the period from 967 to 969 he successfully fought in Bulgaria under an agreement with the Byzantine Empire. In 969, he distributed Rus' among his sons into appanages: Yaropolk - Kyiv, Oleg - the Drevlyan lands, Vladimir (the bastard son of the housekeeper) - Novgorod. He himself went to the new capital of his state - Pereyaslavets on the Danube. In 970 - 971 he fought with the Byzantine Empire with varying success. Killed by Pechenegs, bribed by Constantinople, on the way to Kyiv, as he became too strong an enemy for Byzantium.

6. Yaropolk Svyatoslavich (972 – 06/11/978)– tried to establish relationships with the Holy Roman Empire and the Pope. Supported Christians in Kyiv. Minted his own coin.

In 978 he defeated the Pechenegs. In 977, at the instigation of the boyars, he began an internecine war with his brothers. Oleg died trampled by horses during the siege of the fortress, Vladimir fled “overseas” and returned with a mercenary army. As a result of the war, Yaropolk, who was invited to the negotiations, was killed, and Vladimir took the grand-ducal place.

7. Vladimir Svyatoslavich (06/11/978 – 07/15/1015)- made attempts to reform the Slavic Vedic cult, using human sacrifices. He conquered Cherven Rus and Przemysl from the Poles. He conquered the Yatvingians, which opened the way for Rus' to the Baltic Sea. He imposed tribute on the Vyatichi and Rodimichs, while uniting the Novgorod and Kyiv lands. Concluded a profitable peace with Volga Bulgaria.

He captured Korsun in the Crimea in 988 and threatened to march on Constantinople if he did not get the sister of the Byzantine emperor as his wife. Having received a wife, he was baptized there in Korsun and began to spread Christianity in Rus' “with fire and sword.” During forced Christianization, the country was depopulated - out of 12 million, only 3 remained. Only Rostov-Suzdal land was able to avoid forced Christianization.

He paid a lot of attention to the recognition of Kievan Rus in the West. He built several fortresses to defend the principality from the Polovtsians. With military campaigns he reached the North Caucasus.

8. Svyatopolk Vladimirovich (1015 – 1016, 1018 – 1019)- Using the support of the people and boyars, he took the Kiev throne. Soon three brothers die - Boris, Gleb, Svyatoslav. His brother, Prince Yaroslav of Novgorod, begins to wage an open struggle for the grand-ducal throne. After the defeat from Yaroslav, Svyatopolk runs to his father-in-law, King of Poland Boleslav I the Brave. In 1018, he defeated Yaroslav with Polish troops. The Poles, who began to plunder Kyiv, caused popular indignation, and Svyatopolk was forced to disperse them, leaving him without troops.

Yaroslav, who returned with new troops, easily takes Kyiv. Svyatopolk, with the help of the Pechenegs, tries to regain power, but to no avail. He dies, deciding to go to the Pechenegs.

For the murders of his brothers attributed to him, he was nicknamed the Damned.

9. Yaroslav the Wise (1016 – 1018, 1019 – 02/20/1054)– first settled in Kyiv during the war with his brother Svyatopolk. He received support from the Novgorodians, and besides them he had a mercenary army.

The beginning of the second period of reign was marked by princely strife with his brother Mstislav, who defeated Yaroslav's troops and captured the left bank of the Dnieper with Chernigov. Peace was concluded between the brothers, they went on joint campaigns against Yasov and the Poles, but Grand Duke Yaroslav remained in Novgorod, and not in the capital Kiev, until his brother’s death.

In 1030 he defeated Chud and founded the city of Yuryev. Immediately after Mstislav's death, fearing competition, he imprisons his last brother Sudislav and moves to Kyiv.

In 1036 he defeated the Pechenegs, freeing Rus' from raids. In subsequent years, he made campaigns against the Yatvingians, Lithuania and Mazovia. In 1043 - 1046 he fought with the Byzantine Empire because of the murder of a noble Russian in Constantinople. Breaks the alliance with Poland and marries his daughter Anna to the French king.

Founds monasteries and builds temples, incl. St. Sophia Cathedral, erects stone walls to Kyiv. By order of Yaroslav, many books are translated and rewritten. Opens the first school for children of priests and village elders in Novgorod. With him, the first metropolitan of Russian origin appears - Hilarion.

Publishes the Church Charter and the first known set of laws of Rus', “Russian Truth”.

10. Izyaslav Yaroslavich (02/20/1054 – 09/14/1068, 05/2/1069 – March 1073, 06/15/1077 – 10/3/1078)- a prince not loved by the people of Kiev, forced to periodically hide outside the principality. Together with his brothers, he creates a set of laws “Pravda Yaroslavichy”. The first reign is characterized by joint decision-making by all Yaroslavich brothers - the Triumvirate.

In 1055, the brothers defeated the Torks near Pereyaslavl and established borders with the Polovtsian Land. Izyaslav provides assistance to Byzantium in Armenia, seizes the lands of the Baltic people - golyad. In 1067, as a result of the war with the Principality of Polotsk, Prince Vseslav the Magician was captured by deception.

In 1068, Izyaslav refused to arm the people of Kiev against the Polovtsians, for which he was expelled from Kyiv. Returns with Polish troops.

In 1073, as a result of a conspiracy drawn up by his younger brothers, he left Kyiv and wandered around Europe for a long time in search of allies. The throne is returned after Svyatoslav Yaroslavovich dies.

He died in a battle with his nephews near Chernigov.

11. Vseslav Bryachislavich (09/14/1068 – April 1069)- Prince of Polotsk, released from arrest by the people of Kiev who rebelled against Izyaslav and elevated to the grand princely throne. Left Kyiv when Izyaslav approached with the Poles. He reigned in Polotsk for more than 30 years, without stopping the fight against the Yaroslavichs.

12.Svyatoslav Yaroslavich (03/22/1073 – 12/27/1076)- came to power in Kyiv as a result of a conspiracy against his older brother, with the support of the people of Kiev. He devoted a lot of attention and money to maintaining the clergy and the church. Died as a result of surgery.

13.Vsevolod Yaroslavich (01/1/1077 – July 1077, October 1078 – 04/13/1093)– the first period ended with the voluntary transfer of power to brother Izyaslav. For the second time he took the place of the Grand Duke after the death of the latter in an internecine war.

Almost the entire period of reign was marked by fierce internecine struggle, especially with the Principality of Polotsk. Vladimir Monomakh, the son of Vsevolod, distinguished himself in this civil strife, who, with the help of the Polovtsians, carried out several devastating campaigns against the Polotsk lands.

Vsevolod and Monomakh conducted campaigns against the Vyatichi and Polovtsians.

Vsevolod married his daughter Eupraxia to the Emperor of the Roman Empire. The marriage, sanctified by the church, ended in scandal and accusations against the emperor of conducting satanic rituals.

14. Svyatopolk Izyaslavich (04/24/1093 – 04/16/1113)- the first thing he did, upon ascending the throne, was arrest the Polovtsian ambassadors, starting a war. As a result, together with V. Monomakh, he was defeated by the Polovtsians on Stugna and Zhelani, Torchesk was burned and three main Kyiv monasteries were plundered.

The princely feuds were not stopped by the congress of princes in Lyubech in 1097, which assigned possessions to the branches of the princely dynasties. Svyatopolk Izyaslavich remained the Grand Duke and ruler of Kyiv and Turov. Immediately after the congress, he slandered V. Monomakh and other princes. They responded with a siege of Kyiv, which ended in a truce.

In 1100, at the congress of princes in Uvetchytsy, Svyatopolk received Volyn.

In 1104, Svyatopolk organized a campaign against the Minsk prince Gleb.

In 1103–1111, a coalition of princes led by Svyatopolk and Vladimir Monomakh successfully waged a war against the Polovtsians.

The death of Svyatopolk was accompanied by an uprising in Kyiv against the boyars and moneylenders closest to him.

15. Vladimir Monomakh (04/20/1113 – 05/19/1125)- invited to reign during the uprising in Kyiv against the administration of Svyatopolk. He created the “Charter on Cuts,” which was included in “Russkaya Pravda,” which eased the situation of debtors while fully maintaining feudal relations.

The beginning of the reign was not without civil strife: Yaroslav Svyatopolchich, who claimed the throne of Kiev, had to be expelled from Volyn. The period of Monomakh's reign was the last period of strengthening of the grand ducal power in Kyiv. Together with his sons, the Grand Duke owned 75% of the territory of chronicle Rus'.

To strengthen the state, Monomakh often used dynastic marriages and his authority as a military leader - the conqueror of the Polovtsians. During his reign, his sons defeated the Chud and defeated the Volga Bulgars.

In 1116–1119, Vladimir Vsevolodovich successfully fought with Byzantium. As a result of the war, as a ransom, he received from the emperor the title “Tsar of All Rus'”, a scepter, an orb, and a royal crown (Monomakh’s cap). As a result of negotiations, Monomakh married his granddaughter to the emperor.

16. Mstislav the Great (05/20/1125 – 04/15/1132)- initially owned only the Kyiv land, but was recognized as the eldest among the princes. Gradually he began to control the cities of Novgorod, Chernigov, Kursk, Murom, Ryazan, Smolensk and Turov through dynastic marriages.

In 1129 he plundered the Polotsk lands. In 1131, he deprived of allotments and expelled the Polotsk princes, led by the son of Vseslav the Magician - Davyd.

In the period from 1130 to 1132 he made several campaigns with varying success against the Baltic tribes, including Chud and Lithuania.

The State of Mstislav is the last informal unification of the principalities of Kievan Rus. He controlled all the major cities, the entire route “from the Varangians to the Greeks”; the accumulated military power gave him the right to be called the Great in the chronicles.

Rulers of the Old Russian state during the period of fragmentation and decline of Kyiv

The princes on the Kiev throne during this period were replaced frequently and did not rule for long, most of them not showing themselves to be anything remarkable:

1. Yaropolk Vladimirovich (04/17/1132 – 02/18/1139)- the prince of Pereyaslavl was called to rule the people of Kiev, but his first decision to transfer Pereyaslavl to Izyaslav Mstislavich, who had previously ruled in Polotsk, caused indignation among the people of Kiev and the expulsion of Yaropolk. In the same year, the people of Kiev summoned Yaropolk again, but Polotsk, to which the dynasty of Vseslav the Sorcerer returned, broke away from Kievan Rus.

In the internecine struggle that began between the various branches of the Rurikovichs, the Grand Duke was unable to show firmness and by the time of his death he had lost control, in addition to Polotsk, over Novgorod and Chernigov. Nominally, only the Rostov-Suzdal land was subordinate to him.

2. Vyacheslav Vladimirovich (22.02 – 4.03.1139, April 1151 – 6.02.1154)- the first, one and a half week period of reign ended with the overthrow of Vsevolod Olgovich, the Chernigov prince.

In the second period it was only an official sign; real power belonged to Izyaslav Mstislavich.

3. Vsevolod Olgovich (03/05/1139 – 08/1/1146)- Chernigov prince, forcibly removed Vyacheslav Vladimirovich from the throne, interrupting the reign of the Monomashichs in Kyiv. He was not loved by the people of Kiev. The entire period of his reign skillfully maneuvered between the Mstislavovichs and the Monomashichs. He constantly fought with the latter, tried to keep his own relatives away from the grand-ducal power.

4. Igor Olgovich (1 – 08/13/1146)– received Kyiv according to his brother’s will, which outraged the city residents. The townspeople called Izyaslav Mstislavich to the throne from Pereslavl. After the battle between the contenders, Igor was put in a log, where he became seriously ill. Released from there, he became a monk, but in 1147, on suspicion of conspiracy against Izyaslav, he was executed by vengeful Kyivians only because Olgovich.

5. Izyaslav Mstislavich (08/13/1146 – 08/23/1149, 1151 – 11/13/1154)- in the first period, in addition to Kyiv, he directly ruled Pereyaslavl, Turov, and Volyn. In the internecine struggle with Yuri Dolgoruky and his allies, he enjoyed the support of the Novgorodians, Smolensk and Ryazan residents. He often attracted allied Cumans, Hungarians, Czechs, and Poles into his ranks.

For attempting to elect a Russian metropolitan without the approval of the patriarch of Constantinople, he was excommunicated from the church.

He had the support of the people of Kiev in the fight against the Suzdal princes.

6. Yuri Dolgoruky (08/28/1149 – summer 1150, summer 1150 – beginning 1151, 03/20/1155 – 05/15/1157)- Suzdal prince, son of V. Monomakh. He sat on the grand-ducal throne three times. The first two times he was expelled from Kyiv by Izyaslav and the people of Kiev. In his struggle for the rights of Monomashich, he relied on the support of Novgorod - the Seversk prince Svyatoslav (brother of Igor, executed in Kyiv), the Galicians and the Polovtsians. The decisive battle in the fight against Izyaslav was the Battle of Ruta in 1151. Having lost which, Yuri one by one lost all his allies in the south.

The third time he subjugated Kyiv after Izyaslav and his co-ruler Vyacheslav died. In 1157 he made an unsuccessful campaign against Volyn, where the sons of Izyaslav settled.

Presumably poisoned by the people of Kiev.

In the south, only one son of Yuri Dolgoruky, Gleb, was able to gain a foothold in the Pereyaslavl principality, which had separated from Kyiv.

7. Rostislav Mstislavich (1154 – 1155, 04/12/1159 – 02/8/1161, March 1161 – 03/14/1167)- Prince of Smolensk for 40 years. Founded the Grand Duchy of Smolensk. He first took the Kiev throne at the invitation of Vyacheslav Vladimirovich, who called him to be a co-ruler, but soon died. Rostislav Mstislavich was forced to come out to meet Yuri Dolgoruky. Having met with his uncle, the Smolensk prince ceded Kyiv to his older relative.

The second and third terms of rule in Kyiv were divided by the attack of Izyaslav Davydovich with the Polovtsy, which forced Rostislav Mstislavovich to hide in Belgorod, waiting for his allies.

The reign was distinguished by calmness, insignificance of civil strife and peaceful resolution of conflicts. The attempts of the Polovtsians to disturb the peace in Rus' were suppressed in every possible way.

With the help of a dynastic marriage, he annexed Vitebsk to the Smolensk principality.

8. Izyaslav Davydovich (winter 1155, 05/19/1157 - December 1158, 02/12 - 03/6/1161)- became the Grand Duke for the first time, defeating the troops of Rostislav Mstislavich, but was forced to cede the throne to Yuri Dolgoruky.

He took the throne for the second time after the death of Dolgoruky, but was defeated near Kiev by the Volyn and Galich princes for refusing to hand over the pretender to the Galician throne.

The third time he captured Kyiv, but was defeated by the allies of Rostislav Mstislavich.

9. Mstislav Izyaslavich (12/22/1158 – spring 1159, 05/19/1167 – 03/12/1169, February – 04/13/1170)- for the first time he became the prince of Kyiv, expelling Izyaslav Davydovich, but ceded the great reign to Rostislav Mstislavich, as the eldest in the family.

The people of Kiev called him to rule for the second time after the death of Rostislav Mstislavich. Could not maintain his rule against the army of Andrei Bogolyubsky.

The third time he settled in Kyiv without a fight, using the love of the people of Kiev and expelling Gleb Yuryevich, who was imprisoned in Kyiv by Andrei Bogolyubsky. However, abandoned by the allies, he was forced to return to Volyn.

He became famous for his victory over the Cumans at the head of coalition troops in 1168.

He is considered the last great Kyiv prince who had real power over Russia.

With the rise of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality, Kyiv is increasingly becoming an ordinary appanage, although it retains the name “great”. Problems, most likely, need to be looked for in what and how the rulers of Russia did, in the chronological order of their inheritance of power. Decades of civil strife bore fruit - the principality weakened and lost its importance for Rus'. Reign in Kyiv than the main thing. Often the Kyiv princes were appointed or replaced by the Grand Duke from Vladimir.