Prince Oleg: biography of the founder of the Old Russian Power

Since the arrival of Prince Oleg Novgorodsky on the lands of Kievan Rus , the formation of the Old Russian state is usually beginning to be deducted. His figure is really significant, because it determined the beginning of a new era, a new era. His life, like death, has many mysteries for historians. But nevertheless Prince Oleg the Prophet, whose brief biography will be considered below, is a very interesting personality for researchers and ordinary lovers of antiquity.

Appearance in Russia

Prince Oleg, whose biography we only know briefly, is considered the founder of the Old Russian state. He was a relative of the legendary Varangian Rurik, that is, he was the brother of Efanda, the wife of the commander. There is an opinion that he was an ordinary voivode, to whom the Viking immeasurably trusted. Would he otherwise instruct him to take his young son? It is worth believing that Oleg acted by agreement with Rurik, and maybe he had some freedom. Anyway, but quite quickly he took over Smolensk and Lyubech, and then Kiev. By the way, the golden-haired city was captured by cunning: the Varangian lured out of the walls of Askold and Dir (who were also probably Vikings) and killed them, declaring himself a prince.

Achievements and successes

Prince Oleg, whose biography is considered in this article, strengthened the power either by enlisting the support of the Slavic tribes neighboring to Kiev, or by subduing them. He established a tribute for them, which did not bother people much. But his military successes were really impressive. Hikes against the Khazars saved the Russian lands from the need to pay kaganat polyudye. The great Tsargrad fell, on the gates of which, according to the chronicle, the prince nailed his shield. As a result, Russian merchants could trade without Byzantium without customs, and receive all possible support from it. Thus, Prince Oleg the Prophet, whose brief biography is considered above, has more merit in Russia than Rurik. Moreover, almost nothing is known about the ancestor of the princely dynasty.

Trekking to Constantinople

Prince Oleg, whose brief biography is covered in the Tale of Bygone Years, is an outstanding personality. He organized a famous expedition to Constantinople, after which he received his nickname - Prophetic. The chronicle says that he sent a huge army to the city on two thousand rooks. In each boat there were four dozen volunteers. The emperor ordered to close the gates of the capital, leaving the suburbs and villages to be torn to the enemies. But the prince of Kiev ordered to attach a wheel to the ships, on which the army reached the gates of Constantinople. The Byzantines were at a loss, so they surrendered, offering Oleg a generous tribute and peace.

Was there a hike?

Prince Oleg, whose brief biography is found in virtually every history textbook, is a controversial figure. Researchers have more questions than answers about his life. For example, the fact of a trip to Byzantium seems unreliable. All because the authors from Constantinople described in detail all the attacks on their country, but they do not mention Oleg's campaign. In addition, the return from Oleg Tsargrad and Vladimir the Great are very similar. Perhaps this is a description of the same event. At the same time, after Oleg went to the southern city and Igor, who also won. This is claimed by European authors who chronicled those years.

Was there a snake?

Kiev prince Oleg, whose biography is known also from literature lessons, died as mysteriously as he appeared in Russia. In the same Tale of Bygone Years it is described that once a magician had predicted his death from his beloved horse. The Varangian was superstitious, so he sat down on another animal, and ordered the pet to order the servants, taking care of him before his death. The governor remembered him during the feast, but it turned out that the horse had long since died. Grieving for the pet and angry that he believed the magus, the prince went to the bones. But when he stepped on the skull, he saw a snake, which immediately stung him in the leg. Oleg died of poison.

Prince Oleg, whose biography has long been studied, could have been killed by another death. And the tale of a horse and a snake may have been borrowed from the saga of Orda Odda. Although some scholars believe that the hero of Scandinavian legends and Prophetic Oleg are one and the same person. But there are several facts that allow us to think about whether there could be a plot about the death of the prince to the truthful. Among them are the following:

- Could the snake bite the leather boots worn by noble people in Russia? Most likely, no, or Oleg came to the mountain to the bare bones of the horse?

"What if the snake jumped and bit the prince above the boot top?" But there are no such vipers on the territory of Ukraine in the Kiev region !

- As a rule, the snake, before stinging, hisses and tries to crawl away. Could Oleg or his associates have not noticed this?

As an option, the prince died of poison, but he was slipped on the snake on purpose or poisoned Oleg in advance. Set where truth, unfortunately, is impossible.

A few more interesting facts

Russian prince Oleg, whose biography is already known to the reader, is mentioned not only in the chronicles of Kiev and Novgorod. Al-Masudi (the Arab author) speaks about the unsuccessful campaign of the Rus (500 ships!) On his forehead with Alvang and Al-Dir on Persia. Part of the booty they gave to the Khazars, but the latter betrayed them and killed everyone. There were killed about thirty thousand combatants, and who retreated behind the Caspian, were killed by the Volga Bulgars. Thus, the legendary prince died in the campaign, as befits a brave Varangian.

Here he is, clever and warlike prince Oleg. His biography is full of white spots, because of which around this figure remains a halo of mystery and mystery. Perhaps time will find answers to all the questions.