The Congress of Princes in Lyubech: Preconditions and Consequences

In the history of Russia, as, indeed, any other country, there are many gloomy pages when bloody internecine wars caused great calamities for the people and created favorable conditions for invaders of different stripes. It was in this situation that Rus appeared at the end of the 11th century because of the strife between Oleg Svyatoslavich, Vladimir Monomakh and Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, whose end was called upon to put the princes' congress at Lyubech.

Prehistory

To understand what happened in Russia in the period from 1093 to 1097 years, it is necessary to begin a story describing the war of three sons of Svyatoslav Yaroslavich for the inheritance. In particular, Oleg Svyatoslavich, summoning the Polovtsi to help, was able to take away from his cousin - Vladimir Monomakh - Chernigov, who had previously been the capital city of his father. Further, the prince took Ryazan and, killing in battle Murom ruler Izyaslav, seized his capital, as well as Suzdal and Rostov. Such an act was even considered at that time as the greatest crime, and all the representatives of the Monomakhs clan armed against Oleg, who managed to regain their fiefdoms. But the external threat looming over the country has forced irreconcilable enemies to think about at least temporarily forgetting about the contradictions and not weakening Rus by internecine wars.

Participants of the princely congress in Lyubech

The initiator of the collection of the most famous specific rulers of that time was Vladimir Monomakh, the grandson of Yaroslav the Wise and the Byzantine emperor Constantine IX. This prince, even in his early youth, exhibited an extraordinary mind and the ability to compromise. In particular, in 1093, having the opportunity to ascend to the throne of Kiev, he succumbed to Svyatopolk to avoid war, and in 1094 voluntarily left Chernigov, as he understood that he could not alone resist Oleg Svyatoslavich and the Polovtsians. In addition, he was an extremely ambitious man with far-reaching political plans.

Among the princes invited to the congress in Lyubech were the grandchildren of Yaroslav the Wise Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, Davyd Igorevich, as well as Davyd and Oleg Svyatoslavichy. In addition, from Terebovly was summoned his great-grandson - Vasilko Rostislavich.

Year 1097: Congress of princes in Lyubech

The need for the meeting of the most influential rulers of the country is long overdue. However, Vladimir Monomakh could not persuade Oleg Svyatoslavich to come to Kiev, because he feared the attack. Finally it was decided to hold a congress of princes in Lyubech. This castle also belonged to Monomakh, but there for a long time no one lived. As the chronicles of those years testify, Prince Vladimir addressed his brothers and called on them to forget enmity and defend the Motherland from a common enemy - the Polovtsians.

The results of the congress in Lyubech

After heated discussions, the princes redistributed the principalities as follows:

• Syatopolk Izyaslavich went to Kiev with Pinsk and Turov;
• Vladimir Monomakh received Pereyaslavl principality, Smolensk, Suzdal-Rostov land, Beloozero;
• Davyd Igorevich had to manage Volodymyr-Volynsky with Lutsk;
• Vasilko Rostislavich together with his brother Volodar gave Terebovl, Peremyshl and Cherven;
• Davyd and Oleg Svyatoslavichi began to rule in Chernigov, as well as in the Seversk land, Ryazan, Murom and Tmutarakan.

Thus, the congress of princes in Lyubech proclaimed the principle of inheritance by the Russian princes of lands belonging to their fathers, and its most important result was the formation in Russia of a new political system based on the established large feudal landholding concentrated in the hands of various branches of the Rurik dynasty.

Subsequent events

Unfortunately, the congress of Russian princes in Lyubech could not lead to the establishment of a lasting peace in Russia, since David Igorevich secretly sent a messenger to Svyatopolk with a report about the allegedly planned capture of the Kiev throne by Vladimir Monomakh and Vasilko Rostislavich. This insidious act brought a lot of harm to our country. The fact is that Sviatopolk, who believed the slander, invited Vasilko to Kiev, imprisoned him and blinded him. And the evidence was preserved that Rostislavich was warned about the upcoming trap. However, he replied that the princes in Lyubech "kissed the cross", so he does not believe that he could be in danger. The result of the actions of Svyatopolk and David Igorevich was a new internecine war, which lasted until 1110.

Congress in Uvettechi

In the summer of 1110 princes Vladimir Monomakh, Svyatopolk, Davyd and Oleg Svyatoslavich gathered and "created peace among themselves". Then they called David Igorevich to trial, they deprived Vladimir-Volyn principality, but they assured that they were not going to take revenge on him. In addition, Svyatopolk gave him Dubna and Ctororizhsk, and Svyatoslavichy gave a large sum of money. Since the interests of all sides were taken into account, the internecine war ceased.

Thus, the goal of the princes' congress in Lyubech, which was to achieve lasting peace in Russia, was not achieved because of the ambitions of some of its participants.