External and internal policy of Svyatoslav Igorevich

In Russia there have always been prominent and powerful princes, who were distinguished by their uniqueness and uniqueness in the landmarks of history. None of them looked like anyone else. If we are talking about Yaroslav the Wise, then he is a legislator. If it's about Princess Olga, then this is a successful diplomat of her time.

But what can we say about Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich?

Svetoslav - who are you?

Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich became the Grand Duke of All Russia in three years. This happened after his father Igor was killed by the people of the Drevlyans in 945 AD. This was due to the fact that the Grand Duke returned to collect the polyudye (tribute) from the people with a small number of his troops. He was killed.

Svyatoslav could not rule at the age of three. Instead of him on the throne sat his mother, Princess Olga.

The independent rule of Svyatoslav Igorevich in Kiev will begin in 964. His mother made the state under his rule stronger and more powerful, giving his son the right to inherit the throne.

However, Svyatoslav's foreign and domestic policies will radically differ from Olga's policies.

Childhood of Svyatoslav Igorevich

If you believe the chronicles of the late XII century, then Svyatoslav was the only child in the family of Prince Igor and Princess Olga. The exact date of his birth is unknown.

Svyatoslav spent his entire childhood with his mother in Kiev. She raised him, taught her life and took care. It was from his mother that Svyatoslav received important skills that he went through all his life. She brought up in him a true faithful warrior of his state. However, Svyatoslav's foreign and domestic policy was not inherited from his mother and was not transferred in the process of education. He will rule in his own way.

Foreign policy

Svyatoslav's foreign and domestic policies are completely different. Svyatoslav Igorevich was active in the foreign arena. He gave far more power to foreign policy than domestic policy. By nature, he was a conqueror and commander.

Unlike his mother, Olga, he did not change his faith in the Christian, in order to be closer to his army. His soldiers respected and took it for their own. It was this closeness with his own army that in many ways helped him to achieve successes in military clashes and conquests.

What was Svyatoslav's foreign policy? The table below will answer this question. The prince was active in both the west and the east.

In the "Tale of Bygone Years" it is repeatedly mentioned that in 964 Svyatoslav Igorevich went to war against the formidable Khazar Khaganate.

The Khazar Khaganate was the main trade and military opponent of Kievan Rus. After defeating them, Svyatoslav wanted to nullify their influence in the region and erase their cities from the face of the earth. He managed to do this, and he led a victorious army with a decisive victory.

However, the victory over the Khazars brought more disappointment than triumph. The Kaganate restrained the nomads' raids in the direction of Kievan Rus from the east. When he fell, the hordes of nomads could calmly move towards Kiev.

In the western direction Svyatoslav Igorevich waged war against the Bulgarian principality. These trips were successful. Svyatoslav on his way swept the city outside the city and stopped in the city of Pereyaslavets. He began collecting tribute and planned to move the capital from Kiev to Pereyaslavets. However, this was not destined to happen. The sad news that the nomads make raids and do not give rest to the inhabitants of Kiev, forced him to return home and protect the city from raids. Only in 970 Prince Svyatoslav was able to return to the Balkans and continue the war.

In 972 Svyatoslav on the island of Khortitsa, together with the army, was defeated by the Pechenegs. The prince died in this battle. The king of the Pechenegs, Kurya, made from his skull his dishes, from which he drank in the future. It was believed by the customs of the Pechenegs that the power of Svyatoslav now passes to Kura.

Domestic policy

We have already said that the policy of Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich was more directed toward external conquests than to internal transformations. He was more a commander than a diplomat or a reformer.

However, Svyatoslav's activities also affected the country's internal life.

Domestic policy of Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich was aimed at the registration of the system of tax collection. His mother, Olga, approved the pogosts even under her rule. This means that the prince should not go independently to each people to collect polyudye, and the people themselves or representatives of the people came to certain places and paid tribute to the treasury.

Svyatoslav once pacified the tribes of Vyatichi, who refused to pay tribute in favor of the princes of the treasury. After this trek into the treasury, tribute began to be paid regularly.

Becoming a Grand Duke, in the leading cities of Kievan Rus, he began to assert for the reign of his sons, so that they kept everything under control when he was on campaigns. This was a wise and wise decision on his part. He could rely entirely on his sons in all matters of internal management of Kievan Rus.

His sons were Yaropolk, Oleg and Vladimir (the baptizer of Kievan Rus).

Svyatoslav in literature and art

The policy of Svyatoslav Igorevich was reflected not only in military affairs.

Svyatoslav devoted a lot of paintings, poems, stories, stories and even modern songs. He was an extraordinary personality, lived life briefly and brightly.

There is a picture of the artist Akimov "Grand Duke Sviatoslav," which refers to the end of the 18th century.

Velimir Khlebnikov dedicated his poem "Svyatoslav" to him, Sklyarenko - his novel "Svyatoslav", Lev Prozorov - "Svyatoslav. I'm coming to you! ". By the way, "I'm going to you!" Svyatoslav Igorevich often said when he went into battle.

The printed edition of the fans of the Dynamo Kyiv football club is called Svyatoslav.

Who remained in history the Grand Duke?

For the present generations, Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich remained a warrior ruler and conqueror who placed interests of Kievan Rus above his own and anyone else.

Svyatoslav's foreign and domestic policy helped to make Kievan Rus an even more powerful state. Despite the defeat from the Pechenegs, he will remain in history as one of the greatest generals of his time, who confronted the raids of several peoples at once.