Studying the history of our native country, each of us learns about the blessed Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky at school. According to historical sources, he was born approximately in 1111, and was defeated by the enemy in 1174. During his life, the statesman managed to be the prince of Vyshgorod, Dorogobuzh, Ryazan, and Vladimir. In the last city he ruled as the Grand Duke, and in the same status he was killed.
How it all started
As far as is known from ancient history, Grand Duke Andrei Bogolyubsky was either the second or third child in the family. His father is the famous Yuri Dolgoruky, and his mother is the first wife of this famous ruler. The woman was the daughter of Khan Aepa. Born to Yuri Dolgoruky, Andrei Bogolyubsky, although he would become a famous ruler in the future, was not considered such at the time of his birth, and the child was not his father’s first. History has not conveyed to us the exact date of his birth. It is assumed that Yuri had his second child in 1111. Information about exact day when Andrei was born can be found in the “History” created by Tatishchev, but this book was written six centuries after the death of the Grand Duke, and the indication of the exact dates given in it raises doubts among many.
No information has been preserved to this day from reliable sources about how the childhood and youth of the person who would later occupy the position of Grand Duke passed. It is known that for his time this figure was one of the most important figures. His deeds told the world about this, and it was for them that he was remembered for many thousands of years.
Love and respect
It is known that the blessed Andrei Bogolyubsky aroused special love and respect from John the Fourth, who went down in the history of Rus' as the Terrible. This ruler honored his long-time predecessor, which was especially noticeable during the period of preparations for the Kazan campaign, which occurred in 1548 and lasted four years. From history we know that during the preparatory period the Russian Tsar often visited Vladimir, and even ordered to remember all the noble people buried in the Assumption Cathedral every year. Regarding Andrei, it was decided to serve a memorial service twice annually. The first was chosen the day of the prince's death, the second was the day of remembrance, the last November day of the year.
During the reign of Ivan the Fourth, a concept of history was formed that asserted that it was the great Andrei Bogolyubsky who was the founder of the autocracy. He is revered as the man who laid the foundation of the Vladimir Principality, which was followed by the creation of a country centered in Moscow.
Significant and famous
During the period of his existence and reign, Saint Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky was one of the most important figures in the politics of Rus'. This was especially pronounced in the twelfth century, namely in the 60-70s. Thanks to this prince, a very strong principality was formed in the northeastern Russian lands, uniting Vladimir and Suzdal. The places were not chosen by chance - previously it was the estate of the grandfather, the great-grandfather of the prince. As is known from information that has survived to this day, during the reign of the statesman, a completely different policy from previous years was formed. The prince made every effort to ensure that Vladimir-on-Klyazma received the status of the main center of Russian power, finally displacing Kyiv, which previously occupied such a position, from the arena of events.
In the descriptions of the biography of Andrei Bogolyubsky, it is noted that for the first time such aspirations in his activities could be seen during the period while the father of the future Grand Duke was alive and active - he had to fight for the throne in Kyiv with his nephew Izyaslav. Even then, Andrei showed himself to be an exceptionally brave warrior, which was especially clearly demonstrated in the battle that took place in 1149 near Lutsk. At the same time, the son made attempts to reconcile his father and the warlike Izyaslav, which showed him as a wise and peace-loving person.
Yesterday, today, tomorrow
Even during the period when the future saint Andrei Bogolyubsky fought for the glory of his father, as can be concluded from reliable sources that have reached us, the heir had quite extensive and ambitious plans. Twice, when he had a choice, he settled on the Vladimir inheritance - it was this that he received from his father to manage. Among other cities, he got Vyshgorod. In 1155, he left his possessions towards Vladimir, taking with him the clergy, the holy Boris and Gleb sword and the image of the Mother of God, previously kept in convent. This icon will soon become one of the most revered in the region of Vladimir and Suzdal, then in Moscow and the entire great and powerful state created by the princes.
Already at that moment, the actions of Andrei Yuryevich Bogolyubsky allowed him to count on the favor of the boyars of Rostov and Suzdal. In 1157 his father died. He left behind a will, according to which the throne of Suzdal and Rostov was to pass to the younger children born of Dolgoruky’s second wife - Vsevolod and Mikhalka. However, the love of the boyars was so strong that Andrei, without much difficulty, was able to resist his father’s last will and keep the throne for himself. From the Suzdal Dololrukovsky residence, from the old Rostov capital, the center of the principality shifted under the influence of Andrei. Now the main city was Vladimir.
A new broom sweeps in a new way
Having come to power, Andrei Yuryevich Bogolyubsky made every possible effort to consolidate the principality from within. His activity was so pronounced that the opposition dared to raise its head, and in 1161 this even led to a clash. Among those opposing were the younger members of the family of Yuri Dolgoruky. However, this did not end well for them, and soon the dissatisfied fled to Byzantium. Vsevolod, Mstislav, Vasilko, as well as Vsevolod’s mother, who was also the second wife of Prince Yuri, sought refuge there. It is assumed that the woman was from Byzantium, so it seemed natural for her to ask Manuel for asylum. Together with them, Andrei’s nephews were forced to flee - the children of Rostislav, by that time the eldest child of Yuri Dolgoruky had already died. Together with their relatives, the principality, now ruled by Andrei, was abandoned by the noble people who served under their father. Based on the information that has reached us about this period, we can speak with confidence about the radicalism of the reforms that Andrei promoted.
It is known that at the same stage of the reign of Andrei Bogolyubsky, the promising young prince entered into a confrontation with Bishop Leontes, who was in charge of Rostov at that moment. It is believed that the prince expelled a church minister twice, but the exact dates of these events are unknown. It is assumed that this took place in the period 59-64 of the twelfth century. Leontes, according to historians, was Greek origin, which explained his penchant for Byzantine customs and traditions. In Rus', it was decided to cancel fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays if the day fell on a great festival, but the bishop wanted to cancel such a relaxation in order to comply with the original Byzantine tradition in everything.
Religion and Politics: Confrontation of Views
Another reason for the conflict between the prince and the bishop was the ruler’s desire to form the Vladimir Metropolis, which would be on a par with the Kyiv one and would not depend on it in any way. Moreover, instead of the metropolitan who was seated in Kyiv, Andrei Bogolyubsky prophesied that his favorite, Theodore, who by this time was assigned to the see of Vladimir and Suzdal, would become the head of the metropolis. Andrei planned to separate it from Rostov, and Leontes found associates in the Kyiv clergy, who also did not agree with the policies of the new ruler.
When the Grand Duke turned to the Patriarch of Constantinople for approval of his actions, the answer was suddenly a categorical refusal. This has become a tangible obstacle to reform. On the one hand, the patriarch noted the prince’s zeal and praised him for it; at the same time, he allowed the bishop’s residence to be moved to Vladimir, so that the clergyman would be closer to the ruler’s court. The problem was finally resolved only in 1169, when Andrei was forced to abandon Theodore. He was sent to the Kyiv metropolitan court, where a decision was made on urgent death penalty.
Boundaries: do they matter much?
Andrei Bogolyubsky, who was prone to autocracy, soon ceased to fit within the boundaries of the zone of rule given to him. Already at the end of the 60s of his reign, the interests of the Grand Duke went far beyond the boundaries of the original area. In 59-67 in Kyiv, the princely throne was occupied by Rostislav of Smolensky, who was Andrei’s cousin, and who was also older than him. At this time, the grouping of the princes of Volyn, Kyiv and Smolensk was strong enough to regulate the balance in the field of politics. When Rostislav died, it became obvious to everyone: Andrei’s forces were more significant than any potential opponents.
In many ways, active actions were provoked by the prince from Volyn Mstislav, who took advantage of the help of the Poles and Galician troops and headed for Kyiv in order to capture the capital city. In response, Andrei Bogolyubsky organized as many as 11 princes, including the sons of the deceased, the closest associates of Andrei himself, the Smolensk and Chernigov rulers, and the prince from Dorogobuzh. Even then it was possible to talk about a powerful coalition, and Andrei, in the future named a saint, became its spiritual center, head and heart.
Military successes
As expected, Andrei Bogolyubsky and his comrades won. In March 1169, Kyiv was taken and plundered, and fighting severely damaged the holy places of the city. Monasteries were damaged. Chroniclers from Vladimir recorded this in books as a result of the wrong actions of the local metropolitan. It is known that shortly before the events described, Constantine II put an end to Abbot Polycarp, who supported Andrei, who agreed with the Grand Duke regarding the practice of fasting. The result of military success was the installation of Gleb, Andrei's younger brother, on the Kiev throne. From this moment it finally became clear: Vladimir is now becoming a more significant and status city than the ancient capital of Rus'.
Soon, in the winter months of 1969, Andrei decided to organize another military campaign, this time in the direction of Novgorod. The strife turned out to be very large, but the united army of Vladimir and Suzdal lost the battle. However, a year later, the residents of Novgorod still recognized the power of Andrei Bogolyubsky, since through his efforts all bread supply routes were blocked. In 1172, Andrei's son Yuri arrived to reign in Novgorod, whom the residents were forced to accept.
Gradually but inevitably
A little earlier than the residents of Novgorod, the rule of Andrei Bogolyubsky was recognized by the Rostislavichs, and as a reward for this, Roman received the Kiev throne. The united lands of Suzdal and Vladimir under the reign of the great ruler received an increase. On the eastern side, the settlement of Gorodets-Radilov was founded, thanks to which Volga Bulgaria became subject, and on the northern side, the land was replenished with Zavolochye.
The policy of Andrei Bogolyubsky, whose center was military pressure, began to falter in the 70s. Mass campaigns, as practice has shown, do not show the desired result; there was a crisis. In 1172 they organized a battle with the Volga Bulgars, but noble people and allied principalities refused to support Andrei. Then the Rostislavichs rebelled. In 1174, punitive troops marched towards the Kyiv lands - numerous warriors from different lands united under the rule of Andrei. Despite the numerical superiority, the Grand Duke suffered an absolute defeat.
Modern historians suggest that a social crisis occurred during the reign of Andrei Bogolyubsky, and it is they who should explain his sudden failures during the 70s. The peremptory autocracy promoted by the prince was established by extreme military and fiscal measures, due to which the nobility became inflamed with discontent towards such a ruler. The conflict was both between the prince and the boyars of Suzdal and Rostov, and in the Vladimir lands. At one time, Andrei tried to form a layer of serving nobility loyal to him, which was supposed to become stronger than the clan boyars, but no success was achieved.
Who should pay for mistakes?
Andrei Bogolyubsky, who ruled in Vladimir, became a victim of a conspiracy. Grand Duke was killed in 1974. The heart of the conspiratorial group were representatives of the Kuchkovichs close to the ruler. By the way, much later than Andrei’s death, a legend appeared that the prince’s wife came from this particular family. Historians believe that it is not worth attention and has nothing to do with reality. But information has definitely been preserved that the great ruler was killed at night in the Bogolyubov Palace.
Eyewitnesses spoke about the death of the Grand Duke. It is currently unknown whether the eyewitnesses wrote the chronicles themselves or whether the person in charge wrote it all down directly from the words of someone who was present at the center of the events. In any case, in the Kyiv Chronicle one can see a long and extensive description of the events of that night. Everything is summarized in the Vladimir Chronicle. In 1934, a laboratory examination of the princely remains was organized, as a result of which they confirmed the accuracy of what was described in the books. From the sources that have survived to this day, it is clear how acute the social discontent was, how much the prince was disliked by the end of his reign. Once upon a time, Andrei’s personality aroused respect among ordinary and noble people; he was a real hero, but by the time of his death he became the focus of society’s hatred.
There can be no certainty
From short biography Andrei Bogolyubsky knows that after the death of the prince, his body lay there for two more days, awaiting the funeral service. At first, the conspirators completely threw him into the garden, from where it was then decided to move him to the church vestibule. Only a week later the princely remains were sent to the Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir, and it was decided to bury them here. The prince's palace was soon plundered, administrative buildings in Vladimir were robbed, and representatives of the administrative stratum, who flourished under Andrei, were killed. Similar unrest occurred throughout the volost. Only the religious procession, for which it was necessary to take the image of the Mother of God, stopped the indecency and excesses.
It seems curious that in all the stories dedicated to the murder of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, one can see the glorification of this politician as the creator of the temple. Be sure to note that he donated a lot and often to church parishes, loved the poor and actively distributed Christian faith. The piety inherent in the prince's personality was highly valued by both his followers and enemies. It is known that the ruler often came to church at night to pray and ask the Lord for repentance for all his sins. For this, he gained recognition among the people among the ranks of saints.
What's next?
As is known from any short biography of Andrei Bogolyubsky, soon after the death of the prince, active struggle for everything that the great ruler created. What seems surprising to many is the fact that the sons were not real contenders for reign - they completely agreed with the law of the ladder. In the Ipatiev Chronicle, recorded under the control of the Vladimir polychron of the fourteenth century, the murdered prince was first called great. In many ways, the title was explained precisely by the nuances of his death.
From Klyuchevsky’s conclusions it is known that Andrei can be described as a person who forgot himself in battle, wandered into the most dangerous places, and did not pay attention to the risks. Strife and danger were to him like water to fish - and this quality generally characterized many southern residents. Unlike his contemporaries, Andrei could not only be active in battle, but also quickly come to his senses, as soon as he had to think sensibly about something. The warlike intoxication, which just a minute ago had made his eyes shine, passed almost instantly, and in the middle of the battle the prince could become cautious and reasonable, observant, careful - a real ruler in control of the situation.
It is noted that Andrei was prudent, he had everything ready at any moment for how events would unfold. This man was not taken by surprise by any circumstances, and no matter how great the chaos was around, Andrei maintained clarity of mind. He expected danger every minute, tried to put everything around him in order, and in many ways was similar to Vladimir Monomakh. Dared in battle, Andrei admitted that he did not like to fight. While the father was still alive, after each successful battle the son turned to him, asking for reconciliation with the vanquished.
Remember and love
After the murder of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, he was not forgotten, and his memory was especially strong in church circles. In 1702, it was decided to canonize the ruler. The prince was called faithful. His memorial day is July 4th. The princely relics are kept in the Vladimir Assumption Cathedral. For their preservation, St. Andrew's chapel was allocated.
In total, it is known that Andrei Bogolyubsky had four sons, in addition, he had one daughter. In 1165, Izyaslav died, known from the chronicles for having taken part in a campaign against Volga Bulgaria with his father. Mstislav died in 1173. Relatively much information can be found in historical sources about Yuri. This son ruled in Novgorod in 73-75, and in 85-89 he was the husband of Tamara, who reigned in Georgia. The exact date of death is unknown; it is assumed that Yuri died around 1190.
The fourth son's name was Gleb. The exact date of birth is not reflected in the chronicles; presumably, Andrei had a child in 1155. The young man died at the age of twenty and was canonized. Nothing is known about him from historical sources, but there is some information in later records. It is believed that, being twelve years old, the child diligently read church books, communicated a lot with monks, and led a virtuous life. His death occurred shortly before the murder of Andrei Bogolyubsky.
It is also known that the prince had one daughter, named Rostislava. She became the wife of Svyatoslav Vshchizhsky.
From south to north: how family determines fate
The man who in the future would be dubbed the first Grand Duke of Rus' in historical chronicles, in a sense, by his birth, was obliged to become a ruler. Andrei's father was Yuri Dolgoruky, who determined the path of development of the principality. He and his father, Monomakh, put a lot of effort into uniting the principalities, and for Andrei to continue this great work. In the chronicles of later times they said about him that it was Andrei who was the first Russian master, truly energetic and tough, as the time demanded. Power-hungry by nature, talented by nature, virtuous by character, this man simply could not avoid the fate of the famous ruler.
As a politician, he first showed himself in the southern Russian regions, where he had to take part in military affairs on his father’s side. The clan's task was to defend its seniority in its native lands, and they succeeded. When Yuri Dolgoruky received Kyiv in 1149, he decided to allocate the throne to this ancient city namely Andrey - this could not help but end up in the chronicles. The prince did not make such a decision by chance: by this year his son had already shown his valor, loyalty, prudence and ability to make adequate decisions appropriate to the situation. He became the person to whom the perspicacious Dolgoruky could entrust the ancient city.
New experience and different traditions
Finding himself in the southern lands, Andrei encountered customs that were very different from those familiar to him at home. The chronicles speak of dissatisfaction and indignation, even embarrassment of the future Grand Duke - the feuds between relatives seemed so strange to him. Endless strife, as a result - constantly shed related blood. All this forced Andrei to mourn what was happening. It is not surprising that the young man wanted to return to his native land. The appanage orders were not acceptable to him, especially since he could not bring himself to love them. At first, Andrei moved away from what was disgusting to him, and as soon as he gained strength, he began to take measures to correct the situation.
The move to Suzdal in 1156 took place without the consent and approval of the father reigning at that time. Vyshgorod was left without an icon - in the future the image will become the greatest and most significant shrine of the entire Russian land. It is known from legends that the movement of the icon along the entire route of the prince caused great miracles. Near Vladimir, horses suddenly stood up under the icon, and it was decided to set up a camp for the night at the same place. In a dream, the Mother of God herself came to Andrei, who warned him against moving the image to Rostov, and ordered him to settle in Vladimir. Having awakened, the prince exactly fulfilled the divine will. In the place where the vision came to him, the ruler decided to set up a village, whose name Bogolyubovo gave his name. After some time, in the same village he will build a magnificent stone church and a luxurious tower. The village will become his permanent and favorite place of life, and the murder of Andrei Bogolyubsky will take place here.
New life and new rules
The shrine that Andrei received into his hands allowed him to make the northeastern regions more significant, more important, stronger. An icon to be decorated precious stones, will be the most important object not only of the Assumption Cathedral, but also of the city, and then of the entire earth. After some time, this image will be accepted as the most important for all of Rus'.
In May 1157, Yuri Dolgoruky died, and Andrei assumed power. He did not want to be guided by the old boyars, so he did not go to Suzdal, instead he brought in trusted younger warriors. In addition, the foundation of Andrei's power was the southern population, independent of the boyars of Suzdal and largely existing at the expense of the administration of the young prince.
Andrei made efforts to prevent civil strife. One of the main tasks he set for himself was to avoid fighting with his brothers and nephews. At the same time, it was decided to build a new city, called Vladimir-on-Klyazma, and make efforts to turn it into a true capital, more beautiful than Kyiv. Churches, powerful fortifications and gates made of silver and gold were built here - the same as those in Kyiv. The Assumption Church was built as cathedral. It was expected that an independent metropolis would be created here, but the patriarch forbade such arbitrariness.
Desires and realities
One of the controversial aspects of the government was foreign policy Andrey Bogolyubsky. The Grand Duke was distinguished by the vastness of his military plans, and their breadth was not explained by the needs of the country. Moreover, the boyars also did not support the further expansion of the princely lands. Such disagreement was bound to become a cause for conflict, and relations within the lands ruled by Andrei became strained. It is believed that the problems in relations with the boyars were largely due to internal political decisions - the prince tried to subjugate this freedom-loving class. By the way, this is noticeable from the books of the writer Zatochnik: in the texts he more than once said that it is better for a boyar living in the north-east of Russian lands to build his tower far from the residence of the prince, otherwise ruin cannot be avoided.
In 1173 it was decided to go on a campaign. The destination chosen was Volga Bulgaria. To increase the main army, Ryazan governors and people from Murom were invited. The squads arrived at the gathering place extremely slowly, demonstrating with all their might their reluctance to go to war. In the chronicles about this period and the behavior of the prince’s subordinates it was said: “they don’t walk.” It would seem that there was no disobedience, but the military obviously avoided the campaign.
In 1174, the prince executed Kuchkovich, and his brother and the prince's son-in-law hatched a conspiracy. Soon the Ossetian Anbal and a certain newcomer Ephraim took part in it. As is known from the chronicles, a total of two dozen people took part in the conspiracy. They were all driven by fear for their lives.
We remember today
The bloody events of 1174 did not go unnoticed by history. The palace part where everything happened still stands to this day. In 1935, an anthropological study was carried out in Leningrad laboratories, which showed that the stories about the prince’s strength were completely true.
The man, who tirelessly fought against enemies from the outside, turned out to be unprepared for an internal attack, and his relatives and close associates were able to deal him a fatal blow. The resistance was desperate. If the prince had been able to survive that terrible night, death would surely have awaited the conspirators - this was absolutely in the character of the ruler. The rebels themselves understood this, so they fought to the bitter end, no matter what the cost. What is curious is that, despite the plunder of Kyiv’s holy places, the people revered Andrei as a bright prince and a worthy ruler.
Grand Duke of Vladimir Andrei Bogolyubsky, canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church, is one of the most prominent rulers in ancient Russia. His life's path was marked by numerous victories, and his death was a martyr's, accepted at the hands of traitors from his own circle. A believer, Andrei died with prayer on his lips. His murder took place 845 years ago, on June 29, 1174.
Son of Yuri Dolgoruky
The future Prince of Vladimir, Andrei Bogolyubsky was born around 1111 in the family of Yuri Vladimirovich Dolgoruky, Prince of Rostov-Suzdal and Grand Duke of Kyiv, who is considered the founder of Moscow, the current capital of the Russian state. Andrei's mother was Anna, the daughter of the Polovtsian prince Kaip (Aepa), whom he married at the age of 11 to Prince Yuri Dolgoruky. Thus, Polovtsian blood also flowed in the veins of Andrei Bogolyubsky.Andrei's young years are practically not covered in historical literature, since there are no sources that would provide at least some information. It is known that in 1146, when Andrei was already 35 years old, he expelled Rostislav Yaroslavich from Ryazan, and in 1149 Andrei received Vyshgorod from Yuri Dolgoruky, becoming the prince of Vyshgorod. During the campaign against Izyaslav Mikhailovich, Andrei proved himself very well during the siege of Lutsk, although he failed to take the city.
Yuri Dolgoruky
In 1148, Yuri Dolgoruky married his 37-year-old son to the daughter of the executed boyar Stepan Kuchka, Ulite, who was distinguished by her beauty. During her life, Ulita gave birth to Andrey five children - Izyaslav (died in 1165), Mstislav (died in 1173), Yuri (died 1190), Gleb (died in 1175 at the age of 20, canonized) and a daughter, Rostislava.
In 1152, Andrei took part in the siege of Chernigov, where he was seriously wounded. In 1153, Yuri Dolgoruky made Andrei the prince of Ryazan, but as a result of an attack on Ryazan by Rostislav Yaroslavich, who enlisted the support of the Polovtsian horde, Andrei was forced to flee from Ryazan. There is a legend that he fled from the city in one boot.
When Yuri Dolgoruky finally established himself in Kyiv, he again made Andrei the prince of Vyshgorod.
In the Vyshgorod convent, Andrei literally stole an icon of the Mother of God, highly revered by local residents. When Andrei left for Vladimir-on-Klyazma in 1155, he took miraculous icon with it, which received the name of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, subsequently turned into one of the most important Orthodox shrines of Rus'.
According to legend, the icon of the Mother of God was brought from Constantinople (Byzantium), and the Evangelist Luke himself painted it. Even at that time, the icon was endowed with miraculous properties - supposedly it itself moved away from the wall at night and stood in the middle of the church. Andrei really wanted to have this icon, but it was impossible to take it openly, since the local residents would not allow it. Therefore, with the help of priest Nicholas and deacon Nestor, Andrei stole the icon at night and disappeared into the Suzdal land. At night, the Mother of God appeared to Andrey in a dream and ordered him to leave the icon in Vladimir. The prince did so, and in the place where the Mother of God appeared to him, he founded the city of Bogolyuby (Bogolyubovo).
Prince of Vladimir and Suzdal
Yuri Dolgoruky died in 1157. After the death of his father, Andrei became the Prince of Vladimir, Rostov and Suzdal. He moved his capital to Vladimir, adding a New City to the Vladimir Kremlin - an earthen fortress with two stone towers. At the same time, Andrei himself preferred to live in the Bogolyubovo castle, by the name of which the prince himself was soon called.The years of Andrei Bogolyubsky's reign were characterized by rapid development of the Vladimir-Suzdal land. So, it was then that the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl was built. It is possible that it was Andrei Bogolyubsky who built Moscow, and not his father Yuri Dolgoruky, who was too busy with affairs in Kyiv and could only give instructions on the construction of the city. Andrei was one of the first to invite Western European architects to build projects on his lands, understanding the then superiority of Europe in architecture and construction business.
It should be noted that the God-fearing Andrei, nevertheless, fought very famously for power. He expelled his stepmother, Princess Olga, and his half-brothers Mikhail, Vasilko and Vsevolod from the principality. Other relatives of the prince, as well as boyars close to the late father, followed the stepmother. Andrei sought to rely on his squad, and also struck up close friendships with major merchants of Rostov, Suzdal and Vladimir, considering the townspeople as another of his support.
In 1159, Andrei’s squad captured Volok Lamsky, built by the Novgorodians. Here Andrei celebrated the wedding of his daughter Rostislava with the Prince of Vshchizh Svyatoslav Vladimirovich, nephew of Izyaslav Davydovich. Expanding his possessions, Andrei tried not to deprive the younger warriors, in whom he saw a counterweight to the boyars. He allocated them land plots and supported them in every possible way, understanding that they were his main support in the confrontation with the clan boyars.
During the reign of Andrei Bogolyubsky, there was also an attempt to create a metropolitanate independent of Kyiv in Vladimir, but Patriarch Luke Chrysoverg of Constantinople did not approve Theodore as metropolitan and appointed the Byzantine clergyman Leon as bishop of Rostov. Leon was based in Rostov, and Feodor in Vladimir. In the end, Andrei was forced to send Theodore to Kyiv, where the bishop's tongue was cut out and he was beheaded. right hand.
Capture of Kyiv and war with Novgorod
Andrei Bogolyubsky was also noted for numerous military campaigns, participating in the struggle for power in the vastness of Rus'. In 1169, Andrei Bogolyubsky, taking advantage of the turmoil in Kyiv, sent his army there under the command of his son Mstislav Andreevich. The squads of the Polotsk and Murom-Ryazan princes joined the Vladimir army.
On March 12, 1169, the Suzdal army took Kyiv by storm. The looting of Kyiv continued for two days. Many city residents were taken captive, Kyiv churches and monasteries were plundered. Andrei's younger brother Gleb began to rule in Kyiv, and Andrei Bogolyubsky himself chose to remain in Vladimir. For the first time in history Ancient Rus' Andrei Bogolyubsky decided to change the order of seniority of the princes. Previously, the prince, moving to rule in Kyiv, left his patrimony, but Andrei Bogolyubsky remained in the Vladimir-Suzdal land. Because of this, the status of the Suzdal region has grown many times over, and it was from the Vladimir-Suzdal land that the formation and development of the future unified Russian state began.
In the winter of 1170, an army under the command of Andrei's son Mstislav, consisting of Suzdal, Ryazan and Murom warriors, arrived near Novgorod and began the siege of this great Russian city. On the morning of February 25, the Suzdal residents stormed Novgorod, but the Novgorodians managed to win and capture many Suzdal warriors. Peace with Andrei Bogolyubsky was concluded by the Novgorodians only because famine soon began in the city and in the current situation the Novgorodians decided that it was better to make peace with a serious rival than to continue the feud.
In addition to Kyiv and Novgorod, Andrei Bogolyubsky twice organized large-scale trips to Volga Bulgaria. This country was the eastern neighbor of Rus', and the Bulgar Turks who inhabited it predominantly professed Islam. In 1164 and 1171 The army of Andrei Bogolyubsky twice invaded Volga Bulgaria. The first time, the Suzdalians managed to take the city of Bryakhimov and burn three more cities, and the second time, Mstislav Andreevich, who commanded the Suzdal army, chose to avoid a clash, seeing that the Bulgars had assembled a very large army and the balance of sides was not in favor of the Suzdalians.
Murder of Andrei Bogolyubsky
The unsuccessful campaign of the Suzdal army against Kyiv in 1173 caused discontent among some of the major boyars of the principality. The elderly 60-year-old Andrei satisfied the interests of the boyars less and less and they decided to form a conspiracy to eliminate the aging prince. The conspiracy was led by the Kuchkovich boyars, who came to an agreement with the housekeeper Anbal. It was Anbal who stole the sword of St. Boris hanging over Andrei Bogolyubsky’s bed, which is why the prince was unable to resist the conspirators. 
On the night of June 28-29, 1174, the Kuchkovich boyars went down to the wine cellar, where they drank wine for courage, and then went to the prince’s bedroom. When they knocked on Andrei Bogolyubsky’s door, the prince asked who was at the door. One of the boyars named the name of Procopius, the prince’s favorite servant. But Andrei, who knew his assistant’s voice very well, realized that he was being deceived and became wary. He did not open the door, but jumped up and was about to grab the sword. But the sword was not there. At this time, the Kuchkovich boyars broke down the door to the princely chambers and attacked Andrei.
Bogolyubsky, despite his age, was distinguished by his remarkable physical strength. He fought with the boyars for a long time until he finally fell under their blows. Thinking that the prince was dead, the Kuchkovichs left the bedchamber. Andrei soon woke up and somehow left his bedroom, trying to hide on the stairs behind a pillar. But the boyars discovered a trail of blood and soon found Andrei himself. Bogolyubsky began to read the prayer, saying at the end of it: “Lord, into Your hands I commend my spirit!” After these words, he died under the blows of the killers. The lifeless body of Andrei Bogolyubsky was dragged out into the street.
Andrei Bogolyubsky's faithful servant Kuzmishche Kiyanin took his master's body to the church, but only on the third day after the murder of Andrei Bogolyubsky, abbot Arseny performed the funeral service. The prince's body was transferred from Bogolyubov to Vladimir, where it was buried in the monastery. In 2015, when restoration work was underway at the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral in Pereslavl-Zalessky, historians discovered an inscription from the 12th century that contained detailed description the circumstances of the murder of Andrei Bogolyubsky and the names of 20 participants in the conspiracy to eliminate the prince.
Andrei Bogolyubsky was canonized as a saint of the Russian Orthodox Church for many centuries after his tragic death. He was canonized in 1702, and July 4 (17) was made a day of remembrance. The relics of St. Andrew Bogolyubsky are located in the St. Andrew's chapel of the Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir.
The prince was a wise and brave man
What kind of person was the prince, canonized? Now it is difficult to judge this, because there are only fragmentary sources in the form of ancient chronicles. However, the great Russian historian Vasily Osipovich Klyuchevsky, based on data analysis, compiled a verbal portrait of Andrei. He noted that the prince was a brave man, during the battle he “forgotten”, got involved in the most dangerous fights and could not even notice how his helmet was knocked off. He risked his life without hesitation, but as soon as the battle was over, Andrei turned into a wise politician who could make informed decisions. And indeed, politician Andrei Bogolyubsky was extraordinary. He differed from many princes in his ability to keep the situation under control. He could almost never be taken by surprise. And only in recent years life, in old age, Andrei somewhat reduced his vigilance, which was the reason for his death. But it should be noted that Andrei lived for 63 years, which was a very, very long time for an ancient Russian prince in an age of strife and constant wars.
Andrei Bogolyubsky, like many other Russian princes, shed a lot of blood during his life, including that of his relatives. But the prince’s main merit, which cannot be taken away from him, relates to the transformation of the Vladimir-Suzdal land into an independent political center of the Russian land. And in this regard, Andrei was a worthy son and successor of the work of his father Yuri Dolgoruky, and in terms of political wisdom, he was a worthy grandson and heir of Vladimir Monomakh.
Historians cannot definitively say the date of birth of Andrei Bogolyubsky. He was first mentioned in Russian chronicles in connection with the feud between his father Yuri Dolgoruky and Izyaslav Mstislavovich. Some researchers claim that the future Prince Andrei was born in 1111 (there is a version that in 1113). Little is known about his childhood. Having received a good upbringing and education, he devoted a lot of time to studying Christianity. Detailed information about his life appears only after Andrei reaches adulthood. It was then that the young prince, by order of his father, began to reign in different cities.
In 1149, at the insistence of his father, he went to reign in Vyshgorod, but a year later he was transferred to the cities of Pinsk, Peresopnitsa and Turov, where he stayed for about a year. By 1151, Dolgoruky again returned his son to the Suzdal land, where he reigned until 1155 and again went to Vyshgorod.
Despite his father's will (Dolgoruky wanted to see his son as a prince in Vyshgorod), Prince Andrei returns to Vladimir, where he brings with him the icon of the Mother of God, which later began to be called the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God.
In 1157, after the death of Yuri Dolgoruky, Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky assumed his father's title, but at the same time decided to remain in Vladimir without moving to Kyiv. Historians believe that this act of the prince was the first step towards the decentralization of power. Also in the same year he was elected Prince of Rostov, Suzdal and Vladimir.
In 1162, relying on the help of his squad, Andrei Bogolyubsky expels all relatives from his principalities, thereby becoming the sole ruler of these lands. During his reign, the prince expanded his power, subjugating and conquering many surrounding lands in northeastern Rus'. In 1169 Bogolyubsky launched an attack on Kyiv, which resulted in a completely devastated city.
Andrei Bogolyubsky was killed by the boyars in 1174 on the thirtieth of June in the city of Bogolyubovka, which he founded. Historians believe that the organization of the conspiracy against the prince was influenced by his politics and his growing authority among the population, which was not in the hands of the boyars.
In 1702, Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky was canonized precisely for his domestic policies based on the Christian faith. In addition, the prince built cathedrals and churches throughout the territory of his state.
The Japanese name for Japan, Nihon (日本), consists of two parts - ni (日) and hon (本), both of which are Sinicisms. The first word (日) in modern Chinese is pronounced rì and, as in Japanese, means “sun” (represented in writing by its ideogram). The second word (本) in modern Chinese is pronounced bӗn. Its original meaning is "root", and the ideogram representing it is the ideogram of the tree mù (木) with a dash added at the bottom to indicate the root. From the meaning of “root” the meaning of “origin” developed, and it was in this meaning that it entered the name of Japan Nihon (日本) – “origin of the sun” > “land of the rising sun” (modern Chinese rì bӗn). In ancient Chinese, the word bӗn (本) also had the meaning of “scroll, book.” In modern Chinese it is replaced in this sense by the word shū (書), but remains in it as a counting word for books. The Chinese word bӗn (本) was borrowed into Japanese both in the sense of "root, origin" and "scroll, book", and in the form hon (本) means book in modern Japanese. The same Chinese word bӗn (本) meaning “scroll, book” was also borrowed into the ancient Turkic language, where, after adding the Turkic suffix -ig, it acquired the form *küjnig. The Türks brought this word to Europe, where it from the language of the Danube Turkic-speaking Bulgars in the form knig entered the language of the Slavic-speaking Bulgarians and, through Church Slavonic, spread to other Slavic languages, including Russian.
Thus, Russian word book and the Japanese word hon "book" have the same root Chinese origin, and the same root appears as the second component in the Japanese name for Japan, Nihon.
I hope everything is clear?)))
Years of life 1111–1174
Reigned 1169–1174
Prince Andrey Yurievich Bogolyubsky- son of Yuri Dolgoruky - was born in the Rostov region, which by that time had become a separate principality. The father gave the young prince control of Vladimir - then a small suburb of the city of Suzdal, founded on the Klyazma River by Vladimir Monomakh. Andrei reigned in Vladimir for many years, and in the north of Rus' he lived most of his life - 35 years.
In 1146, a power struggle began between Yuri Dolgoruky and his cousin Izyaslav, which lasted for several years. Prince Andrei took part in battles on his father's side. Then the fighting prowess of Prince Andrei was revealed. He was in the most dangerous places battle and fought, not noticing his knocked-off helmet, furiously striking his opponents with his sword. They said about Andrei that he could not be taken by surprise. In 1149, Yuri Dolgoruky entered Kyiv and occupied it, but soon Izyaslav, returning with his retinue, forced him to leave the city.
When, after the death of Izyaslav, Yuri Dolgoruky sat on the Kiev grand-ducal throne, he seated Andrei nearby, in Vyshgorod. However, Andrei did not want to live in the south of Rus' and, secretly from his father, left to the north, to the Suzdal region.
From Vyshgorod Andrey took the miraculous icon to Vladimir Mother of God, written, according to legend, by the Evangelist Luke and brought from Greece by a merchant named Pirogoschi.
Andrey Bogolyubsky
The legend says that on Andrei’s way to his house, about 20 kilometers from Vladimir, the horses stood up and did not want to budge. And after changing the horses, the cart again did not move.
Andrei and his companions had no choice but to spend the night here. At night, Prince Andrei dreamed of the Mother of God, who ordered to build a temple in honor of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary on this site and to found a monastery here. After a while, the church and monastery were built, and a settlement called Bogolyubov grew up around them. This is where the nickname of Prince Andrei came from - Bogolyubsky.
Subsequently, the icon, brought to Vladimir by Prince Andrei, became the main shrine of the Vladimir-Suzdal land under the name of the Vladimir Mother of God. In Vladimir, by order of the devout Andrei, two monasteries were built: Spassky and Resurrection, as well as other Orthodox churches.
And in addition, following the example of Kyiv, the Golden and Silver Gates were erected in Vladimir. The rich churches of Vladimir gave the city special significance, and it rose above other cities. The city's population grew rapidly; from a small suburb of Suzdal, Vladimir-on-Klyazma soon turned into a large populous city.
After the death of Yuri Dolgoruky in 1157, the Rostov and Suzdal residents chose Andrei to reign. But Andrei did not go to Kyiv to take the grand-ducal throne. He remained in Vladimir, losing Kyiv to Rostislav Mstislavich.
Prince Andrei decided not to give inheritance to his sons, thereby strengthening the Principality of Vladimir, protecting it from fragmentation. He continued to expand the new capital and even tried to move the center of the Russian clergy to Vladimir. But Constantinople patriarch, to whom Prince Andrei turned for permission, refused to ordain the Vladimir priest as metropolitan.
Vladimir. Golden Gate
Prince Andrei not only built churches, but also fought with infidels. So, in 1164, he and his army first attacked the Bulgarian kingdom, where the Mohammedan faith (Islam) was preached.
After the death of the Kyiv prince Rostislav, Andrei Bogolyubsky agreed that his nephew, Mstislav Izyaslavich, would be the Grand Duke in Kyiv.
But soon, together with his son (also Mstislav), Andrei Bogolyubsky gathered the Suzdal militia, which was joined by 11 princes, and went to Kyiv. The combined army fought for two days under the walls of Kyiv. On the third day the city was taken. The warriors of the allied princes robbed and destroyed the city, killed the inhabitants, forgetting that these were Russian people like themselves.
After his victory, Andrei placed his younger brother Gleb on the Kiev table, and he himself accepted the title of Grand Duke and remained in Vladimir. Chroniclers date this event to 1169.
After the fall of Kyiv, Andrei Bogolyubsky gathered the entire Russian land under his hand. Only Veliky Novgorod did not want to submit to Bogolyubsky. And Prince Andrei decided to do the same with Novgorod as with Kyiv.
In the winter of 1170, an army under the command of Prince Andrei’s son, Mstislav Andreich, set out to suppress a riot in Novgorod, where the young prince Roman Mstislavich ruled. Novgorodians fought bravely for their independence. They fought so furiously that Mstislav had to retreat.
Tradition says that at the height of the battle, when the advantage was on the side of Mstislav Andreich, the townspeople brought the icon of the Mother of God of the Sign to the fortress wall. Monks and priests prayed, trying to support the fighters. The arrow of the attackers hit the icon, and tears flowed from the eyes of the Mother of God. Seeing this, the Novgorodians rushed into battle with renewed vigor. And something strange began to happen in the camp of the attackers: an inexplicable fear gripped the entire army, the soldiers stopped seeing the enemy and began to shoot at each other, and soon Mstislav shamefully fled with the army.
Andrei Bogolyubsky did not forgive the Novgorodians for the defeat of his army and decided to act differently. A year after the defeat, he blocked the supply of grain to Novgorod, and the townspeople recognized his power. Prince Roman was expelled from Novgorod, and the Novgorodians came to bow to Bogolyubsky.
At this time, Prince Gleb died suddenly in Kyiv. Andrei Bogolyubsky gave the Kyiv table to the Smolensk princes of Rostislavich. Kyiv has lost its former greatness, the rule in it began to change hands and, in the end, Kyiv submitted to the Vladimir prince.
Bogolyubsky fell victim to a conspiracy in 1174. His wife's brother committed a crime and was executed on the orders of Andrei Bogolyubsky. Then the second brother of Andrei’s wife organized a conspiracy. When Andrei Bogolyubsky went to bed, the conspirators burst into his bedroom (the prince’s sword was taken from the bedroom in advance). Twenty people attacked the unarmed Bogolyubsky, stabbing him with swords and spears. Pious Andrei joyfully accepted death; he had long repented of many of his unseemly deeds that he committed during the struggle for power. The chronicle says that the last words of Andrei Bogolyubsky were: “Lord! I commend my spirit into your hands!”
Prince Andrei's body was thrown into the garden. There was no funeral service for the murdered prince Orthodox custom and were not buried for five days. The prince's associates plundered the palace. The robberies spread to all of Bogolyubov and Vladimir. The outrages in Bogolyubovo and Vladimir continued until one of the priests took the miraculous icon of the Vladimir Mother of God and began to walk around the city with prayers.
On the sixth day after the murder, Andrei Bogolyubsky was buried in the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which he had built. Later Russian Orthodox Church She canonized Andrei as a Saint.
Mongol cavalry
Since the reign of Andrei Bogolyubsky, it has ceased to exist as public education Kievan Rus began its history Vladimir-Suzdal Rus'.
Mongol-Tatar invasion of Rus'
Rus' at the beginning of the 13th century consisted of several separate principalities and lands, the most significant being the Vladimir-Suzdal, Galicia-Volyn, Chernigov, Ryazan principalities and the Novgorod land. The Chernigov, Smolensk and Vladimir-Suzdal princes did not get along with each other. There were frequent clashes between squads of different principalities. The Russian principalities were fragmented and split in the face of a terrible enemy who was approaching Rus' from the east.
The first battle with the Mongols in the Polovtsian steppe took place on the river Kalka May 31, 1223, in which the troops of several Russian princes were completely defeated. The Mongols laid the captured Russian princes on the ground, laid boards on top and sat down to feast on them. After the battle on the Kalka River, Rus' first heard about the existence of a formidable enemy.
After the victory at Kalka, the Mongols went to Central Asia and returned to Rus' only 14 years later.
When the Ryazan prince learned that the Mongol-Tatar army was approaching the borders of the Russian principalities, he immediately sent messengers for help to Vladimir and Chernigov. But other princes did not perceive the Mongols as a serious opponent and refused to help him. On December 21, 1237, after a five-day siege and storming of the city walls using rams and metal weapons, Ryazan fell. The city was burned, the inhabitants were partly exterminated, and partly carried away.
Burning and plundering cities and villages along the way, the conquering troops under the command of Batu and Subedei approached Vladimir. On February 7, 1238, the Mongols broke into the city through gaps in the walls, and soon ruins were smoking in its place.
A 200-year era began in the history of Russia, which was called - Mongol-Tatar yoke(yoke). All Russian principalities had to recognize the heavy Mongol-Tatar yoke over themselves and pay tribute. The princes were forced to take permission (label) from the conquerors for their reign. To receive shortcut the princes went to the capital Golden Horde the city of Saray, which was located on the Volga River.
The Mongol-Tatar yoke formally began in 1243, when the father of Alexander Nevsky, Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, received from the Mongol-Tatars a label for the Grand Duchy of Vladimir and was recognized by them as “the oldest prince in the Russian language.”