Prince Oleg: a biography of the founder of Old Russian power

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With the arrival of the lands of Kievan Rus Prince Oleg of Novgorod usually begin to deduct the establishment of the Old Russian state.Figure it's really symbolic, as defined beginning of a new era, a new era.His life, like death, has many mysteries to historians.Yet Prince Oleg of Novgorod, a short biography which will be discussed below, - the person rather interesting to researchers and general lovers of antiquity.

appearance on Russia

Prince Oleg, whose biography is known to us only briefly, considered the founder of the Old Russian state.He is a relative of the legendary Varangian Rurik, that is, was the brother of Efandy - the wife of the commander.It is believed that he was an ordinary warlord who viking trust immensely.Otherwise, unless requested to him to take his infant son?It should be assumed that Oleg acted in agreement with Rurik, and maybe have a certain freedom.One way or another, but quickly he captured Smolensk and Ljubech and then Kiev.By the way, Michael's the city was captured by his cunning: Vikings lured from behind the walls of Askold and Dir (which are also likely to have been the Vikings), and killed them, declaring himself Prince.

achievements and successes

Prince Oleg, whose biography is considered in this article, has strengthened the power of either with the support of the neighboring tribes with Kiev Slavs, or subdue them.He established for them a tribute, which is not much burden to the people.But his military successes were really impressive.Camping against the Khazars saved the Russian land from having to pay Kaganate polyude.Pal great Constantinople, at the gates of which, according to the Chronicle, Prince nailed his shield.As a result, Russian merchants could no duty to trade with Byzantium, to receive full support from her.Thus, Prince Oleg of Novgorod, a brief biography discussed above, has more merit before Rus than Rurik.Moreover, the ancestor of the princely dynasty virtually nothing is known.

Going to Constantinople

Prince Oleg, a brief biography is featured in Chronicle - an outstanding personality.He organized the famous march on Constantinople, after which got its nickname - Prophetic.The Chronicle says that he sent a huge army to the city two thousand boats.Each boat was placed on four dozen vigilantes.The emperor ordered to close the gates of the capital, left at the mercy of the enemies of the suburbs and the countryside.But the Prince of Kiev ordered ships to fasten the wheel on which the army came to the gates of Constantinople.The Byzantines were at a loss, so give up, offering a generous tribute to Oleg and peace.

But whether a hike?

Prince Oleg, a short biography which exists in almost every history book - a controversial figure.Researchers there are more questions than answers about his life.For example, the fact that the campaign against Byzantium seems misleading.This is because the authors of Constantinople describes in detail all the attacks on their country, but on a hike Oleg they do not mention.Also returning from Constantinople Oleg and Vladimir the Great is very similar.Perhaps this is the description of the same event.At the same time, after Oleg went to the southern city and Igor, who also won.This state and European writers who chronicled those years.

Was the snake?

Kyiv Prince Oleg, whose biography is known and with the lessons of literature, died as mysteriously as it had appeared in Russia.In the same Chronicle explains that once the magician has predicted his death from his favorite horse.Varyag was superstitious, so sat down on another animal and pet instructed the servants, ordering take care of him until his death.I remembered the governor about it during the feast, but it turned out that the horse was lost long ago.Grieve favorite, and angry that he believed the Magi, the prince went to the bones.But when he stepped on the skull, I saw a snake, which immediately stung him in the leg.Oleg died from the poison.

Prince Oleg, whose biography has long been studied, could have died another death.A tale of a horse and a snake, perhaps borrowed from the saga of Orvarde Odda.While some scientists believe that the hero of Scandinavian legends and Prophetic Oleg are one and the same person.But there are some facts that allow to think about, could be the story of the death of Prince truthful.Among them are the following:

- Could a snake bite through leather boots worn by nobles in Russia?Probably not, or Oleg came to the mountain to the bare bones of a horse?

- What if a snake jumped and bit the prince above the tops of the boots?But on the territory of Ukraine in Kiev area such vipers there!

- As a rule, the snake before the sting, hisses and tries to crawl away.Could it not be noted Oleg or his entourage?

Alternatively, the prince died of poison, but the snake slipped it on purpose or was poisoned by Oleg advance.Set, where the truth is, unfortunately, impossible.

A few interesting facts

Russian Prince Oleg, whose biography is already known to the reader is referred to not only in the annals of Kiev and Novgorod.Al-Masudi (Arabic author) says about the failed expedition of the Rus (500 ships!) On the forehead with Olvangom and Dir al-Persia.Part of the production they gave the Khazars, but the latter betrayed and killed them all.They killed about thirty thousand warriors, and someone stepped over the Caspian Sea, the Volga Bulgars were killed.Thus, the legendary prince died in the campaign, as befits the brave Vikings.

Here's a he, intelligent and warlike prince Oleg.His biography is full of gaps, because of which around this figure is retained an aura of mystery and secrecy.Perhaps time will find answers to all questions.