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Bolesław I's intervention in the Kievan succession crisis

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Kiev Expedition

Poland (992-1025). Light pink territory on the right shows the region of the Red Ruthenia, captured by Bolesław, as well as the town of Volyn, near which the battle at Bug river took place.
Date1018
LocationKievan Rus'
Result Temporary victory for Sviatopolk and Boleslaw
Belligerents
Kingdom of Poland
Pechenegs and German mercenaries		 Kievan Rus' loyal to Yaroslav the Wise
Commanders and leaders
Boleslaw I the Brave
Sviatopolk I the Accursed		 Yaroslav I the Wise
Strength
2,000-5,000 unknown but estimated as similar to opposing size
Casualties and losses
unknown unknown
Polish–Russian Wars
Kievan Rus'
Tsardom of Russia
Russian Empire
Soviet Union

The Kiev Expedition of the Polish Duke Boleslaw I the Brave was an episode in the struggle between Sviatopolk I the Accursed and his brother Yaroslav I the Wise for the title of Grand Duke of Kiev. It occurred when Sviatopolk's father-in-law, Duke Boleslaw of Poland, intervened on behalf of Sviatopolk, defeated Yaroslav's armies, and temporarily secured the throne for Sviatopolk.

The expedition was initially successful for Boleslaw and Sviatopolk, who overran Kiev and sent Yaroslav into exile, but ended with Boleslaw's withdrawal from Kiev and a military defeat of Sviatopolk by Yaroslav, who returned to the Kievan throne from Novgorod. The return of Yaroslav resulted in the highest point of Kiev and the Kievan Rus' history, known as the Golden age of Kiev.

While the event is documented, chronicles of the expedition include both historic and legendary accounts. Though some of the event's details have been inferred from indirect accounts, most are subject to different interpretations due to their partially-legendary nature.

Background

The Duke of Poland, Boleslaw I, and the Grand Duke of Kiev, Vladimir I, had previously fought over the Red Ruthenia; a conflict that ended favorably for Vladimir. Furthermore, Boleslaw, who already had two wives, wanted to marry Predslava, one of Vladimir's daughters, in order to cement ties between the two families. Despite Boleslaw's best efforts, the offer was refused and instead he had to accept a less prestigious connection to the house of Vladimir through the marriage of Boleslaw's daughter to Vladimir's son, Sviatopolk. Between 1005 and 1013, Vladimir arranged Sviatpolk's marriage to Boleslaw's daughter whose name has not survived in sources.

Vladimir I dictated that his eldest son, Sviatopolk I, would only receive the remote town of Turov (Turaŭ) after his death, and he chose his younger sons, Boris and Gleb, as successors despite Sviatopolk's primogeniture.Unhappy by his rule being restricted to only a small appanage which he saw as unfit for the prestigious status of the Grand Duke's eldest son, Sviatopolk plotted to overthrow his father. These plans were thwarted by Vladimir, who called all three conspirators to Kiev and jailed them in 1013. Sviatopolk counted on the help of his father-in-law Boleslaw, who encouraged Sviatopolk's plans through his daughter. The planned overthrow was also supported by Bishop Reinbern of Calabria, confessor of Boleslaw's daughter, who had traveled with her to Turov. Reinbern acted in the interest of Catholic Rome. While the Great Schism that divided the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches was formalized only half a century later, ideological and political differences between Rome and Constantinople were already firmly in place, causing Rome to make efforts to sway the Rus' towards its influence and away from that of Byzantium. Reinbern died shortly after Sviatopolk was imprisoned, but Boleslaw, wanting to ensure that his ally, Sviatopolk, took over the Kievan throne, invaded Kiev's lands in 1013 with the goal of freeing Sviatopolk. Little is known about the event other than the fact that Vladimir released Sviatopolk from imprisonment shortly before his death, and that he may have granted him the town of Vyshgorod, (Vyshhorod) near Kiev.

Death of Vladmir

Boleslaw the Brave

Upon Vladimir's death, Sviatopolk, the eldest son, could lay a strong legal claim for inheriting Kiev despite being highly unpopular with Kievans. Therefore, Vladimir's court attempted to conceal his death from Sviatopolk while his brothers, Boris and Gleb, consolidated power. Sviatopolk nevertheless uncovered the plot and seized his father's throne. Vladimir's personal guard (druzhyna) and the Kievan militia chose to align themselves with Boris, Vladimir's favored son, who was preferred by Kievans.

According to a popular but possibly ahistorical legend recorded by the Russian Primary Chronicle, Sviatopolok sent his men to assassinate Boris and his other brothers Gleb and Sviatoslav. These events, while not uncommon for their time, earned Sviatopolk the nickname of "The Accursed." When news of the fratricides reached Vladimir's fourth son, Yaroslav the Wise in Novgorod, he came to Kiev with Novgorodians and Varangians and defeated Sviatopolk near Lubech. Sviatopok fled to Boleslaw in Poland while Yaroslav took over as the Kievan Grand Duke.

Sviatopolk asked Boleslaw to help him recapture the Kievan throne. Boleslaw, who had recently secured Poland's western border with the Holy Roman Empire through the Treaty of Bautzen, agreed to support him. Aside from helping his son-in-law and avenging Predslava's refusal and loss of Red Ruthenia, Boleslaw was interested in the eastward expansion of his power and possibly in the chance to occupy and plunder Kiev.

The expedition

Yaroslav the Wise

Much of the information about Bolesław's expedition come from a chronicle by Bishop Thietmar of Merseburg, who supposedly obtained detailed information from Sviatopolk himself. Nestor the Chronicler's Primary Chronicle also gives a detailed account of events. The biases of both chroniclers should be kept in mind as Nestor's writing reflects the typical Rus' admiration of Saint Vladimir, while Bishop Thietmar's account, despite a generally positive attitude towards the Rus', paints both Boleslaw and Vladimir exclusively in a negative light, probably due to Boleslaw's conflicts with Germany and Vladimir's fondness for Byzantine Christianity. Gallus' Chronicle of Polish Dukes, on the other hand, portrays Boleslaw in a very positive light.

According to Thietmar, the druzhina (army) of Boleslaw, aided by German and Hungarian mercenaries, crossed the border in 1018 and reached Kiev later that same year. His army size is estimated at between 2,000-5,000 warriors, including 100 Pechenegs, 300 German knights, and 500 Hungarian mercenaries. Less is known about Yaroslav's army, but it is assumed that he also managed to collect a force of similar size. It is also believed that he was aware of Boleslaw's intentions and had time to make defensive preparations. After concentrating his forces during June, in July Boleslaw led his troops to the border - the banks of the Western Bug River, near one of the settlements of the Volhynia region. In the meantime, Boleslaw's Pecheneg allies approached Kiev, forcing Yaroslav to detach a part of his forces to ensure the safety of his capital. Yaroslav, in turn, wanted to prevent Boleslaw from uniting with the Pechenegs, defeat Boleslaw's main force and then take care of the less organized Pechenegs.

The two armies met on opposite banks of the River Bug. Yaroslav's forces took position with archers covering the crossing points. Bolesław took his time, allowing his army to rest, and started work on makeshift bridges. The Battle at Bug river finally occurred around July 23. According to Gallus' Chronicle of Polish Dukes, the battle occurred by accident: When Boleslaw decided to throw a feast to boost his army's morale, Yaroslav's archers and scouts decided to create trouble for the Polish servants who were gutting the animals and preparing them near the river. However, they only annoyed them enough that the servants themselves crossed the relatively shallow river and chased away Yaroslav's surprised troops, who had been guarding the river. Bolesław learned of the skirmish sooner then Yaroslav, and managed to move most of his army across the river, defeating the surprised Yaroslav, who did not manage to consolidate his scattered army in time.

The Russian Primary Chronicle gives a different version of events, in which both armies were combat ready and separated by the river before Boleslaw, enraged by insults from across the river, charged with his army, surprising Yaroslav and scattering his forces. Both accounts agree that the Polish prince was victorious in the battle. Yaroslav retreated north to Novgorod, rather than to Kiev - likely suspecting that he lacked enough strength to defend Kiev, which was besieged by the Pechenegs and had a significant pro-Sviatopolk faction within its walls. Nestor notes that after reaching Novgorod, Yaroslav attempted to flee "overseas" in hopes of coming back with a Varangian force, but according to the Primary Chronicle, Novgorodians pressured him to lead the fight back to Boleslaw and Sviatopolk.

Fall of Kiev

Bolesław Chrobry and Svetopelk at Kiev, in a legendary (if ahistorical) moment of hitting the Golden Gate with the Szczerbiec sword. Painting by Jan Matejko.

In the meantime, Boleslaw's victory paved the way to Kiev. The city, which suffered from fires caused by the Pechenegs' ongoing siege, surrendered upon seeing the main Polish army on August 14. The entering forces, led by Boleslaw, were ceremonially welcomed by the local archbishop and Vladimir's family. A popular legend related to the history of the Polish coronation weapon, the Szczerbiec sword, is the tale of the Golden Gate of Kiev, upon which the Szczerbiec was supposedly notched when Boleslaw's entered the city. However, this legend has no historical basis as the gate was built approximately 20 years later and the sword was forged 200 years later. It is possible that Boleslaw notched another gate with another sword, giving rise to this story.

Historians are divided on whether Boleslaw then decided to rule Kievan lands himself or not. According to some, (such as Zhylenko and Kostomarov), Boleslaw decided to rule Kiev for himself, thus pushing aside his son-in-law. Boleslaw sent a significant force to quarter in Kiev and nearby towns, forcing Kievans to sustain them, and collected significant tributes that he divided among his allies. Kievans soon rose against Boleslaw. Some sources state that the uprising was provoked by Boleslaw's plundering troops, while others claim that Kievans were incited by Sviatopolk himself, who was unhappy about being sidelined by Boleslaw. The resulting unrest forced Boleslaw to leave Kiev, whereupon Sviatopolk assumed power.

Before retreating, Boleslaw demanded Yaroslav return his daughter, whom Yaroslav had taken prisoner to Novgorod. As Yaroslav refused, Boleslaw took members of Yaroslav's family to Poland as prisoners when he returned to his country in September. His captives included Vladimir's widow and Yaroslav's sister, Predslava, whose hand Boleslaw had sought earlier. Having been rebuffed, Boleslaw now took her as a concubine. The Polish duke also took some commoners and the treasury of Kiev. Among the notable commoners was the venerated Saint Moses the Hungarian, who was emasculated in Poland. After Boleslaw's death, he was returned to Kiev Caves Monastery.

Aftermath

Sviatopolk lost the throne soon afterwards, and his life the following year. As Boleslaw was involved in a conflict with Holy Roman Emperor Henry II, he did not intervene on behalf of his son-in-law when he was deposed, and instead signed a pact with Yaroslav, who had successfully regained the throne. Although he lost control of Kiev, Boleslaw succeeded in keeping the Cherven Towns, which had been captured by Vladimir the Great in 981; he was crowned King of Poland in 1025. Yaroslav outlived Boleslaw and contributed greatly to the strengthening of Kievan Rus'.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Zhylenko, W. 30
  2. ^ Wyprawa Kijowska Chrobrego... p.7
  3. ^ Wyprawa Kijowska Chrobrego... p.6
  4. ^ Brockhaus, Sviatopolk.
  5. The Primary Chronicle, Section
  6. ^ Kostomarov, Yaroslav
  7. ^ The Primary Chronicle, Section
  8. ^ Wyprawa Kijowska Chrobrego... p.8
  9. ^ Wyprawa Kijowska Chrobrego... p.9
  10. ^ Grekov, section 12
  11. ^ Wyprawa Kijowska Chrobrego... p.10
  12. ^ Wyprawa Kijowska Chrobrego... p.11
  13. Brockhaus, Boleslaw
  14. ^ Ryzow, 1999
  15. Wyprawa Kijowska Chrobrego... p.12

References

Further reading

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