And it arose on the way "from the Varangians to the Greeks." It was this path that contributed to the rapid rise of the principality, its strong economy and well-known culture. The desire for independence, the struggle against the princes of Kyiv, and then the Lithuanians who replaced them - this is the history of the Polotsk principality. Briefly, it looks like this: the more Kyiv put pressure on the Polotsk nobility, the more powerful became the resistance and desire of Polotsk for independence. However, the wars with Kiev weakened the principality, and in 1307 Polotsk became part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Formation and dissociation of the principality

Polotsk is mentioned in Russian chronicles in 862. In the middle of the 10th century, Polotsk had its own lord - Rogvolod of Polotsk, whom, at the end of the 10th century, he kills, and takes his daughter as his wife. That allows you to attach this land to the Novgorod possessions. In 987, Prince Vladimir appointed the heir of Izyaslav as the prince of Polotsk, and the city of Izyaslavl became the capital.

As an adult, Prince Izyaslav rebuilt Polotsk, moving the capital of the principality to the left bank of the Polota River, to the most impregnable and high place. Under him, the isolation of the principality from the dominion of Kyiv was started. It should be noted that at the beginning of the XI century, the Polotsk land occupied a vast territory of North-Western Rus'. The location of Polotsk at the intersection of the waterways of the Western Dvina and the Upper Dnieper gave great benefits to the principality. Not a small role in the independence of the principality was played by iron-working production.

The reign of Vseslav the Enchanter (1044 - 1101)

The principality acquired the greatest prosperity under the grandson of Izyaslav - Vseslav Bryachislavovich. After a campaign against Torkov, in 1060, Vseslav began a long struggle with Kiev for possession of North-Western Russia. In 1065, the prince made an unsuccessful attack on Pskov. The failure did not break the prince, and the next year he attacked Novgorod and plundered the city. However, then luck turned away from Vseslav and in February 1067 the Kyiv princes Yaroslavovichi attacked the Polotsk principality, capturing Minsk.

On March 3, a significant battle took place near the Nemiga River. For several days, the opponents did not dare to start a battle, not yielding to each other in stubbornness and not making compromises, and on the seventh day Vseslav Polotsky decided to drive the Yaroslavovichs out of their native land. This battle was described in the Tale of Igor's Campaign, as well as in the Kyiv chronicles. The prince himself escaped captivity and fled to Polotsk. According to legend, the prince was a werewolf sorcerer and fled the battlefield in the form of a wolf.

In the summer of the same year, the Yaroslavovichs invited the prince to Kyiv for peace negotiations, promising him safety before the cross. However, Kyiv did not keep his word, and Vseslav was captured. In 1068, the Yaroslavoviches had to defend native land already against the Polovtsians. However, they lost the battle on the Alta River and fled. Kyiv was left without protection. On September 15, 1068, the Kiev uprising took place, and the people of Kiev freed Vseslav by force, appointing him the Grand Duke. The Yaroslavoviches naturally did not like this turn of affairs, and they fled to Poland for help.

When Vseslav heard that the Yaroslavovich army was heading for Kyiv, he abandoned the city and fled to his native land - Polotsk. Like, houses and walls help, but he needs Kyiv, like a second tail to a wolf. This did not help him much, and Izyaslav captured Polotsk, placing his son to reign there. In 1072, Vseslav regained Polotsk, after which the rapprochement between Izyaslav and Vseslav began. With the rest of the Yaroslavovichi, he fought uncompromisingly.

Accession of Polotsk to ON

Having many sons in the family, Vseslav Charodey divided the Polotsk land into 6 destinies, which were further divided more and more. In 1127, Kyiv captured the Polotsk lands, devastated them and sent the Polotsk princes to Byzantium. However, three years later, power fell to one of the Polotsk princes, and after his death, a struggle for the throne began between three dynasties by a descendant of Vseslav, which finally undermined the combat capability of Polotsk, and in 1216 the Livonian Order captured the lands in the lower reaches of the Western Dvina.

A century later, the principality submitted to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL). The principality finally ceased to exist after 76 years, when Lithuania abolished the autonomy of Polotsk.

IX. SMOLENSK AND POLOTSK. LITHUANIA AND THE LIVONIAN ORDER

(continuation)

Polotsk Krivichi. - Rogvolod Polotsky and Rostislav Minsky. - The obstinacy of the Polotsk people. - Dvina stones. - The intervention of Smolensk and Chernigov residents in the Polotsk unrest. - Stolny Polotsk. - St. Euphrosyne. - Cities and limits of the Polotsk land.

Church of the Savior of the Euphrosyne Monastery in Polotsk. Built in the 1150s.
Image by Szeder László

The history of the Polotsk land after the return of the princes from Greek imprisonment is extremely dark and inconsistent. We only see that the turmoil of Southern Rus', the struggle of the Monomakhoviches with the Olgoviches and the uncle with his nephews helped the Polotsk land to finally free itself from Kyiv dependence. The rivalry of different generations in the offspring of Yaroslav I gave the Polotsk Vseslavichs the opportunity to always find allies for themselves. Since they were pressed from the east by the Smolensk Monomakhovichi, and from the south by the Kievan and Volynian, the Vseslavichi became natural allies of the Chernigov Olgovichi and defended their independence with their help.

However, the Polotsk reign did not achieve significant strength and fortress. It offered too little resistance when it had to defend itself against foreign enemies advancing from the west, namely from Lithuania and the Livonian Order. The main reasons for his weakness were both in the lack of internal unity between the Vseslavichs, and also in the restless, obstinate attitude of the population towards their princes. The upheavals carried out in the Polotsk land by Monomakh and his son Mstislav I, the repeated captivity, displacement and then expulsion of the Polotsk princes, of course, mixed up the family accounts between the descendants of Vseslav's numerous sons. We do not find here that rather strict order that was observed in relation to seniority, for example, in the family of the princes of Chernigov-Seversky or Smolensk. The main Polotsk table becomes the subject of strife between the grandchildren of Vseslav; but the one who managed to take possession of it usually does not enjoy great importance among his other relatives, the specific princes of Polotsk. The latter often strive for independence and follow their own policy towards neighboring lands. This can be especially said about the princes of Minsk. During the entire century that has elapsed from the return of the Vseslavichs to Polotsk until the time of the Tatar and Lithuanian conquest, we do not meet a single person on the Polotsk table marked with the stamp of energy or clever policy.

The strife of the Vseslavichs, in turn, contributed a lot to the weakening of the princely power and some successes in the government of the people, or the beginning of the veche. Such a beginning, which we noticed among the Smolensk Krivichi, back in more manifested itself among the Polotsk, who in this respect are even closer to their fellow tribesmen, the Novgorod Krivichi. It is especially strong in the inhabitants of the capital city, which, like other the oldest cities seeks not only to resolve inter-princely feuds, but also to subordinate the population of the younger cities and suburbs to its decisions. No wonder the chronicler noted that "Novgorodians, Smolnyans, Kievans and Polochans converge as if in spirit at the veche, and what the elders put on, the suburbs will stand on."

The nature of Polotsk history in this era was clearly reflected in the struggle of two grandsons of Vseslav, cousins: Rogvolod Borisovich Polotsky and Rostislav Glebovich Minsky.

Married to the daughter of Izyaslav II of Kyiv, Rogvolod was in some subordination to the Monomakhoviches. Perhaps this circumstance served as a source of displeasure against him on the part of the Polotsk Glebovichi Minsky, i.e. Rostislav with brothers. In 1151, the citizens of Polotsk, secretly conspiring with Rostislav Glebovich, seized Rogvolod and sent him to Minsk, where he was put under guard. Rostislav occupied the Polotsk table, although, in fact, he had no right to do so; since his father Gleb never occupied this table. Fearing the interference of the Monomakhoviches, the Glebovichs surrendered themselves under the patronage of Svyatoslav Olgovich Novgorod-Seversky and swore "to have him as their father and walk in obedience to him." Rogvolod was later released from captivity, but did not get his parishes back, and in 1159 he ran with a request for help to the same Svyatoslav Olgovich, now the prince of Chernigov. The Glebovichi, apparently, had already managed not only to quarrel with him, but also to arouse the Polotsk population itself against themselves. At least we see that as soon as Rogvolod received an army from Svyatoslav Olgovich and appeared in the Polotsk land, more than 300 men of the Druchan and Polotsk people came out to meet him and brought him into the city of Drutsk, from where they expelled Rostislav's son Gleb; moreover, they robbed his own yard and the yards of his combatants. When Gleb Rostislavich rode to Polotsk, confusion arose here as well; the people were divided into two parties, Rogvolodov and Rostislavov. The latter, with many gifts, managed to calm the opposing side, and he again swore the citizens to the oath. Citizens kissed the cross on the fact that Rostislav is "their prince" and that, God forbid, "to live with him without ignorance." He went with the brothers Vsevolod and Volodar to Rogvolod to Drutsk; but after an unsuccessful siege, the opponents reconciled, and Rogvolod received some more volosts. However, turmoil in Polotsk was not slow to resume. The obstinate Polotsk people, forgetting their recent oath, began to secretly communicate with Rogvolod. Their envoys spoke such speeches: “Our prince! We have sinned before God and before you in that we stood against you without guilt, plundered your estate and your squad, and handed you over to the Glebovichi for great torment. But if you don’t remember that now, what we have done out of our madness, kiss us the cross on the fact that you are our prince, and we are your people. We will give Rostislav into your hands, and do with him what you want. "

Rogvolod kissed the cross for oblivion of the past betrayal and dismissed the ambassadors. Then the Polotsk vechniks decided to treacherously seize their prince, who, obviously, surrounded himself with precautions and did not live in the city itself, but stayed in the country prince's courtyard beyond the Dvina on the Belchitsa River. The Polotsk people called the prince on Peter's Day to the "St. Old Mother of God", to the brotherhood, which was arranged either by the whole city, or by some parish on a temple holiday. But Rostislav had friends who informed him of malicious intent. They came to the feast with armor under their cloaks and with a decent number of squads, so that the citizens that day did not dare to do anything against him. The next morning they again sent to call him to the city under the pretext of some important speeches. "Yesterday I was with you; why didn't you tell me what your need is?" - said the prince to the messengers; however, he mounted his horse and rode into the city. But on the way he was met by a "child", or one of the younger warriors, who secretly left the city to inform the prince about the betrayal of the Polotsk people. At that moment they were creating a stormy assembly against the prince; meanwhile, the predatory mob had already rushed to the yards of the main combatants, began to rob them and beat princely officials who fell into their hands, i.e. tiuns, mytnikovs, etc. Rostislav, in view of the open rebellion, hastened to return to Belchitsa, gathered his squad and went to Minsk to his brother Volodar, fighting Polotsk volosts along the way, taking cattle and servants. Meanwhile, Rogvolod from Drutsk arrived in Polotsk and again sat down at the table of his grandfather and father. But at the same time, his war with the Glebovichs of Minsk resumed. Rogvolod received help from his wife's uncle Rostislav Smolensky, but not for nothing: he ceded Vitebsk and some other border volosts for her. Rostislav Smolensky soon moved to the great table of Kiev and continued to help Rogvolod against the Glebovichi from here. However, the war with the latter was not successful for the Polotsk prince. Several times he went to Minsk and could not take this city. In 1162, Rogvolod besieged Gorodets, where Volodar Glebovich defended himself with an army recruited from neighboring Lithuania. Here Volodar by an unexpected night attack inflicted such a defeat on Rogvolod, after which he did not dare to appear in the capital city; as he lost many Polochans killed and captured. He went to his former specific city of Drutsk.

Since that time, the chronicles no longer mention Rogvolod Borisovich. But there is another kind of monument, which, apparently, speaks of the same prince nine years after his defeat near Gorodets. About twenty versts from the city of Orsha, on the road to Minsk, in a field lies a reddish boulder, on the flat surface of which a cross with a stand is carved; and around the cross the following inscription is carved: "In the summer of 6679 (1171) May, on the 7th day, this cross was completed. Lord, help your servant Vasily in baptism, named Rogvolod, son of Borisov." It is very likely that this Rogvolod-Vasily is the former prince of Polotsk Rogvolod Borisovich, who at the end of his life had to be content with the Drut lot; and the aforementioned stone is on the ground, obviously belonging to this inheritance. It is curious that, in addition to Rogvolod, several more similar stones have been preserved in the channel of the Western Dvina. Namely, a little lower than the city of Disna, in the most rapid part of this river, a gray granite boulder with the image of a cross and the inscription: "Lord, help your servant Boris" rises in the middle of it. Even lower lies another boulder with the same inscription and a cross. In the same place on the Dvina, there are several more stones with inscriptions that cannot be disassembled. In all likelihood, the Borisov stone belongs to the father of Rogvolod, the Grand Duke of Polotsk. And a pious appeal to God with a request for help was, of course, a prayer for the successful completion of any enterprise; most likely, it related to the construction of temples.

Shortly after the above events, the Polotsk people put Vseslav Vasilkovich, one of the great-grandchildren of the famous Vseslav, on their table. This Vasilko was on property with the princes of Smolensk and only with their help kept himself on his desk. But one day he was defeated by his rival Volodar Glebovich, Prince Gorodetsky, and his Lithuanian allies, and was forced to seek refuge in Vitebsk with David Rostielavich, then another of the specific Smolensk princes. Volodar captured Polotsk, took the inhabitants to the oath and then moved to Vitebsk. David Rostislavich defended the crossing over the Dvina; but did not give a decisive battle, because he was waiting for the help of his brother Roman Smolensky. Suddenly, at midnight, in Volodar's camp, they heard some kind of noise, as if a whole army was crossing the river. It seemed to Volodar's retinue that Roman was coming at her, and David wanted to strike from the other side. She rushed to run and dragged the prince after her. In the morning, David, learning about the flight of the enemy, hurried in pursuit and captured many who had lost their way in the forest. And he again planted his brother-in-law Vseslav in Polotsk (1167), who thus found himself dependent on Smolensk, and the latter patronized him in relation to other neighbors. For example, in 1178, Mstislav the Brave went with the Novgorodians to Polochan to take away from them the Novgorod churchyard, once captured by Vseslav Bryachislavich. But Roman Smolensky sent his son to help Vseslav Vasilkovich, and sent to Mstislav to dissuade him from the campaign. The brave one listened to his elder brother and turned back from Velikiye Luki. But the dependence of Smolensk was very unpleasant for the Polotsk people; equally sensitive for them was the concession of Vitebsk. Therefore, the princes of Polotsk again began to seek alliances with Lithuania and Chernigov. They finally managed to return the Vitebsk inheritance, when David Rostislavich received a parish in Kievan Rus (Vyshgorod). Vitebsk passed to Bryachislav Vasilkovich, brother of Vseslav Polotsky.

In 1180, a remarkable meeting took place between the princes of Smolensk and those of Chernigov in Polotsk. David Rostislavich had just become prince in Smolensk after the death of his elder brother; and in the Drut inheritance sat his assistant Gleb Rogvolodovich, of course, the son of the above-mentioned Rogvolod Borisovich. At that time, the struggle between the Monomakhoviches and the Olgovichi over Kyiv was in full swing, Grand Duke Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich of Kiev, returning from his campaign against Vsevolod of Suzdal (about which later), drove to Novgorod the Great, where his son then reigned. From here he went to the Polotsk land; at the same time, his brother Yaroslav Chernigovsky and cousin Igor Seversky came from the other side, having hired Polovtsy, and headed for Drutsk to take him away from the Smolensk assistant. David Rostilovich hurried to the aid of Gleb Rogvolodovich and tried to attack Yaroslav and Igor (“give them a regiment”) before Svyatoslav of Kiev arrived, with whom most of the Polotsk princes joined, including both brothers of Vasklkovich, Vseslav Polotsky and Bryachislav Vitebsky, with Lithuanian and Livonian mercenary units. But the Chernigov-Seversky princes evaded a decisive battle, and took up a strong position on the opposite bank of the Druti, and both armies stood there for a whole week, limiting themselves to a skirmish. When the Grand Duke Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich arrived with the Novgorodians and the brothers began to build a path across the river, David Smolensky went home. The Grand Duke burned the prison and the outer fortress of Drutsk, but did not take the city itself and, disbanding the allies, returned to Kyiv. Polotsk land, thus, found itself dependent on the Chernigov Olgovichi, but before the first change in circumstances. In 1186, David Rostislavich took advantage of the Polovtsian pogrom of the Olgovichi to subdue the Polochans. He undertook a winter campaign against them from Smolensk; and his son Mstislav, who then reigned in Novgorod, went to his aid with the Novgorodians; on his side were two more specific Polotsk princes, Vseslav Drutsky and Vasilko Logozhsky. The Polotsk people were embarrassed and made the following decision at the meeting: “We cannot stand against the Novgorodians and Smolnyans; if we let them into our land, they will have time to do much harm to her before we make peace; it’s better to go out to them for a reason.” And so they did: they met David at the border with a bow and honor; brought him many gifts and settled down peacefully, i.e. agreed, of course, to his demands.

At the request of David, Vitebsk was given to his son-in-law, one of the grandsons of Gleb Minsky. But Yaroslav Vsevolodovich opposed this order, and hence a new clash between Chernigov and Smolensk occurred in 1195. Above, we saw how the meeting of opponents ended in the Smolensk limits and how the Drut Prince Boris helped the Chernigovites win the battle. Vitebsk was taken from David's son-in-law. It seemed that Smolensk influence on Polotsk affairs was finally to yield to Chernigov. But, on the one hand, the unrest intensified in Southern Rus' diverted the attention of the Chernigovites; on the other hand, hostile foreigners more and more crowded the Polotsk land from the west. Therefore, Smolensk supremacy again prevailed here. Proof of this is the well-known treaty letter of Mstislav Davidovich with Riga and Gotland. The main artery of the land of Polotsk, the Western Dvina, the Smolensk prince recognizes as free for merchant ships along its entire course, and at the end of the letter he declares the contract binding not only for the Smolensk "volost", but also for Polotsk and Vitebsk. Consequently, the latter were then dependent on Smolensk.

The most important settlements in the land of the Polotsk Krivichi were located along the banks of its main river, i.e. Western Dvina. On its upper part, on the border with the Smolensk land, there was the inheritance of Vitebsk. The city of Vitebsk was built at the confluence of the Vitba River into the Dvina on a rather elevated left bank of the latter and, being well fortified, also had a ship pier, one of the most important on the Dvina. On its middle course, on the right bank, at the confluence of the Polota River, the capital city of the Krivskaya land Polotsk flaunted. Its main part, or the kremlin ("upper castle"), was located on the coastal hill, which rises at the confluence of the Polota with the Dvina. The outer city ("lower castle") adjoined this Kremlin from the east, separated from it by a moat and fortified with an earthen rampart with wooden walls. Suburban settlements, located on opposite banks of both rivers, made up Zapolotye and Zadvinye. In the Polotsk Kremlin, in addition to the princely and episcopal chambers, according to custom, the main shrine of the city, the stone cathedral of St. Sophia, about the seven summits and heads. The very name of it shows that it was built in the likeness of the temples of Kyiv, which served as models for all of Rus'. In addition to the St. Sophia Cathedral in Polotsk, as in other Russian capital cities, there was also a cathedral church in the name of the Mother of God, which in the second half of the 12th century was already called the "Old Mother of God", judging by the history of Rostislav Glebovich.

Like other capitals, here, in addition to temples, pious princes early built monastic cloisters both in the city itself and in its environs. Of the men's monasteries, Borisoglebsky is the most famous: the names of the brother martyrs are especially common in the family of the Polotsk princes. This monastery was located in Zadvinye, in the middle of groves and shrubs, on the slope of a deep hollow, along the bottom of which the river Belchitsa flows, flowing into the Dvina. It was founded by Boris Vseslavich, they say, the one who built the Polotsk Sofia. Near the same monastery there was also a suburban princely court. It is known that the Russian princes for the most part liked to stay not in their city tower, but in the suburban one, in which various economic institutions were set up, especially their favorite pastime, i.e. hunting. Country living attracted them, of course, not only clean air, spaciousness and household amenities, but also some distance from the noisy evening and the obstinate city mob. At least a similar conclusion can be drawn from the above story of Rostislav Glebovich.

Saint Euphrosyne of Polotsk. Icon 1910

Among the women's cloisters, Spaso-Evfrosinievskaya is the most famous here. In Polotsk, more than other capitals, there were many princesses and princesses who devoted themselves to monastic life. Among them, the first place is occupied by St. Euphrosyne, who bore the secular name of Predislava. Her life is adorned with legends; but its historical basis is beyond doubt. The beginning of her monastic deeds dates back to the time of the aforementioned Polotsk prince Boris Vseslavich, to whom she was the niece, being the daughter of his younger brother George and, therefore, the granddaughter of the famous Vseslav.

Even in her teenage years, when her marriage was being prepared, Predislava secretly left her parental home to her aunt, the widow of Prince Roman Vseslavich, who was the abbess of the women's monastery, which was apparently located near the cathedral church of St. Sophia. Here Predislava cut her hair under the name of Euphrosyne, to the great chagrin of her parents. At her request, the Bishop of Polotsk Iliya allowed her to live for some time in a cell attached to the cathedral, or in the so-called. "pigeon". Here she was engaged in writing off church books and distributed the money received from this work to the poor. Soon her thoughts turned to the usual desire of pious Russian princesses, to the arrangement of their own convent. For this purpose, the bishop ceded to her his nearby village, where he had Vacation home with a small wooden church in the name of the Transfiguration of the Savior. This place lies about two versts from the city on the right bank of the Polota. Here Euphrosinia arranged a new monastery, in which she was appointed abbess. In the number of her nuns, she, to the new chagrin of her father, attracted her sister Gorislav-Evdokia and cousin Zvenislav-Ephrasia Borisovna. With the help of relatives, in place of the wooden one, she built and decorated the stone Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior, which was consecrated by the successor of Elijah, Bishop Dionysius, in the presence of the prince's house, with a large gathering of people. Euphrosyne did not limit herself to this and, in order to have her own clergy, she founded a nearby monastery in the name of the Virgin. In her monastery, she peacefully survived the storm that broke out over her family during the time of Mstislav Monomakhovich of Kyiv, who expelled the Polotsk princes to Greece. The time for this exile has passed; the princes returned. The time of internecine strife between her cousins, Rogvolod Borisovich and Rostislav Glebovich, also passed. Euphrosinia managed to tonsure two more princesses, her nieces, as nuns. Having reached old age, she wished to visit the Holy Land, in accordance with the pious mood of her age. This, apparently, was at a time when her nephew Vseslav Vasilkovich was sitting on the Polotsk table, and Manuel Komnenos was the Byzantine emperor. The holy abbess left her monastery in the care of sister Evdokia; and she herself, accompanied by her cousin and one of her brothers, went to Constantinople. Worshiping the holy things of Tsaregrad, she sailed to Jerusalem, where she took shelter in a Russian hospice at the Feodosiev Monastery of the Mother of God. There she died and was buried in the vestibule of the monastery church.

The face of Euphrosyne became a subject of special reverence in the Polotsk land. And an excellent monument of her piety is the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior erected by her (still preserved in its main parts), small in size, but elegant architecture, like all examples of the Byzantine-Russian style of that era. In this temple, the cross of Euphrosyne, built in 1161, is kept; it is six-pointed, wooden, bound with silver and adorned with precious stones, containing particles of relics. One of Euphrosyne's successors as abbess was her niece, the Monk Paraskeviia, daughter of Rogvolod-Vasily Borisovich, who donated all her estate to the Spasskaya monastery and brought it into a very flourishing appearance.

The strip lying to the north of the Dvina is a somewhat hilly lake region, which, apparently, did not have a dense population. The Polotsk limits here converged with the Novgorod ones near the upper reaches of the Lovat and Velikaya. The only significant city known from the annals in this direction was Usvyat, lying on the lake of the same name, on the border with Smolensk and Novgorod land. The largest and best populated part of the Polotsk land extended south of the Dvina; she hugged the region of the right Dnieper tributaries, the Drut and the Berezina. This area is a wooded sandy-clay plain, often elevated and hilly in its northwestern strip, and low and marshy in its southeastern strip; the latter imperceptibly merges with the Turov Polissya. The most prosperous region in this area was the Minsk inheritance, which had drier and more fertile soil, with an admixture of black earth, with deciduous forests and rich pastures. The capital city of the inheritance of Minsk towered on the coastal hills of the Svisloch River (the right tributary of the Berezina). This is one of the oldest cities in Krivka, along with Polotsk and Smolensk. Under the city itself, a small but historical river Nemiza flowed into the Svisloch. On its banks, the famous battle of Vseslav with the Yaroslavichs took place in 1067. The singer of "The Tale of Igor's Campaign" sang of this battle in such images: "On Nemiz sheaves lay their heads, thresh with damask flails, put their belly on the current, blow the soul from the body; the bloody banks of the Nemiz were not sown with good, they were sown with the bones of Russian people." Not far from Minsk, to the northwest, on one of the tributaries of the Svisloch, lay Izyaslavl, built by Vladimir the Great for Rogneda and her son Izyaslav. A little further north, on the Goina River, a tributary of the Berezina, was Logozhsk, and on the Berezina itself was Borisov, founded by Boris Vseslavich. Moving from it to the east, we meet one of the most significant Polotsk cities, Drutsk, in a very wooded and swampy area. In the southeast, the extreme Polotsk cities were Rogachev, at the confluence of the Druti into the Dnieper, and Strezhev, somewhat lower on the Dnieper; these cities lay on the Chernigov-Kiev border.

In the west, the borders of the Polotsk land were lost in the Lithuanian forests, where the Krivichi settlements gradually penetrated. Such settlements were established partly by trade, partly by force of arms. The Russian princes imposed tribute on the neighboring Lithuanian peoples and cut down Russian towns on convenient coastal hills, from where their combatants went to collect tribute and where the natives could exchange prey from their animal trades for household tools, fabrics, women's jewelry and other Russian goods. Lithuania quite easily submitted to the influence of a more developed Russian citizenship and, in its Ukraine, was subjected to gradual Russification; in the 12th century, we often met auxiliary Lithuanian detachments in the Polotsk troops. But disorder and lack of unity in the Polotsk land itself interfered with the strength of Russian domination in these remote lands.

According to some indications, the princes of Polotsk owned the course of the Dvina almost to the very Baltic Sea, that is, they collected tribute from the native Latvians. But they did not bother to strengthen the mouth of this river behind them by building strong Russian cities and, apparently, did not occupy with their squads fortified places on it further than two castles that bore Latvian names: Gersike (now Kreutsburg, lower than Dvinsk) and Kukeynos (Kokengusen). From the side of the Neman, the Polotsk borders crossed the Viliya and headed towards its middle course. On the Holy River, a tributary of the Viliya, we have a city with the Russian name Vilkomir, then Novgorodok, on one of the left Neman tributaries, and Gorodno, on the high right bank of the Neman at the confluence of the Gorodnichanka River. The prosperity of this last city is clearly evidenced by the remains of the beautiful Borisoglebsky temple (better known under the name "Kolozhansky"), the foundation of which dates back to XII century and which, only in our time, is destroyed by the action of water that has washed away the sandy loose bank of the Neman. This temple is especially remarkable for the multitude of its golosniks, i.e. oblong earthenware pots built into the walls, presumably with the aim of giving more pleasantness to the sounds of church singing. Gorodno and Novgorodok served as a stronghold of the Krivskaya land from the side of the wild Zaneman tribe of the Yotvingians.

The first known mention of the Dvina stones is found in the 16th century by Stryikovsky in his chronicle. He tells the following. It happened to him one day to go along with other jolners on plows from Vitebsk to Dinaminda. Then he heard from one Disna merchant that seven miles from Polotsk below on the Dvina between the cities of Drissa and Disna there is a large stone on which a cross is carved in the "Russian way" and the Slavic inscription: "Lord help thy servant Boris, the son of Ginvilovago." When the plow landed for the night near that place, Stryikovsky himself went in a canoe to look at it. He explains that this inscription was made by order of Boris Ginvilovich in memory of the safe delivery of bricks, alabaster and other materials for the construction of the temple in Polotsk from Livonia to the Dvina on plows (Kronika. I. 241 pp. Warsaw edition). Another historian of the Lithuanian region, Koyalovich, in his Historia Litvaniae, from the words of Stryikovsky, literally repeated his news of the same inscription, translating it into Latin; Miserere, Domine, mancipio tuo Boryso Ginvilonis filio. But Stryjkovsky's news turns out to be false, and he himself hardly looked at the inscription well during his evening shuttle ride. Sementovsky, secretary of the Vitebsk Statistical Committee, in his essay "Ancient Monuments of the Vitebsk Province" (St. Petersburg, 1867) presented drawings of five Dvina stones; three of them still bear the name of Boris; on the one Stryjkowski is talking about, the inscription is very well preserved; but there are no traces of the words "son of Ginvilov" on any stone. They turned out to be an addition to Stryikovsky. Further information about these Dvina stones and Rogvolodov see in the reports of Keppen (Uchen. Zap. Ak. N. according to 1 and 3 sections. Vol. III, issue I. St. Petersburg, 1855). Plater (Collection of Rubon. Wilno. 1842), Narbut (Vitebsk province. Ved. 1846. No. 14). Shpilevsky ("Journey through Belarus". St. Petersburg. 1858), in the newspaper "Vilensky Vestnik", edited by Kirkor (1864. No. 56), gr. K. Tyshkevich "On ancient stones and monuments of Western Rus' and Podlyakhia" (Archaeological Bulletin, published, edited by A. Kotlyarevsky. M. 1867), Kustsinsky and Schmidt (Proceedings of the first Archaeological Congress LXX - LXXVI) and finally gr. Uvarova (Antiquities of Moscow. Archaeological Society. Vol. VI, issue 3). Sapunov "Dvinsky, or Borisov, stones" (Vitebsk 1890).

The main source for Polotsk history is Rus. chronicle, mainly according to the Ipatiev list. Stryikovsky, referring to some old chronicler, in his Chronicle says that the direct generation of the Vseslavichs ceased in the second half of the 12th century; that the Polotsk people introduced a republican government with a veche and thirty judgmental elders at the head; that then the Lithuanian prince Mingailo took possession of Polotsk, and his son Ginvil married the Tver princess and converted to Christianity; that Ginvil was succeeded by his son Boris, the same one who built St. Sophia with some other churches and left a memory of himself on the Dvina stones. Boris was succeeded by Rogvolod-Vasily, who restored to the Polochans their veche customs taken away by Mingail; and Rogvolod was succeeded by his son Gleb, with whose death the Miigailovich family in Polotsk ceased (Kronika. 239 - 242). The same is in Pomniki do dziejow Litewskich. Ed. Narbut. Wilno. 1846. (The so-called Chronicle of Bykhovets.) Some writers who dealt with the history of Western Russia continued to repeat these news until later times without a critical attitude towards them. (Including August Schlozer - Allgemeine Nordische Geschichte. II. 37.) Meanwhile, Karamzin already pointed out their improbability and complete inconsistency with chronology (to vol. IV, note 103). The Dvina stones, as we have seen, finally exposed Stryikovsky in the addition of the words "Ginvilov's son." If we accept his testimony, then it would appear that Boris built Polotsk churches in the XIII century, while his son Rogvolod-Vasily reigned in the XII; for the stone of the latter is clearly indicated by the year 1171, etc. Pogodin and Solovyov also rejected the existence of the Polotsk Mingailovichs, as well as Belyaev ("Essay on the History of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania". Kyiv. 1878). To prove that in the first half of the 13th century the Russian dynasty, and not the Lithuanian one, still reigned in Polotsk, I will add the following indications. Firstly, Heinrich the Latvian reports on the Polotsk prince Vladimir, under whom the Germans settled in Livonia. Secondly, the aforementioned trade agreement between Smolensk and Riga and Gotland in 1229; the treaty included the Polotsk and Vitebsk volosts without any hint of any change in their princes. Thirdly, the direct news of the Russian chronicle (according to Voskresen. and Nikonov, the list) that Alexander Nevsky in 1239 married the daughter of the Polotsk prince Bryachislav. Regarding the aforementioned Prince Vladimir, there is some confusion. The news of Heinrich the Latvian embraces him for thirty whole years (1186 - 1216); meanwhile, the Russian chronicles do not know him at all. From this came the assumption that this Vladimir is none other than Vladimir Rurikovich, later Prince of Smolensk and Grand Duke of Kiev, see Lyzhin "Two pamphlets from the time of Anna Ioannovna" (Izv. Acad. N. T. VII. 49). This assumption, however, is too bold; Vladimir Rurikovich was only born in 1187. However, it is also unlikely that the same Vladimir reigned in Polotsk in 1186 and in 1216. Tatishchev under 1217 (vol. III, 403) has a story about the Polotsk prince Boris Davidovich and his second wife Svyatokhna, the Pomorian princess. Svyatokhna, in order to deliver the reign to her son Vladimir Wojciech, slandered her two stepsons Vasilko and Vyachka before the prince. This story ends with indignation against her Polotsk people and the beating of her accomplices Pomeranians. According to Tatishchev, he borrowed the story from the Chronicle of Eropkin. In his reasoning mentioned above, Lyzhin considers this entire romantic story a pamphlet that was directed against the German government of Anna Ioannovna and composed by Eropkin himself. This opinion is still a question. On this issue, see Mr. Sapunov "Reliability of a fragment from the Polotsk chronicles, placed in the history of Tatishchev under 1217." (Thurs. OI of 1898. III. Mixture). He proves the existence of the Polotsk chronicles, from which Eropkin borrowed this story. Of the new works on the history of the region, the main place is occupied by professors Dovnar Zapolsky "Essay on the Krivichi and Dregovichi lands until the end of the 12th century." Kyiv. 1891 and Danilevich "Essay on the history of the Polotsk land before the XIV century." 1897

For the archeology and ethnography of the Northwestern Territory, we indicate the following. works: Sapunova "Vitebsk antiquity". T. V. Vitebsk 1888. His own "Polotsk Saint Sophia Cathedral". Vit. 1888. His own "Inflators". Vit. 1886. Sementovsky "Belarusian antiquities". Issue I. St. Petersburg. 1890. Romanov "Belarusian Collection". 4 issues. 1886 - 1891. (Tales, songs, etc.) Published by Batyushkov "Belarus and Lithuania", St. Petersburg, 1890. (With 99 engravings and a map.) "Antiquities of the North-West, Territories". "(Proceedings of the IX Archaeological Congress. M. 1895). Eremenka and Spitsyn "Radimic mounds" and "Supposed Lithuanian mounds" (Zap. Archeological. Ob. VIII. 1896).

"The Life of Euphrosyne" in the Power Book. I. 269. Stebelsky Dwa swiata na horyzoncie Polockim czyli zywot ss. Evfrozynii i Parackewii. Wilno. 1781. "The Life of the Reverend Princess Euphrosyne of Polotsk" - Govorsky (Vest. South-West. and West. Russia. 1863. Nos. XI and XII). "Monuments of antiquity in Vitebsk province." - Sementovsky with the image of the cross of Euphrosyne. The inscription on it concludes a spell so that no one would dare to take this cross from the monastery of St. Savior. The same inscription testifies that silver, gold, expensive stones and pearls worth 140 hryvnias were used to decorate it, and that the master who made it was called Lazar Bogsha. About Euphrosyne and Paraskeva at Sapunov Vitebsk. Old man. T. V. "Minsk Province" - lieutenant colonel. Zelensky. SPb. 1864, and "Grodno Province" - lieutenant colonel. Bobrovsky. SPb. 1863. (Mater, for geographic and statistical Russia - officers of the general, staff.) "Grodno Kolozhanskaya Church" (Bulletin of Western Russia. 1866. Book 6). Commemorative book of the Vilna Governor General for 1868, edited by Sementovsky. SPb. 1868 (with some historical and ethnographic notes). Starozytna Polska of Balinsky and Lipinsky. Volume. III. Warsch. 1846.

Kievan Rus and Russians principalities XII-XIII centuries. Rybakov Boris Alexandrovich

Polotsk principality

Polotsk principality

Polotsk land was located in the north-west of Rus'; a very important path passed through it in Western Europe along the Western Dvina, shorter than the route through Novgorod. The Lithuanian-Latvian tribes were neighbors of Polotsk for a long distance; when tribal squads began to grow in the lands of Lithuania, Latygoly and Zemigoli, they sometimes raided the Russian regions of the Dvina region. However, these campaigns cannot be compared with the devastating raids of the Polovtsy on southern lands. For the most part, relations with neighbors were peaceful.

Sophia Cathedral in Polotsk (XI century)

The author of The Tale of Igor's Campaign, an ardent admirer of Vseslav of Polotsk, one of the main participants in the Kiev uprising of 1068, speaks a lot about the Polotsk land and its princes and even idealizes them somewhat. He divides all Russian princes into two unequal parts - into "Yaroslavl grandchildren" and into "Veslavl grandchildren"; if the dynastic princes of Polotsk really constituted a separate branch, then these two parts were not equal in terms of land volume.

The Polotsk land had all the conditions for gaining independence; in this respect it resembled Novgorod. There was also a strong local boyars here; in Polotsk, a rich trading center, there was a city council and, in addition, some kind of "brothers" who fought with the princes; it is possible that these were merchant associations similar to Ivan on Opoki in Novgorod.

The princely power here was not particularly strong, and the Polotsk land broke up into several rather independent destinies: Minsk, Vitebsk, Drutsk, Izyaslavl, Strezhev, etc.

A bright era in the life of the Polotsk land was the long reign of Vseslav Bryachislavich (1044–1101). This energetic prince fought with Novgorod, and with Pskov, and with the Yaroslavichs. One of the enemies of Vseslav was Vladimir Monomakh, who went on campaigns to the Polotsk land from 1084 to 1119. The Kyiv princes managed only for a while to subjugate this land, which lived its own isolated life. The last time a decisive attempt to subdue it was made by Mstislav the Great in 1127, sending troops from all over Rus' - from Volhynia and Kursk, from Novgorod and from Tork Porosie. All detachments were given exact routes, and all of them were assigned a single, common day for the invasion of the Polotsk principality. Prince Bryachislav of Polotsk, seeing himself surrounded, "feared, could not drink either Semo or Ovamo." Two years later, some Polotsk princes were exiled to Byzantium, where they stayed for ten years.

In 1132, Polotsk independently chose a prince for itself and, along with other lands of Rus', completely separated itself from the power of Kyiv. True, unlike the neighboring principalities, the Polotsk land immediately broke up into destinies; Minsk (Menesk) was the first to stand out as an independent reign. In the struggle between Rogvolod Borisovich of Polotsk and Rostislav Glebovich of Minsk in 1158, the townspeople of Polotsk and Drutsk took an active part.

Rogvolod, the grandson of Vseslav, turned out to be an outcast prince without a principality; his relatives "dug under him his parish and his life (property, household. - B.R.)". The Druchans began to invite him: when he was near Drutsk with an army, 300 Druchans and Polotsk people left on boats for a solemn meeting of the prince. Then in Polotsk "the revolt was great." The townspeople and the boyars of Polotsk invited Rogvolod to the great reign, and they wanted to lure Rostislav, the instigator of the strife, on June 29 to a feast - “brotherhood”, but the prudent prince put chain mail under his dress “and don’t dare to dare me”. The next day, an uprising began against the Rostislav boyars, which ended with the reign of Rogvolod. However, the attempt of the new prince of Polotsk to unite all the destinies was not successful. After one unsuccessful campaign, during which many Polotsk people died, Rogvolod did not return to his capital, and the Polotsk people once again showed their will, like the people of Kiev or Novgorod, - they invited Prince Vseslav Vasilkovich (1161–1186) from Vitebsk in 1162. .

In "The Tale of Igor's Campaign" we are talking about the brother of this Vseslav, Prince Izyaslav Vasilkovich, who fought with the Lithuanian feudal lords.

One is Izyaslav, son of Vasilkov

Call with your sharp swords about Lithuanian helmets,

Pritrepa glory to his grandfather Vseslav,

And he himself under the Chryleny shields on the bloody grass

Worn with Lithuanian swords...

The attacks of the Lithuanian squads became possible as a result of the weakening of the Polotsk land, fragmented into many destinies.

Polotsk land (according to L. V. Alekseev)

Yaroslavl and all the grandchildren of Vseslavl!

Lower your shame already,

Throw in your swords of cordage;

Already more out of the glory of the day.

You are with your sedition

Direct the filthy things on the Russian land,

For the life of Vseslavl;

What more violence from the Polovtsian land!

The singer likens the danger of Lithuanian raids (naturally intensified due to the growth of feudalization) to the Polovtsian danger and believes that the Russians should “bow the banners and sheath their chipped swords”, that is, submit to the existing order, since the reason for their defeats is their own strife, alliances with the "filthy".

The sad story about the Polotsk strife, as a result of which the soldiers died in the field and “the birds covered their bodies with their wings, and the animals licked up the blood,” the author ends with historical memoirs, enthusiastically singing the prophetic Vseslav.

History of the Polotsk land at the end of the 12th and beginning of the 13th century. is poorly known to us. Unfortunately, the Polotsk Chronicle, which belonged to the beginning of the 18th century, perished. architect P. M. Eropkin. V. N. Tatishchev wrote out from her an interesting detailed account of the events of 1217 in Polotsk: the wife of Prince Boris Davydovich Svyatokhna led a complex intrigue against her stepsons Vasilka and Vyachka: either she wanted to poison them, then she sent forged letters, then she sought their expulsion and , finally, with the help of her retinue, she began to destroy the Polotsk boyars, hostile to her. Were killed: thousand, posadnik and keykeeper. The veche bell rang, and the people of Polotsk, embittered by the fact that the supporters of the princess “ravaged the cities and robbed the people,” opposed the intriguer Svyatokhna Kazimirovna; she was taken into custody.

V. N. Tatishchev held this chronicle in his hands for a very short time. He noted that in it “a lot is written about the Polotsk, Vitebsk and other ... princes; only I didn’t have time to write everything out and then ... I didn’t get to see.

Prince Vyachko subsequently fell in battle with the German knights, defending the Russian and Estonian lands.

The Polotsk-Vitebsk-Minsk land, which later, in the 14th century, became the basis of the Belarusian nationality, had a peculiar culture, interesting history, but the far-reaching process of feudal fragmentation did not allow it to maintain its integrity and political independence: in the XIII century. The principalities of Polotsk, Vitebsk, Drutsk and Minsk were first of all absorbed by the new feudal formation - the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, in which, however, Russian laws were in force and the Russian language dominated.

Plan of ancient Polotsk (according to L. V. Alekseev)

1 - places of archaeological research; 2 - area of ​​the most ancient settlement; 3 - burial mounds; 4 - ruins of ancient stone buildings (before the beginning of the 13th century); 5 - (the oldest temples)

From the book The Birth of Rus' author

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From the book The Birth of Rus' author Rybakov Boris Alexandrovich

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4. PEREYASLAV PRINCIPALITY Territory. Cities. The Pereyaslav principality, as one of the three parts of the ancient Russian land, was formed even before it was divided among the sons of Yaroslav the Wise. Unlike most other principalities, it was in the XII - the first half of the XIII century. actually not

The Principality of Polotsk, located west of Smolensk and north of Turov, differed sharply from all the regions described above that constituted the lands of Rus' in the 12th century. It has never been a family property of any of the descendants of Yaroslav Vladimirovich and, unlike other principalities, has never been connected by an umbilical cord with the mother of Russian cities, Kiev. No matter how hard the Kyiv princes tried to subdue it, it remained independent and indifferent to major political events throughout most of the 11th and 12th centuries. The descendants of the second son of Vladimir Svyatoslavich Izyaslav, who was sent here to reign with his mother Rogneda at the end of the 10th century, ruled here. At the end of the 12th century, it was the only principality that simultaneously bordered Lithuania and the lands of the German Order, which made it vulnerable to two potentially aggressive western neighbors.

Like Turov, the soils here were poor, the area was wooded and swampy. But in terms of trade, this region had a huge advantage over most other principalities: in the center of this land, the Western Dvina flowed, directly connecting the principality with the Baltic; the upper course of the Neman in the western part of the principality also led there. Convenient river routes also led to the south: the Dnieper and its two main tributaries, the Drut and the Berezina, flowed on the southeastern outskirts of the region.

The Polotsk land had all the conditions for gaining independence; in this respect it resembled Novgorod. There was also a strong local boyars here; in Polotsk, a rich trading center, there was a city council and, in addition, some kind of "brothers" who fought with the princes; it is possible that these were merchant associations similar to Ivan on Opoki in Novgorod.

In the 11th century, the Principality of Polotsk was, apparently, strong and united; for a whole hundred years, only two princes occupied the throne - the warlike son of Izyaslav Bryachislav (1001-1044) and his even more aggressive grandson Vseslav (1044-1101). A bright era in the life of the Polotsk land was the long reign of Vseslav Bryachislavich (1044-1101). This energetic prince fought with Novgorod, and with Pskov, and with the Yaroslavichs. One of the enemies of Vseslav was Vladimir Monomakh, who went on campaigns to the Polotsk land from 1084 to 1119. The princes of Kyiv managed only for a time to subdue this land, which lived its own isolated life. The last time a decisive attempt to subdue it was made by Mstislav the Great in 1127, sending troops from all over Rus' - from Volhynia and Kursk, from Novgorod and from Tork Porosie. All detachments were given exact routes and all of them were assigned a single, common day for the invasion of the Polotsk principality. Prince Bryachislav of Polotsk, seeing himself surrounded, "feared, could not go either Semo or Ovamo." Two years later, some Polotsk princes were exiled to Byzantium, where they stayed for ten years.

In 1132, Polotsk independently chose a prince for itself and, along with other lands of Rus', completely separated itself from the power of Kyiv. True, unlike the neighboring principalities, the Polotsk land immediately broke up into destinies; Minsk (Menesk) was the first to stand out as an independent reign. In the struggle between Rogvolod Borisovich of Polotsk and Rostislav Glebovich of Minsk in 1158, the townspeople of Polotsk and Drutsk took an active part. Rogvolod, the grandson of Vseslav, turned out to be an outcast prince without a principality. The Druchans began to invite him to their place, and when he was near Drutsk with an army, 300 Druchans and Polotsk people left on boats for a solemn meeting of the prince. Then in Polotsk "the revolt was great." The townspeople and the boyars of Polotsk invited Rogvolod to the great reign, and they wanted to lure Rostislav, the instigator of the strife, to a feast on June 29 and kill him, but the prudent prince put chain mail under his dress and the conspirators did not dare to attack him. The next day, an uprising began against the Rostislav boyars, which ended with the reign of Rogvolod. However, the attempt of the new prince of Polotsk to unite all the destinies was not successful. After one unsuccessful campaign, during which many Polotsk people died, Rogvolod did not return to his capital, and the Polotsk people once again showed their will, like the people of Kiev or Novogorodtsy - they invited Prince Vseslav Vasilkovich (1161-1186) from Vitebsk in 1162.

The history of the Polotsk land at the end of the 12th - beginning of the 13th centuries is poorly known to us. Unfortunately, the Polotsk chronicle, which belonged to the architect P. M. Eropkin at the beginning of the 18th century, perished. V. N. Tatishchev copied from it an interesting detailed account of the events of 1217 in Polotsk. The wife of Prince Boris Davydovich, Svyatokhna, led a complex intrigue against her stepsons Vasilko and Vyachka: either she wanted to poison them, or she sent false letters, or she sought their expulsion, and, finally, with the help of her retinue, she began to destroy the Polotsk boyars, hostile to her. A thousand man, a posadnik and a key keeper were killed. The veche bell rang, and the people of Polotsk, embittered by the fact that the supporters of the princess “ravaged the cities and robbed the people,” opposed the intriguer Svyatokhna Kazimirovna; she was taken into custody. V. N. Tatishchev held this chronicle in his hands for a very short time. He noted that in it “a lot is written about the Polotsk, Vitebsk and other ... princes; only I didn’t have time to write everything out and then ... I didn’t get to see.

Prince Vyachko subsequently fell in battle with the German knights, defending the Russian and Estonian lands.

The Polotsk-Vitebsk-Minsk land, which later, in the 14th century, became the basis of the Belarusian nationality, had a peculiar culture, an interesting history, but the far-reaching process of feudal fragmentation did not allow it to maintain its integrity and political independence: in the 13th century, Polotsk, Vitebsk, Drutsk and The Minsk principalities were absorbed by a new feudal formation - the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, in which, however, Russian laws were in force and the Russian language dominated.

In the state system of the Belarusian lands until the 9th century. dominated by small states-principalities, which were isolated even from their closest neighbors. Each of these mini-states had its own capital. In the IX-X centuries. the growth of cities, crafts, workshops begins, which caused the beginning of centralization. This was facilitated by the role of the Orthodox clergy, which was a supporter of the idea of ​​a strong state. Several principalities rose on the territory of Belarus. The most significant of the early feudal principalities was Polotsk. It became the source of statehood in the Middle Ages. Polotsk was first mentioned in The Tale of Bygone Years in 862. Rogvolod was the first chronicle prince of Polotsk. During this period, Polotsk was in varying degrees of dependence on the principality of Kiev. until 1101, the territory of the state was 40-50 thousand km, if in the X century. in Polotsk ≈ 1 thousand inhabitants, then in the XI century. ≈ 10-15 thousand people Polotsk pursued an aggressive policy. In 1066, the Polotsk people sacked Novgorod. In response, the South Russian princes united and in 1067 the Battle of Nemiga took place. Vseslav Charodey is captured by deceit and thrown into prison in Kyiv. But a year later, the people of Kiev expel their prince and Vseslav Charodey becomes the prince of Kyiv. After 7 months, he fled from Kyiv and again became the prince of Polotsk. But Vseslav the Wizard also divided his country between 6 sons. Once again, small states become dependent. It was a pan-European process, but centralization was already unfolding in Western countries. The Polotsk principality is characterized by a developed political system. In the principality, the prince ruled, glad, veche. The highest ranks: the posadnik, the governor, the thousand's manager, the key-keeper and representatives of the Orthodox Church, the bishop and abbots - the abbots of the Orthodox Church. Upon accession to the throne, the prince took an oath and concluded an agreement between the top of Polotsk and the prince, who promised to fulfill the laws and norms. Laws were issued by the Rada, but the members of the Rada were appointed by the prince. A social hierarchy was formed, where the highest level was occupied by princes and boyars, and the lower layers - smerds, radoviches, purchases, serfs. The construction of the majestic church of St. Sophia testifies to the rise of Polotsk. The Turov principality was also powerful during this period. Already in the X century. flourishing until the 12th century. Turov got rid of the guardianship of the Kyiv princes. The Turov Principality itself was formed from Turov, Pinsk, Slutsk and Kletsk. There was a veche in the city, which even elected a bishop. At the end of the 12th century. - the first half of the XIII century. The Polotsk and Turov principalities entered a period of feudal fragmentation. In the 12th century. the Minsk principality begins to rise, but its rise causes campaigns of the Kyiv princes and the Minsk land could not become the center of the unification of the Belarusian lands. In the XIII century. the rise of the Grodno, Novogrudok, Volkovysk principalities begins, and external threats from the crusaders and the Mongol-Tatars will accelerate the process of unification of the Belarusian lands.