Internal and foreign policy of Oleg Veschy

The Old Russian state is the cradle of European culture. It was thanks to him that the Eastern Slavs became famous throughout the world and entered their names in the centuries. This state was founded by immigrants from Scandinavia. They brought to the land modern Ukrainians, northern culture, laws and an example of state structure. Such assimilation was not in vain, at the end of the 9th and beginning of the 10th century the Old Russian state was comparable to the descendant of the great Roman Empire - Byzantium.

The Old Russian state and its princes

The process of the evolution, unprecedented for those times, was conditioned by the activities of the princes of old Russia who tried their best to raise their country to a new level. Something happened, something was not. Today we can say with confidence that, thanks to the activities of the very first princes of the Rurikovich family, the foundation was laid for further "conquest" of the place under the sun. It should be noted that the domestic and foreign policies of the first princes were conducted in the atmosphere of constant civil strife with other Slavic tribes and the raids of nomadic tribes. On the activities of princes can be said for a very long time, but from their number it is necessary to single out the most wise and successful in terms of political confrontation.

Who is Prince Oleg?

The most interesting and no less mysterious person in the whole history is the first Grand Duke Oleg. Trustworthy statements about him practically did not survive. The historical image of this prince is based on the "Tale of Bygone Years" and "Novgorod Chronicle", as well as on stories about his legendary deeds through which domestic and foreign policy was conducted. Oleg can be compared with the great leader of the Huns Attila, as his whole life was also covered with secrets.

The origin of Oleg

To date, there are two main theories of the origin of Oleg. Each of them is represented in two famous annals: "Novgorod" and "The Tale of Bygone Years". However, from the whole array of statements that are given in these ancient writings, it is possible to single out the most rational grain, which even slightly tells us about the appearance of Oleg on the stage of the historical theater of the Old Russian state.

Oleg's domestic and foreign policy was largely due to his alleged origin. According to the chronicles, Oleg came to the Old Russian land with Rurik. After the death of the latter, Oleg began to reign as the regent of the minor son of Rurik. Modern scientists still did not know why the future prince unknown to anyone had such a high position. There are also two legends. The first says that Oleg was a relative of Rurik, and the second tells of his high position near the Scandinavian leader as a military leader. Anyway, in 882 the reign of the Grand Duke begins.

Domestic and foreign policy of Oleg

Having come to power, the prince begins to conquer all the tribes that resisted or rebelled. At that time, Oleg was the prince of Novgorod, and not of Kiev, since in the latter sat Askold and Dir. After several years of continuous war, the prince was able to conquer many Slavic tribes, namely: Slovene, all, chud, meer and krivich. Together with the warriors of the conquered tribes and the Varangians, Grand Duke Oleg began to advance down the Dnieper. In this campaign, he was able to capture such cities as Smolensk and Lyubech.

After these events, he did not interfere with going to Kiev. However, the prince did not take the city as a siege and did not use other military techniques. Oleg used the trick. He summoned Askold and Dir to a meeting outside the city walls. On it the prince introduced the true heir of Rurik - Igor, and then killed the Kiev princes. This is the end of their rule in the city on the Dnieper. Why Novgorod Prince did exactly that, no one knows.

From that time Oleg united Northern and Eastern Russia, creating the Old Russian state, or Kievan Rus, as it is customarily called. Domestic and foreign policy of Prince Oleg was based on achieving the most positive result for Russia. At the same time he went on the most "bold", if I may say so, steps from the point of view of politics.

Byzantine campaigns

The main directions of the internal and foreign policy of Prince Oleg were also conditioned by the personal considerations of the prince, regarding the progressing role of Kievan Rus. The biggest contribution to domestic politics was made at the end of the 9th century, when Oleg united Novgorod and Kiev into one state. The subsequent events testify to the prince's intentions to equate the country with the progressing states of the time.

The sea neighbor of Russia at that time was the rich and influential country of Byzantium. Realizing the danger and at the same time the attractiveness of such an enemy, Oleg decides to start a war with this state. The first campaign occurred in 907. According to the legends, he was one of the most massive and great. Then the myth of the invincibility and omnipotence of Byzantium was completely destroyed. When the Grand Duke of Novgorod and Kiev nailed his shield to the gates of Constantinople, this marked the beginning of a new era. As for politics, for Kiev Rus victory over Byzantium was a real breakthrough. According to the agreement concluded by Oleg in 907, the rich neighbor of the Slavic state undertook to pay him tribute. Moreover, duty-free trade for both sides was established. From that moment, Byzantium never ceased to fear and respect Kievan Rus.

In 911 the prince sent no longer an army, but ambassadors for the extension of peace and the conclusion of a new treaty. There were even more positive moments for the ancient merchants and the Russian state as a whole.

So, we saw that the internal and foreign policy of Prince Oleg is inscribed in history with the help of legendary deeds. The Grand Duke started a new era by combining war and politics. It was thanks to the first Bishop of Kiev that the foundation of further actions of the ancient princes was laid. Thus, Oleg's domestic and foreign policy helped him to perpetuate his name, as well as build a great and glorious state of Kievan Rus.