Seven secrets of the Rurikovichs. The last of the Rurik family

4. Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev (04/17/1894-09/11/1971)

Soviet statesman and party leader. First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR from 1958 to 1964. Hero Soviet Union, Three times Hero of Socialist Labor. The first laureate of the Shevchenko Prize, reign 09/07/1. (Moscow).

Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev was born in 1894 in the village of Kalinovka, Kursk province, into the family of miner Sergei Nikanorovich Khrushchev and Ksenia Ivanovna Khrushcheva. In 1908, having moved with his family to the Uspensky mine near Yuzovka, Khrushchev became an apprentice mechanic at a factory, then worked as a mechanic at a mine and, as a miner, was not taken to the front in 1914. In the early 1920s, he worked in the mines and studied at the workers' department of the Donetsk Industrial Institute. Later he was engaged in economic and party work in Donbass and Kyiv. Since January 1931, he was at party work in Moscow, during which time he was the first secretary of the Moscow regional and city party committees - MK and MGK VKP (b). In January 1938, he was appointed first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine. In the same year he became a candidate, and in 1939 - a member of the Politburo.

During World War II, Khrushchev served as a political commissar of the highest rank (a member of the military councils of a number of fronts) and in 1943 received the rank of lieutenant general; led partisan movement behind the front line. In the first post-war years he headed the government in Ukraine. In December 1947, Khrushchev again headed the Communist Party of Ukraine, becoming the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Ukraine; He held this post until he moved to Moscow in December 1949, where he became the first secretary of the Moscow Party Committee and secretary of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks. Khrushchev initiated the consolidation of collective farms (kolkhozes). After Stalin's death, when the Chairman of the Council of Ministers left the post of Secretary of the Central Committee, Khrushchev became the “master” of the party apparatus, although until September 1953 he did not have the title of First Secretary. Between March and June 1953 he attempted to seize power. In order to eliminate Beria, Khrushchev entered into an alliance with Malenkov. In September 1953, he took the post of First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee. In June 1953, a struggle for power began between Malenkov and Khrushchev, in which Khrushchev won. At the beginning of 1954, he announced the start of a grandiose program for the development of virgin lands in order to increase grain production, and in October of the same year he headed the Soviet delegation to Beijing.

The most striking event in Khrushchev's career was the 20th Congress of the CPSU, held in 1956. At a closed meeting, Khrushchev condemned Stalin, accusing him of mass extermination of people and erroneous policies that almost ended with the liquidation of the USSR in the war with Nazi Germany. The result of this report was unrest in the Eastern bloc countries - Poland (October 1956) and Hungary (October and November 1956). In June 1957, the Presidium (formerly Politburo) of the CPSU Central Committee organized a conspiracy to remove Khrushchev from the post of First Secretary of the Party. After his return from Finland, he was invited to a meeting of the Presidium, which, by seven votes to four, demanded his resignation. Khrushchev convened a Plenum of the Central Committee, which overturned the decision of the Presidium and dismissed the “anti-party group” of Molotov, Malenkov and Kaganovich. He strengthened the Presidium with his supporters, and in March 1958 he took the post of Chairman of the Council of Ministers, taking into his own hands all the main levers of power. In September 1960, Khrushchev visited the United States as head of the Soviet delegation to general assembly UN. During the assembly, he was able to hold large-scale negotiations with the heads of government of a number of countries. His report to the Assembly called for general disarmament, the immediate elimination of colonialism and the admission of China to the UN. During the summer of 1961, Soviet foreign policy became increasingly harsh, and in September the USSR ended a three-year moratorium on testing nuclear weapons, carrying out a series of explosions. On October 14, 1964, by the Plenum of the CPSU Central Committee, Khrushchev was relieved of his duties as First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee and member of the Presidium of the CPSU Central Committee. He was replaced by the First Secretary Communist Party, and became Chairman of the Council of Ministers. After 1964, Khrushchev, while retaining his seat on the Central Committee, was essentially in retirement. Khrushchev died in Moscow on September 11, 1971.

The Rurik dynasty is the very first grand-ducal dynasty on the Russian throne. It was established, according to the text of the Tale of Bygone Years, in 862. This date has the symbolic name “calling of the Varangians.”

The Rurik dynasty lasted 8 centuries. During this time, there were a lot of displacements, mistrust, and conspiracies against its representatives. The first representative of the dynasty, that is, its founder, Rurik. was invited to rule the city's people's council in Novgorod. Rurik laid the foundation of statehood in Rus' and became the founder of the first grand-ducal dynasty. But it is worth noting that more than half of the representatives of the Rurik region still came from Kievan Rus.

So, the Rurik dynasty, a list of which will be presented below with all the characteristics of its figures, has its own branched system. The second representative was Oleg. He was the governor of Rurik and ruled when his son was young. He is known for uniting Novgorod and Kyiv, and also for signing the first treaty between Rus' and Byzantium. When Rurik's son Igor grew up, power passed into his hands. Igor conquered and conquered new territories, imposing tribute on them, which is why he was brutally killed by the Drevlyans. After Igor, power passed into the hands of his wife. This wise woman carried out the first economic reform on Russian soil, establishing lessons and graveyards. When Olga and Igor’s son Svyatoslav grew up, naturally, all the power went to him.

But this prince was distinguished by his military thinking and was constantly on campaigns. After Svyatoslav, Vladimir 1, better known as Vladimir the Holy, ascended the throne.

He baptized Rus' at the end of the 10th century. After Vladimir, Svyatopolk ruled; he was in an internecine war with his brothers, which was won by Yaroslav the Wise. This is whose reign was great: the first Russian code of laws was compiled, the Pechenegs were defeated and great temples were erected. After the reign of Yaroslav, Rus' will remain in a kind of turmoil for a long time, because the struggle for the great princely throne is getting tougher and no one wants to lose it.

The Rurik dynasty, whose tree was very complex, received its next great ruler almost 100 years later. It was Vladimir Monomakh. He was the organizer of the Lyubechsky Congress, he defeated the Polovtsians and preserved the relative unity of Rus'. The Rurik dynasty branched out again after his reign.

Yuri Dolgoruky and Andrei Bogolyubsky can be distinguished from this period. Both princes were prominent figures in the era of fragmentation of Rus'. The remaining period of this dynasty will be remembered by several names: Vasily 1, Ivan Kalita, Ivan 3, Vasily 3 and Ivan the Terrible. It is with the names of these figures that the creation of a unified Russian state is associated; it was they who began the annexation of all lands to Moscow and they also completed it.

The Rurik dynasty gave our land statehood, huge spacious territories that were united by the last representatives of this dynasty, and an extensive cultural heritage.

The legends associated with his name and the names of his followers date back to the ninth century and last for seven long centuries. In our article today we will consider the Rurikovich dynasty - its family tree with photos and years of reign.

Where did the old family come from?

The existence of the commander himself and his wife Efanda is still questioned by most scientists. But some researchers of the origins of Rus' claim that the future governor was born between 806 and 808 in the city of Raroga. His name, according to several versions, has Slavic roots and means “falcon”.

When Rurik was still a baby, the possessions of his father Godolub were attacked by the Danes, led by Gottfried. The future founder of the royal family turned out to be half orphan and spent his entire childhood in a foreign land with his mother. At the age of 20, he arrived at the court of the Frankish king and received his father's lands from him as a vassal.

Then he was deprived of all land plots and sent to fight in a squad that helped the Frankish king seize new lands.

According to legend, his grandfather, the Novgorod prince Gostomysl, saw the dynastic diagram of the complete family tree of the Rurik family with dates and years of reign in a dream. Theory about foreign origin all royal family was refuted by Mikhail Lomonosov. By blood, the future Novgorod ruler belonged to the Slavs and was invited to his native lands at a fairly respectable age - he was 52 years old.

Second generation of rulers

After Rurik's death in 879, his son Igor came to power. The situation was complicated by the fact that he was still too young to become the ruler of Rus'. Oleg, Igor’s uncle, was appointed his guardian. He was able to establish relations with the Byzantine Empire and called Kyiv “the mother of Russian cities.” After Oleg's death, Igor came to power in Kyiv. He also managed to do a lot for the benefit of the Russian lands.

But during his reign there were also unsuccessful military campaigns. The most famous of them is the attack on Constantinople from the sea. Having encountered the famous “Greek fire” as the first of the rulers of Rus', Igor realized that he had underestimated the enemy and was forced to turn the ships back.

The prince died unexpectedly - having fought against enemy troops all his life, he died at the hands of his own people - the Drevlyans. Igor's wife, Princess Olga, brutally avenged her husband and burned the city, turning it into ashes.

Having besieged the Drevlyans, the princess ordered them to send her three doves and three sparrows from each house. When her wish was fulfilled, she ordered her warriors to tie tinder to their paws and set it on fire as soon as dusk came. The warriors carried out the princess's order and sent the birds back. So the city of Iskorosten was completely burned.

Igor left two sons - Gleb and Svyatoslav. Since the heirs to the princely throne were still small, Olga began to lead the Russian lands. When Svyatoslav, Igor’s eldest child, grew up and took the throne, Princess Olga still continued to rule in Rus', since the descendant spent most of his life on military campaigns. In one of them he was killed. Svyatoslav wrote his name in history as a great conqueror.

Scheme of the pedigree chronological tree of the Rurikovich family: Oleg, Vladimir and Yaropolk

In Kyiv, after the death of Svyatoslav, Yaropolk ascended the throne. He began to openly quarrel with his brother Oleg. Finally, Yaropolk managed to kill his own brother in battle and lead Kyiv. During the battle with his brother, Oleg fell into a ditch and was trampled by horses. But the fratricide did not remain in power for long and was overthrown from the Kyiv throne by Vladimir.

The history of the genealogy of this prince is extremely interesting: being illegitimate, according to pagan laws, he could still lead Rus'.

Having learned that one brother had killed the other, the future Kiev ruler gathered his army with the help of his uncle and teacher Dobrynya. Having conquered Polotsk, he decided to marry Rogneda, the bride of Yaropolk. The girl did not want to tie the knot with a “rootless” person, which greatly offended the baptist of Rus'. He took her as his wife by force, and then killed her entire family in front of the future bride.

Next, he sent an army to Kyiv, but decided not to fight directly, but to resort to cunning. Having lured his brother into supposedly peaceful negotiations, Vladimir set a trap for him and, with the help of his warriors, stabbed him to death with swords. So all power over Russia was concentrated in the hands of the bloody prince. Despite such a cruel past, the Kiev ruler was able to baptize Rus' and spread Christianity throughout all the pagan lands under his control.

Rurikovich: tree of the royal dynasty with dates and surnames - Yaroslav the Wise

After the death of the Baptist of Rus' in big family Disputes and civil strife began again. This time, 4 brothers wanted to lead the Kiev throne at once. Having killed his relatives, Svyatopolk the Accursed, the son of Vladimir and his Greek concubine, began to lead the capital. But the Accursed One did not manage to stand at the helm of power for long - he was removed by Yaroslav the Wise. Having won the battle on the Alta River, Yaroslav ascended the princely throne, and declared Svyatopolk a traitor to the family line.

Yaroslav the Wise decided to radically change the style of government. He became related to the European royal family by marrying the Swedish princess Ingigerda. His children were related by marriage to the Greek and Polish heirs to the throne, his daughters became queens of France and Sweden. Before his death in 1054, Yaroslav the Wise honestly divided the lands between his heirs and bequeathed to them not to wage internecine wars.

The most important figures in the political arena of that time were his three sons:

• Izyaslav (ruler of Kyiv and Novgorod).
• Vsevolod (Prince of Rostov and Pereyaslavl).
• Svyatoslav (ruled in Chernigov and Murom).

As a result of their unification, a triumvirate was formed, and the three brothers began to reign in their lands. To increase their authority, they entered into many royal marriages and encouraged families created with noble foreigners and foreigners.
Rurik dynasty - complete family tree with years of reign and with photos: the largest branches

It is impossible to talk about any former unity of the family: the branches of the princely family multiplied and intertwined, including with foreign noble families. The largest of them were:

• Izyaslavichy
• Rostislavichy
• Svyatoslavichy
• Monomakhovichi

Let's look at each of the branches in more detail.

Izyaslavichy

The founder of the family was Izyaslav, a descendant of Vladimir and Rogneda. According to legend, Rogneda all the time dreamed of taking revenge on the prince because he forced her to marry him and went on to kill members of her family. One night she snuck into the bedroom to stab her husband in the heart. But the husband slept lightly and managed to fend off the blow. In anger, the ruler wanted to deal with his unfaithful wife, but Izyaslav ran to the screams and stood up for his mother. The father did not dare to kill Rogneda in front of his son, and this saved her life.

Instead, the baptist of the Slavs sent his wife and child to Polotsk. This is how the line of the Rurikovich family began in Polotsk.

Rostislavichy

After the death of his father, Rostislav could not lay claim to the throne and was an exile. But a warlike spirit and a small army helped him lead Tmutarakan. Rostislav had three sons: Volodar, Vasilko and Rurik. Each of them achieved considerable success in the military field.

Izyaslav Yaroslavich headed Turov. For this land for many years A fierce struggle was waged, as a result of which the prince and his descendants were expelled from their native lands by Vladimir Monomakh. Only Yuri, a distant descendant of the ruler, was able to restore justice.

Svyatoslavichy

The sons of Svyatoslav fought for a long time for the throne with Izyaslav and Vsevolod. Young and inexperienced warriors were defeated by their uncles and lost power.

Monomakhovichi

The clan was formed from the heir of Monomakh - Vsevolod. All princely power was concentrated in his hands. It was possible to unite all the lands, including Polotsk and Turov, for several years. The “fragile” world collapsed after the death of the ruler.

It is worth noting that Yuri Dolgoruky also came from the Monomakhovich line and subsequently became the “gatherer of Russian lands.”

Numerous descendants of representatives of the royal family

Did you know that some members famous family were there descendants with 14 children? For example, according to historians, Vladimir Monomakh had 12 children from two wives - and that’s just the famous ones! But his son, Yuri Dolgoruky, surpassed everyone. The famous founder of Belokamennaya gave birth to 14 successors of the family. Of course, this gave rise to many problems: every child wanted to reign, considered himself truly right and the most important heir to his famous father.

Family genealogical tree of the Rurikovichs with years and dates of reign: who else belongs to the great dynasty

Among the many prominent figures it is important to note Ivan Kalita, Ivan the Terrible, Alexander Nevsky and Dmitry Donskoy. Bloody history families gave future generations great rulers, generals and politicians.

The most famous cruel king of his time was Ivan IV the Terrible. There were many stories about his bloody glory and the incredible atrocities of the guardsmen loyal to him. But Ivan IV was able to do a lot of good for his country. He significantly expanded the territory of Rus', annexing Siberia, Astrakhan and Kazan.

Fyodor the Blessed was supposed to be his successor, but he was weak psychologically and physically, and the tsar simply could not trust him with power over the state.

During the reign of his son Ivan Vasilyevich, Boris Godunov was the “gray eminence”. He took the throne after the death of the heir.

The Rurikovichs also gave the world great warriors - Alexander Nevsky and Dmitry Donskoy. The first received his nickname thanks to his victory on the Neva in the famous Battle of the Ice.

And Dmitry Donskoy was able to free Rus' from the Mongol invasion.

Who became the last in the family tree of the Rurikovich rule

According to historical data, the last famous dynasty was Fyodor Ioannovich. The “blessed” ruled the country purely nominally and passed away in 1589. Thus ended the history of the famous family. The era of the Romanovichs began.

Fyodor Ioannovich was unable to leave offspring (his only daughter died at 9 months). But some facts indicate a relationship between the two families.

The first Russian Tsar from the Romanovich family descended from Filaret - at that time the Patriarch of All Rus'. The head of the church was the cousin of Fyodor the Blessed. Thus, it can be argued that the Rurikovich branch did not break off, but was continued by new rulers.

Study the history of princely and royal dynasties- a complex task to which many have been devoted scientific research. Civil wars and numerous descendants of representatives of an ancient family still remain a relevant topic for the work of specialists.

During the formation of Rus' as the basis of statehood future Russia A lot of large-scale events took place: the victory over the Tatar and Swedish conquerors, baptism, the unification of the princely lands and the establishment of contacts with foreigners. An attempt to unite the history of the glorious family and tell about its milestones was made in this article.

The traditional characterization of Vasily Shuisky as a “cunning boyar” is gradually becoming a thing of the past. The years of his reign coincided with one of the most dramatic episodes in the history of Russia - the Time of Troubles. The shocks of the state were reflected in the personal tragedy of the last of the Rurikovichs.

Portrait

In the eyes of historians and playwrights, Vasily Ivanovich Shuisky often appears as a figure devoid of attractiveness. “More cunning than smart, utterly deceitful and intrigued,” is how the historian Vasily Klyuchevsky sees the tsar.

Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, although he pays tribute to Shuisky’s courage and strength of character, admits that his best qualities the courtier preserves not during his life, but during his fall. Nikolai Karamzin echoes the poet: “he fell with greatness in the ruins of the State.”

Contemporaries also did not favor Vasily Shuisky with good epithets, calling the boyar either Shubnik or Shubin, hinting at the support he provided to the merchants and townspeople when they came into power.

Prince Ivan Katyrev-Rostovsky finds attractive features in Shuisky, noting that he is “satisfied with book teaching and very intelligent in reasoning.” In the characterization of young Shuisky English ambassador Giles Fletcher called him the most intelligent among other members of the family.

Shuisky’s resourcefulness and irrepressible thirst for power is rather a cliche that has become established in the historiography of the “Romanov era.” It was the caricature portrait of the last Tsar, Rurikovich, that best contrasted with the beginning of a new dynastic era. The image of the real Shuisky is much more complex and at the same time tragic - in tune with the turbulent times in which the king ruled.

Genus

In terms of nobility, the Shuisky family, whose patrimony was the Suzdal lands, was always inferior to the ancestors of Ivan Kalita, who established themselves in the Moscow reign. Nevertheless, in Austria and Poland it was the Shuiskys who were called “princes of the blood.” And for good reason. After all, the Shuiskys had the primary right to the Moscow table: their family, according to one version, originated from the third son of Alexander Nevsky, Andrei, while the Moscow princes descended from the fourth son, Daniel.

According to another version, the Shuisky family tree goes back to younger brother Alexander Nevsky - Andrei Yaroslavich, which also gave them the formal right to supremacy among the Rurikovichs. In 1249, it was Andrei, and not Alexander, who received the label for the great reign of Vladimir.

The immediate founder of the Shuisky family was Yuri Vasilyevich, who inherited part of the Suzdal principality - the town of Shuya with its surroundings. Since then, two branches of the Rurikovichs - the Shuiskys and the Danilovichs - led hidden war for leadership. The Shuiskys, of course, received the richest feedings and awards, but this was not enough for them.

During the time of the young Ivan IV, boyar Andrei Shuisky, the grandfather of Vasily Shuisky, managed to actually find himself at the pinnacle of power for a while, the temptations of which he could not withstand. For which he paid, becoming the first victim of Grozny.

Between disgrace and mercy

Vasily Shuisky also had to go through the costs of inter-clan rivalry. Not only with the Danilovichs, but also with other boyar families - the Belskys, Mstislavskys, Godunovs and Romanovs. Under Fyodor Ioanovich, Shuisky headed the Moscow Court Order, which added to his influence among the serving nobility. The Godunovs and Romanovs did everything to ensure that Shuisky lost such an important post. In the spring of 1585, the unwanted boyar was sent to the voivodeship in Smolensk.

The Smolensk exile turned out to be only a preamble to the Shuisky-Godunov confrontation. In 1586, the Shuiskys, accused of having relations with Lithuania, were persecuted. Vasily is exiled to Galich, and his older brother Andrei, one of the most prominent representatives of the dynasty, under mysterious circumstances dies. This could not have happened without Boris Godunov, historians are sure.

However, the still influential Vasily Shuisky turned out to be beneficial to Godunov: the exile was suddenly canceled and the disgraced boyar returned to Moscow to investigate the death of Tsarevich Dimitri. But there was probably another reason - the confrontation between the Godunovs and the Romanovs, who were gaining political weight. Vasily Shuisky was seen by the Tsar's brother-in-law as an advantageous ally.

During the reign of Boris Godunov, Shuisky remained in the shadow of the monarch, was forced to moderate his ambitions and bide his time. He waited for him at a not very opportune time, when many Russian cities were gripped by famine and a series of popular unrest. But the main shock for the state was the arrival of False Dmitry I.

When False Dmitry took the Moscow throne, he did not forget about Shuisky, who convinced the people of the falsehood of the “legal heir.” It was Shuisky who at one time led the investigation into the death of Tsarevich Dmitry in Uglich, and he didn’t know that last son John IV died. The boyar was sentenced to death, which was commuted to exile. Again, months of uncertainty, forgiveness and a sudden return to court. But now Shuisky knew that he could act: the position of the “natural king” by that time had noticeably weakened.

Reign

As historian Vyacheslav Kozlyakov notes, Shuisky knew how to say in time what was expected of him. Say and do. The boyar could only push the masses to overthrow the impostor. But he did not let the process take its course and showed prudence: he protected Marina Mniszech and the ambassadors of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from the angry crowd in order to avoid a conflict with a dangerous neighbor.

Then the main conspirator takes another important step - he makes a proposal to canonize Tsarevich Dmitry and transfer his remains from Uglich to Moscow. By doing this, he solves three problems: he compromises the already deceased Godunov, he tries to put an end to rumors about the allegedly saved prince, but most importantly, he prepares the ground for his accession to the throne. Metropolitan Filaret first had to participate in the reburial of the remains of the prince, and then, after his elevation to the rank of patriarch, crown Shuisky as king.

Already at the very beginning of his reign, Shuisky took an oath that was not typical for previous monarchs. The “cross-kissing record” of the newly-crowned king clearly establishes the protection of a representative of any class from arbitrariness, and guarantees a legal trial. The tsar also promised to put an end to denunciations: for perjury, the death penalty now threatened the informers themselves.

The “Decree on Voluntary Slaves,” which appeared on March 7, 1607, was dictated by the hungry and troubled times. Thus, slaves who for some reason fell into bondage were given the right to leave their master, getting rid of the townsman or peasant tax.

But the “Code”, which was published two days later, already forever assigned the peasants to their owners. The author of “Essays on the History of the Time of Troubles in the Moscow State,” S. F. Platonov, noted that “Tsar Vasily wanted to strengthen in place and subject to registration and supervision the social stratum that was causing trouble and seeking change.”

The Tsar did not leave the Church unattended either. Many monasteries were given back their possessions and benefits that had been lost during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. But here, of course, one can see Shuisky’s desire to thank the “sacred rank” for supporting the current government.

End of the dynasty

Vasily Shuisky returned the Rurikovichs to the throne during one of the most crisis periods of Russian society. If Godunov accepted a generally stable and prosperous state, in which the beginnings of the great unrest were only ripening, then Shuisky inherited an inheritance that called into question the very concept of the “Russian state.” Famine, internal and external strife, and finally, the epidemic of imposture that swept Rus' at the dawn of the seventeenth century - in such conditions, few could maintain their common sense and political will.

Shuisky did everything he could. He tried to codify the law and consolidate the position of slaves and peasants. But his concessions difficult situation were akin to weakness.

The king looked into the past. His efforts to subjugate the Boyar Duma were doomed: everything changed, and in the new conditions, not only it decided who to rule and who to overthrow. Attempts to reform the moribund system resulted in blows from popular uprisings and Polish-Lithuanian intervention.

Shuisky failed to cope with the historical challenge. His death far from his homeland symbolized the collapse old Rus'- the state of Rurikovich. But what is noteworthy is that the revival of the Russian state came from the lands that served as the stronghold of Shuisky’s power - Ryazan and Nizhny Novgorod. It was here that the zemstvo movement began, which ultimately led to the liberation of Moscow from Sigismund III, who usurped the Russian throne.

The Romanovs who ascended the throne did not forget about the deposed tsar. In 1635, on the initiative of Mikhail Fedorovich, the remains of Vasily Shuisky were transported from Poland and reburied in the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.

The Norman or Varangian theory, which reveals aspects of the formation of statehood in Rus', is based on one simple thesis - the calling of the Varangian prince Rurik by the Novgorodians to manage and protect a large territory of the Ilmen Slovenian tribal union. Thus, the answer to the question of what event is associated with the emergence of the dynasty is quite clear.

This thesis is present in the ancient one, written by Nestor. At the moment it is controversial, but one fact is still indisputable - Rurik became the founder of a whole dynasties of sovereigns who ruled not only in Kyiv, but also in other cities of the Russian land, including Moscow, and that is why the dynasty of rulers of Rus' was called Rurikovich.

History of the dynasty: the beginning

The genealogy is quite complex, it is not so easy to understand it, but the beginning of the Rurik dynasty is very easy to trace.

Rurik

Rurik became the first prince in his dynasty. Its origin is a highly controversial issue. Some historians suggest that he was from a noble Varangian-Scandinavian family.

Rurik's ancestors came from the trading Hedeby (Scandinavia) and were related to Ragnar Lothbrok himself. Other historians, distinguishing between the concepts of “Norman” and “Varangian”, believe that Rurik was of Slavic origin, perhaps he was related to Novgorod prince Gostomysl (it is believed that Gostomysl was his grandfather), and for a long time lived with his family on the island of Rügen.

Most likely, he was a jarl, that is, he had a military squad and kept boats, engaged in trade and sea ​​robbery. But precisely with his calling first to Staraya Ladoga, and then to Novgorod the beginning of the dynasty is connected.

Rurik was called to Novgorod in 862 (when he began to rule exactly, of course, is unknown; historians rely on data from the PVL). The chronicler claims that he came not alone, but with two brothers - Sinius and Truvor (traditional Varangian names or nicknames). Rurik settled in Staraya Ladoga, Sinius in Beloozero, and Truvor in Izborsk. I wonder what any other mentions there is no mention of brothers in PVL. The beginning of the dynasty is not associated with them.

Oleg and Igor

Rurik died in 879, leaving young son Igor(or Ingvar, according to the Scandinavian tradition). A warrior, and possibly a relative of Rurik, Oleg (Helg) was supposed to rule on behalf of his son until he came of age.

Attention! There is a version that Oleg ruled not just as a relative or confidant, but as an elected jarl, that is, he had all the political rights to power according to Scandinavian and Varangian laws. The fact that he transferred power to Igor could indeed mean that he was his close relative, perhaps a nephew, his sister’s son (according to Scandinavian tradition, an uncle is closer than his own father; boys in Scandinavian families were given to be raised by their maternal uncle).

How many years did Oleg reign?? He successfully ruled the young state until 912. It is he who is credited with the complete conquest of the route “from the Varangians to the Greeks” and the capture of Kyiv, then his place was taken by Igor (already as the ruler of Kiev), by that time married to a girl from Polotsk (according to one version) - Olga.

Olga and Svyatoslav

Igor's reign can't be called successful. He was killed by the Drevlyans in 945 during an attempt to take double tribute from their capital, Iskorosten. Because only son Igor, Svyatoslav, was still small, then the throne in Kyiv general decision The boyars and squads were occupied by his widow Olga.

Svyatoslav ascended the Kiev throne in 957. He was a warrior prince and never stayed long in his capital rapidly growing state. During his lifetime, he divided the lands of Rus' between his three sons: Vladimir, Yaropolk and Oleg. He gave Novgorod the Great as his inheritance to Vladimir (illegitimate son). Oleg (the younger) was imprisoned in Iskorosten, and the elder Yaropolk was left in Kyiv.

Attention! Historians know the name of Vladimir’s mother; it is also known that she was a whitewashed servant, that is, she could not become the ruler’s wife. Perhaps Vladimir was the eldest son of Svyatoslav, his first-born. That is why he was recognized as the father. Yaropolk and Oleg were born from the legitimate wife of Svyatoslav, possibly a Bulgarian princess, but they were younger than Vladimir in age. All this subsequently influenced the relations between the brothers and led to the first princely feud in Rus'.

Yaropolk and Vladimir

Svyatoslav died in 972 on the island of Khortitsa(Dnieper rapids). After his death, the Kiev throne was occupied by Yaropolk for several years. A war for power in the state began between him and his brother Vladimir, ending with the murder of Yaropolk and the victory of Vladimir, who ultimately became the next prince of Kyiv. Vladimir ruled from 980 to 1015. His main merit is baptism of Rus' and the Russian people into the Orthodox faith.

Yaroslav and his sons

An internecine war broke out between Vladimir’s sons immediately after his death, as a result of which one of Vladimir’s eldest sons from the Polotsk princess Ragneda, Yaroslav, took the throne.

Important! In 1015, the Kiev throne was occupied by Svyatopolk (later nicknamed the Accursed). He was not Vladimir’s own son. His father was Yaropolk, after whose death Vladimir took his wife as his wife, and recognized the born child as his first-born.

Yaroslav reigned until 1054. After his death, the right of ladder came into force - the transfer of the Kyiv throne and the “junior” in seniority in the Rurikovich family.

The Kiev throne was occupied by Yaroslav's eldest son - Izyaslav, Chernigov (the next "seniority" throne) - Oleg, Pereyaslavsky - Yaroslav's youngest son Vsevolod.

For a long time, the sons of Yaroslav lived peacefully, observing the behests of their father, but, ultimately, the struggle for power entered an active phase and Rus' entered the era of Feudal fragmentation.

Pedigree of the Rurikovichs. The first Kyiv princes (table or Rurik dynasty diagram with dates, by generation)

Generation	Prince's name	Years of reign
I generation	Rurik	862-879 (Novgorod reign)
	Oleg (Prophetic)	879 – 912 (Novgorod and Kiev reigns)
II	Igor Rurikovich	912-945 (Kiev reign)
	Olga	945-957
III	Svyatoslav Igorevich	957-972
IV	Yaropolk Svyatoslavich	972-980
	Oleg Svyatoslavich	Prince-governor in Iskorosten, died in 977
	Vladimir Svyatoslavich (Saint)	980-1015
V	Svyatopolk Yaropolkovich (stepson of Vladimir) Damned	1015-1019
	Yaroslav Vladimirovich (Wise)	1019-1054
VI	Izyaslav Yaroslavovich	1054-1073; 1076-1078 (Kiev reign)
	Svyatoslav Yaroslavovich (Chernigovsky)	1073-1076 (Kiev reign)
	Vsevolod Yaroslavovich (Pereyaslavsky)	1078-1093 (Kiev reign)

Genealogy of the Rurikovichs of the period of feudal fragmentation

Tracing the dynastic line of the Rurikovich family during the period of Feudal fragmentation is incredibly difficult, since the ruling princely the genus has grown to its maximum. The main branches of the clan at the first stage of feudal fragmentation can be considered the Chernigov and Pereyaslav lines, as well as the Galician line, which needs to be discussed separately. The Galician princely house originates from the eldest son of Yaroslav the Wise, Vladimir, who died during his father’s lifetime, and whose heirs received Galich as an inheritance.

It is important to note that all representatives of the clan sought to occupy the Kiev throne, since in this case they were considered the rulers of the entire state.

Galician heirs

Chernigov house

Pereyaslavsky house

With the Pereyaslav House, which was nominally considered the youngest, everything is much more complicated. It was the descendants of Vsevolod Yaroslavovich who gave rise to the Vladimir-Suzdal and Moscow Rurikovichs. The main representatives of this house were:

• Vladimir Vsevolodovich (Monomakh) - was the prince of Kyiv in 1113-1125 (VII generation);
• Mstislav (the Great) - the eldest son of Monomakh, was the prince of Kyiv in 1125-1132 (VIII generation);
• Yuri (Dolgoruky) - the youngest son of Monomakh, became the ruler of Kyiv several times, the last in 1155-1157 (VIII generation).

Mstislav Vladimirovich gave rise to the Volyn House of Rurikovich, and Yuri Vladimirovich - to the Vladimir-Suzdal House.

Volyn House

Pedigree of the Rurikovichs: Vladimir-Suzdal House

The Vladimir-Suzdal house became the main one in Rus' after the death of Mstislav the Great. The princes who made first Suzdal and then Vladimir-on-Klyazma their capital, played a key role V political history period of the Horde invasion.

Important! Daniil Galitsky and Alexander Nevsky are known not only as contemporaries, but also as rivals for the grand ducal label, and they also had a fundamentally different approach to faith - Alexander adhered to Orthodoxy, and Daniil accepted Catholicism in exchange for the opportunity to receive the title of King of Kyiv.

Pedigree of the Rurikovichs: Moscow House

In the final period of Feudal fragmentation, the House of Rurikovich numbered more than 2000 members (princes and younger princely families). Gradually, the leading position was taken by the Moscow House, which traces its pedigree to youngest son Alexander Nevsky - Daniil Alexandrovich.

Gradually, the Moscow house from grand ducal transformed into royal. Why did this happen? Thanks also to dynastic marriages, as well as successful internal and foreign policy individual representatives of the House. The Moscow Rurikovichs did a gigantic job of “gathering” the lands around Moscow and overthrowing the Tatar-Mongol Yoke.

Moscow Ruriks (diagram with reign dates)

Generation (from Rurik in the direct male line)	Prince's name	Years of reign	Significant marriages
XI generation	Alexander Yaroslavovich (Nevsky)	Prince of Novgorod, Grand Duke according to the Horde label from 1246 to 1263	_____
XII	Daniil Alexandrovich Moskovsky	1276-1303 (Moscow reign)	_____
XIII	Yuri Daniilovich	1317-1322 (Moscow reign)
	Ivan I Daniilovich (Kalita)	1328-1340 (Great Vladimir and Moscow reigns)	_____
XIV	Semyon Ivanovich (Proud)	1340-1353 (Moscow and Great Vladimir reign)
	Ivan II Ivanovich (Red)	1353-1359 (Moscow and Great Vladimir reign)
XV	Dmitry Ivanovich (Donskoy)	1359-1389 (Moscow reign, and from 1363 to 1389 – Great Vladimir reign)	Evdokia Dmitrievna, the only daughter of Dmitry Konstantinovich (Rurikovich), Prince of Suzdal - Nizhny Novgorod; annexation of all territories of the Principality of Suzdal-Nizhny Novgorod to the Moscow Principality
XVI	Vasily I Dmitrievich	1389-1425	Sofya Vitovtovna, Daughter of the Great Lithuanian prince Vytautas (complete reconciliation of the princes of Lithuania with the ruling Moscow house)
XVII	Vasily II Vasilievich (Dark)	1425-1462	_____
XVIII	Ivan III Vasilievich	1462 – 1505	In his second marriage to Sophia Paleologus (niece of the last Byzantine emperor); nominal right: to be considered the successor of the imperial Byzantine crown and Caesar (king)
XIX	Vasily III Vasilievich	1505-1533	In his second marriage to Elena Glinskaya, a representative of a wealthy Lithuanian family, descended from the Serbian rulers and Mamai (according to legend)
XX